Chapter One
“Aunty Chika, your friend Aunty Bisola has been calling.”
Chika took her as she put the last batch of popcorn into the little white bow and placed it on the counter of their little kitchen. She turned to fix Zora with a glare. Her younger sister, at fifteen, was a very brilliant girl. And she loved her. The only problem she had was when she was at the receiving end of those brains. “I told you not to touch my phone, didn’t I?”
“Yes, but she has been calling you. Almost a million times now” Zora made an exaggerated gesture with her hand. “It’s not nice that you’re not taking her call.”
Chika glared at Zora but held her tongue for two reasons. The first was because she was not the regular older sister — despite the ten-year gap between them — who minded Zora’s audacity. The second was that her sister was right. Her behaviour towards her friend Bisola wasn’t nice, as Zora had put it. She has been avoiding Bisola for weeks now.
That was, however, something she’d rather roast than admit to the little lecturer, so she saw in the big sis power voice she’d perfected a long time ago, “Smallie, How many times have I warned you to stay out of my business? I said charge my phone, not snoop around.”
It worked as always, as Zora looked guilty and mortified. She prided herself on being one who never snoops. “I was not snooping. It just kept ringing. You can ask Zita if you think I’m lying,” She murmured, referring to her Twin brother Zitachi
“It’s fine. I believe you.” And indeed, she believed her because her siblings were everything but liars. “What happened to you?” Chika gasped. Her eyes widened in fashionable horror.
Zora looked like she escaped a bag of laundry where she’d been tucked underneath. Her favourite pink nightgown was severely rumpled, and her abundant nappy hair – which had been in a cute bun – not too long ago stuck out with reckless abandon.
She scowled and slapped her palm on her forehead with all the grace of a tired motherhen. “Zita happened. He washed my clothes with hot water. All in the name of his crazy scientific schemes.” She gestured to her gown “ This is the result of that scheme because I will not glorify it by calling a practical.”
Chika was torn between laughter and exasperation. Zita, the first of the twins, is a science student who has made it his duty to subject them all to various scientific experiments. The other time, it had been with their dinner, now, even the clothes were not spared.
On second thought, “Please don’t tell me he had all our clothes involved in this because I’ll —” She took a spatula and began heading for the door but stopped as Zora spoke.
“No, he didn’t. I was the only victim today” –Zora’s lips curled in an evil glee –
‘but do not worry, I taught that crazy scientist a good lesson.
Chika shook her head at the antics of the twins. She’s never found a bunch who fought as much as they loved each other. Knowing Zora, she Zita was in a sorrier state, and whatever field this war had been held in was in a ‘more’ sorrier state.“And where did this war take place?” She asked, hoping it wasn’t the living room where they were to have their movie night any moment from now. Movie night had become a regular way they bonded and adapted to the pain of living without their father. She missed him so much, they all did.
“You guys used the living room, didn’t you?” Chika questioned, seeing the shadow of guilt on Zora’s adorable face. Zora nodded. She pouted and lowered her head — in that way, she knew Chika always fell for “But Zita is putting it back in order. He didn’t want to, but when I told him it would be uncomfortable for Mom if she came out to find the living room in a mess when she isn’t feeling too well,” She quickly rambled.
Chika exhaled loudly.”Okay, that’s good because I don’t want my mother getting stressed.” She grinned as Zora gave her a look that said, “She’s my mother too.”
“Take these to the living room while I go get Mom” She gestured towards four bowls of popcorn on the counter. “Yes, Boss,” Zora said. They burst out in laughter at Zora’s overzealous salute.
***
Chika wondered if her Mom would be up for movies tonight. She had tried to talk out of it, but she had insisted. Saying it was only a mild headache. She didn’t like it when her mom got sick. It triggered her
Opening the door. She sticks her head halfway in .“Mom, it’s time for–” A scream escaped Chika as she saw her mom slumped on the floor.
Chapter Two
“Two million naira”
Chika was glad her siblings were not here to see the tears in her eyes win. She’d managed to convince them to go home under the guise of getting them a change of clothes and food. The twins needed a break from all this. They had cried all through and hadn’t slept a wink.
The previous night had been hell for them. The image of her mom slumped on the floor was one she’d never forget in a hurry. She’d been lifeless and unresponsive.
They couldn’t go through this again. Not after they’d just come to terms with the death of their father, who had died of a heart disease five years ago. For a year, Zora had been unable to sleep alone in her room, and Zita had almost gotten expelled from school for constantly fighting at the slightest provocation. Her mother had bared it all for them. She never showed her pain. Never properly mourning the man she loved. Chika knew this because she’d heard her crying when she thought no one was about to hear. Seeing her lying lifeless like that had taken them back to that period of hell. They couldn’t go through that again.
“Miss Dike”
Chika looked up from her thoughts as Doctor Wale — as he had introduced himself earlier, tapped the table. He held himself stiffly as though there were needles in his chair. “Yes, Doctor” Her voice sounded strange to her.
”I said Thankfully, your mother’s condition is at its early stage, but you have to act fast so it doesn’t spread and become terminal.”
Her heart thudded painfully at his words. The tears flowed freely. Where and how was she supposed to get two million naira? She was just a cashier at the bank. Her salary wasn’t even up to a hundred thousand naira. Her savings weren’t even up to half a million.
“Can’t —” She accepted the tissue he gave and dabbed at her eyes “ Can’t you just operate on her? You said it yourself that if it’s treated, it’ll –” She sobbed. Her mother can not die.
He sighed gravely. “I’m sorry, Ms.Dike, but payment first. Hospital’s policy. I advise you to start reaching out to members of your family and people you know to get help.”
There was no one. No family member to help. Her father had been an orphan. Her mother, who had some family, was estranged from them because of an issue with her older sister. Her sister had permanently cut ties with her mother and thrown out of her husband’s house — at his behest, after her mother took her to the hotel where she had caught her husband cheating. Everyone had accused her of being a homewrecker and turned on her. Till a few weeks ago — when her mom had told her the story — to educate her on the importance of silence, she hadn’t known her mother had any existing family. She had thought her parents had been two orphans who had fallen in love.
“We don’t have anyone” She knees down. “Please, I have three hundred thousand. Can’t we begin with that? I promise to get the rest. Just please perform the surgery,” She pleaded desperately
Doctor Wale frowned. His stiff face set a disapproving frown. “Please get up, Ms.Dike, don’t do this. As I said, it’s Hospital policy. There’s nothing I can do about it. You have to leave now so I can attend to other patients.”
He picked up the landline and placed it on his ear. “Please send in the next patient.”
Chapter Three
“Don’t worry, Chi Baby, your mom is going to be okay” Bisola squeezed her hands in assurance as they sat watching over her mother, who was asleep now after ensuring the twins went home in preparation for school the following day.
Bisola had always been a dependable friend. It had hurt her when she had to avoid her because she couldn’t stand to face her. To face and pretend like she had not just seen her boyfriend kissing another woman. At first, she had wanted to inform her of Gbenga’s betrayal, but after talking to her mother, she thought better of it. The guilt of her silence had been too much for her to bear, so she had decided to avoid Bisola. She had ignored her calls and messages and had Informed her siblings that she was temporarily unavailable whenever Bisola came over. But now, here was Bisola, by her side as though she hadn’t been avoiding her for weeks.
“Thank you for coming” Chika covered her mouth as a sob broke free. She didn’t want her mom to see her in tears or, worse, her siblings walking in on her crying.
Chika breathed in the vanilla intervention of Bisola’s perfume — a welcome change from the bloody and antiseptic smell of the hospital room, as she embraced her. “Don’t worry, it will be fine.”
The guilt hit Chika afresh again. They had both struck a friendship during their days in university after Bisola had saved her phone from being stolen — She had been busy trying to get the water on her head back to her room and hadn’t realised when her phone had fallen. Since then, they’ve been inseparable until —
“I’m sorry,” Chika said suddenly. Until now, she didn’t know how much she missed the comforting reassurance of Bisola’s voice.
“For?” Bisola eyed her suspiciously as she sat back in her seat. “I knew it. You were avoiding me. But..why? Why? What did I do?”
Chika contemplated revealing the truth then but decided against it. “when mom’s okay,” she silently promised. “No, I wasn’t avoiding you. I was just going through—“
At a loss for words to explain her actions, Chika let her voice trail off.
“The issue with your mom abi”, Bisola said, misinterpreting her actions and words. “I wouldn’t have minded if you bothered me. That’s why we’re friends. To be there for each other,” She squeezed Chika’s hands fondly. “The only reason I didn’t come over to the house was —“
“Is that an engagement ring?” Chika said, interrupting Bisola. She had noticed the ring before, but she had been too consumed in her problem to notice that it was no ordinary ring.
Her bob wig bounced as she wiggled her head, grinning from ear to ear. “Yes, Gbenga popped the question,” She whispered excitedly and stretched out her hand. The diamond flashed as she did. “I almost died of excitement keeping this good news to myself. That was why I kept calling to share the news with you.”
Chika felt a spiral of emotion all at once. She didn’t know if she should be happy that her friend was engaged to be married to the man she loved or sad that she’d kept silent and robbed her friend of the opportunity to decide on Gbenga’s cheating. “How long?” She finally said
“It’s been two weeks since Gbenga took your girl off the market. Speaking of Gbenga, I’m expecting a message from him,” She said, bringing out her phone.
Gloria was glad for Bisola’s distraction because it gave her time to muddle on this new development. This proposal should have been just a few days after she’d seen Gbenga kissing the lady outside the mall. Should I just tell her? But what if l lose a friend in the process? Bisola looked very happy, and she knew for a fact that Gbenga was like air to her. He could change, a little voice whispers.
“Guess what, ChiBaby?” Bisola continued excitedly without waiting for a response from Chika, “I had spoken to Gbenga on my way to the restroom about your mom and the bills. He just sent me a message that he’ll foot the bill.”
Chapter Four
Chika took the elevator at the King’s Delight Hotel, heading to the room the receptionists at the front desk had given to her. It was the afternoon of the next day after Bisola had told her the good news. She had barely been able to sleep and would have gone that same day to get the money if it was not late already. She still couldn’t wrap her head around the fact that Gbenga, who she’d almost ratted out, had been the one to offer her help.
The guilt still lurked, but she would bear it. For her mother, she will. Thank God she had held her tongue. Bisola was happy with Gbenga. She won’t ruin it by mentioning a kiss that he might have even repented from. Gbenga and Bisola had no idea what she had seen. She’ll keep it that way.
Chika would have been worried about the location of the meeting being a hotel, but Bisola had been the one to give her the location. She had said something about Gbenga’s house being under renovation. Bisola had wanted to accompany Chika but had to be in Ibadan to see Gbenga’s mother.
“In short, Chi Baby, Just Go. Gbenga is going to be your brother-in-law’s soon. Go bill him” Had been Bisola’s final word before she l
She had been disappointed Bisola couldn’t come along. But she hadn’t pressed the issue, so she didn’t make things awkward or make her feel like she was suspicious of Gbenga — who was going out of his way to help.
She had never been close to Gbenga. The few times they had met was during some event Bisola dragged her to — or at her place. Bisola was always the buffer during those times. Meeting him alone like this felt awkward.
Getting to Suite 3, she stopped and rang the doorbell. At the third ring, she heard the sound of it being unlocked from within, and Gbenga’s voice –
“Come in, Chika”
Chika quickly exhaled and pushed open the door —
Her eyes widened at the sheer opulence that surrounded her. She hadn’t known what she was expecting, but this was breathtaking. The suite was indeed the King’s delight, with tasteful art pieces adorning the white walls, each painting so vivid that it seemed to pulsate with life.
Speak of white and grey opulence! Chika marvelled.
The delicious fragrance of cinnamon and blackberries escorted Chika as she moved deeper into the suit. Her gaze darted from one breathtaking detail to another. She knew Gbenga was rich, but this was wealthy.
Chika felt like a little rock amidst precious stone, her plain white grown and rough cornrows stood out like a sore thumb. No wonder the receptionist had that weird look on her face. Thinking about it now, even the security and the people she’d met on her way here had been darting weird glances at her. She didn’t belong here.
Gbenga —who was on a call, sighting her, signalled to a delicate-looking grey sofa. Then he walked into a room and quickly shut it behind him. From the little she’d spied, it was a bedroom. Had that been a red velvet-covered master bed she had seen, with red roses on the floor?”
Mind your business, Chika, a little voice chided.
She had wanted to remain standing but realised it would seem weird — and make him uncomfortable, if he came back and met her standing. So she sat.
The mirror-like shine of the wine glasses on the centre table caught Chika’s. Her gaze flickered to the bottle of wine and the covered platter.
First the room, now this? Was Gbenga expecting someone other than her?
“Dig in. It’s yours” The grin on Gbenga’s face as he approached her felt unsettling. His grin had felt almost… victorious. Gbenga was handsome. That’s if one considered bright brown skin, a bald head and beards as handsome.
“I’ll pass. Thank you” She went further into the arm of the sofa as he sat close to her. Too close. What was this odd aura from him?
“Relax, I don’t bite” She almost shuddered as his hand briefly patted her lap.
She took a deep breath to calm herself and then tried again. “Bisola said —”
Chika flinched as she took her hand. “You know I’ve always had a crush on you?” The words Chika had about say died at those words from Gbenga.
“I…” She didn’t know what to say. Where had that come from? A crush on her all of a sudden?
“I’m sorry I came. Let’s pretend this never happened” She knocked down a glass in her haste to escape.
She tries to save it but stops when he says, “The floor has furs, Chi, leave the glass” —he rises and gives her a bold appraisal —” And even if it was tiled, it’s just a glass.”
She murmured something she didn’t even understand and promptly rounded out of his reach. Heading for the door.
“Think of your poor mother before you walk out that door” At those words, Chika froze. The reason why she came here in the first place returned —
Her mother.
What would become of her mother if she — “Why are you doing this, Gbenga? You promised to help” Her words broke as she spoke. She suddenly felt breathless and tight-chested, as if the air had suddenly been sipped out of her and the room.
She recoiled as he cupped her face. “And I will, baby. Just as soon as you say Yes. Look at this” He handed her a cheque. “That’s a blank cheque. Just one day. One day, that’s all I ask, and I’ll sign any amount you put in”
Chika’s hand trembled as she held the cheque.
***
What’s the best decision for Chika at this point?
Should she take Gbenga up on his offer and save her mother’s life
Or
Stay true to her loyalty to Bisola and risk losing her mother.
Do you think Bisola would believe Chika if she told her of Gbenga’s wicked proposition?
