My name is Aka episode 18

MY NAME IS AKA
Episode 18
By AMAH’S HEART

Searching for job in this city isn’t for the weak.
My leg is sore from walking around in search of a vacancy.
After checking the third place today which was a fast food, I got the same feedback like the previous, I knew it was time to head home, the sun was burning hard on my skin.

Before I go, I went to one fast food by the road side and left my application with the security man that told me that there’s no vacancy but there’s a girl that will be resigning that month-end because she got an admission in the university.

I begged him to help me submit my application letter anytime there’s a space, maybe if the girl finally re-sign, before another desperate job seeker like me will take the space.

“Doing that kind of big favor for you requires showing of love, you have to roger me..”

“I’m sorry, I don’t understand sir. I should rog.. what? I said confused at the slangs he used.

“You’ve to show love, like roger me if you want me to do such a favor for you..”

“Eehh! I still don’t get what you’re saying, sorry..do you mean money, like I should give you money or… there’s another meaning of rgoer..?

“Are you not a city girl? You supposed to grab what I’m saying. If you don’t, then carry your letter and yourself and get out from my gate..”

“Sorry sir, I don’t have much money on me, is just my transportation that’s with me. If I use it to roger you, I will be left with nothing and you know I’m jobless and do not have any source of income..”

“Stay there and be speaking English. I have told you what to do, you use what you’ve to get what you want. I’m not even asking for anything personal, just for you to submit whatever money you have and you’re busy speaking English. Okay oo, anyhow.. you’re not a serious person..”

“I am very serious in getting a job. Please help me and I will definitely give you something from my first salary..” I replied pleadingly.

He began to laugh sarcastically

“You never even get job, you don they make budget with first salary that you’re not even sure off..”

I stood there thinking of what to do, the truth is that what I have on me is my transportation and little change for snacks.
This was my third week in this city and the month will be ending in few days from now, There’s no hope yet on getting a job.

Ify works in a factory where they produce hair extension, she said the time for taking new staff has passed and before the company will employ again, it will be when they’re short of staff, she told me that they don’t employ one or two but more than ten to twenty workers at once.

I’m trying to manage with what I have while going around in search of a job.

Ify and her boyfriend, Uche gave away some of the food stuffs I came with.

They gave out some of the plantain, yam and even garri to either their neighbor and friend

They did this without even informing me first and when I asked ify, she said Uche gave to one of his female neighbor who is also nice to them, they call her Leba.

While Ify said she gave small plantain, garri and even palm oil to one of her besty at work.

She said is not a big deal because I will get a job soon and start making money.

Just within three weeks almost everything I came with is finished because that’s still the same thing all of us are feeding on.
I carried a full bag packed with different things, about six paints of garri, alot of plantain, oil, leaves for cooking, rice and beans one paint each.
plenty stock fish, four yam tubers, even crayfish and lot’s of other things.

The bus driver even collected seven hundred for my load alone.

I thought the whole thing will last for about two months but is not even upto a month yet and is almost gone.

Uche does not have any legit work, he has a laptop that he’s always using at home
according to Ify, she said Uche’s work is in that laptop and very soon he will make alot of money which is in millions and they will use it and travel abroad, get married and have a sweet Life.

She makes it sound so realistic that I had to believe her.

She even said I should be praying for maga to pay Uche soon so that they will dash me the one room, I will have it to myself and be paying rent.
They may give me some money too.

I guess Uche’s boss is called maga, that’s the person he’s using he’s computer to work for.

I sometimes pray that God will touch the heart of Mr Maga to pay Uche, not until I was talking with Aunty Julie, one of the pregnant woman that lives in the same compound with her husband and daughter and she opened my eyes to reality.
Aunty Julie is caring and nice to everyone
The five tenants in that compound use only one kitchen, i usually meet Aunty Julie in the kitchen cooking and she will ask me how I’m fairing and finding the city.
She will encourage me not to worry I will soon get a job.

I told her why I desperately needed Job because I don’t want the money with me to run out.
Atleast when I get a Job, I will use the remaining money for transportation.

I also mentioned to her that Uche’s boss, Mr Maga will pay him soon and he will take Ify out of the country, leaving the house for me and they may even give me some money.

I will be needing money to renew the rent whenever it expires.

Aunty Julie laugh so hard, she said I shouldn’t mind Uche
That she’s suspecting him to be into internet fråüd.
Where they lïe and scåm people off their hard earned money.

“Chineke m oo (oh my God)
that was what I scréämed after aunty Julie told me what Uche was probably into.

I don’t trust that Uche one bit.

I usually see him with one of the female tenant that they gave some of the things I brought to the city.

Her name is Leba, she’s is well endowed and beautiful.
I have seen Uche going into her room whenever Ify goes off to work and I have caught them in a compromising position, right on the bed where Ify and Uche sleeps.

They adjusted immediately I walked in, Uche followed her out to her room that day.

I suspected something was going on but aunty Julie said i should be careful and mind my business because everyone minds there business in that compound.

Leba is also friendly and plays with little Cassandra, Julie’s three years daughter.

She also goes into their room and I have heard the man cracking jokes with Julie his wife and Leba his jovial neighbor.

I’m in my lane and don’t want any prøblem, that’s why I harken to Julie’s advise to mind my business.

If Uche or Ify decided to throw me out, I have no where to stay and I can’t survive in the street.

I can’t even complain much when they use some of the food stuffs that mama Zaram gave me or give out like philanthropist

Anytime I cook food, before I return from job search is all gone

Uche has finished it all, Ify is the only one working and her salary goes into feeding Uche and herself and also giving him money for recharge card.
Uche will always pressurize her to him money for airtime so that he can speak to his maga.

I’m happy that I brought lots of things from the village, although I wish they will just leave it alone for me so that it will last for about a month or two before I can finally get a job.

I just have to swallow the pain of watching my food stuffs disappearing.

I still have my money which is about eleven thousand now, expenses here is too much.
I’m pinching the remaining money and making sure I keep it very safe because I don’t trust that Uche or even Ify.

I know keeping it in that house is not very safe and carrying it to wherever I’m going is still not safe, after having discussion with Julie, I realized she’s somebody I can confidently give my money and it will be safe, I begged her to keep it for me and she agreed.

Read – First Kiss With A Bad Boy episode 41 – 42

Whenever I needed money, I will go to her and she will give me the amount I need and still keep the rest.

That’s why I find it really difficult to roger this fast-food security man and he’s not ready to even understand my plight.

He asked me to get out as I stood pleading.
As I was walking away, he called me back and said he will call and inform me whenever the girl resign which is in few days time.

I thanked him before giving him aunty Julie number because Ify is mostly at work
Aunty Julie stays home, she has a small hair dressing shop close to the house.

She can easily inform me whenever she gets a call for me.
Her number and that of Ify is in my application letter.

I wanted to use Ify’s number to call Mama Zaram one day, so that I can update her what’s happening in my life and also know what’s going on in the village but Ify said I need to buy airtime because she does not have any.

I gave her two hundred naira for the airtime but she later told me again that she was owing the network and they have debited the money.
She said I have to buy atleast five hundred to be able to make call.
I ignored her and went to Julie, who said her phone was bad, she have given it to repairer and will collect when is ready.

I will wait for aunty Julie phone instead of Ify who wants another five hundred before I can make call.

After thanking the security man again, I left and continue looking around until I was exhausted.

I was very hungry and tasty while working around under the scotching sun.

Sweat was pouring from my body, I saw a cold pure water hawker and bought a sachet water from her.
I wanted to buy snacks of hundred naira but I will rather save the money and go home.

I made jellof rice and beans with red oil, crayfish and stock fish.
Mama Zaram gave me enough crayfish and stockfish
I still can’t fathom out how those things don’t things kept disappearing.
I had to lock the remaining food stuffs in Julie kitchen locker before it will all vanish.

It was from there I collected some to cook this morning, I had to even use Julie’s cooking gas to cook the food because our cooking gas has finished since and nobody is ready to refill it.

Ify and Uche are not ready to do so

The second week of my stay with them, Ify asked me to bring one thousand two hundred and she will bring one thousand six hundred to fill up the gas.
I agreed and she went to fill the gas and is not upto two weeks yet the gas has finished.
We don’t even cook much, so how come.

Julie said her filled gas stays more than a month despite she has family and always cooking.
Yet our three kg gas that Ify said she filled with two thousand eight didn’t last.

Julie said one kg of gas is four hundred from the depot which isn’t too far from the house.
Three kg will be one thousand two hundred.
Julie uses six kg unlike us.

I don’t know where Ify filled hers or maybe the gas is leaking but I’m not going to bring money to give to her again.
I will only pay to fetch water or calls the water truck for three hundred naira.

I don’t even have the money to give to anyone, that’s why I’m using Julie’s cooking gas for now.
And she obviously does not mind.

The food I made this morning is much.
It supposed to serve three of us and still remain.
the remaining raw beans and rice is just little and can only serve me once.

I dropped the cooked pot of rice and beans in our room this morning.

I saw Uche sitting in front of the door with Leba
They saw me when I was carrying the pot of food inside.
Uche asked if I was already done with the cooking and I said yes.

Leba smile and said the food smells delicious, she asked me who thought me how to cook and I said I learn while watching people.
She complimented me and said if i get married, my husband will enjoy.

Uche began to laugh and told her that I was only sixteen and getting married isn’t in the agenda yet.

I ignored them and went inside.

Even if Uche take out of the food, it will still remain for Ify and I.

The food supposed last me till tomorrow morning.

I have to go home and eat because I’m seriously famished.

I’m hoping the security man will call me like he promised and I will start work.

But I’m not going to sit and wait.
Tomorrow, I will go again for another job hunt.
Let me take a bus home to g and eat my rice and beans.

I’m hoping Uche will be human enough to leave enough food for me.

Tbc