Chapter 3: Chapter 3

: Nudes

→Narrator: Kam

"Let's get the heck out of here." Lola said, shivering. All the others murmured their agreement.

I was heading to my car when my phone chimed a text. I took out my phone, nearly tripping on my own feet when I discovered it was from Ariel.

Nude.

No, nudes.

We had been texting a bit more in the past days, most times, I was filled with so much nostalgia from missing my childhood friend that I actually considered the idea of paying her a visit once.

She was into fashion and modelling and her instagram account was brimming with pictures of her in sensual outfits, tiny bikinis and sometimes, nudes. She had a great body and she enjoyed flaunting her God-given curves.

"I need your help." She said when I answered her call, a few moments later.

"What do you need my help for?"

"I'm modelling for a big brand and I saw some of the shots they took of me. I want to frame one and keep for myself, so which one should I pick."

I blew out an exasperated breath. I really didn't need this kind of shit right now. "I dunno, Ari. "

She sighed, like she was expecting my response. "Okay... Anyway, when do we get to meet. I miss you. I remember how we used to be and I just want to see you again."

"Ariel-"

"Please." I could picture her sad pout.

I sighed, wanting to get over with this shit and hopefully find a way to talk with Asa. "Okay. Fine." I answered in a "whatever" tone.

There was silence at her end for a moment, I thought she hung up. The next time she spoke, I could tell she was hurt. "Why're you acting like this, Kam. I'm reaching out to you and you're just pushing me away. What do I have to do to get my friend back? Is that so much to ask? I miss you, goddammit!"

The force in her voice made me stop and understand her a bit. She had been the one to offer her number when we first met at my mother's party. She stalked me on Instagram, found my number and texted me. She was always the first one to initiate conversations while I just went with it. She was trying so hard to keep our bond strong and I was acting like I didn't care... Like we never had a bond in the first place. "Ariel, I'm so sorry. I miss you too. I swear."

She breathed. Her voice grew softer. "You're still as brutally honest as always. You've not changed, Kam and I like that... I really do... Sometimes, I swear I can still feel you."

We were entering dangerous territory now and I knew I should stop her. But I didn't.

"It's never been the same after you." She laughed softly. "Fuck, I feel like I'm losing my mind. Your girlfriend is one lucky bitch. I hope she knows."

"My girlfriend." I sighed wistfully, picturing Asa's beautiful face. "I hope she knows too."

"I know what?"

I whipped around at that arctic cold voice and I found fiery icy eyes, freezing me on the spot.

"Sheesh, is that her? I'll talk to you later, Kam. And chose a pic. I really need your opinion on this."

And she hung up.

"Who was that?" Asa asked. Her voice was eerily calm and the only emotion I was able to detect was the cold fire in her eyes and I wondered just how much of our conversation she had heard.

It's not as if there was anything to hide. There was nothing going on between Ariel and I.

"It's my childhood friend, Asa. She moved back to Nigeria and we kept in touch. She's a model. Sent me some pics to chose from or something."

Her eyes narrowed. "Can I see them?"

And for a moment, my heart actually skipped a bit.

"They mean nothing." I told her before handing her my phone.

Her hands were trembling as she unlocked the phone herself and I knew when she saw the nudes because she froze and wouldn't look at me.

We stood like that for what felt like hours. Decades... But I knew only a few seconds passed before before she spoke again. And in those moments, I saw this relationship that we had been trying to build, shaking at the roots.

"You text her," She said quietly.

She had gone through my texts too?

"Once in a while. Yes." I told her.

"She offered to give you a blowjob."

I closed my eyes, feeling the onset of a huge headache. "Yes."

"What exactly is she to you, Kam? And don't give me that 'childhood friend' crap 'cause I swear, I'll walk out on you."

I snapped. "Oh, you'll walk out on me? You were already planning to do that before you even knew about this, Asa. Don't you dare try to turn this around on me and make yourself the victim here!"

"I never said I was a victim. I just want to know who she is."

"And I told you! She's just a friend!"

"That's bullshit, Kam!" She spat. "Friends don't ask for bjs or threesomes, Kam. Fucking think! This girl wants more. She just doesn't see you as a friend."

"Who cares what she sees me as? I love you, Asa."

She only stood, glaring at me and I became vaguely aware that all our friends had picked up on our outburst and were now unsure whether to approach or recluse.

"What the hell is your problem, Asa?" I whispered.

"My problem..." She bristled. "Is that you're perfectly fine with receiving nudes and dirty texts from another girl."

"I'm not fine with that, Asa, I just think you're overreacting!"

"I'm overreacting?!" She shrieked.

"Fuck yes, Asa you're supposed to trust me. I won't do stupid shit to hurt you, Asa. I love you."

Her silence pierced my heart, like a jagged sword.

"But you don't feel the same, do you?"

She remained silent.

"Fuck it, you can't even say it back, can you?!"

"Kam-"

"Do you even feel anything for me? Anything at all?"

Her lips trembled and I could see she was fighting back tears. It broke my heart to see her like this. To realize I was the one that was hurting her.

She took a shaky breath. "You know that's not true, Kam."

"For fucksake, Asa, I don't even know what's true or not anymore. Where's the trust, Asa. Where did it all go? Why are you running away? Why're you leaving me? And why wouldn't you tell me?"

"That's not what this is about, Kam."

"That's what it's always been about, Asa!" I shouted. "Like, fuck, you thought I wouldn't get mad? That I'll just sit back and let it roll over my shoulders? Do you understand how much you fucking mean to me?"

She opened her mouth to say something but her throat clogged, choking on a sob as tears streamed down her face.

I regretted my outburst, my heart, twisting in my chest as I moved to touch her. To hold her but she slipped away from me. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. And I saw her make a decision.

"Maybe moving is actually what's best for me. For us. Maybe we're not right for this type of thing. Maybe I'm not right for this type of thing."

And this girl that owned me, body and soul... That owned my heart and everything in it, took a sledgehammer and shattered it to pieces.

"You don't mean that."

"Please, just... Just stay away from me. I need to fucking think." She whispered, moving away and hugging herself and when I reached out to her again, a hand clasped around mine and I looked into Jemi's familiar golden eyes.

"Maybe you should listen to her, Kam. Why don't you just take a break and clear your head. Kosi will drive Asa to the subway. She'll be safe with us."

I looked at Asa, her shoulders sagged in grief and disappointment and I felt anger and frustration well up inside my lungs, threatening to burst out of me in a guttural yell.

The next thing I knew, I was inside my car, banging the door closed, zooming out of there.

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