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

“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.

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 Especially since she was no longer active on any of her social media accounts and her phone was now switched off.It was like she...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

Jessica spent the rest of the afternoon, terrified, confused and in pain. She had only recovered several minutes later and had crawled to the kitchen to get a glass of water, which she swallowed with great difficulty.The housemaids had all been at the backyard, oblivious to what had been happening in the house. It was clear that Jide was psychotic and was holding Emily hostage. Nothing other than this could explain his murderous glare as he threatened her.Jessica was terrified because she feared for her life, and confused because she was having an inner struggle between doing what is right by reporting him and letting Emily pay for what she caused Martin.Sighing, she slumped on the couch and winced at the pain on the left side of her waist.“You finally decided to come out, abi (right)?” Her mom's voice startled her as she turned to see her entering the living room from the foyer. 

Isaac had gone to his workplace to request for leave since exams were coming up, and he needed more time to read. But it was mostly because he was more concerned with finding Emily and was starting to feel a little ill. His boss had granted him the leave, albeit reluctantly, and he had been leaving the place when he saw Jide emerging from his car. Jide had stopped to get something at a pharmaceutical store close by, and Isaac only crossed the road when he saw a female seated in the front seat.It had taken him a while — after he crossed the road — to recognize that the girl was Emily. Her face was battered up, malnourished, and she was coated in an oversized jumper. Isaac had been attempting to open locked the door when Jide came out.When he confronted Jide, the two had got into a huge fight that attracted passers-by, who were the reason the fight was ended. While Isaac tried to explain Jide was a kidna