CONTINUATION. . . Coming To Lagos. . Ep 6
We got home by few minutes past 9pm. Freda had slept but his sister working on her laptop when we came in.
“I’ll be here in thr morning to take her to the park.” Samuel said to his sister as he bade me a good night.
“I don’t know if you’ll like to eat something. .” His sister said to me urging me to sit down on the sofa beside her after I declined eating anything else.
“I believe you enjoyed yourself. How do you see Lagos, dear?”
“It’s a beautiful place to live in. We only went to a park. I think I can fit in.” I answered looking from her laptop to my phone screen.
“You didn’t mention anything about the oppression in Lagos?”
We laughed as the realisation hits me. I had made a mental note to gist mummy about all I have seen. All I have read about Lagos, are all true.
Including the book, Nearly All Men In Lagos Are Mad, opened my eyes to some extent as to what to expect. Posts from friends on Facebook helped too.
“I must confess, this city is not for the weak.” I admitted.
“Yeah but personally I think aside being a hustling city, it’s also a city of Love somehow. Don’t you think?” She asks as she adjusted her glasses before removing it and dropping it on the table, beside her laptop. She rubs her eyes, my eyes moved with her every move.
“That seems true. At the park, I saw alot of couples, those in matching outfits and those who weren’t. At every corner and turn, you must see two or more couples holding hands, laughing or giggling. That place is not for single people at all.” My comment must have amused her as she laughs lightly and continued from where I stopped.
“I actually met my husband here in Lagos.” She pauses to see my expression. “We met at the park. I had gone with my friends on Lizzy’s birthday but I was the only one without a partner so I got busy with a friendly kid when my husband, Gozie, asked me to take a photograph of him and his family who came to celebrate their mum.”
“So the picture connected you two?” I asked.
“I didn’t know the picture would come out that nice. He took my number that night and we started chatting. I was typically the hard girl type. Even when I noticed I had started developing feelings for him, I still didn’t give in to his proposal until on his birthday which was exactly 9 months we started talking.”
“Awwn. This is beautiful. ”
“Actually, I have been forcing Samuel to visit that park probably he will find his missing ribs there but he kept insisting that we won’t have the same love story. So tell me, where did you two meet?”
I can’t avoid this now, not anymore. I was ready to answer this question even before she asked because I knew she would ask again.
“We actually met at mile 2.” I said without really thinking when her next question almost threw me off balance.
“I thought this is your first time in Lagos?”
“It is, ma’am.”
“Wait, you just met 2 days ago? You mean that night he brought you here you were both strangers?”
“Actually, ma’am I can explain.” I tried to say.
“Explain what? That my brother played me and brought a stranger home and I was thinking all along that he has finally seen someone. He must explain himself.” She stood up and grabs her phone, laptop and glasses, moving towards her room.
I sat still unable to think of what to do.
“Should I message him on WhatsApp? What should I do?”
I don’t know how long she spent on the phone but I got a message from Samuel, apologizing for any word his sister must have said that didn’t go down well with me. I stared at the message wondering what was wrong with this guy.
I should be apologising for trying to cause a problem for his sister and himself and he’s here apologizing?
Probably everything will die down if I just leave. I checked my phone and it was 10:25pm. A hotel should be close by. The street is a busy one hopefully I can ask someone down the street for any hotel around.
I stood up from the sofa and walk into the room where I spent the previous night as I began to pack few of my belongings I came to Lagos with.
I quickly cut out a sheet of paper from my jotter and tender an apology not without appreciating her kind gestures. I was going to drop it on the table and leave but she was back in the sitting room, with folded arms and expressionless face. She must have heard my footsteps then she looked up and saw me all packed, ready to leave.
“Where are you going to?”
“I’m really sorry, ma’am. I didn’t mean to be the bone of contention between you and Samuel. I was stranded at Mile 2, my friend who I was supposed to stay with for these two days disappointed me right when I landed and I had no where to go. I would have been robbed if not for Samuel who came to my rescue and offered to help me.”
“Hmm. Samuel has told me everything.” That was all she said and walks up to me. “I’m sorry if I over reacted you know the days are evil now and you can’t trust anyone. I once helped someone who ended up stealing from me so I was angry when I found out he didn’t even know who you are but for these few hours, my spirit just accepted you. I’m really sorry.” She said, with a hand on my shoulder she gave me small squeeze.
“I understand, ma’am and I don’t hold it against you.”
“Please go and rest, you have a long journey tomorrow.” Staring at the paper in my hands, I knew it wasn’t important anymore. I squeezed the paper in a pulp and engulfs her in a hug when she whispers something into my ears.
“I think my brother likes you.”
“Ma? Were you talking to me?” I asked to be sure of what I heard.
“It’s nothing, dear. Go and have your rest now.” She concludes urging me to go ahead with a little little push.
I walk into ‘my room’ again, thinking of what I heard. That can’t be true
It’s just two days. I was deep in thoughts when his call came in.
To be continued. .
