*EDITED*

"Oh gawd!" Amara whined, an annoyed look marring her face in her sleep. "Leave me alone! I want to sleep some more!" Amara said as she rolled on the bed and snuggled with her stuffed animal. She owned a lot of them and couldn't sleep without snuggling with at least one of them.

"Sis, get up. Mom will be here to wake you up, and if she still sees you're sleeping, that wouldn't be good. And you know how she is. Why are you still wasting time? It's morning already, and you have school... Remember?" Chioma said to her and she grumbled something incoherently to Chioma. Amara finally got up, rubbing her sleepy eyes and murmuring with an annoyed look still glued to her face.

"To hell with school! I'm tired!" She whined, as she once again, plopped on her bed. "The teachers are paid to be there, while I'm being forced. So, fück school!" Her use of strong language, made Chioma cringe. She'd never heard Amara cuss before.

"Silly girl. You need school, it's very essential and really important" Chioma said to her, in a calm tone, sitting beside her on her bed.

"I didn't beg them, did I? I want to sleep!" Amara murmured as she drew the comforter over her body, on attempt to block all Chioma had to say.

"I'm calling mom, if you don't get up in the next five minutes" Chioma threatened, and Amara hurriedly jumped out of bed and threw her comforter away from her body.

"What?! You wouldn't dare!" She yelled in fright, of what her mother would do to her, a daring look on her face.

"Are you testing me? 'Cause it takes nothing to call your mother up here" she replied and Amara shut her eyes in exhaustion, and groaned.

"Fine, I'm up! I'm up! But just know this isn't over" and with that, she got out of bed, and grumbled her way to the bathroom.

Chioma laughed hollered after her.
"Love you!" She yelled and Amara snorted;

"Don't give two shits about it!" She yelled from the bathroom and Chioma laughed again and left, heading to her room.

Once inside her room; she sat down on her bed and then her phone made a ding sound, indicating that she had a new message. When she retrieved her phone from the side table where she had earlier kept it; she saw that it was a message from her best friend, Amanda.

"Hello?" Came Amanda's voice.

"Girl, there's fire on the mountain" Amanda replied, earning a confused look from Chioma.

"What...? What are you talking to about?" a confused Chioma, asked.

"I'm even surprised you don't know what happ—"

"Just get to the point already and quit beating around the bush!" She demanded, cutting her off abruptly. "What actually happened?" Chioma asked again.

"Ebuka happened!" She snapped. "I just got news that he's getting married to some other girl. I'm so sorry, girl. I just... I don't understand why he'd do something like that to you. For Pete's sake, you're his girlfriend! And for five whole months!" Amanda replied, solemnly.

The minute Chioma fully registered what she'd said, she gasped for air. Her heart shattered into a thousand pieces and she wished it were all false and she'd heard wrongly.

No, no. This can't be true. This cannot... This just can't be happening.

She thought, as she felt the hot tears prick her eyes, and she tried so hard to keep them at bay.

"You're joking... You're joking... Right?" She breathed out, her voice come out strained and shaky. Her heart already began to throb painfully within her chest.

Why? Why would he do this to her? This had to be a prank, it just had to.

"I really wish I was, babe. I really wish I was" the solemnity of Amanda's voice, ripped her heart apart. It confirmed what she'd feared; that Amanda wasn't lying... And it was all true. Ebuka was really getting married to someone else.

She choked on a sob, trying so hard to get words out of her mouth, but failed miserably. Each time she'd open her mouth to say something, she'd end up saying nothing... Only gasping for air and biting on her lip to keep her tears from spilling out of her eyes.

No... Why? Why? Why would he do this to me? Why? Was I not good enough? Didn't he love me?

"Hello? Chioma?" Came Amanda's worried voice. Still, Chioma was lost in her own thoughts. She fought with the tears that gathered up in her eyes and she just couldn't think straight.

He told me that I was his everything. He swore that he cared, he said he wouldn't do anything to hurt me. Then... Why? Why would he hurt me now?  He... He promised not to.

"Chioma? Hello? Are you still there?" Amanda asked, worry glazed in her voice. She hoped nothing had happened to her friend.

He promised... He promised. He wouldn't do this, would he? No... I trust him. He wouldn't dare.

"Hello? Chioma, are you okay? Please, talk to me" Amanda asked again, panic slicing into her veins. Chioma couldn't hear all she was saying, everything seemed faded... It all seemed distant.

He promised... He wouldn't dare hurt me.

She thought again.

Abruptly, she hung up on Amanda and cradled her head in her palms, letting the tears spill. Like a baby, she wept bitterly, not knowing the reason why he'd take such a drastic decision while he was still dating her. She was unaware and confused, as to why he'd betray her like this. What did she do wrong? She loved him, she didn't want to lose him. She was committed to their relationship and refuted all other guys that tried wooing her. She didn't even give Femi a chance whatsoever. Why would he hurt her like this? It didn't make any sense to her.

She tried gathering her thought, she tried putting them in place in the hope that she wouldn't do anything irrational. But, to hell with that! The girl was already vexed and hurt! She was mad, pissed at him and at herself for falling for someone like him. The thought of him - at this point - made her sick to her stomach, and all she could muster was hatred towards him. Bile slowly arose to her throat, each time she tried wondering why he'd done that. Why he'd go ahead and pick someone else, without even telling her. Without letting her know her offense. He didn't even try sorting things out with her. God! She'd never felt this hurt before.

"That lowlife!" She yelled in frustration, angry tears streaming down her cheeks, as she picked up a vase on her nightstand and threw it to the floor, with shards of glass left everywhere on the floor. She even chipped a part of her tiled floor in the process.

She didn't mind the tiny pieces of glass that had pierced into her skin in the process, even that didn't hurt as much as his betrayal. Even if she'd jump off a cliff right now, the pain she'd feel wouldn't amount to the pain she felt now. She felt so hurt, too hurt and upset to reason properly. Was he trying to mess with her? Was he doing this intentionally? Just for fun?

Still, to her surprise, she found herself hoping it was all an expensive joke, and he was only trying to pull her leg. He was an important part of her life, and she got butterflies in her stomach each time he'd speak to her. His voice alone, was enough to leave her tripping and falling for him all over again.

And not just that, he was extremely good-looking. He was intellectual and very charming and had a way with words, such that he could make an ugly girl feel like the prettiest girl on Earth.

Those charms of his... Those charms of his, were used on her. Those were what she fell for. His sweet talk, his looks and everything.  And now? Now, all that seems like a mirage... Like child's play. It felt like she'd been wasting her time, thinking he actually loved her. She was such a fool for thinking that! Such a fool!

She shakily reached for her phone. If he was going to hurt, then she'd do the same with her words too. She wouldn't let him hurt her and just walk out of her life without a price to pay for it. Never! That was completely out of the question. Utter balderdash! She was going to inflict just as much pain, as he did to her.

Hurriedly, she dialed his number and waited for him to answer. She wasn't sure what she'd say to him, but she was sure of one thing; she was most definitely going to give him a piece of her mind.

The minute he picked, and his - once loved - baritone filled her ears, she scowled and gritted her teeth in anger, her anger blowing up in the roof of her mind.

"Hello?" Came that alluring baritone baritone she had come to love, once. But not anymore, things had changed.

She started by clapping her hands in mock congratulations.

"Well-done! I really hope you're feeling proud of yourself for what you have done" she began, a pained expression on her face.

He said nothing to her, and she couldn't wait to drop the thunder on him.

"I- I don't understand what you're talking about" he was nervous, she could tell. And that only confirmed that fact that he was guilty of the allegation put against him.

"Oh! Don't dare give me that crap! Don't even dare! You're trying to act dumb, huh? Even after what you've done you don't even think it's right to tell me now. You thought you could get away with it, right?" She asked, letting out a slight chuckled - one devoid of humor and rather sarcastic and strained.

"I- I... I still don't—"

"Shut it! Shut the hell up! Just shut that lying tongue of yours, you diabolical liar! Don't you dare lie to me 'cause I now know the truth. I can't even believe you're trying to deny this. Well shocker, 'cause I know about your marriage to another girl!" She yelled, cutting him off, losing her cool. The anger that bit into her veins, tore all form of sensitivity or rationality she had left.

"I... I can explain. I didn't mean to hurt you, I swear. I was looking for a way to tell you, but I just didn't know how. I'm so sorry, please—"

"Wow! I must say that you're an excellent actor. Ever thought of joining the movie industry? 'Cause you're an excellent liar. You know? You disgust me! You never for once thought it'd be fair to at least let me know. You think I'll be broken by this? Or I can't do without you? Or I'd cry?" When she said the last part, the tears formed in her eyes once again. It was a good thing he wasn't here to see that.

"No! This... This is the least of my worries! That's all you could come up with? We've been dating for five whole stupid months! Five whole months of thinking you were actually sensible, and yet you just go ahead and decide to get married to someone else who, BTW, isn't me?! Are you mad or something?!" She yelled again.

"I'm sorry, it's just that I couldn't tell you cause I knew you'd find it really difficult to take in. I was scared of what your reaction would be" he said and she gripped a pillow beside her in anger.

She lost it once again. He had the nerve to say that. What was he thinking? That he'd get married to someone else and she wouldn't know? Was that his initial intention?

"So you're tryjng to say that you are a coward! A big, fat chicken! You're so stupid! Just tell me one thing she has that I don't. Just tell me!" She demanded in anger. The pain she felt, was absolutely nerve-wracking.

"Well, she has respect for others and you don't. She's also isn't rude and she also doesn't treat other people like they are useless and worthless. That, is why I chose her over you. You're not the type of person that I'd like to spend the rest of my life with. I'd like to marry someone with respect for others and herself. That's why we can't work. Chioma, I just don't think we can work out" he said, solemnly. Chioma felt like grabbing him from across the line and ripping his throat out.

Did he just say that to me?

She thought.

"You are really a crazy person. Now I know you are really insane, you know what? Since that is what you want, then so be it. But I curse you for what you have done, you'll have no peace of mind whatsoever. We're officially over. O-V-E-R, over! Rubbish!" She yelled before finally hanging up on him.

"Such a psychopath! How dare he say all that to me? He even had the nerve to speak to me like that! I hope he chokes on something and dies!" She ranted as she tightened her grip on her pillow.

Soon after, Amara walked into the room. Chioma's rants drew her to her room, wanting to know what had made her sister so angry this early in the morning. On walking into the room, she saw Chioma trying to murder her pillow, with streaks of tears on her cheeks.

"Ah-ah? What happened? Why are you trying to destroy the pillow? If you don't like it, then give it to me? Why try to destroy it? Fine pillow like this" Amara said as she sat next to chioma on her bed.

"And why do you look so upset? What happened?" Amara asked and chioma looked at her like she was trying to swallow some really harsh words.

Amara noticed her reddened eyes and nose, and knew she had been crying. It'd be a while since she saw Chioma cry, and she immediately understood that whatever had made her cry, must've really hurt her.

"Amara, I'm really angry right now. Please leave me alone. I do not want to talk to anyone... Just, just please leave" Chioma said instead, her voice getting croaky by the minute, as another round of tears ran down her cheeks.

"I know, I can see that and that's why I'm busy asking" she replied and Chioma finally let go of the pillow and ran a hand through her face in frustration.

"I don't even know why he'd do this to me, Amara. I don't understand why he did this" she immediately let out all the tears once again, throwing her hand around Amara and crying on her shoulders.

This made Amara hurt, she had never seen her sister this way before, and she was willing to deal with whomever was responsible for her tears.

Slowly, she patted her back soothingly while Chioma told her all that had happened with Ebuka. Amara felt bad for her, and was willing to cheer her up. She still had a few minutes before she'd have to leave for school anyways.

"And that's why you are vexing?" she hissed "God, Chioma I actually expected you to handle him well. The one time I actually needed you to unleash the dragons; you got nothing? I'm so disappointed right now" Amara said, feigning disappointment and Chioma sniffled and reached for her tears - wiping them away.

"See, Amie. I don't know what the heck that guy takes me for. I actually gave him some serious talking to but still. Can you believe what he said? He said that the girl is respectful and I'm not and she's not rude and I am rude. What did he mean by that?! First: he hurts me like that, and second; he says something so insensitive. Even if all  he didn't like me, why did he really have to rub salt on my wounds?" She ranted and Amara looked away to gulp down her laughter.

"Well...you know that part is kinda true, right?" She said to her and Chioma looked at her squaredly.

"So now you are going to support the fool? Even after what he did?" Chioma asked, surprised at her sister's comment.

"I didnt say I was supporting him oh, I only said that—"

"Forget it. I've heard enough" Chioma said, annoyed that her sister was also in support of the lowlife - as she'd like to call him. She walked into her bathroom and  slammed the door shut in anger.

"Don't go naw! I was only joking. You know what? I support you. Ebuka is a fool, he's an illiterate. He's a monkey, he's a bastard  - in fact. He be mumu" Amara coaxed he sister, teasingly.
["He's is a moron"].

Chioma opened the bathroom door with a smile digging at the corner of her lips and she gave Amara the finger.

"He really is" she concurred.

"I know, right? Such a mumu! He doesn't have sense at all. Don't mind him! Bastard like him" Amara said, trying to seem supportive of her sister. She didn't want to make her upset any further, and although she didn't mean all the insults she was throwing at an absent Ebuka, she had to say them all 'cause that was what Chioma wanted to hear.

Deep down in her heart, Amara knew that most of the things Ebuka had said about Chioma, were true.

"He's a wasted nonentity. I'm glad you hate him as much as I do" Chioma managed a small yet sad smile. Bad-mouthing him wasn't helping her forget her pain either. But she continued either ways.

"Yes. He's a madman, an imbecile" Amara replied and they both laughed. Chioma shut the door and had her bath after that. Although, she still felt a pang of regret in her heart... But she refused to admit that he was right.

________________

Well guys, I hope you guys liked this chapter.

Anyway, please comment. Vote. Share.

Question for today: do you have a sister who you are really close to? If yes; then how's she like?

PS: the word *mumu means--foolish person or duns (for all my non-Nigerian readers out there)

Just thought I'd add that👆,
The song up👆 is by the Nigerian artist, Joeboy.

Xoxo, Chisom💝
Byes...