Chapter Eight : Grateful Again.

Omotayo 

    The name Kingsley never failed to leave a bitter taste in my mouth. The name had a very horrid memory attached to it and anybody with that name would either have to change it around me or forget I exist. 

"What is it? You don't like my name?" he asked in a slightly offended tone. 

"You shouldn't have persisted if you were only going to frown after hearing my name," he added, still wearing a frown. 

"I'm so sorry, I just got lost in my thoughts for a while but I can assure you my frown had nothing to do with you or your name," I assured him quickly but deep down, I know I'm lying. His name didn't sit well with me at all. 

  His frown seemed to wear off and I mentally sigh in relief but everything in me still felt nothing but negative vibes from him and that bad luck of a name he had just gave me more reason to panic. "Why aren't you eating? The food is delicious," he said, pointing towards my barely touched plate of food. 

  "I'm not very hungry," I replied calmly, "Please excuse me, I need to use the restroom," I excused myself quickly and I would have used that chance to bolt out of here but the look in his eyes when I asked to excuse myself gave me a very scary warning or am I just being paranoid for no reason? 

I looked at my reflection in the mirror in frustration. If I could, I would smash it in anger but that would only add to my problems and I couldn't afford more problems at this point. 

I tried calling Ini's number again but it said the same thing it had been saying for the past five minutes. Switched off.  

 She wasn't the type to switch off her phone and that worried me even more. I also tried calling Temi but strangely his number was also not going through. I definitely couldn't call the police since I had no real reason for panicking and my parents were definitely not an option for me. 

  "You can do this Tayo! Just go in there, act calm, talk to him and go home. It'll be over soon," I said to myself as an encouragement before stepping out of the restroom and towards my table. My eyes caught a glimpse of a familiar face and I temporarily froze and took another look at him. I quickly thought of asking him for help but he looked too engrossed in his conversation with the pretty lady opposite him and I didn't have the guts to interrupt them. Besides, he wasn't in any way obligated to help me so why should I bother him? I peeked at him one last time and decided it was best to just handle my own problem. 

  "Sorry I took so long," I apologised with a fake smile. 

"I'm even surprised you came back. I thought for a second that you already ran off," he replied with a creepy and repulsive smile that made me feel sick to my stomach.

"So what do you do for a living?" I asked him, trying to start a reasonable conversation but his reply made me realise how impossible it was to be normal around him. 

  "I basically murder people,"he replied with a serious face and I deadpanned. He can't possibly be serious, can he? Is this guy even normal? I wonder to myself, feeling completely irritated by him. 

"Don't tell me you believed that? I was only making a joke," he quickly told me and I mentally scoffed. Joke my ass! My years of experience has taught me never to take anything as a joke and coming from a creep like him, I was definitely not buying the joke. 

  "I'm an importer," he told me and I almost asked what he imported but to avoid any creepy answers, I refrained myself. My phone suddenly rang out, distracting my thoughts and like a blessing, I saw Ini's name pop up on my screen. 

"Don't pick that!" his voice warned sharply and I stared back at him in confusion. 

"Why shouldn't I pick my phone?" I asked, wondering why he would even ask that of me. 

  "Uhmm, because I said so. So obey nicely and switch off your phone and besides, it's rude to pick up your phone on a date night. It should be switched off so we won't be disturbed," he said calmly and even though he'd tried to butter his words to appear calm, I could tell that was an indirect threat. 

  "Tell me straight, who are you and what exactly do you want from me?" I cut to the chase and he smirked. 

"I recall telling you my name earlier, shouldn't that answer your question?" he replied and I'm confused.

  Kingsley was definitely an unforgettable face to me and the man opposite me was definitely not him. So why exactly is he claiming to be him? 

"You're not him and I'm certain I don't know you so now tell me, who are you and what do you want from me?" I asked him again but this time, I'm not asking with fear, I'm asking with anger. 

  "Well, I'm obviously not him as you can see but believe me, I know him pretty well and I also happen to know the person you put in jail earlier this year. Isn't that a beautiful coincidence? And the best part is, both men happen to be my brothers and because of you, both my brothers are suffering. Now tell me, how does it feel to be the downfall of two brothers and more importantly, what punishment do you think you deserve for ruining them?" he asked angrily and my heart fell to my stomach. 

  Evil definitely runs in their blood if truly they are brothers. Kingsley was my first definition of evil and as they say, you never forget your firsts. 

"So you had two sick people as your brothers? That means there's no doubt that you're just as sick or even more sick than they are and sick humans like you belong in a cemetery," I snapped back at him and he laughed. 

  "So will you try to send me there like you almost sent my brother?" he asked and I smirked. 

"If you put yourself in that position, I'll send you there for sure and this time, nothing will save you," I warned sternly but that was definitely a lie. I was terrified and I don't think I'm as courageous as I was five years ago when I hit Kingsley on the head with a hammer. 

  "You think you're brave, don't you? Always talking like you're untouchable but trust me, I'll personally cut off that tongue of yours myself. For now, finish your meal. I wouldn't want you to die hungry," he said and I scoffed. 

"You can't kill me. This is a public place, remember?" I reminded him confidently and he chuckled dryly. 

  "Look around you dear, death is everywhere. You're just too blind to see it," he replied and that immediately shuts me up. 

I looked around and noticed that every other person around me was eating and chatting normally but it still felt terrifying and the idea he aimed to plant in my mind had definitely sprouted.  

   I kept looking around, hoping the idiot opposite me was just bluffing and I'm immediately thankful when my eyes meet Bayo's. I couldn't let the creep in front of me realise I knew him so I decided to look away quickly but not before trying to plead for his help with my eyes, hoping he understood body language. 

  "Would you like dessert?" Kingsley or whatever his real name is asked and I quickly refuse. 

"I want to go home," I said but he stayed silent and continued to sip his drink noisily. I ignored him and attempted to get up and leave but he quickly pulled me back down and I sighed in frustration. 

  "What do you want from me? Aren't you done venting your frustrations or are you actually planning to kill me with so many eyes and cameras watching?" I asked, already feeling frustrated. 

"Get my brother out and I…," He's saying but he's interrupted. 

"Tayo?" A familiar voice called out and my eyes lit up as soon as I saw who it was. 

"Hey Bayo, w..what are you doing here?" I stuttered nervously. 

"I was having dinner with a friend but I should be asking you that question instead. What are you still doing here? Haven't you heard what happened?" he asked with a surprised expression and I'm confused. 

  "Heard what exactly?" I asked. 

"I got a call earlier from your cousin and he told me your dad had a heart attack and was rushed to the hospital. I'm surprised you're still here cause I was just about to head there," he explained and I deadpanned. 

Dad? Hospital? How come? I wondered to myself, feeling the tears slowly roll down my cheeks. 

  "Should I drive you to the hospital?" Kingsley asked and I immediately glared at him. 

"I'm leaving and please, don't show up in my face ever again!" I warned sternly and Bayo helped me up and led me out of the restaurant . When I looked back at Kingsley, he had already disappeared and the two tables beside us were already empty. I guess he wasn't bluffing about being surrounded. 

"Hey, are you okay?" Bayo asked as soon as we're outside. 

"I'm not important right now. I just want to see my dad, can you take me to the hospital?" I asked and he broke into guffaws, confusing me.  

"I don't recall saying anything funny. Can you or can you not drive me to the hospital?" I asked again, this time more aggressively. 

  "Chill girl, your blood too dey hot. There's no need to go to the hospital. Your dad is perfectly fine as far as I know," he answered back with a light laugh. 

"Are you crazy? Why did you scare me like that?" I yelled, hitting him with my purse but he continued to laugh instead. "You're crazy! Very crazy!" I yelled and threw my purse at him but he quickly grabbed it. 

  "If that's your way of saying, 'thank you for helping me out' then you're welcome," he said and I looked away guiltily. I should really be thanking him. 

"Before your boyfriend knows we lied, let's get out of here. Where are your car keys?" he asked and I pointed towards the purse in his hands. 

 We get inside my car and stay quiet for a while. I still had a lot going through my mind and he didn't seem to mind. 

  "Are you okay? What happened back there?" he asked after about ten minutes of sitting in silence. 

"If you're not comfortable telling me, it's not a problem but it will do you some good to let it out. Is he your boyfriend? Is the relationship toxic? Did he cheat?" He bombarded me with questions and I subconsciously used my left hand to shut him up. 

 "You know, for a guy, you talk way too much," I told him and he laughed a bit. 

"Okay then, I'll just assume you don't want to tell me. Sorry for prying," he said and relaxed in the driver's seat. 

"He's not my boyfriend for your information and there is no big secret. I didn't even know him till today," I explained briefly and he furrowed his brows in confusion. 

 "So why did you look so terrified?" he asked again. 

"Well, because he's karma and he has come back to haunt me," I gave a short reply and although he looked confused, he decided against asking any further questions, an act I was definitely grateful for cause I have no idea how I was suppose to explain the situation to anybody let alone, a stranger. 

 "What's your address? I'll drive you home," he asked. 

"You don't have to. I wouldn't want you to go through that stress of dropping me off and coming back to pick up your car," I replied but he shrugged me off immediately. 

"Just tell me the address, I'm not complaining," he replied sharply and I reluctantly told him. 

 "I know I should have said this earlier but thank you for helping me out and I'm sorry you had to come this far," I said to him as soon as he dropped me off and handed over my car keys. 

"It's not a problem and you're welcome," he tells me and I contemplated borrowing him my car to go home since it was already late but immediately tossed the idea aside. 

 "By the way, I don't live too far from here at all. My place is actually at a walkable distance," he added and I'm surprised. 

"Since when did you know that?" I asked. 

 "When you told me your address, I figured it out so don't look at me like that," he warned and I rolled my eyes. 

"Well, now I don't have to feel guilty about stressing you so have a good night and thanks again," I replied with a yawn and walked into the house not waiting for a response from him but I heard him say goodnight before walking in through the gate.