enirock:
May love be always rewarding, hope always enduring, and faith always be strengthened. May this new year bring to fulfillment Gods plan for you. Happy birthday. I never knew today was your day, hope you had a blast?

I did. Thanks bro, I appreciate

YTmami:
Thanks and happy birthday to you, long life and prosperity ��

This is an interesting piece. Thanks for this

To the special ones who makes me want to update no matter what by commenting always, I appreciate you all and thank you for always finding it easy to comment. I won't lie, I use to ghost too. It's not easy to be commenting on a story thread here on Nairaland.

Stay safe and be okay!!

Mr enirock, I salute you sir.

To you all as well, both the guests readers and ghost readers, hope y'all are okay and safe?

Deborah98, girl what's up? You were my first commenter but now I think you've ghosted me and this thread

Hope you're okay and safe?

enirock:
Thanks for the updates. This Nne just gave his son what we call 'the talk'. Though all true, but somehow we(most guys) hate hearing it diluted or undiluted (and it leaves me wondering why). I don't think Tomi directly pushes him to relationships, but Tomi's actions/disposition towards relationship may rub off on him, albeit unconsciously.

Wow. Thanks for this. But "Nne" means mother in Igbo. So no need to add "this" before it

Nne never showed interest in my relationship with Itoro. She would always talk me out of impregnating a girl till I'm ready to settle down and warned that if I go against her advice and impregnate any girl, then I should be ready to sponsor the child's well-being and the mother myself.

"I guess they are no more together" Papa said.

"Chai, these 21'st century kids." Nne exclaimed! "So, this Sandra is your number what girlfriend?" She asked.

I laughed. I was never ready to tell them that Sandra was the fifth girlfriend.

"I think it should be the number five girl," Nne answered herself.

I was perplexed at her fine guess.

"You think I don't know? You think I don't know when you would always use the home phone to call Oluchi at night during your secondary school, when you used to talk to profess your love to her? Then Blessing, when you were on your computer training? Unwana and Itoro, now there is Sandra?" She asked. Everyone was shocked at this revelation by her not because it was about me but because it was about her knowing that such a thing about me happened.

"Your mother surprises me every day," Papa said.

"Ebere, you really need to be careful with all this you're doing. You are just 19 years-" Nne said.

"20 years, Ma" I interrupted her.

"Bia, is August not your birthday? You are still 19 until your birthday". She said.

Amaka and Papa had stopped eating and were listening.

"Just within 3 years, you have had over 4 girlfriends. They have all been in this house. But you think I don't know? Whatever happened, I don't want to know. Imagine at 19 you have had 5 girlfriends, when you're 29, how many will it be? 10? 14? 15? 29?" Nne blurted.

Amaka was busy laughing while Papa twisted his face watching the drama between Nne and I.

"Nne, Sandra is different from others". I said.

"Different how? Is she from Igbo?"

"No, Calabar."

"Then there's no difference. She is not Igbo so it makes no difference. Jisike". Nne said, urging me to keep it up ironically.

"Nne, biko jidezie ya nwayo," Papa said, begging her to go easy on me.

"This is what you always say when I try to talk to these children," Nne said, taking it out on Papa.

"Oyo'm, biko I'm sorry for interrupting" Papa pleaded.

"No, you shouldn't be sorry, rather you should help me talk to this boy. This girlfriend changing like the girls are baby diapers does not worth it, besides he's just 19. I can still remember when you warned him against this. What happened to breaking a girl's heart your father told you years back? Nne asked me.

The tension already had gone from the joyful, tearful, congratulatory mood to a mixed feeling one. Nne was really good at swinging moods.

"Ma, I've never done that. I've always been the victim." I defended myself.

"Just imagine. And you think this Sandra won't hurt you since you can't do it? Ebere, you still have a bright future ahead of you. Just don't let anything hinder you. I certainly don't see anything worth having a girlfriend now. It amounts to nothing except cuddling in the bed together, pleasuring each other and squandering your money."

"I really don't see Sandra as a sex object, she is more than that, I love her, Ma," I affirmed.

"Gosh! Is that not what you told Unwana, Blessing and Itoro? Is it not?” Nne asked.

Papa had finished his food and washed his hands watching our drama while Amaka was busy with her phone.

"But It's going to be different this time around," I said.

"I've never spoken to you about your relationship with girls before, I'm not against it. But you should know it's too early to be having one and changing the other. You need to focus on your future first. You won't hear me say this again. And I'm very sure that boy, Tomi is highly influencing you, turning you into something else and you are dragging Ebuka to it as well." She said and left the dinning.

I saw the look on Papa's face, he did not have that ‘son, rule your world’, he had that "listen to your mother". Amaka stared at me with no exact facial
definition, she left the table with Papa leaving me all alone. It was one of the days Nne and I argued over things. Had it been when I was still little, I would have been punished or spanked. I cleared the table before leaving for my room.

"Here we go again," I said.

"Boy, allow me to have my say in my house. I won't be there to disturb you when you start salivating over your wife's bosom" He said and we all laughed.

"Nne, please where did you find this man from?" Amaka asked.

"Seriously, I don't know," Nne replied. We all laughed except for Papa who grinned and said.

"At least you still married a man you have no idea where you found him from. My children, learn from your mother." He said and we all laughed again.

"Oyo'm, can you please allow us to eat in peace without the need for your mouth to do the talking" Nne begged.

"Okay o. I've heard you" He said. Just when we thought he had given up, he said.

"Ugo’m, your daughter now watches football. She knows a lot about footballers now. Ebere had to mention that Marcus Rashford, a Manchester United player takes care of her". Papa never hid anything from Nne. We sometimes wonder if he was the man actually. I sat watching him awfully.

"Marcus Rashford? Football?" Nne asked with a confused look and turned to Amaka.

Contrary to what Papa said, we all knew that Amaka hated watching football. She only supported Chelsea FC because of the name, Papa, Ebuka and not because she liked or watched them. She would always ask me what Chelsea scored when I talk about football with Ebuka and Tomi.

"Nne, please don't mind him. That's not his name" Amaka said.

"Oh, so nna gi is actually telling the truth," Nne said and we laughed. "So, what's his name?" Nne asked.

"Elvis."

"Elvis what?"

"Elvis Ogbonna". Amaka said.

I saw Nne make a sigh of relief. Nne would always say she wanted all of us to marry from our Igbo tribe. She would further explain that she was not trying to be tribalistic or so, but that she just wanted us to continue with the true Igbo lineage just like she and Papa did and not the other way around. Papa believes that since we all grew up in a place not our hometown, he wouldn't be surprised if we decided to marry someone not from our tribe or place and certainly won't have issues with it. Nne would always try to persuade him from it but he always remained adamant.

"This Elvis of a boy, what does he do?" Papa asked.

"He's a Team leader Accountant in Airtel Nigeria in Abuja." Amaka answered.

Papa smiled. He loved it whenever ‘Account’ was being mentioned. Elvis happened to be Amaka's third boyfriend since she started dating after
Secondary school, these I had been counting.

"Chiamaka," Papa said, calmly.

"Yes, Papa." She answered

"I want to use this medium to congratulate you on your NYSC completion. You have done extremely well. You have made your mother and I proud including your siblings. You have also made yourself proud and happy because it's what you ever wanted. Being a Chemical engineer and finishing your Youth service, I can remember vividly when you said that to your mother and I. That should be in your SS1 right?” He asked.

"Yes," Amaka answered.

"Now it has come to reality. It's a big win. As your father, I will go the extra mile to see that you work in one of the biggest chemical engineering companies or further your education in case you want to. You have my word. Congratulations once again and expect a big celebration for this big achievement." He concluded, before eating again.

"Thank you, Papa," Amaka said amidst her teary eyes. Nne's eyes too was teary. I smiled when Nne cleaned Amaka's teary eyes. Papa was all about his food till when he said.

"Ebere, that girl of yours you took my car to impress during the school's matriculation, what's her name? The question took me unawares as all eyes stared at me. Only Amaka knew her name.

"Sandra," I answered.

"Do you have something for her?" He asked.

"Yes Sir, I do," I answered.

"Wait, what about that girl called Itoro?" Nne asked.

CHAPTER 7


My elder sister came back two days later. She was looking all pretty and fleshy with no iota of a strenuous life. That got me wondering if the "stress" she talked about was a different stress I knew.

"Ami, congratulations on your completion of your national service." I said with a smile on my face.

"Thank you, Ebere." She said, with a grin that showed her lovely dimples.

"Look at how big and fat you look. Your chest even added."

"That's the only thing you know," She laughed.

"I'm sure your Marcus Rashford is treating you better" I whispered.

"Who is Marcus Rashford?" Papa asked, out of nowhere. We turned and saw him behind us. Oh man! I thought.

"A footballer." I answered.

"Which club?"

"Manchester United."

"Is he the one that misses one-on-one with goalkeepers?"

"Yes, Papa," I said. Amaka was beside me grinning.

"Why then did he not miss Amaka?" He asked.

The question took seconds before we understood what he meant. This made Amaka and I laugh when we realized what he said. He knew the Rashford we were talking about wasn't the Rashford I was explaining to him.

"When I get back, you two will explain to me who this Marcus Rashford is," He said and left for a meeting.

He had earlier gone for his lecture and came back to the house before I did. School was boring for me; I had a lecture and a test. Tomi and I sat together during the test and did our magic. Sandra didn't come to school because her supposed class was cancelled. I had to get home before 1pm to anticipate the homecoming of Amaka.

"That man has still not changed," Amaka said, smiling and nodding her head.

"Swears. Always wanting to hear that rotten gist" I said.

I have heard a lot of stories about Papa when he lectures. He didn't teach me even when we borrowed an Accounting course in my first year. He taught the 3rd year and final year students in the Accounting department same with my head of department. This got me wondering if it was rule and must that all Head of Department should teach only the third years and final years leaving out the first years and second years. Effiong, a final year Accounting student that lived in our street would narrate how Papa lectures.

"Your father is something else. He talks too much. He will use relationship examples to explain some of his definitions. What concerns a boyfriend giving his girlfriend money with collateral, expenditures, debentures, assets, liabilities and so on? But one thing for sure is that one can never get bored in his class and he teaches so well. Your father is an amazing lecturer. We do enjoy his class"

Nne came back from her shop and was extremely excited and happy for the safe arrival of her daughter. She thanked God for her successful completion of service, journey mercies and for good health. I watched as mother and daughter bonded happily. Nne prepared Amaka's favourite 'ofe onugbu' bitter leaf soup as a part of her congratulatory message. Papa joined us in the dinning after taking his shower when he came back from his meeting.

"It's so ironic that a bitter leaf soup that is meant to be bitter and sour is rather tasting too sugary, all thanks to my lovely wife" Papa said.

The dining table was made from a mahogany wood. The table had six chairs guiding it. Two chairs at the first horizontal side of the table, the other two at the other side. The two remaining chairs were at each part of the vertical side of the table. Papa sat at the right vertical side of the table from the horizontal part where I was seated. Amaka sat to my left closer to Nne who sat the other vertical part of the table. Closer to the door leading to the kitchen was a tall refrigerator.

enirock:
It's as though I missed the saturday update considering this is thursday. Hope you still know we are here Syluck? Good evening

I know. I will update sooner than later I promise. A lot has been going on lately in the country and I'm seriously pained.

Chapter 7 update on Saturday

Dedicated to Khriztarl

Sandra came to meet me in the company of Tomi, Jerome, Iniobong, Daniel and Grace seated the convo park. She came with her philosophy friend, Tonia.

“Our wife is here,” Iniobong said.

“This girl is looking so beautiful though, but still looks like a witch,” Daniel said.

I had to hit him on his head because of his last statement. I wondered how witchy she looked from Daniel’s perspective.

“Nwanna, you really went for a classic beauty,” Jerome said.

I purposely refused to reply to them and wondered why Tomi wasn’t saying anything. His face was indifferent. “Hi everyone,” Sandra greeted alongside her friend. We responded and I rose to give her a hug. Tomi and Daniel did too, but Jerome wasn’t allowed to.

“Sandra, don’t hug anyone again before they drain your milk,” Tomi said.

The speech was supposed to be a funny talk but Grace was not having it.

“Who said hugging makes drains breast milk?” She asked.

I looked at her and wondered what was eating her up. Was it because I declined her offer of coming to her house? She had been so indifferent to me since I started dating Sandra.

“You must be fun at parties,” Tomi said.

We laughed at this except Grace. I wondered where Tomi learnt that from. Tomi though was not as intelligent academically as I was, he really has this
optimistic aura when it comes to working hard to read and would excel exceptionally academically. He had a CGPA of 3.87. Tomi's intelligence streetwise surpassed mine, I always looked up to him when it's never about academics. We had more to talk about before dispersing to our different destinations. Tomi, Grace, Jerome and I walked alongside Sandra. I escorted Sandra into a supermarket to get her toiletries while the rest waited for us outside. I watched as she was picking up her preference when I felt a tap on my back. I turned and saw a female I knew, smiling like a Quokka.

“Hi Ebere, Long time no see” she said. The last time I saw her physically was on the 10th of January when I went to her street for an errand. Though I did view her constant pictures and “I bet you boys can’t afford me” captions. She hasn’t changed one bit; she was still the Itoroabasi that cheated on me with Edidiong the marine engineer.

“Long time no see. How have you been?” I asked.

“I’m fine. I can see you came shopping”

“Not me. My girlfriend came shopping,” I said. Sandra was now at the other part; I saw her look at us before picking what she wanted.

“Wow, girlfriend? It's nice. I came to pick my cream.” she said. She stayed with her brother at Abak road, a place closer to the supermarket.

“Alright then. If you’d excuse me, I need to leave,” I said. I left and found Sandra at the counter, paying for what she picked. She knew who Itoro was
because I told her already. We left the supermarket and we saw only Tomi outside.

“How far, where Grace and Jerome?”. I asked. Jerome, was a Lagos boy from Anambra. He had always been one of the political minded personnel in our class. He announced about three weeks ago in class that he would be contesting for Student Union Government (SUG) president in our third year. I wished him luck even when I knew that the chances for him to win were so slim. An Igbo SUG president in Akwa Ibom federal University? Well I wished him luck silently. He was a dark skin dude with my height.

“Dem don go” Tomi replied. Just then a long vehicle came riding past, honking like all motorists were deaf. The noise was so annoying and loud that it got most pedestrians and road side sellers cursing the driver.

“Na God go punish you and your generation.” I heard one road side seller cursing the lorry driver.

“King, come with your babe on Friday to my place, let’s party. I'm organising a little party celebration” Tomi whispered to my ear as Sandra boarded
a keke to Abak road.

“What kind of party?” I asked. Sandra’s keke had driven away.

“A celebration party. Omotara is getting married soon” Tomi said, smiling.

“Wow! Congrats to her. This is good news,” I said. Omotara was Tomi’s immediate elder, four years older.

Sandra called me while I was having fun with my playstation by 8:23pm. She was all cheerleading with her voice and sounded very happy. I had to ask the reason, she said it was because her uncle gave her the money she asked for.

“Girls and money ehhh” I said.

“What's the meaning of that? Who doesn’t like money?" She asked.

“Me”

She laughed. “Is it not you that your dad sends 15k every month for upkeep?”

Papa would send me 15k per month but not always on every occasion. He sent about 20k to Amaka when she was a student. Ebuka gets 15k as well but still not on every occasion. We get the money when my dad receives a high gig.

“That one is for upkeep na, babe” I chuckled.

“Baby, just listen to yourself. Is it not money?”. She asked.

“Yeah it is” I said smiling. “So how much did he send?”

I heard her scratch her head before she said “Just 30k”

“Ahhh, 30k? Just?” I exclaimed with my mouth agape.

“Yes baby. I have been asking him for this money since January, he kept promising until this evening.” She said. Sandra is the only child of her mother. Her mom did not marry, she had her out of wedlock. Sandra’s uncle was the only surviving sibling to her mom. According to her brief description of her mom, she said her mom was light skinned and chubby and worked in the bank, no husband.
Sandra may have sometimes looked like a spoilt or overpampered person, but she wasn't.

"So, when is this your uncle coming back"? I asked.

"I don't know yet. The fiancé is staying with him over there in Eket"

"How are you coping alone there?"

"I'm trying. Do you want to come over?" she asked. I could swear I heard her giggle.

"You know I would do anything for you baby." I replied with a smile.

"Start coming then."

I laughed. "You know it's not possible". It was her turn to laugh. She laughed and said she wouldn't even open the gate for me. We discussed courses in
school, her issues with mathematics and statistics. I promised to help her solve her recent mathematical issues she had in the light of the forthcoming test they were to have. We went from that to profess our love for each. Promising and vowing to love each other more and never looking back.

"You know I love you, Sandra" I said.

"I love you too, Ebere," Sandra replied.

"You're my everything"

"You're my Genesis" she said.

"What's Genesis?" I asked while laughing.

"Beginning".

I laughed again. "I know. I was just playing you"

"It's a lie, you don't"

"I know"

"You don't know"

"I do".

"Just accept it, you don't know" she was laughing.

I had to accept it. "Ok I don't".

"Good boy".

"Babe, But why do you like calling me Ebere? Others call me Kingston" I asked.

"I guess I prefer Ebere to Kingston. The former is easier and sweet to say" she replied chuckling.

"That's sweet," I said. In school, she called me Ebere too. Also, according to her, her first boyfriend was Ebere. Sandra's being my girlfriend was a dream come true excluding the dream I had weeks back. The thought of the dream wasn't on my mind anymore. We blew ourselves goodnight kisses before we hung up. It was a 2hrs call. I slept like a baby as the thought of Sandra filled my world and atmospheric conditions.

Throughout the lectures for that day, my attention wasn't anywhere close to what the lecturers were vomiting. I wasn't bothered about anything else except 1pm, Mummy J and Sandra. I told Tomi and Daniel about it. They were happy for me and we were chattering.

"Kingston, who is the girl you're going on a date with?" Grace asked me. Maybe she heard us, I thought.

"Just a lucky girl" I answered her.


"Wow, she must be lucky Indeed," she said, with a face expression I couldn’t define.

"Can I come too?" She asked.

Tomi, Daniel and I gave her a look that made her say.

"Oh please, I was kidding before you guys devour me".

The date was superb and fantastic. We sat in the VIP area. She never liked the idea of sitting there but I convinced her to. She was on an orange crop top polo; her makeup was nice and an easy one. She wore a black legging that showed all her endowed curves. Her favourite yellow sneakers made her look so classy and bougie that matches with her 5'5ft. I was on my favourite blue jean jacket, a Real Madrid white jersey top and a blue ragged pencilled jean trouser. My red Balenciaga sneakers made me sleeker. I was just ready for the date. I complimented her all over and she blushed when I did that. She ordered fried rice while I ordered jollof rice. We were served together with two plates of salad, two chicken laps and a big Exotic juice.

"You don't like fried rice?" She asked.

"Nope. I prefer jollof rice". I answered.

"Wow, this is the first time a guy is telling me that," She said.

"Really? Does this mean that I'm so unique?"

She laughed. "Of course, you're so unique"

I smiled. " You're extremely beautiful and angelic".

"Thanks. And I'm sure you'll say it again" she said amidst her laughter.

"I just can't stop. Your beautiful dear".

"Here we go again".

"So how many boys have taken you on a date before?" I asked her.

"Just two. I have been in two relationships. The last one was so annoying. He suddenly became so caught up with his yahoo boy rolling and wanted to use me for show off. According to him 'my babe get curves, my babe get breast'. It was so annoying. I liked him more before his initial yahoo boy stuff".

"Wait, you dated a yahoo boy?" I asked.

"Not really. He wasn't one when we started dating. He travelled to Lagos to see his friend and from there he changed." She answered.

"Okay. what about the first one?" I asked.

"I don't want to talk about it. So, tell me about yours"

When I told her about my four former girlfriends, she was baffled and was like "are you up to 30 years old?" I laughed and explained to her that the first two relationships were just secondary school intuition. When I told her about the last two, she didn't believe that they cheated on me rather I did. I tried convincing her by telling her to ask Tomi. She said.

"Tomi? Your best friend? Tell me one good reason why he won't use the popular bro code you boys use these days?"

I laughed.

We talked about more exciting things before we left the eateries, we spent about forty-five minutes in. That night, we chatted more on WhatsApp. It was more intense and romantic. It was also fun and interesting. I got to know about her three names that night, Sandra Inimfon David. She told me she hailed from Akammpa in Cross River state. I also got to know she was two years older than me. When she asked about mine, I lied about it and said 23. She believed me. Who wouldn't? My beard alone would make one believe me without the need to believe me. I explained to her that I was single and searching asked her to be my girlfriend that night. She said she would give me her reply soon. The next day in class, she sent me her new rules and regulations for her relationship with me, though they were blunt they still sounded funny.

*You must be lovely and chatty. Nice dressing and no rough hair look."
Rough Hair looks? I loved my low-cut hairstyle. It fits certainly with my cultured hairline.

*You must be smart and intelligent. And be good in mathematics."
Mathematics? It’s nothing to me. I had A's in both semesters in my first year.

*Must be jovial, contained and easy to access. No too much gra gra. Also, easily forgivable."

*Must accept my terms when it comes to sexual actions and talks" This made me laugh.

She added "Yes, I agree to be your baby. I loved you from the first day I saw you. You unlocked my heart after I made it clear I won't ever love again. I see a unique, energetic, confident, delicate, truthful and loving person in you. I love you Kingston Chidiebere Nwankwo, a fair Anambra boy."

This made me scream unconsciously in the class like I won a jackpot. Everyone turned to stare at me. I was made to write "I won't scream like a lunatic
in class" 400x on a sheet of paper by the lecturer. He threatened that if I don't submit it, I shouldn't bother entering his class for the rest of the semester. I broke the news to Tomi and Daniel which made them grunt like pigs. They persuaded me to buy them lunch as a sign of victory and celebration which I did.

Sandra and I became the talk in our department, especially my level, we were always seen discussing and chatting. We were nicknamed "the couple" in just the first week of our relationship. I took her on three more dates, the last one she offered to pay the bills. It had been two weeks already, but I never mentioned the dream I had to her. I hoped one day I would tell her. I really did love her.

QueenBeeHive:
Don't tarry

huh