Chioma's POV.

With shaky hands, I answered the call with my heart racing and my breath a bit hitched.

"Hello?" I said. I heard some muffled words at the background before Amara finally replied.

"Hello, Chioma. How...how are you?" She said and I couldn't hide the smile that crept to my face at just that moment. I felt like the world was floating under my feet, but in a good way.

"I'm fine. How are you doing too? And how's mom and dad doing?" I asked, almost immediately.

"We're all doing good" she replied and I nodded my head enthusiastically, forgetting she couldn't see me and my smile - which grew wider.

"And mom? How is she? Dad told me she wasn't feeling well. I hope she's fine now" I asked, my voice a bit solemn.

"She's fine too. She got better recently" Amara replied and I smiled thankfully.

"Chioma, please don't say No but we really need to talk in person. I miss you, so much...and I don't know if you miss me or any of us here, but we do. At least I do" she said, her voice solemn and all she said, was enough to make me feel so bad. I've missed everyone so much, I missed Amara most and she thinks I don't?

"No, no, don't say that. I really miss you too, I miss all of you. Where d'you want us to meet? I'll be there shortly" I replied, getting up from the couch in a haste, putting on my slippers, grabbing my purse and heading for the door.

"Um, let's meet at Papiee's Place by three o'clock. Please" Amara said and I immediately nodded my head affirmatively.

"I'll be there" checking the time on my phone, I realized I still had a little more time for it was just 2:30pm.

"Thank you. And do take care of yourself" Amara said and I couldn't help the pang of guilt that eluded her mind. I wanted to scream the words so loud that the entire Earth would hear my voice.

"Amara, I miss you. I miss home, dad, mom. Everyone! I'm running mad in this place, mad! I'm sorry for everything I did, I'm sorry for everything single thing I said. I'm sorry for being so selfish about the entire situation. Please, please forgive me" tears brimmed up in my eyes and I held my phone tighter for dear life, my breath was ragged and all I wanted was to finally get my family back. I was helplessly tearing up, at the expense of my own pride and ego. To hell with that anyways! This was way more important. I miss my family. What kind of psychopath loves loneliness?

"You too. More than you can ever imagine," her voice became a bit shaky and I could hear a few sniffling at the background. "But we'll talk about it when we meet again. Till then, bye" she said, her voice sober. My shoulders slumped and I heaved a sigh, my lips trembling. I nodded my head miserably like the idiot I'd become.

"Bye" and I finally hung up.

Heaving a sigh, I returned to the couch and took off my shoes. I couldn't help the smile that crept to my face every now and then. I was so happy to finally hear from Amara after all that time. Deep down, I knew she still felt bad and she was angry with me. But I also hoped her anger would be pacified once I tell of my plans to apologise to dad and finally come home.

Each time I remembered I'd have to apologise, and probably beg, there's this discouraging feeling I get. Like I can't do it and that only makes me sad. I keep encouraging myself that I can, but deep down inside, I feel like I can't. But I'm ready to apologise, I'm just not sure if they'll listen to me. If they'll believe I want to change or if they'll even take me seriously about it. It's one thing to apologise, but it's another to actually change. It's difficult for me cause I've been...me for, well, pretty much all my life. And suddenly changing would be so difficult for me. But I have to, it's not like I have a choice whatsoever.

I want my family back. I want my mom to regret what she said to me that day and apologise too.

And there's no other way to do that than changing, to prove them wrong that I can change. Something I'm sure they doubt with all their heart. The only people that might believe in me changing are probably Amanda, dad and Amara. Mom; she probably doesn't want to ever see my face again. And that hurts me so much, it's like a stab to my heart each time I remember the possibilities of that being true.

I heard a car honk at the gate and I wondered who that might be. I got up and headed to the door, looking through the peep hole. I watched as the gate man hurriedly opened the gate after discussing with the driver of the vehicle. At first, my heart skipped a few beats cause I actually thought it was my dad. But then, I realized it wasn't him but Femi. I hadn't thought he would come here and he didn't mention that to neither I nor Amanda.

I kept staring through the peep hole, watching him get out of the car and exchange a few greetings with the gate man, dipping his hand into his pocket and retrieving a few naira notes which he handed to the gate man who in turn, received it with a maxi-sized smile on his face. As soon as Femi began walking towards the door, I found myself staring at him; gawking would be the right word. As much as I tried to look away, I couldn't. That same aura about him and yet that annoyingly bewitching smile of his, they were too difficult to go unnoticed. Could I be found stupid for watching? Maybe. But my eyes were only performing their primary function; which was looking. More like admiring someone without their knowledge of it.

He was dressed in a light blue dress shirt with black pantsuit and suit jacket and a black neck tie around his neck. He had a bright gold Cartier Tank Solo XL automatic wrist watch around his left wrist and his left hand shoved into his pockets. Looking down at his shoes, I noticed he had on a pair of Cole Haan's black dress shoes.

And with the way he walked in careful strides - I found myself still mindlessly watching, like a crazed teenage sociopath - his hair was still in it's usual afro haircut and his usual captivatingly bewitching smile glued to his face as he finally rang the doorbell, snapping me out of my daze as I mentally slapped and punched myself for gawking at him like that. And for so long!

What was I thinking?

But truth be told, he did look extra handsome this morning, although dressed for work. And to be honest, I haven't noticed his good looks as much I'd done a few minutes ago. And although I can never say this out loud, I actually lost my senses just staring.

And that smile...

He rang the doorbell once more and I unknowingly let out a gasp, a bit startled. Without knowing what got into me, I became so self-conscious that I tried acting natural, arranged my hair, dusted off imaginary dirt off my blue skinny jeans before opening the door and trying to act surprised, like I hadn't just stared at him like a freak just a while ago.

"Femi? What are you doing here?" I asked, mentally kicking and face-palming myself, knowing I didn't nail the trying-to-act surprised thing.

"I was close by so I just thought I'd come say Hi. Hope no problem" he said, his smile never leaving his face and I nodded my head affirmatively. Repeatedly repeating the words; be nice and chipping in the words: act natural to myself. Like a mantra only I could hear.

"Come on in" I flashed him a smile, stepping aside to let him into the house.

"Thanks" he replied, sounding surprised that I actually let him in without dropping a single sass on him. Not even a little. And I smiled to myself, feeling happy that I hadn't. His cologne wafted through the air, invading my nostrils in a sensitive but yet intoxicating scent. Definitely expensive.

And as if on cue, Amanda came out of the kitchen, holding a spatula in her hand.

"I just heard Femi's voi..." she stopped mid-sentence the minute her eyes landed on Femi who just walked into the house and flashed her a small smile. "Good morning, sir. I didn't know you'd be here" she smiled back, slowly wiping her wet hand on the apron she was putting on.

"Have a seat" I said to Femi and I saw him raise an inquisitive brow at me, surprise evident in his eyes as he smiled.

"Chioma, are you okay? As in, are you feeling...like yourself?" he asked, staring at me with surprise still evident in his eyes. "You've been awfully nice to me this morning. And I'm not complaining, so let me just shut up before I jinx it" he said, taking a seat on a couch nearby.

"She's just trying to be nicer to people. Right, Chioms?" She asked and I flashed a forced smile and nodded my head affirmatively. Femi chuckled from the couch where he sat and I turned my eyes to meet his.

"What's so funny?" I asked and he shrugged, spreading his arms on the couch.

"You. You're funny. But I'm happy you're trying to be nicer to people, it'll take me a while to get used to you being nice to me..." He said, stressing 'me'. "I mean, you'll probably get too attached cause, well, I'm such a... sweetheart, you know?" He laughed the minute I quirked a brow at him.

"Don't push your luck, Femi" I said, plopping on the couch next to the one he was sitting on.

"I'm not. I'm just airing my views" he shrugged and I rolled my eyes tiredly at him.

"So...sir, about work? Um, maybe I should stay for another day or two. Till Chioma is perfectly fine?" Amanda said, although it came out as a question instead.

I chuckled lightly, knowing what she was trying to do. She only wanted a day off and I really think she deserves it. My eyes travelled to Femi's direction and I saw him rub his chin, with a knowing smile on his face.

"Amanda..." He slowly called out and I saw her chew her bottom lip nervously. To be honest, it was weird seeing her act all obedient and all; sir, this and sir, that. I know he's her boss...but still, he's Femi. What gives?

I mentally shrugged and turned to look at Femi who still had that knowing smile, that somehow managed to get my attention, on his face.

"You could've just said you wanted a leave. I totally understand, no need to make up excuses" he said and I remained expressionless.

Of course...he's Femi. Mr 'Nice Guy'.

"Really?" Amanda's eyes sparkled, like a toddler being given a bucket of candy. "Thank you so so much!" She beamed and I chuckled.

"Yay, how nice of you" I muttered, sarcasm dripping from my voice and every form of enthusiasm, drained. Femi turned his attention to me, that bewitching and solely contagious smile stretching across his face, with an inquisitive brow quirked at me.

"Why the bitter attitude, Chioma?" He asked, that smile still glued to his face.
"I thought you were turning sweet" he smiled. I fought the urge to smile at him as a stubborn smile tugged at the corner of my lips.

"I'm not bitter, I'm just saying" I finally replied, averting my eyes with a scoff whilst folding my arms. He laughed at my facial expression and I could see Amanda giving us really funny looks. She'd look at me, then Femi, then me again, Femi, then me...and she continued not until she felt the need to stop.

"Well," Femi finally got up, letting out a sigh. "I'll have to leave now. See you guys some other time" he said and I shrugged.

"Sure, whatever" I muttered and he laughed at me and came to sit next to me, putting his hands around my shoulders.

"Just say you want me to come after work and I'll be here. No need to form nonsense for me. Be acting like you don't care. Tell me" He said, a smirk creeping to his face. With his closeness and that smirk on his face, I felt extremely uneasy.

"Femi" I called and he smiled, looking me in the eye.

"Yes?" He said.

"Move" I demanded and he chuckled lightly before getting up to leave.

"I'm only going cause I'm running late for work. But bear this in mind..." He inched closer, and closer, and closer; until he was a few inches away from my face. "This is isn't over" he smiled, a mischievous yet captivating smile, and he finally withdrew for me and headed for the door.

My eyes landed on Amanda, who happened to be unable to contain her smile. Femi shot us one last smile before waving at us and finally leaving.

With him gone, I huffed and got up from the couch and headed for my room, knowing Amanda would possibly want to stress the whole Femi issue.

"Come back here oh! You can't escape this conversation. No matter what, this conversation must happen!" Amanda hollered from the living room and chased after me. I laughed and immediately  tried hurrying into the room, but being the long-legged human she was, she was able to get to me before I even had the chance to approach my room.

"Amanda, I'm still sick! I'm feeling dizzy" I said dramatically, my laughter betraying me, as I dramatically placed the back of my right palm to my forehead and let out a dramatic gasp. "The room is spinning!" I laughed, dramatically pretending to faint.

"My friend!" She said, dragging me to the living room once more.

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Sorry for the long wait,
I was really sick during these past few days and I also ran out of data, please bear with me.

Comments and votes are very much appreciated. Theories and analogies are also welcome. Oya ohhhhhhhh 😂

Femi and Chioma MUST get this ship moving fast fast. That's what I want and I'm sure that's what y'all want too. It must move, if it wants to sink; we'll grab lifejacket 🙄 no mind me ohh, it's the sickness talking 😂

And wowwww!!! Thank you guys so much for bringing this book to over 17k+ reads, that was enough to strengthen my weak bones. I can't thank you guys enough, I was shocked, shooken, it did me like electric%%% love you guyssssss❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Till my next update,
Bye...