Lola could not take her eyes off them. Her look was sharp, judgemental and fortified with fury. Her conversation with Fatime was the least on her mind. She had her entire attention on the woman seated next to her husband, laughing and touching him every little chance she had and Joshua on the other hand had not pushed her away or given her that attitude that says I am not interested. Her anger built over her chest like a heavy weight. It flowed through her quick and sizzling that her breathing came out faster and heartbeat quickened. Aniebiet was the woman's name. She was Fatime's friend.

"You will bend the fork" Fatime's voice came in through the mist of her rage. Lola snapped her eyes to the woman who sat opposite her. Fatime, with so much patience Lola found abnormal, took the fork that had a slice of red velvet cake into her mouth.

Her smile was soft but there was something about Fatime's dark eyes that Lola found mischievous. The bold eyes have secrets in them. Every wave of anger that radiated off her new friend could be felt and Fatime did nothing but smiled at it. Aniebiet's laughter rang through the living room. She threw her head, a hand resting on Joshua's shoulder. Joshua smiled at her and it seemed to snap something harder inside Lola.

Ah men! She fumed, her hold around the fork firmer. The only urge she had at the moment was to send the fork flying into Aniebiet's and Joshua's necks.

"If the sight does not appeal you then get up and go claim him as your man"

"He seem to be enjoying her attention" The words came through her teeth.

"He would" Fatime chewed. "It's normal for them to. It's up to you to stop it"

"Do you move with friends who cannot take their hands off other women's husbands?" Lola's angry gaze met Fatime's calm eyes. Now, the anger was also directed to her.

Fatime laughed, twirling the fork in her hand. Adorned with gold rings and bangles and beautified with dark henna in dots, thin strokes and flowers, her feminine hands, slender and frail, drew attention to anyone's eyes. Arched over shaped eyebrows were bold eyes lined with dark kohl that enlarged them and made them prettier. Her nose was small with accentuated full lips that had produced a pretty smile.

She wore a skirt and blouse made from sea blue ankara with white flowery pattern. The skirt was six pieces, white cord lace at its end, and a peplum blouse. Instead of the fabric's scarf, Fatime had used a black veil wrapped around her head and upper body. Earrings made from excellent gold dangled from her ears. The same gold had beautified her fingers and wrists.

"We always have that friend who will always be the black sheep among us but we would always love her just for who she is. You should have wild friends, Lola. You look like one" A smile twitched the corners of Fatime's glossy lips. "She has tried that with many of my friend's husband but she knows her limit with mine after she tried it once"

"And you are still friends with her" Lola frowned wondering what sort of woman Fatime was. She can't, never be friends with a woman who had flirted or have any liking towards her husband. The bitter taste of bile settle on her tongue at the thought of any of her friends flirting with her husband.

"Lola, if you do not like what you are seeing, walk up to them and claim him. That's why you are his wife"

"Claim him? How?" Wavy lined wrinkled her forehead.

"Go there, you can call him and just walk him away just to tell her that hey woman, stay away. If you can't do that then you stand up against her"

"Oh that" Lola lifted a hand to her neck.

Fatime watched the anger in Lola's eyes fade away. A little smile grace Lola's matte lips, her hands coming over her chest. Lola wore a white straight dress made from expensive lace. She had a simple white pearl around her neck and matching earrings adorning her soft lobes. Her shoulder length hair which looked like she had ran her fingers through it many times gave a sultry appearance with her quiet makeup. When she stepped out of the room to meet her husband in the living room, the idiot was smitten and had appreciated her beauty and here he was enjoying the company of another woman. Her head grew hot.

Lola glanced back at the duo who are in another world while others spoke. Her confidence diminished. She's not ready to create a scene.

"You don't need to create a scene" Fatime said noticing the hesitation as though she read Lola's mind. "You can do it peacefully that both would get the message"

"No, I can't" Lola reached out for the glass of water next to her. Her throat had suddenly gone bone dry. What a coward she was. She gulped the entire glass of water. When she glanced back at Aniebiet and Joshua, her eyes met Joshua's eyes. He smiled before waving. She gave him a hard look and looked away.

"You just made him worried" Fatime glanced at the pair from under her lashes. "He would worry even though he is still speaking to Anie"

"Tell me something about yourself, Fatime" Lola changed the topic. Taking that as a cue that Lola does not want to talk about her husband and Aniebiet, Fatime answered Lola's question.

A nice conversation with Fatime was enough to brighten her mood. Her phone rang and the number on the screen flipped her heart and intensified the rate at which her pulse pounded. She had not saved it but she recognised it. Little beads of liquid dampen her forehead. She thought he has given up. He has not given her a call since their last encounter. Her chest trembled at the heavy release of air from her nostrils. Without a word to anyone, she went to the kitchen.

"Hello" Her voice was quiet, her fingers which held the phone to her left ear quivered.

"Hey babe" When his voice floated from the speaker into her inner ear, her heart halted with fear. Eyes, as wide as they could be, gazed at nothing. Trembling hand ran over her thigh. "How are you?" His voice held a thrill she barely knew it to have. She can't act this way on the phone. He might sense her fear and believe he truly have the upper hand.

"It's been a while" She spoke, glad her voice did not give away how she felt. "Why are you calling?"

"Lola" He sang. "Couples are bound to fight. You can't hold a grudge on me for long"

"You are right but I am not sorry about what happened last time. I had to say what's on my mind and it seem most of it were true from your reaction"

"I have always admired something about you. It's one of those things I love about you" There was a pause. "Your candour. You do not fail to say how you feel or what's on your mind even though it hurt the next person. You never care about how the other person feels" Another pause. "I miss you. Can we meet tomorrow night for dinner?"

Her heart started to pound in her chest. She tried not to swallow. "Sure. Why not?"

"Alright then. Is eight o'clock fine by you?"

"It's perfect"

"It's good to hear your voice again, Lola" She said nothing. "I was beginning to think things have ended between us"

"You know better than anyone that it won't end anytime soon except you are willing to end it"

"I am sorry about last time. I apologise for the way I acted"

"No problem. Apology accepted"

"Now that we are okay, I can't wait to see you"

She went back to the living room few minutes later. She had to bare Anthony's boring conversation. Laughter welcomed her. It was kind of nice to finally meet Joshua friends. Dikko was a nice man, sort of quiet. Boye was jovial, the only man who did not bring any woman with him. Lola shifted her gaze to Naya, Dozie's fiancé. The man had frustration on his face despite how much he tried to hide it. It's cause by no one other than his nagging fiancé. The lady's full of bitterness which she has not failed to show to everyone. Then there is Bobby. There's something about Bobby she can't lay a finger on. He has been together with his girlfriend, Dolly P, for eleven years. Eleven freaking years! No ring! Nothing to guarantee they have a future together.

She looked at her husband. From a distance, Joshua looked nice. He had opt for a plain white T-Shirt and blue jeans. The tattoos in his left arm were visible. She's yet to ask him why he has not drawn anything on his right arm. He strained his neck to glance at something on Boye's phone. She smiled, staring at the tiny imprint of birds on his neck. The sudden urge to run her hand through them spiked within her. How nice he looks with that beautiful smile. But the smile was not directed to her. It was directed to Aniebiet. Jealousy burned her. Aniebiet laughed at something he said, falling on him in the process. Just in time, Joshua looked at her. He smiled. She balled her fist as her sharp look bored into Joshua's eyes before walking away to sit next to Dolly P.

"I had a wonderful time, Fatime" Lola held Fatime's hand. "The dinner was great"

"Thank you" Fatime smiled squeezing Lola's hands. "I hope we meet again"

"Definitely" She hugged Fatime.

"Josh!" Aniebiet squealed. She rushed to the group. "Are you leaving?"

"Yes" Joshua gave a little tender smile. Lola rolled her eyes, her lips forming a scowl.

"Oh no" She threw her hands over her chest, her voice nothing but a buzz. "This breaks my heart. I had a wonderful night today. It was nice meeting you" She threw her hands over him. Lola's eyes widened at the intensity of the hug and instead of Joshua to resist her, he hugged her back. Her anger sparked "I hope we meet again"

Lola had not waited for Joshua's reply before marching to the car. From the car, she watched her husband say farewell to his friends and crack a joke that made Fatime laughed. Her heart wrenched at the sight of the woman who stayed glue to her husband. Aniebiet hugged Joshua one more time before he came to join her in the car.

"Enjoyed the night?" He asked pulling his seat belt.

"Hmm" Lola hummed looking out through the window. She was fuming with anger. She wanted to explode and give in to the rising waves of her anger were willing to burst forth. She bit her lips, her hand already shaking.

"I noticed you and Fatime have become best of friends"

"Hmm" Was her reply again.

Joshua brought the car's engine to life. The rest of the drive was quiet except for the late night talk show that played from the stereo. Every now and then, Joshua would glance at Lola to see her gazing out into the night. They got home early. It was one of those rare days there was no traffic jam along the way.

"You did not say a thing since we left that place. Any problem?" Joshua spoke as he switched off the engine.

"How about you ask yourself?" Lola snapped.

Lines creased on his forehead. "Did I do something wrong?"

"Is that how you allow women touch and run their hands all over you?" She gave him her attention by turning fully to him.

"What? What are you talking about?"

"Don't play with me, Josh? You know I am speaking about Aniebiet"

"Oh my God!" He laughed. "Orekelewa, does this have to do with her? She was just been friendly with me"

"Excuse me? Friend what?" The idiot has the effrontery to defend that bitch in front of her.

"Friendly" He repeated.

"Joshua, that lady had her hands running all over you any little chance she had and you are no baby not to understand what that meant"

A teasing grin turned his lips up. "With the way you sound, I will assume you are jealous, dear wife" He chuckled as he turned to give her his attention. His laugh died half way through at the cold eyes she pinned on him. Okay. He adjusted in his seat. She's not playing or finding it funny. His wife is really pissed.

"Jealous? Jealous? That sound ridiculous to me, Joshua. Aniebiet flirted with you all night. You seem to enjoy her company so much that you barely noticed your wife! She was laughing like some maniac, batting her lashes just to have your attention and you expect me to find that okay. She was glued to you and you did not see anything wrong with that. That's the same thing with Sasha!" She seethed.

"Sasha? Sasha? What does Sasha have to do with this?"

She sneered like she can believe what he was saying. "That bitch" She pointed at Sasha's flat. "Came to our house when I was not around and spent few hours with you. Did you tell me? You acted like nothing happened and just moved on with life"

Disbelieve slackened his jaw. "How did you know about that?"

"You got nosy neighbours, asshole"

"Shit!" He ran a hand through his hair. The thickness and length had him thinking about a new haircut. "I swear Lola, nothing happened. She just came over to check on us"

Lola snorted. "You expect me to believe that bullshit!" She removed her seat belt, ready to get out. Why does she feel like he's lying? There's this nagging feeling within her that tells her not to believe him. But when she looks into his eyes, the sincerity in them wants her to believe him. "Don't act like an innocent around me, Joshua. Few days back when I went for a swim at the pool and you came over to meet me, she arrived to have a swim too. You spent more than thirty minutes outside with her talking about what only God knows what. You came back inside with some stupid grin on your goddamn face!"

"Jesus Christ!" He had no idea this was how she viewed the whole thing. He has never seen those women more than a neighbour and a friend's friend. Why will he look at someone else when he has her? Quite right, there are lot of temptations around him but he tries to avoid them or control himself. He does not want to hurt her more than she already is. She has a place in his heart. That spot that have been left empty for nearly a decade has been taken by her. She has found her way into his heart. "I am sorry" He voiced out, his tone low. This time when he looked at her, the honesty in his eyes intensified. "I am very sorry" He took her hand, his gaze held her brown eyes that have darkened to the colour of earth. "I....I....don't know what to say. I am sorry, really sorry"

She gave him a dirty look. "Apology accepted but that does not change anything" She threw the car door open and got out.

That turned out to be great. Right? Holy shit! He tried not to slam his hand on the steering. He hope she won't be angry at him for too long. He can't deal with her anger and their distance again. His phone vibrated in his pocket. One look at the screen and he knew it's going to be a very long night for him. The problem now is, how will he explain to Lola that he can't spend the night at home?

-----

Mustapha is starting to get on her nerves. He's driving her crazy. Crazy would be an understatement. She's mad at him, angry, furious, whatever will describe the hot anger racing through her veins. He had the nerve to tell her mother about their issues. Her mother had called her to her room this morning to talk to her, probe her about why she's treating him like a piece of shit. She told her she was tired of him. She needed a break.

"Inna Lillahi, Atikah" Her mother exclaimed, her thumb and index finger flying to her lower lips. "You want to ruin your one year relationship because you need a break. That man loves you. He's what I have been praying for as a husband for you yet you want to end what you have built with him. I have started making plans for asoebi colours thinking you will get married soon because I can see it. You want to ruin my dreams and hopes. Are you sure this is not more than you needing a break?" She probed, giving her daughter a suspicious look. "Atikah, what is really the problem?"

"I told you already, Mummy" Atikah who sat next to her mother, legs crossed and arms folded across her chest, started. "I need a break. Can we just let it be?"

"I can't let it be. What is really the problem? Did he do something wrong? Does he beat you? Did he cheat on you?" Atikah shook her head negatively. "Then what is the problem?"

What should she tell her mother? That she's in love with someone else? That Mustapha had been a distraction from her feelings for Jafar? That she wants Jafar and not Mustapha? "Nothing, mummy" She grumbled. "I have said that already"

Atikah marched down the long corridors of the hospital. What was he thinking? That when he tells her mother, everything will come back to normal? She does not want to be with him anymore. When is he ever going to let that stick in his thick skull? He did not stop at that, he had to wait for her until she finished work just to corner her at the parking lot. What does he want from her? It's over between them. If she want to make things easy for herself, she has to end her relationship with Mustapha. She yanked at the clip holding her hair at the nape of her neck. It was a wig she has been putting on for a week now. She purchased it from a friend who sells wig. It worth a fortune. She loves the feel of the curly tresses that spilled over her shoulders, soft and silky, real human hair.

She had turned to the hallway leading to the ward where a colleague's mother was admitted when she caught the sight of two familiar figures from the corner of her eyes. She had taken few steps forward before what she had seen registered into her brain. She stopped then turned around to confirm who she had spotted. The familiar figures were Jafar and Osas.

They were walking down the hallway, laughing at something either one of them had said. Jafar carried Esosa in hand, her little arms wrapped around his neck where she had dreamt her own child would be. The kid looked thinner than the last time she saw her. The cancer's really eating her. One thing that clenched her heart was the hands joined together, every digit locked into the other. Osas and Jafar were holding hands. The air around them is different. Something spark in her brain. They are dating! Horror filled her. Her nose flared. There was a different look in Osas's eyes. She looked at Jafar with something familiar, admiration and immense likeness, accompanied with a tender look in her eyes that smiled at the man next to her. Same goes to the man but his was not just likeness. There was something more intense and a part of her heart shattered to it. With Umar holding unto Osas's free hand, they looked like a happy family. Atikah's braced her jaw. A happy family? She idea send sparks of jealousy racing through her. That's her dream with Jafar. That place belongs to her and not some useless characterless single mother. She bet she got pregnant with Esosa when living a wayward life.

It was too late to hide when Osas's wandering eyes met hers. She saw the woman's shoulder stiffen then she let go of Jafar's hand. Lines crinkled Atikah's smooth forehead. Are they hiding their relationship? Jafar had sensed the sudden release of his hand. He looked at a stunned Osas who was trying to put on a normal facial expression then followed the direction of her eyes. When they fell on Atikah, the light in them disappeared replaced with annoyance. Atikah tried no to curse under her breath. She's also not happy to see them. She wanted to just spy on them.

"Atikah" Osas called out, ambling to the woman ahead of Jafar.

"Aunt Atikah" Umar called out for her too, letting go of Osas's hand. He ran into Atikah's opened arms.