Loveless♣

Chapter 12

  The deep beautiful colours on the fliers were what caught Emiko's attention first,but weren't what made his eyes linger on them.It was something else,the name on the flier,Bellina Tigresses,that kept his gaze fixed.He was at the counter,waiting for the drinks he'd ordered.The flier was huge,and pasted on the wall beside the electronic menu.
"Bellina Tigresses,"he muttered.The name rang a bell.It also reminded him of Nina.
"Your orders,sir.Three banana-malt milkshakes,"the waiter said,handing him a tray filled with three tall glasses with brownish yellow liquids.He took the tray.
"Ew."
Emiko turned around to face the voice and nearly bumped into her.
"Nina,"he said,startled."What're you doing here?"
She smiled.She was dressed in a sleeveless white top and high waisted jeans and her hair was curled.Just like Bella,he noticed.
"What do you mean,what am I doing here?"she asked,putting a hand on her hip."Bella called me a few minutes ago to meet with y'all."
"Oh."He chuckled nervously."Right,I forgot."
A lie.He'd just been thinking about her.
She gestured to the drinks."What's this weird looking thingy?"she asked,wrinkling her nose slightly in irritation.
"It's a banana and malt milkshake,"he answered."Want me to order you one?"
"Hell no.God forbid I drink this vile looking liquid."
He smiled."It actually tastes better than it looks,Nini.Come,I'll walk you to our table."He raised his elbow a little bit,and she put her hand in the crook of his arm.They walked to the table.
Emiko frowned as he put the drinks down.
"Where's Bella?"Emiko asked.
Joshua looked up and was startled to see Nina.
"Uhh,"he said,"she left."
"What do you mean she left?"Emiko and Nina asked together in accusatory tones.They were both standing beside each other,staring at Joshua. Joshua looked up at them,their arms were actually folded.
"Why are you looking at me like it's my fault?"he asked.
"It most likely is,Joshua," Nina said to him angrily.
"Good to see you too,Nina."
"Whatever," she answered and sat opposite him.Emiko crossed to the other side and sat beside her.Joshua frowned at the gesture.
He took a drink from the tray and sipped through the straw.He looked at them and nearly smiled.They were looking at him like they were his parents and he was going to receive a very long lecture and some tongue lashing.
"Really?"he said."You're just gonna sit there and glare at me when you have no idea what happened?"
Nina's phone rang.She looked at Emiko and sighed.
"It's Bella,"she told him and pressed the green button.She put the phone on speaker and immediately wished she hadn't.Bella's loud voice filled the air.She was blustering off in Spanish,but her tone made it clear that she was very furious.Nina winced at some of the words she said.Then gasped as she heard the rest of the message.
"Tranquila,Bella.Please calm down,"Nina tried placating her.
Bella hung up.
Nina glared at Joshua."You called her a ho?"
"What!"Joshua and Emiko shouted in sync,but with different emotions.Emiko's was anger.Joshua's was shock.
"I never called her a ho!"Joshua replied hotly."I'd never do that."
"Well,that's what she said,"Nina said defensively.
"Nina,"Emiko said gently,turning to face her."What exactly did she say?"
Nina sighed and shrugged."Typical Bella things..expletives,cusswords..and she added that she'd never work with someone that labels her as a whore."
"No,"Joshua said,pointing a finger at Nina." She came up with that herself,I never said that."
"But you implied it!"Nina yelled at him.
"No!"
"Indirectly?" Emiko asked him.
Joshua paused."Well..."
"Ehen,"Nina said and clicked her tongue in disapproval.
Emiko turned to her,shocked."Where are you from,Nini?"
"Huh?Oh!"she laughed."Because of what I said now,right?"
"Yeah,are you Nigerian?"
She nodded."Well,my mom is actually.My dad's American."
He beamed."That's awesome!I'm Nigerian,too."
She shone her eyes wide."No way! What tribe?"
"Igbo,"he replied."My mom's Delta,though."
"Cool!My mom's Yoruba, but I have some Igbo cousins.They're absolutely adorable!"
"Just like me!"
She laughed."That's true.You look Black American,though.You've lived here all your life?"
"No,my parents and I moved here when I was ten.But,we visit Nigeria frequently.We have a house in Lagos."
"Yeah,I've heard of Lagos.It's pretty large,isn't it?"she asked.
"Large and beautiful,"he emphasized."Haven't you ever visited?"
She shook her head no."Never.My mother was born here,she doesn't even know how Nigeria looks like and doesn't want to.My grandmother though,she entertains us with different stories about Nigerian culture,food,dressing and all of that."
"Have you ever tasted eba and egusi?"he asked,excitement shining his eyes.
"No,but I have eaten Nigerian jollof rice.It is out of this world!"she exclaimed.They burst out laughing.Then they turned when they heard Joshua clear his throat loudly.
"Pardon me for not being Nigerian,but I'm still here,you know,"he said to them.
"Yeah,where are you from,Obnoxious Town?"Nina asked sarcastically.
Emiko laughed."Good one."
"I know,right?"she answered,giggling.They bumped fists.
Joshua shook his head.
"He's Black American,by the way.Though I think his mom is of Spanish descent,that's why he's so pretty,"Emiko told her,making her smile."His folks are from New York."
"Ah,so he's loaded,right?"Nina asked,eyebrows raised.
"His parents are,not him.He doesn't take any money from them.Josh's his own man..takes care of himself and his sister,"he said,nodding proudly as though Joshua was his son.
"Aww,how nice,"Nina cooed.
"Again,I'm still here,"Joshua said,clearly exasperated.
"Have you heard Still Here by Drake,though?"Nina asked Emiko suddenly.
"I have the entire album,Views!" Emiko answered,smiling.
"No freaking way!I only have a few songs from the album!"she whined.
"I'll send you the rest,babe,no problemo," Emiko said,touching her cheek lightly.
"I absolutely love Controlla and-"
"Hey!"Joshua slammed his palm on the table.
They looked at him,shocked.
"Something wrong,bro?"Emiko said to him,looking concerned.
"Are y'all serious?" he said,frowning."You've been rambling on and on like you're the only ones in this restaurant."
Nina scoffed."No,we haven't.Have we,Emi?"
"No,we haven't,Nini"he answered,grinning at her.
Joshua ran a hand over his face and groaned.
Nina laughed.Emiko took one of the glasses from the tray and handed it to her.
"Nuh-uh."She shook her head.
"Come on,"he pleaded."Bella's not here,and I got three drinks.If someone doesn't drink it,it'll go to waste.Please,Nini?"
She rolled her eyes and took the drink.She examined it carefully like it was a lab specimen.
Joshua actually smiled at the look on her face.
"Where's Bella from?"he asked.
"France,but she's lived here since she was twelve,"she answered."Her mother's a Spaniard, though,that's why she's so pretty,"she added,using Emiko's words.He grinned.
She took a sip of the drink and drew back instantly.The boys narrowed their eyes at her,watching her expression carefully. She took another sip,her face serious.Then she broke into a wide grin.
"It's delicious! Why didn't you say so,Emi?"she asked,looking at him like he'd betrayed her by not telling her.
"I-I..I did,Nina,"he sputtered.
"Eh-ehn,"she replied,shaking her head."You did not tell me,Emiko.How could you?I thought we were friends. I thought we shared everything.I thought we were special,but obviously, we aren't."
"But,Nina,I-"
"But nothing,Emiko,I dunno if I can ever trust you again.I mean,if you can keep this from me,who knows what else you can keep?Maybe you have a wife and five kids back in Nigeria,maybe your name's not really Emiko but some dumb name like Buster,who knows,right?"
He stared at her for a few seconds.
"Buster?Really,Nina?"he said,laughing."That's the only name you could think of?"
She kept a straight face for a second,and then joined in his laughter.
"Yes,"she admitted."Although,I do know some really unbelievably hilarious names..like Ed Hard-On.."
Emiko guffawed."You're kidding!"
"..and Shyree DeBoner,"Nina continued.
That drew a laugh from Joshua too.
He watched them laugh and flirt easily and wondered why it couldn't be like that with Bella.Why did she have to be so hard and annoying and complicated and-
"Uhh,Joshua,"Nina called.He looked up at them.They were watching him.
"What?"he asked.
"How're you going to study with Bella now?"
He shrugged."We'll study the exact same way we've been studying."
She frowned."But you insulted her."
He gritted his teeth and leaned forward."I did not,Ninu."
"Nina!" she cried out."It's Nina,not Ninu!"
Emiko touched her arm."Calm down,Nina,calm down.I'm sure Joshua," he turned to send a threatening glare at Joshua, "did not mean to call you that."
"I did,actually," Joshua said,amused at her hysterical reaction.
"Well, you're cruel!"she snapped at him.
"And you're childish," he replied coolly.
"Emiko,can you hear this?How do you stand him?"she asked."If he keeps up with this,you'll lose both me and Bella,I swear to you!"
"Nina,"Emiko said softly."Please calm down.Don't listen to him,okay?You're with me,okay?"
He turned to Joshua.Joshua groaned.
"Go ahead,"he said."Scold me."
"I won't scold you,Joshua.But you will apologize to Isabella,if you want to keep tutoring her,"Emiko said with seriousness."Or I will take them both as my students."
Joshua froze."Are you serious, man?"
"Dead serious.These girls are our clients and we are to treat them professionally,not make fun of them.Remember, they're paying us,Joshua,okay?"
Joshua paused and leaned back.He gauged the situation.His friend was obviously very displeased with the thought of losing either of the girls.Emiko could not tolerate losing money.Ever.Plus,he seemed to genuinely like Nina.She made him laugh,and if Emiko was happy,then he was happy.
Nina watched both boys and felt the thick tension growing between them.She felt a twinge of guilt,too.She didn't want to cause a rift between them,despite her disdain for Joshua's rudeness.She watched Joshua's face harden then chill.He drummed his fingers on the table and raised his chin slightly.Then he turned to Nina and smiled,shocking her.
"My apologies,Nina."
She smiled back."Apology accepted."
"If I may ask,"he said,forming a triangle with his arms on the table,"why do you need tutors so badly anyway?"
Nina shifted and placed her purse on the table.
"Well,that's what Bella and I wanted to talk to you guys about,"she said."We own a company."
Joshua and Emiko looked at each other,then back at Nina.
"What kind of company?"they said in sync.
"Bellina Tigresses,"she said."It's a company that deals in beauty products and-"
"Wait a minute, are you saying you own Bellina Tigresses,Nini?" Emiko asked incredulously.
"The company is yours?"Joshua questioned,too.
"Of course,"she said,nodding."What?Y'all don't believe me?"
Emiko and Joshua looked at each other again,then at her.
"Nina,are you sure of what you're saying?"Emiko asked slowly,to make sure she understood what he was asking.
"Ugh,"Nina groaned."Why do people act like that whenever we tell them we own Bellina Tigresses? The name itself should be proof enough.Bella and Nina..Bellina."
"Nina,that's a multimillion dollar company,"Joshua informed her.
She raised a finger slightly."Just million dollar,Joshua.We're not that rich,por favor.Heck,Bella and I make like 20% out of all the profits.The revenue that comes from the sales of our products are used to purchase more and more of those products,especially the newly manufactured ones.We are never out of stock,and part of the revenue is used for advertising said products.We also have to pay tax,and our workers and..."
As she went on and on,Joshua and Emiko looked at each other, wondering if her story had credence or she was simply insane.

Holla!I made this chapter extra long because of the shortness of the previous one.Do you think Nina and Bella really own a million dollar company or she's just nuts?
Audience poll: Have you ever had to try a new kind of food or drink before?Was it disgusting or out of this world?

Glossary:
Ehen:an exclamation most Nigerians make when they've proven something to be correct.
Eh-ehn:exclamation for disapproval.
Eba and egusi: a popular traditional Nigerian delicacy mostly eaten with the fingers.
Tranquila: Relax.

Don't forget to vote!