“So her mother chased you out. I wonder why,” Elijah commented dryly.

“You are not helping,” Niyi ran his hands up and down the length of his thighs. They hurt so bad. “What are we going to do now?” He bemoaned.

“Send out funeral invites since we would be dead before the week ends.”

“What's with the sarcasm today?”

“Niyi, it's the only thing keeping me sane, okay? Sane! Your father would kill us. Don't you remember what happened to Emeka?”

Niyi shuddered as he thought of what his father had done to the young man of twenty-nine. Emeka had been assigned a job by his father. He didn't return with the payment but ran away. No one heard from Emeka until five years later. Emeka was brought to his father and they discussed like nothing untoward happened. Three days later, they found Emeka stuffed and placed in his father's office as lesson to those who disobeyed him.

“I don't want to end up like Emeka,” Niyi cried.

“Nor do I. Think of something, and fast,” Elijah suggested.

Niyi thought hard of how he was going to convince Sewa to come along with him. He gasped aloud as an idea hit him. “A clone!”

“A what?”

“A clone. Dad doesn't know who Sewa is, does he?”

“He would find out the truth,” Elijah countered.

“Ugh. We'd find a lady of her stature and body shape, pay her, put some make up on her, and voilá she's Sewa!”

“Are you crazy?!”

“Well, what do we do?!”

Elijah fetched for his car keys and went for the door, “I'm going to talk to her.”

“Good luck. You'll need it. Oh, and watch out for her mother. She is deadly!”

Elijah shook his head at his friend's comment and exited the apartment.

“Sewa, please, just come with us. You don't know Niyi's father. He'll kill us and still hunt you down.”

Sewa scoffed as pulled down her dried clothes from the clothing rails and shook them hard. Who do these boys think they are? There is no way in the world she is going to meet some old man that might not even be real?

What annoyed her the most was the gossip they had as neighbor. The woman had a wide grin on her face as she watched Sewa and Elijah. Sewa wished she could show stone on the woman's head. If only the woman was not related to the Landlord.

“Look, you're embarrassing me. I can't do what you are asking,” She shooed him off and turned away.

“Oh, for God's sake. We are not trying to kill you. We are trying to prevent ourselves from being killed by his Dad. His father is fucking influential. It was because of him I was able to continue my education abroad and become successful. I only came back to Nigeria to keep an eye on Niyi and take care of my sick Father. I did not ask for any of this drama either!”

Sewa paused in her steps considering Elijah's words. Elijah has become very persuasive. True that his father is ill. She heard from her mother who had heard from someone who had heard from another.

“No and stay away from me!” She barked and entered her house. She slammed the door shut and dumped her clothes on the sofa. As she sat and folded them one by one, she heard Elijah curse and beg her to rethink her decision. After a while, he left.

Sewa admitted she saw the fear in his eyes and the way he nervously hung around her. Should she have said yes? Would she regret saying no?

The slow ballad played by a violinist began to play. Her phone vibrated on the table as an incoming call lit her screen. Funmi, an old friend she hardly spoke to, was calling.

Curious, she answered the call and put it on speaker.

“Hey, babe. What's up?” Funmi's shrill voice rang out.

“I am fine o. What about you? It's been so long, Funmi.”

“Yes o. It has. I am doing well, dear.”

“So why did you call?”

A short pause and Funmi said, “So my dad is throwing a party for his friend from the States and we need a catering service. I remember your ofada rice been the best meal I've ever tasted so I'm inviting you as my friend and cook to the party.”

“Um... That's great. When is it?” Excited, she stood on the sofa.

“Friday. Don't worry. I'll send money to you account today and a list of dishes we want served. I'll send a bunch of helpers too but you must cook sha. Your food is the best! Send your account number now o.”

Sewa, speechless, bobbed her head. “Sure, sure. Thank you, Funmi.”

“Anything for my babe. Talk to ya later,” Funmi disconnected the call.

Sewa erupted in excited squeals, jumping on the sofa. “Yes! Oh God, thank you. Yes! Yes! Yes!”

She grabbed her phone and punched in her account number and details to Funmi. Less than three minutes later, alert came in.

Shocked, Sewa slowly sank into the sofa at the amount of zeros. It was way more than that idiot stole from her. One point eight million naira!

“Let me guess. Her mother kicked you out,” Niyi said.

“Nope,” Elijah said, slamming his keys on the table. “She shut me out.”

Niyi nodded with a smug smile. “Are you still in love with her?”

“Is that our main concern?”

“Elijah, I've come to accept that I will die very soon. Unlike you, I have made a list of the things I want to do before I die. I call it You Only Live Once list. Live like it's the last day of our lives.” Niyi raised the five sheets of paper in the air.

“Oh please. Stop being so dramatic. Wait, am I included in the You Only Live Once List?” Suddenly interested, Elijah asked.

“Better go and make your list but I need you to help me set up the Bouncing Castle I want to buy.”

Elijah hissed and sat himself beside him. A phone began to ring sending both of them searching for it.

“I told you to change your ringtone. Two phones can't be having the same ringtone in the same house,” Elijah said, checking his phone.

“But Davido is my man na. Jesus!” Niyi exclaimed, dropping his phone as though it was hot potato on the table.

“What is it?”

“It's my Father!”