Nearest Love- the Only Crime Is Love...

by Eu Aristos

  "Hello..." Chy called out from the other side of the phone.

  "I'm here... I was just briefly distracted."

  "You'll come, right?" Chy asked.

  "I'll think about it." Nk tried not to commit herself.

  "Don't worry. I'll pay for your own Gele and Ankara." Chy tried to entice her.

  "Aahhh... See this girl oo. So you now have enough money."

  "No I don't. I'm investing in your coming." Chy joked.

  "Hahahahahahahah. You will not kill me." Nk laughed out really loud. It was the first time she laughed throughout the day.

  "Don't worry. When you come, nobody will try saying any nonsense around you." Chy dropped a line that spoke volumes.

  "Ok. OK.... Let me get back to work..." Nk said as she tried to avoid the entire talk.

  "Hehehehe, I knew you'd run away." Chy cajoled her.

  "Bye Chy…"

  "I love you sis..."

  "I love you too cupcake."

  ∞∞∞

  It was 5:30pm when Kunle got to mama’s shop.

  “Ah... Kunle, na watin? Why you keep face like this?” Mama who was sitting in front of her shop asked. In her voice could be heard a huge deposit of concern. Silent, Kunle picked up a white plastic seat and sat down. ”Uhm, I nova see you look like this at least since the accident.” Mama continued.

  He looked at her, and straightening his hands, handed her the white envelop he had on his hand. She opened it immediately and scanned through the content. “Ah! Ah! Watin you do kwanu?” Mama asked with mouth ajar. “Nobi madam wey you and her come here just yesterday?”

  “That’s it. I came to work late today. That’s why.” Kunle said regrettably.

  “You...? Go late to work? Why na?”

  “Na me decide to. Na my mistake” In his voice was found some tone of pity.

  “Kai, but e no dey enough to make dem chase you na.” He was silent as he sat with his hands akimbo. He tried to run his mind through the events of the morning; trying to sound as gently as he could. "She vex when I come late this morning. Cause e be like sey she get meeting."

  "Chai, sorry" Mama tried to console him. "God go bring another driving work. Since na watin you like." While mama spoke, he tried to adjust his sitting position with his hands resting finally on his cheeks.

  "I bin think sey she like you oo." Mama continued with a smile. "Hehehehe, she no like anybody." Kunle chuckled out. Mama chuckled as they sat quietly observing the evening rush traffic. It was just a little over 5pm and he had no intention of going home that early. So he decided to go to the market; at least to check out his store which he has always ignored.

  "Come lick small orange na, make you use hold body." She handed him an already pilled orange without waiting for his response. "Thank you ma" He appreciated her and left.

  ∞∞∞

  "There will be no peace for the wicked. What you sow is what you reap. Our God is an avenging fire!" The voice from the loud speakers blasted in the market. The preacher sounded really fierce. Kunle wondered what he did wrong to deserve all he's been through in the last 3 years. Was he a wicked person? Was he paying for any sin? He stayed faithful to human virtues back since his childhood days. Even though he didn't have a Christian background, he did enter churches once in a while.

  "Oga come and buy groundnut…" The seller interrupted his thought. He smiled at her while he passed, but then he turned back and decided to buy.

  "How much for one cup?” Kunle asked as he stretched out his hands for the traditional testing.

  "Na thirty naira sir... two for fifty naira" The vendor said while holding her cup ready.

  "OK. Put for hundred naira.” He emptied the last of the groundnut he had into his mouth.

  "Ah, na only you go chop am?" she asked jovially.

  "No oo." He smiled at her.

  "Oh your pikin them..." She smiled innocently.

  He smiled again and turned without replying, but this time, painfully.

  "Oooh...Oga Kunle..!" Mr. Bright hailed him. Kunle smiled as he caught hold of his handshake.

  "Long time sir." Kunle said still smiling mildly

  "Yes oo." Mr. Bright had his hands on his waist as he grinned brightly. "This one you decided to come to the market today."

  "My brother... Na so we see am oo, how your family?" Kunle asked.

  "We thank God oo. Na hunger we dey fight." He raised his hands to the sky in a show of appreciation. Mr. Bright has been his long time friend and was really supportive after the accident. "Shey you are going to the shop?" Mr. Bright asked.

  "Yes..." Kunle answered

  "OK... Let's walk down. How are you holding up my brother?"

  "I'm not doing badly." Kunle tried to smile.

  "Awesome. You don't look so happy today though." Mr. Bright queried.

  "No no... I'm fine, just a little setback." They continued their conversation down...

  ∞∞∞

  Chapter 4

  He loved driving and gave his best to it. But it was his laxity in this regard that cost him his family and now his job. In his dismay, he went to his fridge and brought out some bottles of alcohol to drown himself in when a call came in.

  ∞∞∞

  Getting home at 10pm NK felt really bad. She has always hated driving especially at night. She had to honk so often to avoid crashing her car in the mad traffic. But she made the mistake of using the other longer route and spent almost her entire night on the road..."Good evening ma." The security man greeted her as she stepped down from her car.

  "Evening" She responded without life in her voice.

  "Welcome Ma, what about Kunle?" She looked sternly at him."Sorry ma." He apologized. Once inside she locked her doors, freshened up and with no appetite, retired to bed swearing never to drive so late again.

  "Should I even tell the new driver to come tomorrow?” "Well... I'm not going out. Let me just stay home." She said as her phone beeped. It was a Whatsapp message from Vicky her bestie. "Remember our hangout tomorrow. No dull yourself oo. Be keeping head like agama lizard." She smiled as she responded. “Idiot... I'm staying home oo. I want to rest abeg."

  "Don't joke with me. I already booked a place for you. No time."

  "I don't think I can make it. I hate crowd. Sides I don't have a driver to take me."

  "Hehehehe see this big head saying she hates crowd. What happened to your official driver?"

  Sighs... "Long story, just forget that one abeg."

  "No worry... I'll come pick you up..."

  "Kai this girl free me na."

  "Leave you for what? You must get laid oo."

  "God forbid. Hahahahahaha... A don dodge am."

  ∞∞∞

  10:00pm

  That night Kunle was in shambles. He had given his best to the job even though he didn't need it. But It was a good distraction. Since after the accident two years ago, he knew that was the only time he felt like he had a purpose each day. He loved driving and gave his best to it. But it was his laxity in this regard that cost him his family and now his job. In his dismay, he went to his fridge and brought out some bottles of alcohol to drown himself in when a call came in.

  “Hello… Ok! I’m coming” Kunle said after listening to the caller for a while. He put his cloths on and dashed out.

  "What happened???" Kunle asked as he rushed in.

  "They were attacked on their way back from the shop." Detective Kola answered him calmly.

  "Aaahhh...By who? Why? How?" Kunle had his hands over his head.

  "We suspect it was the handiwork of hungry thieves. Cause it looks so. We wouldn't want to make costly assumptions." Kola raised his eyebrows as he spoke. "She was rushed to the general hospital in Garage villa." He added after a brief silence.

  "Oh God" Kunle muttered with a heavy breath. He looked up and down and back at Kola. "Where is the little boy Frank...Frankie..." He mumbled.

  "He's with her." Kola who was laid back on his seat sat up and responded.

 
"I'm going there now. You have my number. Please call me if there's any need for me to come back here." Kunle said as he stood up to leave. He gave Kola a handshake and made for the door. As far as Kunle knew, he had two tragedies in a day and so he was devastated. The taxi he boarded wasn't the best of all. It was sluggish to say the least.

  "Oga you fit like step up your driving? I really want to reach where I dey go fast-fast"

  The driver was silent.

  "Hello sir." Kunle tried to touch him.

  "Oga I hear you! Make I fly? Why you no take flight?" The driver responded with all shade of arrogance in his words.

  Kunle wasn't in the mood for such; it wasn’t like he had a lot of options either. The night was thick. The movement took longer that it should as a result, but he got there just in time before mama Frankie was taken into surgery.

  "Mama... I dey here..." he spoke gently holding Mama’s hands as soon as he saw her.

  "Ah... Kunle... See watin those yeye agberos do me. Shey you see? If na when I be watin I be, who dem be for my side?"

  "Mama no worry about them, we go treat them fuck up later." Kunle consoled her

  "No worry my son. A don forgive them.”

  "Abeg meet Mama Stella make she give you my money make you use pay for this hospital bill."

  "Aahhh, abeg mama no worry, just rest we go pay later, in fact I dey go pay na-na!" He kissed her hand.

  "Ah... my pikin, God will bless you; e go give you happiness. God go wipe your tears." She was almost in tears as she raised her right hand to bless him.

  "Amen mama, oya rest. Make I go see them for surgery payments." He smiled reassuringly.

  "OK my son." She returned his smile."Errhm... Take care of Frankie oo. You know sey him go dey cry well-well. The boy don too suffer. A no wan make im continue" She said as he tried to leave.

  "Ah ah... Why im go cry? Na man im be." Kunle joked.

  "A don tell you finish." Mama warned him.

  "No problem mama. I go try."

  "OK. Call am for me when you commot."

  As he closed the room door Kunle faced the wall and wept. He sent Frankie in to keep her company while he went to the cashier section in the other side of the hospital to make necessary payments. Minutes later, he returned to find the room empty.

  "Sorry oo nurse... Where the woman wey be dey here???" He asked a passing nurse.

  "Oh... That elderly woman?” The nurse asked and he nodded. “She deteriorated fast and so was rushed to the theatre."

  Kunle’s heartbeat increased. "Which... Which side?" he asked hurriedly.

  "Take the left turn when you get to the end of this passageway and then to the right."

  "Ok thank you..." He moved as swiftly as he could; almost running.

  "You can't..." the nurse tried to speak. He obviously wasn't interested in what she wanted to say.... He ran. Getting to the theatre section, Frankie was there sitting on the floor, close to the door. Seeing him, he went to hug him. “Mama go dey fine. You hear?” he tried to assure the crying Frankie. Frankie nodded his head in relief. But still, tears dropped from their eyes.

  ∞∞∞

  6:15 Saturday morning.

  Tan.tantantatarantaratarata. tan.tararra....

  "Hello..." She picked up her phone without looking at the screen to identify the caller.

  "Hello Nk..." She jumped up on hearing the voice.

  "Basil?" She asked.

  "Yes dear... It’s me..." the manly voice spoke from the other end. Now she looked at the screen of her phone and noticed it was a foreign number. "Wha.... How did you get my number?" She asked with a tone depicting a mixture of delight and surprise.

  "That's not necessary now..." The caller responded with a voice resonating smiles.

  "Wow wow wow... I'm... I'm... Wow... How come? Where have you been? What happened..?" she was sitting upright on her bed now.

  "Calm down girl... We've got all the time to talk about that later." He tried to assure her.

  "Yea... but... I never thought you were still alive – sorry I don’t mean to be offensive"

  "Hahahahah.... If you are indirectly asking how I'm doing, then I'm fine, and I'm doing fine."

  "Uhmmm... Someone hasn't left his braggadocio."

  ""Hahaha... Don't start..." Basil spoke.

  "So tell me.... What's up?"

  "Nothing much... just wanted to be sure the number was the right number."

  "Who gave you my number?" She asked a bit hardy

  "You should know who...." He joked.

  "Vicky???"

  "Hehehehe..."

  "I knew it!"

  "Calm down... I only connected with her on Facebook recently and from her profile, I found you."

  "Oooh...You have learnt to snoop around eh?" Vicky asked.

  "No no... far from that; it was just a harmless effort at reconnecting with friends."

  ”Oh, I see..." Nk nodded.

  "I got your contact online actually..."

  "How come? I know I don't have it on my Facebook profile. Even if I did, you wouldn't access it if you aren't my friend... And I'm sure I haven't accepted any requests lately."

  "Oooh yea... You haven't."

  "I just checked you out on your company's website and boom!"

  "Ooh! That! I already told them to take that down."

  By now Nk was up from bed and with her nightgown tied around her, she made for the balcony.

  "Someone needs to be queried in that office..." she sounded mean.

  "Easy girl... No go do pass oo. Again I didn't intend that it bring harm to anyone.” He sounded pleading.

  "Uhmmm. Don't worry. I'll just remind them to do it again."

  "Thank you. So how have you been??? Of course I saw that you are the VP... That's a great position." Basil acknowledged.

  "Uhmmm, I do my best." She nodded.

  "I trust you to. You've always been the beauty with brains kind of girl; my kind of girl."

  She smiled. More like blushed.

  "So where are you at?" She asked.

  "I'm in Brighton UK."

  "Oh because you are fair, you chose the bright side of town eh?" she tried to flatter him.

  "Hahahahah someone is learning how to be funny."

  Elbows on the balcony, backside up and with her right leg wiggling she smiled again.

  "I have to get back to work."

  "Work? It’s Saturday!"

  "Yeaa, man's gat to hustle"

  "Aiit" She said silently.

  "Don't worry, I'll call you again. Can I chat you up via the messenger now my lady???"

  "Oh... Sure and I'm not your lady." She warned jokingly.

  "But I'd like you to be."

  "Uhm." She whimpered.

  "Don't bother calling this line. It’s an office line."

  "Owk..." she said

  "But I'll message you up on whatsapp."

  "Aiit, take care"

  "You too love." Basil responded just before he dropped the call.

  She shrunk herself in joy as soon as he ended the call. Just then her phone vibrated. It was Vicky's Whatsapp message.

  "I'm on my way."

  "OK...I'm waiting." She replied.

  "Ah, you of all people are waiting? Something is fishy."

  She smiled."Idiot, be coming to this place joor."

  "Arrange the gist keep well oo, and some breakfast too. "

  "I hear you....Hungry bird."

  ∞∞∞

  Chapter 5

  He simply carried him to his children's former room. There he laid Frankie after undressing him from his school uniform which he had on. He went into the shower soon after and there, as the water trickled down his body, he wept.

  ∞∞∞

  8:00am

  "Hey sweetheart..." Vicky greeted and pecked NK as she entered the house.

  "Did you bring my Galeto shoes??? Nk asked her friend with a crinkled look.

  "So that's how you welcome me eh?" Vicky asked with a letdown look. NK tur
ned and went inside seemingly uninterested. Vicky followed her squarely.

  "See as you dey fat. Can't do anything to burn fat; not even small ‘do’" Vicky mocked Nk.

  "Hehehehe… Devil...You will not get me."

  "I have already."

  ""Ehee.... Guess who called me." Nk changed the discussion.

  "Ah. Who knows you?"

  "Shatapp. I'm the VP at my work place." Nk bragged.

  "Abeg...abeg...abeg... Be VP. I'm CEO of Vicky collections."

  "CEO without office" NK eyed her.

  "CEOs don't need an office; we can run the game everywhere and anytime."

  "I hear you joor." NK flipped her fingers

  "Ehee... Who called you???" Vicky brought up the topic again.

  "Basil" Nk responded with her face brightened up.

  "Which Basil?" Vicky folded her eyes, looking lost.

  "Basil Na..." NK said with her shoulders raised high but surprised that Vicky could not recall who it was.

  "Oh, Basil your crush that year?!" Vicky was illuminated.

  "Yes oo." Nk responded as they got to the dining section of the apartment.

  "Uhmmm...What did he want? Thought he should be married by now? "

  "Ah ah... Married ke? I don’t know about that but he just called to say hi."

  "Oh.... Owk oo" Vicky said unimpressed

  "About being married or not... I don't know. He sounded single to me."

  "Oh really..?" Asked Vicky who had already made and was scooping golden morn into her mouth.

  "He was jovial and full of life. He says he got his connection to me through your Facebook account. "

  "Me? When...how?" Vicky asked in quick successions.

  "Don't know, you know your boyfriends them are too much. You may have thought he was one of them?"

  "I hear you. What will I do with such alinga? I like my guys heavy and cute." Vicky said with her mouth full.

  "It’s because you've not seen him now..." Nk said as she showed Vicky his picture from her iPhone.

  "Uhmmm..." Vicky hummed while closing her eyes.

  "He's cute shey?" Nk asked, looking for approval.

  "Sorry.... I was enjoying the taste of the golden morn. What did you say?"