Besotted (18+) ✔️ [A Nigerian Romance]

Four

The bed was different from hers, Ada thought immediately she roused. First, there was no possessive arm holding on to her while she slept and second, the sun's rays never hit her face even if the curtains were open. Where was she? Had she followed a strange man home last night? If she had, she would strangle Chike. He was supposed to be watching over her last night. Silently cursing Azu for the drinks and Chike for loose guarding her, she turned in the bed.

She opened her eyes, recognizing the place immediately. This was one of the guest rooms in Kachi's house. She knew because all the rooms here had the same look, except from the master's bedroom. She had spent a few nights here not to recognize. She breathed out in relief, glad that she was not in some stranger's house.

But if she slept here, that meant she hadn't gone home last night and John was probably already throwing a fit. Ada stared at the wall clock and cursed loudly when she saw the time. It was almost noon! John would be back home by now.

She immediately jumped out of bed, grateful to find her clothes intact. Only her shoes and wig had been removed. She located her phone and was angry to find out it had run out of battery. She stuffed it in her purse, then forced her legs into her shoe. What would she tell him? What excuse could she use?

John knew every one of her female acquaintances and knew she was not close enough to spend the night with any of them. In fact, her only real friends were Chike and the guys but John didn't know that. Her parents also didn't live in Lagos so that wasn't a valid excuse. Her brother had moved out early this year too. Could she use a church program? But he knew she was not an avid church goer and her outfit screamed 'night out'.

She held her purse in one hand and the wig under her arm then pulled open the door. Ada almost crashed into Chike who was carrying a tray of food and was wearing just shorts. Her gaze riveted to his naked chest, looking and taking note of every detail. Her best friend was hot! she thought.

"Where are you hurrying off to?" Chike asked, shaking her out of the trance she'd fallen in.

"Home. I need to get home now!"

"Eat first then I'll drop you off."

"I can't." She sidestepped him but she heard him follow. If she was lucky, John would not be back home and she could quickly take these clothes off and shower before he returned.

"Because of your boyfriend? We told him we'll drop you off. Did you guys have plans to meet this early?"

"What? When did you people speak to him?" she asked as she hurried down the stairs. Heels and stairs were bad combo so she had to be careful.

"At the club," Chike replied.

If she'd not securely placed her legs on the next step, she would have tripped as the memories hit her. She was afraid of John finding out about her night movement, meanwhile, the man had caught her red-handed. To make matters worse, she'd refused to go home with him. Alcohol was a real bastard. She swore then and there not to fall for it again.

"Fuck, fuck, fuck," she muttered under her breath as she made her way downstairs. Chike must have dropped the tray because he caught her as she was opening the door, then turned her around to face him.

"Why do you look so scared? What's going on? Why are you running?" Chike asked.

"I have to go home." She freed herself from his grasp but he held her again, this time tighter.

"I don't understand you. Just give me a few minutes to get dressed and I'll drop you off. Okay?"

Chike was a stubborn man. If she didn't agree, he wouldn't let her go so she nodded and watched him hurry up the stairs. Immediately he disappeared from sight, she opened the door and fled.

As she ran down the long driveway, she cursed Kachi for living in this big house. What did he need all this space for? Laughing maniacally, she remembered her father's house was even bigger. Kachi was a typical Igbo man.

Luckily for her, she found a cab as she exited the compound. The man had just dropped off a passenger and told her he needed to pick someone else. She promised to double his fares and like that, the man agreed. She got in and the car zoomed off immediately. She would explain to Chike when she had the time, for now, she had to save herself.

***

Kachi's room door opened as Chike ran up the stairs and past his friend. Kachi, not understanding what was happening ran after him.

"What's going on?" he asked as he chased after Chike.

Azu and Bode heard the commotion and came out too. Chike was immediately held back by Azu and Bode.

"Wetin happen?" Azu asked, tugging on his boxers.

"I need to give Ada a lift," Chike stated simply. He shrugged out of the hold they had on him and entered his room. He already had shorts on so he grabbed a shirt and his car keys. Then on second thought, he unplugged his phone.

"Is that why you were running?" Bode asked.

"Mtcheww," Azu hissed, already returning to his room.

"She is in a hurry and I have a feeling she'll leave without me if I delay." He ran past them again, this time, nobody held him.

He wasn't even surprised when he came out and Ada was already gone. He got into his car in the hopes that he would see her heading to the estate gate. Chike drove slowly, his eyes alternating between the two sides of the road. It wasn't until he got outside of the estate that he accepted that Ada might have gone far. Disappointed, he returned to Kachi's house and found his friends in the living room.

"You didn't see her?" Kachi asked and he shook his head.

"She must have been in a hurry because that was really fast," Azu said in between spooning food into his mouth.

"I have a bad feeling about this," Chike finally admitted. He'd been feeling this way since meeting Ada's boyfriend at the club and seeing the way she'd looked and reacted made it worse. There was something going on, something that scared Ada and he didn't know what it was.

"Like what?" Kachi asked.

"Is it about her boyfriend? He seemed off and was so angry last night," Azu supplied.

"I think his reaction was justified though," Bode intoned. "No man wants to see his babe rocking a stranger in a strip club."

Azu and Chike eyed their friend, as if pissed that he'd said that.

"Chike is not a stranger though. He knows Chike. Plus, he was giving off violent vibes," Kachi said.

"Yeah. If she was okay with it, why did she refused to go with him?" Azu supported.

"I still have a bad feeling about this." Chike began pacing.

"Relax guy." Kachi's eyes tracked his friend's movements. "I'm sure it's a work thing. You know how last minute jobs comes for these entertainers."

Chike nodded. He was sure that was it. She probably had a thing or two to attend to and as such, had to rush out. Yes, that was it. It still didn't do much to reassure him no matter how much he repeated it. His guys had moved on from the discussion and were now focused on the football match on TV.

He dialed Ada's number and was told it was switched off by the operator. Maybe she wasn't home yet. She would definitely call to let him know when she got home.

***

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