HE SAID NO
EPISODE 39
Grace emptied the food packs that her friend brought in one after the other, there were 4 plates. She licked her lips at the sight of the well balanced and spiced chicken. Amifel came with more than enough food and drinks for both of them. She also brought her portion of the yummy cakes served at the party.
“This looks yummy,” Grace said as she got set to pounce on the food pack with the largest chicken. She sat on the floor, so she could enjoy her meal better.
Amifel saw her complimentary cards pack on the wooden table where she left it in the morning.
“Thank God.”
“What’s that?”
“My card pack, I was looking for it at the party and I was scared that I probably misplaced it. “
“I thought you left it on purpose.”
“No, jare. I just made this batch and it would take a while to get another.”
Amifel undressed excitedly, she seemed to look different from the way she sounded earlier, Grace looked at her through a corner of her eye and she used the other eye to focus on the delicious meal in front of her.
“Is there something I need to know?”
“Like what?” Amifel asked as she removed her gold dangling earrings.
“I don’t know, you tell me.” She said, the stuffed rice in her mouth gave her voice a funny sound.
“Nothing, really…” Amifel grinned.
“Let me guess, was your money doubled?”
“I wish.” She chuckled.
“So, what could it be, because, for someone reluctant to go to that wedding party, you seemed to have enjoyed yourself.”
“Well…”
“Well?” Grace asked impatiently as she paused her meal for a while. “Talk now!” Amifel laughed heartily.
“You are not serious, when you are ready to talk, let me know. “Grace continued as she resumed her meal. “But this rice is delicious sha, the chicken was properly grilled and well spiced.”
“The chicken is a little too spicy for me,” Amifel commented as she changed into her white towel and headed for the bathroom door.
“I didn’t forget that you have not told me why you are excited oh.”
“Why are you talking as if it is a crime to be happy. Do I need a reason to be happy!” The sound of the running tap made Amifel’s voice sound faint but Grace heard all the same.
“Even though you tried to act smart, I can still figure out that you are a little too excited for someone who practically dragged herself out.”
“Leave me alone!”
“I have left you oh.”
In a few minutes, Amifel was done bathing, and she was mopping her body when she started.
“The MC was such a clown.”
“He must have really made your day.”
“What is this one saying…”
“So, he is responsible for that glow you came in with.”
Amifel shrugged. “Well, not exactly, or maybe not directly.”
“Okaaay… it is indirectly.” Grace chuckled.
“Would you let me talk?”
Grace kept quiet and Amifel could hear the silent go-ahead in her silence.
Amifel slipped into her cream-colored nightgown as she settled beside Grace who had demolished the food before her in less than 20 minutes. She picked one of the food pack and opened it as she started relaying all that she experienced at the wedding, starting from when the MC called her out, Grace laughed at her at the point when she said, she almost tripped on the stage.
When she got to the point where she shouted at the young man.
“Abah! Why did you shout at him now? Is it his fault that the MC joined the both of you together?” Grace rebuked her after she emphasized that he was a fine gentleman.
“You can’t blame me, I was embarrassed and he was a part of it.”
“Do you know maybe he was embarrassed too?”
“Well, maybe but he didn’t look like he was.”
“Not everyone is good at showing their emotions.”
“Yeah, but I went back to apologize.” She continued, with a mouth full of chicken as she told her about how they reconciled. “He asked me for my complimentary card.”
“Awwwwwn. “
“But he claimed it was for business.”
“Yes na, a lovely relationship is a serious business,” Grace chuckled and she blushed.
“That was when I discovered that none was in my purse.”
“Ah! The devil is a liar!”
Amifel laughed lightly, Grace was such a clown. “Yeah, it pained me sha but I gave him my phone numbers instead.”
“Uhn uhn.” Grace cleared her throat.
“What?”
“Nothing.” She giggled. “So, what’s his name?”
“Daniel Isutoyan.”
“What?”
“Same way I exclaimed,” Amifel said, laughing.
“Oh wow. Isutoyan? What on earth does that mean?”
“I’m not really good with Yoruba but from my little knowledge of it, ‘Isu’ means yam, ‘toyan’ well, I don’t know what that means.”
“Yoruba girl that does not understand Yoruba, what a shame.” Grace jested.
“I am not a Yoruba girl madam! I am a proud Igbo girl, “
“But your mum is Yoruba.”
“Yeah, and my dad is Igbo, that makes me an Igbo lady.”
“As if you understand Igbo too.” Grace hissed slightly “Why didn’t you ask him.”
“I wanted to but I cautioned myself, I mean, we barely just met.”
“It’s true though, so you won’t start sounding like a parrot.” Grace chuckled.
“Abi.”
At that point, Amifel was about to hang her teeth on another huge chunk of her chicken and this made Grace salivate.
“Give me small na,” Grace said as she made for her plate just beside her. Amifel hit her hands.
“No!”
“Pleaaseee.”
Amifel gave in to her request as Grace bit a mouth full.
“I’ll ask him later when he calls.” Amifel continued. “Or if he calls.”
“He will call. He must call.” Grace laughed still chewing hard. “I don’t know him but I like him already.”
“Me too…”
“I can’t wait.” Grace screeched.
“You have to. It is too early to jump to any conclusion. We don’t know him or anything about him, maybe he is not even what he looks like… I don’t even want to get myself hurt again by letting my emotions take the lead.”
“Yeah, you are right. We are not led by our emotions, we are led by God’s spirit.” Grace affirmed and Amifel nodded. ” But what do you think he looks like?” Grace asked with a smirk.
“Leave me alone jor,” Amifel said as Grace cackled, she loved to pull her legs.
Grace let her be as the room grew silent, although it only lingered for a few minutes. Amifel who still had halfway to go with her meal focused on her plate. Unlike Grace, she was very sluggish at eating.
“Ami.” Grace began, suddenly sounding serious.
“Yes.”
“Mummy called.”
“Okay.”
“She is very worried about you.”
“Wait, whose mum are you talking about.”
“Your mum. She called yesterday, in the afternoon while you were asleep, it was a new number and the call was incessant. So, I just thought to pick it to tell the caller that you were sleeping.” Grace peeped at Amifel whose countenance had changed. She continued all the same.
“I wanted to hang up as soon as I discovered it was her but she was just screaming your name and she even sounded like she was crying. Amifel, please talk to her. Stop doing this.”
“So now, she already knows, I’m at your place.”
Grace kept silent as she looked at her friend, Amifel was soft yet very rigid. She wondered how someone could manage such opposite characters so well.
“Ami, please.”
“Grace, I have told you times and over. I am not ready to talk to them. At least they are sure that I am fine now and that is good. I will talk to her when I am ready.” Amifel said calmly.
“I am okay. Do you mind helping me with the rest?” She asked as packed her food remains aside as stood up.
Grace looked on at her in wonder as she picked a sachet of water, which she gulped hurriedly as she made for the bed.
“Ami.. c’mon!” Grace said, refusing to back out. She sat beside her right on the bed and tenderly placed her hands on her body.
“I am going through a lot already; my parents are not making it easy for me. My mum particularly, makes me feel like I am unfortunate and even compares me with other people. It hurts Grace, it hurts. Does she want better for me than I want for me? No! “
“I understand, Ami. I am sure she has realized her mistakes and she has learned her lessons. She misses you and wants to talk to you. Please forgive her.”
“I have forgiven her, I have forgiven my dad too. But you know what they say about keeping certain people at arm’s length for your sanity and peace of mind…”
Grace had run out of words to say. Amifel was indomitable.
“I will talk to her but not yet,” Amifel assured. “When I am ready. “
“When will that be? “
“Soon, I promise.”
“Okay. I would take your word for it this time and I would be there to remind you if you forget. “Grace smiled, Amifel did not respond as she turned her back to her. “Would you at least come and finish your food then?”
“I am full already, you made me lose my appetite. Go ahead, finish it.”
“It’s the chicken I want,” Grace said as she resumed back on the floor. “Should I eat the cake?”
“Glutton.” Amifel mumbled loud enough for her to hear.
“Thank you!” Grace said without shame. It didn’t matter what she called her now, so long as she got what she wanted. She would definitely deal with her later.
Grace did not see Amifel shake her head mildly as her mouth curved into a wry smile.
Amifel missed her parents too, especially her mum but she wasn’t ready to talk to her. Maybe not yet, her mum said such hurtful things to her. She could still remember some of them.
But she knew that she would have to let this go, maybe not yet but definitely, much later.
To be continued…
Written by Sodamade Olamide Tolulope.
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