Hi, guys!

How are you doing?

I'm so sorry for the late update. Life has been lifing by way. I gave you guys a heads-up in the last chapter and now, I'm doing the same again.

The next chapter will come in late but I will try to make it up to you all by giving you a double update.🤭

That said, let's get into the real deal.

        ————————★————————

     “The moment everything starts to fall

      Apart, when things began to crumble,

All I could think of was how there was no

          Right or wrong. It was all Grey.”

         ————————★————————

               ~Shalom Ewi Wellington~

“The number you are trying to call is not answering, please…” 

I hit the end button on my phone, my stomach churning deeply. There was nothing more that I hated than that operator's voice every time that seemed to be the outcome of when I called. I couldn't keep up with the number of times I'd rang him this week. Hundreds of messages were hanging in his DM without a reply.

I couldn't understand why he kept ignoring my calls and not replying to my messages. It had never happened like this before. I couldn't even begin to try to understand what was going on. My stomach knotted up each time I got the operator's message that he wasn't answering, making dread fill me.

Pulling up his chat, I started to type him a quick follow-up while I hoped desperately that this would be the one to alert him.

Father.

Daddy, good afternoon, sir. Dad, I've been calling you but you are not answering your calls. Please pick up or reply to my text, sir. Daddy, please.

03: 15 PM

I sighed as I read what I'd typed out countless times. After I'd made sure that it sounded politely formal and at the same time Informal enough in my head, I hit the send button and watched the grey ticks come up at the bottom, confirming that my message had been delivered. I waited for a few seconds, hoping that for some reason, the grey ticks would change into blue and I would see the three dots pop up on my screen to signify that he was typing back.

As he always did as soon as I texted him before.

I must admit though that this was very rare. Before then, I'd never had to deal with something like that before. It didn't make sense to me. My Dad was the most considerate person I know. He joked a lot and had a very unique sense of humor that most of my brothers had gotten. He was very sweet even when his mother wasn't. I was going to admit that at some point, I preferred his nonjudgmental warm hugs to my mother's stiff pats on my back when I brought in my results from school.

“Kelechi, give the girl a break. She has already broken the bank.”

He would say as he stared at me with nothing but pride while accessing my results while my mother fumed quietly in her seat or simply pointed out areas I could have done better. As if I hadn't sat a million times in my room or at my desk checking them out before I presented her with the results.

Still, I would nod while quietly holding her gaze because again, Mother was the serious one in the family and I had to be like her.

“Your father jokes too much for his own good,” she would say with an irritable expression while trying to suppress an eye roll.

I never saw my father like that though but the more I thought about things in the past few days, the more headache I seemed to have. Mother though unconsciously had shown me her skin, that same hand where the brown plaster had been plastered on her skin a few days ago. It was still there when I saw it last night, long and huge as it covered the mark I suppose was there.

She had noticed me staring at it but all she did was look away and went on with what she was doing like she didn't know of the million thoughts bubbling up in me at the sight of the bruises. Since she wasn't going to talk about it and I wasn't going to ask because it wasn't the kind of thing Shalom Ewi Wellington had been brought up to ask, I had gone on with my night without prodding.

But now that I was standing outside the doors of the dance studio, clutching my phone in my hands, I couldn't help but wonder what was going on.

You don't want to know, Shalom.

That was true, I didn't want to know. 

I shouldn't know.

Swallowing my saliva, I shoved my phone into the pocket of my jeans skirt and turned around. Pushing the door to the dance studio open, I stepped into the pristine hardwood flooring of the large space that made up the school's dance studio. Shutting the door quietly, my eyes drew to the lines of awards lining a shelf at the far end of the room. Trust EHS not to come last when it comes to showing off.

My reflection on the mirrored walls had me staring for a second as though it was the first time I'd been there. I tried not to get distracted as my eyes searched for my friend around the girls dancing on their dance mats in the center of the room. Most of them were busy practicing routines I'd seen before while the others were just trying something new. 

The music playing in the background was light which was a relief because ever since Davina became the captain, she had turned the dance studio into a dance club. It was always noisy whenever I walked in here.

As I turned to settle down in the space for onlookers certain that she would come to me when she was ready since I couldn't find her anywhere, my gaze landed on the caramel-skinned boy slouched over the seats, his gaze fixated on the glass doors leading to the private part of the studio. He didn't notice me when I took the seat beside him and I stared at him for a few seconds, wondering what he was so fixated on that he wasn't even paying me attention.

Looking away from him, I tried to see through the glass doors and it wasn't hard since they were transparent and see-through. Inside the large cubicle, Treasure Ajayi was rolling her waist in a small sensual dance that made my eyes pop.

Damn!

I felt my breath hitch as she lifted herself off the floor, balanced on one arm, her body controlled and poised. She wasn't looking at anyone, but there was an intensity to her expression, and I felt like she was putting on a private show. It made me feel like an intruder. I couldn't look away though.

I had always thought dance was a beautiful art, one I'd never really tried to understand. And now I could see the appeal. This wasn't just dance, this was an expression of emotion and it was something raw and authentic. Treasure Ajayi was the one doing that.

For a split second, I wondered what would happen if she had chosen to dance what she was dancing in the general studio we were seated in. 

The whole school would have gone crazy because that dance shouldn't even be done in a school.

I managed to look at the scene, moistening my suddenly dried lips. Looking at the Hausa boy who still had no idea that I was seated beside him, a small smile couldn't help creeping up my lips.

"If this isn't the creepiest thing I've seen today," I got into his personal space so he'd have to hear me because I was certain that if I just sat back and talked, I'd be speaking into thin air.

He blinked a couple of times, his dazed eyes finally connecting with mine. The smile that spread over his face was so wide that I tried not to let it shake my resolve. But it was hard because even as he looked at me, I could see his eyes going over me to her again.

“Earth to, Zakir.” I snapped my fingers in his face. “You can just nod if you are incapable of using your voice now.” I teased him and his expression faltered softly.

He glared at me and I laughed. 

“I love watching Trea dance when she thinks that no one is watching. It's the most beautiful sight ever,” he swallowed, still looking over my shoulders to stare at her.

“If that isn't the most cheesiest thing I've heard in a while. I will take what I get,” I teased him again and he glared at me. “It's really creepy, you know?” I jabbed him in his stomach and feigned a groan.

“Shalom, what do you want?” He asked, sparing me a glance before he quickly looked away back at his priceless sight as though I wasn't important. “I swear, I don't have anything else in me to give to you.” He threw his hands up in mock surrender.

I wasn't dramatic but because he was Zakir Ahmed, I decided to engage him. “What the…” I gasped as my hand flew to my chest, and my eyes widened in mock disbelief. “What in the world is that supposed to mean, Zakir?” I eyed him as he watched me carefully as if trying to detect whether or not I was joking. I didn't falter, one bit.

“So, what you are saying is that I only come to you when I need your help or what? You mean that I can't come to you to hang out or something?” I eyed him more.

He snorted, hiding behind the laugh ready to spill out of him. “You? Shalom, Hangout?” He chuckled a humorless sound that made me frown. “Haba naw, Shally. Your name and fun shouldn't be used in the same sentence. Whoever does that has committed a grammatical blunder.” He snorted and my frown deepened.

I was sulking before I knew it because it was only people like Zakir who managed to plug out all the emotions hidden in me. Emotions that most people thought were dead or that didn't belong to me. Zakir was one of those people I went to whenever I needed help because he never turned me down no matter how much of an inconvenience I was to him. I understood his thought if he thought that I only ever reached out to him when I needed his help but that wasn't true.

How was I supposed to explain to him that I was always busy most of the time to stand around and hang out or discuss topics that weren't doing me any good? Or involve myself in things that wouldn't get my grades up any much than it was.

But he didn't know that. 

And he didn't have to know any of it.

“Well, if you must know, I came in here looking for Davina but I found you instead and wanted to say hello.” I shrugged as though I wasn't hurt by his accusation. He let out something that I didn't bother to catch because now, Davina was trudging toward me with a smiling Dara in tow.

Frowning, I scooted off my seat and waved hastily at Zakir before rushing off to meet my best friend. Even on Fridays, she didn't relax with her bling bling necklaces and knuckle rings. She ignored my piercing gaze and grabbed my hand instead before she led me back to the place I had rushed out from. Though it wasn't where Zakir was seated exactly.

Dara was talking but I didn't understand what she was saying because I hadn't been part of the conversation from the onset. All I could pick up was party and dance. I settled into the seat Davina pushed me into and crossed my right leg over my left, sitting with my back straight.

“So, you guys really don't have anything planned?” Dara asked as she finally came to stand in front of me. Her eyes flicked away from Davina's amused ones to mine for a few seconds and she passed me a short nod that made me swallow nothing.

“Come on, Dara. It's Kambili we are talking about here,” Davina planted her hands on her waist, drawing attention to her belly button. Just like her school blazer, she had cropped her Friday wear. Everyone had a thing or two to say about it including the school authorities who had tried to talk sense into her to no avail.

I didn't even bother myself with it.

“Which is the more reason why I'm surprised,” Dara's gaze was accusing. “It's the first party of the year.” She added that in a you should know better voice.

Davina hesitated a moment before letting out a deep sigh. I could see how much she was conflicted and that made me narrow my eyes at her suspicions. “Look, Dara, as much as I want to help you right now, the group has nothing planned. Kambili doesn't involve herself with us, the school dancers. I think you of all people should understand that best.” She sighed again, her lips stretching into an apologetic smile.

“Are you saying that your team isn't capable?” I knew Dara and to the best of my knowledge, that was the first step to getting whatever she wanted.

Davina took a bold step toward her, looking her in the eyes while I sat there humming quietly because there was no way I was getting involved. 

“MY team is more than capable, Dara.” The emphasis on the ownership and the slant of her eyes had never felt so natural than that. “This is my team, Dara. We are always prepared for anything whenever. Heck, I could start a song and we will be on the dance floor rolling our waists to a song we didn't practice for. You feel me? Because we are natural like that.” She explained, her tone leveled while maintaining her stance.

“And just so you know, Dara, I support whatever revenge scheme you are cooking for that bastard that almost bashed my car. He deserves it one hundred percent. If you need any help that doesn't involve us crashing Kambili's party, count me in.” She added as Dara took a step back with a small smile. She wasn't even arguing again, probably because she knew that it was pointless. When Davina set her mind on something, she was going to get it.

“Okay, na. No yawa,” Dara hit her knuckles with hers and she sent me a curt nod in greeting again before she turned around. She was walking down the aisle with her shoulders raised, her head held high like the Queen I thought she was when Davina stopped her.

“I thought I should let you know that if any dancers are going to perform at the party, it would be the cheerleading squad. They would never go against Kambili.” She told her.

“Figured,” Dara mouthed back. When she turned back, she went straight ahead to get her dancing friend before they both walked away with Treasure laughing loudly about something while she acted indifferent. I was sure that she wasn't too happy about what she had learned.

As soon as the duo were out of the studio, I turned toward my best friend who was ever ready to supply me with the latest gist even when I didn't need nor ask for them. She collapsed into the empty seat beside me and popped open a can of malt I didn't see her bring out from anywhere. After she took a loud gulp, she tried to push it into my hand but I refused.

“What was all that about?” I asked as I held the can for her while she sorted through the bag she brought with her for something I guessed was chocolate. Her love for chocolate was greater than the breath she breathed. She practically inhaled chocolate every moment of her life.

“A revenge scheme to get back at Seyi at Bili's party.” She grimaced as though the thought of Dara doing something like that made her stomach upset. “I love Dara and all but she is going about it the wrong way,” she muttered as she bit into her snicker bar.

“Are you sure that's not your fear talking?” I teased her as I handed her back her malt before I leaned back in my chair, my eyes skimming everywhere in the studio.

“Shuuu, It's not like I'm scared of the Bitch. I'm just terrified to put people I wouldn't be able to protect on the spot.” She replied as she took another bite of her chocolate. I snickered when I saw the flicker of fear slashed through her eyes, so swift that I would have missed it if I weren't looking directly at her.

She was scared.

Of course, she was right to be scared. Especially not after the stunt Kambili pulled in Ss one right before she left the school. The Bitch had filled the class group chat with the private parts of Rowland Okeke all because he had dared her. Nobody knew how she got the pictures or what she had to do to get them but the Bitch had walked into school the following day with a literal crown on her head while the victim wailed.

I had never felt more afraid than I did that day in the hallway.

If she had ended everything there, It would have been better. But Kambili had gone ahead to call him out in the hallway, deliberately dropping printed pieces of his genitals over him while she and her girls called him names. 

I stood there shaking, trembling, wondering what I would do or what I could have done to get into her bad books like Rowland had done to have her do the same thing to me. And when the boy cried while everyone watched, she simply tipped her head back and laughed. A cold bitter laugh that told us that she didn't and would never care.

Even when the school authorities heard about what was going on and they had ordered her to tender a public apology to him, she chose the easy way out and left the school. All of a sudden, she was back and throwing parties like a messiah.

I disliked her deeply for who she was as a person and what she had done but no matter what, I hadn't seen myself hating her. There was only one person I had come to hate, only one person that made my blood boil and that was my used-to-be best friend. The one person that I had been friends with besides Davina.

“It's not your duty to protect them, Davina. You don't owe them anything,” I reminded her as she gulped down her cold malt.

She swallowed properly with a satisfied sigh before she answered me. “Of course, I do. I accepted my responsibility with open arms the very day I became the team captain. It was the way it worked. The way I want it to work.” She explained with such hidden passion that had me softening up.

No matter how much she formed a baddie, she would always remain a big-time softie.

“By the way, tell me you are coming to the party tonight.” She nudged me as she started to fold the wrapper of the chocolate she just finished eating. 

“You know I won't,” I rolled my eyes.

“A girl could dream, Shalom.” She rolled her eyes too. “Besides, a little fun wouldn't kill you. It's the final year in high school…Loosen up, have fun. There wouldn't be a repeat of this moment, you know. Use it while you still have it.” She pouted and I couldn't help laughing.

“What the hell?” I pushed her and she started laughing too. “When did you become a motivational speaker?” I laughed.

“It's one of my many talents we are just discovering.” She chuckled before she straightened again, appearing serious. “But seriously, the party officially begins by 8:30. You should come even if you won't spend much time.” She pushed again. 

I turned away from her as I pried into my mental schedule. At exactly half past eight on a Friday night, I was supposed to be lying in bed working on my Mathematics since it wasn't my strongest suit. Nothing I couldn't handle with practice though.

“No, thanks. I have to study.” I declined and she sighed, her eager and hopeful smile falling. Patting my hand, she rose from her seat and stepped out of the place. I watched her trudge down the aisle to call the rest of her team together.  Looking away from her, I took a brief look at the time and was shocked at how fast time had gone.

After school, compulsory classes were going to start in five minutes. I needed to get out of here and head back to my class. I stood up and headed off to meet Davina to hurry her up. Halfway through, my brain decided it was best to remind myself of the fact that with Davina with me, I would never get to class early.

So, I changed routes and went for the door instead. I didn't turn around to wave her goodbye—even though I was still going to see her after school—until I was out of the door, ready to shut it back in place. She caught my eyes, waved back, and went back to talking to her teammates while I went off to class.

Being the president of the student government council had its perks and cons. I had come to accept both no matter how difficult they were sometimes. In Ss two, when my classmates were fighting and battling over posts that the school already knew they would be giving them too despite all the elections that took place, I didn't bother doing all of that because Mother had insisted that I didn't.

“Being the Senior Prefect is good but that's not what I need from you,” she'd told me when I reminded her about it that evening at home.

And so I heard her words because it truly wasn't what I wanted. She wanted me to head the student government instead, and give a voice to the students and I took it. I accepted the position. It was just as powerful as the post of the Senior Prefect. The only difference was that I wasn't an official prefect and I accepted it that way because honestly, I wouldn't have it any other way.

One of the cons I hated about having to be a voice of reasoning for thousands of other students was that I had to somehow convince some of the prefects to join the government body. It didn't make sense but that was how it worked in EHS. I had to somehow convince some of the top dawgs of the school that I knew could help me with something one way or the other to join the council as prefects.

That was exactly what I had been trying to do when I scouted Frederick Eyitouyo out that evening on my way to the parking lot, alone. Davina wasn't with me because she had decided to stay behind for an hour to work on her skills at the studio while I walked alone to the lot and went home. 

As soon as I saw Frederick, the lone wolf walking toward the area I knew he usually parked his black power bike that I knew he rode all the time, I hurried after him while calling his name. He didn't stop just as I didn't stop running. To be honest, I wasn't expecting him to stop because if he did, he wasn't Erick.

The dude always acted like they stuffed cotton wool into his ears.

“Erick,” I jumped in front of him before he could mount his bike, a polite smile on my face. I wasn't prone to violence. I never raised my voice or shouted or threw temper tantrums but for some goddamn reasons, staring at Erick made me want to throw a fit because this guy legit went ahead to shove me—gently—out of the way so he could get on his bike.

The audacity.

“Erick!” I screamed in irritation. I didn't care who was looking at us and where we were right now but this guy was getting on my last nerve. “I want to talk to you, please,” I added when he continued to ignore me.

Breathe, Ewi.

I had to remind myself that I was talking to a brick wall and that whatever happened, he wouldn't get affected. If I kept up with my screaming, I would end up burning my lungs without getting any job done. And so, I had to tolerate myself all I could.

“Please, just two minutes of your time. Two minutes!” I held up two of my fingers to emphasize the time. 

He stared at me for a few seconds like he was trying to decide whether or not he should listen to me. I didn't allow him to decide while seated on that bike because he could ride off on me. And so I did what I thought was best; I leaned in closely to distract him while my hand worked up on the key holder. 

He frowned, veering back for a second while his perfume slapped me in the face. He wasn't talking but at that moment, his inscrutable expression said more words than his mouth would ever get to utter in his entire life. 

“Relax, okay?” I winked at him before I snatched the key away from the key holder and took a hurried step back. 

His face blanked and honestly, I didn't know if I was scared but the look he passed me, the archness of his brows, the spools of thread set on me ready to set me ablaze if I stepped on its cobra tail made me want to hightail it out of there but I remained put and stood my ground. 

“Just for good measure,” I shrugged nonchalantly while I held on to the keys tightly for if he ever tried to pull the same stunt. I did as he did. “Now, get off your bike, and let's talk like mature humans.” I smiled. 

He sighed deeply as he alighted from the bike. I remained in motion as I watched him set his bike properly before he walked toward me with his hands folded around his biceps. He arched his brows quietly as if asking me to go and talk.

This guy had a big problem.

“Use your words, Erick.” Now, I was just pushing my luck but I did want him to speak with his mouth. Communication involves two people but with Erick, it involved one person doing the talking while the other one listened attentively and when everything was over, he would go ahead and do exactly what you asked him not to do. Not today though.

“Fine,” he grumbled, the bass of his voice making him sound hoarse. “What do you want, Shalom?”

“The one thing I've been asking you for. I've been pleading with you to join the council cos we need you. I'm trying to thrive in this school but you are making things very difficult for me. I've given you all the reasons why being a member would benefit us and the school countless times but if you need me to list them again, I will. I honestly will,” I sighed. 

He didn't say anything. He didn't even blink or react to what I said. 

“Okay, I will just go ahead and list them out for you.” I gripped the keys tightly when they jingled around my finger and his eyes fell on them. “Firstly…”

“Okay, Shalom.” He raised his hand to stop me, massaging his forehead slightly like my presence was causing him a headache. “I see you. I hear you.” He nodded.

“Good. So, what do you say?” My brows tugged upwards in questioning.

“I will think about it,” he tried to grab his keys.

“Uh-uh. That is definitely not enough for me. I've been chasing you around for this all month long. We are not having a repeat of this. It's either you agree now or you don't get your keys.” Again, I passed him my polite smile while hiding the quivering feeling I felt on the inside.

“You know that if I choose to carry you now, I will get it without batting an eyelid?” He asked, the corners of his lips tugging up in a small sly smile.

“Yeah, but you wouldn't do it.” I took a step back from him. Hell no, I didn't want anybody touching me.

“This is blackmail though. Your techniques are not real,” he scoffed at me and my throat burned like earlier. I refused to let him see it though as I cocked my head at him, to rile him up. That was if he was capable of feeling such emotions.

“I just need the words.” 

“Fine! I will join the stupid council. Now, hand me my keys.” He demanded while I tried to fight my smile. 

“We don't appreciate ghost members, you must k—”

“Shalom,” 

My back sharpened at that voice. That voice always managed to instill discipline in me no matter where it was called or in the place it was called. My cheeks burned deeply as I swirled around to see her standing just there, leaning against her car.

How didn't I remember that she was coming to pick me up?

That's right, I didn't know.

Turning to Erick, I dropped his keys in his opened palms nervously before I tipped off and almost ran to meet Mother. But luckily I caught myself just in time from running and I switched quickly into a walk, hoping that her swift eyes hadn't caught that. If I had run to her, I would have been met with a slap.

“Mother,” I acknowledged her with my head bowed, my eyes falling on her feet which were clad in red pumps. She didn't say anything as she gestured for me to get into the car which I did.

When I glanced back, I caught her staring at Erick who was now getting on his bike. Her jaw ticked as her eyes locked with his because the fool had chosen to look our way. If Mother had the power, I was sure that he would have landed six feet under with that stare. That glare she sent him before she took the wheels and settled in.

For what seemed like a very long time, Mother didn't speak. She didn't blink in my direction, she didn't say anything. She drove out of the school without a word, sped past the school's estate gates, landed on the main road leading to our house and she still didn't say anything.

I was convinced that she wasn't going to say anything till I was out of the car but she surprised me when she asked me to remain put in the car even after she pulled the car to a stop inside the garage. I cradled my backpack closely, my mind making up the worst of the scenes, trying to know what she was going to say to me.

As usual, nothing beat the words she uttered to me.

“Do you have a boyfriend?” 

Her voice was cool, calm, and very soft. But her eyes, her eyes that were boring holes into the skin of my body said otherwise. Perhaps one of the favorite things I loved about Mother was her eyes but seated there in the same space with her while I felt like my lungs and insides were closing up on me, I had never dreaded the eyes more than I did that day.

“So, you are hesitating?” She let out a humorless chuckle that pulled goosebumps out on my skin. The sound terrified the whole of me.

“Is there a boy? Answer me, Ewi!” She lost it and pounded her hands on the steering wheel. I veered backward, my shoulders hitting the door as I tried to get air into my lungs. Everything was suddenly feeling tight. The space felt congested and my eyes blurred.

“T-there is no one, Mother. No one.” I shook my head as the tears filled up my eyes, blinding me momentarily. “E-Erick was…I was just persuading him to join the council.” I sniffed as the first tears slid down my cheeks. Before they could brush down my neck, I caught them with my thumb and wiped them off while she sat there staring at me.

“Good. And they better be no one else.” She warned, her voice threatening. “I don't want to see you around any guys.” She told me and I was quick to nod.

A few more tears slipped and I had to hurriedly wipe them away before she complained but then, she grabbed my chin and turned my face toward her in a firm grip. “You act like a baby too much. This is not the strong woman I am raising you to become. You don't shed any tears, do you hear me?” She snapped as she began to wipe off my tears with her well-manicured painted nails. 

I nodded hurriedly and sniffed multiple times till she finished off with my face and let me go. I sat there quietly while I wondered if she had anything more to add. Her fingers tapped against the steering wheel, her eyes straight ahead at nothing in particular. 

Unconsciously, or maybe I meant to, I couldn't tell but my eyes moved from her face back to the skin of her hand. And there it stayed, directly on the plaster of her hand.

The questions gnawed at me. Should I ask her? Do I tell her that my daddy hadn't bothered to call me since he left on Monday? Should I let her know that he hadn't bothered to reply to my messages or return my calls either?

I was contemplating it. I was seriously going to ask her…Until she turned around and ordered me out of her car.

I grabbed my things and rushed out of the car immediately while she did the same. I didn't run as I waited for her to round the car so we could head inside together because it was the polite thing to do. As soon as we stepped into the house, I realized what I had missed in the garage and probably in the compound.

My brothers were around.

Noel was pacing about the living room when I walked in. His hands which were tucked into the black jeans he was donning came off immediately I rushed toward him to pull him into a hug. He wrapped his hand around me while my head fell to his chest.

My twenty-four-year-old brother was the first child and the first male in our family. As soon as he graduated from school, he moved out of the house immediately to his place where he went from there to work; at our father's company which he headed. He rarely came home except on special occasions so anyone could imagine my shock when I saw him pacing about the living room.

“Brother,” I gripped his top and he laughed, the tail of his beard scratching my hair. When I pulled back, I saw his eyes flick over me quickly, scanning me and giving me a once over which made me laugh.

“Ewi,” 

I had barely recovered from that shock when another pair of strong hands wrapped around me and I fell into the familiar embrace. No matter what anyone thought, Charles was my favorite of the trio. He would do anything for me and I meant anything for me. He had recently just finished schooling but he had moved out of the house as well.

Dad had joked that he shouldn't come back to the house with the speed at which he got out. 

“My baby,” he cooed and I giggled, letting him play with my braids. Another thing I loved about him was that he always helped me with my hair whenever I needed him to. Noel was a grump who didn't have time for such but Charles, he would happily do it at a chance to have me by his side.

Steven tried too but no one could beat Charles and I think he knew that.

“How are you?” I asked when I pulled out of the hug, his previous hardened expression relaxed into a sweet smile. 

“I should be asking you.” He poked my sides and I laughed. He didn't laugh with me and I noticed that I no longer had his attention. Mother was now walking into the living room. I hadn't even realized that she had stopped at the door to stare at her sons.

“I didn't know that you two were coming,” Even though she was speaking to both of them, her eyes were on Noel. Locked in a dead stare with him.

I frowned, sensing that something was wrong.

“Shalom, go to your room.” Mother ordered and I gulped. I started to nod as I clutched my backpack tightly but I didn't get to take a step when Charles pulled me by my hand, refusing to let me go.

My eyes bulged as a gasp escaped me. I turned to my brother, about to ask him to let me leave so that Mother wouldn't have to repeat herself to me but he didn't look fazed. Not a tiny bit. Instead, he passed me one of his uptight commanding looks, daring me to take a step.

My chest tightened.

“Shalom, I just asked you to go to your room.” Mother ordered again, her voice raised a notch as she stared at Charles' hand wrapped around mine.

“Charles, please…” I begged my hard-headed brother when I turned to him but he didn't blink. I even tried to catch Noel's eyes but his gaze was locked on Mother's. 

“Charles, please…” I whispered and pleaded as my voice filled with urgency with each passing second.

“Don't let her go, bro.” Steven, who I hadn't noticed was in the room, stepped up beside Noel, his eyes meeting mine briefly. I couldn't for the life of me even understand what was going on.

“Fine!” Mother suddenly yelled and I shivered and flinched.

Charles noticed and his eyes narrowed at me.

“You three want to play it this way? You want to disrespect your mother, right? Is this what I taught you? Did I teach you to disrespect me?!” She was screaming, and yelling at the top of her lungs.

I was shaking because I'd never seen Mother get so angry.

“You taught us so many things, Mother,” Noel said, his voice cool and his gaze lowered. “But you never taught us respect for you, and now that has come back to bite you.”

Noel shook his head, anger simmering just beneath the surface. “Hasn’t it all ended now, Mother? Your attempt to save everything, to pass it on… You had no value to offer, and now all of your efforts have come to nothing.”

“You will not speak to me like that!” 

“I will speak to you however I want!” Noel admonished.

Indignation blew through me like a sudden wind. I was unsure what I was more annoyed by at that moment. The way the boys were crowding Mother or the disrespect they were showing her. I didn't like it, and I was going to put a stop to it.

I snatched my hand from Charles, who hadn't expected it and bolted toward Noel to step between him and Mother, who were now going head-to-head. It was a sight I never thought I'd see in my life. I stepped between the two raging beasts, my hand falling on my brother's chest.

Noel looked down at me, his breath coming in ragged gasps as if he were a cornered animal. I had never seen him look so feral, his eyes blazing with a fury I hadn't known him capable of. He barely seemed to even register my presence as he glared past me at Mother. My mother was quiet and still, her hands clenched into fists at her side, her eyes simmering with rage. The two of them were too engrossed in their anger to even look at me, despite my being directly in the line of fire.

“Have you lost your mind?” I snapped, anger boiling their seeds in me. “Why would you speak to her like that? Stop disrespecting Mother! Noel, stop it!” I screamed at him, my throat parched and hurting as tears filled my eyes.

“Can you see?” Noel sneered as he pointed between me and Mother. “She doesn't even know.” He screamed.

“Know what?” I screamed back.

“Shalom, go to your room now!” Mother ordered me. 

I stopped, removing my hands from my brother's. My throat was burning, I needed to drink water. My eyes were filled with tears and my lungs needed air because it felt like I kept suffocating and needed to be taught how to breathe. As I looked at Mother, I knew the safest and best option was for me to return to my room and believed that none of this was happening.

But I couldn't move.

I willed myself to move but my legs didn't move. They stayed glued to the spot as my hands shook. I needed to drink water.

She stared at me in disbelief, her lips setting apart.

Slowly, I looked away from her back at my brothers because I was sure that if I didn't get the response I needed at that moment, I was going to collapse. I was going to fall apart from this strange fatigue I was feeling.

“What is going on?” My voice was barely above a whisper, barely audible in any way.

My brothers shared a look, the kind of look we'd shared a thousand times in our childhood when we'd debated what to say to each other. I'd seen it in their eyes that they were deciding if they should tell me what was happening. But I was already hooked, and I wasn't leaving without hearing what I needed to hear. They broke their gaze and I saw the conflict in Charles and Steven's eyes.

As if whatever they were about to tell me would be the hardest thing in the world. Or the death of them.

“Ewi, our parents are getting a divorce.” 

Someone said Someone whose voice I couldn't place. Whose voice I didn't know. I stayed there and stared, looked at their faces, and watched them for what seemed like a very very long time.

I didn't know if I breathed properly after that.

                               ★★★★

My entire life, I'd turned a blind eye to anything that felt like a gray area, something that wasn't purely right or wrong. Something that could be judged because it had a ‘but’ in it. I'd always chosen a clearly right path, no matter how messy it got, and I'd never been forced to make a choice that might alter my life.

Until the universe decided to hand me a big, round but on a platter. The news of my parents' divorce was like a slap to the face, and it shook me to my core.

After Noel dropped the bombshell, all I had done for minutes was stand there and just take it in. I just stood there staring in disbelief, convincing myself that I'd heard wrong because there was no way my parents were getting a divorce. My Dad worshiped the ground my mother walked on, he adored her.

They never fought.

Quarreled or argued, yes. Fight? A big no. They never raised their voices at each other. The only indication that time me that they were not on good terms was if my Dad wasn't laughing or smiling and if my Mother was extra whiny. There, I always knew something was wrong.

A divorce?

I didn't see it coming and it was killing me. I couldn't stand there and listen to them anymore, so I turned around and came upstairs, ignoring my brother's worried calls. I got into my room, had my bath, and settled down at my reading desk to study while I tried to shift this new development of my life into right or wrong. 

It hung on the fence.

The Grey area.

The door to my room opened and I grabbed my pen quickly, expecting to see my mother. It wasn't her. In her place, my best friend strolled in, the rings on her hands shining under the glow of my room. I frowned as I turned around in my chair to address her.

She had on a gray knitted sweater dress that fell to her knees. From the way she was dressed, I could tell that she was preparing for the party before she had to come here for whatever reason. She settled down on my bed like she owned my space, popping the gum she was chewing loudly.

“Who let you in?” I asked, skipping over pleasantries. Davina never came over to my house. My mother didn't like it and so she wasn't welcome here. All our friendship ended in the walls of the school and she knew that but my best friend was as stubborn-headed as a goat.

She always found a way to sneak in using the tree directly beside the window of my room. She was an excellent climber, I would give her that.

“Steven let me in,” she popped her gum while I nodded.

“And you are here because?” I arched a brow at her, while she sat there on my well-laid bed, swinging her legs back and forth.

“Steven said that you needed me which is why I'm here. I already explained to him about my process of making you feel better.” She popped her gum again. She didn't have to add it, I already knew what she was going to say.

“Jesus.” I rubbed my head. “Are you even thinking of the trouble we will both get into if my mother walks in here now?” I glared at her.

“And I should care because?” She eyed me and I sighed. She had never liked my mom and she never failed to show it even when she was trespassing. “Alaye, stand up and let's go jare. Is it because I'm speaking English with you?” She jumped down from my bed and walked over to where I sat.

“You will read in school, read all night, read in the car on your way to school. Kilode. Shey Iwo ni kan ni won shey iwe fun ni?” She grumbled as she began to shut all my notes and opened the textbook. When she finished, she planted her hand on her waist and turned toward me.

“See, I don't need you to bring anything. Just carry yourself and follow me. I already have what you will wear in my car and I got your food as well.” She explained. When I opened my mouth to speak, she shut me off with a glare.

“Don't say anything. As you can see, I haven't even worn my clothes yet so if you know what is best for you, head to my car now.” She pointed at my door and I rolled my eyes.

If it was any other time, any other day, or any other moment, I would have declined. Or maybe I should have declined. Maybe I shouldn't have gone. Maybe I should have stayed in my room and thought about all the right and wrongs I knew but…Davina had come up behind me and whispered something into my ear. Something that made my leg move faster than usual and ignore all of Mother's warnings ringing in my ears.

Something that made me wear makeup for a long while that night. Something that made me wear the bold outfit Davina bought for me. Something that made me attend the cursed party. 

Of everything that happened that day, that night; I wished desperately that I hadn't gone to the party because it would have saved me a great deal of tears. Tears that almost turned into blood.

All because I went to the damn party.

                                   A/N

How do I always end up speechless at the end of every chapter?

Le sigh.

What do you guys think? Who saw that coming, the divorce and everything?

I don't know if you guys understand what I've just done but I decided to show you what happened to Ewi that Friday that made her go to Kam's party. I think we can all agree that Ewi is not the party kind of girl.

General thoughts regarding this chapter?

Conspiracy theories? Let me hear them.

Because honestly, there are a lot of things to discuss in this chapter. If you are missing it ehn...Hmm. I will keep my mouth shut.

I will see you guys, later.  Love you.❤