abefe99:
ur write up is good dear keep it coming

Thanks a lot

****IRETI****

What a wonderful semester! I thought as i sat alone on one of the many concrete benches scattered around the campus. The semester had been a good one, somehow, I had overcome my phobia of meeting new people and I had quite a number of friends, not just in class but in the hostel too. i smiled to myself at the thought of the hostel, there was so much activity going on at once, if someone wasn't cursing because here clothes has disappeared from the clothes line, it would be two people fighting or porters threatening to eject residents for being untidy or any silly reason they could think of. I love the hostel, well I am used to it, but these days, it always quiet and people seemed to be minding their own business reason being that exams are just a few days away. Whilst still reminiscing, I felt a light tap on my shoulders, I smiled as Richard walked round the bench to sit beside me.

"Why are you by yourself?" he asked.
"I was waiting for you."
"I'm here, we can go now, can't we?" I smiled again aas we both got up and strolled to the school library. I like Richard's accent and the way he used question tags at the end of almost every sentence he spoke. I couldn't blame him though, his family had just moved back to Nigeria five years ago, he was born in Manchester city and then they had moved to New York when he five. I found it hard to believe Richard and I are the same age until he showed me his birth ceritificate, he was such a quiet and good guy, he never spoke too much and he's really intelligent, brilliant should be the appropriate word. Richard had been my study partner since day one, not for any special reason but because he was the most serious friend and course mate I had so far.

After reading for some time, I lost interest and decided to take a stroll to stretch my limbs, I had never really liked reading for more than three hours at a time unlike Richard who could read non-stop for five hours. I yawned.
"I need to take a walk." I whispered to Richard, respecting the Library rule of quietness. I walked out of the library and checked the time on my pink leather-strapped laurine wrist-watch. 11:21. So I had only read for two hours and fifteen minutes. I walked slowly towards the senate building where I was sure to find students reading, I wonder how they concentrate though. I decided to get snacks for myself and Richard. My phone vibrated against my right thigh, I pulled it out and smiled as I saw the caller ID, Amaka.

"Babe." I said as I put the phone to my right ear.
"Sweetheart, how are you?" she sounded tired.
"I'm very well ma'am, you sound beat, how have your papers been?"
"Cool, but the one I wrote on Saturday was not Okay, I guess i didn't study enough, I've been sad ever since."
"Cheer up girl, have no worries, you know you cannot fail."
"Yeah, I pray I don't. Just called to say hi, I have a paper by twelve, I love you and miss you soooo much."
"Awww, babe, I love you more but I don't think I miss you that much"
"I know that's a big lie." I heard someone yell Ama in the background and she answered. We said our goodbye's and she hung up.

"Ireti!!!!" someone shouted. It has to be Mayokun because I never introduce myself to anybody here as Ireti, the name is just too old-fashioned. I smiled as I turned to see my beautiful cousin walking towards me and grinning widely that i feared her lips would actually touch her years. She has a peculiar way of walking by the way,seems like she's catwalking and bouncing at the same time, as if she has springs attached to her heels that made them lift as soon as they touched the ground. I hugged her when she was close enough.

"Been a while." she said.
"I know." I replied simply.
"You just forgot me na, our hostels are not that far apart o."
"Yes, I know, but I visit you more than you visit me." I countered.
"Just pulling your legs..." she took two steps back "... See smoke all over your body, omo, those your Physics and Chemistry Lecturers are in hot soup, my bebe will finish them." i laughed
"I pray o."
"So where were you going?"
"To get snacks before I continue reading."
"Where are you reading?"
"At the library." she screwed her face.
"Library sha, that boring place, how do you assimilate there, everywhere will just be silent like grave, hian, you dey try..." I shrugged my shoulders indifferently. "...anyways, my coursemates organised a tutorial, that's where I'm going now, see you later." It sounded more like a question.
"Um, yeah, maybe, I don't know."
"Yes, maybe, I don't know, which one will I take. Maybe i should come see you in your hostel when I'm done."
"Great Idea."
"I'll call you ngbayen." She said as she walked away. I waved and watched her hurry to class, her buttocks swayed graciously to her movement and I smiled to myself. Ah! Mayokun! there was never a dull moment with her. I walked further down to a snack kiosk and bought what I wanted and what I thought Richard would like.

I was almost at the library when my phone rang. I am so dead, I thought as I saw the name displayed. Dunsin.
"Where are you?" she asked angrily as I answered the call. I had promised to call her when Richard and I got to the library.
"Are you now deaf?"
"Babe, slow down, I'm sorry."
"Where are you?" She again, calmly this time.
"I'm going back to the library."
"Okay, I'll join you soon." She hung up. Over the past months, Dunsin and I become best friends but she had just one problem. ANGER. She flared up at the slightest things and it would take a divine intervention for anybody to understand that parf of her.
I kept the snacks in my bag on a shelf just outside the library, not because i was not hungry but because the librarian was strict with the no-eating-in-the-library rule. After about twenty minutes, I got a text from Dunsin. I'M OUTSIDE, COME NOW. I met her signing the log book and we went back to sit, I had kept a space for her earlier.

TBC

****IRETI****

“Yes?” I asked as I opened the door.
“This is two-fourteen B right?”
“Obviously.” I replied; the irritation and anger returning at the stranger’s rudeness.
“Okay.” She said and made to push past me.
“Excuse you? Courtesy demands you introduce yourself and also let me know why you’re here.” I snapped and blocked the doorway from the rude intruder with my thin body.
“Oh! This is my friends’ room.”
“Which friend, because the last time I checked, there are human beings with names living here.” I was determined to be nasty.
“She’s not moved in yet, she’ll be here later this week.”
“So what do you want?” I retorted barely able to contain the anger rapidly rising inside me.
“I need her key.”
“For what?”
“Ahahn, what is a key used for?”
“News flash, I can’t give you any key until your friend moves in.” I replied stressing the words “your friend” sarcastically.
“Shoo, what is doing this one?” she said in pidgin clapping her hands in the process. In response, I stared blankly at her. “Abeg give me key make I commot for here jare.”
“You know what; you’re really rude and nasty.”
“E be like say you be butter abi, as I dey look you sef gan, you be fresher.”
“And…”
“You better mind that your sharp ajebutter mouth of yours if you know say you wan last for this school. Why I even dey argue sef, abeg madam, no waste my time, enter house go carry key give me make I bounce.” She said pointing into the room. I hissed and just stared. Who did she think she was? I was ready for whatever but I would not give her the key, don’t blame for not trusting her, I was used to hostel life, there was a ninety percent chance that she didn’t know the supposed “roommate”. I smiled at the expression on her face when I didn’t move from the door. She clapped her hands thrice in the customary Nigerian way, kpa-kpa-kpa, to show surprise or disbelief. Just then, Tomisin appeared on the corridor.
“Roomie, what’s going on here?” I would have answered if the other girl had not been faster.
“E good as you come, you also live in this room?” she asked Tomisin in what sounded more like an accusation to me.
“Yes, why?”
“Abeg, tell this fresher make she give me key, she don dey waste my time.”
“Which key?” Tomisin asked.
“Thank you, please ask her very well.” I added.
“Key to this room, my friend will be here later this week, make e no be say una two no go dey house when we come.”
“Em, sorry, we can’t drop our key like that, maybe you should take my number just in case.”
“Nawa o, wetin dey inside to drop key abi una think say I wan come thief your load abi na wetin?”
“A lot is in it, if you can’t take the number, then you can leave.” Tomisin said with an air of finality. Suddenly, the girl flared up.
“I been think say you get sense, but I don see say una two dey craze, I resemble thief for your eye abi wetin una get wey I no get, even times ten, you con dey here dey tell me rubbish, I no kuku blame you, na Daisy wey send me yeye message I blame.” She hissed and walked away, Tomisin and I exchanged glances and burst into laughter. I went back into the room to carry the bowl of dirty plates down to the kitchen. Today was really exciting, and I was beginning to like my stay in this hostel, I just wonder how it would be like when all the rooms are filled with girls of different characters and behaviours. I did the dishes and joined Tomisin, my bunk mate, to prepare dinner.

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

"who is your corse rep?" The casually dressed, pot bellied lecturer with his black purse expertly secured under his arm, asked. There was no response.
"Do I have to repeat my self?" he asked again, still no response, the lecture theatre was grave silent, one would have thought there was a huge amount to be won just by being silent. Suddenly, the quietness was pierced by a voice from the back of the class.
"Ahahn, are you all deaf?" the voice shouted and then another replied
"David, the man is asking for our course rep now." All eyes turned in David's direction and he was forced to stand when the lecturer looked his way. David looked bored as he stood with his arms crossed over his chest. The lecturer eyed him and laughed.
"And you are the course rep?" he asked sarcastically.
"No sir!" the class burst into laughter, clearly, the lecturer had been unprepared for David's show of confidence.
"Quiet!" he barked "Now, back to you young man, what do you mean by the answer you just gave me? and will you stand right and keep those hands by your side and out of your pockets!"
"Sir, the lecturer that came yesterday picked me to rep the class for his course alone, I don't know why they're calling my name now." David replied emphasising the words ' his course alone'.
"I see..." the lecturer said, dropping his purse on the desk closest to him and bringing out his glasses. "... In that case, you will also be my course rep. What's your name again?"
"David sir."
"David sir, what a funny surname, I've never heard anyone bear such a surname as 'sir' before." Mr lecturer replied and some of us giggled.
"David Okoh sir." One could tell from David's facial expression that he was either irritated or just fed up.
"Very good, please sit." He retrieved a blue marker pen and a duster from his purse and wrote on the board, in bold capital letters, his na,e and the course he would be taking us. I read it carefully 'AKINTOLA A.H GNS 101. Mr Akintola took his time as he slowly replaced the cap on his marker pen before turning to face the class. He checked the time on his silver wrist-watch and smiled.
"I believe everyone of you can see and read what I have painstakingly written on the board, not many letcurers would do this but, for the benefit of those, among you, who cannot read, I'll read it out for you..." he turned slightly to look at the board. "... it says Akintola A.H, A for Abimbola, H for Hassan. GNS 101 is the course I will be taking you this semester, GNS simply means general and natural studies, GNS 101 is English. In summary, all the grammar i've been speaking simply means you'll be seeing my handsome face and big stomach for the whole of the semester.

"By my watch here, it is 8:45 AM. This means, I will be here for the next one hour and fifteen minutes. Before anything, this is our first meeting and I will like to know your names (pause) OK, let me start with the young lady to my extreme right. Please note that I need just your first and not surnames, thank you. Madam, you can start." The girl said her name and the next and the next... I looked round the hall and did a mental calculation of large the crowd was and I concluded that we were somewhere between ninety-five and one-twenty. By the time we were done, Mr Akintola gave his do's and dont's, a brief introduction of his course and proceeded to write the course outline on the board. Merely looking at him, I guessed he was in his late thirties or early forties. He gave us some time to take down the note and he started gisting with us, he instructed David Okoh to see him in his office and it was time for him to leave. That was the beginning of David's days as our class president.

After English, another lecturer came and introduced himself as Ajibola Isiaka, our physics lecturer. During break, Richard found me, somehow, and I introduced him to Dunsin, who had been sitting beside me all day, and so our three-man gang was formed.

TBC

Hi guys, I'm sorta new here, I'd like you guys to please make comments and corrections.
Thank you.

****IRETI****

“Are you ready for lunch?” mom asked as I set down the extra provision she had just bought.
“Maybe.” I replied.
“I’m really hungry.”
“Okay, what are we going to cook?” I asked.
“Cook ke, let’s go to one of those bukas and eat jare, it’s been a while I ate in a buka.” She said and laughed, I didn’t find it funny.
“Bu- what? And since when did you start eating in bukas?” I asked, surprise clearly evident in my voice and shock written all over my face. Mom simply smiled.
“There’s always a first time for everything dear, and eating there once won’t kill you, you know.” I shrugged my shoulders indifferently.
“Count me out then, you can go ahead.” She laughed and I kept wondering what was so funny.
“What is so funny?” I asked.
“Sweetheart, tell me what you have against bukas.”
“You never taught us to eat in dirty places like bukas.” Mom was laughing hard now. Not that her laughter was infectious or anything but I could not help the smile that touched my lips, maybe because it had so long I saw laugh so hard. I folded my arms across my chest and waited for her laughter to subside.
“My dear, who told you bukas are dirty, or let me say not all bukas are dirty, there nice bukas in Lagos where you’d think you’re in one of those expensive restaurants. Okay, let’s make a deal, this weekend, I’ll take you a buka and if you still have your reservations about eating there, it’s fine, plus the food is really nice, I promise, you’ll love it, trust me.” I smiled again.
“Okay, if you say so, let’s go then.”
We ate in a calabar canteen and trust me when I say the meal was really good, the Afang soup tasted much better than Aunt Mercy’s and the Eba was just the right texture. I made a mental not to visit the place again. Mom drove me back to my hostel few minutes after eating, she’d received a business call that needed her presence urgently, typical, I thought.
“Mercy will soups and stews for you every weekend, just tell her what you want.” She said as she stopped the car in front of my hostel. I nodded and climbed out of the car, I walked round to mum’s side of the car as she wound down the window.
“I love you.” She said.
“Love you too.” She smiled.
“I’ll see you when?”
“Mom! You said this weekend now.”
“I know, the weekend is Friday, Saturday and Sunday. So when will it be okay?”
“Em, let’s do Sunday.”
“Great, I have to go now; your dad and Olamide will be here later this week.”
“Okay, see you on Sunday then.” I stepped back from the car and waved, she blew a kiss as she drove away. I entered the hostel and straight to my room where I Tomisin met cooking.
“Hi.” She greeted.
“Hi.”
“Welcome, your mom left already?”
“Yeah.”
“Nice, I’m cooking rice, care for some?”
“No, thanks but I thought we’re not allowed to cook in the room.”
“Yes, I know but since this is the first week, I can do and undo because people are not much in the hostel yet and those porters are still lazy but by the time lectures start and the hostel is full, they’ll start inspecting room.”
“I see.” Was all I could say in response. I checked the time on my phone, four-thirty PM. I took off my shoes and clothes slowly, observing Tomisin as I did. She sat on the single bed, reading a novel while glancing at her stove at intervals. Her slim, long legs were resting on a low stool in front of her, her toe nails were painted red while her well-trimmed finger nails were painted black. What a combination, I thought to myself. She was wearing a blue, baggy, but not over-sized, round-necked T-shirt over tight jean bum-shorts, I looked at her face and noticed she wore neither make-up nor earrings, she had a very small mouth and pointed nose; overall, I thought she was beautiful in a unique way. She must have felt my eyes on her because she looked up so fast that I had no time to look away. She held my gaze for a while and then smiled.
“I’m not an alien; I’m flesh and blood like you.” She said and I smiled too.
“Sorry I was staring.”
“No qualms, it’s a free world, maybe after your bath, we’ll get to know each other better.” I nodded and picked my bucket and toilet bag before leaving the room in my towel and shower cap and went towards where I thought the bathroom should be. The bathroom had just five bath cubicle, I entered the cleanest one I could find and to my dismay, there was no water. I re-tied my towel and back to my room, Tomisin was squatting over a bowl of water where she put in tree boiled eggs to cool and was in the process of un-shelling them. She looked up as I entered.
“There’s no water in the bathroom.” She smiled.
“Yes, I know, you’ll have to goan fetch water from the laundry downstairs. They won’t pump enough water since the hostel is practically empty, I thought you already knew that’s why I didn’t tell you before.” She said, adulterating the words “go and”. I went downstairs and fetched my bucket full. Fetching a bucket of water was not really a problem because I did it in high school, once in a while when the pumping machine broke down, but the school authorities would apologise profusely and make sure the problem was fixed before the end of the day. They had to, our parents were paying so much money and it was uncalled for that there would be issues of water.
After my bath, I changed into a pair of brown leggings and a black bra top. Tomisin was already eating, I brought out my phone to check my whatsapp and just as I expected, I had new messages, twenty-one, ten of which were from a curious Amaka who wanted me to send her pictures of my hostel, room, roommates and anything related to my school. I dialled her number immediately after reading her messages and she picked on the first ring.
“Hi dearie.” She said excitedly and a short converstion followed.
Later that night, Tomisin and I chatted for an hour or more before we both went to bed. I had cornflakes for dinner. I got to know that Tomisin was in her second year studying architecture, she told me our roommate would definitely be a final year student. She had told me about her stay in school the previous academic year and some do’s and don’ts of the hostel which she called ‘the hidden constitution of the porters.’ It was fun talking to her; I concluded that I liked her already. Did I mention that I can’t cook? Well that was the sad truth, I couldn’t cook anything save for noodles, white rice and yam. I blame my mom because she never taught me any of these things and never instructed aunt Mercy to teach me.

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

“Hi, I’m Oluwadunsin, you can call me Dunsin.” I turned to look at the person who had just whispered her name in my ear while I was trying my best to make sense of what the CHM lecturer standing in front of the class was saying.
“Hi.” I replied and looked away.
“Your name?”
“Ola.”
“Okay, do you understand what the man is saying?” now, I was pissed.
“I’m trying to concentrate so it would be nice if you just kept quiet already.” I replied still not looking at her.
“That was rude.” She said calmly.
“I know but you are clearly and obviously disturbing my concentration.” I said as I looked at her, assessing her expression which I loved, she sounded calm but looked like she was ready to explode. I thought it was so much fun to get people angry. She hissed and smiled immediately, weird! I thought and I looked away.
“I’m sorry.” She said a few seconds later, taking me by surprise and I looked at her, she had a weird smile, more like a mocking one to show she had paid me back in my own coin. I nodded and looked away quickly.
“… none of you females and even males are as old as my last daughter so it would be in your best interest to respect me and for your information, I don’t give free marks often and when I do, you must have worked really hard to earn it. That would be all for now, any questions?” he adjusted his tie which I thought was awkward and out of place, picked his note and headed for the exit when he abruptly turned.
“Who’s your class president?” he asked and we all stared back at him in response.
“Nobody? Then you don’t have any record with me till you get one.” Shouts of ah, sir, please o, we are new, this is just our first lecture filled the lecture hall and the lecturer smiled giving me the impression that he was enjoying our reaction.
“I might as well appoint someone for my course.” He looked round the hall for a while and pointed to a tiny looking boy in black pants and a chelsea FC jersey.
“You, stand up. What’s your name?”
“David sir.”
“David what?”
“David Okoh sir.”
“Good, you are the president for my course, you guys can vote for another president but he’ll be the representing you all for my course. Have a good day.”
“Sir, we don’t know your name o.” someone shouted from the back of the class. All heads turned towards where the voice had come from. The lecturer wore a deep frown.
“Who said that?” he asked. Personally, I thought the class was in trouble if we did not fish out the culprit but I was wrong.
“Well, I believe the lecturer code with their names and respective subjects has been pasted on your department’s notice board. Will that be all? ... Good, you people don’t know me yet. Have a good day.” He added the latter after a moment of deafening silence. With that frown, one would have thought we were in big trouble; maybe he was still tolerating us because this was the first meeting. Immediately after he left, the class became noisy. I brought out my phone to check my messages and as I expected, I had four SMS from my network provider, ten whatsapp messages three of which were from Amaka, two from my mom and five from my cousin Mayokun. Mayokun message informed me that she had resumed the day before, and she had sent me her room number and had asked if I could come see her ( Mayokun was studying accountancy aith her friend Dele but he was in a different school.) I would have loved it if we were staying in the same hostel, at least we could get to know ourselves better and form a bond that literally does not exist. I was still replying my messages and trying really hard to ignore the noise around me when I felt a light tap on my left shoulder. I turned and behold, it was miss-disturber again. I frowned to register my displeasure and she smiled.
“Sorry for bothering you, em… oh! Yes, Ola right?”
“Yes.” I replied still frowning, not because I was angry but because I felt she was winning our little nasty game.
“This is our first lecture in this school so I’m just trying to make friends.”
“Oh, okay, that’s nice, good luck making friends then.”
“So we are friends already.” I really don’t know if it was a question but it sounded more like a statement. I would have replied her if I had the upper hand and I was a bit surprised that my be-mean-so-that-they-will-leave trick had not worked with her. She had my attention now and I turned, as much as the desk could allow, looking at her.
“Yes, I guess we are.”
“Okay, thanks.” She said with a smile and began packing her bag.
“Are you leaving already?” I asked.
“Yes.” She said simply without looking at me and this greatly irritated me, this girl was obviously a pro at making people feel stupid, I still had a lot to learn.
“But we still have another lecture.”
“I know, I just got here this morning and I’ve not arranged my things so I have to go now, see you around.” With that she stood to leave. I had lost.
“Okay, bye.” I murmured.
“Em, let me have your phone number.” She said pointing her phone to me.
“Okay.” I said and typed in the eleven digits.
“Thanks, I’ll call you when I’m done.”
“No problem, bye.” I watched her leave before I turned my attention back to the rowdy class and decide to also talk to one or two persons. Everybody on the row I sat had gone save for the guy to my extreme right. I moved closer to him but he was too pre-occupied with his phone to notice me, he did not as much as look, I sat next to him and just stared wondering how he could be so engrossed in the gadget and be oblivious of his surroundings. Finally, he looked up and smiled.
“Hi.” He said with a slight American accent.
“Finally.” I said rolling my eyes.
“Sorry, you need something?” he asked, his smile fading.
“Oh, nothing much, I just wanted to ask if we could be friends.” He laughed now. “You’re not serious, are you?” I rolled my eyes again.
“Do I look like a joke?”
“You’re funny, aren’t you?” he said still smiling.
“Am I?”
“Sure you are. Why not, we can be friends, I’m Richard.”
“Great, I’m Ola, pleasure meeting you.” I said with a smile.
“Sure, you have a nice name. do you live on or off campus?”
“On campus.”
“Me too.”
“Nice.” He simply nodded.
“Do you have a copy of the timetable?” I asked just to keep the conversation going. “Yeah, I do.”
“Can I make a copy?”
“Yeah, sure, we can go now.”
“Okay.” We both left the lecture hall with our bags and walked towards where we could make a photocopy of the timetable. On our way back to class, Richard bought snacks and offered me some but i9 declined. We sat gisting in class for about three hours before we finally decide to go our respective hostels. He saw me to my hostel before going to his. Just as I entered the hostel, someone tapped from behind. I turned and smiled on recognition, it was Dunsin, the girl from class, she asked to borrow my notes and I told her she had not missed a thing. We exchanged room numbers after the promised to call me for class the next day. I was so tired from sitting and doing nothing all day and I was really glad to find that Tomisin had filled my food flask with green rice, the colour gotten from a generous addition of curry, with a sparse amount of carrots. Just as I finished eating, I heard a knock.

TBC

****IRETI****


I spotted Amaka, my best friend, waving at me, I smiled. We had only been apart for three weeks but I missed her so much already. The airport was busy as usual. I walked to meet Amaka and hugged her tightly.
“I’m so glad to see you dear, how have you been?” she asked.
“Surviving, Lagos is just not the place for me.”
“You know you could have stayed here, my house is free.”
“Yeah, I know, but my parents and brother insisted that I came to Lagos.”
“Okay, how was your flight?”
“It was good, listened to music all through.”
“Oh! good.” By now, we were already by her mom’s car. We lowered ourselves into the car and the driver pulled out of the parking lot to join Ring road four enroute the Igwe’s residence in Gwarinpa estate. The drive was so much fun because Amaka kept talking about the things she had done in the past three weeks of leaving secondary school. We got home about an hour later, a drive that should normally have taken forty-seven to fifty minutes.
“Settle down dear. We’re shopping today.” Amaka announced as I dropped my bag on her bed, and I frowned.
“Why can’t we go tomorrow?” I asked.
“There’s still so much time today, it’s just past eleven.” Amaka had a way of taking decisions without asking for my opinion.
“My dad won’t send money until tomorrow.” I said.
“Ola, if you want to collect money from your dad, you’re free but you know my mom is paying for our grad shopping.”
“Oh, I see.”
“Yeah”
“Okay, I need to eat first before going anywhere.”
“Sure, Stella must have something for you.”
“She had better have something, I’m famished.” Amaka led the way downstairs, to the kitchen.
Two hours later, Amaka and I were in a clothes store at the mall. We had already bought the same dinner dresses for prom and were now in search of the perfect grad wear, according to Amaka. I sat on a bench in the shop slowly spooning my already melted ice-cream; I decided to drink what was left. I was already tired from looking at so many shoes and jewellery since Amaka was the fashion freak, I really had no choice but to look at them. I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand, stood and realised Amaka had left the shop. I got up and went in search of her. I saw her in another store, looking at shoes. I entered and tapped her from behind.
“Babe, where have you been?” I rolled my eyes and she hissed.
“I need your help here, which colour do you prefer?” she asked holding up two stiletto-heeled sandals. I pointed at the pink one because I guessed that would be her choice. I was right. She nodded in affirmative and dropped the black sandals.
“So prom is settled?” I asked, just to be sure we were leaving soon.
“Pretty much.” She answered and smiled before going to pay for the shoes (we wear the same sizes of shoes so she had no problem picking my shoe.) left to me, we could wear the same shoes for prom and the valedictory service but Amaka thought otherwise. I smiled at my thought before following her out of the shop. Amaka checked the time on her wrist-watch and frowned.
“Babe, we’re pressed for time.”
“It’s just two-thirty.” I added, trying to sound interested knowing full well that I had very little or no say at all when it came to Amaka and shopping.
“What do you think we should wear on grad day?” Amaka asked.
“Amaka Igwe, I hope you are not planning to buy something outside of what the school authorities instructed o?”
“There’s no harm in bending a rule my dear, shebi they want us to wear wine shirt, that’s what we’ll wear but with a little twist.”
“Okay o.”
“Let’s check this place for suits.”
“Thank God we’re wearing suits.” I said rolling my eyes.
“Yeah, yeah, just be careful so your eyes don’t roll out. Please note that we are wearing something different for the after-party.”
“No way, count me out, I don’t have enough patience to change clothes and probably shoes too for a one-day affair.” Amaka laughed.
After looking at, and trying on some suits for about forty minutes, we finally got the perfect suits and we were ready to leave the mall. I bought another ice-cream, in a cone this time, on our way out. Kingsley was such a quiet and patient man unlike my own drivers in Lagos who would have bombarded me with calls if I stayed an extra minute more than the specified time. Kingsley helped put our things in the car trunk and we were set to go when Amaka suddenly screamed. Kingsley marched the brake before looking back at us.
“What is the matter now?” he asked a wide-eyed Amaka. I was scared too since I had no clue of what could be wrong. Amaka had always been a drama queen, everybody knew that. She slowly looked from me to kingsley and back before speaking.
“Oh my Gosh, I can’t believe I forgot to buy a watch to match my grad outfit.” Kingsley smiled and I hissed.
“You don’t have to be such a drama queen, we both know you’ll find a watch among the ones you already have.” I expected Kingsley to continue his driving, which he did, but instead of heading towards the gate, he parked the car and said Amaka could go and get what she wanted. She got out of the car and stared intently at me; I got the message and hissed again. She sighed and went back into the mall. What a joke I thought, how did she expect me to go back with her? I pulled out my phone and plugged in my earpiece, I was about to play a song when Kingsley spoke.
“Hissing is quite a bad habit.” While he spoke, he adjusted the mirror so he could see my face. He was smiling and I was pissed, I had barely finished eating when Amaka rushed me out of the house and now she expected me to go back to buy a wrist-watch with her, one she’d definitely abandon after grad on Saturday just as she’d abandoned the ones she had already. Kingsley was still smiling.
“I am tired and hungry and I see no reason why Amaka wants yet another watch.”
“That’s Amaka for you.”
“But don’t you think you’re spoiling her?”
“My dear, I’m not ready to lose my job o, so let me do everything she wants.”
“Wait o, do you mean you’ll lose your job if you refuse Amaka?”
“I might, you know she’s the only child and all employees are expected to pamper her.” I hissed. “Hissing again?” Kingsley asked and laughed. I plugged my ears with my earpiece and played a song. I really did not remember when any employee was instructed to pamper me or my siblings even though there was still some form of respect accorded to us as oga’s children. Fact is Amaka’s family was wealthier than mine, her dad was a federal lawmaker and her mom ran a boutique in the city centre but that was not license enough to over-pamper her. I sighed inwardly and closed my eyes as I settled down to the song being played.
About half an hour later, Amaka re-appeared with her I’m-not-too-pleased-with-what-I-bought face. I laughed at her and she frowned more. I paused the song just as Kingsley started the car engine.
“Let me see.” I said, still smiling. She carelessly threw the small black box she had been holding, at me. I opened it and behold, I was staring down at a lovely wine coloured Puntarossa swatch.
“It’s lovely!” I exclaimed.
“It’s too plain.” Amaka whined, I did not need to look at her face to know that she could cry any moment.
“Amaka, the watch is nice, if it wasn’t, I’m sure you would not have bought it.” I said firmly, now looking at her. She sobbed and a tear ran down her face. I rolled my eyes. Why does she have to be like this? I felt like screaming at her but I knew better from experience, she’d only cry louder and won’t stop until I did something really nice which I was not in the mood for, so far, she was not wailing but the tears were there. I sighed.
“Amaka, you can manage it for grad.” I said, since that’s what she obviously wanted to hear. She wiped her tears with the back of her palm and sniffed before speaking;
“Are you sure it’s manageable?” she asked
“Yes dear.” She smiled.
“Thanks.” I closed the box and handed it back to her. That’s Amaka for you, my bestie, sometimes I wonder how we get along because we do and I love her like that, we’ve always had each other’s backs since she joined my school in JSS two, we’d become inseparable ever since, we even lived in the same hostel as seniors. Amaka had always been my voice whenever I needed it; she was one of the most nasty, sassy girls in my class and also among the top three too. I had also been among the top five. Amaka was a girl nobody wanted to cross paths with not because she was not nice to those that were close to her but she was a snub and that made a lot of our classmates steer clear. The truth actually is that Amaka was really a nice and fun girl; one just had to study and understand her moods and find a way to manage her.

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

Olamide and I sat in the backseat of Ayo’s car with dad at the front passenger’s seat. It was a beautiful Sunday afternoon, a day after my graduation party. I had had so much fun with my classmates at the after party, there were a lot of drinks, alcohol I mean, I drank a lot but not enough to get me drunk. Ayo was driving us to an eatery since dad had said we needed to celebrate my success. It had been a pleasant surprise to see dad and both of my brothers at the valedictory service.
Ayo found a spot and parked the car. We all got down and walked into the restaurant. Olamide and I found a table while dad and Ayo went to order our meal. As we sat, I stared intently at the handsome ten-year old stranger who was supposedly my brother. Olamide looked weird in his geeky glasses which he kept pushing up the bridge of his nose, with his right middle finger, at intervals and I wondered if the frames were too heavy for his slim nose to support. He looked at me and caught me staring.
“I’m not comfortable with you staring at me that way…” I smiled. “I really don’t know you.” He said. I was surprised but the expression disappeared as quickly as it had come and I smiled again.
“Was that a joke?” he asked and I grinned this time.
“No sir, it was not, and yes, you’re right, I don’t know you either.” I replied.
“Yeah, so how do you plan to know me better, we could spend the holiday together, my opinion though.” I nodded, Olamide sounded really smart for his ten years.
“Is that a yes or a no?” he asked.
“It’s a yes sir.” I replied.
“Okay, cool, so when are you coming to Lagos?”
“When are you going back to Lagos?” I asked.
“I’m leaving with dad, I don’t know why Ayo decided to bring his car, the drive was too long and boring.” I laughed, not because of what he said but the look of disgust on his face was hilarious. He smiled too.
“Our food is here.” Olamide announced and I looked up to see Ayo and daddy carrying a tray with two plates of food each. Rice and chicken, typical, I thought.
“I’m so happy to see all three of you together like this after such a long time…” Dad said as we started eating. “I want you all to know that your mom and I love you so much but the nature of both our jobs is the only challenge this family has.” He added.
“Why don’t you change your job or stop working, shebi we already have plenty money.” Olamide said.
“Smart boy.” Dad commended.
“Well Olami, it won’t be so easy for them to stop working like that and just so you know, everything they are doing now is for our future. Ayo said. Dad looked at me with expectant eyes, what does he want me say now? I thought, if I open my mouth, I might say the wrong thing but I spoke anyway.
“I’m not too pleased with them and please Ayo, don’t try to defend them, they’ve not done the right thing.” I said and Ayo smiled.
“I’m not defending anybody my dear.” I made a face at him. I didn’t like where the conversation was heading, I was not ready for an argument now.
“Okay, whatever, can we at least enjoy our meal?” I added. Dad nodded in agreement and as if on cue, we all continued eating. Dad had always been a man of few words so I could excuse him for not contributing to what I said. Thirty minutes later, we were done eating and about to leave the restaurant.
“Um, dad?” I said
“Yes dear?” he answered with a smile.
“I’d like to get something for Amaka.” He grinned now
“Sure.” He said counting a few thousand naira notes and handing them to me.
“Nice, thanks.” I said, smiling as I counted the money which was obviously too much to get snacks for Amaka. I walked back to the counter to get what I wanted while the others went to the car. I paid for what I bought and quickly joined my family.
“Where to?” Ayo asked dad.
“Where does my baby girl want to go?” dad asked me, I rolled my eyes and shrugged my shoulders. “Anywhere.” I replied simply.
“Is it just me or do you have a bad habit of rolling your eyes at people?” Olamide asked with a frown and I smiled.
“It’s a habit alright, but bad is not the right adverb to qualify it with.” Olamide smiled and rolled his eyes too.
“Okay…” dad cleared his throat. “Where do you want us to go?” he asked again.
“Um, let’s go to the mall then.”
“Okay o, oga driver, please take us there.”
We got to the mall and dad bought a lot of things for me. I was really happy by the end of the day, I wished the day would go on and on, it had been so long since is spent time with any member of my family especially dad and Olamide, whom I barely knew, he was just three when I was sent to school in Abuja. I never really went to Lagos during holidays, instead, I spent my holidays in Port Harcourt with my dad’s brother- uncle Bosun- and his family. I’ve never really been a Lagos person, my family lived in Abeokuta before I left and only moved to Lagos a year after, when Olamide was four years old.
I got to Amaka’s house really tired and spent from all the fun of the day but that was not enough reason not to relate the day’s events to the ever curious Amaka, I knew that if I wanted to have a peaceful night rest, I just had to give her details but just one thought bothered me, my mum had not as much as called to congratulate me. I tried to push the thought aside but it was difficult and if anything, it only made me hate her more. I fell asleep that night happy with my dad for making out time to come for my graduation party and at the same time I was really angry with my mom.

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

Two months after my official graduation from high school, I sat in the front passenger seat of Ayo’s SUV as we drove to the university I would be resume in a few weeks. I was excited but then I wished Amaka was in the same school with me.
“… but I can assure you that you’ll have so much fun.” Ayo was saying. He gave me a side glance. “Are you too happy to say anything?” I smiled; I was not listening to what he was saying.
“Not really, I’m just reminiscing and yeah, I hope to have a lot of fun.”
“Good, mom will be in Nigeria next week, maybe she’ll help bring your stuff when you’re ready to move to the hostel.” He shot me a side glance again.
“No, thank you.”
“You know, it’s not a bad idea if she helps to…”
“Please, if you won’t bring me, I’d rather take a cab.” I said, cutting him short. Ayo sighed. “You know, she already apologised, the least you can do is forgive her, for Christ’s sake, she’s your mom...” he slammed his fist on the steering wheel, I knew he was angry and decide to be silent.
“… Why do you want to make things more difficult than they are?” I was angry too, I had every right to be, she only called me three weeks after my graduation and sent twenty thousand naira to my account to spoil myself, please, dad had spoiled me enough, his presence alone was enough. I did not blame Ayo though; he just wanted everybody to get along and pretend not to have issues. Ayo sighed, clearly frustrated with my silence, disappointed maybe.
“You know you have to answer me.” He said simply.
“I don’t know what to say.” He sighed again.
“Okay, but can I remind you that she’s your mom and you can’t stay angry with her forever.”
“I know but you don’t expect me forget how she…”
“I know how you feel dear but you just have to forget whatever she did, forgive her and move on with life because she’s your mom.” It was my turn to sigh. I did not realise we were already at the school gate, Ayo wound down his window to collect a gate pass since he didn’t have a parking sticker on his car. He drove into the school premises and straight to the Faculty of science where I was to complete my registration. He parked the car.
“Today is a big day for you and I really want it to be a memorable one. So we’ll just push all thoughts and talk about the family aside and fun today...” he pulled my ear playfully and I smiled. “… Shall we?” he asked and we climbed out of the car. Ayo locked the car and we left the car park. I tried really hard to forget our little discussion about mom but it was difficult. I had to forgive her somehow, I made up my mind to do just that and to also forget anything I had against her but that would be after I had a really long talk with her just to voice my grudge and to also hear what she had to say in her defence.
Three hours later, I had successfully completed my registration to study computer science in one of Nigeria’s biggest and finest universities. I was really happy; Ayo had been really helpful too. Lectures were to resume in two weeks and all hostel would be open in ten days, I hoped mom would be back before then; maybe we could shop for my school stuff together, just maybe. We were on our way home now, we decided to eat out but when we saw the traffic, we had to go home straight.

TBC

****IRETI****

I sighed again as I sat at the edge of the bed. I envied my cousins because out of their mum's no-time and busy schedule, she always spared a little time, at least, to join them for dinner, did I mentioin that their dad doesn't live with them? Well chief Ogunbanjo currently lives somewhere on the Lagos Island with his third wife and her two children while he bought houses on the mainland for aunt Yetunde and the second wife. Aunt Yetunde worked in one of those manufacturing companies as a sales manager, she was always busy and I respected her for the love she showed her kids. That was one thing my parents never did, well dad tried a bit but mum was just bad. Neither of them had called since I arrived here two days ago, only Ayo and he had even taken time to visit me. Suddenly, the room was hot and stuffy, I looked round and saw that the fun was off, I walked to the fan and switched it on, then I felt the walls closing in on me, my head started spinning and my vision became blurred, I realised I was slowly gasping for air. I fell to my knees as the realization of what was happening hit me, NO! not the asthma again! I crawled to the bed, desperate now, as my breathing became laboured and painful, I gripped the edge of the bed for support as I tried to stand but I fell back on the bed, I was crying now, GOD! I don't know you but please, don't let me die this painful death. My chest was becoming unbearably tight, I searched the bed frantically for my inhaler, I tried to call Dupe but my voice came out as a whisper. Finally, I found the inhaler but I was already too weak to even lift it let alone press it and then there was a total BLACKOUT. I must have fainted. I opened my eyes to see a strange face, is he a doctor? Am I in a hospital? The man in white overalls was scribbling on a pad; I coughed to let him know I was awake. He smiled before squatting and looking straight into my eyes.
“I see you’re awake.” I tried to speak but my head was banging, I think he noticed.
“Don’t worry, I’ll do the talking, you’ve been here for just two hours, you’ll be discharged soon. I expect that you have a really bad headache which is perfectly normal; it means the medication is working. I’d like to ask you some questions later, for now, I need you to just nod to my questions. One, do you know what triggered the crisis?” I nodded a No and watched him write something on his pad.
“Okay, did you struggle for a long time before you passed out?” No, I nodded again. He shook his head, and frowned, a little as he read what he had written.
“I’m afraid you have a serious infection, but it can be managed.” He said, more to himself than to me, and smiled, squeezed my right shoulder lightly and left the room. Aunt Yetunde came in almost immediately, looking worried.
“Iretiola, you scared us o, I never knew you had asthma, what were you trying to do that your cousins could not help you with ehn? Jo omo mi, your cousins are around to help you with whatever you need okay? I don’t know when the doctor will discharge you but he said soon sha, he said something about observing you for a while. I hope you can come home tonight, it is well with you my dear.” I smiled and nodded to show that I was listening, do I blame her for not knowing about my condition when my immediate family didn’t know except she calls to tell them now. I felt dizzy now; I tried to keep my eyes open and failed.
“Don’t fight it dear, it’s probably the injection.” That was the confirmation I needed, to be sure I was not going to eternal rest, dying, so I welcomed the sleep with open arms.

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

“… that’s pure irresponsibility on your part, how could you keep such a serious thing from me, two years is something Iretiola, why did you do it? Do you know how bad I feel to just be finding out that my baby has been living with asthma all this while…” I stopped paying attention to what my mom was saying, imagine her blaming me; I actually wished I could slap some sense into her head. I was really mad at her for trying to blame me for her obvious irresponsibility. “… Are you even listening?” her voice brought me back to reality. I rolled my eyes.
“Mom, I’m tired, the doctor said I should still be resting, we’ll talk later.” She sighed.
“Ireti, you could at least answer my question before hanging up.”
“Mom, please don’t try to play the victim here, you don’t know many things about me and instead of you try to build a relationship, not just with me, but with your son’s too, you’re more concerned about your businesses and money…” I had actually raised my voice. I sighed deeply.
“I’m sorry mom.” I said, genuinely sorry for shouting.
“It’s okay my dear, please rest well, we’ll talk later.”
“Bye.” I hung up.
“I don’t pity her.” I said to myself. She was always trying to play the victim card, creating the impression that she cares when in actual fact she literally neglects her children. I really wonder how Ayo is able to cope with her because he was the one always trying to make excuses for her. Even on family vacations, she’s either making or receiving calls or tapping at her phone. Ayo opened the door and poked his head in “Busy?” he asked, I smiled and waved him in. he sat beside me on the bed and put his right arm across my shoulder.
“Feeling better yet?” I nodded.
“Okay, you’re still not talking, tell me what’s up.” I had barely spoken a word to anyone in the house since I returned from the hospital three days ago. Ayo had come the next day, after the crisis, and had tried to cheer me up but I did not even know the cause of my moodiness.
“Nothing” I replied.
“It has been nothing for three days now. You can talk to me, I don’t bite.” I smiled.
“I’m angry with mom.”
“For…”
“Not caring so much, never being there when I need her and…” I sighed; I did not know I was crying until Ayo brought out his handkerchief to wipe the tears. I allowed him.
“You know what, I actually hated her too at a point, oh, I told I to her face many times how I felt, dad too, I blamed both of them for every mistake I made, I hated her guts and I told her never to visit me in school, you should remember those times…” he smiled at me, I wanted to smile back but I spoke instead.
“I don’t get your point.”
“Oh, my point exactly is that, its normal that you’re angry, yes, I mean you were just ten when you were sent to a boarding school so far away from home, and you had to go through many things alone but then, all their no-time, and work-every time is to secure a future for you, for all of us. Now what is abnormal is when you don’t grow out of the hatred.” He stood and stretched before extending his right hand to me. I turned my face to the wall.
“Come on now, don’t argue with me o, what you need is a walk and if you try to prove stubborn, I’ll carry you, I mean it. So decide now, what’s it going to be?” and he started laughing. “Hahaha, very funny, sha pull me up.” He did. I felt light-headed and swayed a little and I leaned on him for support

“You see what starvation can do? Please don’t kill yourself o.”
“Maybe I should eat something before we go except you have the strength to carry me.”
“Why won’t I have the strength to lift you, with this your paper weight.” He moved back a bit to have proper look at me then screwed his nose and shook his head.
“You’re in a sorry state.” He said. I laughed and punched his arm playfully. We went down to the kitchen and met our cousins and their friend Dele gisting.
“I see someone is feeling better…” Mayokun, the ever smiling girl, remarked.
“… what would you like to eat, there’s bread, rice, cereal, beverage, amala, em what else do we have o…”
“Oh, I think that will be enough for now Mayokun, so princess what would you like to eat?” Ayo asked, looking at me.
“A few slices of bread will do.” I replied and lowered myself on one of the four white plastic chairs arranged round the white four-legged rectangular table in the kitchen.
“How are you? Feeling better?” Dupe asked me in her trademark low voice.
“I’m very well, feeling better already, thanks.” I replied.
“Thank God for that, it shows, you look brighter, those drugs must have really worked well.” Dele chipped in.
“Thanks for your concern.” I said simply. I felt uncomfortable with the mention of GOD. (I really did not believe in him, I just felt He was wicked, selfish and un-caring because if he was the loving father people called him, He would never have watched as asthma killed me slowly and would have given my parents a better sense of duty towards my siblings and I. I am a Christian or a church goer as some people would like to classify me but I had my reservations about this God that was being preached. My family has never been the one to wake up on a Sunday morning and get ready for church except on special service Sundays like the first Sunday of the year and maybe cross-over services, church going had always been a matter of choice, much as I knew, my mum had never really been a church person, her free Sundays had always been for resting while my dad was a selfless giver to the church and the things of God, he always said that was why God had blessed him so much.) Mayokun already had five slices of bread for me, on a blue ceramic plate, and a mug of hot chocolate beverage. I looked behind me and realised Ayo had left the kitchen.
“Butter or Jam?” Mayokun asked.
“None thank you.”
“Okay dear.” I stood, carried the food and was on my way out of the kitchen when I swayed a little but Dele caught me.
“Are you sure that bread will be enough for you?” He asked. I smiled simply and left the kitchen. He must have a bad impression of me by now; I’ve not been particularly nice to him since I arrived. Ayo was on the phone when I got to the living room, he didn’t seem too pleased with whoever he was talking to. He hung up just as I lowered myself into the couch and placed the food on a side stool.
“Work?” I asked when he turned to face me.
“Yeah, some people think I’m too young to give them orders.”
“They can leave if they don’t want to work again.”
“Of course, it’s past noon dear; eat quickly so we don’t get caught in traffic.” I nodded a yes. “Let’s go then.” Ayo laughed.
“Not so fast young lady, you’ve not touched your food.”
“Just did.” I said as I touched the bread.
“Very funny, you can bring it along and eat in the car.”
“Great idea.”
“Mayokun!” Ayo called.
“Yes?” she answered from the kitchen.
“You guys want to join us for a drive?”
“Me am going o, are you guys going?” I heard her say as I went out of the house and into Ayo’s car. About two minutes later, my cousins and Dele joined us in the car.
“Nice ride Ayo” Dele remarked.
“Oh, thanks”
“You think this is nice? Wait till you see his second car, I mean it’s an SUV.” Mayokun added. “Yepa! So he has two cars already at this his young age.”
“Yes na, he’s just twenty-three.” Dele whistled
“Ayo I want to be like you o.” meanwhile, Ayo and I exchanged glances and smiled.
“Mayokun, abeg o, don’t let armed robbers attack me o, you know very well that this is a company car and you know who bought the other one for me and as for you Dele, just face your studies and you’ll have all the money you need and even more and you’ll even be better than me.”
“Yeah, true but then, the ride is clean.”
“If you insist sir, thank you.”
“Ayo, you don’t have to be so modest, take credit for once.” Mayokun added. Ayo laughed. By now, we were already on the main express way. The rest of the drive was silent with each one of us thinking our own thoughts. My health was at the fore-front of my mind, I needed to get over this infection before my graduation party. I had only been in aunt Yetunde’s house five days and it felt like ages already. Ayo turned off the engine, I looked up to find that we were already at the mall.
“We’re here guys.” Ayo announced as he unbuckled his seat belt, I rolled my eyes at him. “We’re not blind.” He smiled as the others climbed out of the car. I felt his eyes on me and I looked up from my mug of beverage.
“What?” I asked
“Honey, you’re not helping yourself, you’ve literally not eaten for two days and now, you only managed to eat two slices of bread.”
“I’ve been eating.” I defended. He rolled his eyes.
“I understand that you’ve been picking at your food. How do you want the drugs to work when you’re not eating, look at you, you look so frail and…” Mayokun, knocked on his window, I smiled, grateful for the distraction. I got out of the car before he resumed the sermon, I had heard enough from aunt Yetunde already. I walked round the car to join the rest while Ayo locked the car. We all walked into the mall and started window shopping with Mayokun shrieking anytime she saw something she liked.
After window shopping for about twenty minutes, we headed to one of the restaurants where Ayo bought burgers and soft drinks for everyone but I got something extra, a pasta salad and a pack of juice. We went round the mall one last time before heading home around two PM. Ayo left immediately after he dropped us at home with a promise to call me that night. I walked back to the house slowly, past my cousins who were already snacking, and up to my room where I ate quietly and slowly, the first real food I had had in three days.

TBC

All rights reserved.

No part of this story should be published on another platform without prior information to and permission from the writer.
Copyright 2017



***IRETI***

I heaved a sigh of relief as the driver pulled into aunty Yetunde's driveway. The drive had been unbearably long, it felt like we had been driving from one end of Lagos to another. I really hated Lagos, I never wanted to come back if it were not for my parents' insistence. I got out of the car with my backpack and slammed the door hard, I noticed the driver shake his head and I smiled, he had always thought I was an over-pampered child, why wouldn't I be? being the only girl child of my parents, pampering, is inevitable.

I looked at the building right in front of me and I concluded that I would not like my stay here. I barely knew my cousins; Oluwamayomikun and Modupeoreoluwa, personally, I think the names are too long but then, in this part of the world, names, most times, reflect the circumstances surrounding the birth of the child. My aunt, Yetunde, had been married to Chief Ogunbanjo for ten years before she had Mayokun and then Dupe came a year later, ofcourse, the chief couldn't wait so long to have a child and had already taken a second wife, four years into his marriage with my aunt, who gave him two boys before Mayokun.

Whilst still standing and staring at the small duplex, the front door opened, taking me by surprise, to reveal a very handsome, smiling young boy.

"Hi." he said
"Hi, are my cousins in?" I knew I was being rude but I did not care. I caught a slight frown in his expression before he turned and led the way into the house, through the living room and into the kitchen where Dupe was doing the dishes and Mayokun was standing over a boiling pot of stew. Mayokun looked up and smiled at me.
"I would hug you, but that would be after cooking, how was your drive down here?" she asked, then I thought '[i][/i]staying here may not be as bad as I thought'
"Long, boring, tiring, hectic, I could go on but let me just stop." I replied with a smile.
"A glass of water would do you good, welcome to Lagos once again." she said and chuckled.



*********************************************************************************************************
"How's Lagos treating you or how has it treated you so far?"
"Bad, I've been bored since I got here, I really hate this city, I'd really love to go back to Abuja or relocate to PH, and I mean for good." Ayomide laughed. The familiar sound of his laughter brought a quick smile to my lips.
"Babe, trust me, you have not seen anything yet, Lagos is easily the best city around here. Just wait till I take you on a cruise around town and if you don't like it still, I'll convince mum and dad to send you back to Abuja." I rolled my eyes and Ayo punched me playfully. The only thing I really missed about Lagos was my family, most especially my favorite brother Ayo.
"Talking about mum, how long do you think she'll stay in SA?"
"I don't know and I don't care because she didn't think I was human enough to know where she was going." Ayo chuckled.
"You and mummy sha. Anyways, I have to run now, I'll come for you tomorrow." he kissed my temple as we stood, he gave me a brief side hug before walking to his car.
"When are you getting married?" I asked, trying to sound serious but the laughter that erupted afterwards was inevitable as I watched Ayo literally freeze in his tracks and turn, in slow motion, to face me with his right hand on his chest.
"And that was funny? you literally gave me a heart attack and you're laughing." Ayo replied, barely able to contain his own laughter. I squatted with my head bowed to the ground because I couldn't control my laughter. Ayo waved a 'bye' and climed into his SUV. I walked back to the house when I was sure my legs could carry me. Dupe was reading at the dining table, I looked round the house and became sad. Here, there was so much love that I didn't have, all thanks to my parents who thought they were doing the right thing by sending me and my siblings to different boarding schools at a very young age. I sighed deeply and walked slowly up to my room.

TBC

Ireti is a short story about a teenage girl, who was caught up by so many things happening around her at the same time.


**** The Finished book will be published soon (hopefully, this year) ****