BROKEN FEELINGS

She watched him as he was sweating and dancing between two slutty girls, one of the girls was in a pair of shorts that could pass for panties and the other one was in a gown that clung to her body accentuating all her curves, she suppressed the impulse to pull him from between them, she wanted to slap him on the face just to make sure he felt as much pain as she felt, her stomach was in a tight knot, her chest was on fire. The DJ changed the song to Wizkid’s ‘Pakurumo’ and she burnt with jealousy as one of the slutty girls started rubbing her ass all over his ‘thing’, she thought to herself, “this has to stop”. She ran into the bathroom to practice the breathing exercise Nife taught her, ‘inhale’ ‘exhale’, ‘inhale’ ‘exhale’. She felt slightly relieved, then, she splashed water on her face, the cold water gave her an additional soothing feeling. She prepared to go back to the dancehall, to face the devil she was running from - her emotions, she has nursed a crush for Diran Oladapo since they were kids and twenty years after, it feels like the crush was going nowhere. 

He saw her sitting at the bar, nursing her drink, her head dropped halfway on her chest like she was in deep thoughts, he wondered what was going on in her mind, he knew she was going to share with him, their friendship was that good they always had each other’s back, they are young adults now but it still feels like all those days when they ran around the compound in their undies, “how time flies” he thought. She was dressed in a low neck black gown, low enough for a little of her fair cleavage to be seen but lots was still covered to keep one wondering what the remaining looked like, the black gown looks good on her fair skin. 

Toyosi adeniran has been his friend since they were in pre nursery class, she was like one of his buddies because they always played ball together and wrestled each other to know who was stronger, she was a tomboy back in those days and seeing her transform into the lady she is still marvels him. He was dancing and walking towards her stepping to J-Martins’ Good or Bad, she had refused to dance so he was caught in the company of club whores, “thank God I am out now” he thought to himself. It’s been a long time since the last time they met and although they communicated all the time, he sure did miss having her around. There is a lot he wanted to tell her, he didn’t want to tell her over the phone ‘cause he wanted to see the expression on her face and watch her eyes sparkle as they do whenever she is excited. 

She can perceive him now, she knew he was near, the sweat wasn’t enough to mask the scent of his cologne, he always used Kenneth Cole’s Black since they were teenagers and that has become his signature scent. Her head was still bent over her drink, she didn’t want to face him now, whatever strength she got from the bathroom was exhausted and she was back under the dictate of her emotions. “How could he not know she was in love with him?” All those long calls and “I love yous”, “Does he think that was done just for friendship?” No one knows her like he does, didn’t he wonder why she never dated any of her ‘toasters’, she has every right to be mad at him, he made her fall for him and he has the right to act like he can’t see the pain he is putting her through?. Tonight is going to end it all, she made up her mind to chew and swallow her pride and tell Adediran she had always and is still in love with him. 

He pulled the highstool next to hers and sat down, he wanted to chase her around the bar and make her forget whatever was weighing her down like he used to do when they were little, they are grownups now, and so he will handle it the grown up way. 

“T-babe, what’s wrong”, he asked as he lifted her face to meet his. 

His touch made her quiver; she looked in his eyes and saw that concerned look she is all so used to, his lips look like a dull orange ‘cause of the club lightings, she wanted so much to kiss them. 

“T-Babe”, she heard him call again as he shook her lightly. 

“Why are you looking at me like that? Is there something you would like to share?” 

“I am sorry, it is nothing, just thinking about work,” she replied smiling sadly. As always, her guts had failed her and he will never know how in love with him she is. 

He searched her face, trying to be sure, nothing was really wrong; satisfying his curiosity, he accepted it was one of her moodswings. He wondered if it was the right time to tell her, “no time is the right time so I might as well tell her now”, he thought. 

“There is something I need to tell you”, he said, taking her hands in his as he shifted lightly on his stool, her heart was pounding so hard, she was scared it might tear her chest. 

He took a deep breath and had a look on his face that had never been there before. 

She thought to herself, “Does he feel that way too? How stupid have we been all these past years? Both of us feeling the same thing and not saying it?” she wanted to tell him, I feel it too but decided to hear him say it, happy that her pride as a lady will be saved. 

He finally spoke and said “I have found her”.