Early but noisy frogs croak as if it was night and the clouds refuse to cooperate and release the cooling sun, hidden and far out of sight. This day is here and I really have nothing on my mind, it's been like that since I started sleepwalking again. I've been exhausted and I only sleep with sleep aids and it makes me worry about my liver. I can't help but over think and dwell on stuff my body takes in. Right now, I'm supposed to be asleep. I think I did for four hours but that's it. No need to pretend or try to force myself, I say and jump out of bed.
I am looking at Celine's collection of clothes. The ones she made for me and this jumpsuit leaps at me. It's simple and delicious and it's what I'm going to wear for my date. I hear footsteps and freeze, as if I have been caught. It's actually Ajoke waking up for a stroke of dawn snack. The girl just can't add weight for Africa. If I eat as much as she did, I would add ten kilograms easy. She stops by my room door and opens the slightly open door. She was worried and holding her breath and a mayonnaise and cheese dripping burger with fresh lettuce that awakens my sleeping taste buds. She was relieved I as I blinked she tells me that's how she knows I am not sleep walking. I hold up the jumpsuit to my skin and she gasps. We both hear footsteps and freeze and then listen and when we were sure no one was coming, we burst out laughing. This our date that requires us Dodging Eve's Fire and will definitely get us in trouble. I exhaled long and hard and then nod my head, she was right....
This all just reminds me of my upcoming awkward date with Daniel Ojora, yes I'm stressed out. As yes, I agreed to go. But I was not myself when I did, after all I did this in my sleep. Before I could protest, his baby mama shows up. To make matters worse, she has been policing me and is next door waiting and hoping. I did not plan any of it, it just happened.
Nnoye crashed our sleepover and I just didn't have the stomach to tell her. Ajoke liked that she had gist Nnoye didn't and did not waste time in telling Celine about my date. But when Celine called last night, Nnoye was there. So none of us brought it up, also I've been guarding my phone like crazy because I didn't want his caller ID showing and then Nnoye would ask me questions I was not prepared to answer.
How did I get myself into this mess?
More importantly, why did I not just call him and cancel the date? A part of me, wants to feel like I used to. Wants to talk to him about his best friend, my late husband.
My heavy sigh feels the room and I just stare at my lonely reflection in the massive wrought iron mirror. I suspect I also want to be admired and treated like I was the only one in the room. Daniel Ojora was definitely obsessed with me, or used to be. Men stop caring for women that won't say yes, I think. But I like to think that I am that flame just at his fingertips, the one he can never have and I want that feeling. I am enjoying this feeling of having a secret and not been caught, it's making my heart pump faster and I kind of feel alive. You know what I mean...
I look at the Jumpsuit on a hanger and then at the fabric under a transparent bag in my room. Ajoke tailored rooms for all of us in her mansion to suit us, because she can afford to. Mine had fabrics I ordered and an industrial sewing machine and a Macintosh laptop and studio for my graphics and animation and production, so I had no excuse not to sleep over. Celine was furious of course, jealous I mean. So Ajoke promised to pimp and tailor her room to her specifications, when she get back from France. Ajoke also got her interior designer to sound proof my room, so my late night work would not wake everyone up.
Last night, she left the door open in case I had night terrors. I had to explain to her that sleep walking was different, but she would not risk it.
Right now, I drop the jumpsuit, open the transparent bag and touch the cotton and silk black lace fabric. I was going to use it to make a top and instead, start hand stitching it to the jumpsuit. As I hold the complete morphed Jumpsuit against my body, I liked the end result. Celine made a sexy outfit and my adding the bell sleeve, gave it a more classy toned down look.
I did not know that I was been watched until she walked in, I did not remember to shut the door and a sleepy Nnoye joined me.
'It is pretty', she says yawning and feeling the fabric.
'Thanks'
'I want one'
'Celine made it'
'I heard you sewing'
'The interlocking, I just added sleeves'
'By hand, its beautiful'
I did not want to say thanks again and grab my sponge case.
'Going out?'
I was in the shower with my toothbrush and squeezed some toothpaste on it and jammed it in my mouth.
'I am home all day with the twins, Ajoke's twins. Should I order lobsters or are you out all day?'
Nnoye shouts as she did not come into my bathroom because she knows I love my privacy, or like she says my nakedness was mostly for my own eyes only.
'Okay', I say and it echoes in my shut bathroom.
Nnoye grabs the outfit and placed it on her body and admired her own reflection. I watched her through a door that was not completely closed, i felt guilt ridden and as she leaves I lean on the bathroom wall.
'What am I doing?'
Breakfast was a drag and lunch was great but my mind was elsewhere, Ajoke signalled to me as Nnoye received a phone call.
We marched to her sacred bedroom and as I protest, she dragged me in.
It was majestic, like a scene from the billionaire real estate series on a remote island.
'Ajoke, this is gorgeous', I add admiring her bedroom.
'You know, when you were dating Daniel Ojora... I was going to introduce you to my interior designer, but when you married Henrik, there was no need'
'Why did you...', I started to say then pondered on what she just said.
'You know I can't marry Daniel'
'Ade relax, you are so paranoid. I want you to go on this date'
'Nnoye...'
'Knows she can never hold that special place you hold in Daniel's heart'
'Its wrong'
'She was wrong and thought a baby would trap him'
'He broke the code'
'Ade, not everyone can abstain from sex like you. Not everyone can love like a dove like you do, not everyone can live like you. Sometimes I think if Celine and I don't make the effort, you will be friendless. I know Nnoye too does...'
'I make the effort too...', I protest.
''Yes, but if you didn't... Touché'
The room was quiet as I ponder on her words and then massage my throbbing forehead.
'I am not saying marry him, just go on this date. Let us even hear what he has the guts to say, it's already complicated you know'
I sighed and nod my head, Ajoke was right. And then I turn to the massive bed in the room and shake my head.
'Its bigger than mine'
'Ade, I learned from you and had to out do you. It's fun when Bala stretches to hold me and has to travel to find me'
I laughed.
'Especially with that his protruding stomach.. ', it was hilarious watching skinny Ajoke mimic her husband on their bed.
Ajoke gets out a jewelry set and I gasped and touched the gold set, it looked like the one I admired the last time she showed me what she was going to get on her date anniversary with Bala.
'Its yours, I hope you like it'
I touch my heart and almost cry and we hug.
'Now, go and get ready. I will keep Nnoye busy enough not to disturb you. Don't bother coming to show us how you look, my driver will take you'
I smiled and she showed me another exit through her closet and winked at me.
'Bala has no clue that is there, so I can surprise our guests'
I look at the CCTV camera of the hall way and shake my head.
'Many secrets have been revealed in those corridors', Ajoke whispered and I shake my head.
Dressed and prepared I stepped outside, to a waiting limousine service and shake my head. Ajoke was not serious, this is too much for a date. Inside I enjoyed every second, and realized that the premium service was not for him. It was all for me and as the vehicle drove me to my destination, I shut my eyes and sleep like a baby...
Sometimes the stress we feel is because our lives have become a predictable monotonous, boring routine. The change we need can come in the kindest of gestures from our not so humble friend.
And just before I shut my eyes, I say thank you....
**"ADE'S JOURNAL", Season 3, Episode 27**
*"ADE'S JOURNAL", 27, COPYRIGHT 2018*
**BUSOLA ELEGBEDE, COPYRIGHT 2018**
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