Dedicated to esmevamp ❤❤

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Sweet friendships refresh the soul and awaken our hearts with joy, for good friends are like the anointing oil that yields the fragrant incense of God's presence. --Proverbs 27:9 (TPT)

Building friendships and relationships with people was a vital part of living on earth. God didn't make men to live independent of each other. Rather, He made men to live interdependently. You find someone with whom you have similar values and a bond is formed.

Some other times, God causes you to meet the one who matters either in the short or long-term component of your destiny and vice versa. This was surely the best. However, people have free will and can choose to not stay in relationships, whether God-ordained or not, through a fault of one or all involved.

Tayo believed he and Posi were meant to meet. But he could feel the foundation of their fairly new friendship being threatened by an oversight of his.

Posi was still blinking, almost like she couldn't believe what he had just told her and she was checking to see if this was all a dream. It wasn't.

She had even said wow so much that he almost, (keyword being almost), made a joke about her sounding like a siren but he refrained from it. He hadn't forgotten what her glare was like neither did he have amnesia about her perfect and sharp eyebrow arch. Those two expressions were forever etched in his memory.

"Urm, Posi. I'm sorry for not mentioning it earlier. It just never came up in our discussions." He sent what he hoped was a perfect puppy dog look in her direction. Judging by her subtle glare, it was a classic fail.

"I'm not angry. It's just that I also thought you looked ro-" Catching herself, she stopped when she saw his incisors begin to make an appearance. "Anyways, I should address you as His Royal Highness now."

He raised his palms. "No. Not at all. I'd prefer if you didn't."

"Okay o. So, is there any other thing I should know?"

"I don't think so."

"Are you sure? Very sure?"

Tayo almost replied in the negative hurriedly before he paused to check out her facial expression. Hmmm. I haven't seen this one before. But it seems to say "I know something and if you lie about it, you will be dealt with". Let me think about this one.

He thought long and hard but came up with nothing. Then, he cast his mind back over their previous encounters.

Ah-ha!

"I didn't know this before but I think my favourite colour is burgundy too." He smiled.

He knew he had said the wrong thing when she gave him the arched brow. Then, it came back to him.

*********

That feeling that something was wrong came back in full force again.

Posi wasn't upset about his being of royal blood. She was just surprised to discover just how well and highly-placed he was. Who would have thought?

Now, the look on his face seemed to take him away from his immediate environment to another place and time. A place and time she didn't know, couldn't know.

"Well," he began. "I told you I was once married and that I'm no longer married."

He seemed to wait for her go-ahead, so she nodded.

"Okay. What I didn't say was that it wasn't a divorce. She, urm, she died some two years ago." His voice broke and he tried to cover it up with a smile. But it wasn't his normal blinding unnecessary smile fit for an ad. It was a mixed smile; sad with a tinge of happiness, uncertainty, and a dash of being at peace with it.

Of all the things she had been expecting, this hadn't even made the list. My goodness. And here I was thinking...

"I'm so sorry. I didn't know." Posi felt bad. She had really misjudged the guy from the get-go and that was purely unfair on her part. She didn't even know where to start.

"I really didn't know. I'm so sorry," she said again.

"Oh, no. You don't have to apologize, Posi. It's fine, really. I should have told you from the beginning."

"But you have to agree that I didn't give you much of a chance to." She gave a sad smile.

Tayo laughed at that. "Since we are being honest. You didn't. But maybe it was for the best. Things may have played out much differently than now."

"Maybe." She looked at him again. She wanted to know how he coped and felt about it now.

"You look like you want to ask me questions. Go ahead."

Posi hesitated. "I don't want to seem or sound insensitive though."

"It's you, Posi. I don't think you can, even if you try. You're blunt but not insensitive. I don't know how you do it, to be very honest."

"Okay. If you say so. How long were you married before she died? And how can you still be so philanthropic with your smiles?"

Posi had an idea what, or rather Who made it possible. But she still wanted to hear from him. Like some sort of testimony.

*********

Tayo was comfortable sharing his story with Posi. He hadn't been able to explain the pull he felt sometimes to her and he had quit trying to explain it. She was a great person, driven and to top it all, a believer who took her spiritual life seriously. Even her bluntness and glares were endearing.

"Like you must have guessed, God played a huge role, along with the people He sent to me. He has taught me a lot with His love, patience, grace and strength. I fought Him for a long time, but He was always there for me. Now, I can look back and even be thankful for Doubra's sleeping. It was her death anniversary yesterday. At first, it seemed like it would be a tough day for me. However, I was able to see the good in all that has happened and just thank God even in that pain. That was all God." He paused.

"She will always hold a special place in my heart and I'm super thankful for that. She shouldn't have died and it isn't God's fault. However, she did and accomplished what she could. I'm living and I should too."

Tayo could see the sheen of tears in Posi's eyes. And she called herself insensitive.

"It's okay, really," he said. "It really is okay."

"She's beautiful too." She saw the confused look on his face and smiled.

"I saw her picture on your table when I was waiting. I'm sorry if it seemed like I was snooping."

"It's fine. And thank you."

There was a period of silence in which it appeared like the two were lost in their own thoughts. The entire atmosphere was quiet with no form of movement. They both came to new conclusions about who the other person was, adding a new layer to what they had already known.

The shared moment also served to cement a friendship that they both could feel was going to last for years to come.

Posi unconsciously and effortlessly dropped the remaining part of her guard and allowed the warmth of this friendship seep into her. She knew she had found another friend she could count on and she was glad.

Tayo had always known there was something special about this young lady, but the moment had sealed what he had known. It wasn't about finding a replacement for Doubra or what they had shared. That would be unfair and insulting to Posi, the memory of Doubra, and even himself. It was about finding restoration to his soul and following God's leading concerning them both. He wouldn't jump the gun and he sure wouldn't "dawdle" either.

*******

Tayo had insisted on dropping her home. They had spent quite a long time talking and enjoying each other's company. Even Kazeem had come in at some point to check on them and also bid them goodbye.

It was about 5 o'clock when they both decided it was time to go home.

"It's always fun with you sha. I don't know how you do it," she said.

Tayo smiled. "Maybe because I am generally and uniquely a fun guy."

"Yeah, right. I don't even know why I bothered to pay you a compliment. You just had to make yourself look good." She shook her head in feigned remorse.

"You're so dramatic. Anyways, is there anything I can do to help you concerning the exhibit, asides the modelling?"

"Hmmm. I don't know. I don't think so. We have the other things under control."

Tayo rolled his eyes. What will you say before? "Okay, if you say so. When do we start the drawings and all? When do I need to come in?"

Posi placed a finger on her chin as she thought. "Erm, are Saturdays good for you? I wouldn't want to disturb your schedule during the week. And I just need to have sketches done and I can go on from there."

"Okay. Saturdays are fine then. At your studio, yes?"

"Yea, sure. The guys and I may invite you out one of the Saturdays. A get-together of some sorts at my place, if you're game."

"Sure. I'm game."

"Cool." She looked out the window to see that they were already in front of her building. "Wow, you remembered my place?"

He smiled his usual and shrugged.

Posi covered her face with her palm.
"Urrrgh, your smiles are just annoying. You always seem to think undercover scouts are looking for recruits for their toothpaste ads or something."

She was sure his boisterous laughter could be heard miles away. "Why do I feel like you're just jealous about my captivating smiles?"

"Yeah, right. Whatever makes you sleep well at night."

"I sleep very well. Thank you very much." He tapped her forehead to which she responded with a glare, which only made him laugh more. What is this one's problem?

"How is my glare a cause for laughter?"

"That's a trap I'm not going to fall into."

With a confused expression, she asked. "What do you mean?"

"Well, I'm not ready to die. So I won't be answering that."

"Go away jare. I'm going to my house. See you later." She opened the door and picked her bag.

He snorted. "Uhn uhn. Goodnight, Posi."

She stuck her tongue out at him before waving.

This was the famous zero-to-a-hundred zone. I have been gotten. Posi snickered at herself as she made her way into the compound. Tayo was now certifiably her very very good friend.

I'm glad the boss is smiling freely today. Yesterday was not a good one.

Kazeem had just gone to inform his boss that he was closing for the day. He would have been hurt by the rapid response to his information. It was like he was even shooing him away. The joy on his boss' face held his taking offence at bay. He was happy for him and Miss Faleye.

Lemme check my savings account o. Because I may soon be buying aso ebí at this rate.

Snickering, he whistled to himself as he walked out of the building.

**********************************

P.S: Aso ebí is a uniform traditional wear usually worn during various ceremonies by a group of people. They are very beautiful and could be any material type (ankara, lace etc).