It has been two weeks since I got a call from my boyfriend, Kunle. He promised to call me five days after I lent him my mum's money but his number had been unavailable. My mum had requested the money the previous day so I needed to see him urgently.

The next day, I took a cab to his house which was a few kilometres away from my house. I arrived at the house earlier than I presumed. It was a two-story building. Each room in the building was occupied with a tenant and Kunle's family happened to be one. The love I had for kunle was strong. I wanted a bright future for us, for our children and so I never hesitated when he brought up the idea of his exportation and importation of kpomo business(kpomo-cow skin). I was ready to support his business. I knocked on the room door gently. I met his mother who opened the door. She carried a plastic bag which contained some food utensils and seemed to be in a rush. Kunle's mum was dark in complexion, tall, well-built and short-haired. She was smartly dressed in a pink top and a black straight skirt. She looked tired and worn-out. I sensed things didn't seem so fine with her despite the fake smiles she displayed. She was not much to look at than the last time I met her.

"Hello Tiwa, how may I help you?" She asked with a smile.

"Good afternoon ma, I came to see Kunle," I replied. Her smile faded at the mention of her son's name. She heaved a sigh.

"Kunle? Didn't he inform you he was travelling?"

"Travelling to where ma? I didn't hear from him for a week now"

"Did Kunle dupe his lover too?" She asked no one in particular.

"I...I...do not understand you ma," I said with panic.

"Kunle has flown to Dubai. He fled with his father's money. Right now as we speak, Baba Kunle is in the hospital. He fainted when he discovered that his entire savings were missing." She explained. I touched my head in shock. I pinched my skin to check if I wasn't in a dream. I left the hot tears from my eyes to flow freely. Mama Kunle wrapped me in her arms to console me, I allowed her to wipe out my tears but that didn't change the fact that her son had duped and jilted me.

I went straight into my room when I got home. My body trembled uncontrollably. My mind was full of different thoughts, different questions and different suggestions. 'Tiwa, what will you tell your mum? Why can't you flee from home? Tell mummy the truth, No! Don't do that, Mummy will be so much disappointed. Tiwa, why can't you find somewhere to look for the money?' The thoughts kept coming. I bit my fingernails nervously and paced around the room. There were two strong decisions I needed to choose from; Tell Mummy the truth or run away. Any decision I had to make must be before my parent's arrival from their workplaces. Yes! The idea struck me, I will seek refuge in Rianah's apartment till I get the money.


****************************************


The aura at Rianah's balcony was reassuring. Her house was a two-bedroom bungalow which was painted in white while its blue roofs complimented its beauty. Bobby, her sugar daddy, had purchased the house for her two months ago at Lekki Lagos. Each bedroom in the bungalow has its own assigned bathroom. The bungalow has a private verandah with a white garden rattan tea table and chairs. It also served as the place for all our tidbits and fun. A wide door opening led to the living room from the balcony. The dining tables were fixed in the kitchen so as to acquire enough space for visitors in the small living room. Despite the tiny size of the bungalow, Rianah created a small space for a closet. There she would display her clothes and change into them like a chameleon when Bobby comes visiting.

``He bought them so I need to wear them for him," she said with a lovely grin that sets her big lips widely apart. At some point, I felt jealous. I wished I was in her position, getting a house as a gift and constant cash from a man who barely stayed around. Rianah had once said, Bobby barely requests for sex in return because she suspected he was impotent.

We woke up early to prepare breakfast. We spent almost two hours in the kitchen frying and stirring. Finally, the food was ready. We walked from the kitchen to the verandah with a plate of fried chicken gizzards with sauce and two bottles of Coca-Cola to wash it down. I stood at the verandah with my food untouched biting my fingernails and gazing at the beautiful flower bouquet placed in a flower vase. I wasn't paying attention to the flowers but rather I was lost in a reverie. I had been in Rianah's house for the past two days and I kept imagining my mum's reaction when she found out I had run away. She would scream in dismay, wondering how and why I had absconded with her money. Rianah wasn't happy with my moody state. She noticed this was unlike me. She peered at me with her big eyeballs that seemed to fall out of her eye socket anytime soon. Everything about Rianah was large, she has lips like those of a duck and eyes like an owl's. She was tall and full-bodied. She was always forced to lie about her age in public especially when people never seem to believe her. I wonder how her espresso coloured skin gradually transformed into a golden colour. Her skin appeared fresh, soft and attractive, even to her female counterpart. That was the magic of expensive creams and soaps. I just couldn't compare my rough black skin with hers because I can't afford those expensive beauty products. Rianah has been so supportive since our university days. We became friends in the varsity and I ran to her for support whenever I needed a shoulder to lean on. I stayed in her apartment throughout my undergraduate years. In a bid to always make me happy, she would take me out, buy me fancy clothes, shoes and bags.


The thought of how to refund the 200,000 thousand nairas I lent my ex-boyfriend was about to give me a heart attack. I was a jobless and hopeless graduate with only my parents to depend on financially. Dad said he would throw me out of his house if I don't get a job anytime soon. Sometimes, I wonder how Rianah was able to beguile Bobby into falling in love with her. Was that truly love? Or lust? I'm sure they can never tie the knot, not when Bobby has a wife and three children abroad.

"Babe, wetin dey worry you. Eat your food now, is it not delicious? Na you cook am naw." Rianah said playfully with her big eyes staring at me in a scary way. She had almost finished her food. She picked her remaining meat with a toothpick. I looked at her as she munched at the meat in her mouth carefully. She tried to brush off a little stain of the meat sauce on her white T-shirt.
"Jeez! Bobby just bought this shirt for me" She grumbled and hissed angrily. I looked away, tired of hearing Bobby did this, Bobby did that. I wanted to have a Bobby version too, I need a sugar daddy.

"Rianah, I...I...need a sugar daddy," I said with my eyes fixed on the flowers. Rianah gasped, she covered her mouth in stupefaction. Afterwards, she let out a burst of loud laughter, loud enough to wake her neighbours who might just be resting on a cold morning.

"Are you kidding me?" She rolled her eyes at first then later stretched towards me with her hands clasped to her stomach to be sure she heard what I just uttered.

"I'm not kidding you. I'm saying the truth. " I replied sharply, trying not to sound too ambitious. From the tone of my voice, she realised I was serious about what I just said.

She tilted her head to the side deliberating on what I said. " Why do you need a sugar daddy? For what exactly?" She asked calmly.

"I want money, more money. I want to start living a good life. I'm tired of getting fixed with broke ass guys." I said with rage, I was boiling, feeling very bitter but with who? Maybe with the criminal who ran away with my money.

"Tiwa, calm down. I'm surprised you are saying this, have you forgotten you are a virgin? Your parents are religious fanatics. How do you intend to fit in with a sugar daddy? Lastly, what do you want to do with Kunle? Do you want to break up with him? " Rianah asked, with her arms akimbo. Interested in the conversation, she grabbed one of the white rattan chairs closer and squeezed her massive buttocks into it. She wore a short blue jean. Her stained white transparent T-shirt hung on her body slightly displaying her firm breasts.
"How many minutes does it take to lose one's virginity and start to enjoy oneself? I know my parents are very religious, especially my father but I'm an adult. I can choose to be whoever I want." I replied. I leaned against the iron railing that surrounded the balcony like a shroud with my back. My arms were folded across my chest.

"I understand how you feel but please don't get carried away with all these luxuries. I do regret my actions at times. You need a young man, not someone who is old to be your….."

"Enough!... Will you help me or not?" I interrupted, my hands clenched. I was tired of her pretence. Who can be tired of getting money and living a grand lifestyle?

She tilted her head to the side. "Fine, if you insist, I will take you out tomorrow. I have an appointment with one of my sugar daddies. I will introduce him to you. Don't worry you will like him." She said with a smile. To show how satisfied I was with her reply, I hugged her.

"Thank you my best friend."

"But first, you have to tell me why you are so anxious to make money so fast," Rianah demanded I narrated the whole scenario to her leaving back no details.

"Oh my God!... This is serious, He is stupid for that unreasonable act. Babe, please eat your food and forget about him, you will surely pay back the money to your mum tomorrow. Now cheer up and have your drink. You need to look healthy and beautiful." She said after listening to my tragic story. She gave me the juice and the chicken gizzards I left on the tea rattan table.

************* ********************


The next day, I agreed to go out with a man Rianah arranged for me on the phone. She said he was a very wealthy man and he would surely pamper me with money. She selected an appealing black gown for me from her closet, did my makeover, styled my hair in a bun and gave me red stilettos which fitted my feet perfectly. I looked extraordinarily beautiful and I couldn't believe that was me. We took an Uber to meet the man in a hotel located in Victoria Island, Lagos. The traffic of Lagos was hectic and tiring but I enjoyed every bit of it with Rianah's juicy gist about my new sugar daddy. I asked her a series of questions, how will I talk with the man? How will I behave? Will you be seated beside me? I hope he won't drag me into the hotel room? But Rianah couldn't help but laugh at my absurdity.

We arrived at the venue tired and famished. I marvelled at the gigantic hotel with "Oriental hotel" written boldly on a billboard. The hotel was lively with lots of expensive cars and foreign couples seated with different plates of food and desserts. We strode to a vacant space in front of a Chinese couple who smiled and waved at us. Rianah ordered two bowls of vanilla ice creams and meat pies.

My mind flashed back to my parents, they have been so troubled since I left home. I looked at the twenty missed calls and ten messages on my phone, I realised they were from them. My parents chased my friends away, they never wanted me to associate myself with friends. I had the opportunity to mingle with friends only in my undergraduate years and I tried as much as possible to hide them away from my family. Dad believed friends are evil and they might lead me astray while mum complained bitterly about friends that snatch their friends' men.

A few minutes later, Rianah received a call from the man and walked briskly to the entrance to welcome him in.

There seems to be something bad about the day. The atmosphere was too dull for my liking and I had a stomach upset which I couldn't fathom. I wouldn't want to ruin that day not when I want to meet my new sugar daddy. Rianah came back with a tall, handsome man who would probably be in his late forties. He wore a dark blue shirt and white shorts.

"Meet Mr Hassan," Rianah announced with a smile. I jerked unconsciously and buried my head on the table in shame. I felt my legs shook and went numb. It failed to support my body. The man looked aside in embarrassment, unfit to look at me. God of Mercy! This is my dad for God's sake! What's he doing here? I covered my face in shame.


" Tiwa are you okay? What's happening here?" Rianah asked, confused.

"You can excuse us Rianah, let me talk to her". My dad said to Rianah who stared at us in bewilderment. The question of how did these two know each other kept hanging. She couldn't just solve the puzzle.

"Tiwa, what are you doing here? We have been so worried about you. How did you know Rianah? "He asked.

"What are you doing here too? Are you not supposed to be within the mosque? or probably with your friends, It's weekend?." I replied to his utmost surprise.

"Well...I ...came for...to me Rianah's dad… her father is...a very good friend of mine." He stuttered.

"That's a lie, Rianah is my best friend and I know she is one of your side chicks. She told me about you. She told me about the numerous girls you had slept with coupled with the money you do spend on them. I have pictures of those girls." I said angrily.

"It's okay, I'm sure you wouldn't want to tell your mum about this?" he asked, guilt written boldly in his eyes.

"I'm going back home tomorrow and I will disclose everything to her. You are a cheat."

"Shut up. You don't say that to your father. How can I keep your dirty mouth shut?." He asked in a rage. I smiled sheepishly. I have entered his password.

"I need 500,000 from you and I promise to delete the pictures and keep my mouth shut." I looked at him for a response. He looked away as if he was waiting for approval from someone else. Dad was a businessman but he was meticulous when it comes to spending money for his family. The only thing he cared about was his children's education, he believed that we need the education to make our own money which I strongly support but trapping him in a situation like this was one of the best things that have ever happened to me.

"Alright, I will send it to your account tonight. Let's go home now." He banged the table with his fist.

"No dad, I want you to send it to my account now."

"Are you serious?...you want to blackmail me and at the same time go against my command?" He roared, he had his fist clenched but I knew it was a void rage.

"My command should be your wish here. It will surely change when we get back home." I retorted despite his anger. He brought out his phone and made the transaction. I grinned when I saw an alert of 500,000.

"Meet me at home." He stormed to the car with rage. I watched as he snubbed Rianah who tried to hug him and drove away in his range-rover. What a wonderful God I serve! I can't believe my father can actually be keeping a lot from his family despite his religious status. So this is the skeleton dad had been hiding in his wardrobe. I can't imagine my best friend having an affair with my father. This is outrageous!
Rianah walked in still confused. "Can someone explain what just happened? Do you know that man?"

"That's my dad". I replied with a chuckle.

"What! No wonder he was so angry. But why are you smiling? This is a serious issue."Riana said with her eyes wide open. She was so worried but when I explained what transpired between us, she burst out laughing.

"You are a smart kid". Rianah said and I giggled. I just blackmailed my dad.