Her Baby’s Secret

Arike’s POV

“Oya oya the gist o!” She chanted as she sat down.

“Wait, I hope there’s no bad news?”

“Oh no.. no.. bad news ” I settled in the chair facing her direct with a glass of orange juice on the table.

“So.. I am listening.” She swallowed the food in her mouth.

“I.. erm… I had dinner with Bamidele during the week.” I said.

She looked up at me. “For real?”

I shook my head in response. “I thought you said -”

“I don’t wanna have anything serious with him.” I completed her intended sentence.

“Exactly! So have you changed your mind about him?” She asked.

“I don’t know yet. We just had dinner as friends, nothing more.”

“Well I still don’t know why you won’t give bamidele chance. See grade one husband material! But no o! It’s uncle -”

I cut her off. “Please sister mi, let’s not go down that lane.”

“I have said you my own, sheybi now he’s off market. You better wise up.”

“Do you still want to hear the gist or not?”

“This one I am saying doesn’t make sense right?” She frowned.

“I didn’t say that o.”

“I should shut up abi?”

“No… I didn’t say that -”

“You don’t have to open your big mouth to say it before I know!”

“Stop misinterpreting my words.” I pleaded.Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

“Please continue before I will vex and say you should keep your gist.” We laughed.

“We bumped into Dayo and Shalewa at the restaurant.” I explained what you already know to her.

“But what does Dayo have against Bamidele?”

“Seriously, I don’t know.”

“You should have asked him.”

“I did asked him but he wouldn’t open up to me.”

“Well… maybe Bamidele once snatched his babe in school.” Busayomi pondered.

“I don’t think that’s the case. I have this feeling it’s more deeper than what you just said.”

“Dayo shouldn’t think of making you stay away from Bamidele for his selfish reasons.” She mumbled to herself.

“What selfish reasons?” I asked with a confused look.

“You’re so clueless, Arike.”

“Tell me what selfish reasons are you talking about?”

“Think about it. And what I will say is that Dayo is having fun with Shalewa plus they’ll be getting married soon so you shouldn’t waste your time sitting around here thinking of how you will stay away from Bamidele.”

She was done eating now. I helped her take her plates to the kitchen.

“And guess who visited me today?”

“Bamidele?”

I rolled my eyes. Bamidele doesn’t even know my place lest to talk of coming to my house. I didn’t let him pick me up or even drop me off at my place after we had dinner.

“Dayo?” She tried again. I shook my head. “Abeg spill it, you know I am not good at guessing.”

“Shalewa.”

“Ahn ahn wetin she dey find?”

I narrated what happened to Busayomi and all she did was laugh for a long time.

“Seriously sister mi?! It’s not funny o. My heart almost came out of my chest when she said it straight to my face that I am in love with Dayo.”

“Ahn ahn isn’t she right?”

“What do you mean?”

“What are we talking about?” She replied

“Shalewa.” I responded.

She leaned forward. “So aunty are you in love with Uncle Adedayo Awosika?” She asked with a serious face.

“No! You shouldn’t think like Shalewa too! You of all people should know that Adedayo and I are just bestfriends.”

She stared intently at me. “Then why are you scared and concerned about Dayo finding out that you and Bamidele are together?”

“Bamidele and I are not together.”

“Because Dayo asked you to stay away from him right?”

“This is not about -”

“And you choose to obey Dayo?”

“No! I wouldn’t have had dinner with Bamidele if I wanted to obey Dayo.”

She shook her head hopefully in understanding. I only agreed to have dinner with Bamidele because of what she said plus I saw no reason to avoid Bamidele because Dayo asked me to.

“To be honest you have to stop doing some things just to make Dayo happy.”

“You don’t understand.” I avoided her gaze.

“Think about yourself too. You deserve to be happy.” She said softly.

I nodded in agreement. “Dayo wants to talk to me.”

She rolled her eyes. “After avoiding you and not replying your texts and calls? Who does he think he is? He feels he can just boss you around.”

“He’s not bossing me around. Sister mi, I feel Dayo has a good reason for asking me to stay away from Bamidele.”

“See babe.. Hmmm -” she paused.

“What?”

“Never mind but all I know is that the Bamidele I saw that day doesn’t look like a bad person.”

“And what if he’s pretending to be good just to get me?”

“I don’t think so. Listen whether Dayo likes it or not there’s nothing he can do if you and Bamidele are meant be together.”

“I don’t think we are meant to be toge -”

She cuts me off with a glare. “Stay there and be saying nonsense. Don’t wise up before it’s too late. Be waiting for Mr Right to look at you.” She stood up. “Please I need to rest.”

Busayomi walked away to the bedroom while I went into the kitchen to wash the dishes.

I don’t understand why she’s against Adedayo, probably because she likes Bamidele for me but Dayo was against it.

Busayomi wants me to give Bamidele a chance but she can’t understand my feelings. No one can understand. Perhaps does she have an idea?

Oh God I need to do something before I ruin someone else’s relationship. Nobody really has to know, all I have to do is play along and act like everything was fine.

“I’ll get over it.” I mumbled to myself.