The room throbbed with adults – some men dancing with their girls, others leaning intimately against the wall. Flavour was crooning about big arse on the music player. The air was a purple haze, warm, soothing, though it stank of thick fragrances

The two friends were laughing hard over a joke, when Amaechi held Chukwudi’s hand, and their laughter died off. Chukwudi thought it strange that he was noticing for the first time how tender his friend’s palm was. Then he caught Amaechi staring at him.

And silently Amaechi withdrew his hand, and they both managed not to look awkward.