Seven years ago

It was a chilly evening in the middle of August. A black Toyota Camry was packed in front of a traditional set of apartments in the Surulere slum area of Lagos. The building had three two-storey buildings built next to each other with barely five meters apart in between.

This was the typical housing setting in this area with the obvious brown roofs indicating rusted aluminum zinc. Each building had a total of twelve apartments. Each floor had four two-bedroom apartments with a living room, a kitchen and a common bathroom. There was a central water system that supplied the whole three buildings and was dependent on the time and season of the year, as that part of Lagos was very close to the water table and required shallow water wells as their source of water supply.

Electricity supply was a different matter altogether. The electricity distribution company were very dedicated to their work and made sure to let the different parts of the town get a fair share of the distribution. Suffice it to say, electricity was an on-today off-tomorrow affair.

Today was the off-electricity situation and Martin Oforah -who was now privy to this living situation- was using it to his advantage to visit his girlfriend, Judy Adegoke, who lived with her strict parents in the first apartment in the middle floor of the first building. To be his watchful eyes and ears, he had dragged along his two best friends James Duran and Lucas Caspian-Asiegbu, who were now waiting patiently for him in the car parked out front.

The pair had been waiting for their companion for a while, and were finally reaching the end of their patience rope. They had been stuck in this car for three hours, waiting for nightfall to reach and for the coast to be clear. Now, Martin was taking too long to just say 'hello' to his girlfriend and they thought he should know so. Lucas was the first to speak up, obviously not used to accompanying someone on a clandestine love meeting.

"What's taking him so long?" He quizzed with a frustrated sigh, adjusting in the passenger side of the car to look up to the middle floor where Martin supposedly was.

"Love is. He's completely in love with that girl," was James' chuckle, shaking his head mildly.

Lucas grimaced at the thought. It was not a feeling he was familiar with. "More like obsessed. He's with her cause she has big butts. It's his weakness," he reiterated.

James sneered, grinning from ear to ear as he stroked the steering wheel in thought. "I believe I know someone who is also interested in that asset on a woman."

Lucas rolled his eyes at him and smirked. "I was, but I'm a changed man now. I'm more of a boob's guy only because I'm thinking about plenty baby food for my future kids."

Both of them threw their heads backwards and laughed heartily. After the laughter had died down, Lucas gaze swept to that apartment again and he sighed. "She must really be something if he's prepared to risk his life just to see her."

James nodded as he remembered what Martin had told him. "Well, he did say she saved him when he was mugged on his way to his father's village in Easter. So he's repaying her kindness with feelings. Sincere feelings, something you know nothing about."

Lucas scoffed at the absurdity of it. His female companions knew what they aimed to get from him before they even met. Heck, if it was him, he wouldn't be surprised if the girl had arranged to have him mugged just so she could save him later. His life has always been like that, and he was used to it already.

"So Martin's girl is the Florence Nightingale of Surulere?" He grinned, causing a chuckle to escape James's lip.

Both elapsed into silence, still on the lookout for the Adegoke's, Judy parents, who were both elders in the church and would not condone impecunious cunning men flirting with their only daughter. Hell would break loose if they ever found Martin in the same vicinity as their daughter. As they say, show me your friend... and Lucas Caspian-Asiegbu, a certified playboy, was his friend.

The night carried with it, its chilly air into the car through the open passenger window and Lucas shivered slightly. He adjusted in his seat to wrap his jacket securely around him and his gaze caught a movement in the same middle floor, but surprisingly it was from the next apartment. A young girl with shoulder length hair, probably in her early twenties was standing in the balcony, holding her cardigan tight to her slender body and leaning on the rails. Her focus was on the moon shining brightly in the night sky, but facing the vision of the car at a 90 degrees angle. (The car was parked in such a way that the right side was facing the front side of the building)

Lucas was glued to his position as he watched her. It wasn't until she wiped her palm across her face did he realize she had been crying. And for a weird reason, that action tugged at his heart. He was mesmerized as he studied her. The balcony was lit brightly by the moon and considering he had seen a rechargeable lamp go off only a few minutes ago in the room beyond the balcony let him know she wanted to be alone. Why was she crying? He heard his mind ask and then wondered why he cared. It could be over a boyfriend for all he knew and then frowned instantly at the thought. He would strangle whichever stupid boy had made her cry.

Oblivious to the person watching her, she slipped down to the floor of the balcony and pulled her legs up to rest her head on it, the moon casting a shadow of this action. Since she had moved further into the balcony, he could barely see if she was still crying but he supposed she was. It was obvious she was in pain. And he realized quite oddly that he wanted to know why, and possibly offer his help.

Suddenly, the door leading out to where she sat was opened and another girl strolled to stand in front of her. The first girl stood up instantly and she stepped out of the shadows and Lucas realized with stupefaction that she was no longer crying. Actually, it was like she hadn't been crying before. The action perplexed him greatly and had him wondering why she was putting up a brave face in front of her family, at least he assumed they were her family. They lived in the same apartment.

Before he could digest the information though, James tapped his arm impatiently, startling him out of his thoughts. He turned to inquire about the issue only to notice the couple walking into the compound hand in hand, looking like they just stepped out of a Sunday service despite it being a Wednesday night. He knew who they were even before James spoke up.

"Oh shit, we're toast. Her parents are back!" He cried, panicking. "Martin needs to get out of there now," he added, stating the obvious.

Quickly, Lucas pulled out his cellphone and dialed his cousin's number. As though the fates were mocking them, the calls went straight to voicemail. Three more trials and they knew it was hopeless. The Adegoke's were already on their way to the staircase, leading to the middle floor.

"I knew this was a bad idea," James stated, gripping the steering wheel hard. "R.I.P Martin. We love you."

Lucas glared at him before smacking him at the back of his head. "Great friend you are. If you knew it was a bad idea, shouldn't you have convinced him not to embark on this ridiculous affair?"

That left James speechless as he pondered the question.

Deciding to take matters into his own hands, Lucas climbed out from the car and walked into the large compound. He knew the Adegoke's should have reached their apartment by now, and were gathering all sorts of murder weapon for their daughter's night visitor. Martin would be dead before he could say 'please'. He could even visualize the scene clearly. Martin pleading for his life, with Pa Adegoke holding the machete and Ma Adegoke holding a gun. Judy would be wailing, clutching tightly at her boyfriend's arm. Then everything will happen all at once, with Martin's corpse as the end result.

He had just reached the top of the stairs of the middle floor, when he saw Martin running towards him from the right as though in a race for his life. He was barefoot, holding his shoes in his right hand. His shirt was unbuttoned, and one leg of his trouser rolled up. There was no doubt he had been interrupted in the middle of a tryst.

He paused as he neared Lucas and let out a gasp, shrinking backwards. "That was the exact definition of a narrow escape," he breathed unevenly, following Lucas down the stairs. "I swear I saw my life flash before my eyes when her parents entered the house without knocking. I didn't know they have their own key!"

Lucas glared at him as though he were stupid. "Of course they have their own key. It's their house."

Martin scoffed, rolling his eyes. "Thanks, genius, for pointing out the obvious." Came the retort.

Quickly, the duo rushed to their car and climbed in, Lucas taking his former space and Martin bundling into the back seat, struggling into his shirt for regain some sort of decency.

James smiled ridiculously on seeing him with his body parts still intact. "Damn, I thought they had killed you for sure."

Martin grinned like a fool then, the adrenaline still rushing through him. "You are not getting rid of me that easily, bro. An old bird cannot be caught by a new net."

Lucas rolled his eyes at that. "I wish they had found you. At least we won't have to worry about you trying this ridiculous idea again."

Martin shrugged, unrepentant. "I can't help it. I'm in love." He sighed dramatically, holding his right chest with his palm.

The trio laughed at his wistful expression. He was a clown, alright.

"Did you have sex with her, bro? You were in there forever." James asked, sighing deeply.

Martin grinned again, like someone high on an ecstasy drug. "Not yet. But we were past second base this night. Damn, I feel like I'm about to have a heart attack cause her kisses are lethal!"

Lucas rolled his eyes again at his response and they burst out laughing yet again. When they had calmed down, James started the car and drove off. They were headed towards Lucas' bachelor pad -which was a duplex because he could afford it- where the two friends were staying over to since Lucas made his first billions at the beginning of the year and they were more than eager to help him spend it.

"Tell us how you escaped if they had walked into the house without alerting you. I swear we were prepared to come receive your dead body." Lucas asked, and as they drove past a similar building to the one they were in a few minutes ago, he found his thoughts drifting to the girl in the balcony.

Being put on the spotlight, Martin launched into a full story mode. "I was kissing my babe like it was our last night together and dammit, it would have been too. Her hands were everywhere, men, they burned like fire. My shirt was halfway across the world, her blouse was thrown to the moon and my shoes were under her bed. We were getting ready for the main course as we lay in each other's arms."

"Spare us the X-rated part, will you?" Lucas growled, sounding uninterested.

Martin eyed him angrily and mumbled, "Party pooper." Even as James burst out laughing at that action.

Then Martin continued, "I heard her Dad's voice first and then her mom said to go check on my babe. Judy went to get my shirt and I reached for my shoes the same minute the door opened. My heart flew out and left me! Judy led her mom out despite her insistence. It would be a matter for discussion later. Poor Judy.

"Anyways, I jumped out her window into the balcony and had to bend down all the way through, even when I passed the living room in order to not make a sound. I ran into the balcony of the next apartment and luckily they were still awake. Sara, God bless her, helped me escape through their house. I ran for my life once I was out of their door. I don't want to get her into trouble with her mom in case she saw me. They are all strict parents in that neighborhood."

Martin and James shared a fist bump at his heroic escape and Lucas refrained from rolling his eyes for the umpteenth time that night. Then suddenly it clicked.

"The next apartment you said?" He whipped around to face Martin. The crying girl was in the next apartment!

Oblivious to his interest, Martin answered offhandedly. "Yeah. The Amadi's live there. They have been friends with the Adegoke's for like forever. Heck, their daughters are practically like sisters. That's why Judy's best friend is Sara. The girl that helped me escape."

Sara, Lucas repeated and smiled as he realized he liked the name. The way it sounded to his ears was music to his soul. Not wanting to be wrong, he quizzed. "Do you have a picture of Sara with you?"

Both men were now tuned in on his questions and smirked at him. "She's really pretty. If I hadn't met Judy, I would have fallen for her, so be careful. Her beauty is bewitching." Martin warned, snickering at him as he handed him his phone.

Lucas accepted it and had his breath knocked out of him at the smiling face staring back at him. It must have been in a birthday party as Sara was wearing a party hat and holding a balloon while smiling vividly into the camera. Lucas allowed his eyes to feast hungrily on the picture, memorizing every plane and curve on her features.

She was very beautiful. Her shoulder-length hair was finely braided and packed into a bun on top of her head. She had wide-set eyes, a lightly tipped nose which gave way for her small, pink puckered full lips that looked delectable and very kissable and he knew he wanted to taste them as soon as possible. Her lashes were long, obviously natural, and the same shade as her streamlined brows which accentuated her oval shaped face. Her face was devoid of makeup, highlighting her blemish free skin. But it was her toffee-colored pupils that held his focus. Now that he had seen her picture, he was certain it was the girl in the balcony. He was also certain that he wanted to meet with her in person. He wanted very much to look into her eyes and be lost in them, because he knew without a doubt that they would mesmerize him completely.

He scrolled through Martin's phone hopefully and hissed dejectedly when he didn't find any more pictures of her. Subconsciously, he sent that picture to his phone before handing it back to its owner.

Martin snickered at his back before stating asking knowingly. "She's bewitched you, hasn't she? I warned you, bro."

Lucas's lips curved up into a smile at his comment. Bewitching was a mild way of explaining this moment in his life. "Shut up, you fool," he admonished, trying hard to stiffle his laugh.

James stared between Lucas and Martin surprised. Then he asked suddenly. "Is he also in love?"

Martin grinned, nodding his head in agreement while fighting the urge to laugh too. "He is," he concurred.

Then all three men burst out laughing simultaneously at that fact. They knew without a doubt someone else who might be tempted with midnight clandestine love meetings.

~~~~~~~~

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