This is exactly why Niyi found it useless to woo a lady. Wouldn't it be better if the ladies chased the man instead of the other way around? But no! The rules of society has made men the slaves to the feminine aura whether it's alluring or not.

"Sorry. You hear?" Niyi patted his friend on the shoulder.

After pestering his grouchy friend to tell him what happened, Elijah confessed... a lot. Niyi was aware that Elijah liked Sewa and had created lots of time to spend with her. However, he did not know that his friend recently confessed to her only to be rejected.

To be fair, Niyi had thought Sewa secretly liked Elijah. The rejection could beg to differ, though.

"Please stop moping. That is my job," Niyi said, rubbing his friend's head.

"If I slap you," his friend threatened.

"I will just slap you back. Let's go out and unwind. Today is Friday!"

"You know I'm going to work tomorrow."

"Tomorrow is my off abeg. I will drink tonight and you will be my driver."

"Are you serious?" Elijah gave him a condensing look.

"I am more depressed than you are so, let's go. Who knows? I might find my future wife in a bar?"

"Wow. You should feature in How I Met Your Mother."

Niyi pulled his friend to his feet and wistfully said, "I will be the star of the show."

"Are you sure you won't be the second male lead with the broken heart?"

"Guy," he bemoaned, "Stop ruining the mood. I will just kick you out of the house."

Elijah hissed, "My own apartment that I paid for."

"I pay half every three month. Chill." He unlocked the doors to the car and the two of them climbed in. Niyi inserted the key into the keyhole before he realised something, "Why am I in the driver's seat?"

"You own the car."

"Come and drive jor." Niyi opened the door and got off. He walked over to the passenger's seat and opened the door. "Get down!"

"Don't let me give you slap." Elijah said, gripping the seat as Niyi carried his legs and pulled.

A few minutes later, Niyi smiled and sang along with Patoraking's My Woman, My Everything playing on the radio. He glanced at his scowling friend who drove the car to their destination.

"Give you anything, anything, anything," He sang and rubbed his friend's shaved chin.

Elijah's scowl deepened further. "Guy, leave me."

"I'm sorry na. Don't be angry again. I will even give you my chicken on top."

"You, that your village people have do you with chicken."

"Next time, I will drive us to your own favorite bar. Deal?"

Elijah nodded and continued to focus on the road.

"Ya not smiling?" Niyi commented.

A tiny smile crept up his friend's lips.

Better, Niyi thought.

He could not help but think about Sewa who gave him a smile when he asked her that question the previous day.

What exactly did his father do that left Sewa that way?

And how was he going to tell his friend he is working with Sewa on her investment plans?

That was another topic for another day.

"Did I tell you I got promoted?" Niti asked, grinning from ear to ear.
"You told me twice last night and three times this morning."

"Did you say congratulations any of those times?"

"Yes. I congratulated you all five times you told me. Niyi, congratulations once again. Does this mean all the bills are on you tonight?"

"Of course," Niyi lied. He would not order much and would prevent Elijah from doing so. Money was a bit tight as the salary paid the previous month dwindled each day in his bank account.

At least, the end of the month drew nearer each day.

**

"Thank you so much for your help today."

Niyi gave Sewa a short nod and pushed open the door of the restaurant then held it until she stepped out after him.

"And thank you for that."

"It's no problem," Niyi replied and walked in step with her to his car. "I heard about you and Elijah."

He noticed her tense up but kept up her smile. "I am grateful to Elijah but I  do not want to pressure myself into a relationship with him. He is my friend and I am afraid, he will be no more than that to me."

"I understand." They came to a stop in front of his car. "I have a question of my own."

"Which is?"

"What happened that day?"

"Are you still going to ask about that?"

"Yes, I have to. I need to know what happened that day so I can properly apologize."

"To be fair," she chuckled. "I was a bit dramatic that day. It was just something your Father said."

"What exactly did he say?"

She pursed her lips and said, "I felt insulted that your father assumed I was someone leeching off you. That is not who I am. At the time, I thought it was unfair when I was the one who was wronged."

"Sewa," Niyi softly said, wondering if he should pat her shoulder or hold her hand. "I am sorry for the things I did to you and the things my father said to you."

"It's alright. You already made it up to me with the investment."

"So, are we cool?"

"Yes." She brought her hand forward for a handshake.

Niyi watched it for a second then smiled. Taking her hand in his, he shook it.

"You can come over and try our food. Don't forget to advertise me."

"Yes, ma. I won't," he teased.

Niyi felt she wanted to say something more but refrained from asking. He unlocked his car and climbed in, wondering what was on her mind.

She knocked on the window which left Niyi relieved. Was she going to tell him what was on her mind?

"Yes?" He asked after he wound down the window.

"Can I ask you for another favor?"