Little Do You Know

15. A NIGHT TO REMEMBER

Dinner was finally around the corner. I barely had time, but I still dashed home to change. The moment I stepped in, Brother Timi was already waiting in the living room, arms folded like a nosy security guard.

"You, here? I thought you weren't coming home," he said, smirking.

"I came to change," I muttered, rushing to my room.

In record time, I slipped into my red emerald dress. It hugged my body in all the right places, flaring slightly at the bottom. I turned in front of the mirror and whistled. Damn.

I grabbed my perfume, but before I could spray it, Brother Timi appeared at the door like a village oracle.

"Wait, wait, wait," he said, stepping inside. "Use this one."

He handed me his expensive perfume—the one he never let me touch.

I raised a brow. "What's the occasion?"

Timi grinned. "If you're going to steal Alex's heart, do it properly."

I rolled my eyes but sprayed it anyway.

As I picked up my purse, he clutched his chest dramatically. "Ah! Jummy! Alex won't know what hit him."

I shoved him aside. "Oga, shift before I change my mind."

Laughing, he followed me to the door. "Just promise me one thing."

"What?"

"If Alex faints when he sees you, record it."

I hissed and walked outside my room, his laughter trailing behind me.

"Now let me call mummy and tell her I won't be coming home!"

As I dialed my mom's number, I braced myself. Nigerian parents and last-minute plans? Recipe for stress.

Mummy picked up on the second ring. "Jumoke, how are you?"

"I'm fine, ma. Please, I won't be coming home tonight."

Silence.

Then—"Ehn? Where are you going?"

I sighed. "We have a departmental dinner. It's today, so I'll stay back."

Mummy didn't answer immediately. "Dinner? You didn't tell me before."

I winced. "I forgot."

That was a lie. I deliberately didn't tell her earlier to avoid this exact conversation.

She sucked her teeth. "Dinner that will not add to your CGPA?"

Ah. There it was.

Before I could respond, another voice jumped in. "Mummy, leave her. You know she's wearing a red emerald dress just for Alex!"

I groaned. "Brother Timi, abeg."

He ignored me. "You should see her, Mummy. She has dressed up like a Nollywood star. If Alex doesn't propose today, I'll be shocked."

Mummy hummed suspiciously. "Alex? Who is Alex?"

I threw my brother a death glare. "Nobody, ma."

He snorted. "Nobody, but she spent how many minutes doing makeup? Jummy, just say you're attending 'How to Impress Alex 101.'"

I picked up a pillow and threw it at him. He dodged, laughing.

Mummy sighed. "Just be careful. And no staying out too late."

"Yes, ma."

The moment I ended the call, Timi grinned. "So, have you practiced how you'll flip your hair when Alex sees you?"