“The thing is most people are afraid to step out, to take a chance beyond their established identity.” – Demi Moore.

•••

“Why are you avoiding me?”

His studious gaze, scanned her sitting figure from her right as she fiddled with the empty glass of wine in her left hand—refusing to meet his gaze. She had definitely not braced herself for this, this—interview she could sense was about to manifest. She really couldn’t care less of his opinion of her honestly, but her position in the school thrived on the fact that she maintained good rapport with people in similar position of power like her. There was no need to invoke unnecessary conflict.

“Avoiding you?” She gave him her best feigned incredulous glare. “What makes you say that? I’ve not been avoiding you in anyway.”

“Really?” His brow arched, leaning closer to her—so that their shoulders were in contact. “So how would you explain the fact that we’ve not had any reasonable conversation in weeks?”

“I’m sorry? But when did we become pals that had conversations regularly?” She snapped, seething her teeth to subdue the anger. Her fury was inflated already, and she knew if care wasn’t taken—it would detonate and grave danger would be his fate. “We were simply not talking because we had no business doing with each other. If there was some sort of business we had, then I’m sure we’d have been talking.”

“So that’s what we are now? Business partners?” He pressed on, and she could infer from his monotone that he was also on the verge of anger. Who gave him the right to be angry, like he owned her? The boy had some nerves. “You talk like we didn’t usually hang out and all before–”

“See guy,” She cut him off, holding up a hand. “I just said I wasn’t avoiding you. If you still don’t believe me, then well—what can I do about it? Nothing. So it’s your choice to believe. But if I may ask, why the hell would I be avoiding you anyway?”

The reason of such action was quite clear to her of course, but she figured that if she wanted to perfect this charade of hers, she had to go to great lengths in broadcasting her ignorance.

“Oh really?” He smiled. A smile that made the hair on her skin – sprout and remain erect. “I didn’t know it was every once in a while that business partners such as ourselves exchange slaps and snide comments. I must be so behind on many things this generation has adopted. I’m such a Neanderthal really.”

“You are, honestly. That’s why you thought it’s normal to force your will on me and lift me up into your arms?” She smiled defiantly at him, taking him aback as he recoiled a bit and inched back into his seat. “Well, since I knew you were from that ancient time and people use violent means to correct one another, I thought it would be only proper for me to do so with that slap. Surely, you don’t take it as an offense, do you?”

His eyes narrowed at her, and some emotion was masked in it. She couldn’t read it well, but she knew it was somewhat between shock and anger.

“So, this is how you wanna play it huh? Act like it’s all normal?”

Every confrontational bone in her body hardened. “I’m sorry, but did you really come down here to ask for an apology from me? For correcting you and putting you in your place for acting like a jerk-face? You must have at least ten rackets going, Itunu. If that’s what you came for, better do yourself the favor and excuse me. Don’t take it too personal. It’s only business.’”

He bit his lower lip, a brief pause preceding his reply. She knew he had definitely not anticipated such unapologetic comportment from her, to be honest – she also hadn’t and didn’t mean to. But he was speaking with such authoritative and demanding aura, like he was god over her. No one was god over her.

“So, is that want you want? An apology from me? You still think it’s required for you to get one?” He said tersely.

“I didn’t say I want anything from you, you’re the one who came here to meet me. You’re the one who should be asking yourself what you want from me, and not asking me what you want from me or what I want – which is nothing because I don’t want anything, as everything between us is pretty much cool already.”

He exhaled deeply, his fists clenching as his gaze lowered. He gave a curt nod to Foluke by the stand, who had now returned – although not alone, she indeed had her teeth sunk into another mate of theirs, who Rena couldn’t exactly remember his name but was cute enough, she guessed. If anyone liked unkempt, effortless sort of cool.

“So has she hit anyone so far, while I was gone?” Foluke flashed a polite smile, as she filled up Itunu’s glass with wine. Itunu simply shrugged before returning his attention to her, as Foluke did the same with the person in her company.

“Is that what you want to do? Hit me?”

“Did you maybe, get an injury while playing football? On your ears, probably? Maybe someone kicked the ball really hard on one, but still the other should be functioning well, shouldn’t it. I just told you not so long ago that I don’t want anything from you and things are okay with me. Or maybe it’s a memory problem, my bad.”

She was being unnecessary petty and rude, but for some reason it felt good. For the past few years, she had buried her resentment and mortification to his unrelenting badgering and nagging in a bid to come off as a friendly ally, but now that an opportunity arose for her to exercise an atom of what she truly felt, she decided she was going to take full advantage of it.

“Fine, what I really want is for things to return back to the way it was before—you know, the correction.” He cleared his throat, his body tensing a bit. Her lips almost broke into her smile, as she sensed his unease at the action. Of course, almighty, alpha male Itunu wasn’t used to issuing apologies every now and then as everyone, even people who he offended – did his biddings with elation. Well, not today. “I’m sorry, for acting like a jerk-face just like you put it. Are we cool now?”

Oh, it ain’t easy like that.

“Acting like a jerk-face?” She acted like she knew nothing of what he was talking about, again. “I’m sorry, how did you act like a jerk-face? There are many ways one could act like a–”

“For imposing on you physically,” He said, amidst an audible grunt. “For not listening to what you wanted, and forcing my wish on you. That was very inconsiderate and such won’t happen again. I promise.”

She finally smiled, and then extended a hand to pat him on the back. “Ah, my friend you really don’t need to apologize. I don’t think you’d want a repeat of the humiliation you faced last time, because that’s exactly what’s going to happen again, if such happens again. But let’s leave that, it’s well in the past. How are you enjoying the whole thing?” She finished, waiving her hands haphazardly about – gesturing at the event going on, since there wasn’t exactly a word in the dictionary that matched its description. What would you call a social event that wasn’t exactly as loud and eventful as a party, but still won’t pass as a mere gathering either because of it was well far out of the boundaries?

“This whole thing,” He mimicked her in a funny way, waiving his hands about even more vigorously than she did – the action causing her to chuckle a bit. “Is dope. We needed this. The term has been so very busy. It’s not exactly my idea of a real party, but it’s better than what I’d have been doing by this time of the day anyway, if I was at home. Probably the boys would visit and we would play some football, or play football on the console. Either way, this is somewhat better. Then when the evening comes, then I can go to the proper party I want. Call this a good warm up, or stimulant. If we were in a Nigerian Owambe Yoruba party, I’d say this your thing is like the small chops and snacks that arrive, before the main dish of Jollof rice and the rest arrives. You get the feel right?”

Yeah, sure I did.

“I’d ignore the undertone of undermining my efforts and just appreciate the wit and humor.” She rolled her eyes. “I agree with everything you said though, but the idea wasn’t to throw a party. The idea is to have exactly what we’re having, probably even less. Because on this side of town we have a sort of a strict noise policy all apartments here have to obey. That’s why I keep checking up on Keye, or whatever the person playing music name is, just to ensure we don’t draw the attention of our neighbors. Especially today that everyone is at home and all.”

“But they’re still supposed to be pardoning a bit.” He said, before taking another sip from his glass. “I mean today is a general holiday for everyone who lives here in the County. They should be able to just ignore it in the forgiving and good spirits of the holiday. There is no need for them to be so uptight and all when today is all about relaxation.”

She smiled. “It doesn’t matter, still. Maybe you have a point, maybe you don’t. But I don’t want to try their patience. My dad would multiply the number of maids here keeping an eye on me, if I do so much as slip up in the slightest way possible. I don’t want an avenue to come where they’d now start calling him to complain and all that. It took me an entire month to convince him that only Aunt Bukky here, is enough for me. So I have to very careful to maintain that.”

“Ah, I can see.” His eyes widened, his eyes on his half empty glass that was swirling in his hands. “That’s why you decided not to have a life anymore. By staying out of every single social event, except its compulsory and all. I can understand your resolutions a bit now.”

“Yes o,” She beamed up. It was the absolute truth. She figured it’d be better, than having numerous eyes on her and having to answer to about ten people for every single action. It was a wise bargain. “For now sha, I just have to hang in there and manage. In a couple of years, I’d be out of this house and be in college. Hopefully, it’d be a federal university where I’d be as free as a bird. And not a private school, that won’t be any better than a boarding secondary school. Although seeing as things are going, my dad probably intends to dump me in one of those private schools. I have a lot to do to convince him to do otherwise.”

“It must suck a lot. Having only one parent to dictate and all. Only one person that has the final say.” His features softened. “I hope I’m not crossing some sort of boundary–”

“Nah,” She waved her dismissing hand. “It’s nothing really. Go on, say what you want to say.”

“Okay, I was actually going to talk about just one person having the final say over your matters. Like for example, if I want something and I ask my dad, and he says no, which he says so many times, that I hardly bother him for stuff—I could still go to ask my mom for it. And vice versa also. But you, once your dad says no to something then–”

“Yes, there’s really nothing I can do about it.” She finished for him, nodding in agreement. “But fortunately for me, since I’m the only child and my dad has been detached from all sorts of romantic attachments since my mom died, I’m pretty much the only thing he has. So he pampers me excessively.

“You can understand, though there a few occasions that he refuses to budge and that’s it. There’s nothing  I can do about it. Although he listens to Aunt Bukky sometimes, so I go cry to her and then she’d talk to him. But then for her to solicit for me, I still have to be on her good side and it’s almost impossible to stay on her good side, since she’s such a 20th century, old person. But I do my best in juggling all these. You can see my life isn’t all peachy.”

“I can see, truly.” He said, before taking a final sip from his glass which emptied it. He attempted to motion to Foluke for a refill, but she had moved to the edge of the counter and was now quite busy with her company. Upon realizing she was occupied, he simply resigned and faced her again. “My dad and your dad must be very different persons, then. Mine is the one who’s always stomping his feet, demanding and demanding and blah blah. He hardly gives anyone a compliment, and God knows I try extremely hard to please him in the ways I can, but he hardly appreciates anything. Although mom assures us that it’s his usual stern person and he’s so used to it and he doesn’t know his wrong, but I don’t want to believe that is true.

“How would a parent not know that commending and rewarding a child’s good exploits and deed won’t go a long way in encouraging them? I have the spine to go face him, you know. I’ve made the decision many times to stand up to him and question why he is like that. But abeg, definitely it won’t be the first time he’d be hearing it. He must have heard it from mom many times. Plus, mom said he was raised that way and it’s not his fault and he even turned out great, cos granddad was extremely worse. Well, while that might be a reason—I still don’t see it as an all deciding factor.

“At the end of the day, the decision to be a type of person still rests on your shoulders. I’ve seen boys who come from homes where their fathers abuse their mothers and all, and so imbibe that violent spirit in them. I’ve also seen people who because of that, decide to be different. So at the end of the day it still boils down to the type of person you are. Dad is being that way because he is that person, and he likes being that way not because he has no choice because of background vices and all that.”

Wow.

She swallowed hard, as his lengthy speech came to a pause. Who knew Itunu had such humane side to him? She thought he was all shallow, arrogant and concerned about superficial things like any male of his caliber was, but he had indeed unveiled a compelling layer of himself to her. Something that felt real, and endearing which was so inconsistent with everything else she knew about him. If only, he could lead with this sort of magnetic side of his and not his usual resort to cliché resolves then she could totally see herself feeling something for him.

See herself, that was all. There was no assurance that it was definite.

“All would be well,” She reached out to run her hand through his shoulder once again, and this time the action didn’t repulse her and she was in no hurry to retrieve her hand. “You know there is a reason for everything. Wow, I can’t believe I said that because I didn’t believe it until just now. But I still think it’s that way for the best. You have one loving parent, who dotes on you relentlessly and the other one who is demanding and does his best to keep you in line through a solid façade, because I’m sure he loves you just as much as your mom does. Just has a weird way of showing it. Too much of everything isn’t good. Equilibrium is essential.”

“I tell that to myself many times and also shrug it off.” He said. “But then again, he does something that makes me ask myself if I’m adopted or I’m really his son and then I’m having this headache again of how he could be so infuriating and all. And then it goes away, and I adapt to it all again. It’s an endless cycle, and sometimes I run out of people to tell me all would be well and I’m stuck in my own sober state. So it’s really good that you’re here this time to tell me that all would be fine. For someone who knows a truckload of people, and who a truck load of people know – I don’t exactly have a lot of friends you know.”

And whose fault is that?

“Which is funny, because I’m sure if you put up an announcement on the notice board that you’re searching for friends, the people that’d turn up to apply, their number would be in battalions.”

“I don’t get you.” He said.

“Meaning, if you have the luxury to have many friends, as many as the number of people that a normal, regular person would know in their entire life, and you don’t have any, then it’s your fault. Perhaps, you’re not going about the business of friend making in the right way. You’re not exactly—uhm, using the right strategies.”

“The right strategies?”

“Yup, the right strategies.” She nodded. “We’ve known each other for almost five years now, and this is the first time I’m having a real, actual conversation with you. The rest ones were just on shallow topics. For the first time, I finally felt like we connected and that we’re real friends, you know. The type I would look forward to enjoying his company a lot. A real friend. And not a person I call a friend, because saying acquaintance wouldn’t suffice due to the rate of our interactions.”

He folded his arms, and peered deeper into her eyes. What was he thinking? She thought the news she had disclosed to him would be music to his ears, but he seemed displeased about it all than impressed.

“Is that your low-key way of telling me that I’ve been friend-zoned?”

Hahaha!

She burst out into a hysterical laugh that startled him, and made him jerk backward hitting the counter, and making its contents rattle earning him a suspicious query look from Foluke whose attention still seemed divided.

“It’s not funny.”

“Oh, sorry.” She cleared her throat, in a bid to expel all amusement. “Uhm, I don’t know Itunu. You’re too hot, for a person in their right senses to friend zone…”

She figured it’d be best to feed his bruised ego a bit, in an effort to divert the focus from its original location. No doubt it’d work. There was nothing boys loved more than hearing extravagant compliments from girls about how good they looked. Especially, when they knew that fact well and it was something they heard frequently.

“…And I’m in my right senses, so I don’t know about that. But as for now, I see you as a genuine friend. Nothing more, nothing less. The same way I see every other boy. It’s nothing personal, trust me.”

“You sure?” He didn’t look all that convinced, although not as disconcerted as he was previously. “You sure it’s a general thing and there’s no one there is an exception to.”

“Trust me on that one.” She nodded, just as the padding of feet of a person approaching drew her attention. It was April, wearing an excited yet worn-out expression on her face. Poor girl, it was no easy task being April Iben. Especially on social events like this. She could only wonder what news that was so important, that made her friend leave her guests unattended and rushing to her.

“Uhm, Rena.” She jumped right straight into her front, without addressing Itunu’s presense. “Tomi is here, just felt you would appreciate an heads up. And also where’s that crate of Ceres drink you were saying you put on the cabinet…”

The words that were spilling from her friends mouth, drifted low into echoes and she could barely hear a word anymore after the news of Tomi’s arrival registered in her. She also didn’t know when she sprung up to her feet, and dashed straight into the party in search of him. She felt so reinvigorated at the news. Simple words couldn’t quantify her joy at the moment.

*****

Okay.

Tomi stiffened his bones and muscles, in a bid to summon willpower so as not to melt under the high intensity of the various eyes following him as he stepped through the front door. Alexis had of course warned him on the phone earlier on, about an hour ago concerning the large turnout of people but still he hadn’t expected it to be this immense. He could definitely understand his friend’s plight better now. If Rena had labeled this low-key, what would high-key pass for then?

Fortunately for him, before his body finally succumbed to the heat and pressure – he spotted two familiar persons, heading his way through the clumped crowd. It was Alexis and Mofiyin, and they were also wearing funny looks.

“Guy,” Alexis said, as they stopped in his front and motioned that he follow them back to wherever they had emanated from. Rena’s living room, he guessed was lavishly furnished and decorated. Posh and antiquated furniture, vintage yet contemporary lighting and resplendent wallpapers also. If it were this beautiful now that it was marred by the ruckus constituted by the large crowd here, he could only wonder how it would be when it was in its best kept state.

“So you came?” Alexis question drew him back to the present, as they walked further into the living room – approaching a threshold, where a couple of tables were. Apparently, they were heading to one.

“Yeah, I did.” He said to his friend’s back. “Don’t worry, like I said earlier, whatever you do with April is none of my business. I won’t even act like y’all are talking when I see you together.”

“Mumu, we’ve stopped talking some minutes ago. Me, Mofiyin and the guys were in the usual argument of which show is better in Arrow and Flash. Of course, there are more Flash fans so it means team Arrow is losing. We need you, guy.” Alexis replied.

Tomi smiled, the notion of engaging in an Arrow v Flash debate did hold its appeal – but he knew deep down within his heart that he came here for another reason.

“Sure, why not?” He nodded, nonetheless. It wasn’t like he could say why anyway, if he was asked why he wouldn’t want to join.

“What made you change your mind, anyway?” Alexis asked again, as they walked past the table to his surprise, and stopped by the counter. Mofiyin leaned over it and stretched a hand to pick up a can drink, before throwing it in his direction. He barely caught it, as the thing rammed into his chest and he had to clasp both hands close over it. “I thought you said a pretty girl’s invitation isn’t enough for you to change your mind.”

“Of course, it isn’t.” He smirked. “I’m here to hang out with you guys, not to see…”

He trailed off, as the real actual reason he was here revealed itself. Or rather, herself. Giving a polite smile to the guys, she faced him – her smile altering into a less, polite one. She looked mouthwatering as always, in a black and white plaid shirt which last two buttons were undone, a black jean bum short that pulled off a wildly seductive effect, without being slutty and deep brown women Timberland Chukka boots on her feet. Casual yet, extravagant at the same time since this was her house.

Oh, and let’s not forget the curves. Her fitted shirt and shorts, did well to flaunt her luscious curves.

“Hey you, I had almost lost all hope that you’d come.” She grinned like a child, that was oblivious to the magnitude of the effect she had on him.

“Oh well, last minute decisions I guess.” He said rather uncomfortably, and when he looked back up in the boys’ direction he noticed that they had vanished. Alexis was so going to give him a talk.

“Well, I’m really glad you’re here.” She replied, casting a glance about them as if to assess the number of people studying them. “Come, let’s go upstairs.”

“Upstairs?” His brows furrowed, as she grasped onto his right hand firmly and pulled him away into the direction it seemed the boys had gone to. “But no one is upstairs.”

She looked back at him, and stared at him with a look that emphasized the duh remark, without necessarily saying it. “Yeah, that’s the point. C’mon.”

He kept whatever question he was curious about to himself, and let himself be pulled away from the party scene. It wasn’t long that they had ascended to the floor above, and a much desired serenity dispersed. Maybe it wasn’t such a bad idea after all. The chaos downstairs wasn’t exactly his type of thing.

They were in another living room, very similar to the one downstairs – save its width. This one was smaller in size, and its wooly sofas that had more pillows, exuded a more homey feel. She pulled him into the largest chair, and snuggled right next to him. Their bodies—legs, to be precise were in full contact and it seemed she had no intention to rectify it.

“So, tell me all about your day?” She asked, her knees which poked out of her crossed legs were prodding one of his thighs, and stirring up some funny feeling in him. He reached out to the nearest pillow to him, and set it on his lap to cushion the effect to some extent. He knew it was useless though. “And don’t you leave one single detail out of it.”

“Well,” He clasped his hands. “I won’t say it was great. And I won’t say it was bad either. It was just – cool? No, cool is in the category of great. Let’s just say fifty five percent of good, and forty five percent of suck. So almost in the middle. I woke up, did the chores, explained for probably the hundredth time to my parents that I’m partaking in the community service, not because I broke a school rule but because I was the health prefect and that it was even my idea and all. Then I got to school a bit early, met Legide there and we chatted for a while until the rest arrived.”

“The rest?” She asked.

“Yeah, the counselor had made provision for the people who would provide us with a helping hand. The most notorious offenders currently in the detention I guess, were picked by her and she had informed them that they’d be joining us. Sha, I found out most of them were S.S.S.1 students–”

“Ah, Wahala.” She remarked.

“Yes o, but I told them that they could act with a shitty attitude and spend the rest of their day working, as the work would not get done quickly or they could be fast and serious about it and leave for home and also, leave the stress of reporting for detention in the school, since the counselor would ask me for a status report. Which she isn’t going to ask me anyway, so now I’m screwed because I have to figure out a way of freeing them from their punishment before tomorrow. If I don’t, they’d be like I only played and used them. Which is cool, cos this is real life and all but the person who gets played never sees it that way of course.”

Rena laughed, but made no effort to interrupt him. It would seem she was enjoying his little tale, which he found surprising because it didn’t sound interesting to his own ears in anyway. Probably because it was his own story.

“So, we proceeded into working. It was cool and all. People were really nice to us, one woman even called us into her house and offered us cold water. I’m sure you’d be like, so? Big deal? But the water was gold at that moment o. We had walked a considerable distance in the sun, and hadn’t come across anywhere we could buy sachet water as all shops are closed and all. So when she offered, we piled into her house like a bunch of orphan children who were told that the first person who rushes into the house would be adopted.”

She repeated her earlier action. Laughed genuinely, and said no word. He’d have been skeptical about the genuineness of the laugh, if he hadn’t seen the amusement in her eyes.

“So, we did that. Moved on to other houses, and all. It took longer than I thought, but still it wasn’t that bad. And then we moved to Dominos, where we had pizza and ice cream. Before we returned back to school and went our respective ways.”

There was a slight pause before she replied. “Really, that’s all? Nothing special, out of the blues happened?”

He frowned. “Isn’t leaving your house on a public holiday and going to school to serve community service – special, and out of the blues enough? What else were you expecting?”

Her shoulders rose. “I don’t know, I just thought something else could have happened. Don’t mind me. This is me just saying crap. Oh and that reminds me, I didn’t even ask you what you’d be having. Although by now I know almost everything would have been exhausted, but I still have reserves in my room. I’m not stupid to bring everything out.”

“It wasn’t so long that I had pizza and ice cream, so trust me I’m not that hungry. And Mofiyin gave me a can of Ginger Beer so…” He paused to raise the can drink he had set on the chair, earlier before taking his seat. “I’m okay for the next hour or so. So how about you, how has your day been?”

“Not quite as dull as I thought it’d be, when I realized you wouldn’t be coming.” She replied, a knowing look twinkling in her eyes.

“Oh please, you’re just overstating my importance here. If I wasn’t here, you’d have still had a blast.”

“Yeah, just that the blast in question would be a negative one, not a good one like I had planned it to be. I’m not overstating anything, Tomi. Just stating the truth. I was really looking forward to seeing you and when I heard from your assistant that you might not show up–”

“My assistant ke? Who is my assistant?” His lips twitched.

“Legide, now. Or are you guys not working closely together?”

There was something odd and funny about the way she replied, like she was hinting at something else or was wrapping her words in sarcasm.

“Yeah, we work together. Nobody is anybody’s assistant. She’s the health-prefect girl, as in take care of health matters of girls, while I do so for boys. No assistant.”

“Whatever, what was I saying?”

“Hyping my importance here in the party?”

“I’m not hyping anything,” She gave him a light punch on his right shoulder. “So, when I heard your partner then, had plans for you – it made me really sad. But the day went quite fine. I was gloating for quite some time, until someone who I wouldn’t have guessed in a thousand years had the power to put me in a good mood, came to the rescue and I did actually enjoyed his company…”

His?

“…but still it was nothing eventful or special. Just normal.”

“You know you just skimmed all through and didn’t give me details like I did? For someone who asks a lot of questions, you really don’t know how to answer them, do you?”

“Okay, fine! Urgh! Details then. I woke up, to April screaming at my doorstep. That was around Seven in the morning I guess. She had arrived with Moyin, Foluke and Helen. I’m not sure you know those ones, but they’re my fam also. So we got to work in setting up everything. It wasn’t much work since we had done most of it in the evening yesterday, and then people started trooping in. To be honest, I wasn’t expecting such a crowd. I didn’t even invite more than my girls and your friends, but of course news gets out. It got to one point, I almost started chasing people out and start asking where they’re coming from but April was like that wasn’t being hospitable in anyway and that I have my reputation to think about blah blah.

“Anyhoo, more people started coming in and rushing in and pretty sure some are even outsiders who don’t even attend our school, but just blended in and came in groups like they know some people. It’s them that know. I’ve sha closed the gates and ordered the gateman not to allow anybody in again, it’s a wonder how he allowed you in.”

“Really, you have a gateman?” On his way in, he had strode in without questioning or confirmation of his identity from anybody. He didn’t even know there was any security personnel about. “I just walked inside like that. No one asked me anything.”

“Are you serious?” Her forehead was wrinkled, she was frowning. The thing clearly annoyed her. “What is wrong with this man! Give me a moment.”

She shot up from the chair, and dashed to the other end of the room to pick up something. Her phone, he realized and then she dialed a number, while tapping at the screen furiously. He could only hope she wasn’t about to go all rampage mode on the man’s ass.

“Moyin, Hello? Hello? Can you hear me…Yeah, please go downstairs for me, oh sorry you’re downstairs. Go outside and—don’t ask me stupid question of what I’m doing upstairs, it’s my house. Urgh! Fine, please go outside and lock the gate for me. As in lock for real, using the padlocks. So no one can get in again. The gateman? I don’t know for him, I don’t know where he went to that he abandoned his post, probably the Amala joint at the end of the street. So? How’s it my wahala?”

He couldn’t help but laugh, as he listened to the ongoing conversation between Rena and her best-friend.

“No, Aunt Bukky isn’t coming back until the evening. She went to the market so don’t worry about her. Just lock the gate for me with the padlock, I don’t care where the Baba is. Wherever he is, he should be chilling there until I’m ready to open the gate back. Yeah, thanks.”

She set her phone back on the stool, before joining him back on the chair. Same position as before.

“Sorry, you had to hear that.” She rubbed her forehead gently. “That man has craze. What was I saying?”

”You were talking about how far your day has gone, but now judging by your tired look I guess I shouldn’t pester you much about it anymore.”

“Nah, it’s nothing. Let me finish what I’ve started. So as I was saying, I wasn’t thinking the number would be this big? But what can I do about it? Since apparently, it could ruin my reputation if I don’t act well with grace and all. April’s words, by the way. So it progressed sha, me ensuring people are kept in line. And just keeping a general eye on everyone, while going around to ensure that everyone I know is entertained also. Just basic host ish.”

“Really? Is that all?”

Her brows furrowed. “So you want more?”

He shook his head. “Nah, just messing with you. That’s just me mimicking you.”

“Oh,” Her eyes widened, catching on to the meaning of his action. “Well, I did leave out a detail that’s extremely important though.”

“I’m all ears, ma’am.” He smiled.

“You.”

“Huh?”

“I missed out, missing you. Like I said earlier, I was really pained that you might not be joining. So all the while I was wondering if you were going to show up or not come. Although I had given up all hope when I saw it was well past Two and you hadn’t showed up. And then you just had to show up late, and in a very dramatic way like a boss person.”

“Boss person kor,” He resisted the urge to roll his eyes. “And how did I enter dramatically, please? I just entered like that. Walked through the front door like everyone else. How would I know that every head in the house would turn my way when I walked into the house.”

“Don’t mind me too. Just messing with you.” She smiled, and then edged closer to him on the chair, looking more intently into his eyes. The heat in the room blared up, as the cold within him exploded also. “So, so? What do you want to do?” Her voice had lowered into a less formal one.

“You’re the host. This is your house, isn’t it? So you tell me what to do. I’m game for whatever.”

A smile broke on her face. A rather, devilish wicked smile that made him feel very uncomfortable than relaxed.

“Seriously, you’re game for whatever I want you to do?”

“Uh, as far as it doesn’t involve committing a crime like killing or stealing. Or something else that could get me into a jail, then alright.”

“Oh, this one wouldn’t get you into jail but it might get you into trouble, alright.” She chuckled, moving even closer to him and reaching out with her index finger – and poking him with it on his chest.

She wasn’t thinking of doing what he was thinking, was she?

Off the top of his head, the only assumption to where the course of her action could be headed was no pure, proper one. Normally, that’d terrify him to the bones but for some reason – this made his heart throb in anticipation and glee. What is happening to you, Tomi?

Before he knew it, both of her hands had settled on his shoulders and her face was only a couple of inches away from his. This was really happening! He swallowed hard, at the thought of the pending action. While he indeed looked forward to it, the fear of messing it up and not doing it right haunted him. It wasn’t exactly something he had done before, and he knew she definitely had experience in the area and would find any sort of sloppiness – appalling.

“Maybe we should just go join the rest downstairs and mingle a bit,” His voice was husky and dragged when he spoke next, and he knew his anxiety was well evident in his stare owing to her next words.

“C’mon, don’t be shy or scared. I got this.” She said casually, as their foreheads met like what they were about to do held no form of intimacy. He almost closed his eyes, then he remembered he was the male and was supposed to probably wait for her eyes to close before doing so. Oh, God this is happening!

He could feel her hot, steady breath as they fanned his nasal region as she closed in on his lips, but before the deed could be finalized, a loud, shattering noise rippled the air and made them jerk back in shock. The scheming look on her face had quickly gotten replaced with one of fear, as she unhanded him quickly and leaped up from the chair.

“Oh, no. I’m sorry about that.” She started saying, as she moved out of the room. “I have to go check on the party, to ensure nothing–”

“I understand,” He nodded.

And to his surprise, she managed a smile. “Don’t think this is over. I’d soon be back.” And then she bolted out of the room, to the lower floor to inspect the state of things. He contemplated thoughts of following her, and scolded himself internally for even thinking he had to ponder on the matter before following her. What else would he be doing up here by himself?

When he got down, the scene he met in place wasn’t all that pleasant. Several flowers, lay sprawled on the floor – probably roses, he guessed and the roses were surrounded by shards of broken ceramic. Oh, someone had broken a glass vase it would seem. Two girls, were hunched over trying to tidy up the place. Moyin and some other person he didn’t really know, while on the other side of the room, where the attention of everyone else was – stood Rena and April, cautioning a couple who were obviously responsible for the accident. And they were doing so in very loud volumes.

He hadn’t seen her that angry before.

But then again, he understood. If his parents had entrusted him with the luxury of having people over, and one of his guests had screwed something up – he knew he’d be in big trouble. The same definitely went for Rena. He hoped all was well though–

His thoughts ceased, as something hard shoved him on his elbow – causing him to lose balance momentarily and slide to the stair beneath. He frowned at the descending figure who had just assailed him, as the person made little or no effort to issue an apology.

“Hey, you just hit me. Did you know that?” He snarled. Normally, he’d let it go but there was something so precise about the hit, like it was intended and wasn’t an accident.

“Oh, I did?” The male in question turned around, to face him. Itunu. He didn’t know why the sight of the guy invoked some sort of fear within him. He had no reason to fear him. “Well, I’m sorry. I hope you’d pardon my mistake.”

“It’s nothing. I didn’t know it was you actually.” He shrugged. “So, you having a good time?”

“I was,” He said, placing emphasis on the last word he said. “You?”

“Yeah, pretty much.” He nodded.

“Cool,” Itunu nodded, before walking away. “Enjoy it while it lasts.”

Enjoy it while it lasts?

It took him a while to put two and two together, to realize that Itunu was talking about Rena’s company. Ah! So that was what it was about? He was the ‘his’ she was talking to earlier, and the reason why he wasn’t enjoying his day anymore was because he now had Rena’s attention. How petty and immature of him, Tomi thought. And so? That didn’t mean he should go about hitting people? Did he own her?

He scoffed, realizing that coming down wasn’t exactly the best decision either. He turned around and headed back up, hoping Rena’s mood wouldn’t be in too much of a mess for them to resume their talk.

Or rather, as he wished – resumed the thing they were about to do.

-----------------------------------------------

So, so that's the thirteenth chapter. I know it isn't much in the way of thrills, but there is need for chapters like this to exist, just to move things on steadily and set up more significant chapters. Speaking about more significant chapters, the next one is. So you definitely do no want to miss it.

Before you sign out, do tag a family, friend or anybody else you know that's craving for a good read here.

Also drop a comment to express your thoughts on the chapter. Tap that star also, and I'd see you—same time, next week. God bless.

------------------------------------------------

Glossary:

Terms Used.

1. Yoruba Owambe Party – Celebratory event thrown and overseen by the Yoruba tribe of the country, which is highly reminiscent of extravagant and lavish details put into food and decor.

2. Amala Joint – Joint, used in this context means a place—usually an eatery, but not a contemporary, classy one where Amala is served. It could be used for a variety of food also.