Presence stood rooted to the spot, feeling Anthony's stare dissect her every twitch and breath. She felt like a fragile butterfly pinned under a ruthless collector's scrutiny, the weight of his gaze making breathing a Herculean task.

In the periphery, Marie gently guided Funi into their waiting vehicle, the sleek black car purring with quiet power. As they pulled away, Funi's eyes locked onto the tableau of Anthony and Presence through the tinted glass. Her gaze lingered, a mixture of concern and relief etching her features as the distance between them grew.

Presence remained paralyzed, her mind a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. Her body refused to move, leaving her a vulnerable, living statue under Anthony's predatory scrutiny.

With a languid grace that belied the menace beneath, Anthony's lips curled into a wicked smirk. His voice, smooth as poisoned honey, slithered through the air. "You don't have plans, do you?" The question hung between them, loaded with unspoken implications and dark promises.

Just as the tension reached its breaking point, KK materialized as if conjured by Presence's silent plea for rescue. He sashayed forward with the confidence of a lioness, inserting himself between Presence and Anthony like a shield.

"I think she does," KK said, his words sharp enough to cut. He turned to Presence, voice softening. "Come on, honey. Uber's waiting."

Presence, still caught in her frozen state, found herself being gently but firmly guided away by KK. Her feet moved of their own accord, her mind struggling to catch up with the sudden turn of events. As if in a dream, she allowed herself to be helped into the waiting Uber, the car door closing with a final, definitive thud.

As the Uber pulled away, Presence caught a glimpse of Anthony through the rear window. He stood there, a dark silhouette against the fading light, his eyes never leaving the retreating vehicle. Even as the car rounded a corner, Presence could feel the weight of his gaze, a promise that this encounter was far from over.

In the safety of the Uber, Presence finally let out a shaky breath, the full impact of what had just transpired beginning to sink in. She turned to KK, gratitude and confusion warring in her eyes, because that's the thing about true friends - they show up, even when you don't know you need them.

Presence looked out the window, the city blurred past them, carrying them away from Anthony's ominous presence—but for how long?

KK's eyes, usually sparkling with mischief, now shimmered with worry as he studied Presence's face. "Who was that guy, Pres?" he asked, his voice a mix of concern and curiosity.

Presence felt the weight of her secrets pressing down on her chest, making it hard to breathe. She opened her mouth, but the words got stuck somewhere between her heart and her lips.

KK's frustration bubbled to the surface, his normally composed demeanor cracking. "Pres, when are you going to tell me what the hell is going on with you?" His voice rose slightly, a mix of hurt and exasperation coloring his words.

Presence grimaced, biting her lip as she wrestled with her internal conflict. She looked at KK, her best friend, the one person who had always been there for her. But she couldn't bring herself to reveal her true secret.

"It's... complicated," Presence finally whispered, her voice a fragile thing. "Family stuff, you know?"

KK's face softened, concern replacing frustration. "Why didn't you tell me? I'm always here for you, Pres."

Guilt gnawed at Presence's insides as she continued the lie. "I didn't want to be a burden. You've got your own life, your own problems."

"Burden?" KK's eyebrows shot up. "Pres, we've been best friends since high school. Your problems are my fucking problems. That's the whole point of this friendship thing."

Presence felt tears welling up, threatening to spill over. "I know. I just... I've been pushing everyone away. Even you. I thought it would be easier."

"Easier for who?" KK's voice was quiet now, hurt seeping through. "Because watching you suffer and not knowing why? That's been about as easy as trying to solve a Rubik's cube underwater."

In that moment, Presence realized that sometimes the walls we build to protect ourselves end up hurting the people we love most. And maybe, just maybe, the real complication wasn't her secret, but the distance she'd created trying to keep it.

Presence couldn't meet his eyes. "I'm sorry, KK. I never meant to hurt you."

KK was silent for a long moment. When he spoke again, his voice was barely above a whisper. "You know what hurts the most, Pres? It's not that you're going through something. It's that you don't trust me enough to let me in."

The words hit Presence like a physical blow. She opened her mouth to protest, but KK continued.

"Stop the car, Mr. Driver-man," he said suddenly, his voice colder than Jos harmattan.

"What?" Presence asked, confused.

"I said, stop the car!" KK's voice rose, startling the driver.

As the Uber pulled over, KK turned to Presence, his face a mask of hurt and betrayal. "I'll pay the driver when he drops you off," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I can't... I need some time, Pres. When you're ready to actually be my friend again, to trust me, you know where to find me."

Before Presence could react, KK had opened the door and stepped out onto the sidewalk. She watched, her heart shattering, as her best friend walked away, his slender figure disappearing into the evening.

As the Uber pulled away, Presence felt the full weight of her loneliness crushing down on her. In trying to protect her secret and her friend, she had instead pushed away the one person who had always stood by her side. The irony was bitter - her attempt to avoid hurting KK had ended up hurting him more deeply than she could have imagined.

Presence's phone vibrated insistently on her lap, the screen illuminating with Funi's name. For a moment, she stared at it, a mix of emotions swirling within her. With a soft click of her tongue against her teeth, she set the phone back down on the empty seat beside her, the space KK had occupied just moments ago now feeling vast and cold.

The evening's events weighed on her, making the air in the Uber feel thick. She needed familiarity and comfort. Suddenly, she knew exactly where to go.

Leaning forward slightly, Presence addressed the driver, her voice soft but determined. "Excuse me, could you please change our destination? I need to go to 45 Dave Osifo Close, Ikoyi."

The driver nodded, inputting the new address into his GPS. As the car changed direction, heading towards the upscale neighborhood of Ikoyi, Presence felt a small measure of relief wash over her. She was going home - not to her dorm room with its cramped spaces and curious neighbours, but to her family home.

The city of Lagos blurred past the window as Presence leaned back in her seat, closing her eyes briefly. The thought of her family - their warmth, their understanding, even their chaos - brought a faint smile to her lips. They might not understand everything about her situation, but they would provide the sanctuary she so desperately needed right now.

As the Uber wound its way through the streets of Ikoyi, Presence felt some of the tension begin to ebb from her shoulders. She knew that crossing the threshold of her family home wouldn't solve all her problems. The Anthony problem still lingered in her mind, and the pain of KK's departure was a fresh wound in her heart. But for now, she was heading towards a place where she could let her guard down, if only for a little while.

As the car turned onto Dave Osifo Close, Presence took a deep breath. Because that's the thing about going home - it's never just one thing. It's comfort and complication, sanctuary and chaos, all wrapped up in a package labeled 'family'.

And right now, it was exactly where she needed to be.

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