Ada hissed as she placed her phone on her desk angrily. She wondered why out of all days in the week, Aderonke chose this day.

Her birthday.

“What's her problem gan?"

She grumbled incoherently before stuffing her pistol at the side of her waist. She glanced at the envelope on her desk. It was her resignation letter, she knew that the only way to move on over Kola was to leave. She took a huge breath and tied her hair into a big bun.

Her eyes darted over to the door when she heard the door creak. Her eyes glowed when she noticed Osaze holding a bouquet of flowers in his arms.

“Happy birthday, beautiful." Osaze greeted warmly as Ada walked gently towards him.

“Thank you, but you know that I prefer food to flowers. What will flowers do for me?" Ada asked playfully.

“They'll remind you of me." Osaze winked, “So...are we still on tonight?"

Ada sighed and placed a hand on her hip before replying, “I...am really really sorry Osaze. It's work and... it's just so frustrating. I didn't mean to blow you off.."

“But it's your birthday. You can ask the DPO to assign someone else." Osaze argued.

“This is beyond the DPO. It's something... personal." Ada replied, still reminscing on the text Aderonke sent.

“But...I can follow you right?" Osaze objected with his index finger, “It's not something serious abi?"

Ada shot a small smile at him, “Yeah, it's not anything serious. But we really have to go now." she added with seriousness.

“Okay, then after. I'll take you out to a Chinese restaurant." Osaze prompted and helped her to open the door.

“You are such a gentleman." Ada teased.

“I know." Osaze grinned.

As they walked faster, Ada barely listened to what Osaze was saying because she was more focused on Aderonke's instructions.

What signal was she referring to? Firewood? Fireworks? Water?

Ada shook her head vigorously and wondered again.

What did Aderonke mean by she should jump the fence? Why couldn't she just go through the door? She was beginning to get a cryptic reply in Aderonke's text. That woman was definitely planning something dangerous.

Ada then laughed stupidly when Osaze nudged her by the shoulders. She glanced at Osaze briefly and thought; how come she never noticed him? Probably because he was fat then. He was now so handsome, more outspoken and charming. The previous years in which he tried to woo her, Ada found it disgusting and unromantic.

Ada was about to ruffle her hands through his hair when her gaze landed on Kola who was walking angrily towards them.

Ada gulped when Kola halted in front of her and when she tried to shift her way out of him, he shifted as well. Ada glared at him, trying to figure out his problem.

“Ada, why did you...." Kola started but was cut off rudely by Ada.

“I have something to do, shift." Ada retorted.

“I want to ask you..."

“Kola, we have somewhere to go. You...can chat with her later." Osaze interupted.

“Was I talking to you? Mind your business, Osaze. I was talking to her not you." Kola yelled angrily.

Osaze then stepped in front of Ada defensively and Ada groaned.

“Calm down man, because she's not yours anymore, doesn't give you the right to order her about." Osaze folded his arms.

“Osaze, just leave before I...punch you. Like I said earlier, I wasn't talking to you. Do you have blood in your ears or something's up with you upstairs? Abeg shift, let me talk to Ada" Kola replied venomously.

Ada was about to speak when Osaze spoke again.

“See, I don't care what you say to me. I understand your frustration. You lost...to.me." Osaze laughed softly. “Just leave Ada alone."

“I-I lost? Are you sane at all? See me see wahala. Are you Ada or what is your problem?" Kola spoke with frustration.

Ada watched them with a tired yawn before pushing them apart before they lurched at each other.

“I'll talk to you...never" Ada faced Kola before throwing a smile at Osaze, “Let's go." she urged.

As Ada was about to walk away, Kola grabbed her harshly by the wrists and pulled her back.

Ada couldn't hold it in any longer. What did he want from her? He was the one who suggested that they stayed clear away from each other but why was he toying with her heart again? The way he gripped her wrist reminded her of the way her father held them anytime he raped her. It was like her father was trying to taunt her from his grave.

“GET YOUR HANDS OFF ME, KOLA!" Ada shouted as she flung her arm away from his grip.“Get away...from me." she pushed him on the chest.

Ada glanced at a stunned Osaze before looking at Kola. She saw hurt and disappointment, a lot more like heartbreak in his facial outlook. His eyes were meek and understanding. Ada immediately regretted what she had said and tried to reach out for his arm when Kola stepped backwards implusively.

“It's f-fine. It's g-good." Kola's voice was quaking as he raised up his arms in defeat and turned to look at Osaze with a forced smile on his face, “You...were right. You won."

And with that Kola left, leaving an insatiable guilt in Ada's heart. She hung her head low and folded her arms around herself. She felt disappointed in herself. Why didn't she listen to what he had to say? She flinched when Osaze tried to embrace her.

“Please don't do that. P-Please don't." Ada pleaded with an outstretched index finger, “Let's just go to the car, okay?"

Ada didn't wait to see his reaction or hear his response before walking past him with the speed of light. She only hoped that whatever Aderonke had planned, it was worth coming late in the night.

                                ****

“Happy birthday, my love."

Aderonke's eyes glimmered when Wale's hungry and lusty gaze were transfixed on her. She walked gracefully to give him a quick hug and a quick kiss on his cheek. She deliberately retreated when he tried to kiss her on the lips. She might end up biting off his lips in anger.

“Wow! Whao! Woooww!" Wale began howling like a police siren, shocked by what  his wife had prepared for his birthday. Unable to control his excitement, he tried to engulf Aderonke into an embrace which Aderonke stylishly rejected by leading him over to the dinning room.

“This is so lovely. How did you... prepare all this? This is glorious, my darling. So glorious. But where is Uche and Sewa by the way? I expected them to be at the table and imagine....Uche didn't open the gate for me." Wale said.

“I know, I told them to take the day off so we can be alone. You know they are both... gossips." Aderonke replied with a toothly smile.

“Of course, you and I all night, I agree with you." Wale said as he sat down comfortably while Aderonke took a seat at the other end of the table, facing Wale in the opposite direction.

Aderonke tried hard not to cringe at his words as she scratched the sides of her neck, almost drawing blood from it.

She watched with irritation as Wale salivated and immediately pounced on a small plate of "asun" . She then forced an arrogant smile on her face before opening up her lips to speak.

“Shall we toast first?"

Wale nodded as he dropped the fork gently before reaching out for the wine glass. He poured himself a full glass of wine and raised it slightly.

Aderonke's heart jumped as she lifted her glass.

“Adewale, my dearest husband," Aderonke began as her voice shook uncontrollably, “One of the most... richest and kindest man I have ever met." she paused when Wale giggled, “It has been a rough couple of months and you have been by my side every step of the way...and I have come to realize what kind...of man you are." Another pause, “You are... gentle and...you are an hypocrite." Aderonke chuckled softly as she dropped the glass on the table gently.

“What...are you talking about, Ronke?" Wale asked frantically.

“You are loving but...you are an animal. You don't deserve to live among humans." Aderonke spat.

“What? W-Why are you behaving like this, today of all days? What is it?" Wale retorted.

“Y-You are a....m- monster." Aderonke growled painfully.

“Ronke, I won't stand all this paparazzi and drama. Get...to the damn point and stop talking in parables for goodness sake." Wale was beginning  to get riled up by Aderonke's statements.

“Okay... I'll tell you. Why...did y-you, my husband. W-Why did you sleep with Bimbo, our daughter?" Aderonke blurted out the words she had been trying to voice out for the past two days.

Aderonke watched with glossy eyes as Wale's face suddenly went pale, pale as someone who had seen a ghost. His body expression gave him away as he began to shake visibly.

“W-Why would you accuse me wrongly? W-Where did you collate those lies from?" Wale defensively screamed.

Aderonke gritted her teeth angrily. She expected him to come out clean about it since Bimbo had written about it in her phone diary which Ada sent to her via WhatsApp. She suddenly rustled through her purse, desperate to find something cold and hard.

She pulled the gun out to Wale's surprise and he began to bawl, “W-What are you doing with that, Ronke? Is this because of Bimbo? You are slowly... running mad because of her." Wale stuttered.

Anger rose from the pit of Aderonke's stomach and she wished Wale didn't say those words to her. Without thinking of the consequences, she aimed the gun at her husband who was jittery on his seat.

“Ronke.... darling, please stop this. We can talk about this tommorow... Let's enjoy our food that you...worked very hard to prepare." Wale said.

“Ode." Aderonke silently muttered and the moment played out in slow motion, the rifle followed the arc her body swung in, the sudden movement out the corner of her eye
She never meant to shoot, but her brain skipped a beat, her trigger finger squeezed in surprise and a single shot fired when it shouldn’t have.The sound was swallowed by the soft furnishings, carpets, and low ceiling and rebouncing against the wall.

Wale was still seated, rooted on the chair and shaking like a leaf in the rain. He barely had time to talk or think when Aderonke spoke with the gun still pointed at him.

“That was a warning shot, my dearest husband. I assure you, the second one... won't miss so you better start talking before I blow your head off like fireworks!"

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