W20. And the world keeps on spinning.... (Season 1 Finale!)

I tried to act calm. "Mom, you  both are just being paranoid...Suni is fine. It's all this useless drama!"

"Mhmn"

We reached home, and I parked the car and just kept silent as we  got out mom's luggage and made our way to the front.So...if mom and De' knew then what? I wonder if they would support Suni's decision to ex the baby. Mom would probably not be in support, but with De's frame of mind... hmn.

I opened the door front door and waited for mom to enter. She went straight to the room.  Probably to change and get ready for bed. I locked the door behind me. My phone rang.

"Hey love." I liked endearments.

"Hey you.." Shafa and I said our hello's and made our routine small talk about each others day and how we were and all that good stuff. I mentioned that my mom was leaving tomorrow.

"Oh...so soon."

"Drama is chasing her..." we both laughed.

"I should come over then,  I hope it's not too late."

"Ehn, shebi she's the one that wants to run away so soon. Besides I wouldn't mind seeing your fine face this night." I mean the boy already knew it, might as well stroke his ego small. He said I should give him 20minutes.  I went to alert moms.

"Shafa is coming over... he wants to greet you before you run back home"

Trust mom, she was already in her PJ's and heading to the kitchen for her routine HUMONGOUS cup of tea. "Ahhhh" the oh I remember sigh "the designer?" I hate when mom's do that. Front like they can't remember a significant person in your life.

"Yes mommy the designer."

"I thought you guys were off?"

"We were.....we're kind of back on now." We're we? Well I should think so, but I really need to clarify things with him, can't be making the same mistakes twice in one  lifetime. I'd bring it up soon.

"Ok o, I hope it's soon, because I'm going to be going to bed soon" She patted round the kitchen preparing her cup of tea then made her way to the living room. Why I was tagging along  I don't know. She sat down. "Come and switch on the TV for me." I turned it to her favorite channel (A&E , she loved watching those reality shoes like first 48 and cold case files....so odd). I went to tush up small for Shafa.

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My phone rang again. It was Suni. Gist.

"Wassup?"

"Man... I told Toba." she sounded fine.....a bit out of it though.

"He's cool?" Then she broke out into crazy laughter. Like nothing was funny, but she was cracking up.

"Coool? Cool? Hmmmmmm!!!" she continued laughing. I was trying to tie my head wrap, so I wedged the phone betwee my head and shoulder.

"Suni, hope nothing?"

"He's very cool o. Cool like Freezer!!! Cooolest guyyy!!" she laughed some more... this was getting awkward. "He says we cannot keep THIS baby" the way she said it stung me.

"How does he mean?" she was still laughing.

"He said this baby  was cursed. And if we don't get rid of it now, they would know and more trouble will start...? Can you imagine, we are on the same wavelength but on VERY different pages o"

"Who's they?" I was a tad bit confused here...

"His people..." she stopped laughing abruptly, it was so silent I thought the line had cut.

"Hello?...Suni?"

"Yo Yale, I'd call you back in a bit......don't sleep o" she  clicked off before I could say good-bye.

Weird. I tried not to be too worried. She was gonna call me back.

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True to his word the doorbell rang 18 minutes later. I was in my pajamas but glossed up a bit. I opened the door. Did he dress up to meet mommy? Awwww..... He was in skinny jeans and a crisp gray tee with those nice dress but could-pass-off-as-casual jackets. In all his awesome chocolatey-ness.  He smiled at me. Shoot. I love this guy.

"Watidoo" I hugged him and stole a kiss before we broke apart.

"You're already getting ready to sleep?"

"Oh you thought I'd wait for you..." I said sarcastically. I ushered him inside and closed the door behind me.

"Is she still awake?" he mouthed to me...

"Ya ya for sure... shes in the living room so..." I didn't bother whispering back. We walked to into the living room. " mommy Shafa is here."

"Ehen...." typical mommy, dropped her cup on the table and turned to squint like she couldn't see his face.  Ugh! I knoooww she knows him. "How are you??"

"I'm fine aunty" he did the half way dobale (prostrate) that all these older but younger Nigerian boys in diaspora do.

"Come and greet me well now..."  he walked over to give her a hug. I'm sure mommy was already counting grand babies in her head.

See I had mentioned how serious I was about Shafa when we used to date... or whatever it was we were doing before. Like my mom knew I really liked him. She had met him once or twice in the past, as that guy that Yale always talks about and is always around, but  she still hadn't been introduced to him like thaaat. She knew that I was really serious about him back then though. So, with him coming by now and the half answer I had given her, I know there were questions running through her mind on the seriousness of this relationship and if she should start calling him "son". Yes mommy was crazy like that. I had avoided her earlier prior to his coming, but I know once he leaves, there would be a clarification session. I wasn't even going to be shy.

Shafa and mom chit chatted about nothing really. Weather, work, same old. I got him a drink, before she could chastise me for being  a terrible host. I tuned in and out of their small talk. used that time to check Shafa out. He was very relaxed and composed. Mom liked him. when she started talking like this, it means you are good. They hadn't had the opportunity to sit and talk before, so it was interesting to see that they interacted very well with each other. He really found mommy amusing though. When he laughed it wasn't forced, and if it was, well he was a darned good actor! But mommy was generally entertaining still. I think she was talking about how she needed to go back home and cook for daddy.

"Yale doesn't believe me, she thinks I just don't want to spend time with her, but my husband misses me" Shafa laughed again.

"Is true though..."

"Don't worry when you get your own husband you would understand how important it is to always be with him....." she paused for a moment as she sipped her drink, I dint miss the look she gave Shafa, I knew something else was coming. "Abi, Shafa... is it not better for the wife to not be so far away for long?" I can soo see where this is going.

"Yes aunty, its very important o!" he said it with laughter, so taking him seriously would have been.... ya... I laughed too.

"You would know se?"

"Eheenn! See Yale, even Shafa agrees with me" the laughter died off, you know that part when every one sighs after laughing? Yes.. this was it. We all were staring at the TV for a bit. "So how old are you again Shafa?"

"I'm going to be 30 in a few weeks ma"

"Wow, you're grown!" he laughed the "yes I am" laugh. "You should be looking to settle down soon."

OK! Mom was NOT going to start this conversation here. "Haha! Mommy please now, you're making him uncomfortable"  I looked at him apologizing with my eyes.

"No, it's fine..." he smiled back at me, then looked back to mommy "Actually... Yes  aunty. It's starting to become a priority." he looked back me "pretty fast". Ok?

"That's good. If you wait too long all the good girls are going to get picked up."

"That I realized.... that..." he adjusted his seat like he was really figuring it out. "...I realize."

"Ok o. Shafa..." mommy packed her mug as she got up. "Let me go and sleep , long journey tomorrow. It was rally nice of you to come by..."

"The pleasures mine aunty. I couldn't let you leave without coming by to say hi."

"Eya, thank you. Ok let me let you two...get along." she gave me that...oh yeaaaah look. Me I was still a bit...interested in what Shafa had said about settling down.

"Goodnight Aunty!" he stood up to half dobale again. Mom hugged him when he straightened up.

"Good night mommy.." She hugged me too and left.

I couldn't stop looking at him. He was just smiling cause he KNEW he had peaked my interest. "What?"

"You know what."

"I do....?" he walked to me and held me.

"What was that about?"

"What?"

"Oh stop it ... the whole..... you know...." He laughed and kissed my nose.

"the whole....?"

"Were you serious?" I hugged him back... only because I could not resist. He's so huggable.

He laughed some more then pulled me to sit with him on the couch. "Yea....I'm not growing younger eh."

WOW.....Shafa was looking to settle down. Time does change the face of the clock. Was it not just....wow.

"I see...." Holy.... this was...wow. I was really speechless. Huh????

"I hope you do....cause I'm not trying to get back in your good books just for fun." he tipped my head  and kissed me. Muffled thoughts...... "I don't have that kind of time." he kissed me some more.

"Wait.." I broke off.... had to get my mind together. "Wait.... so what exactly are you saying?"

He leaned back and smiled. "I'm sayinggg" then he bent to get the remote from the coffee table, and started flipping through the channels. "I'm saying that I'm serious Yale." he stopped on CNN. Dropped the remote back on the table and looked at me finally. "I want to be serious about us."

Here I was sitting down, cuddled with the man of my dreams. A few hours ago I had been ready to find a way to bring up the issue of the status of our relationship because I knew I was already far gone into him again. I was risking my heart big time (or so I thought a few hours ago) I wasn't sure he was into me seriously this time ( a few hours ago) and now..... just under a FEW HOURS. all my questions were answered, and I seemed to have just fallen deeper in love with him. How? I don't even know but I did. I smiled. Happy. for now that's all I needed to know. That he was serious. And from the looks of it. VERY. That was good enough for me. For now......

WATCH OUT FOR SEASON II

What happens with Suni's pregnancy?
Does she tough it out with Toba or does the hard time break them apart?

Follow on with Yale and Shafa's now seriously budding relationship.
New twists and turns to test if it REALLY is for real.

And Arinze??
C'mon now, he's not introduced into the story for no reason.
 
Let's not forget about Jackie and Ronke.... we shall go into their own stories a bit more
They have their own spice to add to Spilt Ink.


Season II Premiering this November.
Don't Blink.

W12. Silence

"Suni...." my heart was racing. "Its you..." Whew!
She was standing at the door with the blanket wrapped around her like ojuju.

"Yes, it's me...." she yawned and shuffled towards the bed. "What are you looking for...?" She flopped down on the bed with the blanket completely covering her from head to toe. I abruptly turned around to stare at the black bag again.What the hell was that?

"Suni.... what the HELL is this? And why the HELL is it stashed at the back of your drawer?" I was pointing at the bag.

Suni lifted her head small and peaked through the covers. "I can't see what you're pointing at, move" I moved, still pointing.

She must've still not seen what I was looking at clearly because she sat up and removed the covers from over her head. I was still waiting for my answer.

"I dunno o..." she furrowed her eyebrows. "Did you open it to check? Maybe old jewellry or some-"

"Akusuni, there is NO WAY I am touching that, it looks...." I stared at the bag again and shivered..." it looks very dodgy"

She rolled her eyes..." It's probably jewlwlly.." She got up fro the bed and walked over to where I was..."What you think it's juju..." hisssssss. She reached out to pick it up and ou of reflex I slapped her hand. "Ouuuccchhhh!!!"

"Don't touch it, if you cannot remember what it is......"

"Oh please Yale!" She slapped me back, out of spite.

"I'm telling you jo....do YOU know what is inside???"

"No... I can't remember....hence why I want to CHECK?"

"Can you remember putting it there?"

"No....again...another reason to ch-"

"Where did you even get black leda from?"

"Yale." She gave me a stern look and the warning finger."Please move jo"In the process of stopping her from touching this bag I had jumped in front of her.

"No..Suni.. dont touch that ish man! for real...."

"If I sound you ehn..." She reached under my shoulder and grabbed the bag. "It feels like stones..." She had already started unravelling the ribbon.

"Why the hell is the ribbon red????" That's the thing that really bothered me. Who ties leda bag with ribbon? Red one for that matter.

"Maybe I had no other color of string left"

"Hmmmmm...Hmmmmmmm....Hmmmmmmmmm!"

She was having problem unravelling the ribbon, so she now wanted to use her teeth to untie what ever knot she encountered. I lounged to slap her mouth!

"Are you on crack????? You don't even know what is inside and you want to use you're mouth!"

The door bell rang.

She dropped the black bag and stood up to go and answer the door like it was normal.

"It's not even 6am!" I watched her in astonishment! She just rolled her eyes at me and made her way to the door. "It's Toba jo... relax yourself"

"Wait...wait...." She turned around impatiently.

"What?"

"Er...." She gave me the "I'm waiting" look. "Er... you guys should just stay in the living room, I want to start getting ready for work. You know so showering and all..."

"Sure..." she turned and quickly headed for the door because Toba rang the bell again.

I quickly found a pair of slippers and picked up the bag from the bed. Straight to the dozbin.
I was really curious to know what was inside though, but my fear that it was what I thought it was was stronger than my curiosity.

I heard Toba's voice through the door and quickly entered Suni's bathroom to start getting ready for the day.

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"They were just precious stones Yale"

It was after work and I had come back to get my stuff. Suni was home, Toba was out and I was in a rush.

"So you went rummaging through the garbage to find it?" I didn't even wait for her to answer "It's alright. stones from WHERE?"

"I don't really know, but they were nice sha." She continued stirring the pasta she was preparing. I had gathered my stuff and was now really just waiting for her to finish this food so I could back some home. Cooking was on a long thing tonight. "Toba didn't like them though..." that caught my attention. "Said they were one kind..." she gave me the "can you believe that" look.
Yes o, I can believe it VERY much Suni. I can soo believe it.

"Na wa o, but I just don't understand why "precious stones" would be tied in black leda bag with red ribbon then now HIDDEN at the back of a drawer you OBVIOUSLY don't even look into." Suni laughed, I didn't. " Very sketchy to me sha."

"I shouldn't have told you about the Toba family story, you're all spooked out now. Everything is sketchy to you" She took the pot off the cooker I got the strainer ready.

"Suni, do you SERIOUSLY think Toba is like.. not involved in anything shady? Like He's really not a cult boy because, I won't lie I find it weird that you120% believe that he's not..." I used my free hand to gesticulate.

She literally banged the pot on the counter and looked at me.

"You're not marrying him Yale. You haven't been in a relationship with him, you don't know him. " Ah! sorry o....."Like stop all this I'm tired. I just need to find a way to get my parents not to disown me. I'm past all this 'is Toba right for me'!" she walked out.

Wow.

I strained the pasta and packed some with some stew. Washed the dishes. Turned off the lights and let myself out.

This thing don dey begin to tiya me sef.

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"Mommy, I'm in no position to tell Suni what she can and cannot do, I am not her mother."

My mom had called to give me wahala about this Suni trouble. Apparently her mom had vented to her an was expecting something to be done. This is what I don't understand. People misconstrue the power of friendships or the complexity of it. Or maybe it's just me who doesn't understand how to work them. I mean, I love Suni like a sister but there is only so much I can do. This is not just a simple thing like buying a car or choosing a university to go to. This is marriage. You don't want to ruin someones life because of something.

"Yes you can o, Yes you can! Ozime you know you can do something. That boy she is about to marry is disaster."

"I know -"

"And you just stand there and watch?"

"I cannot- I've tried- I am TRYING to get Suni to reconsider her decision mommy, believe me. It's not easy"

We had been going back and forth on my effort to change Suni's mind and its possibility for the past one hour.

"Anyways De'Hadiza" Suni's mom liked to be called De'Hadiza instead of aunt Hadiza or just plain Hadiza "and I are planning on coming down this weekend"

"Whoa...! Really?"

"Yes o! Ozime these things require more than simple talk on the phone."

"I dunno o mom....I don't think Suni is ready to face her folks"

"Who is asking for her readiness?" she hissed loudly. "Anyways here is the plan. I need you to reserve 2 rooms at a hotel for us tommorow. I will send you the itinerary now -"

"You bought the ticket already?"

"Look at you? We have to act fast here! Reserve those rooms and don't BREATHE a word about us coming. Akusuni cannot know of our plans."

"Woow you are putting me in a very tight situation here mom..."

"Helping a friend the right way always puts you in a bind, the real challenge is accepting the bind. Ozime De'Hadiza is in a horrible state now with this news of Akunsuni. As a friend to her, I cannot let this happen. I can only imagine if the situation was ours. I would expect her to do the same. Telling Suni right now is dangerous. She seems to have the tendency to elope. That will just kill her parents. So please help us ok?"

This was very rough..... very rough.

"Yes mom..."

"See you soon ehn?"

"Men..."

"See you soon. God bless"

And she clicked off.

See me thnking things were hot...Hmm! With this now, things are about to get intense!!!!!