Heyo!❤️

How was your day? Gist me.✨😌

This chapter is dedicated to Safiya_Saleh 😂❤️

~DABI~

Interesting story.

So, after one hell of a horrifying day in school, Marcus dropped me off at home, and further decided to disappear for the next five hours.

After coming to the conclusion that he wasn't in love with me anymore, didn't care about me, and wouldn't mind if I died and rotted alone in his house, I decided not to sulk about it anymore.

So, I spent the entire time, talking to the every inanimate object in this room and the voices in my head.

And for hours, I was telling the reading desk about how terrible today was - my fight with the twins, and how Chika was most likely not so happy with me, at the moment. I also conversed with the bed about how Miranda told me a bunch of stuff that I didn't know how to feel about.

And then, when I went to change up and clean myself up, I took a moment and reminisced with the toilet sink about my first ever kiss with Marcus Acha.....

Lord.

It was like my heart had stopped for a moment as I thought about the entire thing in details - how skilled, effortlessly, he was. He knew what to do with his hands, his motions, and Christ, his lips. He took me to heaven and back, with just one kiss...

Well, too bad he has left me alone forever.

And then, to make matters worse, the most unbearable cramps came back in full force to hit me hard this evening. It seemed like the world was out to get me. Clearly.

When my cramps got bearably painful, I decided I wouldn't reduce myself to a lying, crying mess, and I stepped out of the room, to have a little walk.

... Well, that would be nice and easily possible if I could navigate my way around this ridiculously huge mansion to find the exit.

The Acha's House was bigger than my father's house. I mean, in all honesty, the Chamber Estate - where Marc lived - was known for it's huge and magnificent houses, giving off the perfect royal air that Lekki Crown needed. The houses weren't much, but the Estate in general was huge. I heard that there couldn't be more than seven buildings in the estate, yet it was over 50 acres of land. Unlike the Falade Realty where I lived that had enough houses to compliment it's space - And unlike the Chamber Estate, the Falade Realty was known for it's fancy art deco homes, and how close most houses are to each other - so close that if you reached out far enough with a big stick, you could actually touch your neighbor's house.

The Chamber Estate was rather known for having the most beautiful contemporary Equestrian properties and Pueblo and Mission Style homes, and Marc's house was a classic mix of both; It was absolutely gorgeous.

Everything about the houses screamed gold. Literally. It almost seemed like it was a deliberate theme - like they were trying to create heaven on earth, a beautiful arena of gold and regality that created an aesthetic colour theme to it.

I heard that the woman who owned the estate was cuban, and she had a flare for horse ranches and Spanish colonial revival architecture, and hence, her brilliant mix of creation that was the Chamber Estate.

However, the fact that there were so many rooms in this house got confusing sometimes. So far I knew, I only knew three rooms, and those were the Living Room down stairs, this room and Marcus's room in the second floor, and I only knew one stairway out of so many, and that was the one by the left that connected the living room, up to this floor.

I soon figured out after a long walk through hallways upon hallways that I had no idea where I was going. So, I wandered free...

Until I found somewhere.

"Wow." I whispered in awe as I looked around my surroundings, shocked by the surreal beauty all around me.

I easily figured I was outside because I had common sense; Maybe I was in the backyard - I could have been wrong - but it looked hidden to an extent, and when I looked behind me, I was able to see through this large, transparent glass wall that shielded that part of the house, and recognize the interior to look somewhat like the dining room of the house.

The first thing that caught my eyes here, was the pool out here. And since it was getting a bit dark, the gold lighting from the inside of the house reflected against the glass wall and illuminated all around here, reflecting further on the vinyl floors I was standing on, and the pool water and giving it this surreal, warmly and golden glow.

It was so beautiful. And since I couldn't swim, I felt like making myself comfortable on the beach chairs and beach sofas that decorated the pool, and squeezing into myself, one if those fancy throw pillows, as though it were a teddy bear.

Being here was so relaxing.

It was amazing.

Side view, guys😌✨

Full view😌✨

This place was everything serene and peaceful, and all I wanted t do was lay down here and-

"You look like you like it here. Believe it or not, there's a better one than that here, you know."

The new voice startled me to a near stroke. I would have falled right into the water, drowned and died, if I hadn't caught a glimpse of who it was to set me on a relief sigh.

It was just Mama Acha.

"You get startled easily, I see," She smiled at me, a teasing, yet beautiful smile as she made her way towards me.

I couldn't help but mentally hype this woman and her ability to be effortlessly gracious and marvelous.

She didn't even look like she was trying too hard. All she did was wear a dress and flip flops, and she looked like an angel, gracing the earth. I had never noticed what a figure she had, until now - Maybe because she wore a big robe the first day we wet and then, wore a big coat jacket to drop me and Marc off at School, this morning, but now, that white coloured woolen body con long dress she wore, perfectly displayed the contour of her body, and showed one hell of an hour glass figure that looked too detailed and blinding to be real.

And with the white dress literally sweeping the ground as she majestically strolled to be, she looked like a celestial being - a goddess.

Mama Acha was too beautiful.

"How are you today, Dabeluchi?" She asked me as she got to me, stood by my side and stared off into the waters of the pool, in an elegant gesture of calm admiration.

"I'm fine, Ma," I smiled at her, as I observed how the golden lights reflected enough on her flawless skin to make her glow more than she already did.

I wish I could be this beautiful too.

"And how was School, you never told me," She inquired again.

"It was good," I answered, "I guess."

"That's great," She answered, as she stared off into the water, calmly.

There was something more quiet about her now, and I knew it had to do with the serenity and calmness of the atmosphere.

Such comfortable silence...

"I always wanted to ask-"

Mama Acha broke it.

I looked to her.

"Go ahead." I said.

"Where are you from?" She asked me.

The question caught me off guard.

"I-" I tried to answer, "I'm not very sure."

"Okay." She didn't judge me for it, she was just calm, "I talked to your Mum today.... And she seemed very fluent with Igbo, just like me. And when I asked, I found out she was from Abia State, just like me."

"Cool." I answered. I didn't even know that.

"I didn't grow up in Abia, like she did anyway," Mama Acha told me, "I grew up in Enugu State, spent most of my childhood there... At age eleven, I moved to Lagos..... Where I met my husband," She giggled softly at the thought of him - her husband, "And since then, I've been stuck here, you know."

I smiled at that, wondering why Mama Acha just decided to tell me such random things, but it was adorable anyway, so I let her.

"And I really talked to your Mum though," Mama Acha looked at me this time.

I waited for her to say more.

But she calmly turned away and back to the pool.

"She's good and well." Was all she let me know.

That was a bit relieving to hear.

I was only just curious to know more.... But, I couldn't ask.

There was that comfortable silence again, between us.

However, this time, I broke it.

"Where did Marcus go?" I asked her.

"He was disturbing me in my sleep. Something about going to pick up some stuff from the store," She told me.

"Oh." I noted.

More of that kind of silence.

"You said there was a better pool than this?" I asked Mama Acha, breaking the silence again.

"As a matter of fact, yes," She nodded, "My first daughter loved to swim; She insisted on a bigger one. Follow me, I'll show you."

I walked with her and she led me deeper in, until I was in a different world.

It had to be a different world.

It was so beautiful. Much more beautiful than the one I had lot myself in, some minutes ago.

This One had more length and width, and unlike the other one that seemed golden, this one was so, so blue, amidst all the lights that reflected on it. It was so nice...

However, it looked like it was a lot more possible for me to drown in it, than the other.

Picture something like this😌👌

"It's so beautiful," I said.

"It's my second favorite place in this house," Mama Acha told me with a smile.

"Really," I perked up, curious, "So, what's your first?"

"My son's room," She easily answered without stress.

I burst into laughter immediately.

Needless to say, she joined me. Both of us were laughing together. Mama Acha and I were laughing out hearts out, here in this serene beautiful atmosphere.

It was so calm here. So calm. So peaceful. I loved it.

"Dabi?" She called me again.

"Yes, ma," I answered softly.

"Are you okay?" She asked tenderly.

"Huh?" I didn't get the question.

"Are you okay?" She repeated, "Like, is  there anything that makes you unhappy? Are you okay, Dabeluchi?"

I sighed.

"Right now..." I began to answer, "I think I'm happy."

Mama Acha smiled. Like it meant a lot to her that she was able to invoke that emotion out of me.

"And also..." She carried on, "Do you ever feel confused about things that go on in your life?"

That question made me quiet for so, so long.

"A little," I finally answered, admitted the truth to her, "Sometimes, I can't tell between what's real and what's not - it's like, there's a thin line between my imagination and reality. It's frustrating, sometimes."

"And what do you think is the problem?" She asked me again.

Well, my Mum and several doctors have tried to make me understand one too many times that I had a mental illness called Schizophrenia.

But, I didn't tell Mama Acha that.

"I don't have a problem," I told her instead.

She didn't argue with me. She only smiled, and responded with a calm "okay."

She was so understanding.

"Thank you," I said to her, "Thank you for having me here, I appreciate it so much. I promise, I will leave as soon as possible, so I won't inconvenience you."

"No, Dabi, you don't have to leave if you don't have a place to say," She chuckled slightly at me.

Really?

"But..." She trailed, "You could do one thing for us though..."

I was all ears.

"What's that?" I asked her.

"Open up to us," She said to me, "Talk to us. Please. Let us know what's going on. What happened that got you here.... That's all, Dabeluchi."

I nodded at her words.

"I will," I assured her, "Promise."

She looked convinced enough, so I nodded her a goodbye, smiled and was going to turn and leave, before it struck me to confirm one more thing from her.

"I... I called my Mum this morning, right?" I asked Mama Acha.

"What?" She blinked at me, like she didn't catch what I said.

"My mum," I repeated, "Did I call her this morning? With your phone?"

Mama Acha smiled, and nodded.

"Yes," She answered, "You called her, Dabeluchi. You called her with my phone, in front of me."

So, everything that happened this morning during the call, really happened...

"Okay," I noted, "Thanks."

I disappeared into the house.

********

I fell asleep and couldn't stay asleep due to unbearable nightmares of blood and fire and Delilah.

Occasionally, I would jolt myself to wakeness, or stay in a frustratingly painful sleep paralysis for several seconds before waking. Crazy how all I needed was a little rest, and catching some sleep ended up making me more restless, therefore, triggering more of that headache I was trying to avoid.

So, I sat up on the bed and stared into the wall, absolutely done with all the bullshit.

And that, was when Marcus Acha walked into the room, black hoodie over his head, and a load of stuff - bags - in his hands.

I wanted to scowl at him for leaving me alone.

But, seeing him, was enough to tame me and render me completely weak to my supposed anger.

"Where were you?" I asked, as he seemed to not noticed I was staring into his back as he tried to drop everything he was holding, onto the floor of the room.

He seemed surprised to hear my voice because as he dripped the last bag, he turned to me with a look of slight confusion.

"Oh, you're awake." He seemed to realize, as he looked at me.

I didn't say anything to him, and a small smile spread across his lips, one genuine smile that reflected even in his eyes.

"Hi, Aurora," He said to me, "My mum said you were asleep, and I was trying to walk in, without waking up by accident. Sorry."

"You left me." I went straight to the point.

I sounded a lot softer than I intended to. Like a whiny, little child.

Marcus may have thought I was adorable, because he fled towards me, ran towards me like I was a dying puppy calling out for help, and joined me on my bed, grasping my hands' in his' ever so softly.

"I'm sorry, I should have told you," He said to me, and the sincerity in his eyes were enough for me.

He was holding me and I felt a whole lot better. Easily, I knew it within me that this boy was one of the only things holding my sanity together.

"I'm sorry," He repeated, dearly.

"It's okay," I decided. It was all in the past for me, "But, you won't leave again, will you?"

"No," He said to me, "I promise I'll stay right here with you."

"Thank you," I said back. Smiled at him, and he reciprocated.

I looked back to the bags he brought that were carefully arranged on the floor, as though he bought glass, put them there, and was trying to be careful enough to not have any of them break against each other.

This boy was so careful, neat and particular about everything. When I had stepped into his room, today, I was stunned. Nothing was left out of its place, everything was neat and properly kept well.

And meanwhile, I have already started turning this room into a mad house.

Suddenly embarrassed, I started to put together some of the night wears and sweaters that I had littered so scatterdly on the bed.

"Oh, before I forget..." Marcus got out his phone and tapped so quickly on it, and when he gave it to me, I was so shocked to see who was on the ID.

Soma Best.

I swear, that was exactly how Marc had saved it.

I didn't have enough time to ask if it was the same Soma I knew, because seconds into ringing, the person in the other line had picked up, and I heard a voice that I knew could only belong to one person and one person alone.

"Soma?" I called over the phone, confusion all over me.

"Oh, hi, Lulu Bear!" She chirped over the phone. "Bless Acha for ringing you for me as I had asked him to!"

Jesus Christ. How did Soma-

"So, Lulu! Chika has been trying to reach you for hours-"

"Chika?" I choked on the name, "She's been calling? She's not mad at me?"

"Of course not! It's a lot to explain though, but you have to show up at my place tonight! Chika says it's an emergency situation!" Soma told me, relaying an information that was supposed to make me panic, but in a light, chirpy tone.

"Um, okay..." I stuttered.

"Good!" She said, "Marcus can drop you off at S. A Cafe, I'll meet you two there and take you, okay?"

"Umm... S-Sure..." I agreed, not knowing what the hell was going on.

"Yay! Bye, Lulu!" Soma chirped and hung up the call immediately.

I looked to Marcus immediately.

"How does Soma know I'm here?" I asked the boy.

"I guess you were unreachable, so she called me," Marcus explained, "Don't worry, I didn't tell her you were living here, but since she already knows about us, I just told her we were together and your phone was bad, that's all."

I thought about what he said.

"Okay."

It didn't sound so bad.

So, I decided to further ask him.

"What are all those bags for?"

He looked to the bags he had brought into the room.

"Oh," He said, stood up and started to get them, "I got you some stuff."

That was.... Unexpected.

"What kind of stuff?" I was curious.

"Clothes, majorly," He said, "Since, I'm not sure how long you'll be here.."

Jesus.

"And also, this...." He got just one box out from one of the bags, and just with one look at it, I nearly lost it.

That was a phone case.

Marcus couldn't have gotten me-

"A new phone," He chuckled, played with the box a little between his hands, and brought it for me to see.

I was shooketh.

"Although, I'm sorry, I wish I could have done better with the phone...." Marcus was saying, and I concluded he was mad because that phone case he was holding was a showing off a brand of phone that I hoped wasn't what I thought it was.

I mean, he couldn't have gotten me a phone as expensive as that, and then, come sit here, to apologise for not getting something better.

"The thing is, I had to be careful. I already have so much expenses to deal with, and I couldn't get out as much as I wanted to from my account, because my dad has not only cut down my allowance, but he also has a strict eye on account, so Pops sees every lump of cash that leaves my account. -"

I was just staring at that phone case in shock.

Marcus Acha had to be joking.

"I got out a little from it, and I know my old man will soon ring me up to shout at me sha," He laughed nervously, "But, I promise, when everything is all better, I'll get you a much better phone."

He just got out a little?

Marcus Acha had a fucking iPhone XR phone case, right in front of me. That shit couldn't cost any less than two hundred thousand naira. So, what is this boy saying, please?

"Here you go," He opened the case for me to get a good view of the new phone he got me, "It's all yours, Aurora."

"This is too much." I had to say.

I couldn't contain it. He spent way too much on me. Now, I was scared to ask how much all the things in all the bags possibly were.... I was afraid.

"Huh?" He looked confused.

"How much was that phone?" I had to ask.

"Uhh.. About two hundred and forty nine thousand or so. Why?" He answered, he actually looked like he had forgotten the price for a moment.

I hoped I was dreaming.

"Two hundred and--- No,no, no, Marc, you're spending way too much on me, I can't accept this," I shook my head, and refused to take that phone case from him.

"Look, it's nothing, Dabi, I promise," He tried to persuade me.

"How much would you have left?" I asked him, "You want to clear your entire account before you see this is ridiculous?"

Marcus laughed to himself, amused by something I said, and then said to me, "I hope you're not serious."

"I am," I insisted, "How can you get out that much from your allowance? That's crazy!"

"Aurora," He held my hands, looked at me, "Trust me, I have more than enough."

I looked at him and he seemed to mean it. I only wondered what on earth the boy was housing in his account balance. I didn't ask.

"I'm good, I promise you that," He said to me, "Allow me to help you in any way I can, okay?"

I held the gaze of those big, brown beautiful eyes for a long, long time.

"Okay." I finally whispered.

He smiled at me.

"Good," He said, "And when you have time, you can check out...." He jutted his chin to the bags, "The other stuff I got you. My mum says I'm a foot when it comes to women's fashion, but I promise you, I did my best."

I chucked sweetly. "I'm sure you did."

There was some silence between us for a while, and as he looked at me, the way he did, I remembered our kiss this morning.

And for a moment, it felt like....

He was going to do it again.

Excitement coursed through my body, fueled my bones, and surged through my blood like electricity as I expected him.

He came closer...

And closer...

And closer...

And closer...

And closer...

Until I felt his lips...

On my cheeks?

I deflated. Shame and embarrassment hit me straight in the face. Slammed me like a bitch.

"I'll take a shower, and be back, sweetheart, okay?" He said, as he stood up from the bed.

"Okay," I muttered in disappointment.

Marcus was on his feet, and after one sweet smile at me, he made his way towards the door.

I suddenly wanted to confirm something else.

So, I voices it out.

"You kissed me today, right?"

I said that to his back and he halted, paused on his tracks, and turned back slowly to look at me.

"What?" He blinked at me.

"Did you kiss me today?" I asked again.

I needed to know. If it really happened. Somehow, everything about today had been confusing for me. But that kiss....

It felt so real.

I swear, it did.

"Did you?" I asked him, "Did you kiss me?"

I waited for his answer...

With my heart in my hands.

Marcus Acha gave a reaction.

It was a smile.

"I did," He answered, "I did kiss you today, Aurora."

It was like my heart stopped for a moment.

"And, that was the highlight of my entire day," He told me too, before he smiled warmly at me, and left the room.

I smiled, and watched the door even after he had disappeared through it.

I was relieved, to say.

Although, I wished I could say it was the highlight of my day too, but so many damn things had to happen on that same day too. Things that were a lot for me to absorb.

But all in all, that moment was one I knew I wouldn't trade for anything else. One thing was clear to me....

This boy called Marcus Acha had my whole being - my soul, body, mind, and my entire heart - in his hands.

This chapter is a bit short, and I'm sorry about that. It's just that so much is happening after and I don't know if it'll all enter one chapter without getting too long, so I decided to cut the  chapter in half, so tonight (by God's grace) I would have completed the next chapter, and by tomorrow or Sunday, I'd publish it.

Anyways, I think Dabi needed a little break from all the madness going on in her life (which will soon sadly sky rocket out of control - sorry), so I enjoyed the serenity and calm of this chapter as I wrote it. What are your own thoughts?

See you tomorrow or Sunday!

And get ready sha, because y'all are going to hear gist on those chapters 😂❤️