Kapitel 20: Payback Time 2

Ebilade leaned casually against the counter, a mischievous glint in his eyes as he asked Blessing, "So, that friend of mine, Grace... is she still coming around with that friend of hers?"

Blessing, busy wiping down the counter, was caught off guard by the sudden question. But what really surprised her was the smile on his face—genuine, almost playful. It wasn't something she was used to seeing from him. She narrowed her eyes suspiciously, her movements slowing as she processed his expression. "They come here pretty much every day, so yeah, they should be here in a few hours. Why? What's going on between you two?"

Ebilade shrugged casually, though his eyes sparkled with mischief. "Oh, nothing serious. Just wanted to catch up with an old friend, that's all." He gave her a wink before turning on his heel, walking away with a nonchalant air that felt out of place. His shoulders were relaxed, his steps unhurried as he made his way to the changing room.

Blessing watched him go, wiping the counter with slow, deliberate strokes, her brow furrowed in confusion. She knew that look—he was up to something, but she couldn't quite figure out what. His sudden change in demeanor had everyone watching. She pursed her lips, her eyes tracking him as he disappeared into the back. "What is he planning?"

Moments later, the door to the changing room creaked open, and Ebilade stepped out, now dressed in the familiar uniform of the diner. Heads turned instantly, murmurs rippling through the room as everyone stared at him, surprised. He glanced around, raising an eyebrow as if nothing was out of the ordinary.

"What?" he asked, acting oblivious to the curious stares.

Blessing leaned forward, crossing her arms over her chest and shaking her head in disbelief. "What do you mean, 'what'? What are you doing?" Her voice carried a hint of amusement, mixed with disbelief as she pointed at his uniform. "Why are you dressed like that? You don't work here anymore, Ebilade."

Ebilade smirked, casually adjusting the apron as though he belonged there. "Oh, this?" He looked down at his outfit with mock confusion, a playful grin tugging at the corner of his lips. "Just thought I'd help out, you know... since I'm already here."

Blessing's eyes narrowed, but there was a smile forming at the edges of her lips. She placed a hand on her hip, tilting her head as she studied him. "Uh-huh. And I suppose this has nothing to do with Grace showing up later?" Her tone was teasing, but her sharp gaze stayed fixed on him, waiting for any tell.

Ebilade held her gaze for a moment before chuckling softly, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Let's just say I like to be prepared." He winked, his voice light, but there was a sly undertone that made Blessing roll her eyes.

"Uh-huh," she muttered, shaking her head with a knowing smile. "You're impossible."

Ebilade moved through the diner like a whirlwind, the once casual demeanor replaced with an unexpected energy. He wiped down tables, refilled condiments, and even cracked a few jokes with the regulars. The staff exchanged puzzled glances as they watched him work with the same zeal he once had. It was as though the old Ebilade had reawakened, bringing back the efficiency that everyone had long forgotten.

Blessing leaned against the counter, her arms folded, eyes wide in disbelief as she tracked his movements. Her confusion mirrored that of the other workers. They had grown used to the idea that Ebilade was no longer part of the diner, his absence marked by a strange silence in the place he used to command. Yet now, there he was, moving with a purpose she hadn't seen in him for ages.

"What on earth has gotten into him?" one of the waitresses muttered under her breath, her gaze flitting between Ebilade and Blessing.

"I have no idea," Blessing replied, shaking her head in disbelief, though a small smirk was beginning to tug at her lips. "He's acting like he's still on the payroll."

As if on cue, Ebilade strode past, flashing them both a cheeky grin. Blessing couldn't help herself. "Ebilade!" she called after him, her voice cutting through the chatter of the diner.

He stopped mid-stride, spinning on his heel with exaggerated flair, his apron swaying with the movement. "Yes?" He tilted his head, brows raised in innocent inquiry.

"You don't work here anymore, remember?" she asked, raising a brow, her tone hovering between amusement and disbelief.

Ebilade placed a hand on his chest, feigning shock. "What do you mean, I don't work here?" He paused dramatically, letting the silence hang for a moment before grinning. "I never quit, and no one fired me. Technically, I'm still employed."

The staff let out a collective groan, some shaking their heads in exasperation while others couldn't help but chuckle. Blessing rolled her eyes, the amusement clear in her expression. "You're impossible," she repeated, though the corner of her mouth twitched with a smile.

The hours ticked by, and just as Blessing was about to go back to her work, the doorbell chimed, signaling new arrivals. Ebilade's ears seemed to perk up instantly, and he subtly adjusted his posture as he turned toward the entrance.

Grace walked in first, her curly hair bouncing with each step, her smile bright and full of energy as she greeted the staff with a cheerful wave. But it wasn't her that Ebilade's gaze locked onto—it was Charles, the tall, muscular figure trailing behind her.

Charles moved with a casual confidence, his hands shoved in his pockets as he glanced around, his gaze settling on Ebilade. His face was unreadable at first, his sharp jawline set in a neutral expression, but there was a flicker of recognition in his eyes—a small, almost imperceptible twitch of his brow as he took in Ebilade's presence in the diner.

Ebilade's eyes narrowed ever so slightly, the playful smirk he'd worn all day shifting into something more calculated. His body remained relaxed, leaning back against the counter as though he hadn't noticed Charles's arrival. But there was an intensity in the way he stood, an alertness masked beneath his seemingly casual stance.

Grace, unaware of the tension building between the two men, bounced up to the counter with her usual enthusiasm. "Hey, Blessing!" she chirped, her eyes twinkling as she looked around. "Isn't it nice today? Charles and I thought we'd drop by since, well, you know, this place is like our second home now."

Blessing smiled, though she couldn't help glancing toward Ebilade, sensing the undercurrent in the room. "Good to see you both. Your usual?"

Before Grace could answer, Charles stepped forward, his eyes still on Ebilade. He folded his arms across his chest, his stance casual but unmistakably firm. "Didn't expect to see you here, Ebilade is it?" He said, his voice deep, carrying a hint of surprise beneath the calm surface.

Ebilade shrugged, still leaning against the counter with a smirk playing on his lips. "I could say the same about you. But hey, like I told Blessing, I never really left."

Charles's lips quirked slightly, almost as if in amusement, but his eyes never left Ebilade's. "Is that so?" There was something unreadable in his gaze—perhaps curiosity, perhaps something else entirely.

Grace, oblivious to the silent exchange between the two, laughed lightly, waving a hand dismissively. "You boys and your games," she said, turning to Blessing. "Anyway, yes, the usual for me and Charles."

Blessing nodded, quickly scribbling down their orders while shooting another quick glance between Ebilade and Charles, sensing the subtle tension between them. Ebilade, still grinning, pushed off the counter and headed back toward the kitchen to prepare the orders, his movements deliberate, controlled.

As he walked past Charles, the air seemed to thicken slightly, neither man acknowledging the other directly but both acutely aware of each other's presence. Ebilade's smirk remained, but his eyes flicked toward Charles for the briefest moment—a silent message, a challenge perhaps.

Charles didn't flinch. His expression remained calm, composed, though there was an edge of something sharper beneath his cool exterior.

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