JOY RAN INTO HER room slowly falling on the floor as she cried her eyes out,few minutes later the door to her room opened revealing her Nana who knelt beside her embracing her in a hug and she cried out more

"I'm sorry Nana I shouldn't have snapped at you like that"Joy said and her Nana shook her head silencing her

"It's fine Rejoice"she said and helped her up pushing her towards the bathroom "have your bathe and come down to eat"

"I'm not hungry"Joy said dismissively

"Of course you're"her Nana insisted before closing the bathroom door on her

Ruth went down and microwaved the already prepared jollof rice she did earlier Joy came down wearing a spaghetti strap on a bumshort,she sat at the dining table and Ruth served her

"Please eat!"she plead and Joy nodded started devouring her food,her Nana sat at the other side of the dining table watching her eat, Joy round up her food fast and Ruth cleared up the dining room

They sat at the sitting room watching an ongoing epic movie,Ruth scratched her throat gaining Joy's attention

"Are you ready to tell me now what happened?"she asked and Joy felt uneasy

"It's nothing"she replied in a low voice

"It's something Joy tell me what's wrong with you,I'm the closest to a mom that you got and hiding things from me will surely break my heart,it's felt like you never truly accepted me as your mom"Ruth said and Joy closed her eyes briefly trying to breath in and out

"I feel sick"she half lied

"Is that why you haven't been eating well but I see you eat whenever I cook"Ruth replied narrowing her eyes at Joy clearly not believing her

"That's the truth Nana,I'm not feeling fine and when I eat I end up vomiting it out"she half lied again

"Why didn't you bother telling me?"Ruth asked

"You weren't feeling fine and I didn't want to disturb you"Joy replied shrugging and Ruth went closer to her taking her right hand

"Please don't ever hide things like this from me,don't ever hide anything from me I wish you the best and will always strive to see you get it,the best only"Ruth said and Joy nodded blinking a tear back

"I'm sorry"she breathes out,she couldn't muster up the courage to tell Ruth what was really going on with her,she hates the fact she have to hide things from her but it's better than keeping people worried she thought

They suddenly heard a knock on the door and Joy quickly wiped away the threatening tears that managed to escape,Ruth stood up immediately going after the door she opened it to reveal Peter standing at the doorway

"Peter!"Joy called immediately standing up to meet him at the doorway "what a surprise visit"she chuckled

"I just thought about you and decided to stop by"Peter replied giving her an half hearted smile

"Come in"she gestured but he shook his head in disapproval "I want to enjoy the cool air outside"Joy went back inside to wear her flipflop joining him outside

They sat at one of the chairs lingering outside,they sat facing eachother

"So..."Peter dragged "how are you feeling?"

"I'm fine I think"Joy replied shrugging

"You ran out of school"Peter stated and Joy's eyes went wide

"How do you know?"Joy asked

"Forget how I know Joy,what's wrong with you? I remember when we were children you always look happy and carefree what changed? Or is it because Happiness is not around anymore?"Peter asked

"You don't understand"Joy answered trying to blink the threatening tears away

"Make me understand Joy,I'm here for you you should have know me by now and also know I can be trusted,you can't keep bottling everything inside you need to trust even just one person to share things with please, bottling things up will only make it worst for you it will make you end up suffering on your own and that's not the best,you have to let go and let someone share the pain with you"by the end of Peter's short speech Joy was already crying silently

"I miss Happiness a lot Peter,I still blame myself for what happened"Joy said choking,she will be thirteen anytime soon and yet she can't do anything she want she's...."Joy couldn't go further and bursted out into tears

"Calm down Joy please,when last did you visit her?"He asked

"My parent didn't let me go close to her since the incident,I haven't seen her for almost six years now"she replied wiping away the tears on her face

"You have to live positively Joy,you can't change anything that had happened,you can't alter the past but the future,you can better the future,you have to live well and brace yourself up to see your sister one day,living like this will only render you a weakling"

"Do you think she will ever wake up?"Joy asked hopefully

"I don't think I know she will wake up so get your shit together"Peter said and Joy laughed

"You rarely use curse words"Joy commented

"I will for you"Peter said and they went into a comfortable silence,they started talking about random things like church activities before Peter decided to call it a day

"I should be heading home"Peter said standing up and Joy did thesame

"Yeah you should"Peter pull Joy into a hug and she closed her eyes for a while feeling the comfort Peter was trying to pass to her before she feels he was roughly pulled away making her to open her eyes abruptly

"What's wrong with you!"she yelled as Jonah instinctively punched Peter on his face making Peter to wince and falling to the ground

"Why is he wrapping his hands around you?!"Jonah shut back and Joy rolled her eyes trying to help Peter up but Jonah shoved her back

"You better stop this your boyfriend protective mode before I get angry!"Joy warned

"He is thesame guy I met the other day"Jonah spatted wiping his mouth with the back of his hand almost snarling while Peter stood up brushing away the dirt on his trouser

"I'm so sorry Peter,thanks for today"Joy ignored Jonah looking at Peter,Peter nodded and Joy walked him out of the gate with Jonah shaking out of anger

"Get out of my house!"Joy said as soon as she came back

"What?!"Jonah asked not believing the words that came out of Joy's mouth

"I said get out my house!"Joy repeated

"For him?"Jonah asked

"Yes for him"Joy replied folding her hands across her chest

"I came here to check on you after what happened in school and now you are sending me away from your house because of him"Jonah said his voice lacing with hatred he felt for Peter

"And you came showing your animalistic behaviour,how do you think I will feel about that huh! I have a very protective boyfriend right and get happy,if you can't lessen my problems don't add to it"Joy said turning around and Jonah grabbed her hand kneeling down

"I'm sorry please don't walk out on me"he said

"We will talk about this later,I'm not in a good mood right now"Joy replied walking away from him not sparing a look

"I will be waiting here"Jonah said after but Joy huffed thinking he was joking

*************

Joy turn around and her eyes fluster open,she didn't know how she fell asleep all she remembered was going through her phone,she yawned and stood up grabbing her phone and it was few minutes to nine,she had slept for more than an hour and she's feeling hungry

She went to her bathroom to have a short shower wearing her night gown before going to the kitchen to get herself something to eat

"Jonah!"she suddenly remembered him thinking about what he said earlier,she shook her head not thinking he can actually do that and the time was gone,she went round the kitchen restless and decided it won't hurt to check if he was still lingering around

She opened the door outside and Jonah stirred on the chair he was sitting opening his eyes,he stretched yawning

"I thought I was going to sleep here"he said chuckling and Joy's eyes went wide,she didn't believe Jonah will still be waiting for her

"Why didn't you went back home?"she finally grow the courage to ask

"I told you I'm going to wait for you"Jonah stated like a matter of fact

"That's bullshit Jonah what if your parents discover you are not in your room"

"They won't trust me"Jonah said smiling and Joy went over to hug him,doing this alone had made him won her heart all over again and she was just too overjoyed to see Jonah waiting for no any other person but her

"I'm so sorry Joy I will never do that again,it was just out of instinct to protect what's mine"Jonah said drawing her closer the more as if it was possible

"I'm yours?"Joy asked

"Yes and I'm yours too"Jonah replied kissing her forehead and Joy raised her head up and gave him a kiss she tried pulling away but Jonah pulled her back kissing her fervently,she didn't complain and kissed back before they knew it Jonah's hands was roaming on Joy's body,he slide his hand into Joy's bare body and noticed she wasn't wearing anything beneath her night gown,he suddenly pulled back knowing were this will be leading to

"You're not wearing anything beneath and I didn't want to take it too far"Jonah said and Joy hide her face on his chest making Jonah to laugh

"You sure know how to embarrass someone"Joy rambled on his chest making Jonah to laugh out loudly

"A date tomorrow?"Jonah asked and Joy smiled widely

"Where will you be taking me to and don't tell me it's a surprise"Joy said and Jonah laughed

"Where will you love to go?"Jonah ask instead

"I will think about it"Joy replied

"Okay then I will see you tomorrow"Jonah said placing his hands on his pocket taking a step back from Joy

"I will see you"

"I love you"Jonah said and Joy smiled giving him a short kiss instead of replying before heading back to her room while Jonah went back to his house