Settled

"The guy you saw at my hostel, that you assumed I cheated on you with is my flatmate, Chika's boyfriend... I did not cheat on you. I have never cheated on you!... He doesn't stay in Lagos. He just came because he got a DJ gig at the Night Owl club. He's staying with us for the main time till he'll get his own apartment

"Oh, so he's the new Dj Lekan just got?"

"Big bro owned the Night Owl?"

"Hmmm..." He replied in affirmation. "Why didn't you tell me you have a flatmate?"

Abby sighed "I didn't think it was necessary. I have two flatmates actually. They are twins, Chima and Chika. The apartment we stay in is a three bedrooms en suite and a living room. The guy you saw me coming out of the hotel with is Chima and he's the same person I danced with at the club..."

"What!? You're living with a man?" He asked aghast.

Abby rolled her eyes at the look on his face "We have separate rooms Tunde!... And he's not somebody I just met at school, he's not just a flatmate... We met at a group therapy for people who was sexually abused when I was seventeen. His case then was similar to mine, we had the same abhorrence for the opposite sex. In his case, he was abused severally by his aunt whom he lived with until he decided to run away.

We became friends because we were each other's first acceptance of the opposite sex. We were never romantically attracted to each other. He has never asked me out on a date with him. It was just therapy, modeling, and dance that we had in common...

I love dancing, and even though I get paid for it, our dancing together was more of a favor to him than it was a profession for me. He has a youtube channel for the dance and he model for me whenever I need one. Him and his twin sister Chika whose boyfriend is the DJ. We weren't on a date at the night owl. Tayo, Chika's boyfriend gave us an invitation. Chima also brought along his own girlfriend.

And concerning the dress you were mad about, I'm a fashion designer who likes to dress well, not just to look good but to also showcase my designs. I get some of my clients from when people see what I'm wearing and want the same design for themselves or girlfriends or wives... Now the dress is ruined and you're going to pay for it cos I already promised it to a friend"

"Yes, of course, I'll pay whatever you ask for, I'm sorry about that... And I'm sorry for the sarcastic and hateful words I said to you, I wasn't in my right frame of mind then. I was just stupidly jealous... Please forgive me"

"Yeah... It's okay. I'm glad we're good now" She smiled up at him

"Thanks for forgiving me... I love you so much" He said and pulled her into a hug

"Love you so much too." Abby happily replied

"So, you're getting another room, preferably inside the school premises this time." He said to her with a smile while the smile she had on her face gradually wiped off

"What? Why would I be getting another room? I don't need another room!"

"Babe I don't like the idea of you living with two men who walk half-naked around a tiny apartment."

"It is not a tiny apartment. I told you it's a three-bedroom en suite... And Chima doesn't walk half-naked! He is my friend. Tayo, Chika's boyfriend, the one you saw is just staying for the main time till he's able to get his own apartment! There's no need for you to be jealous over nothing"

"I'm not jealous over nothing!"

"You're not jealous? Really?"

"Well, maybe I'm a little bit jealous but tell me which man wouldn't be!? Which man would be happy to see his woman living amid men who walked around half-naked!"

Abby tried not to gnash her teeth in frustration. "Tunde, I just told you..."

"I heard what you told me, he doesn't walk around naked. That still doesn't make the fact that you are a single lady leaving with a single man less absurd."

"Why do you have to make it sound like that!?... I'm not living there, I only stay at the hostel..."

"I know, I know... You only stay during text and examinations period! I'm still not comfortable with you staying with him"

"Tunde!..." Abby called his name in frustration like she was getting tired of the topic already. "I'm not only staying with Chima but also with his twin sister Chika, I told you that already!"

She moved closer to him and looked at him straight in the eyes "You still don't believe me?... You think I'm lying to you about the relationship between Chima and me?"

"No, I do believe you! I swear I believe you. I just don't trust anyone!"

"They are my friends!"

"The Jamal bitch was also your friend and yet she set you up to be raped!"

Abby sighed in exasperation. "Baby please try and understand me!" She moved closer to him and circle her hands around his waist "People are not the same! I just don't want to stop living simply because one person betrayed me! Besides wouldn't you prefer I stay with people I already know than moving to another apartment and getting other roommates?"

"Who says you will be having a roommate? You're getting the whole apartment to yourself and it's going to be inside the school premises not outside"

"Tunde the reason why we rented an apartment outside of school in the first place was because there was none available inside the school. They've all been rented out!"

"Babe, I'm going to get you an apartment inside your school premises. You don't have to concern yourself with how I'll do it just trust me that it will happen."

Abby sighed deeply and wanted to put up another excuse but he stopped her speech

"Abike I don't want to argue with you any more than necessary on this... I'm begging you, please. An apartment inside the school premises is safer. If not for anything, please do it for my peace of mind"

Abby looked at him for some time and saw in his face that he was worried about something "For your peace of mind?... Baby, is there something I need to know that you're not telling me?"

Tunde sighed deeply. He wished he could tell her about the war he just declared with Malik Jamal the underworld boss but he couldn't. If he did, she would be scared and he didn't want that. He wanted her to go about her normal life, he didn't want her looking over her shoulders every minute of the day with fear of the unknown.

"You have nothing to worry about babe! Everything is going to be okay."