“Do you want to go on a road trip with me?” Sunrise. Or the lack of it, because rainy morning. Cold bedroom. Dugo found her face nestled in his chest. It had been unfamiliar, at first, having a man reach out to hold her in the night as he did. Years spent being alone had gotten her accustomed to loving her solitude. Her body had almost rebelled against his. Her body also enjoyed being needed that way. “Where are we going?” she asked. “Benin. I need to see an uncle who’s sick, and also sort out some of my dad’s property there. You want to come along?” Dugo had other plans. She had wanted to visit her hometown for some time now, but had always found a reason not to. Maybe this would be a good opportunity to make the journey there. “I play the best songs in my car.”…
Dugo #15
It rained all night. They were awake right through it. The first half was spent exploring each other’s bodies as if for the first time. Luper had come with dinner and apologies for his behavior earlier. He was simply worried about her, he explained, emphasizing why he still felt that she needed therapy to heal from all the abuse she had faced in the past. Dugo didn’t care for his speech. She cut through his words with a silencing kiss that led to another, and another, and ultimately to clothes being tossed on the floor of her bedroom. A cold meal of macaroni was waiting afterwards. Dugo hated macaroni. She opted for some of Luper’s birthday cake which was being stored in the freezer. In the kitchen, while Luper warmed his meal, she fixed herself a cup of tea. “Will this rain stop at all?” she asked, looking out the…
Biyankavitch #13
Previously on Biyankavitch… The Bahagos were on a weekend getaway at Liana Resort. Things were going well until the baby of the house, Jethro, fell into a coughing fit that let him grasping for his life. Bianca’s verdict: He was poisoned. His girlfriend was the top suspect. Here’s what happened next… Facts about Jethro’s case. He didn’t die. But he was almost there. And he could get there any moment. His father had threatened hail and fire on the Bahagos if his son didn’t come out alive. Ola, his girlfriend, was not a killer – in principle. She readily confessed when the back of my hand assaulted her baby face. I didn’t tell anyone in the family that she was responsible for poisoning Jet, because I wouldn’t have been able to get information from her if I did. I knew who was responsible for the attack, and I was going…
Dugo #13
How do you break up with someone without being a monster? Ace’s text to Dugo went unanswered. Can I just ghost her instead? Still, no reply from Dugo’s end. Ace crushed the empty beer can in his hand and picked another from the fridge. It was too early to be drinking anything alcoholic, but he needed to remain in one piece when he shattered Joana’s heart. She entered the house, springy, and with all the wow of her beauty. She was wearing the same dress she had worn on the day they she dumped him, as if it was a sign that the heavens were okay with what he was about to do. “Just coming from church.” She dropped a kiss on his cheek and wiped the spot. “Not straight from there exactly. Stopped at the market to buy things for turkey stew.” Ace took the shopping bag she had…
Dugo #12
“Hi.” It was all her pale lips could utter as his strong arms wrapped themselves around her. She shivered a bit. She was exhausted. Ace’s hug was more than welcome. She had felt like a floating balloon before now. His hold and the feel of his body brought her back to earth. The only problems was that she wished it was Luper hugging her. She told Ace this. “Then why didn’t you tell him you were coming back today?” “Tomorrow is his birthday. I want to surprise him.” “So that means you guys are back together?” She gave no reply. She received a peck on her forehead before Ace picked her luggage and began towing it down the alley that led to the parking lot. A little over two weeks ago, she had buried the cremains of her ex-husband. He had insisted on being cremated and his ashes stored in…
Biyankavitch #12
Dinner, he said, but he also asked me to have breakfast with him. Asked to share his bed. It was a welcome distraction from the heaviness that clamped my chest. My mood was glum after the debriefing I had with Lanre and the boss at the home office. As I had anticipated, they took me off the Kashimu case. “In light of your weekly reports, we have found nothing that indicates progress is being made by you,” my wobbly-bellied boss said. Sitting beside Lanre who was fit, young and fresh, the man looked like he was there as a vivid illustration of how one specimen can be the opposite of the other. In the office, we called this fat specimen Director Pam. “We hereby, withdraw you from the case.” “Is this an order from the top?” I questioned. I was looking at Lanre as I spoke. The muscles on his…
Novocaine Knights #14
LEXUS She was dressed and ready for her date with Dominic. Standing by his classiest car she caught a glimpse of her reflection and felt stupid and utterly ridiculous. Save for her new edgy hairstyle, she didn’t quite appreciate the way Ehi had her in a little black dress, subjected her into fixing artificial nails and made her face up. The housekeeper said she looked beautiful, but she disagreed. She had refused the heels given to her by Ehi and settled for the most girly shoes she had – a pair of pink and ash colored sneakers. Dominic’s chauffer, a young guy in his thirties met up with her in the car park and opened the backdoor for her. She chose the front passenger seat instead. The chauffer shook his head in a smile and went behind the wheels. “Prince, where are we going?” she asked. “The Marquee.” “Huh?” “That’s…
Say You Will Stay #22
Obinna was sat on the armchair when she came back in. There were snacks on the table – a bowl of popcorn, chocolate biscuits and two doughnuts. A bottle of Fanta on her favourite puff. One empty glass cup sat on the stool beside him. Next to it, a cup of pineapple juice for him. “I thought you were gonna go to the shops?” Isio did not hide her disappointment. It came out, attached to her words as they left her mouth. “This friendship thing isn’t gonna work if you don’t do your bit.” She picked up the remote control from the table and pointed it at the DVD player to eject the film he had slotted in. A thriller. One of those with Bruce Willis and guns. The kind of film he liked. The kind she avoided watching. Although she watched a few with him at the beginning of their relationship.…
Biyankavitch #11
Lanre. He had spent the night here. Face buried in my neck and a leg tucked in-between mine, he slept the sleep of the exhausted and angry, after a long session of intense sex, following two hours of Krav Maga in which I was defeated asininely. He had pinned me beneath him at the end of the session and demanded to know why I launched a personal attack on Baka. “You put yourself at risk and jeopardized the mission!” he shouted. “I’m pulling you out of there!” “No!” We were in my backyard, on a short stretch of land that held artificial grass on which Duru spent most of his time. A nasty rainfall was beating down on Lanre and I. The training session had been difficult. My body ached all over. Lanre was not the type of man you flexed your muscles with. He was swift and brutal. “You…