CHAPTER 3. "HAS YOUR DAD TOLD YOU?"

The door was opened to revealed her grandfather, breathing a sigh of relief, she was thankful that she was no longer standing on the table for she would have fallen with the way he was looking at her.

"Grandfather have the guests gone yet, what are you doing here?" She asked walking closer to him. Even though she knew that her grandfather was somehow aware of what she was about to do, she still needed to act as though everything was alright

"Why is the table there and what are those on the table?" He asked ignoring her questions. He didn't want to believe that what the young boy had told him was true, she was still too young to even think of such.

"Grandfather, I was trying to..." Lissa stopped midway when she realised that she had no good excuse to give, also with the manner her grandfather was looking at her, folding hands and giving her that strict parental facial expression, she knew that if she ever wanted to convince him she needed something real to do that which was what she was lacking right now.

"Come, I want you to meet someone." And without waiting for her opinion he took hold of her hands which were tiny in his leading her out of the room.

Lissa was practically dragged out of the room, and though she was resisting her strength weren't enough to pull back from her grandfather. She was thinking that if her grandfather knew what she was about to do then he was going to punish her probably harshly as her mom would do.

"Stay still!" Mr Cameron commanded he was really annoyed. Lissa had been sad from the first day she arrived, at first he had thought that it was because she was missing her family members but now it seems like it is more than that. He was discussing with one of the guest when a little boy came to him and told him that his granddaughter was killing herself, at first he found it ridiculous but then the boy persisted and insisted that he came and have a look. As he walked further, he wondered what might have pushed Lissa to think that taking her life was the best solution to whatever problem she was facing as small as she was. He quickly send a text to his son and so called daughter-in-law for he didn't want to call them for he knew that he would lose his cool if he did.

Meanwhile he send Lissa to play with the children around who were her age mate for he was still busy attending to guests and didn't want to let her alone.

**

When all the others members of the family gathered it was agreed that she stayed with her grandparent's and soon a therapy appointment was arranged for her. She could still recalled the look of disappointment her dad gave her that day. David took it upon himself to come visting and because he was the one who informed her grandfather he was always allowed in. She was angry at him for reporting her to her grandfather and would be rude to him but he kept persisting and as time went by they became close and friends even though Lissa never agreed that she had a friend.

***

"Here you go." David said as he passed the cup of water to Lissa who had choked due to the news she heard from her dad.

"Sorry, daddy what did you say?" Lissa asked and forcefully pushed David hand which was holding the cup away making the water split on the dinner table. She was still angry at David and because she let him sat by her side did not mean he was forgiven even though whatever happened was not his his fault.

" Mellisa, be polite! David was just being nice." Lissa mum ordered

"Yes you heard me. Your uncle called and told me that he has gotten admission for you in one of his friends school to study music since you have always had that passion for it." Mr Joel repeated his earlier statement.

"But dad, I want to study Law, I have written JAMB and I am awaiting my result so why the rush or is it because of what happened yesterday?"

"Many people are looking for this sort of opportunity, why can't you just accept it and let us rest instead of making noise and be like 'But dad, I want to study Law, I have written JAMB and I am awaiting my result so why the rush or is it because of what happened yesterday' noisely" Irene, Lissa sister said annoyed

"Seriously what is your problem with me this morning?" Lissa asked getting more angry.

"Enough you both!..."Mr Joel commanded looking toward Lissa he said"... This is for the best, your uncle would be calling you later, he will tell you more details about this. For now let eat."

"But dad I..."

"Eat I don't want to hear you complain about this any longer."

"I not hungry." Lissa said, getting up from her seat, she headed to her room.

" Lissa..." David called her but she never turn back and minutes later the sound of the closing door was heard.

" Excuse me, let me check on her." David said as he stood up and picked Lissa food which was half eaten by her and headed too to Lissa room.

" Lissa, I am coming in." He said unlocking the door.

"Don't you have a house, how about you go back there."Lissa answered.

On opening the door, he met Lissa sitting by the window.

"Lissa I know that you're still hungry, here, I have brought your food." He said placing the plate of food in front of her.

"Stop acting as though you care, you and I know that you don't, not even a bit. You know everything happening right now is all your fault or maybe it is actually my fault because I was the one who gave you the opportunity to be close to me. I still hate you, get out." She said.

" I am going nowhere until you hear me out." He said and took a sit on the chair which was close to the bed. "When I got home yesterday I went to meet Doris in her room, I was kind of broken that you didn't trust me after the years of our friendship and that you wanted to end our friendship without thinking of how it would affect me as if I never meant anything to you after all these years of our friendship. I went to meet her because I thought that she could help me trace the person who posted those stuff only to discovered that she was the one who did the posting and that she had installed in your phone some sort of app and with that she was able to get the information from you. I am in fact innocent. Here are the evidence." He said as he quickly unzipped his backpack which was at the corner of Lissa room bringing out his laptop.

"So you want me to take a look at your fake evidence? No, I am good. Now get out, get out." Lissa shouted out the last part

" Shhh, minimise your voice, you are shouting, do you want your dad to rush in here?" David said as he quickly came over to her side to cover her mouth with his palm and slightly leaning his ear on the wall to hear of any movement. However, Lissa struggled to free herself.

"Leave me alone, I sa..." She was interrupted by the ringing phone which was lying on the reading table beside the bed. Peeping, she realised that it was no one but her uncle who was calling her. Lost in thought Lissa forgot to answer the call. she was wondering if her uncle would let her make a choice. She may be passionate over music but that did not mean that she wanted to make it her career.

David answered the call on it third ringing after realising that Lissa was not ready to do so.

"Hello uncle...She is at the bathroom...Okay." Passing the phone to Lissa he wispered 'your uncle wants to speak with you.'

With a shaking hands Lissa collected the phone from him silently praying that he did not bring up the event which occurred the day before.

"Hello...No, I was at the bathroom...yes he has but..."

"ENOUGH!...."

TO BE CONTINUED 😚😚😚