Sisterhood episode 33
TITLE: SISTERHOOD
WRITTEN BY: OGECHI ALABI
PART 33
The following morning, Nkem was up early. She got dressed and waited at the lounge for the guys to come out. Henry came out first. He was surprised to see her dressed.
“Good morning. You have dressed already? That says a lot about you. I have a gift for you. I intended to give it to you when I was leaving, it is best I give it to you now. Thanks for honouring my invitation and I hope you will consider my request. I foresee a bright future with you. You tick all my boxes. Maybe when you come to Canada for your Master’s we can move from there,” he went back into his room and returned with a bag he handed over to her. He asked her to leave it in her room and look at it when she gets back. He was under the impression their flight was for 4 pm.
They left for the international airport. Demian sat in front with the driver while Henry and Nkem sat at the back together. Henry was all lovey-dovey with Nkem. She played along because she knew it will be over in less than two hours.
They arrived at the airport and gained access to the departure. He was travelling with a suitcase only so checking in was easy. He collected his boarding pass and spent more time with Nkem and Demian. He tried to kiss Nkem on two occasions but she declined him kindly but allowed a peck. It was surprising to Henry. The other times he came back, the girls were ready to jump into bed with him but Nkem was very different. She was decent and he liked that. He was uncomfortable being turned down in Demian’s presence. Demian didn’t seem bothered.
They had to leave. Henry hugged Nkem and promised they would speak regularly. He shook and hugged Demian. He asked his cousin to take care of his lady. Then he left. They waited for him to be out of sight before they left the airport.
Demian took Nkem all over the Island. They visited places he had researched. They had a beautiful time all day long. From a resort to the mall to a restaurant and then an art gallery. They had a lovely experience which excited Nkem. They created memories by taking pictures of their adventure and some videos. It was beautiful and exciting.
They came back home at the end of the day. Demian did not enjoy clubbing or hanging out late into the night. He asked Nkem if she would want to club but she declined. She had enough fun for the day. She took a bath and changed into her sleepwear. Demian had also bathed and joined her in her room. They talked for hours about different things and both of them fell asleep on the bed until morning.
Read – BEHIND CLOSED DOORS
Demian woke up first and left the room at about 4 am. He would have loved to spend more time with Nkem but he knew they had to return to the east. He decided he would have to visit her more often when they go back. He liked her, he believed it was more than likeness. He wouldn’t accept he was in love yet. He knew he had a very soft spot for her. He felt jealous when she hugged Henry and was impressed when she refused to kiss him. It would have affected him. He wanted to be the one to kiss her. He wanted to have the best time of his life with her.
When Nkem woke up, she prepared for the journey back to the village. She dressed in a pair of stretchy jeans, a tank top and a black jacket which she left open. She was determined to look good at the airport. She came out and knocked on Demian’s door.
“Come in.”
She walked in. “I am ready, when is our flight?”
“Why the rush? We have a continental breakfast in Ikeja before we leave. Someone is at the airport helping us check in as we speak, we will just board when we get there.”
“That’s nice. Let’s go.”
“By the way, you look hot.”
“Well thank you.”
They went to have breakfast at a five-star restaurant. Nkem was oblivious to the meals served so Demian explained the array of dishes on the buffet table. He took bits for her to taste and finally take her pick. The ones she liked, he helped serve and taught her how to eat them. She was glad he was not ashamed of her. There were other guests there too. It was easy to sample the meals. There was one in particular she liked and was curious about how it was made. Demian requested to speak with the chef. The chef explained to her how it was made and even gave her some to take away. She was excited she came there with Demian. It was interesting.
They stopped by a supermarket to make some purchases and then left for the airport. They picked up their boarding pass and went to wait for their flight. Nkem sat beside Demian. He wrapped his hand around her as they talked because she appeared cold. He felt so free with her and she seemed very comfortable in his arms as she snuggled closer. They just talked until their flight was called and they had to leave.
They arrived at Imo airport at 12:45 pm. An SUV was waiting to pick them up. Since he had been coming to the house, he had come with his vehicle. It wasn’t too conspicuous. The SUV was and there was an escort too. When they arrived in her village, people followed the vehicle to see where it would stop. It stopped in front of Nkem’s house. The gate to the compound was opened and they drove in. Nkem came down from the vehicle and Demian joined her. He brought in some of the items he bought at the supermarket. He went into the house with Nkem and her brothers.
As they sat down in the sitting room, they could hear from outside, “Who is at home? Mama Nkem are you at home?”
“O wu onye (who is it?)” Mama Nkem asked as she came out to see who was calling her and then she saw two of her brothers-in-law. “You are welcome. To what do I owe this visit?”
“We saw this vehicle drive into our compound and we had to know the people inside the vehicle because the gate was opened for them immediately they got here.”
“O! Nkem just came back from Lagos. Her friend gave her a ride home from the airport.”
“Airport kwa? Since when did Nkem start flying?”
“She was sponsored by her friend. They went to see off another friend travelling abroad and came back. Because of safety, they came to drop her at home.”
“Where is the young man?”
“Which one?”
“The one that brought her back?’
“Did I say it was a man? Anyway, she dropped her at home and sent her driver to bring Nkem home. I want to make food for them.”
“O, it a fellow girl that sponsored her? Interesting days o. Ok. Let us be going.”
Read – DO NOT OPEN – A Crazy Action Thriller
Nkem laughed when her mother came in. She had to ask why she lied to her uncles. Her mother replied, “Do you want them to accuse you of prostitution? I know them. It was wise of you to call for them to open the gate, they would have carried terrible lies against you to tarnish your image. Uloma go and lock the gate so no one can just walk in.”
After the holiday, Nkem was to resume. Demian told her they will go back together since he also had to travel back. Two days before they were to travel back, Demian came with the vehicle to pack the bags she would be travelling back with. He insisted she packs everything into the vehicle as it would be leaving early the next morning.
“How are we travelling back?” Nkem asked him.
“You will see.”
He picked her up at 7 am and they drove to the airport. They travelled back to Lagos by air. She was surprised and at the same time very pleased. She insisted on going back to the hostel that morning so she could drop off her items that were already in the car and arrange them. There were things there that could get spoilt if not preserved. He agreed.
He took her to the hostel. She was always the first to resume in her room. He helped her carry her luggage to the room with the driver. He entered her room for the first time. She offloaded and put on the items and arranged her other items. When she was through, she asked if she could make something for him to eat.
“Such as?”
“I can make ugba and abacha if you want.”
“You came to school with ugba and Abacha?”
“Yes. The well-fermented ugba will be used for okro soup. I have stockfish we can make it with.”
“Wow! I will love it. We can have lunch at a restaurant. This will be our breakfast.”
“I have ukwa made by my mum, I can warm that. She added fried fish and pieces of meat and pomo. It is for both of us.”
“I think I will have that and you can bring the ugba and abacha for us to make in the evening.”
“Where are you going to stay?”
“My cousin’s. He is out of town after arriving yesterday with my vehicle. He enjoys road trips. I will be alone there and will be bored out of my wits before I travel back. Before your roommates return, can you spend some time with me at his place? I will stay in his room and you can have mine. You know I can be trusted.”
“I don’t know if it will be right for it to be just both of us.”
“If we go to the other house, some of my family members are there now and they will ask too many questions and I won’t be opportune to spend more time with you. I have only two days to spend here before I travel back and I want to spend them in your company. Let’s explore together.”
Nkem thought about it for some time. She knew he had feelings for her and didn’t want to fuel it. She liked him too but she had promised herself to remain focused. Her mother was a romantic, giving her ideas that she didn’t need. She didn’t want to live off a man and she was adamant about that. Also, even though she had feelings for him, his mother’s attitude towards the women in his life discouraged her. He seemed to be clingy maybe that was what the mother was worried about; she doesn’t want to lose her control. As long as she doesn’t run into his family members and they maintain boundaries, she wouldn’t mind spending time with him. She let him know this.
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They went to his cousin’s house. His luggage was placed in his cousin’s room while her overnight bag was deposited in the guest room. He took his personal effects and some change of clothes to his cousin’s room. He later knocked on her door for them to relax downstairs to watch a movie before they left for lunch/dinner since they were not hungry.
As they watched the movie, someone rang the bell. Demian went to answer it. He met his cousin’s girlfriend at the door. She came with some food for him. She was surprised to see Nkem in the house because she wasn’t informed she would be staying.
She said to them, “If I had known she would be here, I wouldn’t have bothered making the food.”
“She’s a guest here not a cook.”
“O ok! I will drop the food in the kitchen then and freshen up before I make the swallow.”
“I will do it. I am staying in Chuks’ room while my guest uses my room. You shouldn’t have bothered with the food because we were going to get lunch but I appreciate all the same. I will take it from here.”
She was stunned. He took the bag containing the food from her and they went into the kitchen. She insisted on making the swallow for them so Demian excused her to join Nkem in the sitting room. He said to Nkem, “You are my guest, I don’t expect you to cook or clean while you are here except for the ugba and abacha you came with. We will cook that together. Please, respect my decision.”
Nkem nodded and then his phone rang, it was Chuks. His girlfriend had called him to inform him what was happening. He asked Demian if he would want his girlfriend to stay around to attend to him but Demian declined the offer. He didn’t need her help, he could manage.
Ten minutes later, the girlfriend came out and announced she was leaving. She disrespectfully looked at Nkem and then she left. Nkem was uncomfortable and it showed. Demian noticed her discomfort and assured her not to bother her. He was upset about the disdain shown to her by Chuks’ girlfriend. He sent Chuks a message and suggested moving to a hotel if his girl was uncomfortable. Chuks called him back and told him the house was all his until he leaves. No more visits from his girlfriend.
Tbc