“Gbenga?” What on earth could Gbenga be doing in Surulere by this time of the day?
“Can I come in?” Gbenga asked.
“Sure” Femi replied while making way for his unexpected visitor to come in, he wondered what was up that Gbenga would come to visit him that early.
“So wa pa?” (Hope you’re good), he asked Gbenga. He had actually missed him, but he had to admit Gbenga moving out was all for the best.
“Mo gentle oh, (I’m gentle) just some issues jawe,” Gbenga replied while settling on the settee, “This place is looking neat.”
“Before nko?” Femi asked, like he Gbenga was not the ambassador for filthiness, “what were you expecting?” he inquired while sitting on the seat beside Gbenga’s.
“Exactly what I was expecting jawe, I know you are dying to know why I came,” he laughed, “abiii I dey lie?”
Femi had to laugh, the good thing was they were honest in their discussions even though they were always at loggerheads with each other, the other party knew what the other wanted.
“You no lie now”
“I forgot our family picture and you know my parents remembrance is around the corner.”
Femi nodded in understanding, “I know, but do you know where you left the picture?”
“Yes, permit me to take it,” Gbenga requested while walking towards his former room. Femi sighed, his uncle’s death had hit the whole family really hard, it had been more painful when his wife followed suit.
Their remembrance was around the corner, his cousins had kept the tradition of honouring their parents every year.
“I found it,” he looked up at Gbenga who was cleaning a photograph with his hands.
“You’re hungry?” Femi asked.
“No, thanks. I don chop,”
“Okay, shey you are still around?”
“Yeah but I’ll leave soon shaa, uhm Femi please there is something else and its urgent.”
Femi looked at Gbenga, what trouble had he gotten himself into this time around? “Okay, spill it out. I’m all ears”
——————–
Princess took slow calculated steps behind Chuks, Chuks had suggested they play a game of cards with Femi in his apartment, she had no problem with hanging out with anybody.
But the fact that she just met this young man who in a way appeared to be nice was what stood in her way, the last thing she wanted was being too familiar with any man. Men were not just worth it, a man could be all calm and gentle on the outside while he really was like a bomb waiting for the right time to explode and show his true colours.
As far as she knew, the popular saying ‘never judge a book by its cover’ was applicable to men in every way. Princewill had taught her that fact in a hard and painful way.
Chuks was already knocking on the door, if Chuks would be around then there was no problem entering the apartment.
A voice spoke from the inside of the apartment informing them to come in, she went in to see another man sitting with Femi.
So she would be the only girl in the midst, she only met with situations like this in school and they happened in public places like classrooms and parks not in a flat.
She was not sure if she wanted to be a part of this.
———————
“Guys I have to go,” Dami informed her friends while standing up.
“Alright now, we’ll see you later.” Israel the chatterbox among them replied.
“Me sef dey go oh,” Ore said while carrying his backpack.
“As your wife dey go, you sef go find levels now,” Israel chipped in whereas the others burst into laughter.
Ore shook his head and laughed as well, “If he pain you, make you sef go find wife. Busy body.”
Ore left with Dami, none made any statement from the time the left sciences till they got to Moremi hall.
Ore had then grabbed her hand out of impulse while turning her to look at him,
“What?” she asked, why would he just grab her like she was a little girl. It was not as if she was about to cross the road wrongly, so what was up with him.
“Am I your friend?” he asked with his grip still tight.
“Of course,” she smiled while attempting to release her hand from his strong grip, what was with the questioning? He released his tight grip.
“You are a liar Dami,” he countered.
What? Now somebody forgot to take his medicines, “what is wrong with you now?” she asked, she did not have time for his silly pranks. She had enough on her head already.
“Dami, for sometime now you’ve been off. And yet you insist nothing is wrong, an unbelievable lie if I must add.”
“Ehn?” She spoke with a sneer.
“Don’t go forming innocence, its not working. I’m worried about you but you are not even worried about my worry.”
She laughed inwardly, now the guy was spewing sentences that got her worried.
“Ore you don’t need to be bothered, I’m fine. I told you before now” she explained, maybe acting sweet would calm him down and he would change the topic.
“No Dami, I’m tired. Its either I know whats really going on even if its just a glimpse or you confirm that I’m not your friend,”
“Good morning Ma,” the gardener greeted his madam who obviously did not realise she was grinning so much.
“Good morning,” she replied and walked past him.
Haruna dropped the shears in his hand on the floor and looked at the pretty woman who just walked past him, only God knew why she was in such a jolly mood.
For the past five months since he started working there, she had never replied his greetings.
He sighed, picked up his shears and got back to his work.
Whatever made her happy, he prayed it lasted.
—————-
Sandra proceeded to her office while silently singing the song she had been singing all the while. Why were her co-workers looking at her as if she was in her birthday suit?
She checked the cream coloured pant trousers she was wearing, was something wrong with it? Her black cotton shirt was still in perfect condition, so what was with their looks? She ignored them and kept on humming to herself.
They could not understand what it felt like to be in love.
—————
“I wonder why you are sleeping like a log of wood,” Felicia said to Omoye who was still rubbing her eyes, she obviously did not like the fact that her sleep had been disturbed.
“Good morning Mama,” she greeted with a yawn, why did her mother wake her up? Was she not suppose to be at her shop already?
“Good morning, you know where I keep my purse?” Felicia asked.
Omoye shook her head, so this was the reason her sleep was interrupted. “When was the last time you saw it?” she asked her mother while scanning the room for the possible location of the purse.
“Is that not it there?” she pointed to a black purse on the table.
“I just bring this one out now, na the brown one I dey find, my money dey inside.” Felicia explained.
Both mother and daughter stood and searched for the purse, eventually they found it in Felicia’s bag. Omoye nearly hissed, so the darn purse was in her bag the whole time. Felicia noticed Omoye’s reaction and apologised to her daughter, it was a similarity she had with her father, they cherished their sleep.
“No vex, I don disturb you. Your pale go soon come, make u take am jeje oh.” she aplogised and advised.
“Yes Ma,” Omoye replied, she doubted if the sleep would return again.
After her mother left, she tried to memorise lines she would use when her father showed up.
‘Dad, welcome I’m sorry I’ve been a prodigal daughter.’
She would have to kneel down she said to herself, ‘Papa, Please forgive me’
She kept on mumbling different lines to herself. She did not realise she had spent about thirty minutes analysing how the meeting would go.
The sound of the door opening separated her from the world of her thoughts.
——————-
Chuks shook hands with Gbenga and Femi,
“Long time,” he addressed Gbenga.
“Na so oh,”
Princess waved at both men, she wanted to take her seat but would it not be rude to just sit as if she was in good rapport with them.
Chuks obviously knew the stranger, and her silly brother could not even help with the introductions.
“Gbenga meet Chuks sister Princess, Princess Gbenga,” Femi introduced both parties, “You can sit Princess.” he added.
Princess blessed him in her mind for coming to her rescue, she sat while nodding her head at Gbenga who waved at her.
“Gbenga we’ll talk later now,” Femi said to Gbenga, he was yet to find out what issue Gbenga had gotten himself into. And he was sure it was not a good thing, he did not want to involve outsiders, they could discuss it later.
“No oh, they might even be of help,” Gbenga objected.
“Uhn?” Femi asked, was his cousin thinking?
“I’m serious Femi, I’m confused. They might be of help.”
“Whats wrong?” Chuks asked, were this guys involved in dirty deals? Maybe he and Princess should not have come in here in the first place.
Princess however brought out her phone and started playing a game, she would resist joining their conversation.
“Na woman matter oh,” Gbenga replied.
Princess ears were alert, she was interested in the gist but did not show it. She just pretended to be engrossed in her phone.
“What else?” Femi hissed, “I need a glass of water.” he said to no one in particular while leaving the sitting room.
He came back few minutes later and asked, “so are you done explaining to Chuks? Princess is obviously not interested in the discussion.”
Princess looked up as she heard her name, there had been no discussion. What was this one saying?
“Femi, sit down. I really need your help, no jokes.” Gbenga pleaded.
“Oya now talk, let me just stand.” Femi replied.
“Okay, a lady is pregnant for me. The thing is she wants to abort the pregnancy while I want her to keep it. Its causing issues.” Gbenga narrated.
Femi looked at his cousin, “Whatever happened to using protection?”
“It was a mistake that happened once,” Gbenga replied with his face downwards.
Princess looked at Chuks, she had expected him to ask the question as a player and not Femi but was surprised when she saw something in his eyes.
Were those tears?………………………………………………..TO BE CONTINUED.
Culled from STEFIKAL’S BLOG