Diary of a college girl episode 3

DIARY OF A COLLEGE GIRL:
A TOUCH OF LOVE
EPISODE 3
GRACE KLUBI
The rest of the ride was uneventful. He dropped me off at Nungua Secondary School and I got into a trotro and continued to my home at Teshie-Nungua Estates.
 
I rapped on the gate and Sister Yaa opened it for me.
 
“Good evening,” I said as I walked past her and entered the living room, dropped my handbag on the floor and sat down.
 
“Nana Aba. Nana Aba! ABA!!!”
 
I looked up with a nonchalant look on my face. “Yes?”
 
Sister Yaa looked at me and smiled. She picked up my bag from the floor and held my hand.
 
“Get up and let’s go to your room. I’ve turned the heater in mummy’s room on. You can go have a warm bath in her bathtub since you’re too tired to stand and bath in your bathroom.”
 
I looked at her gratefully.
 
“Thank you,” I muttered.
 
She walked with me to my room, hang up my bag and waited as I changed into a morning coat. She packed my shower essentials into a sponge bag and held my hand, leading me to Mum’s bathroom.
 
The kind woman had drawn a warm bath and mixed some essential oils in there.
 
The aroma in itself was relaxing. I took off my gown and entered the bath.
 
“I’m leaving your stuff right here, at arm’s reach. Let me know if you need anything,” she said and turned to walk away.
 
“Sister Yaa,” I called out.
 
She turned around and looked at me.
 
“I’m sorry for being rude,” I said with genuine remorse.
 
“That’s okay, Princess, everyone has bad days. I’m going to wh¡p up a delicious goat jollof and make some of the nice pineapple ginger smoothies for you. Maybe after your belly is filled we can talk?” she asked.
 
I simply nodded, extremely grateful.
 
She walked out and left me in the bath with my thoughts.
 
My mind went back to Kwasi.
 
I thought about my first impression of him, the moment he held my hands, the racing of my heart. It scared me. I remembered my first love in university and how the rejection almost killed me.
 
I shook my head and said to myself, “No boy wahala until university is over. Got to make daddy proud. Hmmm, Daddy… If he were here, I’d probably get a driver of my own. I wouldn’t have to hitch rides, heck, he wouldn’t have picked Agtu, or anything. It would’ve all been different if he was alive. Daddy… I miss you… I’m going to make you do that dance you did when you picked me up from school in the first semester. Please give me the wisdom to make the right decisions.”
 
I finished bathing and went back to my room, wore my neglige and came out. The aroma from the kitchen filled the wh0le house and wafted deliciously into my nostrils.
 
“Whoooooo!” I yelled. “Sister Yaa, you’re doing wonderful things!”
 
I walked into the kitchen and hugged her from behind.
 
“Ei, Am I safe?” she asked with a smile.
 
“Have I mentioned how much I love you?” I asked.
 
“Nah, not really oo.” She said with a playful smile.
 
I hugged her tighter and said “I love you verrrrrryyyy much. You’re an answer to a prayer. It’s rare to get a good live-in help and you exceed all expectations. You’re not just good, you’re outstanding, amazing, fantabulous, flamboyant.”
 
“Ei madam it’s okay. My head will become too big and explode” she said laughing. “Well for what it’s worth, you and your mother are the best human beings I’ve come across. It’s only right that I put in my best effort. And of course, I love you too.”
 
Her voice became a little emotional with her next words.
 
“You’re the little sister I never had.”
 
She turned around and hugged me back and tears welled in both our eyes. The ping of the microwave interrupted our moment.
 
“What’s in there?” I asked.
 
“Instant popcorn to go with the smoothie for our movie night,” she said and smiled.
 
“Yayyyyy!” I yelled. “Best sister ever!”
 
She dished out a serving of jollof rice with chunks of well peppered and soft goat meat, and a side of potato salad to boot.
 
I began salivating at the sight of the food.
 
“Dish yours and let’s go and eat,” I said to her.
 
“Nah, I’ll wait for mummy. I can’t leave her to eat alone after a long day.” I looked at her and scowled.
 
“So, I’m a bad daughter, eh? When mummy comes I’ll eat my second round,” I stuck my tongue out at her and walked towards the dining hall. “Yoo. Just don’t come and cry to me that you’re gaining weight. You’re on your own,” she said.
 
“Yoo. Just don’t come and cry to me that you’re gaining weight. You’re on your own,” she said.
 
I turned around and stuck my tongue out at her again.
 
“It’s not my fault you cook so well. Prepare to go on a diet with me when I gain weight,” I said.
 
“Dream big!” she said laughing.
 
I ignored her and sat at the table, picked up my fork and picked a piece of meat.
 
“Shame of you Aba,” I heard mum’s voice behind me. “Don’t you pray before you eat?”
 
I smiled, a bit ashamed as sister Yaa came out of the kitchen giggling.
 
“Mummy tell her oo. This is how she wolfs down all her food before saying “The food in my stomach is sanctified, amen.”
 
Both ladies laughed at this and I felt embarrassed.
 
“Mummy, we didn’t hear you come in oo,” I said, wanting to change the topic.
 
“I walked in when you ladies were busy being emotional and hugging,” she said with a smile. “It’s nice to see my two daughters getting along so well.”
 
All three of us smiled, and we could feel each other’s contentment. There were no words needed. At that moment, it dawned on me that God had been good to me and had placed people whom I could count on, no matter what the situation in my life would be.
 
I was grateful.
 
Sister Yaa broke the silence.
 
“Mummy let me serve you so we can all have dinner before this foodie finishes her food.”
 
“Yes, my dear. Because there would be no second helpings for her.” Mummy replied.
 
“What!” I exclaimed, my eyes wide open. “Oh, no! Sister Yaa, add some more. This plate is too small. It’s not fair.”
 
Both women started laughing and took their seats.
 
“Your enemies will use food to kill you,” my mum said with a laugh.
 
Sister Yaa brought in the plates of food and my mum said a prayer which was too long for my liking. We dug in and had a lovely family dinner amidst chit-chats and laughter.
 
It was a beautiful night.
 
***
 
The next few days at work were uneventful.
 
Each morning, I would pick a car to Nunsec and wait for Kwasi to pick me up, and then we would get Juan from the Palace Mall and go to the office at Madina, and then reverse the process after work.
 
In the mornings, I would sit in front and Juan at the back, but in the evenings, she would sit in front till she alighted, and then I would move to the front.
 
We were fast becoming good friends.
 
Kwasi and Juan always smiled knowingly at each other concerning certain topics, seeming to suggest that they are in contact even outside the office. I didn’t have either of their numbers, but thankfully because of punctuality, I never missed Kwasi.
 
Two weeks after I began my internsh¡p, my mum wasn’t feeling too well one Monday morning. She mentioned it in the morning and decided to visit the doctor the following day, but during breakfast, she passed out.
 
I was petrified.
 
I had to go with Sister Yaa and the driver to take her to the hospital and called Awurasi to inform her that I wouldn’t be coming in because I had a family emergency.
 
And I also asked her to inform Kwasi that he could go ahead and drive past the junction since I didn’t have his number. Apparently, she forgot to inform Kwasi.
 
Kwasi called me at noon, during the break, and he was mad.
 
“Cherie! Why the hell didn’t you tell me you wouldn’t make it to work today? I waited at the junction for thirty minutes. Juan left. I got to the office at nine, which was so unlike me. Why didn’t you just f-cking call?” he yelled.
 
I sighed softly.
 
“First,” I began. “Don’t ever use swear words whilst talking to me, even if you’re mad. I consider it rude and disrespectful and I will take a step back from you if you repeat it. Secondly, I’m very sorry. I didn’t mean to. I called Awurasi and asked her to inform you and tell you that I wouldn’t make it because… my mum has been admitted to a hospital.”
 
I paused, trying not to cry.
 
“She has hypertension, and suffered a near-fatal cardiac arrest,” I continued. “The doctors said had we got here a few hours late, she wouldn’t have survived. I almost became an orphan.”
 
I started sobbing softly.