Part 5; Poke nosing b*tch

“I got the wristwatch from a pawn shop. It was a dare.” There's no need to lie about that again.

It's not entirely the truth, but there's no need to tell him we got it in a jewellery/ pawn shop.

“On a Dare? You went on a Dare with Jane after I asked you not to?” He looked so damn angry. You can even see the popped vein on his forehead.

“I'm sorry.” I bowed my head. “I was feeling so damn lonely without you here.”

The reason is not based on my Loneliness. I went on that Dare as a means to rid my mind of the thoughts of my brother spending time with Dinma.

“Stealing is the only way to kill BOREDOM?”

I flinched a bit at his raised voice, but he made no move to comfort me like he always does whenever he shouts at me for one silly mistake or another I might have committed.

“I'm sorry.” I look down at my shoes, “I know I shouldn't have done the things I did, I'm sorry.”

Had I known, I wouldn't have followed Jane when she brought up the dare.

I wouldn't have done it, knowing my brother detests it whenever I do things he doesn't approve of. Especially going on a Dare with Jane.

“How many times have I warned you about the dare, Tap? How many times will I ask you not to follow Jane and her careless ways?”

“I'm sorry, brother. I won't do it again. “ I moved closer to him, and this time he allowed me to do so.

I placed my head on his chest, and

shyly peeked up at him.

“I'm sorry, Tata.”

“Where did you get the wristwatch from?”

“What…” I remove my head from his chest to look up at him.

“I need to return the watch to its owners. Tell me where you got it from, and I'll return it.”

“Wait a minute,” I furiously blinked at him. “You want to return the watch to him?”

I asked to be certain I heard his exact words.

“That's the right thing to do, Baby boy. You tell me the place you got it from, and I return it to the rightful owner. That ends the matter. “

Is my brother insane?

How can he talk about returning the watch to the owner after it has been stolen?

“What exactly are you going to tell him when you return the watch? Will you be like, 'hey, this is your watch? I got it from my brother, who stole it on a dare by his girlfriend. I came to return it?'

Is this what you're going to tell him, should I tell you where we got it from?”

“That's for me alone to know. All I want you to do is tell me the exact place you got the watch from. It doesn't concern you what I'll tell him.” He placed his hand under my chin and lifted my face towards him.

“I can't tell you that,” I frantically shook my head. “It might put Jane in trouble.”

The place where we stole the said wristwatch is one that's owned by Jane's neighbour, Mr Bright.

My brother returning the watch will lead to suspicion. It won't take long until Jane is discovered.

“I won't put her in trouble. At least not now.” Brother seemed sincere.

“Promise? “

Knowing brother, I'm aware he lies most times to get his way, but he's not for once lied to me.

He might have lied to others, but he hasn't done that to me.

“I won't do anything to make you sad, baby boy. You got to trust this brother of yours. “ Taking my hand in his, he placed it on his chest. “ I won't ever lie to you. “

*

Brother returned the wristwatch to the place we got it, but instead of walking in to return the said watch. He put it in a cellphone bag, attached an apology to it, and gave it to one of the workers.

I know all this because I sent Jane to tail him when he left the house.

I did so not because I don't trust him, I do.

However, I know my brother, when he's angry, he tends to do things you least excepted from him.

Jane expertly trailed him and returned without brother being any the wiser about that.

*

“Boy, how are you?” Jane sat beside me.

“I'm okay,” I smiled before expertly stealing a fry from her tray.

“Hey!” She smacked my hand, but that didn't stop me from stuffing my mouth with more of the delicious fries.

“I don't understand why you won't get your fries. You always like taking mine!” She frowned at me.

“What can I say? Your fries taste so much better!”

“As if. “ With a roll of her eyes, she turned to face me. “ So what do you say? We have a sprint at the mall! “ She smiled. Her tone shows how enthusiastic she is.

“I can't,” I furrowed my brows.

Only if my brother allows me. I think it'll be fine sprinting through the mall.

“Why? Is everything okay? “

“I'm grounded.”

This according to my brother will make me reflect more on what I did.

“You don't mean it? “ She frowned. “ Why will he ground you? “

“Because of the dare!”

My outburst caused the students in the cafeteria to throw us glares, but I expertly ignored them.

Presently, I don't have it in me to mind what people are currently thinking.

“How can he be this harsh on you? It was just a harmless dare!”

“A harmless dare? You put my baby brother's life into danger, and you're calling it a harmless dare?” Brother whom we didn't notice his presence based on how engrossed we are in our conversation said as he took a sit opposite me. His girlfriend did the same.

Seeing her made me boil in unrestrained anger. My hands clenched into a fist as I levelled my glare at her.

If only wishes are true, I would have wished for her to disappear for all eternity without returning.

“He wasn't in any way put in harm's way. I was there to protect him. Nothing would have happened to him.” Jane frowned at him. “I wouldn't have allowed that, not at all. He's my best friend, after all.”

I don't doubt her words. Jane would rather be caught by them than allow them to catch me. She wouldn't have allowed that.

“How sure are you about that? You couldn't have protected him at the same time while protecting yourself.” The busy-body girlfriend poked her long witch's nose into a matter that doesn't concern her at all.

I seriously don't know what brother sees in her that made her last this long.

She doesn't have anything in her that can be considered beautiful, not with her stick-thin body.

Not to joke or anything of that sort, a person can count all the ribs and bones in her body if they so wish for it.

Her hair which is always tied in a ponytail looked more like something a witch played with after a bird must have nested on it.

“And who asked for your opinion?” I angrily stood up. A full, undisguised glare was directed at her. “You might be dating my brother, but that doesn't give you the right to poke your nose in something that doesn't concern you.” With one final look at my brother, I ran out of the cafeteria, well knowing everyone's attention will be on me.

“Tap!” Brother called, but I ignored him.

I need a place to lick my wounds.