Hidden Passion

"Is that not Nath? Sosanya Nathaniel?" Lillian asked with a broad smile, wondering if he was truly the one in the picture. It's been twelve years. Could she recognize him? She waited hurriedly for her mother to talk.

Grace sighed. "What's wrong with you?"

Her smile faded. That was not him after all. "So, that's not him," she assumed sadly.

"It is, but "

Lillian screamed and jumped up in excitement. "Really, mum? He's Nath? My Nath?" she asked and sat down again in ecstasy.

"Yes, he is but-Your Nath? You mean the idiot who did that to your arm?"

She grabbed the magazine from her mother and hugged it happily. "No, mum. He is not an idiot. Isn't he handsome?" she asked childishly, showing the cover to her mother again as if she hadn't seen it beforehand.

Her mother could only watch in shock. "How could you side with him, Lillian? He did that to your arm and hasn't even showed up to look for you and you're "

"Mum, I love him. I side with him because he's the man I love. He's not just anyone, mum," Lillian defended, kissing the magazine.

"Are you crazy? How could you say you love someone who doesn't care about you? He doesn't love you, dear. Wake up. If he did, he would have searched for you. He's even in Lagos and I'm sure he knows this is where you live, and he didn't look for you. Is Lagos that big?" her mother countered. "I don't like that guy."

"You better because he will soon be your son-in-law. You and dad," Lillian mentioned.

Furious, her mother said," Don't you ever talk about your dad in my presence. Enough is enough."

"But you love him." Her daughter smiled mischievously.

"What?" Grace exclaimed and before she could continue, they heard a knock at the door. "Yes, come in," she answered and Pintin, the company's make-up artist, entered.

"Dorcas won't let me fix her up for the shoot. She was just letting her tears ruin the makeover," Pintin reported.

"Why? What's wrong?" Lillian asked. Dorcas was her best friend.

"I don't know," Pintin replied.

"You can go. I'll be on my way now," Grace said and stood after Pintin went outside.

Lillian rose up too and walked behind her mother to the door. "As I was saying," she commenced, still holding the magazine." You should start liking Nath. He will be your son-in-law soon," she teased. "Oh! Has he proposed to you?"

Lillian frowned. "Mum, we've not met. Once we do "

"Then, how do you know he will want to be my son-in-law?"

They had gotten to the make-up studio, so Lillian decided not to reply. Besides, she didn't know what to say to that. Could he really want that? Not be her mother's son-in-law?

What if he had forgotten about her and had moved on with his life now that he is rich and owns a business?

She shoved the thoughts aside. She shouldn't think about negative things. She plastered a smile on her face and went to her friend.

Pintin excused herself from the room, guessing they would want some privacy to talk.

Lillian watched as she made her way outside and smiled. Pintin had been a weird and funny name to Lillian the first time she heard it a few years ago. But the lady had insisted on being called that instead of her real name which was Pemisire. Grace had started talking to Dorcas to cheer her up when Grace's phone rang, so she picked it up and signaled to her daughter to take over while she went back to her office.

"Hey, Dorc, what's wrong? Why are you crying?" Lillian asked, folding the magazine and then putting it in the back pocket of her jeans.

Dorcas stared up at her best friend in tears. She couldn't lie or pretend to her. She couldn't keep anything from her because she was always there for her anytime. "Lillian," she cried. "Come on. Wipe your tears and stop yowling, okay? Calm down first before you explain," Lilly advised.

Dorcas yielded and forced a smile.

"Now, tell me what the problem is."

"It's-It's about Tomilola," Dorcas started. Tomilola was Dorcas's boyfriend. Lillian had been against Tomilola the first time she met him, but her friend had insisted on going out with him. "What about him?" Lillian asked with a curious expression.

"He broke up with me," she said and failed not to sob. She placed her head on Lillian's lap and Lillian started patting her back.

"Come on, don't cry. You know I warned you enough, didn't I? As if I had known he would be a good for nothing toe rag," Lillian uttered and consoled her friend.

Dorcas nodded.

"See, my dear," she started, lifting Dorcas's face to hers. "You shouldn't cry over such a brat. He doesn't deserve your tears. He's a player who shouldn't be given a heart. He'll only treat it like a ball, passing and kicking it anywhere," she paused and hugged her. "Always remember that there is someone out there meant just for you. Only you. Just wait till you meet him, okay? He has just given you the chance to find a better person."

Dorcas nodded and pulled out of her hug. Anyone who listened to Lillian would think she's got a whole lot of experience from the way she talked even though she hadn't had one serious relationship. "Thank you very much, bestie."

"No problem. You know you're beautiful, right? Now, get fixed up and ready for your shoot," Lillian added, and left after hugging Dorcas one more time giving her one last charming smile.

They had been friends since their university days. They'd met for the first time in a room they were to share. They had become good friends quickly and told each other everything. After their youth service, Lillian had talked to her mother to hire her. That was how she'd been working with them for two years now and had maintained their friendship.