𝟑𝟎 𝐃𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐥

~~ 89. ~~

"It is the same on my side too. I haven't heard from her for a while. And that is the same thing I told your other friend Reed and Demilade himself." Ibukun said and she went to eat her food without looking at Bayo.

"That is what you've been saying Ibukun. That you have no idea where Lola is."

She nodded vehemently. "Yes, I am not denying that. That is what I told Demilade. So what made you think I was lying to him and that I have a clue where she might be?" Ibukun asked, taking a last spoonful of her jollof rice.

Bayo heaved a sigh and was quiet for a while.

"She is your friend, IB. You don't expect me to believe that. The first week,... Okay, yes, I believe you. Second..." He shrugged. "A possibility. But three weeks plus now IB. Three weeks and you want to tell me you haven't received a call - a single call or message from Lola. In three weeks, your best friend decided not to call you after going MIA on everyone, and also the fact that she was heartbroken and hurt by her fiancé. She definitely will need someone to talk to. Someone to confide in. She didn't choose her father. I get it would be easy for Demilade to convince him and know where she is. But that isn't the case because Lola never mentions it to her father. The man is clueless about what is on the ground. He only knows his daughter needs a break and she isn't home. And that leaves only you. "

"Do you know that I am not the only friend Lola got? "

"Yes, I know. But you're the closest to her. Her best friend."

"And there is also the possibility that she might have decided to go MIA in some remote place or hotel..." Ibukun quirks a brow.

Bayo stared at her with an emotion that she couldn't decipher and she wondered what was going through his head. Then he looked away but not before she saw his lips tugged slightly.

"You underestimate us IB. Well, for your information... Demilade tracked her phone and card. Lola hasn't used her credit card in the last one month and her phone had been switched off since about two hours after what happened that day." Ibukun was about to say something but he quickly continued. "And don't give me the excuse she might be with cash. She couldn't have that amount of cash with her to book a hotel for a long period of time. Not like she expects what happened to happen. Moreover, you and I both know Lola can be economizing in her spending. And her card hasn't been used for three days before the incident until now. "

Ibukun scoffed out a peal of laughter then it turned to a chuckle. She raised her head to look at Bayo.

"Well, I kind of underestimated you guys in that aspect. Probably why Lola turned off her phone. She knew how powerful her fiancé is. But anyway Bayo, I still don't have any idea where Lola is."

Ibukun heaved a sigh and nodded. "I know this is about my friend Bayo but what else do you want me to say? She hasn't contacted me too. I have no clue where she is."

Bayo nodded, folding his arms across each other, and stared at Ibukun patiently. It was easy to tell that she was finding it hard to keep up the wall of lies she created around herself. He wasn't sure if she knows exactly where her friend was but he was certain that she was lying about the fact that she never contacted her.

But he won't give up. He already made up his mind about that the moment he decided to meet her. He watched as Ibukun poured herself a glass of orange juice and she brought it closer to her lips to sip from it.

"Ada is in school, far away from home and so is Karimat. And you and Ada are the closest to her. Just like sisters to her. Ada testified to that. She had also been covering up for Lola. But recently, she admitted to Reed that she doesn't have any idea because she isn't at home and also the fact that if no one knows where and what Lola can do, it is definitely you who will. She tells you what she can't even tell her father. And I believe her. Lola might be your friend but she treats you like some invisible older sister."