love happened,a story by rose akpabio

Episode 6


You never told me what you would be calling
your restaurant’ Kachi asked her friend.
‘Uhmm, I think I should discuss it with Barbie
first, you know, I want to have her opinion or
maybe I could ask Aunt Davina’ Sophia
scratched her chin thoughtfully.
‘Do you really have to do that’? Kachi rolled her
eyes.
‘Yes, I want everything to be perfect’ Sophia
closed her eyes and dreamed. The Nigerian
Labour market wasn’t favorable for millions of
Nigerian Graduates, she had decided to use the
money her parents had left them to start up
something while waiting for a job.
‘I really admire your courage’ Kachi smiled at her
friend.
‘What?’ Sophia forced open her eyes.
‘You have a rich boyfriend like Oscar yet you do
not depend on him , you want to start up
something and be independent, now that’s what I
call girl power, not those hoes that sleep around
and come to social media and clamour for
gender equality’ Kachi hissed.
‘I just want to make something out of myself’
Sophia shrugged.
‘Ah, Oga goodmorning, wey our oda Oga’ ? the
female officer welcomed the lawyer as he
stepped into the station.
The girls quickly looked up.
‘How do I look? Does my breath stink’? Sophia
straightened her hair, she didn’t know why she
felt this nervous at the mention of the stranger.
‘Why would you even ask me that’? Kachi
chuckled softly, what was her friend up to?
‘Engineer Lekan would be joining me shortly’ Ade
replied and smiled at the woman before turning
to Kachi and Sophia.
‘Good morning’ Sophia tried being friendly, maybe
that could help them out of the situation.
‘Morning’ Ade replied dryly.
‘Remember what I told you, I can handle this’
Sophia whispered to her friend.
‘Yea whatever, here he comes’ Kachi eyed the
rude man angrily, who the hell did he think he
was?
‘Good morning Oga Lekan, your excellency’ the
officer bowed her head.
‘Ah, madam Ajoke, how are you doing? Is the
D.P.O around’? Lekan smiled faintly at the
woman. They spoke for a little while before
turning to the women that had angered him the
night before.
‘Good morning sir’ Sophia rose to her feet, Kachi
remained seated and wouldn’t acknowledge his
presence.
‘Good morning’ Lekan replied calmly, he didn’t
know why, but the way she looked brought him
this peace and in her eyes, he found serenity. He
quickly looked away and faced her rude friend,
she had to be thought a lesson.
‘So you’re still being stubborn’? Lekan chuckled
soflty.
The sound of his laugh send shivers down her
spine, she didn’t understand why, but she
suddenly became nervous. She didn’t like the
way Kachi had acted.
‘Well….’ Kachi was about saying something, but
one look at Sophia’s pleading eyes silenced her.
‘Cat got your tongue’? Lekan faced her.
‘Sir, please I am the one to blame, I was the one
driving and the car belongs to me, she is my
friend and was just unfortunate to be in the car
with me that night’ Sophia explained.
‘Well, that is none of our business’ Ade decided
to chip in.
‘That’s not my problem madam, speak to my
lawyer’ Lekan handed Sophia the phone and
stormed out.
He had never felt nervous around a woman, there
was just something about the lady but he
wouldn’t dwell on that.
He decided to leave Ade to handle things the
way he wanted.
‘I told you!, there’s no point of begging that
brute’ Kachi snapped angrily.
‘So here’s what we’ll do Madam, you’re going to
pay for the car lights, and each light costs a
million naira, so sign these documents, stating
you’ll pay else you wouldn’t be released from the
cell’ Ade opened his briefcase and handed her a
piece of paper.
‘What? I can’t believe this, so you’re basically
saying we should pay you two million Naira, are
you crazy’? Kachi rose angrily and faced the
lawyer.
‘Kachi it’s okay, let’s hear him out’ Sophia
touched Kachi’s arm gently.
‘That’s it, so fill that form and drop your number
and address. I’ll follow you to your home with
some officers so I get to know where you live,
should in case you try to deviate from the terms
of agreement’ Ade said.
‘God this isn’t happening. You are on drugs Mr
Lawyer’ Kachi felt like pouncing on him.
‘Sir, I am not employed, I don’t have any source
of income, how do you expect me to pay you two
million naira’? Sophia explained. She had used up
all what her parents left for them to establish
the building, where would she get such money
from?
‘Okay, just fill the form, we’ll work something
out, are you telling me you are unemployed? How
come you have a car? Maybe you should sell
that’ Ade had a feeling she wasn’t being totally
honest.
‘Okay, I have this business idea’ Sophia decided
to tell him everything, maybe that would help her
out.
‘Please don’t listen to this clown’ Kachi tried to
stop her friend.
‘Let me hear it’ Ade ignored Kachi.
‘I intend to open a restaurant’ Sophia explained.
‘When is it opening’? Ade’s face brightened.
‘Nextweek’ Sophia answered.
‘Good, very good, now fill the form and sign’ Ade
rubbed his palms greedily. He knew damn well
Lekan had no need for that kind of money, he
was doing it for his own belly. If this deal worked
well, he could take some out of the money and
give Lekan some, that is, if he remembered to
ask for it.
‘Okay sir’ Sophia filled it and signed hurriedly.
‘Good, so, once you open your restaurant, you’ll
pay fifty percent of your earnings to Engineer
Lekan. That would help him replace the lights
you had broken’ Ade smiled and folded his
briefcase.
‘what? Fifty percent? No, you cannot do this to
me, how dare you’? Sophia was annoyed, she felt
exploited.
‘Well, you already signed the document, delaying
to pay the fifty percent, would mean, your
immediate arrest. Thank you Miss Sophia’ Ade
smiled and signaled to the female officer to
arrange a van.
‘I told you not to tell him anything, he looks
greedy, I bet his boss isn’t aware of his cunning
ways’ Kachi felt bad for her friend.
‘Kachi, what do I do? Where do I get that kind of
money’? Sophia swallowed.
‘Well, this time, you’ll have to ask Oscar. Your
boyfriend is very rich, so you have to ask him for
the money.’ Kachi replied.
‘Oscar’? Sophia swallowed hard.
‘Yes Oscar’ Kachi nodded her head.
***
The alarm rang mercilessly and she jerked up
and scanned the whole room, she remembered
having a fight with Oscar and storming out of his
place late at night. She’d arrived home a bit late
but her sister or her friend were nowhere to be
found. She’d assumed they’d both gon e to spend
the night at Kachi’s place.
‘Beautiful day’ Barbie smiled as she remembered
the sweetness she found in the arms of Oscar.
The man was such a gentle lover and he was
very generous. She wondered why her sister
always got such good men, why did they choose
Sophia over her?
First, it was Benet, he was very handsome and
came from a well to do family, she still
remembered the day of their meeting, she had
thought he’d smiled at her, she’d gladly returned
his smile, but he had walked straight to where
Sophia stood and he’d asked her out.
Now it was Oscar, one of the richest guys in
town. He had money, and that was what she
liked. She loved a life of luxury, she knew how
beautiful she was and she used it to enrich
herself, she would keep Oscar for herself, she
was sure of that, this time, she was going to be
real with Sophia, what was the point of sneaking
around?
But she had to find a way and break them apart,
Oscar was loved Sophia and she would destroy
it, she hoped Benet would comply with her, as
she had a plan working up her sleeves.
Her phone buzzed and she ran to pick it up, it
was Oscar, her heart raced, had he called to
apologize?
‘Goodmorning Barbie, have you heard from your
sister? I have been trying her line but it’s not
going’ Oscar said.
‘Really? Is this why you called me? You called
me to ask about Sophia yet again?’ she hissed
and almost ended the call.
‘No Barbie, come on, she’s still my girlfriend you
know and I care about her, your prank last night
must have gotten her pretty worried, please tell
her I called’ Oscar pleaded.
‘Why are you doing this Oscar? Sophia doesn’t
love you, she only cares about your money, it’s
Benet she adores. Stop wasting your time with
her, you’ll only get your heart broken’ Barbie
remarked.
‘You’re wrong about the money part, your sister
doesn’t even ask me for money, and I told you I
needed proof she’s seeing Benet, your story
doesn’t just add up’ Oscar wouldn’t believe it.
‘So I am now a liar? Don’t you just worry, you’ll
get all the proof you need’Barbie hissed and
threw the phone on the bed.
‘poo!, why does she always have to be the good
one’ Barbie paced the room, she needed to think
up something real quick, she needed to pull
Sophia down.
The sound of the car got her running to her
window, she was startled by the presence of the
strange car, what were the police doing here?
She walked towards the living room and opened
the door hurriedly.
***
‘Mr Ade, why are you bent on destroying my life,
why would you make me sign that document’?
Sophia wailed.
‘So this is where you live’? he scribbled her
address and ignored her pleas totally.
‘Just leave him alone, we’ll find a way out of this
mess’ Kachi comforted her.
‘So, I’ll be telling my boss about the
developments, just make sure your get your
restaurant running good, because we need that
cash’ Ade waved them off and slid into the
police car.
‘What’s going on here Soph’? Barbie wore a
frown, she was confused.
‘It’s a long story Barbs, very long story’ Sophia
wiped her face, she had to appear strong.
‘Well you can make it brief, I don’t have time’
Barbie interrupted rudely to Kachi’s amazement.
‘Why don’t you get out of the way, so we get
inside and take our shower’? Kachi replied
feeling very irritated by Barbie’s attitude towards
her sister.
‘Are you bleeping kidding me? Sophia why do you
keep bringing her to our house? You know she
has a runny mouth’ Barbie stared darkly at Kachi.
‘Hey, this isn’t the time, Barbie you didn’t have to
sound so rude, now let’s go inside let me tell you
everything’ Sophia pleaded.
‘Whatever’ Kachi pushed Barbie aside and
stepped into the house.
‘Did you see that? Did you see how she pushed
me’? Barbie pointed at Kachi who’d already
occupied the couch.
‘Just let it go Barbs, thank the lord your sister
wasn’t swallowed by a lion’ Sophia exhaled with
relief as she stepped into the house.
‘Home sweet home, everything would be fine’
Kachi tried to cheer her friend.
‘Yea, I pray so’ Soph concurred.
‘So what really happened’? Barbie wasn’t that
interested, she was just curious.
‘Well, Oscar called me last night and he
screamed, so I thought he was in some kind of
trouble, I’ll still go to his place and check him, so
I hurried into the car with Kachi to go see him,
on our way, things got out of hand and I bashed
into this very expensive car’ Sophia paused.
‘And the owner arrested us, and he wants me to
pay two million naira, that means, each month,
I’ll give him fifty percent of what I’ll be making
at the restaurant’ Sophia explained further.
‘You’re kidding right? Where on earth would you
get that kind of money’? Barbie chuckled softly.
‘I don’t know, I am thinking of asking Oscar for
help’ Sophia replied.
‘Not thinking, Oscar is the only way out, the guy
is rich so, you won’t have any problems’ Kachi
cut in.
‘Oh my God Soph, that’s just terrible, so where’s
your car’? Barbie asked.
‘Oh, I should pick that up, I hope no harm has
come to it’ Sophia replied.
‘Good, I think Miss know all is right, Oscar is the
only way out’ Barbie smiled mischievously, she
had a plan. This would break his relationship with
her sister.
‘Don’t insult me Barbie, just stay in your lane,
okay’? Kachi hissed.
‘Okay, let me shower and get dressed, I’ll pick up
my car and move to his house’ Sophia felt
better.
‘No, that’s not a good idea, I think, you should go
pick up your car before anything happens to it,
then you head straight to Oscar’s and come
home and shower, you could even shower at his
place’ Barbie feigned concern.
‘Actually, that’s a better idea, Kachi are you
coming with me’? Sophia asked.
‘Yes, but you’ll drop me at my place, I have lots
of work to do today’ Kachi yawned, she was a
hair dresser and three women had already
booked her for the weekend.
‘Alright Barbs, take care of you, we’ll talk when I
am back’ Sophia hugged her sister and dashed
out.
‘Bye sis’ Barbie smiled another time, she had the
perfect plan.
‘Yes! I got this’ she quickly brought out her
phone and dialed Oscar’s number, luckily for her,
he picked on the first ring.
‘Hello darling, I got what you wanted’ Barbie
prayed her plan worked.
‘I am all ears Barbs’ Oscar prayed it wasn’t true,
how could Sophia cheat on him?
‘Promise me you wouldn’t confront Sophia about
this, you need to keep this to yourself Oscar’ she
instructed, everything was going to work our
perfectly.
Even if Oscar flaunted her instructions and told
Sophia about it, it sounded very ridiculous as
Sophia hadn’t heard nor seen Benet for a very
long time.
‘I promise’ Oscar replied feeling anxious.
‘Well a little bird told me Benet was broke, that’s
why he returned to the country, so I overheard
my sister having a conversation with him on
phone, she’s planning to get some money for you
from him, but she may claim it’s for another
purpose because she got into some kind of
trouble but don’t give her this money. Trust me,
she’d getting it for Benet’ Barbie continued.
‘I can’t believe this Barbie, it’s like a dream’
Oscar’s voice was shaky.
‘She would need about two million naira, he
needs this money to run some kind of business, I
promise you, I am not lying’ Barbie affirmed.
‘Alright, we’ll see’ Oscar cut the call and prayed
that wouldn’t happen.
‘Good, step one was so easy, now we do step
two’ Barbie dialed Benet’s number, she needed
to set a meeting. Benet had to hang out with
Sophia and she would take pictures of them and
send to Oscar.
She prayed inwardly he agreed to pay them a
visit. She couldn’t wait to own Oscar, that would
make her so happy, her sister didn’t deserve
such men, what did they even see in her?
‘Pick up Ben, I really need you’ she tapped her
foot as she waited for Benet to pick up the
phone.
‘Hello sweetheart, have you forgiven me’?
Benet’s voice was rough, probably he’d just
woken up from sleep.
‘Not really darling, do you mind coming over to
my place? I feel kind of lonely and I want to
spend the day with you’ she lied.
‘Wow that would be nice, how about Sophia? You
know she never knew about us, do you think this
is a good idea’? Benet straightened on the bed.
‘Uhmmm, alright, just come over, we’ll work
something out. I just want to see you. Please
don’t say no’ she moaned.
‘Honey, no man can say no to you’ Benet was
excited.
‘Good boy, please hurry’ she laughed heartily.
That was it, her plans were going to work out
perfectly