Derinsola's POV

I suddenly snapped myself out of my deep thoughts as I grabbed my keys and headed straight out of my house.

I didn't go to work today, I just had a lot on my mind.

I walked towards my car, got in and signalled the gate keeper to open up.

As I drove, I couldn't help but replay the whole event in my head again, making me clutch unto the steering wheel tightly.

Darn you, Deborah!

~Flashback~

“What?!” I asked her as my head repeated her words over and over again as I looked at her with a mixture of anger and hurt.

What the hell did she just say?

“I knew, Derin. I knew all these while, and I am sorry I....” She stuttered with watery eyes as I stared straight into them while different emotions spiralled through me.

“You are sorry, you what?” I asked her in rage as I suddenly made a mental note to myself to not act all pathetic.

“I knew about it and I...”She paused as I waited for her to speak.

“... I felt the same way.....” She continued as my eyes widened at her words.

“Shit!” I spoke aloud as the elevator chimed before the door slowly opened up.

But Deborah immediately pressed the hold button, making the doors close back up as I found myself trying hard to take in all these information.

What exactly was she trying to do?

“You are a bitch, Deborah” I immediately spoke with a small laughter of distaste.

You are fucking married.

Does she think I would stoop so low to have anything with her despite the fact that she was married?

Or was she telling me in past tense?

She lived her husband presently.

I knew Deborah, she wouldn't think of something like that.

“What?! Derin, it's true, I would never...” She started taking a step closer towards me as I cut her off immediately.

I had to stop this conversation before it went to far.

“I don't care.”I spoke, making her halt in her  next step.

“It's all in the past. I'm with Lola now, and I love her” I continued gulping nervously at the lie I had just told.

Her look screamed hurt as she forced herself not to believe my words.

I moved towards the elevator controls and pressed the button to open the doors.

And immediately, the doors slowly opened up.

I walked through it before casting her one last glance.

“You are fucking married, Deborah” I yelled out in disbelief as I shook my head in disappointment before walking away.

I couldn't believe it.

My brain tried so hard to come up with reasons why she was doing this.

Was she just happy with the fact that I loved her and hated it when I was moving on?

Or did she truly love me back?

What does it matter?

It's in the past now.

I couldn't dare think of still being with her.

I had my principles.

Before I could get far enough, I saw a familiar figure standing at the check in point.

I heard footsteps behind me as I knew they were Deborah's.

My mother turned to face us with a wide smile.

“Ahhh! There you are” She spoke walking towards me as I looked back at her in confusion.

What was my mother doing here?

“I was in town for a ceremony when.....” She paused in her words as she widened her eyes in surprise.

“Oh my, Deborah. You are back?” She asked brushing past me and heading to Deborah.

She wrapped her hands h around hers as she shot her a smile.

“Yes ma. Nice to see you, ma” Deborah replied my mum with a smile too as she looked towards me for a minute.

I immediately avoided her gaze as a frowned found its way to my face.

“What are you doing here?” She asked Deborah as Deborah immediately explained that we had a business meeting together.

“Ohhh,okay. I hope its not too stressful juggling the responsibilities of work and your new marriage?” My mum asked with concern as Deborah shook her head in response.

“You know, it's been a while, actually. Why don't we have dinner at Derinsola's House before I leave for Abuja on Sunday?” My mother asked Deborah as I bit my lips in frustration.

No!

Deborah didn't respond but her eyes drifted between my face and my mum's rapidly.

“How about Saturday night?” She asked her as I shook my head at this idea.

“No mum, I'm sure she's quite....” I started as Deborah immediately cut me off.

“Sure ma. I'll be there” She replied as I shot my eyes towards her.

What was she doing?

“Remember to bring your husband. I would love to say Hello to him as well” My mother told her as Deborah's face looked slightly sullen before she nodded.

I let out a sigh as I looked towards my mother.

But my mother seemed pretty excited as her eyes looked back at me.

“And you!” My mother spoke as I looked at her in confusion.

Me what?

“I saw Lola, in a taxi leaving your office today.”She continued as I resisted the urge to sigh again.

What?!

How long has she been around?

“Don't you want me to see her again?” She asked me as Deborah and I swiftly exchanged a glance.

My mother definitely picked the wrong day to show up.

“The thing is...” I started as she cut me off rudely.

“Whatever, invite her over for the dinner.”She concluded.

Well, shit!

* * * *flashback ends * * * * * * * * *

I pulled over in front of the familiar house as I got out of my car, heading towards the gate.

I sighed before pausing in front of her house as I peeked in, scanning the environment for several minutes.

This was a bad idea.

There was no way she would listen to me.

My mind got carried away in thoughts as I stood there, just looking emptily into the compound.

“Uhrm, sir. Who are you searching for?” I heard from behind me as I turned around as my eyes met a pair of brown eyes as the little girl looked at me suspiciously.

She was just as pretty as her older sister, though she had darker skin, shorter hair and a light brown eyes.

Her face immediately turned into a frown as her recognition swept through her face.

“Uhhh! You are that guy that slapped my sister” She said as she shook her head before hurriedly shuffling away.

What? No, I didn't.

“I didn't. It's all a misunderstanding” I told her as she looked at me again before squinting her eyes.

“And you are Mr. Derin? The guy who called that day?” She asked as I nodded slowly.

“Hmmm” She hummed in a prolonged manner as she eyed me suspiciously.

Hmmm?

This girl wasn't quite respectful. Just like her sister.

“Did she borrow money from you?” She asked me as I looked at her in utter confusion.

“What?” I asked.

“And is that why you slapped her?” She asked as I shook my head again.

“I said I didn't. She was slapped by a thug and I saw her and drove her home. Would I slap her and drive her home?” I asked her as she nodded slowly.

Why the hell was I explaining myself?

“Good point. But why did she ask me to hang up?” She muttered to herself af she stroked her chin.

And suddenly, an idea popped into my head.

“We had a little argument. You know, your sister could be quite a drama queen sometimes.... Anyways, she's mad at me and wants to break up.”I told her as she widened her eyes in shock.

Yeah, that's the look, I wanted.

“Uhn?”She asked as she looked towards my car and then back at me.

“You are dating, my sister?” She asked me as I nodded immediately.

Her lips parted in shock as I smiled gloatingly.

“Where did you meet her? How did you?.... Wait, seriously, you are dating Lola?” She asked again as I was starting to feel offended.

What was that supposed to mean?

“Yeah. Is that so hard to believe?” I asked her as she shook her head.

“No.... Its just that.... Have you met Lola? I mean, we are both talking about the same lady right?” She asked as I let out a small laughter.

This girl was hilarious!

Here I was thinking she meant her sister was too good for me but she was thinking the opposite.

“Yeah. She's beautiful, angelic and her wonderful voice.... ” I teased as she widened her eyes shaking her head furiously.

“What? Angelic, wonderful voice? May I never fall in this type of love.” She spoke as I felt my mind drift towards her last word.

I hated lying to this kid but, it just happened.

How do I ever tell her that I couldn't picture myself with being with her sister, ever?

How do i tell her that I found her even more complicated that she did?

“Anyways, you don't seem so bad.”She spoke as I smiled with a small nod.

Well, thank you.

You are not half as bad as your annoying sister either.

“So, I'll give you a tip.”She continued as I bent a little, getting a bit curious about what I could do to make Lola listen to me.

“This is for your safety. Always, stand at least 3 feets away from her when she's angry. Her hands are very quick in hitting men” She told me as she towards me, brushing past me, towards the gate.

Well, I kinda figured that out.

“Wow, thanks. You know quite a lot, little girl” I told her as she paused then turned towards me.

“I am fifteen.” She said before unlocking the gate and walking in, closing the gate back.

First, she looks really young for her age.

I thought she was like eight.

Also, why the hell was she locking the gate?

“Ohhh, my sister would soon be back from work, then you may enter. I hope you understand. Stranger Danger!” She spoke with a light shrug.

I understood, and I think she's quite smart.

But she was also very rude. And I didn't fail to notice the uninterested look she always had. Exactly, like Lola did.

I managed to pick up the fact that Lola was now working and I couldn't help but feel curious about what she was doing now and why she now works despite the money.

“Oh, here she is.”Dara spoke from behind the gate, pointing behind me.

“And she looks like she's in a very bad mood.” Dara spoke again before bolting for the main door and entering the house.

I turned around, to find Lola walking down the street as her eyes stayed glued to her feet.

I didn't fail to notice the tight jaw, the disappointed look and the occasional hand in hair activity she was doing.

She suddenly bumped into a guy as she paused and looked at him, as he hurriedly bowed in apology.

But she immediately eyed him and hissed, hurling words at him while the man hurriedly disappeared out of her sight.

She paused and screamed in frustration, messing up her hair and stomping her feet on the ground like a little kid.

I wonder what happened to her.

In the middle of all that tantrum, her eyes landed on me as she paused immediately.

A look of confusion replaced her expression and for some seconds, we just stared back at each other.

After a few seconds, her face turned into a frown as she hurriedly made her way towards me.

Oh dear!!

As she ran down the bumpy road, looking at me in fury, I couldn't help but conclude she wasn't gonna agree to another deal.

Before I knew it, she was barely 5 feets way from me but my eyes caught the huge stone she was heading towards.

She was definitely gonna have a hard fall.

“Watch where you are going” I told her hurriedly but at that exact moment, I heard a yelp escape her lips.

“Ah!”I heard her short yelp as she reached out for my arm as she fell towards the ground.

See what her strong head as led her to.

Before I could register what was about to happen, she bumped straight into me, holding my shoulder for support as my reflexes immediately made me wrap my arms around her waist, stabling her against my chest.

I felt her breathing pace increase as taking in as much air as she could.

After a few seconds, her head snapped towards me as her eyes landed on my face, staring at me intently.

I looked back at her, feeling a bit awkward at the position we were in.

“Gosh! What are you doing in public?” I heard the little girl's voice say out loud again as immediately, as if, jolted by electricity, Lola pushed me away, with a look I couldn't decipher on her face.

That wasn't the weird fact.

The weird thing was that, she immediately walked towards the gate, silently without sparing me a single glance.

This had happened before.

When we danced at the wedding.

I still couldn't understand what had happened in such a short time.

What was wrong with her?

She opened the gate and walked in, leaving me standing there with her sister who looked equally confused.

She left the gate opened and entered straight into the house.

Her sister looked at me in confusion as I shrugged.

I was equally confused.

“Come in! She didn't yell get out, so come in” Her sister ushered me in as I walked into their compound.

She locked the gate behind us as she looked towards me and said in a whisper.

“I actually said stay three feets away, when she's mad, not stay glued together” She spoke as I let out a small laughter.

Funny girll.

Believe me, I wasn't planning to.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

Author's Note

An update, y'all.

Thanks for your votes and comments so far, I would appreciate more of it.

Anyways, do share this story, if you really enjoy it or you can tag people you would love to check out the book.

Important Note
For all lovers of JUMOKE, I am glad to announce the book is going to be paid on other apps in September.

Thank you all for your support and advice.

If you haven't read it, you can check it out now and I hope y'all enjoy it. It's actually completed by the way, and it's a romance story of less than 20chapters, so it would be easy to finish before September.

See y'all on Thursday😌

Ifeh_love💖