There was a stillness in her soul. She was like the fallen leaves of autumn in the frosts of winter. She dabbed the wet handkerchief over her cheek, mopping tears that streamed down without her trying to force them out. She felt used, miserable and felt more like a fool. How could she not have seen through everything? How could she have known that her grandfather was playing with everyone's senses? Who would suspect when the old man had pretended to still be out in the hospital for three days? She sniffled, her breathing hot and warmer tears dripped from her eyes unto her cheeks. She was seated in bed, legs folded beneath her, her palm cold against her forehead, head pounding lightly.

Since she arrived from the hospital, she had locked herself in the room and cried her heart out. How could a man be so desperate to force his granddaughter into marrying someone she has nothing for? At one point, she had felt the twitch and itch with the hard tightening in her chest which were caused by anger that seeped through her body from unknown sources. Thinking about marrying Joshua brought more tears out of her eyes.

She still heard the knock and her mother's voice pleading that she should open the door but at that moment, she was not ready to see anyone. What she wanted to do was drown in her sorrow and curse herself for been so stupid. Lola reached for her phone, weak from weeping and tired from everything that had taken place in few hours. She wanted to be out, away from the house where she would not have to think about the fact that she would soon be getting married.

This was Joshua's fault. Why does he have to walk into her life? Why does he have to be known by her grandparents? This time, her grandmother had no hand in it because the woman was equally as shocked as everyone was and had tried talking to her husband who was whistling with joy. She dialled Lolu's number. First ring, second ring, third ring and more rings, he did not pick. She dialled it again and got the same thing. Please pick up, she prayed silently. The third try after the third ring, he picked up.

"You are calling right on time. I was just about to call you because I will be leaving the hospital now. My shift is over" came Lolu's booming voice. She was silent, her heart thudding while the ache in her heart compiled over and over becoming stuffier for her heart to hold.

"Lolu" she squeaked like a mouse. Tears without any force rushed into her red eyes. She sniffled. Beads of tears found their way down her face. She pressed her lips together, her dimples showing.

"Lola?" gone was the cheerfulness in his voice replaced with worry. "Are you alright?"

"No!" she admitted with a sob escaping her dry lips. "I am not!" her voice was a harsh whisper.

"What's wrong? What happened?"

"He is forcing me. I am going to marry him whether I want it or not"

"I don't get you"

"Can we meet?" she swiped the frosty pads of her fingers over her hot face.

"Yes! Of course! I was just about to leave work to give you a call. I will pick you up from home. I should be there early if there is no traffic jam but get dressed before I arrived. Where should we go?"

"Where I can forget everything for a while" her heart constricted with ache.

"Alright! I will give you a call when I am closer to your home"

"OK" she ended the call with another sniff of her nose to hold back the mucous in her nostrils.

Lola shut the door to her room willing her brain to drown out the voices of her parents. They had begun one of their fights. Her mother was shouting and her father shouted back. This time, it was about how his parents try enforcing things on her children and he the father is as useless as he appears. He won't say anything and just watch them plot behind everyone's back. The living room was empty. When their fight had started, everyone started to leave the house. It was then Sarah remembered she had a date, Samson remembered he had to be at the studio, Tenny and Kenny remembered they had a party and Mofe had boys' night out. Miracle never came home. Tonight, she chose to ignore everything. She was no longer the teenager who would curl up in a corner and listen to her parents' fight.

Outside, Lolu rested against his car. He stood straight when he saw her and welcomed her into a friendly hug. A look at her face and he saw more than he should not.

"You would be fine" he assured, rubbing her back. She gave him a weak smile.

"Shall we?" she asked.

"What are we waiting for?" he opened the door for her. With a grateful smile, she entered his car, a red Ford.

She was not in the mood for the rumbling and booming of clubs so he took her to Sailor's Lounge. It was situated in Admiralty way in Lekki and gives a perfect location for a relaxed evening.

"What would you like to have?" Lolu asked settling opposite her.

"Anything" she gave him a little smile.

Exhaling, Lolu took her hand, interlocked their digits in a tight link. "What happened?"

Lifting her lashes to look her him, his heart broke to the painful emotions in them. He clasped his other hand over their intertwined hands. She swallowed, tears brimming in her eyes.

"Don't" he pleaded, his heart squeezing at that sight.

The tempo of the music was not so loud. The place boasts a perfect view of The Lagoon.

"Grandpa's ill health was all an act" she swallowed her throat dried.

"What do you mean?" Lolu asked, a little bit confused.

"My grandpa was faking his sickness. It was all an act, the unconsciousness for three days, the emergency that he had led to an operation and the dying scene. Everything was all an act!" the surfs of emotions within her crashed to the brim of her eyes.

"That is absurd"

"You know why he did that?" Lolu shook his head negatively. "He played us so that I will agree to marry Josh" she made a face like she could still not believe her grandfather would do such a thing. Lolu's blood grew hot at the mention of a name he dreads to hear. "Why? Why does he have to do that?"

"You can always refuse Lola" His voice a little bit icy.

"I am refusing but he keeps using you promised and whistling because he won. My parents are having a very big fight because of that" Inside, her heart shredded.

"I heard" he said guiltily. "That's why I had not gone inside because I know what it feels like to have your parents fight"

"This is called forcing. How old am I that they want me to get married? I am just twenty-four. I am not thirty or more" her voice was weak. Gone was the confident woman. Anger flourished in him. This was Joshua's fault. That guy!

"The decision is up to that guy"

"Grandpa said irrespective of what I do, I will marry Joshua because I promised. I am helpless"

"You have many rights to refuse this guy Lola"

"I kept saying I don't want to marry him and he keeps planning. Telling the planner that the wedding is a month away. A month! A month and my name will change! A month and I will be another man's wife!"

Oh my God! Lolu thought. This can't be happening. He can't lose her to Joshua. This will make him a loser.

"Lola" he tightened his hold over their hands.

"Do you know how miserable I feel? Lolu, you understand right? I do not want to get married now. I do not want to be with anyone for now until I sort out many things"

"I am speechless Lola. I....I....I can't ask you to run away from it. If we keep running away from our problems then we won't find a solution to them"

"Then what should I do Lolu? I feel helpless"

"We can always think about that later for now. Let's eat something. Have you eaten tonight?"

"Not yet"

"What should we order?"

"Our usual"

"Your sister in law has given birth"

"Yes. Everything happening around me has not made me congratulate her" she reached for her phone.

"Tenny has posted it on her instagram page" Lola laughed. Typical Tenny. She never waste time to announce happy moments on her instagram page. She was no different from Lola.

"I am doing the same thing" she sniffled, her eyes still reflecting her sadness. The downcast of her eyes made him want to twist Joshua's neck. It made him want to put a smile on that pretty face.

"Before that" he clapped his hands together. "You have to put away this look of misery and give me a smile" he winked. She gave a little smile at his behaviour.

"Even though I smile, it won't reach my heart or my eyes"

"Smile for me" he caressed her cheek with a finger. "I love to see those dimples"

"Lolu" she chuckled, brushing his hand away.

"Wanna dance" he pulled her up allowing her to emit a gasp at the sudden gesture.

"Not yet. I am not in the mood"

"Says the one who love music and loves to dance" He twirled her around to her surprise.

"Lolu" she gasp.

"Dance and I won't force you"

"Alright!" she agreed with a little laugh.

He paced to and fro the wide expanse of his room. After a cold bath, he had changed into shorts and a vest, his comfortable wear at home. He had made her laugh. She had danced and finally agreed to eat. She posted about a new member in the Kola-Daisi's household and posted the picture of the new born. He had taken away her worry for the time being. That was what he was good at doing. He was poor at letting her see he had fallen for her. When it began, he can't tell. When his heart chose to beat for her, he can't remember. At the moment, all he saw was a woman whose laughter was pleasant, a woman with an attitude that many found foul but he liked her for who she was because getting closer to her made him know behind everything was a lovely woman, a woman who was worthy to be with a man.

It hurt him. It tore him from within to know she would be married to another man. It would have been better if this man was not someone he had an enmity with. Not for once had he thought he would have to fight for her with another man. Lolu placed the towel on the stool of the piano and sat on it. When his fingertips met the keys of the piano, he began to play a tune that gave away his mood. He lost himself into the tunes, lost himself into playing, lost himself into memories, lost himself to love.

"Then what should I do Lolu?" her voice rang in his head asking the same question she had asked him twice that night. He felt helpless. He had no answer at that moment and he was not sure he was going to have an answer anytime soon.