Last week Saturday, my mom asked me to come visit. Said it's been a while since she's seen me. So, today Wednesday, instead of going to work, I'm going to my parents house at banana island.
I get there a little after ten. My parents are sitting under the pergola outside. I go over to them and bow.
"good mom and dad."
"good morning my handsome boy. How was the drive here?" my dad asks. It seems each time I see them, they age more. Almost all my dad's hair are grey. Same with mom. Since my parents don't work much anymore, they're always at home. My dad is wearing a big black polo and a blue combat short. My mom is putting on a big flowy yellow gown that does well in accentuating her dark beautiful skin.
The one thing I'm really grateful for is the fact that neither of my parents married an ugly partner. I would have been ugly. Fuck if I could be proud and ugly too.
"so since last Saturday that I asked you to come, its today that you decided to grace us with your presence eh son?"
I know she's not really mad at me so I tease. "oh you're complaining? Should I go back then?"
"if you try me!" my mom shouts. She holds unto her faux anger a little before a smile colors her face. "you this boy en. You want to send my enemy into early grave." She says before standing up and pulling me into a hug.
"ah, mom no nah. I wouldn't dare."
She pulls my cornrows. "you're still carrying this rubbish on your head," she says with annoyance.
"mom please stop." I snap. She always do this. I've told her that I'm never going to cut my hair. All her complaints will not get me to shave my hair off.
"my love, please let Tobi be. His the only one that understands what goes on in his head." My dad says while shaking his head. I roll my eyes.
"you guys are so dramatic mehn."
"it's okay, its okay. Please come sit." My mom pulls me to sit on the chair beside her. "I made your favorite meal. Rice and banga stew."
My mouth immediately watered.
"son, you look really thin. Have your been eating well?" my mom asks as she pulls my face and turns me here and there, inspecting,
I laugh. "mom, how can you say I look thin, I'm six two weighing almost two hundred and ten pound." I pull back. "mom, I'm very healthy and have you forgotten I've got a cook."
"well, you should eat more." She says, looking as if she'll pluck out my eyes if I refuse. "do you want to eat inside or should I tell the maid to bring your food here."
"here is fine."
"okay." She stands up and heads inside.
I turn to my father who has been silently drinking his wine. "so dad, what's been going on at home?" I grab the wine with the most alcohol on the round table and pour into the empty wine glass.
My dad raise a brow. "should you be drinking that in front of me?"
"why can't I when you are doing same in front of me." I take a sip. Good stuff. " and moreover, I'm almost twenty eight." I say smugly.
He sighs and shakes his head. He murmurs something under his breath that sound weirdly like, 'I must have done something wrong in my previous life'. So I glare at him.
"to answer your question, not much has been happening. But I and your mom have been planning an event scheduled for next weekend. Its to help a certain number of jobless youths in Lagos state."
"oh cool."
"that's all you have to say?" my father asks aghast.
I shrug. "I couldn't care less about any jobless youth if I tried. You do you."
He looks at me in shock. I don't know why they still appear shocked by what I say and do. I mean they've literally known me my whole life. I ignore his nasty look and think about how I'll invite Malachi over for a drink this weekend.
Ever since our hangout last weekend, I've only messaged him once. And it was to thank him for the wonderful time we had the previous night. Now , when you out it like that, it sounds weird, but I'm not even going to get into it here. I kind of have an idea of what is wrong with me.
"here is your food." My mom says as the maid serves the food before me. The aroma alone has me salivating. I grab a spoon and begin eating.
"so, have you found a girl you're serious with?" my mom asks the moment I finish eating. Like, I just dropped the glass of water I was drinking.
"mom, there's no one."
"what do you mean there's no one? You're almost thirty." She bites out.
"so? Why should I be in a haste to get married. Moreover, my elder sister Titi is not even married yet."
"well, she is in a relationship with a decent man."
"that's good for her." I say with sarcasm dripping from my voice.
"we just want you to make good decisions and be happy." She says with that weird mommy voice.
"as I've said countless time, you don't know what's best for me." I shout.
"see, you're angry now. What about the therapist you promised to see. Its like it's not working." Mom looks concerned.
I sigh. "its working fine." My father glares at me as if he knows I'm lying and that I didn't see any therapist. Maybe he does.
"are you sure? How many days a week do you go, what's the name of the place? And I hope he's one of the best-"
"mom!" I shout…. Again. " can you just stop. I'm a bloody adult for Christ sake. Just let me be."
"its for you o-"
"you know what?" I say as I get up. "it was nice seeing you both, but its time for me to take my leave, I have work to do." I grab my keys.
My dad sighs. "son, it hasn't gotten to that. Your mom is just concerned for you."
I roll my eyes. "please spare me the over cuddling. I don't need it." I move away from the table and say before leaving. "when you're ready to treat me like the grown up that I am. That's when I'll be willing to stay around you."
On my drive home, my thoughts were all over the place. I couldn't think straight. My parents constant worry, my weird obsession with a strange man, work, the issue of relationships. It is a miracle I didn't crash.
Now, I'm back at my apartment, relaxing on the couch and my thoughts are still flying all over the place.
My mind drifts back to the last meeting with Malachi just as I've been doing for the past few days. He must be curious about me because he looked me up. Maybe I should do same. I know nothing of him aside his name and occupation.
I bring out my phone and type in Malachi, before remembering I don't know his last name. shit. So I decide to try "Malachi surgeon in Nigeria" since I don't know his last name.
Yes. The search results are all of him. His last name is Aluya, Malachi Aluya. He's from Delta state and the first son of six children. Wow.
And apparently, he is the best surgeon in Africa and equally among the highest paid. And get this, the hospital he works at "Better Health Hospital" in Ikoyi here is family owned and is also among the best hospitals in Nigeria. That is impressive.
I check for picture, there are hardly any. There is an article that says he studied in USA for almost twelve years and has been working at Better Health for a little over four. I place my phone on the couch. The more I find about him, the more I am impressed. This guy is just walking perfection. And I think it's high time I start facing my problem head on. I've never been a wimp and I don't want to start been one because of a man.
I close my eyes for some seconds and breathe out deeply and say for the first time.
"I am attracted to Malachi."