I'm sorry you had to wait this long – I'll let him know you came by," Mama T said.

"No worries, we will come by another time. Thank you for tea," Daniel drew himself up straight.

"My pleasure."

It was already dark when they left Mama T place and Zyca was more than happy to run out of the space. Even though she voiced how comfortable she felt when he asked, her legs shook uncomfortably as she perched on the chair. They had waited a while, five hours to be precise and Philip was no show, even a single call could not get them through to him. Initially he thought the number he had was stale and asked his mother for another but much to his surprise it was the same. Daniel missed him dearly, he was like the brother he never had, they used to do every together like siblings, even the onlookers thought they were related. It hurt him when Philip never called; well who was he to talk, he never did too. Always immersed in writing his books, he never contacted anyone he knew from his home town not until now.

A growl from his left reminded him he was not alone. He glanced at Zyca. She had her arms around her lower abdomen in an attempt to put a stop to the thousands of lions roaring in her tummy and her cheeks brightened from embarrassment. She was always embarrassed. Oh, what an easy prey she was. Only a touch from him sent her body squirm under and he hadn't even started with her. His plan was to lead her with soft touches, smiles and other gesture he knew led women on and once he gets her into bed and out of her clothes, his story would have that red-hot description of forbidden romance people longed for. He couldn't wait for Mr. Aman to know he was finally going back to his style, and as much as it irritated him to go back to the man who didn't think twice when he let him go, he was the only publisher he could trust.

"We can stop by a restaurant on the way home," he said, unlocking the car which beeped upon the pressure he laid on his auto lock. They entered.

"You don't have to. I can manage," she released a smile sitting on the passenger's side. Daniel sat himself and put the key in the ignition.

"No, I insist. We haven't gotten anything to eat since brunch."

"But..."

He turned towards her. "My treat," he caught her hand on her lap. He inclined his head upwards making sure he stared at her lips for a while and just as he expected she sank deeper into her seat. His lips twitched, so easy. He wouldn't deny the fact it felt good having his skin on her soft one, even when he purposely gazed her breast, his private component lit up in delight but he mustn't forget his mission. Help her get what she came for, and get what you want from her.

He removed his hands at once and put the car into motion.

Town was closed. All the restaurants they passed was either locked or about closing for the day. The street lamps shone on the deserted streets as the tires met the groveled ground.

"The stores are all closed," she said watching the rushes out the window as her hair flew all over from the wind. "We might not get something to eat after all."

"Seems like it."

"Gosh, how long did we spend at that house?" Zyca said more to herself.

He shrugged. "Seven hours," he stirred the wheel to the left, turning into a street.

"Seven hours! - seemed more like twelve hours to me," she shook her head.

He laughed. "You really did not like Mama T, did you?"

"It stunk Daniel, the house I mean. The ceilings, the walls, the floors all smelt like death."

"Maybe you hate the smell of flowers because that seemed to be the only aroma that met my nose the moment I entered."

"I thought so too. Genie's and humans might have different taste in flowers."

"Maybe."

She shrugged a shoulder. A second...two seconds Zyca drew her head out the window and Daniel couldn't help but bellow a hearty laughter when he saw the mane her hair had come to be. Her once long straight hair was replaced with a large mop with several strands peeking out from every corner.

"What?" she when she noticed his stare.

Looking ahead to concentrate on his drive, he tried to contain his laughter. "You look like a scarecrow,"

"Scarecrow?"

"All those things that chase people away," he tried to explain, she in turn gave a blank look. "You know what? Forget it. Just look at the mirror."

As she tamed her hair, a miniature building more like a hut came into view, the head lights catching the sign board on the transparent door which read 'open'. Finally, an open restaurant. He sped through to the drive way, bumping slightly on a stray stone which sent them jerking from the collision.

"My bad."

He curved, driving to a stop.

"So I'll get us something to eat. Wait here," he ejected his seat belt.

As the leather belt snapped back to its place by his shoulders, a hairy male hand knocked on the window followed. "I knew it when I saw that beauty," a man with a scanty mustache came into view.

He quickly got out the car prompting the intruder to shift backwards. Standing in his view was his old classmate, Mike who he remembered very much had a ball for a body and wore baggy clothes to hide his protruding belly but the man who faced him was nothing like the fat boy he knew, instead a fit scruffy looking man wearing a stained mechanic's red jumpsuit stood in his place.

"Mike?"

"In the flesh man," he bellowed as he went in for a hug. "Where have you been? Last I heard, you left town." He tapped his shoulder and withdrew.

"Yeah. Got accepted to the college of my dream."

"The big one?"

"Yeah, the big one," he lifted his chin up a notch.

Mike placed his hands on his waist and balanced his weight on one. "Wow! I tried for two years to get in there – you're really one of the hotshots."

"I got lucky." Daniel shrugged.

"Maybe that luck didn't extend to people who spent their time snacking on a packet of chips every two hours."

They laughed. True.

"You really did love snacking."

"And I'm really glad I lost em all," he patted his now flat tummy. "And I look damn good," he said.

"You really look good though and I'm glad you lost all that weight – you were starting to look like the name chunky," Daniel agreed.

"Totally agree. If it wasn't for my woman, I wouldn't have changed a bit."

"You're married."

"Fiancé. I heard you married Julia."

"Yeah."

"And I heard..."

"I really don't want to talk about it." Daniel looked away and let out a puff. His breath came out in a whitish mist. It was getting cold. "We should get going, it's already getting late."

"Ah, already- No you don't. After years of not seeing each other, you want to leave just like that? Why don't you came in and meet the rest," Mike rubbed his hands in anticipation.

"The rest?" Daniel farrowed his eyebrow. "I don't think..."

Mike raised his finger to the lonely looking restaurant. "The rest of us who remained in town gather up Friday nights to have some fun," he pointed out.

Daniel shook his head. "There's still more of us in town?"

"Not everyone had the luxury like you did." He was silent for a moment as his mind drifted immediately to Philip as he remembered how his family barely managed to live under the services of a flower shop, and the lack of choice he had in where he had to go for college. He should have stayed at least when he begged. "Come on let's go. Can't wait to see the looks on their faces when they see you." Mike started to pull him, hands on hands out of the place he rested his back; on the body of the Mercedes.

"Mike wait."

"You can't escape this Daniel."

"What I mean is, I'm not alone."

Mike cocked his head. "What?"

"Hold on," Daniel pried his hands away from his friend's grip and, went over to other side of the vehicle and pulled open the door.

"Are they closed?"

"No. Let's go in," he said.

Zyca tilted her head. "I thought you wanted me to stay?"

"I know. Change of plans."

****

Inside was deserted, the lights up above twitched as little inserts danced around fretting their wings. The interior was simple and plain; white walls, several wooden table and chair compressed behind by the glassy widow that bore a drawing of a dish with the name of the restaurant written below. 'HAVE A DISH'

Daniel didn't know how seeing a bunch of his old friends would make him feel, guilty perhaps. Would they be happy to see him like Mike did? Or would they turn the other way and ignore him because he did the same when he didn't keep in contact? A million of emotions ran through his mind but the most dominant was anger. Anger for his subordinate.

****

Two minutes earlier

"What's a beautiful lady like yourself doing with a swat like him," he smirked playfully, taking hold of her right hand and placed a kiss on her skin. "Mike to your acquaintance."

"Zyca," she nodded tersely, a blush laying faintly on her cheeks.

Daniel fought the urge to clock him with something sharp.

****

Now

He didn't know why he felt the boiling sensation coursing through his vein when Mike placed his lips on her when they exchanged pleasantries, and worse of all she seemed to have enjoyed it. He knew he was being insensitive but he couldn't help himself.

Hell.

"Where do you think he's taking us?" she asked,

"I don't know," he bit off. He had not intentionally meant for his voice to come out as so, just the thought of her dishing her smile to another man made his blood boil. Taking long strides, he went ahead closer to Mike who was seconds away.

----------------