Chapter 17 5

Make him jealous by flaunting other men in his face - oldest trick in the book ;)

EVE

Clunk...

Clunk.....

Clunk.......

The sound of Tomide hitting the curb we're currently sitting on with his bare hands, strikes grave terror in my chest.

What do you get to say to a man who just got devastating news in one fell swoop?

Let's see...

Sorry your father was such a douche bag...

Or... sorry he couldn't stick it in his pants long enough to marry your mother...

Let me try one last time...

Sorry you happened to be born to some asshole, shitty, two - timing . . .

"Eve."

Tomide cuts off my internal monologue. Good thing too, 'cause I was on a roll.

He's staring straight ahead now, looking almost normal, except for the hard set of his jaw. You'd never know some seconds ago he was having an emotional breakdown.

Cars speed past us, tooting their horns as their drivers glance at us with curiosity.

"Y . . . yes Tom, are . .  you . . . okay?"

Looks like I'm the one actually having the emotional breakdown - I'm stuttering like a broken record.

"When's that get - together of yours?"

Huh?! What get together?

"The one taking place this evening," he continues.

Oh! Fiku's get together thingy.

How can he talk about a party at a time like this?

"I'm not going." I reply sadly.

"I need you to go."

I turn to look at him. His jaw has a rigid set to it and he's gripping the edge of the curb so tightly, I hope he's knuckles won't pop out.

"Why wou ---- "

". . .  because I'm going with you." He interrupts.

Huh?!

"Please," he says gently. "I need a distraction. I need to get my mind off. . ." He waves his hand in the air, searching for the right words.

" --- what you just found out?" I supply.

He doesn't answer, just sighs and stands up, hoisting me to my feet in the ptocess, and we start walking towards my car.

I don't feel after the whole debacle at the lawyer's, we should attend a get - together or go anywhere else at that.

All I want to do is curl up on my bed and not think of Batman.

*

Sometime between hearing about Tomide's girlfriend being his step sister and us driving home, memories of my brief time with Batman plague me like it's going out of fashion.

When we get home, I head straight to my room, not minding the delicious smell wafting from the kitchen - mum must be cooking up a storm again.

Tomide heads straight to the guest room - obviously he needs some alone time to process all that happened.

Mum peeks out from the kitchen. "Children, how did. . ."

Her voice trails off when she sees our retreating backs heading off to our respective rooms.

Once I get there, I burrow under the covers after putting on the air conditioner.

Two minutes later, I'm zonked out into a dreamless sleep.

Next thing I know, someone is shaking me awake.

"Urgh."

My brain hasn't booted yet.

"Eve. . . wake up, it's 7.30pm, you need to get ready for the get together."

Is he that desperate to go?

I open my eyelids. They're still so heavy with sleep.

I squint at Tomide who is hovering over me. Sitting up slowly, I stifle a humongous yawn threatening to spill from my lips.

As I blink the sleep from my eyes, I take in his appearance. His bald head is shining more than before, giving the impression that he must have rubbed it with some hair oil.

The white tee he's wearing has an inscription in black that reads - Black as ugly as ever! This is paired with jeans so black, it's in serious contrast with the white tee - shirt.

I glance down at his feet and notice he's wearing pure white converse sneakers. The overall effect is stunning.

He looks different . . . younger, even.

"You clean up nice, coz."

"Just like you're going to do same now." He gets up and points to something on my bed. "I took the liberty of picking out some options of clothing for you to choose from."

I stare at him, startled at his behavior. He acts like he didn't receive devastating news earlier and that irks me.

When I look down at the clothes he's picked out for me, a slow smile slips unto my face.

There are just two choices of clothing - a white bandage dress and a black mid - riff baring halter neck top and a blue ankle - length cullote.

"Are you sure you really wanna go to this .. . .thing?" I ask, squinting at him. "Because I don't think ---"

"Trust me when I tell you this is good for me, for you too. Now please get dolled up, let's hit the roads."

He leaves me to get ready and I suddenly understand. He needs a diversion - he needs to not think, not feel and not hurt.

But then what happens after tonight? He'd have to go right back to the horrible reality hitting him in the face.

How would he fare then?

I don't want to think about the future for him. One step at a time... that's all he needs, that's all we really need.

I wash up real quick and dress up even quicker. No time to wash my hair so I moisturize it and leave it to reign in its natural state with an alice band to keep it in check. Hopefully it doesn't look too bad.

I join Tomide in the sitting room where he's tapping his legs impatiently on the floor and rifling through some old magazines.

He looks up as I approach him and his mouth opens up in an o shape.

"You're a sight for sore eyes, coz. Wonder why you haven't snagged some dude yet."

I flash him a smile, deciding against giving him a reply. Picking up my car keys from the table, we head outside. It doesn't take us long to get to the venue because the roads are pretty free tonight.

We used the GPS to find out the venue but now that we're here, I'm not sure it's the right place. There are many cars parked outside already, but there's a certain weird feel to it.

Bouncers stand in front of the door of the bungalow holding unto their jackets, trying to cover the bulge of the weapons under them. Their heads swivel left to right, taking in the terrain, ready to swing into action if anything occurs.

Tomide and I look at each other uncertainly but then he shrugs and comes down from the car while I do same.

We nod as we approach them and they step aside, allowing us entry. I walk in first, while Tomide follows closely behind. Immediately I step into the room, I feel a sense of imbalance - a kaleidoscope of red and green strobe lights jump around the place, casting eerie shadows all over.

People mill around, idly chatting and holding glasses of liquid in their hands. The music is loud and deafening and I have the sudden urge to turn right back to my car and drive off. But for Tomide's sake, I don't.

I notice a raised stage in the center with poles hanging from the ceiling to the floor. A huge number of people consisting of male and female alike, sit around it, all the while looking up expectantly at the stage.

At first I don't see what all the excitement is about, but then I see her. . . two of them actually.

Two females clad in pure white skimpy underwear consisting of a bra and g - string with ginormous - sized boobs and butt, strut unto the stage winking and waving at the crowd watching them. They begin dancing to the music, occasionally bending down to twerk in different positions to Rihana's 'rain on me song.'

The men scream gleefully and tuck wads of money on the sides of the women's g - strings as they get to the edge of the stage.

The women jump on the poles like monkeys, and begin sliding up and down effortlessly, their heads dangling precariously upside down, while their legs twine round the poles in dangerous sky - high heels.

As I watch transfixed, Tomide joins me and we both stand and stare, mouths agape. The men have begun to go wild, screaming and throwing money unto the stage at this point.

The music suddenly changes to R - Kelly's 'sex me song,' and the lights dim dramatically. I'm almost not able to see anything, until a single red spot light hones in from the ceiling, right unto the two women.

A hush suddenly descends on the room.

The women know all attention is singled on them, so they smile coyly at the men who they know are avidly watching them. In sync, they bite their bottom lips and lower their gazes, slowly lifting their hands to their bra straps, all the while writhing like snakes. Their eyes lift back up to the unseen crowd once again as they slowly remove the straps of their bras.

They turn round at the same time, backing everyone and their huge bare butt cheeks shake with the movement. Simultaneously unclasping their bras, they throw them to the audience where the men shamelessly grapple for them and they turn around once more to face the audience - bare chested.

OH MY GOODNESS!!!!

It dawns on me at that exact moment that we're in a strip club.

Fiku must obviously have made a mistake sending me this address, because I know she won't have her get - together in a place like this.

I turn to face Tomide with the intention of telling him we should leave, but what I see stops me in my tracks. . .

A naked girl -- as naked as the day she was born, save for the barely - there g - string around her waist -- is all over him, slow dancing and rubbing her body on him. She turns round and bends down, twerking and pushing her butt against his trousers.

His face and mouth are parted slightly and his eyes are glazing over. He looks perturbed and slightly . . .

Is he turned on, right now?

Huh? He's turned on by some ... loose banshee rubbing herself all over him?

I move away, taking tentative steps backwards, hoping to catch his attention but he's so caught up by the naked woman that he doesn't even know I've moved.

Ugh! Whatever!

I walk off in a huff, shaking my head as I weave through the sudden crowd influx. It's difficult making a path way to the door, because that's where I'm heading - to sit down in my car and listen to some music 'till Tomide's senses come back from wherever they flew to.

Everywhere I turn, I see females, ranging from semi nude to nude. Some of them giving lap dances to their ecstatic partners.

Then I see it. A large neon sign hangs on the wall in bold red letters.

DO NOT TOUCH THE WOMEN!

As I look around, I see these same signs dotted along the walls in the same bright colour, obviously serving as a warning for any man who tries to misbehave towards the woman.

Seriously? So the women can touch the men but they can't touch them back? Wow!

Just as I'm about to make my way to the door, I catch sight of a beaded curtain that's been cordoned off from the rest of the room, obviously meant for privacy, but whoever meant it for that must have been joking because it's anything but private.

I can clearly see a woman kneeling down. Her whole back is bare and I know for a fact that she's starkers. She dips her head in - between a man's legs and I'm shocked into immobility as I stare at the two of them. Naturally, they're oblivious of my presence. I unknowingly move closer, poking my head through the beaded curtain.

I can't quite see the man's face because his head is thrown back against the head rest of the chair he's sitting on, but I can clearly hear him moan and then I hear her murmur unintelligible words to him.

I know -- I just know I need to walk away from here before either of them notice me, but I'm transfixed.

Back up before they both see you . . . quickly! My brain screams at me . . .

. . . but my body is on a lock down!

As if in slow motion, the man lifts up his head and looks up straight at me . . .

. . .  and my breath seizes.

All the wind gets knocked out of me and I'm left with a gaping mouth, gasping for air.

Everything stands still . . .

. . . as Batman stares back at me through lust - lidded eyes.

I don't move, neither does he.

When some semblance of awareness grips him, his mouth drops open and I know mine must be close to the ground right now.

I use all my will power to wrench my eyes away from him. Gathering my wits about me, I make a 360° turn around back to where I'm coming from.

I need to get out of here immediately. It's suddenly too hot as I pull at the black halter top I'm wearing. I remember thinking of Batman as I picked this outfit from one of the options Tomide laid out for me. I'd wandered if he'd get the same intensity in his eyes when he looks at me.

But it's of no use now.

Anger sizzles inside of me and I unknowingly clench my fingers into fists by my side as I weave through the crowd in search of Tomide. I head back to where he and I both were, but he's nowhere to be seen.

Shoot!

Where has he wandered off to now? I scan my gaze around the dimly lit area and see him tucked in a corner with bazooka all over him.

I call her bazooka 'cause she's got some massive things on her chest and they're currently in his face.

He allowed himself to be led to a corner by her?

THIS IS DISGUSTING!

Sighing in anger, I march towards them, tapping my legs on the floor impatiently as I stand in front of them, but with the way Tomide's eyes are glazed over, it's obvious he's not even present. His brain has gone on a hiatus.

I make an irritating sound at the back of my throat as I stand there watching her paw her way to the zip of his trousers.

Isn't there a law against groping a stranger, though?

Only one way out of this.

I take hold of the naked girl's hand and drag her to her feet.

She looks peeved and I can't care less.

"He's mine, get some one else." I throw in her face.

She scoffs and walks off, boobs and butt jiggling precariously.

Are they even real?

I turn back to look at Tomide who looks like he's just waking up from a deep slumber and I briefly wonder if he's had sex with his girlfriend - turned stepsister. I make a mental note to have that awkward talk with him later.

He shakes his head as if removing the last vestiges of sleep from his brain and looks at me, gaping and confused.

"Let's go!" I grate at him.

"Wha... wh..."

"Stop stuttering and get up --- NOW!"

"Eve!"

I hear my name being shouted and I turn around to see Batman bounding towards me.

Suddenly a light bulb goes off in my head. . .

I turn back around to see Tomide staggering up from the chair and I push him back unto it. He looks up, surprised at my actions.

"Forgive me for what I'm about to do." I whisper, but he only stares dumbly at me.

Then I straddle him, just before I hear Batman calling me once more. I swoop my face close to Tomide and note as his eyes widen and he desperately tries to get away from me, but I snake my hands round his neck, and pull him closer and kiss him full on the lips.

Sorry Tom, I need to do this for me. Don't fight it, just flow with it please.

Tomide freezes...

Frankly speaking . . . so do I.

"What the fuck?" Someone exclaims behind me.

I'm immediately wrenched away from him and before I can say Jack Robinson, Batman's fist goes bulldozing into Tomide's face.

- @ -

SEGUN

Imagine my upset when as I get to this thing I was invited to, I'm not able to see either Dipo nor Femi.

Femi had told me there would be strippers at the after party but I honestly didn't think it would be this wild.

I'd decided to skip the main party and head here instead. Maybe, just maybe I'd get this sad coma off that's been tailing me for the past two weeks.

Where are my guys?

I see none of them as I look around. Naked women strut the length and breadth of the room, looking to catch the eye of their next customer.

Another day, another time, another era I'd have been excited seeing such reckless abandon, but now I can't even get my lil boy to so much as nod.

Surprised? Yeah, me too.

Chioma had come over and tried her best to work me up so I could sleep with her. She even suggested no condoms but a siren had gone off in my head then. Luckily I wasn't responsive.

After sleeping with Eve, all I could think of was her. I'd tried getting her out of my head, but those pink lips and wide hips refused to leave my mind. Surely she didn't place a hex on me.

So I decided to come out here today for some action - see if I still have it in me.

Suddenly warm hands touch me from behind.

"Hello dark Prince, let me give you a good time. You wouldn't regret it."

I allow myself to be led away to a seat in a private corner by a naked woman. She kneels down before me, takes a hold of my zipper and begins to pull it down, but it gets caught in my boxers, snagging part of my skin. Pain radiates through me and I moan.

She immediately murmurs words of apology but I've already lost interest - it's an exercise in futility now. I lift my head and open my eyes, ready to tell her to stop when I encounter Eve staring at me, shock lining every part of her beautiful face.

Every fiber of my being screams at me to say something - to do something, but I'm frozen into immobility.

We stay this way for some seconds, eyes locked on each other. She's the first to break it as she turns round and walks off. I push the girl off me, not caring for her complaints and rush after Eve.

Damn it!

She definitely would think the worst of me now and this isn't how I want her to see me. Not some play boy or fuck boy or whatever.

I call out to her again, loosing sight of her, but then I see her and my eyes almost pop out of their sockets. She's straddling a guy and wastes no time in planting her lips on his.

"What the fuck?" I exclaim, unable to stop myself.

The same hands that were all over me two weeks ago.

The same lips I kissed passionately...

... and the same body I rocked like crazy...

... is all over some guy that's not me.

I literally see red and before I can say Jack the ripper, I'm dragging Eve off him and connecting my fist to his jaw.

Chaos erupts all around us as people begin screaming.

This guy isn't backing down though. I may have had the element of surprise by jumping him first, but he clearly isn't shying away now.

He gets two mean punches in my stomach and I double over, but I don't let that stop me. I give him an upper cut to his lips and watch in satisfaction as it splits open, spilling blood. I follow it up with another punch to his face but just as it's about to connect, someone holds my fist.

"Well well well the king, you're left on your own for some time and you're not able to stay out of trouble?"

Dipo's face comes into my line of view and that's when I see Femi also, but they're not alone - Fiku, Chioma and Ebere are with them too. Shocked looks line their faces.

Oh hell no!

Looks like the whole circus is out here to play.

So because I don't want to explain anything to them without having to tell them how I got carried away because of my jealousy, I walk away.

That's right - out of the club.

Chioma runs off after me, calling out my name, but I get into my car and drive off before she's able to get close.

Imagine leaving Eve with the total disgrace of my unleashed anger.

Yup... fucking coward.

That's me.