Utianle

The voices of people at the counter filtered into my ears, causing me to lose focus as my gaze strayed from the man seated across me to them. There was only one available waiter and the small crowd that had gathered before him didn't seem to take note of that. Umoh placed a hand over mine and I managed a small, reassuring smile.

I didn't hear one word of what he just said. His brows rose as if to ask if I was okay and I responded with a nod. My hand slipped from his grasp and onto my laps, my eyes lowered to my wristwatch. Two more hours to the runway show, I couldn't be late.

"Are you coming?" I asked him, placing both of my hands on the white, plastic table that was in abundance here.

He was getting ready to shake his head when I stopped him with a scowl. No more excuses from him. He was absent yesterday and that was fine, the event was boring. Today was all about me and I also wanted King to know I was serious about him staying away from me. He had his chance and he blew it.

"I need a date, it's only for a few hours."

The pained expression on his face had me gearing up for a usual round of disappointment that would be accompanied by my anger. My insides curled in disgust as Umoh avoided my gaze and I contemplated smacking that sorry look off his face. 

I shouldn't have to beg my fiance to attend a runway show with me. Not just any runway, the one where -for the first time- the models would be wearing outfits designed by me. 

Today was special, a big deal for me.

His hands reached for mine, I jerked. "I can't, I am busy, I need to be at the studio."

"Busy. Busy. Busy. That's all I hear from you. Why did you invite me here then?" I bit the inside of my cheeks to keep my voice from going any higher than it already was. "You said you are done with the recording, why do you need to be at the studio?"

A few heads turned to our table and I lowered my voice. "You didn't even ask how the car purchase went, how yesterday's event went, what is wrong with you?"

"Uti-"

"Don't Uti me," I breathed out, baring my teeth at him. My jaw clenched, my muscles tensed and I gulped loudly; enough was enough. "You are always busy, it's one thing or the other with you. You are not the first one to do music and you won't be the last!"

"Uti," he held my eyes with his and I turned my face away, it was eerily similar to the man who wanted me to be his baby mama, "what's all this about? Why are you angry?"

How dare him ask me that? I twisted my head sharply, prepared to launch into a long tirade of all the possible reasons for my outburst. He was always getting away with this: play the victim card and have me apologise, not anymore. I've had enough.

Why would he invite me out for lunch to celebrate the successful recording of his single only to tell me he had to go back to the studio? What studio? The one he was coming from, to do what again?

"Why won't I be angry? It's always about you and your busy lifestyle, you never have time for me. All I hear is studio this, studio that," I paused to take a deep breath. Why was I this angry? Umoh has always been busy, it didn't start today and it only became worse when he got signed. But it never bothered me this much until now. "I'm tired. I can't keep up with you."

Seconds passed without a response from him, the only thing I got was a surprised stare levelled at me. I admit that I wasn't a confrontational person but I had allowed him to get away with too many things. 

Besides, if he was always available, I wouldn't have found myself basking in the attention of Mister be-my-baby mama.

Umoh finally let out a sigh, he stretched out his hands, silently pleading with me to do the same. I took a few seconds before succumbing and his big, soft palms covered mine. He began to draw random shapes on my open palms causing me to erupt in a fit of giggles. Maybe I was being irrational. We were here to celebrate, it wasn't the right time for me to be caught up in my feelings.

"I'm sorry," he brought the back of my left hand to his lips, peppering kisses all over my knuckles, "I promise to spend the rest of our lives making it up to you."

For a moment, there was a slight fluttering in the pits of my stomach. I liked the sound of that. "The rest of our lives?"

He nodded and I did the same. Here was a man who was willing to make efforts at our having a future together as a family, a married couple. King wouldn't give me that.

"Alright," I murmured with a smile, time to move on, "you are excused for today."

He responded with a smile that had the butterflies in my stomach doing a wild dance. And as I watched Umoh's brown eyes light up, I realised I was right about one thing - I could definitely grow to love him.

"So, what does my lady want?" His question broke me from my trance and I chuckled. We had been here for close to thirty minutes without making any order.

"Surprise me."

He pretended to think about my response and with a final kiss to my knuckles, he shuffled to the counter. While waiting for the ever-busy waiter, he started making funny faces that had me giggling. It didn't last long though. His attention was soon diverted when another person joined the available waiter and I was left alone to ponder on our upcoming marriage. 

We could work it out. Maybe I didn't love him but I cared deeply for him, that was more than enough for a start. Love grows.

A sharp vibration cut through my thoughts and my eyes scanned the length of the table before my fingers reached into my purse for my phone. I brought out my iPhone and I realised it wasn't my phone that had been vibrating, it was Umoh's. So, where was it? 

The vibration stopped but resumed shortly, this time, I was able to identify the phone's location. I made for the coat on his seat, his phone was underneath it, alongside his wallet. One look at the counter showed that it wasn't his turn yet. I stood up to notify him about the wallet but a quick glance at his phone screen stopped me from moving. 

It was his cousin. I lowered myself back to my seat, my gaze darting between the vibrating phone and Umoh who was now having a conversation with the waiter. The green answer button looked enticing and I imagined myself picking the call over and over again. In reality, I didn't. He would never pick my calls without my permission, I had to practise what I preached.

So, I turned the phone face down but it rang again, the same cousin was calling. Different reasons to pick up the call contested for space in my head and I settled for the most logical one. Since it was family, it might be an emergency. Damning the consequences, my fingers hovered briefly above the phone screen before swiping up.

Soft voice met my ears, the unmistakable vocals of a young, pretty lady. The words I should have spoken to her died in my throat and I squeezed my lips as she rambled nonstop without noting the absence of a response from my end. His cousin, huh?

My eyes trailed to Umoh and then to the ring that sat undisturbed on my middle finger. I let out a soundless laugh. Cousin.

"Hello? Hello? Can you hear me?" She asked when she finally picked up on the silence. 

Apparently, she wasn't too smart or she would have noticed the quietness from the start. I withdrew the phone from my ear, took a long look at the display picture of his cousin then hit the end call icon.

Umoh arrived the moment his phone vibrated again, a tray of spaghetti and sauce in his hands. He dropped the tray and his eyes strayed to the phone I left on the table. He took one look at me and I stared back, waiting for his next move. He didn't pick, instead, his hands reached for the power button and the vibrations ceased.

"Pick your call." My tone brook no arguments and for a fleeting moment, panic flashed across his features. I scoffed.

"It's not important."

"Pick. Your. Call."

The phone stopped ringing and his chest deflated. Fortunately for me, it rang again and I was quick to snatch it from his grip. It was the same cousin. I swiped right on the screen and placed the phone on speaker.

"Daddy? I miss you, talk to me." The speed with which he grabbed and turned off the phone after hearing her was admirable.

"It's not what you think."

"It's not? Please, enlighten me." My back was stiff as I sat up straight in the chair with my arms folded across my chest. 

He looked everywhere but at me, his mouth parted open and closed without any words departing from it. A low chuckle slipped from my lips, I was eager to hear how he would bail himself out from this one.

"Whatever I do, I do it for us."

"Do you know what incest is?" I cut him short. He looked confused so I proceeded to clear things up for him. "Incest means to have a sexual relationship with close family members, in this case, your cousin."

"She's not my cousin."

"So you admit you slept with her?" If I wasn't sure before, now I was one hundred percent confident he did it. He didn't say a word, he didn't need to, his silence was all the confirmation I need.

"Who's she?"

He ran his fingers through his hair free scalp, slowly sinking into his seat. Remorse marred his features and I wondered if he was really sorry or it was because I caught him. "Uti, I don't think that's necessary."

"Who the hell is she?"

The cold glare on my face pushed him to speak, when he did, his voice was muffled and his head was downcast. 

"Eniola's daughter."

"You are sleeping with Eniola's daughter?"

As usual, his silence greeted me. Now, it made sense. Did I actually think that Eniola listened to one of his old tracks and decided he was worthy enough to be signed to her label? I shook my head slowly. Utianle! 

When I thought he was done talking, he raised contrite eyes to meet mine. "Uti, you are the one I want to spend the rest of my life with. Temi is just a means to an end."

So her name was Temi? Oh. Poor Temi. 

Maybe it was the way that sounded in my head that made me laugh but I burst out laughing. I should have been angry, stomped my feet on the ground, tossed the ring at him and walked off. Instead, I felt relieved. I felt the need to thank him.

Time for my own confession. "I kissed him."

He didn't take long to figure out who I was talking about. "Vincent's driver?"

"He's not the driver," I started; the butterflies that had gone to sleep earlier upon hearing Temi's voice slowly awakened, "he never was, never will be and his name is King."

His face tightened, his nails dug into the table. Was he seriously getting upset? That thought only made me laugh harder.

"Okay. You cheated, I cheated, it cancels out. We can start all over again on a clean slate."

I broke out in full, loud laughter now, continuously banging my hand on the table. Clean slate? I clutched my ribs, ignoring the foul looks people were throwing at us. 

He was comparing a kiss with King to sex. My goodness! I tsked with a small nod. I have been engaged to a clown all along. 

Oh, Utianle, you've suffered in men's hands.

"Does your label owner know you are banging her daughter? You should be more worried about what she will do if she finds out." I would never report him, he was no longer any of my business but I relished in the look of fear that decorated his face. 

He tried once more to reach for my hands and I withdrew it from his reach. "Uti, I was doing it for us, for our future. I love you."

"You were sleeping with another woman for us? Umoh!" I tried to raise my hands up but it dropped to my laps. Laughter bubbled in my throat and I threw my head back to let it take over me. I didn't stop until I was satisfied. At least, he cheated with a woman.

"You were doing it for you, Umoh," I pointed my index finger at him, "you were doing it for Umoh, not me, not us, just you." 

My stomach growled loudly, I pushed the plastic bottles of Fanta on the table to one side and picked up the bottled water. I loathed Fanta yet he got Fanta for me. 

After taking a gulp from the bottle, I rose without care, ignoring the noise the chair made as it collided with the ground. I shoved my belongings into my small purse and balled my hands into a fist to resist that urge to empty the bottled water on his head. I had a show in less than two hours and I would not let him or a bad mood ruin it for me. 

"Uti, please, don't go," his hand circled my wrist and the other hand held on to my purse. I raised my eyebrows and he took that as his cue to speak. "We can work this out, people make mistakes, it won't happen again. We all deserve a second chance."

I nodded like what he was saying made the greatest sense to me. His shoulders slumped in relief and he loosened his hold on my wrist. Second chances were reserved for people who you believed wouldn't repeat that mistake, I couldn't guarantee that with him. For all I knew, the only reason he wanted to go back to the studio was because of Temi. Does she know about me?

"You are right, we all deserve a second chance," I said, pulling my purse from his grasp. "What's my favourite colour?"

"What?"

"What is my favourite colour?" 

His eyes scanned the black gown I was wearing which matched the black sandals on my feet before finally coming to rest on my face. I knew what he would say even before he said it and he didn't disappoint. 

"Black."

I took a long-lasting look at him, offered him a smile and a pat on his arms. It was like I expected, he knew nothing about me. 

*****

You guys, am I awesome or what? 

The juices flowed quicker for this chapter so here we are. Don't forget to leave your thoughts, votes and to tell a friend who tells another friend to tell his friends about Kuti. 

Don't rejoice too much, you have not seen the last of Umoh. 

Also, if I was reading your book and I stopped, I apologise. I am currently experiencing reader's block. Yeah, I made that up, you get the point, yeah? And you have to admit, it sounds catchy. I'll get back to it soon enough.

The beautiful cover on the media was made by love_richie. I have quite a number of covers and I'm unsure which one to pick (I'm thinking the one in Chapter 30). But keep sending me covers.

Q: Without going back to check the previous chapters, what's Uti favourite colour? And, how are you?