January, 2013
"Mummy Uncle Siji is on the phone." Rose, appearing by the bedroom door in her school uniform, and holding a phone, said.
Ese took her phone off her ear for a few seconds to say "Tell him I'll call him back, and go finish up your breakfast."
She resumed her conversation as she closed the door behind the girl. "As I was saying, my mum wouldn't let me rest throughout our stay in Benin, it was bad enough that they could not reach me throughout Christmas, but Pago's dad's phone call to my dad made her more upset. That was why I was reluctant about spending the new year in Benin, I knew she'd be on my neck, she........."
"Was that Siji calling?" Teju interrupted her.
"Yes."
"Hasn't he gotten you into enough trouble yet? Teju said jokingly, then continued. "I'm sure your mum would have a fit if she finds out he was the one that took you out on Christmas day." Ese could hear her friend laugh and she joined in. "Mind yourself ooo Teju."
"But on a serious note Ese, I am kinda uncomfortable with you dating him, I know you're leaving Pago and all, but the timing isn't just right."
"We aren't dating Teju, we're.........were are just old friends......it's purely platonic."
"Go tell that to the marines. I don't think even you believe what you just said. For starters, you guys aren't old friends, you were lovers. And I don't think he would settle for platonic, given that you'll soon be available. Is he in a relationship?"
"No..... I.....I really don't know."
"He isn't, if he is, you'd know."
"Teju I...."
"My worry is the history he has with Pago, the history the three of you share. Both of them are arch rivals, there is no love lost between them and you always get entangled in their game of wits. The last time wasn't funny for you, you know."
"Teju you're overreacting here, I......."
"I can't just help but think, Siji only wants you because Pago has you.......because.........because he wants to spite Pago, to get even."
"But Pago doesn't even have me now."
"Just promise me that you'll be careful Ese."
"I will, thanks for your concern." Then in an urgent need to change the topic, she said. "How is the baby doing?"
"He is good."
"And you?"
"I feel like an elephant, Kalu's people are so happy it's a boy, you need to see how my mother In-law treats me with care."
"You know his people have a thing for male kids."
"I do, but even with the care and all, I still can't wait for the couple of months remaining."
"Hold tight, it'll soon be over."
★★★
He picked the call immediately it started ringing. "Hello."
"Hi, I was on call on the other phone."
"Yes, Rose told me you were talking to Teju. How's she and Kalu?"
"They are both fine."
"I called to check if you arrived safely, I couldn't reach you last night."
"Yea, both phones were down. We ran into an holdup caused by a serious accident. We spent four more hours on the road."
"Ohoh! Well, thank God you are back safely. I gotta go now, have an appointment this morning."
"Okay."
"Can I see you this night?"
"Yes, you can come over, have dinner with us."
"That would be great, thanks, see you in the evening then."
"See you in the evening."
★★★
It was the first day of resumption, so they took their time since Rose could afford to be late.
"Is Uncle Siji your boyfriend?" Rose asked as her mum drove her to school.
"Boyfriend?" Ese was taken aback by the question. "What are you saying?"
"Sophie said her mother's boyfriend will soon become her new daddy."
Ese gave a loud sigh. ---Thank God there is no Sophie in this new school---
"It's time you forgot everything Sophie told you about her mother."
"Will Uncle Siji be my new daddy? Will I start calling him daddy?" The girl asked as if she didn't hear her mum.
"Nobody is becoming your new daddy and Siji is just a friend. Understood?" The little girl nodded and remained silent till they got to her school's gate. but her questions got Ese thinking if her decision to invite Siji for dinner was a wise one.
★★★
Pago parked the car in front of the school gate and waited. The red Toyota Camry was not his. It was hired, so he was not worried about being recognised. The investigator had done a thorough job, Pago had all the information he needed. He had been enraged when he learnt Siji owned the company he had lost the University contract to. Siji had cheated him off a contract, he would not allow him to go with his family as an additional trophy. He reached under the driver's seat and pulled out the 9mm calibre semi-automatic and admired it one more time. When a foreign business associate of his had given him the handgun as a present, he had never thought he would one day use it, so he had locked it up in his safe at the office. But the pistol was the first thing that came to his mind after he had finished reading the investigator's note. His initial plan was to track Siji down and blow his head off and he had really relished the idea. But after given it more thoughts, he had changed his mind. It would be too easy. He wanted Siji to suffer, he wanted them both to suffer. He was sure Siji still loved Ese, Siji was not the kind to fall out of love easily. He would hurt him by hurting her. By the time he was through with them both, they would both wish they had not messed with him. He returned the weapon back, it was not yet time to use it, but the time would come, soon. He waited.
★★★
The kids soon started coming out some minutes after he heard the closing bell ringing. He got out of the car and walked to the gate. It took him awhile, but he soon saw her standing under a tree, talking to some other kids. She is the one person Ese loved with everything she had, the one sure way to hurt Ese real bad. He called out to her waving. Her face lit up as she saw him and she ran to him.
"Daddy! Daddy!"
He lifted her up when she got close.
"How are you doing my girl?"
"I'm fine, I've missed you daddy."
"I have missed you too my baby."
"Have you seen Mummy?"
"Yes, she asked me to pick you up."
"Are you staying?"
"Yes, what will you like to take? Daddy wants to take you out for a treat before we join Mummy."
"Anything nice."
"Okay, I know where to get just that."
With her in his arms, he walked to the car
About the Author
Soji Adeola Ayanleke was born about 3 decades ago in Kano.
He studied Electronic and Electrical Engineering at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, he speaks Yoruba and Hausa fluently and he is trying to learn Igbo and Spanish. His hobbies are reading, writing and playing some indoor games.
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