“There are things known and there are things unknown, and in between are the doors of perception.” – Aldous Huxley.

•••

The episode of the exhilarating extreme sports show being broadcasted on the Plasma TV before him—wasn’t riveting enough to erase Lekan’s dark, murky thoughts. Virtually nothing was. Even work which was his first resort in these cases, was inadequate. It made sense that nothing was palpable enough to distract him, from the ruthless thoughts that had invaded his mind, ever since he had come to grips with the fact that he wasn’t a changed man and that all his efforts dispensed in the area to become a better version of himself had all being in vain, as he had being in denial all these while.

Asides from the fact that it had all being in a fruitless venture that had taken so much from him—the collateral damage incurred in the process, was more disheartening. It was never his intention to hurt Anjola, but in the process of trying to be the person she needed him to be—he had faltered and made a costly mistake. He then wondered if he was hopeless, and if he was beyond redemption. Beyond changing. God knew he had given it his best—his all, tried leaving his past behind, tried refraining totally from his old profligate ways, tried becoming the type of man that stuck to one woman, but he had relapsed eventually.

What did that mean then?

That he wasn’t capable of changing, and was doomed to this life forever? While he didn’t exactly loathe its offerings, he wasn’t naïve enough to think it wouldn’t get old soon, as it was indeed an ardently lonesome path, which he definitely didn’t want to tread forever. He didn’t know if he’d be comfortable with the constraints of marriage someday, but he did know he wanted love in his life. He had experienced it, and it had been greatly rewarding but of what use was it, when it wasn’t enough motivation, enough fuel to ignite his transformation.

Lekan had assumed that love was the ultimate formula in the recipe of transformation, the one thing he had been missing. And so he had relied on it, and it had failed him or did he fail it? Whichever, he was wrong to assume that his love for Anjola, his compulsion and willingness to move mountains for her, if need be—was enough to change him. It was crucial nonetheless, as it had played a huge role but it wasn’t enough. At the end of the day, he had crawled back to his old ways, like the miserable addict he was.

Anjola deserved so much more, and he felt guilty for robing her into the relationship in the first place. She had been willing to try of her own freewill, but if he hadn’t cajoled her and made an offer—perhaps, the relationship would have never come to fruition and their feelings for each other would have died in its infantry stage. They wouldn’t have shared the deep affection they had, but they wouldn’t be enemies now at least. Anything was better than being the person that hurt her. He couldn’t help but hope that the perfect man came along—if such person existed—and swept her off her feet, and erased all aching thoughts pertaining to their debacle of a relationship.

“So that’s it. You hurt my best friend, and you stay holed up in your house like a criminal on the run.” The disappointed voice preceded its owner, as it reverberated through the room—before its origin surfaced in front of him. It was Tiolu, of course in a blue Pippa, summer short sleeve dress and nude wedges.

Her comport was mostly a contemplative, musing one and not one suffused with rage, like he’d have expected. Tiolu had a short temper, and he expected she’d unleash her wrath on him for hurting the person she cared for most in the world, asides her husband. Or maybe there was an ulterior motive to her being calm. Whatever it was, he wasn’t looking forward to it and wanted to get it over with.

“If you’re here to tongue lash me and everything, just get it over with.” Lekan replied, reaching out to lift his glass of wine from the stool beside the couch, where he was seated. He shook the glass, and the ice cubes in it, crinkled as they collided in the drink—before he took another sip. “And if you feel I deserve more than a tongue lashing, I could go in and get one of my belts for you, because trust me—I hate myself enough for what happened, and there is probably nothing that you want to say now, that would make me feel any worse.”

Tiolu snorted, before striding across his living room to perch on the two-seater by his left. “I think we understand each other to the extent that we don’t duel anymore. Now, don’t get me wrong, I still hate your guts for hurting Anjola and doing the one thing that I suspected would happen, but at the end of the day you’re still my brother. Even though you’re a crappy one, you’re still the only sibling I got. Might as well manage you like that.”

“What does that mean?” His brows creased, as he locked gazes with her brooding one. “I get a free pass now and the next time I date a friend of yours, and hurt them? Because I’m family? How delightful and very generous of you, Tiolu.”

“No, smartass it means I’m going to try and talk to you first before I rain down hell on you.” She clarified, and placed her handbag by her side on the chair before crossing her legs. “So go on and tell me why exactly it happened and let’s see if we can make sense of the story. Not that anything justifies cheating, but I need to see the angle you’re coming from anyway because I know you did care for Anjola, and weren’t just playing her.”

Lekan sat up, grabbed the remote off the stool and switched off the TV before facing his sister. Her words and her recourse to handling the situation at hand, was quite uncharacteristic of her and the relationship they had. Something had undeniably changed between them, since they had converged last month, with Dayo and Anjola for the retreat and he found himself gladdened by the fact, that she was trying to see things from his perspective and didn’t do the usual judging and derisive admonishing.

“Naade put the moves on you, didn’t she?” Tiolu pressed on, when his silent lapsed on. “She had better not, because I dropped in by your office before coming here and it took all the control and discipline I had in this world, not to descend on her. But I decided not to because I would cause a scene, and you weren’t even there in the first place.”

“It was my fault,” He sipped from his glass, before setting it aside. “I kissed her, not the other way round.”

“That’s all?” Tiolu squinted her eyes, as if taken aback by the fact that what transpired was a mere kiss. Anjola hadn’t relayed the full gist to her, it would seem and she had automatically assumed that he had slept with Naade. He didn’t know whether to be insulted or flattered by her assumption. “I mean, you still cheated on her and that’s very sucky of you, but I just sort off…you know, assumed you guys slept together.”

“Nope, I stopped the kiss before it could get anywhere.” He shook his head, and clasped his hands. “I don’t know how to interpret you assuming automatically that I had sex with her. I can assure you that I’m not that heartless.”

“And it’d be weird if I say I’m impressed, but if you only kissed her and realized the error in your ways then perhaps, you aren’t as hopeless as I thought. Go on, I’m still waiting for the full gist.”

“There is really nothing much to tell. After the wake keep, we went to Anjola’s house and we talked and talked, and one thing led to another and we were making out. I tried to undress her, and she flared up that I did try take advantage of her grieving vulnerability despite knowing she’d never agree to that on a normal day. While that was true—”

“Okay, maybe you are indeed as hopeless as I thought.” Tiolu said, as her shoulders puffed and she shook her head. “That’s just wrong, Lekan. Very wrong.”

“Yeah, she made it quite clear when she flared up, trust me. I’ve come about to knowing how wrong that is on many grounds.” He agreed, and didn’t bother protesting or defending himself as he had nothing worthy to say anyway. “As I was saying, while that was true, I didn’t see it from that angle. I admit I was being selfish at that moment, I still thought that she allowed it get to that stage because she wanted to have a good time. Then she went into this rage of how I’m not any different from regular playboys out there, that I differentiate myself from on the guise that I’m a charmer, who doesn’t break hearts and who informs people of what they’re getting into before they get entangled with me. And I’m worse because I prey on innocence and not ignorance, which makes me more evil.”

“Deep, deep.” Tiolu exclaimed with her mouth open, ajar and he couldn’t help but laugh in spite of himself. “That girl drops some mad punch lines sometimes, ehn. You’re laughing? Don’t get too comfortable, guy. I’m still angry with you, and will surely deal with you later. Let me just get to the root of the matter, first.”

“You’ve said that multiple times, already.” Lekan rolled his eyes. “That wounded me hard and left me sort of hopeless, that I could never be the guy she wanted. Then I went to work to distract myself with work, and I totally forgot that I work with someone I’m attracted to.”

Tiolu’s eyes narrowed at this, but she said nothing. “And I don’t know, along the line of work I was just like fuck it all…and I kissed her. When I realized what I was doing, it was done already. That was the main reason, I couldn’t even stay behind on the burial. I couldn’t look at her face, when I had done what I did. So it was only a matter of time she reached out, and I had to explain myself. A part of me even wished she’d just forget all about me, and move on with her life and I wouldn’t have to put her through the pain of telling her what I did. But of course, things don’t work that way.”

“You’re funny, guy.” Tiolu said, shifting closer to the edge of her seat. “How did you tell her then? How did you bring it up?”

“Fortunately and unfortunately for me, I didn’t have to. She walked in on me and Naade discussing my mistake, and how I had to discuss with her. Before I got a chance to say anything, she had gone straight to the conclusion that well, I slept with Naade. When I told her I didn’t, it felt so good saying it. It felt so good to prove her wrong that I hadn’t betrayed her like she had assumed, until I had to say we kissed of course. So yeah, that’s what happened.”

“On the surface, yeah but what triggered it within?” Tiolu prodded further. “It wasn’t just that Naade was an attractive woman that you couldn’t resist. You care for Anjola a whole deal, and you had abstained from doing such with Naade up to that point. So what’s your deal? You definitely weren’t testing how long you could go without betraying her. It’s either that or you have a bright future in Hollywood, as you did an incredibly good job in fooling everyone, including me that you are capable of change.”

“I tried, but I couldn’t just pull it off.” The thought of saying the truth out loud, terrified him and threatened to stain his sister’s opinion further of him, which was something he suddenly cared for, but he was short of options at the moment.

“It was too much, and I undermined it. To be with Anjola, I had to stop virtually everything that I used to do before. Everything that I loved doing before. I love Anjola, I think I do—I don’t know if that’s true, since I screwed up but I hated everything else in this new life. It was all suffocating, and I was trying to manage on the little oxygen that I had, which was her…but then she left because she was grieving, and I was all alone, and when she came back, we fought and she told me in explicit terms that I was worse than what I thought I was. It was a lot to digest, and like I said earlier…in that moment, I just said fuck it all.”

“So you indeed regret what you did? Regret it to the point that you can’t bear going back to your old life and doing stuff you did, before y’all dated? Because while they might hold appeal, you feel…”

“Ashamed, yes. Guilty, yes.” He was surprised Tiolu could relate, and he found himself loving their new relationship upon the passing of every subsequent minute. “How come you know this stuff anyway? Cheated on Dayo before? Don’t be afraid your secret will get out. You guys are married now, and while he could divorce you, you should hook him down with the lie that you’re pregnant. Responsible men like him would remain in the marriage, for the sake of the child and would give you another chance.”

“You are crazy,” Tiolu chuckled, and he couldn’t help but join in her laughter. “I can’t believe I’m here and legit laughing with you, guy. Just imagined if Anjola walked in at this moment, and sees both of us laughing. She’d be so devastated and might even assume we planned it because why the fuck? Anyhoo, no I didn’t cheat on Dayo and I have never. The thought hasn’t crossed my mind, at all. I see attractive men here and there, but abeg. Nothing beats Dayo.”

“Really? It’s just that straightforward for you?” Lekan sat up. “Maybe, I didn’t love Anjola enough then.”

“For women, most times yeah.” Tiolu replied. “The average woman has a better control over her hormones than the average man. And it doesn’t help that society doesn’t train most men to discipline themselves sexually. So no, it’s not that you didn’t love Anjola enough. Men that love their wives dearly and have been in long term commitment, have admitted to getting attracted to other women occasionally, but their discipline kept them.”

Lekan nodded. “That makes sense. There is always a famine of discipline in my life. So discipline was enough to make you change for Dayo, then? Is that it? If that’s it, then it sucks because…I don’t know, I don’t think I could be more disciplined than I have being in the past month.”

“No, it isn’t necessarily as plain as that. I’m no expert at this change thing either, but one thing was for sure, when Dayo came into my life—I was happy to make that change, because I wanted it. I don’t think you wanted or loved the life that came along with being Anjola’s boyfriend. You loved Anjola, but just like you said…you hated everything else. So, perhaps the first step to take towards a successful transition is to find it in yourself to love what is about to come. That’s all I can say.”

“Makes sense,” He nodded. It wasn’t the treasurable answer he was seeking for, that answered and satisfied his baffled subconscious, but it was something that was definitely essential. He didn’t know how to find it in himself to love something, that he found imposing—but he knew that it was possible to find the light in every situation, at least. That was a solid lead. “And how is she doing? Anjola, of course.”

Tiolu shrugged, and sighed. “She’s okay, I guess. I was at her place yesterday, and she didn’t break down or anything. She was mostly blank, and unreactive. The way she has been since her dad’s death and all. I know you didn’t mean it Lekan, but this is a very sucky time to have done what you did. She’s Anjola anyway, she’d get over it and move on. Hopefully the next person she’d fall for, wouldn’t be a playboy in transition.”

Lekan was relieved, that she wasn’t a mess but he didn’t know how to feel at the prospect of her moving on. He wanted the best for her, wanted her to meet someone that wasn’t a work in progress, someone who was near perfection, but that only emphasized the fact that he wasn’t the one for her and could never be. He didn’t think there was anyone out there for him, as no one deserved damaged, substandard goods but it was the truth that he wasn’t enough for Anjola, that hurt more than anything.

“So what’s next for you?” Tiolu asked, her voice laced with concern. He couldn’t help but admire her maturity. Here she was, enraged at him for hurting Anjola but still trying to find the balance of being a sensitive friend and a supportive sister. It was as if everyone around him were great people, and he was the only one that needed to be amped up. “You’re going to come out of this house soon and resume your life, right? There is only so long that you can stay cooped up here.”

“Of course not, but then I just want to reflect on myself. Figure out what’s wrong with me, you know.”

Tiolu was already on her feet, and sliding the strap of her bag through her arm when she spoke next. “You still have a long way to go Lekan, to become a stable person…but don’t dispute the fact that you’ve changed. Not as much as you need to, but you’re not the same person I left, when I travelled.”

“Yeah, sure.”

“Scoff all you want, but that’s the truth. That Lekan would have bottled all his emotions in and would have never shown, that he cared about the fact that he missed his sister. That Lekan would only hug his sister at gunpoint, and not willingly—talk less of kissing her on the forehead. And most of all, that Lekan wouldn’t have stopped kissing Naade, and would have gone on to give it to her, good and hard—because he is too blind and self-centered to care about hurting anyone. Talk less of abstaining from sex for two straight months, to be a stable person. Change is gradual, Lekan. You have to realize that it would take more than two months, to change the life you’ve been living for twenty-six years.”

Once again, Tiolu’s words were the crude, unrefined truth that he was happy to hear. It lifted his spirits a bit, as he realized that he wasn’t beyond redemption after all. He was far from becoming the man he wanted to be, and he knew he might not even get it in his next trial—but he refused to throw in the towel and give up.

He had just gotten started.

***

Drinking tea had become tiresome.

That was usually Anjola’s first line of action, to contend with the gaping pain in her heart—but now the thought of preparing tea was tedious, and the drinking itself, filled with traumatic memories. So now she simply stood by her window, and peered to the life outside, hoping to lose herself in the intricacy of the manifold activities in progress simultaneously, but it wasn’t working efficiently, as the memory of what happened, two nights ago, haunted her still. She didn’t cry as much as she did when her dad died, because the pain hadn’t obliterated her world like the former, but it was throbbing nonetheless in its minuscule capacity.

She thought she had reached her yield point, where further emotional strain would send her over the edge and cause a severe derailment of her mental and emotional state, but somehow she had tanked the nuclear blast of the pain and hadn’t lost her sanity. More so, she had seen it coming and had anticipated the attack. Not that she hadn’t trusted Lekan enough to place faith in him not to hurt her, but because her anxiety was always calculating the worst case scenario of every situation and preparing her somewhat for it.

Mofe’s death made her hit rock bottom, and Lekan’s betrayal had ripped the rock from underneath her, from where she laid—crashing her down to the bare ground. It was a tad more difficult to find her footing, but she knew she would in due time. That also didn’t mean she could sideline her recovery process that had been prolonged as a result of her fresh wound. The pain still threatened to pulverize her, but she knew of its menacing nature. She had adapted, and was determined to come out on top eventually.

“Knock, knock.” Anjola spun around to meet her best friend standing by the doorway, with a bemused expression on her face that implied, she had been standing there for a while. Relief coursed through her, because the solitude was becoming quite hellish. Company wasn’t exactly what she wanted, but she knew it would go a long way in warding off her demons.

“I must say, it’s sort-off fun walking in on people while they are in deep thoughts about their life. You get a glimpse of their…ah, what should I call it. ‘Nudity’ sounds too graphic. Vulnerability is inclined to a weakness. I’m looking for a word that embodies something not guarded. Help me out here.”

Anjola couldn’t help her smile, as she walked over to her bed where Tiolu was settling down. “Unguarded?” Tiolu scowled at this, as she dropped her bag by the base of the bunk and sidled next to her. “Do I look like a grammarian? You better pick up your phone and Google it up. I guess you’re coming from somewhere, going by your statement. And I’m also guessing Lekan’s house, where gunmen probably accompanied you to, so as to slaughter him right?”

“Actually, no.” Tiolu shook her head, and she thought she could see something hearkening to remorse in her eyes. “All we did was talk.”

“Oh,” Anjola found herself saying, not knowing what to expect from Tiolu’s visit to Lekan’s house. But she knew she didn’t want them to bond over the fact of her broken heart. “And you had a nice talk?”

Tiolu latched on to her right hand and pulled her, so their gazes were connected. “Be honest with me, A.J. What did you expect would come out from me visiting Lekan?”

“I don’t know,” She shrugged. “Maybe, I sort off wished you’d return with his head in your hand or something.”

Tiolu erupted into a hearty laughter at this, that she fell back on the bed and scattered her well-bundled hair in the process of wriggling on the bed. When she sat up, and talked next—her voice changed into a serious one. “Okay, for real now, I know you were low-key expecting me to go over to his house and finish his life, and trust me I didn’t exactly go there to throw a party for him or something, but you have to understand that he is still my brother at the end of the day, and I care for him. A lot. Even if he ranks high on the World’s biggest jerks list.”

“Wow,” It was a lot to process for her. “I’m not saying this isn’t a good thing or something, because well he is your twin brother after all, and you should still care for him. But didn’t you guys stop having that sort of relationship in like, never?”

Tiolu tore her gaze away, and stared down at her hands in a way that she knew she was about to embark on a reminiscing journey. “Not really. Yes we weren’t close pals when we were kids, because he used to pick on me a lot but when we neared ten, eleven we became sort-off close. Then grew distant when we approached fourteen, after mom went into a coma.

“You remember back at the bungalow, before the news of your dad’s death arrived. When you and Dayo came racing out, wondering why we were quarreling?” Tiolu paused, so she could clarify with a nod. “That was when we talked and realized we didn’t actually hate our guts like we thought. We simply misunderstood each other, and now we’re trying to maintain better communication.”

“Well, I’m happy for you guys.” She said, hoping that she didn’t sound like some despicable being.

“He’s really sorry for what he did, you know. And it wasn’t his intention to harm you.” Tiolu continued, with beseeching eyes. “He just isn’t there yet. It sucks that your relationship, beta test thing crapped out.”

“Did it?” Anjola wasn’t on Tiolu’s train of thought. “Now that I assess the reason why I got attracted to Lekan, it’s just like the article said. All my life, I’ve never been in a relationship. Just liked a couple of dudes, got it reciprocated sometimes and spent quality time with them. It was never anything serious, as it’s been inculcated in me to be disciplined in that area.

“Mom’s death didn’t help things, and it made me a social pariah for a while. Then comes Lekan, this person that stirred up funny feelings and mesmerized me because of his charm and dangerous aura. I was inevitably drawn, and when I found out he wasn’t as shallow as I thought, I fell for him. And that’s the point. It’s not the fact that Lekan was Lekan that I loved.”

“It was the fact that Lekan had content, that you could as well love in another person—that you loved.” Tiolu completed for her and she couldn’t help but ruffle her hair, for understanding her on such kindred level. “Ugh, stop it. Dayo and I are eating out today, and the date is in about two hours. Don’t want to get home and waste time packing this hair again.”

“Sorry o, Mrs. Tijani.” Anjola rolled her eyes. “For real, though. When I look at the reason I liked Lekan, there is almost nothing that’s special or unique to him. He was kind, considerate, funny, thoughtful and expressive of his emotions. I mean, these are great things but there is not just any unique, deeper thing that transcends the physical. These are things I’ve found in other people, but didn’t like them because they were not Lekan and the thought of dating them, didn’t seem thrilling or adventurous.”

“So bottom-line, just because someone makes you feel sparks and have great chemistry with you doesn’t mean they are the right or a healthy choice or what you need, because it could be that you’re drawn to them simply because they are uncharted territory, something different.” Tiolu replied. “So that’s it you’re over him like that?”

“Nobody said it was going to be that fast, come on. It was just two days ago that I discovered I was cheated on.” Anjola scoffed, and shoved a laughing Tiolu away. “All I’m trying to say in essence is that the relationship wasn’t built on the best foundation. You date someone because you want to date them. Because you have feelings for them, and you’re compelled to test the waters because you’re convinced you’d both make a great pair. That’s it. Anything other than that these grounds are not strong enough and could collapse real quick.”

“Got it,” Tiolu replied. “So what is next for you?”

The answer to that question was something she had been pondering on all day. She wasn’t much of a meticulous planner, that prepared forehand for every activity but she wasn’t one for spontaneity either. She was mostly a bit of both—prepared herself mentally for grandiose tasks, and winged inconsequential ones occasionally. She wasn’t ready to deviate from this path.

“I don’t know, it’s a big-small question.” She cleared her throat, and ran a hand through her hair in disarray. “It’s big enough because it asks where I’d be going from here, but it’s also a small question because…well, things would eventually work out and it’s not like I can see into the future and plan for something that I don’t know is coming.”

“Jesus, A.J. No one is asking you if you see a Nobel peace prize in your future.” Tiolu rolled her eyes, and whacked her on the head gently. “I meant, what’s next for you, relationship wise? Are you going to date soon again? Or take a break? Or have you given up all on men, because your first ever boyfriend cheated on you and you think all men are scum? Tell me, so I’d know if there is a need to go into an elaborate speech of how there are decent men out there, and how most people first relationships always flop anyway.”

“Sorry, but have you met my dad?” Anjola queried in a condescending voice, and eyed Tiolu from top to bottom. “When you have a dad that’s as awesome as that, you can’t assume all men are the same and scum like your twin brother. Sorry, you guys are sort of close now but don’t expect me not to talk smack about him when he comes up. After all, I didn’t exactly destroy his property after finding out he cheated on me, which is like something I’m entitled to because he betrayed my trust and kissed another woman. So I think I should get a free pass.”

“You’re crazy, A.J. Seriously.” Tiolu laughed, boisterously and threw her head back. “Guy, I’m not joking. What’s next for you?”

“I really don’t know,” She sighed. “But what I do know is that I’m not dating someone just because they seem interesting, and stir up funny feelings in me. And I’m definitely not dating someone who is like Lekan, again. Definitely not. I just hope my stupid body system stops getting attracted to people like that. You’re a doctor, right? Come on, direct me to the portion of the brain that regulates these hormones so I can turn the switch to non-players.”

“Hehe, if only.” Tiolu said. “You know, I still know tons of guys that fit this criteria, that you haven’t met yet—”

“If they’re anything like all the dudes you introduced me to during the wedding reception on the cruise ferry, then I don’t want. Just because I’m going for healthy options, doesn’t mean I’m ready to spend the rest of my life with someone who is going to be polite with me in bed.”

“Oh my God, Anjola.” Tiolu laughed hard again, placing both hands over her chest. “I don’t even know who corrupted you. Whether it’s me or Lekan, but dayum. Hell yeah. I like that. So now the top most criteria, is someone that’s going to be rude and ruthless in bed? Are you open to non-humans? Because there is nothing like pure, raw, animalistic rudeness.”

“Are you crazy? Stop it.” Tiolu’s laughter was infectious, and was gradually seeping into her own being.

“You think I’m kidding? I was a doctor before, smartass. I used to work in a government hospital, and I had many colleagues including vet doctors. Say the word, and I’d hook you up. With the animals, and not the doctors.”

“Trust me if I were into animals, I’m going not to pick one that’s been experimented on in the hospital.” Anjola replied. “It’s like money ritual, in their world? Don’t you get? We abduct them, take them to these labs and experiment on them, with sometimes painful procedures, and they end up getting killed sometimes, right?”

“Jesus, no. What do you think veterinary medicine is all about?”

“Not necessarily talking about doctors. Just scientists in general, and what they put animals through—”

“Oh, I see what’s happening here. This mindset was brought about by the multiple Sci-Fi movies where you watched, that they use mice most times to test run their heinous schemes before using real people? If you’re not kidding, I could hook you up with physicists also. I know a handful working in universities, who do research every now and then and they are pretty handy with stuff. It’s just they don’t get paid much, and when they get paid a reasonable salary—they’re usually old ish, that’s when they become professors.”

“No, please. If I was looking for sugar daddy, I’d date someone rich, at least so the scorn I’d receive from people would be worth it, and my life would be easy also. Not someone that would still be splitting cost of groceries with me.” She rolled her eyes. “I’m thinking it isn’t necessary to have a criteria of choosing potential partners. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying I’d date anyone that comes along even if they’re insane, but asides from having ground principles like the person being a decent person, with goals and not—you know, bad-looking, they should be considered.”

“Of course, I don’t think you had all those superficial expectations in the first place.” Tiolu contributed. “Sorry that I can’t help you out in this area. I fell in love with the one person that I admire inordinately in the world, because I was a big fan of his. I’m only incredibly lucky he was a good, decent person within and didn’t have some weird behavior or commitment, like most celebrities do.”

“I don’t want to be a bad belle, but Dayo is a novelist, okay? You don’t expect people like that to be so wild.” Anjola held a hand up, dramatically. “A musician, yes. Very possible. An actor? Yep, but a novelist? Most writers I know are chilled people that love solitary a lot, and would choose staying at home to watch a late movie, over going outside to socialize. People like that don’t necessarily have some weird behavior.”

“Analyze all you want, but we both  know you’re jealous, that at the end of the day you’re going to end up getting married to a non-celebrity.” Tiolu stuck out her tongue, and snickered in Anjola’s ears, saucily. “Because, there are a short supply of celebrities of his caliber in this country, and you aiming to get married to a musician or actor, might just be the most illogical decision you’d ever make in this world. Most of them settle down, until they’ve tasted everything, so once again you might wind up with a sugar daddy.”

“You’re silly,” She shoved her friend away, and calibrated her thoughts. The truth was that she knew it was a reasonable thing to plan for the future to a good extent, so as to reduce the probability of another mishap occurring, but she couldn’t find it within herself to do that at the moment. She was still beat from the emotional strain that Mofe’s death had put her through and still hurt from Lekan’s betrayal. For now, she wanted nothing more than to exist in the moment and savor it.

“Hey, what do you say to me throwing a little chilled party at the beach tomorrow?” She interrupted Tiolu, who was still rambling on about the vast variety of men she had to choose from.

“Party for what?” Tiolu frowned. “Is that your trick to lure men in? You know, tell all your single lady friends to invite bachelors they know? Trust me, that doesn’t work—”

“Oh for Christ sake, shut it with the men talk a bit.” She growled. “I’m not doing it to lure men in. I’m just doing it because I think it’d be good for me. This past month has been hectic, and a lot of people have shown their undying support in different ways and have stood by me, throughout the entire turmoil. I don’t think it’s unheard of if I invite the ones that are young adults for a quiet afternoon on the beach, where we just hang out and chat. Something similar to the weekend we had planned at Dayo’s bungalow, but well got crashed by the news of my dad’s death.”

Tiolu wasn’t all for the idea initially, but she started to tilt her head from one side to the other—as if mulling over it. “It’s not unheard of, and it definitely doesn’t sound bad either. Okay, then. Yeah let’s do this. Just make sure you warn every young woman that’s going to be there, that skinny dipping isn’t allowed because I’m going to bring Dayo along and I don’t need him spending the entire day, trying to look away just to be proper.”

“Sure, looking away is going to be his first instinct.” Anjola taunted her, and got a pillow smack in the face for it. They went on to discuss some other technicalities of the picnic, before the conversation drifted back to frivolous grounds. Anjola didn’t know if she was any close to finding the ideal man, but she knew she did have the ideal best friend and that was more than okay, to keep her going in the meanwhile.

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And we’re wrapping up, gradually. One chapter to go. I hope you get the point of the latter part of the chapter—Tilly and Anjola’s discussion. Dating someone for testing purposes isn't  a strong enough reason, and not being convinced they weren’t going to work out, made things more volatile.

Tell me what you think in the comments, and tap that star.