THE MORNING AFTER.

The sun shines brightly into the room through the drawn curtains.

Camille is awake reminiscing the previous night and regarding Michael happily. She really enjoyed herself with him, he was the first man she would meet that would actually put the myth that Nigerian men were not good in bed to shame. Sure, she has had her own share of trysts and one night stands, but Michael really takes the icing. She smiles to herself considering waking him up from his deep slumber for maybe another roll in the hay before leaving when his phone rings.

Michael rolls to his side lazily, opening his eyes slowly trying to figure out where he was. He remembers the previous night, with a smile plastered on his face. He sits on the bed and seeing Camille awake, he tickles her sides in the form of greeting.

"Good morning Camille. Trust you slept well."

Giggling from his tickling, she replies.

"Morning to you too Michael. I slept well, thanks for asking. Won't you pick your call?"

He groans to himself

"I will if the caller calls a second time. I hate having my sleep interrupted, it leads to hangovers."

He holds his heads in his hands.

"Sorry about that. I would have woken you up even if your phone had not rung, I plan to leave soon."

"Really? It's Saturday. Do you have anywhere to be early? I wouldn't have minded you waking me up. You were in charge when we started last night,

it's my turn to get even."

He draws her closer to him.

"You men and your big egos."

She bats her eyelids at him.

"I don't mind us getting even though, as long as you are up for the challenge. I don't have anywhere to be for the next couple of hours."

"There's something you have to know about me, Camille. I never resist a challenge."

He leans close to her for a kiss when his phone rings again.

"Oh, lord!"

He groans.

"This caller really has bad timing, gmme a minute, please. Let me see what the person wants."

She nods her assent as he reaches for his phone on the table.

"It's a strange number. I wonder who it is."

He answers the call and presses the phone to his ear.

"Hello, who is this?"

He listens attentively for a while before shouting at the person on the other end of the call.

"Listen to me, my father is the senator, not me. I am tired of all these calls. If you badly want an interview with a member of the Akinseloyin family, call my father and stop harassing me with your incessant calls."

He angrily drops the call and flings his phone away.

Camille jerks in shock beside him.

"What's wrong? You scared me with the way you threw your phone away."

"I am sorry, please. The asshole just got me angry. It's getting too much."

"It's okay. You can talk to me if you want, it helps to talk. Talking is a great therapy for the mind."

He swallows hard and smiles.

"It's not that much of a big deal. It's just these half baked reporters keep calling me all the time to grant them an interview. It's my father that's the senator, not me. The last time I granted an interview, they twisted my words and made me look bad. It's bad enough that people already see me as the black sheep of the family, I can't have some dimwit reporter ruining my reputation with the public. If all they wanted was sincerely an interview with a member of the Akinseloyin family, they could have called my dad. I doubt he would even grant them, they are just nuisances. You know the thing with....."

He pauses and regards Camille who seems to have stopped listening and is thinking of something else.

"What's wrong? You are not even listening to me anymore."

She shakes her head looking at him intently.

"Sorry, please. It's just that something you said clicked in my memory right now."

"What's that?"

He asks with a puzzled expression on his face.

"You said your father is a senator."

"Yeah, senator Akinseloyin. What's the matter? Is it because I didn't tell you last night? I must have forgotten to mention that. I didn't really think it mattered, there was a time that meant much to me, but not anymore."

"Oh crap! I knew it."

"Knew what? You are making me look stupid right now."

She points a finger at him accusingly.

"You are Michael Akinseloyin, the son of senator Akinseloyin. You are the pompous jerk that came to my eatery one morning, and acted like you owned the world."

"Your eatery? What eatert? Do you own a eatery? I thought you said you just finished medical school."

He asks in confusion.

"How can you not remember? I own a eatery and I am a doctor. Anything wrong with that?"

"I didn't say there was anything wrong with that, I just didn't know. What are you accusing me of not remembering? What's with the change in behavior? Did I say something wrong?"

"You came into my eatery one morning and started shouting that we were delaying people in the queue. Even accused us of not being hygienic. You were so rude and arrogant, threatening me before storming out. How can you claim not to remember?"

Recognition flickers in his eyes all of a sudden and he looks her all over as if seeing her for the first time.

"Wait! It's you?"

He poses the question in surprise.

"You call me rude and arrogant, I don't remember you being polite either. Besides, everything I said that day was the truth. You have absolutely no regards for people's time, you were just too slack and the rest of your staff were acting like dunces. I mean how can you leave people's food uncovered on the counter? Who does that?"

"You must be stupid. Look at you talking with no remorse whatsoever. An apology would have been the best course of action, yet you are still talking like you were right. What nonsense!"

"Did you just call me stupid?"

"Yes, I did."

She pouts angrily at him already getting off the bed to pick pieces of her clothing strewn all over the floor.

"I wonder what possessed me last night to go to bed with you. I should have known it was you."

"You are the stupid one, irredeemably so. What girl goes to bed with a man she doesn't know?"

He retorts angrily.

She pauses in the middle of gathering her clothes, standing akimbo.

"Are you implying that I have loose morals. Cause if you are, it's you that has questionable morals. What sort of man also jumps into bed with a woman he just met? To think I thought you were sweet. I certainly had too much to drink for my brain to get so fogged. You couldn't even wait to lure me into your bed. You are such an ass wipe."

She begins to get dressed.

"Excuse me, lady. I lured you into my bed? Who was the one that kept pushing herself onto me? I know why you are so angry. Do you think I won't pay you? Of course, I would, all you need to do is name your price. You can't be more expensive than the other girls in your league."

He takes his wallet out of the pocket of his trousers on the floor.

"So, how much?"

He asks smirking.

Now dressed in her pants and her bra, her eyes turn an angry shade of grey.

"Fuck you for trying to twist this into an issue about money. I am not a prostitute and I definitely didn't sleep with you for money."

"Fuck me? As I recall my dear, you did that last night. Pretty well in fact that I am willing to pay you more than I usually pay. In fact, if we are being honest with each other right now, admit it, you slept with me cause you knew exactly who I was. Stop pretending you didn't recognize me before spreading your tiny legs wide open for me."

"How dare you? I could slap you right now and wipe that stupid smirk off your face."

She takes an uncertain step towards him.

"You could but I won't if I were you. I would hate to have to call security to throw you out half-naked. I have had enough fun with the tabloids this year."

She steps back and calmly continues dressing ignoring him completely. Once done, she picks up her purse from the table and turns to face him.

"If I never see you in my life again, I would die a happy woman. I curse the fates that made me come across you. You bastard!"

He laughs and cackles out loud.

"My parents would disagree with me being called a bastard. After all, I look too much like my father. Stop pretending like you are hurt. Daughter of an elder indeed! Name your price and get your slutty ass out of my face."

"Your karma is coming soon. I hope you get what you deserve."

She responds and storms out of the room banging the door after her.

He bursts out in laughter holding his sides.

"I wonder what she's so angry about. We had a nice time together, didn't we? Pity, she had to leave me without a parting gift."

He checks the time on his phone and nods satisfactorily. He still has time left to resume his sleep. He lies back on the bed to continue his sleep that was interrupted by the phone call immediately falling into a deep sleep involuntarily dreaming of Camille.

LATER IN THE EVENING.

Michael steps out of the car after parking his car expertly outside the bar, it's the bar where he usually hangs out with his friends on weekends.

He spots Sola and Eben at their usual table in the v.i.p section exclusively reserved for them. He makes his way over to join them, whistling a tune. He's in a better mood since he has rested well enough before going home to shower and get a change of clothes.

He reaches the table and pulls out a chair, exchanging pleasantries with his friends.

"Hi, guys."

"The man of the hour is here."

Eben pats his back jokingly.

"Man of the hour? What do you mean?"

Michael asks as he takes his seat.

"Don't mind him, Michael. You know Eben can be very dramatic. You do need to tell us how it went with you last night."

Sola says exchanging a wink with Eben.

Michael catches their exchange and shakes his head.

"You two have started again, I am not telling you anything at all. You already know I don't kiss and tell."

"I wonder if you can be more contradictory. Is it not the same you that shows us pictures of your adventures with those girls you bed? Don't even try to ruin our weekend. We have been dying for gists all day."

Sola shifts his chair closer to Michael who looks at him in amusement.

"Sola, calm down. I am sure he just needs a drink or two to loosen up. How can he just disappear on us, and not make up for it by giving us the juicy details."

Eben motions to the waiter to come and take Michael's order.

Michael rests his hands on the table and tells the waiter who is now at their table to get him water, to the puzzlement of his friends. The waiter returns, placing the water on the table and leaving their table free for their discussion to continue. He drinks his water in gulps and clears his throat.

"You see guys, what I am trying to say is I don't kiss and tell anymore. I don't even feel comfortable talking about last night. It ended badly this morning."

"How?"

His friends ask in unison.

"That girl I left with, it turns out I have met her before."

"So what? You have a problem with hitting it more than once?"

Sola asks incredulously looking towards Eben.

The latter keeps quiet, paying rapt attention to Michael.

"That's not what I meant. I never hit it before. Thing is, the girl in question is a saucy eatery owner that I once had an argument with. Imagine my surprise when we recognized each other this morning. I really hate her guts, she insulted me and we exchanged some words. Anyway, she left in anger."

He shrugs nonchalantly.

Eben nods his head in understanding.

"What then is the problem? She left and that's all. There are other fishes in the ocean. Don't tell me you are stuck up on her already. I never thought I would see the day when a broad could get to you like this."

"I also fail to see what the problem is. You had a good time with her I suppose. Move on and forget about her already. Eben was right, you do need a drink."

Sola declares.

"I don't need a think. I just feel like I treated her badly. The thought has been nagging at me all day. I even dreamt of her."

Michael takes another drink of his water looking at his friends for comments.

Sola and Eben look at each other before bursting out in laughter.

"It's not funny, guys".

Michael says in frustration.

"You have got to be kidding me. You dreamt of her? It's way too funny. Shake off all thoughts of her. She's just a random girl. She must have screwed your brains too well for you to be thinking about her this way. I can tell you for a fact that when a woman screws you well enough, you start thinking of her. Some men have been known to mistake sexual satisfaction for love in fact. Shake it off guy before you start thinking you are in love with her."

Eben advices, barely keeping his laughter in check.

"Since when do you care how a woman feels? You release their nudes all the time. Why should she be any different?'

Sola poses the question to Michael who is obviously deep in thought. Turning to Eben,

"Help me out here, Eben. Michael is acting strange."

"Seriously Michael, you gotta forget about her. I know just the right therapy for you. There's this girl I know that has been begging me to introduce her to you. She's very attractive and comely. I could call her right now to come and keep your company. I guarantee you would forget all about that girl you are thinking of before the day is over. If you see her boobs, I assure you, you won't be bothered about heaven anymore, your place will already be guaranteed in hell. But, she's worth forsaking heaven for".

He laughs out loud at his own joke.

"You think so? I have never felt guilty about any girl the way I feel now."

"Eben, call the girl you are talking about for him. He just needs to get laid to clear his head up."

Sola chips in opening the bottle of beer in front of him.

"What do you say, Michael? Should I call her?"

Eben asks.

"Call her. No problem."

Michael responds half-heartedly.

Eben takes out his phone and begins to scroll through his contacts.

"Gimme a minute, boys. I need to make the call now."

He stands up from his seat and dials the number.

"Please make sure she comes along with two of her friends. I wouldn't want to be left hanging like last night."

Sola calls out to Eben who is already retreating to one side to make the call.

"Who left you hanging last night?"

Michael asks him.

"I was the only unlucky one last night. Eben went home with Foyinsade, Funmi refused to go home with me. I had to go home to my cold bed last night after dropping her home."

Michael chuckles exposing his set of perfect white teeth.

"You don't mean it. I thought the two of you were getting all cozy together."

"I thought so too until she flat out refused to spend the night with me. I was too pissed to collect her number for another time. I must have read the vibes between us wrong."

He shrugs and lights a cigarette. He puffs out the smoke and turns to question Eben who is already making his way back.

"What did she say? Is she coming with her friends?"

Eben takes his seat and also lights a cigarette from the pack Sola left on the table.

"Trust me, she's coming. I texted her the address already. She expects to get paid. I trust you have it covered, Michael."

He looks at Michael for a response.

"Sure, no problem,"

Michael responds.

"Pass me the cigarette and lighter please."

He motions with his hand to Eben. He joins them in also lighting up a cigarette and begins to loosen up after taking his first puff

"You sure you don't want anything to drink?"

Eben asks him again.

"No, I don't. I could really use some weed though. Any of you packing?"

He looks questioningly at them.

"Yeah, I am. I haven't rolled it though."

Eben says patting his pocket.

"Give it to Sola, let him roll a joint for us,"

Michael says authoritatively. His position as a rich politician's kid has made him an uncontested leader of the trio. They all came from wealth, but of course, Michael's Dad's own was at the top of the food chain, so, his word was law.

Eben takes out the weed neatly wrapped in nylon with some well squeezed rolling papers, perfect for the occasion and hands it over to Sola.

Sola collects the weed from him proceeding to unwrap it, straightening up one of the squeezed rolling papers and lacing it with the weed. With skillful fingers apparently used to doing just that, he rolls up the weed and starts to gum the rolling paper with his saliva.

"Easy on the saliva, Sola. We don't plan to get high on your saliva."

Eben mutters impatiently.

Sola shakes his head, obviously used to episodes of Eben's impatience when it comes to weed.

"I have always told you, you need just the right amount of saliva to get the stuff properly glued together. Too little saliva and the rolling paper doesn't stick well enough, too much and the weed is going to taste like it was soaked in water. So, patience my dear friend, I'm better at doing this than you."

"Whatever, just finish and hand it over,"

Eben mutters under his breath conceding within himself that occasion has always proved Sola to be the master at rolling the best joints.

Sola ignores him and takes the joint, twisting the butt where the smoke is going to pass through and cutting it off with his teeth to make the appropriate smoke exit angle. Nodding his head in contentment, he declared the joint fit for smoking.

"That, my friends is how you get it done right. You should know better than to question me."

He holds the joint up and hands it over to Michael who proceeds to light it up.

They all soon switch to the triple P mode, (puff, puff, pass.) getting high on quality Nigerian weed, while chatting and waiting for the girls to join them. All thoughts of Camille are temporarily shoved deep down inside Michael. Camille who? She ain't got nothing on a big fat blunt.