Femi's POV

"What on Earth is wrong with you? Do you know how scared we were? You should've at least called or something!" I yelled at Kunmi over the phone. After trying her number multiple times today, without her response, I was frustrated beyond words. Her parents let me take her out of her house cause they trust me so much and are counting on me to bring her back home without any excuses or stories attached. So you'd imagine the anger that brewed up inside me the moment she finally picked my call.

"Why are you yelling at me? It's not like you noticed that I was gone, so please don't irritate me any further" she sounded angry too but I knew I was way more upset.

"Kunmi, I didn't mean to yell. It's just that you really scared me. You had me worried sick about you and here you are saying I didn't notice. If I didn't notice, then why on Earth would I have been so worried?" My words came out much more calmer than before and I heaved a sigh, trying to calm my nerves. Damola was too busy driving, and although he really wanted to speak to Kunmi, he had to concentrate on the road. Meanwhile, Chioma sat at the backseat quietly.

"I'm fine, so please don't worry about me. I'm at home right now, I called my driver to come pick me up" she replied and I clenched my fists wondering why she did that.

"Why?" I asked, my voice came out rather calm but authoritative all at the same time.

"Does it matter?"

"Yes, it does!" I raised my voice.
What has gotten into her?

"Don't shout at me!" She yelled back.

"Sorry about that. But why would you even do that?" I asked, trying to put myself together and not yell at her once more.

"It's none of your business, Femi. I was tired and felt like going home, so I did. Period!" She replied.

"Kunmi, you didn't do the right thing. You could've__" and before I could even complete my sentence, she hung up on me. Something she hadn't done in the past years I've known her. She has definitely changed, this isn't the Kunmi I used to know. The Kunmi, whom I'd come to love as much as I'd love my own sister, would never hang up on me or act so overly dramatic and so obnoxious all of a sudden. She's the sweetest person I know, the calmest girl I've ever met, and now? She's slowly changing. It's true people change and that change is the only constant thing in life, but I never expected Kunmi to change. I loved her for who she was and for how often she was ready to put a smile on her face, I consider her my sister. And I hope nothing ever comes between this bond we have and change things. It'll hurt me, so much.

"What did she say?" Damola asked, his eyes still glued to the road.

"She said so many things, guy. I don't even know what to even believe anymore. For all I could truly gather, she said she went home on her own cause she wanted to...or something of the sort. I'm not sure, abeg" I replied, staring out the window and lost in my thoughts.

"Seriously?" He asked, disbelief evident.

"No oh, jokingly" I replied, sarcastically.

"Your head there!" He chuckled and so did I.

"But that unlike her. Is something wrong with her? Or did someone say something to her?" He asked, like I'd even know the answers to his questions.

"I seriously have no idea. I'm hoping she'll tell me what's truly going on when she calms down" I heaved one last sigh as the car fell silent. Even Chioma wasn't saying anything. She was so quiet that I had to turn around to know if she was okay or not.

"You okay?" I asked and she turned from the window and stared at me, her eyes holding no emotions whatsoever.

"Mm" she murmured and tilted her head to the side.

"You don't seem like you are" I chose to press on despite knowing the consequences of my actions, that being her non-polite response or her death glare.

"Can you just leave me alone?" She replied, her rude tone back on track.

"No. I would but I can't cause I don't want to. Now, tell me what's going on or I frustrate your life" I grinned and she heaved a loud sigh and hissed.

"Get out!" She yelled and I raised a brow quizzically at her.

"Really? But this is my car, sweetheart. So you can't send me out, there, I win" I said and she gritted her teeth quietly.

"You're just so annoying and stupid" she said through gritted teeth.

"Oh really? I think I liked you better when you were less rude" I smiled and she rolled her eyes at me, her pretty eyes doing a three-sixty and her  plump, pink lips pursed together in a pout. I just watched her and grinned, knowing she would snap soon.

"Femi, leave the girl na. Abi, now she's on her own. Be there looking for trouble" Damola said, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

"Shut up jare!" I chuckled.

"We'll talk when we get to my house" I said to her in a low voice, just so Damola wouldn't hear and get the wrong message.

"As long as you leave me alone" she replied and he shrugged.

"I'm stuck with you, sweetheart. Like glue on paper, trust me, I'm not going anywhere" I replied, slipping on a smile and a wink.

"You guys done? I'm sick of your love play already" Damola said and I rolled my eyes at him.

"Just shut up and drive, would ya?" I said, placing my head on the headrest.

"What does it look like I'm doing? Massaging the stirring wheel?" He replied sarcastically and I grinned.

"You talk too much"

"That's why you need me in your life. A spice of Damola flavor, your life would be tasteless without me in it" he grinned.

"Says who?" I asked, quirking a brow at him.

"Says me"

"It's not your fault Sha. It's the villagers, they have come for you" I grinned and he muttered something incoherent under his breath.

* * *

I got down from the car and so also did Damola and Chioma. She stared at my house for a minute and bit her lower lip, like she was considering going back. I decided to reassure her that my parents are the calmest people I know and I'm sure they'll understand the situation.

"Relax, they don't bite. Trust me, they're lovely people" I whispered into her left ear from behind. I noticed she flinched and shifted away from me, probably not liking the fact that I was so close to her, breathing in her strawberry and rose scent.

"I'm not worried or anything. I'm only wondering how I'll survive this night with you, under the same roof" she said, making it sound like we were going to share a room or something. Wow! she's really overly dramatic. Sheesh! I'm the good Samaritan here, I'm trying to be nice to her so i don't make the same mistake I made in my office. I still feel guilty about it.

"Sweetie, try being nice to me. It won't hurt, or you're scared I'll__"

"Femi!" A familiar very loud, masculine voice, called out to me. That voice belonged to my dad. I seriously wasn't expecting him to be home this early, but it's  a good thing he was.

"Dad!" I smiled as I turned around to see him smiling and walking towards us. Damola beat me to it by hugging my dad first. He respects my dad, a lot.

"Shift jare! For my own papa again?" I joked as I pushed him aside and hugged my dad.

Dad smiled once more as I pulled away from the hug and I could see his eyes finally landed on Chioma, who stood next to the car with an expressionless look on her face. He finally looked at me and gave me a look that demanded a sort of explanation.

"Oh, Chioma. Such a pleasant surprise" he finally smiled at her and she smiled back too, although, something about her smile seemed a bit off. It looked forced but dad didn't seem to notice, but I did and maybe that's cause I've seen her give me that exact smile... Except, this one was partially fake but still forced.

"Evening, sir" she said.

"Evening, my dear. How are your parents? And your sister too?"

"They're all... Fine" she managed a small smile and dad nodded his head and grinned.

"Let's all go inside" dad suggested and led the way into the house. Damola wasted no time to head into my room where I'm sure he'd probably smoke cigarettes or grab a bottle of whiskey with him or something of the sort.

"Sit" he said to Chioma with a warm smile on his face. Chioma nodded and did as told while my mom finally made her way out of the kitchen and into the living room.

"Ah, Femi you finally decided to come home" she smiled and I grinned.

"Good evening, mom" I said.

"Evening" she smiled and then her deep brown orbs landed on Chioma's and then mine, then Chioma's once more, then mine again _ with a mischievous grin on her face.

Why are most Nigerian mother's like this?
Just because she's here with me doesn't mean we are in some sort of relationship.

"Chioma, so nice to see you here. How are you? And your family members too?" Mom said, taking a seat right beside my dad who slowly shook his head _ knowing that she was already making quick assumptions, and probably conclusions, about Chioma and I.

"We're all fine, ma'am" Chioma replied.

"Okay," I said, just so I'd avoid any further questions from any of my parents. "Mom, dad, Chioma will be staying here tonight cause..." And then I told them all that had happened, making sure to leave out the suicide part. Chioma stared at me nervously and bit her lower lip once more, as if in anticipation of their reply.

"That's really unfortunate. I guess she can stay here. We'll pay her parents a visit by tomorrow on her behalf. But Chioma, you will have to apologise to your father" dad said. " It's wrong to walk out on your elders like that, let alone, your own father. Haba, that was wrong of you and he probably made that decision cause he was furious at that moment. I'm sure he'll forgive you, once you've apologised. Okay?" Dad said to her and Chioma only nodded.

I knew she was upset at the thought of apologising cause I could see her clenching and unclenching her fists, a slight scowl appearing on her face and a forced smile finding it's way to her lips.

"Yes dear, you did the wrong thing by walking out on your father like that. You have to show him respect as the man of the house, you don't talk when an elder is speaking. It's considered rude, and I'm sure you're not that type of girl" mom said and I nearly choked on my own spit at her last statement.

Mom, you're yet to see the real Chioma Aniobi in action. And I hope you don't.

"Oya, Femi show her to the guest room" mom said to me. "And Chioma, how about your belongings?" She asked Chioma.

"My father already sent my things to the house he arranged for me on the mainland. I was the one who chose to ask the driver to stop me by the bridge while he took my stuff to the house" she replied and mom nodded her head.

"Okay, no problem. Femi will go buy you some clothes for tonight and tomorrow. Don't worry about the toiletries, I'll deal with that" she smiled warmly at Chioma and I smiled gratefully at her.

"That's so nice of you. I truly appreciate it" Chioma said.

"It's no problem" mom smiled once more and walked towards the stairway.

"Femi, please show her to her room and go get the clothes" mom said before walking up the stairs with dad following beside her.

"Um, Femi. I'd like to say something to you" Chioma said, once my parents were out of earshot, as I opened the door to the guest room.

"What is it?" I asked absentmindedly as I walked into the room with her following behind me.

"I- I'm really grateful for all you've been doing for me. I know I hate you but at least now I can tolerate you for all the help you've rendered to me today" she looked away when I turned to look at her with a goofy grin on my face. I was beyond amazed.

Did Chioma actually say that?

"Wow! did you just appreciate something I did?" I smirked and she rolled her eyes at me.

"Are you just being stupid or were you actually born that way? Don't feel special about it, I just thought it'd be fair to say that to__" before she could complete her sentence, I hugged her. As a source of encouragement or maybe cause I was overwhelmed with the fact that she actually tried being nice to me. I'm not really sure.

"Baby steps, Chioma. One day you'll finally say the words 'thank you' to me, and when that happens, I might steal a kiss from you" I pulled away and she cringed.

"That'll never happen, and never hug me again. I forbid you from being that close to me ever again" she warned and I raised an inquisitive brow at her.

"Really? Why?" I grinned.

"Because I said so" she snapped.

"I'll keep saying it; you fascinate me, this girl"

"I have a name, dimwit!" She yelled and walked towards the bed and sat down on it.

"I know you do. How can I forget?" I smiled and sat beside her, really close to her, just to upset her further...

"Femi, you have five seconds to get away from me before I drop dime on you" she said, glaring at me.

"Why?" I smirked

"One?" She began.

"Oh c'mon!" I whined.

"Two?!" She raised her voice and I sighed.

"Fine! I'm going" I said and finally got up to leave. "Bye" I said and walked out of the room.

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Hi guys!
So, yay, I kept my promise 😁
I hope this chapter wasn't boring tho.

Also, please put in a comment what you thought of  this chapter and the characters too... especially Femi and Chioma.
Loads of love from my side y'all💜💜💜
Thanks so much for reading, and please don't forget to vote.

Till my next update,
Bye...