Bimpe continued to call me
from thursday till that weekend but I never picked up.
It was saturday morning,
betty had called me earlier to give me time.
I put on my best shirt and trouser which I have ironed the previous night, I sprayed a new expensive perfume I bought from bimpe’s money. I stood infront of the mirror to access myself many times before stepping out.
I put on my best shirt and trouser which I have ironed the previous night, I sprayed a new expensive perfume I bought from bimpe’s money. I stood infront of the mirror to access myself many times before stepping out.
“Onihaxy!!!, you are going to meet rich in-laws, so you
have to package yourself”.
I carried myself in style
from my house to oshodi to lekki gate. I took a shuttle bus to betty’s
house and finally arrived at their compound by 4pm. Betty came to pick me from
the gate and we entered the house together.
I met henry in the living
room watching football highlights. He welcomed me and I sat beside him after
greeting him, betty excused us and climbed upstairs.
ME: hello sir,
HENRY: hi mr …………?
ME: onihaxy
HENRY: oooh onihaxy, I used
to forget your name.
ME: ***smiled****
HENRY: thanks so much for the
other day, I so much appreciate you.
ME: **lean forward*** you are
welcome sir
HENRY: ***smiled and
silent***
ME: so how is daniella?,
HENRY: she is fine. She is
upstairs sleeping.
ME: hope she has fully
recovered?
HENRY: yes. The doctor just
told us to let her rest.
ME: that’s
cool.
HENRY: so, how is work and
family?
ME: fine sir.
HENRY: what is your
occupation?
ME: ***chaiii, omo see
interview***, eehmmm. I work with a water company as a quality control manager.
HENRY: waaaoooh. That’s
cool, hope its not stressful?,
ME: not really, but anything
that involves payment has to come in stress.
HEnRY: you are so right.
ME: ****silent for a
while****
HENRY: ****silent too***
ME: ****looked at the TV
screen*** this gunners club are not trying of recent
HENRY: yes ooo my brother.
The club don dey fuck-up this days. And they had been barren for years
ME: yes ooo
***football argument
continued******
BETTY: ****coming down from
the stairs and looking at us******. Hmmm, men and football sha!!!!
HENRY: na so now, atleast ours
is better than gossips you girls do. *** faced me*** onihaxy, abi no be so?
ME: ***smiled*** na so oooo.
BETTY: ehn ehn onihaxy!!, is
that what you will say also?
ME: smiled
HENRY: ***faced betty****
where is bimpe?
BETTY: she is still in the
kitchen.
ME: hmmmm, no wonder I have
been perceiving aroma since ***smiled***
HENRY: betty, please tell her
that we are ready to eat.
Betty went to the kitchen
while henry and I continued our arguments, we started from football, then enter
politics from there to life style, then to women. We related as if we knew each
other for long. As we were discussing, bimpe was looking at me and I was
looking back in annoyance but I hid it from betty and henry. The table was set
and the four of us sat on the table. Betty did the serving and we were
discussing as we are eating. I sat beside betty, bimpe sat next to her and
opposite me. Henry sat beside bimpe.
HENRY: onihaxy, betty
discussed so much about you which I think I’m somehow satisfied
with.
ME: thank you sir.
HENRY: my wife also said she
used to live in same area with you before and that you guys used to fight.
Me: ***smiled***
BETTY: that’s
past tense brother, they have reconciled with each other.
BIMPE: ***smiled***
HENRY: if that is it, thank
God. But onihaxy, there is a little problem.
ME: **scared*** what is that
sir?
HEnRY: there is an agreement
that she must posses her masters before getting married. Do you think you can
cope and wait?
ME: I’m
already aware of that sir. I will definitely wait since I don’t
have another alternative.
BiMpE: ***paused her meal and
stared at me****
BETTY: so if you have
alternative, you will dump me abi?
ME: haba dear, you know I won’t
do that na.
BETTY: you just try it!!!, I
will kill both of you. You and your alternative
THREE OF US: ***laughed***
HENRY: another thing is that
she will be travelling out of the country for her program., hope you won’t
disappoint us?
ME: I won’t
sir, its betty we should beg that she shouldn’t
disappoint me.
HENRY: I trust her she dare
not.
**faced bimpe***. Mummy
daniella, you aren’t saying anything about our discussion?, why?
BIMPE: ***sighed*** just don’t
have anything to say to it. Whatever you people decide is ok by me.
BETTY: hmmmmmm. Brother, don’t
mind both of them, their fight is off and on?
BIMPE: haba!!!!, aunty betty,
stop that now, did I tell you we are fighting?
ALL OF US: smiled.
HENRY: ****brought out a
cheque*** mr onihaxy, here is a cheque of 100k, as a token of appreciation for
saving our daughter. Thanks so much.
BIMPE & BETTY: stared at
me
ME: ***think for a while****,
thanks so much sir. But please keep it, daniella is more like my own daughter
also.
BIMPE: ****looking scared***
ME: ***continued*** I knew
her and used to meet her here even before knowing you. So it won’t
sound right. Thanks so much once again, no offence sir,
HENRY: that’s
wonderful mr onihaxy, but I still insist. Please accept it from me.
ME: ok, if you insist sir,
hold it and deduct it from the bride price I will be paying.
HENRY: ***handshake with
me***, thanks so much onihaxy,
ME: you are welcome sir.
We chit-chat for about 30
more minutes. I checked my time and it was few minutes to 7pm.
ME: I need to get going sir.
HENRY: why so early?
ME: my destination is far
sir.
HENRY: where is that?
ME: ***chaii, how you go call
mushin for this kind place na** fadeyi area.
HENRY: ok bro, see you some
other time.
ME: **smiled*** you aren’t
always around
HENRY: yeah. that’s
right, I’m running. Professional course every weekend in abuja.
I was around today just because I was expecting you.
ME: ok sir.
BETTY: ok, let me see you
off. Ooops, where is my phone?
ME: where did you put it?
BETTY: I can’t
even remember, give me your phone onihaxy, let me use it to find my phone.
ME: ok ***hand over my phone
to her****
BETTY: ***climbed upstairs
with my phone in her hand using it to dial her number***
ME: *****ooooooooooooops!!,
yeeepa!!!, bimpe’s text!!!!!!, I never delete am ooooo, I pray she didn’t
go through it ooooooooo*****
BETTY: **came down with a
frown on her face***
ME: ***chaiii, e don happen
today****
I bid them farewell and went
out of the compound. Betty was holding her phone and mine, she frowned and was
silent. Her mood remained the same as we were strolling to the bustop.
ME: my love, you look so dull
and silent, what is the matter?
BETTY: **silent***
ME: ***stopped**, betty, what
is the matter?, have I done anything wrong?
BETTY: ***stopped also****.
Onihaxy, who is the lady that sent you a text last night?. Tell me the truth
and don’t lie please.
ME: ***chaiiii!!!!, e don
happen today***
To be continued
