Chapter 34🔮

Grace

I peeped out my room to Kunle's door in hope the coast was clear and the master of the house was beyond reach. Avoiding him has been my mission since our shower discussion yesterday and so far, it was partially effective.

Satisfied all was clear, I rushed out of my room to the kitchen where Linda stood with her head down as a curvy lady in bumshort scolded her in a low but harshed tone.

Shutting the door, I turned to the pair. "Good morning Linda, hope no problem?"

"Good morning Grace, you don't have to worry there is no problem." She gave what I supposed to be a smile before turning off the gas.

"Ok then, good morning," I greeted the strange lady but she rather hissed and moved from beside Linda, taking with her an empty mini tray.

"Na wah oh. Aunty good morning," I repeated feeling my joyful mood slowly slip.

"Bitch I heard you, I am not fucking deaf," She blurted.

With rapid blinking eyes, I turned to Linda whose eyes were wide open. She lifted her hands in a 'calm down motion' while I slowly let my eyes trailed the lady. I was stuck between being the mature one or the crazy-ass bitch that would give her all she deserved in one blow.

Coming to a stand, I shook my head and walked out only to be stopped by Kunle who appeared from the Gym room with his knowing smile and a towel which he twirled playfully.

"Good morning beautiful," he said, now before me.

"Good morning sir," I replied,  walking past him and heading to my room.

"Seriously?" He inquired trailing me.

Just then, the kitchen door opened and the strange lady strolled out.

"You are up already? I was making slight changes to your breakfast."

Changes? Who be this again?  With folded hands, I stared from our new guest to Kunle.

"Grace, this is my childhood friend Cassandra, Cassandra meet Grace."

"It's so nice meeting you," she said with a wide smile as she extended her hands.

Was it not this same girl that just called me bitch? Oh God watin I no go see.

With parted lips, I stared from her hands to Kunle who watched with interest as his childhood friend pulled a crafty act I was sure he knew nothing of.

"Nice meeting you," I said before moving past them, leaving her hands hanging mid-air.

***

"Who is she?" Monica inquired as Cassandra strolled by still on her bum short.

"Cassandra, that's the name."

"More like Cassava, Cassinova, or Carrots, how can one person have that big ass?"

"You can ask her when she pass again," I said, switching the Tv station to MTV Base.

The squishy sound of her movement beside me made me turn to her leaned form. "Una no dey talk? I mean you and her."

With raised brows and twisted nose, I stared at her through the corner of my eyes in hopes she got the message.

"Ok, I know that look, you do that when someone pisses you off."

"Can we change the topic?" I was at the verge of saying unpleasant things that would land me in trouble.

"If you want." She paused. "But we must visit the topic again."

"I want to go to the club," I said, voicing my inner desire. I missed the flow of energy when dancing, I missed the music, I missed the girls. Above all, I missed my freedom and I was ready to leave the house despite knowing the consequence.

"Huh?"

"I'm tired of staying indoors, you are going to take me to the club tonight."

"Haha, not on my life. Your boss will kill me and my ghost."

"Come on nah, we always stick together. Monica nah."

"No."

Pulling at her blue dress, I continued my plea, "Monica, abeg."

"On two condition?"

"What?"

"You will tell me what Cassava did, and the latest between you and your boss," she said, with a pointed finger.

"If I tell you, you might break her head," I said, knowing how aggressive she could be.

"That's what best friend does for their friends." She stood and adjusted her dress. "It's like a duty."

"Where you dey go?" I inquired as she made for the root taken by Cassandra.

"If you say I might break her head, it means what she did was bad, so I'm going over there for a peaceful talk."

Peaceful talk, that was another slang for fight when it comes to Monica. Her peaceful talk involved pulling of hairs, scratching of nails and biting when necessary. Though, it was always necessary.

"She's a guest here, just like me, so no peaceful talk till she fuck up, ok?"

She nodded obediently, adjusted her dress again and took her seat. "So Kunle, what's up?"

"Take me to the club and I will tell you." I proposed praying she agrees. "If he finds out, I will tell him I threatened you with a knife."

"Deal," she said in-between laugh that had her shaking.

Exhaling and feeling the build of excitement in my stomach, I changed our discussion to her performance tonight.

***

The feeling of being home crept through my skin as we walked past the bouncer into the club which speaker blasted with, My Oh My by Camila Cabello.

This is home.

Waving Monica off to get prepared for her performance, I moved to the bar with my brain testing excuses that I could use to convince Sisi to let perform.

"Grace!" The sing-song voice brought my plot to a standstill as I turned to see Tracy walking towards me in her black tight and gold half cut. She pulled me into a hug the moment she got between hands reach.

"I heard everything, I tried calling your line when I heard you left the hospital."

"I lost my phone Tracy,"  I said as she pulled out with a wide smile.

"How have you been? Hope they caught the bastard. God, I miss you."

"I am fine. How is work?" I inquired as she took the stool beside me.

"Fine. Have you seen Sisi?"

I shook my head. Immediately, she jumped from her stool and pulled me through the crowd.

"She fell ill after getting the news," she said, as we stopped before the wood frame of Sisi's office. "But she's fine now. Just scared she lost a valid asset."

"Oh my baby girl," Sisi said, standing the moment Tracy opened the door.

Like always her face was painted with an excessive shade of makeup that made he looked like the rainbow after a heavy downpour. "How are you?"

She moved from the desk that only had her computer and a telephone sitted on it and wrapped me in an embrace that I welcomed. The hug wast soo tight I could feel a bone crack. "I am fine Sisi."

She nodded at Tracy who smiled and gave us privacy. "So you came to check on us?"

Seeing her words as the right indication to voice my intention, I said, "Yes and I came to dance."

"You can't dance."

"Sisi please you don't have to pay me, I just need to dance."

"I'm not thinking about the pay, I am talking about your health."

"I promise to not break my leg or my arms or head, I promise. Plus it's been weeks and I feel perfect already."

"You should know that promise stuff doesn't work on me." She stood, took out a key from her drawer.  "Your heart is very important."

"Sisi I am fine, you could call my doctor," I lied, praying she didn't ask for the number which I didn't even have. "I'm not asking to dance in the Inner chamber, just on stage to feed the crowd. I promise to dance any song you pick."

Her eyes lit up with excitement that showed she was hooked. I knew her so well, the button to her heart was giving her the control to your playlist.

"This girl... You know what." She popped her full lips and typed down her computer. "I don't want you to do this but if you insist, you can do your normal routine on an old song."

"I insist, so when I'm I performing and what song?"

"In thirty minutes, you can use the old inner chamber to rehearse a little. Your song is, Pour it up by Rihanna."

"Really?" I smiled.

"Well yes. You know the routine so it's going to be easy."

"Thank you. Thank you."

"Now get out. I have work." She shooed with a wide grin.

Picking my bag, I exited her office with riping joy as I made for the old chamber.

***

Glossary

Una no dey talk --you guys are not in talking terms.

Where you dey go--where are you going to.

Who be this again--Who is this.