Continued from Chapter Three
The sound of the living room door startled us both and we quickly got dressed. My mom called out to me from the living room, but I was more concerned with getting him out of there than responding to her. I rushed him through the kitchen, out the back door and avoided another family whirlwind from hitting me.
My relationship with Lekan was toxic throughout my university days, but after graduation, we lost contact. Last I heard he was in Canada to further his studies. As for me, I moved out of the house into a two bedroom apartment with a friend I met while in school. Like me, Chioma was about the wild life, it’s true what they say: ‘Birds of a feather flock together’. Her watchword was ‘secure the bag’, and it didn’t matter to her how she did it; the end always justified the means.
“Ebbie you cannot let yourself be at the bottom of the food chain in this jungle,” she said while she packed a small travelling bag.
“Where are you off to again Chi? You no dey stay for one place” I said, surprised at how impromptu she travels.
“Baby girl if you know how much money out there belongs to you, you too no go rest”
“Where you dey go now, Abuja or Port Harcourt?”
“Calabar. Ogudu resorts to be precise.” My flight leaves in two hours sef”
“Whose husband needs your medicine this time?” I said sarcastically as we both laughed.
“Nobody’s my dear; Uche is taking me there for the weekend”
“So why don’t you seem excited?” I asked.
“Uche has been acting weird lately” she replied.
Uche is one of Chioma’s close acquaintances; she started seeing him four months ago. He is a very handsome single man and an investment banker at one of the top firms in Lagos. I met him once when I tagged along with Chioma to a gala dinner she got invited to. He was very polite and oozed a lot of class. I could not understand her lacklustre attitude about the trip.
“Weird how?” I asked.
“He has been talking a lot about his feelings for me and I’m not sure what he is up to”
“You think he wants to propose to you?” my eyes opened very wide as I asked with excitement.
“Sorry to disappoint you but this girl wasn’t built for marriage, he’ll find out soon enough”
“Anyways I don’t see any issues there, just go and enjoy yourself” I responded convinced it was nothing serious.
“I sure will” she replied with a smile.
“You’re going to leave me in this house all by myself” I sulked.
“No dear, are you not my baby? Don’t I always take care of you?”
“Of course you do Queen mother” I replied in our shenanigan voice.
“I have arranged for Collins to come to pick you up tomorrow, there’s an event after party and you can accompany him; it’ll be a lot of fun trust me”
“I hope he doesn’t kill us both in that his car!” Ade was a little weird as far as I was concerned and my last experience in his car was really scary.
The Uber Chioma requested to take her to the airport was on his way but the driver had mischievously started the trip before getting to the house. Chioma was furious about this and patiently waited for him to arrive. This behaviour was quite common with some Uber drivers in Lagos and this wasn’t the first time we were experiencing it.
“This driver doesn’t know who he just messed with,” she said to herself angrily.
“Calm down Chi, he is not worth it. Just allow him to get here first then we can cancel the trip and report him.” I said trying to make her see the reason
“Enough is enough! I will use this one as a scapegoat!!” She was now boiling over with anger
Fifteen minutes had passed and the Uber driver still wasn’t here yet…
“It’s not worth missing your flight; let me request another one for you from my app so you can leave, you’re already getting late.
“If not for you Ebbie, I would’ve stayed here and dealt with this guy today.”
“Don’t worry, give me his number I’ll teach him a lesson he’ll never forget,” I said, in an attempt to pacify her.
The second Uber arrived before the first and Chioma put her small suitcase in the trunk and then sank into the back seat. “Driver I am going to the airport and I’m already running late!”
“Okay ma” he replied “local or international? He inquired
“Local airport and please move fast.”
“Enjoy your weekend and make sure you bring him back alive o!” I said jokingly and we both laughed
“I will do my best” she replied “thanks dear, what would I have done without you in this life?” she remarked.
Waving to her as the Uber zoomed off, I contemplated my weekend as I headed back into the house; Chioma had left me alone for the first time with someone I didn’t know well enough. I was a little sceptical because I knew Collins was trouble!