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2020-08-12 14:08:17The sun was at work before I got to work. I parked in the restaurant opposite my work building. Coming down from the car, I saw people gathered downstairs. Not under any shelter but outside! Vulnerable to the diligent sun.
From where I stood, it didn't look like a peaceful meeting. I wanted to return to the car and wait for the hurricane to pass then I saw the landlord. He was a tall, scary looking man with his bushy beards that could even hide a small chick. My leg started moving before my brain realised.
I crossed the road to where everyone was and began searching for familiar faces but! not madam Chinaka that was vibrating in the crowd. Then I saw Aku, sitting on the rail outside Tunde's office. I breathed a sigh of relief and hurried over to her. She jumped down on seeing me.
"Aku, what's going on ?" I asked, my eyes still roaming in search for Tunde.
"Good morning ma" She greeted. "It's Landlord oo. He came early this morning and locked all the shops"
"For what again , is something wrong with him? " I said, my voice loud with anger.
I looked back to where the landlord was standing, I could imagine standing and shouting at him. He would look down on me like I was an ant before him and when his ears are full, he could jack me up by the neck and fling. It would be very easy because his height comfortably put me in the dwarf bracket.
"Why did he lock the shops?" I asked Aku.
"Money for cleaners oo..cleaners they have not even called. They are now purnishing people for salary of workers that have not even come" She complained.
I nodded, still searching for Tunde. I had being in the building before him, I should have a stronger mouth by then. Still I looked for him to come speak for us all or just me.
"Let me hold your bag" Aku offered, already dragging the bag. I let it go and smiled at her then I turned back to the chaos in front of me. It happened once in a while with any payment that involved the improvement of the building or surrounding.
Just then, the landlord started walking towards me, he walked past and ran upstairs with his little tout boys. That was when I saw Tunde, he smiled with the side of his mouth and winked, I had to laugh.
"I'm coming " he mouthed then ran across the road.
From where I stood, I could make out his car clearly at the parking lot opposite. I had always known it was black but I then saw, it was a black ford, the same make with my own and the same color. He took an envelope and started walking back. I looked away, feigning interest in what ever the crowd was saying.
The landlord came down stairs after awhile and without a single word to anyone, he began unlocking the doors he had locked with his own padlock. As he unlocked, the boys took the padlock.
Tunde stood beside me and placed his hand on the small of my back.
"I'll send someone round to all the shops, please comply as you should. It's a little amount of money. " The landlord shouted through the noise.
Aku ran out, "He has unlocked upstairs ! " she shouted.
I nodded then smiled at Tunde, "A better part of our morning has been wasted. I need to utilize the rest of the day properly. "
He bowed, "As you wish, my lady. "
I hit his arm before hurrying upstairs. I tried to close my eyes to the work that lay ahead of me but coming into my office, the materials littered all over the table. The nets and laces scattered indignantly, work smiled at me.
At noon, my phone started ringing, I turned and put it on speaker where I could work on the dress I was cutting and answer the call at the same time.
" Lady " the caller said, "you can not ever call to know how I'm doing. "
The number was not registered in my phone but I knew that voice, I had grown up hearing it, when we played, when she was sleep talking, when she was angry and I could tell she was not angry right then.
"Ada, January has been so busy " I said, wiping off a sweat I could not feel on my forehead.
"I am coming to Umuahia . I left Abuja two days ago but I'm in portharcourt now" she said.
"You didn't tell me you were coming down to the east"
"Yes, yes, I know, I just have something to tell you. "
"Ada, something to tell me? " I asked.
Did she find out? I should have told her before she found out herself. Too late for regrets. I removed the phone from speaker and took it shakily to my ear.
"Yes, that will be when I come. My fiance is in town so I'll spend my first night at his place, giving you time to pack out of your room for me then you humbly move to the guest room " she said with a laugh. I took her laughter as a clue that she did not know yet.
"Lady, are you there? "
"Ofcourse. Did you tell your fiancee, you were coming? "
"Nop, I want to surprise him. I have not been to his place before but I have the address. All I need is someone to keep him at home " She said. "I will tell him, my baby sister is coming to see him early in the morning. "
"What? " I asked in disbelief and shock. "No, no, wait. I think you should call him and for me, tomorrow, I'm making a delivery in Owerri, lots of deliveries. My hands are so full, I can't join in your surprise. "
"Okay" she said, her excitement killed. "I'll find a way to keep him at home."
"No, you should find a way to call him first, let him know you are coming " I protested . I hope I did not shout louder than I should have. She was silent, as though
she was considering what I said.
I could still remember the places paintings of me had been in Mathew's home; the one at the beach, he hung at the dining then a duplicate was in his room. The one of both of us was in the living room at the centre of all other photographs that were hung on that wall.
"I want to surprise him " she said stubbornly before she ended the call.
I tried to play out scenarios of the after event in my head, all that played was Chaos - big chaos.
The thought of calling Mathew to clear my things, vanished as quickly as it came . I sat, rocking my seat back and forth . The elements of my head also rocking back and forth. My head began to ache and I was still trying to figure out what I could do to reduce the damage.
I bent my head hoping for divine intervention. Maybe there would be no sign of me in Mathew's house when she came but how could I let my sister continue with a man like that?
I stared up to the ceiling above my head, praying for things to turn out right. It was like God answered because right then rain started to fall, a sudden rain that came without warning. It spattered quickly on the roof and as soon as it started, it ended. Maybe God heard me after all.
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I still could not concentrate the next day at work. I could not even hold my head up to look at Tunde for long. He was leaning against the closed door in my office, his legs crossed at the ankles and his hands in his pocket."What is actually bothering you?" Tunde asked as I cleared clothes off my table and dumped them on the sewing machine. I hopped on to the table, burying my head in my hands."I know that you are bothered about her coming down but didn't you ever want her to know ?"I told myself that I would tell her but I also knew I could not bring myself to tell her. I had to be drunk or not in my right state of mind for me to ever tell my sister that we dated the same man. I had evil plans of ending her relationship with Mathew but not telling her."No" I replied him.I raised my eyes slowly to look at him, to see his reaction. But his face bore no ju
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Morning came quickly like it supported my self pity. I lay still in bed, staring in the darkness.A loud banging outside caused me to sit up in alert. It sounded like the rumbling of the heavens but this one came too close as if the clouds had descended to my roof.I unzipped the gown I wore to work the previous day and still sat, hugging myself in anticipation of another one so I would be certain if it was a warning of a heavy rain. Then it came again, a loud banging on the door. It seemed like an attempt to pull down the door not a knock.It was still dark. My hands reached for my phone to check the time, it was a few minutes past five in the morning.I made to the front door and because I was expecting my sister, I ignored all security protocol and opened the door. Ada was there. She was wearing something white. She walked past me into the house. I noted the oversized polo she wore before lo
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I started my Sunday morning on a painful note. I did not know which side I was on. I reached out for my phone that was always on the stool close to the bed. The stool wasn't there, I rolled, next thing, I was on the floor. I struggled up, trying to find my way in the darkness, I bumped into a stiff object." Damn ! " I cursed through gritted teeth, rubbing my hand on the object to feel it . It was the sewing machine. I realized then, I was in the guest room. I could not remember where I had kept my phone or any source of light. Off I went, farther into the darkness. I did not bother keeping my eyes open, I just shut it while feeling the walls till I reached the door leading to the parlour. I hit my leg on a stool twice before I found a lantern. I slumped into a couch with a heavy sigh.The rest of my Saturday with Ada was uneventful. It was like we avoided ours
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'SPRINGS OF GRACE' was written in clear, bold letters on a banner at the gate. Inside the place was a white storey building, with pillars decorated with colorful ribbons. It was facing the gate and beside it was a bungalow , which I saw children running around .I found a space to park in the parking lot beside other cars. Just with the crowd of cars, I knew it was a big church and I was a little late. I even expected it to be close to the time for church offering.Walking into the church, I felt swallowed up. I did a rough summary of the crowd to expect inside but I was not even close. A female usher came and offered to take my bag, I declined. I needed something to keep my hands busy while I followed her. We moved through the aisle till she found a pew with space. It was the fourth pew in the row.I was mostly grateful for the hymn they were singing that suppressed the sound of my heels and grateful I did not apply
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Mathew's gate was grey with a large drawing of a lion head staring in front. The gateman let us in when he saw me. I had asked Ada to wait in the car but she insisted on coming in. "Incase things go out of hand" she said. I knew Mathew. He was not violent. He was mostly quiet but that Mathew I knew was also faithful, truthful and he turned out to be a liar and a cheat. It was like I did not know the person at all.The surrounding was same and very familiar. It was a one storey building. There was the boys quarter opposite the main building where the driver and gate man stayed. His three cars were just being washed by the driver. It was his customary way of washing the three cars every day even when his Oga used just one car for a whole week or more.I rang the doorbell and waited. Ada was tapping the wall rhythmically and humming. I just stood, hugging myself waiting till it would be reasonable to press the
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Ada's face held anger in its pointed glare. She challenged him in silence to dare touch me. I was used to that look, she used it when we were growing up in her protective state."It's fine, let us go" I said. I brushed past her, rolling my box behind me.I played music to fill the silence in the car as we drove home. Ada was more interested in looking out the window."Are you okay? " I asked, throwing her a quick glance.She nodded with a smile. "It just feels somehow. It's like the end of a life."I smiled. Understanding her more than anyone else would. "We would be fine" I said. It was what I wanted myself to believe.
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INBETWEEN Inbetween 43
We always said goodbyes without knowing when we are saying the last one but I knew. Each time he walked out that door, I stored memories because I do not want to forget how happy he once made me.It's up to four months since he walked out that door, I remember holding onto the scent of him, I remember standing at the window and waving even when he could not see me, even when I knew he would never turn to look at me. I knew then that while he mumbled a goodbye at my door before he left, it could have been the last one. It's also seven days exactly from the last time he came to my place and I ruined his clothes with bleach water.It is me, I have never loved enough to fight for anyone but this time I was going to try. That's why I'm in Delta, the same state that he is in. I don't know know the city or even his address. I did not ask before he left but I am here, I know I would find him before I leave. I just h
INBETWEEN Inbetween 42
TundeI could not have been thinking when I left my cereals in the open without putting it in a container. I was facing the result of my carelessness after I returned to Umuahia at night. I still had a month to the expiration of my rent. I could have told Anthony to arrange for the rest of my properties to be sent to Delta, but I did not. I came back just so I could see Nene, deliberately or coincidentally.Coakcroaches were running around like new tenants. Someone must have tipped them off my absence. Instead of finding an option for dinner in the cupboard, I was disposing the remains I left before I traveled to Delta. I would have loved to keep the fiber flakes because it was my best but like others, it was cold and had an unwelcoming smell.For a moment, I considered going to Nene's place and knocking. When she opens, I would tell her that I am hungry and I came to eat. I imagined that she would laugh a
INBETWEEN Inbetween 41
It was enough torture that I had to pass Tunde's office every morning to get to mine. The only good thing was that I knew he would not be sitting behind his desk inside there. It was always locked.I got a gift in his absence, a painting of me." Mo nife re," the accompanying note read.In the painting , I was lying down with my eyes closed . I could not remember the moment he took the picture but it was me. He lined my lips perfectly that I could not even doubt. I missed him. I called when I saw the painting. The call was filled with little talks and awkward silence so I was in a hurry to end it.Sometimes while I lay in bed before my eyelids close in tiredness, I remember the moments I spent with him, the ones I held close and locked away. I knew that he must have felt bad, maybe even concluded that I was immature but I knew myself, I could not watch him
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TundeI left for Delta three days after I left Nene's house struggling to hold in my emotions. I had much work on my table which I temporarily forgot with the weight of loosing her.I needed to finish up some plans on my table , there were also sites I needed to visit in Delta and outside Delta. I needed to work more than before for more arts for my launching .I got a house in an estate. It was one of the first buildings on entering the estate. I would have preferred a bungalow like my former place but while searching for houses, that was all I got in the list of available houses close to the location of my gallery and office.I let the hired hands do all the cleaning and refurbishing for my work place then I cleaned up the house. There wasn't much to do since the estate had cleaners who already cleaned the place u
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TundeI did not travel to Delta. I rescheduled all the plans I had there. Called the man I had given the work to organize the exterior decoration of the place and told him I could not make it. I lay on the cushion all morning with my eyes closed because of a woman. It would sound funny to anyone but they have not met Nene, the strong woman whom I have seen at her weakest, held her as she quaked in tears and watched her sleep. I paid attention to her when she thought I was not looking, I paid attention to her silence and every word she spoke.She was an independent woman, who seemed calculated and almost sure of all her steps. That's why I was worried. Has she thought about all of this? Has she seen that we can not work out? What was the main reason?As I lay on my cushion, I still could not place what happened. I could not understand it because if I am ever asked to explain, I would
INBETWEEN Inbetween 38
The next morning, it rained. It started very early even before the day welcomed light. We waited for it to stop but it did not. I did not see the need of waiting since we were going in a car but Tunde kept delaying, waiting for the rain.We sat in his parlour. He wore just a white short while I was dressed to leave. The sound of the rain on the roof was the only thing heard; The television was off."Will you come back, maybe after work? " Tunde asked, turning to look at me."I don't know. "He sighed and continued looking at his phone. Almost all the questions he asked me that morning, I did not know. I think after oxytocin messed with me, some of my senses were lost in my climax.Without turning to look at him, I said, " Let's start going please."He got up and left to the room without a word. He later came out, wearing a plain polo over his white short. I pai
INBETWEEN Inbetween 37
(*Sniffs* I was advised to let you know that parental guidance is advised in this page 😁)A week later, Tunde drove me to his house after work . He was leaving soon for Delta and when he asked if I could come over to watch him cook soup, I agreed even though I had lots of work to do. We bought already cut vegetables leaves and waterleaf from the market but I chopped the onions and now sat on a dining chair which I dragged to the the kitchen. He paid little attention to me. He was all focused on the pot. I loved to be a distraction so from time to time, I tiptoed and hung my head over his shoulder while wrapping my arms around him. "My worst distraction, " he murmured. Feeling encouraged, I gave him butterfly kisses all over his neck to his bare back. "I'm sleeping over, " I told him. "I know, " he replied immediately like we talked about it before then. He
INBETWEEN Inbetween 36
TundeThere was a slow traffic. I waited like others in the line for whoever or what ever that was blocking the road to clear. With each forward movement, the car infront of me made, I also moved to cover the space. Pedestrians could easily walk and cross inbetween the cars because they knew the cars could not speed up .I finally reached the point that was causing the delay. The road spoilt in the other lane and the people there were now joining the lane I was on. Immediately I passed that junction, I sped up free as a bird.I parked in the open parking space of the restaurant opposite my work place. If the people in my work building were asked to pay for parking there, alot of money would have been made because people like me and Nene park there everyday. I saw her black ford which was similar to mine. I knew if I came down from the car and looked up, that I could see her looki
INBETWEEN Inbetween 35
Tunde lived alone in a small place that was just fit for the cream colored bungalow and two cars. After parking behind the second car, a black Lexus I had never seen him drive, he went back to lock the gate. He did not have a gate house or a gateman.Inside his house was painted in grids of brown and cream. The floor was arranged with black tiles making the room appear dim. The only colourful thing in the room was his cream colored curtains and white ceiling.I sat on a sofa which was draped in coffee brown . I looked around the room, noting the beautifully carved wooden centre table. It was still shiny and same with the dining table. It was all beautiful.I heard the sound of the generator but I paid no attention to it till the airconditioner began to hum the same time the fan began to rotate. Tunde come in afterwards."Is this ok for you?" He asked, pointing to the airconditione
