The hum of trace naija filters through the room, and Funmi lays crosslegged on the white bed in the corner of the room, this time wide awake.

A cool blue glow filters in through our room from the evening sky and it's aparent that we don't have much time left.

"Where are you guys even going?" she asks, dumping the hotel's complementary magazine aside.

"Out." I say tugging on the stubborn leather zip on Victoria's dress.

Finally it looks like she won't burst open the moment I let go, so I step back so I can slip on my heels.

"Is that all you can say? Next time ask me to leave my house to babysit you guys and you'll see my answer." Funmi says, clapping her hands in amazement.

Victoria makes a show off pulling down the obvious mini dress to smoothen out any wrinkles as she answers my sister.

"Don't mind her she's meeting with her boyfriend."

My head whips in her direction, causing some tendrils from my wig to get caught by lipstick.

"Ha was that the original plan?" I say astounded that she would throw me under the bus and she only shrugs before pulling out a lipstain from her purse.

Funmi laughs at me, and by the way her chest vibrates I can tell she was having a hearty one.

"How many months have you finished exams that you are already having a boyfriend? No mummy must hear of this." Funmi teases, once her laughter dies down.

"Shutup." I say, feeling the familiar sensation of blood rushing through my ears though my cheeks couldn't give me away.

Yet even then the look on my face was characteristic of a virginal bride on her wedding night, so she continues milking the situation.

"So tell me, how did you meet your Mcdreamy? You know me I found love late." she says patronisingly and I hear the otherwise unbothered Vicky snicker.

"You don't want to know." Victoria says under her breath.

However Funmis bat ears caught it, and she presses further.

"Now this should be interesting, any words Sister dearest?" she says batting her lashes profusely.

I get more irritated with each flutter, till I finally snap open. "A club, I met a nice guy at a club. There are you happy now?" I say fixing the final strap.

At this Funmi quirks a brow. "Most nice guys aren't found at clubs o."

"Then how did you bag your man?" I counter, rising from the torquoise sofa sepearted from the bed by a mahogany stand.

"No one said he was a nice guy." Funmi says with a smirk.

I stare at her for five full seconds before laughter spills from my gaping mouth. "This is a room full of ashawos to be honest."

Vic rests her weight on her left hip as she checks her phone impatiently. "Who holy holy help? Anyways where is this Isren we need to be going.

"Chill he'll soon be here." I say to her as she takes a seat on the edge of the bed.

"Look at my babies all grown up. Sha use protection o." Funmi adds with a warning glance at us two.

Vic bursts in laughter as she points to me. "Don't worry about that one, I'm the only real ashawo of us two."

I eye her, my mind going back to the condom incident. "It's not like we can't it just never came up." I say with a huff.

"Mhmm." Victoria says, looking like she was itching to chuckle.

"On a reals though, do you want to? No one should ever be forced into what they're not comfortable with." Funmi says with a serious expression, all traces of a smile gone from her face.

Victoria remains silent as she looks between my sister and I.

"He's not like that. Plus my hormones are screaming yes and fooling around has been fun, but for some reason I'm still a little scared to go that far." I admit to the two of them.

Victoria has a small smile that doesn't quite meet her eyes while Funmi smiles gently.

"Okay this is weird because youre my baby sister. But it probably won't be so bad the first time since he's experienced, however, sex means different things to people, so be sure you're both on the same page about that. The worst thing you could do is regret what you can't take back." Funmi says.

I nod feeling conflicted inside. Inspite of all my attempts to do as I pleased, I still feared doing one of the very things that had been on the forefront of my mind since I started.

"Is sex really that big of a deal anyways?" I say, appearing less concerned than I really was.

"I think of it as a fun transaction -give me what I want and I give you what you want, no strings attached." Victoria jokes with strained humour as she looks up from her phone.

I manage a smile and turn to my sister. "You?"

"It does something to you, though we don't like to admit it. Sometimes Ï wonder if that's the only reason I'm still with my boyfriend." Funmi says, chuckling at the end.

I quirk an eyebrow, at the girl. "You're with him for sex?"

"Good sex, and I don't know the boy has grown on me. He's not that bad though, just a little freespirited."

I roll my eyes at the euphemism. "By free-spirited you mean irresponsible and impulsive."

Victoria snickers absentmindedly while Funmi scowls.

"I'm sure your own man isn't perfect either, is he Victoria?" she says turning to my friend.

I give Vic a warning glare, but she's so preoccupied with tiktok that she answers without hesitating.

"Nah, he's a 30 year old dating an SS3 girl, rumour has it she's a sugar baby." Victoria adds to stir the pot.

I shove her and finally her eyes snap up from her phone. "What, am I lying?"

"He's 29 and I'm not a sugar baby." I hiss.

This time Funmi doesn't find our antics funny and keeps her gaze trained on me.

"That guy is older than you by alot." she says.

I groan. "It's just 11 years, cam everyone just give me a break."

"I'm no perfect role model but doesn't something about a rich older man going for someone who's barely an adult sound off to you? You even met him at a club."

I cross my arms and stare at her. "First off her comes from old money; send, it was a hangout at the club; and third he's been nothing but a gentleman to me."

Funmi stares at me in disbelief and turns to Victoria. "And you didn't discourage your friend from doing this I'm guessing?"

"I've been with older guys for a good time before so it's not like I have much right to. It's not my fault they're doing love in tokyo." Victoria says with a hint of resentment.

Anger bubbles beneath the surface of the sympathy I had been carrying all day for her Dad's death anniversary.

Grief aside, what was her deal?

"For the first and the last time both of you should just give. me. a. break!" I ground out and grab my bag from the table.

Apparently, I would be cooling outside till Isren comes.

Just as I swing the door open a knuckled hand comes short of my face.

He puts his hand in his pocket and gives me an easy smile. "Hey beautiful."

I quickly switch faces, so instead he sees me flash a white grin under my cherry painted lips. "Took you long enough."

"Ready to go?" he says keeping his eyes trained on me.

"Yep let me just call my friend." I say softly closing the door behind me so I can face the annoying pair without him seeing.

"Time to go Victoria, catch you later sis." is all I say with a blank expression.

Funmi streches her lips and gives a small wave while Victoria rises silently from her seat.

.................

Our booth was much quieter than I had expected.

We had chosen an isolated spot in the VIP Lounge while Victoria partied downstairs.

Truth be told I felt guilty but we hadn't spoken all through the ride here, and a hangover wasn't the top thing on my agenda.

Isren's smooth caress brought me back to our surroundings and I welcome the distraction.

"So tell me about your week, it's been a while." He says swirling his half empty cup.

Mine had no alcohol but I had no doubt he was sober, the drink level had only lowered by two inches since the bartender first served us.

"You're calling a few days a while?" I say leaning into his touch on my knee.

"That's because I've missed you." he says giving me a rakish smile.

I roll my eyes knowing all too well what that meant.

"Missed me or something else?"

"Can't it be both?" he says, absorbed in my features.

"Mhmmm." I sing, reaching for my glass.

His hand brushes mine and I still.

Then I watch a smirk form on his face as he pulls away.

"You habit of forming when you feel the same way." Isren says, his eyes twinkling with mischief.

"Whatever." I mutter, taking another sip.

I noticed he has inched closer when I put my glass down.

The force between us is almost magnetic and I can't help but betray the desire in my eyes.

Still I continued a lost battle. "How may I help you sir?"

His gaze flickers from my lips to my eyes, and a current of electricity makes my heart jolt.

"I'm afraid I will be needing help with another thing I have missed." Isren whispers and I subconsciously lean in.

"Go on..."

The words barely leave my mouth when I feel his warm lips on mine and I melt in a puddle of goo.