Dawn 1

'Emenike you have no choice. You must do it' Chuks said, appraising Emenike coolly

Emenike's head is buried in his hands. There is a forlon look about him.

The waitress comes to their table after being signaled by Chuks

‘Get us a bottle of Hennessey’ Chuks ordered

‘ With ice sir?’

‘ Of course with ice!’

She moves away.

Chuks hisses, muttering under his breath' Whoever drinks Hennessey absent ice'

Emenike lifts up his head, his face asheen with tears. Chuks shifts his gaze uncomfortably from him, embarrassed by the tears

‘ We all passed through this stage Emenike. You’ll get used to it'

Emenike gives him a ghost of a smile as he whispers ' Will I?’

Chuks, firmly 'You will, brotherly. You will'

Emenike drops his gaze and stares at his hands. He starts crying, deep sobbs appear to tear out of his throat. Chuks looks alarmed and grabs him by the shoulders

‘ Get a grip, my man!’

Emenike continues crying, oblivious of Chuks's grip. Oblivious of his surrounding.

The waitress is back with the drink and ice. She looks askance at Emenike but Chuks waves her off. Chuks's arms are still wrapped around Emenike. They are at a private booth in the night club so Emenike's sobs  attract no attention. In addition, the zeon lights in the club make it impossible to ID someone else in the next booth plus the intensity of the rock music being played.

Emenike is done crying after a while. He shudders repeatedly as Chuks moves away to open the bottle of Hennessey. He pours a shot with ice for Emenike who shakily accepts the glass cup. He drinks all in a gulp. Gestures to Emenike to pour some more, Chuks obliges after giving him a considering look.

Shortly after midnight, Chuks navigates a drunken Emenike into his car at the car park. Some other imbibers are being helped into their cars by their respective drivers, a few are retching by the gutters. His driver promptly comes out to usher him into the back seat better yet, carry him into the back seat. Emenike flops on the seat, his face beaded in sweat. 

‘ Samuel please drive carefully' 

Samuel smiles 'Always,sir'

He engages the gear and drives off. Chuks stares at the car as it disappears into the horizon. He shruggs and moving back to the club, gyrates to the music playing ever so loudly from the club.

Back at the table, Chuks signals for the waitress who comes with the speed of light.

‘Get me another bottle with ice ofcourse' he said smirking at her as he puts some emphasis on the ‘ice’. She smiles, sashaying away.

She is back and Chuks promptly disvirgins  the bottle. He takes a shot and picking up his phone, dials a number

‘He just left' he said

‘Has he agreed?' a deep throated voice asks

‘He has no choice, now'

‘Indeed' the voice answers and with a click, disconnects the call.

Chuks grimaces as he pours another shot, arranging the cubes of ice in his tumbler. He stares unseeingly at the opposing booth.

To be continued…