Wow,
Just wow,
I can't believe we are about to conclude this book.

Don't forget to vote and spam babies.

Don't worry, will be ending this book, by 11 PM today.

My b3 is low, going back to charge.

#We must end Conflicted today.

Ghost readers, spam me.
We are at the end of this book.
Spam me too.
🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹

       Geraldine bows her head in shame, while her Mum swipes through her phone. She was extremely furious. She couldn't help but wonder how disappointed her Dad will be.

"I'm disappointed in you. A daughter of Wendy?" Her Mum asks with a raised eyebrow.

Meanwhile, her phone starts ringing. Geraldine heaved a sign of relive, even though it wasn't going to take her Mum's attention from her for a long while.

She realized her hands were trembling.

"I can't wait till you get back sorry." Her Mum says, making her wonder who she was talking to.

"Tari, have you seen the scandal going on, Monica just called me. Trust me, I almost insulted her. There is nothing she didn't say to me. That woman is a beast." Wendy says over the phone.

Geraldine knew when her parents started calling each other by their first names, it wasn't funny anymore. Her Mum always referred to grandma as Monica wherever they got into to huge fight. Which she was certain they did.

"I'm not dealing with your mother too, I have blocked her and Monica, I dont have strengths for their lectures. Monica has already told me how less a mother I am to my kids. Blaming me for the scandal. How in God's name am I at fault that this idiot here, sent her nudes to a boy."

Geraldine swallows hard.

"Gidi, hope you know, you are a fool? A big one to be precise, " Wendy says giving Geraldine a stern look. She had never been this scared of her mother. She looked like she was going to devour her.

"Don't tell me to calm down." Her Mum yells at the phone. "If she wanted to become a porn star she should..., "

Geraldine knew she was toast. Her fear was her Mum, she was going to emotionally destroy her.

"Do you know the effect of what you did? Geraldine, you sent your nude to a boy, how the hell were you so stupid? Haven't you learnt anything from me?"

"I'm so sorry." Geraldine apologises, her head still bowed.

"You are sorry?" Her Mum asks with a stern look. "Geraldine Ogenefejiro Johnsons!" She calls her by her full name. "How does you being sorry help us here?" She yells. "It's over the internet. Everyone has seen it. Everyone we know. How could you? Why did you send that to a boy in the first place? What's the need to take your picture?" She sounded so calm this time but very much disappointed.

"I'm sorry," Geraldine repeats, that was the only thing she could say.

"Look at you, do you know the impact this would have on you and your future. The views of people towards you? You are a young girl, "

Now her Mum was pacing around.

"I don't even know what to do. Even though we look for ways to get that picture off the internet, we can't get it off people's phone storage. Why ruin yourself like this, all for what, a boy?" She suddenly asks.

"Hope you know what this has done to us...,  I have never been so disappointed in you, in my entire life. I thought I had a sensible daughters, turns out I was raising a fool."

Geraldine couldn't hold the tears this time. It wasn't just because of her mother's words, it dawned on her, the impact her stupidity had caused.

"And who the hell is Jayden Adenuga?" Her Mum suddenly asks quite clueless.

To think Jayden wasn't even dragged to the mud, people had been so busy toiling her.

The shit was fucked up. To think if a boy was in her place, it wouldn't have been with so much energy. The stereotype.

A few months ago Oxlade tape was released. It went from people hailing him and making jokes, down to people actually hunting down the girl in that video, for trolling.

Before then Tiwa Savage's sex tape was also released. The way she got dragged, even by her fellow women. To think it was those same women that were hailing Oxlade, and asking him to come practice with them.

You don't see guys toiling themselves this way. To think the people who carried her issue on their heads were girls like her.

Taking that picture was the biggest mistake of her life, if only she could go back in time.

"Oh my God." Her Mum exclaims. "Geraldine I don't think you know the impact this would have on you, I don't think you do." Her Mum yells.

"I am sorry." She repeats.

"If you repeat that, I swear to God, I will beat the living hell out of you." Her Mum yells, meanwhile Geraldine shed tears.

"Sorry." She sobs.

"Take a good look a Liyah. Do you know the impact this would have on your sister, Fejiro."

"I don't think you do," Wendy says and lets out a sarcastic laugh.
"I don't think you do." She repeats and walks out nodding her head.

          _______________________ 🖊️

          Walking into the sitting room, she wonders where Ekanem was in a hurry to, she had just ushered her in,  and left with her driver. She seemed in a haste. Though she told Jewel she would be back soon.

Left all alone, she thought twice of coming in the first place. Neither of her parents were home, she knew what was going to go down, if they found out she left the house, to Ekanem's place. Especially her Mum.

Since the fight the other day, things hadn't been the same at home. The rape scandal in general. Things had been tough. No one was talking about it, but you could feel the toxicity in the air.

Staying home doing nothing was draining.

The first question was, what was she going to do here alone?

"Hello?"

Jewel stops walking immediately she sights the lady in her early twenties.

She was dressed in the helper's wear. Jewel needed no soothsayer to tell her she worked here.

"Good morning, Ekanem asked me to wait inside." Jewel didn't know why she felt the need to explain.

"Oh, okay."

She didn't miss the look the lady gave her. She didn't feel comfortable at all.

"Ekanem said I should tell you to change the meal for today."

Jewel recognised the voice. Looking toward the direction it came from. Leo stood in a casual multi-coloured T-shirt and black shorts.

If there was something she had noticed about his dress sense. He could pull off shorts.

They make eye contact.

"Why didn't she tell me before hands?" The lady hisses before she disappears into one of the rooms.

Jewel left her mouth hanging.

She couldn't help being marvelled by the lady's attitude.

God knows, anyone who dared to give her that attitude at home, wasn't going to last working with them.

"Jewel." Leo acknowledged her, before throwing himself on one of the couches.

One question that bothered her.

Why was he always in Ekanem's house?

She didn't have the answer to that question.

Ekanem claimed they were friends, most times it felt like there was more to it. Especially when they spoke in codes.

Jewel finally takes a sit, on a couch directly opposite his. Their gazes aren't directed at each other, because he laid carelessly, his eyes in the space, while she stared into the space, wondering how she was going to keep up with this awkward position.

It was just so weird being in the same room with the same guy who couldn't get his hands off her for a minute.

      It's been exactly an hour, neither of them had said a word to the other. Jewel sat on the couch, her butt hurting already, and Leo laying carelessly on the couch.

Suddenly he starts talking on his lap like he was playing drums or making music. It sounded so loud, that it starts disturbing Jewel. She turns to him, quite shocked to see his eyes were on her too.

"Why are you so quiet?" He suddenly asks, earning a weird look from her. The question was so funny because it was coming from him.

She doesn't respond but turns in another direction.

"Your mouth that doesn't get closed for a second." He says.

Jewel turns to him, wondering if he was trying to annoy her.

"Yeah. This is awkward." He suddenly gets up, taking his hands in surrender. "If you are very uncomfortable with me, I will just leave." He says, picking up his phone.
"I get it, you are still mad, you have the right to be."

"Leo, I'm not mad at you. You did nothing wrong to me." Jewel says.
"And please end the topic."

"We can't keep acting like we have nothing to say to each other, like everything is all right. Like we have no blame to apportion. I mean, if you hate me for everything that happened. You have the right to, maybe these wouldn't have happened if I just let you be when you said
so..., "

"Leo, please." Jewel pleads calmly. She wasn't morally ready for this discussion.

"Not saying anything about it, Is making it worse. Don't you get it? This few days got me thinking. I was wrong by going after you, even when you were still with Nathan. I thought he was with you to hurt me because he knew how I felt about you, I thought..., "

"Leo." Jewel repeats.

"I'm sorry for everything that happened to you..., "

Jewel wanted him to stop talking so badly, him saying all this, made her feel very responsible for whatever happened to her. She felt everything was her fault. Him saying all this, just made her keep seeing reasons. It made it more clearer.

"I decided to stop doing drugs." He suddenly says walking down to where she sat. She felt a little bit uncomfortable. Especially when he joins her on the couch. They were just a few inches away. "I know you are going through a lot now, and I don't want to impose anything on you." He suddenly stops, like he was trying hard to speak.

There is a little silence.

"Jewel, I do drugs because it helps me forget things. It's given me a better version of myself. I feel..., "

"Those things only destroy you, not help," Jewel says looking grim. She could see the level of dependence Leo had on those substances now.

"It helps, really," Leo says.

"It's messing you up," Jewel says. "You are destroying your life..., "

"I swear, I want to be better... I just can't. It's overwhelming." Leo says, struggling hard to talk.

At that moment, Jewel saw how broken and messed up he was. She saw the boy beneath the facade.

"You won't understand."

Did she just see a tear?

He was fighting it, he was struggling not to let it drop. He tries so hard, but instead, it keeps flowing.

"God, Leo."

Her heart broke that moment, she pulled him into her arms.

"You will be fine. Trust me." She says feeling too emotional.

"Nothing is fine. It keeps getting worse. I can't even close my eyes. The nightmares are overwhelming. The drugs prescribed by my doctor aren't working, I feel like I'm drowning. Most times I just want to end everything. Maybe if I died, I won't feel these pains anymore." Leo says.

    Jewel couldn't believe Leo was suffering from depression. He even thought of death.

"Leo, suicide isn't an option." She felt the need to make that statement. She hadn't been so tongue-tied in her entire life.

"Dying will just put everything to an end." He says still now holding her tight.

Even with the sudden footsteps, Jewel doesn't pull away. She didn't miss the weird look the lady before gave her, while she takes something from the dining room, before disappearing into one of the rooms again.

"Leo, have you ever thought about your family and what they will go through if you ever tried that..., " She couldn't bring herself to say the word.

He scoffs.

"Like they care. My Dad doesn't even know if I exist anymore, Mum only cares about her career and fame." He says.

Jewel noticed he didn't acknowledge Nathan.

"Leo promise me you won't do those poisons anymore." Jewel suddenly says.

There is a little silence.

"Leo. You said you won't." Jewel says with a raised eyebrow, even though he couldn't see her.

"Leo." She repeats.

"I promise." He says.

"If I find out you are still doing it, I would never talk to you again." She says meanwhile he chuckles, causing some friction on her breast. By how close their bodies were.

"I mean it." She says and smiles.

"You want me to go crazy right?" He asks and pulls away.

"Huh?" She asks.

"You won't speak to me again." He repeats.

"If you go back on your promise, which you won't," Jewel says conscious of how close their bodies were.

"I will choose you over anything." He says.

Most times Jewel wondered the extreme importance, Leo always placed her on. It was scary most times. It felt like an obsession.

She is taken aback when he drops a chaste kiss on her lips.

The shock on her face.

"I'm sorry. This time I want to do it the right way." He says calmly. "I know you aren't ready for anything of these sorts. I want you to know, I'm always here whenever you are ready. No pressure..., "

"Not with everything that's going on," Jewel says calmly.

"I love you." Leo suddenly says throwing her off balance. This wasn't the first time he was saying this to her. But the emotion attached to it was something else.

"Why do you love me so much? Not after everything I ever did to you. Because I always wonder how possible this..., "

"Do you hate Nathan?" Leo suddenly asks blowing her away. She didn't miss the pain in her eyes.

This question seemed very difficult to answer, even after everything that had happened.

Leo chuckles.

"Jewel, I love you." He says and gets up. "I won't force it on you. It's your choice to give me a chance on not. Just know, I'm always here." He says and attempts to walk away.

"Leo, " She calls on impulse.

He stops and turns to her.

"I don't hate Nathan, but I don't think I can ever forgive him." She says slowly. Even though that wasn't the reason she had stopped him from working out.
"Don't ever stop loving me."

She says even though it sounded selfish. The fact he loved her meant a lot to her. The feeling there was someone out there who she could always rely on. She knew she felt something strong for him too. But didn't know what it was.

Nathan looked a lot like Leo, this always questioned her feelings towards him.

Somethings she wondered how she got entangled in this mess. Leo was just a boy, she never looked his way twice, and Nathan was her dream guy.

She now understood what she really felt back then.

Nathan was everything she dreamed about in a guy. He was hot, popular, an extrovert. Had his way with words.

Leo was the sweet and caring guy who actually looked a lot like Nathan. He always gave her attention which she craved for, unlike Nathan.

The question was, Was she with Leo because he looked a lot like Nathan or
because she had feelings for him?

The fact she always gave herself to him without thinking twice.

She still couldn't answer this question.

What did she feel towards Nathan, Was it love, compassion, care or pity?

But that feeling always made

_______________________ 🖊️

     Geraldine stares at Aaliyah who seemed engrossed with the video she was making with Martha, Grandma's new P.A.

She wonders what did old one had finally done. No one could please Grandma. Especially with the way her Mum spoke she certainly didn't have the best childhood with Grandma.

Remembering how she kicked against Aaliyah going into modelling. Grandma got very offended. That was when she found out, Grandma wanted her to also go into modelling as a child, but her Mum kicked strongly against it. Caused some issues and died down. With Aaliyah more drama came, Grandma managed to get to her Dad, that was all it took to get to her Mum.

Looking at herself now, she always thanked her Mum silently for not letting her get into that career because it was certainly not her thing.
She didn't want Grandma breathing down her neck.

But most times she wondered why her Mum had a lot of ill experiences and bad things to say about Grandma because she was nothing like the way her mother explained her to be.

If her Mum spoke about her Grandma to you; You will imagine the woman with a bighorn.

"Stay away from chocolates. It will make you fat. And being fat is..., "

"Gross," Aaliyah responds.

Getting Geraldine's attention. Did she just hear the word gross?

"Yeah and bad for your career."

Geraldine gives them her full attention.

Being fat wasn't gross, why teach that to a child?

"I'm a staaaaaaaar, " Aaliyah says with confidence.

"During your interview with 'THE ELITE' Keep up with the sass okay? When you are asked what you feel about SHADE ONAM? Tell them she is great at what she does."

Shade Onam was one of the popular kid models in the county. She was very recognised too.

"But Grandma said she is a rival and not a friend. I don't like her..., "

"You don't need to like her, You just need to be loved by your fans and gain more fans."

"Okay," Aaliyah responds, listening attentively.

"What has your schedule been like? What did you do during the pandemic and holidays? You learnt new skills and during the holidays you visited different orphanages."

"Okay."

The knock on the door brings Geraldine back to reality.

She looks left and right, to see if there was anyone out to get it. On seeing no one. She gets up, walks down to the door.

Whines the doorknob and pulls it.

Shocked.

Beyond Shocked.

Shocked.

Jayden stood there, staring back at her. That instance the anger and hatred she felt that instance, was intense.

She slams the door on his face.

_______________________ 🖊️

      The look on her face when she saw him, was something he wasn't going to forget in a hurry.

He wouldn't blame her, not after what happened.

The way she slammed the door on his face was epic.

He thought twice about going back home, especially after the look she gave her. With what he knew, Geraldine was a different person when angry. She could do anything.

Sitting down on the couch, he tried very much to feel comfortable especially with the pair of eyes focused on his, and the fact she was almost sitting on him.

She didn't keep any boundaries. What was he supposed to expect from a child?

She had let him in, when he said, he was here to see Geraldine.

"What's your name?"

She was bold.

He was seeing a mini Geraldine in her.

Did she just ask him what his name was?

"What's your name?" She repeats.

"Jayden." He responds calmly to the child.

"Mine is Aaliyah Oghenetega Johnsons, what's your name?" She asks again, making Jayden wonder if it wasn't the same question he had responded to.

"Jayden." He repeats.

"Not correct. I want your full name." She says.

Jayden had to look at her again, wondering where the boldness was coming from.

"Jayden Adenuga." He says.

"Good." She smiles. And keeps quiet.
"Gidi asked me to get out." She finally says, responding the what he had sent her to do.

There is silence, especially when she pulls a tablet he guessed was hers and starts using it.

Suddenly she turns to him. Attempting to touch his lips, Jayden dodged on impulse.

"Did you rub anything on your lips?" She suddenly asks.

He didn't rub anything. And he didn't know how to start explaining to a child of that age, that was the colour of his lips.

"Did you?" She persist.

"No." He says.

"Okay, it's nice." She says attempting to touch it again, and he pulls away. "Please." She pleads.

Leaning to him, and finally touching it.

He didn't miss the look of satisfaction on her face.

"Do you know me?" She suddenly asks taking him aback. Not ready to be asked again, he responds.

"No."

She suddenly gives him an awkward look.

"Why don't you know me?"

Now Jayden couldn't help but smile. The girl was something.

"Should I know you?" He asks.

"Yes." She groans. "If you watch TV, you must have seen me on Bama mayonnaise advert. Don't you watch television?"

To think her mouth was just so sharp and strong.

The child's mentality of being known by everyone.

"I don't watch television," Jayden says slowly. He wondered how old she was.

"No wonder." She says and sits down in a very funny way.
"Grandma said when I turn 13, I will model in R.B." She says smiling.

"Oh, that's nice," Jayden says, not wanting to get another long talk about not knowing what she was talking about. "R.B is nice," Jayden says.

"Grandma says it's the best," Aaliyah says still smiling.
"How old are you?" Aaliyah suddenly asks shocking Jayden. A question he had in mind about her.

So bold.

"16..., I will be seventeen next week." He suddenly says realizing his birthday was around the corner.
"You?" He found himself conversing with the child.

"9+" She smiles. "Grandma said she was going to throw me a lavish birthday for my tenth." She grins.
"Do you go to Gidi's school?" She asks leaning on him.

"Yes," Jayden responds calmly.

She smiles.

There was just something off with the way she smiled.

"Mummy doesn't want me to attend Gidi's school." She says calmly.
"But I will tell grandma."

Jayden noticed almost all her conversations had her Grandma in it. He could swear, he had never heard Geraldine ever talk about her Grandma. It was always about her Mum.

"Liyah, Nanny Rita is calling you?"

A voice calls out, making Jayden turn in the direction. This was the first time seeing the little boy.

He noticed their skin tone. Which was different from GIDI'S

"Tell her, I am busy." She says and suddenly turns to Jayden, who was stunned by her response.

For that age, she was too loud.

"Liyah. " The little boy screams.

"Leave me alone." She yells hard, before turning to Jayden.

_______________________ 🖊️

"What is that?" Jason asks, immediately he caught sight of what Ashley was offering him.

Meanwhile, Ashley stretches his hand without responding to Jason's question.

"I feel very bad. She doesn't say it. But I know she gets disappointed too." Jason says.

"You just started, it's normal," Ashley says calmly.

There is a small silence.

"You don't understand..., "

"I certainly do. It's like me dating Cherish who knows nothing about sex." Ashley says and burst into laughter, thinking about what he wanted to say next. "Just that it's the reverse here."

"Idiot," Jason calls out and hisses, while Ashley sits on the floor and continues laughing.

"What about your Grandma?" Jason suddenly asks, taking his time to observe the house, which was partially empty.

"She doesn't come here always. This is where we do a general family gathering." Ashley explains. He winks at Jason immediately he saw a car parked outside the compound.
"Seems, like your guest is here, " Ashley says looking downstairs. Meanwhile, Jason gets up and joins him, trying to picture the car, if it was it.

"Oh my God," Jason says suddenly feeling sweaty, meanwhile, Ashley laughs and turns to him.

"Don't be a girl. You got this. Take
it..., "

"Does it have a side effect?" Jason who had no idea of the effect of what Ashley had offered him, could have on him says.

"Loosing up. I will be upstairs. You both can have the house all to yourself. But please mind where you do it." Ashley says and laughs, meanwhile Jason punches him playfully.

His phone suddenly starts ringing. Making his heartbeat increase. He was sweating.

_______________________ 🖊️

     The shock on Geraldine's face when she opened the door; She didn't have the opportunity to slam it on his face, he had caught her off guard.

Jayden pushed the door so hard, that she found herself off the door.

Trying to recover herself, she watched Jayden walk in, alongside Aaliyah.

"Haven't you done enough? Did you come to see if I'm a mess? Do you want to do more?" Geraldine yells not minding there were people at home.

"Do you think I can go that shallow because of our little argument?" Jayden asks staring back at her.

"Get out. " Geraldine yells.

"Do you think I can go that shallow because of our little argument?" He repeats.

"You asked me to stay away from Jason, have you forgotten? That alone shows how shallow-minded you are." Geraldine yells.

"Come on Dee, I would never go that far," Jayden says trying to touch her, only for Geraldine to slap his hands off her.

"Don't touch me," Geraldine says. Her eyes suddenly meet those creepy eyes of Aaliyah.

To think she had made herself very comfortable, and watching them, like they were some show or movie.

"Aaliyah. Get the hell out of her." Geraldine yells. She didn't miss the impact her voice had on Aaliyah. Because she shivered at the sound of her voice.

"What did I do na?" Aaliyah whines.

"Get out," Geraldine yells at Aaliyah who didn't move an inch.

She attempts to go over to where she was sitting, only for Aaliyah to pick up her heels.

"Get out," Geraldine says turning to Jayden. She didn't want anything at the moment, that to see him the hell out.

"Dee, I can explain..., "

"Don't call me Dee." She yells feeling irritated. "Jayden I asked you to delete it. I know I fucked up by sending that to you. The least you could do was delete it. Why would you? When you were keeping it as a weapon." Geraldine says.

"I'm sorry." Jayden apologises. The look on his face showed how difficult it was for him, trying to explain.

"Jayden, please leave. I don't want anything to do with you. You have done your worst. Dating you was the biggest mistake of..., "

"De..., "

"Get the fuck out of my house."

"I made a mistake. By keeping the picture, I accept I'm a pervert. But I didn't release that."

"It came from your account dude. How the fuck do I look so stupid to you? Who leaked it then?" She asks.

"It's a messed up shit..., " Jayden says.

"Leave."

"You don't believe me?"

"I don't believe you. Please leave!"

"Dee."

"If you don't get out, I will push you." Geraldine suddenly says in a violent tone.

"God!" Jayden exclaims.

"Get the fuck out."

Jayden attempts to leave.

"Get out." She yells, and immediately he walks away, while she let a teardrop. She tries to wipe it, only to see Aaliyah staring at her, from the corner.

Tf, she was there all along.

"I swear to God, Aaliyah I will kill you."

_______________________ 🖊️

        Sighting her mother, she almost diverts, but is caught just in time, so she keeps walking, till she got to where her Mum stood, talking to one of the helpers.

There was no way those working for them, hadn't heard or seen the scandal. Even those who weren't the social media type would have been told.

"Okay Ma," Rejoice says, sparing Geraldine a glance before walking away.

"Good evening Mum..., "

"There is nothing good about the evening Gidi. Please don't worsen my mood. As it is, I am trying my possible best to clean your mess, but it's difficult." Her Mum says.

Geraldine only looks down.

"Jayden Adenuga huh? The same boy from school, the brother of your friend who was raped? Releasing your nudes, Geraldine is there something I don't know?" Her Mum suddenly asks.
"What the hell is wrong with you kids of this generation, and what were you doing with a heartless human being in the first place." She paused.
"I don't have the mouth to talk, why would I? What was my seventeen years old daughter thinking, when she was taking such an indescribable picture, not to exclude sending it to a boy."

Geraldine is silent. She only listens.

"The Elite's is coming up soon. Your sister was invited. Do you know the scandal this has created for her. Geraldine please, I don't just want to see your face at all. Just get the hell away from my site."

"Mummy. Geraldine had a boy in her room."

   Geraldine was dumbfounded, immediately she heard Aaliyah's voice.

Meanwhile, her Mum turns to her direction, while Aaliyah stared back at her with those evil eyes of hers. As Geraldine would prefer to call it.

Had she forgotten who Aaliyah was?

She was definitely going to cause issues for her.

"His name is Jayden, he is her classmate. They were fighting." Aaliyah says like she was giving a report.

Was there anything Aaliyah was ever going to surprise Geraldine and act her age for once?

Geraldine couldn't hide how frustrated she was. How she wanted to squeeze Aaliyah.

"Geraldine..., A boy in my house. You had a boy in your room?"

The anger on her Mum's face was out of the world.

Geraldine only thanked God, she didn't notice the name.

"Even after all these, you still have the guts to bring a boy to my house. What are you turning into?..., "

"I'm..., "

"God of mercy."

"His lips are pinkish. I like it." Aaliyah comments, earning a look from her mother, and a glare from Geraldine.

Most times she wondered if Aaliyah was really a child or a witch in human form.

_______________________ 🖊️

    Jewel noticed her Mum walk into her room. Apart from the fact she had seen too busy this past day, they hadn't spoken a lot.

She was always not at home. Dad is the same. Though she knew he was still running around because of the court case.

Something she dreaded so much.

Something she wished, it was just a big dream.

She wished, she could just wake up and everything would go back as it used to be.

Her phone suddenly starts ringing. Diverting her attention, especially when she sees Leo on the screen so bold.

She cuts the call and turns to her Mum, who just stared back at her.

"Have you seen your period for the month?"

This wasn't supposed to be awkward coming from her mother. But not after everything that had happened. This was beyond awkward.

"Yes." She says calmly. She had just finished three days ago.

"Okay. If you are hungry, there is food in the kitchen." She starts walking away.

Things had really changed between Jewel and her Mum. They hadn't spoken about the incident privately since everything happened. And things were getting worse.

"Okay." Jewel repeats.

Her phone starts ringing again.

She picks it

"Please come online." He says from the other end. His voice was low, sounded too soft.

"Leo." She suddenly calls out, hoping he got the clue. She hadn't gone online ever since she got back.

"Sorry, I forgot, I meant to reply to my message." He says calmly.

Only God knew the airtime they had both wasted texting each other.

"Or are you less busy, can we just talk?" He asks calmly.

_______________________ 🖊️

      Geraldine relaxes on her bed, she had been trying to fall asleep, all to no avail. She had finished scrolling through Instagram. Which did remind of the fact, it's been a while since she saw a post from Jewel.

How things could change in such a short period.

She had even created a new Instagram account with a different name, pending her return to the previous one. Because the trolling she was getting was too much.

Her followers had increased on Instagram.

Which was one funny thing she always found difficult to understand.

Immediately you trend on the internet, be it for good or bad reason, your follower base on Instagram especially increases, even on different platforms.

The fact she trended for the wrong reasons where heartbreaking.

She had to save herself from the trauma of reading those comments apostasy about her because it was horrible.

A lot of horrible things were being said about her, most especially, even people who didn't know her, had something to say.

Back on Whatsapp, she had changed her settings to offline. And mark unread.

She starts viewing status, one after the other.

JASON🦋
Hey...                    9:45 PM

   Geraldine was beyond shocked. That was the last person she was expecting a message from. They hadn't spoken since that day at school.

She couldn't ignore him, even if she wanted to do it so badly.

You remembered me today,
Oh wow.                            
Thought you wanted
to stay away?       9:47 PM 

The sass that came with those words.

JASON🦋
I just really wanted to talk
to you, after the nudes scandal,
I know you are going through
a lot now.                       9: 48

Geraldine reads the message before replying.

Which your brother decided to
post, to disgrace himself.
9: 49PM

The sarcasm.

JASON🦋
Look, Gidi, if there is something
I know my brother will never
do, it's that. He told me he didn't do
it, Jayden will never do that to
anyone. He is anything
but petty.                    9: 51PM

  Not petty? I should know that by
now, after all, he told you not
to tell to me.                              9: 53PM

JASON🦋
I and Jayden have never conversed
about you before. Heck, we don't
even talk that much.                  9: 54PM

    Geraldine stares at the message for a while, before replying.

Why did you stop talking to me?
9: 55PM

She felt the need to ask, she knew how hurt she felt when he stopped talking to her that way.

JASON🦋
VC!           9: 56PM

She doesn't respond. In no time, her phone starts ringing. She picks it.

"Jayden's ex did it," Jason says, grabbing Geraldine's attention.

Jayden's Ex?

She couldn't help but wonder.

Who might that be?

"Jayden's ex?" Geraldine repeats.

"That's only what I can tell you."  He says. "I'm sorry about it. Trust me I didn't want us to stop talking to one another..., "

"Who is she?" Geraldine cuts him off.

_______________________ 🖊️

     Jason didn't know what to say to her. He couldn't tell her it was Ivy.

In a sense, it would cause major problems, even at home, and it wasn't in his place.

Referring to Ivy as Jayden's ex-girlfriend was weird enough.

"Jason, who is she?"

The authority in her voice, that scary part of Geraldine.

"Hello, Hello." He says pretending like he couldn't hear her anymore.

"Hello," Geraldine says over the line.

"Hello, Gidi." He says now, bringing down his phone, he starts blowing breeze.

"Hello," Geraldine says.

"Gi...," He cuts the call, and drops the phone, not after putting his phone on aeroplane mode.

_______________________ 🖊️

"I told you, it's something that can only be handled facially," Leo says over the phone.

It's was over eleven in the night, and Leo sounded like someone who wasn't even sleepy. Though Jayden had started feeling sleepy.

"I went over to her house, she asked me to get out. " Jayden says calmly.

"Keep pushing, she will eventually give you an audience," Leo says calmly.

"Oh, God! I'm only fortunate none of my parents has heard about it. I dont want any more scandals. The one we are dealing with at home already is enough." Jayden says.

"I wanted to come over today, but on a second thought. Not after everything that happened. The last thing your parents would want to do is see me, in their home." Leo says.

_______________________ 🖊️

       Ashley looks down, with Cherish by his side. It was extremely late. He didnt know how the time flew. And now he couldn't leave the estate.

They both give each other a look, fully aware he couldn't leave by this time.

"Early in the morning," Ashley says, meanwhile she only nods her head. This wasn't the first time, they were sleeping in the same room.
"Let's do something." He says picking her attention. "A horror movie." He smirks.

"No." Cherish disagrees.

"Yes."

"No."

"I'm here now." He chuckles.

"No." She repeats. While he tries hard not to laugh.

_______________________ 🖊️

    
    The silence in the dining room isnt anything but epic. You could hear the sound of a pin, of dropped.

The twins, and Grayson, had left with the Nanny earlier to Nicole's.

Aunty Fisayo was having a get together for Nicole. Geraldine didnt have much information about what it was.

"Gidi. How are you?" Her Dad suddenly breaks the silence.

She couldn't even meet his eyes.

He got back late last night.

"I'm fine," Geraldine responds.

"Do you need more rice?" Her Mum suddenly asks, directing the question to her Dad. She was tired of these silent treatments. It was extreme. Especially coming from her Mum.

"Jayden was my boyfriend. I sent the picture to him when we were playing 100 questions. I told him to delete it...,"

"And you thought he would? How daft..."

"Babe." Her Dad cuts her Mum off.

"He said he was going to. It was a mistake." Geraldine says.

"Yes it was, keep saying it." Her Mum says.

"Mum, I said I'm sorry," Geraldine says letting the tears drop.

"I can see how far your apology has helped."

"Geraldine, you made a very big mistake, you were naive, but...,"

"Of course. The good parent. Go calm on her. I was expecting this from you. Wendy is mad, she talks unnecessarily. Her nudes are on the internet, and this is the way you talk to her...,"

"Wendy, not all things in handled violently, have you thought about her mental health and the effect this must be on her?" Her Dad yells.

"I'm the wrong one here Tari? Right. No, I'm the wrong one." Wendy yells.

Geraldine who couldn't take their fights anymore, walks away.

_______________________ 🖊️

       Immediately she heard her Mum's car drive out. Jewel picks up her phone and bag and hurries downstairs.

She was to meet Ekanem soon. Deep down she knew that wasn't the only reason she was going.

On getting downstairs she runs into Jayden and Jason talking. They seemed very engrossed in their conversation, which was weird.

She heads for the door.

"Where to?" Jayden shocked her with the question, she didnt expect him to see her.

"Ekanem's," Jewel responds.

"To do what?" Jason asks.

"How is it your business?" She attacks Jason.

"Talk again, and see if you will leave this house." Jason attacks.

"Excuse," Ivy says, meanwhile Jewel moves out of the way. Her eyes budge when she sees Munachi.

What the hell was Munachi doing in her house?

She was beyond shocked.

Especially with the fact she didnt acknowledge her especially.

When did those two become friends?

_______________________ 🖊️

"Let's go over to Leo's." Ekanem suddenly says taking Jewel aback.

"Nathan is in the hospital. His Mum is out, movie production."

Jewel couldn't help but wonder how it was possible.

Your son is in the hospital, allegedly in a coma, and you are out for a movie production.

Just wow!

"Can we just stay here instead?" Jewel asks.

"My Dad is home." Ekanem suddenly says. Jewel noticed how her countenance changed.

_______________________ 🖊️

     Geraldine didnt miss the shock on Jason's face when he opened the door.

She expected it though.

Seeing her at his doorstep was worth the shock.

"Gidi." He calls out calmly.

She wanted answers and she was here for it. She spent the whole night, thinking about the person who leaked her nudes online.

She wanted to know the person, who will go that far to hurt her so much.

It was heartbreaking.

She knew the only person who could give her the answer.

"Hi." She says.

"His room is upstairs, the second by the left." Jason suddenly says, attempting to walk away.

"Is Jewel is?" She found herself asking.

"No," Jason says, still walking away.

She stands rooted at a spot for a while, before finally moving.

She slowly climbs the stairs, and almost loses her balance when Ivy runs into her, she tries to maintain her balance.

Meanwhile, Ivy walks downstairs without uttering a word to her.

She almost pushed her down for christ's sake.

She carefully follows the lead Jason gave her. To find herself at a doorstep.

She knocks.

No response.

She knocks again.

Still no response.

She knocks.

The door is pulled immediately. She didnt miss the shock on Jayden's face.

She imagined him slamming the door on her face like she did to him. Instead, he moves, giving her the chance the get in.

"Jason said your ex-girlfriend was the one who did it. What's her name?" Geraldine says going straight to the point.

Instead, she gets yanked into his arms. They are so close, they could hear each other's heartbeat.

"I miss you."

She couldn't believe Jayden was actually the person saying this.

"I want my girlfriend back."

She was speechless.

She licks her dry lips

_______________________ 🖊️

"Seeing you together with Jason and you always talking about him, got me jealous real bad," Jayden admits.

He couldn't hold it anymore. He couldn't hide the way he was feeling anymore.

"Jayden." She calls out slowly.

"I'm very sorry for everything. I promise to make things right...,"

"Jayden my nude picture is on the internet, nothing can be right." She says, he could see the pains in her eyes. "I'm a huge disappointment to my parents. My Mum isnt even talking to me."

He saw the teardrop, which she wiped immediately.

This wasn't the Geraldine he was used to, the aggressive, violent one.

There was really someone soft behind the mask.

"Dee, Hey." He calls out pulling and hugging her tightly.

He was determined to make up for everything.

_______________________ 🖊️

    Ekanem in their midst made it so difficult for them to communicate.

She could feel Leo's eyes on her all through, the time they discussed.

She wasn't comfortable at all. The whole vincity reminded her about everything.

The place she knew, she would never go close to, was Leo's bedroom.

That was where it all went down.

"I will get more popcorn." Leo suddenly says and gets up, meanwhile, Ekanem is engrossed on her phone.

Jewel suddenly gets up.

She heads straight to the kitchen.

On getting in, she could swear Leo hid something immediately he saw her.

"Hey." He says keeping a straight face.
"What's wrong?" He asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Nothing." She responds giving him a look.

"Come on Jewel! I have stopped that.,"

"What?" She asks calmly.

"The look on your face says it all." He responds.

_______________________ 🖊️

"You mean you went to talk to him?" Munachi who looked dumbfounded asks. "He deserves an acid thrown on his face," Munachi says to Geraldine who just sat carelessly on her bed.

She had gone to his house in the first place to rant, how she became sobber, was another topic all together.

"What did the bastard say?" Munachi asks.

_______________________ 🖊️

    One minute they were talking, and the other minutes they were kissing.

Leo grabs her by the waist, meanwhile Jewel shuts her eyes tightly.

He kisses her like his life depends on it.

Jewel suddenly opens her eyes, only to see Nathan kissing her.

She pushes him away roughly, only to land a hot slap on his cheek.

"Jewel," Leo calls out holding his cheek in shock.

Jewel uses both hands to cover her mouth.

What just happened?

One minute it was Leo, and the other, she was seeing Nathan.

She runs out of the kitchen immediately, with both hands covering her mouth.

_______________________ 🖊️

     Ashley relaxes on the floor, while Cherish arranged her books.

He had been spending quality time with her since she got back.
There was no day he hadn't snuck in. The fear was getting caught, but he took the risk.

"The name of the school is 'THE BROOKE'S ACADEMY',  Mum took me there today." Cherish says calmly.

"An all-girls school?" Ashley suddenly asks.

"No," Cherish responded. Her parents had finally deleted the whole idea of an 'All girls school'. Though they agreed on the idea of pulling her out.

Ashley moves closer to her.

"Port Harcourt?" He asks with a lot of hope. The last thing he wanted was for her to go far away. "Boarding school...,"

"Yes."

Her being in the hostel was enough torture, including another state will be worse.

There is total silence. You could feel the sadness in the air.

7550 WORDS🌹

Special thanks to lovetori_xo for letting me use her characters. Those who has read TLT, will be familiar with the name SHADE ONAM.

If you want to read more about CHERISH, check my new book. THE BROOKE'S ACADEMY. She is a one of the important characters in the first book of THE OCCULT SERIES. Trust me you will love it. Who wouldn't want to see the more mature side of Cherish? She will be sixteen.

Also, i smiled writing about Geraldine's annoying sister Aaliyah. She is in my next work FORBIDDEN LOVE. Intrested, you should check my profile , we will be continuing this week.
yourmment you fav scene in this chapter.

THE BETRAYAL SER🌹ES