CHAPTER TWO

*****

I return home very early than usual, a little exhausted and famished and at the same time, too lazy to prepare anything. I take out my android phone, click it on and scroll to check if I missed any calls or text but, to my shock, nothing, not even from him, my boyfriend, Chidi. I sigh and drop the phone angrily on the couch.

I met Chidi through my friend/neighbor’s boyfriend. They were kind enough to hook me up with him and since then, we’ve been dating for like a year now.

I hear a light knock on my door and I rush to it with high expectations

“Oh, it’s you” I sigh disappointed seeing Omoh. Remember that friend/neighbor who in agreement with her boyfriend, hooked me up with Chidi? Yes, this is her. My neighbor who happens to be my only close friend since I moved to this neighborhood.

Omoh is a beautiful, tall, fair and slim lady who just finished her national youth service. Her dad is a Naval Officer and most of the Sundays, when she goes to Navy town to greet her parent, she takes me along. She is a nice, jovial lady who happens to be crazy about Uche, her boyfriend.

“Were you expecting someone else?” she asks, walking into the living room and jumping on the couch like she own the building.

I roll my eyes at her, lock my door and sit on the other end of the couch “Not really.” I lie. Of course I was expecting someone else.

“What! he still hasn’t return your calls or text messages?” she rules out my failed lie and ask.

“No.” I exhale.

“I told Uche about it and he promised to speak with him,” she says and at this point I feel like a pathetic, hopeless romantic.

“Is Uche back?” I ask. It’s over a month since Uche traveled overseas on business. As a public relation officer for a multinational company, he can afford to travel as he please.

“Not yet. He’s arriving tomorrow.”

“I feel pitiful,” I nag, collapsing on the couch, resting my head on the backrest of the seat.

“You are not pitiful,” Omoh attempts to lift me from my depress state “Take,” she hands my phone back to me “Try calling him again.”

I reluctantly collect the phone from her, contemplating if to call or not. Finally, I dial his number and place the phone on my left ear.

Thank God he picked, I guess maybe Uche has spoken to him. But why does he need to be spoken to before picking my call? I smiled, regardless, fighting that negative thought.

“Hello,” I said watching Omoh adjust herself on the couch and giving me that ‘I told you so’ look.

“Hello, baby” he replies in his typical Igbo accent. I grew up in the village and I don’t have that typical Akwa-Ibom accent. If not for my name, people would still be guessing my tribe.

“Hi, I haven’t heard from you so, i decided to call hoping that you will pick my call and you did.” I relax my back and listen.

“I’m sorry baby, work has been very demanding.” He complains. Haven't I heard this before?

“Working in a Bank is never easy, I understand. Well I call called to confirm if diner at your parent’s house this weekend is still happening?” I ask, looking at Omoh who hasn’t taken her eyes off me since I placed the call.

“See eh, baby. Ok, can you come to the that em Ricardo bar close to the bank by 12pm tomorrow?”

“Hope no problem?” I ask curious.

“No baby.”

“Ok, I will come. Take care.” I quickly end the call.

“What is it?” Omoh ask immediately, concern by the look on my face. I refuse to respond to her at first while I process what might be happening but stubbornly, Omoh shakes my shoulder hard enough to break my trance.

I behold her pupil dilate as shimmer of light dance through. Killing her eagerness, I say “He avoids my call and now, he wants me to meet him at Ricardo Bar tomorrow at 12pm.” The words rolls out from my lips in absurdity leaving me perplex, obviously, that’s because I am, truly.

“Hmm.” She airs out but says nothing. A sign that confirms my state of mind.

“I know right,” I lend my gaze from her discontent face and stare at nothing trying to find meaning to the whole situation then, my gaze fell on a spider making it way into my living room through the window.

“You have to go; maybe he wants to go over some plans with you. You are meeting his parents, it’s something you have to prepare for.” She says finally, twisting the situation to my favor.

“You are right.” Thinking about it, Chidi must be taking this relationship very seriously that I thought. “I just hope I’m good enough for his parent.” I say in deep concern, as I worry about the same limits I had in my previous relationship, repeating itself over again.

“Eno,” Omoh calls out my name, dragging me back to reality “You are beautiful, hardworking, fun to be with and very industrious. His parent will kill to have you as their daughter in-law.” ok, now. Isn't she just patronizing me?

“That’s flattering.” I chuckle, yet, I want so bad to believe her words

“I’m not saying this to flatter you, I mean it. As your friend, only friend, I can’t lie about that. You have made head spin whenever we go out, you act free and young always, I envy that about you.” her serious face now greeks me out.

I project a simple smile “Thank you.” I reply. A quick change of topic will help balance me out “Howfa, wattin you arrange abeg?” I demand immediately unable to bear the excruciating hunger I feel from the pit of my stomach.

“Na rice oo.” She pouts,

“Abeg, abeg make we dey go your house” I stand up instantly from the couch, heading for the door before she even bothers to stand.

“When you go do the Afang soup na?” Omoh has been dying to eat my Afang soup again. It is my state's iconic soup and it seems like people just can't get enough of it. Well, most.

“Madam, when you do the Starch and Banga soup wey you talk.” I reply with no hesitation

She scrunch her nose at me “Ah, UP NEPA oh!” she yells immediately the power restores. An exclamation Nigerian make, even unconsciously. Me included. But hearing it from Omoh, who will believe she to be a rich, sophisticated babe.

“Abeg no shout, before dem take am again.” I rebuke her immediately.

“I’ve bought that Korean series oo, Goblin.”

“And what are we waiting for?” I hustle her out of my house, locking my door behind us.

PIDGIN ENGLISH

Howfa, wattin you arrange abeg?- - - - what did you cook, please?

Abeg, abeg make we dey go your house- - - please, please, let’s go to your house

When you go do the Afang soup na?- - - when will you prepare the Afang soup?

wey you talk- - - - - - that you promised

Up nepa- - - - - - the power has been restored