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The weather was strangely cold and Uyi watched as Temi shivered in her seat even though the AC in the office was turned off and the window next to her was closed. He wondered why of all days, she had decided not to wear a sweater. But needless to say, she was looking good in a plain white top that made no attempt at hiding her breasts and Uyi was glad that she had gone the extra mile to appear sexy. She had been a sight for sore eyes for him, a distraction from the complex matrix systems he had been staring into all day.
βThank God itβs Friday!β A colleague exclaimed with his hands in the air and Uyi knew it was four oβclock. He smiled at the colleague who had gone back staring into his screen through thick glasses. He was a strange guy who rarely smiled nor frowned but did weird things like dance his way in or out the office, bang his head over his keyboard incessantly whenever frustrated and scream out βThank God Itβs Fridayβ each time the clock struck an hour every single Friday. He was the only form of entertainment they had in the office since television was not allowed.
Uyi pushed out his chair and walked to Temiβs table.
βHi.β She managed out a smile.
βAre you okay?β he asked and she nodded. βYou donβt look too well. Is it the cold?β
She nodded again and he felt her forehead.
βTems, your temperature is up.β
βIs it?β She let out a sniffle. βI have sore throat, headache and runny nose. Iβve taken Paracetamol sha.β
βYou need something stronger. Iβll just run down the road and get you Actifed.β
βWork ends in an hour, so I can manage. Thank God itβs Friday. Phew!β
βYou need to rest. Work has been so bad this week. As in, Iβm seeing double on my monitor.β
Temi sneezed.
βSorry.β
βYour perfume is strong. Go away.β
βIβll walk you home and nurse you if you promise not to jump on me again.β
Temiβs little, shy eyes shifted uneasily and she pushed him away playfully. βGo jor. I do one silly thing and you keep reminding me. Havenβt I behaved myself since?β
βBy dodging me throughout the week and boning as if weβre fighting? Plizz! What if we had slept with each other?β
βShhh!β Temi looked around, embarrassed, scared that a colleague had heard him.
βGo nau. I have work to do.β
βOmoruyi!β someone called and Uyi turned in the direction of the door to see one of the senior partnersβ secretaries.
βOga wants to see you immediately!β
Uyi nodded and turned back to Temi.
βMr Enenche wants to see you?β Temi asked. βWhat have you done now?β
Uyi shrugged.
βI donβt like the guy. He looks like a pedophile.β
βNow, Temiβ¦β
βWhat? Itβs a vibe I get around him.β
Uyi shook his head and walked away. Outside his office he took a flight of stairs that led him up and came out to a long hallway. He walked to the last office on his right and peeped in. The secretary who had called him earlier was behind her desk and she pointed to Mr. Enencheβs door. Uyi walked straight to it.
As most bosses appeared, Mr Enenche was older than Uyi but he was still in his prime. He was bald with no signs of gray in his beard and was totally bereft of wrinkles. And also, like most men his age, he wore glasses that just wouldnβt rest anywhere else but on the tip of his nose. An Omega watch adorned his wrist and a suit that squeezed at the armpits but swagged of wealth was covering his upper body over an equally expensive-looking shirt. The weather did not seem to bother him because his AC was on and at a very low temperature.
βGood evening, sir.β
Mr. Enenche nodded but stuck his face to his laptop. Uyi watched the movement of his pudgy hand as it caressed the touchpad of his laptop.
βI need you to hack into a site for me. Can you do that?β
Uyi wondered if it was a trick question. Of course, he could hack into anywhere he wanted but it was against personal principles and work ethics. He replied nothing and fixed his eyes on a church poster behind Mr. Enenche.
βI asked you a question, dude. Can you hack into a site for me?β
The βdudeβ unsettled Uyi but he replied, βI can, sir, but Iβd rather not.β
βI knew you wouldnβt,β Mr. Enenche continued, his head still crouched over his laptop. βBut if you have a younger sister whose virginity has become the butt end of randy menβs jokes, wouldnβt you do everything in your power to make sure you secure her honor?β
At this point, Mr. Enenche looked up into Uyiβs eyes.
βI know youβre aware of the site running solely to see Damaris ruined?β
Uyi considered this another trick question but saw through the manβs piercing eyes to know he was in trouble if he lied.
βYes sir, Iβve heard about the site.β
βYou know the people behind it?β
βNo, sir.β
βI heard they work here.β
βIβm not aware of that, sir.β
βDo you know why I called you in particular?β
βNo, sir.β
βBecause I have watched you closely. Apart from the fact that your work is outstanding, you seem to have a godly comportment which is very hard to find in your peers.β
βThank you, sir.β
βThat wasnβt a compliment. I just stated a fact. Anyway, it pains me to see my little cousin being treated like a commodity on display.β
βSir, your little cousin is Damiβ¦ Sorry, Damaris?β
βYes. And she is under my guardianship. Her father will skin me alive if any bastard messes her up. I know she has her flaws but she needs direction and that is why I need you to find out what idiots are running that site. In short, I want the IP addresses of all the people who log on to that site. All of them!β
βYes, sir.β
βBe sure that youβll be rewarded.β
βThank you, sir.β
βAnd by the way, Iβm inviting you to my house on Sunday for my babyβs naming ceremony.β
βCongratulations, sir.β
Mr. Enenche went back to his laptop.
βMy secretary would give you the details. Come with your girlfriend. I like to know my employees one on one.β
βOkay.β
βAnd Omoruyi,β Mr. Enenche lifted his head. βPlease keep this between us, will you?β
βYes, sir.β
βGood.β He dismissed Uyi who walked out and hurried down the hallway. As he got to the stairs, he came across Dami who was speaking on her phone but she stopped him with her free hand and had him wait for her. During the wait, Uyi studied everything about her carefully, his eyes adoring her features without letting on what he was doing. Her face was carved to perfection with high cheekbones, twinkling brown eyes, a straight nose and full but wide pink lips that caressed each word she uttered. The touch of her hand on Uyiβs was smooth and she distractedly but gently stroked him, leaving goosebumps on his flesh.
βHi.β She smiled at him after ending her phone call. Her hand was still resting on his and she applied gentle pressure with every word she spoke. βUyi, right?β
βDami, whatβs up?β
βYou didnβt ask me how I got your name,β she said and Uyi spared her a half smile.
βDoes it matter?β
βNot that it does but hey, nice meeting you again.β
βSame here.β
βAnd you smell really nice.β
βThanks.β
She started up the stairs and Uyi made his way down.
************
βHow do you feel?β Uyi searched Temiβs face as she rested her head on her pillow. He thought her eyes looked too sunken without her glasses.
βIβm fine,β she replied him and bit her lip. βPlease close the windows.β
βNo, you need clean, fresh air.β
βIβm still cold.β
βYouβll be fine under your blanket and once the drug kicks in, itβll send you straight to sleep. Whereβs your boyfriend by the way?β
βHeβll come later.β
Uyi thought he saw a lie in her eyes but he didnβt dwell on it. He reached for his laptop carrier from the floor and pulled out his laptop.
βYouβre always insulting Naruto. Well, today, Iβll introduce you to it and I promise you that youβll love it.β
βWhatever. Just play it. Hopefully it will put me to sleep faster than the Actifed.β
Uyi turned on his laptop and played the cartoon in question. Initially, Temi seemed interested in it but after she received a call from someone whom he suspected was her boyfriend, she turned her face away and backed Uyi for a long time. He could hear her sniffing every now and then and he suspected she was crying but he didnβt pry. Finally, she turned around and spared him a weak smile and continued watching.
βSo whoβs this guy with tribal marks?β she asked, pointing at the screen.
Uyi laughed. βItβs not tribal marks.β
βItβs what nah? Three lines on each side of his face like my grandfather.β
Uyi smiled. βHe is the Naruto.β
βOkay. And thatβs his babe?β
βSakura? Sheβs his friend but sheβs in love with his former best friend, Sasuke, who is now his enemy.β
βAnd from all indication Naruto is in love with the babe but sheβs forming friendship abi?β
βYes.β
βBut wait oh, why do they run with their hands behind their backs?β
βThe ting tire me sef.β Uyi laughed and Temi hissed in amusement.
βYou guys can watch rubbish.β
βBut itβs better than watching Cuando sex me.β
Temi burst into laughter and went into a terrible coughing fit until Uyi held her up, rubbed her back and it subsided.
βItβs not Cuando sex me,β she corrected after finding her voice. βItβs Cuando Seas Mia and it means when you are mine.β
βWhatever. Itβs cheesy nonsense. I canβt watch that mush with a gun to my head.β
βSpeaking of guns to heads, why did Mr. Enenche want to see you sef?β Temi asked.
βNothing serious.β
βIt canβt be nothing serious with that man. Itβs either heβs about to fire you or promote you. Which one?β
βDo they promote corpers?β
βWhy did he call you nau?β
βHe simply wanted me to find out who is running that totameavirgin website.β
Temi hissed. βI thought it was even something serious. Isnβt he a hypocrite!β
βWhat do you mean?β
βThe person that is running the site is his very close friend.β
βFor real?β
βYeah. So how come he doesnβt know?β
βWell, friends stab friends in the back. But who is the person?β
βIβm not telling.β
βTemire, youβre not being fair.β
βI gave my word.β
βSo did I and see how I just broke it by telling you.β
She stuck out her tongue.
βAnd they say women donβt know how to keep secrets. But seriously, you wonβt tell me?β
βNope.β
βI hate you. And by the way, your nope sounds like dope. All your Ns are now Ds.β
Temi sniffed. βStupid catarrh. And stupid hypocrite Mr. Enenche. He and his friend like to follow small-small girls and use them anyhow. So it serves him right that people want to use his cousin.β
βWow. Thatβs harsh. Whatβs eating you like that?β
βNothing. Back to our argument. Admit that romance movies and series are good.β
Uyi mock-vomited and she hit him with a pillow. Then they fell into an argument that dragged on for a while and in the end, Uyi had to admit that he had enjoyed some cheesy movies. Temi blessed him with a hug and rested on her pillow again. They settled into silence for a while as the exotic Japanese language coming from the cartoon pulled Temi into a snooze. When Uyi turned around to explain a scene to her, he found her asleep with her mouth slightly open due to the blockage in her nostrils. He pinched out some mentholated balm from a small container and applied it below her nose; he also moistened her lips with some of her cherry lip balm and lifted her blanket to cover her properly. He wrote a note and placed it by her nightstand before he left. Slinging his laptop carrier across his shoulder, he walked off into the night, hoping to catch a cheap cab being that all he had on him was three hundred naira.
************
There was no one home when Uyi walked in through the front door. Earlier Ovie had complained about being too broke to host anyone for their customary Friday shindig and made plans to go see his elder sister to raid her freezer. As usual, Peter also made plans to tag along, keeping to his scrubby nature. Now, with the house to himself, Uyi made a meal of jellof rice and sausages, popped open a can of cold beer and settled to eat and continue with his Naruto when Edet appeared. The front door was locked, so he pressed his face to the window and made gestures at Uyi to open up for him. But Uyi being in no mood to do so, continued with his alone time. Edet moved away from the window and went to the door and began banging on it, yet Uyi remained seated and upped the volume of his laptop. Edet returned to the window and peeped really hard to be sure someone was within, that he wasnβt just imagining things.
βUyi, your papa! You dey craze?! Open dis door jor!β
Uyi ignored him and after more insults, he disappeared from the window. Uyi finished his meal and cartoon and went for another can of beer but Edet showed up again. He came with a loud bang that rattled the door and riled Uyi up. Uyi got to his feet, marched to the door, unlocked it and inivited him in. As Edet took the first step, Uyi rammed the door in his face, knocking him out cold on the floor. He remained there as Uyi locked the door again and went back to his beer. The night wore on and he listened to love songs on his laptop and went off to sleep, forgetting Edet outside.
The next morning had him waking late and to the buzzing of his phone. He stared into the screen to see Temiβs name and he took her call.
βHey sicky-sicky. Youβre up already.β
βYeah.β
βYou got my note?β
He heard a smile in her voice. βYeah. How sweet.β
βHow are you feeling?β
βStill not good oh. Iβm still running a fever.β
βOkay. Iβll come over but hope your boyfriend is not going to be there. I donβt want wahala.β
βHe traveled. Just come.β
βOkay.β
************
Uyi had a wonderful time with Temi again. As he guessed, she wasnβt as bad as she had projected on the phone but she still needed little more nursing. He administered her drugs and held her head over steaming, balmy water to clear her nasal passages. Afterward, they worked on a clientβs account, watched a movie and argued about trivial things. When it was getting dark, she begged him to stay awhile and made him a big bowl of soup to take home.
βThank you, Uyi,β she said and hugged him in her tight kitchen.
βAnything for a friend.β
She released him and headed out first, deliberately brushing her backside against him. Uyi smiled at the seemingly innocent act but kept a blank face when she turned around to look at him. She went for her sweater and walked him out the door but didnβt go far. There was another hug and this time he felt her lips brush against his neck as she let go.
βSee you on Monday,β he said.
βGood night.β She walked back in and he went home.
************
Sunday service was one of those long affairs. The pastor had too much to say, the choir had so much to sing about, people were thanking God for too many things and all the people that had starved church attendance in a while decided to show up. It was well past 2pm before the pastor said the closing prayer. Like many members, Uyi joined the church bus and it dropped him right at the junction of his street. Feeling satisfied and refreshed with himself, he walked home with a gospel tune in his head. Ovie and Peter were not back yet but Edet was in the compound when he walked in. He saw a plaster over the poor creatureβs nose but he ignored him and he walked past.
βUyi, abeg, make I explain wetin happen between me and Vivian.β
Uyi allowed him all the way to his flat and pretended to listen to his unpardonable excuse as he unlocked the door but when he stepped in and Edet tried to do same, he slammed the door in his face again. Fortunately for Edet, he wasnβt standing so close this time around.
Uyi made himself a large bowl of eba, had his lunch and fell asleep.
He woke up three hours later and dressed up to head to Mr. Enencheβs party at Asokoro. Following the address the secretary texted him, he found himself on a street that was lined with expensive cars. He could hear music in the distance and it drew him to the venue easily. He walked in through an open gate to face a magnificent house with a spacious lawn. There were large canopies with chairs covering the whole area. Women and children littered the place mostly but there was a section where men were hurdled together, sipping on beers and peppersoup. Uyi could spot some people from his office and they were mostly from management, but there were a few junior staff too, none of which he was acquainted with. He protectively held the gift he had come along with as a pair of little girls ran past him. He smiled at them and strolled straight to the front door and entered a sitting room filled with so many people. Nodding a greeting to anyone who cared, he waded further in, towards the dining area to see whom he could speak with. To his relief, Dami appeared. She was angrily walking past him as she murmured incoherently to herself but he stopped her and she slowly released a taut smile when she saw him.
βHi,β she commented and hugged him tersely. βSo good to see you, Uyi. The ass invited you?β
Uyi wasn’t so sure who the βassβ was but he had a good idea that it was Mr. Enenche.
βHeβs in his room,β she said. βLet me call him.β
She disappeared and reappeared a while later with a drink for Uyi. Mr. Enenche came out subsequently, looking tired but having a smile that Uyi had never seen him spare at the office.
βOmoruyi, you came. Welcome.β He shook his hand warmly. βIβm sorry I canβt offer you a seat because I donβt even have one for myself. I didnβt budget for this many people. It seemed everyone from my church showed up and more are still coming.β
βItβs how these things are.β
βYou can say that again. Come this way, though.β
Mr. Enenche led him further into the house to a room that looked like a guest room but had a small parlor with a single plastic chair.
βPlease, sit. Iβll have them bring you something.β
βSir, this is for the baby. Itβs small butβ¦β
βThank you, Omoruyi,β said Mr. Enenche, taking the gift Uyi was offering. βMy wife would appreciate this. Thanks.β
βMy pleasure.β
Mr. Enenche walked out and Uyi could hear him call Damiβs name out. He heard her reply back in a rude tone and they both began exchanging words in Idoma. Their voices faded away immediately and Uyi busied himself with his phone. While doing that, someone poked her head in and announced to him that everyone was needed outside because the pastor was about to give his final blessings to the family before leaving. Uyi nodded and she left but he had no intentions of making it outside. He sat put and continued with his phone as the house emptied gradually. Minutes passed by and he could hear only a few voices around him and for that he was relieved, but not long after, he heard Mr Enenche and Dami at it again. There was another female voice in the mix and Uyi suspected it was Mrs. Enencheβs. He listened as they lashed out loudly in Idoma. Dami was the angriest as her tone rose with every syllable. He heard her pause to prevent a lump in her throat but a sob had broken in and she raged on with staccato words all fired out in Idoma and English. Not so sure if he should hang around any longer for the private family spat, Uyi got up and began heading for the door. However, he was stopped short by Dami who was storming out of one of the rooms, tears streaming down her face.
βHey.β He put a gentle hand around her. She hesitated at first but the calm stare from his eyes made her turn around and crumble in his arms. It wasnβt what he had expected but he didnβt know how to push her away even though he knew it was the right thing to do, considering Mr. Enenche could show up any moment and have the wrong impression.
βStop crying. Itβs okay.β
But Dami held Uyi tightly and all hope of escaping her grip vanished out the window. He brought out his hanky and wiped her face just to have an inch away from her but she stuck to him and remained there. And just as he had imagined, Mr. Eneche and his wife appeared from nowhere and stood looking at both of them questioningly. Uyi tried to pull away but Dami held him tight and fixed stubborn eyes on the couple. She wiped her eyes angrily.
βYou were asking who my boyfriend was? Well, here he is.β
Uyiβs mouth dropped open, and he wished it hadnβt because just as it hung there on its own accord, Dami shoved her tongue right through his lips with an angry kiss; and all Uyi could think of as he tasted her alcohol-flavored mouth was catching the next, available flight out of Abuja.
Β©Sally @moskedapages
I took d pains to comment today, cos ds episode/ series shows u ve put a lot of effort….d story has a funny,interesting, romantic,investigative ,betrayal etc part…its so comp nd diff frm d norm esp d pidgin part, weldone
And I took the pains to reply. Thanks, Pelumi dear
hmm
chei, Uyi…u r in trouble but you shoud have gone with Temi? Hmmm…
Crazy good stuff. A zillion gbosas
Mighty thanks, Victor
true. a lot of effort has been put into this. really nice.
Arrrrrgh! U gon donedidit! I like how ds is progressing o! Now, btw d “devil” – Damaris and the “angel” -Temi, Uyi has got himself two beautiful ladies…hehe. I’ll like to know who he sleeps wif first (if any) and if he’s going to do so with the help of Burantashi. Ha, lovely!
Thanks, Shai
God bless u. U r talented. I just read all thd episodes today. Hope to read d next episode sonnest. Thumbs up!
Thanks, Aderonke and welcome to my blog
Pls lemme knw wen the next episode is out…another wonderful piece from yu.this just shows that yu er truly a gifted writer..
Thanks, Roy. Will definitely inform you
A++++++
Thank you π
This was soooo worth the wait! Yes!
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Lol! Uyi don enter!
Lol… Mr. Man finally got a real taste of his fantasy about the model. Nice.
Looks like I came late to the party but I’m enjoying the twists and turns as they unfold………