Utianle

"No." A gown flew to the ground. "Uh huh," another one joined its counterpart.

"Never!" I murmured under my breath, holding a red gown up that seemed to glow when light from the single overhead bulb shone on it.

The colour made me cringe especially with the studs that decorated every inch of it, simply put, the dress was hideous. It was one of those clothes that looked good at the store until you brought it back home. Soon enough, it joined the heap of clothes that were already piled at my feet, making my room look smaller than it usually was.

Halting my movements, I stood still in front of the opened wardrobe that was now upside down. With my hands akimbo, I shook my head at the colourful mess I made. 

Most of my clothes were off the hanger, the few that survived my assault could be counted on my left hand. The problem wasn't the clothes, it was finding the perfect one suited for the occasion I was about to attend and it was starting to feel like Gulder Ultimate Search.

"Babe, it's five already." Umoh snaked an arm around my waist from behind, causing the large T-shirt I was wearing to ride up slightly. He tucked his head into the crook of my neck, swaying both of us gently from side to side.

The guilt that had earlier enveloped me as the scent of his perfume floated into my nostrils disappeared when his fingers massaged my nipples that were poking through my shirt. He was supposed to drop me off and had been waiting for me. Meanwhile, I had forgotten all about him.

"Sorry." Stepping away from him, I pulled the only gown left on the hanger, placing it in front of my body as I twirled for him to have a good look.

"What do you think of this one?" I asked.

His eyes, which were hooded with lust cleared slightly as he cast a glance at the black halter dress but gave no response.

Standing upright, the gown looked conservative until I put a leg out to reveal the slit that was high up to my upper thighs. When I swirled, glimpses of my skin could be seen, all thanks to the back of the outfit that was held together by a bunch of strings that were intricately woven together.

It was my most risqué outfit, more daring than my usual choice but it was everything I wanted to look like tonight - sexy, confident and comfortable.

"Well?"

Umoh's eyes briefly scanned over the outfit as if just seeing it for the first time and he muttered a flat, "it's not bad."

Disappointment embraced me, my excitement waning as quickly as it had come. I wanted more, a long tirade about how the flecks of silver that were scattered all over the dress matched so well with the colour of my eyes.

Sighing in defeat, I pursued my lips, just staring at the clueless male specimen before me. Men would never understand the struggle behind a woman's flawless appearance.

He strutted closer to me, tilting my chin with his index finger. "Baby girl, you look good," he said with his thick Calabar accent.

I would have smiled if I suddenly didn't have that strange feeling knocking at my gut; he wanted something.

An eyebrow raised in enquiry when his hands circled my waist again. "What of the money?"

"What money?" My left eye twitched. I avoided his gaze, focusing my attention on the short tribal lines on the side of his temple.

Umoh was a very handsome man with his scalp bare of any hair, and a jaw filled with thick, dark beards that I was fond of running my fingers through. His eyebrows were thick and looked like they were carved but it was all natural; his heart-shaped lips were my favourite part of his face.

"The one I told you about," I arched an eyebrow unbelievably higher than I thought I could. "Ten odds to win one million, I'll pay you back with interest."

Immediately, my fingers found their way to his beards, tugging on them harshly. Maybe that would knock some sense into his head.

"Babe!" He whined, pouting his lips like a child that had been wrongly accused.

"See your mouth like babe; that's what you said the last time and the time before that," I replied with a stern look, determined to not fall for the puppy-eyed look he was giving me.

"If not for that yeye Arsenal, you won't be saying this. But don't worry, this time will be different, I can feel it," he tried again, touching his hand repeatedly to his chest area. "When the money comes in, we will start making preparations."

"Do it for me nah," he drew me closer till I was pressed against him, peppering kisses all over my face.

"Babe?" I looked away from him but he brought my face back. "Boo of life?"

Umoh was a chronic gambler, his addiction to Bet9ja was one that we had struggled to break. Sometimes he was lucky, other times he was not but his losses never stopped him from trying, hopeful that he might raise enough funds to breathe life to his comatose music career.

"What happens if things go wrong?" I removed his hands from my waist, intertwining our fingers as I stared into his brown eyes that were tinged with hope. 

"Nothing will go wrong, trust me." He waited a few seconds for me to speak but I had nothing more to say, "it will work out."

I didn't trust him, not when it came to money matters but I couldn't say no. He wasn't working, he could never keep a job for long but unlike some of us, he had the support of his parents. That was if you counted living in their boys quarters as support.

"Fine. But if it doesn't go right, you will forget about music and get a proper job."

I could never imagine him in suits and plain trousers or even sitting behind a desk with his eyes glued to a laptop screen except it was to see a movie. But it was time to stop encouraging him, not all dreams were meant to be pursued.

His smile faltered, "nothing will go wrong, I promise."

We broke apart when his phone rang, my eyes set on the screen that displayed a pretty dark-skinned girl that was sitting in a meditative stance.

"Who's that?"

"My cousin," he replied then cleared his throat noisily. I waited for him to pick the call, folding my arms across my chest when he didn't, "she can wait."

My eyes narrowed suspiciously and I rewarded him with a tight-lipped smile. I didn't have any cousins but I was certain that I wouldn't have a sexy image of them as their contact picture. As if he could hear my thoughts, Umoh shrugged, shoving the phone deep into his pockets.

"Once I get the money, we are getting engaged." His words washed over me, bringing my attention back to him - the ripped jeans that revealed some part of his dark, hairy skin and tank top showing off his toned, chest muscles.

Umoh biceps rivalled that of every man I knew, even that of a particular stubborn but handsome man who had recently started to plague my thoughts.

A smile tugged at my lips as my subconscious chose that moment to replay our last encounter, reminding me of his look of satisfaction when I finally took the paper he penned down his number on. Somehow, I knew that if we were together, money would be the least of our problems.

"Utianle!" The voice sounded distant yet familiar and it took a feather-like touch on my cheek to draw me out of my reverie.

Umoh's eyes scanned my face and I avoided his gaze, he had the same eye colour as the one whose name I didn't want to mention.

"Once I get the money, we are getting engaged." He reiterated.

Biting the insides of my mouth to rid me of those misleading thoughts, I nodded.

"If you get it," I told him, already afraid for what would happen if his predictions were to fail him.

Shaking his head, he said, "not if, when I get the money. You have to speak it into existence, baby."

He spun me around, his childlike excitement causing both of us to laugh; his positivity about life was one of the few things that attracted me to him.

For the next few seconds, we just stayed in each other's embrace, listening to the sound of our breathing.

* * *

Breathe in. Breathe out.

The more I said those words, the more nervous I became. Umoh was drawing random shapes on my thighs to help soothe me but it failed.

"Just go and show face, smile for the camera." He said but it did nothing to loosen the knots on my inside.

"Yeah." I murmured, already reaching for his car handle. Even with the AC on full blast, I still felt hot; I needed to get out.

"Don't forget your wig oo." He gestured to the black wig that was at the back seat.

Shuddering at the thought of wearing that heat generator, I grabbed the wig, placing it firmly on my head with the help of the passenger-side mirror.

Another look at the mirror and a last smack of my lips to highlight the wine coloured matte lipstick showed that I was set to go. After a quick kiss from Umoh, I stepped out of his vehicle.

"Have fun!" He hollered, driving off almost immediately.

Taking tentative steps towards the entrance of the gigantic storey building that was guarded by two bulky men, I clutched my mini purse tighter. The environment was too serene, almost isolated and it made me question the address I had been given.

"Hi," I said. They directed their gazes to me and I shrunk into myself. Their mountainous height dwarfed mine and the frown on their faces spoke volume of their annoyance.

Couldn't they have gotten more friendly-looking bouncers?

"I'm Uti, my name is on the list." I pointed to the jotter in one of their hands, avoiding the stare of the other man as he scrutinised me from head to toe.

Bouncer one screened the list, flipping pages upon pages before raising his head to peer at me. His stare made me uneasy and I hugged myself; maybe I should have called King.

Maybe you should have come earlier.

"Utianle Agbah?" Bouncer one finally said, his chubby finger hovering above tiny prints on the paper he was holding.

His arms were triple the size of mine and it would take him no effort to snap my wrist into two so, I ignored the wrong pronunciation of my name.

"Yes, Utianle Agbah," I repeated after him, stressing the syllables he had missed.

"You can go in," He raised the rope barrier and smiled, a smile that softened his features and exposed his gap tooth.

"Thank you."

With my shoulders straightened, I sauntered inside, a camera-worthy smile on my face as my eyes set sight on the red carpet.

Now was the time. Lights. Camera. Action.

* * * * *

Who remembers Gulder Ultimate search? I never missed any episodes.

Sorry for the long wait; I'm still yet to get my laptop fixed, so this is as edited as I can get this chapter. Do let me know of any errors, so I can fix it later.

How's it going on your end? We are on lockdown here.

Don't forget to take care of yourself, make good hygiene your best friend now.