The Re-search

Chapter 4

Hasani sent a cleaning and organising company to his apartment in Kitalo City so it would be ready when we got back from wherever we were going. He also gave me two days to get ready for the trip. All I knew about the country we were headed to was that the weather would be pleasant there.

I packed that same night, the task easy since I had sponsored clothing sent to me by three different brands that ranged from lounge wear to fancy dinner outfits. Since I typically wore my sponsored clothing a few times before I reviewed it to ensure that I was promoting quality products, I'd be killing two birds with one stone, looking stylish while I worked.

I spent the next two days doing maintenance and filming a vacation prep vlog for my channel. I'd recently incorporated a segment where I'd book a local house-call service provider and help them promote themselves on my channel as a way to support fellow entrepreneurs, so I had a nail technician come in to do my nails and toes for the trip. For my hair, I uninstalled the wig I'd recently reviewed and opted to wear my natural hair on vacation since it would be warmer than Kitalo was at this time of the year. The TLC I gave my hair in preparation for the trip left my curls juicy in the twists I put it in to let it air-dry.

All the while, Hasani was enjoying his newfound free time a little too much. The only time he exerted any physical energy was when he worked out in the built-in gym downstairs, packed for the trip, or cooked. The rest of his time was spent reading, watching TV, or watching me get ready for the trip.

Things were still strained between us, but the upcoming trip and the intention behind it made it easier to communicate. Every time I thought about his reasons for abandoning the Blazers, though, a heavy sense of guilt consumed me. Hasani loved basketball, had devoted his life to it, I knew his decision wasn't an easy one to make.

"Sani..." I started as I served him dinner in his man cave, taking his attention off the video game he was playing. "Are you really sure about this? We don't have to go on this trip tomorrow. You could retract your statement and apologise to Coach Limbi for inconveniencing him with more admin work. We could work on us while you still—"

"Not a chance." he said,  cutting me off and putting the plate of homemade tacos down next to his bean bag as he pulled me onto his lap. "Look, don't tell Ketura this, but Koffi's wrapping things up in LA to get back to his life here."

"Sani, what on earth does that have to do with what's going on between us?" I asked, not understanding why Koffi was suddenly part of this conversation.

"Eyy, relax and let me finish." Sani laughed. "Koffi called to yell at me about my decision and you two came up in conversation. Turns out his decision to relocate has been causing issues in their relationship. He didn't go into detail, so don't even pry."

I laughed at the warning, amused by his ability to read me so perfectly.

"Anyway, he started seriously thinking about coming back here." Sani continued. "That's a huge sacrifice to make and he was obviously on the fence, but since I am in a similar predicament, I may have talked him into following his heart, which is here with Ketura. So he's coming back. It's sort of like a pact and I can't go back on it 'cause that will be the ultimate betrayal."