Continued from Chapter Twenty.
“What kind of a person are you Lekan?” I asked in disgust!
“Aren’t you happy to see me?”
“Happy? After we graduated from school, you did not even try to keep in touch, like I was some rag to use and throw away. I only heard from your friends who told me you went to the UK to further your education. Tell me why I should be happy to see you again?”
“Because you shouldn’t hold grudges this long.”
“Being with you single-handedly jeopardized my education in school. Please, what do you want with my friend?” I asked aggressively.
“Could you lower your voice? I’m interested in her, I think I love her,” he replied with a smile.
“Love? You don’t know what love is, you’re incapable of that feeling.”
“’Ebbie’ I am not the same person you used to know and besides I didn’t know she is your friend.”
No one had called me ‘Ebbie’ in a very long time and though I was upset, I still enjoyed the sound of it but I was determined to fight for my friend.
“Lekan, I won’t let you use and destroy my friend’s life the same way you did mine!”
“How can you judge me now by the things I did when I was just a schoolboy, I am an entirely different person now, things have changed a lot since then and believe me I’m not here to destroy anyone’s life.”
“Believe you? There’s nothing to believe with you, just stay away from her if you know what’s good for you!” I brimmed furiously.
“I moved back to Nigeria because of her. Do you really think your frivolous threats will deter me from pursuing my interests?”
“Call it frivolous at your own expense!” I replied angrily.
“Ebun, this is neither the right place nor the right time for this conversation.” He said as he reached into his pocket, brought out a business card and slid it across the table.
“If you really want to talk about everything including your friend, call me and we’ll talk.”
A lifetime of unaddressed grievances swirled up within me but I spotted Tola approaching the table so I quickly put the business card in my bag. I’m not entirely sure why I did that, maybe to finally get closure.
“Have you guys been gossiping about me?” Tola asked as she took her seat.
Lekan smiled and said, “I was just describing to her how we met and how you’re the most beautiful woman I ever saw.”
“Awwwn you’re making me blush,” she said smiling from cheek to cheek.
For someone who claims to have changed, he seemed to lie very smoothly and I wasn’t fooled by this charade. I endured through a very awkward lunch with the pair and while we ate, I contemplated letting her know the truth about everything but it was also heartwarming to see Tola happy for a change knowing how much she had been through lately.
“So what do you think?” she inquired on our way home.
“What do I think about what?”
“Sam! Duh!”
I paused for a brief second to think about her question, here was another opportunity to tell her the truth about him but I lacked the courage to do so.
“I’m not sure but there’s just something weird about him.”
“How do you mean weird?”
Tola stared keenly at me and I could see how badly she wanted me to like him.
“Baby girl you know I love you and want the best for you but I feel like he is not really your type and I just get a bad vibe from him.”
“Bad vibe? What bad vibe? You guys seemed to get along really well and were you not the one who said I should give him a chance.”
I could tell at that moment any attempt to dissuade her from pursuing a relationship with him would be futile seeing I had already made a mess of things. We both were silent for the most part of the ride home and as much as the situation had become too rumpled for me to straighten out. I was going to have to find some other means to keep them apart; telling her the truth wasn’t an option.
The uber pulled over in front of Tola’s house while I was to continue the trip home.
“Here’s my part of the uber fare.” She handed me the money as she alighted.
“Don’t bother I will sort it when I get home,” I said snobbishly as I beckoned to the driver to carry on.
When I arrived home, I noticed a black car parked in front of my house but did not think anything of it. I had just paid the driver and was about to enter the house when I heard someone call out my name.
To be continued next week.