Where It Leads

chapter three

Philip

"dude come on we've got to get moving,"
"sorry Ben, but I want to have a taste of that fish again."
"Which one man?" Ben asks frowning
"the same one that we ate at Icemax ventures, what's the location again? Abuleado!
Ben eyed me for a while as I pick up my phone swiping aimlessly
"are you sure it's all about the fish?"
"what do you mean Ben?"
"yesterday that we were there, I I saw how hung up you were on that girl. So tell me again, is it just about the fish?" when I didn't answer, he added "I knew it isn't just for the fish dude trust me, if she actually makes you feel like seeing her then go ahead. I bet she can be very easy. After all, that's what uneducated girls like her do at the bar"

I looked at him, but somehow I can't bring my heart to believe that she is the easy type just as I remember what I witnessed there

A DAY BEFORE
I and Ben were headed to this bar. It isn't that spacious but big enough if it could accommodate a car wash, a kitchen, betting house and bar. As Ben drove into the gate, to our right is a canopy where people where already seated drinking and making merry, and by the way most of them interacted, they must be familiar with each other. To the left, an oven is situated and the long building beside it consists of the kitchens, a few rooms, the betting arena and bar.
"let's use this opportunity to get this baby cleaned up" Ben says beside me as he parks the car for the boys to have the key and clean it up. We made our way to the open bar taking a seat at the farthest corner from where we can have a view of most things going on. "man when was the last time you had cheap beer? " Ben chuckles as he leans his elbow on the table using his knuckles to support his head.
"Ben I swear most times, you talk too much."
"bar man!! " he shouts as a slim tall guy casually walks to our table asking for our orders. "get me a bottle of Heineken" when the guy looks my way as If silently asking how about you Ben replied with a wave of his hand "just get him Budweiser, that'll do for now. Do you have any chewable?" the guy nods "I'll get someone from the kitchen for you" and he left

"guy have you gone dumb or something?"
"nope" I said popping the p.
"wow see those boobs, one can get lost in them" he says licking his lips as he adjusts in his seat. A lady that is well rounded on the big size walks up to us "what can I get you from the kitchen? We have goat meat pepper soup, fried meat, asu, fish etc."
Ben looks up "what's your name?"
"my name is Esther, what would you have?" Ben clears his throat, I, sensing that he is about to say something stupid decides to speak up. "bring a plate of fried meat and a plate of fish for him"
"OK I would be back"
"that ass is on the big size" the bar man took that time to appear with our drinks, he sets them down and opens them keeping two glass cups for us.

"Ben! Keep those remarks to yourself unless the cute lady gives you the green light. Please don't get offensive"
And that was when I noticed her, she walks into the bar, eyes glued on the book she was holding. That should be for the records or something. Talking to the barman that has just brought us our drinks pointing to God knows what page on that book. She doesn't take notice of us for the moment. In fact she doesn't take notice at all. There's just something graceful about the way she interacts and carries herself and I couldn't help but murmur "she doesn't belong here" Ben looks at me suspiciously "who are you talking about?" by the time he could turn his head towards the bar, she has left "are you hallucinating?"
Three men walk into the bar sitting about two tables away from ours. She girl walks up to them. Wow that was fast she disappearing and appearing like that I watch one of the men raise his hand to caress her bare shoulders and she jerks away asking for what they wanted. I felt irritated by the man's attitude, he raises his left hand once again aiming for legs "your legs are sexy little Darling" Ben turns as he sees me focused "dude you seem focused what's up? I just pointed out the table and he stares at her back to me and back and forth. My blood was boiling at this point. I surprisingly, before the man's hand could make contact with her legs or ass (which isn't as big as Esther's,) she held the man's hand, with a very straight face directed at him saying "you don't get to touch me without my permission else.... " then she turns to others with a fake smile "now I'd you are done placing your order, I would get going" she turns exiting to go ring up their order. I saw her face, she was beautiful in her three quarter jeans and a polo with sneakers. She still didn't notice me as she walks away with a scowl on her face. However as I ate my fried meat, and enjoy my beer, she didn't come back, instead someone else brought the drinks for that table. We spent hours chatting and drinking while I keep glancing the way she left but she never came back. Doesn't she have customers to serve? Why isn't she out? Why am I even having interest in her affairs. I like the way she stood up for herself, seems to me like the kind of person who doesn't take shut from anyone......

PRESENT DAY
"come on Philips we ought to get moving I can't spend this holiday here like this"
"I want to taste the fish again ben"
"dude, I know you. Tell me the truth OK... Why do you want to have the taste of the fish again?"
"simple! It was absolutely delicious"
"now you see where I've got you. The last time I checked, I was the one who ate the fish and not you how come you are the one describing the taste and not me"
He demonstrates. Sometimes Ben acts nonchalant but that doesn't mean he isn't observant.
"well you told me it was delicious so I've got to taste it on my own"
He gives me a pointed look and I just sigh.
"fine you caught me, I can't get my mind off the girl I saw yesterday. The slender one."
"boy oh boy! My man is whipped"
"point of correction, I just want to be friends"
"hmmm" he taps his chin "OK am coming with you again today, but whatever I eat is on you man. And you are going to talk to her or fuck her even but tomorrow, we would be out of here as early as possible."
"deal! "
"good be ready by 7:15pm"
He leaves my room with a wink.

................

"fuck! Lagos hold up can be very frustrating." Ben whines
I look at him before answering
"it's not as if you escape it on the island"
We have spent the past 45mins stuck in traffic
"we are almost there, Ben maybe we should park the car somewhere" I look around pointing to our front "there! That's a bank. We can park there"
"Philly you don't just park in a bank at this time, can't you read no parking"
Smiling, he manoeuvres the car to the front of the bank and parks. As we step out of the car two security officers approach us "the bank is closed you can use the ATM at the other side" one of them says
I walk closer to him "my name is... "
He looks dumbfounded as he smiles and cuts me off "I know who you are. But"
I also cut him off "if you are aware of my identity then you are aware an not here to rob a bank, we want to park here because of the traffic and grab a couple of drinks and we would be on our way"
"No problem sir. See you soon" he says and walk the few poles to the bar. The road is congested.
As we step into the gate, there aren't much customers tonight, few were standing smoking to death. I take note of about four guys standing by the left, a few in the canopy taking their beer. Finally I see her walking up with a green bottle following behind a guy. I stood dead in my tracks and watch her walk to the canopy and the same guy she was following motions for her to follow her and she obediently follows towards the four guys standing by the left. We stood motionless watching as she converses with them then walking away as the tall huge one calls "Peace! Come back here" she goes over to the canopy bending down to the height of the man she served the drink while the huge guy leaves his group with I would teach her a lesson and stands at the middle of the road waiting. But for who? "this can't be good and I wouldn't like to get in the middle of it"
When it seems like she has settled with the crew on the table with another guy calling her back to whisper something to her to which she nodded. She turns back walking towards the bar when she met the huge guy at the middle. I make a move towards them but Ben held me back. "wait"
I stand down watching "someone of my calibre called you and you ignored me!" the guy booms
"am sorry sir, but I have customers to attend to."
SLAP!
I froze, she held her cheeks as the impact of the slap took her backwards. Anger overtook me, how can a man lay his hands on a woman. I was on the verge of making another move towards them.

SLAP!

I froze again as Ben clutched my left hand smirking "Feisty" my eyes went wide. That was the sound of her slapping him back even though he was a couple of inches taller than her and huge, she has no fear. Hmm. The guy as if returning to his senses that he was slapped by a woman pushed her and she said almost fell to the ground getting her balance I storm towards him but someone beats me to it, one of the guys in the canopy held the huge guy by his collar

PUNCH!
how dare you hit my niece
PUNCH!
"huh"
PUNCh!!

I walked towards her to ask if she is fine but she stormed off not noticing me. I just stared. "this is a first, a lady walking away not drooling over you" Ben says
I glare at him "I swear Ben in the name of Allah that you say the strangest things at the oddest moment."
"Let's go" I say irritably