THE SAME BOY.

Ohi then shifted his gaze toward his father and observed a solitary tear tracing its path down his cheek.

"It was a moment of sadness and pain... Yet, I made the difficult choice to sever those connections. I ceased spending time playing video games, pursuing relationships with girls, and all those distractions. Since then, I've sensed a shift in my life... Everything began to turn out positively for me."

"So... what about your friends? Did you stop being friends?" Ohi inquired, his face reflecting curiosity as he looked at his dad.

"Regrettably... yes, we did drift apart," his dad responded with a sombre expression. "You see, Ohi, sometimes you must release the past to grasp the future," he continued, a hint of melancholy in his voice. "You know, just like how Spiderman leaves one web to catch another and ascend," he added, a sudden smile lighting up his face.

'Wait... he knows Spiderman?' Ohi pondered to himself, a puzzled expression lingering on his face.

"So Dad, you mentioned something about GOING AFTER GIRLS, were you a bit of a playboy back then?" Ohi teased, a smirk playing on his lips.

"Okay, maybe we shouldn't delve into that," his father replied, rubbing the back of his head, a slightly embarrassed expression crossing his face.

"Well, actually, something weird happened earlier. I accidentally bumped into this girl, and she freaked out when she saw me... Am I that scary-looking?" Ohi joked, scrunching up his face in jest.

"Haha! Don't start thinking about girls just yet... Wait until you're ready, or you'll only end up frustrated. And as for the girl, maybe she's lost her mind; you're looking good, Jare," his father replied, walking towards his bedroom with a chuckle.

"Goodnight, Dad."

"Goodnight, Ohi."

As Ohi got up and began heading towards his room, a sudden recollection of the mermaid woman he had encountered earlier in the day struck him, leaving him feeling unsettled.

'Why is this coming back to me now? Ugh... today has been so strange. The nightmare, the poor grade, Dad mentioning boarding school, the argument with Bayo, and encountering that peculiar lady at the party.' He sighed. 'Well, I'll just sleep it off.'

Lost in his thoughts, he made his way upstairs, contemplating the series of odd events that had unfolded throughout the day.

In the heart of a dense, shadowy forest, nestled near a flowing river, the time was midnight, and the moon cast its radiant glow. The crows' eerie cawing reverberated through the air, surrounded by towering trees that loomed overhead. A young woman dashed with urgency, her strides unyielding, heading toward the river's edge.

Reaching the riverbank, she came to an abrupt halt, revealing herself to be the same woman who had reacted strangely upon encountering Ohinoyi. Gasping for breath, she moved closer to a youthful-looking lady seated upon a massive root that protruded from one of the gigantic forest trees. The seated woman wore a sheer white gown, her long, curly hair cascading down to nearly touch the ground. Her eyes held a captivating beauty, and her countenance exuded an innocent charm.

"Big sister," the young woman panted heavily, addressing her with urgency.

The stunning lady directed her gaze towards the younger girl.

"Big sister, there's a problem," Omotola exclaimed in distress.

Casting a glance behind the young girl and then back at Omotola, the lady, known as Omotola's elder sister, spoke calmly, "Omotola, there isn't a problem yet, but there will be if you do not explain why you're here empty-handed."

"WHERE IS THE MEAL?" she suddenly bellowed, her once pure and innocent eyes transforming into snake-like orbs, while her tongue extended, mirroring that of a snake.

"I-I had one, b-bu..but then something strange happened," Omotola stammered in fear.

"Strange? What do you mean?" questioned the elder sister, her demeanour shifting to one of curiosity and concern.

In a moment of tension, Omotola revealed, "There was a boy, his aura felt different, and when I gazed into his eyes, I saw nothing but disaster... absolute disaster."

"Absolute disaster? You couldn't secure a meal for the queen because of a boy?" the elder sister thundered, her voice escalating. With a hiss, she extended her snake-like tongue, poised to lunge at Omotola.

"Wait, big sis," a voice resonated from the depths of the woods.

Emerging from the shadows was another striking lady, accompanied by two young men who appeared to be under a trance-like state.

"Hm, it seems someone has brought some good food for the queen," she remarked joyfully, eyeing the entranced young men.

"Big sis, the failure is right," the newcomer said, wearing a smug expression.

"Don't you dare call me a failure!" Omotola protested.

"Shut up, you're useless!" the elder sister snapped back at her.

"Earlier this morning, I encountered a boy who could see me," the elder sister said with a smile, hinting at something significant.

"He could see you?" she whispered in disbelief.

"Could it be the same boy? The one I saw was fair in complexion, had a button-like nose, and..." she trailed off.

"Eyes a bit larger than usual for a guy," the elder sister completed the description, and Omotola nodded in agreement.

"Well, we'll have to inform the quee-"

"The queen?... Are you implying that our big sis can't manage this herself?" The lady walked closer and knelt before her. "With all due respect, big sis, don't you think that's somewhat cowardly?"

"Huh!" Big sis regarded her with a puzzled expression, while Omotola stood by, observing the unfolding conversation, feeling perplexed herself.

"Let's deal with this on our own. If we succeed, the queen will reward us, and she'll certainly elevate your status," the lady continued, standing up and drawing closer to both big sis and Omotola.

The Big sister smiled. "Yes, let's do this, Atika, you're such a genius. Tomorrow, we'll find the boy," she said joyfully as she made her way toward the river. As they walked together, she leaped into the air, her legs transforming into a fishtail upon landing in the water, creating a splash. The other two hesitated to follow suit.

Omotola couldn't help but ponder, 'Apparently, Atika is scheming something, but Big sister remains oblivious because Atika manipulates her with what she wants to hear... What a cunning woman.'

Atika intervened abruptly, interrupting Omotola's thoughts, "Hey, Omotola... stop overthinking. Just stay out of my way, and things will go smoothly for you once I achieve my position," she said with a smile before diving into the river.

"Before she gets her new position," Omotola muttered to herself, fear creeping through her veins. "What could she mean by that?"

Looking up at the sky, she clenched her fist. "Whatever it is, I will stop her."