(USA)
We were all in my apartment at the dining close to the window. Cool breeze rushed in, and blew at our faces and hair. A long sofa below the window. We were all chatting, and giggling, when my phone rang out getting everyone's attention. I knew at once it was the same caller that had been calling since dawn broke. So, I ignored it.
"That is your phone there Monica." Lilian brought to my notice –who was opposite my seat, next to Olivia.
"Yes, I know." I fixed my eyes on the glass cup in front of me still.
"So why aren't you taking it? Who is the caller?" Olivia had a shot of the drink in front of her.
Amy took the phone before I could answer their question. She peeked at me, and checked the caller ID. "Stalker?"
"What!" They all exclaimed, laughing out loud.
"Who the hell is stalking you?" Amy emphasized, and pronounced the word 'stalk' like it was something special.
"Girls , I'm fed up with this guy. He has been stalking me since the day we met at the poolside. He had to play a prank on me to get my contact."
"You mean that cute guy? Oh my God!" Olivia blushed.
I stared at her, down to the other girls. I noticed the loving expression on their faces. "Don't tell me you like him girls, you want me–"
"Why are you avoiding his calls? He is cute and my God! He is not bad at all. You have no idea how long I've been wanting such a guy. Go grab him girl. Oh God Monica, those kinds of guys are good in the damn bed, trust me." Amy said, and zipped some of her drink.
"Don't tell me you ladies are thinking the same thing –Gosh! How can you tell me to date him? Just like that." I stood up from the chair, and paced forth and back.
"Come on, sit! Amy can be so crazy, but she is kinda right today. If not for we ladies, you are always lonely and kinda unhappy. You don't show it, but we know it. He would fulfill your dreams and get you back on your feet, try him out girl." Ciara gestured at me.
"I thought the same thing too. Just give it a try. You know we always want you happy, and we want the best for you." Lilian added.
"I will tell you to go for what you really want, maybe try going out with him, give him attention, and find out the kind of guy he is. By the way, he has a girl with him the other day?" Olivia became curious, squinting her eyes in my direction.
"You are always different Olivia. This time babe, you need a companion, try finding out who he is? If you wanna do that girl, you will never pass out, you're just gonna waste your time. Just gist me babe, have you by chance have a one night stand with him?"
"Eel!! Amy! You must be a crazy girl, but Olivia is right. I will decide for myself, and that girl was his sister. He already asked me out on a date, but I'm damn scared, girls. I don't wanna go, too uncertain to agree."
"Hmm, look at this babe oo. Yeah, Olivia is right, blah blah – whatever," Amy imitated. "You scared? For what? Huh! Don't be confused with yourself, don't–"
Olivia cut in abruptly, but Amy shunned her up. That is how they began their argument as usual, but no matter what they say, I would only make my decision myself out of my own will. That is where life pushes me to.
***
(I wanna tell you something... yes... I love u... just out of her pity... no no.. I swear ... was you....) (voice echoed.)
No! I screamed out of bed from the same nightmare, gasping, craving for water. I held onto my cheek and pulled my hair backward. Ciara woke up suddenly in fear, she switched on the light beside her and held onto me. "what is wrong? You tremble, do you need water?" I nodded to her.
"I will get you some," she hurried to my bedside to get water, but the jug was empty. "gosh, I'd just go downstairs to get some."
CIARA's.
I met Amy on my way downstairs, yawning as she made her way out of the room.
"Hey! what are you doing still up this late?" She asked.
"I don't know what is wrong with Monica, just get the water for me, I will be with her in her room, hurry!" I handed the jug over to her, and rushed back to her room.
"No problem. Be careful!"
I got back to the room. I didn't meet Monica in bed. "Monica!" I was puzzled."Monica, Monica!" My voice became louder. "Oh my God! Where is she? I shouldn't have left her here all alone." My voice trembled in fear, as I paced around the room.
"Here is the water... and where is she?" Amy's eyes darted around the room, and later looked back at me.
"I– I left her here – where–" I stammered. I placed my palm on my forehead and went silent.
"Just calm down, we're gonna search. She must be in here, the room is huge remember? So, she – she must – God – where –" Amy tried her best to sound positive, but her voice failed her.
"What the shit is going on here, you couldn't let us have some sleep. What is it now!" Lilian said, moving around in her sleepy eyes, and loose pajamas.
"Hey girls, what is wrong?" Olivia walked in at the same time with Lilian. "Where is Monica by the way?" She asked.
"Yah, true! Where is she?" Lilian became sober, clenching her jacket around her waist.
"We – We couldn't find her. I think –" I swallowed the lump in my throat. "She –She had a nightmare, she woke up terrifically –then–she asked for water, that – was – Gosh! I shouldn't have –" I was trying to explain to them, but I ended up stuttering, speaking gibberish.
"Clam down! This isn't the time to regret anything, let –let's just look for her." Lilian concluded, and they supported, nook and cranny while calling her name.
~~~
Hold on girls!" Olivia took a step backwards and strained her ears to listen again to whatever sound she might have heard initially. "Can't y'all hear the sound of water drizzling?" Olivia demonstrated the sound with her mouth and fingers."Oh my God! Bathroom?" I traced the direction the sound was coming from and landed at the entrance of the bathroom. The other ladies followed closely and peeped through the keyhole, near the doorknob. There, Monica sat under the shower, in her pajamas. She folded her two legs, and cupped her face on her thighs, supporting her head with her arms. Water dripped down her hair, which looked fuller than we last saw it.The girls made their way into the bathroom hurriedly,
(USA)"Hey love! How's your sister? I haven't been seeing her around lately." I hollered at him.I was lying on the soft white, 3-seater - couch in the living room, and with my knees joined together like a yogi, busy chatting away my time on my phone."Loveth has become a very busy make-up-artist, always moving on and on to parties, occasions and stuff." Arnold headed towards me from the kitchen, with a white flat dish in his hand which contains different kinds of diced fruits."Oh wow, that is cool," he placed the dish on the edge of the small table at the corner of the c
NIGERIA..I laid on my left, in the bed in my room, going through a heart -wrenching novel titled 'My scars'. Just then, I heard a sound."What, Monica!" I turned to the direction the voice came from. It was Amy, clad in a sexy short red gown. I looked at her curiously as she exclaimed expecting her to say something and she did."You haven't dressed up just yet? Don't you notice I'm all dressed up, but you are here reading some sort of novel." She pronounced 'novel' like something disgusting, and shook her fingers – sign of displeasure."Oh! my
(USA)I was together with Arnold in his room, on his bed one afternoon. I rested my arm on his shoulder, and held onto them for support, while he was busy chatting on his phone."Arnold?" I called out to him."Hmm!" He responded, but didn't turn to face me."I wanna speak to you, it is very important.""Okay, I'm all ears.""I said i
"Yes, and don't even give me that innocent look, because it's of no use anymore," Lilian moved closer to Olivia and uttered softly. "It is not your fault actually. I'm sure Olivia pushed you to do it," her voice came out loud again. "Why don't you wanna see a friend being happy Olivia? 'Cause I don't even understand you any longer.""What are you saying? Why on earth should we want her to remain this way. Can I even–" Olivia caught her breath, while Lilian wrapped her arms around her rib cage, then rolled her eyes at her."Are you trying to say–we made her like this? I called Arnold? While I don't even have his contact. By the way, why are you always blaming Olivia for everything, all she had wanted until today is her happiness, she only
I stopped walking and turned back my gaze. They stared at each other until Amy came to a conclusion to get the door opened. "Who is there?" She asked, holding the door handle."It is me." A familiar voice came through the door.That is mum.Amy opened up the door, and smiled widely at her. "Oh my! Welcome ma. Pls, come in.""How are you all doing? You all look so stunning." A dark-skin, average, slim woman walked into the house, putting on
Chapter twelve."Years ago while I was in year 3, I– I was forced to party out with my friends on my birthday. Yes, I was happy, I couldn't resist because it was my birthday, and I want the people around me to be happy because of me. This is where this got me, I care about people's happiness without thinking about what I really want. I never like the decision of going clubbing, but I go anyway," I lowered on the ground, and tugged my hair as tears kept flowing down. "I resisted at first, but I was confused by them. My desire was to make them happy, right. They were, I fulfilled their dreams. Their mood lightened up that night. Just this night then never will I go again, I told them that, then they agreed immediately. Of course, that was my first and last night I went clubbing. Neither will I be forced to drink, Nor will I be forced to dance. They had no problem with all my conditions, all they cared about was for me to go with them," I smiled to myself and gasped out. "
Chapter thirteen.~~"How can you be this heartless Loveth!" Ciara said in tears.I smiled and cut in whatever Arnold was about to say, then I sat closed to my mother on the cold tiled floor. I raised up a leg to reach my elbow. "A year later. Even after the whole support mum gave me, I still couldn't help it, but to feel depressed. I can't do without having a nightmare every night. I kept missing my parents' every day. I couldn't help the loneliness, so I called mum and told her I have decided to travel out of the country, to make myself happy, to get my mind straight. I just wanna be happy. I don't wanna give up on life anymore, dad must be proud of his daughter wherever he is. I wanna be the strong girl dad always wanted me to be. She agreed with my decision and supported me with it. I got to the states, I thought of everything possible to be happy. So I decided to keep going out to catch fun. Then I met this beautiful angels," I stretched my ha