Here’s an announcement to new readers!
It’s Another Novociane Saturday is a combination of two separate stories. One of them voted as the best series on Moskedapages by my fans. You would enjoy this sequel better if you start the stories from the beginning.
Catch up with It’s Another Saturday here
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God bless you!
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Honeyβs call meets me in the middle of a birth. My colleague holds my phone to my ear while Iβm severing an umbilical cord. Honey wants to know if I can do dinner at theirs. I reply that Iβm up to it. She tells me to wear a nice dress. There would be guests. Okay, I reply, thinking about the little red dress I bought off a colleague last week just to butter up to her and her gang of bitchy nurses. They still hate me for being close to Jide.
Honey hangs up, I go back to my patient. Hours pass, darkness comes and I am still at work. I have totally forgotten that I have to do dinner at the Onuoras. Honey calls again. This time my hand holds the phone. The first thing I say to her is βshit!β
βYou totally forgot.β
βI am so sorry.β
βPlease hurry over. Our guests just arrived.β
After sheβs off the line, I dash out of the hospital like the mad woman I am. I donβt even have time to change from my scrubs. Thank God itβs a Sunday or I would have encountered some bad traffic on the way.
I smell my armpits. Not so fresh. I have been at the hospital since last night and havenβt had time for a shower today. I wonder if I can dash home, do a quick one, change and meet up on time.
I hiss, suddenly annoyed for agreeing to the dinner. Knowing how tired I am, I should have declined Honeyβs invitation. But you see the thing about Honey is that she is so sweet that you canβt say no to her. I can understand why Jide is constantly smitten. She has charm, even over the phone.
βOlodo!β My head is sticking out of a window to insult a keke driver who thinks this is a good time to try to scratch my car. βYou wan die, abi?!β
The guy rains abuses on me in Yoruba as he squeezes between my car and a trailer, barely missing my side mirror. I shake my head and ask myself for the zillionth time why I made this bold move to relocate to Lagos.
I blame my mom.
βGo to Lagos,β she said. βPlenty of men there. Youβll find a husband.β
As if there is a large sea of husbands here just waiting to be fished out and married. To her β and everybody else in my family who is married, finding a life partner is as easy as breathing and yet when I ask them to give me a husband they keep bringing me trash.
My dad believes my standards are too high, and that one day I will come down to earth. But I am already at that point where I donβt need love again. Let me just marry and get everyone off my back. I know the danger in this. My friend did it and she is now stuck in an impossible situation in the name of marriage. But I know there are men out there who are mature enough to stay civil in a marriage that is not built on emotions and unnecessary romance. The problem is that such men are an endangered species. Everyone else is a dick these days.
I hiss again. To drown disturbing thoughts, I turn on the radio to Cool FM. I donβt know what is playing but it sounds nice and makes me start to bump my head. I love music. I canβt sing. I canβt dance. I donβt know who sings half of the songs on my playlist but I just love music. In fact, if I hear a song I like for the first time, I will sing along to it, chopping my mouth and shouting when I get the lyrics right β just like Iβm doing right now and drawing the attention of people in a yellow, rickety bus.
Whatever. They can stare on. Who gives a ratβs ass? My house is just around the corner, anyways. I keep singing and thumping on my steering wheel until I make the turn to my street. I drive past the Onuorasβ residence on my way home. When I arrive at mine, I rush into the shower and step out five minutes later. And this is not because I am in a hurry. I have never understood why people spend forever in the bathroom. Once my body parts are thoroughly washed and rinsed, what else is there to do?
After drying my body, I slip into a thong. No time to rub any type of cream. I brush my hair up in a bun, put on minimal makeup, a pair of diamond studded earrings and matching necklaceβ¦and oh, before I forget, I douse my armpits with some deodorant.
I stare in the mirror. I look good to go. A pair of flats compliments the look and finally some spurts of my favorite Victoriaβs Secret perfume.
By now Honey is calling. I choose to ignore the call. When I leave the house, I hop on a commercial bike that takes me to theirs. A feeling of relief washes over me the moment I knock on the front door. Honey is there in a flash. When she opens the door, her face lights up in an approving smile.
βHauwa, you look dashing. Where on earth do you get your dresses from?β
We hug and I walk in.
βWell, I shop here and there,β I answer, my ears picking voices coming from the dining area. βHow many people?β I whisper in her ear.
βJust three,β she answers. βCome.β
As I follow her, it occurs to me that I have no idea what this dinner is about. I shrug. Iβm hungry, so whatever.
βLook who the cat dragged in,β Honey announces the moment we get to the dining area. I quickly pick out the faces of Jide, Genesis and her husband. Thereβs a third guy there and I have no idea who he is, although I think I recall seeing him at the appreciation party Honey dragged me to on Friday.
βHuawei,β Jide greets, calling me a name that sounds nothing like mine. I forgive him for it like the million other times I forgave him.
βGood evening,β I greet. Genesis and her husband respond but the guy doesnβt. He simply keeps his stare on me and it is rather uncomfortable. Honey makes things bumpier by placing me directly opposite him.
βEveryone, I want to introduce you to one of my closest friends,β Jide says. βShe took care of me like a sister would her brother at a point in my life when I was kind of discovering myself.β
I snort. I donβt mean to but Jide is quite an idiot. Discovering himself? Who is he kidding? He was a dog on heat, and he could have easily smashed me if I gave him as much as a wayward wink. Discovering himself, my ass.
I notice everyone is watching me. Am I supposed to be saying something?
βNice to meet you all,β I mutter.
Genesis smiles and that beautiful dimple of hers gets my eye. A fancy plate is put before me flanked by impressive stainless steel cutlery and I am asked to feel free to serve myself. There are three dishes and all of them look mouthwatering. I am at a loss on what to choose.
βTry the pasta,β the strange man facing me says. Jide had mentioned his name but I hadnβt caught it. βEverything is awesome but the pasta is a hit.β
Only I hear him speak. Jide is saying something which they are all laughing to.
βOr you could do a buffet of everything,β the guy goes on. I am forced to look at him now. On his face I find a thin, pointed nose that is just like his thin frame. His eyes are like black seeds β dark and cryptic, like the well-groomed beard that stands out from the beards of the other men at the table. These days, men are going full on their stubbles but this particular man keeps it simple, giving him a much younger look. I easily conclude that he is in his forties. Thereβs a certain poise and calm that come with men his age, just like Genesisβ husband who is seated beside me.
βYou want me to help?β he asks.
βSure.β I smile and watch him begin to bless my plate with pasta, a potato meal that is unfamiliar to me and some rice that is rich with vegetables and bits of beef.
βThank you,β I smile at him.
He smiles back. My eyes settle on his lips. They seem to belong to someone else and not him. Someone more rascally.
βSo Hauwa, Jide tells us youβre a midwife as well,β Genesisβ husband, whose name I just remember as Dominic, speaks. His voice is raspy.
βYeah, we work in the same hospital,β I reply.
βSo where are you from?β Genesis asks as she rests her hand on her chin.
βIβm from Gombe state.β
βYouβre a Muslim?β
βNo.β
βForgive my ignorance but I just automatically assumed you were a Muslim because of the name.β
I tell her that I understand. People from the south naturally conclude that everyone who comes from the north is a Muslim especially when they bear the same type of names the Muslims bear.
βSo youβre Hausa?β
I excuse her ignorance again with a patient smile. βNo, Iβm not.β
βFulani?β
βNo.β
βOh. Seyiβs half-Fulani, half- Yoruba,β she informs me. I store the name in my head. Seyi. He doesnβt look like a Seyi to me. He looks more like someone who would fit in nicely at my hometown.
βYouβre from Kwara state?β I ask him.
βYeah.β I see a little surprise on his face. βHow did you guess?β
βItβs obvious.β
βI think you should eat. You havenβt touched your food.β
I lower my eyes to my meal and begin eating. Everything is delicious, I say to Honey. She grins in appreciation.
βI canβt believe you only started cooking recently,β Genesis comments. βI might soon come to you for lessons.β
βMe too,β I add.
Honey is blushing. Jide is proud. Dinner goes on. Thereβs small talk and big talk and small talk again as we move on to dessert. Honey doesnβt let me leave the table to clear the dishes. She and Jide gladly do the job and return with chocolate cake and ice-cream.
By its name and appearance, the taste is orgasmic. When it comes to food, especially sweet things, I am quite expressive. And it is no wonder I let out a moan at the first taste of the ice-cream. There is silence and then laughter follows. I open my eyes which have been shut and stare at everyone shyly.
βIβm so sorry but I canβt help it. This is good,β I compliment.
βThank you,β Honey responds. Dominic mentions something about ice-creams and they fall back into conversation once more. Seyi joins them this time. For the rest of the dinner, I am ignored by him. Maybe the way I moaned over that ice-cream turned him off. I know his type β the proper gentleman who likes well-behaved women that are about decorum and comportment and all those dainty things stuck-up rich people do.
But why should I even care what he thinks about me? I donβt know anything about him, not even his surname. So, I pretend he is not there as I direct remarks to everyone else but him. Anytime Honey tries to lump us together in a comment or question, I subtly remove him from it. And in that manner the night wears on until they announce that they are ready to leave. I also make known that itβs way past my bedtime.
βYouβre leaving too?β Honey links her arm in mine. I am seated in-between her and Jide.
βItβs past ten, Honey.β
βIt is, isnβt it? Well, you guys, thank you for coming over,β she says, rising up, after her guests stand to their feet. Hugs and handshakes are shared. I insist that I have to leave as we all walk outside.
βGenesis, do me a favor and take Hauwa home,β Honey requests. βYou do remember her house, donβt you?β
βI do. But Seyi came with his car. Maybe she can join him and sheβll give him directions?β
My stare passes from Honey to Genesis and my dumb brain finally registers that the whole dinner has been about getting Seyi and I together. Why didnβt anyone pre-inform me?
βItβll be my pleasure to take you home, Hauwa,β Seyi states. βIf itβs okay with you?β
βItβs fine.β I smile.
He leads the way to his car, and as I predict, itβs a luxurious beast of metal, manly and fitting for his person. His perfume is stimulating but not in an intrusive manner. The way it blends with the leather smell of the carβs interior reminds me of a warm night in a deluxe hotel suite in some European country during winter, where one is lost in the arms of a lover, binging on kisses and sparkling red wine.
βSo, which way?β
He has just driven out of the Onuora compound. The direction to my house is on our right but I have every intention of derailing him just to soak up the posh scent of him. The man already has my weakness.
βTurn left,β I direct. The car swerves to the left and goes on a slow cruise. No intruding vehicles or unnecessary pedestrians in our way. I breathe in and get in more of Seyi who remains quiet all through the ride. This time, it doesnβt make me uncomfortable. In fact, if he speaks, it will ruin the perfectness of the moment. And itβs as if he knows this. He turns on some music that sounds like a mix of soul and jazz. I donβt ask him who is singing; I just let the moment take me.
βWhich way?β he asks again. We are at a junction. To connect back to my house, we can either take left or right but neither of them seem like an option I want to consider.
Just take me away already, Seyi.
βKeep driving.β
He doesnβt say a word. The only time he speaks is when a call comes in and he has to respond to it. After that, he continues on until we get to yet another junction.
βAre you sure weβre not going off your route? I thought you lived near Honey.β
βUmβ¦you can make a U-turn now.β
He gives me a questioning frown that doesnβt last on his face. But again, he is silent. On, we drive, all the way back to my street. We finally come to my house and I ask him to stop.
βYou live here?β His head is angled to have a good look at my house which bears a large, black gate and high fence. I live with just one other tenant, who is residing in the apartment upstairs.
βYes. This is where I live.β
βCool. So, can I walk you in, just to be sure you get in safely?β
I think of the mess that is my living room and the junk I have in my verandah which I havenβt had time to stash away in its proper place. I will not disgrace my ancestors this night.
βNo, itβs fine. Thank you for the ride.β
βDo you mind if I get your number, call you tomorrow or next or maybe when I get home?β
Oh, wow. Call me tonight? Dude wants to get laid badly.
βWellβ¦β
βIf you wouldnβt mind, of course.β
I mind. I actually do. In fact, when a guy I meet for the first time asks for my number on that same day, I never pick his calls. They only want one thing from me and I stopped giving it a long time ago, hoping to find the one right man that truly deserves it. So far, no man has been worthy. I am not surprised that Seyi is no different. But curiously, I give him every single digit of my cell phone number. I get a call from him immediately while we both sit there, listening to who I donβt know is singing.
βGoodnight, Seyi.β
βHave a lovely night, Hauwa.β
The way he pronounces my name is beautiful. Not the way they all do it here, ignoring that it has a βUβ.
I step down from the car and walk home, forcing myself not to look back. But when I make it through the gate, I find a crack between the wall and peep out to see him driving away. I continue to my front door, insert my key in and only then do I realize that I had actually forgotten to wear a bra.
Crap!
Who the hell forgets to wear a bra?!
ββββ ββββ ββββ
βI canβt believe she left her house without a bra.β
My laughter is loud at Jideβs statement. I have seen all sorts of crazy but Hauwa tonight, with her affronting nipples, takes the cake.
βIs she always that crazy?β I ask him as I walk around our bedroom with Jiney resting on my shoulder. She is having a restless night.
βHuawa has always been like that. Sheβs stylish and gorgeous from afar but when you get to know her, sheβs a walking disaster. She sometimes reminds me of that Susan character in Desperate Housewives.β
βYou used to watch Desperate Housewives?β
βAnd Telemundo. When youβre with a woman for hours who is in labor, you have to do everything to entertain her.β
βAnd Zee World?β
βNah! I drew the line there.β
I laugh again. Marriage is sometimes beautiful. You discover new things about your partner every day. Last week I found out that Jide eats only the hard core of pineapples and never the juicier parts. Before then, I had never noticed it. Two days ago, he discovered that I have a birthmark behind my right ear.
βSo about Didiβ¦β he says, walking towards me. My light mood dies and I exhale heavily. A short while ago, after our guests left, Jide shared with me details of the conversation he had with Oba about Didi and the auctioning of her virginity.
Weird.
And disheartening. I had high hopes for her. And I still do. I donβt intend to leave this matter as is.
βLetβs talk to her,β I suggest.
βSame thought here.β
We put Jiney to sleep.
Didi is in the living room, watching E! and having a bowl of my chocolate ice-cream.
βI took whatβs left. It was little,β she tells me.
βItβs fine. Iβve had too much. My boobs will leak if I take more. Enjoy.β
βThank you.β
We watch TV with her for a while and then I tell her we want to have a talk. She doesnβt object. Jide speaks, asking her is she registered online to have her virginity auctioned. She darts her eyes around before admitting that she had plans to give herself to the highest bidder. But only for fun.
βI was curious. I just wanted to know if it was for real. I promise you, nothing to it.β She says this, giggling and bouncing her chubby body on the sofa.
βYouβre sure it was just for the kicks?β Jide probes.
βHa-ahn, Uncle Jide, Iβm not that stupid.β
βBut what if one day, this gets exposed online?β I ask. βWhat will you do? Itβs the same thing as prostitution. You are selling your body.β
βI was only kidding, Aunty Honey. I didnβt mean anything by it. If I did, I wouldnβt have done it with Obaβs knowledge. Think about it.β
I do. I think about it and maybe, she is telling the truth. The set jawline of my husbandβs face, however, believes differently.
βWell, itβs a good thing you were just goofing around,β he states. βWe canβt imagine you doing something so utterly stupid. Popsi would be highly disappointed if he hears about this.β
βI know, and Iβm sorry. I didnβt think it through.β
βPlease ask them to delete your account from their database.β
βI will. Thank you.β
βGoodnight.β
Jide walks back to our bedroom while I decide to stop at Yazminβs. But when I get to her door, I change my mind. I should let her sleep. Itβs late, anyway. I join Jide in bed, ready to make love, but he is as tired as I am. We spoon, say a prayer and fall asleep.
When morning comes, I am awoken by the sensation of being filled. I open my eyes and see him on top of me. I respond with an agreeable sigh as my walls slowly stretch to accommodate him. He goes in hard and deep. My body quivers as he begins to grind his body into mine. His movements are fluid and measured, and itβs sweetly torturous. But itβs the sweetest things that donβt last long. Jide soon lets go, just at the moment when I feel like Iβm about to have an orgasm.
βNoooo!β I cry, slapping his arms for being a sloppy one-minute man this morning.
βIβm sorry,β he splutters in laughter.
βSo not fair.β
He lowers and gives me kisses all over my face until I forgive him. He then tells me the sweetest things every wife should hear each morning.
βIβll make it up to you, sugams. I promise. Right now, I have to rush to work.β
βMe too. But just one moreβ¦β I beg. I can feel him already growing hard again.
He shakes his head. βNot now.β
Wicked man. I push him away. When he leaves to the bathroom, I throw a bathrobe on and go to Yazminβs bedroom. I knock on the door. She doesnβt respond. I knock again and wait. Still no response. I turn the key and walk in.
The room is empty. The bed is made, blanket folded, floor spotless. But Yazmin is gone.
βYaz?β I push the bathroom door in. She is not there. I leave the room back to mine and pick up my phone to call her. The line rings on the other end. She answers.
βYaz, where are you?β I ask like a worried mother.
βHoneyβ¦β She sighs. βIβm on my way to Abuja.β
βAbuja? To do what there?β
βI have a plane to catch to Texas. Iβm going home, Honey.β
My eyes fill with tears. I slowly sit on the bed and listen to her cry on the phone. Itβs depressing.
βAre you coming back?β
βI donβt know. He doesnβt love me, Hon. He never did.β
My face is soaking wet now. βAnd the baby? What will you do?β
βIβm keeping it.β
βThatβs good to hear.β
βHoney, I gotta go. I have to check in.β
βOkay. Will you call me when you get to Abuja?β
βYes.β
βI love you, Yaz.β
She is mute. I know sheβs still crying.
βGive a big kiss to Tobe for me.β
βI will.β
She hangs up. I rub my palms over my cheeks to dry my tears. What a sad way to start the day. I so hate Emeka right now and I have to let him know how much. I scroll through my contact list and tap on his name. The line begins to ring.
ββββ ββββ ββββ
I am happy today. After one week of being miserable and talking to a therapist, I wake up on the sunny side this morning. Maybe itβs because my husband is lying beside me and weβre back to our old selves, all fight gone, and a resolution reached on how to handle our marital situation with Yazmin.
Last night, Emeka and I had a talk we had both been avoiding for over a year. After he showed up at Maryβs place drunk and calling me Nicole, I gave him a nasty slap, a cold shower and some time to cool off. Afterwards, we spoke and he was open about his feelings for Yazmin.
βI love her, Tola. Maybe not the same way I love you. Youβre my best friend but I have deep feelings for Yaz.β
βHow deep?β
βIβm finding it hard to let her go. She means that much to me.β
My heart broke a million times hearing him say that but since he was only being honest, I took the revelation in bravely.
βBut I will let her go if you just say the word, Tols. I canβt lose you for anything.β
βI donβt want you to let her go. Yazmin loves you, Mex, and sheβs human and has a heart that you keep on breaking. Asides that, what will you do with Tobe if you ask her to leave?β
He was quiet. We were sitting out in the dark, just outside Maryβs kitchen. There was a table before us with dinner we both hadnβt touched.
βBut this triangle isnβt working, Omotola.β
βIt isnβt working because you keep treating Yazmin less than she deserves. Mex, Iβm not in competition with her. Iβm holding my place in your life. She should feel secure in hers. If she doesnβt, itβs your fault.β
βCan I love you both equally?β
βNo one is asking you to. But neither of us should know how you feel about the other. Just make her happy. Is it that hard?β
βNo. Iβve just been intentionally indifferent.β
βPlease, go and make up with her because weβre all in this together. If one side hurts, the whole body hurts.β
βYouβre okay with me spending quality time with her?β
βHavenβt we been doing this already, Mex? And it was going smoothly until you screwed it up. Me, I have a hospital to run and very little time to perform any wifely duties. You and Yaz have all the time in the world. Just make sure youβre not exhausted when I want you.β
I could see relief on his face. Dude was actually scared to have this talk. I had avoided it too but my therapist suggested it and Iβm glad I listened to her.
He left his chair and came over to mine. Leaning over from behind, he rubbed my belly and was lucky enough to feel the baby kick.
βPlease, eat. I made the food just for you,β I told him. He kissed me. It was a beautiful night that stretched into this beautiful morning.
And now, while he still sleeps, I leave the bed for my daily exercise. Iβm a fit mama. I work out every dawn and dusk. Add that to eating the right meals and staying off anything fatty. I intend to have a healthy baby so that the pain of losing Majekodunmi is totally forgotten. Sometimes I remember him and cry. I wish I hadnβt held his underdeveloped body after I birthed him. The image still haunts me. To know that he was part of me and lived in me and yet died in me is not something I can put in words. I used to be an advocate for abortion until Jide handed me his lifeless, little form, wrapped in a blanket on which friends and family wrote out heartfelt messages. It had been hard for me to lay him to rest. I mourned him for a long time without anyone knowing. It was at that time I sought God and begged him to bring him back to me if he still loved me despite all my sins. God answered my prayers, and today Iβm carrying another boy. His name is Akintunde, meaning the warrior has come again. Itβs also my late fatherβs name who was born under similar circumstances.
Nobody knows how much this baby means to me and that is why I wonβt let anyone, not even Emeka, give me negative aura during this pregnancy.
I pick out the sound of Emekaβs phone ringing. He is still asleep and doesnβt hear it. I go for it and see that itβs Honey calling. I pick the call; before I can say a word, she goes into a tirade, calling Emeka out for being unfeeling towards Yazmin. I tap Emeka awake. He opens an eye and I put Honey on speakerphone.
βYou better not let her leave the shores of Nigeria or youβll lose her!β Honey warns. βJust go and bring her back, abeg!β
βHoney?β Emeka is confused. Still sleepy. βWhatβs going on?β
βYazmin is on her way to Abuja. Sheβs leaving you. Go and bring her back. Sheβs at the airport. Sheβs hurting deeply, Mex. Please, go and bring her.β
βShit.β Emeka springs up. βHoney, let me call you back.β
He ends the call and immediately dials Yazminβs number. It rings and stops without her answering. Emeka doesnβt wait. He picks his t-shirt, my car key and his phone. I get a kiss before he leaves. I go back to my exercise, mulling over the whole thing. My youngest sister who is in the States is a hardcore feminist and is not talking to me right now because she feels I am being oppressed over my decision to stay married to a man who has another wife. I told her, during our last conversation, that I was okay with the status quo.
βPolygamy is patriarchal and it is all about oppressing women!β she had shouted. βWill your husband allow you have another husband if the tables were turned?!β
βI have no intention of having another husband.β
βWhat if you fall in love with another man? Will Emeka let you marry him or have sex with him?β
Her question hit me hard. But the truth was that I was capable of being physical without putting my emotions to it. That was why it was easy to sleep with Jide. Emeka, however, is not that type of person. That is how I know that he loves Yazmin. And it is something I have come to accept. As for how he is able to love two people at the same time, I discovered human beings are capable of doing so, when as a teenager, I found out that my mom was having an emotional affair with our pastor.
My parting word to my sister was that human relationships were complex and Emeka and I were doing fine with our arrangement. Her response to me was, βYouβre oppressed, and I am ashamed that youβre my elder sister. Donβt ever call me unless you divorce his ass!β
We havenβt spoken to each other since. I donβt care.
I leave the room to the kitchen for breakfast and to also tell Mary that I have long overstayed my welcome and Iβm ready to leave.
I find her and Ekene in the kitchen. They are having a huge fight. I give them some privacy but stay within eye and earshot. Their fight has to do with Ekeneβs insistence on not wanting to have a child at this time and Mary doing everything to get pregnant. Unkind words are thrown from both sides. Mary canβt stand the heat and so she leaves the kitchen. Ekene takes a chair. He fiddles with his phone for a while, thumbing over the screen, putting it down, lifting it up and repeating the process a few times. When he stops, he slants his head in my direction.
βMrs. Onuora, you can come out now.β
Embarrassed, I step away from the darkness and stroll towards him.
βGuess you heard everything.β
βJust a little.β
He stands up. He is all dressed to leave the house. His light blue on dark blue attire, complemented by a dark brown tie and matching shoes remind me of how much of the outside world I have missed. I canβt wait to go back to work.
βBreakfast?β he offers.
βNo, Iβm good. Iβll do it myself.β
βYouβre my guest. Please, sit.β He rolls up his sleeves. βOats? Pap? Rice pudding? Madam made moi-moi.β
βOats, please.β
Ekene puts a pot on fire and pours some oat into it, according to my specifications. He adds water and returns to me.
βCan you help me talk to your friend?β
βWhatβs going on?β
He takes his seat. βBefore we got married, I had badly wanted a baby, just to make my mom happy. But she died and Tomiwa and I sat down and decided we would wait two years before we start planning for one. However, three months in, she begins to tell me that she wants to take out her IUD. She wants a baby. I get angry because this is not what we agreed. I scold her, she apologizes and doesnβt bring up the topic for a while but just last month, I stumble across a pregnancy kit she had discarded outside. I ask her about it and she confesses that she had the IUD taken out. I am mad at her. We have a fight and donβt talk to each other for days. Later on, she comes to me and apologizes and tells me how badly she wants a child. But I still donβt want one. Tola, a child changes everything. It changes us, and Iβm in this amazing stage with her right now where Iβm deeply falling for her.
βYou know how our marriage went. It wasnβt really about love. We were both ready and desperate to be married and we did it. Soon after, I really started to fall in love. But all Tomiwa wants from me is a baby. Do you know how that hurts, Tola?β
I nod.
βI feel like your friend may never really fall for me.β
βDonβt say that. These things take time for some people.β
βIβm crazy about Mary. You guys have no idea.β
βSo if you love her that much, give her what she wants.β
βSo that sheβll push me away? No, thanks. I know how fathers are quickly replaced by their babies. Especially with first time moms. But thatβs not what bothers me. Iβm afraid that Tomiwa is simply living out a blueprint of how she feels her life ought to go. Find a man, get married and have kids. I donβt think I fit into her grand plan.β
I tell him I think otherwise. Mary doesnβt always talk about him but her feelings are strong. She doesnβt seem like the expressive type.
βShe needs time, Kene. And maybeβ¦just maybe a baby will bring you guys together.β
βI doubt that it would.β
He stands up to check my oatmeal. Like Tomiwa, Ekene is stubborn.
ββββ ββββ ββββ
My activities for the day:
>Fight with a bus conductor over fifty naira.
>Insult a manβs entire generation on an ATM line when he tries to jump in front of me from nowhere.
>Get to work and generally ignore everybody. When they try to talk to me, snap at them.
>Get scolded by Wura for my nastiness.
>Enter the bathroom to have a good cry.
>Come back to the office go on Facebook to troll and give all my haters a piece of my mind.
>Return to the bathroom to have another weepy moment when one of them calls me a fat pig and adds a meme to it.
>Sit outside the office in rebellion and decide to do nothing until closing hours.
>Pick up my phone and finally dial the person who is responsible for my anger.
βCan you come over to see me at home?β
βJideβs place orβ¦?β
βNo, the Ditorusin mansion.β
βOkay. Iβll be there in a bit.β
I hear him saying something else but I cut the line. I walk back into the office, pick my handbag and close for the day. I avoid the irritating buses I find outside the building for the sake of world peace. I have decided to use an Uber instead. As I wait for one, I rehearse the words I would tell my dumbass younger brother who feels like he has a say in my life and what happens to my vagina. He is so dead today.
My phone rings. I look up and see my Uber waiting. I hurry towards it. When I get in, I go back on Facebook to finish what I started. I canβt overemphasize how angry I am.
I cuss.
The Uber driver, like the million others out there, doesnβt even as much as blink an eye. I keep cussing and hissing until I arrive home. I enter my room and find stupid Oba waiting.
Iβve always considered him the cutest amongst my brothers. Itβs about the swag. He reminds me of DJ Kasbi who for reasons known to him abandoned me when the chemistry between us was peaking. Iβll still take him with open arms if he finds his way back to me. He can gladly pop my cherry for no fee at all.
And why on earth do my moralistic brothers find the idea of me auctioning my virginity such a disgusting thing? The average dumb girl will give it freely to a lost soul who would break her heart. If she can make a lot of cash from it, why not?
βHey, Di,β Oba greets. I ignore him as I loosen the knot that holds my hair and take off my jacket.
βYou wonβt talk to me?β
I flash angry eyes at him. He stares back like an innocent child.
βGet off my bed!β I hit him with my jacket.
He stands. My hand knocks off his cap.
βI told you something in confidence, Obasi. Only you! I even remember telling you not to tell anybody! But you go and run your mouth to Jide and his wife because you feel you have a say over my sex life!β
βNo, Diβ¦β
βI have not finished talking! Shut up!β
βPlease, donβt shout.β
βI can shout as much as I want, Obasi because youβre a Judas! I trusted you with my secret but you betrayed me!β
βDidi, calm down.β He comes towards me. I move back, repulsed by him. βPlease, listen to meβ¦β
I donβt know how it happens but I respond to an instant, thoughtless urge to slap him. My palm meets his face and I feel the sting, even more than he does. There is a fleeting moment of silence between us and then he charges at me, grabs the hand that has hit him, swivel me around like Iβm some doll and slams me to the wall.
βIf you ever try the nonsense you just did, Ndidi, I will beat you without giving a fuck that youβre a girl.β
βObasi! Have you gone mad?! Let me go!β
βIβve endured enough of your nonsense β you ordering me around, using me as a driver, spending my money anyhow and on top of that, having the guts to slap me. If you try it again, youβll regret what Iβll do to you.β
I am shocked. Oba again? My own baby brother manhandling me? Is this spoilt brat out of his mind or what?
I push back. βLeave me alone, Obasi!β
βApologize.β
βApologize? Oba, what has gotten into you?β
βApologize or Iβll not let you go.β
βHian!β
I canβt believe this. Somebody tell me this boy is joking.
βOba, let me go!β
βApologize. Itβs simple,β he says into my ear. βSay, βI am sorry for how Iβve been treating you.β
I feel hot, painful tears baking my eyes. This boy has gone loco.
βIβm waiting.β
I hesitate for a long time but when I see that he is not budging, I give in.
βIβm sorry,β I murmur, just to get him off my back β literally.
He releases me. I turn around and slap him again. This assault packs more punch than the first. Oba takes the same hand, pins it above my head on the wall and pushes my back to it. I open my mouth to speak and he covers it with his.
Revulsion hits me as I use all my strength to push him away.
βYou did not just kiss me, Oba!β I scream. βWhat is wrong with you?!β
We are both heaving as we glare at each other. Iβm reeling over what just happened.
βI am your sister, Obasi!β
βYouβre not my sister,β he replies before I can finish speaking.
βWhat is wrong with you?!β
βYou are not my sister, Didi! Your mother is not my mother! Your father is not my father! They both lied to you! We, all of us, lied to you!β
I keep breathing like an ox that has just been chased around by a pride of lion. I refuse to believe what I just heard.
βMy dad had an affair with your mom in 1995. You were already born then. There was no way he could have been your father.β
βButβ¦β
βThey lied to you, Didi. Your real father is probably alive somewhere.β
βNo,β I croak.
βYes, Didi.β
βNo. Iβm going to call Jide and ask.β
Oba doesnβt stop me, and the fact that he doesnβt, scares me. I reach for my phone and call Jide. He answers immediately.
βHi, Ndidi.β
I bite my lips before I speak. A sniffle escapes.
βUncle Jide?β
βDidi, are you okay?β
βNo, Uncle Jide.β
βWhatβs going on? Talk to me.β
I pause. Jide is the sweetest brother on earth. How can he not be related to me?
βObaβ¦ Oba just told me that daddy is not my biological father. Is it true?β
Jide is silent.
βUncle Jide?β my voice breaks.
βWhere is that Oba that told you that nonsense?β
βIs it true, Uncle Jide? Please, tell me.β
βDidi, when you come home, weβll talk about it. Please, pass the phone to Oba if heβs there.β
I give Oba my phone. He taps the speaker button.
βObasi,β Jide calls. βLeave where you are to a quiet place so I can insult you right now.β
Oba doesnβt leave. Jide goes ahead with the promised insult but he serves it in Yoruba. I donβt catch a thing he says; however, his reaction to what I told him only confirms what Oba revealed to me. I fall on my bed, my back hitting it hard. As I look up at the ceiling, I begin to cry. My mom, the only person I loved and trusted, lied to me. The man whom I thought was my dad lied to me. My real father must be some scum of the earth, living a terrible life somewhere. What did I do to deserve this, Lord Jesus?
I cover my face with a pillow, praying it chokes me to death. Oba lets me cry for some time but soon I feel him climbing the bed. He kneels astride me and forces the pillow off my face.
βPlease, stop crying, Di.β
His voice is gentle, nothing like the Oba who was just rough with me. But his gentleness canβt take away my pain. When his palm tenderly wipes my tears, he finds it a waste of time as his efforts only make me cry more. He keeps begging me to stop but I canβt. The pain is overwhelming. He gives up and lies beside me.
βThereβs a silver lining in all of this, though,β he says.
βWhat silver lining?β I snivel.
βI can make moves on you now that you know weβre not related. We can actually have a thing.β
I lose what little sanity I have left as I let out a miserable wail. This is so not happening to me.
βI hate you, Oba!β
He cackles.
Β©Sally@moskedapages
Images: Foodbeast, We Heart It, Angela Simmons
Wow so so interesting, hmmmmmmm oba nd didi.OK na LUV in d. air.enjoy
Oh oh! There’s trouble in paradise…kene, take it easy on Mary o. Every woman wants a child. Oh didi, you so have a thing with Oba…u just don’t know. Waiting to see how it goes btw hauwa n Seyi. Thanks Ms Sally, good read.
Uhmmmm
Today’s episode was lit!
First, Hauwa…she’s insane. I always suspected from that canada trip with jide. psyko!
Tola has a huge heart. Dear lord, give her safe delivery. amen
Tomiwa and her superman. i love them. but kene should giv her time
ANd then finally, my couple for the day…okay, maybe not couple yet. the silly brother and sister. i so love oba, the way he handled didi. cool.
Sally, kisses to you
Hmmmmmmmmm Mary Mary come to an agreement with your boo o.
And honey and jide tho….early morning sex….BAE
? ? ? ? Oba is a fool. Mex’s situation is just confusing, I don’t even know what to say. Seyi and Hauwa ??
All shades of awesomeness. Dear Sally, I love you too much.
This is da bomb, I feel for Didi though. Oba is just too stupid. Tnx sally
Lol. Oba is such a fool ????
Laughing my ass out oba n didi wee not kill me, hauwa tho she’s crazy aw can she forget to wear bra geez crazy girl, a big thumps up for tola she’s the real MPV in btw thanks for this episode you just made my week
Today’s episode is whoa, Hauwa is such a crazy gal, i hope it works out with Jide..Emeka complicated married life eh, Tola dey try kan o.Obasi and he mouth eh, i knew he will be d one to tell Didi the truth…thanks sally
No comments. I thoroughly enjoyed this episode….oh and yes Oba is a fool..
Awwww… Sally thank you for this long episode… Oba can totally make moves on Didi….Hauwa and Seyi pls get-together already. Emeka has to beg Yaz gan o…. Mary and Kene, hmmnnn, Mary pls slow down na. Sally I love this episode.
awwwww, this is undeniably my best episode yet in this series.. Thank you Sally. may God give us the wisdom to know when and how to actually communicate our feelings when necessary, cos I can totally relate with Mary and Ekene, in love but unsure of what the other person feels for you so u just remain unexpressive of ur own feelings…. enof of the blabbing… btw Yazmin can go, I really don’t send her and I still feel Onourah is Didis father, he should quit the deception before incest starts happening under his nose.
Sally this one na better Sunday rice you serve us so. Nagode
Thank you Sally for this very interesting episode, I was glued to my phone from the moment I started reading this episode… I loved every bit. Well done
Poor Yazmin ,I love this episode Aunty Sally.
Oba and Didi…. Nah! Can’t wrap my head around it…. Hauwa…. Crazy Hauwa…. Mr. Ekene which main yawa be dis na, abeg free that thing make you give Mary belle joor… Yaz… Am so feeling ur pain rite now… Mex! U are dead! Sally You are super duper… Love you to the moon and back
Wat an epic episode just don’t know wat to say at all. Seyi n Hauwa, Kene n Mary, Yazmin n Mex, Oba n Ndidi, these love quadruple is really somfin to looked up to. Tanks Sallly ????????????
Oba Oba, now your mama will kill you.
I will be back with my comment.. I’m still trebling from the awesomeness of this episode.
All I can do is give a sweet wide grin for Didi n Oba’s issue and to think Hauwa left her house without a bra, lol… Thanks Sally
I really enjoyed the episode. Thanks sally?
Wow! What a delightfully long episode. I thoroughly enjoyed reading as it went on and on and on. I enjoyed Didi’s list of activities.
The ‘u’ in the pronunciation of ‘Hauwa’ is a revelation. I loved reading about how a woman behaves when she’s crushing madly on someone.
The love triangle between Yaz, Tola and Emeka? Absolute madness. Tolu can’t be a real woman if she’s actually letting Emeka act on his feelings towards Yaz.
Next episode, please!
Av just been laughing…Hauwa chai no wonder seyi was just staring who forgets to wear a bra…emeka is just a nutcase…oba needs my own slp
You rock Sally, enjoyed every bit of it. From Hauwa crazy babe to Oba. Can’t wait for the next episode. Have a great week cheers!
Dis episode was mind blowing couldn’t drop ma phn 4 anytin Nt until I finish reading it. Its Ws a hit back 2 bck. Oshhey Sally
*wailing* I love this I love ur brain,hands sally. will u grant me ur heart ?
no cry didi, oba is crazy for u which was y he did that
who leaves their house without a bra to a dinner…..hauwa kolo o,wonder how her nipples would have been straining d dress she wore…she even moaned. highest height of erotica ?. Seyi abeg I put hand for this, start already
sally kudos to you ??
This episode is damn full….obasi yaf gone mad again…….
oba has gone nutty, hmmmm feel for Didi
“Leave where you are to a quiet place so I can insult you right now.β This had me in stitches…Lmao! Lovely episode. Thank you Sally.
this episode has me ????
I love when people find love. I really hope Hauwa works out with Seyi…it’s about time those 2 find happiness.
and to my new favorite couple : Oba and Didi??? looks like they’ll be another ‘Jiney ‘…Aunty Sally??? you too much
Hmmm
This is getting more and more interesting
I can’t wait to see how this all unfolds
tanks sal
Great episode Madam Sally!! I enjoyed every part.
Ndidiamaka, you need to grow up! Obasi, you don’t manhandle a woman, no matter the provocation.
Tola, you’re a strong woman o! Emeka doesn’t deserve you at all.
Seyi and HaUwa, my jury hasn’t decided yet.
I love i love i love dis. Hoping to see more of seyi n hauwa in next episode . Tanx sally!
I wish dere is a like button on ur blog like dat of facebook for ghost readers sake who cant comment .
its another captivating episode. Nice one sally. love how jide and honey are getting more insync.
pls guys vote for this beautiful piece to win. http://prize.etisalat.com.ng/flash-fiction/voteall.php?id=796
God bless.
Lol…. I swear the Onuora’s’ are craaaazie! Oba is weird tho am loving his character.
Sally as usually had fun reading this drama-filled episode. Thanks and thumbs up!
Feeling bad for Didi right now, Obasi is one selfish guy, just shattered her heart just like that.
Tomiwa and Ekene…..take it easy o
As for Yaz, Tola and Mex, i dont know what to say .
Thanks Sally for this episode.
Jesus ooo!
I just died.
Oba gave Didi a heartbreaking news that the father she knows is not her real father and still expects her to be welcome to the idea of him making moves on her at the same time…smh for him. This is a lovely episode, thanks.
Lovely, lovely episode. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
These characters are real people to me. I have a friend who’s Hawa personified. A lot of her is in the Hawa character. I really like the mushy way Seyi got her feeling. For someone who’s swagnificient, you don’t get anything less.
Wura and Ekene, and the rest of us. Shebi he still knew she was trying to get pregnant. Some of the men I know didn’t even get to know until after the 9 month course started. That thing about marriage making people discover some so minute details is so true, I can perfectly relate.
People whose mouths leak are terrible. You could excuse Obasi for telling Jide stuff because he’s drunk (though I wouldnt), what defence does he have for the revelation to Ndudi if not absolute selfishness.
Thanks for this wonderful episode Sally. Blessings
ummm. Seyi and Hauwa…. loving it
Yazmin my dear, you will be fine. i just hope your papi won’t come to Nigeria to kill Emeka o
Fascinating…Thank you so much for this Sally
oba is a dick and probably my least favourite character right now. he could have handled this like a gentleman. Fucking fool.
And as for yaz, mex and tola, I keep saying it but Sally keeps pretending like she doesn’t read my comments. Those 3 need to have a hot, sweaty threesome sex! I’m not the only one thinking it! Tola has already accepted the marriage. Just bring them closer together once and for all! I won’t stop campaigning for this, Sally
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