Ps: If you love listening to music while reading, these are some of the songs that you could listen to while doing so that matches the mood of this chapter. Mind you, they are all Nigerian jam.

*  Something by Gyakie

...9...

Soft music was playing in the background as they held gazes, intensely. Something spiralled around them, subtly, quite undetectable as the air around them thickened with unusual warmth. The sound of high pitched laughter from the next table drew them out of their spellbound gaze. They both looked away instantly, somewhat uncomfortable with it all. Taiye cleared his throat but Seiyafa was the first to speak.

'What did you get for Monica?' she asked him.

'Some kind of silver earrings that looked pretty,' he said.

'Like she deserves it,' Seiyafa grumbled. Taiye chuckled at her words. Seiyafa was always one to hold a grudge to the very end.

'Don't say that Sei. It's kind of rude and hurting with me here and all that,' he told her.

'No be only Rude and hurting. Abeg disembark from that capping,' she said to him. He simply sighed. 'I bet it was expensive, na wetyn dey pain me pass,' she confessed.

'It is normal for me to get her something expensive. If I do other, it is an insult to my status. Just keep your mouth shut and let us go deliver the gift to her.'

'I understand you are rich, but don't go overboard,' she advised him, getting to her feet after him. He bore the wrapped gift in his hands.

'Let's just go Seiyafa,' he said in a mock exasperated voice. She scoffed at him but followed him. She noticed that the lights in the hall were dim, not quite so when they had arrived. It wasn't until she glanced at the brightly lit dancing floor that she understood what was going on. She smiled mischievously to herself as thoughts of her well mapped plan came to her head. Yet now, the dancing floor was providing her another better more convincing one. And who was she to decline such? Seiyafa, she was Seiyafa and she never declined mischief, never ever. Monica was so doomed.

'Hi Monique!' Taiye greeted the moment they got to the lady dressed in white. 'Happy Birthd-'

'Nice party by the way,' Seiyafa interrupted him with a smile as she stuck to him like glue, clingy like a new born babe.

'Well, thanks Tai,' she answered. Seiyafa sneered inwardly. How dare she call Taiye by that nickname with those dirty lying mouth of hers? She so hated Monica. But, she was doing this only for Taiye and their six years friendship. It was kind of worthwhile if you liked at it that way.

'Yeah, no problem,' Taiye said with a mawkish smile that made Seiyafa cringe, but equally got her mad. What was wrong with her? She was never usually this angry with Monica. Why was she suddenly getting upset over the littlest possible things involving Monica? Just why in the world was that happening to her right now?

'Won't you give her her gift darling?' she asked Taiye in an equally sweet voice that made Monica raise her brows in obvious suspicious.

'Oh I will honey,' Taiye answered, catching on really quickly, falling into the names calling hollow. 'Here Monique, this is yours,' he said, presenting her the gift.

'I say thank you once again for this gift,' she told him. She accepted the wrapped box with an uneasy smile on her face, checking Seiyafa out -who was holding unto Taiye as if her life depended on it- over and over again. What an eyesore it must have been to  Monica, by Seiyafa thought inwardly. The insensitive bitch obviously really didn't care, but she could have apologized to Taiye at least, that was if she had ever cared at all for her best friend, Taiye.

'You are most welcome,' Taiye said to her with a smile that got on Seiyafa's nerves so badly.

'I see Seiyafa is your arm candy,' Monica drawled in a voice that suggested amusement.

'No I am not,' Seiyafa quipped in quickly. 'I'm the new girl,' she voiced out in a proud voice, like a girl who wanted accolade from her stern father.

'You mean?' Monica asked with slanted eyes.

'Come on boo, tell her sharp sharp na,' she urged Taiye.

'Alright,' he said. 'Erm this is my ex Monica as you know baby. And Monique, this is my new girlfriend Seiyafa,' he introduced her with pride in his voice.

'I thought she was your best friend?' she asked him with a skeptical expression on her face.

'Not anymore,' Seiyafa whispered loudly, running her hands slowly over Taiye's broad chest. Monica's eyes trailed her fingers as if they were on her property. Oh! She still wanted Taiye? She understood. He was a hard man to not want. She was loving this game with every passing minute.

'Yes, still is. Being best friends before lovers has its perks in a relationship you know?' Taiye explained to her. Seiyafa nodded in support.

'I've been wanting to see you Mo-ni-ca,' Seiyafa said with a smirk that clearly infuriated the daylight out of the other lady. 'It's about the fact that I am no longer Taiye's best friend,' she informed the lady.

'And?'

'Honey, would you please get me a flute of champagne? I would like a drink,' she said to him in a sugar coated voice.

'Any thing for you my love,' Taiye played along, taking her cue to leave them alone. He knew Seiyafa. She was good at such games, having helped him do this in the past when he was single to chase away girls he didn't want pestering him. She would be fine alone. He strode away from them. Seiyafa pretended to watch him go, like a piece of forbidden candy, all the more tempting.

'You are his ex right?' she said curtly the moment she turned back to Monica.

'Yeah.'

'I just wanted to make sure of that,' she drawled. Monica eyes ran over Seiyafa repeatedly. The expression on her face saying how could Taiye replace her so quickly and with none other but Seiyafa, the reason for their breakup. She felt on fire with jealousy. He didn't even come begging after her first. No one has done this to her before! How infuriating!

'I am done with him, totally,' Monica hissed, annoyed at everything. It pleased Seiyafa, greatly. She felt like a big meanie, a happy meanie.

'That is such a big relief,' Seiyafa said with an over exaggerated sigh. 'I was worried that he might be lying you see?' she told her.

'No he isn't. I am really done with him. I dumped him nice and good. And I can see that you have picked up from where I stopped, hogging my leftovers,' she insulted, her voice filled with spite. Seiyafa didn't mind at all. She was rather enjoying making the lady pissed as fuck.

'Oh Monica! And such a sweet leftover he is! I am glad you left him. If you hadn't, then I would not have a chance to be having him right now,' she squealed like an excited baby, annoying Monica the more.

'You do not mean that,' Monica stated with malicious eyes.

'Oh! Of course I do. It is a good thing that you ended things with him. He would never have looked my way if you hadn't and I'll still be Seiyafa, the bestie. You were right Monica, I wanted him and I made you give him up. I won. Now, he is mine!' she said on a triumphant voice. Monica gasped at her words. 'I am happy that he is done with people like you who do not value him. Too bad I do, he is mine and I very well intend to keep him,' she went on with a smile. Monica fisted her palms, speechless at the revelation.

'I do not need him,' she spat out stubbornly. She didn't want Seiyafa to feel as if she had won.

'By Christ, he is so handsome!' she squealed, looking pass Monica to the approaching figure of Taiye with just a flute of champagne. 'Baby,' she said as she went to him and took a flute as he placed his free hand on her waist, drawing her to him. Monica had tirned to stare at them. Coals of fire had replaced her orbs of vision. Taiye noticed it happily.

'Are you done here?' Taiye asked sneakily. Oh Seiyafa loved when he underhandedly offended someone. It was always very interesting to watch like now.

'Oh Yes I am,' Seiyafa said to him. He nodded then.

'Let's go.' They made to leave when Seiyafa suddenly spoke.

'Oh I almost forgot.' She came out of Taiye's arms and went to Monica. 'It has been nice talking with you,' she said, handing her the flute of champagne.

'What is this for?' Monica asked her confused, looking at the drink that had been placed in her hands.

'Oh, I just thought that you would definitely need it when we leave,' she said to her in a carefree manner. Then, she turned and pulled Taiye away to the dancing floor.

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

Are you still afraid that maybe something is missing?

- We might fall

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

GLOSSARY

#Nigerian Creole

* No be only rude and hurting: It is not only rude and hurting (This was said with sarcasm).

*Abeg disembark from that capping: Shut up

* Na wetyn dey pain me pass: That is the thing that infuriates me the most.

* Sharp sharp na: As swiftly as possible, instantly.