Us And Them...

Chapter Ten

"Mummy says there's someone that has been asking about you." Laila remarked while they were having one of their usual girl time, several weeks after the breakup.

She huffed, "I know it's Eric. Can you tell mummy that I'm still trying to heal from, you know…?" She rolled her eyes. It still hurt her to think about how the last few months had been without him but she hid all that pain so she wouldn't bother the people around her. People, who by the way had been by her side through everything.

"I know but don't you think you should start talking to someone else at least. I mean it's obvious that he's moved on." Laila pointed out, not failing to avoid mentioning his name. Lola hated hearing it though she thought about him a lot.

Truly, she had seen the excessive show of PDA between David and his new girlfriend. At least he was happy. She wasn't.

She just had to take the necessary steps for her mental health. She unfollowed him everywhere, deleted his number and burned every reminder of him.

She was currently working on moving out of the flat he had gotten for her. She was going to start afresh without any reminder of him because she had all the furnitures changed already. Bizzare, unexpected expenses but she was more than capable of footing her bills with her business thriving better due to the extra hours she spent working hard enough to forget him. She was doing much better and thought about him less as the days rolled into weeks and weeks into months.

"At least talk to the dude." Her sister had insisted with an exasperated sigh.

"I'm not going to lie, he's one of the reasons why David and I broke up." She placed her glass of juice down on the stool next to her as she spewed out that piece of information that was pointless anyway.

"So you're going to tell me he didn't already have it in mind to end things with you and was just looking for the perfect excuse to make up for it?" Laila's eyes narrowed at her.

"Okay, okay, fine!" She had her hands raised in mock surrender. "I'll talk to him." She conceded.

"Better." Laila said like her mother would. She chuckled at that.

"Doesn't mean he would cross the friend zone though." She threw out casually.

There was a mock sneer on Laila's face as she said, "Look at you. The earlier you leave this single life, the better for you."

"Of course, married woman. Rub it in my face that I'm not exuding an after sex glow." She sarcastically retorted.

Laila almost choked on her drink as she looked around to make sure her husband wasn't within hearing distance.

"Ah! Lola please o. Don't let Yemi hear you abeg."

"Why are you blushing? You think I don't know what you two have been up to." She teased further while her sister's cheeks heated up.

With a sigh, she got serious, "But on a serious note, I'm so glad you're finally enjoying your marriage." She gave a genuine smile. It was such a relief to see her sister happy for the first time since she got married.

"I'm so thankful. I've never felt this happy for the longest time." Laila's sigh was heavy with relief. For the first time in a pretty long time, it felt like she was truly starting afresh and experiencing the better days she had only heard about in those dark days.

"I think I should head back to the office. Work calls." Lola rose to her feet, gulping down the last bit of juice left in her glass.

"Take it easy. You hear?"

"Can you stop sounding like mummy? I'm perfectly fine!"

"We're just looking out for you."

"I appreciate it but I'm not a baby anymore. I'm fine. Look at me." She twirled to prove her point. Her curves were not a joke.

"Still. Take it easy."

Laila being the typical elder sister as always. She rolled her eyes.

"I should be telling you the same thing. Anyways, I'm sure the babies on the way would slow you two down." She snickered.

"Lola, come and be going."

Laila pushed her out amid giggles and laughter.

The ride to her office was a quick one. Maybe mostly for the fact that her mind was somewhere else as she drove. She got to work as soon as she arrived, sketching, marking, cutting, sewing and all that came with her job description.

"Ma!"

"Yes, Liz?"

"There's a call for you."

She frowned, "Who is it from?" She did not need this sort of distraction.

"Eric?"

"Ugh!" Couldn't this dude catch a hint. She did not find him interesting. She did not find anyone interesting in fact. She just wanted to be alone.

Picking up the phone hesitantly she spoke, "Hello?"

"Hey Lola. How are you doing?"

"I'm well Eric, how are you?"

"I'm well too. Wanted to know if you're free, I'd like to take you out some time."

Pretty direct, she thought.

"I'm actually very busy right now."

"I didn't say right away."

"I have lots of work piled up for me so I wouldn't be free anytime soon."

"Okay what's your fave kind of take out?."

Odd question but she answered anyway. Anything to get him off the line.

"Alright. You take care, Lola." He hung up before she could respond.

She could tell she was wrecking his vibe but she didn't need any relationship drama added to her pile of work.

~~~~

For a girl so chill she could be crazy in the presence of the Lord. Sundays had to be her favorite day of the week. Her church was honestly the best place to be. Dancing without a care in the world, she decided to enjoy herself to the fullest because at the end of the day, you cannot shame the shameless.

"Eric hi, I didn't know you attend this church." She was astonished when she bumped into him on her way out at the end of the amazing service.

He grinned a little too widely, "I do now."

"Okay," she chuckled. "See you around then." She took a step forward.

"Let me drop you off." He offered quickly.

"Nah, I came with my car. I'll see you around, Eric."  She repeated, already out of there in her head.

"Wait! How about that date we discussed about?" He asked for the umpteenth time.

"Um, I..." She thought of the nicest way to turn him down.

"I'm not taking no for an answer Lola. You've been avoiding me and I know it." Eric was not having it this time.

"It's not like that Eric, I've just been so busy and I um," she wanted to say that she was not interested but this dude looked a little too hopeful and she didn't want to crush his spirit but at the same time she was not willing to consider him as more than a friend. This was such a fix for her. She stayed there trying to think of the best way to complete her sentence.

"How about I come pick you up from your office one of these days so we can at least have lunch?" He asked.

"That'll be nice. I look forward to it." This was her chance to escape. With no certain date she could keep turning him down until he got tired. She tried walking past but he held her up again.

"We need to to pick a date." He emphasized, knowing her shenanigans a little too well.

Oh boy, she thought. "I'll get back to you on this."

"I'll keep calling until you actually do." That was a promise.

"No problem." She forced a chuckle and scurried off into her vehicle in the busy church parking lot.

"I do not want to go on this date Lord." She prayed, looking up at the sky as she did.