Chioma's POV.

I walked into the living room, heaving a sigh as I plopped on the couch right next to me and shut my eyes close; thinking about what Amanda had said to me. I knew she wasn't wrong, but I also didn't want to believe she was right either. All I cared about was just starting over, trying to pick up the pieces of my pitiful life, and just move on with it. Just forget about a lot of things that had happened in the past and act like it never happened in the first place.

Drumming my fingers on the couch, I slowly hummed incoherently, trying to calm my nerves. I thought about watching TV, but then I remembered that I  hadn't paid for my cable subscription, yet. The only darn thing available was the news channel and I certainly wasn't in the mood for that.

Living alone stinks!

I had absolutely no one to talk to, and that made me so eager to resume work immediately, just so I'd retain my sanity and not die of loneliness while I'm here. The entire neighborhood was so quiet; too quiet. Back at home, at least it used to be my home, Amara would never stay quiet. She'd always have something noisy or fun, and mostly crazy, to do or say. Something that she'd somehow manage to get me into doing with her. She knew I didn't have much friends, who am I kidding? The only friend I had was Amanda. Although, there's this other girl I speak to cause she's friends with Amanda and her name is Ola, but we don't even talk that much. We just exchange Hey's and Hi's every now and then. I don't even consider her a friend, an acquaintance would be the better definition of our relationship.

And I know Amanda has really put up with my nonsense for years, even when I constantly nagged at her and repeatedly fought with her for absolutely no reason. Sometimes, I'd fear she'd just get fed up with my attitude and... probably stop being friends with me. I don't want that, I'd rather die than have that. And of course, I can't even say that to her face cause my ego wouldn't even let me, even if I tried.

We've been friends since our senior secondary school days. She was being bullied, and I stood up for her and we just kinda clicked cause she was fun and crazy and I really needed that in my life cause I was so uptight and reserved.

I chuckled lightly the minute I remember the first thing she'd said to me after that I'd stood up for her while she was being bullied.

"Wow! So you do have a heart?"

Crazy girl!

The sound of my ringtone in the background, was enough to snap me out of my reverie. I reached for my phone in my purse and retrieved it. And without checking the caller's ID; I answered the call.

"Hello?" Came my voice.

I waited for a response for a while, yet I got none and wondered if the person calling must've called by mistake. Or probably wasn't sure who they'd called.

"Hello?!" I said once more, raising my voice a bit higher to get the attention of the caller.

Still no response.

I contemplated hanging up, but then came the one voice that was enough to make me gasp in both joy, shock, regret and sadness.

"Dad?" I mouthed, my hold on my phone getting a bit shaky and my breath hitched. I don't even know why, but the tears brimmed in my eyes effortlessly, my heart clenched and my head spun in confusion.

Dad...
I...I thought he wouldn't even bother to_

"Chioma..." Came his gentle and reassuring baritone, age didn't seem to affect his baritone that much. And his voice was enough to let a tear spill. I didn't want it to, it shouldn't have. But yet it did. And it betrayed all my emotions; causing the others to follow. "...How are you doing?" He finally added, after a short but much needed pause.

I wanted to say something between the lines of 'like you care' and 'why do you care?' But I couldn't bring myself to ask that. I wanted to hang up, so badly, and take my time to breathe, scream or even cry. But I still couldn't bring myself to do that.

He had called despite everything I had said that day, he still ignored all that came splatting out of my mouth and called me.
Just to know how I was doing?

I felt so bad; against my wish. Guilt clouded my senses and I totally forgot he had asked me how I was doing, leaving his question on flight mode.

My eyes stung as the tears continued to well up, and the more it did; the more I felt like the villain in this case. I never for one day, thought it'd be fair to call my own father, just to know how he's doing. If he's sick, or dying.

If there's any feeling that I'd wish to never ever feel again; then it's this one. The feeling of being a disappointment to your parents, of hurting them with your own hands and with your own actions...and with your own words. That poisonous feeling of probably being the cause of their tears and sleepless nights. The cause of their continuous worries and regrets.

That was exactly how I felt.

"Dad, I'm...I'm fine. How are you doing too? How's mom? And Amara?" I asked, breathlessly. Not even caring to breathe a little, not until I was done talking.

"I'm good. And they're all doing good too. Well, your mother isn't doing too well though. She's a little sick but it's not serious" He replied and my heart clenched the minute I heard mom wasn't doing well.

It's all my fault! I'm sure she's sick cause I didn't listen to her. She probably even cried her eyes out that day. I'm the worst daughter ever, she was right by saying all she said that day.

A tear slid down my cheek as I thought about everything that had happened. I held on to my phone a little tighter, biting my lower lip just so I wouldn't let out a sob and let my dad know I was crying.

"It's my fault, isn't it?" I said, slowly wiping off my tears, but they kept sliding down my cheeks and welling up in my eyes; thereby blurring my vision. Betraying my emotions and making it so hard to breathe.

"Don't say that, she caught a cold. That's all" dad tried to explain, but I could tell he was lying. I'm sure she fell sick because of me. Mom has always been fragile, I should've thought of that before acting all tough and swelling with stupidity. I'm sure she cried so much that day, she probably refused to eat and probably locked her self in a room and repeatedly shed tears all because of her very selfish and egotistical daughter.

"You don't have to lie, dad" it came out as a solemn whisper. Audible enough for him to hear.

Dad let out a long sigh and I found myself sobbing. I couldn't help it. I'll admit, I miss them. I want to go home, I hate it here and I also wish they'd let me come back.

But I just didn't want to have to beg them for that. It's my house too.

"Chioma, listen. You don't have to cry, she's not going to die or anything. It's not even serious. It's minor" he reassured. I sniffled as I wiped off yet another lone tear from my cheek.

"But...but she hates me now. She probably regrets giving birth to me, I'm sure she does. And I'm sure Amara hates me too...and I'm sure you do too, but you're just trying not to" I replied, my voice shaky and my lips quivering.

"Calm down. Stop assuming rubbish. You should've been able to understand your mom by now, she was only angry and vented it out on you the minute she got the chance. I'll even tell you a secret..." He said, and I listened carefully. "...Your mother had asked of you severally. She misses you, we all do. And I wouldn't be calling of I didn't. Chioma...one can only hate whom they do not care for, and you can only miss whom you love and care for. That doesn't mean we hate you, Chioma. We only want you to change" dad explained and I chewed on my lower lip. Memories from that day, came flooding into my mind and I felt my anger brewing up within me the minute I remember my mother's words.

...no mother should have a child like you.

"Tell them I miss them too" I muttered. I wanted to say more, to say sorry, but no matter how hard I tried, it just wouldn't come out of my mouth.

"Take care, Chioma" he said solemnly and I closed my eyes in tears, letting the tears spill out if my eyes and roll down my cheeks; freely.

"Goodbye, dad" and without waiting for a reply, I hung up. I flung my phone on the centre table and buried my head in my palms. Crying out my frustrations and anger. Letting it all out and slowly sobbing. I didn't want to stop anytime soon, but as time went on, I got tired of crying and momentarily screaming. And I slowly drifted off to sleep on the couch, with my head and eyes throbbing in pain.

* * *
Femi's POV.

Kunmi and I walked into my house, with her walking ahead of me and me following behind her.

"Walk fast na!" She yelled at me, turning around to meet me walking behind her in careful struts. I intentionally walked so slow in order to annoy her. "If you like, keep walking like a snail. Who you help? That's your business" she said, turning around once more and walking into the house without sparing me a second glance.

Nonsense girl.

I chuckled and walked into the house too, dropping my briefcase on the floor, plopping on the couch right next to me and placing my legs on the centre table right in front of the couch which I was currently sitting on.

"Oga has finally arrived" mom joked as she walked into the living room and on seeing Kunmi, her smile increased and she immediately ran over to meet her and engulfed her in a warm embrace.

"My baby, how are you? You finally came. You would've told me you were coming, I would've prepared your favorite" mom beamed, making Kunmi sit on the couch right next to mine while she sat beside her. She has always considered Kunmi her daughter, she found her different from the other girls that I hung around with in the past. So much that she pestered me at some point to date Kunmi instead.

"I'm fine, ma. And please don't worry yourself, I ate before coming here. Femi and I went out to eat before coming" Kunmi replied and mom made eye contact with me and smiled.

"Okay then. How was your trip? I heard you travelled to Abuja and this bushman over here didn't tell me, not until yesterday" she said, referring to me as the so-called bushman.

For where? Me? Bushman?

Kunmi laughed at her statement and I snorted. "Mommy, you'll just be lying anyhow. I told you oh!" I argued.

"Told me what? When did you tell me?" She asked and I crossed my arms in front of my chest and gave her a knowing look. "Please, let's forget this confused human being here. Oya, come lemme show you what I got you. I decided to get it for you cause I thought it'd suit you really well" she said, pulling Kunmi up from the chair, gently and leading her upstairs. Completely ditching me.

"You guys are trying oh! It was Kunmi and I that came here oh, now it's both of you that's going upstairs without me. Next time I'll send her back" I joked as I grabbed my briefcase and followed behind them.

"Try it nau. Just try it and you'll know I can slap nonsense out of someone's eyes" mom threatened jokingly and I laughed.

"Mom, it's me oh! Don't allow her face to deceive you!" I yelled after them and they both laughed.

"Guy, shut up abeg!" Kunmi laughed.

"Don't mind him. That's how he use to do, it's how I'm managing him" mom replied and I shook my head in disbelief.

"Because she's here na" I muttered, chuckling as I went up to my room.

________________________________

So, here's the first update.
Expect another update soon.

Okay, keep the comments and votes coming. Please don't forget to vote if you liked this chapter. Thank you.

Anyway, Chioma is just a confused soul. She's crying now but she just can't change once and for all. Anyhow Sha, lemme just be experimenting with her.

Also, THANK YOU GUYS SO SO MUCH FOR 10K+ READS!!!!❤️❤️❤️😭😭😭 I TRULY APPRECIATE IT.

The next chapter will be drama-ier, hopefully 😏

Kk, I'm done yapping now.

Till my next update,
Bye...