TIDE'S OF LÛST EPISODE 102 When I was still at Evelyn's place, Pascaline called a couple of times. During those times, I never gave her the avenue to talk about what happened at her house. She had tried on few occasions to bring up the conversation, but I was always quick to divert the topic. Funny enough after I left Pascaline's apartment that morning, the embarrassing incident left my mind surfacing only when she calls me. Evelyn's pregnancy issue had taken a great position in my thoughts. I didn’t bother telling Pascaline that I was in Eket, she had request to see me, but i always told her I was busy. My journey from Eket to where I reside was stress free, compared to when I first embarked on the journey. Don't know why it was that way, probably because Evelyn wasn't pregnant, and I had finally settled things with her. As I stepped into my compound that afternoon, Pascaline's call was what welcomed me. I ignored it and headed towards my door. I noticed that Vida wasn’t around so I just unlocked and entered my room which I have missed. I had wanted to call Vida, but decided against it. I showered, and made noodles for myself. After I ate, I went to sit out in a bar in front of my house. Settled, I placed an order for a bottle of Henieken. I sat with the bottle of beer and thought over my life. I asked myself so many questions why I had a pretty girl like Sandra who most guys would kill to have, but yet I still cheat on her. I couldn’t find any answers to my questions. What if everything I was doing came out one day, how would Sandra feel?. Wait, how would she even see me? Sandra that I know would instantly loose trust for me. That was a moment of serious thought for me. After searching my mind for the reason why I was cheating and couldn’t find any, I decided to play clean from then henceforth. It was a hard decision which took me the telling of myself the truth to reach. I know that it was going to be very hard but it’s worth trying. The thought that it was going to make me possibly lose some friends never escaped my mind but I know that at the end it will be worth it. The whole incident with Evelyn opened my eyes. The moment you decide to stop chasing after something, that is when that thing will turn and start chasing you. I had finished with one bottle and ordered for another one when a Lexus RX stopped in front of the bar. Its glasses were tinted so I couldn’t get a view of the people inside. After about five minutes, Vida stepped out from the car, as whoever she was with drove away. On sighting me inside the bar, she made her way to my table and sat beside me. I wanted to play a prank on her so I kept a blank face, giving my phone all my attention. She was uncomfortable sitting beside me as we said no pleasantries. “Pascal are you okay?”........she asked, breaking the silence. I sensed fear in her voice as she looked at me like a child asking from her parents something she wasn’t sure they would give. I ignored her and went for my cup of beer not sparing her a glance. After what seemed like a life time of silence, she stood up, picked her bag and was about to walk away when I drew her by the hand and bursted out laughing. She looked at me with a confused expression on her face. “Sit down jhoorr, person no fit play with you?”........I teased, pulling her down to the seat. “You thought I was angry about that?”.........I asked sarcastically pointing at the place the car dropped her. “I don’t know, couldn’t think of anything”.........she replied. “But on a more serious note, who is he? The lucky guy?”........I pressed on. “It’s none of your business oga. How are you?”.........She replied. “Okay then, keep it to yourself. Just know that one day that thing wey you kill hide for inside house go soon begin smell. Any ways I’m fine”.......I replied her playfully. “It’s obvious that you are back from your unknown journey........Welcome back room mate”........she muttered, but I shrugged in response. “Let me go in. Have you had anything to eat?”.........She asked. “Yeah I made noodles”........I replied. “Then let me go in and make something. I will see you inside”.........she muttered, standing up to leave the bar After she left, I ordered for another bottle of Henieken, resuming with my thoughts. When I was done, I paid and left for my apartment. Immediately I entered the compound, the power came, with shouts all round welcoming it back. I walked straight to the water pumping switch to turn it on when Funmilola came out from her room. She stopped at her doorstep with a surprised expression on her face, and then she muttered a greeting. “Good evening”.........she greeted. “Good evening Funmi, how far na?”........I replied. “I am cool. Did you travel?”........she asked. “Not really, just went out for a while, How is Tosin?”........I asked with a smile on my face. “She is fine and inside”.......she replied, calling out on Tosin. Knowing that there is a very slim chance of me hearing Ga, she started speaking it to Tosin who was still inside. “........Funmilola yelled, and tosin appeared at the door smiling like a fish. “Tosin ……”........I meant to repeat after Funmilola as both of them laughed out loud probably at my pronunciation of the wordings. “Good evening”.......Tosin greeted after their laughter. “How are you?”.........I asked, as I noticed how hard she was trying to keep looking up and not down at me. “I am fine”.......Hope you bought something from your travel”........she asked playfully. “No, I didn’t travel”........I replied. “But you weren’t around na”.........She mentioned. “Yes, but I didn’t travel still”.........I replied. “But you weren’t around still”.......she repeated, smiling mischievously. “And you didn’t call to know where I went to abi”.........I asked. “Ah! I don’t have you contact naw”.........She replied. “Because you didn’t care na. if not you would have asked Vida for it and called me”.........I pressed on, playing with her mind. She made a funny face when looking towards Vida's room, before she replied. “Okay, I am sorry, can I have it now? I mean your number”.........she requested. “Oh! You want to collect my number just like? Until you ask properly, I won’t give you”.........I muttered, walking to my room. “Ah! Ah!! Na which kind Shakara be dis?. Okay I will come and collect it later”......she said behind me. “Until then na”..........I replied, without turning to look at her. I know how surprised they will be as we've never talked like that since they packed in. I know that one way or the other Funmilola and Tosin must have been talking about me during my absence. While walking to my room, I noticed a movement at Vida's window, and i smiled. Maybe she was peeping on me and the girls. I changed course and headed to her room. She unlocked the door without hesitance when I knocked, like she has been waiting at the door. As she unlocked the door, she headed back to her kitchen while I came in and laid on her bed. To be continued............