Osaze POV

Osaze was already on his way home when he got her text so he just detoured to Seyi's place in Lekki.

His friend was hyped up and couldn't stop talking about an Epic Bachelor's eve they must attend.

"You know Dapo na! He went to Kings College too!" He could not remember the guy's face but he agreed to go with Seyi anyway after all he didn't have any other thing to do for the night.

The Bachelor's even was in a private house, there were strippers...about 20 of them and more than enough drinks. For some reason he did not tell TY it was a bachelor's eve. She has been softening up to him lately and he was not ready to ruin the stage they were on. He also low-key felt guilty, like he should not be there. Imagine, he is sha really whipped for her.

The groom actually recognized him even remembered his school nickname. From bachelor's eve, that was how they dragged him to be part of the groomsmen for the wedding reception.

Two of the groomsmen couldn't make it to Naija and they planned for 15 groomsmen.

Why does anybody need 15 groomsmen. He thought.

"We need to shake Lagos, all those girls must understand that Men dey" The very drunk Bestman who is also the grooms MARRIED elder brother said as he joined the groom in convincing Osaze to join the groomsmen. He was the host of the bachelor's eve.

He told them he didn't have White Agbada but somehow the drunk bestman who was the coordinator got a Tailor to come and take his measurement within hours and the tailor promised to deliver it at the hotel in the morning. Everything paid for by the Bestman.

Morning

As he let himself into the apartment, he hoped she didn't get in trouble with her parents. They seemed like the strict type. His parents were strict too but they were based in Canada and going by the standard over there, they were saints so his parents loosened up on them over time. However, his Dad still used to whoop his ass back in the days o.

He quickly showered first, it was better than showering in the messy hotel suite he shared with one other groomsman. He found his loafers by the dining table. He must have left them there the night he came home late from a meeting with a startup he was building a software for.

When the photo shoot sessions started, he regretted agreeing to be a groomsman. It was exhausting! At first, they snapped like a zillion pictures with the bridesmaids at the hotel lobby, the pool area, the parking lot. It was 3PM and all they have been doing since morning is photo-shoot. He was hungry, sleepy and a little bit hung-over from the Bachelor's eve.

They were in the middle of another shoot session with the couple outside the reception hall when he spotted Toyin heading towards the hall from the parking Lot with her parents.

He has never seen her all dressed up native. She looked breathtakingly gorgeous in the burgundy lace and gele. Her style was simple and elegant but her goddamn sexy body didn't allow it to be simple. Seriously if school didn't work out for her she would have had a successful career as one of those instagram influencers or models...

"Osaze! You're ruining the picture" The Bestman yelled.

"What are you looking at, don't worry there are enough babes inside, lets finish this annoying photoshoot first or else the bride will kill us" The sleep deprived Bestman complained too with his red eyes.

She saw him when they danced in, shock in her face as she waved at him excitedly. Halfway through the reception he finally gathered enough courage and went to their table. They were seated around the high table side while he was at the bridal train area.

"I didn't know you were coming for THIS wedding too," She said

"Yeah me too it was last minute, I know the groom, long story."

"These are my parents. Mum, Dad this is my fRiEnD Osaze" She smiled tensely, slightly flustered.

She had better not expose them o. He thought to himself struggling not to laugh at her cute tactlessness. She is not the type that can have a secret affair, her eyes screamed guilty lol. Fortunately, her parents' eyes were not on her in that instant they were on him!

He greeted her mum first bowing his head. He had learned how to just bow before any elder he sees today from being on the 15man Yoruba demon squad.

There were two people seated between her Mum and her Dad so he had to move to the other side of the table to greet her father.

Her father shook his hand strongly, looked down at his Shoes then pulled him closer and said in a low voice "I like your shoes.....What was the name again" He was still holding his hand.

"Errrm Osaze, Sir" He was freaking out. Did her Dad know something?

He release his hand. There was an empty chair beside him he gestured for him to sit.

"Sit down. O-sa-ze you're Bini?"

"Yes Sir" He nodded vigorously.

"Where do you work?" The man continued.

I am in trouble! He thought to himself Toyin and her mum were talking to another guest but he could see that she was freaking out too when she saw her Dad interviewing him.

"I used to work with Google errm I am a programmer...but right now I am self-employed... a freelancer" The packaging of his status came out nice. He was proud of himself. You're doing great Osaze! He cheered himself.

"Programmer? Like the Facebook boy?" That seemed to pique the old man's interest.

"Something like that. Sir" He said the tension fading away gradually.

"That is good. You should make our Nigerian Facebook too so that we know it is our own. I heard all these social media people are selling our private information and using it to track and control us right?"

"Well.... technically... not all of them" He assured the old man. He went on to briefly explain data privacy to the old man and what really happened with some of the social media data privacy scandals.

He also told him about his failed startup and the elderly man encouraged him to keep trying until it 'works out'. He was smiling sheepishly thinking about how she must have acquired that encouraging attitude from him when the old man dropped the bomb.

"So when are you bringing my wine" His eyes went to Osaze's shoes again then he looked him squarely in the eyes.

The Shoes! In that moment he realized her Dad must have seen the shoes in the apartment and that was why he kept commenting on the shoes. There was nothing special about the shoes; it was just a plain pair of black Kenneth Cole loafers.

When the man saw that he had figured out why he was REALLY commenting on the shoes and they were now on the same page his lips curved into a smile, proud of his FBI skills.

"Very soon. Very soon Sir". He said breathlessly, his palms were sweaty and his heart was beating.

"Good. I will be expecting you"

Her Dad gave him his card, told him feel free to give him a call anytime.

*****Toyin's POV

After the wedding, Daddy told Toyin she could stay back for the after party because he knew the young people there couldn't wait for the parents to leave so they could do their party. The reception MC had been hinting on it every opportunity he got.

Her mum instructed her to show up at their hotel first thing in the morning so they can go visit her aunty before they leave for PHC.

Sofi was finally free of her office people so she came to join them. Earlier, she presented a gift to the Couple together with her colleagues and the new boss on behalf of the Company Chairman. They gave the couple a house gift. The Couple got like eight cars and so many other monetary gifts but Sofi's people presented a house in Lekki to the couple. Imagine the flex!

The After party was lit, plus it looked like half of Lagos Island was present because they kept on running into people they know. Wizkid, Burna, Naira marley, Olamide, Fireboy all the top artistes performed.

Sofi didn't drive so they had to drop her first since her house is in Lekki. She formed as if she was going to drop Osaze off too. (lol)

When they were finally alone in the car, she remembered he had a long chat with her Dad.

"What were you talking about with my Dad?"

He smiled and shrugged "Just Men's stuff"

"Answer me jorr"

"Football" He smiled.

Wow! Cant believe we've reached 24!

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