kweensheba:


She left with her pack. The moment she stepped out, Richard called my number. “I’m waiting, baby.”

“I’m coming.” I decided to go and meet him with my remaining food.

“I was waiting for you to come so that I could take you out for dinner,” he said upon seeing the food pack in my hand.

“Oh.”

“We can still go out all the same,” he quickly added.

I shook my head. “Maybe, I’ll wait for you. I’m already filled.”

“It won’t be a good thing for me to leave my Kween in the house while I go and eat.”

The next words I was about to say were interrupted by a knock on his door. Without waiting for a response, the knocker turned the knob and came in.

It was a young lady, probably of my age. She briefly looked at me in surprise before facing Richard.

“Hey, Sola, met my good friend, Kween.” He turned to me. “Kween, meet my younger sister, Sola.”

I studied the young lady briefly. Yes, they looked alike a bit. She also gave a grin similar to the one he liked to give.

“Hello, Sola. Pleased to meet you.”

“Hello, Kween.”

We nodded and regarded each other. She was rather cool in her response. Inwardly, I shrugged.

“How’s everyone at home?” he asked her.

“They’re all fine.”

She sat on a sofa and stretched her legs. Somehow, I found my presence in the house awkward.

“Er, we’ll see later, Richard.”

He didn’t oppose my suggestion. “Alright, my queen. We’ll see later.”

Still clutching my food pack, I left the place. Back in my apartment, I had a feeling Sola did not approve of me. Why? Was she not supposed to be happy for her brother who, from all intents, had found his love?

I finished my food, drank from a plastic bottle of carbonated water and relaxed on the two-seater. I flicked on the television to watch my favorite channels.

I expected Richard to come in any time, or to call me on the phone that I should return to his apartment. Up till minutes after ten o’clock, he had not done so. I was already feeling sleepy. I moved on to the bedroom. Within seconds, I slept off.

* * *

I was up from the bed five a.m. I immediately moved to the toilet t ease my self. Then, I had a cold bath and prepared for work. I still hadn’t heard from Richard. I was getting apprehensive. Why must the coming of his sister take precedence over every other thing?

I wore a black skirt suit and left for work. At work, I tried to concentrate and forget every other thing.
Towards noon, my mum called from her Ibadan base. She was a cloth trader at one of the shops at Mapo shopping complex, and she was doing quite well.

“Hello, Kween.”

Hello, mummy. How’re you?”

“I’m fine o. We’re all fine over here. How’re you over there, and how’s your work?”

“Fine, mummy.”

“I hope you’ve not forgotten the important thing we’ve been talking about.”

I knew what she meant. For about a year now, she had been on my neck about bringing a man home.

“I’ve not forgotten mum. I’m on it.”

“Ah, you should not forget. What I’m expecting from you is a call that you’ve got the man and you’ll be bringing him to me for proper introduction.”

I nodded. She was quite right. My mind went to Richard. Surely, Richard should fit in.

“Very soon, mummy, you’ll hear that call from me, I promise,” I said.

“Okay, Kween. See you.”

“Bye, mum.”

She disconnected the line and I sighed. About an hour later, Richard called me.

“Hello, my Kween. Sorry, I’ve not called you all the while.”

“Why was that?” I demanded.

“Well, Sola is a little bit troublesome, and she has come with some troubles, as usual.”

“What kind of troubles?”



He seemed to sigh across the line. “Oh, it’s a family thing. As time goes on, you will understand.”

I didn’t like the blank answer he gave but I decided not to press the issue further, at least for now. Few minutes to four o’clock, Richard called again.




House of Scandals: https://okadabooks.com/book/about/house-of-scandals/30547

FairCritic:
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