IRENE

Seated on a red large beanbag at the Triple-J party, I was exhausted from having to sign autographs and take pictures with over enthusiastic fans. Most of which were from Cambridge International Group of Schools (CIGs) which happened to be the school the Triple-J attended.

The party was in full swing and boy the decoration was superb. I had been to Jamal's villa a few times but now it looked like paradise. It was probably as a result of the lights used in decoration.

Desmond and I arrived about an hour ago and he was already tipsy. I had to take away the bottle of scotch he had in his hands so he wouldn't end up totally drunk like Jide. I might have appeared as a fun killer to him but I had no plans of dragging a drunk Desmond to the car, I needed him conscious and aware of his surroundings.

I stretched my fingers as I watched the last girl that took a picture with me walk away.

I'd better head back to the VIP section before more fans head my way.

I got up taking my clutch bag with me. I was wearing a short white V necked dress which had a split at the side.

(Irene's dress above 🌚)

"Irene!" I whipped my head to the side at the sound of my name. Sighting Jerry, my face morphed into a smile. He had to yell because of the loud music blaring from the sound system.

As he got closer, I noticed the girl beside him. She was dressed in a white shirt dress that stopped above her knees and had splits at the side to the middle of her thigh. She had a very aesthetic look and her make up brought out her eyes.

"Oh Irene!" Jerry called as he pulled me into a hug.

"Jerry baby!" I replied as I pulled away from his embrace.

"I didn't know you'd be able to make it to the party." He was raising his voice so he could be heard over the music.

Jerry was the cool,calm and collected one. He was putting on a designer baggy T-shirt, skinny jeans and a killer converse.

"I wouldn't miss this party for anything in the world."

"Not even for work?" Jerry brows arched and his rhythmic laughter followed. He sort of reminded me of KayCee with his deep dimples and his  dipped in chocolate skin.

"Work? It is way important than partying but asides that, I would never miss a Triple-J party. It feels like your parties gets even better every time."

"Of course." He simply replied and his eyes raked my body slowly. "You look great by the way."

I flipped the weave I had on dramatically. "I know, I know." His sweet smile matched mine. "You don't look bad yourself. I'm sure all them girls are already drooling." I said wriggling my brows.

Jerry chuckled lightly. "Oh yeah, Irene, meet Aramide, my friend." He gestured to the girl by his side. Her skin was enchanting, hot coco skin glistening under the neon bulbs.

"And Aramide, meet Irene Coker, an A-list teen model and a very good friend of mine." She smiled. A small smile that made me feel she was shy or uncomfortable.

"Nice to meet you." She said stretching forth her hands. I gave her a wary look and she slowly dropped her hands totally flushed.

Before I could think it through, I pulled her into a hug. Jerry who stood beside her looked utterly shocked. When I pulled away, Aramide also had a shocked expression on her face.

"What?" I asked looking from Jerry to Aramide.

Jerry blinked twice and gave a short chuckle. "You hugged Aramide, that's what happened."

I instantly knew what it was all about. Most people had the impression that I was some cold witch or some egoistic bitch. "C'mon,I'm not that bad." I whined and we all smiled.

"I have to go check up on Desmond now, you know, to make sure he hasn't drank himself to stupor."

"Sure, we are also going around." Jerry replied.

"Can we perhaps take a picture together?" Aramide asked.

"Sure." Was my crisp response and we took a few selfies and had Jerry take a few pictures for us.

After our photo session, I waved at them and walked away heading for the VIP session when my eyes spotted something. Someone rather.

My mind was probably playing tricks on me. Squinting my eyes for a better look, I frowned in realization. He was really here, but why?

I walked towards the kitchen where he stood sipping from a plastic cup. Getting to the vast kitchen area, I folded my arms around my chest as I stood before him. Even in my heels, he was still towering over me.

"Tobias!" I called out sharply and he turned as he finally acknowledged my presence.

"Irene!" He made an attempt to squeal but his deep baritone did not allow that. He picked me up and spun me around causing me to give short rolls of laughter. I laughed till my chest ached.

"Please put me down!" I screeched and he slowly stood me on my feet. "Thank you." I called out in mock appreciation.

"I'm sorry, I just got so excited. I've missed you so much." He said his pearly whites on full display.

"I've missed you so much too Tobais but I didn't expect to see you here."

"How is your leg?" He ignored my statement. Wow!

"It's way better. I don't feel any pain at all." He nodded taking a long sip from his red plastic cup. "That's good."

I was staring intently at him and I knew he knew why yet he avoided my gaze. "Why are you here Toby?"

He turned to me raising a brow at me. "Partying. Why?"

"You know what I mean Tobais Pirah." I said voice stoic and anger bubbling inside of me. He didn't say anything and his well manicured fingers gripped the plastic cup in his hands tightly that he was beginning to squeeze it.

"You know you shouldn't be out here partying. The doctor said it's not healthy for you and you know it Tobais."

He scoffed. "You don't have to remind me."

"But I do because I care. Is Kimbell aware?" I asked referring to his younger sister Kiki. He shrugged nonchalantly. "Sesan too?" I asked referring to his extremely young uncle who is also the manager of the Triple-J.

"I don't know Irene and I don't fucking care." I could tell he was at the verge of losing it but I pressed further.

"Toby C'mon. You know you shouldn't—"

"Can you just stop acting like a nagging wife and overbearing mother!" He snapped and I moved back a bit shocked at his outburst. Fortunately, we were alone in the kitchen area having no audience to witness our fall out.

The only people that could serve as our audience were caught up in a heavy make out session.

I was hurt. I couldn't believe my friend of over five years could think I was acting like a nagging wife and overbearing mother.

Wow! Just wow!

He sighed. In frustration, anger, annoyance, regret, exhaustion. I wasn't sure which it was or could it be all?

He moved towards me as I stood stiff still trying to digest what he had said to me. Slowly he wrapped his hands around me and his face in my hair.

"Hey, I'm sorry." His voice was soft and sultry. "I'm sorry for lashing out at you like that. I didn't mean to, I swear. I just don't want you or anyone else worrying about me."

"But I worry because I care." I wanted to argue.

"I know and I'm glad you do Irene. I'll be fine, I promise you. Please stop working yourself up because of me." He said in a soft whisper and it felt as though I should sleep in his arms.

He slowly pulled away and looked me in the eyes. "You look stunning." I chuckled and took a small sip from his plastic cup.

Chapman

"You too."

➪➪➪➪➪

"So how is your wife?" I asked and Kamil face morphed into a frown denting his aesthetic features for a second and Matthew's rumbling laughter followed.

I was seated with Kamil Isah who happened to be a northern prince and Matthew Bamidele, Jamal's look alike whose account I had come across on Instagram some time ago.

I met Kamil during an elite party like this one a few years back and that was when I found out that Zahrah, also a northern princess was betrothed to him. I teased him nonstop about it ever since then.

"Don't say it when she's around, she'll have my head on a plate."

"You don't mean that?"

"Oh, he does." That was Matthew.

Theodore and Mateo did look alike but there were some differences that made each of them stand out. Mateo was a shade darker than Theodore and Theodore was taller but With Jamal and Matthew, I couldn't spot any difference in their physical appearance. Even their voice and laughter sounded the same. It was like they were twins. I was still in awe of how much resemblance they shared.

But I could tell who was who because unlike Jamal, Matthew wasn't uptight. He was free and laughed a lot.

"Oh, Irene love!" My head turned to the sound of that familiar voice. And behold, Kamil's bride to be stood elegant oozing royalty.

"Speak of the devil." Kamil muttered silently beside me giving Matthew a reason to tap his head sympathetically.

Her sweet scent filled my nostrils as she pulled me into a rather too tight hug. Zahrah had an intimidating personality but happened to be a sweetheart on very rare occasions.

She sank on the couch beside me and crossed her slender legs ever so carefully paying no attention to Kamil or Matthew.

Stealing a quick glance at Kamil, the look he had on his face, the way he stared at Zahrah as she fiddled with her expensive bracelets subconsciously whilst typing away on her phone, I almost screamed,

YOU LIKE HER?!

But then, I knew better than to do that.

Suddenly, Work by Rihanna and Drake came blaring through the speakers and I could swear the temperature in the room changed. It was as though that song came with a different vibe.

Those people on the dance floor changed their dancing step and some others moved to the dance floor to show forth their skills. Girls were grinding on poor boys. I almost laughed out at the look of frustration on one guy's face as a girl was lap dancing him.

I looked round the dance floor, everyone seemed to be having the time of their lives.

Mahd things.

I spotted a couple and I recognized them immediately.

Tobais and Aramide.

With how close they were and how they danced sensually I had to tear my eyes away from the disturbing sight.

Could she be the reason he decided to attend the party.

To be very honest, I was concerned about Tobais and I didn't want his health condition deteriorating but I decided to give him a benefit of doubt and take his word for it.

He'll be fine.

THEODORE

"You know, I don't regret coming out here with you at all. I'm having fun." I chuckled lightly falling into step with Osaze.

"Of course you're having fun. I'm fun." I gave her a smug smirk and she bursted into rolls of loud laughter.

"I feel really bad for Kiki and Zion." She said as soon as the laughter died down. "I just hope the family dinner is not as bad as the last one."

"What do you mean by that?" I asked as we headed towards a turn as the street lights lit the entire road. It was already dark and I wasn't sure we had any plans of going back to our respective homes.

"It's a long story. How about we save it for another day?"

"Sure."

"So how come you don't wear your glasses anymore?" She asked.

I shrugged. "No reason."

"Do you have contacts?" I whipped my head to the side.

"No."

"Then how do you cope?"

"My glasses is not medicated. I just wore it on my first day to test the waters."

"Test the waters..." She mumbled as everywhere grew silent.

We were now walking in silence. We had spent the early hours of the evening at the central park talking about anything and everything. We got ice cream from a roadside vendor, Osaze's idea not mine. We had also gotten suya from a roadside joint and then we went on a little hike and sat on top of a lifted ground somewhat like a hill but smaller and watched the view of the city at the setting of sun.

It was the first time I was seeing Osaze so free. Not like she had been uptight or anything but she happened to be so happy and truth be told, I enjoyed the time I spent with her. She had told me the story of her first day in secondary school and I told her mine.

We were presently on our way to the street before the central park where my car was parked. I picked her up from her house in my Range rover and we had been out since 6pm. It was already past 9pm and we decided it was high time I took her home.

We took another turn and I was certain we'd be in my car in about ten minutes. The streets were almost empty. A few cars passed and we sighted few pedestrians like us.

I shrugged off my jacket when I noticed how Osaze rubbed her exposed arms. I really did not understand why these girl wear clothes that would do little to shield them from the bitter cold.

Handing the jacket to her, she muttered a quiet thank you and put it on. Although it looked abut oversized on her, it still looked cute and I couldn't help but comment.

"You look cute in my jacket."

"I look cute in anything I wear mister." She retorted and a small smile touched my lips.

Oh Osaze.

I gave her a once-over for the second time that day. She was draped in a pair of jean trouser, a pair of sneakers and an armless crop top.

We took a right turn and made for my car that was parked at the end of the street.

When we got to the car, she made to open the door to the passenger's seat but I beat her to it. "Allow me to be a gentleman." I opened the door for her and she got inside a radiant smile on her face. I rounded the car and got in. I put in the ignition as soon as I got comfortable in the seat.

The drive was silent. Osaze was busy on her phone and my gaze was on the road. I turned to glance at Osaze occasionally but she didn't notice that as she was so engrossed in whatever it was she was doing on her phone.

She didn't even notice it when I drove into their estate or when I pulled up on front of her house. "We're home!" I called out to her and she snapped her head upwards.

"Oh, great." She got down from the car and so did I. "Thanks Theodore, for taking me out tonight. I really did enjoy it."

"Its no problem." She crashed her body into mine as her hand slid around my waist. I returned her embrace and we stood there for some minutes.

"I hope we do this again some other time." She voiced out when we pulled away.

"Definitely."

She shifted her weight from one leg to the other, pulled off my jacket and handed it to me. "Thanks for this too." I took it from her and watched her go into the house through the gate.

I only got into the car when the gate closed behind her. Settled in the car seat, my phone chimed and I grabbed it to check. It was a text message.

Osaze

Goodnight Theo bear ❤

I smiled and texted back.

Goodnight to you too.

Sliding my phone into one of the pigeon holes on the dashboard, I made my way out of the now very silent estate.

*

Hey everyone, it's been a while. How have y'all been? I'm guessing you've been very fine.

Oh well, tell me what you think about this chapter in the comment section and do well to share.

Also, thanks for over 1K votes on Runways and Deception. I really do appreciate.

Matthew, Kamil and Zahrah are characters from 14 days by vilalove09. Do well to check out her book. It's a bomb.

The Triple-J (Jamal, Jide and Jerry), Tobais, Kimbell(Kiki) and Aramide are character's from I_am_Jazzy's book Shattered heartstrings.
If you're not reading it go and read it. Don't say I did not tell you.

Also, y'all should check out Tequila by UjuritaElliana. You'll be seeing Desmond there soon. You'll probably see Irene too.

Alright then, don't forget to vote. Your support means a lot. It keeps me going.

See y'all in the next update.

Word Count: 2762