"Yes! The perfect dress to a perfect party! I want to scream my lungs out,"her hearty laugh was sweet music that calmed my tensed bones.

You think it's Sonia, right? Sorry to disappoint you. It's Little Miss Strange. Don't be surprised but she's just so crazy.

"I'm really not attending that party. It's stupid," I mumbled.

There's this party happening down the street and she's been trying to cajole me to go. She has successfully lured Sonia to attend .

"Well, stupid is cool. If I have to bundle you then I will. Seriously oo oya na" she tickled me and I laughed till my insides hurt. "Say yes. Say yes. Say yes..." She ranted.

I ran out of air and fell on the scattered bed. "O- ok okayy y-e-s yes yee"

She finally let me go and kicked the hair proudly. I'm so surrounded by drama-queens. "Yes. Sorry baby but you just need to have fun. Even hardened criminals go partying and in this case, it's obvious you're not even a criminal. You're too sweet."

I smiled. "Maybe. Thanks, Aun- "

She interrupted. "I'm Dara. Don't aunty me argh" she winked.

First name basis. "Alright. Pick us up by 8. We'll be fully dressed by then"

*
I opened my laptop. F had urged me to purchase one yesterday and with the help of Josh and Sonia, I set it up. I  entered my dumb password and waited for it to boot.

Slowly, I typed in the search engine. MFI Hospitals. The results showed on the screen with different interesting headlines. I finally clicked on one.

So...
It was founded by Sarah Badmus seven years ago and she suddenly quit a year ago. After quitting and abandoning MFI for no reason exactly, she became mentally heal and was just getting normal.

Oh no.

I searched for Sarah Badmus. And as dreaded, her history started ten years ago. September 22. No background. No parents. No family and worse, she's missing.

"Super strange, she was there in that house. Wasn't she?" F sounded deep in thought.

"She was. What's happening? What do you think?" I closed my eyes, trying to think.

"I don't know really."

I stood up. "I'll ask Josh. I'll threaten him, I'll -"

"No, Karl. This is getting deeper than just one Jumoke's case. We can't act on impulse," F chided.

Frustrated, I threw myself on the chair and let out a sigh. "Now, what?"

"We wait. We can't be reckless..."

Sonia suddenly barged in and I hated myself for not locking the door inside. She was dressed in - I'm too upset to notice - clothes. That's all.

"When will you have some manners, maami Sonia?" I asked,irritated.

She winked. "In my grave. I won't yell at the insect to stop biting deep into me"

I squeezed a paper and threw it at her. "You're too crazy for your own good."

She shrugged and dropped her purse on my bed. "Guess what?"

What?! "We're not going to the party?" I asked with hope.

She laughed. "Really? Not in this lifetime or the next. Try again..."

I joined her on the bed and sprawled. "just talk."

She rolled her eyes excitedly. "Well... I told mom to get me a therapist."

I stared at her quizzically. "Are you upset?"

"No."

"Are you losing it?"

"No."

"Are you depressed?"

"No."

"Were you raped?"

She shouted. "Hell no. Just cut the crap."

I hissed. "And I'm sure you didn't lose your memories so why the sudden need for a therapist?"

"Can't you see how cute and interesting Dara is? I want a therapist too."

I nodded incisively. "You should have explained na. You know what?"

"What?" Her voice was full of gusto.

"Dumb should've been your first name."

The look on her face was priceless as she charged at me. She jumped on me and despite my pleas, she tickled me hard. Trust Sonia, that's the only type of punishment in her big head.

She stopped abruptly and I was glad only for her to jump over to the table my laptop was on. Oh no. I didn't close the page. I followed.

"Now wait there..." She stared at the screen for seconds, taking in everything. "MFI Hospital? Why does it sound familiar? Why are you searching for it?"

I skipped a heartbeat. "Just checking random hospitals. Ever heard of it?"

She scrolled down. "Ooo it was founded by Sarah? Seriously."

Now, she has to say something valuable. "You know her?"

"Your mom kind of liked her and I think I did but trust me, you hated her with passion for only-you-know-what. It's a miracle she owns a hospital," she looked confused.

I was more confused. I hated her? Why? "How then do you know MFI if you never knew she owned a hospital?"

She laughed and waved me off. "Now you're talking like a detective, really. It's just one of those thi- " she stopped halfway and glued her face to the screen.

"What?"

She replied with a low voice. "Now I know. It's the strange hospital with a faint footprint in its logo."

"You're kidding. Show me," I moved closer to her.

"See, it's almost invisible. Like it's hidden there kind of. Weird."

*
"Where are you girls heading without me?"

We looked back to see Josh. He was sitting on the side lawn with a bottle of Fanta beside him.

"Wait o, when did Josh start drinking Fanta ehh" Sonia marveled.

Josh frowned. "Don't call me Josh. It doesn't suit you," he stood up and supported his stomach but as he saw my gaze follow his hand, he quickly dropped it. I knew it hurt even though he denied. He was trying to be fine.

Sonia clapped her eyes as she walked gingerly over to him. "See this one ooo I seriously need a boyfriend. Karleen please remind me when we get to that party , you hear?"

Josh laughed out loud. "Wait, for the love of friendship... Where did we get this girl from?"

I smiled weakly, I was trying my best to keep track of the conversation. All that was on my mind was SARAH BADMUS. It took all my power not to jump at Josh and scream my lungs out at him. "Seriously I don't know."

"Oh you're gonna miss me when I'm gone aww aww" she sang and tapped the heels of her shoes on the floor.

"We're not gonna mi- "

The loud blaring of the horn stopped us. "It must be Dara. Let's go argh." i voiced.

Josh smiled . "I need the contact of that your hot therapist o," he shook his head.

"So both of you will do what you and Kathleen were doing abi? Dara is not a hoe!" Sonia yelled lowly.

I stopped dead in my tracks. Josh shot Sonia a dead glance and muttered a curse under his breath. "Dammit ! You weren't supposed to say that."

Sonia opened her mouth to talk and closed it. "Actually erm that was an error."

I looked from Josh to Sonia and from Sonia back to Josh. "I just want to hit that party right now."
I wish my voice had enough strength I wanted it to have but the hurt I pain I felt deep in my heart couldn't be ignored.

Josh pulled my hands, encircling me. "Sonia tell the therapist Karleen will join her soon."

Sonia had enough sense to hurry away. Bless God.

"Ask me anything. I'll give you an honest answer" his expression was honest enough.

Though I badly wanted to ask about Sarah, I just couldn't ignore my hormones. "Do you love Kathy?" I looked away, dreading his answer.

"No."

"I hate lies."

"She loves me! That's why she kind of dislikes you. I'm not lieing, Karleen. I love you. I've always loved you an-"

"Karleen tell your mom I'm here quick!" Dara rushed to meet us. She wasn't dressed like someone going to a party, her dressing was professional. That means trouble. "See i was just called from office. They've found evidence." She tried to explain better.

My heartbeat sped up. "What evidence?"

"That you err killed Jumoke!"

And for the first time since I was back, a strange feeling settled in my stomach. It wasn't strange because I hadn't eaten. It was strange because it was that type of feeling you catch, when you did something wrong and you're about to be caught.

*
A:N
I know it's such a killjoy right?
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