Rats, Roses And Paper Bones

Chapter 37: Your secret is safe with me

"I'll explain everything soon." My mom had said.
"I'm sorry, I won't be able to make it today,"
"Sorry dear, Something came up."

Looking back at these words, I couldn't believe they never pointed me towards that direction. The direction to my family falling apart.

"What makes you say so?". I asked my brother over the phone.

"You know, I came back home as a surprise, so they weren't expecting me at all. But when I got home, they didn't look so happy to see me. The house felt cold, and they behaved cold towards me, although mum was obviously trying her best to make it less obvious. Then, yesterday night, I overheard them arguing in Dad's study. " He said.

"What were they saying?" I asked.

"I couldn't make out what they were saying because i didnt want to intrude. I knew they didn't want me to know what was going on"

"But as mom was coming out of the study, she yelled 'I'm going to sign the divorce papers and you can't stop me!'. And that's how I knew"

"Dad left the house and didn't come back home throughout that night"

My heart dropped. It was that serious?

"Also, did mum and Dad tell you where Dara and Divine have been all this while?".

"I thought they've been at home. Where have they been?"

"I thought so too, but guess what?"

"What?" I asked.

"They've been staying with Uncle Bode,"

"Really?"

"Yes, I'm just as shocked as you are,"

I placed my palm on my forehead in distress. This was why my mom had been acting very suspicious and also why she dropped us in a boarding house and refused to visit. She didn't want us to be bothered by what was happening between her and dad.

"Do you know why they are doing this?". I asked, my voice shuddering.

"I'm not so sure, Doyin. But you know how Dad has been lately. That could be the reason"

"I still can't keep track of dad's drastic change in attitude."

"What do you mean? You mean he wasn't like this before?"

"Yes, back when you were still little, I remember i used to prefer him to mom, but for some reason, he changed all of a sudden."

"He changed?"

"Yes."

I was surprised. This was the first time I was hearing that there was a time my dad was actually anything asides overbearing. It must have been long long ago. So, what exactly happened?

"Do you know why he changed?"

"Beats me, that's something only mom would know."

"Is it okay if I call to ask her?"

"Absolutely not! She would be devastated if she finds out that I know about it, just lay low for now. "

"Well, so what do we do now?"

"We pray, Doyin. We pray for them. That's all we can do. "

Just then, my mind went back to the dream I had whilst back at home of my dad.

On hearing the things dotun just said, I realised that the dream wasn't just a dream or a vision. It was a memory.

**********************************

"Doyin, what are you thinking of?" I could hear Victoria faintly say, from beneath my cloud of thoughts.

"Uhn?"
The ear drum crushing noise of the dining hall brought me back to reality. I looked at her and then looked at the plate of untouched rice in front of me.