- Henry's POV -

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"I'm just pitying hope... Coz if she later realizes her feelings for henry she's gonna be torn between her loyalty to christy and her love for henry."

- KHADIJAHOLASUNKANMI
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I got into the living room and sat on one of the couches, feeling anger sip through me. I wasn't sure what Dorcas was planning. I had made it clear to her that I wasn't interested when it came to Yemi still, she was forcing her on me.

"Sir," I looked up once Hope cleared his throat. "What if you rehearse with me? Just to prepare yourself for tonight."
I stared at him dumbfounded. "I can't rehearse with you," I said, then stood up. "I can't rehearse a kissing scene with you."

Hope all of a sudden moved to block my path, which angered me. I tried controlling myself so he won't be a victim of my aggression. "I've been told to have the gift of merging my voice to a female. Trust me sir, you won't know the difference."

I stared at him in silence. I needed to think about the time I'd be spending with Yemi and all he does was to waste the little time I had all to myself. "Hi, I'm Hope Prince. Nice to meet you."

"That voice," I muttered to myself. How could I ever forget that voice. That voice that belonged to the person I'd been stalking on the Internet. That voice that belonged to that person I really wanted to apologize to.

"See, no different from a female. Right?" This time, those deep forced voice came into view. "So shall we start, sir?"

I was reluctant because I couldn't tell how to place this sudden behavior and didn't want to conclude without proves. But then, gave a silent nod. We both moved over to the couch and sat down, facing each other. "Only one script sir, what are you going to use?"

"I know each words by heart," I said to hope. I watched as he flipped through the pages. "You had fun didn't you?"

"Eh?" My brows raised a bit, seeing that wasn't his line.

"I mean," He cleared his throat and skimmed through the lines. "I did, but I'm a horrible dancer. Why'd you force me to come?"

"Excuse you, but I'm not your fan!"

I shifted, moving closer to Hope. "Of course your dance is horrible," I let out a slight chuckle. "But it was nice seeing you have fun. Fun looks best on you."

Hope slowly looked up and I could tell he was tensed, judging by the nervous gulps he made before gazing on his lines. "You're just saying that, I heard some people laugh back there."

"For your information, I was and will never be your fan. Heartthrob my ass. My friend over here is more handsome than you bazillion times and he's ugly!"

"Then they are dumb for laughing at the most talented person I know." I reached for his hand and held it softly. "You're beautiful, smart and run a multimillion dollars company all by yourself. Those people in there can't do half of what you're doing."

"How low are you to think that I was following you? Those were coincidence, heard of such word? Don't think you're above every other person in this place."

My eyes stared at Hope deeply, trying to see if I could see the answers I was searching for by just looking at them.

"Who are you?" I blurted but with no regret whatsoever.

"Sir," Hope eyes finally met mine and I still couldn't tell if I was right.

"Forget it," I said, reaching out to take the script. "Thanks for your help."

"Where are you going?" He enquired, getting up.

"Going over to Yemi's," I informed him, looking down at my watch "You don't have to come, by the way."

I left Hope in the living room, moving over to my room to have a quick shower. Yeah the shower was quick but I was equally drown in my own thought. Was Hope, Cherry? They've always had similar features and that was the excuse I'd always given myself whenever I was nice to him. But that voice, no way!

I tied the gray towel round my waist once I was done showering and moving to the bedroom. Almost getting to my wardrobe, I heard a knock on my door and immediately it got opened. My first guess was Jackson. He probably was done with Baby in his studio and came home early but it turned out to be far from that.

"I'm sorry sir, I never knew you were naked." Hope turned to the door after seeing my present state, making the corner of my lips curl in a small smirk. My suspicion was getting confirmed but I still needed to do something to clear all doubt.

"I'm not," I said dryly, finally getting to the wardrobe to bring out a loose white long sleeve and a black ripped Jean. "What do you want?"

"Um...." I lifted a brow. "About my friend, I want to talk to you about my friend. She's single a-and..." I began wearing my trousers under the towel. "And very pretty."

"Then why don't you date her?" I questioned, my attention on my shirt as I began to button. This time, I'd thrown the towel on my reading table.

"I can't date her, she's...... She's not my type." I scoffed at such word. "Lemme help you sir," Hope moved closer and began helping with the buttons on my wrist. I used that moment to look at that face up close. "Why don't you give her a try, sir? Nice face, nice shape, nice voice and to crown it all up, nice personality. Sir, you won't regret going out with-"

"I'm not going out with your friend," I finally said my mind, so all this talk about this girl I had no interest in, would stop.

"Why?" How could I answer that for Hope to understand and not bring back this topic? I reached for the back of Hope's head and pull him closer into a tight hug. A scoff left my mouth once realization kicked in.

I let go and reach for my phone, wallet and keys. "Because I like someone else," I walked passed Hope and head towards the door. "Don't forget to lock-up, I might stay out late."

I let the door close behind me and leaned on it a bit with a small shaky breath. I had the answer I needed.

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"You had fun didn't you?" I said without looking at the script. Yemi moved closer, so close that I could feel her warm breath on my skin.

"I did, but I'm a horrible dancer. Why'd you force me to come?" I had arrived at Yemi's home to rehearse our next scene. She was so much better compared to Hope, but why wasn't I feeling it?

"Of course your dance is horrible," Yemi gasped for effect, "But it was nice seeing you have fun. Fun looks best on you."

"You're just saying that," Yemi shook her head, pouting a little. "I heard some people laugh back there."

"Then they are dumb for laughing at the most talented person I know." I reached for her hand and held it in mine. "You're beautiful, smart and run a multimillion dollars company all by yourself. Those people in there can't do half of what you're doing."

This was the part where I kiss Yemi. I was supposed to lean in and kiss her but it felt like a force was holding me in place. Yemi thought I was being a bit nervous and decided to take the lead. She leaned close instead, her lips getting closer to mine. When it was almost touching mine, I snapped my head to the side which halted her movement.

"Henry?" Yemi questioned calmly. The Yemi I knew doing her debut, the calm and considerate Yemi was appearing. She wasn't always like this but fame got to her. "Is anything wrong?"

"Let's wait till set day," I said, getting up and grabbing the script.

"Wait, you're leaving?" She seemed shocked as the current Yemi took over. "I told you I was nervous about the kiss. Why are y-"

"You can't be nervous about a kiss," I knew all she said to Dorcas was bullshit. "Don't act desperate," I leaned closer to her and whispered in her ears. "That's one of the things I hate in any woman."

My last words might be too harsh as I walked out of her living room and into the cold night air, but someone like Yemi needed harsh words to let it stick into their brain.

I got into my car and brought out my phone once I was behind the wheels. I searched for Jackson's number and quickly dialed it. It took four rings before he could finally pick up. "Hey man, what's up?"

"Where are you?" I asked immediately.

"Studio, why? Wait, aren't you with Yemi practicing some smooching?" He laughed once he said that. I rolled my eyes and my silence must have given away my current mood.

"Hey, how about we both grab a drink? Baby's done recording his part, so are you down?" Jackson chose his words carefully as he spoke.

"Yeah," I gave a short reply.

"Alright, I'll send you the address." Jackson said over the phone. "Meet you there once I take Baby home."

The call dropped after that forcing me to sink on my leather seat with a sigh. My head hurts badly.

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Jackson arrived at the bar few minutes after I had arrived. He spotted me from my table and walked towards me, sitting on the chair across mine. A bartender sent one of his assistance to place a champaign on the small round table between Jackson and I.

"Why do you look so worked up?" Jackson asked, placing his Jacket on the chair he was sitting on. The bar was playing 'Monalisa' by Lojay and Sarz at the moment. "Yemi?"

"Hope," Jackson brows shoot up at my answer.

"Your tiny bodyguard?" He asked, mostly to himself. "That's new."

"Hope is Cherry." Jackson whom was about taking a sip from his glass, stopped midway.

"Sorry?" He asked and I let out a sigh.

"I did say he reminded me of Cherry, didn't I?" Jackson nodded. "Today, Hope wanted to help out. Horrible liar I must say. Hope spoke using her actual voice. A voice we both know I can't forget."

"Two people can have same voice colour," Jackson being the musical genius he was, commented.

"So I thought," I nodded in agreement. "Not until I'd hugged her and could feel it." I said, pointing at my chest while Jackson stifled a laugh. "My reasons are, why would she disguise herself to be around me?"

Jackson leaned on the chair, sipping from his glass. "Warned her to be careful cause you're smart."

"You knew?" I felt betrayed by my best friend.

"Why do you think I made the suggestion of letting her stay with you. I wanted you to know." He shrugged, but my confused gaze made him elaborate more. "I caught her in the single bathroom when she spent the night she had wraps around her chest. Beautiful, I must say."

"Jackson," I scolded, indirectly warning him not to cross the line.

"Well I pretended I wasn't aware cause I needed solid prove, as if catching a girl with wraps wasn't solid enough." He whispered the last part to himself. "Remember the day I asked her to get me a jacket? Well I used that moment to confirm things. I would've told you but she pleaded saying she needed the money. I've got some heart you know."

"What are you? Bloody samaritan?" Jackson laughed, wiggling his index finger at me. I wasn't mad. In fact, I was relief. "Thought I was turning gay."

"Wouldn't be the first," Jackson shrugged, sipping on his drink. "What are you going to do now?"

"Nothing," I shrugged, like it was the best thing to do. I didn't want her to know that I know about her true identity. Letting her know meant letting her go. She never liked me judging by the words she had used during our mini fight. It was best not to make things awkward.

"By nothing you mean you're gonna ignore your feelings?" Jackson questioned calmly but I didn't reply to that. What was I to say to that? Instead, I suggested we'd go over to his studio to listen to his demo. At least that could momentarily, take my mind off of Hope.

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The person you guys should blame for my lack of update is NEPA.

So Henry knows that Hope is Cherry. What do you think would happen from here?

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Word count : 2166

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-Eddy