Dedicated to SophieKim2468

Kike's POV

“Wetin, I go give to you, Na praise... Wetin I go give to you, Na praise. I no get money oo, Na praise. I no get money oo, Na praise.”I heard Remi sing as she entered into our room.

“What is it, again? I thought I said you should go and sleep” I told her as I sat on the bed that I just laid.

“I should sleep at 5pm abi?” She asked me.

“Whatever! Just go back to your room.” I told her as I folded my arms.

“Wait are you still angry because I went to embarrass Tunde in front of his friends, yesterday? You don't even like him na... Abi do you?” She asked me dropping the nylon she brought before landing on the bed causing the sheets to scatter.

Ohhh! Remi has come again with her messiness.

“First, I don't like Tunde. He is mannerless, rude and he is not even fine. Also, I'm happy you embarrassed Tunde because he deserved it but you just had to do it in front of his mother, soon the boy would come for you, you'll see. And the reason I'm angry is because you didn't even make it up to me after pouring water on my cloth yesterday” I told her as she hissed before dragging the nylon closer to us.

“Madam, make it up to me. You don't even know that it's the water that saved you from fainting” She told me as I gave her a frustrated groan.

“Sha, if you like eat, if you like don't eat. My mum brought Jollof rice from that party yesterday and chicken. So, she asked me to share this one with you.” Remi told me as I looked at her in confusion.

“Your mother asked you to share with me?” I asked yet to believe that fact.

Remi's mother is rarely nice. She only shouts and complains. She could be a pain in the ass, and she doesn't like me so much. She only talks to me when she needs me to help her and Remi in her catering business. Remi helps her mother a lot, when it comes to cooking and she does most of the deliveries for her mum.

Remi's family is financially stable, and their source of income is the catering business. Her father is a drunkard and his lavishness on Alcohol, hinders their family from upgrading, money wise.

“Yes oo! She made much money from yesterday's work oo.” Remi told me as she handed me a spoon.

Ehhh!! Of course, money can change anyone's attitude.

“Wawu!! Thank her for me oo.” I said back as I put a spoonful of Jollof rice into my mouth.

Hmmm! It's yummy and hot.

“Well, I have something to tell you.” Remi started off with a shy look taking over her face.

Oh my Gosh. It's a guy, I just know it.

“So, there's this guy,...” She started off as I interrupted her.

“Oh, I knew it, I knew it. My baby has finally found love, again. ” I cooed as hugged her tightly before letting her go.

Well, I'm so happy for Remi. She hasn't been in a relationship since two years ago, where she broke up with the guy that cheated on her after dating since SS3. To be honest, they were the cutest couple ever, and the guy was from an average family,he cheated on Remi, with a university girl and that was the worst moment of our lives. I never really thought he could do such but like they say, university changes everyone.

“Actually, I wanted to tell you that there's a guy, who told me he saw Seun recently, the guy said Seun has also not been in a relationship since us and he misses me. ” Remi told me as a dreamy smile appeared on her face.

Seun, that's her ex's name.

Uhhh! Love is truly blind.

I wish I knew what to tell her, but I'm really clueless when it comes to relationships. My last relationship was in Junior Secondary school and we just dated because we were really close and other people engaged in dating. Honestly, I don't remember having any feelings for him or anyone else. I'm too busy sorting out my poor and miserable life.

“I just don't understand, if he loved me, why did he cheat?” Remi whispered sadly as I looked at her, giving her comfort.

“Boys are stupid, I guess” I said emphasizing on the word ‘stupid’ in a fake glare at no one in particular.

“Yeah” She said monotonously.

“Let's forget about me, how about you? You haven't dated since Jss2, Kike” She told me as I rolled my eyes.

“I can't just date anyone for the sake of dating. If I like someone, I'll surely tell you, so quit bothering me with that topic na and let me focus on this jollof rice.” I told her shifting my focus to the half emptied cooler in front of us.

**************

“Kike o” I heard my Grandpa's voice from the door as I hurriedly straightened the bed sheets again before rushing to open the door.

“Baba, Eka san” I greeted him, bending forward to kneel down as a form of respect.

“Omo mi! Bawo ni ” He asked me as he touched my back before my knees touched the ground. I immediately stood up, knowing it was his way of telling me to get up.

“I'm fine, Baba” I told him as I collected the things he held and went to drop it inside as he slowly came into the house and made his way to sit on the floor.

“How was today, Baba? Se aje wa?”I asked him as his happy to see me expression was replaced with a sullen look.

“Kike, I'm afraid, I don't know how we are going to cope from now hence forth.” Grandpa announced to me as my face was filled with confusion.

“What...What happened, Baba?” I spluttered.

“The truth is, I ran out of the necessary things to make shoes. Now, i had sold my last batch of the shoes I made this month, I am afraid I don't have the budget to purchase another set of materials ” He broke the news to me as I stared off, confused on how to react.

On one hand, I am supposed to be happy, I had always hated this business, my Grandad ventured into. I always thought it was stressful, and comes with a lot of embarrassment for an old man meant to be reaping the fruit of his children.

On the other hand, I should be extremely worried. I dread to think of what could happen to us if this business should stop. We don't have any other main means of earning aside from my natural talent at hair making, but it doesn't seem to earn us much.

But, i have to stay strong for my Grandfather. His mood for the rest of the day depends on my reaction, and I don't want him to get himself worked up.

“Don't worry Baba, we would come up with something. I know God would certainly provide for us.” I assured him as he gave me a weak smile before patting my head.

“Amen oo.” He said as he yawned, and that was a pointer, indicating he was famished.

“I'll get you your food. It's your favourite ” I hinted him as a grateful smile appeared on his face.

I stood up walking off towards the corner of the room, where I had kept the neatly cooked and ready food. It was a dish consisting of Amala and Ila alasepo with dried panla fish.

I placed the food in front of him and grabbed him some drinking water and water to wash his hands.

“Thank you my dear. Aren't you joining in?” He asked me as I nodded my head and he immediately started his meal.

I watched my grandfather eat his food, with a smile on his face but I knew that beneath that smile was a heart filled with worry.

I also couldn't help but wonder what would become of us if we didn't find a solution to our financial instability.

**************

“Kike, I'm on my way somewhere, hoping to come back with good news” He announced as I weirdly looked at him.

Good news? What the hell does he mean?

“Okay, See you later, Omo mi” He bade me goodbye as I waved him back.

He exited the room as I crashed back on the bed. I searched around the pillow for my small Nokia ‘tan na so be’ phone.

I had saved to eventually be able to buy this phone. I wish I could afford a better phone with all those social media apps and all but I log into all my social media platforms, once in a while, when Remi has data.

She has a phone that can chat and stuff but it's not so big. I thank God I still have something to communicate with.

I looked at the time, it was 10pm. I wonder where Baba went so early when he didn't have any shoe to deliver anymore. He should have at least had something to eat.

I went towards the corner of my room, and put a sachet of indomie into the pot and cooked it.

I was starving.

*Knock, knock, knock*

I stood up on hearing the sound of the wooden door. I opened it up, as it made it's usual creaking sound.

“Good afternoon, Aunty Chinwe” I greeted her, glancing back at my noodles occasionally.

“Kike, my dear, how are you?” She asked me with her smile that wasn't so pleasant to my eyes. Her large teeth were all on display as I abruptly shifted my head back, so she won't notice my really fake smile.

“I'm good, so, what can I assist you with, ma?” I asked her, catching glances of her 6 year old niece.

Aunty Chinwe is a type of person who only exchange pleasantries when a favour is needed. Judging by the girl standing behind her and her rough hair, I imagined she wanted me to weave the little girl's hair.

People around the neighborhood knows of my skill of hair-making, so I use it to earn a living.

“Chika's hair has been rough for a while now. Can you help me just do a little weaving, nne?” She asked me as I nodded giving her a short smile and sneaking a peek at my indomie.

“Yes, sure. You can drop her here, after I'm done with breakfast, I can get started on her hair.” I informed her as she thanked me before rushing away hurriedly.

I escorted the girl in before rushing back and removing my food from the fire.

“Aunty Kike, I like your hair oo. It's so long and full.” She complimented as I smiled before mouthing a ‘thank you’.

Well, I get that a lot. Not trying to sound corky or anything but my hair is really long. It has been like that for me since birth. Though, I had to relax it because it was too full as a virgin hair. My Grandfather told me that I took after my mother in beautiful long hair and he would never allow me to cut my hair because it makes me remind him of her. He says he sees my mother in me.

I hurriedly finished my breakfast, not before I offered Chika some and she declined politely as I happily munched away.

I also proceeded to Chika's hair after my satisfying breakfast. I hope her mum pays me well because I would have loved to catch some more sleep after eating.

******************

“Kike! Come, come and see oo” I heard Remi scream from the corridor, outside the room door.

“What?” I yell back at her as I forcefully pushed the door open, looking both sides of the corridor and finally found her towards the entrance of the corridor holding her phone in her hand and looking miserable.

“He posted a girl on his Instagram ” Remi whispered sadly as I could feel my heart breaking on hearing her voice.

Why is she still on Instagram? She doesn't even post.

“Damn it. Remi, don't. Come on look at me” I said as I guided her into my room, but her eyes were fixated on the phone.

I yanked the phone from her hand, slipping it into my back pocket as she sat down with her sad face still intact.

“Hey, are you seriously affected by his, come on, Remi you have to move on. It's been three years” I told her, not knowing exactly how to tread on the issue.

She refused to reply as she crashed her head unto the pillow on my bed and soft mufffles were heard.

I really don't understand romance. I mean if I were in her shoes, it would hurt my ego but I'll never cry over a boy.

Romance is not that hard mehn?

Or is it? Or am I just talking like that because I'm a JJC in that department?

Right now, I have a best friend to console, and I should focus on that and not my lack of expertise in the romance department.

Glossary

*“Wetin, I go give to you, na praise: A famous Nigerian Christian song, that means ‘What do I give to you? It's praise’

*Abi: right?

*Na: A Nigerian slang used to emphasize a sentence

*Jollof Rice: A famous African dish

*Wawu: Wow

*Baba: Old one / Father

*Eka san: Good Afternoon

*Omo mi: My child

*Bawo ni: How are you?

*Se aje wa: Hope you made sales?

*Amala and Ila alasepo with dried panla fish: A Nigerian Yoruba dish made with Yam flour and okra.

*Tan na só be: Point light to the soup😂

*JJC (Johnny just come): This is a slang, that signifies someone being an amateur or a novice.

Important Note: Do comment if you notice any wrong  meaning or interpretation. I am trying hard, not to mix up any meanings.

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Author's Note

Hello Readers☺,

This is the second chapter, I had completed this chapter a week ago but I decided to update every Saturday, I know it isn't Saturday, I had to drop this in advance though😂.

I want to thank you all for reading my first chapter, and coming back to read the second one. And for those that shared and voted, I'm giving you a big cuddly thank you.

Do vote and comment. By the way, yes, Like has long hair, like me💃💃💃

                                              Ifeh_love💖