It was midnight, around 1:00am in the morning. Ara had told her sister the best time for them to talk was in the night. She tried calling Omoh's number but it rang and rang without anyone picking up. It was after she had woken up to take her supper that she got a call from her sister.
"Where did you drop your phone? I called two times."
"I was charging in the parlour before I slept off. Mom told me."
"Mom... She hasn't called me yet." Ara was a little bit down. "Is she angry at me? How is she?"
Omoh gave a little sigh. "Sissy, I bought her drugs with the money you sent to me to give her, but she didn't accept it. She rejected the money as well. Big sis, mom has been acting weird since two weeks ago. I just didn't want to tell you because I know you will be worried. Days ago she shouted your name from her sleep that you were in danger and came to meet me to call you which I did and we prayed together. She couldn't sleep through out that midnight that she went to the shop late because she slept back when it was fully morning. When I called you, I had to put it on loud speaker for her to hear your voice since she didn't want to speak with you. I know she just didn't want to admit it, but she's really missing you."
Ara had a little tear rolled down. "I do too, but you know Mom. She's really changed and I can't seem to understand her anymore."
"I noticed it too. But what she said this time around was too much. When I brought the drugs home, she was sitting at the parlour. I told her you bought it for her but she didn't even spare me a glance. When she finally did, she grabbed it from me and threw it outside the house. She said you are now sleeping around with a man too. Now you have money to buy her stupid things about. And now that he has bought you a house, you can't come home again. She said she wished she had not given birth to shameless girls like us. All we do is sleep around." Omoh coughed.
"She seemed a lot worried that she flopped up a customer's cake. Not seeing you is really affecting her work. I told her you are working in the palace but she didn't believe me. Sis, this thing I'm telling you, mom cried while saying them. I think she still can't get over Aunty Ibk's death because she started crying the moment she mentioned her name saying you will soon be used for rituals too and we will all end up turning her to a barren woman." Omoh laughed when she got to that part.
"Forgive me sis, but I think our mothers really need to accept that as we mature, we would attract men to us. Men younger than us, older than us and even old enough to be our father. As we are reaching this stage, the best way they can talk to us is to sit us down and let us know what we need to be careful about instead of screaming and shouting on us. They can't change the fact that we are growing but still, we will never be too big for them to talk to us." Omoh said, suddenly serious.
"I mean, we understand they love us and they want the best for us, but...."
"But they need to know that as we grow, we change, we face a lot every day, and with their advice we can be careful with our decisions rather than be careless and come home with mistakes that could bring shame to them." Ara added.
"Exactly!" Omoh said. "If I tell you that Dad's friend who is always coming to our house is using style to hit on me. He's already calling me to corner but Mommy will not see that one o. It's the money he gives me that mom sees."
"You now collect it?"
"I will not collect what!" Omoh said and that finally made Ara who was down a little to smile. "Sissy, I collected it big time. But anytime he's around, I stay in my room to avoid him, but mom will still call me out to greet him so he can give me money for us to share it together."
A loud laughter erupted from Ara's mouth. "Do you know that stupid man has called me on phone to come and cook for him because Dad was always telling him I'm a good cook. And before he told me that, I heard he was going out with one small girl like that."
Omoh started laughing too. "Wereh man. Who told him boys can't cook too, abi we send him to give birth to boys. Only God knows how that man and Dad became friends. Instead for mom to see that one, she will be shouting all over the house at someone."
Ara couldn't hold her laughter. "Abeg, it's okay. I hope someone is not touching you too. You are still a small girl o." Ara teased.
"Me that one thirty one years old man is toasting for junction. I don suffer." Omoh laughed. "But all thanks to you sis. Thanks for telling me how you escaped from your toasters, how you work hard to make a living and face your priorities first. I just want to be as hardworking as you. Every other thing will come in time. And lastly," Omoh said. "I think you should find a day and visit mom. Let her know you are fine. For Dad, he believed me."
Ara smiled. "I love you sis. And I'm so proud of you my dancer. Now I have to go."
"Okay sis. Love you too." The call ended.
Ara packed her plates. She knew her mom loved them but ever since they lost their big sister, their mom had changed and turned out to be over annoyingly protective. Sometimes, act like she doesn't care about them throwing at them words a mother shouldn't even say to her children. Ara got up from where she sat. Just like her sister said, she would have to find a day and visit her mom. The moment Ara turned and lifted her head up, she let out a scream at the black figure before her, causing Prince Ire to laugh.
"Oh my God! You almost killed me."
Prince Ire walked close to her. "I'm beginning to suspect you. You prefer to eat your dinner almost every midnight. I knew I would meet you down here. Now I know why. You get to talk to your boyfriend at this time."
Ara raised a brow at Prince Ire before releasing the laughter building up inside of her. "Did you just say boyfriend? That was my kid sis. Besides, you went back to your room angry last night. Now you are smiling."
"Oh!" Prince Ire pretended like he didn't know. He definitely heard when she said. I love you sis. And he could recollect that he went to bed angry too. He saw her eyes were red despite the smile on her face. "You cried. Bad news?"
Ara dropped her plates back on the table and crossed her hands underneath her breast lifting them up. "It's my mom actually. She's worried about me. My sis just told me she's not been doing well and I feel bad about it. That's the reason why I cried a little. Just little though. Is it that obvious?" She tried to clean the dried tears on her face.
Prince Ire made fun of her. He felt like she was acting like a baby. He moved closer, took another step, and finally, they stood face to face with a little space just enough for them to breathe. Prince Ire moved his mouth close to her ear causing Ara to become aware of her body. He then breathed slowly. "Am I permitted to kiss them dry. I don't like how the lines are disfiguring your pretty face."
Ara's heart hit the wall of her chest. She closed her eyes to digest those sweet words. Heavenly Lord. How would it feel like? It would definitely be awesome, she thought. She felt like that was the best statement he had ever said to her. Ara slowly opened her eyes. "Please don't say that again." She begged and sighed.
Prince Ire smiled. He was happy teasing her. Her reaction was too cute to watch. "Am I permitted to show one of the things a man like Ire can do better?" He boasted this time around.
Ara moved her ear away and blushed. She stared at Prince Ire, looking straight into his eyes. "My mom will appear here and slap you to stupor. What would I do by then?"
Prince Ire lifted her chin with his hand. "I'm always drunk to stupor just by staring at you. What would you do now? You are too beautiful."
Ara stepped back. Those words were dangerous to listen to. Especially the way he said them. Any woman would fall so hard. So sweet, so beautiful. His voice was everything that could drive a woman wild beyond her imaginations. Ara looked up at him. "Please stop. This is crazy. You are starting to scare me."
Prince Ire shook his head at Ara. She was too naive. But then, he confessed his last statements before letting her be. "Your look drives me crazy. What's there to be scared about. Just a man telling you how he feels. You are beautiful. Your lips...it driving me insane. I wanna kiss you so bad." Prince Ire gave up and stepped back. "So tomorrow is here and we gonna be together for hours. I hope you know I'm gonna kiss my girl in front of my friends anyways. What will you call me?"
Ara stared at Prince Ire for answers. Then she laughed a little, feeling very hot from head to toe. "Do you have to kiss me?"
Prince Ire smiled and nodded. Then put his hands into the long pockets of his boxers. "Call me Adedamire. That's my name Ara. Let's hear you call it."
Ara hesitated. Slowly, her lips parted. "Ire. Prince Ire." She said in a whisper, but it sounded weird in her mouth. She smiled. "I should just call you--"
"Call it again." Prince Ire cut in. "In full. Call my name in full."
Oh my God. . . Ara's heart was beating very fast. It was the best feeling she had ever felt. His lips. His body. Oh my God! He's so handsome. Ara breathe...breathe baby. She looked away.
Prince Ire released his right hand from his pocket and touched Ara's cheek again. This time, her eyes were glued to him that she became weak in her knees just by the way he stared at back her. It was just different. That stare that makes a woman feel so hot. That makes a woman weak in the knees. Ara looked away again, but his voice reminded her what she needed to do. 
"Call it Ara. Just call my name. Prince Ire is too formal." Prince Ire said again. His name was beyond beautiful in her mouth. He wanted to hear it in full.
Ara smiled. " Mumusi Adedamire Henry." She rolled her eyes with a teasing smile. "Don't be shocked. Just a girlfriend's dut-"
He silenced her mouth. He silenced those pretty lips. He couldn't take it anymore. His lips swallowed hers and she gasped. Oh my God! Her lips loved it. Her lips trembled. They became weak and surrendered to him. They allowed him to explore and she gave in. Suddenly forgot this was her boss. That she wasn't supposed to do this until tomorrow. "Ire..." she moaned.
Prince Ire released her lips. He was dumbstruck by how his name sounded from her lips. How manage? It was beyond sexy. His heart was crazily falling for the pretty girl before him. They stared at each other. Then he stared at her lips. Swollen. Beautiful. That lips were damn soft. The kiss was everything. Ire common! He told himself to get over himself and man up. He looked at Ara. "That was a good one. I'm sure we won't have any problem doing that tomorrow. Besides, I never like to be called Henry, but the way you just called it..." He smiled at her, acting so cool. "So beautiful. I think the name was made just for you to call it."
Ara smiled a little, biting her lips and slowly looked away before responding. "Like you said, girlfriend's duty." Ara reminded him again and the two stared at each other.
Prince Ire smiled. He got that. He also knew Ara calling him by his full name was his cousin's doing, because none of his workers knew his third name. Now he couldn't wait for tomorrow to come, but then the kiss had taken over his mind. He stared at Ara for the last time admiring her. He wanted tomorrow around already. He also couldn't explain why he was suddenly eager for tomorrow to come.