You Of All People | A Nigerian Gay MM Love Story

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

In addition to acting, Chuka owned a hair salon in Lekki as well as a major electronics store located in a huge mall in Ikeja. It was almost 9pm and he was packing up and getting ready to head out with his friend, Leo, who had stopped by. 

It was just supposed to have been a quick supervisory visit to the store, after which he would kill time in his office before heading to the airport to pick Folarin and Seyi up from their late flight in from Abuja, so they could head back to the Island together. He had planned to use the time to go over the inventory and thoroughly examine the books, but then Leo had popped in for a visit, and to check in on arrangements for their big meeting the next day. 

Leo, who was also an actor and a big player in Nollywood too, had hooked Chuka up with a huge deal to supply all the electronics for a major hotel 200-room hotel in Ikoyi that a friend of his was building. That is, everything from the TVs to the ACs to the kitchen appliances right down to the sockets. Everything. It was a big one. 

There had been a number of preliminary meetings – both physical and virtual and it looked like the deal was finally going to be sealed the next day. Chuka was pretty sure this 'friend' was really Leo's sugar daddy. He had heard them talk on the phone before, and it definitely gave off a two-people-who-are-nacking vibe. This was the biggest brief Chuka had ever gotten and deals like these typically have to the pitched for, so this just falling in his lap was out of the ordinary. But Chuka had been a little apprehensive about taking it. 

Because Leo had always been very attracted to him. Loudly and unashamedly so. He would flirt openly with Chuka even in mixed company, make lewd comments, give him weird compliments about his body, and had even tried to kiss him once at a party. Chuka always just laughed it off and let him down easy. So, he had worried that taking the deal might be green-lighting Leo's flirtation and he would start to feel pressured to finally give in because of it. When he'd expressed his concerns, Leo had promised him the two things were unrelated and Chuka had chosen to believe him. He came on strong, but Leo was good people.

"So, everything is ready yeah? It's just to sign?", Leo asked, helping Chuka shut everything off, as all the workers had gone home for the day.

"Yeah." Chuka said. "I think that's what's happening tomorrow."

"Fingers crossed."

"Thanks again for this", Chuka said, looking at Leo as he picked his things up.

"How many times will you say 'thank you'?" Leo smiled, sidling up to him.

"I always appreciate referrals, but this is huge."

Leo shrugged. "He asked if I knew anyone who could do it and I did. It's not a big deal."

"Well, I owe you one.", Chuka said, as he placed a hand on Leo's shoulder.

Leo's eyes followed the movement, looking at Chuka's hand then at his face. "One what?", he asked softly, looking into Chuka's eyes.

Chuka laughed through his nose and shook his head as he tried to withdraw his hand. Leo caught it in both of his and looked down at it. "Come on, Chuka.", he looked back up at him. "Just try. I really like you."

Chuka took his hand back. "Leo, we talked about this." he said, in a serious tone.

"I know but...God, look at you. Can you blame me?"

Chuka shook his head and smiled, walking to the door. Leo followed. Chuka turned off the last set of lights and was about to open the door when Leo touched his hand to stop him. "One kiss."

"Leo..."

"One kiss. Please. Just let me know what it feels like to kiss you. We're in the dark. Nobody can see us. I can't even see your face." He started to run his hand slowly up and down Chuka's arm. "You might actually like it."

"With the way I feel from you touching me like that, I already know I definitely don't want a kiss."

Leo recoiled like he had been bitten by a snake.

"No. That's not... I didn't mean it like..." Chuka tried to explain.

"No, it's fine." Leo said, stepping back.

"Leo... it's nothing personal.", Chuka said, placatingly. "You're an attractive guy. I'm just not into guys." And Chuka wasn't lying. Leo was a looker. Tall, dark skinned, with a lean muscular frame. Long legs and piercing eyes were his stand-out features. He also wore dreads he often dyed in interesting, fashion-forward colours.

He was known for playing bad boy and deadly assassin roles in action movies and was also a big hit with the female fans.

Leo let out a deep sigh. "Fine." He said, reaching for the door and stepping out, Chuka following after. "Shey you'll at least buy me compensatory drinks?"

Chuka laughed. "No yawa, but not now. You know I have to go get Folarin a- ."

Leo rolled his eyes. "Of course. The husband. The one that comes before everyone and everything else."

"...and Seyi." Chuka finished, giving Leo a dry stare.

"Yeah, right. Like Seyi has anything to do with this." Leo said, walking with his arms crossed like a pouting child. Leo could not stand Folarin and Folarin seemed to dislike him just as much.

"So should I now leave him at the airport?", Chuka quipped, as they headed for the parking lot.

"Does he not know what Uber is?" Leo retorted.

Chuka shook his head as he fished his key fob out of his pocket and hit 'unlock'. The lights on his SUV flashed and beeped twice.

He turned to see Leo staring at him intently.

"What?" Chuka asked.

"Is there actually something going on with the two of you?", he asked. "Is that why there's no space for me? Because he's already there?"

Chuka scoffed. "Already where?"

"In your heart? In your bed?" Leo clarified.

"You sound insane." Chuka said, walking around to the driver side of his Range Rover and opening the door. "Look, celebratory drinks on me after we sign tomorrow. Okay? We'll chill." He got in and closed the door then wound the window down and looked back at Leo. "Cool?"

Leo rolled his eyes. "Fine. I'll kukuma always take whatever crumbs you give me.", he said. "It's only you that can be turning me up and down like this, shey you know. There's a long-ass line of people dying to be with me."

Chuka let out a short laugh and started the engine. "You drive come nau, abi?", he asked.

"Yeah, I'm parked over there.", Leo said pointing at a white Velar with custom plates.

"Oya nau. We go yarn." Chuka said, pulling out and driving off.