Chapter one

TIFE 

OKUWOBI.

 ONE THOUSAND YEARS 

 

ONE THOUSAND YEARS.

Copyright©2020 by Tife Okuwobi.

All rights reserved. No part of this book maybe used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission. Address at ayooluwapelumiolorunlolope@g***l.com.

TIFE 

OKUWOBI.

 ONE THOUSAND YEARS 

 

ONE THOUSAND YEARS.

Copyright©2020 by Tife Okuwobi.

All rights reserved. No part of this book maybe used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission. Address at ayooluwapelumiolorunlolope@g***l.com.

Chapter One 💕 

Concerning Rolape being ushered into the studio of Geography Nature Channel, one of the channels on digital television, a blonde Canadian man with a note pad gestured the waiting room for Rolape,  Esther and Ree to wait.

“The interview is starting in a five” he told Rolape. She nodded while she took a sip of the water placed beside her.

The light was feeling like heat for Mary Manchester and the amount of powder the makeup artiste continued to return on her face wasn’t going to stop the heat from smearing it. Nonetheless, she knew there would be relief once the temperature gets stabilized, she was used to it. A little powder was added to Rolape’s face. Rolape came to where Mary was, in front of the cameras and light.

The studio was blue, the two ladies sat on a long stool with wooden backrest. The background was with the H.D effect with a beautiful sunset behind the ocean. Rolape captured that in her mind eye briefly and considered it really beautiful.

To Ree and Esther it looked very real it was as if their friend wasn’t far from being really in the background. They watched from behind the scene even though they were supposed to be there with her as they were all Environmental Stakeholders crew, but the invitation was for just one person and that will be the lead person.

“And we start in one! two! go!” declared another white man.

“Good morning and welcome to our programme Nature's Fiercest Predators on Geography Nature channel. Today we have our very own blogger and vlogger Rolape Adekan here to talk about how valuable our planet is, why she values it, and what can help us value it as well. That’s right. I'm your very own host Mary Manchester and I will be asking a few questions from our favorite person who has been doing amazingly in connection with nature. So Rolape… “ Mary said turning to her guest with notepad and a pen in her hand. 

“Is it okay if I call you Ro?” Mary asked with a smile as she briefly noticed her guests returning smile to be beautiful, with the lights on her face brightening up her fair skin. She also had a sweet tweak of shyness in her smile. 

"Yes please." Rolape continued smiling, her round shape of head obvious in a black ponytail.

"Alright then. To start with; Nigeria does not suffer much consequences from the depletion of the ozone layer, am I right?”

"Not as much as other countries, Lagos, Delta and Ogun state respectively, has the problem of being emitters of greenhouse gases thereby there is sparse rainfall making food production difficult, oil exploration and deforestation as well as bush burning causing acid rain and an increasing risk of disease. All these just show there has been problems that has been ignored and that doesn't mean it's not there. If we either give these things a surface blown solution or give it no attention at all our planet will not remain a safe home for us to stay in. Considering the Nigerian examples, we can then imagine how critical the negative effects of those countries who are closer to the detriment of planet neglect will be and become.” Rolape explained.

“I bet. Can you explain more on whatever ozone layer means and what it means for it to be depleting?” Mary asked 

“The ozone is a gas in the air that protects us from harmful ultraviolet from the sun.  The ozone layer has been linked simultaneously with climate change but they are quite different. With the ozone layer and its gases, when the gases emit into the upper stratosphere thereby depleting the ozone layer, we no longer have anything to protect us from the harmful ultraviolet of the sun. The sun is one of the ways we feel climate change but for some reason or the other, the gases can also make us feel climate change. Negligent use of plastics is one cause of the emitting of our protective ozone gas.”

“interesting. So we can call plastics the predators then?" Mary asked rhetorically. 

"I believe so." Rolape replied.

"Are there alternatives to these plastics? The whole planet in itself has been using plastics for ages, it’s a big deal to spring up a protest against plastics even as the side effects has been so very clear. Your country alone is bound to ignore you, I mean, we use plastics for a lot of things talk less of the planet as a whole?" Mary stated. 

Spring up a protest? Rolape thought for a moment. She -wasn't- springing up protests, how does a person even do that?

“i am not exactly looking for the attention of some particular groups of people. I am looking for hearts, individuals who are willing to take it upon themselves to start something. You see, because human beings tend to have the habit of ignoring the damages of something that seems to serve them even if the disadvantage far outweigh whatever help they seem to be getting. Plastics are made of polymers, strings of monomers. They come in forms of nylons and could spend a minimum of a thousand years to get decayed if it actually will. These particles get to the sea and disrupt aquatic life as well. Plankton serves as food for most of these sea lives and ultraviolet radiation also has an adverse effect on these, causing damage to the ecosystem. If we do away with certain things, the appropriate ones, solutions will come.” Rolape breathed shakily. She wished she had a protest going on, she was only creating awareness, no protests, no actions and she’s already been accused of protest.

“Aquatic life… hmn…any possible solutions for aquatic life in relation to the ultraviolet as well as a safer way for plastic to get decayed?” Mary asked

“Efforts are made in countries like Argentina, Antarctica, Chile regarding funds being donated to assist planting of trees. The damage is already here and it is not something we can declare fixed. Nonetheless, an eternal solution is to consciously care in little deeds and quite big deeds and create awareness for others to also care.” Rolape was ripping with emotions and although Mary’s job was to ignore all the jellyfish shaking of her teenage guest to make her feel comfortable, Mary couldn’t help but notice the raw emotion running through Rolape’s veins. She knew her guest must have had personal experience that had grown her interest in the planet, it was obvious she cared but she cared particularly more. An eighteen year old, young teenage girl, beautiful and with raw emotions that showed she was unnecessarily strong for her age. Rolape sipped more water from the glass on the table beside her chair.

“Ro…you have a blog named the Environmental Stakeholders' Nigerian chapter, with close to two million followers from not just Nigeria alone but from other countries in the world.” Mary stated that fact. “your crew and yourself, any chance you have plans for revolutionary actions into your country’s environment and even internationally” Mary asked. Mary looked in her twenties particularly twenty-seven, slim, with a blonde ponytail like hers but hers wasn't blonde.

“Yes. We are working on research on possibilities and practicalities so we can bring in healthy alternatives of containers for our drinks and other stuff that uses plastics thereby reducing plastics as much as we can. Even though it's hard, we are determined." Or she is the one that is determined. Rolape answered Mary.

“Okay. Wow! Hmm! That’s wonderful!”  Mary noted as she noted something down on her pad, she had been doing that at intervals

"It’s a real pleasure to have you Rolape Adekan, CEO of Environmental Stakeholders blog Nigerian chapter. Thank you for coming leaving us no doubt as to your aims and objectives. Geography Nature is here to appreciate such minded goals, big or small.” Mary said with a sincere smile looking up at Rolape this time while Rolape smiled.

“We will like you to know we love your resilience. You know rare it is for a young girl whose parents with influence such as yours start out strong on a big intellectual and physical project." Mary continued while Rolape listened and smiled.

“Thank you very much, once again Rolape." his time Mary Manchester stretched out her left hand. 

“The pleasure is mine. Thank you very much for having me.” Rolape received the handshake with more smiles. It was then Rolape wished she had observed if Mary was left-handed but she was able to register that her hand was very soft with a sprinkle of gold hair on the back. Rolape loved the soft hand on her own quite hard palm.

And cut!

💕.                                                          💕

The interview gave Rolape a sense of satisfaction; Rolape wished she nailed the interview. 

They were in Ro's private jet heading back home. Rolape had expressed her mixed feelings regarding the just completed interview.

"Are you kidding me?" Ree spruced, her hands thrown in the air expressing pissed. Ree; isn't her real name, especially being a girl who comes from a home that is completely Islamic. Her full name is Ruquoyat and Esther and Rolape had successfully made sure 'Ree' stuck on her. 

"You did so well, settled every edge and left no splint untouched" Esther yielded.

"I don't know... It's just that; I feel like my purpose is not being understood. She said some things I find accusing,"

" Like what?" Esther asked.

"She said I'm springing up a protest, you know like I'm disturbing some peace, yet I know that they want me to do more, like they believe in me, like I should get more active. Oh, God! These kinds of feelings makes me feel sick!"

"Yeah, you should feel sick!" Esther said "I mean with the amount of 'likes' in your statement" both Ree and Esther chortled.

Esther and Ree. Both of them had always been her best friends since they were in junior secondary school at age eleven up until the undergraduate level, the second year at the University of Lagos reading Economics. They weren't just friends, they were soul sisters who expressively love one another so well that even their costumed dress up makes them so admired by onlookers. 

There was silence.

" I know what to do_ I really have to connect out there, be clear and stand purposefully!" Rolape said almost like a cry.

"You know what I think..." Esther started as they sat relaxed on the brown leather chairs of the brown glaring interior of the private jet with foods and snacks stacked on the table between their chairs_ Ro sat beside the window, Esther sat beside her while Ree in front of them beside a window too. The seats they sat on faced each other with the table separating them and being in the middle. Esther with reflex dipped in chocolate cookies in her mouth. Ree and Rolape looked at her as if it would hasten her to speak out what she thinks. "I think you, Rolape like looking for more problems," she said.

💕.                        

💕`

Lagos, Nigeria.

Rolape wished Esther wasn't right but right now she can at least do herself the favor of just breathing. She came down the stairs to the living room, maids cleaning up the house- she yelled out to wherever not far off she was sure her brother was. "I'm off!" Rolape was out of the house - she walked through the compound to the garage where her car and her driver `was waiting for her. 

He replied her so he heard.

Anyways she was late for class and she was in the car now. 

Temi had studied Economics, and it's her turn to study the course as well... For the company. 

💕

💕 

Ree, the eighteen-year-old girl her twenty-seven-year-old brother is head over heels for, the only one who is truly dark-skinned among the trio, beautiful and unnecessarily obsessed over a first-class degree. Temi does keep it cool but it's undeniable that they are happy whenever they are together. 

Esther, also eighteen, beautiful and brown skin. Particularly carefree and a humorous heart of warmth. She takes her studies to be valuable but not as obsessed as the way Ree takes hers.

Rolape;

 Well,

The girl... 

with a beautifully complicated mind.

"Hey! Ree! What's up?" that was Danny, the tall and handsome Daniel Adebowale? He is on a first class, in the same class with Rolape and Esther and Ree.

 "I'm good. What's up?" Ree replied sitting at the front seat in the class to collect the last assignment given to them, Esther was sitting beside her munching chocolate, 

"Here is my assignment," Danny said bringing out his blue spiral-bound assignment because that was what was up. 

"Okay" she collected, topped up to the pile "sign here" directing on the other paper. He bent over her, he smelled nice, Ree thought. 

"You know Choco..." he directed at Esther.

"You do like to eat. "

"And how many times have I told you never to call me Choco?" Esther's booted foot on Danny's palmed foot making the clean feet next fate to be a tainted one, he stood in front of them but between their chairs.

Esther pressed on to hurt him, Danny took in the discomfort, his brown head reddening, supposedly constituting male ego.

"Alright, alright!" He exclaimed.

"Alright, what?" She asked mischievously

"I'm sorry"

"I can't hear you?"

"I said I m sorry!"

"You don't yell at a girl" Esther was still on naughtily.

"Come on Esther!" Ree interfered. 

Esther released and smiled. Danny sighed, smiled, and said "touching a girl is punishable otherwise..."

"You're still threatening?"

"Alright, alright!"

Ree and Esther chortled. The guy looks tough but isn't he a snail? 

"Ree, Can we like grab dinner around six later on?" Danny scuttled.

"Oh, can we?" Ree smiled. Danny grinned sheepishly.

Danny with Ree on a First class date. Ree met the whole thought in reflex with an awkwardly wider grin.

Danny nodded positively. "I'll come pick you"

"Oh no no! I'll call you. I have your number, " she smiled. 

Danny winked. 

"Yeah... That's the best sentimental scenario I have ever seen. " Esther puked 

Danny walked out, happy to ignore Esther.

"Oh don't be jealous!"

"Oh, I'm so pathetically jealous" Esther mocked. Ree understood her sarcasm but she was going to enjoy the ones that comes around her.  

Ree did intend to call him. 

"Where is Ro?" Esther asked about to dip in another chocolate cookie in her mouth. While Ree practically stopped and 

          ___ blinked.

**                           **                               **

"Where on earth is Rolape?" Ree exclaimed like a worried mother.

 "Relax! She's probably doing something important.'' Esther continued casually on her chocolate, making Ree's worry float like an overreaction.

Watching Esther made Ree smile. But she was still worried about Rolape, the girl with a brain bigger than her head and a heart bigger than her chest, her one-time ticket to her first class, both Rolape and her brother. Where was Rolape? They tell each other where they are at. Ree, impatient, carried the pile of submitted assignments.

 "I'm going to check her in the restroom while you call her on your cell, do you understand?" Ree told Esther. 

 "Er! It's called ladies" Esther started absentmindedly. 

"Come on Esther! It's restroom!" as if it made any difference and then she ran out of the class with her pile immediately.

Rolape and her older brother were indeed her one-time ticket to a first-class certificate. She loved Rolape but even if it was a bit selfish to be all about her academic achievement, the degree mattered so much on her heart. 

Once the collections were off Ree's responsibility. She ran towards the direction of the restrooms of the faculty.                The skies were making continuous rumpling, the stomach of the clouds were agitating, one could tell by the way the corridor grew dark, the clouds must have been arguing who would use the restroom of earth's soil first, as Ree ran she felt a strong dose of breeze disrupting her from seeing what was ahead in the long corridor. 

She could hear Rolape's phone ringing in the distance, she wished she could at least see. 

"Ree!" Someone yelled. Ree's running became struggling steps in the wind. "Ree!" The voice called out again, and Ree knew it was Rolape.

 "Rolape! Is that you?" Ree yelled back. Then the darkness gave way to light a little bit showing that the clouds had eased up from arguing. Now that she could see clearly, she couldn't see Rolape and she didn't hear any phone beep.

 "Aah! God" Ree covered her mouth while she felt a mild tap on her shoulders that made her react in shock. 

"Hey Ree, it's me!" It was Rolape and almost automatically, they took each others’ embrace for a hug. They both wore a little above knee-length black skirts with black leather boot reaching their knees, it was the trio style.           "We were looking for you," Ree told Rolape after they let go.  

"The rain is about to start, and it will start heavily. We have to go". Rolape said.

"Isn't that the more reason why we should stay back and wait till about seven o'clock before going home."

"No, We have to go immediately." Rolape walked back to the direction of the classroom where she knew she had left them to take her back bag. "We have to go before the rain starts." Rolape repeated. 

Ree had already started back to the classroom. 

They met Esther on the way yet again. "Ro, I've been dialing your number, where were you?"

"I'm fine, I'm fine! Please let's just get to the car" Rolape said on top of the wind as if the inability to see was the same as the inability to hear. 

The wind started again, as they were outside several people had already taken cover one way or the other, the girls ran to the car positioned in the faculty's open space. The driver an average stature man, in what seemed like an outstanding pink and gold lace, showed himself to be eagerly waiting for the girls. Esther and Ree entered into the Black Ford Edge 2016 model. Rolape peered up to the sky. She honestly loved the connection but she plainly knew how that made her feel... Opposite. She sighed. And entered the 'compensation for the lack of love' her parents gave to her. Her parents wouldn't concede so.