Chikamharida's POV.

I always knew the universe to be a psycho. It always harms the good ones and leaves the bad ones. Praise and Cynthia were good examples. Praise being in danger was what ached me the most, and she had to need my help at a time when I was countries away from her. I could bet she didn't even know that I was such a distance away from her.

To take my mind away from her, Henry drove me to Maypsych. Its building stood as tall as ever, the leaves of the trees on each side of it whistling with the wind. He turned off the car, and alerted me so that we both walked out. Like a couple, he led me in to the reception where we didn't waste time to attain our visitor's badge. Then we walked the dull hallway till we were at her room. He entered first.

"Hello sis," he said to which she gave us both a blank stare while sketching. She was dressed in blue overalls this time, which still didn't hide her figure.

"Can you come pick me later, Henry?"

"She doesn't—"

"Like three hours, I just need the silence," I interrupted to which he nodded.

Once the door was shut, Hilda's head snapped up. "He likes you."

My head swerved towards her. "What?"

I thought she didn't speak? What was going on?

I took in a deep breath, concluding that she was was speaking to me because we were alone, and cause I was calm.

I had to be calm.

And it was easy. All I had to do was remember the look she gave me the last time.

"I'm not interested in your mean eye today lady," I said, going to sit beside her on the bed.

If keeping my calm would get her to keep speaking, then so be it. After all I needed answers of mine.

"I know you make for a silent companion and my other location has turned to a point of ambush that's why I decided to come see you." I broke the silence when she refused to do a thing another than sit and stare at me knowingly, before switching to her art.

"He likes you," she repeated, in the act of sketching. Her lines were light, feather strokes and it took me a while to realize that she was making floral prints.

"So?" I asked.

"I'll kill you if you hurt him."

I raised my brow at that. Her herself paused but I wasn't surprised.

Everything in my life was just turning out to be a wonder. From a stream to a waterfall. I needed to convince her if I wanted her to answer my question.

"I can't hurt him because he doesn't love me," I said and it seemed like the truth. Henry didn't love me, he was just trying to help me, to make me great.

"It's either you're lying to yourself or you're just using him."

The way she said it was nonchalant but she knew what she was doing. She was trying to get a rise out of me. I wasn't sure it would work but I could sense the signs. My breath had hitched, my toes were tapping against each other.

She was good, I had to give her that.

"At least I'm lying to myself and not my own brother," I said, staring pointedly at her. She stopped mid-sketch, raised her head and stared at me. Her choice of style didn't have hair covering her face so I could see the contours of her ire.

"See, whatever you're called and whatever you're trying to be. I'm not that young, so I'd ask you to quit whatever tricks you're trying to play."

"Alright," I said, also sitting up and crossing my feet. "What I'm saying is that you haven't been insane all this while. Your English is too proficient for someone in such a state."

"My ability to speak doesn't define my mental health but I get what you're hinting at. And truly- you are right!"

Remain calm, Harida.

Remain calm.

I smiled.

She also smiled; but there was something in her eyes as she continued.

"I'm a veteran."

I tilted my face. "Are you?"

"Yeah," she said, standing to take a bottled water and plastic cups out of a cupboard. How much does Henry earn again?

She poured for us both and passed me one. "Don't worry, it's not drugged."

"That's a genuine fear," I said in the same tone before taking it from her and actually sniffing it.

Well, it was odorless.

And sweet.

Sugary.

"It's actually drugged," I said, spitting it back in the cup. "-and now I'm concerned."

"It's not drugged , it's sparkling water. Mr Bolaji's favourite. Spring water and drops of coconut water. Very nice."

I ignored her jab at me cause maybe she hadn't really meant it in that way.

Moments later though, I was proven wrong.

"After staying with my brother and ordering him around, I'm surprised you haven't tasted the good things of life."

I had to shake the memory away. Starvation. Hunger.

"Hilda," I said. "Your weak jab wouldn't make me forget the subject matter. You're a veteran doesn't make you obliged to hide your mental health from your brother."

"Alright then, I see you hate jokes," she said, sipping her water.

I patiently waited for her. And by waiting, I mean glaring at the way her fingers were curled around the cup.

Finally, she was done.

She smiled when she met my eyes.

And she let out a large burp.

"You're good and I'll give your well deserved accolades. However, you do know that if I don't plan to say a word, I won't? It's a special part of the military training."

Just then, a nurse entered. She stared at how close we were, then walked towards Hilda as if to inspect her drink.

"Everything alright miss? Sir Henry said I should check on you."

I nodded and Hilda did too, before she left.

"You're sure you wouldn't tell? Even when your brother knows the truth?"I asked once the door was closed.

"He wouldn't believe you."

"You said it yourself, he likes me. It's my word and the nurse's against yours."

"Forget her," Hilda said. "It's no strange thing. And as far as Henry is concerned, you aren't in the right state of mind, so you must have misheard."

"CCTV?"

"Disconnected. I did it myself."

"So now that you know I'm not sharing a thing, care to explain, why you asked him to leave?Relationship troubles?"

My fingers inched towards my phone, ready to turn the recording button on.

"Any wrong move and you'll be out. And guess what? No one would blame me," she said, staring into my eyes with a humorless smile.

I immediately got what she meant.

"I'm leaving,," I said, preparing to stand.

"Fine. I know you came for a reason though. And I always knew you had too much information on me. The first time my Henry introduced us wasn't the first time you heard of me, right?"

I turned towards her.

"Body language is just so my thing. But you can leave if you want. I won't stop you."

I kept debating in my mind if I could ask her for a favour. Adele was on my neck about her mother, and very soon, she'd be digging deeper into the shadows. Or did she already know all the secrets?

"I want you to see your daughter."

"I was not wrong after all. Where did you get the information?"

"Your diary. Your daughter has been using it. She has the wish to she you but wouldn't be allowed."

I was expecting happiness at my words, but instead, I was met with a blank face with eyes so brown and uncaring that they seemed intimidating.

"If you're trying to make a deal, which I think you are, then it'd be nice if I got something out from it, won't it?"

"You're seeing your daughter, what else do you ask for?"

"Revenge. I know you know."

"Well, the last page was torn."

"It wouldn't be if you actually let me in on your plan. I only want revenge and id see Adele if and only if you help me to accomplish that. You only have to write your cell here," she said, handing me the thing she'd been sketching. Boy o boy was the portrait of a man so fine!

A pencil tip came into my focus, its edge tapping on the forehead of the man.

"Your digits should be here... makes things interesting."

I didn't oblige. Instead I wrote the digit on the bottom of the paper and passed it over to her.

"I'll be bringing her to you," I said, still on my feet as I started making my way out.

"If you say so."

*****

Unfortunately, the Maypsych's reception area didn't seem like the most ideal place to spend the rest of my time. So I dialed Henry's cell.

"Henry?"

"Yeah. Harida, are you alright?"

"I am- I am. I just need to go home. Are you free?"

"I'm actually not far from your location. I'll be there soon," he said.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."

With such a white space camouflaged as a reception area, I was left with no choice but to be lost in my thoughts.

What if Adele knew what her dad does? Worst, what If she'd seen it and she had decided that she'd support him no matter what, whether he was right or wrong?

What exactly does all that mean for Henry's plan to revenge and of Hilda's plan to revenge?

Henry would surely be angry when he found out.

I wanted to tell him but it wasn't my place to.

And if Adele could agree to Henry's plan just to see her mum, there was definite no harm in secrecy. He wouldn't be hurt by what he doesn't know, right?

As I stared more at the seats scattered around long tables, high ceiling bulbs like disco, high windows like I was in a cell, my thought became even more intruding.

They visited a place I didn't want them to. A place where I stored the recesses of emotions; where I stored the memories of minimal personal interactions for further deliberation.

Yeah, it was at that place.

Cause why else, would I be smiling at the thought of Henry liking me, and of him willing to drive miles just to come pick me?

Why else  would I want to protect him from his sister's lies?

Why else if it wasn't love or something as equally irrational?

But I'd like to admit that the feeling was nice tho. It was like seeing a spring in a deserted planet. Like the sight of sidewalks for a prisoner on parole.

It was incomparable but totally replaceable.

And that was why, at that instant, images of the woman in the hall seeped into the forefront of my mind, wiping the smile away.