𝟑𝟎 𝐃𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐥

~~ 9. ~~

"Olufunlola." His mother repeated.

           She smiled and quickly corrected the woman.

"Ma don't mind Demmy." She feels his hand stiffen beside her but she continues anyway. "It's Tiwalola. Tiwalola loruko mi ma. (Tiwalola is my name ma.) Demilade just prefers to call me Olufunlola. "

"Okay, dear. Tiwalola. I like the name."

"Thank you ma."

"Come and sit my dear." Mrs Jolaoluwa said to her and she directed her to the armchair. And they took a seat. Demilade sat beside her and his mother opposite them. "The food will be ready soon. I have prepared something good for you."

"You don't need to do that ma. It's okay. I'm okay."

"No, I won't allow that. This is the first time you will be coming to my son's house and I will be meeting you." She said with her usual smile. "And you've been on a long journey."

            She nodded but she wonder what Demilade the jerk had told his mother. She looked at him but he wasn't looking at her. He was looking elsewhere.

           Later, they sat at the table to eat breakfast. Mrs Jolaoluwa had prepared fried rice and fried chicken for breakfast. And Lola compliments her cooking.

"Thank you, my dear." She appreciated it with a grin. She looked at her son. Lola could see she was very proud of him or maybe the choice in picking her as a girlfriend.

           If only she knew. She thought bitterly.

"So Lola, is it true you work as a businesswoman?"

          She looked at Demilade. He had a smile on his face and he was looking at her but his eyes had a different meaning from his smile. She can see the look of 'you better play along' on his face.

"Not a business woman ma. I'm a fashion designer." She said. It was the truth. She doesn't want to lie to this woman any further. "I'm still growing in the business. And Demilade wants to help me."

            She heard Demilade cough quietly.

"Sorry." His mother said. And Lola couldn't help but roll her eyes. "That is wonderful Lola. Then I won't have to take my cloth elsewhere."

"Yes, ma." She said eagerly.

"That's good. I will put that in mind. So you travel out of the country."

"Not really ma. My fashion business just extends to Benin Republic and Ghana. I visit Ghana more often." She lied. That is not what Demilade had told her but she can't pretend to be who she isn't more than that. At least she do visit Ghana until she was eighteen since her mother is a Ghanaian and her grandparents lives there before their death.

"Okay." The woman believes her and she doesn't look offended a bit. "That's nice. Don't mind me with all my questions. I just want to know you more. Demilade rarely talks about you. I knew about you just last week. Can you imagine?" She asked looking at Demilade.

          She isn't angry just amused. She admired her love for her son.

"Demilade rarely talks about emotion or personal feelings." She could feel Demilade eyes on her now. "I had to convince him on most occasions to tell me about himself. I'm still getting used to it ma."

"You will be surprised that even I who is his mother haven't gotten used to it." Mrs Jolaoluwa said. And Lola smiled.

          After breakfast, they talked for almost an hour. Lola was glad the woman wasn't the usual set of rich men's mothers. She was simple, easy going and lovely to talk with. She told her about her bag and shoe business and Lola told her about the things she plan to do with her fashion business.