Lanre Had Lied

“So tell me, maid of honour, how long have you know the bride?” K asked feigning ignorance that she was Anita’s cousin.

“She’s my cousin”. Ify said dryly. He started it. Now she was not willing to talk. K decided to pour her a drink and handed it to her. Then he continued to ask her questions about herself slowly getting her into the conversation.

“Why did you act like you did not know the bride at the shoe store?” Ify asked K. He smiled. “Let’s just say, I did not want it to look like I did what I did because I know the bride”. He said to her.

Then Ify asked him what his name actually was. He told her “K” for short. “I want to know your name in full”. Ify said. He didn’t want to, but he thought, there was no harm in doing that.

“It’s Kehinde”. He said plainly to her. She became excited immediately he said his name.

“Wow!” She exclaimed. They had totally created a different space from every other person at the reception hall. They could practically not even hear the MC. But K’s eyes were focused on Lanre.

“My friend is also Yoruba. I mean you are Yoruba, right?” Ify asked wanting to be sure. K told her he was. She smiled.

“My friend, she is from Ibadan, where are you from?” Ify asked K. He rolled his eyes. “You where are you from?” K asked her not wanting to tell her where he was from.

“I’m from the coal city. Besides, you are supposed to know since you know where the bride is from”. Ify said. K furrowed his brows at her.

“What if I say I do not know the coal city or even where the bride came from?” K asked. Ify then told him that Enugu is the coal city and she is related to Anita from the mother’s side. “Both our mothers are sisters”. Ify said to K who just nodded his head in acknowledgement.

Soon the MC called out the new couple to come dance. At that point, Everyone was now completely focused on the couple.

Ify held K. “Let us go dance with them”. She said to K pulling him. He didn’t budge. He told her to go ahead and that he will join her later on. She had to just give up and go join the couple on the dance floor. She danced together with her cousin sister. Then she danced with Gozie who was also out to dance.

Just like the first time, Lanre sat down unmoving. This time it was Ify that went to drag her. But she refused. Just then Anita’s mother came, “Ify leave her alone. Have you forgotten she is having a painful menstruation?” Anita’s mother said to Ify, her niece.

Ify looked at Lanre, she knew Lanre had lied to her aunt. But she was just going to leave her. “Enjoy!” She said to Lanre walking back to dance.