Chapter 38—Confession Session

“Okay, Esther, it’s your turn,”

“What? But I went into the kitchen,” Esther sputtered. “Why didn't Tracy go instead?”

“I’m the game master, and I say who goes next,” Fatima countered. “Now sit down and talk.”

Esther made a sad face at Tracy, who stuck out her tongue to make her feel sorer.

“Fine,” she heaved before slumping back on her seat. She sighed again then took a huge sip from her drink. “Uhm, I’m really sorry for not telling you girls sooner, so please don’t kill me…” She paused to exhale as their eyes were fixed sternly on her. “I’m seeing someone.”

“That’s a lie,” Tracy gasped.

But Esther’s sincere eyes begged to differ.

“But how? Since when? Who?” Fatima asked.

“My new boss—”

The girls all gasped once more.

“You sneaky secretary.” Fatima winked with a wicked smile.

“We’ve been dating for about two months now, and I think I really like him,” Esther continued, ignoring Fatima. “I didn't say anything because it was right around the time Korede got engaged, and I didn't want to hog any of the spotlight. Plus, I wanted to confirm it wasn't just some co-worker fling before putting it out there,” she added.

“Damn, babe, I’m just…speechless.” Korede blinked.

“I was going to tell you girls after the wedding, I swear,” Esther promised.

“Well, it doesn't matter…and you just watched me continue to ramble on and on about a singles curse among the three of us that day at the bar.” Fatima noticed Korede take on a puzzled look. “It’s one of our little meetings without you. Don’t worry.” She grinned before taking a bite of her cookie.

“I said ‘speak for yourself,’ didn't I?” Esther objected in her defense.

“That could have meant literally anything!” Fatima gesticulated with her hands as she yelled.

“What? No, it doesn't.” Tracy chuckled.

“I’m the game master; let me believe what I want to believe, okay?” Fatima retorted, and they all giggled. “But that was a very juicy secret. I never knew you had it in you, Esty. So, tell us: what’s he like? Calm, shy, and sensitive like the kind of guys you’re always after, or is he one of those headstrong businessmen who are really good in bed…Tried the ‘d’ yet?”

“Fatima,” Tracy said, punching her in the arm.

“Hey, who’s the game master here?” Fatima grinned.

Esther chuckled. “No, we haven’t. We’re taking things slow for now…the most important thing for me right now is that he makes me happy.”

The sincere smile on Esther’s face made Korede feel uneasy. It reminded her of what Naomi had said earlier. ‘Mide is a great guy, but he doesn't make you happy.’ She considered the statement as she began caressing the rim of her drinking glass again.

“Blah, blah, blah, he makes me happy,” Fatima mimicked and rolled her eyes. “Tracy, you’re up next.”

Tracy heaved a sigh. “Well, now I feel stupid. You all are keeping things from me while I’m here being honest.”

“Nope, you’re not taking the easy way out, young lady.” Fatima waved her index finger.

“I’m serious. I got nothing. I literally tell you girls everything—I told you about that time I was dating that married man who was a client one time until I found out what we had wasn't special because he had a thing for other single girls too. I told you about that time I had a fight with my mum and my stepsister that finally made me move out of the house. I tell you girls everything,” she gasped out loud.

“Yeah, you’re no fun,” Fatima hissed and turned to Korede. “That means our bride is up next.”

“What? Me?” Korede blinked.

Fatima’s brow furrowed. “Don’t tell me you’re backing out too.”

“More like chickening out,” Esther cut in.

“No, I’m not…I don’t have anything to say either,” Korede blurted.

“No, not you too,” Fatima fumed. “Why are you girls behaving like this?”

“How are we behaving?” Tracy narrowed a glare at her.

“The two of you are clearly lying!” Fatima exclaimed. “You know, I expected this from Tracy, but not you, Korede.”

“I’m not!”

“Liar. So why are you hiding the fact that you and your sister argued?”

Korede was stunned by her question. “Wh-how did you—“

“We saw the two of you through the window,” Esther chimed in. “We couldn't hear you girls, but it seemed heated.”

Korede didn't respond.

“Are you ready to spill then?” Fatima asked.

Korede buried her face in her palm and made a squealing sound. Her guilt had finally eaten her up, and she was tired—tired of lying to her friends and everyone she held dear. She was tired of lying to herself. Not giving any regard to what her friends’ judgment of her might be, she said, “I kissed David.”

** ** **

It seemed like everyone was having fun down at the club, everyone except David. All he did was watch the others enjoyed the merriment of the night. Mide and Iceman were busting some moves on the dance floor while Patrick was seated in the middle of three women who they had helped into the VIP lounge on the condition that they party with them. David’s best guess was that they were sex workers, but he made no motion to object to Iceman and the gang. They probably knew that already.

Azeez was right; he should have stayed at home.

He stood with his back arched and elbows resting on a small counter close to the couch Patrick and the girls occupied, feeling drained and disgusted. Having made three visits to the bathroom already to get away from the party, he felt the only place left to go was home. But still, he didn't want to seem rude to Mide. His gaze shifted from Patrick’s fling with the ladies to the dance floor and realized Mide was now alone. Wondering where Iceman had gone, his eyes wandered around until he sighted Iceman approaching him with two beers in his hands.

“Here you go, Dave,” Iceman said, handing him a glass.

“Thanks,” David replied, then washed a gulp of the cold drink down his throat.

“You seem a bit uptight. This is not your kind of gathering?” Iceman wondered.

“No, it’s not that. I just have a lot on my mind that’s all…Why do they call you Iceman?” David asked immediately to avoid him probing any further.

Iceman grinned and turned to Patrick, who shared the same amusement on his face.

“That’s the nickname he got during our sophomore year in high school,” Patrick answered on his behalf. “He was the biggest, but more importantly, he was the biggest of all badasses. He was your man for any contraband you needed in the school—phones, booze, drugs, you name it.”

David glanced to Iceman to confirm his words. Iceman raised his glass in the air and nodded.

“Oh, we’ve got some bad boys in here!” one of the women exclaimed, and the rest giggled.

“The amazing thing was throughout our stay, he never got caught—not once!” the American continued. “He ran a smooth and flawless operation as smooth as the surface of the ice, and since then, he became known as the legendary Iceman.”

Just as he finished speaking, Mide slumped down between two girls.

“Hey ladies, hope we are having fun?” He smiled. David could see his chest move up and down as he panted heavily.

The two girls touched his arm and chest playfully as they giggled.

Soon enough, Iceman joined in the conversation. Wrapping an arm around Mide’s shoulder, he said. “Yoo, you ready to turn this party up a notch?”

Mide’s lips curled up in a smile. “What do you have in mind?”

David watched curiously in silence as Iceman slipped his hand into the breast pocket of his jacket and pulled out a small, transparent sachet that revealed two red and blue pills.

Still grinning, he said, “Something I like to call Dr. Party Hard.”

Mide chuckled. “I don’t know about that, man.” He shook his head.

Iceman frowned. “Why not?”

“I haven’t used in a long time, and I don’t think it’s wise for me to start now.”

David gaped. Used in a long time? He began to wonder who exactly Mide was before he came to Nigeria.

“Well, I’m very much interested, thank you.” Patrick leaned forward to grab the pill from Iceman’s loose fingers, but Iceman withdrew at the last minute.

“So what, you are now a boy scout because you stay in Nigeria? Take the pill, jor,” Iceman insisted.

Then, David, who was watching silently, spoke up. “He said he doesn't want to. Leave him alone.”

"That tone wasn't for me right?" Iceman raised a brow at him.

"I wasn't referring to anyone else," David retorted. "And what exactly do you want to do about it?"

His words immediately stirred up a tension between himself and Iceman as they both narrowed their eyes at each other. Everyone at their table stopped to see what would happen.

Mide could hear the sound of Iceman’s teeth-gritting close to him. Unlike David's average physique, Iceman was built more like a UFC heavyweight fighter, and there was no telling what he could do if a fight broke loose.

Mide admired David's courage to keep staring at a man much bigger than he is, but knowing how hot-tempered Iceman could be at the slightest of confrontations, he cut in to dispel what could be a fatal beat down on David.

“Why don’t we all just calm down?” He got to his feet and spread his arm out wide against the two of them. “David, you don’t have to raise your voice. Iceman was just being friendly…And Iceman, I’ll pass on the pill, thank you.”

Slowly, Iceman’s expression turned to a jovial one as he smiled again. “Come on, Olamide. This is your last night as a bachelor, the last chance for you to live wild. Are you sure you want to be listening to this party pooper who barely had one drink since we stepped into the club?”

“Give me that,” Patrick muttered as he snatched the sachet from Iceman’s unaware fingers. He quickly tore it open and tossed one into his mouth before splitting it in two. Then, he turned to the lady on his right. “Care for a taste?”

The woman leaned closer and held his head before parting her lips as he dived into her mouth with a deep kiss that went on for a while even after they had swallowed the drug. This led to a round of applause and cheers from the two other girls.

Iceman watched in silence and smiled before turning back to Mide. “There’s only one pill left. What’s it going to be, Mide?”