HER LAST WISH
(Moremi)✨
Chapter 20.
Zeemah Writes . .
“Jennie” Dan called after her and she stopped without turning.
He quickly walked up to her, still surprised she had walked away after telling him she had something to say to him.
“What’s wrong?” He ask.
“Nothing” She smile and he knew her well enough to know the smile was a façade and that got him more worried. Jennie wont fake a smile if something wasn’t wrong.
“You said you had something to tell me” He said.
“Not anymore” She said about walking away but he pulled her back gently.
He hated that his body still reacts to her touch…
“What do you mean? How can you suddenly not have anything to say to me again”
“I don’t deem it necessary to tell you anymore”
“Why?” He ask, fu-ck ing curious about what she wanted to tell him.
“I felt you deserve to know, that was the reason I wanted to tell you but I suddenly feel you don’t deserve to know any longer, you cant blame my feelings . . can you?” She asked.
“Jen, what did you feel I deserve to know?” Dan asked.
“I feel you don’t deserve to any longer . . is that so ha-rd to un-derstand? . . and . . you’re still holding me” She said, her gaze fixed on Dan’s grip on her arm.
“Oh . . Sorry” He slowly released his grip from her arm and she raised up her head to look him in the eyes.
He quickly snapped out of the charm of her eyes. Her eyes had been the first things he fell in love with then.
“If you feel I don’t deserve to know any longer, then it’s fine, when else you feel ready to talk, just holla” He said.
“I’ll probably not talk to you about it again because you’ll soon find out yourself”
“Really?”
“Yeah”
“You’re making me curious. Cant you just tell me before I find out?” He prompted.
“No, and you shouldn’t be so surprised when you find out” Jennie bit her lower li-p.
“fu-ck ” Dan sigh.
“And if you still like me, you should stop” She said and Dan stared at her.
“Please” She added with a pleading gaze, before walking away.
He rested his back on the wall and watched her walk away, he sigh de-eperly when she was finally out of his sight.
“Believe me, I also want to stop liking you but its so hard” He said, like Jennie was standing in front of him.
She was really over him and he could see it, it hurt him so much and remembering the memories he had had with her almost brou-ght tears to his eyes. They loved each other so much, he wondered what went wrong.
Now that he’s really giving it a thought, him moving to Anne’s school is not enough reason for Jennie to have broken up with him, considering the love they had both shared.
He only moved to Anne’s school, not out of the country. Well, he might not see it as enough reason but she had and he of course respects her decision.
Though, he’s de-eperly hurt over their separation, he will never regret moving to his sister’s school, he would willingly do it over again.
“Dan, what’s wrong?” He heard and snapped out of his thoughts.
He saw Layla standing in front of him, looking up at him worriedly, she was so cute he almost smiled.
“Nothing so serious, i’m just being over-emotional” He said.
“Are you sure you are fine?” She ask.
“I am” He smile.
“You are not” Layla stated worriedly. This would be the first time she’ll see him look this bothered, he’s looking like he would cry.
“Okay . . i’m not but i’ll be, i’ll try to be” He said.
“Is it something Jennie said?” Layla ask after hesitating, though she doesn’t want to pry into whatever is going on between them but she also needed to know the source of the look on Dan’s face.
It’s probably something Jennie said to him, because she had noticed the tensed mood between them before going to the restroom.
“She didn’t say anything she shouldn’t have, i’m just being a chicken” He said but there was no trace of humor in his eyes or voice.
Layla knew he was hurt.
“Dan, I’ve never been in a relationship but I can offer you some advice. Still in love with an ex is normal, not getting over an ex as quickly as you want is normal, it only shows how much you cared about her and the relationship, don’t beat up yourself over it, don’t for-ce yourself to stop liking her or you’ll never stop. Just let everything be, move on with your life, the feeling will fade as gradually as it had built. Getting worked up wont solve anything, it’ll only affect your mental health believe me” She took his hand and gently patted it.
He held on to her hand when she wanted to release it and she let him, smiling at him.
He didn’t say anything for a while, he only stared . . at her.
She was ready to stay here with him as long as he wants if it’s gonna make him feel better and she was a bit surprised when he suddenly pulled her in a hug, muttering thank you.
She smiled, patting his back . Gosh, his back is so ha-rd plus she has never felt so small in someone’s arms, Dan is way bigger than her, he always towered over her and even now that she was patting his back, she had to strain her hand.
“I feel like a short dad, patting his overgrown son back” Layla said and Dan laughed loud, she chuckled too.
They finally let go of each other and Dan was still laughing.
“C’mon, it’s enough” She smiled, though she was glad he was feeling better now.
“Gosh . . your words sometimes are rib crackers” He smiled after he had laughed enough.
“Looks like you’re feeling better, i’m glad” Layla smiled.
” All thanks to you, i’m so grateful for your words. They really helped. Thanks Layla” He said, so glad to have made her not just his friend but his special friend.
“It’s nothing, you would do the same if I were in your shoes. Let’s go back to the hall” She took his hand and they both started working side by side, their hands intertwined.
“I almost forgot there is a party going on” Dan laughed.
“Yeah, you were looking so lost when I approached you” Layla chuckle. “By the way, where’s Anne?”
“She should be in her room” Dan said.
“Did you yell at her?” She ask.
“I dare not, i’m not ready to face you guys piercing gazes again, it was so draining” Dan gro-an and Layla laughed.
+
“I’m still the best at this game” Felix boasted.
“I’m better than you at it but its fine, I know it’ll be ha-rd for you to admit” Jasper said.
“You really love deceiving yourself, y’all know I’ve always won at this game” Felix said.
“You’ve just been lucky” Jasper scoff.
“There’s nothing like luck in board games, you’re just so pained” Felix laughed.
“You both should just keep quiet, allow the rest of us concentrate” Dan said.
They were by the pool, playing board games after they had taken pictures.
“Jacq and Dan! You both are out” Felix announced mockingly.
“You don’t have to announce it, we know” Jacq hissed.
“Pained” Felix laughed and Dan slapped his head.
“Ouch . . I cant believe Dan is pained too” Felix laughed har-der .
“This is the first time Layla will be playing it and she still won over you guys” Jasper giggled.
Layla smiled, she was enjoying the game. It’s not so easy but she loves it, Felix only taught her once, before they started and she’s playing it like she has been playing it forever. It’s been fun.
…Jennie, Dan, Jacq and Elvis were out, she is against Jasper, Christ, Felix and Collins now and she’s determined to win.
Anne hadn’t joined them, she was sitting by the pool, reading a novel with her legs in the water.
Elvis was tempted to sit by her side but he knows he dare not, Anne had been the reason he lost so quickly, he had been staring at her.
“Jacq, I need to have a talk with you” Dan said quietly to Jacq and they both stood up and walked farther from others.
Dan had confirmed from Fel earlier if Jacq was still giving her attitude and she had said yes, that … she even had to for-ce him to him to dance with her.
“So . . what’s up?” Jacq asked.
“It’s about Fel”
“What about Fel?” Jacq raised his brow.
“You really don’t know?” Dan ask.
“How would I know?” Jacq asked and from the tone of his voice, Dan could tell Jacq doesn’t want to discuss Fel.
“Well, she has not been happy recently because you are starting to avoid her. Why are you doing that?” Dan ask.
“I cant believe she came to discuss that with you, it should be between us” Jacq said, looking pissed.
“Hey, why talking like you don’t know how close Fel and I are, we tell each other every damn thing, even before she met you, so .. drop that shit you said and tell me what I need to know” Dan said.
“Okay, I know you guys are bestfriends and all but it’s something I don’t want to discuss, at least not yet”
“There’s a reason you’ve been avoiding her?” Dan ask.
“Well . . yeah” Jacq stared at his feet.
“And you don’t want to discuss it?”
Jacq nodded and Dan sigh.
“Well . . I rea-ssured her by telling her you are probably going throu-ghsomething and don’t want to bother her about it, is that truly what’s happening? Are you going throu-ghsomething?” Dan ask.
“Not really” Jacq shrug.
“You are not about to break her heart, are you?” Dan ask suspiciously.
“Speak up!” Dan half yelled when Jacq didn’t answer his question.
“No” Jacq said reluctantly before walking away.
Dan watched him walk away like he had Jennie.
He really hope Jacq isn’t about to make Fel cry or he’ll make him regret it.
Dan also walked back to the others, he saw them jubilating except Felix who look like he’s about bursting into tears.
“What’s up? What are you guys excited about?” Dan ask.
“Layla is the overall winner” Jasper laughed.
“She won over Felix?” Dan showed his surprise before bursting into laughter.
Felix had always win most of the times and he always boasts about it a lot. He must have relaxed, thinking Layla is an amateur in the game and she’s never going to win over him. Haha.
“This is so funny” Elvis laughed.
“And unbelievable” Jacq said.
“Felix, I cant believe Layla who is playing this game for the first time won over you. OMG” Jasper mocked.
“She was only lucky” Felix said sullenly and they laughed.
” There’s nothing like luck in board games . . ‘in your words’ so, how come Layla won over you with luck?” Jasper taunted with a grin.
“Well . . maybe there’s something like luck in board games” Felix said, staring at his feet.
“That doesn’t change the fact that she won over you” Collins stuck out his tongue, laughing.
Jacq glared at him.
“Well I taught her how to play the game, I taught her the same way I play it, that is the reason she won over me, if I hadn’t taught her well, she wouldn’t have. so . . I should take credit for her win” Jacq said and they all laughed again.
“Jacq is so pained right now” Rylan chuckled.
“So pained” Fel laughed.
“He doesn’t want to accept that Layla won over him clean and fair, i’m so glad for this. he wont be bosting every now and then again” Rylan grinned.
“Well, I intentionally went easy on her because it was her first time” Felix claimed.
“Just shut up, Layla won over you” Christ laughed.
Layla smiled, watching them taunt Felix, she had been determined to win and she had.
Well, maybe it was luck mixed with determination.
It was getting dark or rather, it’s dark already, they hadn’t noticed because of the pool bright light. Though the party wont be over till its 10pm but Layla had to leave now or Phil will have her head.
It’s dinner time and Phil never cooks so Layla knew she had to get home soon enough to make dinner.
She needs to go say goodbye to her best friends parents first.
~
She was set to leave after saying bye to Dan, Fel and Rylan parents respectively.
“Bye guys, it was so nice meeting everyone one of you” Layla smiled hugging Dan’s friends one after the other, the hug she and jennie shared was tensed and short, Layla wonder why she didn’t find herself getting along with Jennie like she had with others and Jennie also look like she doesn’t like her.
There was this little feud between them.
“It was nice meeting you too Layla” They chorused.
“I wish you didn’t have to leave this early so you’ll help us whip Felix’s a-ss again” Jasper said and they laughed.
Felix snorted at them.
“Felix is actually very good in the game, if he hadn’t taught me well, I wouldn’t have won” Layla said.
Felix squeal, laughing excitedly.
“I cant believe you’re allowing him raise his shoulder pad again.” Jacq gro-an.
Layla laughed .. “He deserves to, he’s a genius at it, anything one is good at should proudly be flaunted, the only mistake he had made was relaxing because he thought there’s no way I would win over him”
“Serves him right for looking down on you” Dan said.
“Yeah” The rest agreed.
“Well . . Layla said im a genius at the game, you guys deal with it” Felix laughed sipping his drink.
“Fool” Jasper muttered un-der his breath.
“Bye guys” Layla waved at them, they waved back at her with smiles except Jennie though, who was now sitting and busy with her phone.
“And you should share your contact with us when you finally have a phone” Collins smiled.
“Yeah, you should” The rest chorused.
“Sure” Layla smiled and waved again.
Dan and Anne walked her to the gate.
“Thanks for coming Layla” Dan said.
“It was nice having you with us” Anne smiled.
“I had so much fun, all thanks to you. Thanks for inviting me” Layla grinned.
“I’m glad you had fun” Dan smiled.
“Yeah, i’m glad I did too, Bye guys” Layla smiled hugging Dan and then Anne who kis-sed her cheeks.
“Paul is going out tonight?” Layla ask as Paul drove the car towards them.
Paul winked at them before driving out of the open gate, which closed automatically.
“Anyway, bye” She waved at them, but Dan pulled her back gently.
“You want something?” Layla asked.
“Paul will be dropping you home” Dan said.
“Wh .. What? Why? That’s not necessary”
“It is, it’s late already and we cant leave you to the stress of looking for cab this late” Dan said.
“Yeah. After all, we invited you here” Anne said.
“Thanks so much but i’m going to take a cab, it’s not so late and I wont have to go throu-ghthe stress of looking for one, Thanks so much guys” Layla smiled.
“No, I insist. You wont get to see cab so quickly here, you might have to waitttt and im sure you would love to get home early” Anne said.
“Besides, my parents are going to get pissed at me, they insisted I make Paul drop you” Dan said.
“Will Paul be fine with it, i’m sure he doesn’t have any plan to drive tonight” Layla said, feeling bad to have being the reason Paul will be driving tonight, he might have just wanted to rest for today.
Dan laughed, “Paul is more than glad to drop you home, he’s been wanting to drive all day, sitting idly is not his thing”
“Paul is eagerly waiting outside, get going before he comes to drag you into the car, he has been wanting to drive all day” Anne laughed.
“I should get going, see you tomorrow” Layla smiled, hugging them again.
Dan kis-sed her cheeks this time and muttered ‘a thank you’ in her ear.
Layla wondered what for before her mind trailed back to the advise she gave him, she smiled and winked at him.
“Bye” She said walking out of the gate.
“Bye” They waved back at her, smiling.
Layla got in the back seat and closed the car door.
Dan and Anne waved till the car was out of sight.
“I want a piggyback ride” Anne said, already on Dan’s back before he could object.
He sigh and adjusted her properly on his back before running off to where the rest were with Anne squealing in excitement.
~
“I’m sorry to have made you drive tonight Paul” Layla said.
“Haha, I should thank you for that, been wanting to drive all day”
“Do you love driving that much?”
“I do, very much, I love being in control of the wheel” Paul smiled.
“Wow” Layla smiled, looking out of the window.
The night breeze caressed her face softly and she grinned. Today was great, it’s been so long she had so much fun. Everything was just so perfect, she’s still so stunned by the amount of love that was shown to her, she hadn’t felt so special in a long time.
She always thought life was a pain, not after she met these wonderful people that showed her life can be fun too, the thought of death has always appealed to her because she thought she didn’t mean anything to anyone, but meeting these people . . They gave her the reason to live and that almost brou-ght tears to her eyes.
~
“Goodnight Paul, thanks for the ride” Layla smiled, alighting in front of her house.
“Night Layla, see you tomorrow” He wink.
He watched Layla walk in before driving off.
Layla closed the door behind her and stepped into the living room.
It was dark.
Phil had probably put off the light and went to bed, she might have ordered pizza or burger for dinner.
Layla sigh in relief, glad she wont have to prepare dinner.
She noticed a movement in the dark but quickly brushed it off, darkness can be deceiving.
“I can see you enjoyed the party” Layla suddenly heard. She screamed, dropping her purse.
She quickly flic-ked the switch on and saw Phil, sitting on the couch with a blanket covering her body.
“What are you doing alone in the dark? You scared the shit out of me. Why did you put off the light?” Layla asked, recovering from the shock.
“Well . . I rented this apartment so I can do whatever I want in it without any wide-eyed questionnaire questioning me” Phil said.
Layla sighed and picked her purse from the floor.
“So, did you enjoy the party?” Phil asked, throwing popcorn into her mouth, that was when Layla noticed the pack of popcorn beside Phil, there was a half burger sitting on the table too with a jug half filled with iced tea and also a gla-ss cu-p beside it.
“It was fun” Layla said, walking to a couch.
“I can see that, excitement is written all over your face” Phil said and Layla nodded, about sitting.
“Don’t sit! You need to make dinner, i’m hungry” Phil said and Layla stared at her before moving her gaze to the popcorn, burger and iced tea. She was still bent in the position of someone that was halfway sitting before abrupt interruption.
“Well, I only had all these as snack while waiting for you to be back and stand straight and stop bending over like a hippopotamus that’s close to death” Phil said with a roll of eyes, she poured more popcorn in her mouth and picked her phone.
Layla finally stood straight. “Okay, i’ll go into the kitchen after undressing”
“Hell no, pull off your shoes and go into the kitchen right now. You know im yet to scold you for returning late, do not piss me off Layla” Phil said, her voice raising.
Layla pulled her shoes and dropped her purse on the couch. “What do you want for dinner?”
“Anything that’ll be ready within few minutes” Phil said, her attention on her phone.
“Okay” Layla said, walking to the kitchen.
~
Dan sat on his bed after freshening up for the night, he smiled once the pictures were uploaded, the pictures they had taken earlier today, he just uploaded them on his Instagram account.
He dropped his phone by his bedside lamp and snuggled un-der his blanket.
He had a great day, today’s party was extra fun.
Layla’s advice replayed in his mind and he smiled, her words brou-ght peace to him, everything that had been bugging his mind is starting to clear off.
He cant wait to see her tomorrow…
***
Dan and Layla walked into the cla-ss together like they do everyday, excitement was written over their faces as they talked about the party.
Chloe glowed with anger in her seat, she saw the pictures Dan had uploaded and she knew they had been together yesterday.
She had been fuming since she saw the pictures yesternight, her hatred for Layla quadrupled and what was on her mind right now is tearing Layla to shreds.
Dan was saying hi to some of his friends and Layla started walking to her seat.
Chloe saw Layla was about walking past her and she knew she had to do this, she suddenly got to her feet and leaped on Layla, biti-ng her on the ne-ck, Layla screamed in pain and everyone realizing what was happening rushed to them. Chloe bit dee-per not caring if she’ll loose her hair to this.
ZEEMAH
?????
Tbc