Hey guys. I hope you're having a good time. Please vote for my book on the AFRICAN WRITER'S AWARD. The book is on my message board.

If you wanna vote, enter the book, go under Teen Fiction and put a ❤️ on my book name. Please Please Please Please Please Please Please Please!

Thank you so much! Much love 💓

"So why did you scream at him and on top of it, run away?" Mapis asked Efe.

The latter bit her lips in frustration. She suddenly found the ceiling interesting to look out but a cough from the older woman brought her back from her discovery of tiny ants on the boards.

"I just felt that, he lied to me. He used me. It was heartbreaking to me and I have never felt so stupid in my life before. Don't you get me?"

"Of course I do. It's just a matter of time and self control. You have started having feelings for this boy. I am not justify you or Nnamdi, he told you the truth, but he should have been honest with you from the start. And give him a break girl, he just told you his story."

Efe looked at this woman, she reminded her so much of her mom. The way she spoke and knew the right words to use. She found herself hugging the woman and slowly giving way for tears to flow.

Mapis who was shocked at the sudden non reflex action. She hugged her and patted her back. Letting her cry till she was satisfied.

"I'm sorry." Efe sniffed.

"It's okay." Mapis cooed.

"But you know what I mean right? just imagine when my dad was flirting and you accepted only to see him coming with another woman not to talk of bringing a child along."
Efe blurted.

Mapis cringed at those words. Maybe Efe had said too much, maybe she touched a spot in her heart. Mapis tried not to reflect on much of it. She managed to keep a smile on her face but even Efe saw that slight crack on her face.

"Efe, of course I felt that way during that episode. But I thanked God and still do that I didn't fall for your father's trap. So what brought us here? Your main objective is to find your father in Abuja. You came all the way from Warri and you had Nnamdi with you and he tried his best to help you. You found out that he lied to you. That is wrong but when you asked and he hesitated, he felt guilty. That's what you should take note of." Mapis said.

"And we both know that you can't accomplish this on your own. You need him and he needs you. You both need each other, it may not be love but friendship or at least companionship."

"So you are saying that I should find him?" Efe inquired.

Mapis slapped her laps and purses her lips, giving the impression of a teenage girl on her period.

"Of course you should find him! How obvious should I make it?" Mapis exclaimed.

Efe laughed her butt off. Where in the world was she supposed to find him?

"Thanks Mapis. You've been of great help to me since we met. It's like you're a Guardian Angel sent from heaven to wait for me." Efe said.

"Now this angel wants you to find your dad and make up with Nnamdi. Don't forget your friend outside!".
She said all while pushing her out of her kiosk.

Efe jumped down and almost tripped on air. She turned her head around the park amidst the noise of little kids laughing and playing all over the park.

"Joshua!" She screamed into the air, expecting to see a teenage boy with slight injuries run towards her. But no one came forth.

"Joshua! Where are you?!" No one answered back.

She ran to the Ferris Wheels, the Slides, the Roller Coasters, the fountains and even the arcade, Joshua wasn't there. She ran again to the gate of the park but couldn't find any sign of him.

"Joshua!" She screamed and slumped  to the floor. The hard concrete making contact with her skin. Tears dancing on the floor. Passerby's looking and pointing at her. Mother's scolding their children not to point in fear that the girl was running mad.

Everyone had left her. Both Nnamdi and Joshua. What was she going to do?

She cried and sobbed. Then cried again. The pain felt like a wound which had its clot peeled off. Both boys had left her all alone.

She felt like a monster. Maybe that's why she was alone. Maybe that's why her father wanted to kill her that same night. Maybe that's why she didn't even to care about Joshua's injuries. Maybe that's why she was stupid enough to scream and yell at the only person she ever loved.

'Maybe' was the only word that rung in her head repeatedly, over and over and over again until she almost lost her sanity. She held her head in agony and screamed the anger in her heart out, startling the security guards that were standing at their posts.

As the sun went down so did her enthusiasm to move from where she sat. Her brain and heart had actually shut down.

Momentarily, she forgot that the park was closing up in less than thirty minutes with a face with dry tear stains. The dark night sky was cold and breezy. But her heart felt colder than the night sky. The moon rather refused to come out, so only the stars managed to illuminate the sky.

"Excuse me Miss, please you have to leave. The park is closing and you should get home soon." The security man in his supposed forties said.

Without responding, Efe stood up, adjusted her almost empty bag on her back and nodded at the security man for bringing her out of her thoughts.

As she wandered away from the park. Her stomach rumbled but she ignored it and continued walking on the lively street.

Shops were still opened at night, either having their own generator or a rechargeable flashlight or even something as simple as a candle. Every body continued their business as if it were the break of dawn.

Cold, confusion and hunger were her best friends. She held her arms with her palms and rubbed them together with the friction giving faint heat to her almost frozen skin. The mosquitoes had no mercy as they flew across her face and made sure they left land marks on her skin.

She realised that she hadn't brushed her teeth nor had a bath in almost three days. And she hadn't even changes clothes. Still in the jeans and black top she wore the day she ran away.

Her legs brought her to the exact spot where she and Nnamdi last had a talk. She couldn't help but laugh at herself and her entire life. How she managed to push everyone good in her life away from her.

Tears flooded her eyes and blurred her vision. She sat on the exact bench where she asked that stupid question.

"Why are you helping me?"

The expression on his face had her mortified. His answer scared her more.

"I just wanted to escape from reality..."

But he was starting to become real to her in the shortest time possible.

"I love you Nnamdi and I'm sorry. Even though you aren't here, I'm sorry!" She cried.

"I'm sorry too."

Heyyyy

Please I wanna hear your thoughts on this chapter please!

I also want you to turn that lonely star 🍊

Thanks guys ☺️