Kike's POV
"Let's welcome, Mrs Adegun for her beautiful write up that is now well known all over the world" The speaker signalled me up towards the stage as I stood up and elegantly strolled to the stage in my long dress and high heels.
My smile was dazzling as people clapped and cheered for me as I mounted the stage.
"Thank you, everyone. I'm so glad to be here, standing in front of you all today. To be honest, if I was told I would ever be on the Nigeria's most successful ladies award show, I would have laughed at such person and called him a liar." I started off pausing before continuing my speech.
This speech was unrehearsed, I preferred to say my speech straight from my heart.
"First of all, I would like to give thanks to my Grandfather, who was here with me up till now, he supported me emotional and motivated me. Thank you so much,Grandpa, I wouldn't be here if not for you. I want to thank my best friend Remilekun, who we always did everything together, she plays a big part in my life and you, my fans and well-wishers." I continued, waving to them all with my smile still on.
"Kikelomo!"
"I'm just so glad to have such well-wishers and fans like you." I said but was interrupted again.
"Kikelomo!!" I heard but ignored anyways.
Everyone clapped and cheered for me as I waved and posed for the cameramen who didn't seem to stop with the clicks and the lights flashing on my face.
"Kike!!!" I heard again and felt someone tap me in the back.
"You and your daydreaming again?" Remilekun, my best friend asked me as she shook her head as she smiled.
I proceeded in squeezing the soap out of the cloth in my hand and placing it in another bucket.
"Remi, what are you doing here? Are you not going for a catering appointment with your mum?" I asked her as she came to sit on the bench beside me.
"She decided to go alone. The party was invites only, so I can't go. Thank God! You know I hate being around that woman. It's only shouting she knows how to do." She told me and started assisting in rinsing the already washed clothes.
I wasn't surprised, it was Remilekun after all. We were almost like sisters. She would do anything for me, just like I would do the same. We grew up together in this little house.
We were living in a 'Face me and face you' apartment here in Lagos. Her apartment was directly opposite mine, so we strolled into each others house all the time.
"Where is Grandpa sef? Don't tell me he has gone to do that his shoemaker business?" She asked me as I nodded worriedly.
"I don't know why he doesn't want to listen to me. He is too old to be walking up and down but you know him and his stubbornness na." I said to her as she nodded in understanding.
"But if he doesn't do it, how will you guys survive? And you that want to continue your school, where will you get the money from?" Remi told me sadly as I looked back at her, with a weak smile on my face.
"I have given up the idea of school. I don't want to put any more pressure on the old man. At least I reached Ss3 and I passed Waec. I'm sure it would take me somewhere." I told her as she cut me off immediately.
"No, don't say that. I'm sure God will provide. Our dream of being successful will come true, it's only a matter of time." She assured me.
"I hope so" I replied as she nodded before engulfing me in a hug. I was careful enough not to spill any of the soap from my hands on her body.
"Ehn ehn, I want to weave my hair all back. Can you help me?" She asked me as we got back to washing the clothes.
"Sure. I'm even supposed to go to Mrs Mustapha house.She wants to pay me 2k, to do long braid, and me I'm not sure if I can finish it today without help" I told her, silently hoping she would follow me.
If I got that 2k, I would use it to buy some little food stuffs in the house.
"Are you using style to ask me to follow you to do, Mrs Mustapha hair?" She asked me eyeing me as I nodded.
"I will only come with you, if you decide to join church choir." She told me as I shook my head.
"Ehn, I'll go alone nigbayen. I can't join church choir oo. They are all professional singers and the church is a rich church. They won't accept me and I hate embarrassment " I told her as I was all done with washing the clothes. I then proceeded in spreading the clothes already rinsed by Remi.
"You and your negative thoughts. You will not show that your fine voice to the world, maybe you can be popular sef" She told me as I wriggled my nose at her.
"I said I'm not joining for now. I'm okay being an usher. At least I know I'm still serving God." I told her as we were all done with all the clothes.
*************
"Thank you ma" We chorused to Mrs Mustapha as I slipped the 2500naira into the back pocket of my jeans.
We headed out of the big house as we walked our way home.
"So, how much should I give you? You did part of the work" I asked her.
"Ahn ahn, You know, you and Grandpa needs the money more than I do. So, please keep it all. " She told me as I inwardly thanked God for giving me such an understanding friend.
"Thank you Remi, you are a life saver" I appreciated.
"I know na, that's why you love me so much" She said cockily as I laughed at her impression of being proud.
Ode.
"Kike! Kike!! Wait na" We heard a male voice approaching us.
"Oh God!! Please let it not be Tunde, let it not be Tunde" I prayed in a hushed tone.
Tunde is a guy that lives in this area. He keeps pestering me and disturbing me to date him but I don't know if he doesn't understand the meaning of 'No'.
"It's Tunde" Remi told me as I felt my face frown.
"Why can't he just leave me alone, for one whole day?" I muttered to myself.
"Love na, He is in love with you. You are his ko ri ko sun" Remi said laughing at her joke that seemed to irritate me.
"Don't stop oo. Let's just do as if we did not hear him." I told Remi ignoring her jokes and grabbing her arm ,walking faster.
"Too late, he is right behind us" She told me as I let out a frustrated groan.
"Kike, why? Why are you avoiding me? You know I can't live without you" Tunde started as Remi silently excused herself laughing at my hushed protest against her leaving.
"Tunde, I already said 'No'. Please stop disturbing me na" I told him. I was tired of being polite. What is it gan sef? Ogbeni, No means No.
"But I'm serious, I'll take care of you. You will not be poor again, your grandpa can quit that his useless shoemaking business. " He told me.
Another reason why my answer will always be 'No'. Tunde is not in a slightest bit polite. He is a mannerless boy with no sense of responsibility.
"Did I say I need your help or money? Please, stop all this na,I don't like it. I want to go home abeg" I told him as nice as I could be.
"Mtcheew! And someone would be begging you sef,you'll be doing as if you are the finest girl in the world. You no even get big yansh and breast, say you wan dey do shakara for me." He started yelling angrily.
I tried to ask Remi for help out of this unfortunate situation, but she was too busy arguing with a groundnut seller across the road.
"Sorry, it's just that I'm not ready. We can be friends na, don't vex" I said as calmly as possible.
Tunde had history of getting into fights. His anger was horrible, he never take anything calmly.
I'm trying to avoid an out of hand situation, so I try speaking to him calmly.
"I don't care again sef, you can go and die sef" He yelled, pushing me angrily, unto the road exactly at the front of a passing car.
I screamed as I closed my eyes waiting for an impact but there was none.
All of a sudden, I felt water graze through my clothes unto my skin.
I shot my eyes open to see Remi with an empty bottled water.
"What was that for?" I asked slightly angry.
"I thought you would faint due to shock ni o" She told me as I flared up.
This girl deserves a thunderous brain resetting slap.
I couldn't react to her words as the sound of a car door opening reminded both of us we were still in the middle of the road.
Just then, a man stepped out from the car looking dashingly handsome, with a white shirt and his trousers which perfectly tucked the shirts in and a sunglass shade hanging above his head. He was really alluring, and those abs, oh my gosh, don't let me get started on them.
"Wow!! He's hot" Remi blurted out as I smacked her as we both started clearing our throats stupidly in front of him.
His expression clearly stated he heard Remi's comment.
He looked really pissed, but from his looks, we assumed he would be a nice prince charming.
"Have you lost it?" He asked directing the question to me.
Ghen ghen! Well, that was unexpected but his voice, is so manly and deep and filled with wonderful phonetics, with every word falling perfectly from his lips.
"Are you deaf? Why are you both staring at me like that?" He asked us eyeing us irritatedly.
Remi and I snapped out of our thought as we started clearing our throats again like idiots.
"Stop this, what is the meaning of all this? I almost ran you over because of your carelessness and irresponsibility " He started shouting.
"We are so sorry sir. I was being pushed by.." I trailed off pointing to the spot where Tunde was once standing.
That fool! They will jam him too, idiot.
"Save it! If you wanted to die, why my car? You should have jumped off 3rd mainland bridge, I don't give a fuck but you just had to ruin my day with that little stunt you pulled off" He ranted on as we just looked at him like we were truly sorry.
"We are sorry sir. Please, we are very sorry" I apologized on behalf of both of us again.
"Sorry? Would sorry have brought me out of jail if I had ran you over?" He continued.
"I'm sorry. It was our fault. We are deeply sorry" I told him again.
"You better be sorry. Just Imagine. You wanted me to run you over..." He started off again as Remi interrupted him rudely.
"Mr, we said we are sorry. What else should we do? We should prostrate. Uncle, it's better you go into your car and get lost jare. You should even thank God that he gave you the brain to stop you from running her over" Remi said rudely with a casual look on her face.
"Remi! Stop it na" I whispered to her as I briefly apologized to the young man once again.
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