A TIME TO HEAL

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

AFTER THE incident with Alex, I told Seye not to talk to Kelvin about the made up lies. He could keep ignoring me, I didn't want to care about my feelings anymore. Every time I thought of Kelvin, I heard Alex's voice in my head saying she hated me.

My day had gotten worse since I last saw her, I was being eaten alive with guilt. I should have stopped being friends with Kelvin when he said he got a girlfriend. I thought his breakup with Alex happened naturally, but it was still because of me.

I went out with Akin more whenever he was free, because I knew he was only interested in a platonic friendship. I limited the time I spent with Seye since she was always bothering me about Kelvin. I was going to the cinema with Akin and he had called me some minutes ago to inform me that he was waiting outside. I fluffed my hair with my fingers and went outside after locking my door. I saw his car parked in front of my house and I was about to open the passenger door when I saw him with his driver.

I couldn't believe what was in front of me, they were kissing passionately with no care in the world. Even when I went back into the building, Akin wasn't behind me. He probably didn't know I saw him in a heated embrace with his driver. A driver that brought me gifts, took me places with Akin. Oh my God. I put my head in my lap as realization dawned on me. I couldn't believe what I was thinking was remotely possible. Was no one who they said they really are? Akin entered the house and paused when he saw me sitting with my legs and arms folded.

"What's up? We have to go or we'll miss the movie."

"I'm not going anywhere with you!"

I hated confrontation but there was no other way around this.

"What's the problem?" Akin asked joining me on the couch.

"I saw you, with your driver."

"PJ?"

"I don't care what you call him, you guys were kissing. What's going on?"

Akin stood from the sofa and paced the length of the room.

"We once dated."

Crap. "And?"

"We had a fight and broke up, but he was still working for me because of his contract."

"Why exactly did you agree to go on a date with me?"

Akin couldn't meet my eyes, and I knew it was as I feared.

"It doesn't matter."

"I want an answer," I demanded.

"I wanted to make him jealous. But that was at the beginning, we got to know each other and I value your friendship."

"In order words, you used me."

I bit on my lips to try not to scream. The one friend I thought I had left wasn't even real.

"Not exactly."

"You sent him to bring me gifts to make him jealous. You made him drop you at my place, you slept over even when you didn't have to just so he could think we were in a relationship."

"It's not like that."

He was at a far distance from me and I just wanted to break something. Everyone got taken from me, first by death, then a new relationship and now an old relationship. I just wanted the universe to spare me these heartaches.

"And you told me you didn't trust Kelvin...you said he was creepy. Who's the untrustworthy one now?" I folded my arm and waited for him to answer.

"You really can't believe I meant to hurt your feelings, Fatimah."