Subdued (18+)✔️ [A Nigerian Romance]

44~A game of Truth

"Chike and Ada are downstairs, let's go hang out," Kachi said to Aria the next afternoon. She looked up from her laptop to see him standing just inside her door. They hadn't spoken since she snapped at him last night.

"I thought he was in Lagos. How come he's here?"

"The mumu thought Ada was ignoring him so he took the earliest flight out here."

"What's even their story?" She had been so curious but didn't know if it was her place to ask. 

"They've been best friends since childhood and Chike has been in love with her. It's either she doesn't know about his feelings or she doesn't reciprocate them. He's been like that with her since I knew him."

"Wow. I'm guessing she actually doesn't know." She pushed up from the bed, glancing at the mirror near the door. She was wearing a maxi style dress and it looked really good on her. Kachi held her door open and allowed her walk past before following.

"Zariah?" he called out, causing her to turn.

"Yes?"

"Are you still upset?"

"No. I'm sorry about yesterday." She sighed then turned to face her front. Kachi didn't say anything so she continued walking.

She heard Ada's loud voice as she giggled before she even saw them. The two were seated right next to each other, as if a few inches of space between them would be a bad thing. Chike was the first to see her, his small smile becoming bigger as he looked at Kachi behind her.

"I should have known you were not alone. When Ada told me about the beautiful woman she saw, I knew it was your dancer but I didn't imagine she would be with you," he said to Kachi.

"Dancer?" Ada's eyes swept to Chike and then Aria.

"We met at a club that I was dancing," Aria said. "Good afternoon everyone." These people did not know how to greet, she almost laughed.

"Good afternoon dancer." Chike winked.

"Afternoon. What club?" Ada asked again.

"Chike stop teasing Zariah." Kachi placed his hands on her shoulders and led her to a couch. Chike's eyes widened as he stared at his friend. It took Ada slapping his arm to get his attention away from them.

***

The four of them spent most of the afternoon laughing and gisting while eating the chinchin  Nkechi brought out. Aria admitted it that she had fun; Chike was so funny and Ada's laugh was contagious. She found herself enjoying the company. Even Kachi threw in a few jokes and some stories about their childhood. She'd never seen him so relaxed.

"Let's play a game," Ada announced.

"What game?" Kachi turned to look at her, causing his body to press into Aria's side. She held her breath, now was not the time to start getting aroused.

"Truth or drink," she said.

"No," the two men chorused, causing Ada and Aria to laugh.

They probably had a lot of things they didn't want to reveal, Aria thought. "I like the game," she said.

"That one is woman game o. How would we just sit and be asking deep questions." Chike leaned back in his chair.

"Fine, let's do it but let's make it fun," Kachi intervened just before the two women started to protest. "we'll play cards. The person who loses answers one question from each of us. If you can't answer, you drink."

"Deal," Ada said, then nudged Chike before he nodded his agreement. Aria could still see the frown on Chike's face and that made her more excited for the game. She couldn't wait to ask him and Ada questions. There was so much chemistry between them that she refused to believe they were just friends.

A few minutes later, a pack of Whot cards, four shot glasses and three bottles of vodka were on the table along with a Coke because none of the women agreed to drink straight vodka. The game started and Aria was the first person to lose.

"What's going on between you and Kachi?" Ada was the first to ask and Aria had been expecting that question.

"We just have sex," she replied truthfully.

"Do you have feelings for him?" Chike asked.

"I don't," she replied. This one was a partial lie but it was a lie that would protect her. She felt something for him, she just wasn't sure what it was.

It was Kachi's turn now and she refused to look at him. "What's the best thing I've done for you?" he asked.

"You held my hand on the plane," Aria said then picked up the cards and began to shuffle. Part of the rules was that there would be no further questions after the three and she was glad for it because she could see Ada vibrating with the energy it took to restrain herself.

Chike lost the next round and Kachi asked the first question. "Why did you get on the first flight you could find to Anambra?"

Chike shot him a dark look before sighing. "I wanted to see Ada."

"Why did you want to see me? We see almost every week in Lagos." Ada turned to look at him.

"Because I needed to be sure you were fine." The couple held each other's gaze for a minute before Aria cleared her throat to ask hers.

"Do you love Ada? And not as a friend. Do you love her as a woman?" Aria enjoyed watching the man squirm. He was the one that asked her this type of question first so he needed a taste of his medicine.

Chike sat up and poured a shot of the vodka. He emptied his glass and began shuffling the next round of cards. Ada was no longer smiling and she didn't even make her usual small talk as they played. This time, Aria lost again, admitting that she was terrible at the game.

"Why did you agree to have sex with Kachi?" Chike was glaring at her now and she almost laughed. None of these questions would lead her to drinking.

"Because he paid me," she replied. Let them read whatever meaning to her answer.

"You guys agreed to have transactional sex?" Ada asked.

"Is that your question?" Aria turned to look at the woman and Ada nodded. "Yes we did," she replied.

"So how much do I pay to fuck you?" Chike asked and the entire room fell silent.

"What?" Aria narrowed her eyes at him.

"You heard me," he reiterated.

"Chike! Your turn has passed, besides you can't ask her that type of question!" Ada's face was turning red from secondhand embarrassment.

"And we're done with this game." Kachi stood. "Ada get your boy out of here before I lose it."

***

Game of truth gone wrong, lol.

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