Hey guys, Merry Christmas!

I tried my best to make sure this update was ready for today, and thank God I did it!✨

~DABI~

"But, it's barely even the middle of November."

In cue, Soma wickedly grabbed the braids on my hair with all her strength, mercilessly and hastily wrapped them around each other, nearly ripping off hair from my scalp, in the name of 'rolling my hair into a bun'.

"Well, Lulu," She started with my edges, brushing rather softly upon it with a toothbrush that I was certain wasn't in use anymore, "Somewhere, in some paradox, alternate universe, it is the 25th of December, and it's Christmas day!"

"Ehh?" I frowned in utter confusion.

"Soma watches too many movies, don't think it too much, Dabz."

Chika had stepped into the room and stepped out, I supposed. As soon as I heard Soma's room door open, and her voice following, coming behind us, I soon heart receding footsteps, followed by the sound of shutting doors.

"Alternate universes do exist," Soma defended her stance, seeming like she was desperately trying to convince me nonetheless.

"Huh." I hummed, clearly disinterested, but she continued anyway.

"Our greatest scientists have proved that they can be multiple universes outside our own that we don't even know of," Soma preached on, "Even fourth walls! Haven't you heard of the fourth wall? Do you know that somewhere in some alternate universe, your life may even be a popular book that some wattpaders in some other dimension are reading and commenting in? What are the odds??"

That.... Kinda creeped me out?

My life? A book? Wait- What?

I couldn't imagine the possibility of my life being out there, for some fourth wall dimension stalkers to binge read.

"I don't want anyone knowing about my life," I voiced out.

What about my life would even interest them? God bless the poor souls wherever they are.

"Well, Lulu, in some alternate world out there, we all are the protagonist in a book being read by many." Soma told me, that vibrant excitement in her voice, as she did finishing touches to my hair.

I let all she said sink in...

Then, realized that it was all bullshit.

Even if my life was a story, I would most likely not be the protagonist anyway.

"Sisters, we need to move! Soma's driver has been waiting for us for hours!" Chika's voice came again, behind us, and I figured she had walked into the room again.

Where were we moving? You may wonder.

Well, after Marcus - on very strict orders - had dropped me off at the filing station with Soma, who brought me here, to her Wonderland/Disneyland/Oblivion bedroom, otherwise known as Somadina's magical Kingdom, Chika had to explain it to me - before I could properly understand - where we were going by 8pm at night, and why we were going there.

It was a School Christmas Carol.

And no, not a Castron High School Carol, but a primary school carol.

Why were Chika and Soma making me go to a Primary School Christmas Carol? I bet you wonder once more.

Well, it was because of the Twins.

"I think I know why they were particularly moody the entire day at School," Chika had said to me when I came, "I just found out that Dowman Primary School has their Christmas Carol tonight..."

I had waited for more explanation, missing the point totally.

"The twins' little brother goes to Dowman Primary School," She went on, and I was embarrassed for still missing the point.

"You know..." She decided to hit the nail on the head, "Everytime that the school has an event where students have to perform for parents and visitors, their brother is usually kept on the low...."

I completely understood without further explanation.

And you know the sad thing... The twins didn't even let us know that their little brother's School's carol night was tonight, we had no idea.

Of course, I was skeptical about being there... I mean, considering, both girls probably hated me right now.

But, I couldn't not be there for the twins tonight. That would feel a whole lot worse.

".... And, we're done!" Soma declared as she spinned me around to take a look at myself in her vanity mirror.

I spinned myself back around to avoid the mirror.

"Awesome, let's be on our way," I went right back at her, and started making my way towards Chika Chioma.

I was going to a Primary School Carol. Whatever I looked like was honestly none of my business.

And besides, I trust that Soma did a good job. Hopefully, she didn't apply much make up, because my face didn't feel too stiff or occupied. I guess she just made touches.

Soma had this outfit picked out for me that I approved of. Coupled along with some nice earrings, and a new set of nose rings, I could say this was my style - if I knew what my style was really.

Since I insisted I'd wear a black turtle neck inside because the last thing I wanted was to die in this cold, Soma let me, and she had me wear this red dress - as that was the Christmas colour- that had this little patches of black, all over. Once again, I had my complaints, because that dress was provocatively short, so Soma let me wear some pantyhose, to feel more comfortable.

Take a look at Dabi, guys!🔥🔥

Meanwhile, Chika and Soma absolutely decided to KILL IT, without mercy, remorse, or conscience.

Unlike me, they chose to show up all white, as red and white - according to Soma - had to be our theme, because they were Christmas colours.

Soma wore a white dress, that was slightly a bit too provocative for a Primary School Carol? I knew it probably wasn't her intention, and besides, she rocked that v-neck, off-shoulder white dress like a slay queen. She insisted she had a theme on her theme, and she went with a 'Modern girl from France' look, as she called it, wore some red strapped heels, red fancy beret, and added some 'decorations' by wrapping a pretty, fluffy, red shawl around herself, to finish.

A/N: I'm joking oo, abeg. Soma didn't wear that obviously!😂😂 I mean, yeah, it's her face claim, but come on naw, are y'all that gullible?!😂❤️

A/N: This is what Soma really looked like....

Just imagine her beret is red and her shoes are read too. I could fina a picture with a shawl, so imagine a shawl there too!❤️

If I were to tell what Chika wore, it would be literarily vacant, because she honestly didn't do much, but still managed to pull it off well and look really nice. She surprisingly wore her glasses tonight and adorned herself with a pretty golden necklace, and I couldn't stop thinking about how simple, yet pretty that body con button up dress she wore looked on her slim thick frame. It was the kind with slim strapped hands, so she insisted she would be wearing a coat to the venue, since the weather was starting to get unfriendly and unbearably cold.

Oh, and she also wore sneakers.

And Chi Mama over hereeee!!!🔥🔥🔥

"Sisters, I think we should get going, okay? We're already two hours late for the show, and we wouldn't want to be showing up for the Twins and Marvin when it's all over."

Chika was already at the door, summoning for me and Soma, and patiently waiting for the both of us.

"Alright, Chi Mama, we're coming alright!" Soma whined by my side as she dragged me along with her.

Chika hadn't talked about what happened in School.... How I totally attacked the Twins. She had not said one word about it since she came here, and I was certain that before I left them, she was anything, but happy with me.

Knowing Chika Chioma, she was going to completely act like nothing happened.

I knew I had to address it.

"You're not mad at me, are you?" I asked her directly, just when I got to the door where she stood.

Soma had already hopped all the way, down stairs before I could bat another eye lid. Thankfully, it left me and Chika together and alone.

Chika looked at me with the most impassive look I had ever seen on her face.

"Why would I be mad at you?" She asked me.

Her arms were folded and her tone, condescending enough to add more life to that emotionless face.

I only sighed of regret.

"It's okay, I know you hate me, so I'll just-"

Chika made a sound that cut me off in midsentence, and she face palmed for the briefest second.

"I don't hate you, Dabeluchi." She made it clear, "I'm just not understanding anything you've been up to, lately. You don't talk to us anymore; You barely say two words anytime you're actively texting whoever it is you're always texting on your phone, you miss out on appointments we make, and when you do show up, you leave half way and disappear the entire night. Dabz, you 're almost never with us anywhere else asides School these days, and then, all of a sudden, Miranda Archibong - the Twin's sworn arch enemy steps out of a classroom with you, and you're throwing accusations at the twins, for something you say they did to her, and causing this whole fucked up scenario for anyone-"

She stopped talking there, either to take a breath from how fast her words rolled out, or because she didn't want to say anything she would regret.

"What's happening, Dabi?" Chika asked me earnestly, tiredly, "What's happening with you these days? What are you not telling us? What are you not telling me?"

I didn't know what to say. Chika sounded really distressed and I was pushed to talk to her and tell her everything, but I didn't know where to start and that frustrated me.

I...

I really didn't know what to say.

My tongue was tied and I felt like absolute shit.

"Look, Dabz," Chika let out a sigh, calmed herself down, and started to speak to me in a calmer, more understanding tone, "I understand that things are not easy for you..."

She sounded much calmer now and bless her for that.

"..And I try, as much as possible, to give excuses for you all the time, you know I never pressure you into doing or telling me anything you're not comfortable with, and I make sure the other Sisters don't do same. I never want you to feel pressured, Dabz, I promise you, but that doesn't mean I can't see that things aren't right. And for it to be trying to come in between our friendship this way, then, I am starting to believe it is something that needs to be addressed." She said to me.

I visibly shuddered at her last sentence.

I don't want anything to come into my friendship with the Sisters. I can't let anything come in between us... I can't. I need them. I need all of them.

"It's okay if you don't want to talk," Chika came to a conclusion, deciding to wave it off since it didn't seem like I was going to speak anytime soon. "Really, it's cool anyway."

Say something, Dabi....

"We're already so late to the event. let's just leave this place, abeg." She sounded slightly, oh so slightly, pissed as she left me alone and turned around to start making her way out.

Say something, Dabi....

She was so nice.... She even still waited for me to walk out, so she could help shut the door behind me even if I could tell she was pissed.

I had to say something...

"Miranda told me some things today."

It came right out of me.

Chika paused, a confused frown on her face, as she turned around after three seconds to look at me.

"What do you mean?" She questioned.

"It's not something we can talk about right now," I said, glanced quickly at my watch to remind her we were running out of time, "But, the twins did her dirty in Junior School, and apparently had sworn to do the same thing with me...... In a nutshell."

Chika was so quiet, pondering on my words.

"I will give details later, but Miranda knew so much about the twins that only people who are close to them should know..... Too many things connected, and there are more chances that she is right than wrong. I just got scared back there, and lashed out at the Twins.... I'm sorry."

Chika stayed quiet a little longer and I waited to hear what she had to say.

"So.." She finally spoke.

I listened quietly.

"Miranda just came to you and told you things, probably sounded a bit convincing and showed some evidence, and you decided to take her word for it..?"

I swallowed, "Wouldn't you?"

"Well..." She thought about it, "It depends, really."

"On what?" I asked.

"What my guts tell me," She answered, "Do you think the twins are capable of causing you harm, Dabz?"

"I'm not even sure," I admitted to her, "I don't even know what to think at this point."

I really couldn't tell anymore.

"Chika, what do you think?" I hopelessly threw the question back to her.

"I can't give you what I think about your own dilemma, it's something you should do on your own," Chika said to me.

"Please..." I insisted, "Just tell me what you think, because Lord knows, I am so confused."

Chika sighed, exasperated.

"I don't think the twins will hurt you." She said her mind, "That's what I think. Miranda may not mean to poison your mind against them, she may be genuinely thinking that she is protecting you from future harm and the twins may have done something in the past to hurt her, but that doesn't mean they will do the same thing to you..."

I tried to get convinced.

"Dabi, people change, people grow," She said, "It's been what, two or three years since we were in Junior School, and that amount of years is enough for someone to get a reality check. Even if it were true that they were out for you, they would have done it by now already. You and I both know that when the Onuoha Twins make up their mind a hundred percent on something, nothing and no one - not even me - can stop them."

"Okay." I said... That sounded slightly convincing and slightly relieving.

"We should leave," Chika smiled at me, "Soma must be wondering what's taking us so long, the poor girl must be in tears."

I sniggered and nodded, following Chika's lead.

"And you look really pretty tonight though," She passed on an easy complement, "The bun Soma did on you really brings out your eyes, b."

"Thank you," I blushed.

And just like that, Chika and I were friends again.

Or rather, Sisters.

However, with the way things were going, I only started with wonder how much longer that was going to last.

******

Christmas came early.

That was all I could think of as I sat there, in between Chika and Soma in Dowman Primary School's Great Hall, absorbing the warmly enthe slightly off-key, but notably adorable chorus of 'Hosanna in Excelsis' was resounding all around the huge hall as those little, primary school kids had arranged themselves on the stage, and were actively singing the song out to their hearts content.

It felt good to listen to them.

It felt good to be here.

It made me remember what Christmas was like as a kid.... Way back, before I got to understand that things were not right with my family.

I hadn't quite felt that way for a long, long time, but tonight, the Christmas songs these kids has sang for us brought that back for me. And the school had a way of creating a good theme of the season all around the place to give it that Christmas spirit as well - The walls were white and the seats were covered, decorated with red fabric material and ribbons. Needless to say, this Hall would have looked like an incantation hall, if not for the Christmas trees that were decorated at corners of the grand hall, and the Christmas lights that lined the white coloured walls in a creative pattern.

Dowman Primary School reminded me of the stereotypical private primary school for rich people's kids, with the unnecessarily expensive facilities and the unrealistically fancy classrooms, and the kids were just like their parents apparently - even with their oversized white shirts and bogus trousers and skirts, they still walked around like royalty, priding in their affluence, and boasting to whom it may concern about how endowed and blessed their family was. It was safe to say the got it from their parents; I mean, Chika, Soma and I were stuck in the last row and we were unfortunate to share the same row with some overly prideful and self absorbed parents who did more of talking about themselves and their money, than actually watching their kids performance.

I couldn't say I was surprised.

If I wasn't occasionally being soothed by the healing power of Christmas songs, I was also being a bit worried and nervous. We were late, as Chika had made it clear, and in as much as Chika had tried to call both Ebere and Ebube, none of them were answering to their calls.

"I texted Ebere to tell her we are here," She told us, "Hopefully, she sees it and texts back where she is."

It had been over thirty minutes and neither Ebere nor Ebube had sent a letter for a message.

"Excuse me." I whispered to the Sisters, as I stood up from my seat and made my way through our other seat neighbours, and out of towards the exit of the Hall.

I wasn't leaving, all I wanted to do was step out.

I wasn't sure why, but sitting there in the midst of loud, rude, gossiping and proud parents suffocated me a little bit. It didn't take much time for me to find the classrooms from the Hall, and not just because it was that close to it, but it was always a special talent of mine to find a 'safe zone' when something, or somewhere was getting overwhelming for me. Neither Chika nor Soma asked too many questions, and I knew that they understood. However, whenever I spent too long outside, Chika texted to see if all was alright.

"Tch." I scoffed out in annoyance when a bunch of laughing, excited kids nearly knocked me down as they ran past and around me.

For as long as I had been here, I had noted how the kids loved to run around this place. The classes were all arranged in a circular motion, having all the corridors in front of them, lining up in order to form a circular path that they chose was fun to run around and knock visitors down.

Figures. The kids and few teachers who were here, decided to use this place as some sort of backstage preparation before going on stage, and judging through the medieval type costumes, sashes, staffs, and hats that were littered all around the place, my guess was most likely right. They were most likely preparing for a drama presentation - the usual classic 'When Jesus was born' type of drama.

I only hoped no other kids would accidentally hit me down and make me fall to the earth. Honest to God, I wasn't ready for that.

All I needed to do was find an empty class, void of children, then I'd-

"You're not my friend again!"

I hissed at the angry little girl that nearly knocked me down as she stormed out of a classroom in a fit of rage.

"Spoilt kids." I muttered to myself as she raced off behind me into 'God knows where'.

"-But, it's not fair.... You know it's not fair to do such a thing to Marvin..."

I was just about to make another comment about some other spoilt rich child, but then, on hearing, recognizing that voice, I stopped on my tracks. I paused on the spot.

"I don't understand why Marvin is never allowed to be a part of his class's performance! For how long will this go on! It's SO unfair!"

I swallowed hard.

I knew that voice.

That was Ebere's voice. And with that thunder her voice carried in it, it was blaring out so fierce, and so loud, that I could hear her all the way from two classes behind me.

I swallowed harder.

"It's NOT FAIR!"

Ebere's voice was resounding so hard that I couldn't help, but shudder at the intensity of it. I could hear the utter frustration in it, and dare I say, the tears in them, as she screamed at someone - someone whose voice I couldn't hear. Someone I was so shocked was not succumbing to whatever she wanted in fear.

And then, Marvin... Marvin Onuoha was the Twin's little brother.

"Onuoha."

Finally.

Oh damn finally.

I heard the other person's voice.

I heard a voice responding to Ebere, and I couldn't help but get chills run through and down my spine at that snobby, proper, and condescending voice of a woman, who sounded like she would not give a damn even if Ebere Onuoha raised hell on earth.

She sounded so evil, and yet in an unnervingly calm way. She was nearly not as loud as Ebere, so I had to make a decision to step back a little to hear her better.

I took one step, two steps, three of it, until all that was separating me from being seen by them was that little wall space by the door of the class they were in.

I prayed neither of them would notice me.

And if they did.... Then, I prayed the Lord my soul to keep.

I breathed a prayer and moved a little more. Like the iota of an inch. Just to get close enough until I could hear the other woman's voice clear and crystal.

"I always have to remind you who I am, whenever you seem to forget and start raising that filthy voice of yours on me...."

She sounded so, so wicked.

"I am Aunty Candace, and I am the head co-ordinator of all the nursery and primary school of Dowman Primary School. Not only do I have the power to eliminate your nonsense brother from school events, I also have leverage to make sure his entire life in this school will be nothing but misery." I heard her speak.

What the fuck?

"Of course, you know that in his condition, no other school in the whole of Lagos will agree to admit him in as a normal student, unless you are ready to admit him into a Special school for children-"

She had paused there, and I imagined the scene. Imagined her turning back with style, to Ebere, to give her an evil smirk, glowing all sorts of wickedness from those vengeful and hateful eyes of hers.

Ebere, for one, never ever wanted her brother to go to a Special school. For all we knew, she always tried to act as though he didn't need it - she always told us all that there was absolutely nothing wrong with Marvin, and somehow, she had also convinced her father to not train him in a special school for Children.

Even when we could all see that taking Marvin to a school for special kids may have been a better option than Dowman Primary School.

However, Ebere always made it clear to all of us that there was nothing wrong with Marvin.

"I am always reminding you of this, so that the next time you dare open your mouth to speak to me in any sort of tone I do not like, you will not be shocked by the consequences your action may bring." Aunty Candace threatened.

And that threat was a blow to me.

I bet it was a merciless uppercut to Ebere.

The woman hit the right button, and knowing Ebere, I knew this woman had disabled her. I knew the woman knew the impact of what she had just done to the twin too.

I imagined her smiling in pride at how much leverage she knew she had over Ebere.

"Okay..."

That was Ebere and her voice came off soft, so soft that I almost didn't recognize it.

It reminded me of that night I eavesdropped on her and her sister. That night that she was crying to Ebube after Sarafina Kaye happened. That night that I had heard from her such a helpless, frail tone that shocked me to my bones. A weak, fragile tone I didn't even know she could fake, let alone, have.

The same night she had lost it and started screaming at us that she was fine, and there was nothing wrong with her.

"WHAT ARE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT!? I'M FINE, CHIKA! NOTHING IS WRONG WITH ME, FOR GOD'S SAKE! DO I LOOK LIKE I HAVE A SINGLE PROBLEM?!"

"WHY SHOULDN'T I BE OKAY!? WHY SHOULDN'T I BE JUST FINE!? TELL ME!"

"I'M FINE, SISTERS! I HAVE NO REASON TO NOT BE! I SCREAM PERFECTION EVERYWHERE I GO! I AM A FUCKING GODDESS, I AM INSANELY BEAUTIFUL, AND MY LIFE IS GOING JUST GREAT! I KNOW THAT! SO, THERE IS NO REASON FOR ME TO NOT BE OKAY, STOP ACTING LIKE I HAVE A PROBLEM!

Recalling how she sounded scarred me. I could still remember everything, word for word.

And that was the same night that I had seen all those posts on her Whatsapp Status. Those posts that made me think so hard, yet I had ignored them the next day.

---I know that I'm a goddess, the earth was blessed with me and I drip glory everywhere I go-

---I am a Queen, I am a treasure, and that's on period. I wear my crown like a lion, and you all know it-

---Don't you just look at me and wonder why God took his time to create me? I mean, my beauty must make people mad with rage. My awesome life and gorgeous family must make a lot of people bitter-

Ebere was always desperately trying to make sure that she was able to eliminate the flaws in her life, no matter how glaring she probably knew they were.

It made more sense, noting how she always made it seem like Marvin also needed no help at all.

I wanted to help, but I didn't feel it was in my place to do that. I couldn't say anything about her brother, neither could I point out to her that she was insecure and needed help.

Ebube didn't seem of have much of a choice either. It made more sense to me why she had forced me not to say a word when she saw that I had found out her sister was bleaching....

... After what Sarafina had said to her, concerning her skin colour?

It almost seemed like pointing out things she refuses to believe to her face, makes her malfunction? It caused her to not only have a reality breakdown, and then, start making deliberate efforts to do something about it. Something that may not be healthy, good for herself or anyone for that matter.

Thinking about that now made me get a bit worried for this Aunty Candace.

However, Ebere didn't seem to be fighting back. She sounded like she wanted to reason with this woman - Her voice was soft, and shaking with tears I could only imagine where falling uncontrollably right now.

"I understand, Aunty Candace, and I'm sorry for raising my voice at you..."

I knew it was Ebere, but it sounded nothing like her. It sounded more like a maltreated, little child.

Maybe this, this was her way of handling the situation - going out of her way to beg this woman.

"Don't be angry, please," Ebere was still pleading with her, speaking through tears that almost drowned her words.

"Don't be angry, I'm sorry, I just wanted my brother to be normal, I wanted him to have the joy of performing with his classmates, that's all. I didn't mean to offend you..."

It broke my heart to hear her sound like that. It destroyed me.

"Well, you don't need to be sorry,"I heard Aunty Candace's voice, followed by prompt footsteps, "Just get lost from my sight. I need to dress these kids for their next performance."

I heard footsteps getting closer to the door and I jumped in panic to run.

Luckily for me, Ebere's rush of adrenaline may have stopped her from hearing any sound, because immediately, I heard fast shuffling of feet, speedy footsteps as though legs were running, and it was easy for me to figure she was running after Aunty Candace.

"Wait!" I imagined her grabbing the woman's hand, and Aunty Candace, flinging it away from her, like it was filthy rags.

I swallowed, maintained my stance to hear them further, and was slightly startled when a message jumped into my phone.

I looked to it and it was Chika; She was asking where I was and why I was taking so long.

I couldn't respond, however, I had the subconscious reflex to switch on to Whatsapp and record all the conversation between Ebere and Aunty Candace via voice note, and directly into Chika's DMS.

"Aunty Candace, please understand me," Ebere was talking to that witch and I was recording, "You are the only one that has the power to make my brother happy tonight. You know Marvin is a good kid. He's been going to Dowman for three years now; He's a very good student, has a perfect record of attendance, good grades, and a better school record. He respects everybody, you know he's a good boy, Aunty Candace. He is an intelligent boy too. Despite everything, he is so intelligent, so, why can't you just help me to help him?"

It really broke my heart to hear her like this.

"Aunty Candace, you and I know that Marvin is just like every other kid...." Ebere said softly.

There was silence for a while.

A long while.

Until that devil incarnate, 'Aunty Candace' finally let out her word.

"No." She said, she declared, with so much power and vigour in her tone, not giving a second doubt to crush Ebere's spirit.

I imagined her walking up close to look Ebere in the eyes as she spat venom into her, through her words.

"You and I know that that thing you think is a human being is nothing like those other kids out there!" She rose her voice at Ebere, and I winced in pain.

There was so much evil in her voice, and the ease at which she let it out without any remorse, marveled me.

"Those other kids are perfect," She eased in more poison, pronouncing that last word so clearly for it to sink in properly, "And that is something your brother Marvin doesn't come close to."

Jesus Christ.

"Look at you, Onuoha. Take a look at yourself. You're a very, very beautiful girl... But at what cost?" The woman said to Ebere, "Your brother, Marvin looks like a total monster. A freak show!"

I could get a mental image of Ebere, breaking down into a million pieces with that statement.

"At his age, he can't even walk! He still has to carry himself around in that wheelchair; you still carry him around in your arms like he is a little baby, and you say that's normal?! That boy scares every single child in his class because of how deformed and ugly he looks, and you dare to stand here and compare him with those other beautiful children?"

This was a hard rock to swallow.

And I was still recording.

"Get lost, Onuoha. The last thing I am going to do is let that thing show up on my stage and cause a racket. Do me a favour and let this issue die."

I heard fast footsteps and faster ones running behind them, and when I got the hint that they would soon be out of the class, I ran, ran so fast into the next class, and sent that voice note straight to Chika.

I was already up and headed for the next class, quickly trying to disappear from the sight of Ebere Onuoha or that 'Aunty Candace', while hearing what sounded from desperate pleas and semi-forceful struggles. Meanwhile, much to my surprise, the voice note I had sent to Chika, which I didn't expect to be viewed on time had ticked seen and played.

Chika hadn't responded. It just stayed that way - Read and played.

And there I was, hiding in a class of chatty primary school kids and hearing that Aunty Candace storming off the neighbouring class in a loud fit of rage, and Ebere's screaming that had followed absolutely stilled the entire block to complete and utter silence.

I wasn't sure if it was safe to get out of my hiding spot now. Even if that Aunty Candace was gone, I was scared of going to Ebere. A part of me felt like I was the last person that she would want comforting her. So, you can imagine how I felt when I felt my phone vibrate with Chika's new message.

An SMS which read, "Where are you? Soma and I are in the class area."

Now, it was very difficult to respond because I had no clue how they named their classes to go all 'Umm, Chi, I am in Primary Class 24 or Primary Class Red, or Primary class Tomato', so I was legit stuck.

I decided to step out and wish myself some luck that they would spot me before Ebere did.

God answered my prayers.

Soma was the one who spotted me first and she jumped and tugged onto Chika's arm, screaming my name out loud and waving with all vigour and excitement, despite all my attempts and desperate gestures for them to stay quiet and just walk over to me as silently as possible.

"Where are the twins?" That was the first question Chika asked me as soon as - on my request, so Ebere who was just in the next class to avoid noticing - they had literally turned a 360 round the corridors to come to me.

"I don't know about Ebube," I told them, "But follow me."

They obliged. And my legs did its work against the rest of my panicking body's will, and walked on and on, until we were at the door of the class where Ebere was.

I stopped at the door and let Chika and Soma run in, on their own accord.

While I just stood there.

Ebere was there, sitting down on the floor, with her face buried in her hands, and the most heart wrenching sobs, leaving her mouth in cracked voices and shaking, quavering breaths.

Much to my surprise, Ebube was there too.

That surprised me because through out the entire conversation I was hearing with Aunty Candace, I never heard Ebube's voice even worse.

And now, the girl, Ebube, unlike her sister was standing, a sad, solemn posture with slightly hunched back and sad, folded arms. A lonely quiet tear fell down her face, but she didn't wipe it off until I saw it reach the ground and stain it with one drop. The girl cried so, so quietly, as she stood there, and watched her twin sister who didn't seem to know how to hold herself together the way she was doing so well.

Chika and Soma were already all over them, or rather, may I say, all over Ebere, who seemed to be losing her mind on the floor, crying and nearly ripping her hair out in those loud, painfully wrecking sobs that tore me more and more to pieces, second by second.

"Maybe letting Marvin come here was a bad idea," Ebere kept crying and crying and crying, "Maybe it would have been better of, if he weren't here. Maybe I shouldn't have convinced Dad to bring him here. Maybe I shouldn't have covered up all those years and lied to Dad that Marvin wilfully didn't want to perform with his class, just because he wasn't feeling like it. Maybe I should have told him what was really going on, but I just didn't want him moving Marvin to a special school...... "

Ebere couldn't stop crying and it tore me to pieces.

Ebube, by her side, had crouched down slowly to rub on her sister's back, in a comforting gesture.

"It's okay, sis," She has whispered, her voice couldn't stay firm as she tried to suck it all up and be there for her sister, "It's not your fault."

That seemed to go a long way to make Ebere feel a whole lot better.

"Okay.." She had muttered to herself, rocking back and forth slowly as she cried and hugged her knees to her chest in misery, "Okay, it's not my fault. It's not my fault. It's not my fault-"

She just kept repeating that over and over and over, and I swallowed multiple times, several questions running through my mind, and hard urges pushing me to go over to them and do something.

But again, I wasn't sure if they would have wanted me there with them.

"I am so sorry you have to go through all these, nobody deserves that.." Chika said to the twins, with one comforting hand on Ebere's back and a look of pity and worry glancing over to Ebube, who couldn't speak much.

"How did you guys know we were here?" Ebere asked Chika and Soma.

"Dabi alerted," Soma reported, looked sadly between the twins, "She was worried."

It was like they automatically grew a sixth sense, because at Soma's mention of my name, both twins paused for a mini second and moved their heads in identical sequence to me, standing there by the door.

It felt like someone splashed cold water on my back.

Chills. Chills. and more chills.

They all ran through me and spread out through my body in one chilling motion.

I swallowed. "Hi."

The twins only stared at me and said nothing.

For the longest time...

Until, Ebere twitched a little, weak smile at me first.

It was a very weak smile that cracked in the middle of red, tear filled eyes that looked so painful to even look at. She looked like she had been crying so much, yet she still looked very beautiful. One look was enough to tell that she had changed her way, and as a matter of fact, she and her sister didn't only have on identical hairdos - weaves, with a little of the front, packed in two cute, little buns - but, I could identify easily that they both also chose to wear the exact same outfits too - long sleeved black shirts and red camouflage dungarees.

"Hey," Ebere responded to me first, and even if I didn't particularly hear Ebube say anything to me or make a specific reaction, she didn't look like she wanted me away from them, so I figured it was a safe move to move closer to them.

So, the twins are both wearing this😌🔥

(Btw, this is Ebere's face claim, don't ask me how I can differentiate between the twins, okay?😂❤️)

"I'm sorry," I whispered as I felt naked under Ebube's blank stare and tear filled eyes, and crouched down beside Ebere.

"You guys don't need to be sorry," Ebere said to me, looked around her from her sister and to Chika and Soma, "You guys are the best, really."

"You're most welcome," Chika assured her, "And that Candace woman needs to be arrested."

"I would have asked how you knew about her, but of course, I had a feeling that someone was eaves dropping on us," Ebere threw a little jab at me.

Busted.

Ebere sighed, wiped a tear off her face and breathed out a shaky breath.

"Sisters, I swear I had good intentions," Ebere told us, "All I wanted was to never make Marvin feel like he was different. That feeling is so horrifying and I can't imagine having him have to go through that...."

I guess I could relate.

"I didn't want my brother to hate himself," Ebere said as tears ran down her cheeks and once more, she wiped them in one huge swipe, sniffing in to relieve her most likely stuffed up nose, "I didn't want Marvin to come home, crying to his pillow every day after School. I didn't want him crying and wishing he didn't look the way he did, like he should have looked like other people in his class. I didn't want him to live that life of an outcast, that sad lonely, depressive life, I didn't want that for my baby brother...."

I swallowed thickly, it almost felt like I could hear my heart breaking.

"I was so stupid," Ebere cried into her hands and Ebube was whispering something that sounded like 'It's not your fault' to her, over and over, "I thought that treating Marvin like a normal child would make him feel like he was normal. I set rules in my own father's house, I made him and Ebube treat Marvin like he was any other child. I was the reason he was not sent to an special school, I thought, Marvin was an intelligent boy, why did he have to segregate himself? Why did he have to feel like he was different? I thought bringing him to a school like Dowman would make him feel more normal, but I was so stupid. So, so stupid. It never occurred to me that if anything, it would even make him know that something was wrong. With teachers like Aunty Candace and kids without conscience and home training, of course, they would treat Marvin differently! I never had a disability and I was still made fun of in Primary School, I was still bullied and made to feel like I wasn't as good as the other kids, like I wasn't as perfect....... So, for God's sake, what on earth could Marvin be going through? What have I done....."

Ebube only kept whispering her words to Ebere, who seemed to desperately need someone to keep repeating them to her.

"Sisters, I don't want Marvin to go through what I had to go through," Ebere let it all out, sobbing and sobbing and sobbing so hard that if Chika wasn't holding her, she may have been on the floor, laying weakly and helplessly.

"You know..." Soma spoke softly, as she watched her with big, sad eyes, "I heard that talking about your fears help. We're here for you, Sister, we're all ears..."

I'd like to say we all agreed with Soma.

Ebere looked so vulnerable that I didn't think she would decline.

"Do you remember when Sarafina Kaye talked about a Momo?" She started off by asking us all.

I did remember. That was the name of the girl that if I could recall correctly, used to bully Ebere with her friends, in primary School.

"Yeah...?" Chika answered for all of us.

"Okay, so..." Ebere sniffed again, sat up like she had a lot to say and didn't know where to start from, "She was a girl from my past, a girl who like a plague, followed me all the way from Primary one to primary five, back then, when we used to be in Royals Academy Elementary School....."

I listened. We all listened.

"Her full name was Monica Bala," Ebere said, "Everyone just preferred to call her Momo."

I saw the look in Ebube's eyes - and I couldn't decode it.

"She was so pretty," The look in Ebere's eyes as she told us made me know she wasn't joking one bit, "Everyone liked her; She was fun, intelligent, and so, so talented. She was the best student at Math and English, always got the honour role and achievement awards, and even the worst of teachers, the meanest of them took her as a pet...."

It was how she remembered every detail for me.

This must have really made up a huge part of her life.

"Teachers would show her off whenever prominent figured visited our school. She was always the lead in every cultural dance and she rook lead vocals in every song rendition, always played lead role in every play we did. Monica Bala was a star...."

I could only imagine.

"I wanted to be just like her..." Ebere admitted to us, "And I never really have been able to do that all my life.."

"Ebere..." Chika called her name softly, comfortingly.

"It's okay," Ebere laughed a little, wiped off some tears off her face and continued, "But, Momo was not a nice person..."

I noticed that look again in Ebube's eyes, and again, I couldn't decode it.

"She was so mean, yet every girl in class wanted to be her friend...." Ebere laughed pathetically as she confessed next, "Even me."

Wow.

I couldn't just imagine Ebere kissing up to anyone, for any damned reason.

"But, I couldn't compete for her attention," She told us, "I wasn't as cool as the other girls, neither was I smart or good at playing any musical instruments, and I had this awful teeth formation that was such an amusing topic for so many people in my class...." She stopped recalling that part of her life and went ahead to tell us, "Momo came one day to School and cherry picked five girls in class to be her loyal side kicks.."

"Ebere, you don't need to tell the story if you're not comfortable..." Ebube said to her sister, noticing how much pain she could see her sister going through, on recalling more parts of this story.

"No, I am ready," Ebere reassured her and Ebube sighed and nodded, let her go on.

I listened, eager to hear more.

"I wasn't part of those five girls and for some reason, Momo took a specific interest in pointing me out for mockery because I wasn't a part of the list..." Ebere went on.

"Why?" A curious Soma asked, "You weren't the only one not on the list, right? There were many other in class too, right?"

"Yeah..." Ebere answered, "But, it's just that no one else tried as hard as I did to get her attention. I guess they saw how hard I was trying and picked on me for it."

"Oh." I understood, bummed.

"It was hard for me for a long time," Ebere confessed, "It was so hard being the one girl in all my classes from primary one to primary five that was always made fun of. That was always bullied, emotionally and even physically abused for the dumbest reasons. It was hard being an outcast, I hated myself... I hated myself because I wasn't like others and I couldn't fit in. I hated my whole life and yet, for the longest time, there was no one to talk to....."

For the longest time....

As much as I could remember, Sarafina Kaye claimed to always have been there for Ebere at some point during her whole bullying spree.

I waited for Ebere to get to that part of the story, but she never did.

"That girl, Momo, followed me all the way to Junior Secondary School in Queen's Academy...." She moved on with the story, "She tormented me, but this time, with creativity. Today, she would declare me her friend, and be nice to me, admit me in her friend's group, and buy snacks for me. Then, tomorrow, she would declare me not her friend, and go back to tormenting the shit out of me and making my life a living hell. She would do this at her own pleasure, whenever she felt like being nice to me, she would randomly show acts of kindness, and when she felt like being a total bitch to me, she would switch up at ease. I was basically a toy to her...."

Jesus Christ.

"Towards the end of Jss2, she was a lot nicer to me though...." Ebere told us, "But, I was always dreading the moment she would wake up in the morning and tell me out of the blue that we weren't friends anymore, and go back to tormenting me, but that never seemed to come till I left the school. Still, I lived my days in so much fear and anxiety; This girl made me have my first panic and anxiety attack in Jss2, made me dread the outcome of what each day would be with her, and while she never did switch up that period, she was being the nicest person ever to me. I almost felt like she felt bad for how she had been treating me but never had it in her to apologise, but how could I be so sure? For all I knew, Momo could wake up one morning and say ' I am not your friend anymore' and we would be back to square one...."

"Did she..?" I brought myself to ask.

"Not until I left the School, she didn't," Ebere told me, "But then, I never had my peace. I was living in fear and anxiety. Trying my hardest to be on her good sides so she wouldn't switch up. That was even worse than being constantly bullied by her, Sisters..."

Chika was gently rubbing on her back.

"Before I left Queens to Castron High, I got the bitch expelled." Ebere dropped it.

That took us off-guard.

We all could indeed note that it was fast how Ebere had turned from sad and sulking to hateful and vengeance in one quick switch.

"She never switched up, but I was so angry at her for putting me through so much hell, that I didn't even care if she was really genuine or not. I got back at her the best way that I could," She explained to us and I could understand.

And in some way, it made me think of Sarafina Kaye.

Ebere didn't deny that she was there for her at some point in her life, but after she started to make life unbearable for her, she bit back, and hard.

"She deserved it," Ebere told us, "Momo deserved every bit of what I did to her, and worse. And contrary to what some of you may believe, I only fight back at people who deserve it...... Fight for fight, I came up with that resolution after getting back at Monica Bala."

It almost seemed like she was talking to me, and bringing up Miranda's case up without being direct, but I couldn't be too sure. I couldn't even ask why they would think Miranda would have deserved to be treated the way they treated her.

"One of my biggest fears is having Marvin go through what I had gone through in the hands of bullies," Ebere told us, "Even I never want to have to go through all that again, and that was why when we moved from Port Harcourt to Lagos, and started in Castron High, and saw how serious it was to have a place, I made resolutions to get that popularity...."

That went a long way to explain why and how they got it so fast.

"And that drive for what I wanted caused me to make so many mistakes..." Ebere confessed.

I wasn't sure where to stand at this point...

Did they actually harm Miranda for popularity? Would they?

Or, did they hurt her because she may have done something to deserve it?

Ebere covered her face again as though she were silently crying into them.

"I made so many stupid mistakes..." She lamented.

Like giving me vain conditions for their friendship? I recalled that one.

"I was scared," Ebere confessed in whispers, like it was taking so much of her to admit, "I was scared of making any mistake that will cost me popularity, and make me be that girl I hated to be. I was so scared of being that outcast again, and it caused me to come up with a lot of dumb and stupid ideas, but damn it, I was fucking twelve years old, so what could a scarred twelve year old have thought of that would have been a better solution to my problem?"

When she put it like that......

"I am still scared..." Ebere confessed, squeezed her knees to her chest and rocked back and forth slowly, "I'm so scared, Sisters..."

Ebere admitting that had moved everyone enough to come in close for a group hug on the floor, with the twin.

Normally, this would have been Chika's cue to fire on comforting messages and Soma's cue to try to make you smile, but we knew all that Ebere wanted was for us to listen.

Maybe sometimes, all people wanted was for someone to just listen.

And as silence filled the class and all that could be heard was Ebere's soft sobs, we all, the Sisters, stayed together, in that cuddling, tender position, holding on to each other for a long, long time.

Until...

"What are we doing about Marvin?"

Someone had asked inside our hug.

It was Chika who answered the question.

"Marvin is going to perform with his classmates tonight."

And dare I say, it was a Christmas miracle.

His class was singing Silent Night, and whatever Chika did, God knows, because Marvin sand happily with his classmates, joyfully, dancing around excitedly in his wheelchair, and throwing his hands in the air, even if it was a very slow song.

It was the most beautiful thing to watch.

Marvin was beautiful. The only thing that was ugly was Society.

However, I couldn't help, but feel like something was quite missing.

I looked to the girl who sat at the edge of the row, right by my right, quietly watching the little girl on stage, who was playing a sweet, calming tone of Coventry Carol on a big, massive grand piano.

Ebube Onuoha.

She was so lost, watching that girl on stage.

The girl seemed to be in a different zone entirely, and I wasn't sure if it was just the sweet tone the little girl on stage was blessing us with, or if there was a truck load on her mind, that she refused to let out. Or both.

I wondered on about the mysteries of this girl.

And I couldn't help but note that as a matter of fact, Ebere never for once mentioned her sister in the course of her sad story.

It was...

It was almost as though Ebube was never even there.

And for all you Fourth wall dimension stalkers, Dabi says Merry Christmas 💀❤️

Now.....

Tell me everything you're thinking!

See you later in the week, guys!