We hugged once more and I shut the door before walking with her to a beaming Temitayo.
‘Have you called him yet?’
‘No.’
‘Okay, has he called you sha?’
‘Yes.’
‘AND???’
‘And what?’
‘What did you guys talk about now? This girl,
you’re annoying me oh.’
I rolled my eyes as I carried the big bowl of
puff puff and some golden syrup from the kitchen to the living room. Temitayo
was staring at me, ignoring her favourite show, Lekki Wives.
‘I’m not annoying you, you this girl. You are
annoying yourself. Gist lo ma pa e.’
‘That one is for your pocket. So what did he
say? Ooooh, this puff puff is killer. Abeg if you quit your job, I will invest
in your restaurant oh.’ She said this as she stuffed a whole puff puff in her
mouth, huffing due to the heat.
I shook my head and laughed. I was happy that
Temitayo had forced me from out of my sulk. The moment I had arrived in
Nigeria, my phone had rung making my heart skip as I thought it was Adeniyi. I
hadn’t told him the day I was coming back. In fact, I had not spoken to him
since the note. Except to reply ‘yes’ when he whatsapped asking if I needed
time to think. Obviously, he thought he had given me enough time because he had
called me about 5 times in the past 2 days.
‘Amara!’
‘Okay, okay!’ I laughed, my hands raised in
mock surrender. ‘We did not talk about anything because I did not pick up his
calls.’
Temitayo looked at me with her mouth open, her
masticated puff-puff making me screw my face in disgust. ‘Amara, please what is
wrong with you? Why are you making this poor man suffer?’
‘You’re joking abi?’ I looked at her
incredulously. ‘So you want me to make this affair even more complicated than
it is? Come, are you sure you are married sef? Abi you have one twin that I’m
not aware of and she’s the married one.’
‘Ehhhhh, I’m married doesn’t mean that I cannot
see this is pure love na. If my husband was following a woman and leaving that
kind of note he left for you, wallahi I don’t have strength to start fighting
battle. I will jejely ask him for divorce cuz mehn, sometimes it is better to
surrender with the little dignity you have oh.’
‘You ke???’ I clapped my hands and shook my
head amazed. ‘Since when did you do surrender? Can you even spell Surrender?’
‘It’s God that will punish you.’ We both
laughed at this. As I munched and stared at the telly absently, she continued
but this time seriously. ‘Look. I am a married woman, yes and the married woman
in me was a bit appalled when you started this thing with him. I couldn’t help
thinking if another woman was doing this with my husband. Fucking him because
she could. But as your best friend, I know you Amara. You are the nicest,
sweetest person I have ever known. I don’t understand your ethics, but that is
entirely your business. I love you and will love and respect and support
whatever you do or whatever decision you make. This thing has evolved and you
know this. There is a high chance he might leave his wife for you. And I know
that this is something you don’t want on your conscience, but baby cakes that
ship sailed a very long time ago. It is too late to start developing
conscience. Shit, you must really like him to even be doing conscience sef! So
talk to him. Ask him what it is exactly that he intends to do about this
conundrum. Once you guys talk, you will know what step to take next. Allow this
stupid limbo that you guys are doing. Life is too short to be hmming and hawing
oh. If it is meant to be then it will.’
I could only stare at my suddenly sage friend.
I was speechless. Then I found myself stretching over and hugging her, fighting
tears. ‘Thank you so much. I guess I just needed to know that you…that at
least…that I had a friend that didn’t judge me.’ I whispered.
She hugged me back, squeezing me tightly.
‘Nonye was upset, Amara. People say things they don’t mean when they are upset.
It’s not always the truth coming out, it’s just people wanting to lash out
because they hurt. She should not have lashed out like that but are you really
going to throw away over a decade’s friendship because of something that might
have been misconstrued?’
‘Urghhhh, Temitayo! Stop being so bloody
right?’ I mock-grumbled as we laughed in each other’s arms. ‘Okay, fine.’ I
pulled back, sniffing. ‘I’ll call her now.’
‘No need.’ She said smugly. ‘She’s actually
been waiting in my car outside for you to come to your senses.’
‘Jesus Christ!’ I gasped. ‘What if I still
didn’t want to talk to her?’
‘I would have slapped the pride from your
upside down brain.’ She retorted, texting Nonye at the same time.
It wasn’t up to five minutes before I heard a
tentative knock on my door. I took a deep breath then went to open it. Nonye
was standing looking sheepishly at me. I rolled my eyes then pulled her in,
hugging her as I did so.
‘I am SO SORRY.’ She wailed as we hugged,
swaying from side to side. ‘I was just so upset and I don’t know and I just
said as I usually do without thinking and you know I don’t judge you and I
never have and I never will and you are my best friend and please let’s not
fight again!’
I started laughing helplessly at her jumbled
words. ‘You this Nonye. I can never not be your friend. I love you, you mad
girl. And I’m sorry for just cutting you off like that but understandably, I
was hurting. Let’s not fight again, eh?’
We hugged once more and I shut the door before
walking with her to a beaming Temitayo.
‘Fuck off jo.’ I did the yimu
face.
‘Okay, so what’s been happening? What about
Ikenna?’ I asked Nonye.
‘Right.’ She looked down before putting her
face in her hands to muffle her scream. ‘I kind of told him to pack and leave
my house and he swore up and down that he wasn’t cheating that he was just
flirting. But that’s the same thing, no? Anyway, long story short, after he’d
slept in a hotel for like a week while constantly begging and sending flowers
and all of that, I just thought…mehn, at least he didn’t have sex with her.
Well, I’m hoping he didn’t. And we have our baby so…I can’t be ending something
over messages especially when a child is involved. He’s back at home now sha.
Being the best husband in the world, granted, but I don’t think I can trust him
for a while.’
I nodded gently as she sighed, ‘That’s very
fair enough. Very very fair. Just know that whatever you decide to do later, be
it remain with him or change your mind and kick him out. We are here for you,
okay?’
Nonye smiled as Temitayo nodded in agreement.
‘Okay, well. I’m sure Temitayo has been keeping
you in the loop. Let’s just say…in fact, forget me. Temitayo. I’ve noticed
you’ve not been drinking your wine. Is there something you want to tell us?’ I
narrowed my eyes at Temitayo suspiciously.
Nonye turned with widened eyes as Temitayo
giggled, her face filled with joy. ‘Only you will be this observant. This
foolish Nonye didn’t notice since that I’ve not been drinking. Yup. I’ve got a
bun in this practically obsolete oven.’
We screamed and rushed to hug her. She had been
married for five years and been trying for a baby and finally she was pregnant!
I forgot my own problems and hugged my best friend. There would always be another
day for Adeniyi.
Tonight, it was all about my day ones.
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