Must Read: The Rich Kids Of LAGOS (16+)… Part 8

Peter, pick dammit!’ willed Aduke, but the phone rang off… No luck.It was the sixth consecutive time the phone was ringing and there was still no response. Aduke was angry that she needed to get her money off Peter but these were desperate times. ’See now, it is Christmas and I’m broke’ thought Aduke. Just as she was issuing a long hiss, Tessy walked into the room and noticed that Aduke was angry at something.‘Hey, what’s up? You look royally pissed’ asked TessyIt took Addy over a second to figure out what ‘rohh-yully’ meant as she just stared at Tessy. This was the only one of Simi’s friends that she could not stand. This wicked girl that had set her up and single handedly scattered her life. She would still get her back. This definitely was not the kind of Christmas morning she had been hoping to have.‘Thanks, I am fine’ responded Aduke, tersely.‘You don’t look it to me. Is there a problem? asked Tessy.‘No. thanks’ as if she would tell her, nosy B***h.Aduke began to do mental calculations. How much was left? Should she take more money out of the Spa account? Should she head to the village or stay here in Lagos? It seemed too late to go to the village now because she didn’t have enough money. She had enough for her transport fare and living expenses. Those would cater for a low key visit but she knew all their neighbours and her mum’s friends would expect something extra. It was the end of the year after all. These people who would not ask verbally, but with their eyes and expressions would tell you to go into the room and ‘represent’.She refused to imagine that she would now go home after all this time and fail to ‘represent’. Her mum would need her to represent too, not realising that the monthly stipends she has been paying into mummy’s account was representation enough.‘-rry for it’ Aduke caught only the last syllables of Tessy’s idle chatter. ‘Why won’t this one just vanish now?’ She wondered to herself.‘I’m sorry?’ Aduke liked to use this new version of ‘sorry’ that was more of a question than an apology, she had only just picked it up. She’d noticed Simi’s friends used it a lot.‘Oh, you did not hear me.’ said Tessy, stating the obvious‘I was saying that Simi has spoken with me and she wants us to put an end to this bad blood between us. I’m sorry that I gave you the pill that night, I’m also sorry for introducing you to that foolish Bode. I did not know he would pick you up. Oh, I’m also sorry for telling Simi you said we should go. I gave you the pills just to see how you would react if you had something extra in your system, you are always too calm and I told Simi you were with new friends, just for fun. She told me everything that happened and quite frankly, I could not have planned all that even if I wanted to. I’m really sorry’ Said Tessy in a rush.Addy heard Tessy’s words and while they sounded sincere, she knew it was fake. Tessy’s eyes didn’t look sorry.But more importantly, why did Simi and Anita tell Tessy everything? Who was this Bode person Tessy spoke about? She had no vague recollection of the fellow. Sh*t! she wished she had money right now. She would have just picked up her bag and left.‘You mean they told you? Did they tell you everything? asked a surprised Addy‘Of course they did… every little detail. We always stick together. We’ve been best friends forever. I’ve known these girls since primary school. responded Tessy.Addy knew this was Tessy’s way of reinforcing the fact that she was an outsider to their group, a hanger on.‘Its okay, I have heard your apology. I think that next time, you shh…’ Just as she was going to conclude her statement, her phone rang and the display said it was Peter!!!‘Excuse me’ she turned her back to Tessy, hoping to signal the end of the conversation. She would go and meet Tessy in the sitting room later so they could iron the issues out properly.‘Peter, Merry Christmas’ not sounding merry at all‘Why have you been calling me? Peter still sounded hostileOk, this was a lot more awkward than Addy had thought it would be. She had imagine she would just issue the fiat, ask for her money to be delivered to the Spa and that would be it‘I need to collect…’ started Aduke‘Tell me the time and I would be home to let you pick your remaining things. It just cannot be today or tomorrow’ Peter was unwilling to sacrifice his free days to his ex.‘No, its not my things…Well, the other day, you said you had been sent to drop something for me, can I have it? hoping Peter would understand‘What thing? asked a confused Peter‘The money you brought in the briefcase that day’ responded AdukePeter kept quiet and Aduke thought the line had gone off. ‘Hello, hello, hello..’ she needed to be sure he was still there.‘I’m here. I’m just surprised that you could be so shameless to call and ask for that money’ said Peter angrily.‘I’m sorry but you did say it was my money’ said Aduke quietly‘You are really a ho, a Lovepeddler and a LovePeddler. Just this once, I was considering that you could truly be repentant but you called me frantically for this? I have over five missed calls from you and it is this nonsense you wanted to discuss? Just let me tell you something, you cannot sink much lower than this in my estimation. NEVER EVER!’ the last syllables were said with so much anger. Peter was clearly irritated.‘Thank you, I am a Lovepeddler and a LovePeddler. You already said it all. Why would you expect me to call you for any other reason? I saw you shagging another girl, you have not even apologised for that. Its not your first time of calling me those names but newsflash Peter, your words would not put food on my table. So thank you sir, this LovePeddler needs her money. When should I come and collect it or will you bring it? Aduke asked, a lot bolder than she knew.