Mike's thoughts

Abby felt bad when she got back inside the restaurant and saw Mike half-heartedly scrolling through his phone, looking forlorn. Two paper bags branded with the restaurant's name were now placed on the table alongside a half-empty bottle of red wine with a single glass goblet.

Mere looking at the half-empty bottle of wine, Abby could tell that he was upset with her because Mike was not much of a drinker. Not that he couldn't handle his alcohol but because he finds the taste of anything alcoholic unpleasant and only drinks when he has something on his mind.

"Mike I'm so sorry... That took longer than I expected. I had to settle some things with him that couldn't wait" She immediately started apologizing to him.

She took far longer than the five minutes she asked for and felt guilty because she knew Mike doesn't deserve that kind of treatment from any woman, friend or lover. Mere looking at how hurt he was, Abby knew she couldn't tell him about Tunde yet.

"You were gone for almost an hour..." He said listlessly. "The food arrived so I had it packed for taking away... Can't just leave it displayed on the table you know."

"I know... And I'm really sorry." She said regrettably. Looking sorry about how she kept him waiting. She looked inside one of the bags and found a three-in-one stackable thermal food storage that keeps food piping hot.

"Oh Mike, this must-have cost you a lot... I'm so sorry for keeping you waiting. It wasn't intentional. Please don't be angry with me, alright?"

"Okay! It's fine. I'm not that angry anyway..." Mike assured her but his countenance still remained sad.

"Liar!" Abby said and gave him an 'I know you're lying look'

"C'mon... Okay, admit I was angry a little but it's fine now okay? I'm not angry anymore." He lied with a fake smile plastered on his handsome face. His inside was far from fine. A turmoil of anger and jealousy was raging through him right then with different crazy thoughts running wild through his mind.

'Of course, I am angry and very jealous. Who wouldn't be? Watching the love of your life go off to god knows where with another man doing god knows what!? Who would be cool with that!?

Oh, how I wish the bastard was right in front of me so I could punch the living daylight out of him. He dares to interrupt my date, took away my woman, and mocked me in the process. I will pummel the son of a bitch till he has no breath left in him.

Who was the bastard to her anyway? Could it be she has gotten herself a boyfriend? No! He couldn't be her boyfriend, he would have been at her party yesterday night if he was.

But why isn't she offering me any explanation about him?... Not that she owed me any explanation though... She could have at least say something! Doesn't she know that courtesy demands it?

Come to think of it, wasn't she wearing lipstick before? Her lipstick has been wiped off and her lips look swollen as if she has just been thoroughly kissed. Were they kissing earlier!?

How could she do this to me? How could she went off to make out with another man while she made me wait for her like a fool? Why couldn't she tell that I love her still!? What am I going to do? God, please... I don't want to lose her, I can't afford to lose her, oh no I can't! I love her so much.'

'Why not kidnap her...take her far, far away from Lagos and keep her all to yourself?' An idea suddenly popped into his head. He didn't even consider the idea for a moment before kicking against it.

'No! No way! That was a very bad idea. I can't do that to her considering what she's been through, it would wreck her emotionally.

Or maybe I should just come out straight and tell her I still love her... Maybe I should let her know that not being with her and seeing her with another man is plain torture to me? Who knows, she might try harder to love me.

But I'm still not sure about the true relationship between her and that nonentity. It might be nothing. I might be getting myself all worked up for nothing...

Mike was lost in his thought, he was so angry and jealous that he forgot to keep a straight face. His fake, happy and no worries face was off and his real emotions were all over the place, so much so that it got Abby worried as she watched his face took up different frightful expressions.

"Mike! Hey!..." She called him severally without a response from him. She has been talking to him for quite some minutes and she thought he was with her since he was clearly staring at her.

It was when she asked his opinion about her taking him for ice cream next door and he didn't respond that she noticed that he was totally zoned out. He was just staring into space and not at her.