REFLEX

#5: ENGAGEMENT RING

Teni walks further into her office and starts to unpack her bag, getting the necessary documents she needs. She throws herself on her chair, staring at the White Walls of her office. Was I too harsh?

Jonathan is supposed to understand that I'm not a kid and definitely not as fragile as he makes me out to be. Or maybe I am but that's not the point. I can handle my problems myself. I shouldn't get used to him being here for me everytime. What about when he is not?

Juggling her thoughts, she decides that she would patch things up with him later on but right now, she has work to worry about, Mr and Mrs Caleb's apartment to be precise.

She turns to her office telephone. Dialing number 2 for Tunde's line.

As soon as she dials his number, Tunde walks in and surprisingly, Bolu follows right after, busting through the door and pushing him out of her way.

"What in the world's name is wrong with you Teni? What exactly is wrong!? Tell me!" Tunde gets uncomfortable, as usual and stands at Teni's right hand corner, pretending not to listen to either of them.

Teni looks up from where she is sitting and sees Bolu towering over her with her hands on her wide hips like a trader waiting for her balance.

She definitely knows.

Teni looks at Tunde whose eyes are fixed on Bolu and silently begs him to excuse them. Tunde, without hesitation, strolls out of her office and locks the door behind him. She turns to Bolu.

"I can explain." Not really though. It's simple. I'm back with Femi.

"Explain what? Teni, you couldn't even call or text. Not even one call just to check up on me. Didn't Jonathan tell you I called him?"

Oh, that.

"He did." Bolu scoffs, shaking her head. "Sorry. When you were forming pride nko? I don't know what I did. You just threw me away like that. For three whole days."

"You offended me Teni and you couldn't even call to fix things ehn? You and your pride honestly." She throws her hands in the air.

"See Bolu. That is not what is on my mind right now." She buries her head in her arms.

Bolu stares at her wordlessly, studying her. She takes a seat in front of her, cocking her head. "What's wrong?"

Teni drags out a huge, dramatic sigh and stares right back at her best friend, saying absolutely nothing.

Realization dawns on Bolu. She sits aright in the padded chair. "Teni, what did you do?"

Disturbed, she stands up and walks around the office. She looks back at Bolu whose lips are pressed in a straight line, waiting for her to blurt out what she already suspects.

"Femi came over last night..."

She continues to stare at Teni. "Go on.."

"And... He kind of wants us back- together?"

Bolu nods curtly. "And what did you say?"

She shrugs. "That I'll think about it and I don't want to rush things now so baby steps." She plays with her long fingernails.

"Baby steps." Bolu continues to nod. Her eye twitching like she's about to lose it. Why is this woman so clueless? Baby steps for a cheat? Who does that for Christ's sake?

"Well, aren't you going to say something Bolu?"

"Trust me Teni. If I open my mouth to say what exactly is on my mind. You will never talk to me again."