Where It Leads

Chapter four

"Philly! I do not know why you are so keen on going over to that bar again. Come on man, get your pants together, we've got to move"
Ben complains picking up his phone from the side table.
"can you even hear me?" he continues as Phillip takes a long draw from his cigarette eyeing Ben.
"I want to be there, period!"
"for how much longer do you intend staying here?" asks Ben.
"I don't know, feel like I would have to explore this part of Lagos"
"oh, now Patrick this isn't how I want to spend my holiday"

"I bet there are so many that would catch your eye other than that bar slut" Philip glares. He pauses and continues "OK. I meant girl. Come on it isn't all the time that a bachelor gets a time off like this, use it wisely man." Philips take another draw blowing out the smoke with his eyes slightly shot.

"stop whining Ben. Before you make me sick." straightening up
"I'm not relaxing here because of her. Fine you can go on without me. I would join you in less than a week. We've still got a whole month in our hands to cruise."

"fine" Ben huffs "that's fair enough." pointing a finger at Phillip "you better keep to your word. I better go pack up. Sure you would be OK by yourself?" Phillip nods picking up his glass of wine. As Ben disappears into the en-suite.
As he comes back out with a backpack Philip stands to see him off. "well I've got to get going, my flight leaves in a few hours. Do take care." he pauses by the entrance, "let me know when you get to fuck her" he hands up in surrender when Philip gives him a serious glare.

FEW HOURS LATER
With nothing to do except to think about the mystery surrounding this Peace of a girl, Philips decided to head to the bar. Quickly trowing on a T-shirt and Jeans, he glances over to the car keys on the side table and coming to terms that he is not in the mood to drive, he picks up his wallet and other essentials stuffing them in his pockets he sets off to his destination hoping that it is worth it.
..........
This morning has been dull, it is not unusual for weekdays to be less eventful in the mornings, Peace has been in the bar chatting up the cook and casually glancing over the bar's stock-in record when she noticed a tall figure walk into the bar taking a table for himself at the farthest corner. If she were to read meaning to him, it would be a do not disturb pose that he striked in his territory. He sits like he owns the place she thought. She turns her back on the handsome man before her leaning on one of the deep freezers,
"come, Peace, this your boobi don dey big o. Wetin happen?" Esther asks pointing to Peace's chest, just then Kennedy the bar man walks in eyeing Esther "Esther wetin concern you concern her kpomo? Na you wan chop am? You no go face your kitchen. Dey observe your fellow woman breast" Peace bursts out laughing gesturing towards Kennedy "Abeg help me tell am. Can she compare mine to hers? Just look wetin she carry for chest."
After a few minutes she turns around again towards the specimen to see him busy staring at the table.
She turns again to Kennedy "why isn't anyone waiting on that table?" "which one be that?" asks Kennedy "your one o'clock"
"I would do that myself, no need to hustle up Eni or chick." Kennedy says and peace hushes him
"don't worry, I would take it since am idle for now and I find that table interesting"
"thank you my dear, that's why I love you, you are my peace."
"don't let Esther hear that" she throws back making her way out of the bar "wait!" Esther looks baffled, making Her to halt her steps and face her "did I hear you say interesting? Cos I find him ready to chop anyone's head off"
Peace rolls her eyes pointing at her "you be Tatafoo. Amebo" walking out as she waves her off.
She walks over to the table seeing the man is still busy looking down like if he doesn't notice that someone is by his table waiting to be acknowledged. She clears her throat keeping a bottled water on the table. That got his attention to look at her face "on the house" she says looking him in the eye. He is really handsome she thought. "So what would you have? Fish, assorted, drinks?"
"get me a plate of fish and radler, of you have it"
"OK" she smiles walking off yet feeling his stare behind her
She returns with a bottle of Radler placing it on the table. "the face is moody, I hope the heart is not in mourning Mr Stranger" she said smiling. "A name for me already? So what's your own name?" he asks like he isn't aware. "Peace" he raises his eyebrow, "my name is Peace"
"Peace how are you?"
"Am fine sir. Enjoy your drink, your meal would soon be ready" she takes a step and then another. "wait!" she halts mid step. "please stay" she looks at him with uncertainty and to answer her unspoken question he added "I-em I need company" almost pleadingly. she turns around fully. Having an inner battle whether to sit with him or not. "really, stranger?"
"please" he added. He looks almost like a little boy begging for a cookie.
She took a step back, taking the seat opposite of him, "so what would you like to talk about? Am not good company to start with"
He shakes his head "I don't believe you"

"oh, so you call me a liar now?"

"nope. But trust me, I think you might have a good sense of humour. And you are good company"
She scoffs
"you met me less than ten minutes ago and you have tagged me a liar" nodding her head "good one" she teases with a thumbs up
"aren't you a tease? But then, I believe I've known you for a while."