Chapter Three

Eliakim

"Guy, I still don't get why you won't take my calls, anyways just wanted to inform you Oboy (Dad) is out of town and I'm throwing a party tonight. Party's gonna be at the main house and not my lounge, so yeah, it's not worth missing. Don't bring any level(chick) oh, there are going to be enough levels (chicks). Just Jejely come with your self, and know we need to talk"

Was the message that displayed itself on my phone screen that Tuesday morning, at 9:12AM.

I was laying lazily on my bed with nothing to do but surf the internet, read funny memes, reply messages on my social media accounts, liked and commented on photos, with my headphones plugged on as I listened to trap songs only.

Typical Bayo to throw parties at any chance he gets. He lived in lekki, we were friends since running around in our diapers. His dad, some minister guy was really loaded. Their house wasn't a duplex like mine.

It was still impossible to believe I wasn't there anymore. All thanks to the lady who birthed me.

Bayo's house was a mansion with everything.

His dad wanted him to study abroad but he chose to study at Igbinedion University, Okada, Edo State, alongside me. He still went schooling there. Currently they just resumed first semester and he'd be in 300 level. His Dad who had great connections payed for all the damages we caused, and had his name cleared. So he didn't get tossed out like I did. We were in 200 level when that shit occurred.

Thinking about that just got me upset, so I stood up from bed, still in my black briefs and shirtless. I yawned and stretched, after that I did 50 press up with one hand. And did the same on the other. I was suppose to go to the basketball court today, but I dropped the idea. Bayo's parties where always lit.

The main reason I avoided his calls was because I hadn't told him my... Shit!

I almost made the mistake of calling her that again. I clenched my fist.

Why would everything hurt so much?

_She cheated on Dad

_It led to their divorce

_We had the house sold

_I was living in a flat

_With her, the reason, behind everything

_Guess I was the one the divorce affected cause they both actted like it was fine. Dad moved to Abuja, he couldn't even take me along with him.

_I have no idea why she kept tying that funeral black scarf on her head. Dad didn't die, they got divorced for fucks sake.

_I haven't had a good meal for three weeks, I just ate junk food which I was getting sick of.

_She was a good cook, but I couldn't eat her food. That was the last thing I would do in my right mind. Because she'd think I had forgiven her.

_Life fucking sucked.

I sat on the floor, knees up, legs wide open as I ran my hand through my short dreadlocks. I don't know  why my thoughts traveled to her all the time.

It gave me constant mood flings.

Back to why I was avoiding Bayo, I didn't tell him my parents were divorced, our duplex was sold out and I was living in a flat. Because he was in school. I hated the idea of telling him ovee phone. So much happened within three weeks when he was in school.

I hadn't had my morning bath, so I made my way into the bathroom. Thankfully there was running water when I turned the cistern to flush after taking care of business.

Yesterday, there was no running water and I didn't had my bath till late afternoon.

My nosy and noisy neighbours went out with their water gallons to get water from the tap outside. It was the errand boy I bribed to get water for me. The...Patricia, that was her name, I'd settle on calling her that.

Patricia payed him to tidy up the house and everything. She even asked the poor kid to get her clothes from the rope at the backyard last night, simply because she was too tired to go get them herself. I have no idea on what she did. She stayed all day at her hairdressing saloon, or maybe went to get smash by a kid her son's age.

See what I told you about Patricia being a bitch. She knew quite well that her undies where on that rope and that poor kid wasn't suppose to see or touch them, but she sent him to go get them for her.

Should I tell you about my Nosy and Noisy neighbors? Okay. Although I wasn't much of a talker, but I was much of an observer.

Flashback

Goriola or Gorrila, whatever her name was, ownes the flat next to mine. When I returned from the petrol station that day. She was sitting next to Patricia with a cake that looked like shit on the glass table, both talking and laughing with raised voices like they've know their selves for ages.

Okay, back to the Gorrila Lady.

She was short with a stunted growth, dark and quite muscular, she looked almost bald. The Gorrila name suited her perfectly. Plus she had tribal marks on her face like map of Africa.

What shocked me was her face. It wasn't ugly as I had expected. If she wore a shirt, jeans pair of pants, with dark shades, you'd think she's a guy. Even most guys looked sexier than her. I think she had common sense because she wore a pink flowery gown, to mask her masculine build.

After putting the generator to life, I made my way into my room without sparing a glance at them and shut the door. But I could still hear them, they were so loud despite the tv on.

"Fine boy like that, cannot even greet." I heard Gorilla blab, even her voice was masculine. Damn!

"Don't mind him Jare, he's just angry for whatever reasons, maybe his girlfriend cheated on him or something." That was Patricia the bitch.

Speaking of cheating did this masculine Gorilla had the slightest idea, that Patricia, her newly found friend, cheated on my Dad. And that was the main reason we where here?

Why we even know her,

Why I was sitting on my bed with my half eaten Shawama, which I was supposed to enjoy but couldn't because I was hearing her irritating masculine voice. Fuck!

She told Patricia she was twenty-eight, although she lookes older than even Patricia herself. She had two kids, twins.

I thought my ears were malfunctioning when I heard Patricia call my name to come take some cake. But she called my name again.

I just ignored her.

Firstly, my subconscious told me Gorilla flapped her spittle into the shit she called cake. Secondly, if she added her period. Thirdly, if perspiration from her underarms dripped and made its way into that shit-looking cake. Gross!

As early as 6:AM yesterday loud voices woke me up from my slumber. At first, it was a dream where I was on call, before I knew it, it was-

"Die by Fire

Die by Thunder

Collapse and die."

I heard.

Disgusted, I attempted dropping the call ,but I still heard it, even when I shut down the phone. Finally I woke up and realized it was my neighbours, probably the flat on the other building opposite ours, praying.

" Any witch, any wizard, occultic men and women, juju priest that wants to cause us to see evil today, I say Collapse and die!" It was a masculine voice.

"Collapse and Die!"

"Collapse and Die!"

" Holy ghost fire!" These were the Voices of females and children.

I put the flashlight to life so I could change from my briefs into a white loose shirt, grey pair of jogger pants and black boots for jogging. Then tied a bandana to my forehead

"This dry chested Pelumi and his wife and children have started again. Everyday people don't enjoy morning sleep because of you people."

At this, the voices of the people grew higher and louder, someone even coughed. I placed my fist on my mouth to hold back laughter.

I was out on the balcony, looking down at the two ladies who were outside, one was on those things they called wrapper with a bucket, the other one was dressed in a nurse's uniform.

"Don't mind them jare (My friend), they're praying as if they're good people. Yesterday when NEPA took the light, I asked my niece to charge my phone at their house. This girl knocked repeatedly, they didn't come out and she said she saw one of his daughters looking at her from their window.

Wicked people. they're just wasting their time because God wont answer their prayers."

"Yes oh, and if its anyone to collapse and die, its that Pelumi, because of his dry chest." The Lady with the wrapper shouted loud enough for the praying family to hear.

I chuckled at this. So this was what it looked like living in joint flats with other folks. It was quite amusing.

"My sister let me go to work, I'm on morning duty." The nurse lady informed the other one.

"Go well.. me I woke up to fetch water, because water isn't running inside again. You know they took the light yesterday."

" Immediately they took the-" I was ascending the stairs so I couldn't hear the rest of their conversation.

As I made my way towards the gate, I heard the wrapper tying lady's voice.

"Who's this one sef, that cannot even greet."

" Don't mind him, jare (My friend). They moved in yesterday, him and his mother. From what I heard his parents separated that's why he's always disrespectful ."

So Gorrila couldn't keep her big squalid mouth shut.

Pissed, I unlock the gate then banged it as loud as I could when I shutted it.

When I returned from jogging an hour later, folks and kids where heading to work and school. In a slow pace I walked past them without sparing a glance at anyone. Although I know all eyes where on me.

"I am going to warn Paul oh, this one he's brought another cultist into this compound again, see the way this one is..Fornicator!"

"Daddy Taiwo that's enough now, go to work abeg(please)"

It was the voice of the lady who stood at the starting point of the stairs. I didn't need to be told that Tb(Tuberculosis) looking guy was the Pelumi. I just knew it was him. And he was reigning insults at me the first time he laid eyes on me. He wasn't worth my time, so I decided to ignore him.

Who the hell was Paul? Possibly a neighbor?

"Shut up! You better keep your eyes on my daughters before a male dog in human form impregnates them. Jesus Christ!" He exclaimed with his hands facing the sky." See his Jaga Jaga (Scattered, unkempt) hair like a mad mans hair."

That was it because he pressed the red buttons. Furious, I descended the stairs, stormed towards him and grabbed him by the collar.

"Repeat what you just said and I'll beat your ugly fucking face to pulp, you moron." I barked glaring at him.

" Hey!" He exclaimed in shock. "See this small boy oh, I'm I your mate? You don't have respect for elders abi? (Right?)" He asked shivering with fear written all over his face. "Come on get your hands off me." His legs were dancing out of fear because of how tight I gripped his collars. "Mommy Taiwo, won't you tell him to leavw me?" He stylishly begged his wife.

" Serves you right, I thought you have mouth to talk, hope you have fist to fight too." She hissed. "When I begged you to go to work, you payed me deaf ears, and went about insulting a boy that did nothing to you. This your busy body will land you into serious beating today."

Long story short, I released him after his wife and daughters begged me. The security guard just sat on his post, watching the whole scenario and laughing uncontrollably.

Present

That wasn't not all about Noisy and Nosy neighbours. There where more I hadn't encountered. Well, I'd do my best to ignore them all.

Still shirtless and in my briefs I made my way into the kitchen to get some thing to eat, when I saw a girl in cornrows doing the dishes in the sink. Dressed in a tight fitted top and very long skirt. I pondered on who she was.

"You're?" I inquired after a minute, because she must've heard my footsteps and refused to turn around or maybe she was deaf.

She turnsles around quickly.

"Good afternoon... Oga (Sir) your Mama (Mother) hire me to help una (You guys) clean house... I be the new House help (I'm the new house help)" . She stammered. Guess she was intimidated by my looks. She had a slight Yoruba accent.

I ignored her and made breakfast, while she kept stealing glances at my direction.

"Are you a day house help?"

" Oga." She kept the plates on the sink with a loud thud. I guess it was out of shock.

"Would you stay?"

"I come for morning to clean house and wash plate, then to back when I finish."

Back in Lekki, we had two house helps who lived with us. For the first time, we where having a day house help. Guess Patricia didn't have enough money to hire a full time house help.