"I honestly don't know what Tomiwa saw in her to begin with,"

Ife let out a sigh when she heard her sister, Funmi's voice coming from afar as she is seated in the dining area of the living room with some books in front of her that she was revising.

She would have just stayed in her room and do her stuff but she was avoiding falling asleep as she does that, main reason why she decides to stay at the dining table but expecting to go a day without being backlashed by her sisters and mum while she's home, is something that can't ever happen.

It's something she should always expect.

"GOD, not today, not today" she muttered under her breath as she palms her forehead.

"Abi oo, she now thinks that she would enjoy her stay here because she's coming from America, mtcheew" Funmi said to the person over the phone as she came to sit on the chair in front of her then eyed her before looking away with a roll of her eyes.

Ife looked at her then shook her head and continued what she was doing. This was her father's house too so no one can make her feel uncomfortable or chase her out. She has as much right as they do, whether or not they bully her.

"I know ba, when are you coming sef? I am just bored, no one to talk with and this house is just boring without you"

Ife looks at her once more then thought about staying in her room instead of hearing countless times how much her sister dislikes her then choose her peace of mind and concentration of her book revision.

Just as she stood up and packed her books, she turned to leave when Funmi called to her and she stopped with her back turned to her sister.

"Where are you going?"

Ife sighs then turns to look at her with a bored look on her face "My room" answered.

"Shey you were staying here before, am not sha chasing you away, stay and do your work" Funmi said and picked up her phone.

Ife shook her head and turned to leave but Funmi stopped her yet again and she had to bite her bottom lip to stifle the hiss that wanted to get out of her mouth. She turned to look at Funmi, as she expected what other queries she intends to ask her.

"What do you want?" she asked when Funmi didn't say anything.

"Now, you want to be talking to me anyhow, abi?" Funmi hissed and shook her head. "Anyhow, sit let's talk" she points to the chair that Ife was sitting on minutes ago.

"What about?" Ife inquired.

"So, you're proud now?" she laughs mockingly then slapped her palms against each other "That's why mum was against you going abroad to go and school," Funmi gave her a once over "See what it has made of you, no respect and not valu-"

"What is your problem?" Ife interrupted her then put her books down, her face held a frown and a hard glare directed at the surprised looking Funmi whose mouth was opened like a fish caught by the hook.

"I don't understand, like what did I ever do to you to get such mean treatment from you mum and sis Beatrice? What? Why are you guys hellbent on making my life miserable for no good reason. State why you're so hateful towards me, you can't give a meaningful one and you'll all sit back and enjoy bullying me and making me feel bad for following my dreams," Ife spoke calmly as she bite back the anger that wanted to sprout out of her.

It was annoying, she knows she would get backlashed for standing up to her older sister but at least she needs to say her mind one in a while. Thankfully, her dad will support her no matter what.

"Please, you guys should leave me and stop making me look like I did something bad. I kee person? Haba" she carried her books once more, turned and went up to her room in home of just laying down and probably sleep so that she doesn't have to think of the next attack she would face when Funmi goes to report her.

"GOD, I'm tired, honestly" she muffled in her pillow then sigh as she lay her back on the bed while she stares up at the ceiling.

...

Two days later...

"Hello?" an unfamiliar male voice from the other end of the line spoke.

Ife didn't say anything as she tried to understand who was calling her since the number was a foreign one and she never gave anyone aside her twin best friend and Patrick her number so it had to be a wrong number.

"Hello, Ife?" the voice said and she thought 'maybe it's not a wrong number after all'.

"Who's this?" she asked, the man chuckled then sighs.

"You don't even remember my voice Ife, come on, I thought you said you aren't mad at me anymore" the voce said.

When she listened closely, she began to realize that the voice was somehow familiar and she sighs when she recognized who it was.

"Gerald, how did you get my number?" she asked as she stood up from the bed and stretched then went down the stairs to get a cup of water.

"No greeting? Come on Ife, aren't we cool already?" his annoying voice said and she rolled her eyes.

She took out a bottle of water and a cup then went to the dining area to sit down. Her phone was placed between her ears as she poured herself some water.

"What do you want, Gerald?" she asked again.

Gerald sighed "Fine, I wanted to check up on you to know how you're faring and how your short holiday is going" he said and she smiled.

"How thoughtful of you, Gerald. Thank you" she nods "Thanks for checking on me, I am good and my holiday is going pretty well, how about you? Everything good?"

Her mum and dad came in from the front door with her immediate older sister trailing behind them with her eyes stuck yo her phone.

"Gimme a minute" she excused the put the call on hold as she went to greet her parents with her knees to the floor. "Daddy welcome, mummy welcome" she greets them then turned to her sister "Sis Funmi, welcome" she said when she was now on her feet.

Funmi didn't even acknowledge her neither did her mum but she was already used to it to feel bad about their actions towards her so she smiled in her dad's direction.

"Ife mi, bawo ni?"

"I'm fine daddy, how about you? How was your day?" she asked when he was now settled on the couch "I'll go fetch you some water" she turned to leave but her father stopped her.

"You're in a call, ba? Finish your call first, I'll get it myself" her dad stood up to get the water when her mum made a condensing noise.

"That's kuku what made her spoilt" she muttered then asked Funmi to fetch her water.

Ife felt bad but when she looked at her dad he whispered "Ignore them" and pointed for her to go to her room.

She nods then looks at her mum who was holding her tablet, then to her dad who smiles before grabbing her phone, the bottle water and cup then going up to her room.

At least she knows that she's not alone. That's what gives her comfort and she hope her dad will be there just as he has been since the beginning.