Sisterhood episode 25

TITLE: SISTERHOOD

WRITTEN BY: OGECHI ALABI

PART 25

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Jake had taken many ladies to see baba so they could replace Esther. Baba rejected almost all of them. There was one he brought and baba warned him not to sleep with the girl otherwise everything he had made will disappear. He was determined to replace her because his business was dwindling. His ‘magas’ were no longer paying. He had tried to manage the resources he had but his friends freeloaded on him. He couldn’t draw the line on when it should stop.

Read – Sxy house maid and the dons episode 1

He met this particular girl and he had positive vibes. He didn’t take her to baba before sleeping with her. The first week she camped at his new house, maga paid heavily. He was so excited that he spoilt her rotten. He called baba to share the good news with him, baba asked him to bring her so he would confirm his suspicion.

Jake took her to see baba. Baba greeted her very well and thanked her for coming to see him. He asked Jake to go to the market and buy him the ‘asu’ he would use to work for him. Jake left for the market.

Baba asked the lady, “What is the problem? How has he offended you?”

“Offend me? He didn’t offend me. We are in love.”

“You have given him this win so you can wreck him. He must have offended you that is why you want to punish him. Ok, I don’t want to know what he did just tell me how long he will suffer for before he recovers.”

“He has to find the solution himself. If he doesn’t, he will die wretched.”

Baba wondered what Jake did to warrant this kind of punishment. He knew he must have offended a female without realising how powerful she was. He suspected Esther but he also knew Esther was unaware of her powers. Or was this a punishment for losing her? He had so much on his mind by the time Jake came back. He told him he couldn’t find the asu. Baba gave him something else instead. There was nothing like asu.

Later that night, Jake called baba to confirm. Baba told Jake he will make money and still lose it. He asked Jake, “Why couldn’t you stay faithful to that girl who brought you good fortune? You will learn your lesson the hard way. Pele.”

“What do you mean?” Jake asked Baba.

“The other girl was far better. You should have been faithful to her.”

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Efe was shortlisted to travel for a course overseas. He received the mail when he was on good terms with Esther but didn’t share it with her. Suddenly, they wanted him to travel quickly. He was surprised.

He travelled home to meet his family to let them know he was travelling for a course. His parents prayed for him. His mother insisted they visited a mighty man of God before he goes. She took him to the church.

The Pastor looked at Efe and said, “I see light around you. You are highly favoured. This is the beginning of big things to come. You will be amazed at how successful you will be. Congratulations,” and he shook Efe’s hand.

Efe wondered what he was talking about but he played along because of his mother. She believed so much in this man and all he wanted to do was leave for his home, pack the foodstuff she bought him to travel and then leave. He was so excited.

“Mama Efe, your son will make you proud. He is stubborn and doesn’t believe in my ministry but tell him to try every means possible to make peace with that girl. Once she forgives you and is happy about your progress, you will be very successful.”

Mama Efe looked at her son and then the pastor. She asked, “Which girl is this? Efe, is there any girl in your life? Did you promise any girl marriage and abandon her? Did you get any girl pregnant? Talk to me?”

“There is no girl like that, I don’t know what he is talking about.”

“You know her. She has been on your mind. See her before you travel. Make sure you see her. That’s all I have to say.”

Efe knew who he was talking about but wondered how he knew. Esther had refused to speak with him again and he had moved on. His neighbour kept asking after her which he found annoying. He told Efe Esther was special and he shouldn’t let her go. Now a pastor is talking about her too. Was Esther the one? She was with Jake now and might not listen to him.

His mother mounted pressure on him to obey the divine instruction. He didn’t want to be embarrassed but he felt a need to do as he had been told. He confided in his mother that he didn’t treat her well the last time she was at his place. His mother agreed to help him talk to her. She collected Esther’s number and called her.

“Good evening. My son, Efe, gave me your phone number. He said you are his friend and he vex you. Please, my daughter, forgive him. He likes you and wants both of you to be friends.”

Esther was shocked. Why would Efe ask his mother to call her? She was in Sapele with her family and if her sisters hear this conversation, they will wonder what was happening. “Good evening ma. Please can I speak with Efe? I want to be sure he is the one.”

Efe came on the line. He walked away from where his mother was to speak with her. “Since you blocked my lines, I had to tell my mum what was happening. I am sorry she called you. I can’t believe I am talking to you, it has been months.”

“Bless her. It is nice talking to you too. Thank your mum for me. Hope you are good.”

“I am in Warri right now. I should be back in Lagos tomorrow or next. Can I see you?”

“I am in Sapele, I am at home. But why do you want to see me?”

“I have something to discuss with you which won’t be nice to discuss on phone. Send me the address, and I will see you tomorrow.”

“Why do you want to see me? What’s going on? You are scaring me.”

“I will tell you tomorrow. Thanks for not hanging up on me. And please unblock my number, I promise not to disturb you.”

Esther was confused after the call. She wondered why Efe wanted to see her. She was worried. Did something happen? She was also agitated she might feel awkward around him given their history. She didn’t know what to do.

Read – The Halo effect episode 1

The following morning, Efe called Esther with his mother’s phone. He told her he was on his way to Sapele to see her and begged her to send the address after unblocking his number. She eventually unblocked his number and sent the address to her home. She had told her stepmother she was expecting a visitor. She was excited because she never brought anyone home.

When Efe arrived, he was worried about meeting her at her home. He was outside when he called her to inform her he was around. She asked him to come in.

“Are you sure? Won’t your family mind?”

Esther laughed before replying, “I have told my stepmother you are coming. I think it is safer for us to meet at my house. I don’t know why you want to see me. Anyway come in, I am opening the door for you.”

Efe came into the house. When he saw Esther, he was dumbfounded. He almost did not recognise. He couldn’t take his eyes off her. Her face had trimmed down and she looked so pretty. She was dressed in a long forming taking gown. She had lost so much weight and her figure was better defined. He couldn’t stop staring at her.

Esther was happy she was able to shock him with her new look. She wanted him to say what he came for and leave. She didn’t want to be near him. She was anxious. To calm down, she got her stepmother and introduced Efe as a friend. She welcomed him and offered him refreshments. Efe declined. He told her he was leaving for Warri and then Lagos on the same day. She excused them to talk.

“I just wanted to apologise for how things ended with us. I must have made you feel uncomfortable and maybe built barriers between us. I am not condoning my behaviour but I want you to understand that I wanted more than you could offer. Well, I couldn’t compare myself with a guy who gives you everything you want. I felt less around, less than a man. I want to apologise. I just want us to go back to being friends.”

“You didn’t offend me, don’t bother explaining yourself. I came on too strong and you didn’t feel the same way after I had disappointed you and gone back to Jake. I didn’t want to see or talk to you because I had to work on myself. If you were around me, I wouldn’t have done it successfully. I have found myself and I am in love with the new me. I have changed my life and it can only get better. I hold nothing against you. Is that why you came all the way? There was no need for that.”

“There is. You know when you stayed at my place with me in December before you travelled, immediately you left, I was shortlisted for training abroad. My visa and other travel documents are out and I will be leaving in a week. I wanted to let you know as my friend who I have shared my joys and sorrows with.”

Esther was so excited for him. “I am happy for you. Hmm, so you will be leaving me. How long will you be away for?”

“Eighteen months. How I was shortlisted is still a mystery to all of us. The MD added my name to the list and chose eighteen months of training while others had six months. They have been asking me what I did to make the MD insist. I don’t know. But I am travelling now. I had to apply for a student visa so I can be there for eighteen months. I didn’t even believe it would be approved but it was and now we are hurrying to leave.”

“That’s a long time. You deserve this for all your hard work. Wow! This is good news. Your parents must be excited.”

“Yes, they are.”

“I wish you the very best in your endeavour. I trust you will do very well.”

“So, we are good? You have forgiven me?”

“I wasn’t angry with you. We are good. Thanks so much for coming to share the good news with me.”

“There is no one else to share it with. I have missed you.”

“You didn’t tell me when it happened in December and when I came back in January. I understand though. You didn’t want me to jinx it. Don’t mind me, I am only joking.”

“Let me leave now. Thanks, Esther.”

Esther called her stepmother so Efe could say goodbye and then she saw him off to the gate. She wanted to go back in but he requested she walked him down to the junction.

“You look so good. What did you do? You look amazing. What did Jake say about this?”

“Jake? I broke up with Jake.”

“You broke up with Jake? How is it even possible?”

“Efe, I broke up with Jake. I am boyfriendless and I am happy. I have stopped drinking alcohol and eating junk. I love my new self and I have a boost of energy which I haven’t experienced before. This me is all about self-love.”

“This was a good change after all and I am happy for you.”

They talked some more before they got to the junction. At the junction, they waited for a taxi to take him to where he will get a vehicle to Warri.

Efe held Esther’s hand and said to her, “I will miss you. I missed you all this while. I knew I messed up and I wanted to give you time from my misdeeds. I called Nkem, your roommate several times to know if you had returned. She told me you had moved out. I thought you moved in with Jake and I stopped calling.”

“I moved out to a friend’s before I got my place. It is alright. I am glad your life is taking off beautifully.”

A taxi stopped. Efe turned to hug Esther. There were tears in her eyes. He felt it too. He was going to miss her. He hugged her tightly and then kissed her passionately while the tears dropped. He then released her and said, “I will keep in touch,” and then he left. He couldn’t bear to see her cry.

That was the last time Esther saw or heard from Efe for years. She felt betrayed by him when he didn’t keep in contact as promised. But then she remembered, it was all about her. She let her guard down for him, she will never do it again.

Tbc