*EPISODE 5*
{{CHANGE OF RULES}}
Bayo returned to his house and met Abeni who was waiting for him in the living room.
“Where have you been?.” Abeni asked as she got up and walked towards him. “I’ve been here waiting for you for hours.” She said standing in front of him.
“I was driving around aimlessly to cool my head,” Bayo replied, giving her a weak smile.
“I’m really sorry for everything my dad said to you at his house today. I just want you to forget everything he said. And please don’t let any of his words or his actions get to you okay?.” Abeni said slowly rubbing her right palm against his left cheek.
Bayo held her hand and said.
“What would I have done without you? Thank you so much, Abeni. For always being there for me.” Bayo acknowledged her with a sad smile.
“It’s okay, bayo. I will always be here to share your pain. And to help you through your difficult times. With that being said,” She paused and held both of his hands. “How about you go take a shower while I make your favorite meal?. You know, something to cheer you up” she said with excitement on her face.
“I thought I lost my appetite. But the sound of my favorite meal has miraculously helped me regain my appetite.” Bayo said and they both burst out laughing.
When they finished dinner, Bayo, who was expecting Abeni to return home, was shocked to see that she was still hanging around.
“Hey, Madam Abeni. When do you plan on going home? I just hope it’s not what I think it is?” he asked folding his arms.
“whatever. I’m spending the night here with you and I’m sorry, cause there’s nothing you can do about it,” she said sticking out her tongue at Bayo.
“You’ve started again,” Bayo said pointing at her with a smile.
Abeni always made sure to spend the night at Bayo’s house when it was a day before his parents’ death anniversary. This allows her to celebrate their death anniversary with Bayo, whose nightmares always get worse by that time of the year.
That night, Bayo had a bad nightmare. He woke up panting. And as usual, he took his anxiety pills which helped calmed him down.
Early the next morning, he set out to visit the grave of his deceased parents. And Abeni went with him.
And as usual, he dropped flowers on their graves. And spoke a few words to them. But in the process, he broke into tears while Abeni kept rubbing his back to comfort him.
Back at Oye’s house.
Oye and her grandmother also performed some commemoration rituals as it was also the anniversary of her late parents’ deaths. The wound and the painful memories of their deaths 18 years ago, returned to their hearts afresh.
By the time they were done, Oye’s grandmother couldn’t help but miss Bayo.
“How about the young man from the other day?” She asked Oye, who was arranging things to take to the orphanage home. Because it was her custom to always take things to the orphanage home on her deceased parents’ death anniversary.
“Which young man are you talking about?” Oye asked curiously.
“The young man who fought against Baba Tunde and his men. What was his name again?” Oye’s grandmother asked clicking her fingers.
“You mean Bayo?” Oye asked.
“Is that his name?.” She asked.
“Yes mama,” Oye responded.
“it’s just that, I haven’t seen him for two days now. It’s such a pity that he lost his parents 18 years ago just like you,” Oye’s grandmother said with pity in her eyes.
This came as a shock and surprise to Oye, who thought Bayo was some sort of rich spoiled brat trying so hard to get her attention.
“What a coincidence.” She thought to herself.
“Don’t you have his phone number?” Oye’s grandmother asked again.
“No, I don’t mama. But why care so much about him when we barely know this guy?. He could be a tout or a thug based on how he single-handedly fended off Baba Tunde’s men. If you ask me, I would say, it’s best to forget about him and have nothing to do with him. Because everything about him looks suspicious.” Oye said.
“And that’s why you’ve been single all these years,” Oye’s grandmother fired.
“Mama?. What does being single got to do with this?” Oye asked totally confused.
“That’s because you’re always too quick to judge and condemn every guy that comes your way. That’s why you’re still single. You won’t tell me that you didn’t notice that Bayo likes you.” Oye’s grandmother said.
“Mama…..!. Ahhh!. What like are you talking about?” Oye asked, not believing her grandmother.
“Then how do you explain the fact that he came here that morning to look for you before returning in the evening to fend off Baba Tunde’s men?. He did all that to get your attention,” Oye’s grandmother said.
“He came here and asked for me?” Oye asked in surprise.
“Yes. When you left for work that morning. I then directed him to your workplace. Or, didn’t you see him at your workplace the morning before he came here in the evening to help us teach Baba Tunde and his men a lesson?” Oye’s grandmother asked.
“Of course, I saw him. He actually waited for me until I got off from work. But I found his approach to be kind of weird and scary. Which was why I slapped him that day. I guess that’s why he respected himself and stopped coming here.” Oye said feeling proud of herself.
Her grandmother was shocked beyond words when she heard what Oye said.
” You did what?.” Oye’s grandmother asked in disbelief.
“I slapped him very hard,” Oye said proudly.
“Are you crazy?. Oye, did I raise you to become a soldier?. Was with all the men-like attitude of yours?.” She asked completely shocked.
“I just hope and pray that you don’t end up being single your whole life,” she said.
“But mama, you won’t blame me. His approach was kind of clumsy and suspicious to me. You would have done the same if you were in my shoes” Oye said defensively.
“May that your shoes kill you there. Stupid girl. I’m sure your mother will not be happy with you anywhere she is right now. Cause what’s with your rigid lifestyle when you’re not even a soldier?” she asked disappointed.
At the orphanage.
Oye got out of the cab with the things she had brought for the children. As she struggled to bring them in with the porter’s help, she turned and saw Bayo coming out of the orphanage with both hands in his pockets.
“What is this? Am I hallucinating or what?” Oye asked blinking her eyes repeatedly to make sure she wasn’t dreaming.
Bayo, who was walking towards her, lifted his head and was equally surprised to see Oye.
“What is this?.” Bayo asked as he couldn’t believe his eyes.
“What are you doing here? Don’t tell me you actually followed me to this place. If this is not an obsession, then I don’t know what else to call it. Are you stalking me?” Oye asked.
“I beg your pardon,” Bayo said, unable to believe his ears. “I got here before you, yet you think I followed you here?. Please oye not today. Cause I’m not in the mood to put up a fight with you. If possible, just act like you didn’t see me in this place this I beg of you.” Bayo shockingly said and walked away to get some things from his car.
While he was outside, a call came in from Abeni.
“Hello dear,” Bayo said.
“Bayo, please, I’m sorry for not being able to accompany you to the orphanage home. I promise to make it up to you,” Abeni said.
“It’s okay, Abeni. You’ve tried enough for me today. And I am grateful for that. So don’t worry about the orphanage home visitation. I will do it with you in mind” Bayo said with a smile on his lips.
“Thank you for your understanding. See you later.” She said and ended the call.
Bayo quickly took the things he wanted to get out of his car and returned to the orphanage home.
Oye kept looking at him, wondering what had brought him to the orphanage home if he wasn’t there because of her.
But as time went on, she was surprised to see how lively and playful Bayo was with the children that day. And what shocked her the most, was how familiar the kids were with him. they all called him
“Uncle Bayo!.”
The Reverend Sisters who worked there also knew him. And the things he brought for the children were twice as much as what she brought. This made her wonder
“What exactly is he celebrating?”
It was after she called one of the staff aside and asked her about Bayo, that she was shocked to realize that he always comes to celebrate his late parents’ death anniversary with the children. Because his late parent’s death anniversary was like him celebrating his birthday. Cause he rarely celebrated his birthdays.
It was then, that Oye’s perception of Bayo changed. She felt remorse for the way she had treated him. And as such, she approached him to apologize to him.
“Hey,” she said walking up to him.
“Hey. I hope you’re not here to give me an earful because I’m not in the mood today,” Bayo said.
“No, bayo. Actually, I came to apologize for having the wrong perception of you all along. I was wrong to have jumped to unverified conclusions about you without getting to know you better” Oye said remorsefully.
“It’s okay. I totally understand why you are so aggressive and defensive the way you are. Life situations can change a person completely. So I honestly don’t hold a grudge against you.” Bayo said.
“I’m happy to hear that. Thank you so much, Bayo. By the way, my grandmother was asking about you all the time. she misses you a whole lot. So if you don’t mind I would like you to stop by one of these days and say hi to her.” Oye said.
“What about you?.” Bayo asked out of the blue.
“What about me? I don’t understand,” Oye asked confused.
“Don’t you miss me?” Bayo asked staring at her.
“Now you want to bring words out of my mouth. But I’m sorry. Cause you won’t hear anything from me.” She said and they both burst out laughing.
After a while, Oye said in a serious tone:
“I’m sorry for your loss. I heard everything from one of the staff who works here.” Oye said.
“Yeah, thank you. So what about you? What brought you here?” Bayo asked.
“Same reason you’re here,” Oye said, fighting back tears from falling from her eyes.
“Wait a minute,” Bayo said completely shocked beyond words. “You are also here to mourn your parents?” Bayo asked.
“Yes, Bayo. I thought I was the only person who celebrates her late parents’ death anniversary at the orphanage. Little did I know that you were as weird as I am.” She said.
“Is today the exact date of their death?” Bayo asked very curiously.
“Yes, Bayo. Same date as today. Eighteen years ago.” Oye said.
“What a coincidence,” Bayo said, looking at her in disbelief.
