Wale talked to Ayo on and off on Whatsapp before calling her on Wednesday. She was taking her lunch break when his call came through.
"Hello Bae."
"Hello yourself."
"What are you doing on Saturday afternoon?"
"I will be at home with Itunu."
"Let's all go to the movies na."
"Because?"
"I want to watch Mokaliki. You know the one with Simi the singer in it and I need company."
"I don't know, Wale."
"What don't you know?
"I don't know if I want to go out. I have been keeping a low profile."
"Aunty, you will die like this o and nobody will look for you. You know I will tell you the truth. I'm not gonna have you put your life and that of that boy on hold because you don't wanna move on! If you don't wanna move on then go back. It's that simple."
"Are you finished?"
"Not quite but that's enough for now."
"I am not going anywhere. Bye!" Ayo said and ended the call.
Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ
"Can you imagine?" Ayo asked Lara over video call later that evening.
"Ayo, s'ofe gbo?*"
"Yeah?"
"He is damn right."
"You too?"
"Yes! You've not moved on, you've just moved and you know there is always a reason for everything. Maybe the reason this Wale guy came into your life this time is to make you happy and take care of you."
"Hmmm."
"I am serious. So, it's better you take life one day at a time and enjoy this as it unfolds. Moreover, you need someone to eat your work and break your mouth."
"Get lost jare."
"I don't blame you, ooto oro ma n da bi iro ni*. Wo, I am volunteering this Saturday to keep my godson so you better go and enjoy that man's company."
"I've heard you."
"Gotta go girl. Talk to you tomorrow."
"All right."
Just as Lara ended the call, Wale's call came in. She contemplated on not picking his call but the second time it came in again, she grudgingly picked it,
"Ki la ri gbo?*"
"I am sorry."
"For what?"
"It's really not my business."
"Okay."
"Are we good?"
"Yeah. Yeah."
"Okay, so be ready by 1:00pm on Saturday with Itunu."
"Itunu will be with Lara."
"Oh. All right then, I will give out his ticket."
"Okay. Want to sleep."
"All right. Good night."
"'Night." She said and ended the call.
Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ
Saturday arrived in a twinkle of an eye. Lara came earlier that day to pick up Itunu and she did not leave until she had picked Ayo's outfit for the cinema and also helped her with her hair.
01:00PM came to see Wale ringing Ayo's doorbell. She picked up her purse and went to get the door. As soon as she opened the door, Wale pulled her into a shocking hug saying,
"I am so sorry. My big mouth is to be blamed."
"It's fine, Wale. Abeg, lemme, don't let me suffocate."
"Sorry." He said releasing her and taking a step backwards. She got out also and locked the door. Then he led her to his car.
"How has the morning been for you?" She asked as she secured her seat belt while he started driving.
"Good. Good. Mum came over with her panla stew and was ordering me about in my own apartment."
She laughed, "I can imagine."
"She needs to understand, it's my house, she cannot come and be forming boss in my house to me. I will do things the way I prefer them to be done."
Ayo giggled, "She is your mother so enjoy it and deal with it."
"I am going to report her to her husband sef."
"So, where will that get you?"
"It will sha make her stay in her house."
"Issokay."
"What about you? How did your morning go?"
"It went fine. While your mother was fussing over you, Lara was frustrating my life here."
"What did she do?"
"She actually picked my outfit and did my hair and face."
"Nice. She just wanted you to look sexy for your man which you do by the way."
"Ehn! For which man?"
"For me na." He said smiling sheepishly. She leaned towards him and touched his neck then almost immediately settled back into her seat.
"Why that?"
"I wanted to be sure if you were normal but unfortunately you are not normal. O re e gan.*"
"Sit down there."
She raised her hands up and prayed, "Father lord, deliver me from people that are dating me that I am not dating in Jesus name. Amen."
"Shioor. Be deceiving yourself. Temi lo ma se last.*"
"Abeg, shut up jare, let me hear this By You by Simi and Adekunle in peace."
"I don't know what is so special about that. Have you listened to Moral Instruction by Falz? You need music like that in your life."
"Keep quiet jo. Adekunle's voice is to die for, I swear."
"What is special about that one's voice? He does not know more than yoruba all his life but I will give it to him sha, he is a sweet boy."
"Awon beefer.*"
"Aunty, thank you. We've gotten to our destination."
"That was quite fast o. No much hold-up today sha."
"Today is Saturday na, all the Owambes must be happening presently."
"True that." She said and he pulled the car into a parking space. Then they unbuckled their seat belts and got out of the car.
They headed towards the Mall and went to the cinema. The movie was not starting until twenty minutes after so they got snacks and drinks and scouted for good seats then two minutes later the movie started.
An hour later...
"I can't believe Simi acted so well."
"She is a treasure. If not that she is married ni, I will just look for means of getting to her so I can date her."
"What is this one saying? Do you think it is easy to just slide into a celebrity's life like that?"
"You forget I am in the shadows of the celebrity gang myself."
"That's true o. Sorry sir."
"That's all right. I forgive your innocence." He said patting her on her head.
"Are you silly?" She asked swatting his hand.
"Aunty, let's go over there and take nice pictures jare."
"Picture freak."
"Thanks. They give me reasons to be thankful when I scroll through my phone. Oya jo."
Ayo was taking her fourth picture when her eyes met the least person she thought she would see there. It held it for a long minute then the person gave her a window and she escaped.
Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ
Hello Boos and Baes,
Starred Words
Ayo, s'ofe gbo - Ayo do you want to hear
ooto oro ma n da bi iro ni - Truth usually look like lies
Ki la ri gbo - What is there to hear
O re e gan - You are very sick
Temi lo ma se last - You will be mine at last
Awon beefer - You beefer
Leave me a comment, let me know what you think.