The waitress brought our meal.
I didn't waste time taking a spoonful of rice... Oh my Gawwd!

Timi was smiling at me. I think he smiled for a living. I noticed Olivia was also smiling and staring at me and when she noticed I caught her, she leaned in to me and whispered

"babe your foundation is falling off"

That was the last thing I needed to hear. My make up was a bit heavy for this date I mean I thoroughly spent my time doing this and I didn't need it falling my hand.

I excused myself and went to the ladies with my purse.
I needed to use their mirror. As I walked away, I could hear guys cat whistling at me.

TIMI'S POV

Why did she go away?
It was obviously something her friend told her.

"What's up?" I asked

Olivia smiled softly "ohh don't mind her, It's something about her make up" she said as she brought out something from her purse.

I poured myself another glass of Barcardi.
I was surprised to know Benny didn't do alcohol.. I thought she was a bad ass.
I smiled realising she wasn't a bad ass after all.

I took another spoon of my pepper soup.
Olivia brought out something wrapped in a brown paper. When she unwrapped it I noticed it was some tablets. She dropped some in her glass of and in Benny's glass of 5 alive.

I looked at her obviously suspicious and worried. Again she smiled then explained

"we planned on getting wild today, I think she later changed her mind but I didn't ".

I didn't buy that

" if she didn't agree to it, you shouldn't push her, right? ". I asked with a frown

I didn't like this girl one bit. Today's teenagers were just unpredictable.

She sipped from her cup before answering "look, Benita is my friend, I wouldn't try to hurt her.. It's just tramadol, she knows I brought it along and besides I also put it in my drink so no harm's done".

I surrendered but I still didn't like the idea. I didn't like this girl.

I was glad when Benny showed up.
"who missed me " she asked as she dropped her purse and drink from her glass.

We started talking as we ate ignoring all 'don't talk while eating' rules we were taught when younger.

" Benny wouldn't you want to have a drink, it really is nice " Olivia smiled as she offered her glass of drink.

Benny turned to look at Olivia "eww no, I wouldn't want to take anything from you"

"I thought as much, take Timi's own then " Olivia laughed.

" nobody's taking my drink" I chuckled.

Her eyes shone up "can I take your drink?".

I laughed.
"I thought you had no taste for it ".

She ignored me as she reached out to pour herself reasonable amount. Olivia had even almost finished it.

Benny took down the whole drink in just one gulp. I was a bit worried, if it were some other females, I wouldn't bother but it was Benita, I still looked at her as a kid . Her friend wasn't bothered one bit but kept on smiling...

Oh! It had to be the TM, it was making her go wild. Why wasn't it working on Olivia?

Benita surprisingly talked about a lot and laughed more than she talked. She reached out to take Olivia's glass and when she drank it, I had to ask "Benita, are you Alright?... I mean you shouldn't take more of this again"

She laughed "ohh shut up, I'm fine".

BENITA'S POV

why was Olivia continuously smiling and why was Timi acting like he was my elder brother.
And why was this Barcardi calling my full names.
Honestly, the drink called my name "Kehinde Benita Modupe"

I had just finished Olivia's glass, I needed more.

I laughed as I remembered a joke my mom told me when I was just a day old... I don't know how I remembered it but I just did and when I tried to remember what it was, I'll forget but I know it was really funny because I laughed and believe me you only laugh for things that are funny. I don't know if you know because I don't know either.

We don't know what again?

My cheeks burned with laughter.

"What's so funny? " Timi asked half smiling.

" you see, you're also laugh.. Laughing, the joke's fun-nny right?

"what joke, nobody said anything " Olivia said

" shut up, even if... Even if it' s not funny to you, Mr Boniface finds it funnnyyy " I yelled.

I laughed as Timi seemed confused.

" he's a lecturer in our school " Olivia explained.

I was angry, why did Timi not know Mr Boniface... Everyone in our school knew him, even if Timi was not a student of the school , he should have dreamt about him or something. I paused for a while and wondered how Mr Boniface got to know about the joke my mom told a day old me..... Ohhhh, Ben told me that night when mom changed our diapers... I laughed harder.

I frowned because at a point, I didn't understand what I was thinking.

TIMI'S POV

I glanced at my watch, it was 3 minutes to 7.
I remembered Benny mentioned something about getting to the hostel before 7.

"Olivia, you girls have to go back to school before 7,it's almost 7 already "

The girl adjusted her glasses as she checked her wrist watch." I don't think we can make it, the gate would be locked already " she explained.

She gave one long look at Benny who was dozing off already. I was upset and felt that it was mostly Olivia's fault.

The TM she put in her drink had started working on her system and that was what made her ask for the Barcardi and now she was heavily drunk. I should have stopped her, guyyyy!

"why don't we stay at your place? Tomorrow we'll go back first thing in the morning, I'm so sorry about this " she suggested.

It was a nice idea.I wasn't against ladies staying over at my place, I just thought that Benita was different, I really felt over protective of her... She seemed damaged.

I was staying over at my friend's place since I didn't live around, I only came here for a business related issue and since I had a nigga around, I decided to spend my 3 weeks at his place.

I paid for our meal and came over to help sleeping Benita to her feet. I could see Olivia packing her purse and that of Benny.

Benny woke up and I held her close to avoid people noticing an heavily drunk young girl. But it was of no use because she kept on jumping claiming there were huge black holes on the floor. She begged me nonstop not to fall into the holes.... There were no holes, nothing dey there sef.

"Timi.. Be careful, you'll fall" she cried.

I pulled her closer as she tried to slip off "babe, babe"

I didn't find it funny at all and when I stepped out to meet the angry rain fall, it did nothing to lighten my mood. I was particularly angry at Olivia. Normally, I know that when you invite a girl over, she'll always want to bring a friend.. They'll always think we want to rape or use them for ritual... Typical Nigerian girl's mentality.

With the help of Olivia, I softly placed Benita at the back seat of my car. We were all drenched up already.

I drove the car out of the bar, my friend's place was about 35 minutes away. While driving, Olivia who also sat at the front was using her phone, water dripped from her hair. Water also dripped from my head but I wasn't bothered, I was only worried because of the young girl at the back seat.

The rain was still falling heavily when I parked the car in the compound.
With the help of Olivia I brought out Benita who had started gibbering rubbish, she tripped and almost fell... Olivia was of no use. I had to carry Benny bridal style while her friend tagged behind.

Emeka my long time friend hurriedly opened the door. He had probably seen me through the window as i carried a young girl in my arms.

"my guy, wetin sup? You jam person? " he asked with obvious concern as he scanned both Benita and Olivia.

" Olivia, are we... Home? I don't, I - d don't know why you and Aisha think I'm drunk... I Benita Modupe AKA Bennie... Is not drunkkkkkk"

Aisha was not here!

I was about explaining to my friend when I stopped short, Benita already did the explanation. I could see a small smile tugging at my friend's lip. Drunk babe.

He led the way in as I carried her trying to make her keep quiet.

"Timi, do you know I have a shhoeee and I have a hair....hey, what's the correct thing, Is-is-is it an hair or a hair" she yelled

"The correct thing is our hair " Emeka teased,that sent Olivia laughing.

I took her to one of the rooms and just dumped her on the bed. I wondered how she managed to start sleeping within few seconds.

Olivia was behind me. She came closer and smiled at her sleeping friend, she stroke her cheek softly, "she'll be fine".

She turned to me, "Um Timi, I'll really appreciate it if you can take care of Benita this night, I'll come pick her up tomorrow morning.. I have something urgent to attend to and I obviously can't take her along with me" she explained.

I was seriously annoyed with her but just kept my cool. What did I get myself into now? What if this girl dies under my nose.. Things happen oh.

"where could you possibly be going under this heavy rain. "

" it's personal, I have to go deal with it ASAP, thanks for tonight.... And um, do you have an umbrella? "