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Baby's above so enjoy ❤
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"He wants you to what?!" Christy directed me to sit on the bed, holding me like I was the most fragile thing in the world after she'd heard the news. Baby sat across the room, sipping captain jack, and obviously not hiding his lack of interest in our conversation.

"I don't understand," I replied dryly, while staring boredly at my friend. "Do I look like those characters in books and movies that repeat what they'd just said?"

Christy waved her hands and sat beside me. "Babe, he ask you to live with him. Like in the same house!"

"Bravo, you're not deaf!" I said that as an achievement as I crawled to the middle of the bed and laid with my stomach flat, across the hard foam. "And I'm not going."

"Eh?"

"Oga, I no dey go."I glared. "Because like this like this, you need cotton bud. Your ear don due."

I faced the wall, breathing softly. "I can't kill myself because of money."

"Babe, J.K finding out isn't enough reasons for you not to go. You're going in there for a mission o. For your money and you know...." I felt Christy readjust on the bed. "To still convince Henry to date me."

"Are you okay?" I had to sit upright and stare at Christy in utter disbelief. "Henry hates me. If he ever finds out that I'm that person that embarrassed him the other night, he'll have my head cut off!"

"You're being overly dramatic babe," Christy gave me a bored look. "Okay, see babe. I know say I go benefit if you go the house but, you go benefit pass me o. Think about your siblings, your parents, the promises you made. You're gonna use that money on them. You just have to risk it all. Can't you just do that?"

Though Christy had a point, I didn't respond to her. I remembered promising Mary and Abasifreke, that I would send in money for their jamb and promised to get them a phone. I remembered promising to pay my remaining eight siblings school fees. I had promised my parents money for upkeep and all is about to turn into audio promises if I do nothing about it.

"Baby," I called ignoring Christy. Baby probably didn't hear me which was understandable, judging by the ear buds he had stuck in both ears. "Baby!"

Baby's eyes darted towards me for confirmation. When he noticed I was indeed seeking his attention, he pressed something on his phone. Probably pausing his loud music. "Yes?"

"It's about J.K," I said to him.

"Watch me not giving a damn," He responded, venom sipping in each words as he pressed the play button on his phone. He was angry.

"He asked for your number through Henry and I gave it to him." I filled Baby in on what went down.

"Okay, and?" I could tell he really wasn't interested in the conversation. But since he'd probably lowered his music, I could tell he was just being his stubborn self. God, was he worst than a girl in her period. "He made it clear that he doesn't need a rapper then why ask for my number minutes after? Abeg make all of una get out."

I stifled a laugh while staring at Baby and at the same time, shaking my head. The mumu was playing hard to get.

"Okay, I should just call him and tell him he shouldn't bother with contacting you since you aren't interested." I reached for my phone and swiftly unlocked it with my finger print, before scrolling through my contact list.

"Stop joor, someone cannot feel relevant again." Baby got up and matched towards me to stop me from making any call. I pulled my phone from my ear and stared up at him. "Hope you didn't call him."

"You for ask whether I get him number," I threw my phone at the other side of the bed while facing the wall again. Once again just like every other day, I was having headache in my tummy.

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I held the strapped of my hp backpack, while gazing at the mansion in front of me. Like I said, Christy had a point. I wasn't ready to start portraying myself as someone who makes audio promises to my siblings.

It felt like déjà vu as I moved into the mansion I had been to in the past. Last time I was this stressed to get into a building was when I was in Jss1. God punish those wicked seniors. I was quite sure most of them chop witch.

I got into the house and witnessed an empty living room. Judging by the cars outside, I could tell someone was at home. Maybe they were upstairs.

"Oh God, what should I do?" I grumbled to myself. "Should I shout that I've arrived? Wahala be like watin again?" Since I was the only one in the living room, I spoke with my actual voice.

I decided to sit on one of the couches that probably cost more than my life. The channel on TV was Africa magic and they were showing a movie starring Ken Eric as Jesus. Nothing someone will not see.

My ears stood erect as I began to ear footsteps from upstairs. I turned my head to see Henry walking down the stairs. Once he noticed me, he stopped for a brief second. "When did you arrive?"

I quickly stood up and cleared my throat. I guess I was pretty early and he was probably in bed. "Just now sir."

Henry gave a small nod then continued his journey down the stairs. I thought he'll make his way towards me but instead, he moved to the dining room.

"You probably must be hungry," He turned to me, looking at me for a brief second. "You're free to make yourself a light breakfast while I call the cook over."

His workers probably wasn't living with him. I dropped my backpack on the couch and helped myself to the dinner area.

"Thank you sir," Henry didn't reply, as he furrowed his brows with his phone against his ear. I watched him sigh, as I reached for the packaged bread and slowly untied it.

"Oh, hello. How are you?" I could hear a female voice in the background, probably the cook. But that wasn't what stopped me from dipping my hands to get some slice bread. What stopped me was how softly he spoke to his employees. He sounded so different from that night. Did I wrongly judge him? Nah.

"It's alright, take all the time you need." Henry spoke. Seconds later, he ended the call with pressed lips. "The cook can't make it, looking after her sick son. I'll get the security man to-"

"I can cook," I blurted out, while Henry ached a surprised brow. I cleared my throat to compose myself. "As the only son and child of my family, I learnt how to cook."

Henry nodded slowly but his eyes never left mine. I looked away as I couldn't meet his gaze any longer. "What would you like to eat sir?"

"What can you cook?" He threw a question back at me. I opened my mouth to laugh which surprised him, as he leaned against a wall to watch me with interest.

"Sir, anything." I stopped there. He nodded, looking down at his feet.

"Just make something simple like boiled yam and egg sauce, can you do that?" He wanted to see if it wouldn't stress me.

"Yes sir," I nodded.

Henry gave a small nod and held his phone firmly in his hands. "I'll be in the living room then."

"Yes sir," This time my voice almost slipped to normal, forcing Henry to stop but he didn't look at me. When I saw him shaking his head and moving to the living room, I found my way to the kitchen.

First cooking at his kitchen was far more complicated than I thought. I had to look hard for yam, which was of course in his store. But his store was stored with many tuber making it a bit hard to retrieve. Next I had to look for where he kept his vegetable oil and seasonings. After that I noticed he stored his egg and fresh perishable goods such as fresh tomatoes and fresh paper in his fridge. That wasn't all, his gas cooker happened to be that of screen touch with so many instructions.

All in all, I prepared his meal, making the aroma fill the air. I tried my best not to stain his kitchen cause the Colour wasn't off white but pure white and everywhere seem to be very neat. Bravo to his cook. Even his cream coloured cabinets was far more cleaner than my white tee-shirt.

I sighed as I placed his meal on a tray and marveled as my sense of plating. Maybe chef was my second calling. I held the tray tightly in both hands as I moved to the dinner table and placed it on his usual seat.

"Sir," I pressed my lips once I'd settled everything to his taste. "I'm done, sir."

Henry moved to the dinner table. He stared at me then averted his eyes to his breakfast. I knew I was probably sweating like crazy. One, probably because of the heat from the kitchen. Two, probably because I was so nervous and very careful not to stain his kitchen or break his expensive plates and cups. I believed it was the second, since I'd never sweat this much while cooking.

I held the table water and was about pouring it in his glass cup, when Henry held my wrist in place. I watched as he brought my wrist close to his face and I wondered why he was acting this way.

"Why weren't you careful?" Henry asked and I gulped, cause of how his touch felt. It then occurred to me that he was referring to the cut on my left index finger. While peeling the yam earlier, I wasn't careful enough. The sharp knife made contact with my index finger, giving me a small cut.

"I-"

"Come with me," Henry hands never left my wrist as he stood up from his chair and gently pulled me into the kitchen. I stood close to the kitchen island and watched Henry reached for upper cabinets to reveal a first aid bag.

He moved and set it on the island I was leaning on, then opened the bag and brought out my greatest fear. Spirit.

I stretched out my shaky finger while closing my eyes tight to wait for that painful liquid to sting me.

"How can you protect me if you're afraid of this?" The humor in his voice forced me to open my eyes to witnessed a small smile from Henry. Losting in someone's eyes wasn't a thing but why does it look like it was happening to me. What was happening to me?!

"Did that hurt?" Henry asked softly, still holding my finger with so much care. I blinked back to reality and looked down at my finger that had already been disinfected. When did he do that?

"Thank you," I said instead. Henry placed a bandage over the small cut and cleared his throat.

"Can you eat? with that hand I mean?" He asked, closing the bag.

"It's my left," I replied with a slight nervous shrug. "I usually eat with my right."

Henry said nothing as he moved to place the first aid bag at its rightful place. He led the way out of the kitchen and we found ourself having breakfast after that.

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I laid in bed, facing the white ceiling. After breakfast, Henry took me upstairs to my room. This was a different room unlike before. This room was way bigger. It's walls were painted sky blue and it felt homey unlike the previous one. There was even an adjoined bathroom, thank God. I didn't want to encounter any misfortune with Jackson. Speaking of Jackson, where was he?

To be honest, Jackson was the least of my problem right now. Henry attitude towards me minutes ago, was. Why was he so caring and why was I so lost? Was he aware of my identity? Did Jackson say something? No! I don't know Jackson, but I don't think he was a tattle-tale.

But then why?

Was he gay? Well that was a possibility. But Henry? I really don't think so. I had to think of You're Beautiful and To The Beautiful You. Both guys in each series was attracted to the female lead without knowing she was a girl. I closed my eyes tight and released few breaths from my mouth.

See what Korean film as caused. They made it look easy with their perfect face and perfect skin. But this was anything but easy.

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So that's it for today's chapter. What do you think of Henry and Hope in this chapter?

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Word count : 2192

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-Eddy