The music grew louder as the wedding continued, the dance floor filling up as more guests joined in. Laughter, cheers, and the steady rhythm of drums created an energy that was impossible to ignore.
Zara stood beside Tunde near the food area, still holding her plate.
"You were right," she said, taking another bite. "This is really good."
Tunde smiled. "I don't joke with food."
Zara laughed softly. "I can tell."
For a moment, they stood there comfortably, watching the crowd. It felt easy. Natural.
"You still won't dance?" Tunde asked.
Zara shook her head. "Not yet."
He raised an eyebrow. "So there's hope."
"Maybe," she replied with a small smile.
---
Across the hall, Tunde's friends watched them closely.
"Guy is still there," one of them said.
"Since when does he stay in one place like this?" another added.
"He's interested," a third said.
They exchanged looks.
Then one of them smirked.
"Let's make it interesting."
---
Tunde didn't notice them approaching.
He was focused on Zara.
"So how long are you in Nigeria for?" he asked.
"Not long," Zara replied. "Just for the wedding."
"That's all?"
She nodded. "Yeah."
Tunde was about to respond when—
"Ah-ah! So this is where you are," one of his friends interrupted.
Tunde sighed slightly.
"I'm not hiding."
They ignored him.
"Hello," one of them said to Zara with a smile. "We've been seeing you from afar."
Zara smiled politely. "Hi."
Introductions followed quickly, their energy loud and playful.
"Tunde didn't tell us he had company," one of them teased.
"We just met," Zara replied.
"That's how it starts," another said, earning laughter from the group.
Tunde gave them a look. "What do you want?"
"Nothing," one replied. "We're going."
But they didn't move immediately.
Instead, they pulled him slightly aside.
"Excuse us," one of them said to Zara.
Zara nodded, watching them.
---
"What?" Tunde asked.
His friends leaned in, speaking in lower voices now.
"You like her," one said.
Tunde frowned. "You people should rest."
They didn't back down.
More whispers followed.
Short. Quick. Serious.
Tunde's expression shifted slightly.
"What kind of talk is that?" he muttered.
"Relax," one of them said.
Another added something quietly.
Tunde glanced back at Zara.
She stood where he left her, calm, unaware, watching the crowd like she didn't belong to the noise around her.
He looked back at his friends.
"You're not serious," he said under his breath.
They just smiled.
---
There was a pause.
A longer one this time.
Tunde's jaw tightened slightly.
He shook his head once.
Then paused again.
His eyes drifted back to Zara.
Then to his friends.
Back to Zara.
Something passed between them silently.
Unspoken.
But understood.
---
"Fine," Tunde said quietly.
Their faces lit up immediately.
"That's our guy," one of them said.
"But keep it low," another added.
Tunde didn't respond.
He just exhaled once and stepped away from them.
---
He walked back to Zara.
"Sorry about that," he said.
"It's fine," Zara replied. "Your friends are… a lot."
Tunde smiled faintly. "That's one way to describe them."
---
"Are you done eating?" he asked.
Zara nodded. "Yes."
"Good," he said. "Then you owe me a dance."
Zara looked at him. "I don't remember agreeing to that."
"You said 'not yet,'" he replied. "This is 'yet.'"
Zara held his gaze for a second.
Then smiled.
"Okay… one."
Tunde smiled back. "One is enough."
---
They walked toward the dance floor together.
The music was louder there, the energy stronger.
Zara hesitated for just a second before stepping in fully.
Tunde noticed.
"Relax," he said. "Just follow the rhythm."
Zara laughed softly. "I'll try."
---
They started moving.
Slow at first.
Then easier.
Zara adjusted quickly, her movements becoming more natural with each beat.
"You're learning fast," Tunde said.
"I told you, I'm trying," she replied.
---
Across the room, his friends watched.
"See them," one said.
"Something has started," another added.
They all smiled.
---
On the dance floor, Zara laughed again—this time more freely.
And Tunde watched her.
Not like before.
Something about his expression had changed.
Slightly.
Subtly.
---
Because what had just been agreed on…
Was no longer just a harmless moment.
And even though Zara didn't know it—
Something had already been set in motion.