I trudged my way through the compound gate, past Iya Tife's house and Pelumi's house then up to the corridor of my house. I did a double take at the black Range Rover that was now packed beside mum's maroon Toyota RAV4.

So the prodigal politician returns! I thought, I can't believe he could still find his way back to his family, I scoff and take off my black school shoes and walk through the verandah into the house with my shoes dangling on in my hands. I'm welcomed by mum's shouts in rapid Ogoni but I wasn't in the mood for any of their drama.

As I made my way to my room, the sound of my mum's bickering grew louder. They were in their room and my dad was trying to avoid her words by replying in blatant English, something he only did when he didn't want to argue with my mother.

I walk into my room and dump my bag on the ground, I had stopped by the restaurant to pick up my chemistry practical notebook that I left there on Saturday so definitely Adura should be home. I don't bother taking off my uniform instead I march through the adjoining bathroom to her room.

"When did he get back?" My hands were now on my hip and Adura was lying on her bed with her eyes on her phone which she had to look away from to glance at me.

"I dunno, I saw him when I got back" she said and went back to her phone, we both knew the drill whenever he came home, we stayed out of his way as much as possible.

I was back in my room and now changing out of my uniform into a short and one of the shirts I could find.

They were usually like this—my parents—bickering and since my dad has been away it felt a little more peaceful. I didn't hate my father but I wasn't his biggest fan either though I am a daddy's girl.

We've seen less of my father since he gained the local government chairmanship position, he bought a new house at GRA (Government Residential area) but my mum said she wanted us to stay here since it was closer to school and after all he wasn't always home but we all moved to where my dad stayed during school breaks and holidays—not like I'm complaining, I liked that place.

GRA was one of the nicest places to live in Port Harcourt, it had great spots like nice coffee shops, bookshops, it had really nice supermarkets and some other nice places, it made me wish sometimes that I actually lived there and not just visited.

Like there's this park garden in the estate where my dad stayed, it was really nice and kids from the estate would come there to hangout, that was where Adura met her boyfriend— it was actually during a Christmas party at the park garden and everyone from the estate came around, except my dad though, he was off doing business or so—

Though we were there with my dad he was mostly never around, always off doing some government business or in his study ordering this staffs that worked at his company over the phone.

The only aspect of our lives he cared about was school and our results, we always had to be at the top if we didn't want to warrant his wrath.

Adura was the one that was able to take his wrath and stand her ground against him no matter what happened, our luck was that as  he got into the chairmanship seat he didn't punish us or flog us so much anymore, he only yelled but I still dreaded anytime he came home.

The bickering has reduced a little, I grab my phone and walked out to the kitchen and grab the leftover bread from this morning and I was out of the house, heading straight for Pelumi's house.

It didn't take long for me to notice Iya Tife lurking between mine and Pelumi's house but I paid her no attention. "Asira" She called out to me but I just keep walking "Asira!" She shouted louder this time making me stop since I had no choice but to acknowledge her and look like a disrespectful child, I turned to her "Yes?" I said through clenched teeth.

"What's going on in your house?" She asked me with so much eagerness all over her face. Mind your business! I badly wanted to shout that at her but I settled to saying "nothing" again through clenched teeth and walked straight into Pelumi's house without giving her anymore attention.

"Sir Steve?!" I said surprised to see Pelumi's step dad when I walked in. He was playing with his five year old son on the couch who barely looked up from the game he was so engrossed in playing on his father's iPad while sir Steve on the other hand looked up at me "You're back! Good evening" I said stating the obvious.

"Asira how are you?" He smiled and asked, now this is what a proper father is supposed to be like but no my own will just be acting like a stubborn mule.

"I'm fine, when did you get back?"

"Today" is today 'all fathers return to your family day?'

"Wow that's... Uhm I'll just be with Pelumi" I said and headed to Pelumi's room avoiding anymore awkward conversations and not bothering to acknowledge whatever it is sir Steve was going to say in return.

"Your father's back!" Pelumi says as I walk in like as if it's a new greeting "so is yours" I retort and we allow the topic to end there.

"You didn't tell me about the fine boy now working at your mum's restaurant"

"Seun?" I ask like as if I don't already know who she was referring to "how did you even find out about him see?" I asked letting my mind wander to the dark skinned boy that has insisted on acting like I didn't exist.

"I went there yesterday to buy soup, my mum didn't have the strength to cook when she came back from work" she said rolling her eyes, did I mention that Pelumi had no cooking skills whatsoever, she could barely cook to save her life and I still wonder how she'll survive whatever future mother inlaw she'll get.

She slumps on her bed and I follow suit "so who's Chris partner for the you guys ICT project?" She asked looking at me expectantly.

My brain went blank for a moment, there was no way I could tell her that it was me "Esse!" I blurt out without thinking and look elsewhere.

"I had a feeling he'll pick her" she sighs "I just hope that the rumors are not true because I don't think I can live knowing that I'll never get any chance with him"

I just hum in agreement, I still can't believe that even though she felt threatened days ago that she'll be leaving she still have time to be thinking about Chris.

There was no way on planet Earth I was ever going to tell her I was Chris partner, I couldn't tell her Chris had been bugging me since the incident with Mrs Maggrette on Thursday, he wanted to make peace with me, that he took the first chance he got when Mr Belema announced we were to pair up to design a website for our test.

The idiot immediately announced that he was working with me and when I confronted Mr Belema about switching partners he said I could but Chris just won't let anyone work with me or even accept to work with someone else. He is just so stubborn and there is no way I was telling Pelumi I was his partner, it felt like I was admitting that I was on good terms with him and it also meant that Pelumi would be breathing down my neck.

It just felt easier to lie with Esse's name since she also offered ICT as a vocational subject too and I would like to keep it this way, well until the truth gets out and it's not like I could fathom that ever happening.

A/N

Hi everyone, I'm sorry for not uploading all this while. I've just been really lazy to type and I was too busy watching Anime.

BTW signify right here in the inline comment if you watch anime too.

Well if this chapter comes off too preachy then I'm sorry. I just wanted to introduce Asira's dad.

Please vote, comment and share. It would really be nice to see that people are actually reading this half-assed written book of mine.