Chapter 7 Secret Girl

“Our men think earning money and ordering around others is where power lies. They don’t think power is in the hands of the woman who takes care of everyone all day long, and gives birth to their children”. Malala Yousafzai, activist and Nobel Prize laureate.

.........

"What did you say?" He groaned again, I knew I was interfering with his sleep.

"I asked if I can come in."

He grunted for a few seconds and from the creak that came from his bed, I knew he was coming to open the door.

"What do you want?" He asked, annoyance in the tone of his voice.

"I need to talk to you. Can I come in?" He gave it a thought for a few seconds before hissing and pushing the door open for me.

"Do you even know what the time says?"

"9 thirty." I deadpanned. Apparently he thought it was late in the middle of the night judging by the look of shock on his face.

"So what is it you want to talk about?"

"First of all, why did you come to the party?"

"Are you for real?" He asked in anger.

"You woke me up from a good dream because you want to know why I went to a party? You know you deserve slap, better slap."

"Why did you hang out with Aisha?" Immediately, I mentioned Aisha's name, I saw a spark in his eye. I spark I couldn't explain.

"Cos she's cool."

"Did you tell her anything about me?"

He raised his hands in frustration.

"Look, when you told me she offered you money, I thought I could get a few bucks from her so I asked around for her and she found me funny, but funny enough she always made use of every opportunity to ask me questions about you."

'Typical, Gold digging Rotimi'

"Did you tell her anything about me?"

"Why would I? She was too desperate, I knew something wasn't right, I've told you all you need to know, can you leave me now? How did you even know I hanged out with her?"

"There's this picture of you, her and her friends online."

"Did I look good in the picture?"

"You're pathetic. Do you know who took the picture?"

He looked at the ceiling in confusion for a few seconds before answering.

"Why in hell should I care about who took a damn picture. I had an ethic day that consisted of Lot's of dance and drinks, thanks to you, but I really need to sleep. Shut the door behind you."

I hissed, told him goodnight and left his stinking room. Why were boys so sweaty and gross?.

I was about entering my room when I  decided to have a drink of water. I got downstairs, went to the kitchen, took a glass of cold water and stood silently for 5 seconds to calm the brain freeze. As I shut the kitchen door, I saw Rotimi's iPhone lying on the dinning table and I scanned the sitting room for his charger. It was plugged  on an extension beside the TV.  As I picked up his phone, I fought the urge to snoop around but I dismissed the thought. I plugged the phone and was about to leave when the phone suddenly rang.

The caller Id read, Aisha and I felt blood pumping into my brain.

'It couldn't be. Maybe it is a different Aisha. I'll pick the call and tell her he is asleep. " I told myself when truly I was nervous.

I swiped to answer the call and the person on the line was definitely My Aisha.

"Hello?" She asked again

I said a Hmm? Instead. I would have given myself away if I said something else.

"Thank Goodness you're awake. I've transferred the money to your account, You have until Tuesday to give me something juicy about your step sister. It must be juicy. Promise she'll never know it was you. I can keep a secret. Goodnight.  And she hanged up.

What do you do when you receive a call like this. A normal girl would burst Aisha's bubble by telling her the joke was on her and laugh at her, but once again, I wasn't a Normal Girl. If she wanted my step brother to give her something juicy, she was going to have something juicy.

I unplugged Rotimi's phone and took it to my room.

'We're going to have a long long talk, brother' I thought.

I picked my phone up and smiled when I saw that Tomison was still active, in fact, she'd left three messages for me. I clicked on it.

(T) Guess who just called me now.

(T) Aisha. She put me through a conference call with the Emem, Jax and Tobi. She said she already has your step brother working for her. What she means by that, I don't know. But she's seems so sure about releasing dirt on you by Wednesday.

(T) Come online!

(R) Hey, I'm here.

It took her two minutes to reply.

(T)Finally! Did you see my message?.

(R) Sure. About that step brother ish. I think Rotimi has her believing we're half siblings. She called his phone and luckily for me, I picked. She's so desperate, she paid him to dig diets on me. What planet does that girl live in, is she really that hopeless and joyless?

(T) Told you she believes she's ruthless. She's like a movie character. I still think she's seen enough Disney movie.

(T) So what are we going to do.

Something about the way she said "We" made me feel confident, I liked it.

(R) We'll play her. She wants dirt she'll get dirt. First of all, I have to have an heart to heart conversation with my brother. He's a betrayer.

(R) Can you come over tomorrow, We really need to plan.

(T) LOL, I'm sure he just accepted for the cash. Who doesn't want free money,and Can't we meet up at school on Monday? Don't know if I can make it Tomorrow. But we'll keep in touch, here.

(R) Okay.

(T) My bed's calling, I've got to sleep. Ttyt. That's something i just made up.

(R) Talk to you tomorrow right?

(T) You're just so smart. She added a cute emoji and said. Goodnight.

(R) Goodnight. I replied and left her thread.

I scrolled through Facebook and liked a few pictures, shared a few posts and then logged out when I felt sleepy.

I was making my bed when Rotimi barged in with a mixture of worry and fear all over his face.

"Remi, My phone! Did you see my phone!"

Judging from the way he asked, he didn't think I had it.

"I don't know, I mean, why would a step sister keep her step brothers phone?"

He was about to say something but immediately paused when realisation hit him.

"How did....."

"I know?. God! Were you even going to tell me?" I asked, feeling anger begin to well up inside me. "I asked you yesterday and you acted so, so nonchalant like you knew nothing."

"Okay, why are you being dramatic?"

"Why I'm being dramatic? You're so shameless, you'll sell your own sister for money?"

"Whatever, Can I have my phone back?"

"I never said your phone was with me." I made up an innocent face. Here's the thing, I thought he was going to laugh about it and tell me he just wanted to fool her, but he looked disappointed at the fact that I caught him. I decided he wasn't going to have the phone.

"So how did you?...."

"Facebook, she posted it on Facebook" I lied.

"Why would she do that?"

"Let's just say she likes flaunting her cash around. I was about to have my bath, I don't have your phone, search the house well, maybe you forgot it at her place. And if you don't end up finding it, you can always get another with the Money she paid you."

"I'm not kidding here, Remi, do you have my phone! I'm losing my mind I need my phone."

"Timi! Stop shouting at your sister like that!" Mum called from her room. "Look for your phone and leave her alone. What does she need your phone for?"

"Look," he said, taking a deep breathe. "I'm sorry you had to find out on Facebook, but if you ever see my phone, just let me know. I'm sure I brought it home." He turned to leave. Something made me call him back.

"Didn't you feel bad about making a deal with Aisha?" I asked. He hissed and walked away.

'Well I'm also not going to feel bad about confiscating your phone.'

The Sunday sermon was beginning to seem endless to me, like it wasn't planning to stop. That Sunday, Rotimi refused to come to church. He was more than unsettled, I knew it was taking a whole chunk of pride for him not to burst out in tears and although I felt pity for him, he deserved it, regardless.

The pastor was talking about 'Demonic spirit from the Father's house' when I scanned to make sure mum was out of view and Brought his phone out.

He already had numerous texts, and as I expected, one was from  Aisha, I tapped on it.

Hey, good morning. I'm sure you were so drunk yesterday, your tongue got tied. Well, I just want you to know that I'm expecting something juicy from you today. Xoxo...Your Secret Girl.

'Secret, indeed' I thought as I typed my reply.

Hey, Secret Girl, you're right, I got tongue tied last night. It's amazing how you sneaked alcohol into the party. And about the Juice on my step sister, trust me on that. I'm sure I'll have you drooling before the end of the day.

I read the message over and over till I was satisfied with what I'd  written, I mean, that's the way Rotimi would chat.

The preacher was still talking about 'Demonic Foundational curses' when Another text came in from Aisha.

Aii, can't wait. Ttyl.....Xoxo Your Secret Girl.

I smiled, threw Rotimi's phone back into my bag, retrieved mine and silently prayed that Tomison was online as I clicked on Facebook and put my data on.

I'd gotten 3 more friend requests. I clicked on the notification and almost choked when I saw who the requests were from.

1: Emem Obong.

2: Tobi Grey.

3: Lara Hacks. She was the most intelligent IT girl in the whole school, People said she was even smarter than Mr Williams himself. So I confirmed her request, ignoring the other two.

Two minutes later, a message came from Lara.

(L) Hey, do you know who I am?

(R) You're the girl that helped me hack into the principal's desktop and submitted my project. Lara. Who doesn't know you?.

(L) Okay, now you're exaggerating, and I did that because you offered to help with Yoruba assignment.

(R) whatever, I'm forever grateful. You saved my butt.

(L) Now I think it's time you saved mine.

(L) Aisha's got a secret on me, She's going to show the whole school tomorrow. I need your help.

'Oh my God!' Why was everything in my life starting the have Aisha in it, and why did everyone think I could be of help?

(R) I'm confused here.

(L) I know, but I also know you own that school blog, she's going to leak the secret exclusively to you, I don't want you publishing it.

It was as If a powerful wind blew and all of a sudden I got naked. 'How did she know?!  I thought I kept the secret  super safe, now Everyone knew.

(R) HOW DID YOU KNOW ABOUT IT? AND HOW MANY PEOPLE KNOW?

(L) Listen calm down, okay? Apart from the fact that Mr William's No 1 student, I'm an hacker. And I've known about this from the first day I saw your blog. I'm not telling anyone, I just need your help right now.

"......those Demons from you Father's house can do anything they want to do with your life." the pastor said.

'I can relate' pastor. I thought.