𝚂𝚎𝚎 𝚃𝚑𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑 𝚂𝚎𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚜 #1: 𝐒𝐞𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡

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TAMMY:
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Ifeoluwa sat on my bed, not saying anything as he silently watched me pace around the room in panic.

I couldn't believe what had happened at Aidan's place. What had I done?! How could I breakdown like that, in front of him and how could I have had an attack, in front of him.

God!

"Tammy, calm down. I always tell you this, crying isn't a sign of weakness. It's normal for everyone." Ifeoluwa said.

"No, it isn't Ife! It isn't!" I exclaimed. "Now, he's going to think I have asthma!"

"But you don't. Tammy, I thought we were over this already." He voiced with a sigh. "I don't get it though, how did singing a song lead to that."

I let out an exasperated sigh, and quietly sat beside him. "Remember I told you I wanted to give up on music, and somehow, I don't know, I guess I felt the song too much when I eventually played."

"Joel was right." I said, hugging my knees and staring at the door opposite us. "Music really does reveal my vulnerabilities."

"Don't you dare bring Joel into this conversation, Otamayomi!!!" Ifeoluwa suddenly yelled, standing up immediately and I flinched at his sudden outburst.

"I hate that guy! You know I do! And you have to stop acting like he knows you better than yourself, like he defines you, your personality, behavior, choices and your whole existence for you. For God's sake! You almost died because you kept blatantly listening to his stupid words!!" He yelled again, and began walking out of the room.

"Wait, Ifeoluwa." I called but he ignored me and walked out, leaving me alone to hug my knees and sulk.

Ife was right, I really did have to start taking his advice.

Just then, Ifeoluwa walked back into the room and tossed a lyre on the bed.

My lyre.

"No one can make you stop loving music if you still truly love it, not even you." He said. "You're going to play, and enjoy it."

"No, Ifeoluwa—"

"You're at home, Tammy." Ife said, calmer this time. "So even you cry or do anything you see as weak, no one would judge you. I definitely won't."

I sighed and stared at the lyre for a while, contemplating whether to play it or not, then, I averted my gaze to Ifeoluwa, who was now seated beside me and I couldn't help but smile.

"My brother is so sweet." I beamed, and went ahead to hug him, earning a chuckle from him.

"That's what big bros are for." I heard him say, and I hissed loudly, earning another chuckle from him.

"Keep quiet joor. What is ten minutes that you're calling yourself big bro." I giggled.

He stood up, smiling and patted my head. "That discussion is for another day." And with that, he walked out of the room, shutting the door too.

Once he was gone, I stared briefly at the door, but my smile immediately dropped when my gaze was averted to the lyre still laying on the bed.

My gaze lingered on it for about a minute. A whole minute, and then, I grabbed it and tossed it under my bed.

Where it should be.

~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~
It was a new week, a Monday morning and worry was eating my up as my hopes of Mandel coming to school today grew higher.

I really hoped she was okay.

Amorette suddenly banged the classroom door as she walked quickly into the class with students eyeing her in annoyance.