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.


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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...