Without a second word, Demilade walks into the living room and I remain frozen as I watch my worst nightmare unfold before my eyes.
Neither boys seem angry and it makes me extra cautious of my speech.
"Hello sir, Funmi is not home," Demilade says coming back to rest on the wall beside me.
He's dangerously close to Isren and the height difference between the two is so minuscule that they both have a domineering presence over each other.
"Actually he-" I begin to explain but a voice shushes me.
"I'm not here for whoever that is. Nimi and I are heading out but it was nice meeting you Mr...?" Isren says in a condescending manner; jealousy showcasing the arrogant mogul side of him I rarely saw.
The jibe sails over Demilade's shoulders, though his face falls and he crosses his arms over his chest.
"You don't say? Nimi did mention that earlier, let me just grab my stuff so she can lock up after me." Demilade replies, sarcasm dripping from his tone. The infamous scowl that I hadn't seen since our school showdown shows its ugly head, and he storms off.
I try to smile but come off looking like I was trying to pass a hard poop instead.
Isren merely gives me a once-over and leaves with a few words. "I'll be waiting in the car."
In the living room, I see Demilade furiously packing his stuff and when I turn to him I see him slipping his phone inside his pocket.
"Happy Birthday Nims," he says like the nickname was poison and throws his gift bag for me to catch.
I cradle it against my chest as I watch him make his way to the front door.
"Demilade please wait le-" I say but his stony gaze silences me.
"Hope I didn't ruin the surprise," he says and I hear a loud bang after.
My heart hiccups in my chest and tears soak the ornamented cardboard pack.
I sniffle as I stick my hand inside and bring out the most beautiful necklace I had ever seen.
He had gifted me a bronze heart-shaped locket. It looks antique, with the beautiful rose engraving possessing silver traces, and I squeeze it in my hand, my mind going back to our many mornings in the library.
One day he had caught me reading a historical fiction novel and teased me all day about the page where the mail order bride received a golden locket from her husband.
More saltwater spills down my cheek at the memory and I rush into the kitchen so I can cover up when I go out to meet Isren, but more because I want to have a clear look at what was inside the locket.
After my ducts are dry and the redness around my eyes subsides I crack it open and see a laminated picture of me glaring with my mouth in a hideous snarl.
I laugh remembering how he had taken the picture during Sunday service much to my annoyance.
Now the image makes my heart squeeze tightly and I stow it away in my floral wallet.
I had messed up. Big time.
....................
The interior of Isrens car is as luxurious as ever but this time we're in a BMW I couldn't name for the life of me.
Personally, I was proud I even recognized a car I had only seen a few times on my TikTok For You Page.
Beside me, Isren mans the vehicle and silence engulfs us till I break it.
"Are you seriously not going to say anything?" I ask him.
"What am I supposed to say?" he responds gaze fixed on the road ahead of us.
"I wasn't cheating," I say.
He briefly glances at me before he acts like he doesn't care once more. "It's not like you're my girlfriend."
His words cut through my chest and I feel like my heart had actually been punctured.
"How could I forget Mr. Olubode. My apologies." I say trying to keep a steady voice.
He sighs beside me but I ignore him and I slip on my AirPods despite the blaring radio.
Soon we're in the parking lot of an airport and I reach for the door handle.
"Wait," Isren says, placing a hand on my left knee so I would pause.
I'm only more irritated by the fact that my body responds to his touch and I yank the handle only to be disappointed.
"It's locked," he says and slowly I swallow my pride and settle back into my seat.
We could miss this entire flight for all I cared.
"I thought we were done talking?" I say at last.
"Who is he?" Isren asks ignoring my attitude -the same one he had given me.
I roll my eyes and I can tell he's starting to get irritated as well.
"Now you want to know?" I say dryly.
I watch in satisfaction as his jaw twitches.
"You're being very immature now," he states and I take even more offense because I actually was the less mature one between the two of us.
"Sorry sir, do you want to take me back home before my curfew?" I ask him and he snaps.
"For crying out loud Nimi I came to your house with a getaway planned only to see some pimply-faced boy who acted like he owned the place. How do you want me to feel?" Isren says and my hands drop from their crossed position on my torso.
I seem to be hurting everyone today.
"I'm sorry, he's just a friend. I canceled on my birthday plans and he showed up anyway." I say to him.
He nods slowly but the atmosphere is still tense around us.
"If you had plans before why did you cancel?" Isren asks and if I was pale my cheeks would be bright red right now.
"I didn't want to go in the first place," I say, omitting the part about wanting to get my first kiss asap.
"Let it not be that I'm the reason you don't hang out with your friends anymore," he says, trying to lighten the mood even though his anger hadn't quite fizzled out.
The effect of what was probably our first argument ever had taken its toll on me and it felt strange to no longer wield my words like a dagger.
"Not at all," I answer flashing him a small smile.
For a moment I glance out the window to see people hauling luggage out of their cars and I'm glad I only needed a backpack full of stuff for the trip.
"By the way Nimi, I know this may not be the best time but you don't deserve mixed signals so will you be my girlfriend?" Isren says, leaning in so I'm forced to look directly in his eyes.
I blink and move back.
"Just like that?"
His mouth hangs slightly open, and his brows furrow as mirrors my movements.
"That did not go the way I thought it would," he says to himself and I snort under my breath.
"I mean you could have done better, but yes I will oblige you the gift of my presence," I answer, elevating my shoulders for extra pomp.
"Spare us the grammar alakowe (scholar). Is it yes or no," he asks, holding my gaze.
I lean way closer than he had moved away, and it feels like we're in the car for the first time all over again.
I see him swallow visibly when his gaze drops to my lips.
Never had I been more proud that I wore my special Glossier clear gloss than today.
"Yes silly," I say to him and the corners of his lips turn upwards.
We remain frozen, and though I'm close enough to see the little coffee grains in his eyes my mind had traveled lower.
A mixture of fear and excitement swirls inside of me as I hear his next words.
"Remember what I said about the second thing you told me you wanted." He says referencing that evening in the car after our friendly date.
"I think so," I say feigning ignorance.
He smirks but continues nonetheless.
"Permission to kiss you?" he asks and I nod my head.
This quick movement makes me accidentally graze his lips and I feel a dangerous surge of electricity at the contact -the infamous spark was real after all.
He chuckles softly and I close my eyes as his hand cups my cheek.
All the nights' worth of research had abandoned me and I do nothing but part my lips.
This one time, I'm glad he's had years of experience because he easily maneuvers my awkwardness presses my lip back softly.
In five seconds it's over and I'm slightly disappointed as I expect him to pull away.
Instead, his thumbs draw soft strokes across my cheek and his fingertips brush against loose tendrils bordering my nape.
"You okay?" he asks and I give him a small nod.
My nerves had eased and I felt more confident about continuing. I had a feeling that was the effect he wanted because when I look through my lashes I see him closing the centimeter distance between us.
This time his pace is a little faster and I feel what the Bible certainly called lust in my system.
It felt like a drug and soon my hands had wrapped around his neck while he had inched closer so he could pull me by the waist.
The taut muscles through his shirt pressed against me, and the pleasure coursing through my veins as we deepen the kiss is momentarily cut off by a noise behind us.
There stood an angry tout looking like he was ready to bash some bodywork.