Loveth's loud voice had attracted curious glances from a few of the guests.
“Loveth, it's okay,” Jemina pleaded.
“Daniel, I suggest you leave before you call for a crowd,” Joel stated.
“I wasn't planning on staying.” Daniel eyed them and left.
“Oh, God.” Loveth bit her finger and pointed at Joel. “It's because of you I'm calming down o, if not! Isaac, you know me na.”
Isaac nodded and came to her side. “And that's why we're begging you to calm down. You know what? Let's step outside for a moment.”
She was still eyeing Daniel's back when he turned her around and headed toward the door.
“I'm truly sorry about that,” Adam said as the maid arrived with their water.
The girls collected theirs and directed her to Loveth outside.
Joel sighed, rubbing a hand down his face. “This is why I didn't want you guys coming here.”
Joel hadn't been expecting Opeoluwa at his doorstep. However, she mistook his state of surprise as her presence as being unwanted. The fact that Isabelle and the others were around did nothing to help his case.After the others had left, she had stated how worried she had been, only to find out he was busy having fun with his new 'friends'.“It's not what you think, Ope. Just let me explain,” he begged.“Explain? Explain?! Okay, go ahead. Explain to me why in the world you're hanging out with those three girls? Explain.”He had wanted to start from the very beginning, but the promise he had made to Loveth not to tell anyone about what happened made him stutter.“I thought as much,” Opeoluwa scoffed and started toward the door.“Ope, please wait.”She turned abruptly and he stopped short in his tracks.“You know, you really mes
Cosmos had sent his sons to the study, except Joel, who was seated on the bed, trying to catch his breath and get his heart to beat normally."Why didn't you tell me about this?" Cosmos asked, standing by the table.Joel shot him a sideways glance and scoffed in disbelief. "Like you cared."His knuckles still hurt from hitting Daniel and he flexed them. It was the first time he had ever thrown a successful punch at someone and the fact that it was his brother made him feel good about it.Cosmos sighed heavily. "How many times has this happened?""'Cause I'm supposed to be keeping count. Can we just call off this bullshit and finish the party, so I can go home.""God," he heard the man breath out and saw him rub his hands down his face. "This is all my fault. I caused this.""Damn right you did," Joel said as he stared at his scarred palms.The scars
Since Loveth left, Jemina has been sitting alone and Isabelle didn't like that, especially because Olabisi and Nneka wouldn't stop taunting her. It was a tough decision — sitting with Jemina — considering her misunderstanding with Emily. But she just couldn't allow Jemina to sit alone."You and Joel; are you guys fighting?" Jemina asked Isabelle.Isabelle had been jotting as she was reading her Chemistry note when Jemina’s question caused her to pause. "Why do you ask?""Because you look like you're avoiding him."It's been exactly two weeks since Joel kissed her and she still hasn't been able to make sense of her emotions.She had come to realize she liked being around him; she liked the way he laughed (although this used to be a rare occasion). She liked how after a long day, he'd lean back and pinch his eyes closed while his Adam’s apple bobbed. I
Isabelle had begun to take the bus home with Isaac and Joel, so they were on their way to the bus-stop as the boys wanted to confirm she was okay from her fight with those girls.Jemina had gone home immediately after the fight and her parents hadn't hesitated to call the principal. Isabelle hadn't sustained any major injury, except a headache and a scratch on the left side of her cheek. Jemina, on the other hand, hadn't looked so well.They were approaching the bus-stop when one out of three boys coming their way bumped shoulders with Joel.“What the hell?” Joel turned to say.Suddenly, the one who bumped into him landed a blow on his face, causing him to fall to the ground, and they pounced on him.Isaac had been too shocked that he reacted a few seconds later by pulling one of the guys off Joel. To their greatest surprise, this person was Kelechi.“You,” Kelechi point
“Young lady, where are you coming from?” Aunt Jane demanded the moment Emily entered the house.Unknown to Emily, her aunt had been seated on the couch for the past two hours waiting for her.“A friend's place.” She maintained a nonchalant attitude and shrugged off her bag.“By this time?” Aunt Jane pointed at the clock.It was just 8 pm, so Emily didn't get what the hassle was about.“And you're still in your uniform,” her aunt pointed out and got up. “Ebere, I don't understand you any more.”“Can we talk about this some other time? I'm honestly not in the mood.”“You had better get back here.” Her aunt snapped and she halted in her track. “I have tolerated your nonsense long enough. Ten years and I keep hoping you'd change, but I guess the too much freedom I've been giving you is only making you worse.”“Well, boohoo.
They had all returned from the balcony, and while the guys looked nervous, Jide appeared to be calm.“What— what is this?” Her hand was shaking as she turned the screen of the phone to them. “Why is there a picture of me,” — she took in a shaky breath — “naked on the bed?”“Who's phone is that?” Jide demanded from the guys.“It's mine,” Patrick said with his finger slightly raised in the air.He stepped out to collect the phone from Emily and Jide smacked the back of his head as he did so.Emily was too stupified to fight with Patrick for the phone.“Babe, let's go inside and talk about this,” Jide said and came to hold her.She didn't fight him as he led her to their bedroom. She couldn't possibly fight anyone with the way her body trembled involuntarily.Jide shut the door, and on seeing she was too weak to remain on her feet, he let h
A few days to revision week and Emily still wasn't home. It's been three days since she last replied their messages and they were starting to worry. Especially since she was no longer active on any of her social media accounts and her phone was now switched off.It was like she... Isabelle found her thoughts absurd and pushed them aside as she tried to refocus her attention on the ongoing conversation in her living room. Her friends had converged at her place to think up possible places Emily could be.However, it was hard to focus when she was coming down with something. A cold, maybe. The rain had stopped a week ago and the harmattan season had taken over with incredible force.Sniffing, Isabelle went with the idea that it was just a cold caused by the weather. Even though she wasn't one to catch a cold easily.Everyone's first instinct had been to ask Jessica if Emily w
Everyone lies. No one cares. Jessica had come to this conclusion the hard way.She had been cooped up in her room, releasing a great flood of tears as she left piles of tissues and cigarette bottoms on her bed, floor and table.If her parents should see the mess her room was in, especially the cigarette sticks, she'd really get it from them.As much as Jessica pretended not to care, she had locked the door. Her dad had travelled, so it was just her mom around.She'd ignore her mom's knocking and threats to break down the door and only came out when she was away. She had come out only twice and that had been to grab a glass of water and painkillers.The housemaids left food at her door every day, but she never ate any of them. After breakfast, they'd take away the untouched food and bring her lunch. Then, after lunch, dinner. This had been going on for four days and Jessi