Sisterhood episode 31

TITLE: SISTERHOOD

WRITTEN BY: OGECHI ALABI

PART 31

After the meal, Nkem helped the girlfriend clear the table. They placed the dirty dishes in the sink. Demian’s cousin came into the kitchen and whisked his girlfriend away. Demian came into the kitchen to see Nkem. He helped with washing the plates and they talked while they worked. She cleaned up the entire kitchen with Demian’s help.

Demian took her into his bedroom. She reluctantly joined him inside there. He assured her he had no ill intent. There was a box opened on the bed. He offered her the couch. She sat down and he brought up discussions. She had left her bag in the sitting room and they went back downstairs together to get it. They passed his cousin’s bedroom and they could hear some loud moaning coming from there.

Nkem was embarrassed. She had never heard that sound before and for her to know what it was was shocking. She couldn’t believe it. Demian led her back to the room. He said to her, “That’s why I brought you to my room. I hear them from downstairs clearly. I don’t know why they have to be that loud. I have tried to tell my cousin I can hear him when they make out but he doesn’t seem to care. They are at it all the time, they never get tired.”

Nkem wasn’t interested in the conversation and quickly changed the topic. “When are you going to the east?”

“We are travelling together. When do you want to go?”

“Are we not going with everyone?”

“No, I brought a car I can use. My cousin will drive us to the village, I can drive when I get there. I am getting my Nigerian Driver’s licence in a few days.”

“And you want me to travel with you? I don’t think it is a good idea. Your family will wonder why I am no longer travelling with them. I have already told Patience I will join them. Please, we can meet in the east but I do not want your mother’s problem…”

Read – Clumsy nurse batch 1

“I am travelling with you. We will leave a day earlier. I will tell my folks I am travelling with you and they will not be able to do anything about it. I will let Patience know I insisted on travelling with you. I came back to have a good time with you. Why do you want to spoil it with your concerns about others? We are best friends and I want you in my family. One of my cousins is coming in from Canada. He works with an oil company there and he has asked me to help him find a wife. You fit the description perfectly. He can’t wait to meet you.”

“What happened to Mark? Did he back down?”

“He went back to his baby mama. She has drama and I had warned him about her. She got pregnant again. He is unrepentant and not a good fit for you.”

“You were going to hook me up with a man who has a child? Why would you do that? Never think about it. I am not ready for a serious relationship not to talk of marriage.”

“Why? How many years will it take you to make up your mind? My cousin is ready to settle down as soon as he gets a bride. I will hook you up with him. And, he doesn’t have a mother. His mother is late. His two sisters are chilled. His father just wants him to get married. You will like him. He is different. He loves to study like you.”

“What is his name?”

“Henry. He hasn’t been back in almost three years. You will like him.”

“Tell Henry I might not be interested in a relationship now until I have found my feet.”

“Where do you intend to find them?” Demian jokingly asked.

“Very funny!” she exclaimed. “I am serious. I need no distraction from any man. My academic pursuit is all I seek right now. After that, I will know what the future holds for me.”

“You will go to Canada for your Master’s degree. He is working to get a PhD. Both of you are a perfect match. You just have to believe me.”

Nkem knew Demian had feelings for her, it was obvious. Why was he trying to hook her up with other people who never talk to her directly? Well, she was going to watch this play out. She believed there was no such cousin and he was making him up.

Read – Clumsy maid episode 1

Demian brought out a suitcase from the side of the bed. It was bigger than the first one he sent to her but the same set. “I got some things for you courtesy of my friend. She loves to shop for me and spend my money on another girl. Don’t open it here, we will take it downstairs and place it in the vehicle before my cousin comes out.”

“Why?”

“I don’t want him to see us take it downstairs. He will insist on opening it to see what is inside. I’m glad you look good today, impressed actually. He believes I like to be friends with girls that see me as their saviour. That’s not true, my mother created that impression. She brings them to me and I’m not interested. They become a thorn in my flesh and then they get the message and leave.”

“Date a white girl or an Ameican. Why must you date a girl you don’t want because your mother said so?”

“My mum will kill herself.”

“That woman I saw will not kill herself because of someone else. She is playing on your emotions. Your colleague must like you for her to go shopping for you.”

“She does. We had a thing a long time ago when I just joined the company. She isn’t one for commitment but we hit it off. My mum came to my home unexpectedly and caught us together. She was furious. She refused to leave and Renee refused to leave also. I was stuck between two women. I liked Renee and I asked my mum to allow us to see where this leads. She told me Renee wouldn’t be there when I need her the most. She was right. I chose Renee. I was madly in love and the sex was great. She was older and more experienced. When I fell ill, that was when I knew my mother was right. She told me she didn’t sign up to be a babysitter or an aide. She called my mum to take over after two days. When I recovered, I called off the relationship.”

“Why did she do that? It sounded like you were in love, wasn’t she?”

“Renee didn’t want to be married, ever. She didn’t want to be held down by one guy and I wanted a monogamous relationship. She enjoyed her space and didn’t like my family’s regular visits and interference. The illness broke the camel’s back. She couldn’t deal with taking care of me all by herself. She snapped. We continued to be friends and having flings with her once in a while but it ended years back. She found another lover and he shared the same beliefs with her. He was jealous too. Fortunately, he liked me and we got along. Never touched her again.”

“Interesting story. Looks like you like older women,”

“Not that. I like mature women who know what they want. I like assertive women who are ready to take a walk without being swayed to manage or accept less than what they deserve. I find such women powerful. I am drawn to such women because I find those traits attractive. Once a woman is confident and comfortable in her skin, she is the one I want. Age makes no difference.”

“Really? Have you met any such women after Renee?”

Read – His mrs clumsy episode 1

“No. Met clingy ladies and it was unattractive. I don’t enjoy casual sex but then I haven’t had a serious relationship since Renee. So I have flings with assertive women. They don’t beat about the bush. Once there is chemistry and you make a move, if they are interested, they give in. It’s that simple and it is understood, no strings attached.”

“I can never do that.”

“I know you can’t. I stopped doing that three years ago, it wasn’t worth it.”

“Find a girl and settle.”

“All the girls I met are submissive, I don’t find it attractive.”

“A submissive wife makes a better wife.”

“Being assertive doesn’t make you a bad wife. Your mother is assertive although also traditional. Love makes you submit without losing who you are.”

“You want someone like my mum?”

“Even better, I want someone like you.”

There was silence. This was the first time Demian was making it clear to Nkem that he liked her in that way. He had always made it seem they were just friends. She was uncomfortable and the awkward silence made the atmosphere tense.

Demian stood up and took the suitcase. He said to Nkem, “Let me drop this in the car. I don’t want his girlfriend to see me do it when we are leaving.”

Immediately he went downstairs, Nkem gave it a few minutes and then she left the room for the sitting room downstairs. His cousin’s room was quiet as she passed it. Demian came in and saw her in the sitting room.

“I scared you. I didn’t intend to. I was being honest with you. I know you see me more as a friend or brother than anything more and I feel the same. You have the traits I like in my woman and being young makes it more appealing. My cousin likes you already. Once he comes in, I will bring him.”

Nkem nodded and was a bit withdrawn. After a few minutes of awkward conversation, his cousin came out with his girlfriend. Nkem announced she wanted to go back to the hostel. The cousin agreed to drop her off with Demian.

They didn’t talk much in the car until they got to the hostel. Demian helped her carry the heavy suitcase to the entrance of the hostel. He wanted to help her to her room but she declined. He asked for a hug and she gave him.

“We will talk tonight, right?”

“Yes. Thank you for the gifts.”

“It will always be my pleasure.”

###

They travelled together on the 22nd of December. Demian had told Patience not to bother about Nkem as she was travelling with him. Patience talked to Nkem and asked if anything was going on. Nkem assured her they were just friends and nothing more.

Nkem thanked him for the items in the suitcase although she hadn’t opened it. She packed her items and was ready to move on the morning of their trip. She had wanted to back out after their awkward discussion earlier but Demian assured her he just wanted friendship as his mother wouldn’t allow her to enjoy the relationship.

It was tough but Demian was persistent. She later spoke with Henry, his cousin. He seemed excited and they began to communicate. He was coming back and would see her. That made her comfortable undertaking the journey. And she was travelling with so much luggage that sending them by luxurious bus would cost a fortune at this time. She couldn’t afford it. She took the risk.

They took her straight to her father’s compound in Mbaise. She had called ahead to let them know she was coming back. She called when she was close so they would open the gate and wait for her. She begged them to dress well as she was coming with ‘rich’ people. They understood and didn’t disappoint her.

Demian and his cousin came into their home. Nkem’s mother served them food she made especially for their visit. They ate so much that they had to loosen their belt. Demian couldn’t stop looking at Nkem. She looked like her mother but in a more beautiful version. Her younger sister was also very beautiful. She was more beautiful than Nkem. She was taller, almost the tallest in the house and slimmer. Her hips hadn’t fully formed. She was a teenager.

Tbc