Merry Christmas, Guys!
I sincerely apologize for not posting this as scheduled. My modem has been missing for five days now, thanks to the three-year old in my house. I just found it today and you won’t believe where she kept it. smh…after I turned the house upside-down.
Anyhoo, enjoy the episode today. I’ll bring another tomorrow to make up. As for His Little Black Book, it’s not in my hands o. You guys should bug the Manswers guys on Twitter and Facebook. It’s with them. Wish I could post it here…
She prayed she would be able to remember Zinnyβs house. She went the wrong way at first before finally finding the house. When she saw the gateman, she knew she had gotten the exact place. The man didnβt even recognize her. She didnβt blame him though after all, itβs been six years and she hadnβt visited here much before she left. She was glad when he told her that Zinny was at home because she didnβt know much about private universities academic calendar.
She walked up to the house and discovered there were changes here also. Everyone seemed to have moved on. She knocked on the oak door and waited. She knocked again before she heard Zinnyβs voice saying she was coming. Excitement filled her.
βYes?β Zinny said as she opened the door. Oleng just stood there smiling.
Zinny screamed when she recognized the person standing there. βItβs a lie! Itβs a lie!β she yelled.
Oleng stepped forward and hugged her. They hugged each other fiercely. βItβs a lie. Itβs a lie.β Zinny continued ranting.
βItβs true. Iβm here with you.β Oleng informed her friend still smiling.
βI canβt believe this!β she screamed and hugged her again. βOleng! Is this really you?β she cried.
βYes!β
βWhere have you been?β
βItβs a long story.β
βWhereβre my manners? Please come in.β she held her friendβs hand and led her in.
βWhereβs everyone?β
βTheyβve all gone out. Iβm alone at home. I was preparing breakfast. Would you like some?β
βShould I call my doctor first?β Oleng asked chuckling. She remembered that Zinny had been a bad cook.
βYouβre not serious. Iβll have you know that Iβm now the one in charge of the kitchen.Β My dad even told my mum to relinquish her kitchen duties to me.β she bragged.
βReally? Like washing of plates and pots kind of duties?β Oleng teased.
Zinny eyed her and they both laughed.
Oleng followed her to the kitchen.
βI intend preparing fried eggs and toast. Just sit and tell me everything that happenedβ¦no wait. Let me call Marvy to come over first.β She rushed to pick up her phone.
βIs she around?β Oleng enquired sitting down and facing her friend.
βYes. Weβll both be resuming by Octoberβ¦hello. Come over to my house immediatelyβ¦donβt question me. Just comeβ¦propose indeed! I want you to come and see the person who decided to grace my house this morningβ¦not him now! Ooohβ¦come jor! Wetin dey worry you sef? Please come and make it snappy. Okay…bye. I never knew Marvy was so inquisitive.β she grinned as she flipped her phone shut.
She went to hug her friend again. βI really canβt believe you are here. There was a time I thought you were dead. I thought your mother took you for an abortion and you died in the process. I wept myself silly. The gateman wasnβt cooperative either. He kept telling us that you no longer lived there. We even tried to bribe him to tell us if you were dead but he chased us out. We had to give up and told your soul to rest in peace. Any time I dreamt of you, I would cry woefully. I canβt believe youβre here, alive, hale and hearty.β she narrated slowly
βI was in Calabar. My mum woke up one day and told me to get ready for Calabar. I was glad at that particular time to change my abode but she seized my phone and my laptop. So I couldnβt contact you guys to tell you I was leaving. I wanted to come back before now but she wouldnβt hear of it. But now that I have graduated and no long under her wings, I decided to come back here to look for you all.β
βCalabar. Who would have thought you were so close yet so far?…Oleng, what happened to the pregnancy? Did you abort the baby?β
βNo.β she shook her head sadly but later smiled. βI gave birth to him. You should have seen him, Zinny. He was so beautiful. I couldnβt help loving him even though he brought me a lot of sorrows. You would have loved him too. He looked exactly like Eric.β
βWhereβs he now? Did you bring him along with you? I want to see him!β she said with excitement.
Oleng shook her head slowly. βHe died a few hours after I gave birth to him. The doctor said a complication of some sort. They killed my baby.β
Zinny held her until she heard her name.
βZinny. Zinny. Where are you? I donβt have time for your childish games.β Marvy shouted, looking for her at the back of the sofa.
βI dey kitchen.β Zinny said hoarsely and wiped away her tears.
βWhat are you doing in the kitchen? Didnβt you tell me thatβ¦Jesus Christ!…Oleng!β Marvy screamed as Oleng stood up. After her shock, Marvy ran to embrace her long lost friend.
βOleng! Oleng! Is this really you?β she yelled.
βYes. In flesh and blood.β she said smiling.
βReally? My God! We all thought you were dead. Oh! Thank God. Oleng!β she called again in amazement. βZinny, see Oleng.β she told her friend who had gone to the fridge to bring out eggs.
Zinny chuckled. βIβve seen her. That was why I called you to come and see her also.β
βThis is unbelievable. What a pleasant surprise. Tell me, what happened to you.β
Oleng shrugged and began her story again to the point where she had stopped with Zinny.
βOh! Iβm so sorry.β Marvy shook her head sorrowfully.
Zinny who had finished frying the eggs and was now toasting some slices of bread shook her head also.
βI got my acts together, took external exams and got into the university. I finished some weeks ago.β
βCongratulations. Ours is in a few months from now. You know both nursing and pharmacy departments donβt share the same time table with other departmentsβ¦Iβm so happy to see you. Promise me youβll never leave us again.β Marvy held her hand smiling.
βI promise.β she replied smiling and they hugged again.
βSorry to ask this question Oleng but what about Eric. Didnβt you tell him about the baby?β
Oleng looked down at her feet. βI told him. I sent messages to his box and phone but he didnβt reply. He was forever offline and his phone was forever switched off or off service area. Then he finally sent me a message to terminate the pregnancy; thatβs if it was his, he didnβt want to be saddled with an unwanted baby because he had a bright future ahead of him and to forget about him. He abandoned me.β she narrated with much pain.
She smiled at the look of shock on their faces. Marvy actually had her mouth open.
βNa lie! Eric couldnβt have done that.β Zinny was bamboozled.
βWell, he did.β she said as a matter of fact. βThere’s no cause for alarm right now because Iβve moved on. Iβve forgotten about him and the baby and moved on.β she shrugged in a manner of indifference.
βBut Eddy said you were the one who broke up with him. Eric told him so.β Zinny informed her.
βBorrowing your phrase, itβs a lie. He probably said that to hide his guilt. Anyway, I donβt care. Letβs forget about him. I have…so tell me, what have you girls been up to? Should I start getting ready to be a maid of honor?β She grinned.
βIndeed!β Marvy laughed. βAre you not the one who has finished school? Shouldnβt we be looking up to you?β
βMe? No way. I still have to get my masters degree and a good job.β
βI wonder what you want us who are still in school to do.β
βBefore una start to argue about who go first marry, make we chop.β Zinny admonished them.
βComing out from the mouth of the person who will marry first, what with her ‘Mr. Oil Company’ worker and all.β Marvy teased.
βMarvy!β Zinny chided with a warning finger.
βDonβt tell me you and Eddy are still going out?β Oleng asked taking from the pile of toast.
βTheyβve broken up twice but theyβre back together again. I dare say that this time around theyβll end up at the altar.β Marvy continued after taking a slice of toast.
βNa you get your mouth.β Zinny simply told her but she was grinning. βBy the way Oleng, how did you know she was referring to Eddy?β
βI saw Dave in Calabar some months ago.β
βDave!β they both screamed.
βI havenβt seen that cool guy in ages.β
βHowβs he?β
βHe was posted to Calabar. We didn’t see each other until it was just two months for him to leave. We spent those months together and he told me about you all. Luckily for him, he was retained by the company he served in.β
βThatβs wonderful. Heβll be a big boy by now.β
βNah! Dave is still the same cool and quiet guy though he has loosened up a lot. Heβs much more fun to be with now.β
Zinny turned to look at Marvy in the spacious kitchen. βTell me Marvy, do you hear wedding bells ringing?β She asked her friend smiling with mischief.
βI certainly do. Dave weds Oleng.β Marvy made a motion with her hands as if she was capturing a headline.
βStop it you two. Me and Dave? I canβt imagine.β She looked scandalized.
βEhen? Whatβs wrong with you and Dave getting married? E make sense die!β Zinny countered.
βDave is like a brother to me. Like a good friend but certainly not a husband. Moreover, I donβt think he feels that way towards me.β
βAkwuko.β Zinny replied, taking a sip from her tea. βDave wey dey trip for you that time?β
βReally?β Oleng was surprised.
βOf course. He hid it very well but we caught him a number of times staring at you when you werenβt looking.β Marvy put in.
βA lot of people stared at me then.β she reminded them with a nonchalant shrug.
βYes. He stared at you the same way. With longing.β Zinny interjected.
βYeah.β Marvy concurred.
βI never knew.β Oleng remained surprised.
βThatβs because you had eyes for only Eric then.β Zinny observed.
Oleng shook her head sadly. βWell, thatβs no longer the case. But shouldnβt I have noticed it by now since we have spent so much time in each otherβs company?β
βKnowing you, Iβd say no. Because you see him as a brother, you would also think he sees you as a sister.β
βO God! I donβt feel anything for him. He’s just a good friend to me. I donβt want to hurt him by not reciprocating his feelings.β She sounded confused.
βHeβs a big boy. He ought to understand that you still love Eric.β Zinny told her smiling.
βWhat?β Oleng couldn’t believe her ears. βMe? Still in love with Eric? Youβre not serious. I donβt love Eric anymore. I admit I used to but after what he did to me? Certainly not! In fact, I hate him with a passion now.β she passionately acclaimed to their surprise.
βPlease can we maintain something here,β she continued. βPlease, can we never mention that name whenever Iβm around? Please. You girls can discuss about him when Iβm not around but please donβt mention him near me ever again. I donβt even want to know if heβs even in the country. Please.β
Silence took over the atmosphere after her outburst. After a while, Zinny dropped her mug and went to hold her friendβs hands.
βItβs okay, Oleng. Iβm sorry I mentioned him. I was just trying to pull your legs. Donβt worry, Marvy and I wonβt mention his name near you ever again. Abi Marvy?β Zinny asked her other friend grinning.
βSure. I promise never to mention him near you again.β Marvy concurred smiling also and they all hugged.
Oleng and Marvy stayed there till Zinnyβs siblings came back home. Oleng marveled at how big they had become. Only one of them recognized her. She bade goodbye to her friends and they promised to come to her house the following day; that was after she had assured them that her mum wouldnβt dare to throw them out if she didnβt want the history of her life to be told. They laughed at that.
When Oleng got home, she didnβt see her mumβs new car but she saw the other car, the Honda civic she had seen the day before. She got in and met her mumβs so-called lover in the living room watching television.
βAh! Youβre back.β he hailed when he saw her.
For an answer, she hissed and headed for her room.
βPlease wait.β he called and ran after her.
He caught up with her at her door from across the lobby. She folded her hands across her chest and leaned on the door.
βYes?β she rudely asked.
βWhatβs your name?β
βDidnβt my mum tell you?β
βI wouldnβt be asking if she did, would I?β
She eyed him before replying knowing he was lying. βOleng.β
βOleng. Quite a strange name. What does it mean?β
βDonβt worry.β she flatly replied.
βI donβt understand your attitude towards me. I just asked for the meaning of your name not that I said you should go to bed with me.β
βWhich youβll never have the effrontery to do.β she lashed out at him. βOleng means donβt worry. Now if that is all, Iβd like to enter my room now.β
βIs it the Ol or the Eng that means worry? Because if it is, you should be called either Ol or Eng because with such an attitude, a person who comes in contact with you will have cause to worry.β he threw at her.
βPlease keep your opinions to yourself.β She turned the key in the lock and opened the door. βPlease keep your distance from me also and Iβd appreciate it if you donβt speak to me again.β She yanked open the door and slammed it in his smiling face.
He burst into laughter. βIt will be very difficult to keep my distance and not talk to a gorgeous looking thing like you.β he yelled into her key hole before swaggering away.
βBastard!β Oleng muttered and locked the door with the key.
She went to her bed and laid down. She made sure she stayed in her room till in the evening when her mum came back. When she was sure they had gone out, she tiptoed to the kitchen and prepared a quick dinner for herself.
##########
Oleng was in the kitchen the following morning slicing yams to prepare a breakfast of fried yams and singing at the top of her voice when suddenly she felt hands on her sides, tickling her. She screamed and dropped the knife. It narrowly missed her legs. She turned around and was shocked to see her mumβs so-called lover standing there, grinning like an idiot.
βGood morning, Oleng. You have a lovely voice.β he cheerfully informed her.
βWait. I thought I told you to keep your distance.β she threw at him.
βAnd I thought I told you that wouldnβt be possible,β he replied. βLook, what exactly is your problem? Are you pissed because Iβm dating your mum? Sheβs a big girl so she can make her own decisions.β
βFor your information, I donβt care if youβre dating my mum or Queen Elizabeth.Β All I want you to do for me is leave me alone!β She vehemently told him, fury blazing in her eyes.
βWhy?β He said, tongue in cheek.
She hissed. βNo reason whatsoever. Please just leave me alone!β
βI canβt do that because if things go as planned, I could become your stepfather.β he informed her grinning.
Oleng was too stunned to speak. She stood there staring at him. βYou? Marry my mum?β she asked incredulously.
βYes. Me. Whatβs wrong with that?β
βAre you not married?β
βDivorced.β
βDonβt you have kids?β
βTwo. A boy and a girl.β
βSo what do you want with my mum?β
βI love her.β
Oleng burst into laughter.
βWhatβs so funny?β he asked offended.
She stopped laughing then. βIs your love reciprocated?β
βYes. Sheβs crazy about me.β
βReally?β she chuckled. βThe thing is I canβt imagine my mum in love not to talk of getting married.β
βWatch and see.β he smoothly replied.
Just then she heard her mumβs footsteps.
βSweetheart. Sweetheart. Where are you?β
βIβm in the kitchen, my love.β he called and sneered at Oleng.
βHoney, what are you doing in the kitchen?β Mrs. Akpan asked just before entering the kitchen. She was surprised to see her daughter there.
Olengβs looked at her mother with irritation. Her mum had not for one second spoken a word of endearment to her and now this stranger was not only ‘sweetheart’ but ‘honey’ as well. Jealousy sliced through her. She felt murderous hatred for her mum that instant. To make matters worse, Mr. Wale Akinyele took her mum in his arms and kissed on her lips, right there in front of her. Oleng hissed and brushed past them.
She went to her room and willed her tears not to fall but they did unheeded. So her mum could actually love someone, she could show love to someone? She could feel for a stranger but not her own daughter. She hated that woman!
When she heard a knock on her door, she quickly wiped her tears away. The woman she had always called her mother came in. Oleng didnβt look at her but pretended to read a magazine.
βOleng,β her mum called softly. Oleng noticed the so-called love seemed to have softened her mum. Well, it was just too late! She didnβt bother replying her.
βEmmβ¦β she hesitated. βWale is no longer in the kitchen; you can go and continue your cooking.β
βNo need for that. Iβve lost my appetite.β
βOkay. Let me prepare it for you. Do you want the yams fried or boiled?β
βDo whatever you like with it. I just told you Iβm no longer interested. You can ask your Wale how he wants it.β she spat out.
There was silence in the room.
βThis is about him, isn’t it?β her mum nodded slowly as if just realizing. She shut the door and came into the room. βYouβre angry because heβs here, isnβt it?β
Oleng continued to ignore her. She came closer to her daughter.
βHavenβt I tried? Havenβt I been celibate enough? In your growing years, did you ever see a man here? Did you ever see me with a man outside?β
βHow could I have when you werenβt always around?β Oleng finally answered.
βYet you never saw me with any man. What exactly is your problem? Am I not old enough to have a male friend? Iβve been celibate for 21 years because of you. And now that Iβve found love again, you want to ruin it?β
Her daughter waved a hand in disgust. βO please stop with the, βIβve always been there for youβ kind of attitude. You and I know you donβt give a damn if I approve of Wale or not. Youβd still do whatever you liked regardless of my feelings,β Oleng fumed, dropping the magazine to face her mother. βDo you know what is baffling me about this whole thing is that you can actually love someone. So you can actually love someone? I canβt believe this.β
βWhatβs that supposed to mean? Am I not a human being?β
βNo, youβre not!β Oleng yelled as she sprung up on the bed on her knees. βFor 21 years, I waited for your love but I never received it and now suddenly you can actually love someone? Unbelievable.β Tears streamed down her eyes and she wiped them away in fury.
βI will not take that from you!β Her mother warned her sternly.
βYou will. You just have to. Iβve waited all my life for a word of endearment from you but it has never happened but now you have words like sweetheart and honey for a stranger. Yes, thatβs why I said youβre not human. How can you feel for a stranger and not your own daughter? Are you really my mother? Are you sure I wasnβt switched at birth?β
Mrs. Akpan slapped her daughter real hard on the face. βDonβt you say such rubbish to me.β
Just then Wale came into the room at the highly charged moment.
βWhy are you both yelling?β he asked innocently.
βNothing, sweetheart. Oleng and I were just having an argument. Please, Iβll join you in the living room. Please.β she smiled falsely.
βIf you say so.β He shrugged and left the room.
Oleng just continued to hold her sore cheek and send daggers with her eyes at them.
βYouβll watch your words while you are here. I will not tolerate any form of insolence from you anymore.β she warned her daughter who continued crying.
βDonβt worry. Iβll be leaving soon.β Oleng quietly told her with a sob.
βSuit yourself.β her mum replied with a careless shrug and went to the door. βYou took my first love from me. Iβm not going to allow you take the second.β
Oleng wondered what she meant by that when she closed the door. Had she indirectly killed her father? She decided to ask Aunt Vien the story of her mumβs life when she returned to Calabar. She had wanted to stay a whole month but she couldnβt stand these old love birds, she would return to Calabar at the end of the week. That was her home now anyway.
She was glad they were out when Zinny and Marvy came to visit. She really enjoyed their stay because they caught up on old times, watched new movies and joked around a lot. To crown the day, Dave came to see her while they were still there. Zinny and Marvy both screamed with delight when they saw him. They got up and more like jumped on him than hugged him. They asked him a lot of questions concerning his past and future and congratulated him on his job. When evening came, they all went out in Daveβs car to have fun in places like Kusano, Genesis etc. Oleng was sorry to see all of them leave when it was night fall. Dave promised to pay her a visit again the following day.
Oleng was glad again that her mum and her lover boy were not around when Dave came to visit. They discussed a lot of things and planned when they would return to Calabar. Dave was surprised she wanted to leave so soon but understood when she said she wasnβt in good terms with her mum. They were still talking about the flat he found in Calabar when her mum came in with her man friend in tow.
βGood afternoon Ma.β Dave greeted politely, standing up.
Mrs. Akpan looked at him in disdain. βWho is this, Oleng?β
Oleng stared at her mum nonchalantly and said, βA former school mate of mine, my friend.β
βWhatβs he doing here?β her mum fumed.
βHe came to see me. We met again in Calabar where he served and came back here together. We were just planning when we would leave for Calabar.β she said still with indifference.
βI thought I told you not to bring a male here ever again. This is not a brothel. Now leave young man.β she ordered furiously.
Oleng stood in front of Dave when he made to leave.
βWhatβs the meaning of this? Why are you embarrassing me? Canβt my friends visit me here anymore?β
βOleng please. Itβs okay. Donβt talk back at your mother. Iβll leave.β Dave placated.
βNo! It is not okay. Why must she embarrass me like this?β
βIβm very sorry for coming in the first place ma.β Dave politely said and brushed past Oleng.
βDave,β she called but he didnβt turn around. She walked up to him at the door.
βPlease Iβm very sorry for this embarrassment. Now you know what I’ve been facing all my life. I donβt know about you but I’m leaving for Calabar tomorrow.β
βI understand,β was all Dave said before he left.
βI hope youβre happy now!β she yelled at her mum.
βYou should be ashamed of yourself bringing a man in here after what happened to you.β her mum lashed out. βMy house is not a place where you can always get pregnant whenever you like.β
Oleng became angrier when she saw the look of shock on Waleβs face. Her mum had just let out an embarrassing secret to this stranger.
βWhy are you so bent on frustrating me? Since you obviously donβt want me here, why did you tell me to come in the first place? To torment me? To remind me always of the mistake I made years back? Well, I canβt take it anymore. Iβll leave first thing tomorrow morning.β She walked away with her head held high.
Mrs. Akpan sat down in anger on the sofa.
βWhy did God give me such an ungrateful daughter? After all Iβve done for her.β she lamented.
βIt’s okay, honey. Kids of nowadays are like that. They think they’re always right. Mine behave like this most times but I dare say you didnβt handle that well just now.β Wale said as he sat down close to her on the sofa.
βWhat do you mean?β she asked confused.
βYou should have allowed him to leave before confronting her.β
βI know but I was just so angry seeing him here. The last guy who came to this house got her pregnant when she was fifteen and left her high and dry.β
βReally?β
βYes. Thatβs why Iβm over protective towards her.β
βBut do you know what she has been doing in Calabar all these years?β
βI donβt care if she has been whoring around. All I know is that she wonβt do it in my house.β
βWhat happened to the pregnancy?β
βI took care of it.β
βI trust you.β he said laughing and she couldnβt help laughing also.
When Oleng heard them laughing while she was packing, she felt like committing murder. They were laughing at her expense, right? Well, they wouldnβt see her again to make fun of. She would make sure of that. She swore right there never to see her mum again. Her mum would be the one to come and look for her. She was filled with so much hatred for the woman who had given birth to her. No. She shook her head. She had probably been switched at birth. She sincerely believed so.
Oleng mama is a fool a very big fat fool. I hope she is fat unless this my curse will be a waste, and why was her intended fiance wale or whatever tickling oleng which kind of rough play is that, meanwhile I like the reunion between friends oleng,Zinny and marvy not forgetting Dave. Nice one Audrey and thanks Sally for posting this christmas gift today
Lmao! She isn’t fat. Thanks dear
I knew it, that baby is alive somewhere. Merry Christmas.
I wish you the same, dear
*sighs*. I finally get a Christmas gift! Thank you Sally! U dunno wat dis piece means 2 me 2day.
I’m happy fopr you
I am very sure that baby didn’t die. Oleng’s mum took care of it!!! Wicked
Hmm…
I knew ‘Mrs Akpan’ has something to do with the disappearance of baby Eric!
Merry Christmas Aubrey
Hmm…I wish you the same, dear
Thanks for this episode, I hve been surfing the internet for this post until today. It is very interest, it is good to know that Oleng’s nd Eric’s child might still be alive.
Hmm…thanks dear
Thank goodness our baby is still alive, please post on time tomorrow. Have been praying for this post for days, thanks dearie.
Hmm…
Av got nothing much to say,except Merry christmas and Please,tomorrow should come fast o.
I wish you the same, dear
Took care of it ke! Hmmm me I don’t trust dat Mr Wale o. Let 2mrw quickly come o
Me too!
Arrrrrrgh……..I just hate this character called Mrs. Akpan!
For all i care she and her loverboy should go to hell.Evuls!
Lol!
Mrs. Akpan or wat ever she is been called, must u b a b***h, cos 4 all I care u r a mother, mothers r expected 2 advice their daughter, not nagging always, poor oleng. I hope oleng son is alive oo. Dave, dats a good way 2 go about such situation. Audrey, Sally u r heading 2 the TOP by GOD’s Grace. Merry christmas 2 u.
Hmm…Amen! I wish you the same, dear
Lmao! She isn’t fat sha. Thanks dear
Merry Christmas to Sally and every reader here. Cheers!
Merry Christmas to you Audrey and to everyone happy boxing day
I wish you same, dear
Ewoh! Wasmakelly is angry like me too. Hehehe. Compliments of the season Audrey and sally lol
Nice one
Thanks dear
What a mother.
Good oleng reunite with her friends.
Yeah
I have always thought dat baby isn’t dead but hidden, sold, exchanged or somewhere. Thanks Sally, thanks Audrey. Merry Xmas to u all.
I wish you same, dear
Hmmmmmmmmm. Smh
Took care of it huh? Chaiii, Mama Oleng diarisgodooooo