Chapter 16: Chapter 16

Time flew like an arrow, Lisha didn't even realize it was time for the welcome party, she'd chatted with Soil for a long time before joining Jimi and Folahanmi at their basketball court, she'd met them playing, so, she sat by Kemi who cheered Jimi on while she cheered Hanmi. At the end of the game, Hanmi had won and Lisha couldn't help but choke him with her bone crushing hug.

Less than an hour later, the welcome party started fully and Lisha went to the guest room to change into her Black maxi evening gown that hugged and outlined her little curves.

Jimi sucked in his breath immediately he sighted Lisha walking into the garden where the welcome party was being held, she looked so glam with her high heels and was more than a ravishing beauty, his eyes stayed glued on her and he found it hard to look away.

"Should I pour the wine on your face so, that you could at least bat your lashes?" Lisha said while taking a sit beside Jimi opposite Mark and Kemi.

Jimi smiled before replying, "I couldn't take my eyes off you and I must admit, you look gorgeous," he complimented and Lisha couldn't help grinning as she turned to look at him, they both stared into each other's eyes before Mark spoiled the moment.

"You didn't notice me here, right?"

"You're foolish," Lisha replied and Mark chuckled, just then Nikki appeared, she was dressed in a red off shoulder flowing gown, one of the ready-to-wear piece that was designed by Lisha, choker necklace, drop earrings, big statement bracelets on an ankle strap heels and dolled up with heavy make-up with her clutch purse held firm to her side, she looked super striking.

"Hi guys," she greeted before pulling out a chair by the right side of Jimi without even being asked, she turned to him and threw him one of her flirtatious smile but he wore a nonchalant look before casting Kemi a questioning look wondering why she was there.

"I gave her the invite," Kemi spoke up before Nikki waved at a waiter for a glass of wine.

Minutes later, Folahanmi walked to their table with his friend.

"Hi," he greeted with a smile.

Nikki looked up, she smiled while assessing Hanmi before her eyes landed on his friend.

Her eyes widened just like Hanmi's friend also did the same and her mouth hung open in shock, if someone told her she would set her eyes on him that day staying close to her, she would have ignored the person but here he was right in front of her.

"Nikki!" Hanmi's friend called with surprise and happiness laced in his tone.

"Daniel," she replied with impulse 'cause she intended to ignore him, Lisha who didn't really pay attention to them turned to look at Nikki and Daniel. She glanced at Nikki with a questioning look and Nikki nodded.

"What are you doing here?" Nikki asked with her face suffused with anger.

"Folahanmi here," he touched Hanmi and continued, "Is my friend, we both arrived together, I really have a lot to talk to you about."

Nikki scoffed, "Good for you, well, I have nothing to say to you," fury draped her voice. She stood up but before she could evade or think, he had her hand in his and pulled her out of the party to a corner.

"Let go of me!" Nikki bellowed and he obeyed.

"See, Nikki, you just have to listen to me, I…" before he complete the sentence, a resounding and hot slap landed on his cheeks, she'd always longed to feel her palm on his face and now it was like a dream come true to Nikki. Daniel held his cheeks with his mouth hung open.

"I don't need your stupid explanation, you're nothing but a hoaxer," she spat and hit her purse on his face before storming off.

Nikki soon got back to her seat and she sat fuming with anger while others stared at her in silence. Lisha knew better than to talk. Throughout the party, anger seethed in Nikki and Daniel dare not appear in front of her again. All Nikki had planned for had been ruined, all she wanted to display at the party was just short lived. All her plans for Jimi had been destroyed and now she would spend the rest of the party in a bad mood.

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

Immediately Nikki got home, she went straight to her room and bolted the door while pacing around the room with an unsettled mind. She rubbed at her temples before running her fingers through her hair and eventually pulling it, she almost choked on her anger before letting out a huff as she decided it was best to have a hot bath, it always cooled her spine.

"What's wrong? What did you do to her again?" Gran questioned, she'd seen Nikki stamp angrily at the stairs immediately she got back. During that period, Gran had just put Miracle to bed.

"What do you mean what I did to her?" Lisha asked with raised brows.

"Who knows? You might have done something sinister to her but to what extent is it now that she's this angry, answer me!" Gran bellowed.

"I didn't do anything, she met Daniel today. Period," Lisha said walking away hurriedly.

"What! Daniel? Lisha, come back here!" Gran shouted behind her but she ignored her and headed towards Nikki's room, after several knocks with Lisha being adamant not to leave, Nikki opened the door.

"Nikki, are you okay?" Lisha inquired.

"I'm not, how can I be okay?" Nikki admitted as she walked back to her bed but Lisha pulled her back.

"It's okay not to be okay sometimes, we all go through our ups and downs, let's sit on the floor," Lisha told her before pulling Nikki down.

They both sat on the floor and pulled their knees up to their chin with their back rested on the foot of the bed.

"You know, you don't have to dwell that much on it, just ignore it just as you've done for years," Lisha said and Nikki nodded in accordance before Lisha pulled her closer to her.

Minutes after Nikki had finished sulking, Lisha stood up and tiptoed to her table side fridge before bringing out a cold bottled water, then she smiled sheepishly and in a twinkle of an eye, she splashed the water on Nikki's face.

"Oops, Lisha na," Nikki groaned and Lisha smiled before throwing the bottle at her sister.

Lisha jumped on Nikki's bed and Nikki joined her.

"So, now that your birthday is just in a week time, what are your plans?" Lisha requested as Nikki placed her pillows on her laps before leaning on the wall.

While Lisha laid supine with her hand under her chin, Nikki replied, "What else? We go to church just like we do and laze around."

Lisha scrunched up her face, "What do you think about throwing a party this time, I mean it's your twenty fourth birthday."

Nikki scrunched her brows together and tipped her head to the side, "Hmmm, but it's Christmas Eve, many people would be preparing for Christmas."

Lisha clapped her hands before jumping up to sit well, "And so? People would surely come, I mean it's Christmas Eve and celebration period, people would throw party na, ehn, let's do it." She pulled Nikki's hand like a baby begging her mother.

"Gosh, Lisha, do you want to remove my hand?" Nikki complained while trying to withdraw from her sister's grip but that girl wouldn't let go.

"If you don't agree to throw a party, then I'll pull off your eyes from its socket," Lisha said menacingly while still pulling her sister's right hand.

"Okay, okay," Nikki consented and Lisha stood on the bed jumping up like a kid.

"God, Lisha, stop jumping on my bed."

"Okay okay," she sat down with a grinning face.

"So, let's start the preparation..."

"Gosh, Lisha, can you just chill first, we can start that tomorrow, you see I'm still hungry, you know I didn't eat with joy over there, can you fix us dinner?"

Lisha frowned her face and for a second Nikki thought she won't agree until her sister jumped down the bed.

"True, I don't think Gran and Miracle have eaten, should we have pounded yam?"

Nikki's eyes grew wide, "Haba, let's just have something light."

"Okay, Spaghetti," Lisha pulled her sister down the bed and they both walked out of her room meeting Gran and Miracle at the living room watching cartoon as always.

Gran dashed Lisha a deadly look which she ignored, while Lisha ambled to the kitchen, Nikki joined Gran and Miracle in the living room.

"What happened? Why did you just barge into the house when you came in?" Gran inquired while Miracle places her head on her leg.

Nikki gave a small smile, "Nothing much, I just met Daniel at the party."

Gran's eyes widened, "What!"

"It's nothing much, don't worry," she rubbed Gran's shoulders and Gran shrugged her hand off before taking a sip from the alcoholic wine she'd been feeding on since the beginning of the day. Even though she'd been warned to refrain from such drinks, she was still adamant and spent all her pensions on it.

"What do you mean it's nothing much? What are we going to do about it?" She dropped the bottle on the table and faced Nikki with a worried look.

Nikki sighed before replying, "We'll just pretend like he isn't here, let's just forget about him."

"But..."

Nikki who was getting frustrated with the talk cut her short, "Gran, please don't let us talk about him."

Gran nodded, just then Lisha walked out of the kitchen and Nikki snapped her head towards her.

"Is dinner ready?"

Lisha shook her head before plopping on the sofa, "Almost ready."