Prologue

Nimi stared at her mother's pale and wan face. As she held her hands tightly, tears streaked down her face. Her face had tear tracks. It was obvious that she had been crying for hours.

Her mother was dying.

Nimi knew that but she was still in denial. She didn't want to accept that her mother would be gone soon. That she would be alone. That she would never see her gentle smile again or hear her scold her.

"Nimi…." A hoarse whisper

Nimi opened her eyes just realizing that she had closed them earlier.

Her mother, her beautiful lovely mother looked so pallid, she had grown so thin, and her bones were sticking out of her body.

She had been diagnosed with leukemia. Even after treatment, they had been told there was no hope. The disease had been discovered too late.

"Nimi…." Another cracked whisper.

"Maami, I'm here" Nimi replied still crying silently. Her mother stretched her hand slowly towards her face. Leaning into it, Nimi stared into her mother's eyes.

"Oluwalonimi" A wracking cough

"It's okay. Don't speak, let me get you water" Her mother held her back

"You have to be well". She gasped with difficulty.

Panic filled Nimi, she shook her head fervently.

Her mother smiled "You look so much like my father"

Nimi kept crying

"You have to live well and be happy. That's the only way I can rest in peace".

A fresh wave of tears. Her mother held her tightly.

"Promise me. Promise me that no matter what, you will be fine, promise me, Nimi"

Perhaps it was because she knew she was dying soon but her words were surprisingly clear unlike earlier. A mother's strength was a wonderful thing.

"Maami" She burst out crying

"Promise me". A steely look on her mother's face.

"I promise, I promise, ma".

A soft smile bloomed on her mother's face. "That's great". She released Nimi's hand.

"When will your father come" She rasped

Nimi kept crying

"I want to see him. Before I die, I want to see him". She started murmuring unintelligible noises. She stretched her hands forward as if that would bring her the person she wanted to see.

"I want to see him" One last whisper as a tear escaped the corner of her eye. With a sudden noise, her hand hit the bed. Nimi stared at her mother in a daze.

She shook her with no response. Nimi screamed, her voice filled with deep heartbreaking pain.

"Maami, Maami" she kept screaming as tears blurred her vision. And yet there was no response.

Her mother was gone. And till her death, Yetunde, her mother never saw her father.

It was her mother's funeral. It was taking place a month after her mother's death. Yetunde's body had been kept in the mortuary all this while and today, she would be put in the ground.

Her mother, her protector, her best friend was gone. She would never see her again.

Tears filled her eyes again. It was like the ters were never ending since her mother's death.

Her father's family was all here. Decked out in the best aso-ebi, smiling and joking with one another. Acting as if it was a cocktail party and not a funeral.

At that moment, Nimi felt so much hatred. She felt sorry for her mother. Her mother who gave everything and received nothing in return.

Her mother who put everyone first before herself. Her mother who left just like that. She wished her mother had been more selfish, She wished that her mother had loved herself more. If she had, perhaps she would have been happier. Perhaps, she would have smiled more.

But it was too late now.

Nimi stared at her father, her mother had longed for him at her deathbed. She had wanted to see him pone more time. Just one more time. But he never came.

Behind him was a young lady. The woman was in her late twenties and very pretty. She was pregnant and had her hand on her slight bump. She kept stroking her father's arm as if she was comforting him.

Yet, Nimi knew that she was probably the most gleeful.

That woman and her father were as guilty as the illness that had killed her mother.

Mis Juliet was her father's secretary. She was also her father's mistress.

Nimi clenched her fists tightly and remembered a voice 'You have to live well and be happy. Promise me'

Nimi looked at her mother's coffin that was being lowered into the ground. Promising again with heartfelt sincerity, she whispered "I will live well, maami. I will be happy, I promise you that".

CHAPTER ONE

"And I wish you all a wonderful journey henceforth. Your journey at the university ends today and a new one begins today. Never stop fighting, never stop hoping, good luck."

The vice-chancellor closing remark had every parent and student in the house giving a standing ovation.

Not that her own parent was here anyway, Nimi mused.

Strangely enough, she felt indifferent about it. Ever since her mother's death, Nimi had been estranged from her father. He had married Miss Juliet a month after her mother's funeral. Perhaps, the woman thought she would be able to lord her authority over her but she was soon disappointed.

Her mother might not have been as wealthy as her father but she wasn't lacking behind either. After her mother's death, Nimi had inherited her assets as it had been stated in her mother's will. Three months after her father had married that woman, she had gained admission into the University of Lagos. She stopped speaking with her father since then and he also didn't bother with her.

The University of Lagos was one of the most prestigious universities in Nigeria. Popularly called the Nation's pride. And today was the convocation ceremony for its graduating students.

Nimi was dressed in a long fitted green gown with a v-neck. The gown was short sleeved with ruffles at the end. There was a long split that reached her thigh, showcasing her figure perfectly. She had paired the gown with black stiletto heels. The whole get up made her look radiant.

Nimi herself was a pretty lady. She was slender, five feet six inches tall. She had high cheekbones, an oval face and pouty lips. Her eyes were a deep soulful brown that had flecks of gold when light shone on it. While Nimi knew she was pretty, she also thought that she wasn't an extraordinary beauty either. She was pretty enough for a first glance but not pretty enough for a second gaze.

It didn't matter to her anyway, after all, her looks weren't her best feature, her brain was.

Usually, Nimi would never be seen in an ostentatious dress as the one she was wearing today, however, today was her convocation ceremony. She wanted to look different. After all, she was girl. Any girl would want to look special on a day like this.

The only thing that annoyed her was the red bulky convocation gown. It was seriously cramping her style. That and the fact that she couldn't find her friends. She looked through the crowd, where did they disappear to.

"Loni, wait up"

Nimi turned to see one of her friends, Temi, coming towards her. She gave him a radiant smile.

Temi was tall. Very tall, six feet five inches. He was also lean but it was obvious that he was fit. He loved football and trained vigorously for it. However, he didn't intend to play it professionally. He just loved the sport.

Temi was also one of the most handsome guys she had ever seen. She had no idea how many girls hearts he had broken. For some reason, he refused to date but that didn't deter the girls who were interested in him. Nimi found it amusing, he did not.

He was also mischievous and he was the only one who called her Loni.

"Where did you go off to?, I've been looking for you guys"

The guys she meant here were Temi, Amy and Ola. Ola was her fiancé. They had been together for two years and he had proposed to her three months earlier.

Temi flashed her a grin "Did you miss me?"

She laughed helplessly like she always did with him "I don't know where you guys ran off too, I've been searching all along" She looked behind him and saw that the other two weren't with him "Aren't they with you?"

He shook his head "They probably got lost in the crowd"

Nimi nodded, that was probably true.

Temi grabbed her hand, moving her towards the exit "I'm so hungry right now, lets get a snack or something".

Nimi laughed, "You're always hungry, your stomach is a bottomless pit"

Said stomach made a grumbling sound. Nimi snickered. He was always eating something, she wished she had some of his metabolism. But then again, he always trained so that explained why he never gained weight.

They left the hall, moving towards the direction of the love garden. The snack sold there was cheaper and Temi loved it.

Temi pulled her hand suddenly, she glanced at him and he pointed in another direction

"Isn't that Amy and Ola? Why are they over there?'

Nimi looked towards the direction he had pointed to and saw Ola and Amy speaking together and walking towards another direction.

Temi jostled her with his shoulder "Want to go see what they're up to?" He lifted his brows playfully.

She smiled "Can't we just call them"

He harrumphed "Where's the fun in that?, let's go closer. We could scare them or something"

She shook her head helplessly. Temi was twenty four this year and still so childish.

Though she had to admit that she was also a bit curious about what Ola and Amy were doing.

"Okay, let's follow them".

Temi laughed and they headed for the two, following them stealthily.

"They're going to the lagoon front?" she questioned, confused. Why would they be going to the lagoon front. They couldn't be looking for and Temi since they had to know that they would be in the hall.

A bad feeling crawled up her gut.

Without noticing, Nimi stopped. She felt like something bad was going to happen. Temi glanced at her "Do you want to go back?"

Nimi stared at him for a minute before she continued following them. Trust had always been an issue for her but she trusted Ola. It had taken her a long time but she trusted him. However, something told her to follow the two. If she stopped because of an irrational fear, she would be angry at herself. If nothing happened, she would probably just feel stupid but if there was something.

Nimi thought if there was something, she would deal with it. She had been dealing with things herself since she was seventeen years old. Since her mother died.

Temi was silent, it was as if he knew that she needed silence. As if being silent would stabilize her, at least for a while.

She saw the two ahead of them. Amy was pulling Ola's gown and smiling while winking at him. Nimi felt scared suddenly. But she kept watching them.

They finally reached the lagoon front.

She saw them move towards the fountain. Amy brought out her iphone from her purse. She tilted the iphone to take selfies of them.

Dread churned in her gut

Temi held her hand. Nimi stared at her hand bound tightly with his and felt a bit better.

She looked towards the oblivious two in front of them and saw that Amy had her arms wrapped around Ola's neck and Ola leaned towards her and kissed her.

He kissed her.

They were kissing.

Her world came to a halt.

They were kissing right in front of her. Her fiancé and best friend were kissing.

She must have made a sound because the two drew apart and turned in her direction. Shock filled their eyes. Ola immediately distanced himself from Amy and rushed towards her holding up his hands as if to calm her down.

As he came forward, Nimi moved backwards.

Ola was cheating on her, with her best friend no less.

She felt like a fool. They must have laughed at her behind her back.

She started laughing hysterically, she couldn't stop.

She had no idea when tears started streaking down her cheeks.

"Loni, Loni….." Temi drew her to his side, attempting to console her.

Nimi threw his hands away. At the moment, she wanted no consolation from anybody

Not even Temi.

She felt so betrayed, so cheated. She wondered whether this was how her mother had felt all those years ago.

Temi came closer and held her, standing by her side. It was as if he was declaring that he would stand by her. It made her feel a little better. Just a little better.

"How long?" A pain filled whisper

"Nimi, calm down"

"Just answer me, how long has this been going on?" She grounded out

He kept silent, refusing to answer.

"For six months" Amy answered, "It's been going on for six months"

Amy's face was smug as if she felt delight in Nimi's pain. Nimi felt sick and disgusted. How could she have been best friends with this girl.

Ola looked at Amy angrily with an annoyed face. Ignoring her, he spoke calmly "She means nothing to me, Nimi. It was a mistake"

"A mistake" Nimi echoed

She saw that Amy's face had turned ugly beside his. Amy definitely didn't regard herself as a mistake. Though at the moment, Nimi could care less about her being a mistake or not.

She took off the ring on her finger and dropped it on the ground "We're done"

"Nimi" Ola reached for her, however, he was blocked by Temi who was standing by her side

Ola glared at Temi

Temi didn't budge

They were beginning to garner looks from passer-bys.

Ola clenched his fists "Let's take this somewhere private"

Nimi laughed. Somewhere private. Ola had always been self conscious.

He hated people staring at him or talking about him. She had always accommodated him. But this time it was different. Oh, it was so much different.

No hugging in public, no kissing, no public displays of affection. He always had to be composed.

This fucking hypocrite, Nimi thought

He was here kissing her best friend yet he had the guts to tell her 'somewhere private'

She laughed again and looked him in the eye "We. Are. Done"

He grounded out "We're engaged, Nimi. You've met my parents too'

Nimi turned towards him and said indifferently "And so?"

He was obviously stumped by her answer "What do you mean 'and so', you have to marry me. You're obligated to"

Nimi laughed and at the same time, feeling that she must have been blind when she chose to date him. According to him, she had an obligation to marry him just because they were engaged. Since she was obligated to him, wasn't he also obligated to her. He was supposed to be faithful, why was it that he didn't know his own 'obligations'.

"You cheated, Ola. We're done"

He reached for her again but was once again hindered by Temi. He gave Temi a cold glare.

"Men cheat, Nimi. It's normal. It's to be expected. She doesn't mean anything to me"

Nimi stared at him with unblinking eyes "I once promised myself that I will be happy. I will make myself happy. I cannot be with a man that cheats on me. Yet regards chesting as normal' She said mockingly.

"There is no reason to make myself unhappy because of you. Right now, my happiness comes first, not yours. If I can't treat myself well, how would I expect others to treat me well. So why don't you marry Amy since it seems like you guys are so much in love anyway".

"Nimi, do not do something you'll regret"

Regret, right. She would never regret throwing away this piece of shit.

She treasured herself and so there was no reason at all to keep a man who had no respect for her. She was better than that. She deserved better.

"You can have him" She said to Amy. "I hope I never have to see you guys again"

She stalked away. Temi followed.

She said nothing. But the tears that she had held in started gushing out. She thought she had found herself a good man. Someone who would treat her well, respect her and cherish her. But she made a mistake. She found a man that was just like her father.

The tears kept coming. Temi held her closer and comforted. He said nothing. It was as if he knew that nothing he said at this moment would comfort her. She just wanted to cry it out. And he was there, standing silently by her, letting her borrow his strength.

Two hours later

Nimi felt wrung out. Today was supposed to be a good day for her and yet it was such a disaster. She lifted her head from Temi's shoulder. She had been crying for hours. A wet patch of her tears had formed on his convocation gown.

Temi wiped her tears away "Are you okay?" he gave a half smile "I'm sorry, that's a silly question".

"Am I a terrible person?" She asked in a small voice

His eyes filled with shock "What?, no, of course not"

"But why? Why would he do that. I loved him so much, why would he cheat on me. With Amy no less. Of all people, he cheated on me with Amy" she seemed lost, confused but also outraged.

Temi gripped her shoulders tightly and steadied her "He cheated. None of it is your fault. Never blame yourself for someone else's shortcomings

"Loni, you're a great girl. You deserve all the best. His infidelity showed how selfish he was. It had no bearing on you, okay"

She stared at his fervent eyes then bowed her head "He didn't even apologize. Not once, he never said he was sorry. He believes he's right and I should just accept it. What a joke" She scoffed

"He's obviously stupid. He never deserved you"

She grinned "You say it like I'm that awesome"

"You are, Loni". Seeing that she didn't believe him, he continued

"Oluwalonimi, you are a wonderful person. You are funny, kind, smart and you take shit from nobody. He threw a treasure like you away and that shows his shortsightedness"

She stared at him with incredulous eyes and he smiled

"One day, you'll find someone whop will treat you like the jewel you are"

A short silence

"I'm so mad at him. My father cheated on my mother for years. And even when she was on her deathbed, she kept crying for him and he never came to see her"

A determined look in her eyes

"It was then I promised myself that no matter what happens, I'll never be in a toxic relationship like that. While she was dying, he was with his mistress"

A painful laugh

"Loni…." He trailed off before continuing

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, babe"

She shook her head "It's not your fault. My father was a terrible husband. But I promised myself that I'll never live like my mother"

Temi smiled "You should never ever settle for less, Loni"

"Thank you, Temi. I really don't know what---" He held her lips to cut her off.

"Never ever thank me for being your friend, Loni. I will always be here when you need me, always".

TEMI

Temi put down his cell phone. He had just gotten off the phone with Loni. He wanted to check up on her. While she had sounded normal on the phone, he knew that she was still hurt. He clenched his phone, wishing that Ola was right in front of him at that moment so that he could give him a punch.

He had met Loni the year they were processing their screening for admission. He remembered that there had been no more seats in the hall they had been placed. The security guard had asked those with no seats to move outside and come back after a while.

Spying an unoccupied seat, he had rushed towards it and gotten there the same time as another girl.

Jutting her head, she had said "I got here first".

He immediately sat there and gave her a triumphant look, 'Well, I sat here first"

A flustered look "You, You…" She stammered

"Me what?" He taunted. Temi thought the girl looked funny as she stood there with an aggrieved look on her face.

"You're not a gentleman" She finished

He chuckled "Babe, we're in Africa, there are no gentlemen here"

"You.." She ground out angrily. He was sure that if looks could kill, he would be dead with the way she glared at him.

Then "Don't call me babe"

He ginned, putting up his hands as if surrendering. She looked around, searching for another seat. A security guard headed their way.

Something tugged in his chest. He shuffled in and tapped her "Sit here".

A glare before she said hesitantly "It won't be comfortable though"

"So you're not sitting…" he drawled out

Seeing the guard move closer, she slid in immediately and put on an innocent look on her face as the security guard reached them.

The man glared at them, then huffed and left.

Chuckling, Temi spoke "I'm Temi"

Swinging her head towards him, she gave a small smile "I'm Oluwalonimi. You can call me Nimi".

"Oluwalonimi". He said slowly, savoring the name

"How about I call you Loni?" He countered

A perplexed look "Okay, sure. It's my name anyway"

Ever since then, they became best of friends who did everything together. She had met Amy and Ola much later in class.

At first, he called her Loni because she wasn't used to it and he loved making people annoyed. Later, he called her that because he couldn't have her but maybe he could have that. He was the only one who called her Loni. It made him happy in a weird way, like he had something no one else did. Pathetic, yeah but the truth was that he had fallen in love with her. He had no idea when he fell for her. It had just happened and he had learned to live with it.

However, she loved Ola. He had just wanted her to be happy so he had kept his feelings to himself.

After all, him loving her was his business alone but that bloody bastard. That bastard actually cheated on her. He wished he could beat him up right now.

Temi knew that right now, Loni needed a friend. She just needed someone to talk to. And he would be that. A friend. For however long she needed him, he would be there. Because it was her.