Lolade heard the news and rushed to the hospital to visit him.
His absence from school hadn't gone unnoticed — his study group kept asking questions until the truth finally came out:
His grandfather was gone. His grandmother nearly suffered a stroke from the shock.
The family didn't need to send out invitations.
When your family name alone drew a crowd, you didn't invite people — they just came.
The funeral day arrived — a day soaked in rain and sorrow.
The skies wept too, mourning alongside them.
Some cried loudly.
Some sat in confusion.
Others stood frozen, their tears stuck somewhere between heartbreak and disbelief.
MideFlex didn't cry.
His face was unreadable, but his silence was louder than any sob.
Flanked by Lolade and Peace, each held him steady like anchors keeping him from collapsing.
His brothers stayed close to their parents.
It was a painful sight… yet, by the end, the sadness softened into gentle laughter.
Stories of Grandpa's long life, his wild humor, and quiet wisdom filled the air again a reminder that death can't erase a life well-lived. 💫
Lolade noticed Principal Lawrence arriving drenched, suit dripping rainwater, but still walking with that same composed air.
"He came?" she whispered in disbelief.
"Who?" MideFlex asked, turning.
"Our principal."
MideFlex straightened immediately. "Good evening, sir."
"My condolences to your family," Principal Lawrence said, his voice low and sincere.
"Thank you, sir," MideFlex replied.
The principal placed a firm hand on his shoulder and said "We're expecting you back next week. Your duties still await you.
The lavatory head can't go missing for too long."
A faint smile broke through MideFlex's grief. "Yes, sir."
Principal Lawrence nodded, then walked off toward the others still dripping rain like it didn't matter.
"I need a drink🍷," Peace muttered suddenly, heading toward the liquor table.
Lolade followed, concern flashing in her eyes.
"What are you doing?"
"What does it look like?" Peace replied flatly, lifting a glass.
"This is a funeral, Peace. That table's for adults."
Peace glared. "It's none of your business. You're here for my brother, not me. I don't need your pity."
Lolade blinked. "Ouch… but I'm not letting you drink that."
Peace scoffed.
"Just like you didn't let my brother have your heart?"
"Excuse me?" Lolade frowned.
"Leave me alone. I'm not mourning. I'm just… tired of hearing people mourn."
She grabbed a glass of brandy, took a sip, and stormed upstairs.
Lolade stood frozen, watching her disappear.
Peace wasn't angry... she was breaking 💔
Evening crept in.
The mansion grew quiet — the kind of quiet that hums with leftover grief.
MideFlex sat alone, scrolling through his phone.
Thousands of unread messages filled the screen. But one notification caught his eye.
You've been added to a group: ZETACIRCLE.
He frowned. "What's this?"
ZETACIRCLE wasn't your average chat group.
It was the private circle — hidden, elite, powerful.
Only top students from prestigious schools got in.
A playground of status, secrets, and savage truths 😶🌫️
Where gossip, hookups, crypto wins, confessions, and scandals ruled the night.
In ZETACIRCLE, relevance was currency.
If you weren't bold, rich, or reckless… you were invisible.
And now, MideFlex was in.
"Who added me?" he muttered, scrolling.
Boom. 💥
It was Peace.
He looked around. Peace was nowhere to be found.
So he headed inside toward the girls' quarters.
"Where are you going?" Mummy Temi, the most respected woman in the house, asked.
"I need to talk to Peace."
"About what?"
"Something private."
"Call her on the phone to come out," she warned. "That's a girl zone, they won't like it if you go inside."
He nodded and called. A few minutes later, Peace appeared… looking tipsy.
"You okay?" he asked, guiding her to a chair.
"I'm fine. What do you want?" she slurred, trying to sound sober.
"You added me to a group. Why?" he asked, frowning.
"Oh, ZETACIRCLE?" she said, eyes glassy but sharp. "They told me to add someone from ASF. That's you."
"ASF? You know I'm still on punishment. You want me in another mess?" he said, worried.
"Relax," she giggled. "It's a chill group. You'll need it one day, trust me. I was added too."
"That doesn't mean you can add me anyhow—"
"If you're expecting an apology," she cut in, "I'd rather carry Temi on my head."
He blinked, then burst into laughter. "You're unbelievable 😂"
Peace smirked. "Lolade went home?"
"Yes. She's got school tomorrow," he said, helping her stand.
"She looked pretty today," Peace murmured.
"Ew, don't be a gay!" he teased.
"I'm not. So she didn't look beautiful to you?" she asked, eyes locked on his.
Whenever she stared like that, she could read his truth.
"She's always beautiful," he admitted softly.
Peace chuckled. "We're mourning Grandpa and you're smiling?"
He grinned. "Guess you made me."
"If you think she's beautiful, tell her. Don't hide it. She deserves to know."
Her voice softened, almost sincere — then her smirk returned.
"And if she breaks your heart, I'll break hers for real. I don't care if she's a Makinde or a Martian — I'll show her pepper 🌶️"
She staggered away, leaving him smiling.
Maybe Peace was right.
She was chaos, comfort, and competition all in one.
If not for blood… maybe they could've been more.
But her last words stayed with him — don't hide it.
Because feelings kept too long… always find a way out. 💔