My eyes opened of its own accord and I didn't like what I saw. Tola looked stricken. He handed me his phone and I must have passed out because the next time I opened my eyes, I was dressed in a hospital robe.
"Mummy, he's awake."
Conversation went on around me but I couldn't bring myself to concentrate. The blogs had referred to me as a fraudster. I had become a trend on Twitter. My integrity and five years of hard work had gone down the drain. To put it lightly, I felt like disappearing.
"Jide." Mum sniffed. "Your brother told me everything."
"I'll be fine, ma." I smiled shakily. "You have nothing to worry about."
"Having nothing to worry about got you here." She shook her head. "Now I understand why I never liked that girl. Something about her seemed to repel me."
I heard it even though she left it unsaid. She had warned me about Zara.
"I've told my pastor and everyone in the church. We are all praying for you."
I smiled. "Thank you. I appreciate it." There was no use reminding her of the many times God had disappointed her. Her obsession with God was so thick she wouldn't see reason. Despair filled me. I had been the same way with Zara—refusing to face the facts. I closed my eyes. Everyone could see where that led me. If God maintained his record, he was about to disappoint Mum again.
***
"Jide!"
I lifted my head. "What is it this time?"
"You will leave this room or you'll have to stay with Mum. At least, take a stroll. It will clear your head."
Clear my head indeed. "Sure."
"You're becoming a shadow of yourself. You have to quit worrying." Tola glanced at the file on the drawer. "We'll get through this."
I followed his gaze and my sadness doubled. My clients had given me two days after I got discharged from the hospital before drawing up a contract stipulating that I pay them back within a year or with fifteen percent interest every subsequent year. Mum had called it divine intervention but I called it—I didn't even know what to call it. All I knew was it looked nothing like God. If he was real and powerful as people claimed, he should have done something more, more…
"Jide."
"Yes?"
"You're thinking again."
I sighed. "I'll take a stroll if it means being alone with my thoughts."
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable."
"It's fine. You are the best brother anyone can ever have. Thanks for everything. It's just that there are things you can't help me with."
He nodded stiffly.
"You know I didn't mean to hurt you. It's only realistic that we face the truth. Even Sean…" My throat closed up. "Even Sean couldn't stand up for me when he was interviewed."
"I'm not Sean."
I shrugged. "I know. But you can't help me in the way he can, though he chose not to. Your salary barely takes care of you."
"That's not true. God takes care of me."
There we go again. "I'm not saying he doesn't."
He held my gaze. "You're sounding like he doesn't."
"Fine. He does."
"You're not getting the point. God takes care of all my needs."
"Why must you always talk about God! He wasn't there when Sola left you for being poor."
He blinked repeatedly as I massaged my forehead. "Sorry, bro. I didn't mean to raise my voice. And I wasn't trying to say you're poor. You have an apartment and a job. I have nothing."
"I don't understand you anymore. When did you change this much?"
I groaned. Was my brother listening to himself?
"I remember the times you would beg me until I followed you to church. What went wrong?"
I sighed. "That was over twenty years ago. That was before Daddy lost his life trying to save that ungrateful girl. That was before we lost our house to the so-called Christians who unashamedly abused a little boy." My voice shook. "That was before Mum had to be a housekeeper with all her qualifications. That was before I realized I am the only help I have."
His eyes widened. "Wow."
I grabbed my headset and walked out before allowing the tears. Jogging was something I enjoyed but it currently served as a release for my pain. I went from street to street and avenue to avenue. Flashes of previous disappointments made me jog harder. I slowed down as I neared an eatery and a memory arose in my mind before I could shut it off. Dad had taken me to an eatery on my seventh birthday. I clenched my teeth and turned away. My stomach grumbled and I almost laughed. If there was anything like poorest man on Earth, I would have qualified for it. I didn't even have the money to buy a sachet of water. My throat clogged and my thirst increased. I took another glance at the eatery and looked up. My mum and brother had a strong faith in God. I shook my head. If he was as real as they say, he should be able to provide me with food and water, but, I wasn't about to risk another disappointment by asking him.
Twelve minutes after taking a seat in the eatery, I was yet to see a miracle. I glanced at the wall clock. "I'll give you twelve more minutes, God. I'm not going to ask you because I know you won't answer. I mean, I've done a lot of wrong things and I don't even know if I believe in you." I bit my lip. "And with the stuff I said to Tola, I just can't risk it. But, I need a change. I need help. I feel like I'm dying inside. I know I've been anything but good, but, if you can hear me, please help me." I frowned. I didn't just say that, did I?
The chair opposite me scraped and a purple bag landed on the table. A lady with overused sunglasses took her seat and didn't bother removing them before beckoning to someone I could only call the waiter. "Please, give me two wraps of amala with ewedu soup. Also, add two types of meat."
"Is that all?" The waiter asked.
"I'd also like a bottle of water."
"Okay, ma. What about him?"
She paused. "What about him?"
"Is he not eating?"
She glanced at me. "Are you not eating?"
"I am."
"Okay. Can I get my food now?"
"I want to take his orders so I can bring your food together. Are you paying cash or are you planning on making a transfer?"
"I'll pay cash." She removed her sunglasses. "Are you also paying cash?"
"No." I casually kept my gaze anywhere except her face. Her eyeballs were red and I was almost tempted to tell her to use the glasses. To think I had been anticipating seeing her eyes.
"He'll make a transfer. Can we get our food now?"
"I'm sorry but we're having some issues with our bank account."
She raised her brow. "Would you mind using the POS?"
I managed a smile. "I'm not with my card."
She blew out a breath. "Please take his orders. I'll pay."
It felt like a daze but I was able to eat four wraps of Fufu with Egusi soup while convincing myself it was all a coincidence and not as a result of God answering my thoughts. He would have woken Dad up if he did. I mean, I had done hours of prayer and that was nothing compared to mere thoughts. I emptied the second bottle of water and finally got the nerve to stare into her eyes.
"Your eyeball looks unique."
She rolled her eyes. "It's pinkeye."
"Oh, conjunctivitis. I'm so sorry. It looks more red than pink to me."
"I know."
I smiled.
"Hope you enjoyed your meal?"
"Yes, I did. Thanks for offering to pay. It means a lot to me."
She wore her sunglasses. "You would have done the same for me."
Wrong. I wouldn't. Except I was interested in her, I was not one to buy food for strangers. Not when I had nothing to gain from it.
She sat back. "Are you okay?"
"Yes, I'm fine." I smiled. "Thank you once again, Mrs …"
She grinned before sparing a glance at her left hand. "Don't mind me. I only wore the ring to get my sister off my back. We sort of had a bet. My name is Sarah and I'm not married."
Blood rushed to my head and I briefly felt dizzy. "Sorry, did you say Zara?"
"No. I said say—rah."
"Oh, Sarah." I rubbed my forehead. "Of course, you can't be Zara. It wouldn't make sense."
Her brows creased. "Sorry, what are you talking about?"
"Nothing important, Miss Sarah."
"You know you've not told me your name."
"I'm Jide Agunbiade. Or simply Jay."
"Jay sounds nice. Funny how it feels like I've heard about you somewhere.
Of course. The blogs. "I don't think so."
She stared at me with a half-smile. "Yes, I have. I just can't remember where."
I shrugged. "Thank you once again."
"You're welcome. Do you live around here?"
"No. Do you?"
"No. But I come here often."
"I see. So, you work around here?"
"Yes."
I nodded and picked my headset. "I'll have to leave now. I've left a lot of things undone."
Her eyes widened. "Now I remember. My sister showed me your picture. You're the guy who duped his clients."
"Me? You've got the wrong person."
"No, I've not." She rummaged through her bag and picked her phone. "I know what I saw."
I slowly backed away from her. "I have to leave now."
"Try it and see if you won't end up in a police station."
A glance around the eatery showed me people were starting to look at us. The lady glanced at her phone and I took the chance. I was already three streets away before looking back. That was a close one. I hope I never get to see the red-pink-eyed lady again.
© ADENIKE ONI 2020
Next episode will be released on Thursday (22/10/2020) by 17:00 GMT. Please note that this story will no longer be posted on Instagram due to its length. Kindly share with others if you like it. Stay safe😊!
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