"ADE'S JOURNAL", 37
Finding my destination so I can just get ahead, far away and closer to the clear green Atlantic Ocean. Like that beautiful memory that places to my left, The deep ash angry ocean and as I stare ahead at the clashing Lagos Lagoon to my right. I want to dive in and swirl in the ice cool Atlantic's endless blue clear sea but the sweet smell of pale pink shrimps, roasting beyond the edge of the Lagoon brings back sweet delicious crunchy memories. Of a time I chewed on the shells and loved the idea of finding a baby crab in the midst of my palm full of shrimps. Watching my mother break open boiled crabs and feasting on the millions of delicious eggs made me long for some. She pinched off tiny chunks of the delicious Lagoon eggs and I curved my hands of to collect them and poured it into my eager mouth. And as I chew on its goodness, I think to myself.... This is heaven.
It's cool and cold and the sun can't seem to shine past the murky gray clouds in the almost even sky. This weather is lovely and as the temperature drops to about twenty three degrees, I pray it drops down some more by some five more.
Life is interesting and I surprise myself with the memories I hang on to. Especially when you are faced with the prospect of not seeing something as basic as locally grilled shrimps.
Actions have consequences and this one kiss has put me on a path I am not sure I want to take. It looks like I've been here before, in this same situation and like I thought some two years ago...
Walahi, I did not see that coming...
I stand in front of the cupboard housing my clothes and have to decide if I want this to go forward I not. This kiss on my hand that feels sexier than a kiss on my lips, this kiss that reminds me that I am lonely.
'Have you seen my gold set?'
Celine has started again, since when does her jewelry end up under her bed. It's all an excuse to get up and out of bed.
'Let your care taker find it' I tried to dissuade her.
'No... Pierre got it for me and has promised to double the weight once my baby comes'
The caretaker enters and lifts the book beside Celine's bedside.
'That is huge, did Pierre just get it?'
'.... Noooo.... He bought it last month but I was too cranky to appreciate it'
Celine gave me a look and I noticed.
'Ade, remember when Mr. H overheard us talking about Henrik's proposal?'
'What when?', I do not remember this.
'He said...you will marry a complete stranger, while still living with me?'
'I am not that scandalous', I vehemently refuse to believe her.
'Your relationship was dead and you met someone who knew on the spot you were his forever'
Guilty conscience caught me and I lower my eyes briefly, but then just as the flood of emotions race to my head.
I smile.
'Its Better than deceiving myself that I still had a relationship...'
I remember it all and got angry, excited and then stayed in a state of shock briefly.
'Orisirisi'
I clap my hands and stand with hands on my hips.
'Celine, we have seen it all...', I add and shake my head and adjust the phone screen to watch my friend via my whatsapp video call.
'So, you did not tell me how your date.. ?'
I sighed and sit up.
'It was lovely, as if we were back to our untainted friendship.'
'No kissing...'
'No, none and it made it all nicer'
Celine paused and stared at me as if she wanted to say something.
''Say it?'
'Nnoye knows right?'
'Got all emotional and accused me of sabotaging her baby daddy's relationship'
'She dey craze, did she not hear loud and clear from all of us that Daniel Ojora's true love is Ade'
I stare at her and say nothing.
'Any way shaaa, I trust Ajoke. She set the record straight, is it true?'
'Is what true?'
'That he bought a monster yatch and placed your name on it?'
'I was on i8, it's true'
'And Henrik knew?'
'Yep'
'You didn't?'
'No'
'This is complicated'
'...And confusing'
Miss G, the caretaker was smiling and enjoying our gist, Celine pouted a lips at her. The best description is the Yoruba version, o yin IMU si.....
My fitted brown bandaged ankara dress, mimicking a yellow and white Aso oke pattern, hugged me in all the right places and the sparking jewels on my right hip complements my ring.
From the corner of my eyes I see Nnoye and Ajoke.
I twist and catwalk into the party, loving all the attention I get. My make up is minimal, I have on a nude lipstick with a touch of peach. It compliments my full dark voluptuous lips and my nude powder just keeps my face fresh and free from oil and sweat. I want to look back on today's events and pictures and say, babe you look gorgeous and add...
Damn girl, you are hot, because i know even in my eighties, I will be smoking hot.
I smiled and remembered when Celine nudged me and said, I should stop day dreaming that I am on the American reality show WAGS. I laughed, because she was right. It was and will always be one of my favorite television obsession and this new season promised to be juicier.
Everything was perfect until someone tapped me. I turn around and I could have sworn I have seen her before.The fake lashes, fake hair, fake chick attitude irritates me, the lashes looked tacky and crooked. It was Tina, my ex boyfriends girlfriend. An annoying torn in my flesh, although briefly but still she stressed me.
She was friends to Nnoye way back, but I was not expecting her here. I smile at her and hug my friends.
Ajoke had like three mini shrimps wrapped in seaweed strips, one after the other.
'Remember her?', Ajoke asked.
'Nnoye's friend'
'No she was not, we only attended fashion school together', Nnoye corrects me.
'She knows your friend?', I asked.
'Yes, I did not remember her. But the invite was a good one in a five star hotel. I'm sorry...
Nnoye sounds like someone trying too hard to please everyone, all the time.
I side hug her and pull her close me and tilt my head to her ears.
'Don't apologize for what you can't control, we will always run into our past. It's our current state of mind that matters. And she is forgotten already, trust me'
I spot Daniel smiling and waving at me and I let go of Nnoye and join him. We side hug and he drags me to his mum and we chat and laugh.
Such is life, it goes on and we live and learn. And I believe the learning curve coming is going to teach me so much more than I ever imagined.
**"ADE'S JOURNAL", Season 3, Episode 37**
*"ADE'S JOURNAL", 37, COPYRIGHT 2018*
**BUSOLA ELEGBEDE, COPYRIGHT 2018**
Adebusola Ukayat Elegbede is a Playwright and Content creator with a passion for real life challenges. Born in Kaduna state and lives in Lagos Nigeria, she has a passion for story telling from the perspectives of characters in conflicting situations. I started out on the New Writing Project in Nigeria with the British Council Lagos Nigeria and The Royal Court Theatre, Sloane Square U.K. My passion for creating stories led to comic books, television drama's and an online journal on my website (busolaelegbede.com). As part of the WPIC in Stockholm Sweden 2012, the experience has forged life long friends and ignited my passion as a volunteer and advocate for human rights and the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
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