𝟑𝟎 𝐃𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐥

~~ 91. ~~

There was silence in the room for a long while. No one said anything. Fareed word hit differently. He got a point.

"I understand what you're saying, Reed. I got that." Bayo broke the silence in the room. "I always thought that way too when I first knew about the man. Seriously, I got it." Bayo said looking at Demilade. He said nothing but looked away. "But he grew to understand better. To be more humane. And that is why he chooses to forgive him. I am... I am honored that he could let my dad stands as his father figure for the wedding, I really do appreciate that a whole lot. But it still got us... all of us concerned. He was never there, at least let him be in this one. "

"Why should I do that?"

"Exactly."

"You know the answer to that Demilade."

He scoffed. "I don't think I do Lola." He looked at her. "He wasn't there on my first graduation or my convocation or during the inauguration of my company. None of it. What makes you think I want him to be at my wedding ceremony? He was never there on any of the important days of my life. Why should I do it now?"

"Because as much as you deny it, his blood and DNA flow throw you. And you know better than anyone that blood is thicker than water."

"Don't be so sure, Tiwalola." He asserted and gulped down all the content of his glass.

"Don't you at least want to feel... just know how it feels like to have a father... I mean your real father on a happy day of your life?"

"I am not curious," Demilade said and that got everyone's attention.

"What do you mean?"

"I don't feel anything like you're all insinuating. That man is like a stranger to me. I don't know even know him. I don't have any sort of feelings or connection whatsoever for him. So it doesn't make me curious. Why should I be? I barely know him. He was never present in my life. He is almost dead to me. I forgive him because we are human and it is the right thing to do. I let all those ill feelings go but that didn't miraculously make me curious to know him or desperate for him. Please, I'm thirty-one, not some teenager craving his father's attention. I outgrow that. So what's the need?" Demilade asked with a shrug.

"I agree with him," Reed said and both Bayo and Lola turned to look at Fareed. He wasn't making it easier as he was fueling Demilade reasons.

"Think about it very well Demmy. Is that what you really want? You know what you want. So think about it."

"There is no need to think about anything Bayo, I am sure of it," Demilade answered his friend. "I already have a father figure who is more of a father than Lawrence ever was to me and I am okay with it."

Bayo raised his hands in surrender and Fareed smirked that they won. He raised his glass at Demilade who did the same.

"If you say so. We can't change how you feel about it. But he should still be there. If not for anything but for the sake of formality and... Respect. You should give him that little respect. He is alive, not dead and he still wants a chance in your life. Give him some break." Lola said convincingly.

"She is right," Bayo said when no one said anything.

"I'm not asking you not to make Bayo's dad the father of the day but to just let him be there. Moreover, it might be uncomfortable for you and your mom and it might draw unwanted attention and questions. But you should still invite him."

"To me, he still wins," Reed said. "He is there and he is happy."

"He still deserves a little bit of happiness, Reed. We are human. Not that he would be very happy." He quirk a brow at her even Demilade was curious to hear the reason for her statement. "He is going to sit in a party with wealthy men, men that had become friends and father figures to Demilade without him. He is going to watch how he admires most of them. Like your fathers. And Bayo's father will be sitting next to his mother, doing everything he should be doing to him as a father on his son's wedding day. He is going to sit there, watch everything and he won't be able to do anything."

"He will still be there,"

"Yes, he would. He deserves that much. And you don't know if he will accept the invitation."

"Yeah." Fareed asserted.

"He would. He won't want to ruin the chance Demilade will give him." Bayo answered their unasked question and Lola nodded in agreement. "Even if he won't sit as his father on that day, he will still want to be there to prove his point that he deserves a chance."

"Yes. It is a blessing but a punishment in disguise." Lola stated, not too happy about the fact.

"That's kind of right." Reed agreed for the first time. "And really deep. I'm impressed Lola." He smirked.

"Fine then." Demilade agreed. "I'll send an invitation." Reed's lips quirk slightly, looking at Demilade who stirred his glass.

§§§§§

"Thanks a lot, guys for coming. I had fun." Lola said to Demilade friends and they replied to her with a broad smiles.

Fareed came over to embrace her.

"I am glad you're the one getting married to that arsehole."

"I can hear you, Reed," Demilade said glancing at them while listening to whatever Bayo was saying.

They both laughed.

"We had fun too. Don't stress yourself out. You don't want to ruin that beautiful face of yours before the wedding." Lola smiled at him and then nodded.

"I will take your advice seriously."

"Good."

"Ada will be back next month."

"Yeah, I know that." He stated. "You don't know how happy I am about it. I don't have to skip parties during the weekend so I can fly to the East to see her. And I won't go to the club alone."

Lola chuckled loudly. Fareed was such a nutcase.

"I'm sure she is feeling the same way," Lola told him. He just nodded.

Adam came over after saying something to Demilade and he did the same. Embraced her and thanked her for the meal.

Bayo stared hard at her when it was his turn. Then he said with a smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

"You know what you said was a bit mean right?"

"About Demmy's dad?"

He nodded. "Yes. I know. I think it is really mean. Especially knowing that Demilade is agreeing to invite him because of it. And I hate it. But we don't have any choice, do we?" He shook his head. "That's the only way or... Let's say the reason why Demilade can never accept him at the wedding. We both know that he still deserves a chance of being there. He is still his father after all."

"That's totally correct. And I am not judging you for the decision. I am just... I just want to hear what you will say." He admitted. "I agree with you on it. I hope Demilade got to change his mind after that day."

"That's what I am actually hoping for too."

A smile curled up Bayo's face and he nodded.

"I know I was never wrong about you."

"You flatter me too much."

"No, it's a compliment." He pulled her into a hug. "I'm glad he, has you. Thanks."

"Thank you too." He nodded in her arms before pulling away.

Then he went over to meet Demilade that was talking with Adam and Fareed close to Adam's car.

Lola watched the men give each other a bro handshake and hug before they all climbed into their cars.

Adam in his latest Lexus Jeep. Fareed and Bayo in their Black and red Porsche respectively.

Birds of the same feathers flock together. Lola thought as she watched Demilade's friends drive out in their expensive cars. They all have a bad habit of expensive cars.