Song: Sing My Name - MzVee

**Unedited** (It izz what it izz😋)

"Where are we going? Are we leaving Gbevukope?" I asked, sliding my finger against the leather.

"Yes. We're going to a nearby town," she replied pulling out a device from her jeans pocket. She held the device to her face and began tapping it with her thumbs.

"That is a beautiful phone," I told her. It was an iPhone ten. I'd seen some on television.

"I have one too. Just reach into my pocket. You can wander. Touch anything," Justus said.

"Ignore him," Stacey said, glaring at him. "Let's take a picture."

"Okay," I agreed.

Justus tried to fit his face into the picture, but Stacey shoved him away. He leaned against the door in mock sadness, pouting like a baby.

Stacey held the phone high to take the picture.

I'd seen people do that on television and I thought they were crazy or that they were just trying to show off their phones, but I realised then that it was to get a better angle for the picture.

"The picture quality is so good," I said after she showed me the picture.

I refrained from complimenting the picture because I knew that if I tried to say something like she looked nice, it would sound fake. I was never really good at complimenting girls.

"You're hot," Justus said, snatching the phone away from Stacey. "Stacey, you're ruining the picture."

"Why do you hate me?" Stacey asked, frowning playfully.

"Because for some reason, you refuse to leave Elorm and I alone."

"And where should I go?"

"I don't know. Get out. We'll come for you tomorrow," he smirked at me.

"Even if Stacey wasn't here, there still would have been no hope for you and me."

Stacey burst out laughing. "Say that louder."

"Just give me one night to change your mind."

"Desperate much?" Stacey asked, rolling her eyes.

"It's not desperation. It's persuasion. There's a difference."

"Ever heard of seduction? Desperation or persuasion is highly unattractive," I told him.

He shoved Stacey away and crawled over to me. He wrapped an arm around my waist. "Now we're talking. If you wanted me to seduce you, you should've given clearer signs."

I shoved his arm off. "I didn't give you permission to seduce me."

"I don't need your permission."

"I think I'm going to vomit. At least, wait till I'm not around to start whatever it is that you plan to do to her."

"He's not going to do anything to me."

"Yes, I will."

"Shut up Justus," Stacey said, exasperated. She shoved him aside and returned to her seat between us. "You asked where we are going?"

"Yes. I did. Where are we going?"

"We're going to the mall."

"The mall? Which mall?" I asked. "Saying we're going to 'the mall' is like saying we're going to 'the school' or 'the hospital'."

Justus smirked at Stacey. "See why I love her?"

Stacey laughed. "Can you even spell love?"

"Oh, how you wound me sis!" He said dramatically, holding the back of his hand to his forehead like a Disney princess.

"Everybody says 'the mall'. It doesn't matter what the mall is called. Relax, we'll be there soon."

"Or," Justus began, "we can do something to pass the time."

"Seriously? In the car?" Stacey asked, frowning.

"If you don't mind," he told her.

Both Stacey and I exclaimed in horror.

"My life was much better before I met you," I informed him, sneering.

"You'll soon change your mind about that," he said, his tone cocky.

"Can we throw him out?" Stacey asked, a pleading look in her eyes.

"I would, but that would be littering," I said. I didn't think it was a 'burn' — that was what they were calling it — but both of them burst out laughing.

I smiled. Even though Justus was terrible company and I didn't know Stacey, it felt good to be surrounded by people who didn't hate me.

They continued talking, but I just sat still and closed my eyes, enjoying the bliss of social freedom.

Their conversation died out as soon as the large building loomed.

"Here we are," Justus said, sitting up.

"Wow, you can utter a sensible sentence," Stacey mocked. "Well, it was really obvious so it wasn't technically sensible."

Justus glared at her.

"I forgot to ask this question. What are we coming to do here?" I asked.

"What do you mean, 'what are we coming to do here'?" Stacey asked, bewildered.

"I mean... what are we coming to do here?"

Justus laughed. "Of all my lays, I'm sure you'll be the best."

"In your dreams," I told him.

"You're already in them."

"You haven't even been asleep since you met her," Stacey said.

"Oh, those are different dreams," he winked at me.

"You're so disgusting," Stacey said, shaking her head.

I wondered if you could have wet dreams while being awake, because I assumed that was the kind of dream he was referring to. I wasn't interested in showing any ignorance so I didn't ask. I prefered not knowing to looking stupid.

"Let's go in," Stacey said.

On cue, the driver held open the door for us. The air was cool, with bits of moisture in the atmosphere that touched our faces delicately. The sun also shined serenely so that the weather wasn't so cold that we'd have to wear jackets.

"The weather is lovely."

"It's almost December, that's why," Justus said. "Christmas is coming in twenty-seven days. I'm too excited for words."

"I'm sure I'm not hearing properly. It sounds like you're squealing," Stacey said.

"Then I'm not hearing properly either," I said. "Though I usually have stellar hearing."

"You guys are so mean. Stop ganging up on me," Justus frowned. "Let's go to Decathlon first."

"Why would we need to go there?" Stacey asked.

"To buy swimsuits and my basketball gear," Justus said. "After, you can take Elorm to the lingerie shop. I like red."

"Justus, you're so funny. Have you ever thought of going into comedy?"

"I've thought of going into pornography, but Stacey won't let me. She's a big fan of porn herself and she's scared that she might see mine someday."

"Sweet strawberries, Justus! I don't watch pornography... often. And I don't want you to go into porn because I love you too much. It's not a decent job."

Justus smiled. "I love the way you lie, and there is nothing indecent about pornography."

"Enough of this. Justus, you're not going into porn because you're bad at it," Stacey said. Justus guffawed. "And if you want to shop at Decathlon, you can go alone. Elorm and I are going to the saloon."

"Mean girls," Justus said.

"Baby," Stacey retorted.

"He gets girls with this attitude?" I asked, shocked.

"He isn't usually like this. It's because I'm around. He becomes childish around me because I'm his older sister. He would have charmed your panties off by now had it not been for me," Stacey said.

"Excuse you?" I replied, indignant.

"Yes, excuse you!" Justus echoed. "How dare you say that to Elorm? And we're twins, you're not older than I am."

"I'm sorry, Elorm," Stacey apologised. "And I'm older than you Justus. I was born first."

I didn't take it kindly when people thought bad things of me, so it was strike one for her. Two more and she'd be out.

"It was about a ten-minute difference."

"As long as my head popped out first, I'm the older one."

We were walking. While they were arguing about who was older, I was busily marvelling at the luxurious mall shops. The lighting, temperature and even the smell of the place was something very new to me.

It was disheartening to think that all that was there and if I hadn't met those people, there was a chance that I might have never seen it.

"That's disgusting Stace. It's our mother you're talking about."

"What? It's how things went down, isn't it?"

"You remember?"

"I assume that's what happened. I know mother didn't have a caesarean section."

"That's enough. I feel the bile rising," Justus said. "Hey, there's a lingerie shop over there."

He pointed to a shop that displayed all kinds of women's panties and brassieres.

"That is disgusting! Why would they display those things?" I asked.

It was revolting enough that the mall was for males and females. The clothes dealers selling women's underwear in my village had their own section of the market that only females frequented.

Justus laughed. "How else will they sell them?"

"But—"

"Stop complaining. I've already seen the one I'm buying for you."

He dragged me into the shop.

"Stacey!" I called.

She was too busy buying popcorn and tapping her iPhone to pay me any mind. She waved though and I knew it was deliberate.

"She's not going to save you this time," he said and wrapped an arm around my waist.

The smell of the lingerie shop was intoxicating. I glanced around, feeling my cheeks heat up at the sights.

"I hope you know your sizes," Justus told me. "Better yet, I can guess for you. I have experience in this department."

"I have a boyfriend."

"I don't have a problem with that," he said. "Check these out."

He held stretchy, red lace panties in front of my face.

My eyes widened. If I were white, my face could've been mistaken for a tomato.

"I like them shy too. It's cute," he laughed, taunting me by flaunting the panties in front of my face. "Try them on."

"No!" I yelled.

Half the shop looked at me.

Justus laughed. "Relax, I'm just joking."

"You're the only boy in here," I told him.

"No worries, they'll assume I'm buying lingerie for my girlfriend."

"I'm seventeen," I told him.

"Devilhorns," he hissed and jumped away from me. "Why didn't you say that earlier?"

"Does it change anything?" I asked.

"It changes everything! I'm nineteen!"

"So?"

"Villagers," he said, shaking his head. "You're still a kid. I've spent all this time for nothing."

"I'll be eighteen on Saturday."

His left brow perked up. "Really?"

"Yes. November thirty."

"Well," he caressed my bare arm. I shivered, but not in a good way. "You're going to have the best birthday night of your life."

"I'm not sleeping with you. Not Saturday, not the day after, not ever."

He chuckled. "How many times have I heard that one? I've conquered every girl I've set my mind too. That's the thing about girls. You give them a little attention and they'll agree to your every demand. Even choking on your genitalia."

He didn't say genitalia.

"Who stuck a stick up your butt?" I asked him, enraged.

"No one. The butthole is more delicate than other holes," he chuckled. "It loses its elasticity easily. I don't want to be losing my shit involuntarily."

"You know what? I'm going to ignore you."

"Let's see how long you'll last," he laughed. "At least try something on. You can't be in a shop this elite and hate everything. Girls love to shop for lingerie."

"Stop assuming that all girls are the same!"

"Are you sure? They all have the same genitals."

"You know that's not what I mean," I glared at him.

"I'm not sure what you mean," he said. He smiled when I frowned. "You're cute," he added, pinching my cheeks.

I drew out of his reach. "Where's Stacey?"

"She'll be at the bouncy castles by now. She likes things like that," he said. "And she claims I'm the baby."

"So... that means I'm stuck with you?"

"Exactly," he smirked. "Since you're so unenthusiastic about lingerie shopping, let's go somewhere else."

"Thank you!" I exclaimed, exasperated.

"I'll send the piece I picked for you to you on your birthday," he said.

I hoped he was joking. Imagine if a beautifully wrapped box arrived home carrying a scanty piece of lingerie from a boy. My life would be over.

"Stay here while I go and pay for it. No peeking," he said.

"You're serious?"

"I am," he laughed. "You can't see it till your birthday night."

"You're crazy."

"For you."

"For my body."

"Touché."

I waited at the humiliating section of female underwear while he paid for whichever piece he had picked out. He came back, holding a designer paper bag.

"I'll have to find a box to wrap this in for you," he said.

"Hold on. You're really serious!"

He rolled his eyes. "You're as slow as all the other girls. Yes, I'm serious. No female in my family has the same measurements as you do. You're much more curvy."

"You're wasting your time. I'm not wearing it. Ever."

He smiled. He wrapped an arm around my waist and pulled me unceremoniously to his chest. "I have two days and all morning of Saturday to change your mind."

With my hands on his chest, I pushed him away. "Whatever type of girl you're accustomed to, I'm not like them. You won't lay me after knowing me for only two days and a morning."

"I've slept with girls from all over the world. The United States, France, United Kingdom, Germany, Russia, blondes, brunettes, redheads, tall, short, curvy, model-thin and none of them have been able to resist me. What's one more village girl?"

He made me feel so inferior, like I should be ashamed of my roots. He even made me want to be ashamed of being a female.

"You have no respect for women."

"I respect my mother and my sister," he said and smiled. "The rest are for other purposes."

I stormed out of the shop. The mall was full, so speed walking was not a very good idea. I kept on bumping into people and they were rude to me, but it was all worth it to get away from that stupid boy. I'd never loathed someone so much in my life, not even my father.

"Elorm, wait!" He called.

Realising that he was catching up, I quickened my steps. Soon, I was running even though I saw signs that said running was prohibited. It was my own fault that I run into someone, crashing into that someone's hard chest. I moaned in pain.

"You should watch where you're going."

A hand was in front of me, perhaps to help me up. Yes, I'd fallen down.

"I'm sorry, I was trying to get away from someone," I said, looking up. "Michael?"

"The one and only," he laughed. He helped me up. "Funny I'd run into you here. I was wondering how to kidnap you from your house."

"Why would you need to kidnap me?" I asked him. As I rubbed my forehead, I felt a bump appearing.

He sighed, looking a little forlorn. "Our date is today. You agreed to come to the movies with me, remember?"

"Oh. I completely forgot, I'm sorry."

"I guess you aren't as excited as I am."

"I am. It's just that I have a lot on my plate now." Justus had finally caught up. "For example, that boy approaching us with death in his eyes."

Michael turned around to face Justus. "Who are you?" He asked. He pushed me behind his back as if Justus was a predator and I was his prey. Perhaps that was a good way to describe our relationship. Not that he was ever going to eat me though.

"I'm guessing that you're the boyfriend?" Justus said. "Well back off. She's mine for the weekend."

Michael looked at me. "Who is this clown?"

"He has been harassing me all day," I complained.

I knew I should've never gone out with them. That traitor Stacey, she left me all alone with her sex-addict brother.

"I don't know who you think you are, but don't you dare come within ten feet of her. I'll make sure that you regret it if you do," Michael threatened.

I was surprised at his tone; he'd never spoken with me that way.

"I'm the guy who is going to give your girlfriend the best birthday gift of her life, but I can't do that without coming within ten feet of her. I'm even hoping to be on top of her."

Michael's eyes widened in shock. He would have punched him then had I not held onto his arm. I kept my hand on his arm just in case his biceps flexed.

"Don't give in to him," I told Michael. "If you start a scene here, you'll damage property that you'll be liable for."

"It's not like I can't take care of it," he said. His anger was clearly clouding his thoughts.

"Sounds just like a spoiled rich brat," Justus said, looking at me. "This is the guy you'd rather be with?"

"Honey, I'd prefer germs to you," I told him.

Michael laughed. "You heard the lady. Leave."

"I'm not going anywhere. She came here with me and she's going to leave with me."

"There's no way that I'm going to hang out with you after all the hurtful things you've said to me."

"What hurtful things? I was only saying the truth that I've noticed."

"You had better leave Carowhite. You don't want to mess with me," Michael threatened.

Michael's father, despite being a mere village chief, was one of the most powerful men in the country. He could easily destroy Mr. Essiem's family, and even though I loathed Justus, the rest of the family wasn't so bad.

"Carowhite? You fool. My skin is naturally light. I'm not immediately mixed but my great grandmother was white," he hissed, his eyes hostile. He must've hated being cornered by both of us, and he looked quite stupid holding the designer paper bag containing the lingerie he had purchased for me. "Your village girl over here wouldn't be able to tell the difference between naturally light skin and bleached light skin."

Michael turned to me. "I've just met the guy, but he sounds like a grade A butthole."

He didn't say butt.

"Trust me, he is."

"Stop talking as if I'm not here!" Justus protested.

"We should go Elorm, I haven't secured us tickets yet," Michael said.

"Isn't the movie sold out?" I asked.

Infinity war was all everyone was talking about on television. Since it was going to be premiering very soon, I had imagined that all tickets would be sold-out by then.

"I'm still here!" Justus reminded us.

We ignored him.

"They have some reserved for us. The ones closest to the screen," he said, smiling. "There are perks that come with dating a real-life prince."

I laughed. "Thank God that there are still some sensible boys remaining."

He smiled at me. "We still have to get popcorn and coke though."

"Sure," I replied. I couldn't help the smile that spread across my face.

Justus frowned. "You know what? Forget you—" he didn't say forget, "—there are prettier and more sophisticated girls I can bag." He didn't say bag either.

"Good luck," Michael said.

We laughed and went the opposite direction.

* * *

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