Monae's POV

I can't grasp this.
Everything feels so surreal. I've been thinking about it since it occurred and I still can't believe that Mrs Winchester, my adopted mother who loathes me beyond my imaginations actually apologized to me for all the wrongs she had done to me.

I've given so much thought to it and I've come to the conclusion that someone or something compelled her to do that. The Mrs Winchester I know will never apologize to me even on her death bed and breathing her last, she wouldn't.

An apology is meant to atone for wrong doings and I saw through hers as fake. It was true, her recent attitude towards me is no less what she used to do, same taunting, scorning and hatred. That affirmed my conclusion, someone or something really did happen when I left to coerce her and I wonder what or who.

"Imo?"

"Yup."

"Do you know why mother apologized to me?"

Imo scratched her neck with her index finger. "She learnt her mistake and had to correct it." And shrugged in the end.

"Is it just that or there's more?" That was something she did when she wasn't telling the truth to her mother.

"What are you trying to prove, Detective Nae?"

"I have a feeling something must have coerced her and that's what I'm trying to prove."

"I have no idea." She said, pulling her nose and looked elsewhere.

That too was another sign she wasn't telling the truth and that my conviction was right. "You do know your nose lengthens when you lie right?"

"Haha, very funny." She said with a mocking voice, rolling her eyes. "But I'm no Pinocchio."

"Oh really? Then why do I have a strong conviction you're lying to my face, Imo?" I said, making sure my eyes bore into her force in order to get the truth out of her by making her uncomfortable. Imo isn't the one to lie to me, though I know the ways to get the truth out of her.

"Okay, okay, enough. Yeah, you're right....that is not the whole truth. Aunty Yves and I threatened to call off the wedding if she didn't. I know how much mother wants me to be with Junior so I pulled that card and boom! She agreed without a second thought."

"What?! Why did you have to do that just to get her to apologise to me? It wasn't a big deal."

"Oh yes it was a big deal, Nae everyone sees how she treats you and it's disgusting okay. We're all tired of it, daddy, Rex, Roxie and I and it was about time she realised it before it was too late. I didn't care if I had to involve the wedding just to get her to do that, something had to be done and I'm glad I did." She ended her rant and took a big scoop of her Sundae, stuffing it in her mouth.

"Okayyy, I'm sorry if I sounded ungrateful." I mumbled.

"Mnh, whatever, are you going back to school?" She checked the time on her watch and asked.

"Nope, I'm done with that hell for the day, why?"

"I need to head back to the office, there's a very important meeting coming up that I can't miss for anything in the world so darling sister, I'm sorry I'll have to leave you, are you gonna go home?"

"Nope again, I think I'm sit here and lounge for a while."

Imo picked her bag from the leather bench, leaving behind the shopping bag. I had to buy her a new skirt from a boutique around after she stained hers while at work and we ended up coming to this ice cream shop not too far from the company.

"Alright if that's what you want, I'll see you at home in the evening." She said, pecking me on my cheeks.

I pecked her back, "bye."

She nodded and left the booth with a smile on her face, I've noticed she's become more of a smile person after coming back from rehab and after being told of her marriage to Junior. Hey, who wouldn't? Not so many people are lucky enough to get that golden opportunity after that major fall out like that.

I took out my AirPod and connected them after going to my playlist and selecting yummy by Justin Bieber. I relaxed back in my seat and went to Instagram to browse through my feed and also check out the accounts of some friends back at home.

I was browsing through the explore section when my eyes caught a post. It was a picture of someone I've been trying without success then find here.

I instantly clicked on the picture eagerly and in doing so, I hearted the picture. I shrugged, that was no big deal, I was going to heart it anyway.

Okay, so it was a picture of him in a suit, looking all serious and no smile. In it, he looked like a stringent kind of person yet the picture was cute, no lie.

His smile-less face gave him an aura of confidence, superiority and extreme manliness that I got curious to search his profile. I clicked on his handle which is @offical.michy, I now grasp why I couldn't find him earlier, he didn't use his real name.

Tapping on it immediately took me to his account and the first word I thought of was, impressive. He had like 3.1m followers and I don't need anyone to tell me most of them were fan girls, it's a fact, he's damn handsome and any girl wouldn't miss an opportunity to follow him just to see his pictures and ogle.

I moved on to his pictures and they were all aesthetic, initially most of them were of him looking all stringent but as I got lower, beautiful pictures of him at various places appeared. Some were of him Aruba, Italy and Indonesia where he was paragliding and in another, he was hiking in a mountainous area. He seems to love adventure and danger.

I sat there ogling over his pictures like the pathetic silly girl I am. I wouldn't say I'm I love with him or crushing over him, I only met him once. I'm just appreciating nature, this God given handsomeness that's all besides I already have a crush on someone.

I heard someone approach the booth in which I was sitting, I didn't raise my head to look at the person when I had something worthwhile to look at. It isn't like I'm rude or something, it's just when Imo and I came in here, some nasty men were cat calling us and it was so disgusting that I wouldn't be surprised if it was one of them.

"Can I join you?"

"No, there are more than enough booths here that you can make yourself comfortable at." I told him off rudely, sparing him a glance and continued hearting Michelle's pictures.

"Sassy much huh?"

Wait a minute, that voice?

"You?"

"Yeah me." He said and took off his shades, resting it on the table after taking IMO's place from across me. "I didn't take you as the sassy kind when I met you for the first time in your house, you were rather..." he paused and pursed his lips like he was looking for the right word. His thick brows creased too.

"Bashful?"

"Yes, that's the word, bashful!" He snapped his fingers, nodding his head. Michelle beamed as his eyes bore into mine, "you could hardly look into my eyes when you spoke and you were flushing—"

"Okay, okay, I get it. No need to remind me of that again." I said, cutting him off and smiled shyly, I knew I was even flushing right now.

He looked at me in amusement but didn't say anything. He darted his eyes from my face to the table where my phone laid, I quickly snatched it and tucked it in my jeans pocket.

It was unlocked, the brightness was hundred percent that means, he can see what I was doing since I hadn't exited Instagram.

Imagine how it would look like if he saw it, I would feel so embarrassed for being caught, stalking him that I'll wish for the ground to open up and swallow me.

He bobbed his head up slightly and cocked his brow quizzically at me. I mouthed nothing, giving him a half and shy smile.

"What are you doing here?" I asked curiously now that I think of why the hell he was in here. "I didn't take you as the ice cream kind when I saw you at home for the first time." I borrowed his words, staring at him audaciously. Nor when I saw your serious looking pictures on IG. Of course, I didn't add that.

He relaxed back in his seat and smiled yet again, his eyes twinkled and they were....

"Think I'm stalking you?"

You and I would be the same, if you were. "I didn't think of that but now that you did, are you?"

"Unfortunately no, I'm having a sweet tooth today so I passed by to get some ice cream. I entered and I saw you, sitting here by yourself looking intensely on your phone and smiling to yourself. I thought I should say hello."

Was I really smiling? I hope I wasn't smiling either else people are going to think I was sex texting or something.

"Mnh." It didn't sit well with me, such a business like man doesn't look like someone who even likes a tad bit of sugar and he's here telling me he has a sweet tooth. Really? Next lie, please.

"It's unbelievable huh?"

"I never said that, are you gonna order now?"

"Oh yeah, which flavor do you love?"

"I'm good, just had their biggest sundae, thank you for offering."

"I'm not offering, I'm buying you some."

"Are you seriously going to hook me on sugar and leave me with diabetes later?"

"Glad you realized."

I fist bumped his chest, I didn't realize I had done that and when I did, I hurriedly drew back my hand and blushed. I'm I get cozy already?

"Ouch, that hurts." He said with a fake pout and hurt.

I let out a soft giggle seeing him do that. It didn't hurt that much and he was being extra, in a humorous way too.

I inclined in my seat, pulling out my phone. I turned off the song, we found love by badgal Riri, that was playing. I had company and it would be rude listening to music, afterwards, I removed the AirPod from my ear, placing it on the table beside the bag of left over chips.

"Can you please pass me that?" I pointed to the shopping bag beside him, I gotta have it with me so I remember I have an extra baggage on me and not leave it here when I'm ready to leave."

"Sure." He turned to his side, taking the bag and handed it over to me. Our fingertips brushed in the process, I felt a tiny spark. I know it's sounds so cliché but I did, I looked at his face to see if he did too.

His eyes were already gazing at me and when we held gaze, he only gave me a boyish smile that melted my heart.

Get a grip on yourself girl. First, you stupidly drooled over him, ogled then felt sparks and now, your heart is melting because of his smile? Really Nae?

*****************************************

"Girl, what's up with you? You've had that smile on your face since you came home."

I touched my cheeks like that was going to prevent me from smiling. "Nothing's up."

"Are you sure because I think there's something you aren't telling me. What is it huh? Did you get a boy friend or something when I left?" She quizzed me excitedly, her eyes glowing in happiness but I'm sorry to disappoint her, I didn't get any.

"Stop talking Imo, I'm trying to concentrate here." Rex chided her in annoyance and turned his face to the other side. Imo rolled her eyes at him, showing him the middle finger.

I giggled at what she did, Imo.

I knew Rex wasn't concentrating on the movie, he wasn't one bit. He has been stealing occasional glances at me from where he sat beside me. He only said that because he didn't like what Imo said about me getting a boy friend. He's still upset we aren't together and it's apparent he doesn't want me to be with anyone if not him. So childish.

Imo opened her mouth to speak again but shut it when Rex said rather harshly this time, "I'm serious, if you really want to gossip then get out."

"Seriously Rex what is wrong with you, huh? Why are you easily irritated lately? Or is it because you still haven't gotten over Anita? Seriously dude get laid and stop frustrating all of us."

"Hey, hey guys. Relax, this doesn't call for rising of tempers." I turned in the direction of Rex, "Rex, forget she talked." I then turned to Imo who was right beside me, "and you, shh or let's go to mine if you want to talk."

These two can argue and quarrel over irrelevant things and if I don't intervene now, things will turn south before we all leave for bed tonight.

"Nah, let's do that tomorrow. He has gotten me tired and sleepy with his frustration." Imo waved me off, yawning. She rose up from her seat. "Goodnight and please leave for bed before he wears you out with his vexation."

"Imo!"

"I didn't say anything." She shrugged and ambled out of the living room.

Rex left no sooner than she had without uttering any word, not even goodnight.

I stared at his retreating back in confusion. He has allowed his lustful infatuations get the best of him now he's always vexed.

On the other side, our movie night is officially over or should I say suspended because the two people who dragged me here have left me alone by myself in anger.

Since it was a Friday night and Rex was too exhausted to go clubbing with his friends and didn't want to sleep, he called Imo and I from our rooms to join him here to watch a movie. We agreed since we both couldn't sleep and now, they're both gone.

I guess I should vamoose from this place myself. I got up from the couch, walked over to where Rex laid and took the tv remote. I turned it off and the lights in the living room as well before leaving.

On my way, my phone beeped with a message. I instantly unlocked in hopes it was from the person I was expecting.

It was indeed him, Michelle.

Michy
Are you asleep?

I quickly sent back a reply.

Me
No please.

Michy
Good you aren't.

I stared at the message, having no idea what to reply with.

Michy
Are you there?

Me
Yeah, I am. Got a little distracted, why do you want me awake?

Michy
I actually can't seem to sleep. Been tossing and turning in bed, I want to chat with you. I know we did more of that at the ice cream shop earlier but I don't know, I want to do it again. I loved how good of a company you were and talkative too, if you don't mind.

I typed a reply but deleted it, I was too ecstatic to know he really did enjoy my company while I thought I bored him. Woosh! I retyped a reply and sent it.

I opened my bedroom door and quickly shut. I raced to the bed not minding if I fell as I waited for his reply.

Michy
I wish it wouldn't be a text conversation. I would love a vis-a-vis talk like we did today but it's too late, we can do it another time.

Wait, is that like asking me out? Cause I have no idea. I wanted to type that, asking him if it was but I declined. I don't want him thinking, I'm reading too much into his words and embarrassing myself if he wasn't asking me out.

I already did more of that back at the ice freak shop and that is enough for a day. I type him a reply and slump my body on the bed, hugging the phone to my chest.

Don't start betting ideas.

******************************************
Rex is being annoyingly petty🙄 he should get over it already, ah.

I also get a feeling Michy is stalking Nae, why would a grown ass man like him who has an empire to run have a sweet tooth and drive to an ice cream shop, the very same Nae is.

In my world, there's nothing as coincidences, everything is on purpose so that's how I see it. He's being a stalker.🤒

Btw, the chapter hasn't been edited, I will when I wake up earlier in the day, Goodnight💕🌸