AFTER THE incident with Alex, I told Seye not to talk to Kelvin about the made up lies. He could keep ignoring me, I didn't want to care about my feelings anymore. Every time I thought of Kelvin, I heard Alex's voice in my head saying she hated me.

My day had gotten worse since I last saw her, I was being eaten alive with guilt. I should have stopped being friends with Kelvin when he said he got a girlfriend. I thought his breakup with Alex happened naturally, but it was still because of me.

I went out with Akin more whenever he was free, because I knew he was only interested in a platonic friendship. I limited the time I spent with Seye since she was always bothering me about Kelvin. I was going to the cinema with Akin and he had called me some minutes ago to inform me that he was waiting outside. I fluffed my hair with my fingers and went outside after locking my door. I saw his car parked in front of my house and I was about to open the passenger door when I saw him with his driver.

I couldn't believe what was in front of me, they were kissing passionately with no care in the world. Even when I went back into the building, Akin wasn't behind me. He probably didn't know I saw him in a heated embrace with his driver. A driver that brought me gifts, took me places with Akin. Oh my God. I put my head in my lap as realization dawned on me. I couldn't believe what I was thinking was remotely possible. Was no one who they said they really are? Akin entered the house and paused when he saw me sitting with my legs and arms folded.

"What's up? We have to go or we'll miss the movie."

"I'm not going anywhere with you!"

I hated confrontation but there was no other way around this.

"What's the problem?" Akin asked joining me on the couch.

"I saw you, with your driver."

"PJ?"

"I don't care what you call him, you guys were kissing. What's going on?"

Akin stood from the sofa and paced the length of the room.

"We once dated."

Crap. "And?"

"We had a fight and broke up, but he was still working for me because of his contract."

"Why exactly did you agree to go on a date with me?"

Akin couldn't meet my eyes, and I knew it was as I feared.

"It doesn't matter."

"I want an answer," I demanded.

"I wanted to make him jealous. But that was at the beginning, we got to know each other and I value your friendship."

"In order words, you used me."

I bit on my lips to try not to scream. The one friend I thought I had left wasn't even real.

"Not exactly."

"You sent him to bring me gifts to make him jealous. You made him drop you at my place, you slept over even when you didn't have to just so he could think we were in a relationship."

"It's not like that."

He was at a far distance from me and I just wanted to break something. Everyone got taken from me, first by death, then a new relationship and now an old relationship. I just wanted the universe to spare me these heartaches.

"And you told me you didn't trust Kelvin...you said he was creepy. Who's the untrustworthy one now?" I folded my arm and waited for him to answer.

"You really can't believe I meant to hurt your feelings, Fatimah."

"But you did."

"That wasn't my intention, it spiraled out of control. PJ was coming around, I only wanted my relationship back."

"Do you realize the risk you put me?"

"I wasn't thinking that far."

"Apparently! Everyone around me doesn't think." Seye didn't think when she ruined my friendship with Kelvin. Akin didn't think when he used me as a pawn. "Was any of it real? Our friendship? Or was that just a ploy to get your boyfriend back?"

"It wasn't just a ploy. You are like the only friend I have right now."

"I can't believe I trusted you. Do you know how many partners kill their competitions in jealous rage?"

"PJ would never hurt anyone."
Akin came back to the sofa and I stood to go to the window. I couldn't stand to be in the same space as him.

"Fatimah, I seriously wouldn't do anything that'd put you at risk."

He joined me at the window and took my arm when I retreated to put more distance between us. This was still unbelievable.

"You could have made your boyfriend jealous some other way without involving me but you did. Does Alex know you're gay or is it bi, did she plan this?"

Alex could somehow have orchestrated everything. It was something she could do.

"Why would you ask that? You think I continued to be your friend because Alex told me to?"

"I really don't know what to believe anymore."

"Alex had nothing to do with this except match make and she doesn't know I'm bi."

"How lovely." I replied with venom dripping in my voice. "Why were you giving Kelvin so much crap then?"

"Because he's rebarbative."

"I shouldn't have asked you that."

We both turned our heads towards the door when we heard it open. Kelvin came in and looked from me to Akin.

"Is this a good time?" he asked.

"Yes."

"No. We're in the middle of something," Akin said, clearly annoyed at the disturbance.

"Fatimah?" Kelvin looked at me.

"Come in," I said.

Kelvin sat in the couch and Akin bunched up his fists and looked at me.

"Really? We were in the middle of something important. Can't he get out for a second?"

"It really isn't that important. You used me without my consent. There's nothing else to talk about." I moved away from him.

"What did he do?" Kelvin asked. I ignored him.

"Fuck off. This doesn't concern you," Akin answered.

"You really have to watch your mouth. I've had enough of your pompous ass." Kelvin stood from the couch and strolled over to where Akin was standing.

"You're just a best friend and it baffles me that you still don't know your place. Walking around with a chip on your shoulder like you're more than you are. Who gave you man of the year?"

"You don't want to test me."

I was at the corner of the room watching them bicker and was so annoyed at both of them. I wasn't sure they remembered I was still in the room, because each was trying to prove he was more macho than the other. They both hurt me and instead of focusing on a way to settle things, they were picking on each other. I placed my hand on my chin and watched them.

"Fucking nuisance," I heard Akin say before Kelvin took a swing at his face.

Before I could say 'Jack Robinson', Akin returned the blow and they soon started trading blows. I was mortified.

"What is wrong with you guys?" I screamed as I saw them on the floor punching the life out of each other.

The lamp on the stool near the window broke as they collided into it. I almost had a heart attack thinking one was going to kill the other.

"Please, stop." I started sobbing.

They were hurting each other and I couldn't look. I crumbled to the floor and they stopped when they heard my sobs. I dragged Akin from Kelvin and saw him bleeding, he had a cut on his brow and a busted lip that was doubling in size. His shirt was torn in the neck and his fist was bloody. I felt faint as I saw the blood.

"Sit, please," I said to Akin and he sat on the sofa.

I went back to Kelvin who was dusting himself up. His nose was bleeding and there was splatter of blood on his pale, blue shirt. I thought I was going to faint as I saw his handsome face hurt.

"Fatimah, I'm sorry."

"I know, just go."

Kelvin hadn't been expecting that because he grabbed my hand. "Are you serious? Didn't you just say he hurt you? Why is he the one that gets to stay?"

"Because you started the fight." I wiped my tear stained face.

"I don't believe you," Kelvin said and slammed the door on his way out.