Chapter 38: Chapter 38

: Sour

→Narrator: Kam

We celebrated New Years yesterday. It was a sour celebration and the only good thing about yesterday was the fact we went out clubbing at Afterparte. We were too plastered to walk back home and we had all slept till the next day.

"Did you hear about the shootings going on? They're getting worse." Dave informed us, looking up from his phone.

"Shootings? In Offshore?" Kosi asked, aghast, looking up from drizzling syrup unto her pancakes.

"It's not heaven, Kay." Dave snorted, "there can be shootings here too."

"What does it say?" Lola asked, jumping up, "what does the news say?"

"Uh..." Dave scrolled through his phone as we waited in anticipation. "There's going to be a curfew, effective as of today... From eight, nobody is to be found outside until the shootings stop. The police are working on it."

"You think it's a gang clash? Mafia and stuff?" Jordan asked, looking worried, drowning his cereal in milk. "I bet it's 'one million boys'."

Dave hmmed. "I don't know, Dan."

Osahon sighed. "It's best we stay safe. Nobody goes out past eight, okay?"

Everyone nodded.

Jemi slowly walked into the kitchen, looking tired and exhausted.

"Morning," He grunted, walking towards the fridge and pulling out a carton of milk.

"Morning." Everyone replied back, except Kosi, who kept a hardened gaze on the cereal she was eating.

"Hey, Kosi, can you pass me the cereal?"

The cereal box was right in front of her and she was the closest to it.

"Sorry, did someone say something?" Kosi feigned deaf, turning to Jordan who put a comforting arm around her shoulder.

"Don't be like this, Kay Kay. Let it go."

She shot him a deadly glare.

Jordan gulped, faltering. "Um... I mean, ignore the heck outta him. Good choice," He said, focusing back on his cereal.

Jemi frowned. "Stop being childish, Kosi."

Lola raised her hand. "I support that motion."

Kosi stood up, glaring at her. "I'm not talking to you either, Lola. Mind your damn business."

"Hey, don't talk to her like that!" Osahon, jumped to her defence, warning, cutting her off.

"I'll talk to her however the fuck i want." Kosi glared at him.

"Kosi," he warned sternly.

Kosi stared at him, sarcastic shock, plastered on her face. Before she started laughing hysterically. "You know?" She chuckled, wiping an imaginary tear from her eye. "You're the one I actually pity the most."

There was an eerie silence among everyone and I watched as Lola's face turned in horror and fear. "Kosi..." She warned.

"Oh!" Kosi asked, sarcastically. "I should not talk?"

At that moment, Lola jumped up, fear and alarm, evident in her voice. "Kosi, shut up. Shut up, right now."

"Uh, why should I? Or do you want to tell him yourself?"

By now, everyone was glancing at each other awkwardly. Lola was glaring at Kosi and Kosi was glaring right back.

"Babe, what is she talking about?" Osahon looked at Lola, honestly confused.

"It's nothing. Don't listen to her."

Kosi giggled, shaking her head. "God, you're so blind, you can't even see that your beloved "Babe" is fucking Dave behind your back!"

There was eerie silence for a moment, I swear you could hear a pin drop a universe away.

Until Jordan spat out the water he was drinking, dousing Dave.

"What the hell, lady? That's cap! It doesn't even make sense. Lola hates my guts! And Osahon is my best friend! Why the hell would I stoop so low to stab him in the back like that?"

Kosi sipped her tea, patiently, "then you wouldn't mind showing us your chats with her, would you?"

Dave actually trembled, stammering over his words. "Nn... No..... I..."

"Nn... No.... I..." Kosi mocked, laughing.

Jemi banged a fist on the dining table. "Kosi, stop! Stop this! This isn't you! If you're fucking hurt by what I said, keep it to your damn self and stop spreading that pain to the rest of us."

"Ohhh." Kosi gasped, standing up. "So, I'm the bad guy, now? I'm stating facts and I'm the bad guy now!?"

"Kosi, why're you doing this?" Lola screamed at her. There were tears running down her cheeks now, but for the first time ever, Osahon didn't move to console her. Keeping his distance and staring at her and Dave, frozen in shock. "All i ever did was be your friend and this is how you want to repay me? Spreading these lies?"

"Then bring out your fucking phone and read out your damn chats with Dave." She clapped her hands accusingly at her,  her voice, rising, having a taunting edge to it. "Redeem yourself. Go on. Do it."

Lola wiped her tears angrily. "You know, you're just the whore everyone makes you out to be. You think you're classy, but you're not. You're trashy and a nasty person. Self-made millionaire my ass. I bet the only way you became this successful is because you slept your way through the same way your damn mother did."

Oh mehn.

I saw the crime scene before it even started. Kosi growled, trying to climb over the dining table to reach over to Lola and would have gotten to her if Jemi didn't hold her back.

And Lola wasn't helping matters, either, crying and angrily shouting at Kosi to do her worst.

"No, no! Leave her alone, lemme see what she'll do!" She screamed.

"Why don't you come here and find out?!" Kosi screamed back, struggling in Jemi's arms.

Asa stood up beside me, trying to calm the whole situation down until Jemi muttered "fuck this shit," picked Kosi up and threw her over his shoulder, walking out of the room with Kosi, yelling and kicking on top of him.

After they left, it was silent again and there was nothing to be heard, except Lola's gut wrenching sobs and loud sniffling. Osahon was still staring at her and Dave, with a shocked, unbelievable, albeit, suspicious look. Both Lola and Dave were desperately avoiding looking him in the eyes.

I watched as he took a deep breath, like he wanted to say something, then closed up again, turned around and walked out of the kitchen.

Lola collapsed to the ground, holding her chest, sobbing so loudly and painfully that my guts twisted at the sound of her loud cries.

Asa immediately went to comfort, pulling her into a hug and resting her cheek on the top of her head.

Besides me, this was the most physical contact I've ever seen Asa have with anyone.

"I'll take her to her room." She muttered to no one in particular, coaxing Lola to stand up.

"I'll come with you." I decided, moving to her side. She looked like she wanted to protest, but conceded, wrapping one arm around Lola's trembling shoulders.

It was quiet in the kitchen when we left Jordan and Dave alone.

We got Lola safely to her room and Asa immediately kicked me out, forcing Lola into the shower.

Lola was whispering and sobbing, profusely before I left. "I didn't mean to. I swear to God, I didn't mean to do it."

*

The mood coming from everyone the next morning was dark and gloomy. Since the whole fiasco yesterday, everything changed among the group.

Amir and I were officially not the only ones having beef. Lola had not come out of her room since yesterday. Kosi and Jemi were always in a foul mood and Osahon and Dave wouldn't see eye to eye.

Jordan was the only one who wasn't affected.

This vacation was slowly turning into a nightmare.

I felt drained.

Asa was so affected by her best friends fighting that she was barely ever physically present anymore.

It hurt to see her so worried. I had wanted this vacation for everyone to ease the stress from school, but from the first day we arrived here, it's been one drama after another.

This vacation sucks.

My phone suddenly started ringing. I sighed, whipping it out and checking who was hitting me up.

Ariel flashed on the screen.

God, could things get any worse?

I glanced at Asa, only to find out she was already looking at me.

"Who's that?" She asked, worry in her coffee black eyes. "And why're you upset?"

"It's Ariel."

I ignored the call, placing the phone back on the table.

The last thing I wanted was to make any kind of contact with her, seeing as it nearly destroyed my relationship with Asa the last time.

And there was also the fact she said all that shit to Asa, purposely rubbing our past relationship in her face and trying to hurt her.

Ariel's actions have been so confusing, I was wondering if all this was just a big joke to her. My relationship. My girl. My life.

"You should pick it up." Asa said, seriously. "I don't want to come in between you two."

I gaped at her, jaw dropping in shock at her ludicrous words.

"What do you mean by that?"

She shrugged. "You guys have been friends long before I came into your life. She has a stronger hold on you."

"Jesus, Asa, where is this coming from?"

She wouldn't talk, avoiding my gaze and focusing back on the food she was eating, her jaw tightly clenched.

I gripped her palm, softly, taking it in mine. "Asa, I love you." I whispered.

She looked at me, slowly. Uncertainly. "I know, but Ariel-"

"Means nothing. You're the love of my life and that's that."

A soft smile touched her pretty lips and I was suddenly overcome with the desire to kiss her senseless.

"I know, Kam, but you guys were close friends before. I don't want to cone in between that."

"You're not coming in between anything. She's the one that tried to come between the both of us."

The phone started ringing again. I ignored it until it rang out.

By now, everyone had picked up on what was going on and was staring at us curiously.

"She's your friend, Kam. I promise I won't get upset as long as she doesn't try shit with you. I trust you." Her eyes... They were even more beautiful than I remembered.

As if hypnotized by her words, I picked up my phone, answering the call.

"Kam!" Ariel drawled in her usual cheery way, "Howzit going?!"

"Ariel," I said, keeping my voice, clipped.

She hesitated, sensing my foul mood. "Uh... Are you okay or is this a bad time?"

I frowned, seriousness, lacing my words. "We have things to talk about, Ariel. You and I, we have a problem."

"What?"

"I told you not to get involved with my relationship and you blatantly disobeyed me."

"Oh. Your girlfriend finally spilled? Took her long enough." Ariel laughed like it was all a big fat joke. "I agree, I shouldn't have done that. Spite is such a bad colour on me, don't you agree?"

"Ariel!" I gritted my teeth.

"Oh, yeah. You always liked transparent better."

I snapped, growling into the phone. "Don't fuck with me, Ariel. I'm serious."

She must have heard the anger in my voice because she suddenly grew quiet.

"Ugh, Kam, you're no fun anymore." She sighed, after a few moments. "Yes, yes, we have a lot to talk about. That's why I called you."

I scowled at what she was saying.

"I'm coming to Offshore!" She squealed.

I groaned, rubbing my face,  already knowing that this will not end well.

"I have to stay there for a while 'cause of work and I want to come see you!"

Oh shit.

My entire demeanor shifted from anger to dread.

"Uh... Ariel, I don't think that's a good idea." I complained, rubbing my stiff neck.

"What does she want?" Asa asked me.

"To come over," I informed her, after putting the call on hold.

Asa chewed her lip thoughtfully.

"Are you okay with that?" I asked her.

"Yeah. Sure," She said, after hesitating a bit.

"Asa-" I protested, sighing at her. "I want you to be comfortable and happy here. I planned this vacation for you. I don't want you to feel like you have to do anything. Your word is Bible."

Her smile was so sweet that I leaned down and kissed her, pulling her lip between my teeth, biting. Sucking.

"Get a room!" Jordan hollered, tossing us a banana peel.

For the first time in what looked like a long time, we all laughed as a gang.

Grinning, I tossed him the finger, still gazing at Asa who was blushing beautifully.

She hid her face behind her hair. "There's no bad blood between us, Kam. I'm cool with it."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah."

I still wasn't satisfied and i searched her face for any bullshit, but she remained calmly expressionless.

Sighing, I held her hand, stroking her palm. "Forever and ever?"

This time, she beamed at me. "Amen."

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