EPISODE TWELVE
Theme: Talk to me
Arike’s POV
A ring on my phone jolted me out of thought. Adedayo was calling again.
"Hello." I said.
"Did you get my message?" He asked.
"So rude, you can't even say Hi!" I hissed.
"Oh sorry...Hi." he said.
"Good I got your message."
"So should I come over?"
"No."
"Why?" He asked in a surprised tone.
I hate to admit it but I think Shalewa was right. I shouldn't give Dayo the chance to be spending the night at my place again. If I don't stop it then I won't he able to prove to Shalewa that Dayo and I aren't having an affair. We are just bestfriends. And if he get married will he be coming to my place?
"Arike are you there?"
"Yes...Yes..I can't have dinner with you anymore."
"Why?"
"You're getting married soon. You shouldn't be going out with me but your fiancee."
"Oh come on Arike, we are best friends."
"Yes I know but it's really a different case if you're single."
"Okay so how about you come over to my place?" He requested.
"Dayo..."
"Don't say no."
"It's a no from me."
"Why?"
"I have lots of work to do." I lied.
He was silent. "You're lying."
"I am serious."
"No I know you. Arike when did work become an excuse to not see me? Did I do something wrong?" He asked in a low tone.
"No Dayo, you didn't do anything."
"Perhaps did Shalewa call or meet up with you?" He asked but I didn't reply.
"I take your silence as a yes."
"No, she didn't call me." I said sharply.
"What did she say to you?"
"Nothing..I.. I haven't talked -"
The call went off.
Oh my God! I hope he doesn't do something stupid.
I tried calling him back but he didn't pick up. A message notification popped up at the top of screen.
"Where do you want to meet up?" Bamidele replied.
"Should I come over to your office?"
"No..I am not at the office."
"Where are you?"
"I am not feeling well..so I am home."
"Oh sorry...how are you feeling now?"
"Getting better, I just need to rest."
"Maybe I will bring the files later. Get enough rest okay?"
"No, it's alright. You have to solve your case anyways. Let's meet at the office shop not far to your office."
"No you don't need to stress yourself. How about I come over to your place?" I asked.
"If it's fine by you."
"And you?"
"Not bad..."
"Okay fine...text me address. I will drop by at your place before heading home."
"Okay."
Bamidele sent his address few seconds after I dropped the call.
****************************
"Good evening." I greeted once Bamidele opened the door. He hummed a response as I walked into his apartment,my eyes scanning the whole place.
"Nice apartment." I commented.
"Thank you." He replied without meeting my gaze. I could feel that awkwardness between us due to what happened at my place.
"Please take your seat."
"Thanks." I settled on the couch.
"What would you like drink?"
"Water please."
"I'll be right back." He left the sitting room only to come back some seconds later with a bottle of chilled water.
"So how are you feeling now?"
"Better...I just need to take my medications and have a good rest." He responded.
"Oh..okay." I managed to smile.
"So about my case..." I handed him the files.
"It's a murder case. A woman was found dead in her apartment. And the cause of death is strangulation. No suspect at the moment.."
"Arike..." Bamidele called my name in a low tone.
"Yes.."
"Don't act like everything is fine here."
"Ahm...erm.." I stuttered.
"I know you wanna know more about me being gay. You want to talk about what happened at your place but you don't want me to feel embarrassed." He dropped the file on the table.
"Bamidele, it's not -"
He interrupted me. "I understand."
I looked up at him. "I am sorry about everything Dayo said to you."
He chuckled. "I have always known Dayo to be a sharp mouthed person. His words are like thongs on ones flesh. But I don't blame him,he is only trying to protect you as a friend because of what I did to him in the past." He said soberly.
"Bamidele -"
"I admit that I was very wrong. And I have tried apologizing to Dayo but he claimed to have forgiven me but he would never forget what I did to him. And I should have fulfilled my promise of telling you about my sexuality."
"Are you still gay?" I blurted out.
"I was gay..." He replied. "I stopped being gay after I passed the bar exam. I knew it wasn't legalized in our country." He sighed.
"It was really hard for me to get over that feeling of loving another man. My past keeps coming at me and I am afraid that it might ruin my career someday just like what is happening now."
"Perhaps if I may ask since when did you notice this feeling of loving another man?" I asked.
I could see tears at the corner of his eyes when our gaze locked buy he looked away quickly.
"This is a really long story."
"Sad right?" I asked.
He shook his head. I stood up and sat beside him and held his hands in mine. Eversince the incident at my home, a thought hasn't left my mind that there must be a reason why Bamidele was gay.
"Do you want to talk about it?" He looked down at my hand on his. "I am ready to listen." He flashed me a small smile.
"You shouldn't be here after everything he said about me."
"To be honest, I was shocked and disappointed but something keeps telling me that there was more."
"You don't hate me?" He asked a serious face.
"I can't hate you because you are gay."
He withdrew from my hold and stood up from the couch.
"Arike you should obey Dayo. You should stay away from me."
"Why?"
"He's right. You deserve a better friend than me."
I went to him, stood in front of him with my arms folded.
"What if I want your kind of friend?"
"No."
"You are a good attorney, Bamidele."
"You're the best attorney."
"No,you have helped me solve cases I couldn't work on."
"You're also good at what you do." He replied.
It clear Bamidele is fighting an internal banter. He's pondering if it was a good idea to share the mystery behind him being gay. He doesn't trust anyone.
"You know what? I will just drop the case file for you to review it..then call me if you find anything."
There's no need to force words out of him if he wasn't ready to discuss it with me.
"Bye bye." I picked my bag from the couch and motioned towards the door.
EPISODE THIRTEENTheme: Gay uncleArike's POV"Wait...Arike.." he grabbed my elbow before I reached for the door. I looked down at his hold on me."Bamidele.." I placed my hand on his. "You don't have to open up to me if you don't want to." I said but hoping he would just tell me everything.He shook his head. "I will tell you everything. Please stay with me." His eyes pleaded with me."Okay..okay..let's seat down." I said.He motioned towards the couch to sit down.Bamidele heaved a sigh as he started off. "My parents died in a plane when I was 12.""Oh..I am sorry about that..." I mumbled.He nodded in acknowledgement. "They were out for a vacation out of the country.""You survived the crash?" I asked without thin
EPISODE FOURTEENTheme: Keeping spaceArike’s POVHe gave me a shocked expression. He was taken aback by my expression."I..I...am..sorry. I..I.. didn't mean to raise my voice at you." I apologized to him."It's alright." He mumbled."Look Dayo...we can't do the things we used to do together as best friends anymore." I stuttered."But why?" He asked."You're getting married in few weeks time."He sighed. "That shouldn't affect us.""You should be with your wife to be and not me.""I know Shalewa called you. Tell me what she said to you that made you change towards me?"I shook my head in disagreement. "I am not sharing it with you.""Keeping space between us isn't right...and you know that!""But everything Shalewa said was right. If I were in
EPISODE FIFTEENTheme: ConfessionArike’s POVONE WEEK LATERSo I am going on a date with Bamidele. Hey! I know what you are thinking! Hanging out with an Ex-Gay! Come of it! Bamidele is normal now! Lol! And we've been going out for a while now. We aren't dating yet. No! Let me rephrase it. I am not in a relationship with Bamidele. We are still trying to figure if things can work out between us.My phone beeped as I apply make up to my face. I was kinda excited to see Bamidele. Honestly I enjoy Bamidele's company. And guess what? We have decided to attend Dayo's wedding together. Thank God I won't be alone at the party,just watching my best friend get married."Hello.""Are you ready?" Bamidele asked."Yes...I am ready.""Okay...I am waiting outside your home.""Oh really?!"
EPISODE SIXTEENTheme: Pregnancy TestArike's POVI settled in my bed after taking a hot shower. I grabbed my phone from the drawer next to my bed.(Hi. I have been trying to reach you but you didn't pick my calls. I was hoping that you could help me check out my suit. They delivered it today)Dayo's message popped up as soon as I switched on my data.(I was busy) I replied(Okay, Leo already helped me and it looked good on me)He texted back and before I could type, pictures of himself on suit together with his best man Leo came in.(Wow! The suit looks nice on you,Bes.)(Thanks. I am a bit nervous about the wedding.)(You need to calm down. Let your mind be at peace and prepare for the big day.)(Okay. So wha
EPISODE SEVENTEENTheme: His babyArike’s POV“No..no..no..my heart beat skipped two beats at a time. Suddenly I went into hyperventilating mode! And I couldn't control it."Hey..Arike...Arike.." she shook my shoulders. "Can you hear me?!"She sprinkled water on my face and held me tight so I wouldn't hit the ground."Pull yourself together! Relax...breathe in breathe out.." I did as she instructed until my breathing returned back to normal."Are you okay now?" She asked with a worried look."Come..you need to relax." She led me out of the bathroom."We..we..need to talk." I whispered."Yes..yes..I know..but we will do that after you get enough rest. You don't need to stress yourself because of the baby."The mention of _baby_ brought tears to my eyes as I lay back in bed.
EPISODE EIGHTEENTheme: Hard TimeArike’s POV(Flashback Continues)"Arike? You have to -""I promise. I won't engage in premarital sex.""Pinky promise?" She smiled."Pinky promise." She locked our fingers."I will buy you a big house and a car too when I have a lot of money.""The I can't wait for you to grow up..my baby." She kissed me on my cheeks.(FLASHBACK ENDS)She didn't stay alive for me to buy her a car or a house. My mom died a year after and she didn't get to fulfill some promises she made to me like telling me who my father was, attending my graduations and buying my law outfits.And what about me? I failed her! I only got to become a Lawyer but I didn't fulfill my promise of not engaging in Pre-Marital Sex. That promise has be the reason why I never had a boyfriend. I
EPISODE NINETEENTheme: Making LoveArike’s POV"What are you going to do?" A tear slipped from my eyes."I don't know what to do." He mumbled as he hugged me back.I couldn't bear to see him hurting. It felt like I was the one hurting badly anytime he was like this. And the reason wasn't far-fetched. I love him! But I never wanted to admit my feelings because I can't stand a chance.I have been hiding my feelings since high school. To be honest, it had hurt me to see him date several women. I know I would just remain as a best friend in his life and nothing more so I didn't try to get my hopes him."But..I wish I could just end everything." He pulled away from me. I could see tears at the corners of his eyes."Hey.." he placed both hands on your cheeks. "I know..I look pitiful but I don't want you to cry for me."I shook my head bu
EPISODE TWENTYTheme: The promiseArike’s POVA wish that can never come true. It's too late to call off the wedding. His father would definitely disown him if he does anything stupid. And that means his inheritance will be gone too. Though I feel bad for Dayo,the fact that he's getting married to someone he doesn't love but I can't let him lose everything because of me."The Awosika Empire is my sole responsibility now. And --"I interrupted him. "That's you can't call off the wedding." I completed his intended statement."I am sorry." He apologized.I shook my head. "it's alright. I mean..you don't have to apologize. I understand." I faked a smile.We can never be together because he has to save his family business. And I am definitely out of his family league of women. I am not from a rich background.I bit my lower lip as