He was right.

I was an bitter moody girl with a shitty life.

I pounded his chest as I tried to force the betraying stubborn tears to stop flowing. "Don't. Ever. Say. That. Again. Ever!"

I plopped down on one of the stools. The first person to tell me that I had a shitty life was my "frenemy". It hurt so bad ever since that I couldn't handle anyone telling me that -though much people haven't said that to me. Vincent was like the fourth or fifth person telling me that.

And considering what I faced last night, I just had to cry. It honestly made my heart felt lighter by a fraction.

I covered my face in my palm while I cried.

"Um. . ." I was expecting him to insult me, call me a weakling or whatever. I didn't care anyways as long as the whole class wasn't there to witness it all.

"Are you okay?" I heard him ask slowly.

"Do I look like I am?" I answered not looking up at him. "Of course I'm not okay. I've never been," I admitted.

"I-" he paused. "Why on earth are you crying?" He asked. He was obviously having a hard time apologizing. "If it's something I said, just know that I wasn't serious. I was just angry."

"Shut up! You were serious," I said in a teary voice.

I could feel his glare.

"Okay, I'm sorry. That's what you want to hear, isn't it?" he finally blurted.

I sniffed but didn't look up so he sighed and sat opposite me. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you cry. It's just that I have my own life and issues and you're not just getting on my good side," he said.

I could tell by his voice that he struggled to say those words to me. If our relationship wasn't the way it was, I'm sure I'd be receiving a hug. And even if I wasn't the showy emotions kind of person, I really needed a hug.

"Adebayo what did you do to her?" Mr. Palmer asked alarmed.

I wiped my eyes immediately. Enough crying for the day.

"I'm okay sir," I croaked when he reached me. The man gave Vincent a questioning look.

"Sir I didn't hit her I swear. I think it was something I said," Vincent said looking at me.

I'm sure he wasn't expecting my emotional breakdown. I also didn't foresee the tragic event happening, ever. And I was thinking I was going to stab him with glass. He stabbed me with his words. How ironic.

"Control your tongue Vincent. Learn. I'm so sorry about that, Naomi."

"Nairobi sir," I managed to correct.

"Sorry Nairobi. In fact you know what? You two can go forget about the mess but do call one of the cleaners to come and clean it up," he told us with a smile.

"Thank you sir," we said in unison.

"And don't forget you'd be submitting the manual on Tuesday. Please work on your cooperative spirit," he advised before we left.

We said nothing to each other as we headed to the cafeteria. We were walking side by side but there was about six feet distance.

"You may want to wash your face. Your face is tear stained," he said with an expressionless face before moving ahead.

My anxiety lessened.

At least I knew he wouldn't go telling the whole class that he made me cry.

When I got to the cafeteria, as expected Jessica was at our or rather her normal table with Chijioke. Aliyah and Amanda were seated with them. Two girls, Lydia and Chioma were also there. I was not close to them. The cafeteria tables only seated six people so there was no space for me. They didn't notice me so I considered going up to the class.

Immediately I turned, I bumped into someone.

"Sorry," I heard Stephen say.

I groaned inwardly and tried to walk past him but he grabbed my hand. "Girl chill, I'm not biting you," he laughed.

"What's so funny?"

"You," he laughed again. Deep, charming but annoying. He was annoying me. "Are you not eating?"

"No, I'm not. Now will you please leave me alone?" I seethed glaring pointedly at him. I wished so bad looks could do something, anything.

Stephen didn't leave me. In fact, he tightened his grip. I tried to pull my hand but he continued speaking, "I think it's because your table is full. We can eat together you know?"

He was pulling me into the cafeteria now.

"Haven't you eaten already?" I asked him.

Why don't some people just take a hint?!

"Well, I can just sit with you and we can talk," he smiled.

I was finally able to jerk my hand away from his. "Thanks a lot Stephen but I really don't need your company." I said and rushed out of the cafeteria.

When I got to the class, a few people were already there. I located my seat and got comfy on it. I placed my head on my desk waiting for sleep to do its thing when I heard his voice again.

"Did Vincent do something stupid?" He asked.

I didn't have to look up to know Stephen was occupying the seat in front of me though facing me. I tried to prevent my mind from playing that embarrassing incident again.

"I saw you go into the ladies," he said yet again. "And you seem like you cried. Well it's not really obvious but I happen to be very observant. I'm a scientist after all."

I looked up to face him, frowning at his bad attempt at joking. His face was dangerously close that I had to use my hand to push his face away. "I didn't cry," I denied. "I can handle the boy. Now get out."

Stephen smiled sickly. "You are really rude". He brought his face closer again. "See Vincent is trying to cope, Nairobi. He has been through a lot and is still going through a lot. I don't want you to make him lose it. He has issues."

"He's not the only one with issues!" I banged my table drawing attention to us. I continued nevertheless. "I have my own issues too. He can't annoy me and I'll let him be just because he has issues. I'm going to handle him great-"

"Issues huh?" He smirked. "Tell me about them." He placed his elbow on my desk and  rested his jaw on his palms. His honey brown eyes twinkled.

"Stephen I need to rest."

"See I know what that boy is capable of. He has beaten someone to unconsciousness before. He has even hit a girl. Be careful."

I pushed his face away yet again. "I'm not letting anyone intimidate me."

But I let Kojo do just that, my inner self said. I ignored it as I tried to push down the horrible memory that made tears threaten to flow.

Stephen stroked his beardless chin. "Why are you like this? Stubborn and closed off. Why do you feel like everyone is a threat -everyone's trying to intimidate poor Nairobi?" He asked me, his expression showed interest. "C'mon you can tell me?"

I took a deep breath. "That's for me to know and for you to wonder. Maybe you guys are. Just leave me already. I need to rest."

I was about to place my head on my desk when he held my chin. I shot him a murderous glare but that made him smirk. "I need to figure you out and I'm going to," he said before leaving my side.

That makes two.

Too bad I wasn't considering giving any a chance. I knew I was being closed off. But it's for the best right?

*
When I got home, I found Dinma waiting for me, tapping her foot impatiently on the worn out carpet.

What did I do now?

"Naomi," she called. She was sitting on the bed. I removed my socks and dropped my bag. When last had she called name?

"Good afternoon," I greeted her avoiding eye contact.

"Hold it there. What is good about this afternoon?" she asked me. She had stopped tapping her foot.

"Did I do anything wrong?"

"Did I do anything wrong?" She mimicked me. She stood up to face me, "no dey speak English for me abeg,"

I was about to say something when she interrupted me. "Shey I tell you to kill person?" She asked shamelessly. "I try help you and-"

"Help me? You call that helping?" I was enraged now. "You sell your niece as a sex toy to a man whore and you can that helping. Shame on you!" I spat angrily. I was usually courageous when she wasn't drunk.

"I'm going to twist that your mouth, ungrateful fool". She continued in pidgin. "You no grateful. Chineke! I for throway you for street when Naomi leave you run but I use church mind take care of you."

She landed me a deafening slap before she continued. "You open your dustbin mouth tell me shame on you abi?

She raised her hand like she was going to hit me again making me shrink but she didn't. "No problem anyways. Na me make mistake," She said and stormed out of the house.

I collapsed on the bed as tears welled up in my eyes. My cheek stung as I tried to touch it. I couldn't hold the tears back anymore so I let it out. I cried for the second time that day.

The more I wiped my eyes, the more the tears poured. My mother abandoned me. My aunt was considering doing the same.

I just wanted to be happy.

I just wanted a mother to love me. I wanted a father too. I didn't care if we were going to be wretched, I just wanted a mother and a father to tell me they loved me.

They didn't even have to say it.

Their actions could prove their love. Maybe I could have a sibling too. Someone to fight with me. Cry with me. Laugh with me. I wanted a family I could share my emotions with.

I didn't want to be the moody girl with a shitty life. Was that too much to ask for?

But as the tears rolled down my cheeks, I realised it was indeed too much to ask for. I was reminded that those were farfetched dreams. I was only trying to hide from the lingering truth.

I had no family.

✧෴✧

Phew!
So Nairobi let us into her mind today🥺
Guys appreciate your family, there's someone out there craving it.

Don't forget to vote and comment.

Bye.