CHAPTER FIVE: BREAKING UP.

"Florence, I know I was wrong and I really hurt Sophia, and I'm not objecting to her being mad at me. But could you please help me talk to her, I know she'll listen to you." Andrew requested sadly from the other end of the phone.

"Andrew, to be honest with you I'm really disappointed in you, I can only promise to beg Sophia on your behalf but I can't promise she'll succumb to my apology and forgive you just like that. Moreover you haven't told me the reason why you did that" Florence replied, her phone in between her shoulder and ear, as she arranged the dishes she just finished washing into their places.

"It's stupid of me to say it but I was only waiting to be sure if what I really felt for her is not just attraction, it's hard falling in love again. I wanted to be certain if I truly love her and I do love her. What I was partially avoiding eventually happened. It really broke my heart that she's hurt because of me" he answered, sounding devastated.

Florence swung her head to the back and checked if someone was coming before replying to Andrew.

"You left me speechless that I don't know either to be mad at you for hurting my best friend or pity you because..." She stopped and looked back as heard the sounds of footsteps approaching. She's done arranging the dishes and her phone is now held in her hand and glued to her ear. She sighed and moved away from where she was standing and stood at a corner in the kitchen.

"I'm sorry, I had to attend to something. I will try my best and I pray Sophia listens because she could be hard to deal with sometimes." She continued and added almost immediately.

"And you too, you sounded like you've been crying. You don't need that. It will take time for her to heal or get over it but I'm certain she'll forgive you, just man up."

"I will really appreciate your effort Florence, she has blacklisted me and when i tried contacting her with other numbers, she blocked them too" he complained.

"I will try my best i promise" She promised, saying her goodbye and hung the call.

"You've been staring around since you received that call, hope there's no problem?" Daniel said and she freaked out turning abruptly before putting her hand on her chest and released a sigh of relief.

"Hey babe, you scared me" She responded, moving away from where she stood, walking toward where Daniel was standing.

"Why are you scared? I saw you looking around like you don't want me to listen to what you're discussing with the person over the phone. Is there something you're hiding from me?" He queried, removing his pocketed hands and paved the way for her as she walked to the living room and he followed her.

"You could have asked and I'd have appreciated your simple question without you adding, is there something you're hiding from me" she muttered with a change of countenance as she sat quietly on the nearest couch to her. Noticing the change in her mood and sensing that she was angry, he walked and sat beside her, but she turned her back to him.

"Babe, I'm sorry if I offended you with what I said, believe me I didn't mean it like that. I was only... I am sorry" he explained wanting to touch her but stopped himself because he knew that could infuriate her more.

"You could have said whatever you wanted to say without adding if there is something you're hiding from me, it sounds like an accusation." She howled, turning to face him.

He sighed before running his hand through his hair, making an attempt to touch her but she yanked his hand off.

"You know, no matter what I will never, ever get myself involved in infidelity. And that is what you're trying to accuse me of'' she added sounding hurt as a tear slipped down her cheek. Without warning or thinking if she'd pushed him away, he wrapped his hands around her, she tried to push him away but his grip was tight on her body so she yielded up.

"I'm sorry, I'm really sorry. Believe me I didn't mean it like an accusation." He apologized as he heard her sniff under his arms.

"Please don't cry, I believe you. I know you'll never do anything as such, and you'll never break my trust. Even though I once broke yours" he said in a soothing voice.

"Yes you did,"she confirmed, breaking loose from his hug. His face turned pale as he nodded his head in affirmation.

"I'm sorry for overreacting, i don't want to discuss it with you yet that's why i was looking around for you not to...but what i was avoiding eventually happened." She said before resting her head on his shoulder and his hand found her hair, stroking it gently.

"Do you want to discuss it?" He asked, planting a kiss on her forehead.

"Andrew is a father, a father of two kids and when he revealed it to Sophia, it really broke her. She's scared of becoming a stepmother and she's been careful avoiding that since I could remember. And Andrew wanted me to beg Sophia for him, he said he did that because he wanted to confirm if what he felt for her is genuine. I pray Sophia listen" she explained. The same reaction Florence had on her face the day Sophia told her the revelation Andrew made, was the same reaction plastered on Daniel's face.

"That's...that's... Honestly I don't know what to say, but something like that really does hurt" He said, bashing his lashes and shaking his head.

"And you.." Florence said, raising up her head, looking Daniel straight in the eyes.

"Hope you don't have any hidden kids somewhere?" She questioned,her eyes not leaving him.

"I don't, but I'd love to. And I want you to be their mother" he responded and she looked away shyly. He raised her chin up and gently turned her head back to him.

He placed his lips on hers and kissed her, not returning the kiss he gave her lips a slight bite, she immediately responded not before wincing.

***

Florence took the TV remote and changed the channel she was watching to another, she stared at Sophia, whom all attention was on whatever she was busy doing on her phone. She dropped the remote back from where she picked it and moved a bit close to Sophia.

"Sophia!" She called

"Yes," she answered, not looking away from her phone.

"What is going on?" Florence asked and Sophia raised up her head to stare at her friend, confusion written on her face.

"I don't get it," she replied, her attention back to her phone.

"It's been weeks Sophia, more than a month and you have refused to talk to him. The last time he was brave enough to step his foot here, you almost murdered him. Just give him a chance to...."

"Florence I think I told you that we're not going to discuss anything that has to do with Andrew, I don't want to talk to him, I don't want to talk about him with you. Very simple to understand" she chirped, cutting Florence off.

"He's sorry and ready to make an amendment. if only you.."

"Sorry can't change anything and I'm not ready to give him any fucking chance to make any stupid amendment. Sorry can't repair the damages he caused. The gut he has to say he was only waiting to confirm if what he felt for me is genuine" Sophia said with a raised voice, standing up already and dropped her phone where she stood up from.

"Remember we all make mistakes.."

"That isn't a mistake but deceit Florence, please stop defending him. I have imagined how great and perfect our future would be together and he fucked things up by himself. He approached me as a single guy, I said yes to him as a single guy, and I'm not going to spend the rest of my life with him as a single father or being a stepmother to anybody. An Iota of truth could have saved a lot from the beginning, but now it's too late and I'm not buying anybody's apology." She yelled explaining.

"But his wife is late and it's obvious he..." Florence tried to say but then again Sophia didn't give her the chance to complete whatever she was going to say.

"It doesn't change anything or do justice to what he did to me, Florence please i don't want us to have misunderstanding concerning this Andrew issues, don't discuss it with me again, i have made up my mind, please" she warned looking pissed.

Florence pursed her lips to prevent herself from saying any further things that will infuriate Sophia or bring a misunderstanding between them. She opened her eyes that she shut closed and moved a bit close to where Sophia was standing who had her hands crossed on her chest.

"I'm sorry Sophia, I didn't mean to get you pissed. And I really won't appreciate us quarreling over this issue, if that is your final decision then it's okay, but I want you to know that I'm also breaking up with Daniel." She said and stormed out of the living room in anger.

Sophia seemed to be shocked by her last statement and widened her eyes in surprise.

"Florence, what the fuck are you saying!?" She exclaimed, running after the angry Florence.