Marital Vice – Episode 5
Tayo stretched his hand out to reach his phone on the bed, wondering who was calling him that late after having a strenuous day. He needed rest and not midnight calls. Straining his eyes to check the caller ID he nearly hissed but still answered the call. Tolu was his friend anyway and he wondered why he was calling him now,
“Why are you calling me now? I thought you were still angry that I got involved in your family?” He said immediately he answered the phone call.
“Were you asleep?” Tolu asked him nearly whispering into the speaker.
“Yes, what did you expect? And why are you whispering?”
“I didn’t want to wake Deola. She has very sensitive ears, you know.”
“So why am I getting a phone call from you?” Tayo asked again getting up to switch on the lights of his room.
“I got in deep trouble, man. And I’m really sorry about the other time.”
Tayo noted Tolu’s sober tone and sighed. God knows what he got into now. He had a habit of jumping into trouble without blinking and asking him for help thereafter. He had learnt to live with his best friend that way ever since childhood. As long as he was still redeemable.
Tayo ran his hand through his bald head, “What trouble is it now?”
“I got a girl pregnant and she’s threatening to rain hailstorm on my doorstep.”
“What?!!!” Tayo nearly screamed into the phone as he slumped back unto the bed. Now this was really huge, more than he could have imagined Tolu getting caught up in.
——————-
Kay pulled his car to a halt off the narrow road and turned off the ignition.
“Are we here already?” Lydia asked him, her eyes scanning the environment.
“Yes, get out. I have something else to do today other than driving pregnant ladies,” he said opening the car door and stepping out.
“Are you not coming in with me? You are the one who said to come see his mother,” Lydia asked him as she also stepped out of the car.
“The best I can do now is direct you to their house….” Kay had barely completed his statement when a teenage boy, probably seventeen approached him with exclamation,
“Bro. Kay!” The boy hailed him, his face full of smiles, “You came to check on us, abi? And is this your car? You don hammer o,” the boy who was Tolu’s youngest brother continued, admiring the vehicle and bowed slightly to Lydia, probably thinking she was his fiancee.
Kay cursed under his breath hating how Seyi had suddenly showed up but still managed a grin for the boy, “Abi o. How are you?” He stretched out his hand to him which the teenager took in his both hands to show his respect.
“I’m fine. But Bro. Tolu didn’t mention that you were coming to see us with your wife,” Seyi continued ignorantly but got cut off by Lydia immediately,
“I’m not his wife, young man,” she said impatiently, upset at the thought of being associated with Kay.
“Oh!” Seyi surveyed her quickly and turned his attention back to Kay who was still grinning. He had turned Tolu’s parents house into his second home nearly all through university days. That could count for why Seyi saw him as a big brother and moreover he had always been a good ‘coach’ to Seyi especially in social matters.
“Is mumsy at home? This woman wants to see her,” Kay asked Seyi who was still wondering who the lady was whilst admiring the Nissan Altima.
“Mummy is at home. I was just going to shop but you will meet her at home. She’s not feeling too well so she isn’t coming to shop today,” Seyi explained to them, ” I Hope there is no problem?” He asked as he noted the lady’s impatience as though there was some sort of evil launched at her.
“No, just take her to mumsy,” he nodded at Lydia who reached for her bag in the car and walked away from the vehicle.
“You are not coming? Mummy was still talking about you on Wednesday. Why don’t you come too?” Seyi turned his attention to Kay.
“No. I have to catch up with a client right about now. Say hello to mumsy and your dad. I will come see them later,” he pulled the car door open and gave Lydia one look, “You take care. He’ll lead the way,” he told her and hopped back into his car.
Lydia watched Kay reverse the car and zoom away before turning to face Seyi, “Are you the last born?” She asked him trying to start a conversation and act friendly in contrast to her earlier remark that had given the boy a first impression of who she really was. He would be her future brother-in-law anyway and she was desperate for attention as it was.
Seyi simply nodded. He couldn’t fully fathom who she was or what she had to say to his mum but his gut feeling knew it wasn’t good.
————–
“I’m telling you what I saw with these my two eyes,” Mama Sade insisted.
Deola looked away from her and continued washing the clothes she had piled. This woman will get into trouble one day with her mouth, she thought to herself wishing she could muster the courage to throw the soapy contents of the bowl in her face. They had become acquainted for less than a year and she was already sniffing around. Amebo! Deola hissed inwardly but still kept up an indifferent look hoping the lady would read the memo that she was not ready to start suspecting her husband and subsequently take a walk.
“Mama Niyi, if you don’t want to believe me, then nawa o. Your husband didn’t even allow her to enter the house and kept looking around like a criminal,” the lady who was in her mid-forties continued hoping to get Deola to believe her.
“Maybe she was just a friend. Tolu isn’t ho you think he is,” Deola finally said. She had her own suspicions but couldn’t stand her life being probed by a stranger who barely had anything concrete to prove her words. She wasn’t ready to turn her husband and family into a celebrity’s closely watched by all like someone on parole.
Mama Sade could finally read Deola’s expression and tried again. She really pitied she who had nothing but kind words about her husband and had placed her whole life on him. Men can’t be trusted, she always told Deola whenever she came to her apartment but the young lady was just so unsuspecting and even now that she had her own bit of evidence, Deola still chose to stick to her folly theory, she thought and shook her head, “Why don’t you ask him when he gets back? All I’m doing is in your own interest, I tell you. And that is because you are a really nice girl,” she told Deola who nodded.
“Thank you, mama Sade,” Deola said humbly glad her nosey neighbor was finally taking a walk. She knew she wouldn’t be able to hide her inquisitive and suspecting side from Tolu for long and made a note to take Mama Sade’s final advice to her and ask Tolu what was truth and what not. Hopefully, he would say something that would expiate him of all suspicions she had.
… to be continued
