Rera couldn't believe her eyes or her luck. Never in her 21
years of existence has she had such amount of money transfered to her.
Two hundred thousand!!! Who gives two hundred thousand to anybody in
this country? She hit her head on the wall slightly to be sure she
wasn't dreaming. She felt the pain. She wasn't. She had sent about 6
messages to thank him and called him twice. All in less than 30 minutes.
She had just one problem now.
When her sister had told her that the doctors were
requesting a hundred and fifty thousand for her father's treatment, she
had just burst into laughter. It wasn't long before the laughter turned
to tears. She had had no idea where her mum was going to get that kind
of money. Her mum's meagre salary was not even enough to keep the family
together conveniently. And her dad has been out of a job for more than
ten years. His then booming business had crumbled and his pride did not
let him take on a lesser job. He just kept hoping for a miracle to
resuscitate his business, not supporting the family all through this
time. And she was very sure her mum had no savings. On the contrary she
had a lot of loans being serviced with her salary. So she couldn't just
stop crying.
She didn't even know of any family member that won't give
them stories. And time was also going. When Paul had called her
later,she decided not to pick. But he just kept on calling and calling.
Like he won't stop if she didn't. When she picked, she couldn't hide
the tears in voice. When he had asked what happened, she had been very
reluctant to tell him,but he had insisted and when she had finished
narrating her situation,she got the surprise of her life. "So you didn't
want to tell me? You want him to die? Send me your account number,
I'll send you the money. Do you intend traveling?" He had said so
casually that she thought he didn't hear the amount she said.
Thirty minutes later,here
she was with her account balance at two hundred and one thousand! Now
the only problem she had was what to tell her mother. She could just
imagine how her mother would react. She was so engrossed in her thoughts
she didn't hear Made come inside.
"Baby la hot. See your hottest gown. You just went to put
that poor man on high tension abi? Please come and give me gist o.
That's the only reason I came back tonight. I would have crashed at
Joshua's."
Made's voice startled her. She gave a short laugh. She could afford to do that now.
"Ore, na you sabi dawan. Come and sit down. I have more than enough gist for you."
**************************************
To say her mum had been shocked when she had told her what
happened would be an understatement. She had first insisted on Rera
returning the money. But when Made had helped explain the situation, and
reminded her that life is important, her mum had relented but not
before prodding to be sure that Rera had not sold her body to get it.
She asked many questions. ' Who is this man? Where did you meet him?
What does he do? What does he say he wants in return? Is this not
dangerous? Did you sleep with him Rera?' .Rera felt slightly offended
that her mother would think that but she kept quiet about it. She just
wanted her dad to be fine.
She had sent them one hundred and eighty thousand and kept
the rest. That was two weeks ago. Her dad has been discharged. He had
responded to treatment really fast.
Paul had been out of town for that long too. He had gone
back to Lagos the day after their first date. It had been impromptu but
he still found time to see her the next morning before it was time for
his flight. He had asked her again if she would like to go home but she
had said no. She had a lot of practicals that week. He called her
everyday. She always looked forward to his calls. Although he had not
asked her out yet,it felt like they were dating already.
They talked
about stupid things. Like what she wore to class, what she ate,who said
what in choir rehearsals and what they were singing. They sometimes
talked for hours. He had gotten her to download Skype and they
video-called every night. She got to know that his father was late and
left him very good inheritance. That's why he had so much money. He was
also a lawyer, a public defender of some sort. She also got to know that
his mum stayed in Benin that's why he always came here. It also
accounted for his car changing. He also joked that he will take her to
meet her when he comes to town. She was having a good time at school
too. There was something shout being with him that made learning
exciting for her contrary to popular belief that having a boyfriend
distracts you from your studies. It was like she just wanted to be the
best she could be for him.
She felt so comfortable talking to him. He seemed to know
so much and was very matured,nothing compared to the 'children' she had
been with. He listened attentively to everything she had to say and was
not in a hurry to talk. If they spent an hour on the phone,he spent
about 45 minutes listening to her. He was interested even in the
minutest detail of her day and her life generally. He also loved to
hear her sing. He'd ask her to record a song he picked and send to him.
He also made her sing for him when they were on video calls.
When she had gone to church last Sunday,the news of the
cancelled wedding was on the lips of every choir member. People made
very funny jokes about it. Even Made had a lot of bad things to say
about the groom that had abandoned his bride two weeks to their wedding.
She knew she was not being honest with her friend by not telling her
but she wanted her to know him as a person first not as the wicked
groom. She still had unanswered questions too. She always wondered what
could have happened to warrant such but she decided to trust him and
respect his decision. She consoled herself with the assumption that the
ex fiancee must have cheated. She also took solace in the fact that that
very incident was what brought them together.
*************************************
"I'll be coming to Benin in two days.
Mum says she needs help with handling some investors. I know that
woman doesn't need help with anything. She just wants me to come. You
know I told you she doesn't like the fact that I am alone in Lagos. Do
you want me to get you anything from Lagos?"
It had been on the tip of her tongue to say ' a new phone' .
Her phone was misbehaving badly. She didn't even have any hope of a new
one anytime soon but she didn't wanna seem materialistic so she didn't.
" Ermm..but you won't be coming by road na. I would have said that banana they sell at ore. I really like bananas."
He burst into laughter. " Banana, of all things you could ask for."
She was glad he was coming. That was the most important
thing. She had really missed him which she found a little strange
because they haven't spent much time together. She just hoped this was
going to last. Forever?
**************************************
******************************
She bought another dress. A red one this time. She wanted
to look very 'womanly'. He had told her he was going to be at the
airport by 3pm on Saturday
that he wanted her there. She had never been to any airport before and
she was excited about going. It was the same time with her choir
rehearsals but she didn't think twice before deciding to forfeit going
for it. He told her he would ask his mother's driver to pick her first
and bring her to the airport. She wondered if this meant they would
really be going to his mother's house together.
Saturday
came very slowly. It seemed to her like someone added some days from
the next week to it. Or someone was doing black or white magic to repeat
one day several times. She had seen a movie where it had happened. But
it came eventually and she was fully dressed by 1pm.
She liked what she saw in the mirror. Made wasn't here again to
compliment her. Ever since they had that talk about Joshua she had
become 'bolder'. She spent most of her nights there. She didn't feel it
because she now had Paul but she couldn't help but wonder if they were
having sex already. She always wanted to ask but it seemed like an
awkward question so she never did. She just hoped Made would be free
enough to tell her if that was the case.
*************************************
The drive to the airport was very fast. This time the car
was a White Camry. She wondered how many more there was to see. The
driver was a young man. Not more than thirty years. He was polite. He
was also very professional and he reminded her of 'God is good' drivers.
He even took permission from her when he wanted to refuel the car. '
Na me get car?' She wondered.
When they got to the airport, he asked her if she wanted to
go inside or remain in the car .She told him she would rather go inside
and wait. 'Remain where?' she thought to herself. Did she come to see
the car park of the airport?
She went inside and looked for somewhere to sit. She didn't
find anything extraordinary about the place. She began to feel hungry.
She had not eaten anything all day,partly because of excitement and
partly because she didn't want her stomach to bulge in the gown. She
checked her phone for time. It was some minutes past 3 already. He
should be here any moment. She stood up and used one of the glasses as a
mirror. She straightened her dress and adjusted her hair. She really
wished she had changed this her braids. She just hoped he didn't notice
as she poured them down this time.
" Mofaderera Susan Durotimi." He called. His arms were
opened suggesting she should come and hug him. She wasted no time. He
swept her off the ground and did a 360° turn with her before dropping
her.
" I really missed you honey. You look extremely beautiful. You are the reason coming to this town is exciting for me."
She smiled widely. She definitely liked the sound of that.
" Where is your luggage?"
" The porter has taken it to the car. Do you know since when I have seen you? Checking yourself out for me huh?"
She flushed a little. She didn't even know how to respond to that.
He put his arms around her waist and they walked to the car.
She thought he looked tired but he still looked very handsome to her.
" I got you something. " he said once the car was on motion.
He reached into his bag and brought it out. It was a
phone. The apple logo on the carton told her what she needed to knoe.
An IPhone!! 'This guy must be a mind reader' she thought.
" I saw your crappy phone on our last date and decided I was going to get you a new one. "
She was short of words. She was still thinking of what to say when he added;
"Have you had lunch?"
"Not yet."
"Good,because I asked mum to cook something nice. I didn't tell her I was coming with anyone. I want her to be surprised."
**************************************
The house was mighty. It reminded Rera of her childhood
imagination of Aso rock. The gate automatically opened once they got in
front of it. Or so it seemed to her. She wondered how many families
stayed here.
He took her hands and they walked inside the house.
Inside,there was a lady and a woman she could tell was his
mum. The lady looked like she was in an accident not too long ago. She
had black shades tucked inside her blouse. She must have worn it to
cover her eyes. Her eyes looked very bad. Like injured. She had a
plaster close to her ear. She also had another one on her elbow. The car
or bike really did a number on her,she thought.
She looked to Paul and his suddenly looked very scary to
her. His face had paled. The warmth that was in his eyes a moment ago
outside was gone.
" Mother, what is she doing here?"
It was then his mum noticed them.
She gave Rera an 'up to down' that made her feel very uncomfortable.
She gave Rera an 'up to down' that made her feel very uncomfortable.
" Would you keep quiet. What do you mean by what is she doing here?" She spat.
"Let's get out of here." He said taking hold of Rera's arm and dragging her across the sitting room.
" And who is this lady if I may ask? Another one to panel beat and dump ba?" His mother asked,her voice heavy with sarcasm.
That was when it all got put together for her. This lady
had not been in any accident. This was his ex fiancée. And he had done
this to her....
A.A. Amanda.
Episode one:Dark tales within a love story
Reviewed by ozing
on
September 20, 2017
Rating:
