Lara pulled off her sunglasses immediately she settled in the specially reserved booth where her friends had been waiting for her. Shaking her head, she threw her bag on the seat beside her while one of her friends, Angel adjusted.
“Are you alright babes?”
She nodded slightly trying to ignore the stress she’d been going through in the past weeks due to her wedding and work at the same time. It had been pretty exciting before her childhood friend came over to Lagos and she observed she was getting to forget the important things that revolved around her wedding plans and how she was often reluctant to tell IK that she was spending most nights at her fiancé’s place and so would end up going back to her parent’s house or even at her brother’s place.
Soji had complained last week and she had come up with all sorts of excuses that she had so much to do.
And it was true, she told herself. She had so much going on right now and since she still had some time before the wedding, there was no hurry was there?
Everything was in place and her Dad had made sure of it. He always made sure she had everything he wanted and had gone as far as surprising her by ensuring she had the best honeymoon experience with Soji. She’d told him she was tired of staying in hotels and she wanted something different and he’d gone ahead to make reservations to book an apartment suite in Fiji.
And that wasn’t her wedding present from Him. If there was anyone blessed to be in her life, it was Soji. Her mind immediately flashed to Aisha and she shook her out of her thoughts. She hadn’t heard anything from her ever since the incident. Not that she was expecting anything but her gut told her she had to get ready just in case the girl tried to play dirty.
She also reminded herself to specially send her a picture of the wedding afterwards.
It might not even be necessary, given the fact that it was going to make the headlines.
But she had a feeling Aisha would do something crazy though she couldn’t pin it down to what exactly. She could tell her Dad that she felt threatened and uneasy by her ex best friend but he would ask why and he couldn’t know Soji had cheated on her.
And then the whole baby mess. Not that Chief was a saint himself but he would scold her for taking matters into her hands when He could have made a clean job out of it and no one could trace it.
Her father always knew how to fix things. He’d been fixing things ever since she was a child. But she wanted to prove she was all grown up now and could fix her own mess.
Soji was her mess and she loved him still.
IK’s image suddenly flashed in her mind and she remembered they’d been spending time together these days. It felt like she couldn’t get enough of all the things they had to talk about ever since they’d been apart. He had gotten the job offer he came for. Though it was something she didn’t think was good enough, he didn’t seem to mind.
She’d teased him lightly and he had responded jokingly to her teasing. She liked the fact that she could tease him the way she couldn’t tease Soji. Soji had ego and things like his job and status in society wasn’t something she liked rubbing in his face confidently though she couldn’t help but think about it.
IK joked about it when she asked. “And what are you going to do with that kind of job offer with the cost of living, food and everything else?”
“Ah, you know you people like you are next to Dangote so you get to marry someone that can afford to take you to Dubai every day. I won’t pass my boundary. Maybe once in 2 years and when the kids start coming, one in 5 years.”
She laughed out loud. “You’re so funny.”
He shrugged.
“Are you actually serious?”
“Of course I’m serious.”
She shook her head. “Good luck to that girl whoever she is.”
“Okay, so what do you want me to do since you seem to be so sarcastic in your answer?”
“Well…, to be honest I can’t speak for every woman but I know what I’d like to have as a woman. I know what I’d like my husband to be able to afford.”
She had expected him to catch her bait. She had just offered him an opportunity to ask her for help in getting his CV into the right hands but he didn’t seem to be interested in what she was offering.
“Okay so if I can afford all of that and I can’t afford love, wouldn’t you think the girl is going to be miserable?”
“Have you heard the word, ‘Buy my love?”
“Not in my lifetime.”
“Well, sometimes you just love someone and you can’t help it. You two have flaws because you’re human. But whoever you’re getting married to has to be ready to buy what you’re selling.”
“Ehen…” He looked interested.
She shrugged.
“So love has turned to business transaction?”
“I don’t mean it that way jor.”
He looked at her then, straight into her eyes. “Is that why you’re marrying Soji?”
She got defensive. “What do you mean?”
“I don’t know. I mean your definition of love to me is pretty wacked. It’s not beautiful but dark and sinister. So I really don’t know how you can call something dark love.”
She raised an eyebrow.
“So you feel justified to define love to me now? Let me ask you, are you in a relationship? Are you even married?”
She looked at his hands to drive the nail further. “I guess not. So my dear Mr. Onyekachi, if I need your advice, I’ll ask for it.”
“Suit yourself. I was just trying to be a friend.”
“Your friendship expired more than 15 years ago.” She spat already getting angry as the memories came rushing in.
“Really Lara, you’re actually using that tone on me, bringing up something that I didn’t have a clue as to what I was doing and how young and foolish I was?”
“You left IK. You told me to my face that you were going to leave and I actually thought you were joking. But guess what, you weren’t and I learned to take care of myself. Here you are, sweeping in like the perfect friend and acting like I’m just going to throw all away and listen to you.”
She could see the look of confusion on IK’s face and she decided against lashing out more. She had thought what happened was long gone but seeing him only brought back things she didn’t want to remember. Things she didn’t believe she could even come to the surface.
There was more hidden behind those words but she knew he wouldn’t understand. They had only been kids, He a year older though they were in the same class. They had been close friends though they fought like almost every day and he had gone because His parents were moving to PortHarcourt. That was what He had told her then.
He had come to sit beside her where she sat brooding as usual and he poked her.
“Stop it.” She had slapped his hand away. The tone she’d used with him was harsh but he didn’t relent.
“What’s wrong with you?”
“Nothing.” She snapped feeling irritated. There was nothing wrong with her. She was perfectly fine even though she was dying inside.
“Well, if you’re going to brood all day, at least give me a chance to tell you that my parents are finally moving to Portharcourt and I have to go with them except I’m willing to stay with my aunt and uncle here in Lagos to complete Junior class.”
She knew he’d repeated one class but that was no barrier to how she had desperately wanted to cling to him and tell him to save her from herself, from what she was turning into.
“So, you’re leaving?” How could he leave her? Didn’t he know how much she needed him especially now?
He shrugged. “Do you want me here? All we do is fight and pull each other’s strings. Maybe if I leave you’ll start missing me.” He had laughed expecting her to join him but he didn’t.
He frowned. “Lara, are you alright?”
“You can go if you want. It’s not like you mean anything to me anyway.” She waved him away and though she saw the hurt flashing in his eyes, they were gone immediately.
“Goodluck then.”
“Whatever.”
That night as she held the pillow close to her chest and sobbed into it as she hurt, she was angry at herself and why her pride and shame had held her back from what she wanted to tell him. She had to tell him tomorrow. He had said he was leaving, but he might show up for a final goodbye. He would know the reason why she’d told him off and he would understand and if possible, help her in whatever way he could.
She came to class the next day and found out he was really gone.
Gone for good.
And each passing day was like a thorn till she found a way to get rid of the tormenting thoughts.
Or so she thought.
“I don’t even know why I’m listening to you right now.” They had been hanging out at the galleria after seeing a movie and she walked away leaving him staring at her.
The next day was Sunday and she was back at her brother’s house with a duffel bag. She could tell he’d been surprised to see her. It felt like old times again where she was always the one to beat him to it.
“Can we talk?” She began.
At the corner of her eye, she could tell her brother was watching them both and shaking his head but she knew he was glad. She hadn’t slept over at his place for years so this was a good beginning. Though she had to confess she hardly spoke with him, Dapo readily allowed her in his home like it belonged to them both.
Soon herself and IK were both laughing and teasing each other again. She felt different around him and though she wanted to tell him she was glad he was in Lagos since he brought sanity to her world, she decided against it. The less he knew the better. The more he knew, the more likely he would convince her against her decisions. The more the guilt of what she’d done would tug at her and right now, she wasn’t going to allow anything pull her away from the man she loved and had gone through thick and thin with.
But in the 7 weeks running they’d been together, IK was the one occupying her mind and her head more.
Not Soji.
She called him and hung out with him often and Soji accused her of not spending time in his place often which was partially true. IK had a smile that could make her just watch him. She suspected the feeling was mutual because one or twice she’d caught him staring at her when she was making breakfast in one of her brother’s shirt over her jeans.
The urge to tempt him grew and the evil desire to imagine how it would feel to pay Soji back for what he’d done lurked somewhere. If only IK was a willing partner but she suspected, he wasn’t. He always brought up that topic Nimi and her brother won’t stop talking about.
She didn’t know if they were getting paid to do what they did. But they did it good and she wasn’t going to get interested anytime soon.
“What lipstick do you have on? Is that the one you got on your trip with Soji?” Clara asked
She shook her head. “Tom Ford. I’ve had it in my collection for a while now.” She raised her hand to signal the waiter and made an order for ice tea while asking her friends to request whatever they wanted.
“You look great, as always.” Maxine praised.
She smiled as if acknowledging the fact that she couldn’t be any less. “I already made the order for the dresses and they’ll be on their way next week. Hopefully none of you added an extra pound over the brief selection period.” She chuckled.
They joined her. “You need to see how I’ve taken my work out routine seriously. No one wants to miss out on potential suitors in a wedding like yours.” Angel confessed.
“Like! Bobo is glad though he knows I’m doing it for the dress but he goes like, ‘babe, if getting a new dress is going to keep you working out and keep all the baby fat away, then I’ll be getting you dresses every month.”
Lara grinned raising her hand for a hifive. “Way to go girlfriend.”
“Lara has nothing to worry about since her shape is always on fleek. I have no doubt it wouldn’t be Soji’s eyes alone that will be ogling you on that day with your scandalous wedding dress.” Maxine said.
She shrugged. “What can I say, you only live once, enjoy your life and flaunt what you’ve got.”
“What about the vlog you told us about?”
“What vlog thing?’’ She tried to wrap her head around the thought and smiled. “Oh the ones my fans on Instagram and twitter won’t stop harassing me about, I’ll get to it maybe sometime next month if it fits into my schedule. If it doesn’t then they can enjoy the show on snapchat for now.” Smiling she lifted the straw to her lips sipping gently. She knew she liked the attention, but she wanted to take her time with the making videos of herself and what she’d like to talk about asides herself.
“Have you heard anything from Aisha recently?” Mabel chiped in.
“That snake.” Maxine hissed. “Please keep her name out of our circle abeg. Friends like that one needs to be scared of them. If she could go all the way to entice another man’s woman into her den, then she could have as well murder someone in her sleep.”
Lara smiled. That was one reason she loved Max. She knew the girl was trying to take Aisha’s place and she would do anything to get close to her. She had tried to show she was a good and loyal friend in so many ways, even suggesting to be prepared for anything the girl brings her way. She wasn’t sure if anyone could replace Aisha as she had boasted earlier to her friends but Maxine was a good fit.
What about Nimi?
She frowned on the thought of the name intruding into her thoughts. Nimi was her PA. Nothing close to these people in her life. And she was just too goody two shoes. She doubted they could talk long without her mention of Jesus or God or how she’d made up her mind to wait till her wedding night.
Whoever that dude was, he must be some guy who must be living under a rock or something and she cringed. Like attracted like. She couldn’t even imagine how he looked. It would be someone like her. Plain, dull looking and just there. Nothing exciting or exotic in the way they looked or dressed.
‘Babes, you didn’t tell me your brother had a girlfriend already.” Maxine broke into her thoughts.
Lara almost spilled her drink thinking her friend was making an expensive joke. “What?”
Maxine looked surprised and others looked surprised at the news too and they glanced at each other. “Are you not aware your brother has a girlfriend now?”
She shook her head unable to hide her shock this time. “Dapo doesn’t have a girlfriend. He would have told me if he had one.”
“Oh that’s funny. I thought you two were close?”
“Of course we are, that’s why I’m surprised you said girlfriend. Are you sure you heard what he said?” She got defensive. She knew they hardly talked these days since her mind was on IK more, but she wasn’t going to let her friends know that.
Maxine shook her head. “Sometimes even our enemies are right under our noses, it makes me remember Aisha. They come into our lives for what they want and leave us with a scar.”
“Abeg stop talking in parables and tell us who the girl is.” Mabel rolled her eyes.
“No other than your PA. What’s her name sef, I’ve even forgotten. She has one dull looking face like this so it’s hard for me to even put her a name to the face.”
“Who’s that?” Clara asked
“One girl that Lara hired to work for her. Fast forward to how many days and I see the duo smiling and talking to each other like they’ve known each other for months.”
“Wait.” Lara snapped angrily. “This has to be some kind of joke. Did you see the two of them together and Dapo said it with his mouth that she’s his girlfriend?”
“Do I look like I’m joking? Was it not the last time I was even teasing you to matchmake us all for me to see them laughing and holding hands. For how long they’ve been together, I can’t say but it’s been about 2 months ago since I met them at shoprite so it’s something except it was just a fling.”
“Nawa o. I’ve always imagined Dapo to be with someone of his calibre. I guess opposites attract afterall.” Maxine drove the nail further when Lara refused to say anything.
“It could be booty call, I can’t say. Maybe if I see the girl sha cos some girls ehn, you just wonder what some guys see in them. Dig deep into the matter and you’ll see there’s one hidden agenda.” Mabel chiped in.
Lara was quiet all through and seethed with rage though she tried to hide it. The first reason being that her brother had not deemed it fit to tell her he was seeing someone and secondly, the fact that Nimi was with her brother and had probably chosen to work for her because of that.
No wonder she’d had that dreamy look recently and she’d known it was a guy at first instance.
Except in this case, the guy was her brother. Her own blood brother.
She had hidden underneath that innocent look of hers and that talk of God to cover up for her treacherous ways. If Dapo could call her his girlfriend, then it means they were really together and who knows sleeping with each other like Mabel had said. Dapo had not called anyone his girlfriend in 7 years. He had not been in a relationship for a long time and she knew his past, knew what he was like with women.
And Nimi had the right to tell her she was still a virgin.
Virgin my foot.
She’d been a fool again. To get carried away by her supposed kindness and humility and she was glad she found out early or she would have been betrayed again.
She’d called her a friend the last time and even told her to confide in her and she hadn’t said anything. She must have even laughed at her for suggesting such since she was soon going to crawl into their family if she left her for too long to keep her agenda running.
But what if she isn’t lying to you?
Then I’ll make her realize she doesn’t deserve my brother. Either way, I’m going to make her pay for what she’s done.
“Are you going to confront her?” Maxine asked and she knew that was what her friend wanted but had something better in mind.
“I’ll just make her wish she’d picked a different family to mess with.” She winked at her friend and smiled, thoughts already filling her head on what she wanted to do and how her friends will be of great help.
Much love. Xo!
Original story by ITUNU TAIWO owner of http://myglowingscenes.com
For more ARTICLES & STORIES visit us on
bb pin: 58D26493
bbm channel: C0031D10F
whatsapp: 07033971287
twitter: @skilo9ja or @emalexx
IG: @official_emalexx
