After making sure that Hadiza had actually left, Muhammad came out of his room. He only hoped not to see his step mother in the sitting room but he knew that was impossible, on the couch, she was sitting comfortably as though awaiting his appearance. She had a  demeaning face on and Muhammad knew she was mad at him.

"You know Hadiza was here to see you but you chose not to leave your room even when I sent for you"She quried, she was shaking her right leg, an act she did when she was angry with him or his step brothers.

"But I was sleeping" Muhammad defended himself and plopped on the couch beside her.

"For 3 hours! For three hours she was here, you were sleeping and once she left, you woke up, you need to upgrade your lying skills"

Noted!

" Okay fine, maybe I was not sleeping but you know I really do not have time for Hadiza"

" Why, isn't she your friend anymore? Hadiza is even the girl we are considering as a bride for you"His stepmother told him and he frowned immediately, since when did they start making such plans.

"Hadiza is not only beautiful, she's a good Muslim girl from a reputable home, she's educated, respectful, hardworking and she knows of your health"

" So you just listed all the qualities of Hadiza you like, seems you want to marry her and not me"Muhammad shrugged and his stepmother eyes him.

" You aren't getting any younger, your mother wherever she is would want you to settle down"she tried to convince him but he moved away.

" You are trying to blackmail me using my mother, aren't you?"

"No, why would I?"Lubana his stepmother had always showed genuine love that Muhammad always doubted stories of those with evil stepmothers but he knew they existed but Lubana was good.

"I'll be in my room" He said in a tone of finality.

Talking about his mother was deep for Muhammad, she was his muse. His mother was a mistress, an Arabian mistress, the reason for his skin and blue eyes. She had died in an air crash which involved him but he survived but with another complication.

Muhammad laid on his bed and decided to read, he really couldn't, thoughts of his mother filled his mind but he didn't fail to notice that somewhere in between those thoughts, the pictures of a certain dark girl with afro gelled hair invaded his mind.

***
Muhammad decided to pick out some groceries for his step mum. The next day was Friday and he was planning to take Ebere out as he promised.

He was about grabbing a box of choco pops, his secret addiction when a phone call disrupted him, a smile lit his face, she was actually calling him. He had texted her that day and since then it had been all vibes and more vibes.

"Hey, you couldn't wait for tomorrow" Muhammad said in a teasing voice and he could imagine the way she would roll her eyes.

"Oh please, don't be too full of yourself" She replied which made him chuckle. Was she ever shy? He doubted.
There was a brief silence and Muhammad waited as she cleared her throat.

"I'm really sorry but I don't think I can make it tomorrow, am down with a fever and my dad who is a doctor placed me under house arrest"She said in a small voice.

" But you don't sound sick"

" The sickness is affecting my body and not my voice"She sassed.

" Okay, though I'm disappointed, I really hope you get well soon, hope you are getting better though? "

" Yes"

"And you are taking your drugs?"

" Yes"

" And you are eating well right, you need fruits too"

" Guy I know, when did you become a doctor? "She laughed and he chuckled.

" Get well soon then"

"Yeah, thanks, see you later, love ya"Ebere said but on realizing what she said, she coughed.

" I'm sorry, it's just an habit to end my calls that way, just a slip off" She rambled and that made Muhammad laugh, so she could be shy and embarrassed.

"It's okay, I understand" He ended her rambling and immediately she cut the call. He smiled at that too, he didn't notice when a slender girl was standing before him. She was wearing a skimpy red gown, blonde hair, long lashes that looked like wings and long painted nails.

"Hey, you are Muhammad, gosh, am your follower on Instagram, you look better in person"She really looked happy.

Muhammad couldn't remember the last time he posted anything there, probably 3 months back and he had maybe 15 pictures there, he couldn't remember if it was a million followers he had but he followed just 10 people.

"Okay, it's a pleasure meeting you" Muhammad replied trying to be nice even though he didn't share in her happiness.

"My name is Natasha by the way, people call me Tasha but you can call me babe"

Lame!

Muhammad found himself cringing. He got sick of it all finally.

"You do know you are harassing me right?" He asked her and her expression mirrored confusion.

"How?" She asked, her fake smile not leaving her face.

"How will you feel if a random guy stops you and start touching your chest and flirting with you? I don't know why people seem to feel it's right to flirt with boys or do stuffs, why do you actually think am enjoying what you are doing?I'm sorry but I have lots of things to do, if you'll excuse me, I have lots if important things to do"

Muhammad excused himself and paid for his stuffs, he didn't know why but he was not happy, probably because a certain dark girl just disappointed him.
**

Ebere was nervous, heck she was apprehensive, the word nervous seemed casual and small for how she felt, she ransacked her wardrobe, tested her shoes, tried practising makeup sessions from YouTube and ended up on her bed dejected. Despite convincing herself that it was just a casual date, her mind kept messing up with her, he was rich, handsome and definitely, get would take her to an expensive place, she wouldn't want to disgrace him or herself.

Ebere slapped her forehead in frustration, her insecurities had gotten the better part of her, she was clearly not his type from all indications, his type would most surely be a thick ass girl, curves at the right places, flawless skin, jaw dropping beautiful and light skinned.... Yes, she had added light skinned because it seemed as though that was the color of beautiful people, from the lightning skin all over the market to the billboards filled with light women, advertisement on TV and all that, sometimes she felt less confident in her own skin. She sighed again, she was definitely going crazy.

She didn't know when she picked up her phone and dialed his number she had saved as blue eyes, he picked at first ring and Ebere told him the well cooked lie. Maybe she was actually sick, she was already feeling drained and a slight headache was beginning to form. Her clothes were all over the room, her shoes scattered around, everywhere was a complete mess all because of a date, she was indeed pathetic.

Just as she was about to get up from her bed and put the room in order, she heard shuffling of feet's and her doors went open and Gift walked in with a plate of 'chin chin'. She was dressed in a black gown with flat shoes, get hair was no longer in braids, it was now in a bun.

She had totally forgotten that Gift was coming over.

"Geez, why is your room like this? Were you robbed?"

Trust Gift to come up with stupid theories.

"Welcome" Ebere replied instead arranging her shoes.

Gift found a space on Ebere's bed.

"So why is your room like this?" Gift asked.

"I was just looking for a certain document"Ebere lied

" Try again Ebere, you suck at lying, your documents aren't in your shoes"

" Okay, I was actually looking for a dress"Ebere confessed, it was no use hiding it, the human being would pester her for answers till she dies.

"Why?" This time Gift had an amused face.

"A dinner but not get too hyper, I called to cancel it"

" You did what? Are you alright, you dey ment?, You didn't even tell me, if you had, I would have helped you picked a dress"Gift sounded really disappointed at this point.

" Look, am notaa confident as you are, I can't stand people looking at me because deep down I ain't that pretty"Ebere confessed, she didn't know where the American accent came from.

Gift had a softer look on her face now and then she held her friend's shoulder.

"Babe, I don't understand you honestly, come on, do you check yourself on the mirror before blabbing nonsense, come on, look at you, a beautiful melanin queen like you, straight nose anyone could kill for, your height alone mehn, why is that usually beautiful people don't see their beauty it's all this agama lizard that like making noise"

Ebere chuckled.

" Babe"Gift continued "you are one hell of a beautiful woman, don't allow some motherfuckers opinion affect you, people will only see you as beautiful when you see it first"

Ebere felt better, like a weight had been lifted off her shoulder.

"Thank you"

Gift nodded.

"How the hell did you get my mum to give you those snacks?" Ebere pointed at the plate her friend came in with.

" Visitors benefit" Gift simply said.

"Funny enough,I have not had any of those, she wouldn't let me touch them"

Gift chuckled at that. Visitors were always treated right.

"But promise me, promise me that you'll accept the best time he asks you out on a dinner"Gift had a serious face on.

" His just my friend" Ebere tried to protest.

"I never said otherwise, did I? Just promise me"

"I promise"

Ebere stretched out her hand to take some but Gift slapped her hands away.

"That's not fair" she cried.

"Nothing in this life is fair babe"Gift stuck out her tongue and sat comfortably while Ebere continued arranging her clothes.

**
Who thought she was actually going to go?😂
I thought she was too but that Ebere girl Sha
And babe, whether dark or light or whatever, accept your color the way it is
Like guyyy, do I have to remind you how beautiful you are, see ehn, whether chubby, thick, slim, thin, lapa, na spec you be, sho get? No go dey fall my hand, just dress well, smile and be nice.
I love you😍😍😘