บททั้งหมดของ A Naija Christmas : บทที่ 1 - บทที่ 10

FEHINTOLA Tuesday 26 November 2024.“Wait, Ray, you’re taking the writing gig? Don’t tell me you’re not going home to spend Christmas with your family!” Rose —my colleague exclaimed lowly, slinging her bag over her shoulder as she prepared to leave. I glanced up from my laptop and turned to her, a small smile plastered on my face. “Rose, I’m Nigerian. Christmas back home is just… chaos wrapped in tinsel. Besides, we’ve got bigger problems in Nigeria than Christmas carols.” “Nigerians are not that Holiday-Oriented,” I added, Her jaw dropped in exaggerated disbelief, staring at me in amusement that there’s actually a place in the world where Christmas isn’t sacred. I smirked, turning back to my laptop, my fingers hovering over the keys. “Let me put it this way—if I go home and my visa doesn’t get renewed, my enemies will laugh at me. And trust me, Rose, I can’t let my village people win.” She chuckled, shaking her head as if I’d just told her the most ridiculous thing she’d eve

FEHINTOLA1st DECEMBER 2024.Ikorodu, Lagos state. "You have arrived at your destination!" The voice of the GPS in my Uber ride jolted me out of my thoughts. I straightened in my seat, staring out the window as the Uber slowed to a stop. Ikorodu. This place was just as I remembered it—unchanged, very familiar. A part of me almost didn’t want to come. Of all the places in Lagos for my father to find a potential business venture, why here? Memories—some fond, others bitter—flooded my mind as I took in the streets, the unpaved roads, the weathered buildings that hadn’t aged well. Five years ago, fresh out of university, I had been posted here for my National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) program, a mandatory year of service for Nigerian graduates. My assignment had been at a secondary school, teaching literature to senior secondary students. But I’d been too used to the comfort and luxury of my upbringing to adjust to this small town. The moment I had a chance, I redeployed and fled,

FEHINTOLA.“You’re terrible at lying”I slowly turned to look at him and raised my lips up in a sneer, folding my hands across my chest.“Who says I’m lying?!”“Just yesterday, you said you were staying for ten days, so what type of job are you now looking for? Ehn fine girl?”“Bami Soro” (Talk to me) he added sarcastically. I rolled my eyes at him and stepped away from him.“Whatever, I can do whatever I want, will you give me the job or not?” “I heard you’re planning a big Christmas festival to sell your wine, you could use my copy writing skills to gain online presence and pull crowd,” I said to him. He hummed at my words and drew closer to me slowly dropping to my height meeting my gaze.“Why would you want to help me?!” He said I blinked rapidly avoiding his gaze, curving my lips upwards.“I’m-I’m — not helping you. I’m only pitching myself, giving you reasons to employ me, even if it’s just for the holidays, I’m very useful” I muttered, he chuckled lowly and straightened up.“O

FEHINTOLA NEXT DAY.Tuesday 3rd December.11:00am.I rolled over in my bed groaning lightly, my eyes slowly fluttered open, I laid with my legs apart and my hands spread out facing the ceiling. I exhaled deeply, feeling totally refreshed by my sleep. I can’t remember the last time I slept like this.A sudden loud knock came on my door and I flinched immediately, I was a little relunctant to stand but the persistent loud banging on my door pushed me up.“Who is that one again,” I muttered under my breath as I made my way towards the door, I unlocked it and twisted the knob open.“Really? You’ve not stopped sleeping very deeply!” Dami said, a look of relief crossing his face as soon as he saw me. “I don’t understand. If you want to insult me insult me directly, no be the one wey you go dey go through corners” I snorted rolling my eyes at him. “Where did you keep your phone Fehintii?!” He asked and I slowly let go of the door knob.“My phone? My phone?!” I muttered, more to my self th

FEHINTOLA Later that day.2:30pm.Day 3 of the festivities.“Fehintii, I’m sorry, but you understand the implications of what I said yesterday, right?” Dami asked, his voice low as he worked beside me. I turned to face him, my movements slow and deliberate.We were setting up for the Best Christmas Jollof competition tonight, they said it was a usually crowded event that had attracted vendors to buy stands and showcase their products. Around us, people were busy decorating, erecting the stage, and preparing the cooking area where the competitors would face off. Dami and I were putting up the canopy for the vendors who bought a stand.I nodded, avoiding his gaze. “We have to keep pretending to be a couple, right?” I asked, my voice even. He rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly and nodded. “Yeah.”“It’s fine,” I said, managing a small smile. “It’s no trouble at all.”Relief washed over his face, and he let out a breath. “Thank you,” he murmured. We continued working. My eyes drifte