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judinho07:
""moura...ur delay is to much...kaiiii!!!

LOL.. This guy. I think say you don leave this story o.

YoungBruzzy:
Finaaaalllyyyy Moura decided to bless up with loooonnnggg update
Thanks man. I have this conviction in me that you will surely finish what you started and I’m glad you didn’t disappoint us for now ��

Thanks a lot man

51

K

"Grandpa, what's up?", I said as soon as he opened the door of our restaurant to me. "What's so urgent that it can't wait till morning? Is grandma alright?", I asked, in a fit of worry. It was really strange that they wanted to see me this late in the evening. It got me really worried that I didn't even have the time to fully process Mia's news.

" Everything is fine, son. Don't worry your grandma is good. It's just been a while since we saw you, you know", he smiled at me as he led me to inner room where we served reserved for our high paying customers that really liked their privacy. It was like our own version of a VIP booth, just that ours wasn't as fancy as normal VIP booths are. It was just a small room with a round table and comfy cushions with a flat screen and air conditioner.

"You sure?", I asked not convinced by his response, as I searched his face. Grandma isn't exactly well, she's diabetic. Before we found out, she had an episode where she passed out for almost a day and she had this numbness in her hands and feet.
We didn't know about it then and so we were so scared, like really scared we were going to lose her. As God would have it, she regained consciousness and slowly began to recover. Since then, we've put in everything to make sure all her expensive medications are always avaliable and always being on guard, waiting for the next shoe to drop and this sudden call from grandpa almost got me thinking today is that day.

"I've already told you she's fine, except you want her to not be okay", he replied, his tone taking up the slightest edge, indicating he was beginning to get pissed with my incessant questions about grandma's health.

"Okay", I replied while I continued to tap my foot unconsciously due to how uneasy I still felt. 'If everything is fine, then why did he ask me to come over, then?', I asked myself as I exhaled in frustration.

"Okay, pops", I sat up impatiently. "What's going on, why am I really here?", I cut right to the chase, getting fed up with the whole mute thing going on. I mean I literally have a real crisis waiting for me at my apartment. The love of my life is about to go off a million miles from here for six months and if there's nothing important to discuss or do here, I'd very much like to go home now and deal with it.

"Wow", pops said as he took his eyes off his phone, to look at me. "Well, forgive me for just wanting to spend some time with my grandson", he replied sarcastically but I wasn't buying it.

" Then you could have just called and we would have talked. You didn't have to drag me out here", I replied a bit harshly. I didn't mean to be rude but I was just a bit out of it.
Realizing that grandma was fine now had started to make reality of Mia's news dawn hard on me.

"Hmmm", he hummed. "Okay, you can go", he said after a while.

"I'm sorry pops", I apologized. "I didn't mean to sound like that. Of course, I'd love to spend time with you and grandma. It's just that a lot has been--is going on with me now and I don't know what to do", I opened and relaxed back on the seat, sighing out of exhaustion as I rubbed my temple.

"Hmmm", he hummed again. He always did that whenever he was pondering on something. "When you say 'a lot of things', does it have anything to do with a certain beautiful fair maiden?", he asked, shocking me to the bone.

He--They know about Mia.

How in the world did they find out about her? I looked at pops and he had his eyes trained on me as if daring me to try to deny it, which would be impossible because in this world, they're people you just can't lie to even if you were brought up by Lucifer himself and my grandad tops the list. Dude's just a human lying detector.

"Uhmm--uh-p-pops, I, uh--I can explain", I stuttered, completely clueless on what I was even going to explain. Today has to win the award for worst day ever.

"Go on", he said calmly, as he set his phone on the table for the first time since I came.
"I'm all ears".
Just as I was about to spill the gibberish I hastily concocted in my mind, grandma came in with a tray for food, probably for her husband. I sighed in relief as I saw she was really okay.

"Good evening, mama", I greeted as she set the table for pops, but she didn't reply, probably because she didn't hear.
"Good eve--"

"Ah, Obim I didn't know you have a visitor here with you", she said to grandpa, cutting me off abruptly. It was like she wasn't even seeing me at all.

"Well, since I didn't know a visitor was coming here there wouldn't any food for him and don't share your own with him o. It's even going to be enough for you as it is", she said and made to leave.

"Gran--", I tried to reach for her but the look she gave me made me behave myself. 'It the heck is going on here?' I wondered. Is this some kind of joke?

"Obim, why is your visitor calling me grandma? Is anything wrong with him?", she asked pops, who had an amused expression on his face. I bet it was taking everything in him not burst out laughing.

"What's with this visitor thing?", I burst out in anger. "It's me, Onyekachi, you're grand--",

"Eh eh, hold it there!", she thundered, cutting me off for the umpteenth time this night. "Watch your tone with me, young man. Oh, because you're doing some rich half caste, you think you can now talk to me anyhow? You're tasting wealth now and so you're now talking down on me?", she raged on. "Onwe ihe n'me gi n'si?" she asked in a sudden switch to igbo.

"Oh, that's it? ", I asked, throwing my hands out wide in frustration. "All these your selective amnesia is just because of Mia? Well then, here we go, yes, I'm dating Mia and we're in love. There, I said it", I retorted, letting everything out.

"Now, you will watch yourself", my grandad shot at me. I guess he's subscription to the amusement expired and he wasn't finding it funny anymore.

"What, you guys give me the silent treatment and mock me but when I speak for myself, it's disrespectful? No, what's disprectful is you guys giving me the piss without listening to me first. At least hear me out first", I replied hotly.

"Dayo already told us everything so keep your explanation to yourself", mama retorted and for a moment, I was stunned. No, scratch that, I felt betrayed. Why would someone who I considered my best friend sell me out like this?

"Dayo, huh", I scoffed. "So that's how you knew? That snitch", I said angrily as I clenched my fists, wishing I could just lay my hands on him.

"Well, he only confirmed it for us", pops said and I turned to him, confused.

"What do you mean, he just confirmed it?", I asked.

"I mean, Mia or whatever her name is, was the one who came here and hinted at it. Before your grandma could confirm it, she bolted and so we reached out to Dayo who confirmed it for us", pops explained and I sank back into my seat, stunned by what I just heard. It just didn't make any sense, I mean there's no way Mia came here. She doesn't know this place and even if she did, there's no way she would keep it from me.

"I see that she didn't tell you", pops said calmly now. "Well, now you know and we know, so we can talk about this civilly?"

"There's nothing to talk about", grandma retorted. "He just needs to put to a stop to whatever he has going on with that oyinbo pepper and we're good".

"Obim, not now please", pops said to her. "Let's all calm down and talk about this reasonably".

"Ooohhh", Grandma reacted, clapping her hands dramatically. "Mua kwa? Not now and unreasonable?", she chuckled and shook her head sadly. "Okay oo. Let me leave you reasonable men to talk now while I unreasonably take my food m, Obim. Let two of you can feed off each other's reason. Also, I'm sure that you're know you'll be sleeping in the guestroom this night. Ah, it's you I pity o because this one will go back to his house and oyinbo pepper will give him food, that's if she can cook sef, but you, ah lalo", she said, as she took back the tray of food she brought for her husband. The woman should have just taken up an acting career with all the drama she's got in her. If I thought Mia was a drama queen, grandma would be the godmother of all drama queens.

We sat in silence for a while after she took her food back, the two of us seemingly deep in our thoughts. I lifted my head just in time to catch pops' eye on me and out of nowhere, we burst into laughter.

"God, I love that woman", pops laughed. "Forty eight years of marriage boy, and I'm still smitten".

"Yeah, I get that", I replied, totally understanding where he was coming from. Grandma is possibly the pettiest person I know(no disrespect, grandma), like she can do the most because of the littlest of things and grandpa would just bear patiently with her. I guess seeing how they lived together all this time kind of helped me understand Mia's occasional tantrums and excesses.

"So, this girl...", he started calmly and paused, looking at me like he was waiting for me to say something.

"What?", I asked, looking away shyly. It felt kind of awkward discussing my love life with my grandpa.

"Well, do you really like her?", he asked and I replied him with a nod. "Okay, are you in love with her?"

"Ocean deep", I replied instantly and the very brief flash of surprise over pop's expression was funny.

"Okay, okay, I can understand that but does she love you too?", he asked.

"Wow, pops, you just shoot straight at it. No corners or beating around the bush, huh?", I chuckled at how direct he was with his questions.

"You know me", he shrugged with a smile as he sat back, waiting for my answer.

"Well, pops, I know Mia loves me. It might not be at same level with which I love her and that's fine. What matters is that I know she feels something for me", I answered as thoughts of our time played through my mind and it was as if the weight I was feeling before about her leaving just lifted off of me. I began to feel this lightness and peace in my heart that in the power of our love. It's like a fresh understanding just dawned on me and I began to see love in a whole new way. I began to understand stuff like when people say love is blind, love is patient, love is sacrificial.

"Wow", I muttered, awestruck at this blissful revelation.

"What?", pops asked.

"Huh?", I hummed, realizing that he was still here with me. "Uhmm..don't mind me, just that your question got me thinking and now I'm in love myself, I now understand it more.
I understand how you and grandma still behave like teenagers in love despite being together for so long. Even when with the clear as day difference in your personalities. Heck, I think I'm even beginning to understand how God can still love us so much despite everything we put him through", I stopped to see his reaction before I continued. He seemed to be paying rapt attention and so I continued.

"You know, I just got what I thought to be a terrible news just before you called me over.
Mia just got an internship in Paris and she would be leaving just after our exams next month. I felt really bad even though I knew it would be a very good opportunity for her to achieve her dreams. In a moment of selfishness, I even considered asking her to choose between me and her dreams but your questions now about if I love her and vice versa just made me realize that I really really love her. It made me realize that one should fall in love but not with the condition of being loved back because love is selfless, it's sacrificial and I'll willingly ask her to pursue her dreams even if it means me not being in the picture or the risk of long distance making her fall out of love with me. Not every love story has two people in it and that's okay", I finished explaining in a heartfelt way. A deafening silence ensued as pops just stared at me, like he studying me. It was very unsettling being under such scrutiny.

"Wow", he said softly as his face slowly broke into a smile. He stood up and began applauding me and I sighed in relief. I thought I had shit the bed earlier with my speech.
"Wow, boy, that was just mind blowing. As in this girl has you channeling your inner Shakespeare or even Hemingway", pops praised me the more.

"Oh cmon, let's not exaggerate now", I timidly dismissed his flattery, meanwhile my ego was doing back flips in utter delight at the comparisons.

"I'm serious, boy. I came up with a couple reasons as to how you and this girl wouldn't work but with what you've said now, I don't think your mind can be changed", he said and I smiled, happy that he understands.

"There's one thing I'm confused about though", he stated, a curious expression on his face.

"What's that?", I asked.

"You know, I always knew you had a thing for Nonye. Your grandma knew too and was really happy about it."

"Wait, you guys knew?", I asked, feeling embarrassed that they knew about my unrequited lovestory. Ah! They must have gossips and made fun of me.

"Everyone knew, boy. I'm sure she knew too. Girls are sensitive like that", he replied. "I wondered if you would ever muster the balls to ask her out but that's by the way, how did you - infact, which timeframe did you meet Mia that you guys have already started going out?"

"Well, I don't really know myself. Nonye had asked Dayo out and I was heartbroken, that was when I went AWOL for a while. I met Mia in a club, I was heartbroken and Mia had grieving the loss of her mum and I guess we just have found solace in each other. That how it started", I explained, smiling as I remembered everything. It still feels surreal to me.

"Wow, that's quite the story. But son, I'll have you know that talk is cheap and work is expensive. Look, you're a grown man who can make his own decisions and I respect that, but I still want you to consider and look at things from the perspective of a situation where things don't work out. I hope you know why your grandma is acting like that, it's because a very similar case had occurred with your father and it the aftermath was very traumatizing for all of us. So please son, think it through well, ok?", he pleaded with me.

" Of course, pops. I'll think it through thoroughly", I assured him, even though the outcome wouldn't change.

"Thanks son. I really hope it works out well for you, son. You deserve to be happy and please, feel free to always come to me for anything. I won't lie I felt a bit bad when we had to find out about your relationship like this. I can understand why you might hide it from your grandma, she can be a lot sometimes but me? Haba now, I thought we were guys", he opened up.

"I know and I'm sorry pops, but I have to go now. I need to see Mia now, I didn't really leave things on a good note before coming here", I stated as I stood up. "Give grandma a kiss for me and help me talk to her, please?"

"Sure son", He agreed and drew me in for a quick hug. "Drive safely, okay?"

"Sure thing, pops. Goodnight", I waved and quickly walked to the car. As I got in, I took out my phone to put a call to Mia. It rang for a while but no answer. I called again and still no answer. I sighed as I started the car, knowing this night was going to be a long one..... TBC

My people, happy weekend... New update soon.

Hey guys.. Please manage this little update.

50

Mia

In economics, we're taught to list out our wants and needs in order of priority and go for the most important ones according to the amount of resources at our disposal. I wish my present predicament was that simple. How do I choose between what I need and what I need? That was the question on my mind as I dangerously sat on the balcony ledge of my kitchen which was situated at the first floor of my house. I always came here whenever I wanted to clear my head because the view from here was just so soothing.
I really want this intern gig, it's something I've been wanting for a long time now but on the other hand, I don't ever want to be away from K. The me from about seven months ago would have laughed scornfully in my face that I was even entertaining the thought of forfeiting this opportunity for anyone at all, talk more of a boy.

"Aarggh!!! ", I let out my frustration. Why can't life just be straight and easy for once, just for once? Why is it just so sad and twisted? Why do I have to choose, why can't I just eat my cake and have it or is that so bad a thing?

"Mia?", Joy called as she poked her head. "I knew I heard something here", she said and entered fully.

"Hi Joy", I greeted dryly. The truth was I wasn't in the mood for any conversation at all. I just wanted to be alone in my thoughts and feelings with a bowl of ice cream.

"This girl", she said, smiling and shaking her head. "So you're back to tempting yourself by sitting here. Old habits indeed die hard. Thank God I had them fix a wide safety net directly below to contain your fat self if you ever fell from here.

" I'm not fat", I retorted.

"You used to be", she countered smiling and I sighed, giving up. I didn't even have the strength to banter with her. "Joy, is there anything you want?", I asked tiredly. "Because I'm really not in the mood for any kind of chitchat now".

"Child", she called softly. "What's wrong?" she asked, concern written all over her face.

"Well, Joy unless you can somehow transform into a fairy godmother or a genie that would grant my wishes, I don't think you can do anything for me", I answered rudely.

"Okay, someone's cranky", she smiled as she made to leave. "Maybe I'll just come back when you're more yourself", she said, making me feel much worse. She didn't deserve that.

"Joy... I'm sorry", I mumbled. "I'm taking out my frustration on you and that's not fair at all".

"It's alright, dear", she said, coming closer to me. "I'm already used to your jangolova mood swings and I love you like that. I hope you know that and also know that I'm here for you always. You can confide in me concerning anything at all", she said in a very reassuring manner.

"Thanks Joy", I sincerely appreciated.

"You're welcome, honey", she replied. "So what did K do now?", she asked with a knowing smile playing at the corner of her lips as my eyebrows shot up in surprise.

"And who said anything about K?", I asked, pretending I knew nothing of what she was saying . I just don't like being too predictable.

"Well, this is like the first time you've been here in weeks so it's only natural that the reason you're here now looking down has something to do with him. So I'll ask again, what did he do? No, scratch that... ", she suddenly said and paused, as she looked at me, her facial expression showing she just realized something." What did you do? ", she asked me with narrowed eyes.

" Me? ", I asked, surprised. "Why do I have to be the person at fault?", I asked defensively.

"Because my dear.. ", Joy began. "I know you and what you're capable of. Besides that boy seems like a sweet, gentle boy. To be honest, I was scared for him at first. I wondered how he was to cope with your fiery personality", Joy said.

"I know right", I replied and chuckled. "Well, you're right-ish. K didn't do anything, it's what he didn't do that's kind of the problem", I said and smiled when I saw the confused look on her face.

"Okay, here it goes", I began. "I don't know how this is possible, but I feel both happy and sad at the same time".

"Okay, this is going to be fun", Joy said, smiling as she adjusted herself more comfortably. How is she still thrilled by gists at this age? I thought as I just shook my head and smiled.

"I received an email from Paris", I continued. "I got the Chanel internship", I said and smiled.

"Wow!", Joy exclaimed happily. "That's very nice, honey. I'm so proud of you and I'm sure your mum would be too. Okay, now I know why you're happy. What's making you sad?"

"Feels like I'm leaving something.. someone behind", I replied sadly.

"Does K know?", she asked and I nodded in response. "Okay, what did he say?", she asked further.

"Nothing. He didn't say anything and I could tell he was a bit sad. He got a call and just said he had to go out for a bit so I came here to clear my head", I replied, as I looked away from Joy and stared at the beautiful view in front of us. I didn't want her to see me struggling to keep the tears at bay.

"Tell me something", Joy demanded calmy. "What's more important to you? Your dreams or K?" She asked me the same thing I've been asking myself since I got here. I closed my eyes as a stray tear escaped and began rolling down my cheek.

I sniffed and wiped out the tear as I looked at Joy. "Six months ago I would have said my dreams but now.....", I paused, at loss of what to say again. "But now.... I don't know. I don't know and it's killing me, Joy", I said as the tears broke through their ducts and started raining down my cheeks. Joy took me in her arms, as she stroked my hair tenderly and at the same time telling me it would all be fine.
"You know, I never knew a time would come where I would see you cry over a boy", Joy teased and I chuckled.

"Same here", I replied.

"Yeah, life has a funny way of making us do things we would never imagine", Joy said. "Well, do you want to know what I think?", she asked.

"Mmhmm", I nodded.

"I think you should go for the internship. This is your dream and hopefully, your career we are talking about here. At most, the intern might last for a year or a year and half then you'd be back. A major attribute of love is sacrifice and if K can't make that sacrifice so you can pursue your dreams and be better at what you love, then I'm sorry Mia but he isn't the right person for you. That's just my own two cents and you don't have to accept it if you don't want to", Joy explained in an exquisite show of wisdom.

"I'm scared, Joy", I admitted my fears. "What if he doesn't see it this way. I don't want to lose him, Joy. I really really love him".

"I know baby, I know, but you have to think about you first. You have to do what's good for you except you want to be with him in regret and unhappiness which would foster a kind of silent hatred for him. Trust me, I know what I'm saying", Joy said and I pulled out a little from her embrace to look at her.

"You're talking from experience, right? ", I asked and she looked away sadly. "Want to talk about it?"

"No", she shook her head softly. "At least not now, but all I'm saying is I wouldn't want you to make the same mistake I did".

"Thanks Joy", I thanked her and wrapped her in a tight hug. "For everything. I'm really grateful"

"It's my pleasure, baby", she replied.

"Wow", I said smiling as I disconnected from the hug. "I feel so much better now. I better get going now, bye Joy", I said and Joy looked surprised.

"You're going already?", she asked.

"Yeah, I need to go talk with K. What you said kinda gave me an insight on what to do".

"Oh okay" she said, a look of doubt still on her face. "But... Uhm... Not that I'm want to pry or something, what exactly are you going to do?", she asked, not even bothering to mask her curiosity.

"I'm gonna ask him to come with me", I said,, spreading my hands out wide as I slowly backed away.

"To Paris?", she asked, surprised.

"Mhmm", I affirmed.

"And if he refuses?"

"Then I'll ask him to marry me and wait for me till I return", I replied and then burst out in laughter when I was the mortified look on Joy's face.
"I'm just joking, calm down. I don't know what I'll do if he refuses. I guess I'll jump that hurdle when I get there... or crawl under it", I joked and Joy chuckled.

"Don't do anything rash, OK?", Joy advised and I agreed.

"Gotta go now. Bye", I said and walked off. As I drove to K's, all I could think about was what I said earlier. "Was I really joking", I muttered to myself as I increased the speed of the car... TBC

Hey guys... Pls make una no too vex for me. The delay and postponement aren't intentional at all. Been busy all through this week and even till next Wednesday. Pls just understand and bear with me.

P. S we've hit 100k views on this story. Thank you guys

abubakarbabang7:
Moura7 wetin dey sup na??
You tell us say u go update for weekend, e pass, you say midweek, e pass, now weekend don come again
Which level na my gee??

Pls I'm really sorry, it's not intentional. I've been really swamped this week and even to next week weds. Abeg make una no vex

jullyrosy:
Clears throat*

LOL.. No fear, I dey with you. This week dey tight sha, went back to sch to complete clearance ish plus the ENTHRONED programme but don't worry, I'd deffo update this week

Hey guys... Really sorry on not coming through like I said but would compensate this week. I'll try and do a double. Pls don't be too mad. Have Happy and produvtive new week

New update during the weekend... Happy new month guys

hotswagg12:
This chapter is very good especially the bonding between k and Dave and I was also expecting to read the encounter between Mia and k grandmother.

LOL... Granny dey beef K o

Oya o... Guys lemme know your thoughts on this episode, esp you ghost readers. Jimmyvic I see you snooping around

Contd

"What if I don't bro", I asked, scared. "What if I end up like those people who miss it and live the rest of their lives in frustration and bitterness".

"Jeez, where's all this negativity coming from, man?", Dave asked, sitting up so he could look at me properly. "All these 'what ifs', what if it's this defeatist mentality that's blinding you and keeping you from seeing your potentials, huh?" he asked. I laughed sadly in my mind, people who haven't gone through a particular phase are the best motivational speakers on that phase till they actually experinece it and see it's not that easy. Shebi I was the one that was just playing motivational speaker for him moments ago.

"See bro, out our clique of friends or peers in this school, you're like the only one that actually working to settle bills. I'm talking real life, hustler kinda work here not some worked internship at one of the subsidiaries of your family's conglomerate. All of us here, not me though, are trust fund brats but you're earning your own bread and you're doing it legitly for that matter. See the way you've helped increased revenue for your employers with your brilliant ideas, which I think is one of your potentials by the way. You usually profer this out of the box ideas that always comes to fruition. Okay, apart from your suggestion to play live bands in the restaurant, they are times I'm here with you and Mia, and she gets stuck on how particular design is to come off and then you, just off the top of your hat, give a suggestion and it just clicks like a missing piece and then you guys start kissing and other annoying stuff love makes people do", he reasoned and I began to feel better. I even tried hard not to laugh when he complained about how lovey-dovey Mia and I were.

"She just does that to make me feel good, it's not that much of a deal", I said casually, but deep down, I was feeling happy about it, about the possibility that maybe I do have a thing...my own thing.

"There you go again, selling yourself short. I said that this mentality of yours is what's keeping you from seeing how gifted you really are", he sighed in frustration. "You're a fixer bro! Some sort of muse", Dave stated and I just sat there, deep in my thoughts, pondering on all he just said.

"Don't pressure yourself, man. Soon it will become clearer and then you'll know how develop this gift but just drop the negativity baggage please", he pleaded. "It's very unhealthy".

"Dave", I called him calmly. "I'm only going to say this once so listen and cherish it well. You're the man bro, thank a lot for this. I really appreciate", I genuinely appreciated him.
"You're not gonna cry on me now, are you!", I asked, when I saw a weird expression on his face.

"Oh, my brother", he feigned a tearful voice and spread his arms wide like he was going to hug me. I laughed and playfully pushed him away to which he laughed in response.

The door made a click sound and the opened with Mia rushing in, calling for me with an excited expression on her face.

"Babe, babe, guess what?", she asked happily. "I got the spot", she answered herself, not even giving me the chance to even say anything.

"Uh, hi to you too, Mia", Dave greeted, slightly waving at her.

"Oh, Dave, you're here. I'm sorry, hi", she apologized half heartedly and quickly returning her attention back to my confused self because I didn't know what she was on about.

"Uh, which spot are you talking about, babe?", I asked.

"Oh my God, you forgot already? I've applying for an internship spot at Chanel for years now and just today, I got an email saying they loved my new designs and that I've been accepted to join their summer interns this year at their Paris office . Isn't that just awesome?", she squealed in pure euphoria.

"Wow, babe!! ", I exclaimed happily. "This is huge".

"Congratulations Mia", Dave greeted her and she responded with a small bow.

"Thank you, thank you", she replied and squealed again. "I still can't believe they loved my designs. Ahhh!!!", she exclaimed excitedly and I smiled, feeling so proud of my girl.
"Let me quickly add 'designer at Chanel' on IG bio", she bragged and I just shook my head, smiling.

"Really happy for you babe", I said and pulled her in for a hug. "So when are you leaving?", I asked softly in her ear.

"Well", she pulled out from my embrace a bit. "We agreed that I would come over in a month's time when I'd be done with these semester's exams", she replied and I felt a bit uneasy all of a sudden.

"A month's time?", I echoed her response softly. "That's near. Uh--ok , how long is the internship?", I asked, my heart beating faster than normal.

"About six months?", She replied quietly. It was like the realization that we would be apart from each other that long suddenly dawned on her too.

"Wow", I muttered. I was too shell-shocked to even say anything else. Six freaking months!
"That's -", I began but couldn't find the words to continue. "So you're going halfway across the world from here for the next six months. Th--that's just great"..... TBC

What do you guys think?

49
K

"Fourteen headshot kills!!", I screamed, surprised by Dave's stats after we just finished a round of COD. "I know you're good at this game, but this..", I paused to admire it on the screen again . "This is just nuts. How far, wetin happen na?"

Today was one of the blessed weekends that I had off days at work and so had the whole weekend to rest, or so I thought. Barely past noon, Dave hit me up and asked to come over. He's been a bit melancholic since his visit to Gina's and being the softie that I was, I couldn't just say no. Besides he's always been there to listen and help out when I had my own woman issues.

"Nothing much", he sighed sadly , a bored expression on his face. "I was just a bit motivated".

"By what..or who?", I asked curiously. "It's not like there was an award we were playing for or something of the sort".

"Yeah, I know right", he agreed nonchalantly.
"It was just personal for me, that's all. I just replaced the faces of our enemies with that of Rex and I went on a rampage".

"Oh", I voiced softly as I pressed play so we could move on to the next round of the game. "Rex again, huh?", I asked casually.

"Mmhmm", he responded in the same manner, eyes focused on the screen as his trigger happy avatar shot his way through a sea of animated enemy terrorists. He even shot some of the hostages we were meant to rescue.

"Well, why don't you call her then", I suggested. "It's clear you still like her and probably miss her too".

"Call and like who?", he asked and paused the game, feigning ignorance. I gave him a look and he sighed, realizing I wasn't buying his bullshit. "I don't have her number anymore, I deleted it", he replied, resuming the game.

"No way", I gasped in surprise. That was kind of extreme. "Okay, how about you text her on whatsapp or any of the social media platforms", I asked.

"Can't, deleted all my social media apps", he replied carelessly, his focus captivated by the game we were playing.

"Wow", I exclaimed softly. "Don't you think you might be taking this a bit too far? I mean what if there really isn't anything going on between her and Rex again and that was just a random call, huh?", I asked, pausing the game again and drawing a frustrated sigh from Dave.

"Okay, let me ask you this", he started. "So, what if Mia gets a call from Caleb while the two of you are together and then she excuses herself to take the call, would you just dismiss it as some random call?", he asked and I kept quiet. "Yeah, right. That's what I thought", he chuckled and continued the game.

"But bro, relax first", I began and paused the game for the umpteenth time now. "What you're asking is quite different. Mia is my girlfriend and so it's understandable for me to get angry if she's getting secret calls from her ex. However, being with her and knowing who she is, has taught me to trust her to have a very good reason for anything she does. In your case and I say this respectfully, you're not Gina's boyfriend, in fact you haven't even confessed your feelings to her and so she owes you no explanation or anything at all. If indeed she's back with douchebag Rex, it's her business and yes, you might feel a bit hurt by it but that's it bro, you move on. You don't hate her in your heart and punish yourself over it for long. If you feel you have a shot with her then tell her how you feel, if she accepts fine and if she doesn't, still fine. In the end it's her choice. You just try your best to be a good friend to her and live your life. All this deleting of number and social media accounts is a bit extreme man", I explained in the most polite way I could and he just sat there, quiet and moody.

"Way to make feel more pathetic than I already am", he said softly and as I tried to negate his statement, he cut me off by holding up his hand. "I know you mean well, it's just that rejection doesn't sit well with me, especially when it's from someone I really care about... Someone I love", he said the last part so softly with a look of defeat on his face. My guy had finally lost the battle to his feelings and had admitted he was in love.

"You know this is all your fault, right?", Dave accused and I looked around to be sure I was the one he was accusing because how in the world is this my fault.

"Me?", I asked confused. "How?"

"How do expect me to not become this mushy clingy pathetic mess with the heavy dose of PDA you and Mia project my way on a daily basis, huh?", He fired. "It's like you guys are attached to the hip, it's so exhausting", he grimaced, looking around.
"Speaking of which, where's Mia? Haven't seen her since I came in".

"Are you done with throwing a fit?", I asked, amsued at his childish tantrums. "About Mia, she left early this morning to accompany G to see how her restraunt is coming up then she said she'd branch at her place before coming back here".

"Oh, okay", he replied. "She's even coming back? You guys should just get married already jeez", he said and I laughed.

"Hater", I sneered at him.

"Whatever", he hissed as he bent to pick up his controller. "Let's continue this game, still got alotta Calebs to gun down".

"You're such a bad influence on me", I said as I picked up my own controller. "Exams are starting in a week's time and you're encouraging me play game rather than study. Some friend you are", I scoffed and he chuckled.

"Uhh, speak for yourself man. You're forgetting I was in my final year at Stanford before I got kicked out so what's some first year computer science pop quiz I can't ace in my sleep",he bragged and I smiled a little.
The pompous Dave is back, no one would ever guess that he was throwing himself a pity party just a while ago.

"Good for you man", I said, feeling a bit sad of all of a sudden. "It's nice that you're studying something you like or kind of passionate about. Can't say the same for myself though, this finance I'm studying isn't just my thing. I don't even know what my thing is", I sighed, dropping my controller as I slowly began to feel overwhelmed by sadness. This issue of not knowing what to do or what I want in life has been a constant battle I've been fighting lately.
At first, I didn't care much about such stuff. The plan was simple; get through college and then get a job and if worse comes to worst, I'd just inherit my grandparents' dingy fast-food joint. But then in the space of just eight months, I met these amazing people that seemed to have dreams and are working towards that dream. Mia has her fashion designing stuff going on, Gina is already working on getting her restruant started, Nonye is already a celebrity and Dayo has always wanted to be president and has been groomed to be politician since he was little by his dad. Dude has mastered the arts of influence and power, no wonder everybody seems to like him. I don't know about Dave but I'm sure he's got his own thing too. It just gets so suffocating being around such people and not being able to pull my own weight.

"What do you mean you don't have a thing?", Dave asked. "I don't get".

"What's something you're so passionate about?", I asked instead.

"Right now, it's Gina", he replied, smiling .

"Ohh", I hissed. "I'm being serious here".

"Me too", he joked the more.

"Okay okay, let me be serious now", he said, partially wiping off the teasing smile on his face when he saw I was serious.

"Eh, other than Gina right now, another thing I'm passionate about is programming video games. I've been obsessed with video games since I can remember, like you won't believe the number of games I've created and discarded. They were good, very good even, but my genius didn't just agree with them and I'll continue creating more till it clicks", he answered enthusiastically and I smiled. I don't know why I always feel this tinge of happiness anytime I see the joy which people exhibit when talking about or doing something they're passionate about.

"That right there-", I emphasized and paused . "Is what I don't have".

doctorexcel:
whassup moura

Working on it

Brightspecimen:
My patience has its limit Moura

LOL ok

jullyrosy:
Say No to spirit of rushing/laziness

LOL OK ma

Weekend again, Thank God... New update Sunday as usual or latest Monday evening. Make una sha help me o cus only God knows how many times I've changed the ending of this story and extended it.

doctorexcel:
Thanks bro. Your posts are always worth the wait. How far with mia and her soon-to-be MIL? I can't wait to see the reaction of k's grandma

efeteb:
Thanks for the update

Thanks guys

He rather I go the family way of being a lawyer, hence the reason I'm studying law but after law school, I'm done. I'll pursue my cooking passion and start my own restaurant. I've already bought a property somewhere in the island. Uhm.. I think that sums me up", she finished.

"You forgot, stunningly beautiful, arrogant and rude", I joked and quickly dodged the TV remote she throw at me.

"Me arrogant?", she laughed. "Don't worry, I'll poison your food next time".

"Are you saying there's going to be a next time?", I asked smiling and for the first time I saw her blush. My smile grew wider and I felt happy I had that effect on her.

"We'll see", she replied shyly. "Now over to you", she said, that confident edge came back to her voice.

"Well, let me try to summarize like you", I began. "I'm Dave.. Dave Richard K", I added as she gave me a look when I didn't add my surname before.

"Uh, sorry, isn't Richard your dad's name?", she asked.

"Yeah", I replied.

"Okay. What does the K stand for, though?"

"Oh, that's my dad's surname, I can't pronounce it well", I lied.

"Hmm.. Ok", she shrugged. "Carry on".

"Yeah, so I was born and raised in the states. My mum's late. Any other thing?", I thought out loud. "Oh, I'm twenty one and I love soccer, girls, creating apps and movies sometimes." I finished and she was looking at me weirdly.

"What?", I asked confused.

"You're done?", she asked, like she couldn't believe it. What more does she want?

"Uhh... Yeah?"

"You're joking. Okay, wait, what's your passion or dream? What does your dad do, how are you guys wealthy? I'm sorry about your mum but how or why did she die?", she bombarded me with questions. "That's how to describe yourself".

"Hmm..okay", I agreed. "Well, my dad migrated to the US a year before I was born. According to stories my mum told me, my dad met her father in the middle of a robbery. Then my grandfather, a professor at MIT had come to the restaurant my dad was waiting at and as the robbery ensued, the robbers asked my grandfather for his wristwatch but he refused so they threatened to shoot him if he didn't give on and my dad being the nosy person he was, intervened by shielding my grandfather while trying to beg the robbers to stop. Long story short, my dad ended up getting shot, on his arm though and my grandfather in show of gratitude, decided to take him in from the shabby shelter he was residing at. As God would have it, they bonded really well, especially over their shared love for technology. Through my grandfather, my dad met my mum and they had me. They didn't get married because mum rejected dad's proposal because she was sick and didn't want to put him through much pain when she eventually died. I feel she thought dad was being pitiful towards her but I might be wrong. About the wealth part, dad was/is really smart, might even be a genius.
My grandfather noticed this and pushed lots of strings to get dad attend lectures in MIT even if he couldn't get a diploma. Along the line, dad got really good and creating softwares/programs and began to make a business out of it--typical igbo man. Although, the money he got from making apps for the white kids was little, he requested for stock in start ups this kids were building. Grandpa wisely advised him to get a law student to draw up contracts for him to make it legal and binding just to be safe and as God would have it, some of those startups blew up and became giants in various industries. Some of them are mastercard, Amazon Simple Storage Service. Before these stocks blew up, dad was working at a hedge fund company, he worked in IT but as I said before, he's nosy so he can learning stuff about finance and trading. That was even how he began to monitor markets and stock and got to see that the stock he got paid with years back had become big. So we became quite the millionaires but good things don't usually last as mum's situation worsened and all the money couldn't save her --", I paused as talking about it now, had me reliving the whole thing all over. I didn't even know tears had begun to roll down my cheeks till Gina reached out to wipe off a stray one. I looked away as I didn't want her to see me like this but she pulled my face back to her.

"It's okay to cry", she whispered and as if on cue, the dam opened up from my eyes. She shifted closer and took me in her arms as I wept quietly.
After some minutes, I pulled out from her embrace and just stared at her. We just sat there staring at each other, messages passing through my eyes in perfect understanding and so it was just natural that we began to lean in towards each other. I looked at her lips and then her eyes, silently seeking her permission and when I got the go ahead with slight parting of her lips. leaned further to meet her lips with mine and just then, her phone rang. It was as if she snapped from a spell or something because the speed with which she jumped away from me was unreal. I looked to where her phone was and the caller ID, Rex with a love emoji body displayed on the screen creen.

"Uhh.. I.. I have to take this", she stuttered, picked the phone and dashed out.

'Ofcourse', I thought, smiling through the weird pain I felt inside. I should have known she still had feelings for that douchebag. Her refusal to advances earlier begin to make sense now. I hated myself now for ignoring the warnings in my head and going ahead to fall for her.
She came back after a few minutes later and I stood up to leave.

"Uhmm...I'm sorry about that. It was just--"

"No need to apologize", I cut her off. "I'll be taking my leave now. Thanks for the meal and your time, I really enjoyed both", I thanked her, ignoring the surprised look on her face.

"Y--you're welcome ", she voiced softly. "You're leaving?", she asked a bit sadly.

"Yeah", I held my ground. I won't let her countenance won't sway me.

"Hope no problem? ", she asked and I replied by shaking my head.

"Just got something to take care of now", I answered. "Please get the gate for me".

"Yeah, sure", she said and tapped on her phone while I got the door and walked out to my car. The harsh reality check from that phone call got my head from the clouds back to earth, but my heart is still firmly in her grip. Guess I'll have to learn to live without one for the time being.... TBC

Contd

"Wow", I exclaimed softly as we entered Gina's house. "Your place is so beautiful", I complimented while admiring the living area.

"Okay, ease up with the a** kissing", Gina chuckled. "You're acting like it's your first time here".

"First, ouch!!", I replied, a fake expression of pain on my face. "Second, I'm no a** kisser, at least not in the way you mean", I winked and she made a face showing her disgust at what I said. I laughed at how funny she looked, it was just adorable.

"Look, all I'm just saying that the first time I was here it was late at night and we had more pressing issues so I didn't really have time to take in the gorgeousness of your house", I explained.

"There you go again", she sighed. "It's just a house, Dave".

Mmhmm. Like a semi detached duplex with a mechanized gate, garden, pool, and I'm sure it had other stuff like an indoor gym and cinema too. All these plus the fact its in a very choicy part of Lagos was ''just a house" to her, but it's all good.

"So what would you like?", she asked. "Scratch that, I think I only have pasta, rice and maybe soup, so which would you prefer?"

"Which would be the fastest to fix?", I asked. "I'm starving", I said holding my tummy.

"Uh, let's just do pasta then. It shouldn't take too long to fix. In the meantime, let me get you some cake and juice, I can't have a stranger dying in my house", she retorted and walked out, leaving me shocked.

"Did she just call me a stranger?", I asked myself, confused at what she meant. I mean there's no way she still sees me as a stranger, right?
I tried to get my mind off that silly remark and just see it as nothing but I just couldn't.
Here I am, thinking I'm beginning to make progress with her when all along she still sees me as a stranger.

"Nah, she's just joking", I said and chuckled, trying hard to block out the opposing voice of my subconscious. Just then she entered with a tray containing a slice of cake on a plate and a glass of juice.

"Thank you", I thanked her and received the food. "Uh, your help is not around?", I asked, taking a piece of cake in my mouth.

"Help?", she asked, confused. "I don't have a help".

"Really?", I replied in surprise. "You mean you stay here alone?"

"Uh, yeah", she replied. "Why would I need a help or need anybody to stay with me?" She asked and I was beginning to sense a hint of aggression in her tone which was not good for me. Gina seemed like all these 'woke feminist genZ the world is female' type girls and the fact that she's studying law is just trouble.

"Oh, I get it", she continued. "You think because she's some rich girl then she just cluless and would someone to get every single thing done for her, right?", she asked angrily. I quickly swallowed the cake in my mouth in fear.

"Uhmm..I.. I didn't - -", I tried to pacify her when she cut me off by bursting into laughter leaving me confused at what was happening right now.

"Oh my God, your face_", she tried to say but continued laughing instead. "I'm just kidding".

"Oh", I sighed in relief. "You're crazy, you know that right?"

"I know", she smiled. "How's the cake though, I baked it myself".

"Really?", I asked and she nodded. "No wonder it's horrible. I'm just managing it as this point, just hope you're cooking doesn't suck as much else I would've just wasted my time", I replied without looking at her. It was my turn to joke now.

"How dare you?", she laughed and I swear I felt my heart skip a beat. Jesus! What's this girl doing to me?

"So.." I cleared my throat and took my eyes off her before she noticed how I was staring at her. "That stuff about me being a stranger, you were joking right?", I asked and honestly, I don't know why I did. Now my heart is thumping against my ribcage like I just proposed and I'm anxiously awaiting her reply. Funny thing is I'm also praying her answer is 'yes'.

"Yeah, I was joking", she replied but I'd sighed in relief when she pronounced the 'ye'. "But in a way I wasn't. I mean I don't really know you, I don't even know your surname".

"Do people still know each other's surnames?", I asked and she eyed me. "Okay, okay, you're right. We don't really know each other", I admitted, mostly for her. She didn't know much about me but I knew everything about her.

"So what are you going to do about that?", she asked.

"I'll tell you all about me but in the kitchen. Let's go and start cooking already", I whined.
__________________________________________
"Omo!! ", I exclaimed happily and Gina laughed. We just finished eating and all I can say is I'm say we didn't eat out. The food was the best I've ever had. Okay, maybe I might be exaggerating just a little bit, this feelings thing is messing with my head but the meal was really delicious.

"Can you say 'omo' again?", she asked, still laughing. She must have liked the way I complimented her.

"No, I'm not", I refused. "Your ego is too big as it is and I won't inflate it the more by giving you more compliments".

"Oh please", she scoffed. "It's just that your accent was just funny when you said 'omo'. Please say it again so I can record it, pleeassee", she said while laughing harder and I looked away in shame. Almost a year since I've been here and I still couldn't speak pidgin without someone laughing at me.

"Oh God", she sighed after her laughing spree. She stil had residues of the mocking smile on her face as she looked at me now. "Even Mia has hope where you are", she said and laughed a little.

"Whatever", I scoffed and backed her childishly but in truth I was having the time of my life right now. Her laughter was just therapeutic to me. I swear if she laughed all day, I would listen with keen interest.
'Haaa, even K no corny reach like this', my subconscious laughed.

"Ah ah", G tried to turn me to her. "Are you vexing?", she asked playfully in a thick nigerian accent. "I was just messing with you".

"Leave me", I refuted her pleas like the child I was and she chuckled.

"Seriously though", she ignored my whims. "I'm glad you enjoyed the food. Thank you for enjoying my cooking". That melted my heart.

"Mm.. You're welcome", I murmured my reply and then turned to face her. She smiled when I finally turned around.

"So..", she started and I just what she was going to say next. "Now that's out of the way, are you going to tell me about you now?", she asked and I smiled.

"I just knew there'd an agenda behind that appreciation speech", I said and she laughed. "No biggie though, but ladies first. Tell me about you first", I reversed it back to her, not that I didn't already know, I just needed time to come up with what she needed to know in order not to spill stuff she wasn't supposed to know.

"Well, I'm an open book. I've got nothing to hide so ask away", she replied, sitting up. She really meant business. One would think that I should be happy that the girl I'm getting mad over, is willing to get to know me but its just complicated. There are things she shouldn't know, at least not now.

"So you think I'm hiding something?", I asked, a small smile at the corner of my lips to mask how nervous I was.

"I know you're hiding something", she replied flatly, eyes not batting. "But it's not my business so I won't push. You'd tell me in your own time".
Her statement was enough warning for me to back off now if I didn't want to jeopardize all dad and I had spent months planning but for some reason I was sat there smiling at her, admiring her fierceness.

"Well, that being said, let me give you a summary of myself so we can get to you. My name is Gina Williams as you already know and I come from a family of the best lawyers this country has, maybe even the continent and our law firm, Williams, has the one percent of the one percent in the country as clients. Everyone that is anyone in the country have business with us. I'm an only child, I love cooking and I think I want to pursue a career in it although my dad thinks it's a waste of time.