31

I knew it was morning when I felt the small rays of the sun peeking into my room. Wait a minute, not my room. This was definitely not my room.

Determined not to open my eyes and give in to the coziness I was feeling, I turned to the other side but an arm on my stomach stopped me.

That's when yesterday's incident hit me. That, was nice but it made me vulnerable. What in the shooting glass pushed me to cave in?

It was his breath in your face. I warned you.

I let my eyes open after chugging my anxiety down my throat.

This is all you fault. You had one job K, going through life safely to be content now look at you.

I didn't like this feeling. I wanted to scream and disappear at the same time, I felt like running. What have I done?

My mind was in a roller coaster now and was anxiously making me chew my inner cheeks. This wasn't good.

I haven't been this anxious for a long time. I had to get out of here.

When I noticed Darien was still sleeping, I quickly picked up my stuff still in bed and shoved it in my bag which was thankfully right beside me to leave.

My phone lowly pinged letting me know my alarm was going to go off in the next minute making me cringe.

I had to leave here quietly and soon but Darien's arm was still strong around my waist. I didn't even make a move and he groaned tightening his arm around me.  I waited for him to settle back into his sleep and picked out my pillow to replace my body with it.

After holding my breath for four seconds, I switched places with the pillow and prayed, hoping he doesn't get up because if he does, I wouldn't know how to face him.

I mean my hormones were to blame for what happened last night. Those kisses and sweet words shouldn't have happened but what hurts my heart the most was the three words he said to me.

Maybe it was a lie.

Yeah probably that was also his hormones doing the talking yesterday. I found my shoes and quietly tiptoed out of his room. I blew out a huge sigh and wiped my forehead and nose after realising I had sweat on there.

Now all I had to do was to get down and out of the house without getting seen by anyone especially Louis.

The stairs were no bother but when I opened the door, I met Rosa who as usual smiled and hugged me. She pulled me to the kitchen and gave me a glass of water begging me to stay for breakfast.

If she knew what I was doing to her son, she wouldn't be this welcoming with me.

"Oh Rosa I wish I could but I have something urgent I have to deal with." I replied feeling awful and guilty at the same time for lying to her.

I'd grown to love her and I couldn't even look at her face when I walked out of the kitchen.

"Is everything alright at home, let Darien drive you home." I panicked at her words and for a second I thought she saw through me.

"No no, he's still sleeping, I tried waking him up but well.." I shrugged making her she laugh, "He sleeps just like his dad." I forced a smile hugging her once more before I made my way out of the house.

"Oh before I forget, we have a class in an hour so can you please check up on him?"

"Got it." she answered giving me a thumbs up.

"K" my sisters scream immediately they see me in our driveway. They ran and tackled me to the ground without giving me time to greet them back.

Both gave me a tight hug and started rambling at the same time. "Okay okay one at a time," I cut them and pushed them up making our way into the house.

"Mama was crying yesterday, I think she feels bad."

"Yes I saw her going to your room." Keisha added and I nodded making my way into my room to get ready for the day.

"Are you mad at mama?" Keisha asked in a sad tone but I couldn't find myself to really answer her. Of course I was angry and sad for the continuous blow to my self-esteem.

"Hey, of course not." She smiled and runs to hug my legs, "Okay, let's give K some time alone, hm?"

Persis gave me a brief smile before taking her out. I took a quick shower and made my way to the kitchen to see my mom dishing out some oatmeal for breakfast.

As much as I was angry at her, she wouldn't let me leave without getting something into my stomach, so I sat down with my sisters to eat and because they started earlier before me, they finished theirs in two minutes.

They came back with their bags walking to the driveway to wait for the bus. I gave them one last wave through the window when I saw the bus approaching our driveway.

The house suddenly became quiet immediately the bus left. I finished quickly and made my way to my room for my bags; I didn't want to face her after yesterday but she entered my room with remorse written all over face.

"Can I speak to you for some few minutes?" She murmured but I pretended not to hear her and moved outside.

"Adisi, please." She pleaded with my native name making me go all soft. She knew that was my weakest point, saying my name in our native language. We both sat on the couch and I waited for her to speak.

"I'm so sorry about yesterday, I didn't act well and I know I haven't been the best to you". Her lower lip trembled but I managed to still keep the scowl on my face. This wasn't the first time, so I didn't even bother to listen.

"I admit that I've been a bad mother to you since your father left us and..and I promise, I'm really trying but sometimes... it's too hard." The scowl on my face disappeared when she broke down.

"But it's not fair mama. Because of your actions, your words, I feel so much pain. Sometimes I think I'm not your daughter and I still don't know why you treat me that way.

Is it because I look like father?" I started to sob too cause the pain was too much. It was just too much for me to hold on at the moment.

"Cause I still don't get it. At first I thought this was normal but then when I saw other parents they are so different." She sobbed silently shaking her head.

"Then tell me, explain to me mama, did I do something wrong? I want to apologise if I did."

"Or you want me to move out? That's okay I can but I thought you were proud of me. For every little thing I was doing to help you. I know you are tired Mama that's why I took this job to help you but honestly, I don't know if it's worth it." I pant after my rant. It felt so good to let it out. I was tired of feeling unworthy.

"No, it's nothing like that my daughter, it's nothing like that. I just wish life wasn't this way for me, you and your sisters. I know I shouldn't blame it on you and I'm so sorry, I know I've apologized countless times but I promise this is going to be the last time.

I have so much bitterness in me because of what your father did to us and, I've been praying to the Lord to remove this bitterness in me. I can't go on like this." She sniffed wiping my cheeks with her palms.

I was glad she finally admitted that, I missed my mom, the one I had before all the chaos started with my father. What happened that day, twenty-two years exactly if I remember correctly, was something I wouldn't wish on my enemy.

That was when I knew that a person's life could slip away from his hands in just a day, some few seconds, minutes.

"Can you find it your heart to forgive me just one last time?" She pleaded bringing me out of my thoughts. We both sniffed and blew our nose when she saw me nodding my head.

"Oh thank God, I thought I lost you forever." My eyes teared up again when she gave me a tight hug. We stayed that way for a while before I realized I had a class in thirty minutes.

"I have to go mama, I have a class this morning." She released me from her tight grip and wiped my face with the back of her palm.

"Oh no, look at you, let me fix your face up."

"No mama it's fine, I'm already late." She begrudgingly agreed and walked me to our driveway. Maybe I need to get a car.

"I'm always proud of you Keturah, never doubt that." She said giving me one last hug before I stopped a taxi. "Give my regards to Darien will you? Tell him to pass by for dinner when he's free."

The taxi saved me from answering her when it speeds off. My head already hurts for the week ahead but I'd already planned everything.

It was going to be difficult since we shared all the classes together but I knew what to do. I'd wait for the professors to come before I enter any of my classes and then I'd leave immediately they were done.

I knew that was a stupid move but it had to be done. I'm ten minutes late when the driver stops infront of campus so, I start jogging after telling him to keep the change.

"K!" I heard my name from a very familiar voice but I don't stop.

What the hell was he doing out here. He was supposed to be in the lecture hall.

I jogged faster to the class thinking the voice I knew all too well would stop but no. He pulled me beside him and we both entered the class at the same time. Looks like my plans are ruined.

Well...almost.

Oh K🤦🏾‍♀️

Another blissful weekend, thank you all for your votes. Let's keep them coming and I hope you enjoyed the chapter. See y'all next Saturday.