Wilding

CHAPTER TWO.

Kim and Jennifer are in their hotel room. Kim is working on her laptop while Jennifer happily reads the number one trending gist on African blogs and social media.

"Thank you so much, I love you!" Jennifer jumped on Kim, hugging and pecking her on the cheeks. "You are my life saver. The news is now everywhere; the boobs signing, the free V.I.P ticket..literally everyone is saying that I, Dr.Jennifer Adedeji is Bryan's new girl friend. My followership on I*******m has increased by five thousand."

Kim frowned. "Good for you. His fans has crashed one of my websites again."

"He is so handsome. Rumor said it's eleven inches." Jennifer replied dreamily.

"What is eleven inches?" Kim feigned innocence.

"You know..."

Kim"s face remained serious. "No, I don't know."

"Shut up! You know what I mean. I can't wait to get laid by him, seeing him gets me so wet."

"Should I leave this room for you? I think I should, one needs privacy in life, especially those that plan to do stuffs tonight with Bryan's pictures."

"Ewwwww, you're disgusting. I've never met a dirty minded person as you. That is by the way." She Paused, then continued. "Kimberly darling, Kim love..you know you are a very passionate lady when it comes to work and I..."

"Quit the sweet name calling and go straight to the point. What other ridiculous favor will you ask of me this time?"

"I want you to stalk Bryan for me. I need to know when he is going back to Nigeria and everywhere he is going to visit while he is still here in Paris."

"I'm not surprised. I expected worse requests."

"Kim please you have to help me. I won't have it easy when he returns to Nigeria, you know he is like a god to Africans. Please."

"I have work to do. Serious business, other than stalking this Bryan celebrity of a man."

"Don't sound like I am a jobless fellow. I also work. (Pause.) What kind of a friend are you? Wait, are you even my friend?"

"He is here for a vacation with his friends and crew. He will be going back to Nigeria in four weeks for his concert. After the concert he will drop a surprise project, which I suspect is his surprise album, then..."

Jennifer quickly interrupted. "I am not interested in all that. Where exactly will he be tomorrow night? Argggg!" She walked away feigning irritation, while Kim mockingly followed her.

***

Nathan is discussing with his friend, Jude, upstairs at Nathan's home. They are at the balcony when they sight Pink walking down the street. Nathan takes his lustful eyes off Pink the moment she looks in his direction.

Too late, she walks inside Nathan's compound. Nathan and Jude exchange surprise glances.

"Good afternoon ma." She greeted.

"Good afternoon my daughter." Onome responded.

"Afternoon." Payson and Mercy responded in unison.

"Who are you looking for?" Payson asked, smiling.

"My name is Pink. I am Nathan's friend."

"Pink, what kind of name is that?" Onome asked in curiosity.

"What is your real name?" Mercy inquired.

"Pink. That is what my parents named me."

Payson smiled. "He is upstairs at the balcony."

"Thank you ma." She walked to the balcony.

"I don't like her." Onome said, squeezing her face.

Mercy laughed. "Because of her name? Of course she lied about that."

"The way teenagers effortlessly and fearlessly lie these days! It scares me." Onome complained.

"I like her. She looks neat and well groomed. She has a lovely smile with nice dentition, that's the type of girl I will like Nathan to end up with." Payson said with finality in her tone. "Why don't we all go to mall and you know, give them some privacy?"

"My grandson won't be alone in this house with any girl." Onome warned.

"I trust the son I'm raising." Payson defended.

Onome straightened up. "I forbid it. Young people don't always have self control. They don't know the hazards of everything, and they might be so in love with experience and emotion that they might lose good sense. And besides," She said, waving her hands uselessly. "It just looks bad. It's not right."

***

"Nathan, Jude..hi." Pink waved her hands as she climbed the balcony.

"Hi." Jude responded, then whispered to Nathan, "I'm in the living room." He left the balcony.

"Did I chase your..."

"No no no, Pink.. Never mind that. Ummm, it's so good to see you again. What brings you here, did you come to see me?" Nathan questioned. He was happy to see her but worried having a girl in the house.

"I was bored at home, decided to come visit a friend of mine that lives two blocks away then I saw you standing here, bare chest and I assumed you live here."

"You would have given me a call though."

Pink rolled her eyes. "Like I have your phone number or something..."

"You are welcome. Hope my family didn't bother you?"

"A little."

"Please sit. There is vodka in the fridge and it's chilled." He teased.

"With all pleasure I'll have it."

Nathan chuckled. "I'm never giving you alcohol again. Stick to drinking Fanta and Pepsi."

"Just joking. That drink wasn't fun for me, I promise. I was miserable."

"Are you free later this evening? Would love you to spend some time with me.."

"Where exactly are we going, why are we going and who are we going with?"

"With whom are we going?" Nathan corrected. "Don't end your sentences with a preposition. Don't they teach you anything in school these days?"

"Okay, with whom are we going?"

"My friend dropped his EP last month and today is the listening party. At Precious Hotel and Suites. You're going with me and Jude. So?"

"S.o.r.r.y."

"Ugh, I think my heart just broke in ten thousand places."

"Get to me for stitching."

They both laugh. Nathan walks out while Pink sits.

***

Kim and Jennifer ride in Kim's car, to the club. Jennifer is driving while Kim is working on her laptop.

"You are worrying for nothing. This is not Nigerian over rated clubs where people are bounced for no reason." Jennifer said.

"This club bounced Justin Beiber last year, and you think we stand a chance?"

"Is it Bryan that stand a chance? Relax. As long as you're certain Bryan is clubbing here tonight then I'm not leaving this place."

They both come down from the car and walk to the club gate, the bouncers refuse them entry. They walk back to the car. Kim opens the car, brings out her pipe and lighter, she sits on top of the car smoking while Jennifer paces in anger.

"Kim you brought us this bad luck, learn to always have a positive mind set."

As Bryan drives in with his two friends, he notice Kim and Jennifer. "These girls again! Why do I feel like they are following me?"

"Because they are." Andre said.

"We better turn back and go to another club. Social media is already rife with she- is- your girlfriend rumours." Gentle suggested.

Bryan sighed. "I blame that journalist Blade. Every drop of blood in my body hates her."

Andre looked outside. "I say we go in and have fun. If miss boobs tries to trouble you I'll call the cops."

"I am Bryan, lover of every beautiful girl on earth. Common!"

"You are confused. Make up your mind, are you interested in her or not?" Andre questioned.

"I love the miss proud, damn! She smokes in a sexy way." Gentle admired.

"No, no, no. Bro no.." Bryan turned to face Gentle seated at the back seat. "You shouldn't be loving her. You are a responsible, faithful, committed, certified lover boy. Please leave the ladies for me and Andre."

Gentle laughed. "I was only joking. I am happily engaged to Sharon, the love of my life."

Andre frowned. "My friend go and sit down, what kind of engagement is that?"

"You have been engaged to that girl for over ten years now. Gentle, ten years!"

"Better collect back that ring from her, set her free. Let her go, free the innocent girl, Gentle." Andre added.

"I know what I am doing." Gentle tried to defend himself.

"We all know you will not marry her, so please set her free."

Bryan parks his car behind Kim's. They all come down. Bryan sits beside Kim on her car top. Jennifer looks at him admist surprise, excitement and disappointment.

"I'm Bryan. Mind if I share your smoke?"

Kim looked at Bryan briefly, then gave him the pipe. "Kim."

"Nice name."

"Bryan!" Jennifer called out. "Hi, do you recognize me?"

"How can I forget?"

"Thank God you are here. She is my friend, we both came to the club to unwind but we were bounced."

"I'm sorry about that." Bryan said then held Kim by the hand. "Shall we?"

They all walk inside the club, Kim gives the bouncers her middle finger as they humbly open the club gate.

***

As scheduled, Lydia and Ann come for their modeling shoot at the beach. Jude the director of the photography is setting his camera.

Pink is seated some other place at the beach watching them. She scoops up a handful of sand and then lets it slide through her fingers. Nathan sits beside her with his camera hung on his neck.

"How close are they to you?" He asked.

"Lydia and Ann?"

"No, your eyes and your nose. Of course Lydia and Ann."

Pink laughed. "We are childhood friends. They asked me to accompany them for the shoot. Why do you ask, who do you like?"

"Which question should I answer first?"

"Start with do you like any of them? I guess.."

"No! I mean, yes, but not in the way you are thinking."

"Awn! You now read people's minds and know the way they think, huh? Anyways, Ann really likes you." She said.

"Did she tell you that?"

"Does she need to say it? It's obvious."

"Ann is cool but if at all I want to have anything to do with one of them I'll go for Lydia."

"Why?"

"Nothing. I like her more. I feel her vibes more."

"So why don't you go for her?"

"Because there is someone else I'm going for."

"You have a girlfriend?"

"No."

"Oh, okay." She said, then kept quiet.

"Are you having fun?" Nathan tried to keep the conversation going.

"Yes I am. I like the cool sea breeze blowing on my face. Are you also having fun?"

"I enjoy the beach when the crowds of sun worshipers has gone home. I usually practice here at that time. It's easy to sing loud on the beach because no one can hear me over the pounding of the surf."

"You don't want to be heard?"

"No! Yes! I mean, who likes to be heard while practicing?"

"Well, the sea at night is strange. During the get crazy party, I could sense the power of the waves and the vastness of the ocean, and I could almost feel the blackness of the air that surrounded both sand and sea. It was as though I were in moist velvet. I was a little scared, untill you gave me that vodka drink."

"You were a total diaster after the drink."

They both laugh at themselves. Nathan uses his camera to take quick different shots of Pink. Pink giggles in a coy way, covering her face with her yellow flowery scarf.

"Nathan please. I hate cameras flashing on my face."

"Chill, you will make a good model with your fair skin, straight legs, and flat tummy."

Pink giggled, tying her scarf. "Never. I want to be a nurse."

"Great choice I must say. Modeling is not for everyone though. Are you still in high school?"

"Yes. This is my final year. How about you?"

"I dropped out of college last year."

"Why? Are you a cultist?"

"No! I am not a cultist. As for school? That will be a story for another day. For now I am focused on making my music career a success."

"I enjoyed your performance during the beach party. You really have the swag and charisma for music. You made every motion, every note, every phrase, seem effortless. You absolutely bloomed."

"Thank you. I saw how you were clapping and whistling like crazy. I am one of the best rappers of our time."

"Woah, WORLD STAR.. I see, someone is bragging."

"Yeah, sometimes you just have to brag and give yourself some accolades. I'm not like my dad, I didn't get his brain. I got music and I want to use it. So how old are you?"

"Ageless, I am a lady."

Nathan laughed. "I know a guy shouldn't..."

Pink interrupted. "I will be sixteen on Christmas eve this year."

"Wow, sweet sixteen. Happy birthday in advance."

"Thank you. How old are you?"

"Guess."

"Twenty?"

"Nineteen. Did you move in recently?"

"Yes. My dad just bought our house."

"We lived in that same house before we moved to the other side of the Estate."

"No way!!! Why did you guys sell the house? That house is so cute. I'm guessing you are very familiar with the environment, I don't know anywhere in that hood."

"One of these days I will take you for a walk round the hood."

"That would be fun. Just make sure we don't get lost."

"I can't guarantee that but if we ever get lost, I'll find us."

"And maybe you could tell the story in one of your songs."

"Great idea. Imagine having a song titled 'LOST IN THE HOOD'".

"Or just "LOST".

They keep chatting while Lydia and Ann give Pink the evil eye. Both whisper to each other. Jude gets pissed and start scolding them.

Nathan continue taking quick pictures of Pink, she shies away covering her face with her palms. She takes to her heels, Nathan chases after her taking quick pictures.