:Diamonds
→Narrator: Asa
Kosi dragged me kicking and screaming to Kam's house, that Monday.
She had partnered with Tasha, and together, they packed my bag for the so-called 'vacation' Kam had planned- I didn't have a good phone, but, according to Kosi our group chat was buzzing with excitement over the fact we were actually going to spend two weeks in Offshore- and literally strapped me to the back of Kosi's bubble gum pink lambo (the one Jemi gave her that she had tweaked a little.)
"I swear, I hate you right now." I glowered at Kosi, who was driving peacefully, humming happily to a Normani song that was crooning from the speaker.
"Whatever, bitch." She winked at me through the rearview mirror. "I'm doing this for your own good."
"Liar! He bribed you! I know he bribed you!"
She fingered her new diamond necklace that sat around her neck. "Well, what can I say? Diamonds are a girl's best friend."
"I thought I was your best friend."
Kosi laughed, good-naturedly. "Diamonds come first, Asa."
I kept quiet, my heart wouldn't stop pounding within me. My hands were sweaty as anxiety clugged my throat. It was getting harder to breathe, the more distance she covered.
"Asa," she whispered quietly, her voice, serious now. "You know I love you, right?"
I met her eyes on the rearview mirror.
"I'll never sell you out, if it wasn't for you own good." She said quietly, as she broke eye contact to focus on the road. "Kam loves you. That boy will die for you, Asa... I just don't want you to lose the love of your life just because you two are too stubborn to talk shit out. Hear him out, Asa, even if it's just once. Please?"
I sobered up at her soft words. "Thanks, Kosi."
"Anytime."
*
We reached the DeAngeles mansion, where there were three familiar cars, parked in the driveway. I recognized Dave's Land Rover, Jordan's massive truck and Kam's Range Rover.
Kosi skipped all the way to the front door and rang the doorbell severally.
Just when I was about to snap at her for being so rude, the door bursted open.
"PUPPY!!" Was all I heard as someone immediately picked me up, squashing me in a bear hug.
"Jordan!" I actually giggled. "Yeah, I missed you too. You can put me down now."
He let me down and patted my hair like one would pat an obedient puppy. "Good Asa. Nice Asa."
"She's not a dog, big guy." Kosi rolled her eyes, walking past us.
"Everyone is in the living room." Jordan informed us.
"Everyone? We're the last ones here?"
"Na. Osahon, Lola and Jemi are still on their way. Mrs DeAngeles is giving us the talk."
We stopped.
"The talk?" Kosi asked.
"Yeah. You know, sexual hygiene. Protection during sex. Shit like that."
We bursted out laughing.
"Oh wow."
"That's why I ran to answer the door. My eyes have seen my ears."
We were giggling as we entered into the living room, where Kam's mum was lecturing the guys.
Sex Education 101.
"I know you are at a time of your life when everything is new and exciting. But for the love of God, don't do drugs while having sex. Stay away from tramadol and penis enlarging drugs. It will increase your body's natural blood pressure and you will die before reaching orgasm."
"Jeezus! Mum!" Kam complained, clasping his ears, as the other boys sat uncomfortably, an embarrassed expression on their faces.
I nearly laughed at the expressions on their face, until Jordan announced. "They're here!" And two particular pairs of eyes snapped towards me.
My heart ricocheted off my chest wall as I struggled to look some place else.
I was kind of hoping that Amir had been too drunk to remember what happened two nights ago, but with the way he gazed at me, almost longingly, I realized that I was hoping for too much.
"Asa!" Kam suddenly leaped out of the recliner he was lounging on, about to meet me, but his mother stopped him.
"Kamsi, sit down. We haven't finished.
"But-"
His mother shot him a look and he sat down grudgingly, his hands were shaking and he looked about ready to bounce off his seat.
"I have organized a thirty minute video, explaining how to correctly use a condom."
All the boys groaned.
She rolled her eyes. "I know I can't stop you from doing what you want. But if you're going to do what you want, at least, do it right."
They all groaned again.
She went about setting the projector as the others complained and protested.
When she was done, she placed an arm around my shoulder as she told the others. "Watch the video. I'll quiz you later." She turned to me. "Come with me, Asa. I'm making sandwiches and you're the only one I trust in my kitchen."
What the hell? She knew I couldn't cook to save my life.
But I followed her anyway, into her state of the art kitchen.
There was an entire basket of sliced bread in the middle of the kitchen island.
"Help me cut out the crust." She told me patiently.
I did as she instructed, taking a bread knife and jaggedly peeling off the crust.
She didn't complain of my sloppy work.
We worked for a while, cutting of the bread crust and it wasn't until we were done with the bread and we had to start chopping vegetables, before she asked me.
"What is going on between you and my son?"
I paled, avoiding her inquisitive stare. "N..nothing."
She chuckled. "You can tell me, Asa. I won't beat you."
"We're just... Uh.." I licked my lips nervously. "We're just sorting things out for the meantime."
I didn't tell her that there was a possibility we would be breaking up.
She raised an interested eyebrow. "Make sure, these things you're sorting out, you do it together. I don't know how you kids do your things nowadays, but love, communication, respect, trust. Those things should always come first in every relationship. Do you hear me?"
"Yes ma."
"If he's being too difficult, just tell me. I'll put sense into his head."
I laughed at this and before I could stop myself, I asked her. "Why do you like me so much?"
She laughed softly. "You remind me of myself, when I was your age, Asa. I guess, I just don't want my son missing out on someone as worthy as you."
She suddenly dropped her knife, her shoulders slumping. "There're mistakes my husband and I made, Asa. He loved me and I loved him... And we still love each other till today."
"So why are you not together."
"Oh, Asa." She shook her head wistfully. "Relationships cannot survive on love alone. You need to give your lover time, attention, listen to him and make sure he listens to you too. You need to respect each other's choices. Trust and grow. Just talk. Talking is everything. You need to be best friends as well as partners... I guess that's where I failed as a wife and as a mother. I loved my husband, but I was always so busy. There wasn't time for even small talk. We drifted away and became strangers and everything just fell apart."
I stared at her, realization, hitting me square in the gut.
She laughed awkwardly at herself, dropping her knife and dabbing her eyes with the back of her sleeve. "Sorry for the unwanted speech, Asachi. I get carried away sometimes."
"No," I said softly. "I needed to hear that."
She nodded at me as she seemed to see something in my eyes. "Don't forget. Talk things out. Communicate. Don't grow apart. Learn from my mistakes, Asa." She almost sounded pleading.
A call came in on her phone and she looked at the screen, her eyes brightening. "It's Kam's father." She informed me, before leaving the kitchen. Before she left, I heard her answer, "Hey!" In a high pitched, almost giddy voice.
The knife fell from my hand, and when I picked it up, I realized my hand was trembling.
I gulped. I was having a panic attack again.
Oh shit!
I started hyperventilating, struggling to control my breathing.
Why? Why now?
I clawed at my throat, doubling over on the counter as my vision blurred.
I felt like screaming, but I was choking on air... And just when it felt like I'd pass out, I felt a presence behind me.
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