35|| All Pain, No Gain

                                    

                                          
And Karma said you will fall in love with someone who doesn't love you, for not loving someone who did.
                          
•|•|•|•|•
                          
Imade went to the ladies restroom and sat in a stall. She sighed heavily. In a short while, someone walked in humming a certain tune that made her freeze.
                          
Imade's eyes followed the person's shoes underneath the door. It was a man's shoe just like she feared. She quickly clapped her hand over her mouth and kept quiet.
                          
The man walked about twice before leaving the restroom and when Imade felt she was safe, she shakily came out.
                          
Imade stared around the hall fearfully but no one was around. She began to cry in relief and an approaching figure just came in. He stared at Imade and came closer. "Imade?"
                          
"Ah!" Imade jumped fearfully and turned to see Darren. "Darren..." Imade breathed in relief and the floods of tears came in.
                          
"What happened? Imade?" Darren asked concerned.
                          
At the after party, Kim sat in a table with Tristan and she whispered to him. "Tell me what is going on" she said annoyed. "i'm not blind, I can see what is happening. What is up with you and Mr. Badmus?"
                          
"...Mr. Badmus is a brotherhood member and the one with Kazeem's brother" Tristan admitted quietly. Kim gasped in surprise, glancing quickly at Badmus.
                          
"Why didn't you tell me sooner?" She griped.
                          
"Sorry" Tristan apologized.
                          
Just as Kim was about to chew into Tristan some more, she got a text from Darren. "Darren is here...there is a problem with Imade, hold on" Kim said and excused herself.
                          
Kim went outside and saw Imade trembling fearfully in Darren's arms. "What happened?" Kim asked concerned.
                          
"I'm not exactly sure but she seems terrified" Darren answered. "she is scared about something and it is really serious."
                          
"Imade, what's wrong? What's wrong?" Kim asked.
                          
"He came, he came again, I was so scared" Imade repeated crying. She hid her face in Darren's suit. "he came for me. He won't leave me alone."
                          
Kim and Darren exchanged a pensive look. "Who is following you? What is going on Imade?" Kim asked but Imade didn't answer them.
                          
"I think we should take her home" Darren suggested and Kim agreed. She returned to the party hall.
                          
"Mr. Alabi, Imade isn't feeling well and it's serious. I need to take her home" Kim said.
                          
Mr. Alabi nodded, "she looked really worried earlier. Take care of her."
                          
Kim nodded and exchanged glances with Tristan before leaving. As she walked away, a man whistling the same tune the man at the bathroom whistled joined Mr. Badmus and whispered in his ear.
                          
Kim joined Darren outside and they took Imade in Darren's car. At the party, Tristan opened his phone to see a text from Darren.
                          
D - Can't come for the party, i'm taking Imade and Kim home. Have fun.
                          
Tristan grunted grumpily and returned to the party but not a moment too soon did he converse more when he received another text.