Dedicated to all my ghost readers. I hope you realize I appreciate every read- Oyindamola Oluremi
"I'm done!" She announced to nobody as she was alone in the room. With her hands folded aback, she paced the room elegantly and majestically. She was a bit surprised that the same she that doesn't want them to leave so early, now crave to fly to her new place.
She was on a set of Balenciaga hoodie and black jean. Ayo was on the same. Temmie had suddenly brought the idea of them wearing the same clothes for them to look sweet. That was how he ordered an expensive designer for them.
She doesn't even know how much it costs, all she knew was that it'd be expensive. Probably she was wearing something that costs more than her life.
She paused and thought about reminding her man that it was time.
"You're done?" Tracy's voice stopped her midway towards Yemisi's room. To what seem to Tracy to be an attitude, it was a bit difficult for Aminat to answer politely. What on earth concerned her if she was bloody done or not.
But considering how happy she was and certainly sure nobody would bring her down.
"Yes. Is everything okay?"
Probably there was more to it than she thought.
"No. Not at all. Safe journey in advance" she wished with a smile that couldn't defend itself from being fake.
"Thank you" she said without looking back. Tracy graced her face with a devilish smile.
She heard Yemisi and her three children seeming to have a serious talk with one another. She couldn't even comprehend what they were saying. It sounded so business like... Money, money and money.
A thought of them opening the door at once and catch her eavesdropping in their family private affairs made Aminat to shiver in fear. Probably when they catch her, they'd angrily terminate the marriage and send her back to her father's house... To the mercy of Azeez. She slammed her eyes tight and shook off her head.
She remembered a number of times she had dreamt of meeting him and becoming his friend but everything was a dream. It was finally happening! Or another dream in disguise. She needs to get to Lagos and spent a night at his house for her to be sure it was for real.
She walked noticeable so that they'd hear her coming.
"You're there Olamide"
Ayo has refused to accept her first name even though that was what everyone calls her. She loves how he calls the name. It feels she was just being called Olamide for the first time.
"Yes"
"Come in. I guess the door is not locked"
"No" Ayoola confirmed and she entered.
"Oh my God!" Temmie gasped.
"I must confess Ayo. It looks better on her" Ayoola gushed.
"So... Mum till..." He ran his fingers through his hair and laughed.
"You should better tell me you don't want to see me again" Yemisi snapped with a pout and Aminat blushed with laughter.
"Mum!" He protested, still laughing.
"Your brows are not yet perfect Aminat. Come" the two women led her to their mother's dressing mirrow and started the makeup surgery.
"Brows ke? Are we not in the night? Besides we're just travelling not partying" Ayo asked in disbelief.
"Are you luggage in the booth already?" He asked again. He was clearly not approving of the midnight makeup.
"Give me your car keys" Temmie hurriedly snatched the car keys from him and ran to get the luggage from his room to the booth.
"If he doesn't want his wife to the makeup. I suggest you release her to him" Yemisi chuckled.
"Why won't he? What if he his friends decided to pay him a surprise visit"
Ayoola would not want to relent.
"You get late night visitors?" Yemisi smirked and her son shook his head violently for a no.
"She's beautiful without makeup tho" Ayo admired and Aminat's cheeks burned, feeling flattered.
"Aw! She's blushing" Ayoola squealed loudly and made Aminat felt so uneasy about Yemisi and Ayo's reaction. Just then, Temmie came back.
"Are you done?" She asked her sister, throwing the keys up and catching it back.
"Sure!" Ayoola who was trying to look for any flaw left to take care of answered with a gesture.
"You're good babe" she clapped her hands.
"Ouuuu! I'll miss you!" Temmie groaned and pull his brother for a hug.
"You're in Lagos with him right?" Ayoola laughed, comparing it with her own plight.
"I know right. But Ayo doesn't like to see me" she exaggerated, still clutching to him like a gum to a surface.
"Oh God!" Remembering what his mum said that was similar to that, he felt bad. But it doesn't really appealed to him though.
"Me?"
Ayo couldn't deny Ayoola was the least person he would see in a year. The both biological siblings sank into each other arms and Ayoola began to sob.
"It's okay" he rubbed her back gently. They parted, Tracy joined and the family prayed.
"When are you coming to Lagos" Ayo turned Tracy.
"Monday"
"All of you want to don't want to go back?!" He exclaimed with laughter as they strode towards the car.
"Anytime you get to Lagos, make sure you see me" he said gently and Aminat..
"Yes boss! I hope it'd me money making" Tracy hailed followed by a pout.
"Then stay on your own" he laughed and everyone joined.
"Mummy!" He hugged his mother again when he was about to enter the car.
"Lemme get going. You guys are getting me emotional" he pouted and entered the car.
Yemisi was adamant to believe his son was taking Aminat away from her. He was taking her little friend away!
"Aminat won't you miss me?"
Everyone chuckled at Yemisi's tiny little voice as Aminat went back to give her a last temporary hug. Without locking the both doors yet, Ayo started the car immediately.
"Take it easy. She's coming!" Temmie waved at him and he relaxed his head on the rest lazily.
While Aminat kept wondering if she wasn't dreaming, she realized if she was dreaming, when the car would want to take off, she'd wake up. She entered the car, buckled her seatbelt, waved everyone goodbye and the car took off from the building truly.
She couldn't help her teeth from a grin, it was too much to hold! She watched the village as they drove out of her. Some people were still awake. She saw Rachel fetching water from the well she too usually do her laundry. She became happier when she saw Azeez. She was finally free.
"This is your house" he asked as they drove past Alhaji's house. She nodded in affirmation and reached to see Hassan or their mother. But it seem they were asleep or indoor. She could only see the rude naughty Kafayat, Modupe and some other children still playing under the moonlight.
"Why are you so happy like this? Are you just going to Lagos for the first time?" He teased her with a smirk playing at the edge of his lips.
"No! Not all. I've lived in Lagos before with my aunt while I was a kid"
"Or you're happy that you're going to your husband's house?"
None of his words were giving her a tough time. She felt he owns the night, he should rule however he pleases him.
"No! But don't I have the right to be happy again?!" She laughed and he joined.
"Actually I've never seen you so happy like this before. It's just you've won a lottery or something" he confessed and she felt difficult on how to reply him. He was truly correct.
Once he was out of the dilapidated road of the little town to the federal smooth express road, he took the speed from 140 to 240km/h. After being happy of leaving her father's house to her forever, she was scared again of dying from his murderous speed.
Ayo patiently waited for her to protest against his sudden speed. She was used to submitting to his decisions no matter what. He actually wanted to see if she'd react when he pushes to the wall. She'd part her lips to protest and fail. But the speed was neither endurable.
"Could you please release the accelerator a bit?" She said, mistakenly lacing her fingers on his thigh but removed them quickly. He smirked at her nervousness but didn't stop.
"Why are you scared. I thought you were brave beyond all these" he chuckled but she was too panicked to find any joke amusing.
"Please! Just slow down..." Her voice was shaking as if she wants to cry.
"You want to cry? Are you so scared like that?" He joked on her emotions and she knew she was in for it. He played one of his favourite songs by his signee, Phil. The song was blasting so loudly from the flying car.
"Slow down!" She pleaded with teary eyes but he did not heed a bit.
"We are going to die!" She tried to scare him but she earned the most hearty laugh ever
"So? For better for worse, remember?" He waved his fingers at her face. It was a great job for Aminat to hold herself from attacking him.
They continued with their drama and when it got to a point, to her outmost surprise, Ayo released the accelerator back to 180km/h and turned the music off. She felt like she was relieved of a heavy burden.
"You're tired right?" She snapped angrily at him. She must very angry. He thought aloud. She had never talked to him in such manner before.
"No. I never get tired of speeding. I just wanted to please you" he laughed again and she threw her face from him, staring at the greens.
"I'm sorry" he apologized, placing his free hand on her thigh. She turned to him with a protesting look, but he knew she was no longer angry.
"Mi hermosa esposa" he flattered in Spanish and he caught her blushing. Aminat knew esposa meant wife doesn't know the first two words. She'd ask him later, not right there. She decided.
"Or you should say it better, Iyawo mi" he continued and rested her tensed body on aback.
He watched her sleep off while he continued the rest of the journey alone.