AMID SECRETS - CHAPTER 9
*Nwanyieze’s POV*
He looks at me in confusion, brows almost joining together.
“Am I now your driver? What happened to Saheed?”
“Forget Saheed,” I replied with a hiss.
“That’s no way to abandon your date.”
“Jesus, just please take me home na!”
“Is that how you were trained to ask for help? You do know I live at Alausa and you live at Gbagada, right?”
I have been rude to him, transferring my aggression that’s meant for Saheed and I know it. It’s unfair of me and I feel remorseful.
“Look, I’m sorry. ”
In five seconds I was out of the car and walked away. A taxi will have to do.
He honks his car horn, but I ignored him and moved away from the parking lot.
_____
*Maduka’s POV*
Of course I was going to drive her home! She ignored the sound of my car horn and continues walking away, and it makes me laugh out loud because the Nwanyieze I knew as a child had stomped away in the same manner whenever she failed to get things done her way.
Turning off my engine, I got out of my car and locked it, and then began to search for her. I found her standing beside a bus stop sheltered by the side of the road, arms crossed with her foot tapping impatiently on the pavement.
“I was calling you to come back,” I told her.
She looked up at me and the light from a nearby streetlight illuminated her face. My imagination takes over, aligning her face with that of a three-year old girl, and I saw shocking similarities. Same huge, slanted eyes, and full lips, except for the chubby cheeks.
“Jesus,”I murmured.
“What?”
I snapped out of it immediately. “Your carriage awaits, oh Queen.”
“I don’t want to bother anybody.”
Too bad,I think. You’ve bothered me since that first night.
“Oh, no. You’re not bothering me. My mother raised me to always help damsels in distress.”
She narrows her eyes at me. “I’m no damsel in distress.”
“Come jare. Let’s go.”
Without thinking, I took her hand in mine and started walking. Hers is small compared to my own, and soft as well. The contact felt good, so good that I brushed my thumb against the back of her hand absently.
That was when she stopped abruptly and pulled away from me.
“I said no.”
“You’re making me look like a horny guy begging a helpless girl for a round of segz,” I pointed out impatiently.
“That’s more reason for you to save your image and just walk away.”
“Look, I really want to help you. Regardless of how rude you had been, I would never have turned you down. I’m not that heartless.”
I don’t like the idea of her out alone at night, and I suppose she had gotten into an argument with Saheed and that was why she had run off.
Did he try a move on her that she didn’t like?
“Thanks but no thanks.”
“Fine then. I’ll wait here for you until you get a cab home.”
“Sure thing, Guardian Angel.”
The sarcasm makes me smile. I sit underneath the bus stop shelter and watch cars go by.
Ozumba Mbadiwe Avenue is well lit at night, a typical feature of roads on the island. It is home to posh hotels and boutiques to cater for the wealthy. The cars which run along this avenue by this time are mostly the sleek, flashy ones driven by the adventurous partygoers with deep pockets looking for where to spend their money.
People like Saheed Bello.
A black Hummer-three stopped in front of Nwanyieze and the passenger glass slides down. Loud music escaped from its interior. Partially hidden in darkness underneath the shelter, I watched her. She doesn’t move closer to the vehicle, but stands right where she is.
“No,” I heard her said firmly.
I’m surprised to see Saheed alight from the car and move towards her with purposeful steps.
“I told you I was sorry!” he yelled at her.
“And I don’t care if you’re sorry or not, did you hear me?”
“Just let me take you home, okay?”
“No!”
He takes her wrist and she lets out something that sounds like a growl, spreads her feet apart, and tries to free herself.
“Do you think I’ll let you wander around? For f-__-k’s sake, I’ve been searching all over for you!”
“Saheed, you’re hurting me!”
I was unable to let that sentence pass, and so I stepped out of the darkness.
“Dude, free her.”
Saheed seems stunned for a moment. His eyes dart from Nwanyieze to me, then back again.
“What’s he doing here, Queen?” he demanded.
“None of your business,” she retorted.
“Look. Why don’t you just let her go? You can call her tomorrow morning, because obviously she’s pissed and reasoning with her right now won’t help matters,” I said calmly. But inside, I’m annoyed with him because if I had been absent, he would’ve probably shoved her into his car and driven off.
First, the pool, and now, this.
I realize I’m beginning to feel protective of her, and I tell myself that I’d do it for any other woman because as a man, it is my duty to protect a woman if need be.
“Okay,” is all Saheed said before turning away, getting into his car, and driving off leaving skid marks on the asphalt.
I go back to my seat and make myself comfortable.
“Now, you can continue your taxi-searching,” I told her. I won’t ask her what Saheed has done to anger her.
After five minutes of standing in the cold, she begins to shiver but stubbornly has her back turned towards me.
“Cold? Here, have my jacket.” I get up, remove my jacket, and place it over her shoulders. It engulfs her, stopping at mid-thigh.
She says nothing but continues to watch the cars passing by, like she’s in some sort of trance.
_____
*Nwanyieze’s POV*
My feet are beginning to hurt, and hunger sets in. The last meal I had eaten was the jollof rice with Saheed at Oriental.
I’m too proud to turn to Maduka and beg him for the ride he had so willingly offered on a golden platter.
‘Can’t a taxi just show up? What is the meaning of this rubbish sef?’ I wondered furiously.
Have you ever felt so hungry that it makes you dizzy?
I take in a deep breath and shift my weight from foot to foot, praying for two things:
One- that a taxi shows up so I can smirk at Maduka, fling his jacket at him, and tell him good bye.
Two- that in the case whereby none shows up, Maduka will beg me to please let him take me home so that I can do small shakara before finally agreeing.
Ten minutes pass and still no taxi. Maduka is silent behind me.
Hunger gets the best of me and slowly, I turned to face him.
“Ehen, where did you park that your car again sef?”
To my greatest annoyance, he bursts into a fit of laughter.