BENEATH THE MASK

Chapter Seventeen

A picture of me is in the media. I know I'm fine😹🌚

Nathan's pov

"So you told her you still like Kate?" Caleb asked for the umpteenth time. He came over after school and I told him everything. From how I was talking to Sophie till when she ran away.

"How many times are you going to ask me that question? I told you yes like hundred time. Ahan!" I exclaimed getting tired of repeating myself.

"I know I've told you this before. But, Nathan, you are a big fool. Idiot gan!"

I was about to reply him with abusive words but he wasn't done.

"Its so obvious you like this chick. Kate left you two years again and you still haven't gotten over it? Are you kidding me right now?"

"She was my first love and--"

"Well my mum was my first love until she left me. Bullshit!" He yelled.

He ran his hand through his hair, sighing.

"I am sorry for yelling. I'm just--"

"Its fine bro. I'm going to get you bottle water from downstairs. Just calm down." I wore my slippers and headed downstairs.

Early last year,around February, Caleb lost his mum to cancer. His mum was his everything and when she died, he was a mess. Always coming back drunk, started taking drugs. He went to a rehab for a couple of months. Then he came back better but the memories were still there.

But now, I knew my bestfriend was in pains. His father tried to make his children happy. Not only with material things. He made time for them and also tried to make them happy.

I grabbed the bottle of water and headed back upstairs.

Everybody was going through things. Even tho they wouldn't say shit! Caleb that's so easy going, funny and care free is still mourning his mother. He doesn't wanna let her go.

" Are you kidding me dad? You are doing it for me? You are doing it for your bloody self. No one to make you feel like a man. You don't care! Stop acting like you freaking do!!" Was what I heard immediately I opened the door.

I dropped the water on the table next to Caleb before sitting down on the bed.

Caleb was fuming as he cut the call. His face was red and then, he did the one thing I haven't seen him do in a long time.

He cried.

My bestfriend was crying. Screw that "boys don't cry" shit. Boys do cry! We are humans too.

Wrapping my hands around him, I tapped his head gently.

"Ode get off me!" He wiped his tears quickly and pushed me away.

"Are you not the one that was crying abi are you mad?"

"Shut up jo! Ode" He said rolling his eyes. I could still see pain in them.

"Wanna talk about it?" I asked hoping he would tell me what happened.

He sighed before he spoke, " Dad has a girlfriend. He wants us to have dinner with her the day after tomorrow!"

"And why is that a bad thing?"

Caleb looked at me like I said something wrong." Are you kidding me? You just said something very stupid! Why the hell does he have a girlfriend? Why can't he allow mourn my mum well? Must he move on?"

"What are you even saying? Your mum died last year! Your dad is still in his 40s. Why can't he move on? Aren't you meant to be happy your dad is moving on? I don't understand you anymore"

"You don't know what it feels like cause you still have your parents! You don't know what's it's like to lose someone very special to you. He said he just wants us to have a mother figure in our lives. But, I know it's a lie! He just misses a woman's touch! So stupid!"

I was shocked at the way he spoke.
" Dude! Are you okay? Your mum died February. Last year. More than a year ago! Isn't it time to move on?"

He looked at me in disbelief. Shaking his head, he picked up the bottle water on the table before saying, " You know what? I am out of here! You are just saying rubbish!" He yelled before storming out of the rooming and slamming the door in the process.

Probably due to the slamming of the door, Lily bursted into the room without knocking.

"What just happened?" She asked a question i didn't know the answer to and I sighed running my hand through my hair.

What just happened?

***

Sophie's pov

The knock on the wooden door disturbed my sleep as I opened my eyes. Mama was sitted beside me, a notebook on her lap and a few crisp notes in her other hand.

"Mama, somebody is knocking." I said stretching.

"Eh open it nau!" Her eyes were still on the book.

I resisted the urge to roll my eyes as I got up from the mat and opened the door, revealing a happy Olivia.

These days, I rarely saw her. She was always going out. I just hope she wasn't doing anything stopped.

"Mama, good evening!" Olivia greeted, knees on the floor.

"And where are you coming from? Cause last time I checked, your shift ends by 6pm and it's almost 8pm."

Nepa decided to bless us with light so I could see Olivia's face with the small bulb that was dangling from the ceiling.

"I brought you guys something." Olivia stretched out her hands, trying to change the subject.

Mama lifted her eyes from the book, collected the nylon from Olivia's stretched hands and looked into the nylon.

"We aren't done talking Olivia. Sophie, go and bring plate!"

I rushed to get the plate and gave Mama. She brought out poured the content of the nylon into the plate. Now, the plate was filled with fried sweet potato with pepper sauce, three pieces of fish and turkey.

We both dug in. I started with the potato and as usual, mama wasted no time biting into the turkey.

"Mummy, which one should I take?" I asked her after finishing the potato.

She took a bite of a piece of turkey and gave it to me. She took a big bite of a small fish and gave it to me too.

"But mama--"

"But mama what? No talk na. If I slap you eh. Instead of you to say thank you. Don't you know I need protein more than you do?"She said, biting out of she turkey.

I frowned while Olivia chuckled.

Mothers eh!

_________

Hey hey! How are you guys doing? Thank you all for wishing me happy birthday yesterday. I would have updated yesterday but I was extremely busy.

Back to the story, our bestfriends are arguing. Do you think Caleb is being stupid for not wanting to move on after his mother's death? Or Nathan is just being unreasonable?

And Olivia that rarely comes home....hmm....only God knows what that one used to do o..hm

Don't forget to vote and comment! I always get to happy when I see your comments!

This chapter is dedicated to those who has lost a parent. May God bless you and stay strong ❤️

Till next time
-Steph💕