CHAPTER ONE

       Really, the teacher did that to me!!! In front of everyone. I couldn't bear it, so I packed my things and left the class in tears. I left the class immediately so no one else could see me. I was so embarrassed. She tore my clothes in class because it was old. Not everyone could afford a new one. Moreover, all fingers are not equal. I was at the balcony when I heard my name behind me. I turned just to see him, him!!! My secret crush, I really do love him, but I can't say a word because I am the loser, pauper and every bad thing you can think of. I halted to look back. Before me was

this guy, Kelvin. I was captivated with his eye colour. His eyes were as blue as the sea. I couldn't stop staring at his blue eyes. His oval face made my hands tremble. My eyes caught his set of white teeth. What amazed me most was the gap between the two upper incisors. His skin was shining like the rising sun, his lips were thin and red I almost took it into mine. I bet his hands were so soft and I knew I couldn't resist them if he held me. He had everything you could think of, well, almost everything because he lacked "expression". Everything about him was perfect except that I can't have him to myself. He walked up to me, "are you alright?, I'm so sorry for what she did to you. I would have done something about it." He offered me his jacket to cover myself. In as much as I wanted to take it, feel his scent on my body, get a taste of him somehow, I couldn't just take it. "Uhmm, thanks, but I'm fine. I'll just walk home and change my clothes". I said shyly. He looked at me with his serious face. He looked so cute being serious. "No, I insist and I'll drive you home. Don't even say no". And I couldn't. I took the jacket from him. As I put it on my body, I almost collapsed. I was very happy I couldn't control myself. "What's funny?" He asked. "Nothing." I said. We walked silently till we got to his' lamborghini veneno' I almost did not notice the colour similarity between his shoe and his car. I wanted to open the door but he stopped me and opened it himself. I entered and waited for him to get in and ignite the engine. It was awkward in the car because no one was saying anything. I just had to think of something to say. "Thanks for the help, I really appreciate it. He smiled and said, "It's ok, just trying to help a friend. My mind thought in spirals that I didn't notice I left my mouth open. FRIEND! Did he just say that? So I'm his friend. At least some regards me as a friend. I was very happy he said that.

       Finally, we got to my 'it was new home'. The exterior part of the house looked awful. Although it had flowers and trees around it. The building was a bungalow with a white paint and a red rusted zinc. The paint was almost off. I was ashamed to walk with him into the house, so I had to do something. "Ok, this is it, my home. Thanks. I'm surprised someone like you would love to help me." He smiled and said, "still helping a friend. Would you like me to walk you into the house or?" he said.  I couldn't let him see the interior, at least not yet, Not until some renovations which I'm quite sure will never happen are made. "It's not necessary, I can walk in alone. Moreover, my mum hates visitors."  It's actually true. she hates visitors, because she has this mentality that they come just to laugh. He said, "so, I guess it's a goodbye then". He shook my hands and left. I stood there for 5 minutes without even noticing. I finally realized I was still standing outside. I carried my hand with care so as not to rub off the soft touch of his hand on mine.

  When I entered my house, I went straight to the sitting room to drop my bag. The room wasn't big. It had a long brown sofa and two small chairs. In the middle was a round wooden table with flower on it. At the left corner of the room, I hung a picture of my mum and I on the wall. We also had a television in the right corner of the room."Mum,  I'm home". I called. I didn't get a response. She was meant to be at home. I called her again going to the kitchen because she was always there. I didn't see her there either. I noticed some changes in the kitchen. The picture on the dining table was gone. I was a little scared because my mum loved that picture. It was her best picture. "Who must have taken the picture?" I thought aloud. I went upstairs to our room and she wasn't there too. I was confused. She was meant to be at home. I looked back and saw a note on the table beside our bed. My heart skipped a beat. I picked it up and opened it. it read:

"Baby, I know this is sudden and I don't know how to tell you this, but I still have to say it. I know it'll cause you so much pain when you find out. I've hidden the truth from you and I feel it's high time you learnt the truth. I lied about your father. He's still alive, but I can't tell you who your real father is. It's something you'll dread to know, so I'll save you that stress by not telling you. Let's talk about me now. Baby, I have cancer and I don't know when I'll die. But I have limited time on earth. I've been admitted in a hospital. I won't tell you the hospital. Just know that I love you dear and I can't stop loving you. Take care of yourself and when the time comes, I'll come back home to see my darling. Until then, take care dear".

I was more than shocked when I finished reading it. My hands were trembling. Suddenly, I felt a salty liquid in my mouth. Was that my tear, I wondered. It was until then I realized I was crying profusely. I was lost in thought. My father, who was he? I've always thought he was dead, that I was fatherless. I just realized he's alive somewhere. Does he even know I exist? Even If he does, does he care about me? I don't think so because he wouldn't have allowed me suffer in the first place. Still lost in my thoughts, the paper slipped off my hands. As I bent to pick it up, my eyes sighted the picture of my mum and I. I was riding a horse with her. The thoughts immediately diverted to that day.

"Mum I'm scared to ride this horse, you know I've not ridden a horse before." I screamed. "Don't worry sweety, I'll always have your back, ok?" She said to me. I jumped on the horse and it took off. I screamed like never before. I was about to fall when my mum caught me. I was so scared, but she held me tight. She carried me till we reached our house. She made a warm bath for me and massaged my back. That was one of the experiences I had with my mum I can never forget.

My mind drifted back to reality. I still had a lot to think about. My mum was gone and she left me behind. I thought about the fact that I was alone and I would sleep alone in the house. I cried over and over again. At a point, I knew that crying wouldn't solve the problem at hand. My mind clicked to the fact that I was less than 18 and if the police should find out about my missing mum which they would, they would get me a foster home. I've not lived with anyone aside my mum, so it's going to be very difficult for me to cope in a new home.

            I woke up looking so moody. I was surprised to see myself on the floor. That was when everything came fresh again in my memory. I just remembered my mum was still missing or rather she left me at home. I held back the tears that wanted to fall from my eyes.  I looked at myself and noticed I slept with my uniform. That was when I knew I've been sleeping for almost a day. I jumped out of the bed and looked at the clock hanging on the wall. it was 1:45pm. "Shit, I didn't go to school today" I said to myself. I ran to the bathroom to have my bath. After that,  I went to the kitchen to look for what to eat. I saw the cereal in the cabinet. I opened the fridge to get some milk. As soon as I poured the milk in my plate, I heard a knock on my door. I was so scared at first. I thought maybe the police already knew my mum was missing. or what if that was my mum? Immediately that thought came to my head, I ran to the door having this feeling it was my mum.

I opened the door and to my greatest surprise, I never expected what I saw. It was him again. He was smiling at me revealing the gap between his teeth. "Hello, I didn't expect to see you here". I said. "I didn't see you in school so I was worried about you. I wanted to check if you were alright". "I'm fine", I replied plainly. He looked at me closely and noticed my swollen face and red eyes. "What happened to you? Have you been crying? Your eyes are red and your face is swollen. Please talk to me." He said, looking so worried and confused. I had to look away. I was so ashamed of myself. He noticed. What will I tell him that happened? Should I lie or should I tell him the truth? Even if I tell him the truth, what will it change? It will even put me in more trouble because he might take the case to the police and I'll be forced to live with people I don't want. "Why are you quiet?" He asked. I just had to tell him the truth. I told him everything without missing anything. When I was done telling my story, his facial expression changed. I was shocked to see a tear drop down his face. "Are you crying? Please don't cry ok. I'll be fine." He just pulled me closer into a deep hug. I could feel his chin on my head. “I’m I that short?” I wondered in my head. I closed my eyes as I inhaled his scent. I didn't want to let go of him again. I felt so safe holding him tight. I squeezed my hand from behind squeezing his shirt and skin along. We were like that for like five minutes before he pulled back. "I should leave now, but I'll come back tomorrow to know how you are doing. Please make sure you eat something and don't cry again." He said with a smile on his face. I looked up at him and said, "please don't involve the cops. I don't want to move into any home for now, please."

He smiled and said "trust me, I wouldn't do anything to hurt you." I believed him. I didn’t know him too well, yet I believed him. I followed him to the front door where he entered his car and drove off.

I was standing there for sometime before I heard the rumbling noise. "Ouch! It's about to rain" I said as I entered inside. That was when I remembered I was about to eat. I went to the kitchen to make my cereal. I hurriedly ate the food. When I was done, I decided to check my mum's stuff to know if I'll get answers. I entered the room and went straight to her wardrobe. I searched every nook and cranny of the wardrobe till I found something that looked like a diary. I opened it to realize It's a diary. Her diary and I began to read it. It’s her childhood diary so I read through the pages till I saw exactly what I was looking for.

"Dear diary, It all started when I was drunk at the party. His birthday party. Nobody was there to take me home and I even forgot my home address. He let me sleep in his house. There was no spare room so It was his room. I took the offer because I had no other choice. I entered the room staggering. All I could see was blurred vision. But I was able to check out the room. His bed was quite big with a blue bedspread. His wallpaper was also blue. He had a plasma TV. Beneath it was ps4 and a stack of CDs for the game. His brown wardrobe was big with four drawers beside it. I laid on the bed. I tried to sleep but I couldn't. He noticed my restlessness. "What's the problem? are you ok?" He asked me. "I'm fine, it's just that I can't sleep." I murmured. "Maybe a little cuddle would help you." He whispered. He pulled me closer and held me tight. I could feel his warm breath on my neck. It made me hot but I couldn't say anything. I wanted him closer. I wanted to feel all of him. I wanted to push myself closer to him. And I did. He noticed my body language and he said, "you are drunk, I can't take advantage of you. "you are not." I told him. I couldn't remember anything that happened again till the next day.

I jumped out of the bed when I opened my eyes. I was shocked. Not only because I slept over, but because my clothes were missing. "Where are my clothes? Did something happen? Please tell me nothing happened " I said with trembling lips. The look on his face already answered the question. didn't know what to say or do. I stood up, picked my clothes and wore them. I left the house with the fastest speed I could produce."

I turned the next page to continue with the story.

"Dear diary, I just found out I am pregnant with his child. I don't know how to tell him. I don't know how he'll take the news. What If he denies it or rejects it or even ask me to get an abortion? I'm really confused right now. I guess I should tell him. It's better to try."

        I was about to turn the next page when I heard another knock on my door. It sounded like the first one. But I wasn't convinced it was Kelvin. I checked the time and It was past ten pm. What would he be doing here by that time. I went downstairs and opened the door. To my greatest surprise It was the cops. I slumped on the floor. I was motionless. I opened my eyes when I felt sprinkles of water on my face. I thought I was dreaming. The cops were standing in front of me. They immediately took my hands and dragged me on the floor. I started screaming so hard. I heard my name in the background. Someone was shaking my body. I opened my eyes to realize it was a nightmare. "Thank God there was no cops." I said to myself. "You had a nightmare right?" The voice got me thinking. I knew that voice so well. I turned to the direction of the voice to see my mum sitting beside me. "How did you get in here? I locked the door." I said in shock. She looked at me and smiled. "Have you forgotten It's also my house" she said to me. I heard a faint knock on the door. It became loud. That was when I realized I was dreaming in a dream. My mum never came. It was a dream. I looked down to see the diary on the floor. I guessed I must have slept off again while reading it. The knock was now louder than before. I was scared to reach the door. I didn't want to see the cops in my house. I was scared of my dream coming to pass. I had to go anyways. I went to open the door and he was here again. My mouth was opened but no speech was produced. "I couldn't let you sleep here alone." he blurted out.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***