A PLACE

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She had loosened her hair and combed out her kinks, making her afro sit elegantly on her head. It wasn't a full hair and didn't form a properly rounded afro but she still looked different, totally different. The soft features of her face were now pronounced and for the first time ever, he noticed another woman other than his wife.

He noticed for the first time how neanimorphic she looked for a lady in her late twenties. His mind drifted back to his wife– an older woman with a prettier face and a slightly bigger body. 

"I love Hauwa and she'll kill me if I ever cheat on her", he repeated multiple times underneath his breath as if to convince or remind himself. 

He relaxes on the sofa as the maid comes to inform him Doctor will be with him shortly and offers him a cup of freshly squeezed juice.

"You know, I made that myself just this afternoon, Barrister", she pointed to the cup of juice, informing him with pride. "There's nothing quite like a freshly squeezed fruit juice. By the way, Dr Bosa won't be coming out anytime soon", Sophie informed him as she sat on the chair next to him. 

She liked to refer to her father, Dr Bosa, formally when interacting with his associates and he's gotten used to that. 

What he wasn't used to was the anxiety he felt now. 

"Why? If I may ask?" He forced himself to ask calmly.

"Family issues", she said as she shrugged. "Cons of coming from a big, wealthy family", she scoffed. "But you have to wait for him, you know…" 

" I know", he quickly interjected.

She looks at him keenly and then shrugs. Shrugging seems to be her thing. 

He noticed how she was not particularly pretty but was funnily really attractive. How do these things work, he wondered.

"Has Doctor ever taken you round the house before?", she questioned. " It's a sight to behold, I promise you. 

I could give you a tour if you don't mind, of course", she interjected before he could say anything.

I love Hauwa and she'll kill me if I ever cheat on her, he reminded himself and repeated in his mind but it was impotent and had no effect and didn't know when he blurted his response.

"Yes. I'd very much like that"

It’s been an hour and half and the conversation he’s had with her feels like he’s known her his whole life. They’d covered topics friends would have covered.

I love Hauwa and she’d kill me if I ever cheat on her.

“You have a personality like your looks- attractive”. He could not believe he’d just blurted that out and he instantly wished to be swallowed by the earth, especially with the precise look she gave in response to what he’s said.

Silence.

Her intense stare eased into a shy smile and as he noticed for the first time that she has a cheeked dimple. 

I love Hauwa and she’ll kill me if I ever cheat on her.

“Come, let me show you a place”.