episode 2&3
Episode 2
Nike was also very beautiful, to be candid, she had the same qualities and features as Vanessa. Nike rested her head on the headrest resignedly.
Vanessa ignited the engine and looked ahead to see if the gateman was around and really the gateman, Ahmed had already opened the gate ever since he saw her depositing her luggage into the booth of the car and he stood by the gate sobbing. She looked through the rear mirror and saw the housemaid standing there weeping. She felt sorry for the two but she couldnât stay back in this hell called a home.
She drove past him, waving as she did, âI will come check you guys from time to timeâ, she said to him wiping her face the second time.
âOkay Auntieâ, he replied with lot of emotions. With the reply, Vanessa drove past him out of the compound and swayed unto the street.
âWhere are we going?â, Nike queried.
âKeep your cool girlâ, Van replied..âOkay oâ.
Van started thinking about everything that transpired between her and her family that led to her packing her loads. She remembered how she had been coping with her father and only elder but wicked brother these past years. She remembered her mum, her only helpmate, prayer mate, partner in battle. She remembered her ever glowing face even in death she looked more beautiful like an angel, she was her carbon copy. She remembered her fatherâs always blazing eyes and deep voice then her brother-the wicked one, she remembered the first time he forced his masculine frame on her thin body, she remembered herself letting out a painful low scream-no one heard. Her mum was away at her shop and she just returned from school, she was in senior school 1` and her brother was home on holiday- he schooled then at Fire rocks University.
âStop! Stop! Stop!, she heard Niks shout.
âOh my Godâ, Van said pressing hard on the break pad and the car stopped. She was already off the road and driving towards a Jeep parked by the roadside and obviously the driver of the car was not in. She was already in tears.
Nike opened the door of the car and Vanessa did the same breathing heavily as though she just escaped from a lionâs den, Nike was also tensed up.
âYou know you almost got us killed now, Niks finally said breaking the ice as people stared at them, and I asked if you could driveâ, she added looking at Van.
âShe is probably going insane! Akporâ, a short and robust woman obviously from the Igbo tribe spat out irritably and the two other people sitting with her agreed.
episode 3
Episode 3
She should have allowed the other lady drive the car nowâ, another woman who saw the scene said coming towards the Igbo womanâs shop.
â Na so we see am o,â the Igbo woman said again spreading her two palms at the other woman.
âI am so sorryâ, she managed to apologize before a middle aged man walked up to them.
âAre you guys okay? That was sort of crazy earlierâ, the man said, his eyes perusing them one after the other as though trying to find if there was an itch on their body.
âOh-yeahâ, Van mumbled rubbing her hair.
âYes sir, thank you. Are you the owner of the Jeep?â, Nike managed to ask pointing at the black Jeep.
âNo, actually that is my car over there. I was the one driving behind you earlier before I noticed the reckless drivingâ, the man said pointing at a black colored Porsche with tinted glasses and both ladies turned to look at the sleek car mouth dropping in awe.
âHey! What is going on here?â a very handsome and tall guy said and the trio turned back to the direction of the voice.
âWow! The owner of the Jeep, I guessâ, Niks whispered into Vanâs ear âHe is d–n cuteâ.
âEr-actually, we almost ran into your carâ, Niks explained with looks uncertain of what the guy would say.
âOh! Is that right?â, the guy asked with raised eyebrows- he had an American accent, and the man quickly cut in.
âIt wasnât intentional Mr., I guess she wasnât in her right frame of mind earlierâ, the middle aged man explained covering up for Van.
âThat is fine- reallyâ, the guy replied them with assurance smiling as though he was enjoying the conversation.
âWow! He is really cuteâ, Niks repeated in the same quiet tone and Van gently squeezed her arm to bring her back to reality.
âI am Francis by nameâ, the cute guy said offering the middle aged man his hand for a shake.
Taking the hand with warmth, the middle aged man replied, âI am Adewaleâ.
âFrancis? I hate that name! I hate every Francis on this earth planet!â, Van suddenly spat out with rage evident in her eyes and tone leaving the two guys dumbfounded and making Francis more embarrassed- it was no joke. Van ran to the ownerâs seat, Niks previous position fuming, she knew her friend would apologize to the guys, she waited patiently for her so she could drive because she couldnât risk her life the second time, though she wanted very much to commit suicide but not anymore- she had to see her enemies go down first.
Niks looked at two guys apologetically seeing the shock on their faces. âI am really sorry for her outburst, she had been going through a lot recently- I am really sorry.â
âThatâs fineâ, Adewale responded first feeling a little sympathy. Nike nodded in acknowledgement and looked at Francis with raised eye balls expecting him to say something since he was the one embarrassed here.
âWell, I think I am interested in herâ, Francis finally spoke grinning. Niks and Adewale cast a questioning glance at him.
âEr- I mean in her caseâ, he quickly added smiling sensing their mischief.
âOkay, I am Adenike;, giving out her hand to both guys for a shake. They exchanged phone numbers.
The trio later went back to their various cars.
Van sat down in the car, âFrancis? All the Francis are badâ, she muttered, âYes they are and I hate themâ.
She looked out through the wounded glasses with the car keys in her hand, âwhat was he grinning at? She asked herself and hissed.
Niks entered the car not long after smiling all over and this irritated Van the more.
âAnd what is so funny?â Van managed to ask.
âWhat do you think about that guy, Francis?â Niks asked ignoring her question.
âHey! Donât even go there, I told you I donât like him, he is Francis, Van replied feeling more irritated.
âWell- to me, he is a very cute guy and he seems humble tooâ, Niks said grinning from ear to ear.
Van didnât reply but pursed her lips. âLook here, because your brother Francis, is mean does not mean all the Francis on earth planet like you said are also wickedâ, Niks continued with lots of seriousness.
âAre you taking sides with him?â, Van asked with pained voice.
âNo darling! I am not taking sides with him- all I am telling you is to free your mind, let out all your bottled up emotionsâ, Niks explained calmly.
;âTurn left! The house is the fourth on the streetâ, Van said ignoring Nike again.
âI know you wonât listen to meâ, Niks said and shrugged. In another five minutes, Nike found herself hooting in front of a giant black gate with a high fence painted lemon with flowers planted round the house. The gate swung open almost immediately and Niks drove past the light complexioned young gateman into the compound. The compound was a very big and beautiful one. The landlord probably has a good job or has successful children who built him the house. But whichever it was- the house was beautiful, There were four flats in the compound and all was painted Lemon. The floor was interlocks with flowers planted round the fence where fluorescent lights hung and the gardener was pruning the flowers with the secateurs
Niks parked the car at the designated place and both alighted and Van led the way to a duplex, the biggest building in the compound- obviously the landlord was the occupant of the apartment. Niks followed suit after waving at the gateman who bowed in greeting. Van rang the doorbell and a young lady of about 17 years opened the door. The girl was light complexioned and chubby- a perfect description of a well fed child.
âHiâ, Van said smiling at the young girl
âHello Maâam, please come inâ, the young girl said with courtesy.
Thank you ma dear, is Prof. Bello in?â, Van asked.
âThatâs my dad and he is in, please have your seats while I call himâ. The young girl replied.
âThank you my dearâ. Van said and the girl ran up the stairs to call her dad.
Few minutes later, an elderly man appeared walking down the stairs. He was tall with little grey hairs on his head and beard and he smiled immediately he saw Van.
All this while, Niks was worried because she was still in the dark- Van had refused telling her what they were doing here.
âGood day Sir! Both ladies chorused as they stood on their feet to greet the Prof.
âOh- Vanessa! How have you been?â, the man asked really pleased to see the young lady.
âHave been good sir and I hope the apartment is still availableâ, Van asked with hopes high.
âOf course my dear, I reserved it for you seeing you will need it soon and when you called this morning, I called someone to clean up the place â. Are you ready to move in?â.
âOh thank you sir, I will move in right awayâ. Van replied elated.
âAlright then, let me get the keys. Prof. Bello said and went back up stairs.
âLet us goâ, he said as he re-entered the living room,
The two girls stood up and Niks carried her fuchsia pink handbag which matched her deep blue gown with fuchsia pink blazer and her sandals matched the handbag, while Van straightened the black top she wore on a black jean trousers and on her feet were black snickers.
The old Prof. led the way and stopped in front of another lemon colored building, then he inserted the key and the door opened, then the three stepped into the spacious but empty room-it was very neat.
The man gave her the keys and left but not after Van showed gratitude.
âReally- You got this place and I have no idea about this?â, Niks finally blurted out after the man left.
âI am sorry love but I know you would kick against ideaâ, Van explained apologetically.
âOkay o, so what are you going to fix into this house?â,Niks asked.
âwell- I gave a company to handle the furniture and they would be here anytime from now and I also brought some important equipment and utensils I bought a week ago at the mallâ, Van said beaming and Niks only nodded feeling sad that her friend had done a lot of the things without her knowledge.
The ladies later went out to unpack Vanâs luggage. They arranged what is needed to be arranged. She hung the pictures and picture quote frames on the wall and after about two hours of arrangement, the furniture company arrived. The brought in they brought in the sofas, centre table and low stools and the mattress she brought the previous day fit into the bed perfectly. At 6pm, the room has been given a new and tasteful look.
Niks finally left at 8pm.
Later in the night, Van laid on her bed replaying all her experiences, she ended up soaking her pillow with bitter tears. Tomorrow was Sunday and Niks had told her to go to Church- she hasnât been there for quite sometime now and she can bet she canât remember how to pray anymore. She finally resolved not to attend mass.
She remembered Francis too- Igbo people are just bad and the Francis too but he is kinda cute. She thought and slapped herself to bring her back to reality. She shouldnât love him- here she was at 23, she had no man to call hers not that no guy liked her but she just hate them. Now, what does she hate- she hates men, all the Francis on the earth planet and the Igbo people. Goddamn!. She finally drifted into a fretful sleep as she had nightmares
