look who's here again! happy new month! this chapter is just so bad and short, it'd be good to let yk in advance :/ i recommend Devil By The Window by Tomorrow×Together for this chapter (especially Hanniel's part), so have fun <3

048| Nothing Has Changed

~K O M I S O L A~

Africa Magic Yoruba.

That's what Mother was watching at the moment, choosing to come downstairs of all places when there was an equally as huge TV like the one here, in her bedroom. Yet, she chose to come to the living room out of all places.

"Welcome back, Queen." I almost jumped as I heard her voice. How did she know I was standing a few feet behind her? "The door brightened the room for a brief second, and I know Adebayo can not be home by this time."

"Where did he go to? I know he's a busy man but still..."

Mother gave a half shrug. "I don't know. Out with his mistress, out with his colleagues, out for ministry work... I don't really know and care, Queen."

I didn't know what to say. Mother was acting so nonchalant right now, it was starting to scare me. Her posture on the chair and the bright look in her eyes as she stared at the television, watching the program displayed on the screen with so much enthusiasm.

"Are you okay?"

As the child of a Nigerian mother, a Yoruba mother to be specific, asking this sort of question would only pose as being rude. Infact, uncultured, because why would a normal Nigerian teenage girl ask her mother this sort of question? But I needed to. Mother was acting way too sus for my liking.

For the first time since I stepped into this desolate mansion, Mother actually looked right into my eyes and smiled a genuine smile. "Shouldn't I be? I'm perfectly okay, Queen. There's white rice, fried stew and plantain on the dining table there. If you don't want to eat it, I can order pizza for you. Davies already ate his."

I always forgot Davies had no problem with Mother. They had a typical mother-son relationship, and Mother was ready to risk it all for her one and only, Davies Matthias Adedire.

"Okay... thank you, ma." I went up the stairs and into my bedroom, of course seeing Davies inside his room. He really should learn to close the door to his room.

He won't be closing it when he...

Nope.

No way.

My intrusive thoughts always got the best part of me. I didn't want to think about any terminal illness Davies was suffering from. I didn't want to have any pity on me. He'd made me go through more than enough hell, and I couldn't care less what happens to him.

As I tossed my backpack aside unto the floor, I flung myself unto the bed, arms spread eagle as I stared up at the ceiling. Feeling uneasy, I rolled over to the side and rested my head on my palms.

"Yes."

He didn't have to be so mean. I know he probably wasn't serious about his words... maybe he just wanted me to stop disturbing him, I understood. But he didn't have to be so cold.

"Hey, you have a phone, right?" I looked up at this uncultured human being that had just walked into my room just like that. Just like that. I didn't even realize when he'd opened the door. "I knocked," Davies said, like he was reading my mind. "You didn't answer me."

I stared at him blankly. Seeing him in my room annoyed me and I wanted to kick him out. I was still so angry at him, and why did I feel like he thought everything was fine between us?

"What do you want?" I questioned, making sure my voice was brusquely intoned.

"You have a phone, right? I need it for something."

"For what? You want to call one of your sure plugs to deliver drugs?" I snapped.

Davies frowned, probably surprised by my words, because even I was. "That's... not what I want to use it for. It's okay if you don't want to give me. I'll just ask from Mum."

I rolled my eyes and stood up, with my phone in hand as I walked towards him. Just as I got to him to hand over the phone, we were just a little bit apart from each other and my breathing became uneven. I was scared. Why was I scared?

I chucked the phone onto Davies' outstretched palm and dashed towards my bed.

"Are you okay?" he asked, and I could sense he was getting nearer.

"Go away," was all I said. "Leave, please. I don't want you here. Don't ever walk into my room without permission, nothing has changed between us."

Awkward silence filled the room after that and minutes later, I didn't hear anything which just led me to come to the conclusion that Davies was out of my room.

I sighed to myself. When was I ever going to be free from all of this? I was being a big coward. I couldn't even stay near my brother without all the memories flashing in my head once again. I couldn't stay near him without feeling suffocated, or angry.

I didn't need to be free for him.

I needed to be free for myself.

~

~H A N N I E L~

"But what exactly is your problem? What's this sudden aggressive human you've become? And why would you hide your identity?"

Silence.

"Come. Do you think you're the only one going through a lot in life? Han baby, I've always tried not to invalidate your feelings but at this point, if you are so ashamed of having divorced parents, then my bad! I'm so sorry!"

More silence.

Mum was anything but pleased with me right now.

"It's not easy on me too if you think it is. I have had to deal with so much, even when I married Felix and now that I'm supposed to be happy, you're making things harder for me! Why on earth would you lie about your surname?!"

I still didn't say anything.

"You're ashamed of me? After all I've done, my only child is ashamed of me. After smiling and smiling, even when we lost your twin-"

"Don't bring that up."

That was a part of my life I'd completely shut out. I'd totally buried and forgotten about that. I'd tried my best to forget every memory that was related to him.

Mum absolutely ignored my statement, like I had just said something irrelevant. "You will not tell me what to do or what not to do. If you want to change your school, then fine. But you should be ashamed of yourself, Hanniel."

I couldn't look up at her. Not when she'd said those words to me and actually called me by my full name. I fucked up.

Big time.

~

~K O M I S O L A~

Another school day. I released a deep breath as I adjusted my tie properly. God knows, I hated going to school so much and maybe because I hated Crestview High.

And the people in it.

School was a different kind of hell, and I was never going to be ready for it.

"The driver's waiting for you, Queen. You're late." Mother's presence in my room made me look up from the mirror. She came all the way up here just to tell me the driver was waiting for me? The driver didn't have some patience?

Suddenly this took me back to the first day of school when Mother had told me to lay low. So many things had changed in such short amount of time.

"Just give me a minute," I said with a slight frown as I picked up my backpack and phone beside me, the little pink furry ball linked to the phone case slightly caressing my skin. I'd tried out a new phone case I'd ordered recently, and the only reason why I did so was because my phone case was getting old. I had no idea why I chose this bright colored thingy with a little ball that was just too girlish.

I was all ready to go but just as I sidestepped Mother who was standing by the door, she called me back and her next words definitely had me thinking for the rest of the day.

"Take care of yourself, Queen. Things might not remain the same when you come back home. You'll just have to accept it."

~

Was Father bringing home his mistress? Was that what Mother meant? That we'd have to accept living with her? Or he had children with her already and we'd have to live with their children... no fucking way, I believe.

My mind was so preoccupied with hungry, curious thoughts that begged to be filled with answers as our Physics teacher scribbled random gibberish on the board. His equations weren't making sense. And honestly, I hoped he wouldn't call me to answer any damn question when he realizes I wasn't paying any attention.

I did read ahead of class, but that was just once in a blue moon, if I ever felt like. I'd been too deeply invested in my novels these days to read ahead of any Physics teacher.

Meanwhile, I could just feel Hanniel's occasional glances piercing into my skin every now and then. They were becoming too intense and I honestly didn't have any time or energy for him. Not after what he'd said.

I was too busy thinking about whatever it was I would face at home after school.

Thankfully, the Physics teacher hadn't noticed me and once the shrill sound of the bell rang in our ears, he was out of the class instantly.

Not without an assignment that looked like the biggest mathematical equation I had ever seen in my life.

What's with assignment questions having a higher degree than class examples?

"Hey, can I talk to you?"

"No," I answered immediately, not bothering to spare him a glance. As I said, I had no energy to deal with Hanniel right now. I was here cracking my brain for answers and dread was starting to overcome me.

What exactly would I meet when I got home?

a/n: God abeg. writer's block is just a b*tch.🫠 this book is almost done with, and honestly... I don't even know😭 Anywaysss, since I have absolutely nothing to sayyy,

listen to good music

& studyyy hard🫶🏾

bye luvss,

<3