*PROLOGUE*
AYO

Photography is what I do for a living, that’s what has saved me from the confines of poverty, not totally but I know am not going from house to house to beg for food and my kid sister don’t have to stay on the street of Lagos to hop into another man’s car, at least that’s one thing am grateful for. My parents are very much alive you know but things hasn’t been as it use to and I have been handed the mantle not to take the responsibility of my family alone but to give support at the moments of needs.

“my papa dey try I no fit lie” I have got the best father in the world, a loving and a caring one, very strict and man of his words, a father that work through fire for his kids not thinking of the dangers ahead, a father that don’t mind spending his last dime on his kids just to make sure they are happy and comfortable. Truly, I have found a mentor and a guide in him because he has played the role of a demi-god in my life and it still continues. My mother is the Lionel messi of all mothers and deserves every good thing the world could offer because she stayed with my father and kept things going in peace even when things were going AWOL.

I am the second out of three children, the only boy with two beautiful sisters, my first sister is a product of school dropout running away with a big Lagos boy all in the name of money and lust and I tag her the “bad egg” in the family while I am always protective of my kid sister, I try as much as possible to provide her with whatever she wants adding to the little provided by my parent just to make sure she doesn’t end up doing what I said earlier or end up like my elder sister.

I am a student of Lagos state university and in my finals at twenty one while my sister just got in and in her fresh year, I am a cute boy “me sef I sabi” I have a lot of girls always flocking around me in school including rich girls who would seduce me with their body and also their father’s wealth but I was blinded with success and working towards making a name for myself. I go on events and keep late nights on some job just to raise funds.
I was going through my feeds on instagram when I got a pop up message from a well known photographer; I was so shocked that I had to go back to my profile to see if I was the owner of the account.
“Hello” he typed

“Good afternoon sir, I can’t believe my eyes sir” I replied

“lol, I understand, how are you?”

“I am fine sir” I was really anxious as the chat went on

“I have been going through your page for two months now and I can see how good you are and you have a touch of a professional”.

“Thank you so much sir” I felt elated.

“Do you work under any photography agency whatsoever” he asked

“No sir, just my personal day to day hustle, am not under any agency”

“That’s very good then, I have a job for you and I want to give you this job not because I don’t have people I work with but because I felt the need to reward your good works”. He explained
Some part of me was still asking questions. I hope am not in the hands of scammers. I was still thinking about all this when he requested for my whatsapp number so he could put me on video call which I did without hesitating.
Lo and behold it was olatomiwa chen, the popular Nigerian photographer, this made me relax and also brought enough joy within me. He is a multi award winning photographer both home and abroad and I was wandering how a big personality like him could monitor my page for months with all his tight schedules.

“so the Lagos fashion week starts next week and I wouldn’t be available for the show, am on vacation with my family in France and I can’t deprive them of this anymore, first of all I do hope I can trust you?

“you can trust me sir” I responded in haste.

“it starts next Sunday which is three days away and I need you to go represent me for the whole week, your hotel and feeding bills is settled, I would pay you a good sum of money after the job and don’t be scared to ask me anything”.
My mouth was agape after he was done talking, I was searching for words I could use to thank him but I found none.

“I wouldn’t disappoint you sir” I assured him.

“just make sure you keep me updated” he dropped the call immediately we finished the conversation and I called my parents to inform them.

“my dreams are coming through” I shouted.

Kiki

“Mum I can’t go to Africa” I said

“baby you should go, that’s the only continent you’ve not been to and your boss want you for the job so why don’t you just take the chance”

Modeling is everything, it has shaped me and made me and am enjoying every single thing am making out of it. I am 5.8ft tall, dark and bold looking girl with the ability to make a lot of money on the runway.

Who doesn’t know kiki Andrews in the entirety of London, i doubt that.

I’ve heard a lot of things on news and from people that have made me write off some countries in Africa most especially Nigeria who has been scamming enough folks over here. I am black as well and mother would always say our fore fathers are African but I would always disagree with her but now I got this assignment in Nigeria for the first time and it’s the “lagos fashion week” my boss has assigned me for the job and my mum has giving her blessings even without requesting so what choice do I really have to turn this whole thing down. I wasn’t the type that doesn’t listen to her mother even if am the stubborn type, that woman has gone through enough for me so I have to respect her wishes for me and I saw her reasons for persuading me to also accept the job.

“Okay momma I would go to Africa, just help me pack”

Day 1
Kiki

“Room 202 is at the third floor” The receptionist directed me to my room.
Fareedah ended up being my savior today as she came right in time to pick me up from the airport so it wasn’t stressful. She is the designer I would be working with at the fashion week and she has been telling me all about the designs I would be showcasing at the show.

“Thanks for being here kiki” she said as she pressed the button of the elevator leading us to the third floor.

“You’re welcome, it’s my job and I get paid for it”

Probably she should thank my mother who has pulled a great deal by making me accept the Job and also the double pay involved and the beneficial clause on the contract.

Fareedah is a fashionista and it speaks all over her from her braids to her cloths down to her shoes. She is very young and beautiful putting a staggering amount of passion in her work and she has also showcased some of her designs in the recent London fashion week that ended and that shows how much of a stronghold she is still gonna become if she doesn’t stop throwing her weight in the game.
She had briefed me on every single details of my job, about the days I would be working out of the week as well as design I would showcase for each day so I was well updated, the fashion show started today but obviously I start tomorrow.
On our way from the airport I saw some very beautiful places I thought I would never see in Africa and it was so different from the way news and media would portray it as countries inflicted with poverty and disease.

“lagos is beautiful” I confessed

“Yes, very beautiful place although not yet like where you coming from but we growing”

“I can see that but it’s a good development” I smiled

“Well we can only hope for a better government that would do the right thing”

“Yes that’s important” I replied.

“I will pick you up tomorrow for the first runway show and the designs are ready” she pointed out.

“Okay no wahala”
We both laughed hard after I said that, she herself had thought me some Nigerian slangs on my way down to the hotel.
She left the hotel room leaving me all alone and my mobile phone was the only company that has never disappointed in boring situations like this.

AYO

“room 201 is right at the third floor” the receptionist gave one of the best smile I have encountered. I appreciated her as I grabbed my bag containing my wears and equipment. I was on a black long sleeve accompanied with black skinny jeans. Tomorrow was my first day at work and I was determined as ever to take my chances at my rare opportunity.

The hotel was a four star hotel and I didn’t have to be told that everything there was expensive, I had the best meal in a very long while although not as sweet as the typical indigenous soup my mother would do but it was still sumptuous.
I was so over protective of my kid sister so I was always on the phone with her almost every minute am not around her, though am not a stalker all I just wanted is to be that brother that cares so much. I knew her boyfriend and I was well aware of the kind of guy he is and I had told him judgment day would fall on him if he ever hurt her.

“you safe” I asked

“sure, I just got to fikayo’s” she said.

Fikayo is her best friend who liked me so much and she went all the way to even tell me but unfortunately I was not into her, she felt so bad and gave attitude to me and my sister for some weeks before she got a guy that came to sweep her off her feet.

“okay good, I just settled in here as well”

“that’s nice, you enjoying life without me” she grumbled

“you do know that it’s me and your naughty self that would spend this money anyways”

“well that’s true”

“I have to go to bed now, I have a lot of work in the morning”

“okay bro later, I love you so so much” she shouted

“get out of here, you don’t have to scream so loud” I dropped the call and went to bed with my hope sky rocketing.

Day 2
Ayo

It was day 2 of the fashion week show and I made myself available at the venue to have a feel of where am going to place my cameras. I met some colleagues who were also going to be available at the event as photographers. I made friends and exchange contacts with some as we laughed off on some trending issues in the country.

It was 10am and the show had began, I had started taking a lot of pictures as well from the dignitaries to the models on the run way but none had really caught my eyes not until one last girl stepped on the runway. I shouted Damn as I kept on clicking on my camera for many shots. She bossed the runway, the way she swayed are body was sexy and energetic, every single shot I took of her depicted a story and something called beautiful. The designs she was putting on blend with her body perfectly and I was sure fulfilled for the day.
I knew I had got something I would show Chen that he would love and taking these shots would be the beginning of something great for my photography career. I thought of going back stage to see and talk to this girl and probably show her the nice pictures I took of her but I changed my mind and said “she go dey see am for social media”

Kiki

"Everyone is talking about you, you did great Kiki" fareedah complimented.

"All thanks to your nice designs, they are going to top the market" she giggled.
Today was actually so much fun, I made some couple of friends already and Lagos is actually filled with good people and am enjoying the job.
She drove me back to my hotel room and left immediately, my headphones were on as I was approaching my room door. I was about to open up when this gorgeous looking guy came out of the room next to mine.

"Woah" he seemed to have seen a ghost after all the hype i gave him.

I ignored him and was about going in when he dragged me by my hand. I was shocked by the amount of balls that he possessed to even touch me.


"Sorry to interrupt"

"Yea, do you really had to drag me by my hand, am not your Juliet and I thought you just saw a ghost" I returned in anger.

"Am so sorry please forgive me I just wanted to commend you for the great show you pulled today and with the way you speak you don't seem to be from this country"

"Please I wanna go to bed already" I replied. I was so tired and I was not ready for the irrelevant talk I had a feeling he was going to bring up.

"Forgive me I just want to show you some pictures I took of you today, you would love it and am sure" he was smiling sheepishly.

"Goodnight" the next sound was the bang of my door. I want no boy problem at least not at the course of a smooth show.

Day 3
Ayo

I woke up very early, it was the day three of the Lagos fashion week. The show was slated for evening so i had the luxury to rest before 5pm.
I grabbed my camera and immediately stored all important files in my laptop after editing them. At least i won't want the witches of my village to come for me now when it's getting all sweet and interesting.
My phone blared on its "manya" ringtone and I picked it almost immediately because it was the boss Chen.

"How are you doing starboy" he shouted

"Doing great" I replied

"I got those pictures you sent via my mail, I must commend you, it's top notch fam".

"Thank you sir" I smiled with all the joy erupting in me

"Keep it up, you've made my team already and after my vacation with my family, we would link up"

"I would be available almost anytime you call me" I assured him

"So get back to work and shoot those shots and also remember less sex cause it might make you lose form" we both laughed hard as I thanked him and hung up.
Chen was so cool and hardly would one believe personality like him could be so humble, his family should be blessed and very happy they have him aside his Fame and money that he possess.

Kiki
"Hey Kiki" gbemi reached out.

I had got a girl friend for myself after the show yesterday and she seem really cool. Her name is gbemisola and I can tell you the name sound weird to me. She said it's a Nigerian name and i would get mine just before I leave.
Gbemi is also a runway model and she is modeling for another brand entirely. She has travelled around the world after I learnt about her vast knowledge of different countries she has been to and how fun and boring some could be. She was my only gist partner at the back of the stage before we start the show proper and we were just getting ready for the show.

"Gbemi am good, you look amazing" I complimented.
She giggled and came closer to my spot.

"I hope you are exploring places in Lagos, you know you should do that before you go back to London" she advised

"Sure hopefully fareedah would take me to some places just before I travel"

"That would be nice" she declared
At the end of the show I stood at the lobby waiting for fareedah to come drive me back to my hotel but she had to attend a meeting so I had no choice than to stay glued on a sit and wait for her.
I was checking up on some messages on my phone when someone stood right in front of me demanding my audience. It was the same guy I met at the hotel yesterday.

"You don't get tired, do you" I sighed.
What gets me amazed is his constant smile even when when I don't give him a chance to speak with me or even smile back.

"Can you please leave me alone" I said gently. "You not gonna get this London chick" I said to myself

"Just hold on, I just want to show you a picture and that's all" he brought out his camera and wanted to show me a picture and the next thing I did was also shocking to me. I smashed his camera right on the floor.

"Leave me alone" I screamed this time. Everybody in the lobby looked our way immediately and were all staring at the scene I have created out of the blue. He was dumbfounded and short of words.
His response to what I had done broke me down. I expected better from him at least some yelling but this guy never did.

"I am sorry" he said and those three words pierced my heart so badly that I had to run out to cry. I felt bad and irritated at myself; how can I hurt someone and he still tells me sorry. Why didn't he just fight back? I started asking myself questions.

"Who the hell is this guy?" I asked myself.
After fareedah was done with her meeting she saw me looking all gloomy.

" What is wrong Kiki, did any one touched or got you annoyed" she asked but I gave her no response to her questions instead I told her to just take me back to my hotel room and she complied.

Day 4
Ayo

"My camera is beyond repair, it's damaged and am doomed, that was my best camera and it's gone" I was pacing to and fro my room and thinking of solutions.

"My village people have finally arrived" I said to myself.
I can't even tell Chen about this, where would i even start from.

"I should have just let her be" I said again.
I dialed my sister’s number immediately so she could help me get a camera from a friend in school.

"He is not around he travelled" my kid sister said.

I have to send pictures to Chen today. I report to him every day and I can't give him excuses, I can't make him start doubting me just yet. I was sweating profusely under the air conditioner, my mind wasn't stable and no solution was forthcoming.

Kiki
Today was an off for me on the runway so I decided to just stay back at my hotel room. The break came in handy as I was not in the mood after what I had done yesterday and I was just too scared to bump into him again because I can't look him in the eye. I had done wrong and I was aware of how much damage I had caused.

I was going through Instagram when I clicked on the lagos fashion week page. I saw my pictures on the page and the caption reads "best shot of the fashion week so far"

I immediately clicked on the handle that was tagged just to see who took the beautiful shots of me with enough messaged bestowed in it. I wasn't so shocked when I saw it, it was him, the guy I broke his camera. "Ayosnaps" was the name on the handle. So I had broken his camera just because he wanted to show me these gorgeous pictures.
I stood up and started pacing in my room thinking of what to do. Immediately I called fareedah to come drive me somewhere.

nice one @vybzcaddy please ride on cus you've got yourself a fan who's enjoying this story

Akhigbe2000:
nice one @vybzcaddy
please ride on cus you've got yourself a fan who's enjoying this story

thanks a lot

Day 5
Ayo
I couldn't sleep the whole night cus I wasn't able to do anything yesterday, camera was the sole reason for my being here and it's damaged. Chen had even dropped a message I couldn't even reply because I don't just want to break the bad news to him yet. I can't be eating and sleeping well with his money when am not even doing anything.
I was about to go take my bath when I heard a knock on my door. I called out to know who it was but no response, so I went closer and open the door. I saw a box lying on the floor with a note on it. I read out and it states

"I am sorry, call me" the anonymous person left a number with a sorry message which still got me pondering who it could be.

I quickly opened the parcel and to my utmost surprise it was a camera, a cannon EOS 80D, it's a camera worth almost half a million. I called the number immediately and when I heard the voice I knew it was her. The girl who broke my camera, she bought this huge baby for me.

"This is too much" I said

"No it's not, am very sorry for smashing your camera and I wanted to pay it back"

"Am so grateful, thank you so much"

" No I should be thanking you for not flaring up and getting angry even after what I had done, I really wish and hope we could hang out, would really love to know you more" she requested.

"No problem about that at all, I would give you a call after today's schedule" I responded with so much joy in me. I now have a camera that is far better than the camera she broke. I never saw this coming , I was glad and amazed because it's all like a dream for me and life has just been made easy for me again with this tool am holding.
I took my bath immediately and got dressed in my best attire. Happiness was filled within me, I just got a new baby, and camera is my love.

DAY 6
Ayo

"Beep Beep Beep" she picked almost immediately.

"Hey Ayo" her accent made me laugh with the way she called my name.

"I'm gonna come pick you up at your door soon, you ready" I asked

"Yes of course, I am"
Lagos is one sure place for fun and I had promise Kiki to take her to some interesting places in Lagos, at least we are now trying to become friends and I hope it would even last long providing she's going back to London tomorrow. I never even believe we could be this close after we both started on a wrong foot so I guess I should just enjoy this little moment with her before she departs me.
Kiki was one beautiful lady and looked so gorgeous when she stepped out of her room. This was her other side she hasn't even revealed on the runway. She was on a simple Jean and crop top, putting on a light makeup and not that of a masquerade, her smile was welcoming like a bride who just saw her groom and felt like her wedding.

"Hey you beautiful, I know your mirror has told you that too"

"Thanks" she giggled

"Yo ready" I asked again

"Yes" she smiled revealing her dimples.
I took her to silverbird cinemas at ikeja were we saw a new movie which was funny and interesting. She was all over me at the cinemas, I felt we were something more than just friends, I wanted more but I knew it was impossible so I just told my heart to just keep beating and don't try falling in love.

She insisted on visiting the popular fela African shrine and told me how she fell in love with his music and how her dad would play it almost every day when she was growing up. We ended up at a restaurant where I told her alot of things about my child hood. She was so much fun, and real and I was getting scared my heart wasn't doing what I instructed it to do.

I didn't let her spend a dime today, I literally spent everything Chen had gave me for allowance on her and she kept on thanking me till we got home, telling me how much fun she had and how she wished we could hang out more before she leave the country.

"I still have one more show for tonight before I get out tomorrow and I hope you would be there to give me those shots" she requested

"Of course, that's my duty"
I got her back to her room as she hugged me so tight and didn't want to let go till I had to take a cough.

"See you tonight" I assured.

"Okay" she replied.

Kiki

I totally enjoyed being with Ayo today, I had so much fun and I fell in love with everything I saw today including Ayo. He took all my doubts away and I would love to visit this country again. I can't believe I have feelings for him already in just two days and I don't know what to call this and I pray this doesn't end badly considering the fact that I should be back in London by tomorrow.
Today was my final day on the runway to showcase fareedah's designs and I would have to be in London tomorrow for a modeling conference in Birmingham.
A knock was on my door and I knew it was gbemi so I rushed to open up immediately.

"Hey babe" we hugged tight like we've been friends for years.

"Sorry, am late" she said

"No wahala" we both laughed hard.

"So any gist Missy" she asked as she fell flat on the bed.

"I actually need an advice from you"

"Oh what is it" she got up immediately looking very anxious.

"A boy problem, a Nigerian boy problem" I smiled.

She fell back on the bed with a long hiss like a snake that just got back its lost mojo.

"Why are you hissing gbemi" I asked

"They are gold diggers, don't fall for any of them, I have had several issues with all of them that's why I ended up dating an American, all because girls like us have money they think you desperate to find love so they want to scam" she said.

"But I love this guy, I leave tommorow and I haven't even spoken to him about it yet, my heart bleeds".

" You would get over him baby don't bother too much, trust me am looking out for you, he is a scam am sure, see babe I am a Nigerian too and you know I would also want to look out for my own people too but am telling you the truth 80 percent of them are no good"

“what if he is part of the 20 left” i asked

“trust me he is not”

"Hmm, maybe you are right, maybe he doesn't even feel anything for me, maybe he just want to have sex with me and dump me, maybe"

"So babes the show starts in an hour, let's move"

"Yes, fareedah just called too"
I was still thinking of our conversation and I was not so sure what to believe, I wanted Ayo and I definitely don't want to have any heart break.
After the show, I tried avoiding him but he caught me just right in time, we both left the venue together for the hotel and we talked all through till we got to the hotel. I was all over him and he did vice versa.

“please call me if you are going to leave early in the morning” he said

“okay” I was expecting he was gonna kiss me but he didn’t instead he hugged me and he went to his room. I was so devastated.
Day 7
Kiki
It was a beginning of something great but today marks the end, the end of the lovely job and the end of what I feel for ayo "maybe". I couldn't even sleep properly; I was waking up at intervals at night.
I was in love with someone but I don't know if he loves me back. I don't even care to be with him if he admits he loves me, I only need him to say it to me. I can even help him start up in London and pay for his flight, I don't mind if he is scam or a gold digger all I know right now is I love Ayo but am so scared of rejection that I can't tell him.
I had already left for the airport and dropped a note right in front of his hotel room, I was shivering when it was almost time to get into the departure path, I didn’t know if I was really doing the right thing. Some part of me wanted to run back to him while the other wanted me to just go though the departure already, I was confused.
Ayo

“She is gone? why would she even do that” I asked the receptionist.
I was wondering why she left without telling me, I didn’t even get to tell her how much I loved her, I didn’t even get to know how to contact her in London. I immediately board a cab to the muritala international airport; at least I won’t just give up on her just like that and she won’t give up on me too.

I got to the airport and ran straight to where the departures are but I could find no one that looked like her, I was pacing and looking all over the airport but I didn’t see my kiki.
Tears dropped but I immediately wiped them, she was truly gone and I wasn’t even allowed to say goodbye or tell her how I felt. I had never felt what I had with kiki with another girl and I just missed the opportunity of being with that girl.

“7 days wasn’t enough for me to even express how I felt to this girl, I needed more time but none was giving, I only hope we both meet again sooner” I said to myself when my phone rang.

“Hello chen” I said reluctantly.


“Do you have passport” he asked

“yes I have enough passports in my purse, I could scan It to you later” he started laughing and I was wandering’

“I meant travelling passport”

“yes sir I do”

“I got a job at the modeling conference at Birmingham in England, please book your ticket immediately and come meet me, I would send you the money soon, we can use this medium to see and talk as well”

I FAINTED

Wow. what a beautiful story.

Franca397:
Wow. what a beautiful story.

Thank You

Interesting

wow, what a nyc story love dis

Ann2012:
Interesting

nice

Geez
Don't tell me it's the end
It was sooooooooooooooo nice

nice write-up op

Pinkberry5:
Geez Don't tell me it's the end It was sooooooooooooooo nice

thanks much

Akhigbe2000:
nice write-up op

oshey

arowolomuhammed:
wow, what a nyc story love dis

thanks

Awwwwwwn
So beautiful!
Thumbs up vybzcaddy You rock!

EvaJael:
Awwwwwwn So beautiful! Thumbs up vybzcaddy You rock!

lol thanks much

is that all

adeoyun:
is that all

lol yes it's a short story

arowolomuhammed:
wow, what a nyc story
love dis

thank you

yh

Wow!!!! Short but great. What a beautiful story. I receive the anointing to write short and beautiful stories like this. Well done vybzcaddy, you are blessed.

rachealfst:
Wow!!!! Short but great. What a beautiful story. I receive the anointing to write short and beautiful stories like this. Well done vybzcaddy, you are blessed.

I feel honoured, I am a big fan of your works and you are part of the inspirations on letting this out.

vybzcaddy:


I feel honoured, I am a big fan of your works and you are part of the inspirations on letting this out.

I'm honoured, thanks.

rachealfst:
I'm honoured, thanks.

ya welcome.

vybzcaddy:

Thank You

oshey

adeoyun:
is that all

yes

hmm