EPISODE SIX
Theme: Hidden feelings
Arike's POV
I rushed out of the kitchen at the jingling sound of the bell attached to my door. I was surprised to see who was at the door.
"Shalewa." I said.
"Good day Arike." She greeted with her shoulder high up in the air.
"Yeah...good afternoon." I managed to smile still wondering why she was here without Adedayo.
"Won't you invite me in? It's not polite to keep me waiting out here." She said.
"Oh! I am sorry...please come in." I stepped aside and opened the door wide for her to come in.
"Are you expecting someone?" She asked.
"Yes."
She interrupted my statement. "Dayo is coming over?"
"No, I am not expecting Dayo."
"So who are you expecting?'
"My big sister is coming over to spend some time with me."
"Big sister?" She raised her eyebrows. "But Dayo told me that you are the only child of your mother."
"Yes, he's right."
"So who is this big sister?"
"A friend turned sister." I responded.
"Okay."
"What should I get for you?"
"I didn't come here for merriment." She replied.
"So why are you here?" I asked.
"Did Dayo tell you anything about me?" She asked.
I raised my eyebrows in confusion. "I don't understand."
"Did Dayo say anything bad about me to you?" She repeated.
"I am not sure but Dayo loves you." I said not knowing what exactly to say to her.
"I am beginning to doubt our love and relationship." She said with a sad face.
"Why? What's going on Shalewa?"
She stood up from the couch picking her bag along the way. "I still can't figure out why Dayo got so mad after seeing you with that guy at dinner." She stared into my eyes.
"What are you talking about?" I asked.
When I went to dinner with Bamidele during the week, we bumped into Dayo and Shalewa at the same restaurant. With the look on Dayo's face I knew he wasn't happy to see me with Bamidele because he already warned me to stay away from him. Shalewa suggested that we all have dinner together but Dayo said no,grabbed his girlfriend's hand and left with pure anger in his expression. I didn't like his annoying attitude at dinner because this is my life. And Shalewa showing up here unexpectedly and her strange questions really baffles me.
"I find it hard to believe that you're just friends with Dayo."
"You need to stop making assumptions. There's nothing going on between Dayo and I. We're just friends,that's all."
"I don't believe you." She said with a serious face.
"What do I need to do to make you believe me?"
How do you expect me to believe you when Dayo never stops talking about how awesome is female bestie is!"
"You should deal with that with Dayo and not me."
"How do you expect me to believe you when your eyes says entirely different things. I have watched you, I can tell you feel something for Dayo but you don't want to admit it."
I moved away from her. "I don't know what you are talking about, Shalewa."
"Stop pretending, Arike!"
This girl is really crazy! How dare she come into my house and talk nonsense to me. I am just keeping calm for Dayo's sake.
I sighed,trying to hide the anger stirring within me. "Listen, if you are here to find out if I am in love with your man then I'll tell you that you've got the wrong notion. Dayo loves you and that's why he has made the decision to marry you."
I felt her relaxing at my words. "Are you sure Arike?"
"Yes I am very sure. Moreover I have Bamidele so I don't need to go after another man."
"Well I just wanted to be sure if there's nothing going on between the both of you."
"You need to stop feeling insecure. Dayo is your husband and no one is going to come in between both of you." I added calmly.
"I hope so too." She mumbled.
I shook my head. "I should get going now." She said.
"Okay."
"I'm sorry for yelling at you." She apologized.
"It's alright." I managed to smile.
I understand Shalewa was just trying to protect her territory.
"Take care."
I heaved a sigh of relief after her departure.
I haven't seen Dayo since we met at the restaurant. I sent him series of texts, explaining that Bamidele and I aren't really a thing like he had claimed over the phone when I called him the same night. Dayo didn't believe that there was nothing going on between Bamidele and I.
I face palmed myself for lying to Shalewa and making it seem like there was something serious between Bamidele and I. No doubt, she would tell it to Dayo except if she doesn't want him to know that she visited me. Shalewa showing up at my doorstep just to find out if I love Dayo still sound strange to me.
Did she expect me to admit my feelings? At least she has Dayo and they would get married soon so why bother about a damn feelings?!
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"Hey why the long face?" Sister Busayomi asked as she settled on the couch.
"What took you so long?" I frowned. I have been really expecting her.
"Don't blame me o, you know Lagos traffic na. Wait is that why you are frowning as if someone fart in your mouth?" She joked but I didn't laugh.
"It took you forever to get here. Ahn ahn since 9 that you've called that you're on your way, but look at the time now 3:15pm."
"Chai! Arike! Aren't you a Lagosian?"
"Sister Mi that duration is too long, 9am to 3:15pm. So you spent six hours on the road, are you coming from ilorin?"
"Wait o miss judge,abeg before you pass on your judgement, I hope all is well with you?"
"Don't I look fine to you?"
"I am asking a question too na."
"I am fine o"
"But why take things personal?"
"What? I am just surprised you spent six hours in traffic on this same highland."
Lemme be honest, it is not traffic matter that is doing me but Shalewa's unexpected visit plus I received a text from Dayo earlier saying that we need to have a serious talk. I already a bit nervous about meeting him, I don't know if Shalewa told him what I said about Bamidele or maybe something different.
"Oya let me say the truth, I dropped by at a friend's place. Today is her daughter's birthday so I just went to say Hi to the little girl."
"I said it! I know you can't really spend six hours for that short journey!"
"Madam please I am starving!"
"You didn't eat at your friend's place?"
"No I didn't eat o, I just drank Chivita active."
"There's no food." I lied.
Her smile faded Immediately. "Play play abi you're joking?"
"I'm serious o. I was waiting for you to come around so we can cook together."
"Ah! Arike! What sort of nonsense waiting is that now?!" She eyed me.
"But you -" I interrupted her before she kills me with words. I know Busayomi doesn't joke with food. But this is my own way of getting back at her for keeping me waiting.
"Arike we'll fight o!"
"There's food o!"
"Ehn ehn so you were teasing me abi?" She hissed.
"I prepared your favorite."
"For playing me I am no longer interested." She folded her arms.
"Ah no vex..."
"I am serious." She frowned.
"No..no..someone cannot play with you?"
"You can play with me with anything but not food."
"I am sorry." I laughed.
"I am going back to my home."
"I have semo and efo elegusi."
She looked at me. "And what?"
"I garnished it with assorted meat, pomo, dry smoked fish -"
Sister Busayomi was already on her way to the kitchen before I could even finish my statement.
"Make sure you have a good gist so I can hear it while eating." She shouted from the kitchen.
I already made up my mind to tell her about the dinner, Shalewa's visit and Dayo's text. I am pretty sure she would have something to say and also give me good advice.
EPISODE SEVENTheme: Hidden feelingsArike’s POV“Oya oya the gist o!" She chanted as she sat down."Wait, I hope there's no bad news?""Oh no..no..bad news " I settled in the chair facing her direct with a glass of orange juice on the table."So..I am listening." She swallowed the food in her mouth."I..erm...I had dinner with Bamidele during the week." I said.She looked up at me. "For real?"I shook my head in response. "I thought you said -""I don't wanna have anything serious with him." I completed her intended sentence."Exactly! So have you changed your mind about him?" She asked."I don't know yet. We just had dinner as friends, nothing more.""Well I still don't know why you won't give bamidele chance. See grade one husband material! But no o! It's uncle -"
EPISODE EIGHTTheme: what’s the occasion?Arike’s POV"I don't understand why your stubborn boss wants to see you on a Sunday." I grumbled as I helped Busayomi carry her bag to the car.She planned to leave on Monday morning but then her boss called up to bring some files she picked from the office to his house."It's strange how your boss wants to see you. Can't he wait to get the files on Monday?" I continued grumbling."I don't know if it's -""Arike please my ears are full. I am a secretary more or less like a personal assistant so he can call me up anytime. He's a businessman.""I don't believe it's just work related. Work on Sunday? Who does that?""My boss does that." She replied with a laugh."Perhaps are you hiding something from me?""Something like what?""Anything about -"
EPISODE NINETheme: He is gayArike’s POV“Perhaps are you expecting someone? Oh wait! Lemme guess Busayomi is coming right?" He asked."No, she just left few hours ago." I answered."So why is there so much food on the table?" He asked again. No response.Why am I scared right now?"Did you predicted my visit and cooked my favorite?!" He smiled. "Awnnnn that's so cute. You're such a darling." He patted my head."No Dayo -" I stopped him when he tried to hug me. "I didn't set the table for you.""Okay..." He settled in one of the chairs.I summoned the courage to say the words. He can't kill me but I am just worried about what he would say and how he would react."Bamidele is coming to have dinner with me."He dropped the plate he was holding and looked up at me. "You're kidding right?"
EPISODE TENTheme: Dinner goes wrongArike’s POVMy jaw dropped completely."Do you need a shock absorber?" He grabbed the remote and tuned into a football station.I could hardly believe what Adedayo just said about Bamidele. I bursted into laughter as I settled in one of the couches."What's so funny?" He gritted with a huge frown on his face."Bamidele is gay." I laughed."How can he be gay?""Oh! You think it's funny?" He hissed"Oh course! I know you're just making things up so I would stay away from Bamidele.""Why on earth would I come up with such a thing if it's not true. You should know me better than this, Arike!" He said with annoyance in his tone.I stood up from the couch and went to sit beside him."Ade, are you being serious right now? Like Bamidele
EPISODE ELEVENTheme: Sharp TongueArike’s POV"Is he gone?" Dayo asked.I grabbed a throw pillow and slapped his head from behind."Ouch! Why did you do that?!""That's for being too hard on Bamidele!""Oh now..you're taking sides.""No!""Trying to defend your boyfriend?!"I eyed him. "You were too harsh on him!""Like I care..""One day you'll kill someone with your words.""I wish he had died.""Dayo!""What?!"I shook my head. "You should have allowed him have dinner before talking about him being gay. Now my food is going to waste." I hissed."I will have dinner with you. And if we can't finish it, I'll pay you for the waste." He stood up."And I'm throwing the groceries
EPISODE TWELVETheme: Talk to meArike’s POVA ring on my phone jolted me out of thought. Adedayo was calling again."Hello." I said."Did you get my message?" He asked."So rude, you can't even say Hi!" I hissed."Oh sorry...Hi." he said."Good I got your message.""So should I come over?""No.""Why?" He asked in a surprised tone.I hate to admit it but I think Shalewa was right. I shouldn't give Dayo the chance to be spending the night at my place again. If I don't stop it then I won't he able to prove to Shalewa that Dayo and I aren't having an affair. We are just bestfriends. And if he get married will he be coming to my place?"Arike are you there?""Yes...Yes..I can't have dinner with you anymore.""Why?"
EPISODE THIRTEENTheme: Gay uncleArike's POV"Wait...Arike.." he grabbed my elbow before I reached for the door. I looked down at his hold on me."Bamidele.." I placed my hand on his. "You don't have to open up to me if you don't want to." I said but hoping he would just tell me everything.He shook his head. "I will tell you everything. Please stay with me." His eyes pleaded with me."Okay..okay..let's seat down." I said.He motioned towards the couch to sit down.Bamidele heaved a sigh as he started off. "My parents died in a plane when I was 12.""Oh..I am sorry about that..." I mumbled.He nodded in acknowledgement. "They were out for a vacation out of the country.""You survived the crash?" I asked without thin
EPISODE FOURTEENTheme: Keeping spaceArike’s POVHe gave me a shocked expression. He was taken aback by my expression."I..I...am..sorry. I..I.. didn't mean to raise my voice at you." I apologized to him."It's alright." He mumbled."Look Dayo...we can't do the things we used to do together as best friends anymore." I stuttered."But why?" He asked."You're getting married in few weeks time."He sighed. "That shouldn't affect us.""You should be with your wife to be and not me.""I know Shalewa called you. Tell me what she said to you that made you change towards me?"I shook my head in disagreement. "I am not sharing it with you.""Keeping space between us isn't right...and you know that!""But everything Shalewa said was right. If I were in