"What do you want?" I say in annoyance.

" I am your mum, do I have to want something before I call my son? And don't talk to me like that, it is disrespectful." She says and I remain silent.

"Are you there?" she asks me and I murmur "yes".

" Will you be free tomorrow? I want you to attend a party with me." My mum says and I frown.

"Party"? I ask unbelievably.

"Yes, one of our company's shareholders wants to celebrate his birthday and I want you to be there. I want to introduce you to some of the shareholders so that they get familiar with you.

"No, I am not going. I have a lecture tomorrow morning and I have things to do tomorrow evening. You wanted me to follow you to a party tomorrow and you are telling me now? Do you think I am idle?" I say angrily. Who the hell does she think she is? I know she is my mum but there is a limit to how she can control my life. All she cares about is the company and herself. She doesn't care about any of her kid's feelings.

"If you don't want to see the worst of me, come to Lagos tomorrow's evening". She says, she hangs up and I almost throw Tunde's phone out of the car window, out of anger.

"The worst of her? What worse will she do again"? Is that all she could say to me? that heartless woman." I say angrily.

" Ayo." Tunde says my name, trying to calm me.

I won't go to that party. I dare her to do her worst. What worse can she do again apart from the one she's been doing? She never acted like a mum nor cared for us. All she is good at doing is threaten us, force the companies on me, force Sade on me, marry my sister off to a total stranger and many more. What kind of a mother is she? She annoys me, everything annoys me. I want to be alone. Why is all this happening to me? How on earth did I end up like this? Like a loser. I feel like crying, I swear. The girl I want to be with stood me up and my mum threatened me. That's the reason why I didn't want to pick her call. I know she will add salt to my wound.

When we get to the hotel, I open the car door and as I am about to dash out of the car, Tunde draws me back and he hands me the face cap and nose mask for disguise. I use them immediately and I go straight to the bar. I am sure I will not get any sleep tonight so I might as well get myself drunk all night and be free from all this pain. Even if it is for a short period of time.

On my way to the bar I see Sade walking towards me. I don't know why she is here but she is the least person i want to see right now.

" What are you doing here"? I ask her in a low but unfriendly voice.

"What kind of question is that? I am here to see you, of course." Sade says.

"I am sorry. I won't be able to attend to you tonight. Please leave and let's see tomorrow." I try to sound as polite as I can.

" Tunde, please see her off." I say to Tunde and I walk past them.

" Let's go, come see her again tomorrow". I hear Tunde's voice as I am walking towards the bar. I tell the waiter to give me my usual and she smiles at me. I roll my eyes at her and I send her off. Minutes later she comes back with my usual alcohol and she places them on the table. I take the bottle and drink half of the liquid in it at a go. I want to continue drinking but Tunde shows up and he collects the bottle from me.

"Slow down." Tunde says

" Give it back to me" I say, I collect the bottle back from him and I drink the remaining alcohol in it. I open the second bottle and drink small. I want to get drunk as soon as possible and go upstairs to sleep.

Before I finish the second bottle I am already drunk, maybe because I rushed it. I am so tipsy and unbalanced. Tunde takes me upstairs in fear of me making stupid mistakes in public. When we get to the room, I sit on the couch and I start finding my feelings for Lara funny. I laugh sarcastically, i clap my hand in disbelief and I say,

"Tunde, let me tell you something. I want to see her, talk to her, hug her, kiss her and I want her to be with me forever. What feelings is that?" I wait for his answer for a few minutes and I continue when he doesn't talk. "Oh!!! You said it is love, that I am falling in love with her. I have forgotten." I laugh again . My words were slurry and anyone could tell that I am drunk.

Tunde looks at me pitifully and says, "This is no more falling for her, you are already in love with her." I giggle at what Tunde says and I frown immediately after.

How come? How is that possible? Why her? I know love at first sight exists but what will I call my own sudden development of feelings for her. I know she is beautiful and all but I don't even know her. At first I thought the reason why I was seeing her in my dream was because of my curiosity about the girl with a beautiful smile and a beautiful eyes ball. So I thought meeting her and seeing her in person will allay my curiosity but it worsened it. I am not even sure if he likes me back talk less of love.

I stand up immediately and I say,

" I need to go to her hostel again. I need to tell her how I am feeling. Who knows, maybe she is back from wherever she goes." I say, I stagger to my feet and Tunde runs at me to hold me.

"You can't go to her like this, you are drunk. Tell her everything you want to tell her tomorrow." He says as he takes me to the bedroom. I do not argue with her because he is right. I will sleep today and tell her everything tomorrow.

LARA'S POV IN NEXT EPISODE. KINDLY SUBSCRIBE, LIKE AND COMMENT