Chapter 20

The Oracle awards was the highlight of their friendship. They won many awards together and Gbenga was more than glad to be their coach. Julia had won the award for the best painting. While Zion came first in the talent hunt through his tasty cooking. Zoe and Matthew won the debate, and Gbenga was also given an award, for his good job at supervising them.

The week after the awards. They had a mid-term break, a day's break where they were supposed to relax from schoolwork.

"What are you doing for the midterm,” Julia asked Zoe. Zoe smiled as she faxed at her before responding to the question. Julia was holding Matthew's hand tightly as they walked to the gate. They were such a beautiful couple, and she was happy for them. Their few days of dating was sweet and though Zoe missed all the attention Julia gave her, Zion also missed Matthew's attention. They were still very much supportive of them.

"I don't know!” Zoe said. "I'll probably just binge a season film.”

“Boring!” Julia whined.

“You can say that again. Since you get to hang out with you Bae, another thing apart from that is boring abi,” Zoe said, with a giggle.

“No! Stop. I mean, that all you do, watch movies, read and sleep,” Julia said.

“I know!”

“That's really boring Zoe,” Zion said, joining in the conversation.

“Let's go watch a movie tomorrow, with me and Matthew,” Julia suggested.

“Nope!” Zoe declined.

“Why?"

“So, I would be the third wheel. I'll rather binge watch than sit lost in an obvious date.” Julia and Matthew burst into laughter.

“Guys. Why don't you all come to my place?” Zion suggested. "We've been at Julia's and Matthew's place but not mine,” Zion said.

"That's good. At least you'll treat us to a delicious meal,” Zoe said, clapping her hands excitedly.

“What about our date?!!” Matthew asked.

"Lover boy, there are still three days in this break. You can even live in her house the remaining days,” Zoe teased.

“Okay. We'll hangout at your place tomorrow.” Julia said.

“I'll send the address to the group chat"

•••••••

Zoe got dressed in a pink short gown. Sprayed some perfume and headed to the kitchen to have some breakfast cereal. After she was done with her meal, she walked back to the room. Just then she heard a knock on her door. Opening it she saw a fair skinned boy with saggy glasses and a T-shirt way bigger than him smiling at her. She giggled at she opened the door wide for him to enter.

"Good morning Matthew,” Zoe said smiling.

"Morning,” Matthew responded looking round the room. “Cute place you've got here.” He complimented.

"Thank you! Just give me a few minutes. I'll be done soon,” she said. "Please sit.”

Matthew sat on the single couch in the room and watched the Disney movie showing. Zoe walked to her closet and pulled a small drawer out, revealing beautiful scrunchies and hair accessories. She took out a blue designed scrunchie and used it in her hair. She moved to the shoe rack and grabbed white sneakers. Going back to the cabinet with the drawer where she got the scrunchie. She pulled the drawer just under it, revealing socks, scarfs and napkins. She brought out white socks with a black label just at its high end and wore it, followed by the sneakers.

Moving away from her closet, Zoe walked to the dresser just beside her bed. Pulled out its top drawer and took her phone and purse which contained money. She was all set and she walked up to Matthew who was already engrossed in the movie he was watching.

"I'm set,” Zoe said. Matthew stood up and Zoe switched off the TV and the rooms light as they walked out.

"Now we move to Julia's place,” Matthew announced as the got outside.

“Yes. Your baby's place,” Zoe teased causing Matthew to blush. They went out of the compound and boarded a taxi to Julia's place. The ride was filled with laughter with Matthew and Zoe. This was the first time Zoe was seeing Matthew talk that much. In fact, she didn't know he was that interesting.

They got to Julia's place in no time, and they found her waiting outside for them. They got out of the taxi and walked up to her. Matthew hugged her and placed a kiss on her forehead.

"Why are you outside. Did you want to see Matt that badly,” Zoe teased.

“Stop teasing me. No one is inside so I decided to wait here. My mum is not home, and Ann went out with Corper Gbenga,” Julia explained.

“Ann and Corper Gbenga?” Matthew asked surprised.

"What's going on?” Zoe asked.

“I think Ann like Corper Gbenga,” Julia said I'm a whisper as though she was gossiping, which really, she was.

"Wao…I didn't see that coming,” Matthew said.

"I saw it. With the way they were looking at each other the first day they met. I knew something was up,” Zoe said.

“That's their own. Let's go,” Julia said.

With that they walked to the bus stop and took a bus to the bus stop nearest to the DO estates. That estate had the who-is-who, in the society living in it. And that had confirmed the suspicion they all had that Zion was from a very rich family. They got to the bus stop and then took a cab to DO estates, where they walked from the gate to Zion's house.

Zion's house was a mansion. The compound was very large, large enough to occupy the enormous building. The boy's quarters and a garage that had seven expensive cars in it. There was a fountain of water just in the in front of the building. The building was gold plated, and if the exterior was as beautiful as this, how would the inside look like.

Zion rushed out to meet the trio who stood by the gate seeing the beauty before them. Zoe was lost in admiration for the building that she didn't notice Zion tap her on the shoulder. "Guys, what are you looking at, let's go,” Zion urged.

"Guy, why didn't you tell us you guys were this rich.” Matthew commented.

“If we are hanging out in this castle. This…is…about…to be…the…greatest...hang...out...EVER!!!” Zoe said slowly and then yelled the last word. She dashed and ran towards the building, the rest running after her and laughing. Zion overtook her as they ran happily to the building. Zion opened the door and the entered catching their breathe. A cute little girl came running towards them and gave Zoe a hug, surprising her.

"That's my little sister. She loves doing that,” Zion said. Zoe smiled as she lifted her.

“You are beautiful,” the little girl said to Zoe.

Zoe blushed and responded. "Thank you!!!"

"What's your name princess?"

"My name is Gloria.”

“Nice to meet you Gloria!!!” Zoe greeted and dropped her. Gloria greeted thame others and the walked to the sitting room to sit. Soon Priscy came out from the kitchen and joined them in the living room.

"Guys. Meet Priscy, the only friend I had before I met you guys,” Zion introduced.

“Nice to meet you Priscy.”

“Priscy, here's Matthew, Julia and Zoe.”

"Nice to meet you guys. Thanks for taking care of this baby here,” Priscy teased.

“Yes our baby,” Julia responded causing the rest to laugh while Zion pouted.

"You guys are the first people Zion volunteered to cook for apart from his Dad,” Priscy said. “He has not cooked for me before. You guys must mean a lot to him.”

"Yes we do. We save his ass a lot,” Zoe said.

“You naughty girl,” Zion said and motioned to hit Zoe.

“Stop it!” Gloria yelled pulling Zion back.

They all burst into laughter as Gloria climbed on Zion preventing him from hitting Zoe.

Just then a figure crossed from behind the stairs, before anyone could see who was there. The person ran away.

Zoe caught the side view of that person.

Emily?

"Who was that,” Zion asked Priscy.

"I don't know?” Priscy said watching the space where the person was. "Maybe it's Gloria's puppy. That thing acts weird all the time.”

“True!”

“Heyyy. My dog isn't weird. It's cute,” Gloria said.

Emily ran to the back yard as fast as she could. She stopped when she was sure no one was coming after her. She sat down to catch her breathe from the run and from the shock. Who had she just seen?

The image floating in her head was that of a 10 year old hugging her tightly while their mother dragged her away. She saw how she cried profusely while being dragged away by her mother. She saw her disappointed look as she waved her goodbye.

That couldn't be her sister, could she?

Zoe! She couldn't have been mistaken. Or maybe she didn't get a good view, but that smile was to memorable to forget. Seven years now, since she last saw her sister, and it was possible she had just seen her.

Her heart ached as she remembered her early years here. She was quiet and reserved; she missed her sister and father so much. But her mother had prevented her from talking about it. It took years for her to accept Gabriel as her father and Zion as her brother.

She had learned to forget Zoe.

Hours passed and they all were enjoying themselves. Zion had cooked them spaghetti and tasted like heaven. They played games and watched TV. It was a fun time indeed. Zion wondered why his sister, Emily didn't come out to see his friends. He called her to find out why, only to find out she had gone to the mall.

They were playing video games when his mom arrived.

Darasimi walked into the building hoping to act sweet and kind to her stepson’s friends. She opened the door and walked towards the active youth, laughing boisterously and playing video games.

"Mom!!!” Zion exclaimed in excitement.

"Zion! Your friends are here,”

"Good afternoon ma,” they all greeted simultaneously.

Zoe eyes widened at the woman that just stepped in. She couldn't believe her eyes and she hoped she was dreaming and that all she was thinking was not true.

Her mom was Zion's stepmom?

She hoped that she would turn to her side. And she did.

Darasimi greeted her stepson’s friends and she turned to greet the last one. Sitting adjacent where she was standing. Her heart skipped a beat as she saw who was sitting down there with disappointment and anger etching her expression.

She froze on the spot unable to say a word. Her throat heated up and her heart raced. Her secret was about to be open if it wasn't already.

"Mom,” Gloria called after they noticed Dara standing on the same spot staring at Zoe.

"Oh dear,” Dara said jolting out of her thoughts. "I need to get to the bathroom. You guys should have fun alright.”

With that Darasimi rushed up stairs, straight to her glamorous room and she closed the door behind her. She fell on the ground and pulled out her wig. She was in a deep mess. Zoe was Zion's friend.

She could smell the end was near, but she didn't know how it would happen. After a while of complete confusion and fear, she picked up her phone and searched for Zoe's number.

She clicked on it and tapped on the message icon. She typed in her message and sent it. Dropping her phone, she wiped her years and went straight into the bathroom.