Must Read: The Rich Kids Of Lagos (16+)

7 years ago

Must Read: The Rich Kids Of Lagos (16+)

As they left the hospital building, Aduke and Danladi got into the back seat of their vehicle.
‘Aduke, describe your aunty’s house to Kofi’ said Gabbo
‘My Aunty’s house? We agreed at the hospital that you would take me to my own place.’ responded Aduke
‘Yeah, I know. However, on second thoughts, I think you need to speedily sort out this mess out with your mum. In fact, it is imperative that you do so. Plus, you are safer with your family than with your silly girlfriends’ Gone was the nice man who had held her in his arms in the hospital building. He had suddenly morphed into his imperious self and had taken on the I-know-what-is-good-for-you air.
‘No. I’m not going to aunty Tok’s house right now and my friends are not silly!’ said Addy, sounding like a teenager
‘You should. Your mother travelled down to Lagos because of you’ responded Gabbo slowly, as though he was talking to a child
‘And so what? She came into town and decided to embarrass me at every turn! It is she who needs to apologise to me, not the other way round!’ said Aduke petulantly.

Gabbo was taken aback. He knew Aduke was stubborn but this was on a new level.
‘Aduke! Are you kidding me?’ asked Gabbo, incredulously
‘No, I’m not. she responded simply. ‘Kofi, take me to Simi’s house’ she said, addressing the driver directly
‘Ok Ma’ responded Kofi as he slowed the car down
‘Alhaji?’ said Kofi who awaited his boss’ final permission
‘No. Head towards her aunty’s house in Phase 1? said Gabbo.
‘Okay Sir’ said Kofi as the car picked up speed again.
‘Gabbo, don’t try me! said Aduke in low, firm tones. She was trying her best not to disrespect him in the presence of his employee and found that she was failing badly.
‘You are the cause of everything that has happened, I am here trying to cooperate with you, but you cannot grant me the common courtesy of deciding where to stay! Do you think if I went to my mum’s house, I would be allowed to breathe, much less think? I am not ready to go there yet! she said
‘You need to apologise to her. She is upset with you. Period.’ said Gabbo. This time, he said it softly. He understood her perspective, but he also needed to encourage her to do the right thing.
‘No. She needs to apologise to me. A mother supports her child first before throwing her out to the wolves! She does not know where I am right now, or who with. Is it justifiable to say because you are angry you should do that to your only child? asked Aduke
‘Wait’ said Gabbo with a smile. His mood had suddenly shifted. ‘So, who exactly is the wolf here ?’ he asked
‘You, Gabbo!’ said Aduke seriously, irritated at the sudden change in his mood.

He pulled her to his side at the back of the car, his arms around her and whispered into her ear.
‘So, I’m a wolf, Aduke. How come you are not scared of me then?’ his lips were curled at the edges, a smile in his eyes
‘Because I am well versed in training wild animals’ she responded simply, without humour.
‘So you think I’m wild, Addy? he asked, still amused
‘I know you are wild, Gabbo.’ she said, still serious ‘Look at what you did to poor Peter. Would any sane person do that? Now we cannot find him’ she said passionately.
Gabbo’s eyes hardened, his mood changed again. Gone was the playful banter, replaced by a hard man. She had succeeded in annoying him again.
‘Look here, lady. Peter was wrong. Peter should have found a way to let me know you and he were an item. He knew all the while and kept quiet in spite of how close we were. He and I actually had a great relationship before you came along. Anyway, don’t worry I would ensure that I find your lover boy for you.’ he said through his clenched teeth, angrily.
‘Kofi’ he said to the driver ‘Get the directions from her and head to her apartment building or wherever she wants to go’ he ordered shutting her out. The frost was back on.
‘And you’ he said to her ‘How many times do I need to tell you to wear your seat belt?

Please do so now’ he said, looking at her with very cold eyes
Aduke looked at him, used to his strange mood swings and reconfirmed that this man was indeed a wild animal. She doubted that anybody on earth could tame this beast but for now, she was glad that she had gotten her way and did not care if he was upset with her. She needed to be in her own space right now.

She brought out her phone and scrolled to her instagram account. She was sure to catch a lot of fun while looking at pictures on AsoEbiBella, but first she had to call Tessy. She would do this as soon as she got out of this car.

*********************

As Tessy sat quietly, she looked Peter’s sleeping profile and worried that he would not be well soon enough for she and Simi’s plan. The grazes and cuts on his face look really bad. She knew she had to get him out of here and into another hospital. She was determined to be with him until he woke up again.
Tessy smiled at the thought because it seemed that she had taken up the role of wife or girlfriend to Peter. She cast her mind back and reminded herself of how much she and Peter hated each other when Aduke was in the mix.
‘Life is funny’ thought Tessy to herself, ’Who would imagine that this same Peter would ever open up to me?’, remembering all the fights they had gotten into. ‘Who would have thought that this could ever be possible?’ she mused, amazed that it was she who sat by Peter on his sick bed.

One would ordinarily expect that she would have been the one to send him to the hospital with a broken jaw! He had been too overbearing! However, right now, she felt pity for him as he lay there, broken and alone. She decided that she would protect him while he was here and at the same time, get something for herself, so she began to strategise. She was in a good position because everybody’s secrets were falling into her laps.

Tessy was lost in deep thought when Peter awakened. It was his groan as he tried to turn sides that alerted her to his wakeful state. As she tried to help him, he held back because he could not recognise her. His eyes had the faraway look of a caged animal, who was yet to forget the torture that captivity had brought him. As she patted his back, his senses returned, he focused and relaxed a bit.
‘Are you okay Peter? Do you want anything to drink? asked Tessy
‘I’m fine. Thanks’ said Peter
‘Shall I get the doctor? asked Tessy
‘No. I am okay’ responded Peter
‘I was wondering, should we move you to one of the better hospitals? she asked
‘No, Tessy. I’m good here. I just want to stay low key till I go to my village’ he said, reminding her of his intention
‘You are still insistent on going?’ asked Tess
‘Yeah, I need to get myself together and I think I can do that back home’ replied Peter
‘You should go ‘away’ if that’s what you really want, not your village’ advised Tessy
‘Away? I’m already doing that’ said Peter
‘No. I mean away to London, America, Dubai or Paris’ said Posh Tessy
‘I am going away, Tessy. To. My. Village. Tessy. Use your head, I am out of a job. Should I waste my savings on a vacation? Would you bear the expenses of this recommended vacation for me? Please, I cannot afford to be frivolous right now’ he said, irritated at her suggestion
Tessy looked at him, irritated because she could catch a glimpse of his annoying side making a re-appearance
‘So, what do we d…..’ she was suddenly interrupted by the strains of Bruno Mars’ recorded voice. It was her ringtone, someone was calling her.

‘Hello, Addy. What’s up? said Tessy as Peter perked up. He was interested in this conversation. ”Wait wait wait, calm down, you are going too fast! said Tessy into her phone
‘Start again Addy, what happened?’ asked Tessy
‘Peter? Hospital? You cannot find him?’ said Tessy as she looked at Peter who was shaking his head vigorously. Tessy wondered what was a going on but continued her conversation with Aduke.
‘Saint Nicholas? Looking for him?’ she said as she tried to piece Aduke’s news together. Theresa looked at Peter who was silently mouthing ‘No, No, No’ to her.
‘So, Alhaji’s P.I Team are looking for him? Hmmm. You know what, keep this to yourself and let us meet at home’ said Tessy
Peter quietly watched as Tessy dramatically cut the call and made a chore of replacing it in her handbag. She waited for him to jump at her with questions, but he just lapsed into silence, waiting for her. When she couldn’t take it anymore, she looked at him.
‘Won’t you ask me what she said?’ asked Tessy
‘You would tell me wen you are ready to’ responded Peter simply
‘Aren’t you curious?’ she asked, amazed by this strange character
‘I would like to know but, that would be giving you too much power. You would tell me when you are good and ready’ he said
‘Ah, this is why we fight so much. You are too controlled, you are a bore’ said Tessy, annoyed that her move hadn’t elicited much of a reaction from Peter
‘Thanks for the compliments’ he said as he lapsed into silence again
‘Okay. She was distraught and said you had been in a minor accident, she and Alhaji had gone to check you in Saint Nicholas, but you were not there, even though for some reason, they had been sure you were being taken there for treatment. She said that the she and Alhaji are worried that you might have been killed and buried somewhere so he has hired a P.I Team to look for you.’ Tessy was bubbling with excitement.

It seemed that there was a lot of money to be made all round! Everyone’s secrets were really falling into her hands. Now Tessy was sure Alhaji had ordered for boys to beat Peter up, otherwise what was he doing in the hospital for a mere employee? She mentally rubbed her hands. This was going to be good!

‘Tessy, please pass my phone.’ said Peter
‘Here you go’. She watched as he removed his sim card and tossed it on the floor.
‘Why would you do that Peter? asked Tessy, confused
‘Well, for reasons best known to me. Write your number on a slip of paper for me and put this handset on the table for me. I would need some numbers from it later, but first, I need to fix that screen’ said Peter
‘Okay, so what do we do next?’ asked Tessy.
Peter smiled as he observed that she used the word ‘We’. He was unsure if it was a good or a bad thing, but he was happy that someone wanted to be his affiliate. His dislike for Tessy had simmered down to a mild distrust.

‘Like I already told you, please do not tell Addy where I am at. In fact, if you want this thing with your other friend to work, nobody must know where I am at. I have a personal stake in it too and that is to fight Gabbo back. Otherwise, deal off’ said Peter sternly
‘It’s not that serious, Peter. I won’t tell anyone. So, consider that the deal is on. Go to your village for a bit and then when you return, you would resurface as Simi’s Fiance!’ said Tessy, excited at the prospect.
‘Good. Now, you need to leave so I can rest’ said Peter
‘Okay. I’ve been here for long enough anyway’ responded Tessy, who felt a little offended at being dismissed by Peter.

‘Thanks. Can you bring Milo for me tomorrow?’ asked Peter
‘Ok, I would’ said Tessy who began to pack her things. She bent down to quickly pick up the forgotten sim card from the ground before she said ‘Goodbye Peter, see you tomorrow’
‘See you then’ said Peter whose eyes were already closed. He hadn’t seen Tessy’s quick move. ‘Thanks for your help’
As she stepped out, Peter began to plan. He needed to perfect his initial ideas so that no one would see him coming. Not even his ally, Tessy.