I haven’t updated in a while so to make up for it, here is a double update. Now have you forgiven me?

Chapter 10: Gotta love your fam

“You always liked pulling mean pranks” he said and wiped the tears from his eyes.

“Duh if I don’t pull them on you, who would?” Tiwa said and then laughed. “You should have seen the look on your face”

Ayo simply rolled his eyes at her and ran to tackle her. Tiwa simply brushed him off with a flick of her arm. This went on for a while as they got into their usual attitude of fighting each other despite their age. Tiwa grew up with Ayo after his parents adopted her when her parents died. They were best of friends and nothing had ever come between them not even Tiwa’s issue with Tomiwa who was just sitting on his bed observing the two of them laugh and fight. He had a small smile on his face because of the obvious closeness between the two of them.

When Tiwa finally got Ayo’s arm behind him in a tight bend, he said while laughing

“Fine, fine. You win, Tiwa. Your stupid combat training always gives you the upper hand.”

Tiwa let go of his arm and said with a smile on her face.

“Not my fault that you were too chicken to train for the police academy.”

“It’s not like you ever went for the academy” he retorted

She flicked her long, black hair and said in a pompous voice

“Not like they were good enough for me.”

“Sure. Keep telling yourself that.”

Ayo then smiled and gave Tiwa a full hug

“It’s really good to have you back.”

“Great to be back, lil’ bro.” She said and rubbed his hair in a childish manner.

He brushed off her hand. “You always know how to ruin the good moments.”

“It’s what I do best.”

Tiwa’s eye noticed Tomiwa staring at them from his side of the room.

“Oh, hey Tomiwa.”

“Hey…”

The air suddenly turned from jovial to awkward.

“Come on you guys. It’s been months! He even has a new love interest!” Ayo said, accidentally letting out the last one.

“He does?” and “Dude!” were the two sentences that came right after.

Tiwa then smiled at Tomiwa and said

“I’m happy for you.”

He avoided her eyes and whispered “Thanks”

“Back to awkward” thought Ayo as he took Tiwa to the spare room.

Once he opened the door, she sarcastically said

“Wow how fancy!”

The room was as plain as could be. The walls were painted blue and the floor was carpeted. There was only a neatly laid bed at the far end, mirror hanging on the wall by a tall closet which was towards their right and vanity table at the left.

“Hey! Be grateful, you jerk” Ayo said to her.

She smiled softly at him, her eyes glistening with a layer of tears above them, and said

“I am. I truly am.” Then she hugged him tightly. “It’s good to be back around family.”
“It’s good to have you back. I really need you now” he said, tightening the hug.

Tomiwa, all the while, was watching their exchange from their room door. He knew that it wouldn’t be so bad having her around, but he was still as worried about her as ever. After all, he did break up with her for a reason.

 

The next morning, Tiwa was already awake by the time the boys came downstairs around 9a.m. She was busy working on some unprecedented issues that had come up from work.

“Mehn, I thought you were on leave.” Ayo said as he came down the stairs, a yawn on his lips.

“I am. Just some stuff that came up.” She quickly replied without turning her head away from the laptop.

“Want some breakfast?” Tomiwa asked as he headed towards the kitchen

“I already made yam and egg when I got up.”

“Oh… Thanks” said Tomiwa as he headed to get a plate from the cupboard.

“This is why people always thought you were my bigger sister. Always thinking ahead.” Ayo chipped in as he went to get a bottle of water from the fridge beside the counter that Tiwa was working on.

“Well not everyone wants to think backward like you.” She said as she closed her system.

“Why do I feel like there is some deeper meaning to that?” he replied as he sat on the counter.

“Because there is.”

Tiwa then turned her chair towards him and looked him square in the face. He also looked at her straight without saying anything. He knew that she didn’t approve of all the looking around he had been doing after Sophia left. But things are different now. He saw her clearly. Meanwhile, Tiwa was wondering how she would approach this topic without hurting his feelings. She knew how much he had loved Sophia and how much he still loves her, no matter his best efforts to move on from her.

Tomiwa walked in happily with his plate of food and saw them staring intently at each other. Reading the tension in the room, he backed away quietly and went to eat his meal in his room.

Ayo was the first to break the ice

“Tiwa, I know you think that I am trying to throw myself back into that endless pit again, but I am really not. This girl, Tireni, is really Sophia. I know it with all my heart. She can try to deny it, but would I really forget my wife? I have to try to at least get an explanation from her, at all costs. That’s why I need your help…Maybe try to talk to her or something. But remember to pretend like you don’t know she’s Sophia. That might make her more comfortable around you”

He took a long a pause and then continued in a lower tone

“Even if she doesn’t love me anymore, I need that closure. I need my heart to stop aching. So please Tiwa” he said dejectedly while looking at the ground

“Okay.” Tiwa said and re-opened her laptop.

Ayo felt like cold water had just been poured down his back and he snapped his head towards her in shock

“Just like that?” he asked in a high-pitched voice

Tiwa sighed and replied.

“If you feel like you need to do this, then I have to support you. I might have my reservations, but I am still your family. Besides, I also miss Sophia, so wouldn’t it be nice to see her again?”

“Awww, my little sisssss” he cooed as he went to hug her.

“Get off me, you sap.”

She brushed off his arms and went to get her car keys.

“I’m guessing you are going to look for her, right?” Tiwa said

“Yup. I really hope we find her today. The longer it takes, the lower our chances.”

“You guys!” Tomiwa yelled from upstairs

“What dude? We really gotta go.” Ayo said as he put on his sneakers

“Patricia just called me. She said that Tireni came back home yesterday and they forgot to tell us. She sends her apologies and told me to tell you not to worry.”

Ayo stared blankly at Tomiwa and could only say “Oh wow”

“Great!” Let’s go see her then.”
That snapped Ayo out of his reverie.

“Yeah, that would be nice. You coming?” Ayo asked Tomiwa

“Nah. I have a class in about 30 minutes.”

“This is why I love afternoon classes.” Ayo said, a smile on his lips as he stepped outside with Tiwa who had carried her laptop from the counter.

Chapter 11: http://www.olabisiwrites.home.blog/finding-sophia-chapter-11