FAMILIAR ENEMY (EPISODE 7)Written by Glorie Adepoju
It was at the tip of my tongue to refuse the offer, and go on with my plan to stop working for this family, but Mayowa cooed and my attention returned to him. I smiled at him and he returned it with a full smile, his gum on display. My heart melted, and I knew I couldn’t resist her offer, not in a million years.
“Well?”
“Yes ma, we have a deal” I said without taking my eyes off his adorable face.
A shrill noise from downstairs forced my mind back to the present.
Panic seized me as I raced out of the room. Rushing down the stairs, I heard voices in the living room. I rushed there.
Aunty BB was the one who obviously made that sound, because she made it again sending chills down my spine. She was on the ground, crying profusely, slapping the tiles loudly with her palms.
Uncle Ade had his head bent.
“Madam pls take it easy.” the officer said. I did not notice his presence until then.
“Officer I’m finished, you don’t understand, I am totally finished.” she said, screaming loudly.
“What exactly is going on pls!” I said at last, Uncle Ade chose that moment to stand abruptly. He snatched the keys from where they were hung and walked out. I turned my attention to the officer.
“Miss Eki, I have some bad news. We were finally able to locate the car that was described by the gateman to be the car of the robbers. Unfortunately, the car is a write off, it appears there had been a ghastly accident that night. Nobody could have survived the accident, the bodies found were dismembered beyond recognition.”
I opened my mouth to speak, but instead my jaw hung open, with my lips quivering. I felt a sharp pain in my chest
“Is he dead?” I asked dumbly, unable to think clearly
“I’m afraid so.”
“You are a liar! Mayowa is alive, he is not dead!” I screamed suddenly, startling the officer
“Miss Eki, I understand that…”
“No, stop lying to me!! how dare you say Mayowa is dead. How dare you? Never ever tell me that nonsense!” I said, I was breathing heavily. I walked away from him and swiftly ascended the stairs.
I swung my door open, the adjoining door that connected my room to Mayowa’s caught my eye.
I stood transfixed to the spot. Slowly I made my way towards the door. Opened it. Memories flooded my mind.
His framed picture on the wall caught my attention, his ever-smiling handsome face.
“Look at you, looking alive and well. Don’t mind that confused officer, he said you are dead. What nonsense. You can’t be dead, right?” I asked still looking into the picture. My mind was in a blur.
I walked back to my room, his framed picture in my hands. I sat on the floor in my room; I left the adjoining door open so I could look straight into his room.
“Don’t mind them, I’ll wait till you return home.”
I was convincing myself that this whole thing was a lie, but I couldn’t deny the tremor that I felt each time I looked at the picture. I hugged the picture and lay on the rug.
A weakness like liquid snaked it’s way through my body all the way down to my toes. I tried to shake off the overwhelming weakness that was lulling me to sleep. I want to stay awake when Mayowa comes home. I finally gave into the urge and drifted off.
…to be continued…
pEn&pApEr
GLORIEADEPOJU
