17 Merindilogun

As I flew through the air, I realized I probably should've explained some things to Ade before I left, but there was no time. I planned to explain to him when he got down since I was sure he jumped after me. With all this thinking I almost let myself faceplant, but at the last second I flipped and rolled upon hitting the ground. Nine years of gymnastics comes in handy sometimes. I scrambled out of the way quickly - knowing I wouldn't survive being squashed by Ade's fatass- and a second later he landed next to me in the grass, pulling me to the ground with him. I yanked him up and sprinted to the car, hopping in the driver's seat.

"Get up and shake it off we've got to go!"

"You're not about to drive my car-"

"Bro if you don't shut the fuck up I swear to god-"

"Fine, fine, fine whatever just drive carefully with my baby"

"Sure" I smiled as I put the car in drive and sped out of the parking lot, driving over a patch of flowers before zooming onto the highway with my toes crushing the accelerator. As the speedometer rose over 100 mph for some reason Ade looked irritated, but I ignored him. I skid the car into the driveway and heard an engine roaring closer in the distance. I kicked off my stilettos and sprinted upstairs as I heard Ade retreat to his room as a car stopped in the driveway. I wiped off my lipstick with a makeup wipe in one hand and shoved myself into a onesie over my clothes . I sprung into bed as I heard the doorknob turn and forced myself to stop shaking.

"If you hadn't already submitted to our situation you would be in big trouble tonight" he walked to my bed and I struggled not to throw up when he clasped my throat. "Where have you been today?"

"Home. I missed you." I lied.

"Why don't I believe you? "

"I don't know. Why don't you?" He tightened his grip and I struggled to refrain from choking him the back. After about forty-five seconds I couldn't take it. I closed my fist and punched him in the nose with strength I barely knew I had. His grip tightened even more and my sight started to blur. For a second I wanted to die. I felt like an animal. I couldn't do what I wanted, be with who wanted, wear my hair how I wanted, live my life how I wanted. Children were being sold into slavery and I was struggling to do anything about it. I couldn't even breathe. Life didn't feel worth living anymore.But then I remembered Ade.

I did not care about anyone outside my circle. And when I say that I don't mean in the "omg I'm quirky and dark I hate everyone" kind of way. I was just fucked up in a lot of ways and in need of healing. My trauma made it difficult to build emotional attachment to people. Knowing this, what I'm about to say should freak you the fuck out just as much as it did me.

I was worried about Ade. I think somehow, maybe Xylophone actually did poison me, and I found feelings.

Not 'feelings' feelings, but I felt like he was relevant to my life somehow. And now, I found myself fighting back against X, purely because I wanted to check on my friend. It was baffling and terrifying. It took me like two years to accept Asante, but in months Ade was breaking down all my barriers.

My thought process was interrupted when I realized the lamp next to my bed could prove useful.

'I am so sick of knocking this bum out', I thought as I reached out for the lamp and brought it down over his head before he could register what was happening. Once he rolled off of me I checked his pulse then slipped a roofie in his mouth as I made my way down the hall to Ade's room. When I realized he was nowhere to be found I continued my search downstairs before even checking that his car was parked. Partially because I doubted he would leave me but mostly because I could feel his annoying ass presence. I walked down another set of stairs and sped up my steps when I heard sound. As I came upon the room I realized it was a boxing gym as the sounds of a punching bag being pummeled rang across the room. I didn't bother to say anything, I just walked to the bag next to him, punched it twice and then drop kicked it. He stopped punching and turned to me. His chest was bare and he was sweaty but it didn't stop me from hugging him. At first it was impulse, and then after .5 seconds I remembered who I was and removed myself quickly.

"What?" He chuckled, clearly intrigued by my willingness to touch him.

"Well... It may be possible that I'm wondering how you are." I muttered

"I'm aight."

"Are you sure ?"

"Yup."

"Okay. I've never seen you down here before?"

"Do you remember her answer to my question?" he asked

"They vacationed in Lagos....Oh my god. He's expanding his bullshit there." I exclaimed

"I can't stop the monster I created even when we're in the same hemisphere. Now he confirmed my suspicions that this is a worldwide business and my power is even more limited. He's taking it to my country. As if we don't have enough bullshit and trafficking in Nigeria. Once he gets it there, no matter what we do here the problem does not just disappear. I'm a fucking idiot. He wouldn't even have the money to expand without my tech."

"You were a child. A genius child, but still a child."

"I'm not anymore though. I'm a grown ass wealthy ass black ass man. I don't have time or room for error. And when he's caught who do you think they're going to investigate as an accomplice? Who do you think they'll try to blame the whole damn thing on? My life's work was built on dirty money. Not even drug money, but slave money. I've had all the answers for so long but this is the most important thing I will ever do and I don't know where to fucking start. I'm lacking, I can't afford these mistakes anymore. I need to fix it. You keep asking about my plan, and sure I have one. A rough one. But how do you make a solid plan with no fucking idea what's going on. At this point Nki we're winging it. We're fucking winging it. We need a smoking gun but the whole point is those aren't easy to find. How long will it take for us to get one, if we ever do? How much will we have changed and sacrificed by then? I should've never brought you into this. Maybe I'm a fuck up but I didn't need to make you a fuck up with me."

"Don't you ever fucking disrespect me and yourself like that. You? Adedayo Eesoula? The youngest ever self made billionaire? A fuck up? The greatest mind of our generation? A fuck up? Yes, you have made mistakes, but you are human. You cannot let yourself carry all this on your shoulders. It is much too great a burden to bear, and you will drive yourself into the ground. You brought me into this for a reason. We are going to do this, and we're going to do it together. If you think we need to get shit done faster, then we will. If we need to take a step back and come up with a new game plan, we will. But don't ever belittle yourself like that again, much less in front of me. You know me just as I know you. We are going to do this. By any means necessary. "