Dedicating this chapter to RuthieEbun Thanks for the amazing cover!

Samson's POV

"Goo...good afternoon sir, good afternoon ma." I bowed my head a little as a sign of respect when I greeted them. I didn't know if they were Yoruba or not. In fact, I basically knew nothing about Anita and her family. Well, we haven't had a tête a tête yet so it was understandable.

After I'd greeted them, I sneaked a glance at Anita and trust me when I say she looked frightened. Wow, I had never seen her in such state. It was funny though, but I couldn't possibly laugh at this heated moment. After which, I silently prayed that her parents be nice and not rude or strict.

"How are you?" Anita's mum replied with an obvious forced smile, whilst her dad kept mute and was looking at us or me in particular, with so much disgust. His look was very intimidating and scary. Okay, I was in for something this afternoon.

"I'm...I'm fine ma." Nervousness wouldn't be the appropriate word to describe my feelings at the moment. I was more than nervous.

She then looked at Anita. "So who's the lad, Anita?" She had a very nice yet snobbish accent.

Anita gulped before speaking. "Uhm...he's my classmate. Actually, my study partner." One could tell she was uneasy with the way she sounded.

"Wow. I see. So the studying also involves tossing pillows at each other, right?"

"Erm..."

"Anita! Upstairs." Her dad commanded before exiting the living room. Finally he spoke. I thought for a split moment he was dumb. Why was I making things look funny when they weren't?

Some seconds later, her mum followed suit after a long stare at us, leaving alone Anita and I.

"Uh-oh! This ain't good at all. I'm so sorry Anita." I started to say.

She let out a light chuckle. "It's no problem. In fact, I should be the one apologising for my parents cold-shoulders at you, dad in particular."

I smiled a little after she finished her statement. I was quite surprised that she rendered an apology to me. Also, it made me feel happy. Anita, render an apology? Was it just me or she was changing for good?

"I...I should be on my way now." I said after a long pause.

She nodded her head in approval. "Yeah, I think you should. My dad must be waiting impatiently for me upstair."

"Okay. Bye then. See you on Monday." Funny enough, I didn't want to leave her house but I had to.

Her parents were totally spoilers. Why did they have to come at the wrong time? Just when we were having a blissful moment- our moment, her parents had to ruin it.

"Monday it is." She replied and saw me off to the door.

I wondered what her parents were going to do to her. I just hope they don't hit her. Ah! What was wrong with me? I should care less. Whether they hit her it not shouldn't be my problem. Besides, I have a life of my own. So I should focus mainly on it and not some girl. How did I even fall for Anita? I never intended to fall for a girl in university talk more of secondary school. I have to retract my steps.

Initially, books were my major and only priority but now, Anita? No, this couldn't be possible. If this was a game, then it had to stop. I wouldn't let Anita be the person to make me lose focus. I guess I would have to fight this feeling away. But it was really going to be tough.

Those were my thoughts as I walked aimlessly in Anita's estate. Where was I even going again? I'm messed up!

Finally, I composed myself and I later knew where I was heading. I walked to the gate. As soon as I got there, the security men stopped me.

"Oga, find us something na." One of the security men said. Actually, there was three of them.

Shit! I'd totally forgotten the deal we had. I escaped them with the assurance that when I was coming back, I would give them some cash.

My plan was to get to Anita's apartment and when I was leaving, I would ask her to lend me some money but I totally forgot 'cause of her parents. Dang it! What am I going to do now? I was cashless.

"Uhm...maybe some other time. For now, I'm cashless." That was the only reasonable thing I could come up with.

"Ah ah! Oga no be so we talk am the first time o." The same desperate security man argued.

"I know. Actually, I misplaced the money that was with me." I lied.

"Hmm. That's how you small boys of nowadays talk. Instead of you to just say you wasted it on a girl." He wiggled his eyebrows while saying that.

"Hahaha...." And it also made me burst out in laughter. "I wish." I said in between my laughter.

"Just be going. But next time, we won't let you pass if you don't give us anything."

"No problem sir." I faked a smile until I got out of the gate, where I was out of sight, before putting on a straight face.

Nigeria security men and their demand when it came to teenage guys. Was it all guys that were doing Yahoo? Even though it was all, do I look like one?

I trekked to my house 'cause I didn't have money with me. It was quite a far distance but nevertheless, I was used to it so I didn't feel tired or any form of pain.

As I got to my noisy and dirty street, some of my friends started greeting me. It was a norms in my area, even those that I didn't know would greet me. We were like family in this place, however, there was a lot of fighting and gossiping in my area.

I spotted my mum in her friends shop. They were sitting down and talking, probably gossiping.

I then walked up to them. "Good afternoon ma." I greeted both women. I couldn't possibly say 'mas'.

"You are back?" Isn't it obvious? Nigerians and their stupid questions.

"No o. It's my ghost you're seeing." I wanted to say but rather I said. "Yes ma."

"When did you arrive?" She smiled broadly at me.

"Just now."

"Okay. Go home and eat. Did you eat in that place?"

"Nope."

"Hmm. That's how they will be lying." The other woman chipped in. "Children of nowadays." She then eat my mum's lap a little, what women do when they are laughing or excited.

"Mummy I did not eat anything there." I indirectly ignored her.

"Anyways, go and eat. Hope you're not too hungry."

"Matter of fact, I'm famished." I hadn't eaten since morning. Yeah, that was the reason for my cold treatment at Anita's house. You know the popular saying, a hungry man is an angry Lion. She was even lucky I didn't transfer all of my anger to her 'cause on a norm, that was what I always did whenever I was hungry.

"Sorry dear."

"What about Sarah, is she at home?" My elder sister's name was Sarah in case any of us has forgotten.

"I'm not sure. You can go find out for yourself."

"Okay. Later then." I literally ran off to my house. I was so starved. I needed to eat something immediately or I would just die, figuratively.

As I got close to my house, some girls blocked my way.

"Samson, Samson!" They chorused my name, giggling. Apparently, they were Zainab's friend.

I frowned at them. I wondered what they wanted from me now. "What? Can I help any of you?"

One of them decided to speak up. I guess she was the chief speaker amongst them. Wondering why I guessed that? Well, they were always together, and whenever they needed someone to speak or defend them, it was always the girl. She also had a bad mouth.

"You know you're a fine boy and our friend Zainab, really likes you a lot. So she wants to give you something." She said.

"Okay." I folded my arms around my chest, with a strong frown still worn on my face. I waited for them to give me whatever Zainab wanted to give me, but nothing was coming out of their hands. "Where's it?"

"Duh, she said you have to meet her to collect it."

I should have expected it. She wouldn't just give me something that easily unless she wanted something in return. "Well, tell her I don't want whatever she has to give me." I started to walk off but the same loud girl stopped me.

"It's not by choice Samson, it's by force." She said sinisterly.

Before I knew what was happening, they started pushing me to Zainab's house which was opposite mine. Trust me when I say these girls were sick. I didn't force myself out of their grip 'cause if I did, I would injure someone so I stayed calm and moved with them. I just hope they wouldn't become thieves or kidnappers when they grow up 'cause they were already practicing the act.

When we got to the desperate girl's house, Zainab, they pushed me inside the living room and slammed the door shut but they didn't lock it.

She was already in the living room, sitting down and facing me. "Wow. You actually came?" She seemed surprised.

I rolled my eyes at her. "Like you didn't know I would. When you told your girls to force me here. Do you even know how embarrassing it was?" I looked at her with so much disgust.

"Forced? I didn't tell them anything. I just told them to stop you whenever they see you and deliver my message." She looked sincere.

"And that's not anything?" I later groaned in frustration. "What do you want from me?"

She stood up from her seat and gave me a pleading yet desperate look. "I want us to date."

"Look, I'm very hungry and I need to go and eat. When you want to tell me something reasonable, let me know."

"I have food. You can eat here."

"No thanks." I turned back to leave but she held my hand.

"I want to give you something."

I removed my hand from her grip and faced her with a scowl. "I'm not that desperate. So give it to some other guy." This girl was really annoying. In fact, I didn't see her as a friend anymore. I now saw her in a different light, however, not as an enemy.

"Samson, I know you're not desperate. I just want to give you."

"If you think this is going to make you win me over, then don't bother giving it to me."

She smiled a little. "Just sit down while I go get it."

I stared at her for a moment before going to have a seat.

Anita's POV

Trepidation was what I was feeling as soon as Samson left the house. I didn't know what my dad planned on doing to me. I was anxious.

Steadily but slowly, I walked upstair to his room. Or where else would he be if not his room? I got to the door and quietly knocked on it.

"Come in." I heard his loud and commanding voice say, and that sent cold shiver run through me.

I opened the door and peeped in to see if he was holding a cane or anything in his hands. Anyways, I wasn't sure if dad had a cane anymore 'cause it was ages since he flogged us. Same went for mum. If my memory served me right, it was when I was five years old that they stopped beating me. I didn't know about Tracy.

As I peeped in, I was taken aback to see that it was only dad in the room, and he was calmly seated on the king sized bed with his singlet and trouser on. Where was mum by the way?

I then heaved a sigh before strolling in. He looked at me with his intimidating eyes, after which, he gestured for me to sit down beside him on the bed.

I was taken aback a second time to see that he was practically smiling at me as I sat on his bed. "What happened? Hope there's no problem." I wanted to ask him because I kinda found his behavior right now somewhat strange, but of course I didn't.

I thought he was going to shout at me or even start hitting me at the instant I got to his room but this...it was least expected, trust me.

"Tell me truthfully, who is that guy?" He started to say. "But before that, where's your sister, Tracy?"

"Er...she went out. She actually didn't tell me where to." I was still a bit confused and shocked at my dad's behavior towards me. Not like I wanted him to beat me or anything, but this was so unlike a Nigerian dad who just caught his daughter with a guy in a somewhat romantic act.

"That girl ehn. I would call her later to know her where about. So about you and..." A knock on the door interrupted his statement. "Come in." He commanded.

It was the chef. "Good day sir." He bowed a little. "Sir, lunch is ready. Should I bring it up here or I should leave it in the dinning table sir?"

"The dinning table is okay with me. I'd come down later to eat. Thanks. You may leave now."

"Okay sir." He winked at me before leaving, which made me giggle. Maybe this story should have been titled 'The chef and Anita.' Crazy me!

"So back to our discussion, who's the guy?" Dad seemed so interested on knowing who Samson was. But why?

"But I already said that he is my classmate." I said in a 'duh' manner.

"I know, but maybe you lied then. So seriously, who is he to you?" Okay, this was getting weirder. My dad was having this kind of discussion with me? I thought it was only meant for mothers. I guess dad just wanted to keep a close relationship with me and get to know me more. It was necessary of all parents though, both genders.

"He is JUST a friend and a study partner." I made sure to lay emphasis on the word 'just.'

"Study partner?" Dad cocked an eyebrow.

"Yes. Dad I told you about the competition or have you forgotten?" I was getting comfortable with him now.

"Of course not. But if he is your study partner, then why were you guys throwing pillows at each other?"

"Cause...um...we just wanted to have fun basically. We were bored studying." Anita the bad liar. But come to think of it, we actually didn't want to study. So it was half truth, half lie.

"Hmm." He didn't seem to buy my lie. "If you say so then. So when's the competition?"

"I don't know." I shrugged. "It hasn't been announced yet."

"So the guy is that good?" Okay, this daddy and daughter talk was getting more interesting for me.

"I guess." Samson was very good but I wouldn't admit that to anyone's face. "At least, he is better than the rest of the students in class, so that makes him..."

"That good?" Dad chimed in. However, he looked skeptical of Samson being very good academically. I wondered why.

"Yes, that good."

"Hmm. But hope you're still topping all your classmates."

"Sure. Don't you trust your daughter again?" I said proudly.

"That's my girl." He rasped my shoulder. "I think I should go and eat before the food gets cold." He stood up, ready to leave the room.

"Okay daddy." I stood up too and we both left the room.

* * * *

A long chapter there. I had to 'cause I wouldn't be updating for a while due to my preparation for an exam. Wish me luck guys.

Yeah, a new title and a new cover. How are they?

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