IMADE AND JAMAL

IMADE.

  "Are you serious? He really did all that?" My mom asks a grinning Lola, who hasn't stopped gushing about Jamal since our mom woke up.

"Yes o mummy. I was even surprised because after how he denied knowing aunty Imade, I didn't think he would be kind enough to give up such huge amount of money. The thing that now pained me most was Sister Immy's reaction. You need to see the ungrateful look on her face." She blabs on and on, ignoring my death glare.

"Imade, is this true?" My mom turns to ask me directly but as expected, Lola doesn't even let me speak.

"Oya lie now! Lie that you did not rudely reject his offer to buy us food and even after he bought food that cost about thirty thousand, you still shenked the poor guy like he didn't just save our lives. Oya lie! Abi, the way you made him feel so uncomfortable and out of place that he had to leave. Oya go ahead and lie!" She attacked sharply and the urge to slap her immediately rose.

"Lolade, you better shut that pipe of yours before I descend on you mercilessly. Abi, ki ni gan? Are you possessed ni or just mental? Cause I don't even understand you at this point." I yell harshly at her and that seemed to reset her brain as her expression relaxes and she remained quiet.

"You both know I'm here, right? If you don't have respect for me, respect the fact that this is a hospital and that some patients are asleep. I did not raise animals o." My mom chimes in with an irritated look on her face.

"We're very sorry ma." Lola and I chorus apologetically.

"Much better. Now, tell me why you weren't comfortable around him Imade. Is it because he denied knowing you?" My mom questions calmly.

"Mummy, please don't mind Lola. Yes, I was slightly uncomfortable but it has nothing to do with what you're thinking. I, unlike my greedy sister here already felt ashamed and grateful that he paid your hospital bills and letting him do more was very embarrassing for me."

"I did not want to feel more indebted to him because not only did he pay your bills, he also offered me a full time job at his construction company that pays thrice my current salary. Please, tell me why I shouldn't feel uncomfortable." I explain to her and I could tell with the look on her face that she was surprised.

"Wait o, shebi, he's the same person that denied knowing you? Why is he being so kind? Abi, he's trying to get you or something?" She asks with a sly smile and I chuckle in embarrassment.

"No ma, it's nothing like that. He and I are not even friends sef and he doesn't want anything to do with me." I say to her and she furrows her brows.

"Doesn't want anything but is doing all this? Ahn ahn, that's not possible now." She replies and just when I'm about to clear her, Lola cuts me off.

"Mommy, I thought the same thing at first o but turns he has one werey girlfriend like this and Aunty yen mad gidi gan, won ti e normal rara." She tells her, earning a soft laugh from my mom.

(That aunty is very mad, she's absolutely abnormal.)

"Kilode to so be?" She asks.

(Why did you say so?)

"She's a jealous freak ni o. Her body no dey stay one place. Afi gidigba gidigbo bi eni ton le." She replies her and now it was my turn to laugh.

(She's a restless person. Always too hyper like someone on the run.)

acquainted with her?" My mom

me cause of how psychotic she is and the funny thing is, he's not dating her. She's probably just one of his goto girls." I tell her

to men like their lives depend on it. It's actually

to be polite. She couldn't even

disturb you but they're two men out there looking for you."

Did they drop their names?" I

I

and deep down, I knew my mom and Lola were about to embarrass the hell out of me.

The nurse replies before walking out.

immediately but she keeps

be very polite o. I did not birth an ingrate." Mom suddenly

gbo ma." I

(I've heard ma.)

door suddenly knocks and Lola doesn't even bother confirming before inviting them in and unsurprisingly, Jamal

for the first in years, I'm actually seeing him on shorts, paired with a white top that clung to his macho

he wore regular black joggers paired with a black T-Shirt that also clung to his body like an extra skin. Both men

slightly whilst Jamal only bowed a

Please sit." My mom calmly replies and offers them a sit.

which left an extra space beside both of us and as expected,

day." Lola suddenly speaks up, confusing everyone in the room

me for what

Uncle Jamal. It was very helpful, so I'm grateful." She replies and he nods in understanding before smiling a little.

welcome Lolade." He says with a small smile that showed

travelled suddenly and refused to remember

sorry about that ma. It's not entirely my fault though. I was actually in contact with Imade for a while but after my parent's death, things got pretty messy for me so I lost contact with Imade." He explains and if I tell you that I'm shocked at the moment,

parents passed away? When? How? Where?" Mom questions quickly, sitting up to

They died in a plane crash." He replies, obviously not

this. It must have been very hard for you." She sympathises, gently holding on to his

ma?" He switches the topic quickly and I almost chuckle at how confused my mom

least, I'm alive thanks to you and no amount of thank you can compensate for

gratitude ma. You're someone I've always respected a lot and I'm very

don't care' attitude and

dear." She thanks him again before turning to face David.

for not addressing you earlier o. How are you doing? I already heard your name

politely, obviously unsure of

two being friends?" She asks, I frown. Is that question really necessary?