EPISODE SEVEN
Theme: Hidden feelings
Arike’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 -"
I cut her off. "Please sister mi, let's not go down that lane."
"I have said you my own, sheybi now he's off market. You better wise up."
"Do you still want to hear the gist or not?"
"This one I am saying doesn't make sense right?" She frowned.
"I didn't say that o."
"I should shut up abi?"
"No...I didn't say that -"
"You don't have to open your big mouth to say it before I know!"
"Stop misinterpreting my words." I pleaded.
"Please continue before I will vex and say you should keep your gist." We laughed.
"We bumped into Dayo and Shalewa at the restaurant." I explained what you already know to her.
"But what does Dayo have against Bamidele?"
"Seriously,I don't know."
"You should have asked him."
"I did asked him but he wouldn't open up to me."
"Well...maybe Bamidele once snatched his babe in school." Busayomi pondered.
"I don't think that's the case. I have this feeling it's more deeper than what you just said."
"Dayo shouldn't think of making you stay away from Bamidele for his selfish reasons." She mumbled to herself.
"What selfish reasons?" I asked with a confused look.
"You're so clueless, Arike."
"Tell me what selfish reasons are you talking about?"
"Think about it. And what I will say is that Dayo is having fun with Shalewa plus they'll be getting married soon so you shouldn't waste your time sitting around here thinking of how you will stay away from Bamidele."
She was done eating now. I helped her take her plates to the kitchen.
"And guess who visited me today?"
"Bamidele?"
I rolled my eyes. Bamidele doesn't even know my place lest to talk of coming to my house. I didn't let him pick me up or even drop me off at my place after we had dinner.
"Dayo?" She tried again. I shook my head. "Abeg spill it, you know I am not good at guessing."
"Shalewa."
"Ahn ahn wetin she dey find?"
I narrated what happened to Busayomi and all she did was laugh for a long time.
"Seriously sister mi?! It's not funny o. My heart almost came out of my chest when she said it straight to my face that I am in love with Dayo."
"Ahn ahn isn't she right?"
"What do you mean?"
"What are we talking about?" She replied
"Shalewa." I responded.
She leaned forward. "So aunty are you in love with Uncle Adedayo Awosika?" She asked with a serious face.
"No! You shouldn't think like Shalewa too! You of all people should know that Adedayo and I are just bestfriends."
She stared intently at me. "Then why are you scared and concerned about Dayo finding out that you and Bamidele are together?"
"Bamidele and I are not together."
"Because Dayo asked you to stay away from him right?"
"This is not about -"
"And you choose to obey Dayo?"
"No! I wouldn't have had dinner with Bamidele if I wanted to obey Dayo."
She shook her head hopefully in understanding. I only agreed to have dinner with Bamidele because of what she said plus I saw no reason to avoid Bamidele because Dayo asked me to.
"To be honest you have to stop doing some things just to make Dayo happy."
"You don't understand." I avoided her gaze.
"Think about yourself too. You deserve to be happy." She said softly.
I nodded in agreement. "Dayo wants to talk to me."
She rolled her eyes. "After avoiding you and not replying your texts and calls? Who does he think he is? He feels he can just boss you around."
"He's not bossing me around. Sister mi, I feel Dayo has a good reason for asking me to stay away from Bamidele."
"See babe..Hmmm -" she paused.
"What?"
"Never mind but all I know is that the Bamidele I saw that day doesn't look like a bad person."
"And what if he's pretending to be good just to get me?"
"I don't think so. Listen whether Dayo likes it or not there's nothing he can do if you and Bamidele are meant be together."
"I don't think we are meant to be toge -"
She cuts me off with a glare. "Stay there and be saying nonsense. Don't wise up before it's too late. Be waiting for Mr Right to look at you." She stood up. "Please I need to rest."
Busayomi walked away to the bedroom while I went into the kitchen to wash the dishes.
I don't understand why she's against Adedayo, probably because she likes Bamidele for me but Dayo was against it.
Busayomi wants me to give Bamidele a chance but she can't understand my feelings. No one can understand. Perhaps does she have an idea?
Oh God I need to do something before I ruin someone else's relationship. Nobody really has to know,all I have to do is play along and act like everything was fine.
"I'll get over it." I mumbled to myself.
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
EPISODE FIFTEENTheme: ConfessionArike’s POVONE WEEK LATERSo I am going on a date with Bamidele. Hey! I know what you are thinking! Hanging out with an Ex-Gay! Come of it! Bamidele is normal now! Lol! And we've been going out for a while now. We aren't dating yet. No! Let me rephrase it. I am not in a relationship with Bamidele. We are still trying to figure if things can work out between us.My phone beeped as I apply make up to my face. I was kinda excited to see Bamidele. Honestly I enjoy Bamidele's company. And guess what? We have decided to attend Dayo's wedding together. Thank God I won't be alone at the party,just watching my best friend get married."Hello.""Are you ready?" Bamidele asked."Yes...I am ready.""Okay...I am waiting outside your home.""Oh really?!"