**********

Senator Chukwuma Ekwe stared at his son and wondered for the umpteenth time how he was going to get through to him. The once loving and jovial son of his had become an icicle. He gazed at Gateno, his other son and Fiorella, his only daughter and her two friends who couldn't keep their eyes off Giovanni while pretending to watch the programme going on on television.

Whenever he was home, he made sure every member of his family ate at the dining table with him and sat down with him in the living room to watch television afterwards till 9pm when they would be allowed to retire to their respective rooms. His late wife, bless her lovely soul, had made the rule then in order for the kids to get to know their father whenever he was around. It used to be a lively affair then which had always made him move mountains to come home in the past but these days, his home was more or less a graveyard. 

His kids along with Fiorella's friends had arrived home two days ago for their various holidays when he was out of Abuja on official assignment. Gaetano had already been home for a week before his siblings arrived, much to his joy. He stared at Gio again who was at his far right and Gateno who was at his far left. Only Fiorella and her friend's sat close to him on the thick taupe leather couch. He couldn't blame them though, the living room was large with a high ceiling and very long rich-textured, gold flaked curtains. The living room was elegant, a mixture of soft creams and beige contrasted with deep-cushioned sofas in taupe leather, and the artwork on the walls were genuine. The whole ambience was one of understated elegance and serious money.

The house was large. The senator had wanted it built like an Italian castle or a hacienda but in the end, it had seemed too big for his family of six then and much bigger for his family of four now. So he'd opted for a simple house with different wings for his family. He and his late wife had shared a wing at the eastern part of the house, his boys had the north wing to themselves which was situated in the middle of the house while Fiorella's was to the west. He'd wanted Fiorella in the wing close to his but his wife had insisted on him giving it to their boys. She knew boys would be boys but she wasn't going to tolerate them having girls in their rooms. She had to keep them close to monitor them. Fiorella she knew wouldn't dare bring a boy into her room. Senator Ekwe had bowed in deference to his wife's reasons.

The senator cleared his throat.

"Giovanni, have you booked your flight to London?" he asked his son.

"Yes." His son didn't even bother withdrawing his gaze from the television.

"When are you leaving?"

"Next week."

His father was surprised.

"Why next week? But your IT doesn't begin till two weeks from now."

"I've got some stuff to do over there," came the blunt reply. Had his dad known his initial plan from school was to leave the following day on arriving home after Fiorella told him she was coming home with friends, he would be grateful he was even going to spend a week here. He'd changed his mind on meeting Tano at home. He missed the kiddo and wanted to keep the lonely child company. He did have stuff to do over there in London though.

Senator Ekwe wanted to say more about the journey but decided to let it go. He had gotten the approval of a London research institute for Gio to carry out his industrial training. He would be staying with his brother's son, Richard who was schooling there.

"I believe I don't need to tell you how to behave when you get there."

"You don't." Another blunt reply.

His father let out a deep breath. There were days he felt like slapping the cold mask off his son's face. Would Gio ever forgive him for the mistake he made? He hadn't understood the situation then. Fear clutched his heart when he remembered Gio had just four years to go before claiming his inheritance. If only there was something he could do to make his son continue needing him, continue depending on him. He was afraid he'd lose his son permanently when Gio came into his inheritance. And now that the money was meant for him alone, it would have yielded a lot of interest. He cursed his late father-in-law again. Why couldnt he have just given his money to charity instead of his grandsons? It was all so frustrating!

"Gaetano, when are you resuming school?"

Gaetano removed his eyes from the television and focused on his handsome father, an older version of his elder brother.

"Next month."

"Make sure you present the list of everything you need for school early this time around."

"Yes, Dad."

"Third term, right?"

"Yes."

"Hmm...you're becoming a big boy," he teased and was glad when his last child smiled happily. "It's J.S.S. 3 next, right?"

"Yes, Dad."

"Okay. Keep studying hard. I'm very proud of you."

Gaetano was all smiles from ear to ear.

"Thanks, Dad."

"You're welcome, Son."

The senator turned to his daughter, the favourite of his children. "Fi, how are your studies?"

Fi, with a bright smile on her face, scooted closer to him and laid her head on his shoulder. He put a strong arm around her shoulders.

"Fine, Daddy. It's coming along just fine. I can't wait to graduate though." She pouted prettily.

Her father laughed. 

"You still have two more years to go."

Fi groaned. "I know. I hate thinking of it. I wish I were Gio right now," she chirped and cast a look of longing at her elder brother who was gazing intently at the television. Fi sighed. She knew her brother wasn't a fan of Nigerian movies. He was only fronting with what seemed like utmost concentration. His body language showed he really didn't want to be there. He was only with them on sufferance and compulsion.

"Don't worry, my darling. You will get there soon."

Gio rose, his movements fluid and beautiful to watch. Fiorella's friends were mesmerized.

"May I be excused? It's 9pm." He looked straight at his dad while Fi lifted her head from his shoulder. It was a usual routine. She pleaded with cat eyes for her father to do something to make Gio stay longer with them even though he didn't even acknowledge their presence.

Her father conceded. "Why don't you stay a bit longer? It's still pretty early."

Gio put his hands in the pockets of his slacks.

"I've got some packing to do." The excuse was flimsy, even to his ears, but he was in no mood for playing happy family.

Fi jerked upright. "I'll help you pack. I promise." 

The frozen expression on his face didn't change. "Thanks, but no thanks, Fi. The last time you helped me pack for school, you left half my belongings behind."

Fi broke out in giggles. "I just assumed that those things were unnecessary."

Her heart leapt for joy when she thought she caught a glimpse of the beginning of a smile on his face but it was so brief she wasn't sure. 

"May I be excused?" he asked again. His sister's shameless friends were almost peeling the skin off his body with their intense scrutiny.

His father shrugged.

"Sure but be down for breakfast tomorrow."

"Fine," he replied and walked briskly out of the room with all eyes on him.

Fi pouted and snuggled close to her father again.

"Don't worry, princess. Someday, he will return back to how he used to be. Let sleepings dogs lie for now. "

"But when? When we've all left this house?"

"No. I think when he meets his Mrs. Right."

Fi chuckled.

"That's so unlikely. You know he hates girls."

"I bet you he won't be able to resist his special one," he said with certainty.

Fi giggled again. "I really can't imagine Gio in love. It would be hilarious."

Her father laughed. A very rich laugh that attracted the attention of the other females in the room. Since the middle-aged man had passed on his gorgeous gene to his son and also looked far younger than his age, they drooled at his handsome face and athletic physique.

"May I be excused too?" Gaetano put in as he rose from the golden brown leather armchair.

"Why?" Fi asked.

"I need to ask Gio some questions."

"Good luck with that." Fi inserted and Gaetano smiled. His elder sister was jealous of his relationship with their elder brother. He was the only one Gio really talked to in the house. Not all the time but most times which was something.

"Alright, Tano but I expect you to come down for breakfast early tomorrow morning."

Gaetano smiled again. Everyone knew he loved his beauty sleep expecially on holidays and weekends.

"Good night, Dad. Good night, Fi. Good night, Jessica and Yemisi."

They all bade him goodnight. 

Gaetano climbed the spiral steps that led to his own part of the house with Gio. He went to his room, quickly had his night bath, put on his olive green cotton PJs and went to his brother's room. He knocked briskly on the door. Gio, on black silk designer boxers opened the door. He opened it wider for his younger brother to come in.

Gio went to the king-sized bed he had shared with Giordano, picked up his gamepad and continued the NFS (Need For Speed) Nitro game he was playing on his laptop before his brother's knock. Their late mother had insisted that there would be no televisions in the rooms so they could all gather as a family in the living room to watch television. 

Gaetano who was a miniature of Giovanni and his father, was tall for his age and already a darling amongst girls his age and above. He looked around the spacious room at the pictures of different classic houses. Gio wasn't supposed to be studying mathematics in the university but architecture. Gio loved houses. Gaetano remembered with a smile that Gio had loved to come here with their dad when the house was being built. He even had his own model of the house and as a kid, he'd designed and built models of houses with matchsticks and empty boxes. That seemed like aeons ago.

Gaetano sat on one of the grey cushioned chairs and stared at his brother. He had redecorated his room after Dano died. He had removed the bright colors and replaced them with black and grey, from the curtains to the chairs, to the wall paper.

Was Fi right? Gaetano thought. Did Gio hate girls? But he could still remember the time Gio and Dano would discuss girls non-stop. He'd felt the height of frustration at such times. He remembered girls would see his elder brothers home from school every weekday and stay for awhile before they went home. Their birthday parties had more girls than guys and he'd once caught Gio in a compromising situation with a girl before. What really happened to put Gio off girls? Maybe some girl had broken his heart. He had a feeling he would never know.

Gio paused the game and viewed his brother's solemn disposition.

"What is it, Tano? You're usually not this quiet."

"I've been meaning to discuss this with you since you came back home two days ago. It's..." He faltered and looked at Dano's picture on the wall.

Gio hid a smile. 

"It's...it's about this girl in my class. Her name is Lucy and she..." He stopped abruptly when he noticed his elder brother was frowning.

"How old are you?" Gio asked him.

Gaetano's palm slippers became interesting to look at.

"Eleven," he replied in a small voice. 

"Eleven and you're already into girls? Is that what they teach you guys at Loyola?" Gio sternly questioned his kid brother.

Gaetano felt like crying. Gio really did hate girls now. For him to ask such a question when in his days at Loyola, he and Dano had always been flavours of months to girls then meant he wouldn't understand.

Pushing himself to his feet, "I'm so...sorry," he stammered and rushed to the door. Gio waited for him to get to the door before saying,

"Come back here, dude. I'm not through with you yet."

Gaetano slowly walked back to the chair and sat down without sparing his brother a glance.

Gio stared at his brother, smiling. He finally broke the silence.

"Lucy, right? Tell me about her."

Gaetano's head shot up so sharply, it was a wonder he didn't sprain his neck muscles. He smiled when he noticed Gio was smiling. His brother had only been pulling his legs. He grinned. This was what the old Gio used to do.

"Lucy Igbinoba. She's like an angel. Tall, dark skinned with a shape to die for. I have a crush on her the size of Nigeria," Tano blurted out. Gio chuckled.

"But the problem is, I don't know how to tell her I like her. Boys are always around her," he relayed in a forlorn manner.

"Are you asking me for a strategy?"

"Yeah."

"When was the last time you saw me with a girl?"

Gaetano scratched his clean shaven head. 

"Ahhh...I can't really remember."

"Listen to me carefully, Tano. I swore off girls for a reason. I'm not asking you to do the same thing. In all sincerity, you're really too young to be talking about girls. While I can understand your feelings for this girl, I'm not going to encourage you to pursue it. Just try to be friends with her. Don't tell her you like her or anything, then see if your crush survives. If it doesn't fade away after awhile, then you can do something about it. But that should be when you get to senior secondary."

Gaetano was crushed and he sulked.

"What if someone else gets her? She has refused advances from other guys but doesn't mind being my friend."

"See, she likes you!" Gio inserted. "Develop your friendship with her first. By the time you have a strong friendship, no boy will come in between the two of you."

"And you're sure she won't call me a loser for not asking her out?"

Gio laughed. "Nope. If she really likes you, she might even make the first move."

Gaetano finally smiled.

"That would be swell. Thanks, Gio. I feel good now. I'll call her tomorrow just to say hi."

"That's the spirit."

Gaetano smiled and yawned. He stood up. "I want to go to bed."

"Yeah, sleeping beauty." Gio teased but both of them tensed. 

That had been their mother's nickname for him because he loved sleeping. Tears gathered in Tano's eyes. He missed his mother so much.

Gio saw them, raised a hand to touch his kid brother but dropped it again. The gesture would only make Tano cry.

"Good night," Tano whispered and hurriedly left the room.

Gio debated within himself and argued with Dano for five minutes before he got up and went to Tano's room.

What he saw when he opened the door to his kid brother's room broke his heart. Tano was seated on the bed with their mother's portrait on his laps and tears streaming profusely from his eyes. Gio shut the door, walked slowly to his brother and sat beside him. He put his arm around his shoulder but couldn't find the words to comfort him. Tano leant on him.

"I miss her so much," he wailed. "Why did she die? Why did she leave us? Why did God take her away? It's so unfair."

Gio just allowed him cry. He didn't know what to say. Should he tell him that God--if He was truly in existence--was partial, only up there for a selected few? He didn't know what to say because he hadn't been the one to comfort him when he had been told the news of his mother's demise. Dano had been the one there for him, while Gio had shut himself in his room in deep mourning during that painful period.

He looked at Dano for help but his late twin shook his head sadly and disappeared.

He gazed down at the framed photograph of his mother. She had been a very beautiful woman. An African queen with a darkness that shone. She had once told him that she had modeled for a while in her youthful days. She had a figure that would rival Naomi Campbell's anyday. So full of life, she had been his best friend after Dano. The best mother in the world hade made her children feel loved.

"It's okay, Tano. I'm here for you. I'll always be here for you," he finally said.

He waited for Tano to fall asleep and then covered him with the beddings before he left the room. As he came out of the room, he met one of Fiorella's house guest in a pink-tulip, sexy translucent lingerie that left nothing to the imagination.

Gio sent a glittering look of derision over her. He didn't feel anything but irritation. What was she doing here? This was the boys' wing.

He made to pass but she stopped him with a slim hand on his arm.

"I'm so sorry. I seem to have lost my way. This house is so big. I'm trying to find my way downstairs to have a drink. Emmm...care to join me?" Jessica said in a sultry voice.

Gio didn't spare her a glance again. He shook her arm off his, strolled to his room down the corridor and shut the door quietly.

Jessica fumed. This Gio was really a stubborn goat! She had been trying her best to get his attention since they got here two days ago and now the b*stard was planning on leaving in a few days. If she had known all her plans would fail, she would have gone to Chris's place in Port Harcourt instead of withstanding this sexual frustration.

She hissed and walked slowly down the stairs to girls' wing. She was definitely chasing her tail.

Episode 8

There’s an important difference between giving up and letting go.
–Jessica Hatchigan

Nkiru smiled as she folded her mother's wrappers into a colorful Ghana-must-go bag beside the wooden bed. She put some inside her mother's big box (Apati). It felt so good to be home. Despite the fact that the luxuries she enjoyed in school were absent in her house, it didn't make it less welcoming. She didn't even feel like going to Lagos for her Industrial Training. She wanted to stay at home to help her father with farm work and her mother with her small shop. She wished for the umpteenth time that her village had good opportunities for a Computer Science student to carry out her IT. She was however glad that one of her father's friend who owned an I.T. firm in Lagos had accepted her offer of learning from him.

The young lady finished folding the clothes and decided to go and stay with her mother in her provision shop since she was footloose and fancy-free. She walked out of the four-bedroom bungalow to the shop which was placed adjacent to the house. She was grateful to God that her father had had the wisdom to build a house in the village. Though the house needed some repairs, it was big enough to house everyone. She opened and closed the black gate and walked noiselessly to her mother's shop. She entered through the back door and watched as her mother sold a hundred naira loaf of bread, and small sachets of milo and peak milk for a little boy. 

Mrs. Chikwendu moved to take her seat but paused to study her daughter. She accessed her daughter's white sleeveless blouse and faded blue jean skirt with a critical eye. She was a sucker for decent dressing. 

"Nne, your bra strap is showing. Fix it properly," Her mother, a tall and robust woman with a stern face but a kind heart instructed her first daughter. It galled her to think of how girls of nowadays practically went n.aked all in the name of fashion. The no-nonsense woman had embarrassed a girl in the market a few days back. Feeling fly, the girl had been dressed to kill in a mini off-shoulder dress which poured forth her mammary glands. Irritated beyond reasoning, Nkiru's mother had hit the girl soundly on the bum when the tramp had bent to view some onions spread on a tray unaware of the shameful fact that her panties were in full display and her breasts were almost popping out of her tight dress. She'd abused the life out of Nkiru's mother for hitting her which had caused a scene. Women had called the girl names and she'd been booed out of the market. Nkiru's mother had talked the ears off her two daughters that day. Nkechi and Njideka, in annoyance at the never-ending talk, had offered to always go to the market for her in order to avoid her epistle next time.

Nkiru bit her buttom lip to keep from smiling. She was used to such. She adjusted the bra strap and sat on the small stool beside her mother's chair.

She scrutinized the shop with sad eyes. Some of the wooden planks fixed to the wall were totally empty. It was obvious the shop was doing poorly. All that her mum had on sale were a few items. Gone where the days when the shop was filled to capacity and customers queued to buy stuff. A couple of months after their migration from Lagos, their dad had built the shop for their mother and she'd put on sale some quality stuff from her defunct supermarket which she'd brought along with her. So a good number of people had come from far and wide to patronize her. But that wasn't the case anymore. No condintion is indeed permanent.

"Mummy, how is market?" she however asked after they'd sat in companionable silence for a few minutes.

"Hmm...my dear, I really don't know what to say. Last month, Mama Emeka opened her own provision shop. Now all the people from this side," she indicated by pointing to her left. "now go and buy from her. Two weeks ago, Mama Ndidi opened her own too. She has converted the people who usually come from this other side to her shop. All I have left is people around us and some people who don't get what they want to buy from them."

Nkiru stared at the bare ground with pain. 

"Mummy, don't worry. Things will get better."

"I know, my dear. It's just that when I remember my supermarket in Lagos sometimes, I can't help..." her mother drifted off as a wistful look came into her eyes.

With a light shrug, she picked up her tray of melon seeds and started breaking them. Nkiru joined her.

"Ebuka came to ask of you yesterday," her mother informed her some minutes later.

Nkiru made a face and her mother laughed.

"Why don't you like Ebuka?"

"It's not as if I don't like him but he's a student like me na!"

Her mother laughed again.

"You kids of nowadays. Or is it that there is someone else?"

"No! My education is of paramount importance to me right now." 

"Don't carry education on your head, my daughter. The surface of the water is beautiful, but it is not good to sleep on. Well, I wouldn't mind if there was someone else though. You're not getting any younger, you know. After your IT you will be in your final year."

"Mummy! I'm just nineteen o!"

"I know that but i got married at that age." Her mother looked at her intently. "Why don't you want to give Ebuka a chance? Is it because he's still a student?"

Nkiru dropped the melon seed in her hand and used the hand to rub the back of her neck in an embarrassed gesture. Such conversations made her uncomfortable. Her mother didn't attend the university. Left for her, it was a waste of time. She felt Nkiru should be in her husband's house by now. Nkiru on the other hand didn't want to get married until she was good and ready which to her estimation was after getting a good job when she must have been through with her National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme. Only her immediate younger sister, Nkechi knew of her plans. If her mother dare knew, she was sure the determined woman would have her married before her six-month industrial training was over. Had her mother had her way, Nkiru believed her mother would have married her off even when she was still in her womb. How was she going to reply her now? Fielding her mother's difficult questions was always a herculean task.

"Err...not really but I..."

"Bring me my bible on that shelf," her mother cut in.

Heyoooo! Nkiru exclaimed inwardly. She didn't like it when her mother was in her 'Preacher's wife' mood. Bad market! She should have gone to Nkechi's salon to keep her company.

She got up and picked the well-read King James bible from the shelf that contained exercise books. She handed it to her mother who had already dropped the melon seeds in her hand and reached for her glasses. She perched them on her nose--a pert nose her daughter had inherited from her--and began flipping through the pages of the holy book. Nkiru watched her intently.

"Ah ha! Here it is. Proverbs 18: 22. 'Whoso findeth a wife, findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the Lord.' Beautiful!" She snapped the bible shut and fixed her gaze on her daughter.

"You kids of nowadays get it all wrong. A man mustn't have gold and silver before he's eligible for marriage. You girls don't know you're the favour of the men. If a man finds a wife, he finds a good thing and obtains favour from the Lord, meaning when a man finds a good woman, not all these useless girls around, God blesses him. She comes with favour to him.

'You father didn't have anything when I married him, not even a bicycle. He hadn't finished serving his master then and was yet to set up his own spare parts shop but when I came into his life, things turned around for him. The same thing happened to my two sisters and their husbands, even some of my friends. So, my dear, don't look down on a man because of his position today. You don't know what you can help him become tomorrow. The saying that behind every successful man is a woman is not just talk. It's her favour, the one she's naturally endowed with from God that makes the man successful."

"Then what happened, Mummy? How come we are now like this?" Nkiru needed to know. If her mother was really her father's favour, then what happened? Her favour ran out or what?

Mrs. Chikwendu sighed. "My dear, who can question God? He knows best. I know when money came, we lost focus. We pushed him into the back seat of our lives and focused on our wealth. We had faith in our wealth not in our God who gave us the wealth in the first place.

'I particularly blame myself because I'm the home maker. I should have noticed that we replaced God with wealth. It's quite funny how we humans behave sometimes. When we have nothing, God is our everything but when God gives us everything, He becomes nothing to us. 

'We have learnt from our mistakes though. We will get back to our previous status, even above that. Rain beats a leopard’s skin, but it does not wash out the spots. When God lifts us up again which He will surely do, we won't abandon Him again."

Nkiru could only nod her head. Yes, it was true. They had indeed lost focus. They had stopped going to church, even stopped morning and evening devotions because their father was always at his shops supervising things and her mother had made her supermarket her permanent abode while she and her siblings had spent their entire time after school watching movies. Nnamdi, her elder brother had been their parent then. He had shouldered their responsibilities.

"I understand, Mummy." she finally said after pushing back the memories into the recesses of her mind.

She stood up to sell biscuits and sweets for the small children who were on break and had snuck out of the school close to the house to buy snacks that their school didn't have for sale. When they were gone, she sat back and continued breaking the melon seeds.

"Nne, please when you go to stay with your uncle in Lagos next week, don't do anything to annoy him. Be the good child you've always been. A bad name is like a stigma. You know they're barely making ends meet like us, so please don't look down on them. Always be grateful for whatever they have to offer you. Whenever you're free, join his wife in the market to sell her wares. Enugo?"

"Yes, Mummy. I've heard you."

"Don't allow any boy or man deceive you. Instruction in youth is like engraving in stone."

"Haba Mummy!"

"Haba," Her mother mimicked. "Hassana has hausanized you." She chuckled. "It either ba, tor, wallahi or haba you say these days. How is she by the way?"

Nkiru giggled a little before replying. She too had noticed her words these days were strewn with Hausa words. Hassana was teaching her how to speak the language. She realized a long time ago that she fancied the language, having heard her roommate speak it on the phone numerous times. She felt the language was sexy.

"She's fine, Mummy. She's visiting relatives in Dubai before she joins her brother in India where she intends doing her IT."

"Milk and honey have different colors, but they share the same house peacefully," was all her mother said.

Her daughter quickly bit her tongue to keep from bursting into laughter. Between her and Nkechi, they'd nicknamed their mother, 'The Proverbial Mama'. Mrs. Chiwendu's tongue was filled with proverbs. Probably due to the fact that she'd been orphaned at birth and had had to be brought up by her grandparents. Her father had met his untimely death at the hands of a motorcycle rider who had made a wrong turn and crashed them into an incoming trailer when he was on his way to the hospital with baby things. Her mother had given up the ghost an hour after birthing her. Her grandparents--peasant farmers--had struggled to put her through primary school before they'd kicked their respective buckets and she'd had to go and live with a distant relative. She'd also struggled to put herself through junior secondary school and that had been it for her. No wonder education didn't mean anything to her especially when she couldn't even get a measly paying job with her certificate then and had resorted to petty trading to keep body and soul together before she met Nkiru's father. Even Nkiru's father didn't speak half the proverbs his wife spoke.

"Mummy, please don't worry about me. You know I've always tried my best to be a good child and not cause you and Daddy worry. I will never have cause to do anything to embarrass you or disappoint you. I will make you all very proud of me," Nkiru assured her mother with a straight face.

"Good. Thank you very much, my child. God will continue to bless you."

"Amen and you too, Mummy."

Mrs. Chikwendu smiled. What wonderful children God had blessed her with. To think she and her husband had abandoned them in the quest to make more money. Thank God He had brought them back to their senses before it became too late.

Jonathan2787:
Where's the update na, am getting impatient

Chill. It's coming.

heemah:

seconded...I'm unable to download the app.

Please send me a mail. audreytimms83@gmail.com. Thanks

kingphilip:
It costs just 200naira?? I'll mail u den


if its possible lemme make the payment directly to you and you'll please mail me the piece i'll really appreciate because i've been finding it really difficult to make use of the okada books app on my phone

Okay. Yep, just 200 naira. I'll be expecting the mail. Thanks.

Beautiful people, update coming up in the evening. I'm very busy right now.

Thanking you.

@uniquebandi, thanks dear

@Izzyblaze, thanks dear. Love you too. repogirl will post when she's good and ready.

@kingphilip, Letting go is an ongoing story. You need to dwonload the okadabooks app from google play store. Then fund your account with two hundred naira worth of etisalat recharge card. Search for the book to purchase it or follow this link- http://okadabooks.com/book/about/10290

If you still have problems getting it, please send me a mail at audreytimms83@gmail.com. Thanks

JeffreyJamez:


okay......will get it next week.

Okay. Thanks

ESIXLOVE:
AudreyTimms Hmmmm, you want to kill somebody!

Lol. How you doing? Long time!

tijehi:
Ah, I bot this book yesterday and finished it this morning. Ahhh, this book is sooooo interesting oooo. Audrey, you are truuly gifted.

Really? Thanks a lot, dear

jaybiz007:
I can't seem to find my way around the link you shared to purchase the book. Moreover, my BlackBerry OS does not come with Google playstore for downloading okadabooks app.
@AudreyTimms

I understand. Please send a mail to audreytimms83@gmail.com. I'll tell you an alternate means of getting it. Thanks

Teespice:
already bought and read the novel on okadabooks.

as usual, it was as good as unfulfilled promises.

kudos.

Thanks a lot, dear

JeffreyJamez:
Haba!. Madam Audrey...... so you start sontin like this, it's now you are calling me!.. I'm vexing!

Lol. Don't be vexed. This one is for sale though. Go over to Letting Go thread.

Emmykul4love:
Ma I cant find chapter 10 of letting go on your facebook page wat happen

Please mail me on facebook.

@jaybiz007, thanks for the compliment and prayer. Will do

@tijehi, thanks dear. Maybe when i'm through with writing it. I don't know yet.

kingphilip:
Tell me how to go about purchasing the e-book please

i'm not conversant with okada books

or better still if theres a black market i can get it from please redirect me

Please which book are you referring to?

See you all tomorrow.

onosj:
Audrey is back again! following 4rm back 2 back.

You're welcome. Thanks dear

loveyP:
Interesting ..........good work Audrey

Thanks dear

Jonathan2787:
now this got me hooked keep it coming

Thanks dear

kingphilip:
AudreyTimms always killing it

I was in the state of let it not finish till I'm done

Twas such a lovely ride
Thanks for sharing

Thanks dear

captaing59:
Is this story on okadabooks.com. I'd love to buy it

Nope. It's not. It hasn't been completed yet. Thanks for the interest though

adefunke62:
Jessica the bitch, Nkiru the cat, lol, Weldon Timms

Lol. Thanks dear

moseph:
Audreytimms is at it again,am so following this story till the end.

Thanks dear

chii8:
I am just waoed....

I feel just good,thanks op

Thanks dear

Missmossy:
Enthralling!!

Thanks dear

*********

Nkiru lifted her fisted hand and hit the door to Brenda's room rapidly. Her eyes were blazing, her nose flaring and her face was flushed. Brenda had been avoiding her but she knew she was in there because she had seen the former through her room window entering the building. After putting on her clothes, she'd rushed to the silly girl's room. One really shouldn't judge a book by its cover. Brenda whom she'd thought was her good friend. Well, she was going to have this confrontation, let the chips fall where they may.

Brenda opened the door a crack. Nkiru forcefully pushed the door and entered the room. She stood in the middle of the room with arms akimbo. The sad girl quietly closed the door and turned to face her irate former tutor.

"Why haven't you been coming for tutorials?" Nkiru stared at the young beauty who went to sit on her bed in a nonchalant attitude.

"I don't need your tutorials anymore." She shrugged and picked her Vogue magazine from the tiled floor.

"Was that why you stole my book and gave it to Gio?" Nkiru was having none of that.

Brenda grew alarmed. She however kept quiet and stared at her delicately painted finger nails. So Gio sold her out. How he must hate her. The embarrassment hadn't been enough for him.

"If you try that nonsense again, I won't take it lightly." Nkiru walked majestically to the door. Fury suddenly etched deep into Brenda's head.

"Who are you to talk to me like that, you church rat, you low life?" she delivered curtly and rose. "Wasn't I the one who gave you the idea of monetizing your tutorials in the first place? Wasn't I the one who connected you to all your students?" Her eyes blazed fire.

Her frustration over the past few days poured forth. She'd gone into hiding in her sister's room a few blocks away to shield herself from some of her unkind friends. But after a heated quarrel with her sister, she'd decided to return to her room. And now this! Hadn't she suffered enough?

Nkiru who had her hand on the door knob dropped it and turned slowly.

"So that gave you justification to steal my book and give it to that arrogant a**? What did you gain by doing that? I heard you made a big fool of yourself. Is that true?" Nkiru sliced back jeeringly.

Brenda saw red. She stabbed a shaky finger in the air at the door.

"Get out of here, you this poverty stricken b*tch! I don't know why they allowed such a pauper into this prestigious school. Go and tell that your broke a** father to go and make some money in order for you to stop wearing cheap clothes. Nonentity"

Oh, no, she didn't! She didn't just abuse her father.

Nkiru with a fake smile on her face walked slowly to the seething girl. Before Brenda could move, her ex-tutor shook her face with a hot slap. It sounded like a gun shot. Brenda held her reddening cheek and made to retaliate but Nkiru held her hand and slapped her hard on her other cheek as well. It wasn't as loud as the first one but tears jumped out of Brenda's eyes. Nkiru gripped her tank top and drew her closer.

"If you ever insult me or my father again, I'll beat you till you see your ancestors. I'm not an aje butter so don't try me." A no-nonsense voice warned the teary-eyed girl.

As the silence continued after the thrown gauntlet, tears spilled rapidly from Brenda's eyes as if they were in a competition for first to roll down her cheeks and wet her clothes.

"If you like come for tutorials, if you like don't come, that's you business. If you also like, tell your your friends to stop coming, I have enough people on the sidelines who have been begging me to include them. You're dead wood to me." Nkiru released her top and shoved her away roughly. Brenda fell heavily on her bed.

"I...I'll report you," she managed to whisper loudly to Nkiru who was already at the door even though she was beginning to have the first sign of a migraine coming on. Nkiru with the same plastic smile on her face turned around again.

"Just try it. Looks as if you're not okay with your face and need plastic surgery. Well, I'm ready to oblige you by rearranging it for you. So go ahead and report me. Nonsense!"

She yanked open the door and closed it loudly behind her. She walked shakily to her room and sat down on her bed.

Gosh! She hadn't meant to do that but the little witch had insulted her father. Her hardworking and loving father. She knelt down and prayed for forgiveness and prayed also that Brenda wouldn't report her. She knew the school authorities would take sides with the daughter of a wealthy business man not the daughter of a nobody, a scholarship student at that.

Maybe she should go back and beg Brenda, she pondered. Nah! That would give the nasty thing more power over her. Her threats had actually hit its mark. She had smelt Brenda's fear.

She smiled. Nnamdi would be proud of her. He had taught her to toughen up in their season of selling in the streets.

Those whose palm-kernels were cracked for them by a benevolent spirit should not forget to be humble.

********************

The weather was cold. The rain had fallen mercilessly that evening. But the couple who were tearing each other's clothes off were oblivious to the cold breeze moving around them as they glued themselves against the wall. They hungrily devoured each other.The fire burning between them was enough to set the entire school ablaze.

"Sh*t!" Chris swore.

"What is it?" Jessica questioned as she wore her panties and skirt after the illicit romp at the back of the microbiology lab.

"The condom broke," Chris reluctantly said.

"Again?" she replied hysterically.

"Well, someone always want it harder," Chris pointed out bluntly.

"Shut up! I was so Hot! You know our exams stopped us from meeting earlier. I sooo hate exam periods, I always run on fumes until my final paper. Anyway, what are we going to do now? I'm in my fertile stage," she grumbled.

"Don't freak out. It's a no-brainer. I'll get you Postinor Two as usual." Chris shrugged and righted his clothes.

"I'm tired of taking it!" she yelled.

"Then start taking contraceptive pills. I've suggested that a million times."

"When pigs fly. I've told you a billion times that I don't want to get fat, idio.t!"

Chris shrugged. He didn't mind the insults. She paid him very well for being her stud. He was a scholarship student with middle-class parents. He needed the extra cash for fun and all, so he could pretend to be rich. He serviced other girls also. It was a nice money-making venture.

"So, when will I get the pill?" Jessica asked after thinking for a short while.

"Tomorrow."

"The earlier, the better. I'll pay you when I get it."

"No probs."

"Now wait five minutes before you come out," she instructed and left their hiding place which was dark because Chris had made sure he removed the floodlights. He replaced it now and came out of hiding too. He put his hands in his pockets and whistled away until he met the security man who patrolled that area of the campus. He gave him his habitual tip for looking the other way as usual whenever he and Jessica or one of his other girls came that way.

Buisness was good.

*To be continued*

CHAPTER THREE

Episode 7

 I realize there’s something incredibly honest about trees in winter, how they’re experts at letting things go.
—Jeffrey McDaniel

"Oooooooh! Where is this book na?" Nkiru shouted in frustration. She'd been looking for her algorithm notebook for almost twenty minutes. She was almost in tears. They were going to have the lecture in the next thirty minutes.

"Are you sure you didn't give it to any of your students?" Hassana asked for the umpteenth time as she dressed up for her own lecture.

Nkiru didn't bother replying her. Throwing her an angry look was better. She checked all her books again for the sixth time. She really needed the notebook to follow up on what they had been taught in the previous class. She remembered putting it inside her bag after her tutorials last night. Now it seemed as if it had disappeared into thin air. She sat down heavily on her bed in great distress.


**********

Gio glanced at his Rolex wristwatch. It was almost time for the algorithm lecture. He was going to try one more time but if he still couldn't understand a word that was said by the Frenchman, he would quit it and focus on other courses or better still download materials from the net on the course. Thank God the man wasn't keen on taking attendance. He shut down his system and was about putting the laptop inside his backpack when a girl walked up to him.

Oh, Christ, wasn't it too early for a clingy girl to try practicing her feminine wiles on him? It was just a few minutes to 8am for God's sake! The girl in question wasn't bad looking, he had to give her that. The skin tight trousers which brought out every contour of her hips was like an extension of her body. She had on a see-through peach-coloured blouse. Her make up was so heavy, Gio believed it would take a shovel to scrape it off.

"Hi Gio. My name is Brenda," she drawled softly. After the first glance of assessment, Gio continued the task he'd been about doing before she came along.

Brenda was disconcerted for a moment. The least he could have done was reply her greeting. After the trouble she'd gone through just to be there at that moment, she felt she deserved better from him. She quickly went about her mission and dropped the two notebooks she held on the table.

"I overhead your conversation with Nkiru yesterday. I was seated behind her. Gosh! I was shocked she could be so b*tchy over a notebook. Anyway, I got you the book. I'm one of her tutorial students and let's just put it that I borrowed the book from her without her knowledge. I spent the night copying the contents of her notebook into a fresh one so I can return it to her. We've only had three lessons but with lengthy notes. I copied them so you wouldn't trouble yourself. If you want me to continue helping you copy the note after my tutorials, I don't have a problem with that."

Gio paused. Nkiru again. God dammit! He'd spent countless hours thinking about her and the embarrassment she'd dealt him and had finally decided to stay away from her. Now this b*tch had not only brought back the memory of what transpired the afternoon before, she'd confessed to witnessing his embarrassment and what was more, admitted she stole the poor girl's book just to please him. Had self-respect relocated to anther planet? What was it with these girls anyway? He'd rebuffed them so much and disdainfully too that he'd thought someday he'd hear one of them had committed suicide, but they were still as stubborn as ever. What did they want from him? A relationship? Sex? What, for crying out loud! Had the female race placed a bet on him as to who would finally get him? Wherever he went, he could swear he saw girls swinging their lassoes. So far he'd been able to dodge all of them.

Brenda bit her beautifully manicured nails. Was it a good thing that Gio had paused to stare at the books before him? Was it not a plus that he'd not walked out on her without saying a word which was his trademark? What was he thinking? She wished she had the ability to read minds. Thank God there were very few people in the hall who were actually studying.

"Really, Gio, all I want is for us to be friends. I don't want your money or anything like that. I'll do anything to get you to be my friend. Anything!" she firecely declared.

Gio shifted his gaze from the book to the nervously smiling girl after she finished her rambling. He raised an eyebrow.

"Anything?"

"Anything," she affirmed and drew closer to him.

"How about seeking for where self-respect is sold and buying some?" he spat out. "Why do you want to be my friend? In order to brag about it or for me to bed you? Which is it? You're a beautiful girl no doubt but throwing yourself at men will only make you a cheap lay. Stop degrading yourself."

He rose and took Nkiru's notebook, leaving the highly ashamed girl, squirming .

"Thanks for your efforts but reserve it for your studies so people like me won't see you and females in general as air heads. Last bullet, cover yourself up properly. Seeing boobs that are almost getting to your knees is a total turn off. Reminds me of my grandmother's."

Brenda felt as if an avalanche had hit her. She wrapped her arms around her. Oh, God, the people she'd thought were minding their business were now staring at her. Wicked girls among them were giggling while some guys were looking at her with pity. What a shame! She'd heard about the encounters of some girls with the handsome devil and had thought she'd never find herself in such a situation but here she was now, the cynosure of all eyes in Mary Slessor hall. The ones who didn't know what happened that had brought about giggling in the hall now knew. By afternoon, the whole school would know Gio had given her an epic rejection.

She had her roommate to blame for this embarrassment of a lifetime. She'd urged her to steal poor Nkiru's book and present it to Gio. It had been her own idea to copy the note and dress provocatively. All for nothing! Only a fool tests the depth of a river with both feet. She should have been subtle.

Gio was mean, nasty and wicked. Why couldn't he have just said no? But could she really blame him? Girls ran after him like ants to sugar. It must be pretty frustrating. But what girl wouldn't see Gio and wet her panties?

Brenda lifted her chin and with her head held high, she catwalked out of the small hall.

Gio strode towards the engineering class, castigating himself. What the heck? Why had he just broken his rule by talking to that cheap filly? Not just a word but sentences. Da*n! He was losing his touch all because of Nkiru. His last thought last night and his waking thought this morning had been of her. She was softening him without even knowing it.

His face hardened. He knew why he had decided to stay off females. She wouldn't change him! His heart hardened as he walked into the large engineering class. He stood by the door and surveyed the place. He spotted her sitting alone with her head bent. Walking over to her, he extended a lean brown hand and threw her notebook on the table. The long fingers, Nkiru noticed absently, were beautifully shaped. 

"Next time, choose your friends carefully," was all he said.

Nkiru watched in astonishment as Gio went to take a seat some paces from her. She looked at her book on the table In wonder. How had he gotten the book? Her eyes narrowed in anger as she realized one of her students had probably stolen the book and given it to him just to gain favour in his sight. 

But who could have known she had denied him the book? She tried very hard to remember those who had sat around her yesterday in the reading hall. Had any of her students been there?

Brenda! 

She should have known. A bird will always use another bird's feathers to feather its own nest. Her eyes traveled round the class for the two-faced girl but didn't find her. She would give her the length and breath of her tongue. She stood up to search for her but sat back as the professor walked in. She'd deal with her later.

Fifteen minutes into the lecture, she stared in shock as Gio stood up, lifted his bag and left the class. Her eyes followed him till she couldn't see him anymore. Guilt hit her. She really should have tried to come to a compromise with him. It wouldn't have cost her anything yesterday if she'd lent him the book till after dinner. She made up her mind there and then to give him the notebook and offer to explain things to him as well.

Nkiru however looked for him throughout that day but couldn't find him. She shrugged and decided to try again the following day. Brenda was no where to be found either. She'd heard whispers of the heavy disappointment she'd faced in Gio's hands. She didn't even come for tutorials that night. Nkiru wasn't bothered. Pregnancy couldn't be hidden.

She found Gio after lunch the following day in his classroom, gathering his stuff with the intention of leaving the place. She rushed to his side and dropped her notebook on the table.

"Hi," she said and marveled anew at God's wonderful creation.

He lifted his head, spared her a glance and resumed what he was doing in silence.

"You can have my notebook. I won't make use of it tonight," she offered, breaking the silence.

He left her in suspense for a full minute before he fluidly rose from his chair. "I don't need it anymore," he informed her squarely and lifted his bag on his back. "I met the professor and we sorted things out. I have his notes and I've downloaded some learning materials from the net."

"Really? I'm happy that..." She was still talking when he walked out on her. She stood there in great surprise, staring after him. Arrogant b*stard! Pompous lout!

Gio willed himself not to turn around to survey the expression on the face of the girl he'd just dissed with relish. A huge smile hit his face, softening his hard features. He knew he had disconcerted her. Served her right for always creeping into his thoughts at the slightest spare moment. It was time to erase her from his mind and life.

Nkiru Chiwendu, you have just been erased!

**********

Gio spied Nkiru inside the Nnamdi Azikiwe hall and thanked his stars. He didn't want to go asking of her whereabouts again. He had already heard rumors about his staring at her in class that morning. He didn't give a fig though, knowing full well that his approaching her now would fuel the rumors. People loved reading in this particular hall because it was very spacious and airy. He preferred the Mary Slessor hall. It was smaller and less occupied.

Caught between two stools, he'd pondered for hours if he should approach her or not. He didn't want to fail the course, at the same time he didn't want to be indebted to anyone, least of all a girl. After debating for hours, he'd finally decided that getting an 'A' in the course was much more important than his pride.

He walked over to where the girl in question was busy writing. She had a beautiful and legible handwriting. He stood there for a full minute without her noticing his presence. This was new to him.

"Excuse me." 

At the sound of the baritone voice, Nkiru lifted her head like a sleepwalker and focused on Gio in disbelief. Was she seeing things? Was the renowned most handsome guy in Prestige university staring down at her with charcoal black eyes? She removed her glasses to make sure she was seeing right. Giovanni, the school's hot cake was indeed standing before her. Wow! He was even more gorgeous up close and personal. He was really the most devastatingly attractive guy she had ever seen. He was wearing a Navy blue cashmere sweater that fitted his broad shoulders and lean frame to perfection, shielding his muscular body from the cold wind which was as a result of the early morning rain. He was well over six feet tall with wide shoulders that tapered down to lean hips and long legs. Black wavy hair crowned his head, his eyes were piercing black, his nose straight. His perfectly sculptured lips were curved over brilliant white teeth.

Giovanni couldn't say a word as he stared at her. She wasn't beautiful but there was something about her. He was captivated by her eyes. They were brown...no...not brown. Hazel. That was it. Hazel. He felt he could drown in them. He continued to study her, a kind of flagellating stare that threatened to strip the skin from her facial bones.

Their eyes met and meshed and something indefinable passed between them. They continued staring at each other, oblivious of the people around them who were staring at them also in surprise.

Gio found his way out of those deep deep eyes.

"Hi," he said.

"Ah...err....hello." Nkiru stammered. Was that her voice that sounded like a wounded animal caught in a trap? She was clearly flustered. She insulted herself for acting like a bumbling idio.t.

"You attended Professor Laroche's algorithm class this morning, right?"

Nkiru could only nod her head.

"Please, may I borrow your book? I mean your notes on the lecture."

Nkiru stared rudely before she asked, "Why?"

Gio looked uncertain and kept her quiet for a minute before replying, "I didn't understand a single word he said."

Nkiru didn't know what to say. A lot of people had complained about the same thing. She guessed she was lucky since their next door neighbors in Lagos then had been a French family.

"I'm sorry but I can't lend you my book."

Gio actually did a double take. He dealt her an incredulous scrutiny. His lower lip had briefly parted company with the upper.

"You're refusing my request?" he asked with hauteur.

Arrogant much? Nkiru asked inwardly. He must have been way ahead on the queue when they handed out self-assurance. She could almost see it oozing out of his pores. It made her more determined.

"I have tutorials this evening and I need the book for it. So, yes, I'm refusing your request," Nkiru firmly told him.

He scrutinised her with angry eyes. Initial shock and disbelief were giving way to rage and an unfamiliar sense of appalled bewilderment that only stoked the rage higher. Nkiru could feel the force of his suppressed rage licking out at her like hungry flames, desperate for fuel to feed on. It was a curiously satisfying experience, warming her chilled bones in the cold air. He quietly swung on his heels and walked away. She stared after him.

If there is character, ugliness becomes beauty; if there is none, beauty becomes ugliness

Wow! She felt as she had been hit by a train. Not only handsome but indeed arrogant as well. She hated guys like that. She belatedly noticed people were staring at her so she returned her gaze to her book.

She tried to concentrate on her book but couldn't. She could still picture the handsome guy beside her. Even his Chanel perfume still lingered in the cold air. 

"Great! Now he has ruined my afternoon," she murmured. She placed her books back in her bag and left the hall, not minding the many pair of eyes that trailed her departure.

Meanwhile, Gio was fuming on the way back to his room. 

How dare she? How dare she refuse him her book? What did she mean by that? No female had ever refused him anything. Not even their female lecturers. Who the hell was she anyway with her cheap clothes, poor-dress sense, plain face, genius brain, beautiful handwriting, and lovely eyes?

Gio caught himself when he realised he had been complimenting her features. He stopped and smiled.

She was the only brilliant girl he had seen in a while. She was the only female who had ever refused him anything. 

He continued smiling till he got to his room. He removed his bag and shoes and laid on his bed to stare at the ceiling, barely acknowledging Tosin's presence who was reading at his table and who was used to his roommate's untidiness.

"Why are you smiling as if all your Christmases have come at once?"

"Because they just might."

Tosin's eyes narrowed perceptibly.

"That girl again, huh?"

"Yep. Nkiru Chiwendu again."

*To be continued*

**********

Nkiru sat down to her meal of eba and okro soup with fried fish. She hissed. She wasn't particularly fond of okro soup but it was her first meal of the day and the cheapest on the menu. She couldn't complain because every other thing in the school came free of charge for her. The only complain most students had was the lack of freedom. Freedom to visit male and female hostels respectively, freedom to leave the the school whenever they chose and freedom to interact with the opposite sex after 9pm. It was exhausting. 

Nkiru didn't mind one bit. Though she was fond of Nimyel, she didn't fancy him visiting her in her room. Boys were known to take liberties when alone with a girl. She didn't want stories that touch the heart. Too much was at stake in getting her degree. She was determined on graduating with a squeaky clean reputation. She heard what her fellow girls did with guys in dark places and cinemas and all what not but it was none of her business. They could afford to do that, after all, most of them would still end up with rich husbands. Marrying a rich husband wasn't her desire anyway, not after seeing her father's state at present. Things, she'd discovered, could turn around within the twinkling of an eye. Nothing lasts forever. The rich, she knew married the rich.

Hassana rushed into the cafeteria. Today, her slim frame was encased in a beautiful lavender gown trimmed with pink lace and her head covered hijab-style with an expensive-looking hot pink shawl. Her gaze moved anxiously across the sparsely-populated cafeteria. She spied her roommate at one corner and rushed to order her food from the counter. Glancing at the menu of the day pasted on the wall beside the counter, she ordered her favorite meal and stood impatiently as her food was served amidst turning around to look at her friend. She paid for the food and drinks but didn't wait to collect her change.

Nkiru's small lump of eba nearly went the wrong way when Hassana rushed to take the chair directly in front of her, gently pushing aside the guy who wanted to sit there and placed her tray of goodies on the burnt-orange circular table.

"Sorry," Hassana said to the dazed guy without meaning it and pushed the extra plate of chicken she had ordered towards her friend. She removed her plate of fried rice, fried chicken and fried plantain from the tray and held her cutlery. She pushed also a bottle of lacasera and bottled water towards Nkiru and looked pointedly at the latter's sachet of pure water.

Nkiru shrugged, knowing that her friend didn't like her drinking sachet water. She felt it was full of germs but that was what Nkiru could afford which she had told her friend a million times. 

"Out with it. I want to hear everything. Don't leave a single detail out!" Hassana declared excitedly.

Nkiru's face scrunched into a frown as she paused in her feeding. "What are you talking about?"

"Rumour has it that Giovanni looked at you twice and smiled today in class. Great going girl!" Hassana was tickled pink.

Nkiru rolled her eyes in disgust. She should have known her friend would jump on the bandwagon of gossip when it had to do with talk about Gio.

"Hian! Na wa for this school o! I think the school authorities ought to increase the number of lectures we have per day because joblessness is beginning to set in."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Hassana sounded offended.

"I wasn't referring to you na. I'm just sick and tired of girls approaching me and asking me that question and I'm also tired of the envious looks I've been receiving, not to talk of the bitter talks I've overheard. Is Giovanni the only guy in this school for God's sake! The thing don tire me o!" Nkiru delivered bluntly.

"I can't believe you just said that. Gio is like..." Her face took on a dreamy expression as she tried to find the perfect word to qualify her crush, "a ray of sunshine after a terrible storm. Oh, that guy must be an angel. He's the most handsome guy in this school."

"So?" Nkiru put in sarcastically. "Abeg make we chop forget am. God knows if anyone mentions that guy's name near me again, I might just throw up!"

"Gio," Hassana teased and Nkiru gave her a dirty look. Hassana laughed.

"You should take it as a compliment. You're like a hot potato today and you're usually not in the news except when they are talking about..." Hassana bit her lip and looked away.

"My clothes abi?" Nkiru guessed but Hassana chewed on her bottom lip guiltily.

"Don't worry. I'm used to it." Nkiru smiled to hide how hurt she was. She knew people mocked her clothes behind her but to actually have it confirmed hurt a lot. 

Hassana's worried eyes beheld her friend. "I'm so sorry, Nk. I've told you to allow me get clothes for you but you've refused."

Nkiru willed the tears in her eyes away. If only they'd known her when her dad was rich. She never wanted for anything. Her clothes and accessories were bought from the best boutiques. There were times when she wouldn't remember she had some clothes because her clothes were that numerous. Every year, they sent their castoffs to the village since they were no longer of use to them. She used to see her old clothes on villagers whenever they went home for Christmas. The same villagers who later mocked their present state. Life could indeed be cruel sometimes.

Pulling herself togther, she released a bright smile and told her troubled roommate, "I appreciate your generosity but I can't allow you do that. You've done so much for me and I'm grateful. Don't worry, someday I'll dress better."

Hassana contemplated how she should tell Nkiru the truth about her clothes without hurting her feelings. By Jove, the shirt she had on looked like what a clown would wear and feel estatic. What's with the rainbow colours? Had Gio really looked at her? Maybe the arrogant f.ool had been laughing at her. The dress was colourful enough to make someone suffering from colour blindness wince. How was she going to put it?

"Nk, it isn't as if your clothes don't fit, it's just that...that they always look so old and worn out and the colours and patterns don't do you justice as well."

"I know. I always go for the cheapest OK clothes. It's what enables me get like ten clothes instead of just two."

"To me, having two good clothes is better than having ten washed out ones," Hassana pointed out. "Look, my cousin who just came back from Dubai sent me some clothes. Hassan will bring them by the weekend. We'll select some for you there."

Nkiru shook her head. "The only gossip about me that would be worse than the clothes I wear would be the one of you handing me clothes. Of course everyone would know you gave them to me."

"But you don't care what people say."

"I know but sometimes I do. Thanks but no thanks, Hassana."

Nkiru lowered her eyes. How would she make her friend understand that wearing such clothes would only make her remember how life had once been for her? It wasn't as if she was blind to what her mates wore and all that. Longing for such things wasn't going to get her anywhere. It had taken her and her siblings time to adjust to their present state. It had been pretty difficult to do without a lot of things but when Nnamdi called them all together and told them if they wanted their parents to live long, they ought not to complain about the things they couldn't have anymore. He advised them all to make do with whatever they had as complaining would lead to thinking on the parts of their parents which could lead to high BP and other health issues. So they'd all unanimously agreed to manage whatever they had though it had taken some adjusting on the part of the twins because they were used to being pampered. Nkiru had helped herself adjust by totally wiping her mind off what they once had. There was no need crying over spilt milk. Whenever she was mocked and the door to her past tried opening, she locked it firmly again by picking up a book to read. She would open the door to the past when she was good and ready because by then, she'd have again what she once had and some. Only when you have crossed the river, can you say the crocodile has a lump on his snout.

"Fine." Hassana's voice brought her back from her thoughts. "Let's think of something else. He sent me some money also and I already have more than enough in my account 'cause I duped my dad and fiancée about some school stuff so they sent me money twice this month. I'll just take from it and we can go and get you some clothes in the school's boutique."

Nkiru felt scandalous. "School's boutique where they sell stuff at outrageously exorbitant prices? How can common panties sell for two thousand naira? I wan wear am take swim with Jesus? Abi na only the pant I go dey wear waka about? I know how many clothes I can get with that amount of money!"

Hassana giggled helplessly. "Wallahi, you're funny. See ba, their clothes aren't expensive at all, after all, they are designer clothes. Don't argue with me on this. We must change your clothes this month."

Nkiru sighed heavily. "Hassana, if you are ashamed of being seen with me, no problem. I'll start doing things alone."

Hassana viewed her friend with bewilderment. "Haba! Are you alright? Why should I be ashamed of being seen with you. Am I not with you right now? Am I not here?" Her gaze roved round the cafeteria.

The cafeteria was known for their cheap rates. The chancellor had not wanted to make that distinction amongst the students in order for the not well-to-do especially the scholarship students not to feel ostracized but when the cooks from the classy restaurants had complained that the cheap meals went bad at the end of the day due to low patronage since the percentage of the rich kids to the scholarship students was higher, and also the lecturers--even though they were highly paid--complained of the exorbitant prices charged by the classy restaurants, the chancellor had capitulated and ordered for the establishment of a cafeteria to accommodate the needs of the lowly. Nkiru ate her breakfast and dinner there everyday if she had enough money. There were times when she had to drink garri or eat biscuits or stay hungry when she didn't have sufficient money to patronize the cafeteria. The rich kids never patronized the place; only some lectures, especially the single ones and some students. Some of the scholarship students however didn't visit the place, they preferred fronting to the rich kids while some actually had the money to feed in the classy restaurants. The cafeteria saw one or two rich kids once in a while-- the ones who'd gone broke probably due to excessive spending, partying and the likes. After all, hunger is felt by a slave and hunger is felt by a king. Luckily, it was situated apart from the other restaurants, so one could eat in peace without having to encounter looks of disgust from some of the spoilt rich kids passing.

"Haven't we been together for three years? What's that?" Hassana was still ranting. "If you don't want my help, just say so instead of abusing me. Haba!" She was infuriated. She made to stand up but Nkiru held her hand.

"I'm sorry, Hassana. I didn't mean to upset you. Please don't be angry...okay. Fine! Let's go and shop at the boutique."

Her friend smiled satisfactorily. "Now we are talking! You know I know how to get you to agree with me."

"So you weren't even angry with me?" Nkiru was amazed.

"Of course not." Her friend chuckled. "You're the only true friend I have. Please stop objecting or fighting me whenever I try to help you. It gives me great pleasure to put a smile on your face. See, I admire you a lot. I don't look down on you or pity you because you aren't rich. To be truthful, you even have more going for you than us, rich kids."

A warm smile turned the corner of Nkiru's lips. "Thanks. I appreciate your friendship also."

Hassana smiled too. "Me too. And it's one of the great pillars of Islam to give alms. Or don't you want me to go to Al-jannah (heaven)?" Nkiru laughed. "Now drink that lacasera and eat that chicken. No excuses."

Nkiru jokingly saluted. "Yes Ma." 

She used her fork to remove a piece of the chicken and placed it in her mouth, chewing gently. "Look on the bright side. Despite the poor state of my clothes, I was able to get the attention of the so-called most handsome guy in the school."

Hassana laughed. "Tor!"

**********

Tosin stared at his friend in amazement. Gio was obviously absentminded. He had just asked him to loan him a pen as their third lecture of the day was going on but Gio was staring into space. It was definitely unlike him to drift off in class when a lecture was going on and he had stared into space during their previous lecture also. Something was wrong.

"Gio," he whispered and gently nudged his friend.

Gio came back from outer space and stared at Tosin.

"Na wa o! Welcome back. A penny for your thoughts. Give me your pen before you reply. Mine just decided to quit dispensing ink." Tosin stretched forth his hand as Gio handed him the pen.

Gio felt irritated. He had lost track of what the lecturer was saying; thinking of that brilliant girl. It had also happened in his last class. What was the matter with him? Why couldn't he get her off his mind? Her lack of beauty didn't mean anything to him because he had seen a lot of beautiful girls back in Italy and even here in Nigeria with balloons for brains. Then what was it about her? He felt it was because he hadn't seen an intelligent girl in a long time. The ones who usually surrounded him were air heads. In the whole of the mathematics department, they had only five girls, one of them was in his class and a nerd was a kind way of describing her.

"Earth to Gio. Come in, Gio," Tosin teased.

Gio was jolted out of his reverie a second time. He was surprised to see that the lecture was over and some students were already leaving the classroom. They had an hour break before the next lecture. He decided to utilize the break in finding out who the girl was. 

"That girl who asked Professor Laroche questions, do you know her?"

Tosin's jaw dropped, his eyes bulged.

Gio smiled. "You'll catch flies that way."

Tosin clamped his mouth shut. 

"Well?" Gio asked when Tosin continued to stare at him.

Tosin slowly shook his head.

"No, I don't know her. Why do you ask?"

Gio shrugged. "I need her notebook. She was the only one who understood what Professor Laroche said today."

A crestfallen look crossed his course mate's face. "I should have known it had nothing to do with her being a girl but her brains. Please at least tell me you noticed she's a member of the opposite sex."

Gio shrugged nonchalantly. No way was he telling his friend that he was disturbed by the girl. He was sick and tired of Tosin's matchmaking habits.

"Don't worry, I'll ask Fiorella."

Tosin looked away at the mention of Gio's sister. He had a huge crush the size of Mount Everest on the beauty and knew Gio would kill him if he found out.

Fiorella.

Her name alone stirred his blood. The sexy beauty had no idea what the sight of her did to his loins. It was probably just lust he felt for her but he liked to think it was more than that sometimes. At their first meeting about a year ago, he'd lost his voice. Dressed in a Stella McCartney asymmetric chain trim jacket teamed with Maje smarto trousers, she'd been the very picture of stylish elegance. Her beautiful hair had been tied in a French twist and her carefully madeup heart-shaped face had brought out the perfection of her beauty. He could still remember the shy smile she'd given him as she placed her soft, oh, so soft small hand in his large one. Fool that he was, he hadn't been able to hold an intelligent conversation with her. He'd bumbled like an i.diot. When he did that a couple of times upon meeting her, he began avoiding her. He didn't want her tagging him, 'My Brother's slowpoke Friend'. Girls had the propensity to be mean. Oh, what evil species they were!

"Coming?" Gio asked when his friend continued to stare into space.

Tosin shook his head slowly. He was tired of making an a** of himself whenever he was ten feet from her. He always broke out in a sweat and was forever tongue tied, not to mention the fact that Fi had caught him staring at her like a hundred times whenever she was having a conversation with her brother. Sometimes he saw pity in her eyes but he couldn't be sure. Maybe it was his imagination playing tricks on him. Maybe he ought to go with Gio to see if she'd look at him with pity again, at least to get enough evidence and conviction for him to slit his throat. For a hot chick like Fiorella to pity him was like giving him the go ahead to end his miserable life.

Nah, the girl that would make him commit suicide hadn't been born, God hadn't even thought of creating her parents. Nonsense!

When Tosin shook his head again, Gio hid a smile and walked away with his Calvin Klein backpack on his back. Tosin had a thing for Fi but thought he didn't know. He always made a fool of himself whenever Fi was around. Gio appreciated the fact that Tosin had done nothing about it and it had better remain that way. Not that he had anything against his friend. Tosin was handsome, brilliant and actually hardworking. He didn't joke with his studies but he was a very easygoing guy, too easygoing sometimes for his liking. Tosin wasn't a womanizer but Gio knew he arranged rendezvous with slutty girls once in awhile to get his groove on. He didn't begrudge him that but he didn't want such a guy for his sweet sister.

He brought out his phone to call the said sister to know her whereabouts. She was in Alvan Ikoku hall close to her faculty. It was at the other side of the campus. He contemplated taking the shuttle or walking down there. When he remembered the event which had taken place the last time he had taken the shuttle, he decided to walk down there though it was quite a distance. Walking would help him think and clear his head. With hands in his Versace trouser pockets and feet in white and red Christian Louboutin sneakers, he walked to where his sister was.

Fiorella, looking beautiful as usual in a Dolce and Gabbana black pencil skirt and baby pink blouse with ruffles and Jimmy Choo heels, came out of the hall and smiled when she saw her brother. Gio rarely called to see her these days. Their exams were fast approaching.

"Gio, what's up?" she asked and hugged him even though he quickly pulled away. She didn't see it as anything because she was used to it now. Gone were the days when she would cry in his arms for hours over silly things like a broken nail or a missing favorite hair clip. Gio hadn't seen them as silly. He would always comfort her and promise to get her a new one.

Oh, where had that brother gone? Who was this stranger standing before her? God, why did her mother and her eldest brother have to die? Their deaths changed everything. She missed them so much but she missed Gio more because he was alive at the same time dead to her. Oh, God, she longed for a genuine smile to hit this gorgeous face of his. She longed to hear the sound of his rich laugh again. She'd tried her best to bring out that laugh, often making a fool of herself but Gio barely talked these days let alone smile. Gosh, she was so lonely, so lonely. Even the antics of the numerous guys who wanted to date her didn't put a spark in her life. She wanted her family back more than she wanted a relationship. She'd give the whole of her dad's wealth and some just to get her family back together again. She'd trade all the riches in the world just to get her brother to smile again, she loved him that much. The poor girl didn't mind living in squalor as far as she could have her mother, Dano and Gio back again. What was riches without joy?

Her tear ducts pushed forth tears into her eyes.

Gio fixed his dark gaze intently on his sister.

"Fi, are you alright?"

His sister breathed in and out slowly while gazing at the students moving around them before she found her voice.

"Yes."

"Why the tears?" A worried frown hardened his features.

"Nothing. I was just remembering good times."

Gio was silent.

Her smile rivalled the brightness of the sun. "So what brings you here?"

Her brother went straight to the point. "I came to find out if you know a girl in Computer Science department. She's a third year student, of average height, chocolate brown in complexion and...she wears glasses."

Music to my ears, Fiorella exclaimed inwardly after she got over her shock. Finally! A girl had gotten Gio's attention. Oh, happy day! Best news ever! She'd suggested to her dad one evening to tell him to go to a monastery since it seemed as if girls were off his life for good. Her father had smiled and patted her hand gently before telling her to give Gio more time and continue being patient with him. Hmm...the man really knew his son. Oh, goody!

When Gio noticed Fi was reacting the same way Tosin had reacted, he quickly added, "I need her algorithm notebook. She was the only one I believe in the entire class who heard what the French professor taught."

Fi's face fell in disappointment also. Gio had to smile at that. Was he such a hopeless case that at the mention of a girl by him, everyone got thinking he wanted to start dating?

WTF! So this was all about a notebook? Algo what? She felt like kicking her brother in the chin since he'd kicked her in the teeth with his statement. Da*n! Her joy had been for nothing.

She gathered herself togther. "I don't think I know her but let me ask around," Fi replied coldly and went back into the hall leaving her brother to wonder why she'd responded to him in that cold manner.

A few minutes later she came back with their twin cousins, Ifeoma and Uchechi, the school's know-it-all.

Gio groaned when he saw them coming. He was sick and tired of the fact that Ifeoma always forgot that their fathers were brothers and flirted with him shamelessly.

"Gio, it's been awhile," Ifeoma purred seductively, her bleached skin glowing.

Gio entered north-pole mode. "Hey Ify. How you doing?"

In a singsong manner, she replied, "I'm good. And you?"

"Cool. What's up, Chichi?"

Uchechi, the more conservative of the twins remarked, "Nothing much. How's everything?"

"Fantastic."

"Fi said you're asking about a girl. I know her. Her room is two rooms from mine," Uchechi informed him, clearly curious.

"Do you know her name?"

"Yes. Nkiru Chiwendu."

"Do you know how I can get in touch with her?"

His cousins' eyebrows almost hit their hairlines.

Uchechi scratched her braids. "Emm...I don't have her phone number but I know she reads in Nnamdi Azikiwe hall after lunch and sometimes, pavilion B."

"Thanks a million. I'll see you later, Fi. Chichi, Ify, have a good one."

Ifeoma devoured him with her eyes as he walked away. She was reeking of jealousy.

"What does he want with her?" she asked with spite.

Fi laughed. "Her notebook."

Ifeoma cast a look of disbelief on her cousin. "Are you sure?"

Fi rolled her beautiful eyes. "What's it to you? Have you ever seen Gio with any female apart from the three of us?"

Ifeoma smiled and relaxed then. "I'm just watching out for him. You know there are gold diggers out there. The girl in question is a scholarship student and by the looks of her, she reeks of abject poverty. Her clothes alone must definitely be the lowest grade whatsoever of those used clothes people foolishly buy. Jeez! I can't imagine myself wearing what a stranger has worn. Thank God we wear newly made clothes sent from abroad," Ifeoma jeered.

Fi shook her head and walked away from them. Ifeoma could be such a b*tch sometimes. She'd forgotten that she'd pushed her brother who resided in Scotland to bid for the vintage dress of a late scotish princess during the auctioning of her wardrobe. What a slowpoke!