It has been two days since her heart-wrenching break up and instead of sulking like she originally wanted to do, she decided to go get some more sanitary pads.

It was surprising her period came too early in the month and she had just a few pieces hence leaving the house.

The twins did make things easier for her and would call to check on her and let her know that all is well and that she will be fine.

It made her feel better that they kept sending more food her way so she didn't see any reason to cry aside from when she watched titanic last night.

She was a crying mess as she explained to Dara how Jack died and why he shouldn't have died and left Rose in this cruel world.

Dara was elated she slept in no time after her long crying explanation.

"No more thinking, I will be fine," she said to herself and came out of her car, locked it, and checked if it was really locked before heading into the building.

Her phone rang and she paused to take it out of her purse to see who was calling and as expected her mum was calling and she wondered how come it took this long for them to confirm whatever news they hear about her.

"Ifeoluwa Tobiloba" her mum began and she resist the urge to roll her eyes and continue her way into the feminine aisle to get what she came here for.

"Ma" she answered in a not too pleasing manner.

"Ifeoluwa Ayomipo Gra-"

"Mummy why did you call?" she interrupted her mum.

She didn't have to go to that extent of calling her entire name if she was just calling her to make fun of her along with her sisters.

"So you are now cutting your mummy off abi?" her mother asked sounding annoyed but she didn't answer and just stood in front of a particular sanitary product she wanted to try on.

"You don't want to answer abi? No problem, maybe that is what you were taught in school to disrespect your parents and elders, okay ooo"

A sigh left Ife's lips as she knew this particular tactic her mum uses especially on her so even if her mum is at fault Ife would look like the bad one and her mum like the victim.

"Mummy, please I don't have time for all this drama today, I don't have energy for it. Please tell me why you called so I can get on with my day" she told her mum already feeling frustrated.

"That is why I told your dad, may his soul rest in peace, that he shouldn't allow you to go abroad to study that business thing you went to study. See how it has made you, can you see?" her mother lamented and she shook her head.

"When I said you should school here in Nigeria as your sisters did, you wouldn't be talking to your elders disrespectfully like you are doing and will be able to keep a relationship firm and even get married"

"One of your daughters who you said to have 'good culture' instilled in them got kicked out of her husband's house just because she bad-mouthed and insulted her mother-in-law" she began unable to take the insult her mum threw her way.

"The other one, 'a public property' to the entire men in our community, and I am the one with the bad values instilled" she shook her head and tried to keep the tears in.

"I wished dad never died so I wouldn't have to face all these embarrassments I am facing from you lots. You claim to be my real mother, if truly you are then act like one and stop judging me" she disconnected the call and didn't wait for whatever her mother had to say to her.

She already had enough of them and their attacking words towards her.

It wasn't her fault Tomiwa decided to leave her without a valid reason and when they had months to get married and a planned out week in Maldives. It wasn't her fault and she wouldn't let them keep trashing her and getting away with it.

She closed her eyes to keep the tears in so she wouldn't break down and when she opened her eyes, there wasn't anyone close to her and was glad she didn't raise her voice and cause an unnecessary scene.

"Ife, you got this, no one can march you anyhow. You will be good" she told herself and looked at the pads on the shelves.

Just as she was going to grab two packs sheet heard her name being called from behind and no one calls her that except one person.

"Grace? Is that you?" the voice said again and she turned around to confirm her suspicion.

It was confirmed as shock, disbelief, surprise, and amusement played on her face when she saw him.

"Patrick?" she asked to be sure and the fine dark-skinned man nodded with a grin that made his dimples pop from both cheeks.

That same flutter she felt whenever she saw his dimples came and she looked at him from his neatly styled punk hairstyle to his face that had no trace of beard but had his dimples popping out with his handsome, head-spinning smile.

His brows were full like they had always been and were shaped with a small cut at the edge of the right brow.

He wasn't that chubby guy she used to know in college, rather he was built with his well-defined torso and biceps that could be seen from his grey t-shirt hugging them.

Was it illegal that she wanted to be that shirt?

Her eyes traveled further down to his waist that had a black belt strapping dark blue slightly tight jeans with a black pair of sneakers honoring his feet.

His dark skin is well defined and glowing.

He is the definition of gorgeous.

Who would think that Patrick of that time, the black-rimmed glasses-wearing chubby adorable guy would turn out to be this gorgeous-looking blank panther?

Black Panther? Seriously Ife, you could do better she scolded herself.

Beautiful black king, she thought but 'black panther' suited him more in her definition.

"How are you doing?" he asked going in for a hug but she was too possessed by his look to give the hug back.

"You look good" the words just flew out of her mouth and she didn't have the chance to think about anything but just say what was in her mind.

His cheeks warmed up by the comment coming from her and he bit his bottom lip to contain the huge grin wanting to be known.

"It's great hearing that from my long-time crush," he said to her and she froze, then her eyes went wide before adjusting to their normal size when he said that.

Their story was something to talk about... Like that.

When they were in college over there in the US he had always made his intentions known to her but she saw him more as a friend and would let him know so she doesn't lead him on and break his heart.

There was a time she thought she liked him so much but didn't want anything occurring between them to be more than friendship so she avoided him for a while because she liked Tomiwa she met when came home for vacation then.

But it seems like the feelings are resurfacing but she thinks it is because of the massive change in his physical appearance that is making her feel this way.

"It is still there?" she asked and he nodded with a smile.

"Always" he grinned widely.

She found herself getting lost in that beautiful smile again and had to caution herself and look away to collect her thoughts that don't seem to exist anymore.

Looking back at him with a clear head and a mission of not getting lost in those smiles, she decided to say something, something that would not make her drift away again.

"So what are you doing here?"

He looked taken back and blinked several times, a habit she knew of him whenever he was caught doing something.

He cleared his throat and answered.

"Er... I came to pick up some sanitary pads for my little sister, you know how you women can be" he chuckled and she smiled at it.

Her sister would rather allow her to burn in shame of having her monthly period than help her get any pads or anything to was her cramps.

"That is sweet of you, or are you sure it is not for one babe like that as you are using your sister as a scope?" she jokingly asked.

"Cross my heart and hope to die" is his way of saying he was being truthful or making a promise.

"Oh, okay then..." she said not knowing what else to say.

"What... er... would you like to grab something to eat, like after the shopping?"

"How about your sister's pad, she would need them"

"She would need these ones for the rest of the week, she still has some to spare," he told her.

"Okay, okay yeah, I would like to," she said with a wide smile.

He smiled too and they kept looking at each other, nodding and letting out nervous chuckles before he broke it and looked away then looked back at her.

"We meet outside to get going?" he asked and she nods.

"Yeah, that is fine"

"Okay, see you in some hours or... maybe minutes," he said and she nods then they stood like that again, still looking at each other and giving each other goofy grins.

"Later," he said and she nods.

"Later" she replied and he walked away to get the pads while she watched him do that.

"Good LORD, he is gorgeous" she muttered under her breath as he picked a pad and looked at it before going ahead to pick our more.

He looked her way and was startled that she got caught in 4k, she flashes him a nervous smile and went back to packing almost ten pads into the basket she carried and some other toiletries and deodorants.

When she had grabbed all that she needed, she looked up and he wasn't there so she went to the cashier to pay up.

It reaches her turned and her goods were packed.

"That would be twelve thousand naira ma"

"Okay, hold on" she opened her purse and brought out her card to pay but a hand stopped her and she looked at who was that to see Patrick nodding at the cashier who nods back and hand her goods to her.

He told her to wait for him as he waited for his goods to be packed before paying with his card and walking out of the store with her.

"Thanks, it wasn't necessary"

"Nah, I want to make a good impression, did I pass?" he popped a dimple to bribe her.

"Only because of your dimple so yes" he grinned.

"Did you bring your car? Mine is at the mechanic shop"

"Yeah, I parked over there" she pointed to a white BMW that was in between a truck and a corolla.

"Nice car I must say"

"Well, thank yo-" she cut herself off when she saw the very Tomiwa hand-in-hand with Beatrice her sister laughing and crossing to the other pedestrian walkway.

"Are you okay?" he asked when he saw her countenance change as she looked ahead to see the boyfriend of her with her sister laughing and being too close.

"What is he doing with her? And that close?"

She heaved a sigh and walked to the driver's seat and opened the door.

He looked at them then back at her before going to the passenger seat and closing the door as they stay in silence.

After a few moments, he spoke up.

"What is going on?"

***

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