Dieko

"Mi o le gbebi mo (I can't live here anymore)" I hear my mum's voice and it sounds like she's crying

Since I like amebo, I press my ear to the door of the guest room

Yes, guest room

Ever since that pregnant woman came into the house, She took over the masters bedroom, she sleeps there with my dad, my mum had to move to the guest room

"I'll tell Dieko and Damilola" I hear her say

"Mummy ejo (please)" I guess she's talking to grandma then

"We can take the next flight to Lagos, a le wa gbe pelu yin (We can come and live with you)"

Ehn?, Live with who?, Me I don't want to leave Abuja o

"Ese ma, ma peyin pada (Thank you ma, I will call you back" I then hear footsteps

I quickly leave the door so I won't get caught, I go downstairs to the kitchen, Aunty Folake is there cooking something

"Good morning ma" I greet

"Morning dear" She smiles

I almost hiss, who is this one shining her dirty teeth for?, husband snatcher

"I'm making rice and stew with chicken, shey you will eat?" She asks

Eat what?, The food you've poisoned?, Please keep your food to yourself

"Yes ma" I lie, I will have to cook some indomie for myself and Damilola, I know that one is always eating, they'll use food and kidnap her one day

"It's so hard carrying a boy, he's always kicking" She rubs her swollen belly

Who asked you?

I force a smile and leave the kitchen before I'll go and voice out my thoughts by mistake because if this woman could read my thoughts, I would be in serious trouble

∆∆∆∆∆
"Damilola, Diekolola, there's something I need to tell you guys" My mum says her eyes holding different emotions

I feel like I already know what she's going to say

"We are going to Lagos" She announces

"Really?" Dami claps her hand excitedly "Like a family vacation?"

I stare at her. What's doing this one?

"Umm..not really" My mum says "We are going to stay with grandma"

"Oh with daddy and aunty Folake?"

"Umm...no, just three of us"

"Ehn, why?"

"You won't understand Dami, you're still young"

Ehn?, This one that is twelve years old, young ke?

"But Dieko, you understand right?"

I nod slightly, I really did understand, if I was mum, I wouldn't want to live here with Aunty Folake especially when she puts to bed, mum won't be able to bear it

"But mummy what about school?" Dami asks

"You guys will start in a new school, you'll have new friends, I want you guys to have a fresh start"

"But I don't want to leave Daddy" Tears brim her eyes

"Come on" My mum hugs her "I want the best for you two, this environment is not good for you guys anymore, you'll be much better in Lagos, grandma will take good care of you"

"You're coming with us right?" She asks

"Of course, we're all going"

"Our flight is by 8am on Saturday morning, you guys can bid your friends goodbye tomorrow at school, then pack your bags, I'm still with your international passports" She adds

"Does daddy know we're leaving?" I ask, if he knew we were leaving, he must have tried to change mum's mind...right?

"No, he doesn't" She shakes her head "That is why we're leaving so early"

I heave a sigh of relief, if dad knew about this and didn't try to stop mum, I'll just start crying, that would mean he didn't even want us in his life

"I understand mum, we'll be ready on Saturday morning" I assure her

But one thing was on my mind, if we go to Lagos on Saturday, would I ever see daddy again?

∆∆∆∆∆
"Omo, that boy is fine abeg, you can't compare him to Tayo" Dorothy laughs

"I always knew you were blind" Ife laughs at her "Tayo is finer than him joor"

"D, what do you think?" Ife taps me expecting me to support her, I stare at her blankly, who is Tayo abeg?

"You were not listening, shey?, What is wrong with you?, Is everything okay?" She asks

"I'm fine" I lie, I know this will be the last time I'll see them before I leave for Lagos on Saturday but I couldn't bring myself to tell them

"This Mr Martin is very wicked, he's making me hate Chemistry" Akin sits down opposite me "D, shebi you'll explain Sulphur to me?" He asks

I stare at him unable to nod or say anything, my mind was completely somewhere else

"Are you even listening to me?" He asks "Are you okay?" Concern is evident in his voice, he's my best friend after all

"Thank you o, her mind has been somewhere else since" Dorothy says

"I-I'm fine" I manage to say

"Tell us naw, we are your best friends o, who else would you tell if something is bothering you" Ife probes

"I-I'm going to...Lagos" I breathe out

"Ahan, is that why you're like this?, Is your grandma okay?, Shebi she stays in Lagos"

"My grandma is fine"

"Then why are you naw going?, Family vacation?"

"Umm...not exactly" I say

"Ehn oya talk well naw, why are you behaving like this?"

"I'm moving to Lagos, as per I'm not coming back to Abuja anytime soon"

"Ehn?, What did I just hear you say, why?"

I couldn't tell them, yes, they were my best friends but I felt somewhat ashamed telling them that my father has another wife

"Umm" I think of something to say "My father wants us to move there, he just got employed in a big company in Lagos, so we have to all move there" I lie looking at my table, I can't look at them, if I do, they'll see through my lie

"Why didn't you tell us since, D?" Dorothy asks, her voice comes out strained like she's in pain

"I just found out yesterday, I'm sorry"

"You can't leave Abuja Dieko, we've been friends since junior school, are you really going to leave us this way?" Ife says

"I'm sorry, it's not my fault" I can't help it, I start crying, I was lying to my best friends

"I can't believe you D, what the hell?" She's on the verge of sobbing

"I'm sorry" I say again "We'll call and chat everyday"

"It's not going to be the same without you, don't you get it?" Dorothy huffs, she stands up and leaves the class angrily, Ife follows suit then I notice Akin is still here, he hasn't even spoken since

"I know you're lying"

"Ehn?"

"You're lying D, tell me the truth, I know you aren't leaving Lagos because your dad got a new job"

"I'm not lying" I lie again, what is wrong with me?

"Look into my eyes and say it Dieko, look into my eyes and say you aren't lying"

I breathe out mustering up courage, I then look up staring at him straight in the eyes

"I am not lying Akin"

That's it, I think they need to give me award for best liar in town, when did I turn to this?

Without another word, Akin stands up and leaves the class leaving me to wallow in my own self pity

.....
Awwn, as I was writing this chapter ehn, I was feeling Dieko's pain

I feel sorry for her😔

I can't believe we are already on 100+ reads, this means a lot to me guys, thank you so much

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