It was one of the most popular hotels in Indepence Layout, Kachi had come in with a hooker girl he met online, her name is Jane. After they had drinks at the bar, they moved up to the room Jane had already arranged for them. They didnt speak a word to each other until they got to the door of their room, Jane grabbed Kachi by his clutch, he exhales deeply as she looked seductively into his eyes, he could feel his blood rush down his veins and hardening him up. Getting more aroused as Jane rubs him more gently then rocks his lips with a french kiss. The kiss got so intense, Kachi managed to slip off his lips and mutters, "Open the door". Jane pulls off him, turns and flips the card at the door to unlock. She makes to push the door open but pulled her over and kissed her harder, tracing his hands to her laps then carry her up. Jane managed to push the door open and the both entered, Kachi holds her to wall and pushed the door closed, then headed for the bed, dropping her gently, he fumbles her breast as she gives an supressed moan. Kachi began to perceive weed but he was too hungry to worry, he kissed her neck gently as he tries to raise her blouse but she resisted, Kachi rises from her body to look at her face then senses some people in the room, Before he could wrap his head around what was happening, Jane pushed him off her and crawled away from him.
"who the fuck are you bitch?", Kachi queries her in anger. Jane was panting hard and trying to fix her hair. They were three men standing at the corner in the room, staring stone deep at kachi, who was still shock on what was going on. Immediately Marcelo walks in from the bathroom into the room, he had stream of water on his body and a small towel he wrapped around his neck. Kachi was suprised to see him. "Marcelo" Kachi calls in anger. Marcelo smiles at him, pulls the towel off and wipes his wet face and throws it on the bed. Jane stood and and makes to leave but kachi said to her, "I said who are you bitch". Marcelo snaps with a daring gaze "as you can see. bitch's job is over" Jane walked out. Marcelo smiled at his face and says, "Nice to see you again Baron".
Marcelo is the cult leader in a franternity in Edo which Kachi belonged. In their world, Kachi is known as Baron. Marcelo looks rough but he still got his charms, a super provocative eyes and a fine dentition. Kachi was shocked to see him. He wasn't exactly sure what Marcelo is doing in Enugu. Escaping the franternity was one of the reasons he ran from Edo. Marcelo is close to his 30s, he has a kind and sweet personality but isn't someone to mess with. Kachi was getting scared but managed to pull himself together. The three other guys in the room were busy puffing more smoke and looking at kachi. They looked scary but Kachi has seen worse. "what is this supposed to mean Marcelo, are you following me", Marcelo rubs his temple acting exhausted, then replied, "Is that not my job and before you ask another stupid question, why did you leave town without warning". Kachi answered, "I was going to tell you I relocated". Marcelo smiled and replied, "well I was going to tell you too". Kachi got confused and asked "Tell me what?". Marcelo replies softly "I relocated too, I now live here ".
It was 8:23pm, Kachi had called Ife to come pick him up from the hotel. Ife could sense Kachi wasn't exactly in his best mood, he didn't seem his usual self but Ife didn't bother to ask. They were almost midway home when their car broke down, Ife stepped out and opens his bonnet to run a check, a car ran passed him, Kachi stepped out too, Ife asked, "Did you change the engine oil yesterday as I asked". Kachi staggers forth, "No". Ife blurted and shuts the bonnet in anger "Why Kachi, is anything even wrong with you". Kachi snapped "perhaps" Ife got more irritated and tries to talk but Kachi interrupted, "Just call uber and stop shouting". Ife replies in anger, "So I am shouting. you said you were going to fix it yesterday and you left with it althrough yesterday to God knows where". Kachi ignores Ife's rants and staggers away from him, pulled his phone, Ife asked, "Where do you think you are going?. Kachi replies, "Looking for network, someone got to call uber". He says finally and walks away, Ife kicks the air and sits on the car to wait. Kachi really knows how to get on his nerves.
"Son of my youth". Ife turns to the breezy familiar voice, that was Raphael. Ife stood up gazing at him in surprise, wondering what he was doing here. Raphael spoke again as he came closer, "i just drove past when I saw a familiar car which i bet was yours", sniffs "guess i was right", Ife's expressions "you know my car". Raphael nods and replies, "ofcourse I know everything about you, atleast I am not as terrible as you". Ife retorted "what's that supposed to mean Raphael?". Raphael smiles and draws closer and looks into his "I heard your ex Rita has a son now, and you were the last man she dated", Ife was angered,spoke in a broken voice, "I suggest you go away Raphael". Raphael snaps as he stands at akimbo, "First of all it is Dad not Raphael, and does Naomi knows she is a grand mother now?". He licks his lips, breathes out heavily and continues, "Oh Naomi my love". Kachi came back suprised to see RAphael, he greeted him and Raphael replies, "How are you Kachi". Raphael checks his wristwatch and says, "Oh I gat to go now, I already sent for my driver to come take you guys home". Kachi replies, "That was thoughtful of you". Raphael taps Ife by the shoulder and said, "Goodbye boy". Then makes to walk away, that was when Kachi saw the streams of tears on Ife's face, he asked, "Ife why are you crying". Then he said out loud to Raphael who was already walking away, "what did you say to him?". Raphael ignores them and walks away. Ife tried pulling himself together but couldn't, then he burst out crying . Kachi didn't know exactly what to do or say to him. He just stood there watching Ife cry.
It was after a droplet in a cold afternoon at Spar supermarket, Kachi and Ife had come to pick things from the store. They had a sack at one hand each, walking out of the supermarket and headed for their car. Halfway to the parking slot, a car drove by and parked right infront. A young lady alighted carrying a toddler, who was about 2 years old. When they alighted the car drove off. So she bent over and dropped her baby to walk on its own. The toddler immediately ran off and the young mom tried catching up with her baby. Kachi's eyes first caught with the toddler who was running towards him something in him aroused, he felt a great connection with the child like he has known him from somewhere
"Hey stop running boy" The lady beckoned , The voice struck them because it was familiar, both looked up to their surprise it was Rita. Every cell in Ife's body froze, Rita was surprised to see them too but she acted furious on seeing them both. She increased pace and caught up with her baby and lifted him to her arms and walked away.
Kachi was still trying to absolve the shock, he turned to Ife who was beside him. Ife was still and emotionless. Kachi tapped him and they both exchanged awkward glances, Ife looked away and said with a broken voice,
"please don't say anything.
Kachi sniffed and shakes his head looked away and replied, "Is like everything we ran away from followed us here".
Ife threw a sad gaze at Kachi and walked away out for his car. Kachi hesitated and followed.
Many thoughts came through his as he drove home, that was the first time he set his eyes on Rita since he got out of prison and his son too. He wished he saw his son's face but he was too clouded by emotions. It has been two years now and still fresh. He couldn't stop wondering why Rita never came for once to see him in prison. Could it be the reason surrounding his convictions; he wondered. Rita was the love of his life, they had dated for a long time but things went sour from the day he got arrested. The day that changed his life and not exactly for the worst. He only learnt Rita put to birth while he was in prison. Ife knew he messed up but the fact he felt abandoned by the woman he loves made him cold towards her. Even after he got out of prison, he never cared to go after her or his child.
The air stinks at the hospital today, it was quite an awful place for Ife to be, because it brought lot of memory. The weather was so damp and cold even though it was dry season. The smell of was usually intense, he couldn't wait to leave the place. He has strolled round the hospital to get a better place to settle but gave up and decided to stick to his former position at the lobby. Kachi has an appointment with his doctor since 9:00 and it is already 3:23pm so he has been waiting for his chemotherapy to be over. Ife was both hungry and tired, he wished he could curl up in his seat if not for the awful environment.
A doctor about 7ft tall walked into the lobby, he was late for his appointment, he made to the elevator but turned half way when he recognized Ife, he was surprised to see him there, then he called him by name, Ife looked up and saw him. He immediately stood on his feet in shock.
"Dr Philip", Ife called,
"I thought that was you huh!, So I was right eh" Dr Philip said as he came closer. He was Ife's lecturer in school. He gave out his hand for a shake, "what a small huh,". Ife replies, "what are you doing here doc.". Dr Philip answered, "I am where I am supposed to be".
Those words got Ife, he felt the few past years flash before. It was roughly a week to his MBBS exams when the incident happened.
"I am sorry about what fate brought knocking Ife". Ife avoided Dr Philip's gaze and retorted, "It is fate". Dr Philip taps him on his shoulder and said,
"I can see everything about you now from just looking at your face", Ife looks into his eyes as he continues, said softly and firm "pick up your pieces". He smiled at his face and left. Ife kept looking at him till he went out of sight, he mutters bitterly to himself
"why did everyone follow me here" he was already fighting tears, when his phone rang. He pulled it out, it was Kachi's doctor calling. The session was over and they need him. He roughly wiped his face and rushed to Kachi's ward.
The early afternoon was rather cold due to the rain that fell that morning, the court was also very scanty too. People chattered in excitement as they trained in different corners of the court. Kachi dragged Muna into the basketball holding had a music box the other hand. It took him hours to convince her to follow him there, both dressed in hoodies. Kachi dropped the box on the floor and placed a seductive gaze on Muna, "stop looking at me like that", Kachi giggled and put his hands at akimbo and grinned, Muna said again expressing a suppressed ange "I have 2 questions for you", Kachi nodded "Spill". Muna adjust and said, "what are doing in a basketball court?", Kachi chuckled getting her more upset, "can you stop laughing". Kachi answered, "is that the second question". Muna's face changed she hesitated, looked away and said almost inaudibly, "why didn't you call me after that day?". Kachi smiled and drew her closer to him, holding her in a protective way and said with a jocular tone, "Don't tell me you miss because I did more". Muna pulled away "You wish". Kachi smiled and said "come I brought us here to dance I enjoy dancing, I think everyone does too". Muna replied "seriously?". "yea I mean" distracted by a call he pulls his phone from his pocket and mutters "gosh this guy thinks his my dad". "who? Your friend Ife?", Muna asked him
He replied, "Ife is my uncle". Muna threw his a disdainful gaze. "you girls didn't believe us". Muna replies, "what sort of immature joke is that?". Kachi pulls his phone and said, looking into her eyes, "Ife is, His mom my sis had him at 16 and a year later I was born".
"16?" Muna was astonished, "Your parents must be…." She swallowed her words on seeing his face. "Yea they were". Kachi stated the words she had in mind to say.
"Well I guess it is blessing now" as she turned backing him Ife nods and smiles,
Ife was particularly hungry when they got home. Ifunanya didn't place food at the dinning table as she usually does. He wondered then decided to go to the kitchen to find something for himself. He got to the kitchen to see Ifunanya cutting vegetables. Ifunanya is about his age but her timid sense of fashion made her look way older than him. "what are you cooking for dinner?", Ifunanya dropped the veggie and knife she was holding as she jerked in fear at the sound of his voice, turning to face him, Ife was suprised at her behavior, he could read the fear in her eyes. She blurted, "Oga good evening. I no know when you enter". Ife said softly, "why are you shivering, do I scare you?". Ifunanya stammers, "Yes, No Oga sorry". Ife replies, "for what and please it is not Oga, I have told you this a million times, I'd appreciate if you call me my name". Ifunanya snaps, "Ok oga", Ife almost irritated said, "it is Ife". Ifunanya nods, he asked again, "what are you cooking?". Ifunanya in an apologetic, "Sorry oga" she senses Ife's expression as she continues stammering, "Sorry I no dey feel well today, na why I no cook early". Ife expresses pity, "I am sorry about that, have you had drugs?" she replies, "no oga na normal sickness I'll be fine". Ife hisses and said, "Oh cramps". Ifunanya felt embarrased and looked down to avoid his gaze as he continues, "It is normal and nothing to be ashamed Ify, I have pain killer in my drawer in my room, go and take it, dont forget it is just two pills you will take, dont worry i will complete the cooking. I will bring your food to your room". Ifunanya was shocked she stammers, "No oga no worry, I can do it". Ife asked, "Dont worry about your madam, I know how to handle her, she wont eat you, atleast not when I am here". Ifunanya nods washed her hands on the sink and leaves. Ife then took over and started preparing food. The kitchen incident is not the first time she acted that way, infact she does that all the time he is around her, she is always awkward. He refused to think about ifunanya's behavior, why she was so scared of him. To snap out of those thoughts, he began to sing almost inaudibly as he cooked.
The sound of the lightning as the rain got heavier. Ife was in his shorts trying to force himself to sleep but couldn't. Everything has changed in his life, it isn't the way it used to be back in Edo. Painful memories he fought everday to forget. He used to be a very happy and cheerful soul, Rita his ex, the beautiful times they shared. As his thoughts went sporadically, he got a knock at the door, he looked at his clock, it was 2am . He wondered who could be at his door by that time as he stood to get the door. Immediately he opened it, Kachi fell in but Ife was too fast to catch him. Ife panicked and said "Kachi". Kachi was bleeding from his nose, his usual crisis. Ife helped him to the bed and rushed to his phone to the door, Kachi's eyes covered in tears and he cries, "My body hurts, my joint, I am in pains". Ife looks at him with pity, the doctor wasnt picking. Ife screams in frustration and rushed to his wardrobe to pick his jacket, "dont worry I will take you to the hospital". He noticed Ife wasn't talking him anymore. He rushed to him but he was already unconcious, he screams his name in panick, went to table and picks the car key, then rushed to Kachi and carried up to his shoulder and walked out of the room.
In the morning, Naomi was already dressed for work. She noticed the unusual silence in the house, even though she preferred the silence but somehow, she felt something was off. She was fast asleep and didn't know what happened the previous night. She walked to the sitting room but to her greatest surprise, Raphael was sitting there. Their history wasn't a pleasant one. She hated Raphael with every ounce of cells in her .
She flared up, "How dare you show your face in my house". Raphael could sense the rage in her eyes. Raphael just stood there looking at her, he wished he could open up his soul to tell her how deepily he regrets what had happened, how terrible he felt, how sorry he is and most importantly how much he miss her.
Raphael is a well built man in his early 40s but still got all the charms and charisma. Every of his gestures reads rude romantic and a charming. Naomi was seeing Ife in him, like his doppleganger, the resemblance was so striking. The reason while she left Ife wih her mom, because he looked so much like his father, a pain she was fighting to heal.
"I came to see my son" Raphael speaks finally.
Naomi sparked in anger "He is not your son and dont dare call him your son to my face ever again". Tension was rising between them as they kept silent looking at each other's eyes. Raphael licks him lips shortily and rubs his head as he backs Naomi, he then spoke softly
"you know I didn't leave you of my own will". He walks away leaving Naomi staring at him off her sight. She was really mean to see any emotions on her face. She then pulled out her phone to take a day off, she has had enough for a day. It has been a 24 years but it looked like it was just yesterday he last saw Raphael. Ifunanya came to inform her what happened the previous night which got her to her toes. Kachi's terminal sickness was one of her greatest fear. Although she has never witnessed any of his crisis but she can imagine exactly how it is. He is her only sibling and not sure she can take it if anything happened to him.
Naomi had been an only child for so long. Her parents believed Ife was a blessing to the family because after many years they tried to have another child after Naomi, Kachi came just roughly a year Ife was born.
She had tried so many times to reach Ife but he kept bouncing her calls. It then dawned on her that she has been too hard on everyone, but she was not remorsely so she just pulled herself together and rushed to the hospital.