AFRO TO HIS BEATS

CHAPTER 4

It's currently 6am and I am driving to MMA to pick up my friends Safiya, Desire, Neotta, and Emma. Their flight landed 30 minutes ago, but Adetola and I got held up on the Third Mainland Bridge. As soon as we picked them up and settled into the car, everyone started talking and catching up on life.

Emma turned to me and asked, "What's poppin' in Lagos right now?" I replied, "Well, it's not Detty December or summer yet, so the events are kind of limited. There are a few concerts, beach parties, and house parties here and there, aside from the usual clubbing activities. Rema has a concert in two days, but it sold out before I could even get tickets." Safiya chimed in, "I mean, a lot of ladies want your man." "He isn't my man," I retorted quickly. Neotta, interjected, "I have an idea. Why don't you call him up for tickets? He would surely have extra tickets."

I hesitated for a moment, but then pulled out my phone and dialed Rema's number. The phone rang twice before he picked up. "Hey Remz," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "Tolani! What's up?" he greeted warmly. "I heard your concert sold out. Any chance you have some extra tickets? My friends just flew in, and it would be amazing to take them." Rema chuckled. "For you darling, I can make it happen. How many do you need?" "Six, if that's possible." "Consider it done. I'll leave them at the box office with backstage passes under your name." "Thank you so much, Remz!" "Anything for you, baby girl. See you at the concert." I hung up and turned to my friends with a grin. "We've got tickets!" The car erupted in cheers and excited chatter as we continued our drive through the early morning Lagos streets, looking forward to the days ahead.

It's around six pm and I invited all my friends to my place to meet the rest so right now we are just sitting around and gisting after everyone has introduced themselves. I decided to go to my room for a bit seeing as everyone is engaged. I do not notice when Rema enters my room. "Babygirl," he said softly, causing me to look up in surprise. He was leaning against the door frame, a small smile playing on his lips. "Thank you for the tickets, hope it wasn't much of a disturbance," I reply, gesturing to the spot beside me. Rema sits down, his presence somehow both calming and electric at the same time, "Of course not, your friends are cool though, Emma and Desire are obsessing over me. Emma is crazy tho, she told me we have 3 kids and shi. It's nice to finally put faces to the names. Emma is Marcus Rashford's twin rii?" I nod, feeling a small bubble of pride. "Yeah she is, we sometimes go to games for free making us feel celebrity level and shi. I'm glad you could come tonight."

Rema nods, his expression shifting slightly. "Hey, can we talk about something?" "Of course," I reply, turning to face him fully. "It's about that kiss, I've been thinking about it, and I don't want to mess up our friendship," his voice tinged with concern. "We won't," I say, reaching out to squeeze his hand. His gaze softens, and there's a quiet understanding that passes between us. In that moment, I realize how much I appreciate his openness and vulnerability. "Can I kiss you again?" he asks suddenly, his eyes searching mine for any sign of hesitation. I meet his gaze steadily, my heart fluttering with a mix of nerves and excitement. "Yes," I say softly, leaning in as our lips meet once more in a kiss that feels both familiar and new, a promise of possibilities to come. "We should probably head back," Rema says reluctantly, standing up but still keeping close. "Yeah, we should," I agree, standing up beside him. "But I'm glad we had this talk." "Me too," he says, offering me a smile that speaks volumes. "We'll figure it out, T." And with that, we head back to join our friends, knowing that whatever may come, we'll face it together.

TIME SKIP....................................................

Me and the girlies are currently getting ready for Rema's concert at Eko Atlantic City, it's going to be a fun night. But on my mama, if any bitch and him decide to go at it on stage tonight I am throwing hands. Idgaf whether it's in public or not but respectfully keep your hands off my man. Anyways, we just finished getting ready after three hours. "Okay everyone we got to leave now, if we want to get there on time!" I scream across the house so everyone can hear me. We hop into the car as the driver Michael provided us with knowing fully well, I'll be getting drunk tonight arrives. "So mandem, what's the plan tonight?" Emma asks, "I dunno, enjoy ourselves vibe and get drunk and some other shi" Adetola replied. "Nah but Tolani, you gotta put effort hyping him when he's on stage, he is your man rii?" Safiya say but I just ignore her and look away partly cus I was blushing and  we're definitely not having this conversation here, "Don't think we didn't see both of you slip away, the other day" Desire adds and I mentally roll my eyes. I decide to give them a response "It's not like that, you guys are exaggerating the situation" I huff in order to get them to stop but no Neotta has to speak her own "So you mean to tell me that it wasn't you he called baby girl on the phone that day" Thank God that before I could respond further to her allegations, we already arrive at the venue.