Song of the chapter: I know this story (Disney's The Princess And The Frog)

A part of him felt guilty. Just a teeny tiny part.

She wasn't the first but thankfully, she is the last. It wasn't his fault she was so gullible. It also wasn't his fault that she got arrested. Okay, so that part is his fault, but only a little.

“How could you?!” His friend, Elijah, bemoaned. He has been asking that since he arrived at their flat after their eventful evening. How was he supposed to know that that Sewa was the woman Elijah had his eyes on?

“Hers was the last operation with the guys. I swear! I have already stopped working with them. I didn't even know she was the owner of the restaurant until I saw her.”

“It's taking a lot not to punch the hell out of you, Niyi. I should have known something was up when she called you Gbenga,” Elijah scowled.

“She was the gullible one!” Niyi said, folding his arms across his chest. Unexpectedly, Niyi felt his face snap to the side because of the power punch Elijah landed on his face. His eyes watered as he felt the rush of pain on the side of his face.

“Another word about Sewa again and I will make you bleed,” Elijah threatened.

Niyi scowled and massaged his bruised jaw.

“I can't believe you. Your father sends you from the States to Nigeria to make big money and you resort to stealing? You couldn't even seduce a wealthy woman.”

“You know I'm picky when it comes to women. Besides, stealing is the best business in Lagos. Every person does it, some of us are just more open about our thievery occupation.”

Elijah gave him a sour look and massaged his forehead. “I still want to kill you but instead, you will fix this mess or I will tell your dad.”

Niyi groaned, “This is betrayal of the highest order.”

Elijah drew his lips in a thin line and muttered something like 'nyah nyah'. “You will give Sewa back her money and that is final.”

“But why? Why can't you help her and be her hero? She will forever love you. Women fall for that shit.”

“Not this woman,” Elijah sighed. “Knowing Sewa, she won't collect it. She believes in hard work and not borrowing. That restaurant has been her dream since we were little.” He had a wistful smile on his face.

“Damn. You are so whipped.”

“Niyi, haven't you ever had a dream? I have two and one of them is having Sewa for myself.”

Niyi didn't answer but gulped audibly. He turned around and plodded to the bedroom. He did have a dream once. Just once. If there's anything Niyi knows, it is that dreams are for sleeping. Reality is way no more cruel. It all started when he was ten.

Niyi spent most of life in the States. He lived in a wealthy home with everything served to him and he never had to worry about anything. If there was anything Niyi was more passionate about than eating Semo and ogbono, it was music. It brightened his life and warmed his heart. He worked so hard at his music with dreams of becoming a musician until one day, he had the vocal nodes. It crushed everything he ever hoped for. His father threw every musical instrument in the house out and had him focus more on business. Being naturally intelligent, Niyi found it troublesome. Why work hard at anything at all? Laziness pays after all when you get a share of your father's wealth.

However, Niyi's dad had other plans which infuriated Niyi greatly. He sent him down to Nigeria where the impossible happens and told him to fend for himself, become rich, and to work hard. Pft! The old man knows nothing. Niyi found himself a group of friends who taught him the way of life in Lagos. Niyi, interestingly, had become tired of scamming and stealing from people. He wanted something else. The funny thing is he didn't know what that 'something' was.

Some men are plain thieves!

How could he? How dare he? How could he show his face even after scamming her and stealing her hard earned money? He had the guts to run away after everything. May Sango thunder strike him wherever he is.

Sewa gripped the bars and pressed her face against the cold metal bars. The cold stale air was choking. The prison is a nightmare, with its fading and peeled paintings, the smell of urine in the air, and the damp floor. Thank God she didn't have a microscope with her. The number of germs around would have been too overwhelming for her.

God knows she is innocent and does not deserve any of this. God please, she pleaded, help me get out of here. She closed her eyes and inhaled the damp air. Her eyes burned a bit and her throat closed up. She could feel the tears threaten to spill. She hasn't cried in a long time. She didn't have time to when all her time, thoughts and work was dedicated to that restaurant. She thought of her father who would make beignets whenever she was sad. He would make up stories about the restaurant and call it, "our restaurant". That would have Sewa giggling and determined all over again.

Sewa remembers her dad always saying to never lose sight of what's important and she never has. Why has everything she has ever done failed her now? She choke on her sobs and sighed deeply. She never gave and she wasn't going to do so now. She is going to get out of this prison and when she did, she will going to beat up one son of a bitch.