Too precious episode 4

TITLE: TOO PRECIOUS

WRITTEN BY: OGECHI ALABI

CHAPTER 4

PB’s infatuation for Allen grew over the years. She found him fascinating even though he hærdly said more than two words to her whenever they met but those words made her day.

PY wanted to visit PB at home during the long vacation after their Junior WAEC. Seun wasn’t comfortable with that but PB was determined to have her visit. She went to her grandfather and asked him to help redo her room so her friend can visit her.

“What is wrong with your room?”

“Grandma has so many boxes in there and things under the bed. The place can be very stuffy. I just want the place cleared, repainted and have a few other pieces of furniture in there. Nothing too expensive. Even if it is just airy, I will be ok with it”

“How do you want me to do it without raising suspicion?”

“Barge into my room one day and scre-m at what you see. You can then tell her to move her things out. She has two other rooms to herself and still, she keeps her boxes in mine”

“Do not worry, I will handle it. I like the way your mother is training you; you are not entitled. I will cause a huge fight and use the opportunity to redesign your room”

“I want something simple and modest; I don’t want to impress PY with what I don’t have”

“As I said, you have a good head on your shoulder”

That same night, Chief Rotimi called his wife on the corridor of the rooms. He talked to her about travelling and asked her to get ready. Then he asked her to call out Precious. He knew Titi had the habit of opening doors and forgetting to close them. As she came out of Precious room, she left the door open. Chief looked into the room and asked why the room was like that.

“I kept some of my things there” Titi replied.

“Why? This is the room of a teenage girl, why so much load in there? Precious open your room. Even the wardrobe is filled up with your things, Titi. What happened to the two other rooms you chose for yourself?”

“Rotimi, this was my room before we gave it to Precious so her parents can have privacy. Since her parents no longer need privacy, she can move back in with her mother”

“Really? What happened to Nike’s room which is just beside Seun’s room?”

“Whenever Nike is around she will use the room”

“Nike is married and has no room in my house she can hold down. Precious, pack your things and you will move into Nike’s room. Titi get the housekeepers to clean up the room”

“Rotimi, why are you doing this? What is wrong with the room she has stayed in for years?”

“Nike can stay there when she is around since it is comfortable. Nike is your niece and not a member of this family. How does she get to keep a wh0le room even after getting married and my granddaughter has to stay in a dump? Your hatred for Seun is beclouding your reasoning. I pity you. This child shouldn’t grow up to resent you. She is the only child your son has been able to produce. It is because of that that I do all I do for her because I know you will regret it in the future. Precious, call the housekeepers, I will give them the order myself. When I come back tomorrow, I will check up on you in your new room”

Precious was speechless. It was better than she had imagined. Auntie Nike’s room was well furnished. She couldn’t believe she would get to sleep on a more comfortable bed and very airy room. She had entered the room when she was younger and auntie Nike was getting married. The room had its toilet and bath while she had to share the toilet and bath with her mother. She didn’t care if the furniture was outdated, she was happy to stay in the room.

Titi startled PB from her thoughts when she said out loud, “Rotimi doesn’t just do anything. Why give Nike’s room out? Maybe he has plans of divorcing me. He wants to wipe away every memory of me in the house. Enitan’s room is intact and he hasn’t said anything about the room. Why convert Nike’s room? Don’t rejoice just yet,” Titi said to Precious “that room doesn’t belong to you, it belongs to Nike. You are a trespasser in this home just like your mother”

“And Nike has more rights here than my granddaughter. You never cease to amaze me. The cleanup will be done and concluded tomorrow. A painter will come in and repaint the walls to the colour of your choice. The air conditioner will be serviced. If you want any furniture or electronic changed, let me know. You are my granddaughter; this house and everything in it rightfully belongs to you, my children and other grandchildren. You are a bonafide member of this family, stop acting like your mother. You are not a slave. I await that confidence that I am very much aware you have in you. Don’t allow your mother to subdue you because she wants to please your grandmother. This is your home and no one can take you away from your home unless you permit them. Not even your grandmother or mother”

“Rotimi are you trying to turn Precious against me?”

“You turned her against you years ago when you turned your son against her mother. Do you think this child is stupid and timid? She’s just respecting you. Soon, very soon, you will know whom you are dealing with”

PY came to visit with her parents. Chief was at home to receive them. The cook had prepared a sumptuous feast. Titi was aware they were expecting visitors but wasn’t aware it was PB’s friend and parents. She was surprised to see Rotimi receive them. It became obvious to her Rotimi knew the father.

Seun didn’t want to come downstairs to meet PY’s parents. She was shy and she knew they were well learned and rich. Even with her improved status, she still felt inadequate. She knew she had to be introduced to her daughter’s best friend’s family.

Seun came downstairs to join them. Chief Rotimi immediately acknowledged her presence.

“This is my granddaughter’s mother. Her name is Seun. She is the school administrator of Schoolbay Nursery, Primary and Secondary school. Seun meet Precious’ parents, Engineer Collins and Dr Hope Okoli”

They exchanged pleasantries. Seun was glad Chief introduced her because she was a pack of nerves coming down the stairs. She had met Hope several times in school but they hærdly talked apart from exchanging pleasantries. She was grateful she could sit with them at the dining table and have lunch; it hadn’t ever happened before.

Collins and Chief were the main people having a conversation. As the conversation progressed, Collins asked after PB’s father. His mother replied immediately, “He is away on a work trip”. Chief looked at his wife in disgust and then turned back to his guest.

Before long, PB had taken her friend PY up to her bedroom. She was glad when PY opened her eyes wide on sighting the room.

“I thought you said you stayed in a cramped room; this room is huge and lovely”

“I did. My grandfather saw the room and instructed me to be moved here. The room is very spacious and beautiful. He painted the wall and changed the bed frame for me to something more modern. I love my grandpa”

“He seems to love you too. Your mother is so quiet. Even when she comes to school, she hærdly talks. I can’t believe she is a school administrator.”

“She’s a shy person when she’s at home or unfamiliar grounds. But when she is at her school, she is a completely different person. I am so proud of her and all she has achieved”

“You should be. My mother being a doctor is why I want to pursue a career in the medical field. My father said as a doctor or nurse many eligible bachelors from very rich homes would come for my hand in marriage. He said beauty with brains always sells well”

“When I told Chief I wanted to be a lawyer, he was very happy. He told me it was a prestigious profession and he believed I will do well in it. My grandmother wanted me to be a banker. She tried to convince me to choose that path because Chief was a director in one of the banks. I told her I wasn’t interested. She didn’t talk to me for the rest of the holiday”

“What did your mother say?”

“Whatever profession you choose, go for it with all your might and be successful. She thought I would consider Medicine or any of the sciences but since I chose Law, she was fine with my choice”

“And your father?”

“Whatever his mother says is what I should do. When I told him what Chief said, he let me be” (this was a lie).

“Allen called the other day. He asked after you. I was surprised. Out of all my friends, he singled you out.”

“Interesting. I wonder why. Anyway, how are he and school?”

“He is fine. He changed course from Engineering to Software development. My father was very angry with him about it. I asked him why he changed, he said it was either he changed or he dropped out of school. He doesn’t get along well with my dad. They never agree on my father’s ideologies”

“Because they are strange ideologies and doesn’t take into consideration the affection of the parties towards each other”

“He is wasting his time. His future wife has been arranged. She has come to visit with her family. Once Allen comes home for Christmas, they will be formally introduced”

“In this day and age who marries who they don’t love? They can be introduced but they have to get to know each other first and find out if they are compatible”

“My father has said I will be betrothed before I enter the university. He wants me to marry into a prominent family and would like me to make him proud by reserving my V-rginity. I have promised him I will remain a V-rgin until my wedding night”

“And the boy? Will he also be a V-rgin?”

PY laughed shyly, “No now. He has to have the experience so he can teach me”

“And the girl he will be practising with until you get married doesn’t desire to be married a V-rgin”

“It is her fault, she should have preserved her V-rginity if it was important to her”

“I feel you are being offered as a sacrifice to a family for wealth. That’s my belief. My grandfather would never allow me to sell my V-rginity for prominence or status. He doesn’t care if I preserve my V-rginity or not. My grandfather was asking me why I don’t have male friends. He wants to enrol me in a lesson so I will mix with the opposite s€× and make friends. Your father will never agree for you to do that”

“Never. He will be so scared I will misbehave and scatter his plans”

“He can’t trust you his daughter. You believe all he says but he can’t trust you enough to believe you will not be defiled while mixing with the opposite s€×. What will happen when you get into the university? I am not interested in any s€×ual relationsh¡p anytime soon but I will also not appreciate my V-rginity being closely monitored”

“Look at you PB, you already have curves and a beautiful physique. I am lanky, I haven’t developed br-asts or h¡ps. I am more worried the guy won’t like me than the V-rginity”

“You are still growing. You are tall and beautiful. Which of us can compete with you in terms of complexion and facial beauty? I look like a guy” she chuckled as she said it. “On a more serious note, love yourself the way you are. My mother has been on my case to lose weight. She says my bum is too big for my age. Grandma says being ski-ny is the in thing. Here you are complaining about it. A model like you. Please, watch fashion channels so you will see what most of the ladies look like”

“PB, you always find a way to bid my insecurities goodbye. I’m so glad we are sisters. I want us to always remain so. Let nothing come between us; we will be sisters for life. No secrets.”

“Sisters for life. No secrets.”

That visit charted a new course. They were even closer than before. PB never told her friend her father was a drug addict; to her, some secrets should remain in the family. Likewise, PY never told her friend her father was a chronic womanizer who made her mother sad because of his disregard for her. She found out her father travelled abroad with his concubines. But to PY, he was a good father and provided for all their needs. Her mother would learn to live with it, just like she would learn to live with her husband when he does the same. To her, it was a man’s world.

At their graduation from secondary school, Chief Rotimi Adeoye mandated all his family members in Nigeria to attend and support Precious Adeoye. He had been reliably informed that she made a perfect score in her IGSCE, WAEC and Jamb. It was a big deal to him. He knew Precious felt bad not being allowed to visit her cousins but he couldn’t compel his children to allow her visit. The reason they stopped her from coming was the harassment and blackmail from their stepmother. Because they loved her, they didn’t have a choice but to adhere to her request of not entertaining Seun and Precious in their homes. It was Seun she wanted to punish but ended punishing Precious even more. The girl felt hated. She believed she was rejected because her father was an addict. She never knew it was because of her grandmother.

Each time she climbed the stage to receive her numerous awards, the entire family stood in rousing ovation alongside some students and her best friend turned sister PY. PB felt loved. Her mother was in tears as her child was celebrated by both the school and the family.

PY’s family were also present at her graduation. She had almost a perfect score herself and smashed her WAEC and Jamb. She also received awards which her family, although a smaller unit, celebrated.

“I know you will gain admission into the University of Ibadan. Today, you have made me proud, you have made the wh0le of Adeoye proud. Choose any university in the world you would like to attend and I will ensure you attend it”

Titilayo’s face changed. She was furious. Precious didn’t notice her. Her response was what Chief knew it would be.

“Thank you, grandpa. I want to attend the University of Ibadan. Afterwards, I will work for a while and then go for my Masters. I want to be around my family as much as possible especially you.”

“You never disappoint. I knew you would not accept my offer. For those that have told your uncles and aunties that both you and your mother are gold diggers; shame will always be theirs. Congratulations child. I will change your car so you would use it in school. Don’t listen to your mother, I am your grandfather and I will always ensure you are happy. The car is a gift for making me very proud. Also, you can travel on holiday for two months to any part of the world you would like to go to”

“O my God! Are you for real grandpa?” PB asked excitedly.

“Yes, I am. Choose and let me know. You can go with anyone you want to go with”

“I will go with my mother. I will let you know where. Thank you, grandpa” PB replied and hugged her grandfather tightly.

She also received cash and quality gifts from family members that attended the ceremony. She was happy and excited.

Her mother, Seun, was very happy too. She wouldn’t have minded Precious going abroad to study but she knew not to impose. PB had proved herself to be someone with a good head on her shoulder. She made wise decisions and her utterances were beyond her age.

Titi wasn’t happy with the new development. Chief had taunted her saying all their other children would be at the ceremony except the father of the child who will be too drunk and high to attend. She had gone in search of Gbenga, given him money and clean clothes to attend the ceremony. She begged him to be clean but alas, he didn’t come. It hurt her terrible especially as Chief made fun of her in the hall. What was wrong with Gbenga? It was about time she found a solution to his drinking and drug use.

She was scared Precious would accept the foreign university offer but was surprised when she rejected it. She released a sigh of relief. It was foreign university education she insisted on for Gbenga that put him in this mess. His father never fails to remind her. All Chief Adeoye’s children had their tertiary education in Nigeria before going abroad for their Master’s degrees. But Titi wanted her only son to have his first degree there. Chief told her the only way he would agree to his schooling abroad was if she would relocate with him. He insisted they couldn’t leave a seventeen year old unsupervised in a foreign land where everyone minds their business. She insisted. He managed to finish the first degree but then after, it went downhill. She had learnt her lesson and didn’t want Precious to follow the same path.

She didn’t need to bother because Chief Rotimi had given his granddaughter all the information about her father and his condition. She was abr-ast with everything including the several interventions that was done to make him wh0le which didn’t work. Precious was wise enough to know her grandfather wanted her close as he seemed to enjoy their nighttime conversation (more like teachings) more than she did. She was the closest grandchild to him and age was catching up with him. She wanted to be close by at all times.

Her car arrived a few weeks later. She had learnt how to drive but she had to go long distances with a driver. She went to visit her ‘sister’ to show her the car. PY was excited as though she owned the ride.

“Men! I love your grandpa. You also deserve this. I’m sure your grandmother wasn’t excited about it”

“She was speechless. She couldn’t believe he will buy me a ‘tear rubber’ vehicle as my housekeeper called it”

“You’re a big girl and would be a bigger girl in school”

“My mum says I am not taking it with me to school. I agreed, until then” they both laughed with the conspiration of what they would do. “Also, my grandfather has gifted me a vacation to anywhere in the world I would love to go. I have never been abroad so please suggest destinations to me that my mum and I will enjoy. I have an open check and he has a travel agency too”

“That’s great. You can travel to Dubai, London and the US. What you can do is also get a Schengen visa so you can visit France via train from the UK. It will be cost effective and you will have fun. Do you have relatives in the UK or US?”

“I do but I don’t know if my mum would want to stay with them”

“It will make it even cheaper for you. You will have enough money for shopping”

“I hate shopping. I want to explore and eat good food” PB replied laughing.

“You have to watch your weight so you don’t explode”

“I know. I will go on a diet and exercise. My friends have said the same thing”

“I have told you Nedu and Charles like you for more than friendsh¡p; be careful with them”

“I have heard you. I would have loved for you to stay with me for a week so you can meet them and we can have fun together”

“My father wouldn’t agree,” PY stopped and an idea popped in her head, “unless you stay here for a week first and then I can come over. Talk to your mum and grandfather”

“It’s a done deal”

“We will go to the beach and have so much fun”

“We will visit all the joints in this area. I can’t wait. But you have to ask your folks first”

“I will”

PB asked my mum and grandfather. They both agreed. She needed to leave the house because her grandmother always looked for any opportunity to curse out on her and her mother. She had learnt to avoid her and was tired of doing so. She had reached her breaking point and leaving the house was having the opportunity to let out steam.

She packed up for her one week break from home to chill with PY.

“Grandpa, I have decided to visit America with my mother. We would fly Emirate Airline. I want to stop in Dubai for a few days just to sightsee. Then we would go to the UK for a few days. We will take a train to France. From the UK to the US. On our flight back, we will stop in Dubai for a few days to shop before coming back”

“You are smart. You have chosen four countries and managed to inculcate all of them on this trip. Smart move. You will go everywhere you want to go my dear. I want you to be happy and always make me proud”

“I will grandpa. Thank you for loving me as a father should. I don’t feel my dad’s absence as much since I have you”

“I am happy you feel this way, Anike mi”

PY’s mother was excited to have PB around. PB came with her driver and he left her with the car. PY was excited. She would use the opportunity to perfect her driving skills.

The week was filled with activities. They slept together in the room and had fun together. They went with PY’s friends to the beach. PB drove her car there while most of the other girls came with drivers. She stood out as she was ‘underage’ but had a god control of her wheels. She had her grandfather to thank.

They went to the new shopping mall opened at Lekki called the Palms one evening. They went shopping for toiletries and just to hang out. PY hærdly went out but with PB as good company, she felt free to explore.

PY was still tall and beautiful. She had filled out in her chest region considerably when compared to when they were back in school. She had been squatting to grow her bum and it seemed to be working.

They dressed casually in shorts and top. PB wore longer shorts because she had a bigger h¡p and backside. She was comfortable in her skin but at the same time, she hated to draw unnecessary attention to herself. PY’s slim legs looked unending in her shorts and she loved it.

As they entered the supermarket, they were noticed. Their excitement of coming out on their own to shop must have been infectious but it also drew attention to them. There were young guys there who took interest in them. Some couldn’t stop looking at them. PB was used to the attention but PY wasn’t. She felt shy which made PB laugh at her.

A guy walked up to them and wanted to talk to PB aside from her friend. This gave room for his friend to talk to PY. PY was shy and didn’t know how to relate. PB found her discomfort amusing.

The two guys, Patrick and Simon had just concluded their A levels examinations. They were travelling to the UK for their undergraduate studies. The girls introduced themselves and shared their achievements thus far.

The boys wanted to meet with them again the next day. PY wasn’t comfortable with it. PB wanted them to visit PY’s home when her mother was around. PY was sceptical. She preferred they met again at the mall. They exchanged numbers so they would agree on where to meet.

The boys paid for what they bought and then saw them off to their vehicle. The boys were thrilled when they saw they drove to the mall themselves. They genuinely were interested in the girls.

At the house, PB wanted PY to talk to her mother about the boys they met and wanting to hang out with them.

‘I can’t do that. Why should I discuss with her?”

“You have to. One of your parents must know all your moves. My male friends come to the house to see me. Grandfather knows them by name and so does my mother. They know I am not wayward but I like to have my friends around and I don’t go out with them often.”

“I don’t want her to know. She might tell my dad and he must never know. If he finds out, he will want to skin me alive”

“What are we doing tomorrow then?”

“I am coming over to your place next week. Let them meet us at your place then”

“If they are serious, they will.”

“Exactly”

Tbc