₦airaland Forum

hottadiva:
@millieademi. You have a very healthy imagination , impeccable grammar also made for an exciting read for me. I guess as a couple of short reads, this is a thriller but as a story the plot is totally unbelievable and unrelatable for me.

Hope you don't take this the wrong way and get some sort of feedback which was the intent

Hi hon. I love the honesty. Thanks for the review.

Please, what did you find unbelievable about it? And can you kindly send me a mail?

For example.

My nomination for YA

Dibz and Fola from Moura7's Undecided.

Reason: I found their relationship cute and funny. Dibz is strong and a really determined man, who happens to know what it is he wants. Fola on the other hand is a hard lover, pretty judgemental but loyal to her heart.

purity23:
I think A son for three days AKA Jerry and Ariana will go for comedy.

It's a wonderful story written by silver

Reason for nomination, please.

kelvyncruz:
For thriller and suspense, I nominate Kings.

Please include the couple's name and why you nominate them.

petersononome:
Jerry and Ariana for comedy
Kings for thriller
Married and single for romance
All by our amiable writer, silver1996

Please include the names of the couple.

Dibixxx1:
Dibz and Fola, Undecided by Moura7. These guys are the def of couple goals I swear.
https://www.nairaland.com/5365156/undecided/23#95490943 Read and be awed.

What genre? And why do you nominate them?

Episode 62 - Big Bang

"I'm sorry."

He pursed his lips with his eyes scanning the woman sitting on the bed. Her hands were tucked in between her laps and her head bent. Her complexion looked like shades had been washed off and her rough cornrows still had black thread jutting out from where Grace had sawn off the hair extensions.

She gasped lightly and wiped the tears rolling down her face.

"Sorry for your affair or for trying to kill yourself?"

She looked up and shook her head.

"I wasn't trying to kill myself. I just… I wanted… I thought if I upped the dose, I'd-" she bit her lips as more tears fell, "I couldn't sleep."

His eyes peered at her, searching for a reason. A reason to hate her enough to take his children away from her. Cursing the pity and concern, he turned away from her.

"Tinu, I think we need to check you back in the hospital."

He had to think of himself, of his children. Tinu wasn't stable enough to care for his children. Not anymore. He could finally get the chance to be a father to his children.

"No!" She shouted.

He turned to face her.

"No." She shouted and jerked out of the bed. "Dele, please. I swear I wasn't trying to kill myself. I have insomnia and I made a foolish mistake. I've lost years with my children. I can't afford to lose any more."

"You won't be able to be a mother to those children if you don't get yourself checked."

She wiped her face with her sleeves and gave him a shaky, watery smile.

"Look, I'm okay now. I swear."

He shook his head.

"Tinu, I'm filing for custody."

"No." She cried, turning her dry face wet again. "Please, Dele, I beg you."

He shook his head.

"You've put them through enough trauma. I can't have my kids growing up wondering if the next morning they won't have a mother anymore."

She clutched his lapels.

"Please don't." She pleaded with her eyes screaming her pain. "They're the reason I'm alive. If you take them away from me, Dele I'll die. Please."

"Tinu, you're unstable. You need help."

"You sanctimonious bastard. You are just punishing me for an affair anyone could have had. You know this is all your fault. If your girlfriend hadn't been a bitch, then I would never have left Lagos. Chris would still be here and you wouldn't be telling me trash." She shouted and pushed his chest.

His eyes tightened.

"Well, Seyifunmi might have been a bitch. But your whoring ways are why you are losing your children."

Her palm swung across his face.

His jaws ticked and she gasped and covered her mouth.

"Enjoy the few days you have left with them." He said and left the room.

"Dele, please wait. I'm sorry." She shouted running after him.

She caught up with him and clung to his jacket.

"Dele, please. I beg you. Don't do this to me." She pleaded.

He turned and said. "I'm not doing this to you. I'm doing what is best for my children."

He pushed her hand off and left the house.

*****
Seyifunmi pushed the door shut and locked it. Rosanna turned to look at her with a frown on her face. Ose raised a brow and she grinned at them.

"I've put up with your shit for four months now. It's time you two kiss and make up. You're not the first set of friends who tried to transition and it didn't work out. Deal with it. Go back to being friends." She said.

Rosanna turned to look at him. Which was worse? Suffering silently with her feelings or not having him at all? He averted his gaze and stared at Seyifunmi who stood by the door smiling.

"If I had known this was the shit you had planned, I'd have had lunch on my own." Ose gritted, lashing her heart with his words.

He snatched up his jacket and stalked to the door and stared Seyifunmi down. She blinked back the tears that threatening to spill and turned to face Seyifunmi's desk.

"Ose, now you're just being rude. You guys should forgive each other." Seyifunmi snapped.

"She didn't even f*ucking apologise." Ose shouted. "She toyed with my feelings and then I'm supposed to run back for forgiveness."

She whispered, "I'm sorry."

"Seyifunmi, please, I don't have time for this."

"She apologized na."

"Shay, abeg, comot for road."

Rosanna turned to face his back.

"Ose, I'm really sorry."

She'd picked. She could live with just being friends. But not having him at all? She couldn't cope with that. No matter how many times she tried to deny it to herself.

"Please, forgive me."

"Oya now. Meet her halfway." Seyifunmi laughed.

Ose took reluctant steps and turned to face her.

"I forgive you."

A smile crawled to her face as Seyifunmi shouted, "Yay."

"Thank you."

He nodded.

"Friends?"

"Friends."

She opened her arms to hug him but he stretched out his hand. She blinked trying to grasp what just happened. She felt reduced to something less than an acquaintance.

She dropped her arms and shook his hand.

"Well, that's settled. Let's go out for lunch." Seyifunmi said and went around her desk to get her hand bag.

"There's this new spaghetti joint I want us to try." She announced and walked up to Ose.

"You still owe me five hundred."

Ose stuck out his tongue. "Big girl like you."

"Pele. It's just packaging." She laughed, unlocking her door.

The two of them kept jiving at themselves as they left the building, leaving Rosanna to her thoughts on how much she felt like a third wheel.

Waiting for more.

Thanks.

So nobody is repping me and Dibz?

Is not good o.

Divepen1:
Well done... Stickied

Thanks.

purity23:
Is it characters from a story?

Comedy is not included in the section

Yeah.

I will do that now.

Thanks

Episode 61 - The Dawn of The End.

The three children stood in front of the big, brown door that had been closed for four days. Tomini chewed on her lips, twiddling her hands while Temi leaned against the wall and Regina stood staring at the whorl on the door shaped like a snowman.

Regina blew a puff of air jarring the bleak silence. Tomini and Temi turned to look at her.

"I miss Chris." She said and stared at the floor.

"Me too."

"Me three." Tomini said.

"I miss mummy."

"Yeah." Temi said and looked at the door again.

She didn't even remember it was their birthday. Yet,the sadness in him wasn't because of the absence of cake and a big celebration. What if their mother's madness came back? They didn't want to lose her again.

"Maybe we should knock and ask if she's okay." Tomini started and turned to him. She clutched his arm with her moist palms. "Temi, I'm scared. What if.."

Tears streamed down her face and she sniffled.

"Temi, I'm scared too." Regina said and tugged at his other hand.

His heart pounded loudly as they voiced out his fears. He hugged his sisters, unsure of what else to say or do. He had to be strong. His dad used to say he was to protect his mother and his siblings. He knew he had to do something. But what was he to do? No book he had ever read covered this kind of situation.

"It's going to be okay."

Yes, the power of positive thinking. Maybe if he thought it hard enough it would be true. Even if it didn't look like it.

He pulled away and breathed in and exhaled. Deep breaths often calmed the nerves or so he had read.

"Everybody just take deep breaths. We'll get through this." He said.

"Four seconds in," he instructed and his sisters obeyed, with Regina scrunching up her face as she breathed as though she was breathing in slabs of marble.

He chuckled under his breath and said, "Four seconds out."

"Whooo." They exhaled, slouching as though they'd passed out their lungs and ribs.

He repeated the tirade till they seemed a bit calmer.

"Everybody good?"

Tomini shrugged as Regina nodded. He filled his diaphragm with air as he raised his fist to knock.

"Mummy."

There was no response and he knocked again.

"Mummy, are you okay?"

Tomini eyes widened and her chest heaved. She banged on the door and shouted.

"Mummy!"

No response. No even a shout to tell them to leave her alone.

"Is mummy okay?" Regina asked with tears rolling down her cheeks.

Temi reached for the handle and pulled it down. The door opened and Tomini breezed past him into the room. He followed with Regina on his tail.

Tomini shrieked as she met their mother lying face down on the bed with an arm dangling from it. She broke into sobs.

"Mummy!"

Temi felt his heart break into a million jagged pieces, each piercing him with pain he couldn't define.

"Mummy?" Regina called and walked to her side. She rubbed on the arm drooping over the bed.

"Mummy, wake up."

Their mother didn't stir. Temi felt moisture roll down his face. He ran to the bed and shook her legs.

"Mummy, wake up. Please."

Tomini still stood on the same spot crying.

"Mummy!" He shouted as Tomini's whimpers grew into sobs. His hands tremored and his heart, so confusingly, started beating faster.

She wasn't dead. Was she? She couldn't die. She couldn't leave them alone just like that.

"Mummy, wake up, na." He shouted. Regina ran to Tomini. Tomini hugged her sister and they continued crying together.

"Tomini, go and call Aunty Grace." He shouted and she needed, bolting out of the room with Regina hot on her heels.

"Mummy, please, don't leave us."


*****
The sky darkened behind him. He wouldn't have paid it any attention but it was strange. Grey like soot stained clouds filled the sky casting the unlit room into evening time darkness. It was March. Heavy rains weren't the norm this time of the year.

He turned to face the window. The stepped leader, forked and crooked like deltas pictured at the base of the Nigerian map, stood prominently in the sky. From cloud to ground, the silver-blue hued lightning shone against the dark sky and thunder like series of firecrackers and louder than anything he'd ever heard cracked and crackled.

The flashes of the lightning filled the room and his heart stopped at the spontaneity of the loud bangs. Pounding ferociously, his hear kept beating one word. One name.

It didn't make sense. She wasn't in London. The thunderstorm couldn't hurt her. But yet the cold hand of dread gripped his heart forcing it to palpitate wildly.

His breath came in shallow pants and tears filled his eyes.

Was she okay?

He'd never felt like this before. Like the world was crashing down. His throat threatened to close with the heavy tears lounging in it.

"God please. Let her be okay. For me and the children. Please."

He ran his hands over his head as he tried to calm himself. He wasn't going to wait anymore for Bianca. He would find his way home.


******
Dele felt the deja vu hit him as he walked up to the doctor. The trim young man held his stethoscope in his hand as he marched towards him.

"Is my mummy okay?" Tomini voiced out from behind him.

Dele spun in shock. "I thought you were sleeping."

She shook her head and hugged herself. "I can't sleep."

The man eyed him to tell the child to excuse them. Dele sighed and turned to his daughter.

"Tomini why don't you go and sit with your brother and sister?"

"Please I want to know if my mummy is okay." She said to the doctor.

The man smiled. "Your mummy is fine."

Tomini turned to him. Dele gave her a wan smile. She nodded and left.

"Sir, I have a few questions to ask about your wife." The doctor said.

He nodded.

"Has she ever shown suicidal tendencies?"

"No." Dele said frowning. "She was diagnosed of depressive psychosis two years ago but… she's okay now."

The man nodded.

"Does she suffer from insomnia?"

Dele raised his brow. Tinu wasn't an insomniac, was she? She didn't look it.

"Not to my knowledge."

"Sir, your wife ODed sleeping pills. Lunesta. We've pumped her stomach and she's stable. I recommend you having her psychiatrist look at her. I'd hate for there to be a repeat of what happened. Thank God your children found her in time. And sir, if you're having issues with your wife, I'd suggest counseling. A young mother going through depression and attempting suicide. It speaks volumes." The man said and left.

Dele eyed the back of his head.

Impudent, arrogant prick.

The guy was barely twenty-five, and he was….

Dele sighed and closed his eyes.

Just think about your children, Dele and keep calm.

He turned and saw Temi and Regina still lying on the waiting room steel benches as Tomini sat colouring. His mind flashed back to the affidavit on his desk waiting to be signed and attached to the petition for child custody.

This was enough ammo to prove Tinu was not fit to be a parent. Yet, his conscience squirmed at the thought of stealing the children from underneath her.

You're killing it, man.

Loving it. I find characters like May too cliche. But what the heck....

Please drop an update soon. I'm guessing Fiyi (beautiful name by the way) will hook up with August /Olumide at the club.

Ann2012, I thought we were friends. How come you never invite me to the good stuff.

Results will be announced on the 31st of December. Let's just have fun.

Hi peeps..

So amidst the nationwide brouhaha and clamour for Better Governance amongst other things, I decided to give us something mushy to discuss to ease the pain and tension.

So for the first time, (at least to my best knowledge) we'd be voting for our favorite couples from all our favorite reads.

This is how it will work: We'd nominate couples from each of the following sections.

1) Romance

2) Mystery

3) Thriller

4) Suspense

5) Fantasy (including Sci-fi and magical realism)

6) Young Adult

7) Christian

8 ) Comedy


Nominations are open till the 20th of December, 2020. You send in your nominations and tell us why you picked that couple. It will be a great way to popularise hidden delicious reads and a means to have fun.

Okay, it's official... Fola watch your back, cause I'm coming for Dibz too.

He's made it to my list of fictional crushes ranking in between Michael Hosea and Tamlin.

If there's an award for Marijuana cutest YA couple, it will be Dibz and Fola or Dibz and me

Horpehyemmie:
Thanks for the update Millie.... Tinu barely escaped but I just hope it won't come chasing her again..
Felicia's doing her best but I think she still needs to not give up and finally this Seyi and Dele saga is really pissing me off with Seyi behaving like a love peddler.. I just hope yhu keep the update coming real quick cos it seems the interest in the story is reducing..

Sorry about the silence... I'm going through some stuff...

As per Seyifunmi... I'm not exactly sure how her behaviour portrays her as a LovePeddler. She was dating this guy for close to 4 years and they were about to get married. I don't two months is enough to get over a four year relationship.

Anyway people are different. Maybe she overreacting but she's always said it. Right from book one. It was why she was hesitant to tell him she loved him, because she knew she'd 'die' if he ever left her.

Please, I'm not shutting you down o. Feel free to explain your point of view.

Hi guys....

How's it been?

Sorry for the prolonged silence. I've had to do a bit of digging and soul searching this past two weeks. I'm not sure I've found what I'm looking for yet, but.... Anyway

This update is dedicated to the souls departed and the ones they left behind. May God comfort the bereaved.


Episode 60 - Slipping Through Your Fingers.

Three Months Later.

Tinu trod across the foyer to the stairs. Pin pricks hit her eyes as the judge's words rang in her head. She barely heard Reggie's soft, tentative call. It took everything in her not to run up the stairs. A vile, repulsive itch to scratch herself for her stupidity curled up within her.

There are going to be rules if we are going to do this. We pick a place. A cheap hotel. Somewhere we can't bump into acquaintances. No I want to come over. My house is for my children. If I ever see you around them, we're done.

He hadn't come near them alright, but that bastard… She wished him the worst death ever. Maybe crucifixion. Or boiling in oil. Or….

"Come on, kids. Let's continue watching TV."

She fled to her room and let the dam burst. Sobs shook her from head to toe as she dropped her bag and threw herself on to her bed. She landed with an oomph. She wished the bed was hard enough to hurt herself. She wished she could break her bones. It would be punishment enough.

If anything, this just goes to show she's unfit to be a mother.

The snooty, bald man had declared to the judge after Veron had testified against her.

A woman who cavorts with a twenty-one year old, what's to say she won't sexually abuse her children?

She clutched her pillow and sobbed harder.

"I'm sorry." She wailed. "Chris, I'm so sorry."

She whimpered as her throat ached with more sobs.

Mummy, please I don't want to go with her. Don't let her take me.

Chris had begged, sinking his nails into her skin trying to latch on to her. Her son had begged and cried and she couldn't comfort him. He didn't even have the chance to say goodbye to his brother and sisters.

Tinu, please take care of yourself and the children till I get back.

She howled, banging her fist on the bed. She had failed him. She'd failed Chris. The two of them. She'd failed as a mother and as a wife.

"I'm so sorry."

The frame of her husband smiling on her bedside table made acid tear up her viscera. She turned on her side and shut her eyes.

Even in her mind, Chris's picture was still clear. Chris would never have done this. She could bet it. If she was the one dead, he would never have done anything to jeopardize their family, anything that would hand the twins back to Dele.

It was only a matter of time before Dele too filed for sole custody. She could see it.

"I curse the day I met you Veron."

******
Katryna smiled at her son as she walked up to him. He was his father. Her heart broke remembering the only man she'd ever loved. The only one who loved her for her. And she'd betrayed him. She blinked back the prickly tears and broadened her smile.

Chris was supposed to be her third child had she not aborted her other two pregnancies. Chris was certain he could never impregnate a woman and what he didn't know couldn't hurt him. Caught between two major gigs - cover of an international magazine and modelling high-end swimwear- and having her lover's children, she chose to solidify her career. No one would ever know.

But Tamara found out. And she blackmailed her into leaving Chris. She broke his heart and he hated her for it. Worming her way into his bed the night before his wedding was the best decision she ever made. At least, she got a part of him to cherish forever.

The boy sniffled and backed up on the bed. He shook with sobs and fear.

"Please, I want to go home. I want my mummy."

The tears she fought pooled in her eyes and streamed down. She should never have given up her son that night. She should never have walked away without fighting for him.

"Stop crying please." She whined as she sat on the bed.

If the boy could crawl into the wall behind him, he would. His red rimmed eyes looked up her as though she was Mrs. KoinKoin come to life.

Did he really not remember her anymore? She was his biological mother. Not that witch.

"Chris, please. I'm not going to hurt you. I'm your mother and I love you."

He shook his head in rejection.

"You're not my mummy." He said and bent his head and hugged his knees.

His words slapped her and she gulped. She raised a quivering hand to his arm and he jumped up.

She gasped as he stood on the bed and yelled.

"Take me back to my mummy. I don't know why she gave me to you. Tell her I'm going to do my homework and I won't fight again. I won't play in the kitchen again. I'll be a good boy. Please just take me back."

Tears of agony and anguish rolled down his chubby cheeks. If she really wasn't his mother, she'd take him back just to get rid of the hurt and pain on his face.

But she was his mother. The social worker had explained it to him. Why wouldn't he believe? Tears stabbed her heart and throat as she recalled how he ran back to that witch, begging her not to leave him.

She was good at what she did- stealing affection. This was her son. She birthed him. He had to feel something for her.

"Please, I'm begging you. I want to go back to my mummy and Tomini and Regina and Temi and Aunty Grace. They are my family."

"No. I'm your real family. Your only family." She shouted and stood to match his new found height. "That woman stole you away from me. I'm your real mother."

The boy paled and shook his head. Doubt masked his face.

"My mummy is not a thief. You're lying." He shouted with the cord in his neck threatening to break forth.

She prayed he would come to love her and defend her like this.

"Then why did she give you to me? Then why are you here?"

The boy's jaw slackened and he gulped shaking. He shook his head.

"I'm your real mother, Chris. And I love you."

"Mummy is not my real mummy?" He said with more tears falling.

She nodded.

"But she loves me."

"She was just pretending."

"But Temi and Tomini and Regina? Are they…They are not my brother and sister?"

She shook her head.

"Why did she steal me?"

"Because she didn't want me and your Daddy to be a family."

The boy frowned in confusion as he sank to the bed.

"I don't understand."

"It doesn't matter. All that matters is that you're back with your real mummy."

I've been reading on the blog and I've probably grown hoary waiting for episode 9. When's it coming

Hi guys,

Now You Know Where It Pinches is available for sale on Amazon, Bambooks and Okadabooks.

Trust me. It will be worth it.

Hi guys....

Spoke to Culin yesterday....

She's really swarmed with work and she apologizes for being .... well, AWOL?

Anyway, she said she might update on Sunday.

Let's keep our fingers crossed and pray for strength for her.

Nawa o...

Are you sure she's not dreaming? All this wahala one day.

Thanks for the beautiful story

Episode 59- Lick Your Wounds.

Tinu kicked the pillow in front of her and pulled the remote control closer with her foot. Pulling the remote up to her midthigh she reached for it with her hand and changed the channel back to TVC. What was she thinking? Channels wouldn't carry something as flimsy as a man found dead in his living room.

The news at ten started off with the president's Christmas greeting to the populace. She hissed and refreshed the news app on her iPad. Nothing hinting Veron was dead. A worm of relief coiled within her. She'd been lucky to find a SIM registration stand on her way home. She bought a new SIM and called an ambulance for Veron and destroyed the SIM.

Maybe they got there on time. Maybe they saved him. A part of her wished he was dead. Dead with all the memories of her foolish mistake. But she had hoped her wish would have come to pass without her having a hand in it. Maybe he'd slip and hit his head in the bathroom. Or get run over by a car. Or get shot by a stray bullet.

She sighed and ran a hand through her hair and yanking hard wanting to punish herself for being stupid enough to have an affair.

Her phone rang and her heart jerked. Was it the police?

The police don't call. A voice reminded her.

Her shaky hand reached for her phone and she moaned in relief as she saw the caller ID. Her tense shoulders dropped and tears stung her eyes as she answered the call.

"Hello " She called.

"Merry Christmas, Mummy." A cacophony of her children's voices screamed into her ears.

A wavering smile sat on her face like the wriggly lines Regina used to scrawl when she started writing. She swallowed a sob. Would she lose her children because she wasn't able to control her libido?

"Merry Christmas, my Angels."

They shouted at the top of their voices their wishes, how much fun they were having with their D.D. and the gifts he and their grandparents got them.

"Mummy, I miss you." Tomini's sad voice stood out amongst the blithe chatters of the others. She closed her eyes and said:

"I miss you too."

The others took that a cue to yell how much they missed their mother. She smiled as Regina asked her to come and eat dinner with them

The call lasted for ten minutes with her pretending to be all smiles while streams of tears rolled down her cheeks. Who would she blame if she lost her children again? She said her final byes and hung up.

God, please, if you really love children, don't let Veron die.

*****
Felicia smiled as she swiped across the screen looking at clothes for baby girls. This was the best Christmas she had had in over ten years. She had watched her father and Jaiye argue over politics while munching on the chin-chin and plantain chips she and Omosin had fried. Dapo had gone back and forth with adjectives praising the fried rice and chicken she cooked. The twins had been running up and down dancing to the carols playing from the stereo.

She giggled lightly as she remembered how Eyinju had cut in when she was dancing with Jaiye. Jaiye pouted and said he couldn't wait for the arrival of his daughter.

Thank you, Lord. Thank you for bringing an end to the storms. Thank you for my family. Thank you for the journey thus far. Thank you for the lessons. Thank you for everything.

"Awwwwn." She cooed with a grin on her face. The booties on the screen had her wishing her baby was here already. The six different colors would look great on her baby. She just knew it. Her eyes flitted to the price beneath the description and she did the conversion in her mind. She shrugged. Jaiye wouldn't mind. This might be their only daughter.

She added a six in one pack of hand-knitted Alpaca and Merino wool booties to her cart. She scrolled down and saw a bib with "Mummy's Angel" embroidered on it with a yellow halo over it. She pouted and smiled imagining her baby wearing it. Warmth and joy radiated in her heart and she tapped add to cart.

Felicia.

Her smile broadened as her heart swelled with gratitude and joy. She hadn't heard His voice in a while.

Lord. Thanks. Thanks for coming back to me. Thanks for all your blessings.

I've always been here. You weren't just listening.

Lord, I'm sorry. I'm sorry for doubting your presence.

Felicia, call Tinu and pray for her.

Lord?

Call Tinu and pray for her.

And if she doesn't pick? Lord, you know she doesn't pick my calls.

Trust me.

Felicia's will succumbed and she tapped the menu button on her tablet and tapped the phone icon.


*****
Tinu wiped the tears that fell as she walked to Temi's room with items she'd gathered from Regina's, Chris's and Tomini's rooms- Chris's varsity jacket, Tomini's favorite comb and Regina's yellow bunny. She chuckled as she remembered how Regina's fascination with dogs took over her bunny love.

Would another woman take her place in Regina's life? A knot formed in her throat as she imagined Regina forgetting her. She curled up into a ball on his bed. She heaved and her stupidity hit her hard. And regret.

The Bible passage Felicia forwarded to her rang in her head. She'd brought this upon herself and God was punishing her.

She was certain God was punishing her.

Her phone rang and she gasped and pulled out her phone from the bundle in her hands.

Felicia.

Had God already announced her death? She had read in the Bible how God had sent prophets to announce doom and death to sinners.

Her sweaty quivering thumb hovered over the red button on the cracked screen. Did she need to hear explicitly how she'd die? Was she going to be one of those whose blood dogs would lick up?

Maybe God would tell her if her children would be okay.

She tapped the green button and inhaled, filling her lungs with air. The room still smelt of the baby lotion all her children used.

"Hello."

“My mother is driving me cray-cray,” Jadesola said as she handed the menu back to the waiter.

“Your mum stopped by at your office?”
Jadesola nodded. “Yup. Wanted to drop off a wedding invitation and nag me.”

Babatunde pulled a face.

“What?”

“Don’t say your mother is nagging you. It’s disrespectful.”

Jadesola laughed. “Trust me. If you ever get to meet my mother, you will agree. No one nags as gracefully as that woman. I know her.”

“Okay. I can’t beat that.” He shook his head. “Your relationship with her is definitely something. Arguing one minute, teasing the next.” He paused before saying with caution,  “So, you’re going for the wedding?”

“Yeah. Will you like to be my plus one? That way, no one will query me about not having a man. Those old aunties of mine are convinced I’m using my money to intimidate men. Can you imagine? Sometimes, their archaic thinking does my head one-kind.”

He laughed. Not one of those small polite laughs to remotely funny jokes. No, a laugh that was loud and booming. She loved how he looked in his midnight-blue suit and white shirt. His maroon tie, complementing the look.

_Gosh, I’m so into this guy. God, please take these feelings away for good. Take them before I do something silly and make a fool of myself._

She cleared her throat. “So?”

“Sure, but won’t I get in the way of interested guys?”

Jadesola shook her head. “You flatter yourself too much, Tunde.” But she was doing the Sekem dance style in her head, wondering if she should ask Toke to make her outfit a little sexy.

It wasn’t unchristian-like, right?

Their meals arrived before she could explore her thoughts. Steam found its way to the top when covers were taken off the colourful dishes of fried rice with sweet and sour pork sauce.

“Working on any interesting case?” she asked. She grabbed the serving spoon and asked quietly if she could dish his food first. He nodded.

“Not really. Usual tenant and landlord cases. Preparing wills. Adoption cases. Nothing like your top-notch case a few weeks back.”

“Top-notch case?” She waved the spoon in dismissal. “Oh, please stop talking about that. It wasn’t a big deal.” She carefully dropped his meal in front of him and went ahead to dish hers.

“Suing a big company over bad consumer goods rarely has a win in this country. Clients just have a way of settling outside court than wanting it dragged on for years and paying legal fees.” He clasped his hands in front of him. “How did you manage to pull it off?”

She shrugged. “God was on my side. Plus, I had a few favours I needed to cash in on. So yes, it worked out well. I can’t imagine that little boy being in a wheelchair for the rest of his life due to an anomaly. I had to do something and I’m sure you would have done the same. The legal system in this country just repulses me honestly.The way people suffer needlessly in the hands of corrupt individuals… so disgusting.”

“Well, any change starts from us.”

“Yeah.”

“And I will say it again, your defence was impressive. Your research was thorough. I would have been disappointed if they hadn’t made you a partner.”

She smiled. His compliment, warming her down to her toes. Becoming a partner was something she knew her father would have been proud of. He had faithfully committed his career to helping those in need, and Jadesola wanted to follow in his footsteps.

“Thank you.” She forked vegetables into her mouth and chewed slowly. As she did, a part of her mind wondered how things were going with Babatunde and Cassandra. She didn’t let the thought capture her thinking completely as she engaged him in other matters.

Their conversation flowed easily within their individual allotted lunch time. He looked at his watch once the bills were sorted and gazed at her. She knew it was time to go. Yet, she wished it wouldn’t end just yet.

“I feel like having Cold Stone ice cream right now,” Jadesola blurted.

He laughed. “Seriously? After that heavy meal?”

She nodded.

“Where does the food go in that stomach?”

Jadesola patted her tummy. “It’s like a big black hole in there. Food just doesn’t fill me up for long. I find myself looking for something to snack on later.”

“Then why do you eat Chinese?”

“Because I like it.”

He chuckled. “Cassandra always has to watch what she eats.” Jadesola frowned at the mention of her name. “She’s very particular about maintaining her figure.”

 Jadesola cleared her throat. “I’m sure you like that.”

He lifted his shoulders. “It doesn’t bother me much. The most important thing is the person inside. I really like her. I’m still getting to know her though.”

 “Great!” All of a sudden, Jadesola was eager to leave. She glanced at her watch. She had a meeting with her boss soon.

“Why didn’t she go for lunch with you?”

“Her boss has her sitting at her desk typing minutes. I promised to bring her back something nice.”

Why won’t you love me?

“I’m happy for you. You seem happy with her.”


You can follow her on Instagram:

@topeomotoshowrites

Hi guys.... There's a new book in town....Calm down. It's not OOS...yet.

It's Tope Omotosho's Now You Know Where It Pinches.

shemy:
Chai,

Why are you making Tinu the scapegoat. Let her have some peace na, I keep getting scared of what will happen to her next

I'm not making her a scapegoat. Everything that happens shapes the family that Chris will return to and how they will take his return.

Episode 58 - You, not her.

Seyifunmi took a huge bite out of the fried egg sandwich Rosanna had bought her from the Mai Tea kiosk in front of the hospital. The hot, MSG flavoured fried egg danced in her mouth as she stared at the TV screen. This was the worst Christmas ever. Her blood work hadn't come out clean though she felt considerably better. The doctor insisted she stay a few more days. And she was going to end up spending her Christmas in the hospital.

She took another big bite and reached for the Tetra Pak of juice on the side table. She took a swig of the coconut and pineapple juice and gulped down the bolus in throat. She picked a piece of meat from the rolled newspaper on her lap and tossed it in her mouth, and took another bite of the bread.

"Seyifunmi, calm down now. The food is going nowhere." Rosanna said from the couch where she'd been picking at her plate of noodles.

"Free me." Seyifunmi snarled, panting. She chewed hurriedly on the meat and bread in her mouth. Tears pricked her eyes and she took another bite, stuffing her already full mouth. The pictures and videos on Délé's WhatsApp status had her stomach quivering with tears.

He had his children back, yet he was still punishing her. The suffering ought to be enough. She'd been begging him for close to two months. Had he had his children all this while? She swallowed the food in her mouth and a sob.

Did he not want her anymore? After all they've been through? Tears streamed down her face as she took yet another bite. She bit into her lip lining as she chewed in haste. She winced and continued eating. Food was the only that distracted her from her woes. Alcohol didn't work. You could dip her in a tank of whiskey and she'd still be only tipsy.

She burped and Rosanna eyed her in disgust. Halfway through the loaf, she turned her attention to the chicken suya in front of her. She'd asked Ro to buy a whole roasted chicken and split it in two. Half for her and half for Ro.

She took a piece from the thigh and bit into it. The suya maji had more pepper than spice. She hissed as she remembered the suya spot she frequented with Dele whenever they went to Abuja. Fresh tears fell and she stuffed more chicken into her mouth. She picked up rings of onion and cabbage and raised them up and let them drop in her mouth. As she chewed, she picked up the juice carton and took big gulps.

She swallowed and burped again.

"Nonsense." Rosanna said and dropped her plate.on the side stool beside the couch. Thankful for her boss upgrading her to a private ward, she picked up the remote with her pepper stained and oily hand and changed the channel to a Bollywood station.

"Are you going to finish that?"

The beast in her stomach was raving and ravening for more food. Domino's was having a Christmas promotion. Maybe they'd order some pizza and chicken stuffed bread for dinner.

"I've lost my appetite." Rosanna snarled with her voice reeking of accusation. Seyifunmi shrugged as Rosanna brought the styrofoam plate to her. She knew Rosanna's appetite loss had nothing to do with her and everything to do with the fact Ose was going to spend that Christmas with her.

For the past two years, they'd spent Christmas together while she spent hers with….

Her mind flitted to the fluffy hat the children had Dele wear and the gift he got her last year. She didn't think she be able to use her in-home rotisserie without thinking of him.

Why buy suya when you can make yours?

She hadn't even opened it yet, waiting till they got married. She took a heaped forkful of noodles and shoved in her mouth. The noodles tasted like rubber bands in her mouth as she remembered the expensive kitchen he'd built for her, the ginormous, oak wood Meneghini Arredamenti refrigerator that she only fantasized about.

Dele had brought all her fantasies to reality, made all her dreams come true. She gulped the noodles down and picked up a piece of chicken. How was she supposed to just forget the kindest man she'd ever met?

Her eyes watered as she recalled how he'd offered to use his influence with a professor at UNILAG to help her nephew get admission when he didn't meet the cut-off marks. She knew the number of children he sponsors through school. She knew how balls and galas he'd dragged her to support charitable causes. She'd even fought with him when his kindness let people pull the wool over his eyes.

He was the man she cuddled with on the sofa as he read out the online brochure for graduate school at MIT just because she thought out loud about getting her Ph.D. Dele had put up with her drama whenever she wanted to peppe Damilola. He even changed her entire wardrobe. Dele had recommended a therapist for her mother when she started walking again. He even paid half the bill, just so her mother could get the best treatment available in the country.

She remembered how he told her father that there was a charity that footed half the bill just so his ego wouldn't bruise.

She shoveled the noodles into her mouth just to stop herself from crying. She didn't stop till the white foam had only reddish stains and nothing more. She returned her attention to her bread and finished it.

"I just pray you don't kill yourself with the way you're eating." Rosanna said as the door opened. Rosanna turned and stiffened at the sight of the visitor.

"See me thinking you were sick." Ose said as he closed the door behind him.

Seyifunmi stifled a smile as she heard Ro's breath hitch and her chest rose and fell a tad bit faster. Ose strode to the bed with a Christmas gift hamper. with him.

"Merry Christmas." He greeted and kissed her cheek.

"Merry Christmas." She said.

"Hi, Ose." Ro whispered and he nodded at her and turned to place the weaved basket of goodies and provision on the bedside table.

The light in Rosanna's eyed were dimmed and she nodded. Ose hopped onto the bed. His eyes wandered over the bed and he smiled.

"Are you sick or on a gourmet vacation?"
"The doctor refused to discharge me."

"Pele." He said and picked a piece of meat from the newspaper.

"Excuse me, I need to make a call." Rosanna said and left the room.

Ose stared at the blue bedspread and blanket and she sighed.

"Are you still mad at her?" Seyifunmi asked.

He shrugged. "Who's asking? My friend or Ro's cousin?"

"Do they need to be separate?"

He spread his lips in a plastic smile.

"Forget it, Shay."

She shook her head.

"She misses you, Ose. She's been sulking since the twentieth."

"She hurt my feelings."

"And she regrets it."

Ose scoffed.

"Really."

"And she never called once? Or texted to apologise? Spare me that piece of crap. I didn't come to talk about her. I came for you."

Seyifunmi sighed and turned to the hamper and tore open the nylon wrapping and pulled out a pack of Maryland cookies.

Episode 57 - A baby.

Felicia stood in front of the tempered glass wash hand basin with her hands fidgeting with the white stick in them. She gasped as the second faint line turned bold. She set her hands down to the counter and stared at her reflection.

Another baby.

She raised a shaking hand to her stomach and a ghost of a smile formed on her lips. Was this the baby girl the Lord had told them about? The baby they were to pray for? She closed her eyes and a rush of protectiveness coursed through her veins. She would fight to the death to protect their daughter.

She smiled and giggled lightly. A baby. She wasn't really expecting it. She chuckled as she pictured Jaiye's reaction. He had always wanted a basketball team. With their new addition, they'd only be one player short. A tang of grief hit her throat and she peeled back her tank top and lowered the waist of her leggings.

She brought two fingers to the scar over her womb and sighed. Nancy would have been six. She blinked back tears.

"Hey." Jaiye called and she dropped her hands. She turned to face him and beamed at him.

"What's up?"

He shrugged. "Just waiting for you to give me my early Christmas present."

She wanted to be shocked, but she couldn't. Jaiye had known about her last pregnancy even before she did. She envied his relationship with the Lord at times. The announcement of the arrival of a new baby was the least on the list of information Jaiye got dealt with. Sometimes, it was like there was a wall of brass between her and the Lord. Most days, she found herself reading her Bible like a novel. No inspiration. No ministration. Zilch. Nothing. It was as if God was ignoring her.

Jaiye pushed off the jamb and closed the space between them. The boyish grin on his face had her heart fluttering and her loins heating up. He wrapped his hands around her waist and she found herself smiling.

"Oluwadarasimi. What do you think?" He said, smirking.

"Depends. If it's a boy, I was thinking Ikeoluwa." She said and placed her hands on his biceps.

"Nah." Jaiye said shaking. "I'm getting a little princess this time. The Lord said so. A pretty baby girl who will love me more than anything else in this world."

Felicia grinned and shook her head.

"Jealousy."

"I've put up with ten years of mummy and her little princes. It's my turn now." Jaiye said and hugged her.

"The Lord's been so good to us. I can't believe we're having another baby."

Her smile withered as the words sour grapes echoed in her ears.

*********
Tinu's lids grew heavy as exhaustion and hunger loaded them with burdens. She swallowed the next to nothing drops of saliva in her mouth hoping to ease her parched throat. She wiped her sweaty body with her blouse and contemplated taking off her bra.

The room grew hotter by the second and the heat increased the loudness of the voices in her head. She panted and crawled to the door. She knocked and a few more tears dropped.

"Veron, please." She exhaled.

A sob left her lips as she turned to rest her back on the door.

What have I gotten myself into?

Baby. One of the guards' voices lingered in her ear and she roared scratching her ears hoping to shoo the voice away like the persistent, irritating buzzing of a mosquito.

"God," she cried, "if you can get me out of this mess, I promise I will never have any untoward relationship with any man ever again. I will focus on being a mother to my children and I will join the evangelism team. Please, just help me."

She gasped as the walls seemed to slant towards her.

"Ve-ve-e-e-ron." She sobbed lightly.

She raised her hand and hit the door.

"Veron."

She panted breathless as her throat began to constrict. She gasped for air and scratched her throat trying to pry off whatever it was restricting her airflow. She slumped onto the cold hard floor in fatigue.

Pictures of her children flashed behind her eyes. And a twinge of pain pricked her heart. They would be worried she hadn't called. If she knew Tomini, the girl would probably be afraid she was lying cold somewhere. And the girl would be right.

She wished she had never left the house that night. She wished she bolted at the sight of Veron. Her weakness would cost her children their mother. Chris' father would fight for Chris and Regina, and Dele would simply pick up Temi and Tomini. Her children would be separated. Tears slipped out her eyes and she prayed God would intervene somehow.

The lock turns in two, rapid clicks and the door pushed at her limp form.

"Tinu." Veron's voice called in fear. He pushed harder, and managed to weasel himself through the small space.

"F*uck." He spat and knelt by her side, propping her head up. He pushed one of his arms under her back and the other behind her knees. He grunted as he picked her up.

Tinu whimpered in thanksgiving as he carried her out of the room. He waddled under her weight to the living room and deposited her on a couch. Her eyes were opened in slits and she moaned in weakness.

"Water." She croaked.

He nodded and dashed out of the room.

Her shallow breaths filled the room and her mind churned and whirred with the question- how do I get out of here? She pushed herself up and inhaled, filling her lungs till they threatened to burst. She let the air out through her mouth. She held her head and her fingers dug into her weave-on and scratched the grime sweat had formed on her scalp.

She regretted fixing the hair extension unto her scalp and scratched harder. She hit her head to assuage the itch but it persisted. The cool air hit her chest and stomach and she remembered she had taken off her blouse.

She sighed and stood. If she dashed out the door she wouldn't get far. She needed a plan. Veron returned with a glass of water and put it in her hand. She said a quick God please don't let him drug me again in her mind before gulping down the chilled liquid.

She emptied the glass in a couple of gulps and panted in satisfaction.

"Thank you." She said, just as an idea popped into her head.

"Please, can you get me my blouse?"

Veron nodded and turned. She clenched her teeth and smashed the glass on the back of his head. He cried out in pain and cupped the back of his head. He staggered as he turned to face her.

Her heart pounded hoping the force was enough to knock him out cold. He groaned as he took shaky steps towards her. She whimpered, skittered and skirted around him.

"B*itch." He cried.

Tinu's heart jumped into her mouth and she took to pick a synthetic bamboo stick from the aesthetic long vase by the couch. She spun and hit him across the temple.

He fell and her heart pounded.

God, I hope I didn't kill him.
She dropped the bamboo stick and rubbed her hand on her skirt. She hissed in pain and raised her palm.
The gash on her palm oozed out blood and she exhaled. She crossed Veron's body to go back and get her blouse. She pulled it on and went to his room to check for her handbag and keys.

She found them laying on his dresser and she picked them up. The image of Veron appearing at the door had her blood freezing over in her veins. She opened the door and walked out. She went downstairs the stairs to the living room and met him still lying on the floor.

Her heart pounded and had her running out of his apartment.

God, please, don't let him be dead.

Tears prickled her eyes as she rushed out, trying to escape the crime she'd committed.

sly12345:
You didn't summit your story because you thought you'll not win, someone else took the risk and won and now you want the money, God will punish you Anita.

Silver please make sure you suffer her, she might later have sense.

This is so... I don't even know what to say.

There are two aspects to copyright- Moral rights and Economic rights.

Economic right is the right to make financial proceeds from the fruit of your ideas. And just because a work is posted on Nairaland doesn't mean it doesn't have copyright. Once a work is fixed on a relatively permanent medium eg paper, web, etc. It is fixed for the purposes of copyright.

Registration of works is only to answer the question who was first in time.

Moral right is the RIGHT TO BE RECOGNIZED AS THE CREATOR OF A WORK.

So therefore, Anita had every right to moral and Economic benefits from the work. She didn't submit her story yes but she is entitled to be recognized as the author.

For example in the Commonwealth Short Story Prize, translated works are awarded along with the original writer who may not have 'submitted' the story.

Okay, I just started this beautiful story and my heart is shrivelling.

Chai.

Please I don't see what the issue is o. This matter could have been settled in days (I'm still where Samuel had Anita arrested though)

The date Anita started posting Tamara will be there na. Samuel claimed to have posted on Wattpad. Make e show his Wattpad account na.

Anyhow...

Nice story bro.

Two thumbs way way up

Episode 56 - Sick.

Rosanna slipped her pencil behind her ear and set the hardcopy of the article she was supposed to edit on her laps. Seyifunmi winced as the chorus of her ringtone filled the room. Rosanna grabbed the phone off the table beside her and pressed the power button to mute the call. The caller ID on the screen had her hand turning clammy and her mouth dry. Her heartbeat echoed in her ears and she swiped a sweaty thumb across the screen, leaving a dark trail on the glass.

"Hello, Seyifunmi. How far na? I thought you were going to call me." Ose said and her heart leapt into her throat.

She hadn't heard his voice since the day he said she was dead to him. She cleared her throat.

"He-hello. Seyifunmi is not feeling well. She's admitted in the hospital." She said.

"Oh." He said with his voice losing all casualness. "Is she better now?"

"No. She's still sleeping. She's been sleeping since yesterday."

"What does she have?"

"Malaria, typhoid fever and a case of salmonella poisoning." She said.

"Please text me the hospital address so I can stop by."

"Okay, I will-"

The beeping sound told her he'd hung up. Her heart withered and she pulled the phone away and set it back on the table. She didn't really mean anything to him anymore.

Isn't this what you wanted? A voice asked and she sighed.

She pursed her lips and pulled the pencil out from behind her ears and continued reading the article on swimsuits. Seyifunmi whimpered and she paused her reading.

"Dele."

Rosanna sighed as Seyifunmi stirred with a frown on her face. She stretched out a hand and carressed her cousin's head. She knew the pain of having a wedding called off. She knew the agony of watching dreams and aspirations fade away, but Seyifunmi was taking this a bit too far.

She was definitely sure her heartbreak precipitated her sickness. Malaria? Seyifunmi was AS and Rosanna made sure she sprayed the house with insecticide every weekend because she knew just how hard malaria could hit her.

Seyifunmi's frown eased and Rosanna pulled her hand back. The IV bag suspended above Seyifunmi's bed was almost empty and she remembered she hadn't found Seyifunmi's health insurance card. She sighed. Seyifunmi hadn't gotten a new ATM card and she'd exhausted her account balance on bills. It wasn't even Christmas yet.

She had searched the entire house and Seyifunmi's boxes, but she couldn't find it. Did she misplace the card or did she forget it at Délé's place? Rosanna pulled out her phone from her pocket and searched her contact list for Délé's number.

It wouldn't hurt to ask. At least, that was if he picked her call. She dialled a USSD string followed by his number to hide her number. She pressed the phone to her ear and the line rang. She crossed her fingers as she waited.

"Hello," Délé's voice said and she exhaled in relief.

"Dele, please don't hang up." She blurted out.

"Rosanna?"

"Yes. Um, I was wondering if Seyifunmi left her HMO ID card at your place."

"I'm not sure. I'd have someone check and I'd get back to you." Dele said.

"Okay. Thanks." Rosanna said.

"Um, is she okay?"

Rosanna gaped at his hesitant question. She blinked and his voice saying hello jolted her out of her daze.

"Um, yeah. I mean no. I mean she's still on bed rest and intravenous."

"Oh. I wish her a speedy recovery."

"Thanks."

He grunted and cut the call.

Rosanna stared at the phone in shock. Was it concern she heard in his voice? She shrugged and shook her head. He was just being polite.

She picked up the document in her lap and continued reading, bent on finishing the article.

******
Dele stared at the white card and the words he had written. What was wrong with him? If she was sick, she was another man's problem. He tore up the Get Well Soon card and grunted at the messenger in front of him.

"Don't worry. Just take it to her like that." He grunted at the young man.

"Okay sir."

The man turned to leave, but Dele called him back.

"Don't let her know it's from me."

The man nodded and left the office. Dele swirled his chair around to face the vast window behind him. He hated the fact he was bothered. He had justified the care package he was sending as recompense for all the times she looked after him, but he knew that wasn't the only reason.

Forget her, Dele. She's moved on.

He closed his eyes and tried and failed not to picture her with the other man. He pinched the bridge of his nose, forcing himself to remember the horrible thing she did.

Tomini's teary voice asking him to call her mother flashed across his mind. He sighed and turned his chair around. He reached for his phone and speed dialed Tinu. The line rang for a while and the call dropped. Tomini had felt bad for being rude to their mother and that her rudeness was the reason why their mother hadn't called them in three days.

The nine year old could so over think things. But Tinu's silence for three days was unusual. There was no way Tinu wouldn't call because of that. He just hoped she hadn't slipped back into depression, with Chris' birthday fast approaching.

He didn't understand why she did it to herself year after year. She'd lock herself up each Christmas, have Grace and other maids go visit their family.and send the children to him. She claimed to want to be alone, so she could remember and honor her husband's memory.

He tugged at his tie. He'd just tell Tomini her mother was busy.

******
Seyifunmi's lips curled into a shaky smile as she watched Dele chase her with his vomit laced mouth, threatening to kiss her if she didn't delete the video. A bead of moisture dropped onto the bridge of her nose and she wiped it off with a finger. She swiped right, scrolling past the hoard of pictures she'd taken of them in Seychelles.

She stopped at the last picture of Dele on her phone. She'd taken it the morning before he left on his trip. He was still sleeping and he looked so immaculate and peaceful and like the hottest thing in the world as his back muscles stretched as he laid on his belly, clutching the pillow underneath his head.

Her smile wavered as more beads of tears fell down her nose.

"Why didn't you just let me fix it?" She whispered staring at his picture.

She swallowed a sob and brought her screen to her lips.

"Shay, you have a delivery!" Rosanna's voice bellowed and she wiped her tears and locked her phone.

She turned onto her back and pushed her weak body up to a sitting position. She saw Rosanna standing by the door with a strange man holding a small wicker basket.

"Good afternoon, ma." The man greeted.

She nodded and replied. Rosanna announced she'd met the man at the nurses'station and that he was looking for her.

"I found your HMO ID card in one of your Michael Kors. The downside of having too many handbags." Rosanna said as she walked to the seat beside her bed.

"What did you bring?" Seyifunmi asked the man.

"Someone sent you a get well soon gift." The man answered and walked to the bed. He handed the basket to Seyifunmi, who opened the nylon wrapping immediately.

She froze as she saw the contents of the basket.

"Who sent this?" She whispered, smiling and joy coursed through her veins.

"I don't know, ma. I was just asked to deliver this." He answered.

"Okay, you can go." Seyifunmi said. "Thank you."

"Is there no card?" Rosanna asked peering into the basket.

Seyifunmi smiled.

"He doesn't need to send a card. I know it's from him."

She reached for her phone and typed in her password.

"Who?" Rosanna asked as she pulled out the tub of strawberry ice cream and the styrofoam plate. She flipped open the plate and the aroma of grilled fish, spices and fries filled the room.

"Dele," Seyifunmi answered. "Once, when I contracted a toilet infection from one stupid, cheap hotel in Calabar, Dele drove out to get me drugs and he bought the exact same thing for me on his way back."

She dialed his number and panted in glee as she waited for him to pick up. The call dropped and she tried again.

"Seyifunmi, he might not be the one." Rosanna said quietly.

Seyifunmi shook her head.

"Ro, I know it's him. I can feel it in my heart." Seyifunmi gushed.

Ro shrugged and stole a fry. Seyifunmi swatted her hand.

"Ow!" Rosanna cried.

"Don't touch my care package." She said just as Délé's gruff voice said Hello.

Her heart skipped two beats and she sighed and smiled.

"Hello, Dele. Hi. Uh, I got your gift. Thank you. I-"

"What gift?" His voice said and her smile wavered.

"The gift you sent. The fish and fries and my favorite ice cream." She whispered.

"I'm sorry. I didn't send anything. It must have been from someone else. If you'll excuse me-"

"Dele, I know it's from you. It had to be." She said with tears shimmering in her eyes.

"Seyifunmi, I only answered this call because I thought it had something to do with the project. Please, don't disturb me." He said and hung up.

The phone slipped out of her hand and her tears slipped out of her eyes.

"Shay." Rosanna cooed softly.

Seyifunmi pushed the basket off her laps and into Rosanna's hand.

"You can have it if you want. I don't want it. It's not from him." She said and turned on her side with her back facing Ro. She clutched her pillow as she cried silently.