20 Chapter 19 - Feelings

Dayo couldn't sleep throughout the night. Never had he felt like this. Why was this happening to him? Even though it was nice, he didn't want to have such feelings. He couldn't lie, it made him feel weak.

For the first time, his heart would beat when he saw a girl. He felt vulnerable and he didn't want to feel that way. His father had warned him of such feelings and he felt happy when he only took interest in a girl's body, but now....now, it was different.

Though he wasn't the crown prince, he felt better not having such feelings. His mind drifted to his brother who probably must be far away looking for Mayowa. Exactly what King Dele didn't want. He was the crown prince and he didn't care all because of a girl. What if their enemies found out? They would look so weak.

I just hopes he finds her on time. He said.

He stood up from his bed and went to the window. He examined the moon. It shone so bright that he couldn't see anything more except it. Looking deeper, he saw her smiling face in it.

Aargh!

He shook his head and left the window. He walked grudgingly back to his bed. This whole thing was too much. Never had he felt so confused and at the same, excited. Whatever, he needed to listen to it because there was no way out of this.

*************************

Dayo woke up after finding it difficult to sleep. He dressed himself up, not needing the help of anyone. It stunned the servants because he had never done something like that. Everyone was accustomed with his brother, Damilola dressing himself but Dayo?.... They didn't quite process it when he dispersed them and worse more, coming out later looking very different.

Hmmm....he did do a good job dressing himself, even better than they did. Something surely must be up.

He walked out confidently, set to go wherever his heart led him. He kept moving until suddenly he heard something coming out of a room, definitely his father's chambers.

"I knew this would happen" he heard his father say from his chambers "Have you found him?"

"No" he heard his father's right hand man reply.

"Have you contacted the guards that left to find her?"

"Yes"

"Tell them to change their mission. They are to go after my son. They should forget the girl because even if we find her, how are we going to find my son to tell him about it and I know him, he won't stop looking until he finds her, even if it takes eternity"

"Yes my king"

Dayo sighed. Mayowa's case was becoming a serious issue. Normally, she was just an ordinary girl so it wasn't to cause an issue, but...he sighed again.

Just as he was about to go again, his younger sister, Aba came rushing to him.

"What is it?" he asked her.

"Have you seen brother Dami?" she cutely asked.

"Um...what do you want to ask him?"

"Something personal"

"You can ask me"

Aba rolled her eyes, she wasn't as close with Dayo as she was with Dami.

"I know you want Dami but you can tell me" Dayo implied knowing she felt a little shy with him and he didn't know why. One would think she had a crush on him.

"Later" She said, then ran off.

Dayo shook his head. What is it with girls?

*****************************

"Welcome my Prince" Mayowa's father invited Prince Dayo into his humble home.

"Would you like anything to drink? Maybe a palm wine?"

"No I'm okay"

Dayo sat humbly on the mud-like chair. It felt a little weird since he was used to his fluffy couch. He didn't want anything. He had come here for one reason alone.

"I'm sorry my Prince, I didn't know you were coming. We were just about to go out"

"Oh" Dayo felt a little weird. He had picked the wrong time or could he tag along?

"Any lead on Mayowa?" Mayowa's father asked, guessing that was the reason why he came.

Oh, Mayowa was still missing! He could use that as an excuse. He definitely did not come for Mayowa.

"Um...yes. My brother has gone to find her. I am sure he will find her. Trust him"

"The crown prince went himself to find her?" Mayowa's father asked in amazement

"Yes. He feels guilty of her disappearance so he had to do something when my father refused" Dayo explained.

"Oh I'm surprised. I never thought the crown prince was that caring"

"Well, that is who my brother is. And yes?" he remembered something he had to tell them. Though, it still wasn't the reason he came.

"Denle, Mayowa's friend told me to tell you to inform her mother that she would be going with my brother to find Mayowa"

"Denle is with him as well? I hope Mayowa is found soon so we could rest"

"Hmph"

A sound from someone coming out of a room was heard and it was none other than Ayo. She was dressed in working cloth, like she was going to farm. Funmi came out as well and Dayo smiled which went unnoticed. Everywhere was silent until Mayowa's father decided to break it

"We were just about to go the farm. I am so.."

"The farm? Can I come along" Dayo cut him off

"My Prince?" Mayowa's father said surprised. Dayo did not miss Funmi's reaction.

"Yes. We don't know what happened to Mayowa and maybe she was kidnapped. It would be better if the family is safe to avoid any more problems. Don't you think?" Dayo explained because he wanted to. It is not like they could refuse him and also, he wouldn't want to create the wrong impression.

Dayo walked along with the family. He accompanied Mayowa's father in the front while the twins walked side by side at the back. He refused his personal guard from following them, at least close. He could still follow them from a distance.

Ayo was still shocked that the prince of the land was accompanying them to the farm. What could be the reason? Even though he gave them a reason earlier, it still felt weird and kind of not true.

"Don't you think it's shocking that the crown prince's brother is accompanying us to the farm of all places? What could he possibly do in a farm?" Ayo asked her sister Funmi

"Well, he did give us a reason earlier. He wants us to be safe" Funmi replied. She was a gullible person so she believed people easily.

"No, you are too gullible. I am sure that isn't the reason"

"Then what is?" Funmi asked.

"Maybe he..."

"What are you two discussing? Can I join in?" Dayo said cutting Ayo off. She wondered if he always did that.

"Nothing my prince" Ayo replied. Her heart was beating a little. Standing next to a royal still felt like a dream and it was a bit annoying that Mayowa was the reason.

"You shouldn't lie to a Prince" Dayo said with a straight face. This sent a shiver down the twins spine.

"Um...sorry, we were actually talking about Funmi's boyfriend. We didn't think you'd be interested" Ayo said in haste.

"My boyfriend?" Funmi asked, stunned

"Her boyfriend?" Dayo also asked, annoyed.

"Yes, you know Haggi, your boyfriend" Ayo said pinching Funmi to let her understand that she was only saying it to divert the prince's attention. But it was true that Funmi had a boyfriend and his name was Haggi, only that it was not the subject at that time.

Funmi smiled and said in compliance "yes, yes my boyfriend. We were talking about him"

Now, Dayo was really annoyed. So she has a boyfriend? We will see about that.

"Tell me about him" Dayo inquired. He definitely had something up his sleeves or should I say chest since he wore nothing on top.

Now Funmi felt a little awkward talking about her boyfriend. Why did Ayo not mention her own boyfriend? Or why did she not just tell him the truth? It wasn't like they said anything bad right?

"Yes, I'm listening" Dayo said again in much anticipation. He wanted so bad to know about this guy who Funmi had taken that much interest in.

"Uh...he is just a guy that I like. He is sweet, kind and honest. He helps me a lot and is always there for me. He is my ideal type of guy" Funmi said feeling a little shy. She was discussing her relationship with a prince. Like how did this happen?

"Your ideal type of guy? How do you know he is genuine with those characteristics? What if he is only doing it to make you stay with him" Dayo said, hoping to confuse her feelings and make her a little doubtful about him. He didn't like how affirmed she was towards him.

"No my prince, I'm sure. We have been together since were ten so I have faith in him" Funmi assured.

"Since they were ten?" Dayo exclaimed internally. This was going to be harder than he thought. Why did someone have to be in this?

"If you love him that much, why did you join the parade? I guess you were there as well since Mayowa was there" Dayo asked to clarify something.

"That was because my father wanted it. I couldn't refuse him and I had a feeling I wasn't going to picked so yes, that is it"

"What if you were picked?" Dayo further asked.

"I would have humbly refused"

Dayo clenched his fist. If she could refuse the crown prince for a guy, then this was deeper than he thought.

He turned to Ayo "What about you? Don't you have a boyfriend?"

"No, I don't" she answered hastly.

Funmi's eyes widened. Ayo lied. Why?

"Oh" was all Dayo said and walked away.

He couldn't stand looking at Funmi smile. The girl he likes has a boyfriend while her sister who looked so much like her doesn't. How bad can his luck get? Now he hated his feelings more.

Maybe, he should try to get the other one. Since she looks so much like her, it wouldn't matter but....there was still that difference in her that captivated him at his brother's birthday and still does. That innocence, the serenity in her looks and the smile....her sister doesn't have that.

The family farmed while the prince watched. Of course he wasn't going to join and they didn't think either. Then later, he went out to drink water.

On getting back, he discovered that the twins were resting why some guys who were probably their age were doing the work and their father was no where to be seen.

Were they perhaps their workers...or? His eyes widened at the thought in his head.

Or their boyfriends?

But why were they two? From what they concluded, only Funmi had a boyfriend or?...

He decided to observe for a while.

Observing, he saw Funmi going to help one of the guys and there he concluded, he was her boyfriend. With the way he held her and they chatted and laughed, he clearly was.

Oh, how it annoyed him!

But on the other hand, Ayo didn't seem bothered. She sat down while she cheered the other guy up.

He had to do something about this.

Dayo joined the family to eat their lunch. It was nice and he couldn't stop staring at Funmi. She looked cute with her eating styles. She didn't seem to care that a royal was eating with them and ate the way she liked, like Mayowa while her sister Ayo was very cautious. You could see she was mimicking the royals and distinguishing people. Maybe, that was just how she was.

Later, the family waved the prince. It was still like a dream that a royal farmed and ate with them.

Funmi then took the time to ask Ayo "Why did you lie about you having a boyfriend?"

"I didn't want to sound awkward in front of him" she replied awkwardly. Truthfully, she wanted the prince to know that he had a chance if he wanted her.

"And you mentioned my boyfriend?"

"I didn't have anything to say. I didn't want him to know what we were saying"

"Whatever" Funmi rolled her eyes.

***********************************

It was night time, Funmi went out to pack the chairs they normally used outside during the day. She bent down to lift the chair but threw it down when she saw a shadow.

"Who is there?" Her heartbeat increased rapidly.

She shook her head in denial. It wasn't anyone and if it was, it should be a person in the compound. She went on to lift the chairs when suddenly, she felt something like a hand wrap her face with a smell that made her go unconscious. Instantly and with no struggle, the person took her to a place only he knew.

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