Joshua helped Efe get up from the middle of the road. Her tear stained face was shining due to the reflective effect of the early night moon.

That night, Efe hardened her heart towards that burning feeling of betrayal she felt. Trying her best to forget the person that that same heart was starting to yearn for.

She wasn't even perturbed by the fact that Joshua confessed his love to her. Not one bit. The fact that she got distracted from her main objective and it wasn't even up to a week since she got to Abuja.

Stupid was a mild word to describe how she felt. Where was she going to start from?

"I'm sorry about those words I said."

She blinked rapidly when she heard those words. She actually forgot that Joshua was still there.

"It's alright. Although I am still very upset at the way you spoke to Nnamdi and the fact that you said such mean and hurtful words. Did you have any idea how bad your words could have hurt him? Did you know if he was suicidal? Did you know if he mom was even alive?"

She had no idea why she was supporting this boy. But she was glad she did it.

"And what if you felt intimidated by him because of your feelings for me? That doesn't give you any right to challenge him. Did you consider whether I liked him? You just went berserk and let's not even talk about the fact that you came all the way to Abuja from Delta state because of me! You know your parents are going to flip!"

Joshua had a pained look on his face. Followed by the fact that he couldn't muster to look at Efe. Even in the night sky, his sulked shoulders still stood out as his footsteps became slower. All these reactions showed one thing. He was genuinely remorseful.

"You know you don't owe me an apology. It's him. Better suck up your ego and apologize."

She laughed at herself as her own words replayed in her head. She's telling someone to apologize and she hadn't done so herself.

What a hypocrite! She thought.

"How can I apologize when I don't know in a blue moon where he is?"

She had been that inconsiderate.

Maybe that was why she hadn't noticed that Ami was mourning her sister.

Speaking of Ami, she had totally forgotten that she left her best friend behind without even calling back.
She reached into her bag and brought out her phone which was not surprisingly almost dead since she hadn't charged it in a while.

She pushed the on button and the big Infinix popped up on the screen before it diffused and morphed into another XOS which each letter having different colours and each colour making room for another in an order of purple, pink, blue and green creating a sort of eerie yet attractive light show

Her wallpaper came into view but a message came unto the screen. It came from Ami but it was sent the day after she left. Curiosity killed the cat as she tapped on the message.

Ami😜😜

Hey girl. It's been a while since we spoke after you dropped that letter. It's been lonely without you and your classmate Joshua has been calling. He has been worried about you. My mom is missing you while my dad is working hard to find you. All I hope for is that you are safe. I Love you.

Efe felt so bad that she could forget about her friend in such short notice.
She contemplated on calling or texting her but just decided to call.

She dialed her number and waited.

Ring

Ring

Ring

She was getting impatient.

Ring

"Yello, the number you dialed is switched off. Please come back later. Thank you."

Disappointed with the turn of events. She kept her phone back in her bag.

"Why did you come to Abuja in the first place." It was Joshua's turn to ask.

Efe sighed and she started telling him everything, excluding the intense moments she shares with Nnamdi.

"So where are we heading now?" He asked me.

"To be honest, I'm just as confused as you are and another thing is that I'm getting super sleepy." She said as she yawned.

"How about we go to that Mavis lady you talked about? The one who gave you the first clue."

She thought about it. It was plausible and efficient but it was going to be late soon and the park should have closed a long time ago.

"The park should be closed. We would go tomorrow." Joshua nodded in agreement. But where were they going to sleep?

______________________________________

"You de crase? Make I buss your head!?"

The apparent scream woke Efe up where she lied down at the edge of a caravan with Joshua at the other end of the store.

Caravans had been her only haven to rest her head for these days. As her body began its daily function, her stomach seemed to be the most anxious of all her organs. She was hungry. The last thing close to a Mel she had was the biscuits and water she shared with Nnamdi.

At the mention of his name, her day which had not even begun seemed to had ended. And her heart wondered what he was up to at the moment.

"I go comot ya teeth just now o! Where my money?" An old food vendor was holding the shirt of a younger man who was obviously owing him his money.

People were trying to separate them before it got bloody. Some supporting the man while others were begging him to release the young man.

Joshua shot up from sleep immediately her heard the screaming. His injuries were already clotting but without bandages or drugs, he looked very bad.

"I'm so hungry!"

Efe didn't know when she blurted it out. But Joshua remained calm as if he had a pack of Jollof Rice in his back pocket. But Efe hoped he did.

"Let's look for somewhere to eat." He plainly said.

She looked at him like he had grown two heads. They needed money and as far as she was concerned, they didn't have any.

"In case you're wondering, I have some money with me so don't fret."

The frown on her face gave way for a SpongeBob Squarepants like smile on her face.

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"So when we got there, the lady said that my father had moved out of there a year ago. I can't really wrap my finger around it. Did you give us a wrong address on purpose? Or is it my father that made the mistake?"

"Before I answer you, where is Nnamdi?" Mapis looked genuinely worried for him and Efe could easily note. Joshua felt out of place while the staring contest between the two females.

"He's not around for the meantime." The teen said trying to avoid the topic.

"Until you tell me what happened, I'm not answering you." Mapis said with finality. Her face was scrunched up.

The girl was head strong as she tapped her foot on the floor board of the dark Ice cream kiosk in the famed park.

Joshua himself was curious but didn't make any effort to get the answer out of her. As far as he was concerned, he didn't want to hear anything concerning him again.

"Answer me Efeoghene." Mapis said again.

Efe released the breath she was unconsciously holding. Finally giving in, Mapis smiled.

"Joshua, can you please excuse us?" Efe asked with pleasing eyes.

Begrudgingly, he got up and left the kiosk.

Outside the tiny shop were kids running around, food vendors making their money and he couldn't miss the couples as they walked hand in hand. He sighted a particular young couple, the girl dressed in a simple purple chiffon gown was eating cotton candy and some got stuck on the tip of her nose, the boy standing beside her wearing the same purple coloured pull over gently kissed her nose thereby removing the cotton candy from her nose.

Joshua couldn't help but watch the PDA with a broken heart. A deplorable smile made way to his lips.

Why couldn't Efe Love him?

He loved her unconditionally. Almost to a fault, he had wondered why he didn't say anything all those years but it was too late.

It's not like there weren't girls crushing on him too. After all he was among the top 10 hottest boys on his block not to talk of staying between the first to fifth positions in his class.

What didn't he have?

But knowing the kind of girl Efe was, she wanted more than that. But what more could he be?

The feeling of rejection was too painful, it was like a song put on repeat. Over and over and over again.

He found himself on a bench minutes later, still thinking on the issue. He spotted a young lady walking towards his seat.

To say she was beautiful was an understatement. Fair skin, plumped lips, red braids that made her look a like like a goddess, and a sweet smile. A little too sweet.

Her well endowed hips swayed as she sashayed towards him, the white spaghetti top she put on did no good job in hiding her busty cleavage. Not to talk the excessively short green khakis which showcased her long and lean legs.

Joshua swallowed the saliva gathering in his mouth in order not to drool.

She sat down next to him and showcased the most beautiful smile he had ever seen. It's like she fell out of a Forbes magazine cover.

"Hey there, you looked lonely so I decided to sit here." Her voice sounded like honey to Joshua's ears.

He was also touched by her words, he couldn't remember the last time he felt like acknowledged by someone.

"I'm Joshua, thanks for considering but I'm fine by myself." He said hoping she would insist to stay.

"Nah, I'll stay here with you. But don't you think you should visit a pharmacy or chemist for those injuries, they may get infected."
The girl said.

His heart did a back flip as he wondered why a stranger would care for him while the person he even tried to call a friend couldn't care less.

"Thank you much not don't worry." He said earnestly. He didn't need the pretty girl to be bothered.

"Okay o. But I'm going to check out the arcade, wanna come with?" She said as she made the cliché puppy dog eyes.

Joshua needed every of his self control to say No. But he couldn't.

"Yeah, let's go."
And the girl smiled gladly.

"Hey what's your name?" He asked her.

"It's Elisa."

Who deyyy breeeeth!?!?!?

May una no vex oh! Na die I de since o.

No worry, na double update na I de so!!

Una de watch BBN? Who be your fave housemates? And how do you feel about the new four housemates? Na only Queen and Michela na I fancy o

Oh well, see you in the next update!!