29| ℐᏉᎯℕ

   I MESSED UP. Maybe I should have punched him only once, or twice or not at all, but I couldn’t stop the moment I started.

   I heard her when she said stop, yet at that time, I only wanted him to feel pain, and so I kept punching him. But when she called me Kola, I heard Father's voice. He would never have condoned violence. 

   The bars at the toll gate rise as I drive into the estate. The security wave at me and I salute. Ahead, the interlocked street is vastly empty. We pass by the first house and I watch as she looks on in amazement.

   “See, I told you.” I distract her from watching too much.

   “Told me what?” she asks.

   “That the rules wouldn’t mean much at the end of the day.” I say.

   "The kiss." She giggles.

   "We broke that," I smirk.

   “Well, the day ends with me laying in my bed, in my room.” She smiles, “and, can we not talk about it?”

   Talk about what? I wonder.

   “The kiss," she states. "I’m not ready to face the fact that my lips have been defiled.” The way she says 'defileď with a half smile makes me laugh.

   “Are you going to tell your mother?” I ask. Her eyes roll as her cheeks flush pink.

   “I think she’ll just smell it all over me,” she says.

   Udon has the gates open already. I’m glad she doesn’t ask any questions as we drive in.

   Any new person would be alarmed firstly by the number of cars in the parking space, before they start taking in the legion of soldiers surrounding the front yard, then the dolphin sculptures with water streaming out of their open mouths and into the fountain pool.

   “Ivan," her eyes widen. "You live here?” she asks as we step out of the car.

  “Yes, my mother would be waiting inside." I say. She holds on to my Tuxedo tightly, a toothy smile placed excitedly on her as we walk in. 

   Sua pops her head from the common room presumably as she hears my voice.

   “Sua!” Boma exclaims.

   "Bomate! Oh my God." Sua embraces her.

   “Finally, he has brought you to see his humble home.” Sua says.

   “There’s nothing humble about this home, I’m astonished.” Boma smiles.

   “Has Ivan shown you the–"

   “Let’s go Bo. Mother is waiting.” I pull Boma away from Sua and towards the dining room.

   “Is that your dad?” she whispers as we pass through the hall dedicated to father’s pictures.

   “Yes.” I whisper back. Her heels are enough to announce that we’re home.

   “Woah!” she looks up at the daunting chandelier in the middle of the hall.

   “Sir?”

   We halt and turn around. Deji stands there with his hands folded. I see Boma trying to piece his face to the day at the park so I immediately speak up.

   “Yes, Deji?”

  “Your mother wants you to meet her in her room, now.”

   Why would she do that knowing that I would come with Boma. 

   “All right then, let’s go, Bo.” I take her hands. Deji doesn’t move.

   “Sorry sir, but the young lady comes with me.”

   “She’s my guest.” I say, he doesn’t move. I look at Boma, she has the cutest unbothered expression on her face, more captivated by the furnishings than Deji.

   “You should go, I’ll wait.” She smiles and hands me my tuxedo. "Maybe Sua can keep me company."

    I kiss her on the cheek and watch Deji lead her to the dining table before taking the stairs to meet Mother.