Hey guys, Merry Christmas!

I tried my best to make sure this update was ready for today, and thank God I did it!✨

~DABI~

"But, it's barely even the middle of November."

In cue, Soma wickedly grabbed the braids on my hair with all her strength, mercilessly and hastily wrapped them around each other, nearly ripping off hair from my scalp, in the name of 'rolling my hair into a bun'.

"Well, Lulu," She started with my edges, brushing rather softly upon it with a toothbrush that I was certain wasn't in use anymore, "Somewhere, in some paradox, alternate universe, it is the 25th of December, and it's Christmas day!"

"Ehh?" I frowned in utter confusion.

"Soma watches too many movies, don't think it too much, Dabz."

Chika had stepped into the room and stepped out, I supposed. As soon as I heard Soma's room door open, and her voice following, coming behind us, I soon heart receding footsteps, followed by the sound of shutting doors.

"Alternate universes do exist," Soma defended her stance, seeming like she was desperately trying to convince me nonetheless.

"Huh." I hummed, clearly disinterested, but she continued anyway.

"Our greatest scientists have proved that they can be multiple universes outside our own that we don't even know of," Soma preached on, "Even fourth walls! Haven't you heard of the fourth wall? Do you know that somewhere in some alternate universe, your life may even be a popular book that some wattpaders in some other dimension are reading and commenting in? What are the odds??"

That.... Kinda creeped me out?

My life? A book? Wait- What?

I couldn't imagine the possibility of my life being out there, for some fourth wall dimension stalkers to binge read.

"I don't want anyone knowing about my life," I voiced out.

What about my life would even interest them? God bless the poor souls wherever they are.

"Well, Lulu, in some alternate world out there, we all are the protagonist in a book being read by many." Soma told me, that vibrant excitement in her voice, as she did finishing touches to my hair.

I let all she said sink in...

Then, realized that it was all bullshit.

Even if my life was a story, I would most likely not be the protagonist anyway.

"Sisters, we need to move! Soma's driver has been waiting for us for hours!" Chika's voice came again, behind us, and I figured she had walked into the room again.

Where were we moving? You may wonder.

Well, after Marcus - on very strict orders - had dropped me off at the filing station with Soma, who brought me here, to her Wonderland/Disneyland/Oblivion bedroom, otherwise known as Somadina's magical Kingdom, Chika had to explain it to me - before I could properly understand - where we were going by 8pm at night, and why we were going there.

It was a School Christmas Carol.

And no, not a Castron High School Carol, but a primary school carol.

Why were Chika and Soma making me go to a Primary School Christmas Carol? I bet you wonder once more.

Well, it was because of the Twins.

"I think I know why they were particularly moody the entire day at School," Chika had said to me when I came, "I just found out that Dowman Primary School has their Christmas Carol tonight..."

I had waited for more explanation, missing the point totally.

"The twins' little brother goes to Dowman Primary School," She went on, and I was embarrassed for still missing the point.

"You know..." She decided to hit the nail on the head, "Everytime that the school has an event where students have to perform for parents and visitors, their brother is usually kept on the low...."

I completely understood without further explanation.

And you know the sad thing... The twins didn't even let us know that their little brother's School's carol night was tonight, we had no idea.

Of course, I was skeptical about being there... I mean, considering, both girls probably hated me right now.

But, I couldn't not be there for the twins tonight. That would feel a whole lot worse.

".... And, we're done!" Soma declared as she spinned me around to take a look at myself in her vanity mirror.

I spinned myself back around to avoid the mirror.

"Awesome, let's be on our way," I went right back at her, and started making my way towards Chika Chioma.

I was going to a Primary School Carol. Whatever I looked like was honestly none of my business.

And besides, I trust that Soma did a good job. Hopefully, she didn't apply much make up, because my face didn't feel too stiff or occupied. I guess she just made touches.

Soma had this outfit picked out for me that I approved of. Coupled along with some nice earrings, and a new set of nose rings, I could say this was my style - if I knew what my style was really.

Since I insisted I'd wear a black turtle neck inside because the last thing I wanted was to die in this cold, Soma let me, and she had me wear this red dress - as that was the Christmas colour- that had this little patches of black, all over. Once again, I had my complaints, because that dress was provocatively short, so Soma let me wear some pantyhose, to feel more comfortable.

Take a look at Dabi, guys!🔥🔥

Meanwhile, Chika and Soma absolutely decided to KILL IT, without mercy, remorse, or conscience.

Unlike me, they chose to show up all white, as red and white - according to Soma - had to be our theme, because they were Christmas colours.

Soma wore a white dress, that was slightly a bit too provocative for a Primary School Carol? I knew it probably wasn't her intention, and besides, she rocked that v-neck, off-shoulder white dress like a slay queen. She insisted she had a theme on her theme, and she went with a 'Modern girl from France' look, as she called it, wore some red strapped heels, red fancy beret, and added some 'decorations' by wrapping a pretty, fluffy, red shawl around herself, to finish.

A/N: I'm joking oo, abeg. Soma didn't wear that obviously!😂😂 I mean, yeah, it's her face claim, but come on naw, are y'all that gullible?!😂❤️

A/N: This is what Soma really looked like....

Just imagine her beret is red and her shoes are read too. I could fina a picture with a shawl, so imagine a shawl there too!❤️

If I were to tell what Chika wore, it would be literarily vacant, because she honestly didn't do much, but still managed to pull it off well and look really nice. She surprisingly wore her glasses tonight and adorned herself with a pretty golden necklace, and I couldn't stop thinking about how simple, yet pretty that body con button up dress she wore looked on her slim thick frame. It was the kind with slim strapped hands, so she insisted she would be wearing a coat to the venue, since the weather was starting to get unfriendly and unbearably cold.

Oh, and she also wore sneakers.

And Chi Mama over hereeee!!!🔥🔥🔥

"Sisters, I think we should get going, okay? We're already two hours late for the show, and we wouldn't want to be showing up for the Twins and Marvin when it's all over."

Chika was already at the door, summoning for me and Soma, and patiently waiting for the both of us.

"Alright, Chi Mama, we're coming alright!" Soma whined by my side as she dragged me along with her.

Chika hadn't talked about what happened in School.... How I totally attacked the Twins. She had not said one word about it since she came here, and I was certain that before I left them, she was anything, but happy with me.

Knowing Chika Chioma, she was going to completely act like nothing happened.

I knew I had to address it.

"You're not mad at me, are you?" I asked her directly, just when I got to the door where she stood.

Soma had already hopped all the way, down stairs before I could bat another eye lid. Thankfully, it left me and Chika together and alone.

Chika looked at me with the most impassive look I had ever seen on her face.

"Why would I be mad at you?" She asked me.

Her arms were folded and her tone, condescending enough to add more life to that emotionless face.

I only sighed of regret.

"It's okay, I know you hate me, so I'll just-"

Chika made a sound that cut me off in midsentence, and she face palmed for the briefest second.

"I don't hate you, Dabeluchi." She made it clear, "I'm just not understanding anything you've been up to, lately. You don't talk to us anymore; You barely say two words anytime you're actively texting whoever it is you're always texting on your phone, you miss out on appointments we make, and when you do show up, you leave half way and disappear the entire night. Dabz, you 're almost never with us anywhere else asides School these days, and then, all of a sudden, Miranda Archibong - the Twin's sworn arch enemy steps out of a classroom with you, and you're throwing accusations at the twins, for something you say they did to her, and causing this whole fucked up scenario for anyone-"

She stopped talking there, either to take a breath from how fast her words rolled out, or because she didn't want to say anything she would regret.

"What's happening, Dabi?" Chika asked me earnestly, tiredly, "What's happening with you these days? What are you not telling us? What are you not telling me?"

I didn't know what to say. Chika sounded really distressed and I was pushed to talk to her and tell her everything, but I didn't know where to start and that frustrated me.

I...

I really didn't know what to say.

My tongue was tied and I felt like absolute shit.

"Look, Dabz," Chika let out a sigh, calmed herself down, and started to speak to me in a calmer, more understanding tone, "I understand that things are not easy for you..."

She sounded much calmer now and bless her for that.

"..And I try, as much as possible, to give excuses for you all the time, you know I never pressure you into doing or telling me anything you're not comfortable with, and I make sure the other Sisters don't do same. I never want you to feel pressured, Dabz, I promise you, but that doesn't mean I can't see that things aren't right. And for it to be trying to come in between our friendship this way, then, I am starting to believe it is something that needs to be addressed." She said to me.

I visibly shuddered at her last sentence.

I don't want anything to come into my friendship with the Sisters. I can't let anything come in between us... I can't. I need them. I need all of them.

"It's okay if you don't want to talk," Chika came to a conclusion, deciding to wave it off since it didn't seem like I was going to speak anytime soon. "Really, it's cool anyway."

Say something, Dabi....

"We're already so late to the event. let's just leave this place, abeg." She sounded slightly, oh so slightly, pissed as she left me alone and turned around to start making her way out.

Say something, Dabi....

She was so nice.... She even still waited for me to walk out, so she could help shut the door behind me even if I could tell she was pissed.

I had to say something...

"Miranda told me some things today."

It came right out of me.

Chika paused, a confused frown on her face, as she turned around after three seconds to look at me.

"What do you mean?" She questioned.

"It's not something we can talk about right now," I said, glanced quickly at my watch to remind her we were running out of time, "But, the twins did her dirty in Junior School, and apparently had sworn to do the same thing with me...... In a nutshell."

Chika was so quiet, pondering on my words.

"I will give details later, but Miranda knew so much about the twins that only people who are close to them should know..... Too many things connected, and there are more chances that she is right than wrong. I just got scared back there, and lashed out at the Twins.... I'm sorry."

Chika stayed quiet a little longer and I waited to hear what she had to say.

"So.." She finally spoke.

I listened quietly.

"Miranda just came to you and told you things, probably sounded a bit convincing and showed some evidence, and you decided to take her word for it..?"

I swallowed, "Wouldn't you?"

"Well..." She thought about it, "It depends, really."

"On what?" I asked.

"What my guts tell me," She answered, "Do you think the twins are capable of causing you harm, Dabz?"

"I'm not even sure," I admitted to her, "I don't even know what to think at this point."

I really couldn't tell anymore.

"Chika, what do you think?" I hopelessly threw the question back to her.

"I can't give you what I think about your own dilemma, it's something you should do on your own," Chika said to me.

"Please..." I insisted, "Just tell me what you think, because Lord knows, I am so confused."

Chika sighed, exasperated.

"I don't think the twins will hurt you." She said her mind, "That's what I think. Miranda may not mean to poison your mind against them, she may be genuinely thinking that she is protecting you from future harm and the twins may have done something in the past to hurt her, but that doesn't mean they will do the same thing to you..."

I tried to get convinced.

"Dabi, people change, people grow," She said, "It's been what, two or three years since we were in Junior School, and that amount of years is enough for someone to get a reality check. Even if it were true that they were out for you, they would have done it by now already. You and I both know that when the Onuoha Twins make up their mind a hundred percent on something, nothing and no one - not even me - can stop them."

"Okay." I said... That sounded slightly convincing and slightly relieving.

"We should leave," Chika smiled at me, "Soma must be wondering what's taking us so long, the poor girl must be in tears."

I sniggered and nodded, following Chika's lead.

"And you look really pretty tonight though," She passed on an easy complement, "The bun Soma did on you really brings out your eyes, b."

"Thank you," I blushed.

And just like that, Chika and I were friends again.

Or rather, Sisters.

However, with the way things were going, I only started with wonder how much longer that was going to last.

******

Christmas came early.

That was all I could think of as I sat there, in between Chika and Soma in Dowman Primary School's Great Hall, absorbing the warmly enthe slightly off-key, but notably adorable chorus of 'Hosanna in Excelsis' was resounding all around the huge hall as those little, primary school kids had arranged themselves on the stage, and were actively singing the song out to their hearts content.

It felt good to listen to them.

It felt good to be here.

It made me remember what Christmas was like as a kid.... Way back, before I got to understand that things were not right with my family.

I hadn't quite felt that way for a long, long time, but tonight, the Christmas songs these kids has sang for us brought that back for me. And the school had a way of creating a good theme of the season all around the place to give it that Christmas spirit as well - The walls were white and the seats were covered, decorated with red fabric material and ribbons. Needless to say, this Hall would have looked like an incantation hall, if not for the Christmas trees that were decorated at corners of the grand hall, and the Christmas lights that lined the white coloured walls in a creative pattern.

Dowman Primary School reminded me of the stereotypical private primary school for rich people's kids, with the unnecessarily expensive facilities and the unrealistically fancy classrooms, and the kids were just like their parents apparently - even with their oversized white shirts and bogus trousers and skirts, they still walked around like royalty, priding in their affluence, and boasting to whom it may concern about how endowed and blessed their family was. It was safe to say the got it from their parents; I mean, Chika, Soma and I were stuck in the last row and we were unfortunate to share the same row with some overly prideful and self absorbed parents who did more of talking about themselves and their money, than actually watching their kids performance.

I couldn't say I was surprised.

If I wasn't occasionally being soothed by the healing power of Christmas songs, I was also being a bit worried and nervous. We were late, as Chika had made it clear, and in as much as Chika had tried to call both Ebere and Ebube, none of them were answering to their calls.

"I texted Ebere to tell her we are here," She told us, "Hopefully, she sees it and texts back where she is."

It had been over thirty minutes and neither Ebere nor Ebube had sent a letter for a message.

"Excuse me." I whispered to the Sisters, as I stood up from my seat and made my way through our other seat neighbours, and out of towards the exit of the Hall.

I wasn't leaving, all I wanted to do was step out.

I wasn't sure why, but sitting there in the midst of loud, rude, gossiping and proud parents suffocated me a little bit. It didn't take much time for me to find the classrooms