Chioma's POV.

The drive to St Nicholas hospital was quiet but not in an uncomfortable way. Amanda had managed to squeeze in some time for this reason and that only meant she'd end up running late to work, but luckily ; Femi didn't seem to mind after she had explained the reason as to why she'd be late for work.

"You nervous?" She asked, her eyes still focused on the road.

"Kinda, but not so much. I'm sure I'll get the job" I replied, pride withheld in my voice.

"Well, don't be too confident. You're not really experienced and I don't think they'll hire someone inexperienced. You know?" She replied, taking a turn.

"But I'm qualified for the job, I not only have the qualifications but also the wit and knowhow for the job. Are they stupid to not give me the job?" I replied, staring out the window with my eyes roaming through the scenery as they went by so fast.

"Chioma, turn down that pride for a minute or two. Will you?" she asked, slightly rolling her eyes.

"What pride? I'm just being honest, so?" I shrugged and she shook her head amusedly at me and focused on her driving as the car fell silent once more.

Finally, we arrived at the hospital and Amanda drove in and parked the car at the lot. We came down from the car and walked briskly into the hospital and met the receptionist at the reception hall.

"Good morning" she beamed, a sickly sweet smile on her face. I'm sure they pay her to forcefully act 'nice' and put on that extremely fake smile. I should know it's fake since I have a mastery of fake smiles; given the fact that I give off fake smiles to so many people.

"Morning" Amanda chose to reply her, a smile stretching across her lips as she dug into her handbag in search of her phone. "Um, please. We'd like to see doctor..." she checked her phone, scrolling through in search of the doctor's name. Her friend, who had earlier informed her about this job, had sent the address and details to her in a text. "... Doctor Ephraim" she said.

"Okay, just wait a little. I'll let him know you're here. Names please?" She replied.

"Amanda Chukwuka and Chioma Aniobi. Thank you" Amanda replied and the lady smiled and nodded her head in response.

"I'll let him know you two are here" she said. "In the meantime, please have a seat" she offered, pointing at the the waiting room area.

"Thanks" Amanda replied, and we both took a seat and waited patiently for the doctor to arrive.

* * *
Femi's POV.

"Sir, the files you asked for" Dan said, handing me the file I had earlier asked for.
Not having Amanda around proved to be a little frustrating, all the files, paperwork and other documents I was meant to handle; all seemed so disorganized. And Amanda would've handled them better, way better than what the rest of the staffs here would've done.

"Oh, and sir. The meeting... You were supposed to select a time for tomorrow's meeting" he informed once more and I groaned. I had totally forgotten about it.

"Uh...yeah. The meeting, I totally didn't forget about it. Um, 2 o'clock will be best" I replied and he nodded his head in understanding, scribbled a little something on the clipboard in his hand and finally left. I could've sworn I heard him chuckle the minute I denied forgetting about the meeting.

My phone rang loudly from the table where I had placed it and I groaned before picking it up.

Who could be calling now?

"Hello?" My voice came in.

"Sir, it's me, Amanda. I'm so sorry for the massive delay. Chioma, well, Chioma's interview isn't going as planned but I'll be there soon" she said.

"What happened with her interview?" I suddenly asked, my interest piqued. I heard Amanda chuckle nervously over the phone and I knew things certainly weren't okay.

"She...um, she was just being her self. And by that, I mean she was rude. And didn't get the job" She replied and I grinned.

Typical! Not even a bit surprised by that. She's Chioma, being rude is her thing.

"Well, okay. But get here soon, there's a lot of work to be done" I replied.

"Okay, sir. I'm on my way" She replied and I immediately hung up.

I heard a knock on my door afterwards and I sighed before urging, whomever it was, in.

"Come in!"

The door came open, with my head still buried in the file I was going through, crossing a few things on it that needed adjustment and finally signing on it.

"Miss me?" Came the one voice I can never forget. I looked away from the file and my eyes met hers. Her warm smile on her face, and makeup-free face which seemed to be glowing, looking down at me.

"Kunmi! Wow! What a pleasant surprise! I thought you weren't going to be back till next Saturday" I beamed as I got up to give her a hug. "My love, how are you?" I asked, still hugging her and letting the smile on my face to linger for a little while.

"I'm fine. You? You look all drained and less attractive. And yeah, I decided to come home early cause I received good news and couldn't wait any longer" she said, a playful grin on her face and I laughed. She's not wrong, but then again, she's not completely right either. I may look a little drained but I still look attractive no matter what state I'm in. I mean, I'd still look like a super model even on my death bed.

Wow! I sound so cocky right now! This is not something I'd usually say...I guess spending all that time with the World's biggest Sassy Brat does take a toll on you.

"Less unattractive? No jor! Why the lies na?" I asked, a smile dancing around my lips as I finally took my seat again and Kunmi sat on the visitor's seat.

"Mhmm... I knew you'd say that. Anyway, how's work going?" She asked and I managed a smile.

"Well, work is slowly succeeding in driving me crazy. I'm so busy these days, I barely have time for myself anymore. At this point, I'd kill to have a vacation" I said, lazily scribbling some details of the documents I was going through; on a piece of paper.

"Sorry about that. You Sha need it. But unfortunately, you can't have a vacation. No good thing comes easy so you gats work" she said, slowly drumming her fingers on my table. "But I have good news though. Wanna hear?" she announced, a vibrant smile on her face.

"What's the good news?" I asked, nonchalantly.

"Okay... So I've gotten a job! I'm a gynaecologist and I now work at Akingbohun Hospital and Maternity Centre. Two weeks ago, I'd applied for a job there and while I was at Abuja, I received a call; a few days ago, and I was told that I'd gotten the job. How great is that?! I'm now part of the working population. Yay me!" She beamed and I smiled genuinely at her enthusiasm.

"Congrats Kunms! I'm so proud of you! Up top!" I exclaimed, giving her a high-five.

"Thanks. I just hope everything goes well cause I'll be resuming work by tomorrow" she informed and I nodded my head approvingly.

"Finally! You'll join the working geng. You'll finally understand what it means to feel like dying when working. Don't worry, you'll join me in my lamentations very soon" I replied and she laughed.

"I know, right? I'm kinda dreading work but then again, I signed up for this. I can't back down now, can I?" She said and I shrugged.

"Who knows?" I replied and she hissed.

"So, where is Damola? I spoke with Ade and Marcus yesterday and I was so happy to hear from them again. Seriously, we've been kind of shutting them out, don't you think?" She said, and that got me thinking.

"I swear, I thought about that too. But it's just that I'm busy lately. We're all busy with our own things, so it's not our fault that we've not had time to catch up. Maybe one of these days we'll organise a get-together. How about that?" I replied, slowly returning my attention back to the work before me. "...and as for Damola, he's alive at least. He's lucky I didn't murder him while he kept being a pest" I replied and Kunmi laughed.

"That works fine for me, as long as I'm not tired, having a headache, sustaining any injuries, sick or probably just feeling lazy" she shrugged and I chuckled.

"You amuse me with the things you say sometimes" I shook my head amusedly.

"I know, right? I amuse myself with my own words too" she laughed and I shook my head once more. "And just so you know, we're grabbing lunch together and I'm coming to your house today too. Your mom has been bugging me about visiting so I thought I'd surprise her with a visit today" she said and I nodded my head in understanding.

"If we're going to grab lunch together, then that means you won't mind waiting for an hour or two" I said, raising an inquisitive brow at her.

"You and who is waiting for that long? Guy, if I wait here and I get tired, I'm ditching you and leaving!" She said and I feigned hurt.

"You'll ditch me? How dare you?" I laughed.

"Dey there dey blow grammar for me (be there and continue blowing grammar for me)" she said and rolled her eyes dramatically at me. "I've not eaten anything since morning because I was forming 'diet', now, I've given up. That stuff isn't for me, I wasn't destined to suffer myself" she replied and I laughed out loud.

"Diet? What are you going on a diet for? We're begging God to give you more flesh and you want to eliminate the little one you have. Haew! Nothing wey Musa no go see for gate! (There's nothing Musa won't see at the gate)" I laughed once more. "Where's the flesh you're using to go on a diet? I can't see it" I added, still laughing while Kunmi glared murderously at me.

"My friend! It's a healthy diet. To keep fit and maintain a healthy body, not to slim down. Don't be an idiot, please" she replied and I laughed even more.

"Healthy diet ni, goody diet kor!" I laughed once more and Kunmi hissed at me.

"Anyway, you never had sense initially so I'm not surprised that you still don't have sense now. Have sense, you no gree (have sense, you refused)" she said, a smile creeping to her face.

"You're a distraction. I know what you're trying to do; you want me to start bickering with you but it won't happen. Go and tell the people that sent you that you didn't see me" I replied, returning my attention back to the paperwork right in front of me.

"Meaning? What'd you mean?" She asked, laughter resounding in her voice.

"Meaning that I don't need your distraction. I'm busy, I've got work" I replied dismissively.

"See this one oh! Who cares? Save it for someone who actually listens to you! I do what I want. So, if I want to distract you, I'll do it" she grinned mischievously at me and I quirked an inquisitive, yet suspicious, brow at her.

"You don't mean it!" I replied, sarcastically.

"You're high, I swear" she chuckled and leaned back in her chair while I continued with what I was doing.

* * *
Chioma's POV.

"I knew those people didn't know what they are doing. At least I got the job at the end" I beamed, and I could hear Amanda grunt. "What's up with you?" I asked, staring at her questionably.

"You're busy making mouth now. Meanwhile, you only got this job because I had to beg them and lie to them that you're just having mood swings cause you just lost someone you care about. That lie was so somehow for me to tell, but yet I told it and yet you're busy__"

"Wait, you told them that?!" I shrieked.

"Yes. And now, I feel so guilty!" She replied, chewing on her bottom lip. "Oh God, please forgive me for telling such an expensive lie" she muttered, although audibly.

"I didn't ask you to lie to them, you know? I could've gotten that job without you having to tell them that" I stated.

"But you were rude to them. You called the doctor a flabbergasted moron because he asked too many questions. What the heck were you expecting him to do before? Give you special treatment? Or better still, kiss your feet and massage your brain?" Amanda asked, letting out an exasperated sigh. "My point is; you have got to learn to keep that arrogance on a leash. I swear, the next time you get into trouble, I'll abandone you. I'm not bluffing, I'll even swear on your life" she said and my eyes bulged.

"Heck no! You're not doing that" I said.

"I will if you push me to. Please, I'm begging you now, please stop being overly arrogant. You're dramatically extravagant for your own good" she said and I quirked a brow at her.

"Dramatically extravagant? Seriously? That's even a thing?" I furrowed my brows at her and she focused her eyes on the road and smiled.

"You're so...you, that I have to make up crazy phrases just to elaborate how much of a crazy person you are" she said, her eyes not leaving the road for even a second.

"How nice of you!" I replied, sarcastically. "But, in my defense, I was having some really bad mood swings. You know? That time of the month" I said and she nodded her head in understanding.

"Fine, let's just blame today's drama on that. Next one, I'll total forget we're even friends in the first place. I'm tired of repeatedly saving your butt each time you get into all these kinds of troubles" she explained and I shrugged.

"Can't help it. This world is filled with too many idiots" I replied.

"And you're one of them. So quit complaining about your kind" she replied, a smirk appearing on her face.

"Says their queen mother!" I said and she laughed.

"You this gal! You're a sicko! How am I their queen mother?" She laughed once more.

"We're both sickos. It's how we're managing each other" I shrugged innocently and Amanda chuckled.

"But seriously though, do try to be nicer to people. You need to cultivate that habit of being nice to people. You don't always have to be mean and rude to them, you never might know who you'd need help from in the nearest future, that's how life is" she explained, totally going all mom on me. Except in this case, my mother never reprimanded me for being rude to anyone. It was always dad who did that.

Dad...

Thinking about that now made me miss him, miss all of them...and most importantly; it made me miss Amara so much!

"Madam!" Amanda yelled, snapping me out of my reverie.

"Yeah...yes?" I replied, a bit startled.

"Get down, we're at your place now. I really need to skedaddle" she said and I immediately took notice of my environment.

"Oh..." I muttered, getting down from the car.

"I'll drop by after work. In the meantime, try helping yourself out with some cereals when you're hungry. When I come over, I'll make us something to eat" she said, again, going all mom on me.

"Whatever you say, mom!" I replied sarcastically and walked into the house while she waved at me and drove off.

____________________________

Sorry I took so long to update. Schoolwork + electricity problem + house chores × overly dramatic little siblings = stress.
So please bear with me.

Okay, I need them comments and votes. Keep 'em coming. If you enjoyed this chapter, then please don't forget to drop a vote before leaving.(ʘᴗʘ✿)

Also, thank you guys so much for 9k+ reads and 2k+ votes. I truly appreciate it and all your efforts. Thanks for all the support, God bless you all ༎ຶ‿༎ຶಥ‿ಥ *tears of joy*(◍•ᴗ•◍)❤

PS: I'll be explaining the Pidgin terms from now on cause of my non-Nigerian readers. I would've done that in the beginning tho¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Till my next update,
Bye...