Click to read the previous episodes of Where To Find Breasts
Wednesday.
Yenkat was finally allowed to go home. Doctor Eunice came into her room, dancing to the beat of some song she was listening to on her earphones. She sang aloud in a jarring tone. Yenkat didn’t find her entertaining. With crossed arms, she sat and watched her. Doctor Eunice danced her way to the bed and stopped, panting heavily.
“I’m so out of shape. Phew! You look good today, Yenkat,” she complimented as she took off her earphones.
“Good morning.”
“Morning.” She began to read Yenkat’s pulse. “Feel better?”
“A lot.”
“Good, because I’m sending you home right now.”
“Really?”
“I am. But you’ll be back here on Friday to have your wound dressed. And on Monday, so that we can take the stitches out.”
“Okay.”
“Don’t worry about your bills. It’s on the house. And don’t thank me for that too. Thank Kyenpia.”
“I appreciate everything you’ve done, Eunice.”
“Awww.” Doctor Eunice giggled, tapping Yenkat’s shoulder. “You’re welcome. I hope you don’t mind that I called Omar? I told him to come and pick you up.”
“It’s fine.”
“Good.”
Doctor Eunice stayed a little longer, ensuring that Yenkat was in good condition before she left. Breakfast arrived from Léon Hotels. It was spaghetti bolognaise. Yenkat was still beset by the flu and didn’t enjoy it fully. However, she managed to have enough to satisfy her hunger. At the time she was rounding up, Omar showed up. She hadn’t seen him since Monday. She didn’t know if he was preoccupied with the business of looking for Aanu or simply respecting her wish to be left alone. Not that she had been alone, entirely. Clarence had kept her evenings less boring. He wasn’t much of a chatty person, but he was good company, and it was obvious that he liked her.
Last night, he had asked her before leaving, “Do you think we could have lunch or dinner when all this is over?”
She didn’t think she was ready for lunch or dinner with anyone in the near future, but he had been kind to her. “Sure.”
She did enjoy his quiet presence, nevertheless, and wondered what it would take to ruffle his turf. But asides that, she wasn’t excited about getting much from him. Her thoughts were stuck on Omar. Yenkat didn’t realize how much she had missed him until she saw him again. She was resolute on staying away from him, but was not willing to expunge him from her mind. She hated the futile struggle of trying to keep her thoughts away from him.
“Ready to leave?” Omar asked, coming towards her.
“Yeah.”
Wearing a white t-shirt on shorts gave him the appearance of someone who had just tumbled out of bed.
Oyin walked in, bringing Polaris along. The little girl burst into a smile at the sight of Yenkat. Oyin placed her on the bed and Yenkat daubed her with kisses.
“Good morning, ma.” Oyin curtsied. Yenkat nodded.
“Please, pack my stuff. Everything.”
“Yes, ma.”
As Oyin saw to her orders, Yenkat conversed with Omar in Hausa.
“Heard from your mom?”
“Yeah. She sent another text to dad on Monday night, says we should stop looking for her.”
“You already mentioned that. Anything since then?”
“No.”
“She’ll be fine.”
“I know.”
Yenkat trusted Kyenpia. If she said Aanu was okay, the she was. She was not surprised that she had refused to release her. Kyenpia was stubborn, insisting that Aanu needed to suffer a little because of her offensive attitude.
Yenkat couldn’t argue with that, but she felt sorry for Aanu, and wished that she would come home sooner, for the sake of Omar. She could see the worry in him, even though he tried not to show it.
“Ready?”
Omar took Yenkat’s hand and assisted her out of the bed. He placed her walking stick in her hand. They walked out to the reception where she signed her discharge papers. She was given some drugs to take home and showered with goodwill messages from the nurses who had cared for her.
The sun burned a little when Yenkat kissed the outside air. She breathed in, enjoying the fact that she wasn’t inhaling the stench of drugs and antiseptic. Omar brought the car to the entrance and she sat behind with Polaris while Oyin sat in front. He kicked off the engine and put the car into motion.
***
Yenkat had missed her bedroom. The feathery beddings, the quiet lighting, the abstract wallpaper design and soft mix of floral and oriental fragrance in the air. The first thing she did when she got home was to soak in the bathtub. Polaris bathed with her, singing at the top of her voice and splashing soapsuds all over the bathroom floor. Afterwards, Yenkat dressed her up and sent her out of her bedroom to have some alone time to pray. She then applied her favorite lotion on her body, wore a short, colorful kimono and sat on her bed to enjoy a cup of marigold green tea.
It wasn’t easy going through the whole routine on her own, but she was enjoying the simple pleasures of her own space. While she attended to her needs, Omar went shopping for her. She hadn’t objected to the kind gesture when he had offered.
Yenkat sipped her tea with relish. She planned to take something spicier and inebriating in the evening. She hadn’t gotten high in a while. It would be a good time to let her mind go, listening to music and expunging all the bad.
Omar tapped on her door, which was left open.
“Come in.”
He entered the room. “Shopping done.”
“Thank you.”
He placed a shopping bag carrying a collection of feminine sanitary products for her. “You didn’t specify the brand, so I bought all sorts.”
Yenkat smiled appreciatively.
“My mom is back.”
“She called you?”
“No. She called Dad and told him she had been kidnapped and you were behind it, and she was on her way here.”
“She still wants to fight me?”
“I won’t let her. She doesn’t even know I’m around.”
“Tobi, I think you should go.”
“So that she’ll come and finish what she started? As I said, I’m not going to let her in here. So, relax. But that’s not what I came to talk to you about. Can I shut the door?”
“Yes.”
He closed the door, sat on the bed and held her eyes with a serious stare. “I want to ask you a huge favor.”
“I’m listening.”
“Before that, I just want to let you know that I know your thing with that guy doesn’t exist.”
“What guy?”
“That Clarence guy.” Omar gazed deep into her eyes with a subtle smile that could pass for a frown. “It’s bullshit.”
Yenkat shrugged. “Anything you tell yourself to make you get by.”
“I know he’s not your boyfriend, but whatever.”
“Are you angry at me, Omar?”
“It doesn’t matter. I can’t force you to do what you don’t want. And I don’t blame you for pushing me away. I just wish you felt as deeply as I felt for you. But then, I don’t expect you to even feel things the way I do, because you’ve been through this stage with someone else and you’re thinking it’s not worth it in the end, so why bother yourself over a small boy?”
“Wow. You have us completely figured out.” Yenkat drank her tea lifting her eyes away from him.
“Just so you know, though, I’m not giving up.”
Her eyes returned to him. She liked the fire she saw in his stare, the way he was intense with her. No man had taken her this seriously before.
“So, the favor I want to ask of you…”
“Please, let it be something I can do.”
“I want you to take guardianship of Polaris.”
“Huh?”
“She can’t be with my mom. You’re the only one I want her to be with.”
“Omar, I don’t want trouble.”
“I already spoke to Star and she agrees with it. Her lawyer who’s a cousin is ready to help us work out the legal process that would give you temporary guardianship, if you say yes.”
“Do you know what you’re asking of me?”
“I know…”
“No, you don’t. Your crazy mother, who is on her way here, would kill me the moment she finds out that I’m with her granddaughter.”
“She won’t. I’ll handle her.”
“You don’t know Aanu.”
“I know Aanu. More than you do. Just leave her to me.”
“Omar, I can’t.”
“Please, Kat. You are all that kid has right now. Either that or I quit school and come back. And I don’t want to do that. I need to finish school and get myself stable or my parents would keep treating me like a kid. Please, Kat.”
“Omar, don’t beg me.”
“Please.” He moved closer. She put her cup of tea on the nightstand. “I wouldn’t ask this of you if I had another option. I wish I did, so that I wouldn’t have to bug you, but you love this girl and she loves you. You are all she has right now. Please.”
“Omar, no.” Yenkat groaned weakly. He took her hands. She snatched them back, but he grasped them again and caressed her fingers.
“I hate to put you in this position, but I need you to help me.”
“Oluwatobi, don’t do this to me.”
He didn’t say a word, but continued to caress her fingers. She let out a sigh after having a moment to mull over his request. She took away her hands from his.
“Under one condition.”
“What?”
“That you forget about me.”
Omar lifted his eyes and gave her a harsh glare. “What sort of fucked up condition is that?” he asked in a low tone.
“That’s the only way I can do this. And of course, I have to be assured that Aanu won’t come for my neck.”
“She doesn’t care about Polaris. I can make her back down.”
“Just assure me.”
“I assure you. But not of the former. I’m not going to slow fade you, mami, because I can’t.”
“Omar, we can’t be a thing, despite what we might feel for each other.”
His angry stare disappeared as he cocked his head to the left. “You feel something for me?”
“No, I didn’t mean…”
He cocked his head to the right. “Fo’ realsies?”
She was forced into a laugh. “Stop being silly, Tobi. I mean it, you have to promise me you’ll stop or I’m not taking care of Polaris.”
He got up. “Argh! This is hard, Kat.”
“Then take your child and go.”
“Come on!”
“I mean it.”
“Okay. Fine.”
“On your word?”
“I promise.” He winced. “On my word and honor. Anything for Polaris.”
“Good. Now, go out there before your mom comes in here with her madness.”
“You’re just gon’ send me away like that without thinking about how you’re breaking my heart?”
“Omar…” she said with a grunt.
“Aiit.” He quickly bent over Yenkat and stole a hasty kiss. “Our last?” he asked.
“Yeah.”
“Then let’s do this properly.”
The second kiss was more deliberate and sensuous. It was done with his finger underneath her chin, lifting her face to meet his. He broke away and frowned at her. “This is going to kill me, mami.”
“I know.”
“My flight leaves tomorrow night. I’ll be here to say goodbye to you, and Polaris, of course.”
“Okay.”
He took his leave.
***
Aanu wiped the bathroom mirror to get a clear view of her reflection. The steaming shower she just had, left the bathroom looking like someone had burned incense in it. Or maybe it was what was left from the dense marijuana smoke after she had helped herself with a joint before she went under the shower.
She wasn’t sure which. She was high and relaxed, and freed from the anger she had borne for Yenkat. Omar had been her first calming drug. She had taken one look at him earlier and felt ashamed of herself. His eyes had shown disappointment, even though he had been the one who reached out to hug her first. She had wanted to ask him what he was doing in the country, but she was scared of his answer. Scared to hear that he hadn’t come because of her, but for Yenkat.
He brought her home, and her first words as she kicked out of her slippers were, “She had me kidnapped. Can you imagine?”
“She did not. You walked off with some guy…”
“No. She sent somebody to kidnap me. The guy…he had a gun.”
“Come on, Mom. Stop it. I know you hate Yenkat, but–”
“She had me kidnapped!”
“Chill, ma. You’re raising your voice at me.”
His tone silenced her.
“I think you should have a shower and then, sleep,” he added.
“So, you don’t believe me?”
“Mom, please, go and have a shower. We can talk later. I’m not in a hurry. You want me to make something for you?”
She softened, tears thronging her eyes. She felt like the whole world was against her. First, Yenkat. Then, Nasir. And now, Omar.
“Tobi, did she hurt you when you were little? Touch you anywhere she wasn’t supposed to touch you?”
“No, she didn’. She was good to me. She’s not a pedophile. She did not groom me either. My relationship with Star was initiated by Dad.”
“Your father?”
“Yeah. Go and ask him. He was responsible for what my underage self did sexually. But what I did with older women as an adult is all on me. So, I’d really appreciate it if you removed Yenkat from every talk that has to do with my sex life.”
“You called her Yenkat.”
“Aunty Yenkat, if you prefer.”
Aanu strolled to her bedroom like a broken doll. To keep from crying, she smoked what was left of the Marley Kush her gateman had bought for her. Thereafter, she showered with painfully hot water and stood before the mirror. She had had enough time to think about what she did to Yenkat while she was away. She had been treated well by her captors, having been held in manageable lodging conditions. It had only been normal for her to be terrified that worse could happen to her. But when she sailed through and came out unharmed, she began to nurse fresh anger at Yenkat until Omar’s appearance brought temporary distraction. But having just listened to him defend Yenkat the way he did, her former emptions were dredged up. Nothing could convince Aanu that she wasn’t behind her incarceration. If there had been any plans in Aanu’s heart to make peace before she was taken, she had now changed her mind. Yenkat was not to be forgiven. Somehow, she would find a way to make her pay.
Aanu brushed her teeth and sprayed her favorite perfume. She hadn’t smelled good in days. She came out of the bathroom feeling as fresh as a newborn. The aroma of something cooking in the kitchen pervaded the air. She put on her clothes and followed the scent.
“Just sit down,” Omar said to her. “I’m almost done.”
“What are you cooking?”
“Iya mi, sit down.”
Aanu was starving for some real food, intensified by the weed she had smoked. She waited impatiently until Omar stepped out with a meal of boiled yam and eggs. On the side was a sweet and spicy tomato sauce with sausages.
“Bon appetit.”
“Aren’t you eating?” she asked.
“I already ate.”
“Oya, sit down and gist me about school.”
She was asking of him a strange request. They were not the mother and son that sat down to talk about anything. She had always been too busy for him in the past. But now, she felt sorry for being distant, although she couldn’t bring her lips to tell him how sorry she felt.
“School is good.”
“But you don’t send pictures.”
“You don’t ask for them.”
“Okay, be sending.”
“Aiit.”
“So, talk to me, oko mi. Tell me how Italy is. Any girlfriends?”
Omar gave her a look that made her take a detour in her questioning.
“Are the courses difficult?”
“Some are. Nothing is easy, but I’m having fun, generally.”
“How’s work?”
“Great.”
“I wish you’d communicate more, Tobi.”
“Seriously?” His arms were spread out on the backrest of the sofa he sat on, his legs crossed.
“Just saying.”
“Iya, eat abeg.”
She consumed the rest of her meal like someone who hadn’t eaten in years. While with her captors, she had been fed factory-made sausage rolls and sugary sodas until her tummy began to hurt.
“You want more?” Omar asked after she had finished eating.
“No. I’m very full.”
He took the tray to the kitchen and returned, sitting down. “Okay Mom, let’s talk.”
“About what?” She lowered the bottle of water from which she had just drunk.
“About that shit you did to Yenkat.”
“None of your business.” She forced sternness into her tone. “And for the last time, she is Aunty Yenkat to you.”
“You fucked up. Do you know you almost killed her?”
“I will not have you talking to me like that, Tobi. Watch your tone. What went on between both of us ladies, was between both of us. And like I told you earlier, you didn’t have to fly all the way down here, wasting money that your father worked hard for. Nobody was dying.”
“You need anger management, Mom.”
“And you need to watch that mouth. Is that how you talk to me now?”
Omar rested his elbows on his knees, pulling his weight forward. “Mom,” he called firmly. “Your anger is always out of control. You need a therapist to help you.”
“I don’t need anything. What I did, any mother would do. It is not heard of that a woman’s best friend would be shagging her son.”
“We didn’t shag…”
“Not yet. What do you think she is aiming for?”
“She isn’t aiming for anything, Mom. I am the one going after her.”
“Or so she’s made you believe. Oluwatobi, you’re still a little boy. A baby. You don’t know the ways of women. Yenkat has seduced you into thinking that you’re the one lusting after her. She will then use you and dump you. Shine your eyes, boy! Be smart!”
“Have you finished?”
“And stop talking to me like I’m your mate! Respect me!”
“I have respected you all my life, Mom!” Omar shouted suddenly. “But do you deserve the respect?”
Aanu flinched.
“Should we talk about my childhood and all the times I walked out of my room in the night to get a drink of water and I saw you and some new strange guy on the couch? How about the occasional boyfriend that would live with us and you’ll make me call him ‘Daddy’, maltreating me but worshipping him as a king? How many of those guys did you date again? Six? Ten? What of the times you’d get mad outside for whatever reason, come home, and beat the hell out of me for what I did not know? Then the next day, you’d cry and beg me with sweets and chocolates and those stupid ten naira toy cars!”
“Ah, Tobi…”
“Would you be honest enough to admit that all the times you left me in Yenkat’s care was because you knew you couldn’t figure out how to take care of me? Not because you couldn’t be a good mother, but because you looked at me and you were reminded why your father wanted nothing to do with you! Why people out there judged you! Why you had to settle for useless men, because the ones you wanted didn’t want you, because you saw yourself as finished goods! So, you’d dump me with Yenkat and she’d love me as I deserved to be loved. Like a son and a human being! With love and respect and care – all qualities you didn’t have and you couldn’t give!”
“How can you say that?”
“And you’re wondering why I love her?”
“That is not love, Omar!” she bit back, clapping her hands to drive home her point. “It’s lust! And you need to be cleansed of it!”
“No! You need to be cleansed of your past, Mom! From the abuse you faced in your home and from the men you dated. You need to be free from that or you would keep hurting the people that love you! Have you forgotten everything Yenkat and her mom did for you? Yenkat, especially? Have you forgotten?”
“But Tobi, she raised you as her son. She is my best friend. This is not right. I cannot accept it! Yes, what I did to her was wrong, even though it was not intentional. I only wanted to take the key to the door–”
“You were drunk and you wanted to drive a child, my child under the influence! Have you forgotten that you almost killed me the same way when I was seven? You lied to everyone that your brakes failed. But you were drunk, Iya. You almost killed me!”
“Omar, why are you bringing up my past and using it to judge me?”
“Because your past is still here, Mom! You haven’t healed from it. You need help.”
“Okay.” She raised her hands. “I agree. I will go for counseling in church.”
“That’s not enough. You need to see a professional. Somebody who is trained to handle cases like yours. This is not a spiritual issue.”
“I know. But can we just stop talking about these things? It’s making me remember stuff I’d rather forget. Please, let’s stop.”
“Are you for real, right now?”
“All I want is for you to remove your mind from Yenkat completely. See…” Aanu left where she sat and took the space beside Omar. “I love you, oko mi. More than she does. More than anybody can. I am your mother. I suffered for you. The people I loved, they hated me because of you, and that’s why you mean everything to me.” She began to sob. “You won’t understand, oko mi. But one day you will, because you’re a parent too. But until that day comes, please, I beg you, my love, cut away from Yenkat. She is not for you. She can’t love you the way you love her.”
“Who told you?”
“I know her. Is she not my friend again? She has closed her heart to men. I know her more than anybody. Apart from that, it’s all wrong. So, so wrong. She is disrespecting me by doing this. What do you think people will say?”
“I don’t care.”
“What will your grandfather say?”
“I don’t give a fuck.”
“He will blame me.”
“His opinion never mattered to me. He’s a bigot.”
“Ah! Tobi!”
“I said what I said. He’s a misogynistic bigot.”
“Will you shut your mouth!”
“Mom, look… I love your friend, and nobody will stop me from feeling the way I fucking feel. Not even her. So, don’t waste your time. Second thing you should know is that she is going to be responsible for Polaris from now on.”
Aanu pulled back. “Meaning what?”
“Meaning, I cannot leave my daughter in your hands. I already talked to Dad and he’s in support. Polaris is better off under Yenkat’s care.”
Aanu felt like she had been stabbed.
“Star’s cousin is going to work out the legal documents to ensure that this happens. My better judgment warns me not to tell you this, but you need to know now and make your peace with it. If you try shit with her, you’ll hate me for what I’ll do to you.”
Aanu’s reaction to Omar’s words was a smarting slap on his face. He shifted a little to stare at her as she shot up to her feet and towered over him.
“Look at me well Oluwtobiloba Omar Mustapha! I said look at me! I am your mother, I gave birth to you, and I will not have you disrespect me in any manner! I know that witch has twisted your mind against me for you to enter my house and talk to me like you’re talking to one of those small, useless girls outside! I will not have that! As for your child, do whatever you want to do with her! She’s none of my business! But let nobody sha bring her to me when things start to fall apart! And you see this nonsense love that is shacking you for Yenkat, I will clear it by fire, by force! Go and tell her I said that! I will clear it from your eyes when I’m done resetting her useless brain!”
Omar stood. “You shouldn’t have touched me.”
“You’re mad! I will slap you again! It’s like you don’t know me! Try yourself!”
“In the end, there’s no difference between you and Grandpa.”
“Get out of my house!”
“I’m gone.”
She followed him to the door and banged it hard after him. She raged, as she paced up and down her living room. Speaking to herself, cussing Yenkat. Her anger burned like a coal train, powered by bitterness and pain, but she soon ran out of steam and collapsed on the couch in tears. She knew she was losing her son to Yenkat, and there was nothing she could do to stop the way he felt. But she wasn’t going down without a fight. That was what mothers did. They protected their children, no matter what it would cost them. She would fight to have her son free from Yenkat’s clutch.
***
Jaffa. Tel Aviv. Idara’s flight had just touched down and she was being conveyed in a covert manner to Leonel’s destination. The vehicle she was in had been tinted to stop her from seeing what was outside. There was a man with her. He had shown up at her hotel room in Lagos the day after her visit to Captain’s, and taken her passport. He had also captured her image with a camera. By Tuesday, her Israeli visa was ready. Idara was not surprised at the express delivery. Captain was friends with the ambassador.
She packed what little she had come to Nigeria with. Most of her clothes were back home in Nairobi where she worked and lived. Captain’s contact person promised that she would have clothes and everything she needed waiting for her in Tel Aviv. He took her phone for a few minutes and returned it. She was certain that she had been bugged.
“When you arrive at Tel Aviv, you will be under twenty-four hours surveillance. Your sessions with Leonel will be recorded, audio and video together. You are not allowed to go out of the scope of what you and Captain have discussed already. Captain expects positive results in two months. He also expects you to have a good time in Tel Aviv.”
“Locked up in a house, I assume?”
“You will find all you need in your lodgings. Leaving the premises would be considered a security breach and you would be treated as a hostile should you attempt to break out.”
“Break out?”
“Are my orders understood?”
“Clearly.”
“Good. I will come for you tomorrow at 0600 hours. Please, be prepared for the trip. It would be a long journey. Goodnight.”
Idara hadn’t bothered to break her head over her situation. She simply went to bed and looked forward to a restful night. By morning, the man was at her door. She was all set for the trip. The consolation she had was the fact that she would see Leonel again.
Captain’s contact conveyed her to the airport. Their flight to Tel Aviv was via Captain’s private jet. He was too paranoid to allow her fly via commercial means. Scared enough to have the car conveying her to their destination tinted out to stop her from finding her way back.
They got to the house by half past eight. It had been almost twelve hours of being in the air and on the road.
Idara was shown to her quarters. It was en-suite, with everything she needed. After she had cleaned up, she was served dinner. She noted that every single worker in the house was Nigerian. It was not surprising that Captain couldn’t trust his own shadow.
“When do I get to see Leonel?” Idara asked the strange man who had been her companion all day. He was seated with her at the dinner table.
“Tonight, if you wish.”
“Thank you. What’s your name?”
“John Doe.”
“That’s not a real name.”
“Well, now it is.”
“Okay, John Doe.”
Idara watched him. He ate as if he had all the time in the world, which was a huge contrast from the way he had acted towards her over the past two days. His manners were refined underneath the cold exterior. It left her conflicted, just like the fact that he spoke and dressed well but had scars like a lout on the streets of Lagos.
“So, John Doe, are you going back home or will you stay here with us?”
John Doe stopped eating and looked at her. “I have been instructed not to communicate with you, because you are a dangerous woman. They say you have a way of making someone think they are someone they are not.”
“That wouldn’t be a problem with you, would it? You’re the one who is a John Doe.”
“Ha ha.” His face was without a smile. Wide eyes observed her, making her shudder.
“Eat up and let me take you to Leonel.”
Idara was done with her meal already. She let John Doe know.
“Come with me.”
She pushed away from her chair and followed him down a hallway that was dark and long. She didn’t know how big the house was, but judging from the length of this hallway, she guessed it was an impressive piece of property. Probably in a highbrow area, but cut off from the scrutiny of the public. Idara knew Captain’s ways.
“Try not to make any sudden noises in the presence of Leonel,” instructed John Doe. “Such things irritate him.”
“Noted.”
They got to the end of the hallway and stopped. There was a guard with a gun manning the entrance of a door.
“He likes to spend his evenings here, listening to classical music. Do not disturb. I’ll come back for you in ten minutes.”
“Thank you.”
The guard opened the door and Idara walked in. The room was large, with soft lighting. There was nothing in it, save for Leonel seated in a wheelchair and the sound of classical music playing. Idara took slow steps towards him until she was standing in front of him.
“Hi Leo.” She let out a smile. “It’s me. Idara. Your favorite on and off psychotherapist.”
He stared at her. No sign of recognition. No expression.
“I came all the way for you. It’s so good to see you alive. I thought I’d lost you.”
The music playing reached a high crescendo and she noticed that his fingers drummed on the armrest of the chair in perfect rhythm.
“Well, I’m here now, and we’ll embark on the intense journey of making sure you’re back in shape.”
He continued to drum his fingers.
“I’ll see you at breakfast tomorrow, okay?” She touched his hand. “Welcome back, Spirit.”
His fingers stopped moving. His eyes lowered to her feet and traveled all the way up to her face.
“Hi there,” she said. They seized each other’s eyes for a bit. Leonel eventually blinked and cast his stare elsewhere.
“I’ll see you in the morning, Spirit.”
He seized her hand as she was about to leave.
“Idara,” he called fluently. “I’m not Spirit. But let’s continue to fool ourselves.”
He let go.
“Alright,” she responded. “Goodnight whoever you are.”
Idara left the strange room. John Doe was waiting outside, reading a newspaper.
“How did it go?” he asked.
“Doctor-patient confidentiality.”
He folded the newspaper and placed it under his armpit. “Did I forget to add that you report everything to me?”
“That’s not how I work.”
“Well, that’s how we do here.”
Idara stopped outside her door.
“I answer to no one.”
“Okay, lady.”
She entered her room and shut the door. Picking the new journal she brought for Leonel, she put down the first entry. After that, she undressed and lay on the bed. She wasn’t sure what had just happened in that room. Was it Leonel who had spoken to her or was it Spirit in his usual mischief, trying to throw her off?
Whoever it was, Idara wasn’t looking forward to taking on the job Captain wanted her to do. Her past with Spirit always gave her unpleasant memories. He was ill-behaved and enjoyed playing games, always employing his skill as a psychologist to trick his way out of treatment.
Idara wasn’t sure she was ready. More importantly, she wasn’t sure she was going to do Captain’s bidding. The challenge, now, was to get Leonel to turn against himself.
®Sally Kenneth Dadzie @moskedapages
Testing to see if the comment error message y’all keep getting has disappeared
Yup! It has 😁
Beautiful as always. Aanu, why naa?? Please calm down a bit joo. I miss Kyenpia in this episode. Yeni, nice tactics. Thanks Sally. Waiting for more. More ink to your pen. One Love.
Another beautiful one
Wow, very intense. Leonel or Spirit I’m in for the trill.
This is a beautiful piece… Idara should actually tread with caution… I just miss leonel… Thanks a bunch Sally… Ure sweet
I love Omar spirit, I think Aanu deserved the disrespect jare. Wonder what game Leo is playing . thanks for always Sally.
Aanu, Omar and Yenkat, Damn. Aanu is about to lose her son for good yo, I don’t want to imagine what she’s going to do about that. And Leo is fine (Maybe not Leo), but now I’m relieved. My G is getting better. Thanks Sally.
I’m actually rooting for Omar and Yenkat.
Aanu is so badly behaved
Hmmmm Aanu had it coming and she finally got it…. mhen I’m fastening my seat belt for a ride into leonel or is it spirit’s world 😁😁😁 well done sally! Your mind is truly beautiful
Yenkat, Aanu, Omar… what a complicated trio!
It seems Leo is play-acting, abi? Let’s watch and see.
He cocked his head to the right. “Fo’ realsies?”
That is by far my favorite verse….I smillllled!
Is Aanu about to go diabolical????
Spirit, Leonel? I have a feeling it is Leonel. Anu please get help. Let go and build a new future with your family. thank you Sally
Sally darling, there’s a way you write and make people get lost in it. Love you plentiful
Oh! And Leo, I think we still have you in there. Please come back to us.
Aanu has no iwa(character) at all… and i dont blame her much . when we try to please parents who thinks little of us , this makes the likes of Aanu.. i hope she redeems herself for her own sake…
This leonel though …
Thank you Ms Sally. I fear for Yenkat o. This Aanu sef, her blood too dey hot. I wonder what she’s gonna do to Yenkat now. I love you already Idara. Bring back our ButterBabe.
Yass yass
please Idara defy Captain….we need our Leonel back
The way i intensely dislike this Aanu woman ehn, she might just end up self-destructing sha
Thanks Sally for this episode
Nice one, wish it was longer. Looking forward to see more of Leo
Whether it’s Leo or Spirit, butterbabe is sha back. I’m now shipping Yenkat and Omar since Kat isn’t feeling Clarence. Anu should get help because her brain needs resetting to default mode. Thanks as always sally…… Much love
💥💥💥🔥🔥🔥🔥👀
Nice….wish it was longer though
I never liked the thought of Yenkat hooking up with Omar but Aanu’s behaviour is making me reconsider it. It seems Yenkat values their friendship more than Aanu does. Aanu is being unreasonable and is not even willing to hear Yenkat’s side of the story. The old me would have done something stupid just to spite Aanu. Lol!
All I want to say Sally is thank you, you are a great writer & everytime I read your work I feel happy. Thank you.
Sally Baby, you are good. I didn’t want this Episode to end.
Anu I dislike you already, you are ill mannered oh, what happened to hearing from the other party,except you have always been jealous of the relationship your son has with your best friend and you are looking for unreasonable excuses to hurt and get back at her for been an awesome mum to your son. She is going to end up losing them both…
Butter babe I super duper happy you are back, Idara thanks for defying Captain.
Kat abeg just go for Omar jor, I hate what I don’t like and Anu is really pissing me off.
Okay, Aanu needs serious therapy, she has deep seated issues. It’s Yenkat we can thank for Omar turning out to be a well raised young man. Aanu please don’t try anything stupid with Yenkat, I’m warning you. Yenkat please let love win.
God please let it be Leo and not Spirit playing games with idara. I have a feeling that Idara is going to ignore Captain’s wishes concerning Leo regardless of what happens to her.
I love u Sally. Ya d bestest
Leonel playing mind game, a bigger version of captain, aanu don’t know yet she is a lost cause
Me sitting here with a mischievous grin excited to find out which way the story will go. Thanks again Sally.
Sally on the beat!💪 As usual, this was awesome!
Aanu needs quick help. She’ll hurt someone and herself too.
Hmmmm another one fold my hand eat popcorn as the drama unfolds
Aanu will never receive sense.. I think she’s about to go diabolical. I cover yenkat with d blood of Jesus.
Great as always…
This Aanu is like a senseless child in an adult’s body
I am looking forward to seeing what Idara has in store for Leonel. I feel that John doe will help her to go against Captain’s wish.
It is well with Anu sha. I hope she sorts herself out soon.
Thank you Aunty Sally for this
I really feel for Aanu. I really wish his son respects him. I also feel that the intending job with Leonel is a futile mission.
Good one, I didn’t know when I got to the end, captivating as usual. 👍 Sally.
Your female characters are complex and unconventional, i love that
I just want the real Leonel back. But I suspect Idara wants Spirit for her own selfish purposes too.
Aanu has lost it. You cannot fight how a man feels over a woman, when would dhe get that? Smh
Nice one Mami. Keep peppering us o
Thank you Sally D.
Why is everyone blaming Aanu? Y’all should go become a parent first…
Thrilling as usual… Read it for two days coz I didn’t want it to finish. Can’t wait for u to release the book 😌
Aanu is seriously getting on my nerves.
I’m glad Butter Babe denied being Spirit. But I do hope that was Leonel speaking.
Thanks Sally. Your works are always to die for.
XOXO
Aanu won’t just agree that she overreacted. Maybe Yenkat has tolerated her excesses for too long that she has become irredeemable. There’s more than one side to every story and it would have been better for Aanu to at least listen a bit more.
This Spirit or Leo matter ehn. Me I’m waiting to see which Leo is back anyway.
This made for a lovely read today. Thanks always Sally, thanks for blessing us with your amazing gift.
Am so rooting for Omar and yenkat….
For some unknown reason, I do not feel sorry for Aanu again. She needs to calm down jare. Yes, it might be strange having your friend and your son wanting to be an item; knowing the kind of history your friend has but then… Omar! Pele dear. The way that thing called love can like to mess up someone’s mind ehn, I feel your pain but worry not, you’ll be fine. I lowkey want Omar and Yen together though. Clarence should not mingle. Well done Sally
Your characters are so complex, it’s amazing. Thank you for such a beautifully scripted story.
Aanu is on her own. I don’t even have time for that one.
It’s Leonel that is my concern now. Is the dude pretending ne? Oh chukwu! Anyways, I hope they beat captain back at his game.
Omar, Yenkat and Aanu. This triangle o di kwa serious o.
Idara please I beg of you, do that which is right.
Abeg where is Kyenpia?
Thank you Sally. Mwah
This episode left me thirsting for more… I’m beyond curious to know who spoke to Idara. Fingers crossed.
As for Aanu, I’m conflicted on how I feel about her… I’m sympathetic at the same time I wish she could be taught a real lesson in humility… Yenkat is acting like a silly adolescent, she shouldn’t have continued anything with Omar or Aanu as Las Las everybody go dey alright.
I was hoping Aanu and Yankat resolve their differences but it seems there won’t be any resolving anymore. Yankat should fight back or get killed.
Spectacular from start to the finish.. Can’t wait for the next episode… Thanks Sally.
Aanu was an unrepentant soul but maybe her fucked wasn’t treated well caused she was been nice to too much thus making too arrogant after her released. It also shows that Yenkat was too damned too accommodating to give her that still pompous attitude after her incarceration.
Lionel, that was another case don’t even known which one is back now, the real humanly Lionel abi the Spirit side. Idara was not going to find it easy going Captain’s bid now in altering his life as destroying the old humanly Lionel.
Captain and his wickedness, he was the one that brought the wrath of his enemies might on his whole family due to his self centeredness, manipulative and his wicked soul. He still went ahead to destroyed her twin sister possession because she refused to do his evil bidding. Some soul’s are so so evil.
It was an awesome read Sally, you one in a million writer, the sky is your limit girl so keep soaring dear.
“Let continue to fool ourselves ” I can imagine d sound beat dat comes after dat statement if na 4 Nollywood movies 😂. Curious to knw which of d Leo will have back. Aanu pls go for angry management biko, u need it fa.. Sally u triple much 😘
This series is blossoming into one of your interesting so far. There are several twists and turns, so many intrigues. I just totally enjoy reading the episodes. Yenkat and Aanu – unbelievable turn of events. There really is a thin line between love and hate, and this is proof!
Please Sally, dedicate an episode to Leonel, this suspense be killing…
I’m particularly interested in this “Spirit” person. It seems Leo is known for suffering from multiple personality disorder. Wehdone MA.