I wrote this piece of flash fiction years ago for RFW. But I recently started writing another story and these characters came to play.
More on the new story soon. Enjoy this for now.
Hen Party by Kiru Taye
“I can’t believe it,” Bimbo said as she paced the small grey ceramic tiled floor of the ladies toilet. “I can’t believe you’re telling me this now, on my hen night.” She turned and glared at Chika who returned her stare, her brown eyes pleading, two straight lines creasing her forehead.
“I’m sorry. I’ve wanted to tell you for so long but I didn’t know how to,” Chika replied. She raised her hand and touched Bimbo’s arm. Bimbo swiped her hand away and continued pacing. “All I can say is sorry,” Chika said before turning away dejectedly. Funke who’d been standing back placed her hand on Chika’s shoulder soothingly.
“Well, sorry is not good enough,” Bimbo spat out, her anger still not abated.
“Bimbo, I know you’re hurt,” Funke said softly.
“You think?” Bimbo stopped pacing and glared at her.
Funke didn’t back down though. “But you’re taking it out on the wrong person,” she continued as if she hadn’t been interrupted by her irate friend. “Chika has been struggling with how to tell you this for ages because she cares about you. So do I.” You don’t know how much.
“You mean you knew too,” Bimbo shouted, her gaze switching from one friend to the other.
“Yes, I did,” Funke admitted. “We’ve been debating the right time to tell you. I told her to wait.”
“I can’t believe this.” Bimbo started pacing again. “I can’t believe my two best friends could keep something like this from me.”
“You’ve been so excited about planning the wedding,” said Funke softly. “That’s all you’ve talked about for months. We didn’t want to shatter your dreams. So I went to talk to Deji myself.”
“You did what?” Bimbo’s face was a mix of anger and astonishment.
“I wanted to find out if it was true.” Funke held Bimbo’s gaze without flinching. “I also needed to warn him. I couldn’t allow him to hurt you.”
“You had no rights to do that,” Bimbo snapped.
“I have every right to, Bimbo.” Funke took a step closer to her. “You’re my best friend. I’ve always been there for you. I’ve always had your back no matter what. This is no different.”
“This is different. Deji is my fiancé.”
“Your fiancé who is cheating on you with half of Lagos,” Funke spat out finally letting her anger show through. She’d known Bimbo since they were in school together. Had always felt emotions stronger than friendship but never able to tell her friend for fear of breaking their relationship. She couldn’t stand to see anybody hurting her. “And has been even before you got engaged.”
“I know,” Bimbo gasped out. Funke noticed the tears that pooled in her eyes and her heart clenched. She knew what if took for Bimbo to finally admit the truth. Bimbo’s parents were very socially conscious and her upcoming wedding was heralded as the wedding of the year by the media.
“He promised me he would stop.” Bimbo crumpled in a heap on the floor, her body racking with sobs. “What am I going to do?”
Funke knelt beside Bimbo and took her in her arms, cradling her body as she sobbed.
“It’s okay. I’m here for you,” Funke whispered softly as she caressed Bimbo’s back. “No one will hurt you again.”