CHAPTER FIVE

Flora's POV

Where could they have gone? Why is the door opened? Different questions kept running in my head as I walked towards the couch to sit down. I was about to call my father when I heard footsteps approaching the door.

I stood up from where I was sitting and walked towards the door to check who it was. I could see my father and brother walking back home, drunk as they staggered. I angrily walked back to where I was seated before their approach. I was panting annoyingly as they both walked in, laughing.

“What's funny?” I asked annoyingly as I approached them.

I got no response from them and I walked closer to them as they both reeked of alcohol.

They both staggered into their bedrooms leaving me speechless as I watched them leave without giving me a response.

I walked towards the couch and carried my bag with my phone as I walked into my room, boiling with anger.

How dare they spend recklessly on alcohol after all that is going on in this family? I asked myself as I kicked my door hard to make it open before I went in and bumped into my bed, stressed.

“Those annoying ingrates.” I cursed as I sucked my teeth in annoyance.

My phone beeped which distracted me. I picked up my phone and it was a message from Janet. “Thank you so much for today.” It reads.

I flipped my phone on the bed and slept off.

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

My alarm beeped and I bumped out of my bed. “It's 6:30 am,” I said to myself as I sprinted into the bathroom to have my bath.

“Flora!” I can hear Jude, my brother as he walks towards my room calling me.

He got into my room and I could hear him calling my name continuously.

“Hey, get out of my room.” I thundered with the annoyance of what happened the previous night.

“Oh……. you're there?” He said before finding his way out of my room.

I walked back into my room and locked my door immediately before I started dressing up.

I finished dressing up and walked downstairs, seeing My father and Jude as they cooked in the kitchen, smiling.

“What's the occasion?” I asked, surprisingly walking towards them where they were both standing.

“Nothing new, Just making breakfast.” My father responded, with a broad smile with pains hidden beneath.

I returned the smile and walked back to the living room. I sat on the couch and picked up the remote control to switch to my favorite series.

I was about to switch to the series when Jude called me from the dining table, notifying me that the food was done. I stood up and walked to the dinning as I held on to my stomach which had been making strange sounds because of hunger.

I sat on my seat and picked up the cutlery that was already placed beside my food and began to eat.

“This tastes delicious,” I said, looking at my father.

“Enjoy your meal.” He responded with a smile.

I continued with my meal till the last piece in the place and I heaved a sigh of relief as I packed my plate and took it to the kitchen to get it washed.

After washing the plates, I walked back to the living room to continue the series I wanted to watch before the food. I was still watching the movie when my brother sat beside me.

“I will be going back to school that evening and I came home to see you.” He said with a straight face.

“What happened?” I asked, concerned.

“I need money to sort out some things in school and for myself.” He said,

“Why don't you think of that before getting drunk yesterday,” I asked, aggressively.

“The money wasn't for me, Dad paid for it.” He responded.

“Don't you tell him you needed money?” I asked, still angry.

“I couldn't ask him because of everything he's going through with the business,” he responded and I was left dumbfounded.

I stood up beside him and went into my room to check on my savings. I split it into two and took half of it to him in the living room as I tried my best to fight back the tears that were about to cascade out of my eyes.

“Take this,” I said, giving the money to him.

“Thank you for this sis.” He said, happily and rushed into his room to start packing his things.

My father walked towards me from the dining where he was seated and was hearing our conversations.

“I'm sorry I couldn't take care of you and your brother like I should.” He said as tears gushed out of his face.

“You don't have to worry, father. You've tried your best for us and we know all that you're going through.” I said as I moved closer to him and wiped his tears off, fighting back my tears.

I walked into my room and locked the door as I sat behind the door and allowed the tears to fully flow out of my eyes. After some moments of crying, I wiped off my tears and walked out of the house trying to find somewhere to cool down.

I was walking down the road when I remembered Janet. I picked up my phone and put a call through to her.

“Hi, Flora.” I can hear her stressed voice from the other side of the call.

“Hi, Janet. How was your journey?” I asked.

“It was stressful. I got there just now.” She responded.

“Oh…sorry about that. I called to check up on you.” I said.

“ Thank you so much.” She responded before I hung up the call.

I sat on the bench by the park with my head buried in my hands as I thought of where to go. I suddenly remembered the beach I followed Janet to the previous day and I quickly booked a ride that would take me there.