FLASHBACK

While Blessing was in the living room having a nice time with his mother and his brother when Blessing's father invited Victoria to the dining room to have a private conversation with her. Blessing's father and Victoria were seated opposite each other in front of the dining table and Victoria was eager to know what Blessing's father was going to say to her.

It took some seconds before Blessing's father spoke and at that moment Victoria was starting to get worried. Blessing's father said to Victoria “what I am about to say to you is not something I should ever say to you judging by everything you have done for this family. I don’t even know how to start it……..”.

Blessing's father paused because he didn’t know how to continue but Victoria said with a smile to him “it is fine, sir. You can say whatever it is you want to say to me. I am all ears”.

“This is more like me wanting your help and I know what I want to ask of you is something that would be hard for you to do, but please I want you to do this for me and Blessing” said Blessing's father.

“You can ask me of anything, I would be glad to do anything for you” said Victoria with a smile.

Blessing's father looked into Victoria's eyes and it took some seconds before he spoke because he was hesitant to speak but Blessing's father later spoke and said “can you please not go on this trip with us?”.

Victoria was shocked and confused upon hearing that and wished she heard the wrong words but it was what she heard and that made her wonder what was going on. Victoria asked softly “why don’t you want me on the trip? Did I do something wrong? Did I offend you?”.

“No. You did nothing. Things are fine between you and me. It is just that……… This is a family trip, Victoria. A trip that only involves family. It is…. It is not that you are not family, it is just……… I want this trip to be just me, Bolu, my wife, and Blessing. It…. It is not that it won’t be nice to have you on this trip but I just want this to be private. Only us you know.

This is the only chance for us to get to know Blessing after a long time. A chance to get closer to him and make him part of this family. A chance for us to make up for the things we did to him. We have been able to get through to him with you but we would like to create a stronger relationship with him without your help this time” said Blessing's father.

Victoria could not believe all the words she had just heard and wished they were not true but jokes. Victoria wishes she was dreaming and these were just illusions but she finds herself dumbfounded as her head remains bowed.

Seeing Victoria was not saying anything, Blessing's father said to her “I know you and Blessing have always been together, and I am not trying to separate you guys. I just want you to give us some days alone with Blessing. I am sure you understand me and would do this for us. We need to get through to him directly without you but that doesn’t mean we are trying to sideline you. This is just to create a stronger relationship with Blessing”.

Hearing that made Victoria do what she thought was right at the moment. Victoria raised her head and looked at Blessing's father then said with a smile to him “it is fine. Going on a trip with him alone is not bad. I understand all you meant and would love for you to create a stronger relationship with him even though he can be difficult sometimes. It is the best thing for him to be closer to his family, and it is all okay since he is not leaving earth”.

The last words said by Victoria made Blessing's father smile, and he requested for Victoria's hands. Victoria put her hands on the table then Blessing's father held her hands and said to her “you are such a lovely soul, Victoria. And not just Blessing, we are all glad to have you. Thank you for understanding”.

Victoria nodded her head with a smile and Blessing's father let go of her hands then Blessing's father said to her “I will get you a train ticket back to grandma's place tomorrow so you can be with her while we are gone. You can also let me know if you need anything”.

“Okay, sure” said Victoria with a smile.

Blessing's father thanked Victoria once again then Victoria asked if they could return to the living room to join Blessing, Blessing's mother, and Bolu.

Blessing's father and Victoria return to the living room to join the others and they all have fun that night with no one knowing how sad Victoria was. Blessing, Blessing's mother, Victoria, Blessing's father, and Bolu have fun most of the night and go to sleep at late night.

While everyone was asleep in their room, Victoria could be seen seated on the bed in the room crying softly. Hearing what Blessing's father said and wanted broke Victoria's heart and made her so sad but pretended to be okay. Everything Victoria had planned for the trip had just been thrown into the sea so one could imagine how sad Victoria was.

Victoria understands what Blessing's father wants but she doesn't think she has to be sidelined to achieve that, and she is also the only one who can achieve that for them since only she knows Blessing so well than anyone.

For the first time since she had met him, Victoria was going to be without Blessing or anywhere close to him so they caused a heartbreak for Victoria because she didn’t want to be without Blessing. At one point, Victoria realizes she couldn’t do without Blessing just like Blessing couldn’t do without her.

Victoria thought of what she could do to be on that trip with Blessing or maybe make him not go on the trip again but she had to respect Blessing's father's decision. Victoria also thought of telling Blessing about his Father's request but she chose not to and let Blessing be with his family since he is not truly part of their family.

The thought of being without Blessing was hurting Victoria throughout the night and she could be seen crying. Victoria later stopped crying and went to Blessing's room to check up on him but when Victoria saw Blessing asleep on the bed in the room, she cried again because now and the morning would be the last time she would be seeing him for a while.

After crying silently in Blessing's room as she looked at Blessing asleep on the bed, Victoria went to sleep beside Blessing on the bed without waking him up and she placed her head on his chest.

Blessing was the first to wake up in the morning and he felt on his chest which made looked at his chest. Blessing was surprised to see Victoria asleep next to him on his bed with her head on his chest but Blessing smiled, thinking Victoria must have missed the days they slept next to each other.

Victoria opened her eyes to see it was morning but she also saw Blessing seated on a chair staring at her which meant Blessing must have been watching her sleep. Victoria thought she must have been into a deep sleep if she didn’t know when Blessing got up.

Victoria noticed Blessing was just staring at her as she sat up on the bed so she asked him “why do you keep staring at me like that?”.

“How about you tell me what you are doing in my room?” said Blessing.

“What does it look like I did?” said Victoria bluntly.

“Are you obsessed with me? I thought you move on” said Blessing.

“Who is going to believe the shit you just said now? I am not obsessed with you. This is just me letting you know I own you and can do whatever I want with you. I can also sleep whenever I like” said Victoria.

Hearing that made Blessing smile but then Blessing had a more clearer view of Victoria's face and saw her face look like that of someone that had been crying. Blessing was confused upon seeing Victoria's face so he asked her “have you been crying?”.

“Why will I cry? I guess you must be seeing things this morning or is your brain affected somehow” said Victoria bluntly.

Hearing that made Blessing relief because that is the Victoria he knew so there was nothing wrong, then Blessing stood up and walked toward the door. Blessing had just opened the door and was about to walk out of the room when Victoria called his name and that made him stop and look back at Victoria.

Blessing suddenly saw Victoria get out of bed and walk toward him, then Victoria hugged him upon getting to him. Blessing was surprised that Victoria hugged him and he wondered what was going on but then Victoria said to him “don’t say anything, just hug me back”.

Hearing that made Blessing feel like something was wrong but Blessing thought he was just overthinking now that it seemed Victoria might be showing her true feelings to him. Blessing said nothing as requested by Victoria, then Blessing hugged Victoria back.