Ifeoma stormed into her flat, slammed the door, and dropped her bag like it offended her.
"Men!" she hissed, yanking off her sneakers.
Her flatmate Uju looked up from the bed. "Who vex you this night?"
"That danfo guy. Jide."
Uju raised an eyebrow. "Wetin he do?"
"Tell me why I go for birthday job and see am there… with babe o. The same babe kiss am in front of me like say I no exist."
Uju whistled. "Eyaa. Lagos boys. Smooth with mouth, rough with truth."
Ifeoma sat down, jaw clenched. "He said he was single. Even gave me that soft-boy 'you made my day better' line. Nonsense."
She checked her phone. Three missed calls.
Jide.
*Blocked.* She wasn't about to play second string.
---
The next day, she got a new client request — a fashion influencer in Lekki. Big money. Her mood lifted slightly.
She posted a makeup reel, added soft music, and ignored every thought of Jide.
---
Meanwhile, Jide sat in his room, staring at the message he never sent:
*"She's not my girlfriend. I messed up. Let me explain."*
He deleted it. Then retyped it. Then gave up.
He knew it wasn't enough.