Advantage episode 8

Advantage episode 8
I was at the pitch later that Sunday evening
when someone informed me about my
mum’s arrival. I knew it was going to be
hærd for Udenme and myself to continue our
escapade, or royal rumble as she called it.
That would not be a problem for me as I
wanted it ceased.
I was at home after the game listening to
mum’s experience at calabar when my
phone started ringing. I picked it up and it
was Princess. I headed to my room as mum
motioned me to go ahead.
‘’Hello, Mr Ronaldinho’’
‘‘Hi’’
‘’Are u still on the pitch?’’
‘’No, I’m home now’’
‘’Would you mind seeing me off? I’m about
to leave Chinenye ‘s house.’’
‘’Oh, ok. I’ll be out in ten.’’
I met her and Chinenye just outside the
street.
‘’Make sure she gets home safe,’’
Chinenye warned patting on her friend’s
shoulders. ‘’I will’’ I assured.
I took her hand as we walked toward her
house. We talked about academic and
religion.
I hated discussing the latter. She advised
me to choose one of my parents religion
because I told her was in between the two.
She later asked, ‘’do you have a
girlfriend?’’. I didn’t hesitate to answer,
‘’No, I don’t’’. I didn’t ask her but she
confessed of not having a boyfriend.
‘’Thanks for walking me home,’’ she
appreciated as we got to her house
gate. ‘’Well, who wouldn’t?’’ I replied.
She knocked and turned back around to
give me a k-ss on the cheek and whispered,
‘’good night’’. She went in as the gate was
opened before I walked back home——–
alone.
I met Udenme just outside my flat as i got
back home. ‘’Where are you coming from?’’
she asked like my mum was covered by her
body. I opened my mouth to respond but
before I could utter a word she added ‘’….
and don’t tell you went to the Mei Tea,’’
because I know Ayo’s mum already cooked
when she arrived.
She was right. One would have thought my
mum should have rested after her long trip,
but she couldn’t wait for her Ronaldinho ‘s
son to return from Nou Camp to make
dinner for her and her daughter.
‘’ok, I saw a friend off’,’’ I replied.
‘’Ok. Now that your mum and my sister are
back, how do we continue seeing each
other?’’
I knew what she meant with that question,
but I teased her first. ‘’like we’re seeing
each other right now’’
‘’C’mon you know what I mean’’
‘’Oh, royal rumble? I smiled
She smiled back and nodded.
‘’ Well, I’ll figure that out,’’ I assured.
‘’Please do. Good night’’.
We both walked to our separate flats. Mum
was listening to a program on Radio Lagos
as I stepped into the parlour. One thing I’ve
never and I think I will never do is listen to
the radio while there is power.
Me: hello mum
Mum: Audu must have been glad seeing
you
these past few days
Me: Of course mum.
I chuckled.
Audu was the name of Mie Tea guy.
Mum: Lazy boy
Me: Mom, you….
She cuts in
Mum: Son, if you are to going to tell me a
lazy person cannot work at the steel
company nor play football, save it. I have
heard it all before. Your food is in the
kitchen.
Me: But it’s true mum.
Mum: Kitchen!
Me: Okay.
I went to the kitchen to dish and back to
the parlour
Mum: I spoke with Mrs Williams this
evening.
And we’ll be meeting next weekend.
Me: Oh! Great.
Mum: You can unmute the T.V now. I’m off
to my room.
Me: Good night mom.
Mum: Sweet dreams.
She left for her room and took the radio
with her.
My phone beeped. Picking it up, it was a
text from Princess. ‘’I wish I could explain
how it happened, but I can’t. I have fallen
for you and please don’t make me regret it.
1 4 3.’’
I tried calling her number back but it was
switched off. Who does that? Now, I have
more reasons to finally red card the calabar
fling.
Yes, fling. That was what she was to me.
I clocked out of work the following day. I
was on my way home when my phone rang.
It was Jide. I was a continual visitor at
Jide’ hose until last two month. I used to
be the champion at the PS 2 game until
some guy, who Jide introduced as Santos,
his secondary school friend, came and
changed my status. He beat me not only
once, not twice, but three embarrassing
times.
I was sure Jide must have missed the ever
bragging former champion, hence why he
was calling.
Jide: my padi
Me: how na Jide?
Jide: very well, bro. I haven’t seen you since
that your remarkable defeat.
Me: I no dey pass dat your side these days
Jide: Galacious, u still be champion na.
Just that, ‘former’ has to come before the
title.
Me: you no well. How Santos an?
Jide: He travelled back to Onitsha. So, when
u
go show? Na only me dey around, the rest
sef no dey.
Me: coincidentally, I was just about to get
to
your street.
Another point worth of note is that Jide’s
house, beside the game we were playing
there, it was most time available for ‘’royal
rumble’’ matches. His parents were barely
around. His elder brother was the obstacle,
but since he always return from work
around 8 pm, we could handle that.
I called Princess later that evening and we
spoke awhile. During the conversation she
said, ‘’I want to see you’’. I suggested we
hook up at the Jide’s. She agreed.