The music thumped while the car cruised. Too absorbed by driving and by Thulile's condition, Julian let the notifications blow up on his phone screen in front of Nandi's shocked expression as she saw his Tiktok user name.

Nandi kept quiet; her best friend's life was in his hands. Julian was not to be flustered at that instant.

They arrived at the hospital and hurried to the welcome desk. As expected, Thulile wasn't registered in a room and was still in the hospital's ER.

Nandi let Julian do the talking. Things went quickly once the man paid, demonstrating once more how money opened gates.

Thulile got a complete check-up and head scans.

"Nandi, who isㅡ?"

Nandi squeezed her eyes to stop the elderly woman from asking more questions, "ugogo, he's a friend. He'll take charge of this."

The doctors came back to report on Thulile's condition, "she has a moderate head injury. No operation is needed, the swelling will go down naturally, but we will observe her during the night. We'll administrate by drip acetaminophen [Tylenol]; it's a painkiller. She is also dehydrated and suffering from exhaustion. We could have avoided the fever if she got treatment immediately."

"When can she come out?" Nandi asked.

"Tomorrow."

"No, she'll stay the week."

All turned to look at Julian.

"You said she's exhausted; then she'll stay till Sunday," the man repeated.

"Sir, we're not a hotel."

"You have VIP rooms. My gran regularly checks in here. She stays months for migraines and gets scans for chipped nails; I don't see why my friend can't do the same."

Julian exaggerated, but the picture he painted was clear.

"May I ask who you are, sir?"

The doctor's colleague nudged the man who leaned to hear the whisper.

"Ah, ㅡokay, ㅡeh sir, yes, we have rooms. Sorry for my, eh Iㅡ."

Femi and his gran exchanged glances.

The man was sure proper with his suit and all, but it did not indicate his identity.

Tall, clear dark mocha skin, almond-shaped eyes that became half-moons when he smiled Julien made one take second glances. The fragrance of his perfume baptized the hospital halls. Julian was a handsome man who lived outside of their world.

Was he one of the men Thulile people rumored to entertain?

As if Julian heard their queries, he introduced himself as soon as he finished with the doctors.

"Hello, I'm Julian Nkosi, one of Thulile's former school friends."

The man lied, but he thought it was more appropriate to explain things that way.

"Oh, I'm Thulie's grandmother, and this is Femi, her brother."

"Nice to meet you. I hope my presence doesn't bother you. "

"No, thank you for helping Thulile this way," Thulile's gran said, grasping the man's hand.

Julian patted hers, "if there's anything else I can do, please don't hesitate, here's my number," he handed his name card to Thulile's gran and Femi.

A nurse arrived at that instant, "sir, she's in her room. You can visit her now."

Femi began to push the old lady. Nandi and Julian followed behind as the nurse led the way.

Once in front of the room, Julian waited for Femi and Thulile's gran to enter to grasp Nandi's by the arm.

"What are you doing?"

"Nandi, hold this."

The woman looked down at what he placed in her hand.

"Julian, what is this?"

"Her gran and brother must be hungry. Buy them something to eat."

The woman nodded; Julian was a real one. How did her friend miss this? Within an hour, the man proved he had more qualities than his playboy attitude inspired.

"Nandi, I need you to do something for me."

The woman cocked a blasé brow, "what compensation do you want?"

"No, it's not that. No one owes me anything; I did it for Thulile. Can you just not tell her I paid?"

Nandi frowned, lowered her head, and lifted her eyes, "then tell me who did? You're bruh, didn't. I will not put that Zero on a pedestal."

"Nandi, please."

"Ehh-eh, Julian, I think you know me by now. No one tells me what to do with my mouth. Trust me; I will not make his armor shine like casseroles. Mr.Zero will be lucky if I nominate him a pumpkin in this tale."

"Nandi, I don't want to look as though I'm taking advantage."

"Listen, Julian. I will not debate; I refuse. Chi-Du must know the truth about that coward. It's not about taking advantage but being correct. I don't want to highlight you here," Nandi said as she effectively pointed out what she said she would not, "but I know your motives. I'm surprised you never acted sooner. Note that I'm not your Ally, but I support those who care for my friend."

Julian sighed, "I guess there's nothing I can do."

Nandi patted him on the shoulders, "go home, build your courage and come back tomorrow to see her with your armor shining bright," Nandi winked.

Julian managed a weak smile and left.

In the meantime, Thulile woke up to a fluffy and soft sensation. Never had the woman slept on a bed so comfortable.

She heard many voices here and there. Now it was her gran who spoke, "Nandi, why didn't he come in?"

"He's timid, and he's a very busy man. He said he'll come back tomorrow to see how Chi-Du is doing."

"Ahh, that boy is heaven-sent. When this is over, Thulile must invite him for a meal."

Nandi smiled nervously.

"Na-na."

"Chi-Du," her friend rushed to the bed.

"What's going on?" During all this time, Thulile followed the episodes in a semi-conscious stance. She was unable to keep her eyes open.

Why was she so tired?

"Thulile, my child, we're at the hospital," her gran said, approaching the bed.

"What?" Thulile tried to sit up, but Nandi pushed her back, "calm down."

"Na-na, I can't stay here. You know I can't affordㅡ it."

"Sister, don't worry. We took care of everything."

"Yes, that young man, didㅡ."

Thulile furrowed her brows before lifting them. Did Elije step out of the shadows for her welfare? The woman's mind began to weave multiple movies with specials and a beautiful sequel as she imagined the man doing all he could to save her, "Eliㅡ."

Nandi gave her a discreet wink, "eh, Julian knows the doctors here. He helped us."

"Julian, Julian Nkosi?" Thulile said. The information even got her eyes to widen enough to gawk.

Thulile was unable to add things up. Julian was not a protagonist in the scenarios she wrote but a side character destined to fade away without anyone noticing.

How did Julian get involved?

It made no sense no matter how Thuile turned the problem like a rubrics cube in her still throbbing mind.

"Nandi, you and that man did something great today. I'll never be thankful enough," Thulile's gran said.

"I must go home. I can't stay here," Thulile interrupted

"Chi-Du-é, my sista, relax, you can't leave anyway. The doctors need to observe you. I don't know what would have happened to you if we didn't bring you here. There are no bills; ugogo and Femi can stay with you." Nandi turned to the boy, who discreetly wiped tears of joy and relief while they spoke, "Femi, here, go and buy some food. I think we all need something to eat."

Nandi handed him a little of the allowance Julian gave. Thulile was supposed to stay several days. The money Julian gave would cover their meals and any other expenses.

"Nana, where did you get-?" Thulile said as she saw the zar bills rolled up like toilet paper.

Her friend squeezed her eyes at Thulile as if to say, sister, let it go.

Femi rushed out of the room and went to look for food leaving the women.

Though happy, Thulile's gran wanted to clear a couple of things up before pursuing the rejoicing sequence, "girls, please do not hide things from this old woman. Who is the man?"

Nandi and Thulile exchanged stares.

"Gran, he's a friend."

"Lying doesn't suit you, Thulile. No man will pay a suit for just any female friend."

"Thank you, ugogo, that's what I'm thinking," Nandi said enthusiastically before placing both hands on her lips as she realized she said it out loud.

Thulile thought Kungawo's blows had knocked all the sense out of her. She was unable to seize; correction, she refused to accept the theory Nandi and her gran mustered.

Julian, like Elije, was part of Johannesburg elite families. His father owned one of the biggest beer brewing companies in the country. His mother's family was from a long line of prosecutors, lawyers, and other law reinforcement professions. The Law x beer, the cocktail was a head spinner. Like many in his position, Julian followed the path set by his family.

He had a player reputation and enough well-bred IG ladies around him to stop on a below-social-average woman like her. Thulile remembered how she feared the man could influence Elije to follow him in his Yolo life shenanigans.

Thulile rejected the idea things could be the other way around or that the man could like her of all people.

Nandi, on the other hand, had all the proof she needed. Julian was the man behind the videos. The secret admirer who made Thulile a star on Tiktok.

What surprised the woman was Julian's loyalty. The man was more than a fan of her dancing; he was hungover Thulile. Still, Julian let the woman of his dream with a man without value except the assets bestowed by his parents.

The conversation switched when Femi entered the room with the food.

"Umm, that smells so good."

Under the smile, Thulile stressed she could not stay away from her truck. Palesa could only sell the snacks, and of course, all the money she made would be hers, to be fair.

The woman thought of the people who came daily and that man from the club. Perhaps he would come again.

Unfortunately, not many customers would stop visiting the truck without Thulile's coffee, but it seemed she had no choice.