KISS OF BETRAYAL

Chapter-12

Flora felt as bad as she looked, with her mated hair and rumpled clothes. Chris didn't come home last night and his number was not going through. She had also been calling Lily and she was not picking. She ran a hand through her hair again. Chioma had convinced her that Lily was the real problem that needed elimination, not Iyke. So she had sent Bulldog a description of Lily and address, telling him to go for her instead, then reassured him that it was all good and she would indeed date him. Now, she simply couldn't understand what was going on. She thought of her wayward mother's favorite quote,

"never start what you can't finish,"

And of course her mother said that to men who refused to pay after having their way with her. She shook off the memory, she had got to finish this and she would. The madness of desperation glinted off her eyes.
Lily might be her friend but she took what was rightfully Flora's. Friends didn't do that to each other, she thought uneasily. Lily would either let go or die for love. Die for love? Now, didn't that sound romantic? Good way to die don't you think? For noble causes, like love. Flora laughed hysterically, swaying as she did. And Lily was that type of dignified lady, the good girl that mothers usually love. Such a shame her own mother had to die. She sobered up and stared at the table she had set in anticipation for Chris's return the previous night and he didn't show up, didn't even care to call. Was that how they were going to live together? With him staying out like that? She muttered a stream of curses as she jammed her little toe against the table leg while pacing. She fell on the floor, groaning. And hell! She didn't even hear from Bulldog, why was everything going wrong all of a sudden?

Her phone jarred, the vibration buzzing through the room. She rushed to grab it, pain suddenly forgotten. Who the heck?

"Hel...hello," She stuttered, hoping to hear another voice.

"Hi baby!" Came Lily's usually robust greetings.

Flora's heart did a somersault, then plummeted. What exactly happened? No...no, Lily was dead.

"I'm at the door, been knocking, nobody's answering," Lily continued, without waiting for her response. 

"Doo...door? I'm not at home remember?" Flora offered, cautiously.

"Yeah. I mean, the door of wherever you're. Wow, I can see the Lilies through the window. They're pretty," Lily said. 

Flora's eyes widened with horror. She darted through the dinning room, almost knocking things over as she rushed to the door. Lily had got to be kidding her. She yanked the door open and stared into her Friend's grinning face. 

"Wh...what are you doing here?" Flora asked, terror stricken. 

"I don't believe you're asking me that," Lily said, brushing past her into the sitting room. "I came to see you of course."

Flora was rooted to the spot, still holding the door handle, with mouth agape.
Lily sent her an amused glance, "Flies might enter your mouth you know."

"How did you find me?" Flora asked again, ignoring the sarcasm. She poked her head through the door, no sign of Iyke or Chris. So what the hell?

"You know, that abracadabra thingy," Lily replied, smiling.

She casually moved to caress the petals of the Lilies. Then looked up at the framed pictures hung on the wall. Of Chris during grad, of Chris and his mum when he was a baby. Was so damn cute even as a baby, yes, she was at the right place, Chris's house. The guy had a gorgeous taste pertaining to interior design. 

"Please be serious," Flora ordered, closing the door silently. She was definitely not finding it funny, she tried not to pace. 

"This is your boyfriend's place, isn't it? Lily asked deliberately, opening the fridge. She fully intended to get Flora mad by acting too familiar with the place. "Orange juice! My favorite!"  Lily shrieked with exaggerated excitement, grabbing a full can of Orange juice for herself. She closed the fridge slowly so she could see the lights go off, then headed to the DVD. "Would you like some music?"  She asked a dumbfounded Flora, who stood glaring at her, with hands akimbo.