The Bro Code, written by Great Opara, follows the lives of three long-time friends; Obi, Ayo and Pablo and their relationships, the challenges and obstacles they face trying to make it in the real world, and the realities of living and working in Nigeria for the millennial generation.
The smell of burning bread had been spreading from the apartmentβs kitchen for some minutes and had made its way into the dining room and was now steadily slipping under and around the door of the master bedroom to the left of the eating area. It was the room closest to the kitchen and had the advantage of its own bathroom and toilet while the other two rooms in the apartment had to make due with a shared one. The smell which had now transformed into lightly dense smoke penetrated into the bedroom and started to dance around the head of the lone occupant of the bed. Pablo was in the middle of one of his most enjoyable mid-morning dreams of all time, chasing bags of money strapped to the back of speeding donkeys when the smoke hit him like a powerful left hook and pulled him back to reality.
He slowly rubbed the sleep from his eyes and pulled himself up to sit on the edge of the bed. His Casio watch on the bedside table showed that the time was 7:19am, he had been asleep for barely two hours.
Who the fuck dey burn bread this early morn morn nw, which kind wahala be this sef? He thought to himself. Rising from the bed he walked to the door of his room and flung it wide open and stepped into the dining area. The shades in the living room were still drawn, exactly how he had left them when he got back to the apartment in the early hours of the morning. He walked into the kitchen where the smoke emanating from the toaster was now thick enough to be touching the ceiling. Battling back the fumes, he crossed the kitchen to switch on the ventilator and then crossed back to unplug the toaster from the wall socket. Using a napkin to prevent getting burned, he opened the machine and retrieved the four blackened pieces of what was formerly bread and butter and dumped them into the sink.
βSee as this animal just go waste better bread like this ehnβ he said out loud to himself as he watched the water from the faucet eliminate the last of the smoke. Leaving the gooey mess in the sink, Pablo went in search of whichever of his idiot roommates had almost succeeded in burning their shared apartment to the ground. He stopped first at Obiβs door, decided against knocking and burst straight into the room. It was empty and unsurprisingly neat with traces of the manβs cologne still hanging in the air. The lighter on the table was the only thing remotely out of place which suggested that Obi must have indulged in a few puffs before leaving for work, as was his usual practice. Pablo retreated and closed the door behind him then turned to face Ayoβs door.
It has to be this bastard then, just leave bread for fire go sleep. Na wa o
Again without knocking he grabbed the door handle and pushed it wide open, preparing to scream his tired, sleepy head off at his roommate but the sight of the couple going at it hard in the bed stopped him dead in his tracks. They looked like two animals in heat as they clawed and pawed at each other, completely oblivious to the intruder looking in on their passionate naked tango. Ayo, as usual, was knee deep in someoneβs genitals.
Pablo noiselessly walked back out and shut the door behind him. He walked to the living room and sank into one of the couches, opting to just lay there and rest his head while he waited for them to finish. He wanted more than anything to disrupt the activity going on in the room and totally berate them for their careless act but rules were rules, and this was one rule which had no exceptions. He would not be the one to disobey the bro code.
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Obi tapped his foot under the table to a steady rhythm while the meeting going on around him continued to degenerate into further chaos. Most of the other people in the room were trading words back and forth and hurling insults that would ordinarily be unbecoming of people in their particular line of work. Or so it would seem to the uninformed outsider. Meanwhile, every single industry insider knew and acknowledged that these fiery meetings were all part of getting the job done.
βWhy should we be paying over sixty percent upfront?β Mr Ajibola, Obiβs direct boss, screamed at his opposite number from a rival venture capital firm. βThis is never how we do business, I donβt know what farm they brought you people in from but this is not how we do it hereβ
βBut weβre providing almost all the raw materials, which are being flown in and at a subsidized cost as well,β She replied with equal venom
βYou canβt bat in the big leagues if youβre not ready to swing hard, this isnβt kindergarten,β Nadine waded in. She had the reputation of being the office beauty but everyone who had dared to underestimate her on account of her looks had ended up with a deflated ego.
βHow old are you that youβre talking about kindergarten? Young lady Iβve been in this business since before you were bornβ
βAll that one na for your pocket,β Mr Ajibola eagerly countered before Nadine would have the chance to chop off the womanβs head, βYou canβt come in here and tell us how to run our ship, if anything we should be the one giving you pointers seeing as weβre significantly higher on the food chainβ
The clap back drew low whistles and concealed giggles from around the room, even from members of the opposing team. Their chief negotiator glared at Mr Ajibola briefly and then at everyone else present as a charged silence descended on the room. Finally, her eyes settled on Obi who was occupied with cleaning a smudge off his watch.
βWhat about you young man, I havenβt heard a word out of you since we began. Donβt you have anything to add?β
Obi smiled brightly even as he observed Mr Ajibola, Nadine and every other member of his team become noticeably calmer.
βWell first and foremost Mrs Daura, you donβt need to refer to me as βyoung manβ. My name is Obi Okorafor and if youβve been paying attention for the last three weeks you would have noticed that my name is signed under all the financial outlay reports for this transaction meaning that I have done my due diligence and I am better placed than anyone else in this room to give advice on capital financing and expenditure.β
Nadine started to smile to herself, trust Obi to bring the smooth talk with a side of cockiness in order to bluff anyone into submission.
βSecondly,β he continued βI think the most important issue to tackle at the moment would be the expected overhead for this joint project and as the documents in front of you clearly outline and in accordance with the CBN policy dated August 27th, 2018, which you should be aware of, you cannot expect us to fund both initial projections and still put up such a massive sum upfront.β
βExactly, itβs ludicrousβ Nadine chipped in for effect.
βLudicrous is indeed the right word. And this is what weβve been going back and forth with you guys over for the last twenty-five days. At some point we have to know if youβre truly in or you want to pull out.β
The room erupted in laughter over his sexual comment but Obi kept his face straight and impassive and for the next twenty minutes continued to argue his teamβs point across the divide, educating them all on certain extended concepts in the process. The meeting ended an hour later with Mrs Daura and her people finally seeing the light, signing the documents and leaving in much better spirits than when they arrived.
βI owe you a drink Obi wan,β Mr Ajibola said in reference to the Star Wars character as he aggressively shook his hand.
βItβs no biggie sir, just doing my job, saving the day as usual. But if you really want to owe me something I wouldnβt mind a salary raise ofβ¦ letβs sayβ¦ thirty percent?β
βIn your dreams boy,β Mr Ajibola laughed as he exited the room
The other team members exchanged high fives with Obi and thumped his back affectionately as they left the room one after another. Nadine waited behind until they had all left then she propped herself up on the large conference table, crossed her legs and eyed him seductively.
βIf you keep showing off like that youβre going to take all our jobs soon,β she began.
βShowing off ke? Nah nah, I just wanted to get that meeting over and done with and it seemed all you people were interested in doing was more arguing.β
βSo once again Obi came to the rescue and saved the day. My hero, how can I ever repay you?β
Obi caught the look in her eyes and bit his lower lip. He had been after Nadine ever since he started working at Rainmaker Capital some fifteen months ago. From giving him the cold shoulder, her attitude towards him had eventually started to thaw after she discovered that he wasnβt just another empty brained fuckboy coasting through life on his good looks alone. They were now friendly colleagues and even friends, with the occasional sexual innuendo thrown in to their relationship for good measure.
βI can think of about sixty-nine different positionsβ¦ ways in which you can pay me back, if thatβs really your intention.β He had closed the gap between them and was staring down at her dark thighs which had become exposed after her tight skirt had ridden up when she sat on the table.
βOh really?β Her voice had become a sultry, seductive whisper. βLike what, pray tell.β
Obi bent his head to her face and began to whisper, making sure his lips lightly brushed her ear in the process as he put serious effort into conveying his intentions in the most erotic terms he could conjure up. βThe tricks of the tradeβ as he liked to call them. Nadine listened attentively, clearly excited by the things he was saying and by his left hand sensually stroking her waist. He finished talking and they made eye contact for long seconds as he tried to read her thoughts. As he moved in for the kill and tried to capture her lips with his, she suddenly grabbed him by his burgundy necktie, spun him to the side and pushed him onto the table while simultaneously jumping off of it and out of his reach.
βAshewo, itβs not me youβll use to do office gist abegβ she laughed. Then she turned away from him and made for the door, ensuring to wiggle her ample behind provocatively as she left the room still laughing. Obi sat stunned on the table where she had placed him before he too started to grin and then burst out laughing as he shook his head and readjusted his tie and waited a couple more seconds and then left the room. He was going to have her, it was just a matter of time.
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Ayoβs guest finished adjusting her dress and makeup in the mirror and then linked hands with her host. They walked out of the room together and into the living room and ran straight into Pablo who had grown tired of waiting for them to emerge and was about going into the kitchen to fix himself something to eat. He glared at Ayoβs guest, then at Ayo, back to the guest, back to Ayo and finally broke into his most sarcastic smile.
βYou guys were at it for a while o, you must be famished. Would you like some toast?β
βShit!β they exclaimed together and Ayo put her hands on her head. Dressed in a simple black flowing jalabiya, she looked as beautiful as ever beside her companion who was wearing one of the shortest sundresses Pablo had ever laid eyes on.
βShit? SHIT? You dumbasses almost burned down the entire apartment because you were too busy fucking. The smoke was so thick that it woke me up from sleep, but apparently not thick enough to pull you out from between her legs Ayotunde.β
Ayo smiled and used one hand to run through her locks. Trust Pablo to exaggerate any event if it would mean he got the chance to play big brother to her and Obi.
βE ma binu brother Escobar ehn, weβre sorry nau,β she said in a mocking childlike voice while her companion remained mute. βWe completely forgot about the bread in the toaster and then we gotβ¦ carried away. Thankfully you were here, so no harm doneβ
Pablo eyed her from top to bottom for some seconds before he hissed loudly and brushed past the both of them. βNice one o, very nice. Sha I donβt blame you, youβre kuku just twenty-six. Next time you people should fuck and burn down the apartment o you hear? Nonsense.β
Ayo burst into loud laughter. The comment on her age was such a Pablo-like thing to say. Her friend, seeing that they were not really in trouble and that the angry looking, well-muscled, tall and bearded guy was maybe not so angry after all, attempted to introduce herself.
βBy the way my name is Clarisβ¦β
βMadam I really donβt care to know who you are,β He rudely interrupted cutting her short. βYouβre Ayoβs problem not mine. Thank you for coming. Bye byeβ
Ayo struggled to hold her laughter in this time so as not to embarrass her friend as she saw the shocked look on her face. She quickly dragged her to the front door, placed a light kiss on her lips and promised to call her as she held the door open for her and playfully tapped her ass as she went through. Locking the door behind her she made her way to join Pablo in the kitchen who was shuffling through counter after counter looking for something.
βYou just had to scare her like that didnβt you?β Pablo turned to face her, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
βScare her? No o, me keh. Never! I justβ¦ unbalanced her a littleβ
βOh unbalanced yeah? Na wetin we dey call am now?β
Pablo laughed. βHer sef shey she dey craze? Una nearly burn here down and she wan come dey introduce herself to me? Shey I ask am ni?β
Ayo shook her head and chuckled along with him. He was known for how swiftly his moods could change such that he sometimes did it deliberately just to ruffle feathers.
βOne day one day, you go finally see the person wey go treat your fuck up. You think itβs by all this gym you use to gym abi? No wahala.β
βAbeg leave story joor. But you this Ayo babe, you dey try sha. Yesterday it was that Lukman guy, the day before it was Natasha. The day before that it was Rachel and before that Obi told me you had one naija Ed Sheeran looking nigga over. Today itβs this one that you want to burn the apartment down with. You just dey fire, shey you no dey tire ni?β
βNo boo, Iβm an artist and their bodies are the muse for my art. Besides I need the inspiration, I still havenβt finished writing that article for the BBC and itβs supposed to be sent in to the editor latest tomorrow.β
βHow will you have time to finish when youβre busy chasing every single thing in skirts and trousers that moves. Inspiration kill you thereβ
βDonβt hate the player hate the game,β she laughed. βPlus, we canβt all be celibate masters of discipline like your humble self.β She paused to fetch her ringing phone out of her jalabiya and held it up to her ear.
βHello.β Pablo busied himself with rinsing the pot he had retrieved from one of the shelves and then began to fill it with water from the faucet.
βYes this is sheβ¦β her voice had taken on that official tone she used when talking to anyone not personally acquainted with her.
βOh my god oh my god, what fucking hospital? Where where? Iβm on my way right now please, Iβll be right thereβ
βWhatβs up? What happened?β Pablo asked, after trying to make sense of whatever bad news she must have received over the phone that had caused such instant distress to fall upon her.
βItβs Damiβ¦ itβs my brother. They just rushed him to the hospital,β she didnβt even try to keep the emotion out of her voice as she dashed out of the kitchen, into her room and out again with Pablo hard on her heels.
βWhat happened to him? What did they say happened to him?β
βI donβt knowβ¦ Iβm not suβ¦ I donβt know. Just give me your keys Pablo.β
βNo babe, I donβt think youβre okay. You canβt drive like this. Iβll drive you there, let me just get a shirt and my shoes and weβll beβ¦β
βJust give me the fucking keys Pablo,β she screamed at him, the tears already beginning to spill from her eyes. He immediately fished the keys out of his joggers and handed them over to her. She half ran, half flew out of the door and slammed it behind her leaving a shocked Pablo standing in the living room with a pot half filled with water, in anticipation of the very spicy spaghetti he was about to prepare.
So, for a moment I was confused about Ayo’s gender π
Interesting start, Great Opara. Welcome to moskedapages
Same as me now we knw she be babe, but she does both gender
ππ
It’s a pleasure to be here ma
Wow.. I did not see that coming. I love spaghetti and I would probably do like Pablo.
Nice, though am skeptical about the gay tin sha o
Thank you. I was sceptical writing it as well but let’s see how it goes π
Awwww Ayo is a “try sexual”… Lol short but interesting read.
Was just curious as to how Pablo knew bread was burning when he just woke up from deep sleep though. Lol
great start. looking forward to more
great start, Great Opara. looking forward to more
Thank you so much π
Cool
I was legit confused about Ayo’s gender, seeing as bro code applied. Exciting read!
That was the plan. Thank you for reading π
great start. looking forward to more…
LOL Bros I see what you did with Ayoπ€£ a very good unexpected twist. I can’t wait to see more about Pablo and Ayo
Thank you π
Keep coming back and I’ll try to satisfy all your curiosities
Nice write-up . i like Obi’s charisma. Pablo sound cool. and Ayo, softly.
Thanks a lot π
Bro codes…very nice characters
Thanks a lot π
Amazing first start.
Had to read it over twice.
Thanks so much brother π
Nice
I had to re read ayo’s part a couple of times to be sure. I thought there were typos mehn. Im feeling Pablo’s character already. Nice one chief.
I thought there were two Ayo’s. I had to go read all over to be sure. Well-done Mr Opara
Wow… Great read, looking forward to more.
Great read…I canβt wait for the next
Nice and decent stuff, keep it coming
Seems like I wasn’t the only one confused about Ayos gender, nice read great, looking forward to reading more from. You
I was like shey she is making mistake with Ayo’s pronoun like this.
Then it hit me.
Can’t wait for episode 2
Keep it coming
Nice start, keep it up. Ayo is she_him….interesting characters.
Great start to your story. Please stay with us till the end of the story
Well written. Thank you. Bring it on.
This is going to be an interesting read. Great Opara thank you. The characters are real as well as relatable. Waiting on the next episode
Ayo is a ghen gben pelzonππ
I thought referring to Ayo as a βsheβ was a typo. I had to read and read again before I caught on. Nice……
Engaging till the last sentence.
Like most comments I read, the Ayo character first confused me but I later realized that she is a she that has both he’s and she’s in her harem. On to the next
Nice one.
Nice Move with Ayo! I legit went back to the start to reread an d reread, i am like liking the guys