Chapter 103 BROKEN VICTORY
Godiva POV
The house that day was as quiet as a graveyard. I was sure the mothers wanted to comfort us, but they probably didn’t know exactly how to go about it. Dina and I sat side by side on the floor in the living room, leaning our backs against the couch and spacing out completely.
The television was on, yet no one paid attention to whatever was playing. Every now and then, Mama or Mrs Job would glance at us with worried eyes before exchanging silent looks with each other.
We remained in that position until evening when Mrs Job finally convinced us to have dinner. At first, we refused stubbornly, but she kept persuading us softly until we finally joined them at the dining table.
“Girls, I know what happened today feels like a terrible setback, but Mama and I are not letting this slide,” Mrs Job declared firmly, folding her arms on the table. “Even if it means dragging those people to court, we’ll make sure that money gets paid.”
“Court?” Dina gasped in surprise, finally looking interested in something all day.
“Yes baby, court,” Mama echoed with unusual seriousness. “People can’t toy with children’s hard work and expect us to stay silent.”
I exchanged glances with Dina immediately. I had never seen the mothers sound that determined before. Their words didn’t feel like empty threats.
Dinner went unusually quiet afterward, with only the sound of cutlery occasionally breaking the silence. The atmosphere remained tense until my phone suddenly rang loudly on the table.
Damn, It was Slosh.
The moment his name flashed across my screen, my brows furrowed instantly.
“How exactly did Slosh get my private number?” I questioned sharply, turning to Dina suspiciously.
Dina almost choked on her drink. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Because you’re literally the only person who could’ve given him my number,” I accused, narrowing my eyes at her.
“Oh please,” Dina scoffed dramatically, dropping her spoon. “You’re acting as if I leaked national secrets.”
“Di, I’m serious,” I fired back irritably. “You always overstep boundaries thinking you’re helping.”
The smile on Dina’s face disappeared immediately.
“Excuse me?” she snapped, sitting upright. “I overstep boundaries? Last time I checked, I’m always trying to fix your mess.”
“My mess?” I echoed in disbelief.
“Yes, your mess,” Dina retaliated boldly. “You’re shutting everybody out because of Jerald, and somehow everyone around you is suddenly the problem.”
The dining table instantly fell silent. I was genuinely shocked she would say that in the dinner table.
“Girls…” Mrs Job muttered cautiously.
“No Mum, let her talk,” Dina continued bitterly.
“You’re angry at Jerald, fine. But don’t start attacking me because someone cares enough to check up on you.”
I stared at her for a few seconds before exhaling deeply.
“Fine,” I muttered quietly. “Maybe I overreacted.”
“Maybe?” Dina repeated dramatically.
“Okay, definitely,” I corrected reluctantly, rolling my eyes.
Dina stared at me for a moment before bursting into laughter suddenly.
“You’re honestly impossible,” she laughed, shaking her head.
“And you’re annoyingly invasive,” I countered, finally laughing too.
The tension dissolved almost immediately.
“There, that’s better,” Mama sighed in relief.
“Honestly, you two quarrel like an old married couple,” Mrs Job teased, making everyone laugh lightly for the first time since afternoon.
My phone began ringing again, Slosh kept on calling.
“This boy is persistent,” Dina muttered under her breath.
“Persistent and suspicious,” I grumbled before finally picking the call.
“Hello?” I answered flatly.
“Hey… I was checking up on you,” Slosh said softly over the phone. “I heard about the prize money situation.”
“School gossip spreads faster than wildfire,” I muttered tiredly.
“I’m really sorry about what happened,” he continued calmly. “You girls deserved better.”
“Thanks,” I replied shortly.
An awkward silence followed briefly before he spoke again.
“And… I know this might sound random, but you don’t always have to act strong.”
I frowned slightly at his words.
“Goodnight Slosh,” I muttered before ending the call gently.
The moment I dropped my phone, Dina gave me a mischievous side-eye.
“Aww, someone cares deeply.”
“Shut up,” I groaned immediately.
Not long after dinner, Mama asked Dina and I to help arrange some empty food packs outside for disposal since the refuse truck usually passed that area at night.
We had barely stepped outside when a delivery bike stopped aggressively in front of the compound.
The rider removed his helmet impatiently.
“Who ordered food from this address?” he barked rudely.
Mama stepped outside immediately.
“No one here ordered anything,” she replied calmly.
“Well somebody used this address,” the man snapped back arrogantly. “And I’ve been riding around for almost an hour.”
Mama’s expression darkened instantly.
“And that suddenly gives you the right to raise your voice at me?” she attacked sharply.
The man scoffed carelessly. “Madam, I’m stressed already, abeg don’t add to it.”
That was the exact wrong thing to say.
“Don’t add to it?” Mama echoed dangerously, taking slow steps toward him. “You men always think frustration gives you the right to disrespect women.”
“Mama…” I called nervously.
“No Godiva, let him speak,” Mama thundered, eyes blazing. “Since he clearly wasn’t taught manners.”
The rider looked startled by the sudden intensity.
“Madam I wasn’t insulting you—”
“You already did the moment you raised your voice,” Mama cut in furiously.
The atmosphere became tense instantly.
Mrs Job hurried outside before things escalated further.
“Alright, alright, everybody calm down,” she intervened quickly, stepping between them. “Young man, nobody here ordered anything, so maybe there was a mistake somewhere.”
The rider muttered under his breath before checking his phone again.
“Ah… wrong compound,” he admitted awkwardly.
Mama laughed bitterly. “Typical.”
“Sorry ma,” he apologized quickly before speeding off immediately.
Mama folded her arms tightly even after he left.
“I can’t stand rude men,” she muttered coldly.
Mrs Job sighed deeply beside her.
“That man was rude, yes, but your blood pressure matters too.”
Mama shook her head stubbornly before walking back inside.
Dina leaned toward me immediately. “Your Mama genuinely scares me sometimes.”
“She scares me too,” I whispered back honestly.
Later that night, Dina and I sat quietly in my room discussing random things while pretending not to think about the competition disaster or the boys we had practically been avoiding.
Just then, the doorbell rang downstairs.
Mama’s voice echoed almost immediately. “Dina, see who’s at the door.”
“Alright Mama,” Dina responded loudly before standing up lazily.
A few seconds later, her shocked voice echoed through the house.
“What!” Dina exclaimed loudly. “Ben and Jerald… why are you both here so early?”