DAMOLA

As much as I wanted to reach out to her, I knew she didn't want me close by. So I just let go. Afterall, she is someone's wife. However, catching a glimpse of her face after almost 3 months of not seeing her brings back some emotions I had hoped to bury.

Seun was always dressed in the simplest of ways, adorned in the most mundane jewellery pieces and accessories, but there's an aura that emanates from her. One that draws me right now to her, almost forgetting that I am here with a date. 

"Babe, how does this look?" Ireti walks out of the dressing room, taking a glance in Seun's direction before looking back at me.

"It looks lovely." I smile to her.

"Great. Let me try out another one." She twirls and walks back into the dressing room.

"It's been a while. How have you been?" I ask her. She smiles and nods before speaking.

"I'm good. I see you're not doing bad yourself." She shrugs. She looks so good and in a bright mood. The bitterness in me rises up when I remember the sort of asshole she's married to.

"You owe me a date, Seun." Where did that come from?

"I'll be busy today." She states and I chuckle, raising my hands in mock surrender.

"Sorry for bothering, ma'am." And she laughs. A light one. I was desperate. I wanted to spend time with her, even though it was not a right to do, seeing as I still like her.

"I can make time for it, but I don't want to disrupt your time with the lady." Ireti. How did I forget about her?

"Oh." I have no words at this point. Almost immediately, it is as if a bell rings in my head.

"You know, you actually owe me that. Remember? I'm not asking." Her sulken expression could have made me waver in my pursuit, but just this one time. Nothing more.

"Mr. Jeje." Not her calling me that way again.

"Damola." I correct her but she glares at me.

"Mr. Jeje, I..." She hesitates, as if thinking of what to say.

"I'll text you the time and venue." I answer dismissively. She huffs and walks away.

Ireti soon returns after what seems like ages but was just a little above five minutes. Clad in another outfit, she seeks my opinion which I give.

"I'm done." Thankfully.

"So what's the occasion? Why are you shopping so many clothes?" I ask, very curious.

"They didn't send you the message, or inform you?" She asks with a dramatic expression and shocked eyes.

"What?" I have no idea what she's talking about.

"We are supposed to have a family dinner tonight. Your family and mine. I guess they just assumed I would tell you." She sighs. How am I supposed to be there when there's plans with Seun this same night? A rational part is telling me to cancel with Seun and just attend this gathering with our families instead. A selfish part tells me to damn the consequences and not show up; cancel with them instead. By the way, how do they just spring up with something like this and expect me to be available?

"Sorry, I'll have to pass. I happen to have a meeting planned for this evening."

"You'll have to communicate that to them, then."

"Yeah, sure." After dropping her off at her house, I call my assistant next. There's work to do.

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SEUN
I WOKE UP ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE BED TODAY!

As my eyes adjust to the natural light of the room, I smile brightly. This day has long been anticipated and I swore not to allow anyone or anything disrupt it.

A girl is a year older today. Peeling off the sheets from my skin, I head to the bathroom to pee and brush my teeth. Lance doesn't seem to be at home and that's a good sign for me.

Skipping to the kitchen, I notice that the house is awfully quiet. Perfect. I take out some tomato and pepper from the freezer and place them in a bowl before leaving it to defrost on the counter before going back to the room. What I feel like eating is egg sauce. Right now, I'm still undecided as to what to pair it with. It's either going to be bread or fried yam.

By the time I get back to the room, the vibrating sound on my phone indicates a message. Happily retrieving it from the side drawer, Gillian's name flashes on the screen. I smile as I read.

-Happy birthday, sweetheart❣️. Enjoy your day and break a leg! Hope you enjoy your gift.

As if on cue, a knock sounds on the door. Who could that be?

"Good morning." Sounds like my neighbour. Another knock again.

"Sister Seun!" The voice calls out this time.

"I am coming!" I yell, hoping the person hears me. My phone still in my hand, I quickly rush out to answer the door.

"Madam Jane. Good morning."

"Someone is at the gate. He says he has a package for you and your number is not going through."

"Thank you. I'll meet up with him now."

Turns out it was a gift from Gillian. She seems to be the only one that remembered my birthday.

-Enjoy your day, sweetheart❣️ the wish card in it reads.

Gillian got me a pair of gold earrings and also attached a shopping voucher from La belle, one of the best fashion stores here in Lagos. This is a lot! She has literally made my day! Friend like Gills, though.

The moment I get upstairs, I quickly dial her on WhatsApp call. After about ten rings, she picks.

"Thank you. Thank you. Thank you." My excitement is through the roof. She hisses at my outburst. I could tell she was rolling her eyes.

"What are you thanking me for?"

"The gifts, of course." I respond to her, still excited.

"You deserve it, girl. Now go pick a dress and go partyyy." Gills will always be Gills.

"Party with whom? Have you ever seen me with any friends?" She snickers at my question.

"Remind me again why you have no friends?" She asks and I sigh. Work and this family really zaps my time and the little time I have left, I prefer using it to rest or read a book.

"Anyway, get the dress, and look good while going. You might just get lucky and catch the eyes of a nice man."

"For the umpteenth time, Gills, I am married."

"Even though. Even though." We both laugh about. She states that she needs to get out now and we bid our goodbyes before the call ends.

After having my bath, I prepare breakfast for myself.  The house is still quiet. Lance is definitely not back home. I wonder where he went to this early, though. His sisters and my mother in law are probably holed up in their rooms.

Picking up the keys, I dash out to give myself a solo birthday treat. First stop was a spa. It's been ages since I got a massage and boy did I need one. The session was very soothing, relaxing and amazing. It was a blast.

Done with that, I use the Sauna. The last thing I do is have a refreshing bath before heading out. The ease of my body makes me feel like I am floating on air.

Since La Belle is on the the Island, I begin my journey. After countless hours of driving, I finally arrive at my desired destination. The beam on my face is endless as I stare at the building in front of me. God bless Gillian, honestly.

The dresses here are quite pricey, I won't lie. Well, for me, that is. I'm sure this is chicken change for people of  high society. God when.

Regardless, I focus on getting a dress that suites my voucher limit. Finally, I arrive at something reasonable.

"That would look good on you." A lady beside me compliments.

"Thank you." I smile to her and retrieve it from the rack to give it a try in the dressing room. There's a man seated just outside the dressing room as I make my way into the space.

The dress looks good. Very good, infact. My jaw drops, staring at the beauty in front of me. Wow, just wow. After admiting myself for some minutes, I take off the dress to go pay for it.

Never was I prepared for who I saw next. Damola. Before my thoughts could process his presence, a vouce interrupts us.

"Babe, how does this look?" The lady glances in my direction before staring back at him. Babe?

"It looks lovely." He smiles, complimenting the dress on her.

"Great. Let me try out another one." She twirls and walks back into the dressing room, leaving the both of us alone.

"It's been a while. How have you been?" He asks me. Smiling, I nod before speaking. He found a way to cajole me into having that date with him. Honestly, I don't want trouble. The babe is obviously a rich kid.

Also, my life. My career that I have struggled to build. Everything will be at risk. At the end, the woman gets all the blames. Nobody sticks a finger of accusation in the way of man when in fact, both parties have an equal share in the act. It always balls down to the woman, because we are the ones expected to uphold a moral compass carved out by society.

Sighing, I drive back home, several thoughts racing through my mind. I have a date to prepare for.

NEXT CHAPTER WOULD BE THEIR LONG AWAITED DATE.
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