Us And Them...

Chapter Fourteen

"Hello???" Her voice echoed in the empty living room she hadn't visited in months.

"Dave?" She called out again as she slowly took the stairs. It was quiet, way too quiet. There was no one in sight. She barely caught a glimpse of Musa, as he pulled open the gates for her to drive in. There was barely a word from him, not even his usual salutes and asking for tips. He simply pointed to the house and muttered that his Oga (boss) was in. It left her feeling uneasy but she went in anyway.

Glad she still held on to the spare keys of his home even after so many months -tucked in one of the compartments of her vehicle -, she unlocked the bedroom door and went in.

"Dave???" She called out once again, scrunching her nose up in disgust at the messy state of the room. Empty bottles all over the place, an upturned mattress and a half-broken bookshelf. The one thing that caught her eye was the framed picture laying in the middle of the room. She recognized those nonchalant eyes that seemed lifeless. Too bad they actually were now. There was a smile on Sharon's face, one that was distinct from the expression her eyes gave. The frame looked like what had been soaked with tears of the man she was here for.

A groan from the bathroom snapped Lola out of her investigative mood. He was in there, fully clothed and soaked in the bathtub when she opened the door.

"David..." Her feet found themselves stuck to the ground when she saw his helpless state.

"What are you doing here?" His voice was barely above a whisper when he asked the puzzling question.

"What?"

"I asked, what you're doing here."

"David, you sent me a message and I came as fast as I could."

He seemed perplexed. "I sent you a message? When?"

"I don't know, an hour ago?"

"Shit." He cussed under his breath and soon began searching for his phone. Finding it on the bathroom sink, he scrolled through some apps and eventually found the message that was so well articulated for someone who was high as a kite.

"The message wasn't for you, sorry."

Lola did well to hide her disappointment when she asked, "Who was it for then?"

"Becca."

"Oh."

"I'll just stick around until she comes then." Not waiting for a response, she got about tidying the room.

"You really don't have to."

"I know but I want to help."

He said nothing after that, he just stared at her for a few seconds and left the room.

Lola had the bedroom thoroughly sanitized in no time and found her way into the kitchen to make him something to eat. Thankfully,   the kitchen was stocked up with enough groceries so she asked what he wanted to have.

"I'm not hungry."

"You haven't had anything to eat for days..."

"How can you tell?"

"I'm not so oblivious David, I know you."

"Lola I'm fine, thank you for tidying my space but you can leave now,"

"No. I'm not leaving you alone. This kind of solitude is way too dangerous."

"I don't plan on ending my life if that's what you're worried about."

"You're already doing it."

"Lola-"'

She grabbed his palm and placed it in hers, trying her best to hold his gaze. "I know that things are really rough for you right now. But can you please let me be here for you?"