The ringing of a phone woke Patrick from his slumber. Soft groans erupts from his lips as he sat up on the bed. He was hunched over while he rubbed the sleep from his eyes, he looked around his room that was slightly dark because the curtains were down, just a little ray of light was able to escape into his room.

The ringing stopped and he yawned, he sat staring at the wall opposite him, while trying to let himself wake up. He was going to go back to bed when his phone rang again and this time, it woke him well.

Wondering who would be calling this early, he picked up the phone and checked the caller to see that it was a foreign number. He frowned because no one knew the line this number is calling in and it has to be a mutual friend or except it was a spam.

Not wanting to deal with any spam calls, he put his phone back on the table beside his bed then stood to his feet to stretch. He walked to his bathroom to wash his face when his phone rang again.

It was the same number when he checked, so he just picked it to know who it was, if he didn't recognize the number then he'll just disconnect the line and block it.

"So you don't want to pick my calls abi?" the annoying voice of Yemi his best friend/neighbor.

"You this man, you're not okay oo, you know that I don't pick strange numbers"

"Ehn, shey your head no fit tell you say na your guy dey call?" Yemi hissed.

"It's been a few years and you still haven't changed, nawa for you oo"

Yemi laughed "Shey I fit change ni?"

Patrick shook his head and let out a sigh "Na only GOD fit help you like this"

Yemi laughed then paused for a while. "How's mumci? Is she getting better than before?"

Patrick let out another sigh then rubbed his eyes and sat on his bed.

"We... we are hoping that she'll improve because" he let out another tired sigh "We just hope she is good"

"Omo guy, I don't know what to say to you now... I'm sorry that you and Debbie have to go through this. I know you all are just trying, even after your dad's death, you guys were pushing through strong" Yemi commends.

"I want you guys to keep up with that spirit and always have it in mind that your personal person dey here always"

"You weren't there to rescue me when Angela wanted my head on a platter of gold" Patrick accused jokingly.

"Ehn ehn, that one na your problem, no be me go toast that mad girl"

"You no well aswear" Patrick burst out laughing "Na confirm clown you be,"

"Abegi, just take things easy, things go settle soon, just calm down"

"Thank you man, na you still dey make me sane"

"You can thank me with breakfast this morning, I'm bored and I need company"

"Mtcheew, to think that you called because you missed me" Patrick hissed.

"Shey you're taking me or what?"

"Are you home? I'll be ready in twenty minutes"

"When you're not wearing a dress anyhow sha, I'll wait and also send my deep, deep, free and loving greetings to Deborah, tell her I'll see her later"

He didn't have the time to answer when Yemi disconnected the call, he hissed again and placed his phone on the bedside table. He wasn't worried about the crush Yemi has on his little sister, Yemi know not to do such except he needs a wake up beating

...

Ife walked out of her room to go get herself a bottle of water to drink, she was starting to feel better after all that happened and was trying to keep strong for herself.

Even though she has her twin friends and Patrick rooting for her, she still lives with her mum and that meant that she will be tormented till she returns back to school which is about a three weeks away, so till then, she just have to maintain the distance between them and be sane.

Gerald had called her sometimes to tell comfort her and just to check on her generally. She still doesn't know why he's been all nice to her but that is the least of her problems now.

Patrick wanted to take she and Deborah out later in the evening after they visit his mum, she would have declined but Tomiwa hasn't even for once called to check on her or how she's coping with all these.

He is as knowledgeable as Patrick and the twin with what is going on with her and her estranged sisters and mum and the death of her dad yet, he failed to call her because she lashes at him when she had a breakdown.

She didn't bother to tell anyone about it because she knew how they would react to it and how they might advice her to leave him for good. She didn't want to do that because she loves him deeply and he already promised that he'll change for the better.

'Change is a gradual process, it happens fast for some people and slows for others, he'll come around soon'. Those were the words she used to comfort herself when she didn't get any call or message from him.

Ife saw her mum and one of her sisters, Funmi sitting in the living room talking and laughing. Not wanting to get any hearing from them, she quickly dashed into the kitchen to quickly grab the water she came for and some of the food items she needed so that she can get to her room quickly.

When she grabbed the ice cream from the fridge, she turned to see her mum and Funmi giving her weird looks and eyeing her.

Ife let out a sigh and then held tightly the ice cream bowl and the small bag that contained some snacks she would like to munch on till she went out with Patrick and his sister.

No words were said, just two unpleased women staring darkly at Ife who just wanted to live her life without having to deal with this intensity.