‘Hey.’
‘Hello?’
This is Alex.
‘Hi Alex.’ Grace said as she looked at her phone screen and adjusted her ear buds. She was lying in bed reading a novel when the call from Alex came in.
‘I was thinking maybe we could hangout sometime soon. You know maybe show me some fun places in Lagos.’
‘I thought Chinwe was doing that already.’
‘Hmm…well, I ain’t so comfortable with your friend.’
Grace took a deep breath. ‘My course mate.’
‘Yeah, your course mate. So the three of you are studying Drama in the University of Lagos?’
‘No, just Chinwe and I. Ayotunde is studying Guidance and Counselling.’
‘Oh wow! That’s cool.’ Alex said.
Grace smiled.
‘So what do you say to us hanging out together? Jide will take us.’
‘I’m sorry, Alex. But it is a No.’
‘Why? It is just a harmless hangout over food and drinks. And it ain’t just you and I; Ayo inclusive.’
‘I will think about it.’ Grace said; willing the call to end.
Alex smiled. ‘Please do. And save my number. I will look forward to your call. My regards to Ayo.’
‘Okay. She will hear. Bye.’ Grace said as she ended the call.
She dropped the phone on her bed and continued reading.
*
Ayotunde walked into the room tired. She slumped on her bed and looked at Grace. ‘You have been reading that book since I left for lectures.’
Grace shrugged. ‘What do you want me to do nau? Nobody to gist with. You and the others all gone for lectures.’
‘I’m famished. Do we still have that concoction rice that we cooked?’
‘Yeah, I left some for you on the stove. It is there.’ Grace said as she pointed to a corner of the room.
‘Urgghhh! Thanks. You are a life saver.’ Ayotunde growled as she picked up the pot and started eating directly from it.
‘Madam, we get plate oh.’
‘Leave plate. Belle no know the difference.’ Ayotunde ate hungrily.
‘Alex called.’ Grace said as she put down the novel and sat up.
‘Hmmm..mmm.’
‘He said he wanted us to hang out with him.’
‘Why? I thought Chinwe was doing that already.’ Ayotunde said as she finished the food and dropped the pot on the floor. She picked up a sachet of water from a full pack by her bed. She bit into it with her teeth and gulped.
‘Ahn…ahn, na so you hungry reach? See as you dey behave.’ Grace rolled her eyes.
Ayotunde ignored her and finished the water she was drinking. She squeezed the sachet and dropped it into the pot. ‘Haaa!’ She exclaimed. ‘A hungry man is truly an angry man.’
Grace shook her head.
‘Ehen! What were you saying about Alex?’
Grace hissed.
‘Tell me nau. Don’t be angry.’
‘He was asking that we hang out with him. I also asked him the same question about Chinwe. He said he wasn’t comfortable with her; that his taxi driver will take us to wherever.’
‘Hmm….well, he looks like a cool guy though.’ Ayotunde replied.
Grace rolled her eyes.
‘What?’ Ayotunde gesticulated. Is there anything wrong with us hanging out with him? Well, as long as it is somewhere in public sha and in broad daylight.
‘I don’t like the idea. I told him no.’
‘Babe, loosen up jor. You too dey cack up. You know you never see life reach me o. Let’s hangout with him. We could go see a movie with popcorn and drinks. Something different from this regimented life on campus.’
‘What about your brother?’
Ayotunde raised her shoulders. ‘What about him? I don’t understand.’
‘I’m dating your brother, Aunty. Why should I be hanging out with another guy?’
“Uh…uh…’ Ayotunde exclaimed excitedly. ‘You didn’t tell me that. So Ayorinde is now doing things behind my back. Hmmm….hmmm?’ She put her hand on her chin and bobbed her head.
‘C’mon babe. I just agreed to date him a few weeks ago.’
‘Ehn, a few weeks ago but without him telling me anything.’
‘You are impossible’ Grace laughed.
‘I know. I’m happy he is happy.’ Ayotunde lifted her fingers in the air, snapped them and dramatized with her body and hands.
‘You missed your calling, you know. You would have done better in Theatre Arts.’
Both of them burst out into laughter.
‘Okay, seriously. Call Alex and tell him strictly daytime activities. We can go watch a movie. Let me check my time-table. Hmm….do I have anything tomorrow? I know you are free till next week.’ Ayotunde said taking charge.
Grace shook her head as she lay down on her bed to continue reading her novel.
*******
Aderemi walked into the kitchen yawning. Her father was already having his breakfast of toast and tea. He looked up from the newspaper he was reading.
‘Good morning Daddy.’ She bent down to kiss him on the cheek.
‘Good morning my Princess. Hope you had a restful night.’
Aderemi sighed.
‘Still having nightmares?’ Adeleke asked as he dropped his mug on the table.
‘I don’t understand anymore Daddy. Some nights are okay but some nights, I wake up sweaty and all.’
‘Should we see a therapist?’
‘Dad, I’m not crazy.’ Aderemi said giving her father a side look.
He shrugged. ‘I didn’t say you were. I am just worried and think we should understand what could have triggered this series of nightmares.’
‘I will be fine.’
‘It has been how many weeks now?’
‘I know.’ Aderemi sighed. ‘Since I came home almost 2 months ago.’
‘I think it has lasted for too long.’
‘Dad, I will be fine. Trust me.’
Adeleke took a deep breath. ‘Okay.’
‘Away from all this, when are you leaving for the workshop?’
Adeleke looked at his wrist watch. ‘About ten minutes.’
‘Can you make that thirty?’
‘Okay?’
‘I have been working on a project for some time.’ She yawned. ‘I don’t think I have been getting enough sleep. That – could even be why I am having nightmares.’
Adeleke looked on.
‘Anyway, back to what I was saying. I’m thinking of using the empty space inside your workshop. When you are done with your client’s cars, you always have to get one of your boys to get the car washed two streets away.’
Adeleke nodded.
‘So, I want to turn that empty space into a car wash, so that you don’t have to take the cars out of the premises any longer.’
Adeleke opened his mouth to speak but Aderemi raised her finger.
‘I know what you are thinking; the space is small.’
Adeleke smiled.
‘I thought about that and that’s why…..’ Aderemi yawned again. ‘I was at the workshop three weeks ago to take measurements.’
‘You were?’ Adeleke asked; shock clearly written on his face.
‘Yes.’ Aderemi laughed. ‘You were in the office upstairs and I told the guys not to bother you. I took measurements and came up with the perfect solution. Some of the areas around the workshop are not properly maximized. We would have to breakdown some places, partition some areas and viola we have a larger space to take a car and all the gadgets for a car wash.’
‘Architecture plus business. I definitely did not waste my money.’ Adeleke clapped. I’m glad you came back home.’ He said pulling his daughter into a hug.
She moved close to her father as she hugged him back. ‘I wasn’t going to leave you all alone with that little brat.’ She laughed.
‘Talking about her; have you heard from her?’
‘Yes, we spoke about two days ago.’
‘How is she? I spoke with her last week. She said they were practicing for a show.’
‘She is good. You spoilt that girl.’
Adeleke laughed. ‘You are my Princess. She is my Angel and both of you mean the world to me.’
Aderemi shrugged. ‘Give me thirty minutes. Let me take a quick bath. I will show you what I have been doing the last one month.’ She said as she ran down the hall.
‘Okay Princess. Should I make a toast for you?’ He called out.
‘Yes Daddy. Thank you. No onions please.’ She shouted from her bedroom.
Adeleke laughed. ‘Yes, your Highness.’
The story continues…