The Hidden Toxin ✔(#6 in the Our Side of The Dice Series)

Chapter 45: Tying Knots and Loose Ends

One year later

"Your mum is so hilarious!" Ebun started laughing as soon as she got into the car with Sean.

She brought out a piece of tissue paper and began using it to dab off the lipstick from her mouth. She'd only caked up her face to impress Sean's family. It was a big occasion after all - at least for anyone who cared what their boyfriend's family thought of them. She'd always dreamt of this day for the past nine years since she'd met Sean at the boxing ring. On that very day, he'd talked about introducing her to his family as his fake fiancée in return for following him to Russia for murder missions.

Now, they were no longer engaging themselves in taking people's lives. Instead, they'd done some individual introspection on their lives, searching deep into other areas and little things that interest them. It was then that Ebun discovered that she had a flair for hair styling. She could never forget how devastated she'd felt when Mrs. Mariyah had told her that it was best to trim her afro to a lower level so that the students at the university wouldn't ask weird questions about her hair or begin to quiz her about whether Africans truly lived with lions and monkeys.

Of course, Mrs. Mariyah had been coming from a good place. Still, it didn't reduce the anger she felt that night. Her hair was her crown. Why did she have to tone down her shine for a bunch of nosy Russian teenagers? Still, she heeded because she remembered that it was important for her not to attract any attention, especially since she was starting on her path as an assassin.

During the weekends, when she didn't have to meet with Sean, which was rare, she'd always look at her hair in the mirror and try to weave what was left of it into stylish cornrows. Still, it didn't matter much. Every girl loved to have their hair look good on them. It didn't mean they felt the same towards other females' hair. But Ebun decided she would focus on hair styling and learn it as a skill so she could have something meaningful to account for. That was what the one-year hiatus was all about - finding themselves and starting anew.

Sean didn't need to dig too deep. He always knew he had a thing for uniquely designed constructions. The shed where he'd kept people who falsely accused innocent persons was solid proof. So he began an online course on architecture and started to learn all about designs, lines, and shapes. So far, it has been rejuvenating for them, and they've grown stronger individually and as partners. Now, he didn't have to take her to visit his parents as a pretend girlfriend just because his parents wanted him to start a family as proof that he was doing mentally okay. Instead, he was introducing her to them as his real lover. It was blissful.

"What did she tell you when you two spoke in private?" his mouth tilted to the side in a grin.

"You don't even want to know," Ebun giggled, dabbing off the final touches of powder on her cheeks as she stared into the mirror. Then she turned to him, smiling cheekily as she revealed the details. "She told me that pre-marital sex is for children of The Devil. She warned me never to be alone with you in a dark space so we don't tread on tricky, hormonal waters."

"Were those the exact words she said?' Sean's eyebrows rose with amplified interest in the discussion.

"Yes! I'm quoting her verbatim. I would never have thought that a black woman who has lived in Russia all her life would say that. She must have been an African in her past life or something because you know, Africans are more of the religious kinds. She told us to wait until we're married. If only she knows what we've done."

As Ebun gave the gist, she looked back into the mirror, finalizing the removal of the foundation on her forehead. Until she recited what she'd just said in her mind and paused, she turned to him and met a bewildered expression on his face, but it was mixed with a bit of adoration.