That evening, you stood before John's house contemplating whether to knock or not. Before you could decide, the door swung open to view Mrs Metuonu. Her perfume wafted into your nose. She was clad traditionally and ardoned with a pink head-tie. It stood like a rose on her head. Her countenance squeezed into confusion.

"Anita, how are you?" She looked over your shoulder to see if someone was with you. "Is there any problem?"

"Yes...no...I.. I am looking for John." You couldn't hold her gaze so you craned down and saw that she still wore bathroom slippers.

"That stupid boy has not been home since Saturday."

That was the D-day; the cherry day, according to Manda. "Okay,"

You turned to leave.

"Come!" 

You stopped in your tracks and craned.

"I hope you are not following that stupid boy. He would just ruin your life."

You told Manda what she said. Explained her strawberry scent, insulted her lips and said she looked like a witch.

"She is your mother in

-law oo!" She smirked.

"Abegi!" you waved a dismissive hand. "That woman is horrible."

"Imagine if she caught you in that room that day."

Merely remembering it kept you on edge.

"How can a mother hate his son that much?"

"Her nine months," she shrugged, "I always try to understand."

The microwave beeped and she removed the plate of chicken her parents had brought back from their two night cruise. It was not until that morning they arrived. You remembered Mr Bright entering Mrs Metuonu's house and adjusting his flap on exit. You simply shook off the thought and let the aroma of the chicken fill you as you removed the lid

Manda wore a white T-shirt with Leo from the Turtle Ninjas drawn on the front. The white shirt covered up to her thigh and under that, she wore only her pink underwear.

She shared the meat on a plate and gave you the lion share. You held the plate in hand and followed her upstairs. Her bed was smooth and you sat on it. She remained standing, looking out the window.

"What would you do if your parents had an affair?" You asked.

She removed her gaze from the window and fixed it on you. "It doesn't concern me. I just wish I never find out."

"That is..."

"But I am sure Dad cheats," Manda interjected. "I have always heard them arguing hushedly: who is she!? Why are you still seeing that woman? But I make a point of not knowing, like my Grandfather said, knowing can be painful."

You never told her what you saw. It followed you to the grave. 

"And you said he hasn't called you since that night?"

You nodded yes.

She tried calling him but it didn't go through so she called his friends. They, too, hadn't seen him since Friday.

"Did he use a condom?"

You shook your head.

"Are you a lizard? You have just been nodding."

"I didn't nod, I shook my head."

"Did..."

"No! What does that have to do with anything."

"Infection of course! But above all, it would be weird to be in secondary school and pregnant."

Infection? Of course, John was not infected with anything. But how would you know? A call came to your phone. You flipped the face and your heart skipped. John.

"Hello!"

"Baby." He voice was soft.

"Where have you been? Why haven't you been answering my calls?" And that was before he switched off his phone.

"I was working on something?"

You paid mind to the tense.

"So, you are done now?"

"Almost. Baby, I will put us in a better place."

You were in a better place and he was the one who needed fitting.

"What do you mean a better place?"

"A house. Our house." Your heart skipped again, beating like a horse on canter.

"What are you talking about?"

"When I see you, I will explain better."

That night you met him by the pool. You sat and put your legs where there was supposed to be water.

"Do you care for a swim?" He asked, reaching over to caress your cheek.

"There is no water in the pool."

"I can make it work."

"No, I will pass." You had other things in mind. "Where have you been?" You would leave the infection part out.

"I went to meet a friend." You could tell he was lying. But you didn't want to stress it because you had other needs. You leaned in and kissed him. In his ear, you told him, "I want you."

He carried you into that bungalow and it went down, tending to be pleasurable, so you said, "Again," And it was pure pleasure and when you said, "Again."

He laughed. "Manda better work her theory right! Girls are animals too!"

You laughed, trailing a finger on his chest, writing invincible I love you. He explained that his uncle gave him money to rent an apartment.

"Will your uncle take care of school?"

"My Dad does, from his grave. I just need to be away from that mad woman." He looked at you and oddly, he smiled. It made your hair stand on ends.

"Anita," He waited for you to brush your gaze to him. "I am moving out...out of the estate.

In that case, you were confused. Hypothetically, because it would never happen in a your life time. if you want to advice John, what would be the perfect advice? Stay with the mad woman or leave the house?

You clicked the side of your phone and saw it was 6:55 P.M.  "It is just seven. My Dad should be back. I don't want him to worry." Your words probably had puppeteering wires that made Dad dial

your number immediately. You flashed the caller to John. "Already. I told you."

"You can come with me. We don't have to be controlled by our parent anymore."

The silence was awkward and had every stereotype that came with it. You twisted your clothes and when your mind was about to fully dissect what he said, his voice filled the silence like a stone thrown in a well

"I love you."

If he lied, his voice didn't tell neither did his face, but his eyes, as innocent as they were told that: He lied but there was a sprinkle of truth in it.