Chapter 75 SHATTERED SILENCE
Godiva POV
Silence fell at Mama’s question. We both kept quiet, pretending not to have heard her and hoping, in the depth of our minds, that she would forget.
“Are you two deaf? I asked a question. Whose boyfriend spoilt whose mood?” Mama repeated, sounding even angrier.
“Nobody,” we both chorused simultaneously.
“You both better start talking before all your relationships come to an end before they even begin,” Mrs. Job thundered.
“It’s Diva,” Dina whispered, pointing at me.
Everywhere became blurry for about a minute as our mothers stared at me in silence. I fixed my gaze on Dina, hoping she would say it was a prank or something. I felt shattered. No one had ever betrayed me in such a manner.
“What about Div? Why did you stop? Ride on,” Mama said, giving Dina the go-ahead.
I knew Mama would be excited since she had warned me about dating Jerald, or should I say boys in general, and I did not harken to her warning.
“It’s nothing serious, Mama. It’s just that Div got mad at Jerald because she tried getting him to drop us off, but he was caught up in a game with his guys and ignored her,” Dina explained, giving me a cold stare.
“I don’t understand, and why did that upset you?” Mama queried, turning back to me. “Does your father own a car? That has been entitled. If he didn’t give you a ride, that is because he was busy, and it is his car, don’t forget,” Mama added, walking away from the both of us.
I stood still facing Dina, lost as to what had just happened. I wanted to heave a sigh of relief out of joy since Dina did not mention the actual thing, because if she had done that, Mama would never allow Jerald near me. In the worst-case scenario, she might withdraw me from the school after the competition.
I quickly turned and walked hurriedly to catch up with the mothers, leaving Dina behind.
“Mama, can I speak with you?” I asked politely the second we stepped into the house.
“Oh no, you can’t. When you had the opportunity to this afternoon, you ruined it, so no,” Mama replied seriously, heading for her room.
“Mama, I really am sorry,” I echoed, following behind her.
“Didn’t we agree you would let me in on anything happening in your life, and you decided to skip this large detail? Then how do I trust you?” Mama thundered, sounding hurt.
“I’m sorry, Mama. I knew you wouldn’t allow me to go for the party, and I really wanted to have the experience,” I replied, my head down, facing the ash tiles that sat on the floor in Mama’s room.
“Why were you so sure?” Mama snapped. “I would have allowed you to have your first experience with rules, so you don’t end up with regrets like now,” she added, sounding a bit calmer.
“I’m sorry, Mama. I’ve really learnt my lesson, and I will never hide such detail from you again,” I replied, moving closer to her.
Ignoring me, Mama changed into her nightwear and wrapped herself in the very big duvet on her bed.
“Mama, I said I’m sorry,” I repeated.
Still ignoring me, I teased in between laughter, “Mama, if you do not reply me, I’d come over there and tickle you without mercy.”
“It’s no problem, it’s no problem, I have forgiven you!” Mama screamed aloud, laughing and stopping me from coming closer to her.
Mama hated the idea of tickles. She would trade anything just so she did not get tickled. According to her, Mr. Blank, or should I say my father, did that to her a lot, especially when they quarrelled. She would always laugh her lungs out, and that was how they settled.
“You’re really a silly girl,” Mama sighed, trying hard to control her laughter so she would not disturb the neighborhood that late.
“I got it all from you. Good night, Mama, I love you,” I murmured, giving Mama a hug which lasted almost forever.
Shutting the door to my room, I heaved a deep sigh of relief as I pulled off my clothes.
I tried my best to sleep, but the image of what Jerald did and the thought of my quarrel with Dina kept coming back like a flashback almost all through the night. At a point, tears fell off my eyes and through my cheeks to the ground. I did not know what in specific made me cry.
I continued tossing and turning on my bed until I checked the time and saw it was only a few minutes to four before I forced myself to sleep.
“Diva honey,” Mama whispered, waking me up from my sleep.
“Yes, Mama,” I replied, still drowsy.
“You need to get up now. It’s time to prepare for school and you’d be running late,” Mama announced, attempting to open my curtains.
“No, Mama, I’m really overwhelmed and exhausted. Can I skip school today and study instead?” I muttered drowsily, arranging my sleeping position.
I slept off again, not hearing Mama’s reply.
I woke up a few minutes past twelve feeling very hungry. The hunger I felt was the only thing that forced me out of bed.
“Mama, you still home?” I asked in a soft tone, hugging Mama who was busy filling a record on the table.
“Yes baby, I’m on evening duty, and remember, it starts at three,” Mama responded, sounding tired.
Walking away, I dished my egg, sausage, and oat breakfast and consumed it right beside Mama.
“Thank you for the food, Mama,” I said, clearing the table, including Mama’s plates which were still beside her from when she had breakfast.
“Ermm Div honey, I almost forgot, Dina was brought back from school. Apparently, she fell sick in school and couldn’t continue for the day, so she was sent back home,” Mama announced, still fixing her gaze on the report.
“Alright, Mama,” I replied, going back to my room.
“No Div, you need to go check up on her now,” Mama thundered, pointing to the door.
“No, Mama,” I grumbled.
Seeing the terrifying stare Mama gave me, I calmly added, “I’d see her once I freshen up,” and headed for my room.
Bloody hell! What did Dina get herself into? I remembered a terrifying news she fed me, and I was too scared to confront it. And now she's sick.