CHAPTER 11&12
🍒TIMI🍒
” He didn’t even tell me that he had a girlfriend. He usually tells me stuff like this,” Mrs. Austin remarked, her tone tinged with disappointment, as we rode in the car towards the airport.
The atmosphere inside the car was tense, with Mrs. Austin clearly upset about something. Her frustration was evident as she spoke, and I couldn’t help but feel a sense of unease settling over me.
The seating arrangements in the car were a bit chaotic due to Dera’s unexpected presence. Atlas had to ride in another car with her, leaving Mrs. Austin and me alone in ours. The tension between them was palpable, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was amiss.
” I don’t even like her,” Mrs. Austin scoffed, her voice filled with disdain. Her words hung in the air, adding to the already tense atmosphere in the car.
” She’s not even as beautiful as you are,” she added, comparing Dera to me in a way that made me uneasy. It was clear that Mrs. Austin had strong feelings about Dera, and I couldn’t help but wonder what had caused her to react so negatively towards her.
” He didn’t even tell me that he was bringing her, so now they both have to share one room. God, I wish it could be you and Atlas instead of that girl,” Mrs. Austin muttered under her breath, her words dripping with venom.
Her comments left me speechless, unsure of how to respond. I didn’t want to get involved in wh@tëver was going on between Atlas and Dera, but it seemed like Mrs. Austin had already made up her mind about the situation.
Upon our arrival in Lagos, we made our way to Mrs. Austin’s beach house. As we entered the cozy abode, Tiwa couldn’t contain her excitement, immediately flopping down onto one of the inviting beds.
“It’s so beautiful,” Tiwa remarked, her eyes sparkling with admiration for their surroundings.
“I can’t wait for mommy and daddy to come,” she added with a bright smile, but her expression shifted when she noticed how down I was..
“Don’t tell me you’re thinking about Dera and Atlas,” Tiwa said, her tone light but perceptive as she gauged my mood.
“Me? No, why should I? I’d rather be on TikTok and you know I don’t like Tiktok than worry about them,” I replied, attempting to brush off the topic with a casual remark.
Tiwa chuckled knowingly. “Hmm, well, I know you’ll never admit it, but just know that you’re more beautiful than her, and you don’t chase after boys like she does. You’re not a pretender like her either,” she said, her words filled with sisterly affection and understanding.
“I know all that already,” I responded with a soft smile, grateful for Tiwa’s reassurance and support.
“And you have more pride than her,” Tiwa added with a laugh, highlighting one of my defining qualities as we settled into the beach house for the weekend.
As the evening settled, a peaceful atmosphere filled the air, accompanied only by the gentle melody of distant music. I tried my best to avoid Atlas and Dera, who always seemed to be kissing whenever I turned around.
“Time for dinner,” Mrs. Austin’s voice called out, prompting me to get up from the bed.
We all gathered at the dining table, except for Atlas and Dera.
“Could you please go get them, Atlas?” Mrs. Austin asked me. Why me?
“Okay,” I replied reluctantly, knowing I had to do it. I headed towards their room, debating whether or not to knock, but I decided against it.
I walked into the room and was met with an unexpected scene: Dera straddling Atlas, their movements suggesting an intimacy I wasn’t prepared for. It was a sight that made me feel uncomfortable.
As they noticed my presence, Dera hastily wrapped herself in the sheets, attempting to conceal wh@tëver they were doing. I couldn’t help but wonder what she was hiding especially considering her nude has linked multiple times.
“You should’ve knocked,” Atlas chided, his annoyance evident in his tone.
” Dinner is ready” I said Ignoring his remark before retreating from the awkward situation. Back in the dining area, I tried to focus on my meal, but the image of what I had witnessed lingered in my mind, refusing to fade away.
“Why aren’t you eating?” Mrs. Austin inquired, her concern evident in her voice.
“Oh, nothing,” I replied, pushing the food around my plate, forcing myself to take small bites. Her smile reassured me momentarily, but the discomfort still lingered.
As dinner concluded, everyone went to their respective rooms, leaving me alone with my thoughts.
Bored, I made sure to bring my book for the trip. Reading daily has become a habit for me, so I didn’t want to miss out. Suddenly, my phone beeped, and I saw Kelvin’s name flashing on the screen. He made sure I saved his number after texting me the first day.
KELVIN 📲 Answer me 📲
His text appeared.
TIMI 📲 What? 📲
KELVIN 📲 Why do you keep acting like this? 📲
I pondered for a moment before replying.
TIMI 📲 You know I h@të texting 📲
KELVIN 📲 And I told you I would make you like texting me 📲
Hmm.
TIMI 📲 Not possible 📲
KELVIN 📲 Let’s see, okay what if I call you, would you answer the call? 📲
TIMI 📲 NO, I WON’T 📲
KELVIN 📲 Timi, you know I like you but you keep playing with my heart. It’s not fair though. 📲
TIMI 📲 Casanova like you 📲
KELVIN 📲 I have changed, to be honest. I really like you. 📲
TIMI 📲 You know this is what Dera told Atlas, so I see no difference 📲
KELVIN 📲 Dera is a whore normally, and she can’t change. But I can change, to be honest. 📲
KELVIN 📲 I have not just seen the girl that I really liked all this while, but I like you a lot. I don’t know why, but you are just bursting my brain. 📲
I almost found myself blushing, but I quickly dismissed the feeling. This is how all these guys woo ladies to fall for their traps.
TIMI 📲 I have no comment for that. 📲
KELVIN 📲 Think about what I said. We could just go out once or twice, maybe I can change your view about me. 📲
TIMI 📲 Fine. 📲
I was about to set my phone aside when another text popped up.
KELVIN 📲 I told you that I would make you text, right? 📲
TIMI 📲 I didn’t even notice I was texting. 📲
KELVIN 📲 Maybe because you enjoy my company. 📲
TIMI 📲 Goodnight, Kelvin. 📲
KELVIN 📲 Goodnight, my queen. 📲
I dropped my phone onto the bed before glancing at the book lying next to it. The thought of reading no longer appealed to me, so I decided to lay down and shut my eyes.
After an hour of tossing and turning, sleep remained elusive. Frustrated, I finally rose from my bed and left my room. I made my way to the veranda, where I noticed a figure sitting in one of the chairs, gazing out at the nearby beach.
Approaching cautiously, I recognized Atlas sitting at the edge of the veranda, cigarette in hand. It was a habit of his.
I took a seat beside him. “You know smokers are liable to die young, right?” I quipped, but he remained silent, puffing away at his cigarette.
“You act like a child,” I ventured, breaking the tense silence. He glanced at me before taking another drag.
I reached out, taking the cigarette from his hand and tossing it away.
“Don’t you get it? I don’t want to talk to you,” he snapped.
“What’s your problem, anyway?” I shot back, feeling defensive.
“What’s my problem?” he retorted with a scoff. “We all know that you’ve always been the problematic one, and you know it.”
“You’re just always annoying,” I countered, feeling the need to defend myself.
“How?” he pressed, but I fell silent.
“You’re just complicated. Last time I checked, you didn’t even want to talk to me at all,” he continued, his tone accusing.
“And then you dared call my girlfriend a whore,” he spat.
“Well, she is,” I murmured defiantly.
“You don’t have the right to say that. Even if she was, she has changed, and she loves me,” he argued. I scoffed but said nothing.
“You’re just pained,” he concluded.
“Pained? Why should I be pained?” I shot back, his words stinging.
“Because you have no one to love you or even stay by your side. Well, not even your parents did,” he hit below the belt, causing me to gasp.
“You Fuçking have no right to involve my parents in this. You think I need anybody’s love? Well, not even yours, not even your whore of a girlfriend especially,” I retorted, my anger boiling over.
“Come crying like a baby when she cheats. Or do you think I would even want what you both have? Do you think I would be telling you that she’s a whore? I’m a person who minds my own business. The only reason why I was doing that is because of your mom,” I spat out, my frustration evident.
“Words of denial,” he remarked coldly.
“You know what? Don’t even think of gazing at me ever again in your life, you Fuçking fool,” I seethed before storming off to the veranda, consumed by anger.
I was furious at everyone, literally everyone.
TBC
