Meet the family

“You do know that you are not supposed to outshine the celebrants.” I teased Stella as she entered my car. Her lace material fitted her shape to perfection and at the same time it wasn’t too much. Her face had minimal make up but still highlighted her soft features, I already felt proud that she was going to be on my arm today.

“Shut up” She turned her head away from me embarrassed.

“Honestly though, I think my mother will not be too angry since you will be on the arm of her son. You are beautiful.”

“Thank you, you are not so bad yourself. Your Abgada look nice.” Stella complimented me too.

“Thanks and let’s go, we will be fashionably late.” I tell her as she turned to me.

“Why didn’t you come in time?”

“Because I wanted us to be late.”

“Your mother did not beat you enough when you were small.” Stella shook her head at me as I smiled at her.

“I was her favorite.” I tell Stella who nodded.

“Of course, Last born.”

“See who dey talk, nor be last born you be too?”

“Also first.” Stella said as we both laugh. “Will I know anybody there?”

“I think you will, you circle should be invited and also, Victor will be there.” I informed her as she smiled at me.

“Okay, well use this drive to tell me everything about your parents and brother. I would need to impress them since I am sure that you have been hyping me.”

“I didn’t say any untrue thing babe.” I smiled at her, she underestimated Tomi. That was the person she needed to be more cautious about, not my parents. Or my father rather. I still remember the hell mummy gave Tomi when Femi started dating her.

I spent the next forty five minutes telling Stella all what she wanted to know about my family and when we got there, loud music was already playing and the crowd was much.

“Small event?’ Stella glared at me.

I smiled at her sheepishly. “That was what I was told. You know how here is like na, small thing, everywhere don burst.”

“Lagos people too like party.” Stella sighed. “Let’s go.” She said as I smiled at her then came down form my car and went to open her door, when she came down, my hand went to her waist as we began our journey to find the celebrants with Stella holding the gifts.

“You didn’t need to bother, my mother would have preferred a grandchild.” I tell Stella who didn’t bother to hit me, she just replied me tiredly.

“You nor well.” I smiled at her words and that smile was still on my face as I greeted my parents and kissed my mother cheek than waved Stella forward.

“Mummy, Daddy. Meet my friend Stella.” I introduced. “Stella, meet my parents. Mr. and Mrs. Adeyemi.”

“Ah ah, My son, if you want to introduce us. Introduce us well naw. Which one is your friend, we all know that she is more than a friend to you.” my mother said I became embarrassed.

“Mummy!” I cautioned.

“And such a good thing too, I was starting to be worried about you oh. “My father added as Stella tried to hide her smile.

“My parents love embarrassing me.” I tell Stella who smiled.

“That is something which we have in common.” She replied and I narrowed my eyes at her, before she could talk to my parents, I hurried said goodbye and dragged her away from them before she would let her demonic side lose. She just laughed as I dragged her through the crowd to the food part where even more people were milling about.

“I swear, you make it so easy.” Stella said with a laugh as she filled her plate with samosas and tiny pieces of meat.

“For you to embarrass me, believe me it is not like I make it easy, it is just that you are very good at it.”

“You know, I would totally take offense if I didn’t understand what you are trying to say.” Stella replied as she popped a tiny piece of meat into her mouth and went to carry a bottle water. I tagged behind her with my own plate filled with food, not finger food like hers.

“Yeah, it is a good thing, we understand each other. This relationship would not work either way.” I announced sitting beside her as she turned her head towards me.

“Oga, which relationship?” Stella asked.

“The one we started yesterday?” I replied her.

“You are seriously annoying, you asked. I didn’t give you an answer.”

“And if you would have said no, you would have given me that answer yesterday. I don’t know why Nigerian girls always wait before they give their yes, the guy already know that that is the answer you will give.”

“Your ego eh, it’s a good thing I am in your life. You need someone to control it.” I rolled my eyes at her. “Besides, I have told guys many times that I will think about it only for me to call them back and tell them no.”

I went tensed at her words and when I looked at her face and saw that she was trying not to smile. “I will so do you back for that.” she started laughing at my words.

“Kola.” A sharp voice said behind me as my smile fades. Stella stopped laughing and she knew who was behind me without turned back. “Tomi” she mouthed at me but I didn’t reply her, I just stood up and went to hug my brother and Tomi who were behind me.

“Tomi, Femi.” I greeted. Stella stood up and came to my side with a smile on her face but it didn’t reach her eyes like her usual smile does. “This is Stella. Stella, this is Femi my brother and Tomi … his girlfriend.” I added as an afterthought.

The pause I took before introducing Tomi didn’t go unnoticed by anybody in the group. Stella smile went even more strained. “Hello Tomi, I have heard so much about you.” She stretched her hand towards Tomi for a handshake but Tomi folded her arms across her chest.

“Really! I have heard nothing about you.” Tomi replied.

“Tomi.” Me and my brother hissed at the same time but the damage was done. Stella eyes went hard as she dropped her smile.

“I can see why if that is the attitude you show Kola often.” Stella replied as I winced. Tomi words might hurt because of my friendship with her but Tomi was a friend and a gentle spirit, Stella was nothing of sort. She was the definition of crazy and she was not afraid to hide it.

Tomi gasped but Stella ignored her and my brother as she turned to face me. “I am going to see if I can find Victor. If I can’t, I will find my way back to your car and wait for you there.” She said taking my keys from my pocket. “We will see each other later when you are done with talking to them.” she leaned up towards me and by default, I leaned down thinking she wanted to whisper something in my ears but she kissed my cheek instead before turning back to face Tomi and Femi who were watching us. “I would like to say it was nice meeting you but I try not to make it a habit to lie.”

After her words, Stella marched off as I released a sigh and with my hands on my waist, I looked at Femi and Tomi. “Kola…I am sor…”

“If you want to lie Tomi, please make it a believable one. Why on earth will you show her attitude when she is a stranger to you?”

“Because she is that. She is a stranger and she has made you one too.” Tomi snaps at me as I shook my head at her.

“She didn’t make me anything Tomi, I was already a stranger before I met her. The reason why I didn’t want her to know you and the rest of our friends was because I suspected something like this would happen.”

“I think I should give you two some space.” Femi pointed behind him as he tried to escape but I quickly shut down his escape route.

“No oh, remember you don’t trust me with her, you better stay here. I have no wish to talk to Tomi anywhere where you are not in.”

“I don’t know what is wrong with you, you finally got a girlfriend, we can go back to how we were before, and nothing has to change.” Tomi added.

“Everything had changed. The reason why we can’t go back to being friends were your words, and also the little fact that you just made my girlfriend hate you.”

“How are you sure that she is good enough for you sef, what if she is a gold digger.” Tomi demanded

“Tomi, what is wrong with you?” Femi asks

“Never talk bad about Stella ever again. Tomi, I don’t know what made you think that you could make decisions for me but this has to stop. I am not a toy for you.” I hissed at her fiercely, feelings or no feelings, Tomi is acting more like a brat and I am not liking it, especially since she is talking bad about Stella.

“But…” Tomi started.

“That will definitely be the last time I hear something like that from your mouth, mention it again and you will be surprised at what I will do or say to you.” I got into her face as her eyes went wide at the barely constrained anger in mine.

“I think she is already surprised, why don’t you step back a little bit.” Femi said as he pushed at my shoulders in warning to step back from his girlfriend. I did as he asked.

“Everybody will be and now Tomi, all I ask for is for you to leave me and Stella alone, you won’t like the me you will see.” I hated how my heart released a pang at my words but Tomi own was too much. Without waiting for her reply, I strode off to search for my girlfriend and what I saw had my anger dissipating and jealous to rear its ugly head. She was holding court among five guys which include Victor and was talking to them about something that made the men eyes to fill with interest, no. I was not having it. I better to end that interest before anything else, I approached them and wrapped my hands around her waist.

“Gentlemen.” I greeted.

“Guy, how far na.” Victor asked as I shook hands with him.

“I am fine. What are you guys taking about?” I asked Stella who still had a pissed off look in her eyes.

“Investments, your girl got a lot of great ideas.” One of the men said as I smiled.

“His girl?” Stella asked in a tone that suggests otherwise.

“Yes, you know, girlfriend and all.” I explained to her as she whispered under her breathe.

“I shouldn’t have agreed.”

“I am sorry for her actions, I promise that it won’t happen again.” I added not bothering to pay her words any attention, she was clearly angry with me.

“You are right, it won’t because she will not have the chance to act that way towards me again.” Stella turns in my arms so she would face me.

“Stella…” I started.

“Kola, don’t tell me to be the bigger person, she is older than me and she should be the one to apologize. Besides I am your girlfriend, I am not dragging that position with her, she is your best friend, she had no excuse for her behavior.”

I could feel a headache coming on because of these two girls.