Roses and thorns episode 7 – 8

Roses and thorns
CHAPTER SEVEN
It was late in the night, Melody walked home tired, if there was one person she hated working for in the neighborhood, it was Mrs Obaseke, the Edo woman, she would stress her (Melody), give her extra workloads and even make her go home late but she wouldn’t still add a penny to their agreed payment.
Earlier that day, she made her (Melody) empty her trashcan at the dump site and even told her to bring the kids back from school. she sighed, if only the country was how it was supposed to be, a second class upper graduate shouldn’t suffer like that. She walked on home deciding not to cry again.
Just few metres to the metro bus stop, she felt she was being followed, she stopped, turned around but didn’t see anyone, she continued walking and concluded that she was just assuming things because she was tired. Then a strong male cologne wafted through her nostrils and the hairs at the back of her neck stood, goosebumps appeared on her body, she got scared and then she hastened her steps. If only she could get into her area, she wouldn’t be scared anymore because she knew she would be safe.
_____
He was about leaving when he finally saw her coming home looking dejected. He followed her quickly keeping a quality distance. He didn’t have plans of attacking her that night, he only wanted to see her to calm his raging hormones, he had been thinking about her all through the day even when he was at the phsychiatric hospital to visit his brother. All of a sudden, she stopped and looked around, he stopped too and hid behind a kiosk. She continued her journey home and he followed suit again, the next moment, she was walking as fast as her legs could carry her, he hastened his steps too.
She entered the ghetto area and slowed down her pace walking normally, he slowed down too but continued following her, he would surely know where she lived at least.
“Mama Kola ekale ooo” (Good evening) she greeted an elderly woman in the first house she saw.
“Ekale omo mi, bawoni?” (Good evening my child, how are you?)
“mo wa pa, Kola da?” (am fine, where is Kola?)
“He is in,side the house. ehen my child, i have been waiting for you to come home, i have something i want to tell you” the elderly woman said switching to English language.
“Okay Mama Kola, am all ears” Melody replied.
“My friend came here earlier today, and she said that someone told someone that told someone that told someone she knows about a burial ceremony of a senators daughter and they need young ladies to serve food and drinks there” she said.
“aaahh Mama Kola Dem go pay us? mi need owo ooo” she said.
“of course na, 20k dey involved na why i say make i tell you, you know say you be better pikin” she said with a smile.
“20k for just a day?, mi dey interested abeg, when is the date?”
“She didn’t tell me, but i will ask her and get back to you” she replied.
“Ehen Mama Kola come abeg, i get this feeling say person dey follow me, you fit just shine your torch for that place?” she whispered nudging at the entrance of the ghetto.
___
The stalker paid attention as she conversed with the woman in different languages. He smiled, another quality that attracted him to his victims were their brains, he loved intelligent ladies. He heard them talk about a burial ceremony, he concluded to do his findings and know when and where the burial would take place, he wouldn’t mind attending because of her. Just then, he noticed they were talking in hushed tones, he dragged his hoodie and covered his head very well. The hoodie partly covered his face.
It happened suddenly, someone flashed a Torchlight at him, the light blinded him partially and then he took to his heels wondering if they had seen his face.
CHAPTER EIGHT
By Jennifer Godwin
Joel was all dressed up as he stepped into the living room to meet Ebube watching a match, beside him on the stool was a pack of popcorn, typical for him to always have popcorn available when watching a match. Joel stood watching him, if Ebube gets his eyes fixed on the television watching match, nothing would ever get his attention until he was through.
“Hey captain, you are all dressed, where to?” he asked sparing him a glance.
“so how did you do that?” Joel asked with a smile.
“How did i do what?”
“How did you notice my presence because i know you don’t care about anything else whenever you are watching your Match” Joel said emphasizing on “Match”.
“Your cologne wafted through my nostrils” Ebube replied with a chuckle.
“I thought your nose and ears are always blocked whenever you watch your unending match” Joel hissed.
“You know captain, you should learn to like soccer, you will enjoy it, football is a good sport”
“The only sport i like and enjoy is punching” Joel said with a smirk appearing on his face.
“Punching?, is there any sport like that?” Ebube asked confused.
“Yes there is. Punching is the type of sport i will use on Mercy’s killer when i finally catch him” He replied gritting his teeth.
“You know you won’t kill me in this house, seriously? I actually wanted to believe that there is a sport called punching” Ebube said letting out a loud laugh.
“You will start believing when i catch him first” Joel said smiling. He noticed he was smiling a lot that day.
“That aside, where are you off to?” Ebube asked when he had stopped laughing.
“Am going to just drive around maybe go to my parents’ house, i just need fresh air” he replied scratching his head.
“Sure man, you really need it, you are passing through heavy stress but am sure once Mercy is being buried, you will be fine” Ebube said wanting to go back to his Match.
“Am off bro, if you like come and kill yourself by yourself with football” Joel said leaving the house.
Ebube let out throaty laugh. “And i just missed how C Ronaldo scored this second goal now, eeehn when you were busy distracting me” he said with a chuckle.
____
Joel drove around for a while with no destination in mind, he didn’t want to go to his parents because they wouldn’t want to let him go especially his mom and he didn’t want that. He continued driving while lost in thought. Then he made his way towards Okponam Nnebuisi road, he drove a little and diverted to the untarred road with his heart beating fast. He had not really being himself since he saw her at the dump site, he didn’t even know what he felt, he just wanted to meet her and know why a beautiful girl would be at a dump site. He drove slowly, passed the dump site and then he came to a halt. He relaxed in his car and waited but there was no sign of her. He laughed at himself
“Now i think am going crazy, why would i want to see her? i need to concentrate on how Mercy’s burial ceremony should be done and then start looking for the killer, what am i even doing here?” he said to himself turning on the ignition. He drove away and concluded never to go there again.
Tbc