Bukky - S01 E39

Story 2 years ago

Bukky - S01 E39

Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 39

Bukky dropped the text-book on the chair and yawned. She was tired of studying. She wished the SSCE examination would come and go with the speed of light. She missed her fiancé. Assuming he was around, he would have revised with her. He didn’t come home for Easter, but he promised to make it up to her. She yawned again and stretched out her hands. She hoped to pass her examinations, even if she had six C’s in relevant subjects, she didn’t mind. She wasn’t aiming for A’s or B’s. She just wanted to pass so that she could start preparing for the JAMB examinations. If all worked out well for her, she might get admitted into the higher institution the following year. She leaned against the chair and smiled broadly. She was no longer an illiterate. She was now an educated young woman.

She had come a long way, spent so much money, but, it all paid out in the end. It was worth it after all. She thanked God for strengthening her, especially in moments she felt like giving up. She began to dream and imagine how it would be when she finally got admitted into the university.

xxxxxx

Kike and her husband took several pictures with their one-year-old twin toddlers. It was the kids’ birthday party and they had invited family, friends and the people living in their area. The way guests turned up with their children that afternoon, the couple began to fear that the food and drinks might not be enough.

Bukky joined her family under the canopy. Her parents, brothers and elder sister were seated at the same table. She had just sent her fiancé pictures of the celebrant. He sent a text in response. He wished he was around.

“How is Chike?” her mother smiled at her.

“He is okay,” she smiled back at her.

“I heard he was posted to Plateau state,” her elder sister directed her curious gaze at her.

She nodded in affirmation, “Yes, he was. He has been posted to Glaxco oil company in Jos.”

Her parents exchanged glances.

“I have never heard of that company,” her father sipped at his drink.

Bukky smiled, “There are so many oil companies in this country dad. We are all used to the popular ones.”

“But, do they pay well, like Chevron, Shell and Texaco?” her mother’s inquisitive gaze stayed glued to her face.

She shrugged, “I don’t know. But, he is lucky to have been posted there. Most of the people he is serving with were posted to government schools.”

“Bad luck,” her elder sister cried out in disdain.

“But, hope they gave him where to stay.”

Bukky glanced at her mother, “Yes, they did.”

“Good. Hope, aside his regular NYSC allowance, the company will also give him something.”

She shrugged, “I don’t know. Maybe.”

Her parents exchanged glances.

“I am sure the company will pay him,” her elder sister interjected.

“When is he coming home?”

She looked at her mother, “I guess December.”

“Aww… you must be missing him.”

She sighed heavily, “Yes. I am. If it is up to me, I will be with him right now.”

Her elder sister laughed, “Aunty Kike will not allow you to abandon the shop and flee. She is rarely there and you two want to disappear.”

Bukky laughed lightly. She believed that her aunt would be able to cope without her, especially now that they had four sales girls. She began to imagine that if her fiancé was retained in the oil company in Jos, they would both need to relocate. She would be able to re-start her akara business in the new environment.

xxxxxx

At half-past six in the evening, she heard knocks on her door. She reduced the volume of the T.V set and got to her feet. She re-tied the wrapper around her waist and adjusted her blouse. She walked to the door, unlocked and opened it.

“Hi…”

She blinked, then frowned. “What are you doing here?”

Gbemiga smiled at her, “Today was my convocation. We just got back from my school.”

She placed both hands on her hips. “What do you want?”

He eyed her, “Can’t you even congratulate me?”

She hissed and eyed him, “Gbemiga, what do you want?”

“I brought some of the food and drinks we took to my school.”

She noticed the big black bagco bag on the ground. “Thanks, but, no thanks. I don’t want.”

He paled, “Celebrate with me now. Why are you behaving like this?”

She glared at him, “Behaving like how? I told you to stop bothering me. What is wrong with you? What part of leave me alone don’t you

understand?”

He stared at her long and hard. What if she had completely gotten over him? What if her feelings for him had died? What if she doesn’t love him anymore? Was that even possible? He was her first love. There was a connection between them. That kind of thing doesn’t just evaporate. Or does it?

“Look, I am engaged. My fiancé won’t tolerate this nonsense. Please stop coming here,” she stepped back into the apartment and tried to close the door.

“Bukky! Wait…” he held unto the door.

“Please go.”

“I will go, but, please, collect this food and drinks. My mother and sisters cooked it so that I could share it with my friends. Even if you don’t think so, I still consider you as a friend.”

She hissed, “There is no need. If I collect it, I will throw it away. Go and give someone else.”

He felt hurt at her attitude, “Why are doing this to me?”

She looked up and sighed, “God, God, what kind of wahala is this, this evening?”

“Have you forgotten how things were between us?”

“That was a very long time ago. You do not exist in my world anymore. It is over between us Gbemiga, deal with it,” she forced the door close

and returned to the settee.

Gbemiga pressed his lips together and turned around. He had been trying to find a way to befriend her, but, it seemed that it wasn’t going to be an easy task. He needed to get her back, before Chike paid her bride price. He wasn’t ready to lose her, even if he wasn’t sure what the future would be like. Regardless, he was hopeful. He realized that he had made a terrible mistake. He shouldn’t have broken up with her. He should have just convinced her to keep their relationship a secret. That way, he would still get sponsorship for his education and she would still be by his side.

He picked up the bagco bag and headed home. He needed a better plan. How was he going to win his ex-girlfriend’s love again?

CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

Bukky got down from the motorcycle and paid the bike driver. She closed her hand bag and walked into the compound through the opened gate. It was three days to Christmas. Three was no sign of her fiancé and she wasn’t even sure if he would be coming to Lagos for the holidays. She missed him so much. It would be terrible if she ended up alone during the festive season. Maybe she might visit her aunt, play with the twins, spend a weekend with her parents in Ikorodu, then join her elder sister on the Island with her friends. Or maybe she might visit her in-laws in Owerri or fly down to Jos and surprise her fiancé. She fished for her keys in the bag and strode into the building.

Chike where are you?

She made her way to her doorstep and froze when she got close. There was someone standing by the door. He had on a pair of blue jeans and white body hugging short-sleeve tee-shirt. He looked exactly like Chike, but, the person had on a pair of dark fashionable glasses. She wasn’t sure if he was really her fiancé.

“Chike…” she narrowed her eyes.

The person smiled and removed the dark glasses.

“Chike!” it was her fiancé.

“My love…” he beamed.

She leapt towards him and flew into his arms.

“Hey… you have added weight again,” he staggered a bit.

She started to laugh.

“That doesn’t mean I can’t carry you,” he lifted her up in his arms.

She squealed in excitement, “Put me down, biko, Iron man, Captain America.”

“I am practicing for our wedding day.”

She giggled and held unto him.

“Babe, I have seriously missed you,” he let her down gently.

“I missed you more.”

“Open your door, let’s go inside.”

She hurried to the door and unlocked it. They both went in. The room was dark. She shut the door and reached out for the light switch behind the door. The bulb in the middle of the room came on.

“My sweet baby. Come to daddy,” Chike stretched out his hands.

Bukky ran into his arms and held him tight.

“Hey… don’t suffocate me.”

She laughed lightly and held unto him. It felt so good being in his arms.

“I have missed you so much. Many times I almost got on a bus heading to Lagos.”

She raised her head and looked into his passionate eyes.

“I actually went to the bus park one morning and I almost bought a ticket. Na so love dey shack person?”

She smiled and just stared at him.

“Assuming the oil company I work for came up with an excuse to keep us in Jos, I told myself that I will buy a ticket straight to Lagos and d--n

the consequences.”

She sighed, “Is it that bad?”

“Those people are workaholics. Be it a Corper or a full time staff, we were all given the same duties and deadline.”

She raised an eyebrow, “Hope they are paying you all the same salary.”

He chuckled, “Don’t mind them. No salaries for corpers, but, the kind of allowance we are getting is triple what the federal government is paying.”

“Nice,” she grinned with relief.

“We also have welfare packages. We were given a furnished one-bedroom apartment each, we don’t pay electrical, water or security bills. We eat free food at a restaurant, breakfast, lunch and dinner. We have unlimited access to the internet, weekly airtime vouchers, we are living like kings.”

“I am impressed, no wonder you don’t want to come home,” she eyed him.

“Hey, baby, not so. With all these freebies, they are using us like Jackals. We resume at six each day and close no later than ten.”

Eyes widened, “What?”

“Anyhow, here I am, home with my baby,” he drew her closer.

“I am so happy to see you.”

“I am thrilled to see you. Where did you go? I have been waiting out there for more than twenty minutes.”

“Why didn’t you call?”

He grinned, “I wanted to surprise you.”

“You did. When I saw you, I was like… oh my God!”

He laughed, leaned forward and planted a kiss on her lips. She responded, matching his intensity, fire for fire.

“Okay, okay,” he pulled away quickly, “That’s enough. Let’s don’t start what we can’t finish,” he led her to the settee, “So, tell me, what’s being going on?”

“I kind of passed my waec.”

He raised an eyebrow, “Kind of?”

“I have five ‘D’s and three ‘E’s.”

His dark brown eyes grew big.

“My tutors at the lecture center say that I will need to prepare for the GCE next year. They said I need to put in a lot of effort in order to pass the examinations. They said I need a total of six ‘C’s in relevant subjects in order to be able to take JAMB and get admitted into the University.”

He swallowed hard and nodded.

“Say something,” she looked into his eyes.

He reached out for her hands, “For someone who didn’t see the four walls of a Primary or Secondary school, you’ve done quite well. In less than three years, you have been able to acquire your First School Leaving Certificate and your Junior Secondary School Certificate. I am impressed.”

She sighed with relief. She had been terrified that he might see her as a failure.

“I believe that you will pass your GCE with flying colours next year. My baby is an intelligent girl.”

She blushed and dropped her gave.

He pecked her on the forehead, “Be at peace. Everything will work out for our good.”

“Thank you,” she raised her head, “Thank you for being by my side all through the years. You’ve been a very good friend.”

“Hmmm… friend abi? And I was dying in silence loving you, hoping that someday you will be mine, while you go about with Gbemiga claiming love.”

She giggled.

“This girl, you suffered me o.”

“Haba Chike.”

“Haba what? Do you know how many times I cried because of you?”

She blinked, “You? Cry?”

He eyed her, “Yes. Me, cried.”

“No way,” she observed his serious face.

“Yes way.”

She chuckled and stared at him long and hard.

“But, now that you are mine, nothing short of a nuclear warhead will take you away from me.”

She smiled broadly.

“I heard your ex-boyfriend graduated with a first class degree in Economics and Statistics.”

“What?”

“You didn’t know.”

She shook her head.

“I was far away in Jos and I heard. You are here in Lagos and you didn’t hear,” he seized her up.

“I have deleted him from my life. News of him are like viruses in my system. I am immune to it.”

He clapped his hands in excitement, “Hey… this babe don finish me. See lyrics. See how you take ICT finish your ex. I hail o,” he bowed comically.

“Stop it jor,” she punched him on the shoulder.

“Wetin you get for this house sef?” he looked around.

She scratched her head, “I have not cooked.”

He eyed her, “As in?”

“I have not gone to the market.”

“So, what have you been eating?” he looked her up and down, “See flesh everywhere.”

She crossed her arms against her chest, “I am not fat.”

“Keep deceiving yourself. I know you are way past size 10 by now.”

“No o!”

“See chest, see backside, see hands, see thighs, see everywhere. Your body has expanded in weight and mass.”

“I am a big 10.”

He hissed, “Please, just don’t turn shapeless, I have warned you.”

“Don’t worry, we don’t lose shape in my family.”

He sighed, “It is true. I have seen your mum and your elder sister. They are not fat, but, big in all the right places.”

“You see.”

He eyed her.

“Don’t worry love. I will stay in shape for you, before and after childbirth, I promise.”

“I hear you. What am I going to eat now?” he rubbed his tummy.

She bit at her lower lip, “Let’s eat out.”

“See your mouth. Oya let’s go, I am hungry.”

“Eureka!” she jumped to her feet and started to dance.

FORTY

Bukky sat on her neighbour’s car, outside the gate and watched a bunch of kids running around in circles, screaming and hitting one another on the head. It seemed they were playing a sort of game, but, a few of them were already getting irritable. She sensed a fight coming up.

“Hello…”

She turned her head and saw her ex-boyfriend standing by the car in a long sleeve tee-shirt and a pair of shorts. She groaned inwardly. What does he want now?

“Hi…” she turned her attention back to the kids. They were screaming insults at one another and a minor brawl had ensued.

“I got my call up letter a few days ago.”

She sighed heavily. She wasn’t interested in knowing anything about him.

“I was posted to Abuja,” he grinned with pride.

Bukky rolled her eyes. She was sure that his aunt worked the posting for him. She would definitely make sure that he served either in a Federal Government parastatal, or in a reputable firm. Good luck to him, she scoffed.

“I will be traveling next week, my aunt paid for a plane ticket for me, I will be…”

“Gbemiga please!”

His smile faded. Her countenance saddened him.

“For the love of God, leave me alone.”

He blinked, “I…I just wanted you to know.”

She shook her head, “I don’t want to know. We are not together anymore. Live your life and I will live mine.”

“But… but, we are friends.”

“No!” she jumped down from the car. She adjusted her pink sleeveless blouse.

His sad gaze ran over her. He liked the way the blue knee-length short outlined her hips and her backside was bigger than he remembered. The thought of grabbing and squeezing it consumed his mind.

“Look, I told you once before. I don’t want to be your friend.”

“Why?”

“Stay away from me, I have warned you,” she walked back into the house. When she got to her door, she noticed that he was following her.

“Was wrong with you?” she stood akimbo.

“I miss you.”

She started to laugh.

“I made a mistake. I shouldn’t have broken up with you. I now realize that I should have stood my ground when my family was pressuring me to

break up with you.”

She clapped her hands together, “It is too late now. I will be getting married before this year runs out. I love Chike, I have completely gotten over you.”

“Bukky please,” he went on his knees. The thought of losing her suffocated him.

“Even if I wasn’t dating Chike, I will never, ever go back to you. You are like a pendulum bob, unstable, indecisive and easily manipulated. There

is no future with you.”

He shook his head vigorously and got up, “No, that’s not true.”

“Yes, it is. Gbemiga, it is over.”

“It doesn’t have to be. Give me another chance, let me prove to you…”

“There is nothing to prove!” she snapped.

He closed the gap between them, “Do you honestly want me to believe that you have indeed gotten over me?”

“Yes.”

“I was your first love; I was the man that deflowered you.”

She eyed him, “So?”

“Who gets over that?”

“I did. Deal with it,” she opened her door and walked in.

“Wait…” he stepped into her apartment before she could close the door.

“What is the meaning of this?” she glared at him, “Out!”

“Hear me out,” he pleaded.

“No! I am done talking to you.”

“Bukky… please…”

“If you don’t go, I will scream. Most of my neighbours are men, bachelors, they live in twos and threes. When they come out, they will beat you into a pulp and your family will find it hard to recognize you.”

“You won’t.”

“Dare me.”

Their gazes locked.

“E gba mi oooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!”

Fear gripped him. He had seen how people in the area deal with thieves, rapists and the likes. No one bothered to confirm if what you were being accused of was true or false. The thought of been mobbed clouded his mind and he fled.

Bukky slammed her door and locked it. She heard her phone ringing. She hurried to the bed and picked it up.

“Hello…”

“Baby, where have you been? I have called thrice?”

The sound of his voice felt like a soothing balm to her fried nerves. “My love,” she sat on the bed.

“Why did you abandon your phone?”

“I was outside.”

“You should have taken your phone with you.”

“I miss you,” she lay back on the bed and propped her head with a pillow.

“I miss you more.”

“I miss you, miss you, miss you.”

He laughed, “You won’t have to anymore, I am almost home.”

She sat up quickly, “What?!”

“I am in a taxi conveying my bags and baggage.”

Her heart thudded loudly against her chest.

“Service year over baby.”

“Halleluyah!” she jumped to her feet. The thought of seeing him again flooded her mind.

“I can’t wait to see you girl. I need your sweet kisses like… like a drug.”

She bubbled with laughter and sat back on the bed.

“Girls over here tortured me ehn…”

“Seriously?”

“It was so bad that many of them sent me their nude pictures.”

“Enemies of progress!”

The sound of his laughter echoed in her ears.

“Serious temptation.”

“I can imagine.”

“If not for God ehn…if not for the love I have for you, babe, it is not easy.”

“I am glad that you were able to stand your ground,” she lay back on the bed.

“Now, we can finally get married.”

“I can’t wait,” she began to imagine how her wedding day would be.

“I don’t know if I will be retained in this company, but, anyhow, I have other offers from two oil companies. One here in Jos and another in Port

Harcourt.”

“Interesting.”

“I am almost a married man. I need to prepare to take care of my brand new family.”

She sighed in relief, “Wherever you are employed, I will re-start my bean cake business.”

“I will invest in your business. I have plans. We will design your shop and make it look like an eatery.”

“An eatery?”

“Yes, an eatery serving akara and bread, puff-puff, buns, corn pap, and whatever you can come up with.”

She smiled in excitement, “I like your plans.”

“I am home.”

“Where are you?” she sat up.

“I am outside my house. The taxi driver is helping me to move my bags into the apartment.”

Bukky hung up and ran out. She locked the door, and ran all the way to her fiance’s place. She found him waiting for her at the door.

“Chike! Chike!”

“My baby…” he stretched out his hands.

She flew into his arms.

“My love,” he held her tightly and closed his eyes.

“Please don’t ever me again.”

“Baby, I am not going anywhere.”

She raised her head and looked into his warm eyes.

“Where is my sweet kiss?”

She giggled and leaned forward. She tip-toed and planted a kiss on his lips.