Twenty-One

Apeke was scared, to say the least. She was alone here and it didn't look like anyone was coming to save her. She was just going to have to save herself. She looked around and all she could see were bushes.

She had to think of a plan, quickly! She had to think of a way to get out of this mess.

"Hey, there QUEEN!" He said , mockingly. "Who's going to save you now?"He said and pinned her to the nearest tree.

"What makes you think I need saving?"

"What did you say?"Kola gritted his teeth. She was doing it again. Wasn't she? This was why he hated her. She liked to make it seem like she was better than others,at least that was what he thought.

"Don't make me angrier than I already am,Apeke."He warned.

"Or else what? What will you do?" She taunted.

She knew she was playing a dangerous game but she felt she had no other choice.

Kola was sick and tired of people putting him down. Everyone underestimated him. He was going to teach them all a lesson and he was going to start with Apeke.

"You have no idea what you've just done." Kola said.

'Oh,but I do.' She thought.

He was confident, after all she was only a girl. Yes, she was smart and sometimes cunny but at the end of the day she still only a girl so he could overpower her easily.

He leaned in to leave sloppy kisses down her neck but before he could savour this he suddenly felt immense pain in his manhood. She had kicked him.

She'd waited for the right opportunity and kicked him.

He groaned and moved away from her. She didn't waste any time she punched and kicked him just like her teacher had taught her and then, she ran. She ran as fast as her legs could take her.

She wanted to run all the way to Omowumi's house but she got tired and rested for a few minutes. She was careful and she made sure to stay alert.

She walked the rest of the way. She was too tired to run. She couldn't stop thinking about Kola. What happened to him? He had never been a saint but he was no monster,either. He'd always been more of a toothless dog.

He had changed. Something must have happened to trigger it.

She was so lost in thought that she didn't realise it when she got to her destination. She almost hit her head on a wall.

She regained her composure only to loose I soon a few seconds later at the sight of Omowumi and Alani kissing

She cleared her throat and this called the attention of the two love birds.

"Apeke."Omowumi said blushing.

Sometime later, Apeke and Omowumi sat together, Alani had excused them.

She told him about Michael's departure.

"So,he's gone?"

"Yes."

"What now?" Omowumi said.

"What do you mean?"

"What is the Crown prince's plan? What do we do?"

"I don't know."

"You're going to have to ask him."Omowumi said.

Apeke knew Omowumi was right but she didn't want to go. She didn't want to see the crown prince.

"Fine."She said. It had to be done.

"Enough of my sad life. Tell me about you and Alani." Apeke smiled. It had been long time since she had seen her friend this happy. Her sister's death had really taken a toll on her.

It had taken a toll on them both.

"There's not much to tell. We kissed. I'm not really sure it meant as much to him as it did me." Omowumi said. She really wanted it to mean more.

"I'm sure it did. The Alani I know would never spend the night your house with out trying to sleep with you. Trust me,it meant something."

.

Alani sat thinking about the events of the last few days. He believed he was getting too comfortable living with Omowumi. He was going to have to leave at some point. It didn't matter that he never wanted to leave. as much as he wanted to stay it wouldn't be right to burden her with his presence.

He stood up to drink some water but stopped in hid tracks when he heard muffled crying. He followed the sound and ended up in the old man's room.

"I miss her too."He heard Arike said as she hugged him.

He guessed they were talking about Wura.