Nearest Love- the Only Crime Is Love...

by Eu Aristos

  "Were you even listening to anything I said?" Nk said with a tone of disappointment.

  "Yes Na." Vicky scooped another spoon of golden morn. “Shey you like him?"

  "Who's talking about liking him here now?" NK queried shyly "Just wanted you to check him out." Nk flipped and dropped her phone.

  "I have what I like in guys. He's just not around there. So I can't say I'm thrilled by him." Vicky said nonchalantly.

  "Mtcheeww, mood killer" Nk stood up to leave the table.

  "Hahahahahahahah, no vex... No vex... na" Vicky pleaded.

  Nk eyed her.

  "Make way for him to come in if you like him." Vicky said, scooping her golden morn cereal. "I want you to be happy, that's all. Where's he at sef?" She looked up at Nk queerly

  "Brighton" NK responded absentmindedly.

  "Brighton?! Why didn't you say so since? We will date him!” Vicky shouted clapping.

  "Mad girl, you and who? Don't go and enjoy your attention from all your guys. Leave my single one for me oo."

  "Hahahahah. No wooooorry... He's still not my type." Vicky relaxed her delight.

  Nk eyed her. "Where did you say you were going again?" She asked Vicky.

  "Me or we?" Vicky asked seriously dropping her spoon.

  "I don't think I can go oo. I want to sleep." Nk said nonchalantly.

  "Sleep gini? Come and sleep na let me see you."

  ∞∞∞

  Getting back home at 8am, Kunle could not believe how fast things went south. "You want chop anything?" Kunle asked Frankie. The obviously sad Frankie didn't know what to say. Sitting calmly, he soon fell asleep. Kunle watched him from where he sat, not knowing what to do. It felt like ages since he last cared for a child. 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.

  ∞∞∞

  2pm the same day.

  "Aahhh...Look at all this cute guys walking around here and you are telling me that you are 'waiting for the right lover." Vicky taunted Nk as they sat under the makeshift tent in the beach.

  "Yes na...I don't want to fall back to the mistakes of the past." Nk defended herself.

  "Uhm, na so." Vicky hummed as she sipped her drink. There was a brief silence.

  "Do you think of him?" Vicky asked.

  "Which of him?" asked Nk?

  "OK OK… all of them." Vicky asked as she sipped.

  "Yeaa... I do. More reason I shut my heart since." Nk smirked

  "Uhm, You have to stop kicking yourself about that past. And embrace the future."

  "Uhm. I'm trying. Thank you my inspirer" Nk said quietly.

  "Hello beautiful ones." Said a voice from behind.

  “Hiii... Harry... Handsome..." Vicky greeted.

  "Sorry we are late."Harry said.

  "Hello." Said the other guy

  "Uhm… and that's a cute one." Vicky commended Nel

  "Hello...I'm Vicky."

  "I'm Nel"

  "Wow. Like Nelson???"

  "Yeaa, I like the way you say it." Nelson commended.

  "Oh my… Nel this is my bestie NK"

  "Hello NK." He stretched his hand.

  "Hiii..." She said and received his hands.

  "Oooh, that’s a soft hand." Nk thought.

  "Less I forget, She's stinking single and ready to mingle." Vicky said amidst NK's eying.

  "Don't mind her" Nk tried to defend herself.

  "I do mind her…" Nel said as he sat close to Nk.

  Harry and Vicky were soon engrossed in their own discussion.

  "I wonder how a beautiful woman like you is single." Nel’s statement sounded more like a question.

  “Hahaha... Everyone thinks we are taken.” Nk smiled into oblivion.

  "Ooh... So no one asks." Nel contributed.

  "Yea, I’m thinking that applies to males too?" Nk asked.

  "If you are asking if I'm single... Then that's an affirmative." Nelson smiled with his answer.

  Nk smiled and looked away. On her face could be seen a mixture of calm and confusion.

  "I’m going to get a drink. Need any?" Nel asked Nk.

  "Na.... I'm fine..." Nk responded.

  “Why don't you come with me???" Nel tried to persuade her.

  "Oh... I just feel a bit heavy. Run along, will be waiting for you here." Nk said.

  "Yeaa... Please get me bottle of chilled something." Vicky shouted out at Nel who smiled and went away to get the drinks.

  Nk, soon, was lost in thought. Here before her was a cute light skinned guy who was single and ready to mingle. But then there is Basil who has been her crush since ages. "Basil isn't here yet... Wonder if he really wants anything.... I'll just keep Nel at bay until am sure." She said to herself, folding her face.

  "What are you thinking about?" Vicky interrupted her thoughts.

  "Nothing..." She lied.

  "Be lying to yasef... You'll still tell me later." Vicky asserted. Vicky who was now wildly in the arms of Harry murmured. Nk felt a bit jealous. Just then her phone beeped. It was a whatsapp message from an unknown foreign number.

  "Hello Dear..."

  "Hi" She replied

  "It’s me Basil."

  "Oh... Finally, how are you?"

  "I'm cool. Are you up for a video call?"

  "Uhmmm... I don't have my earpiece...and it’s noisy here."

  "Owk..."

  "How's work?"

  "Fine, I’m home now. My shift is over."

  "What do you do???"

  "Stock exchange"

  "Ooh... That's big."

  "Yea... na God."

  "Uhmmm, how's the family?"

  "Which one?"

  "Heard you are married" She typed with smiles on her face, imagining the look on his face as he defended himself.

  "Meeee? You are joking right? Nope... I'm not."

  Really? She was happy he wasn’t.

  "Well... I'm single... Why do ask?"

  "Nothing..." Nk lied

  "Uhmmm... Seems someone is catching the vibe..." Basil replied.

  She smiled.

  "I know you feel something for me... I can assure you that the feeling is mutual."

  "Uhmmm. When are you coming back?"

  "Guess..."

  "Uhmmm... I can't... It’s not like I know your calendar.

  "Just try..."

  "Tomorrow...?" She joked

  "Hahahaha. That's not possible na..."

  "I tried..."

  "Sure you did."

  "Will be back in 2 weeks..."

  "Oh... I see... That's closer than I expected."

  "Yea... Can I call you???"

  "And I'm back!" the voice from behind sounded, making her raise her eyes from her phone.

  "Hey.... Nel, Got me any?" Nk asked

  "Seriously...?" Nel asked looking transfixed.

  "Hahahaha, I was just joking with you." She waved him off laughing.

  "Oh my, you scared me there."

  "Hahahahah" She laughed again and looked back at her phone.

  "No" she typed in response to Basil’s request for a call.

  "You have a beautiful smile...." Said Nel

  "Oh... Thank you." Nk blushed.

  "But you seem not to like to use it." He added.

  "Uhm" She smiled.

  "There it is again..." he said pushing her to grin the more.

  "Stop please... I try my best to smile." She blushed. Her phone vibrated. It was a text message from Kunle. She ignored it. "So tell me... What do you do...?" she asked Nel after locking her phone.

  ∞∞∞

  Chapter 6

  She quickly dropped the call. Truth is she felt a scratch of pain in her heart when she heard the female voice at the background.

  ∞∞∞

  Kunle hissed after he sent that message. He figured it wasn't necessary, considering NK wasn't so close to mama...
Or so he thought. "Uncle Kunle... A fit chop this biscuit???" Frankie interrupted his thought. "Chop my dear." He said as he tried to smile. "E remain small make food done. Then we go-go see mama."

  "She go dey ok?" Frankie asked.

  "Yes." He looked out the window as he said that. In reality, he sure didn’t know the level at which the doctors were with Mama but before the boy, he needed to be strong. The little boy has seen a lot since he was born. His phone rang.

  "Hello detective... Good day to you." Silence…

  "He’s fine." He responded.

  "Owk, we'll make a stop when going to the hospital."

  "OK. Bye."

  "Hey Frankie... You fit baff yourself abi Na mama dey baff you?” He asked dropping his phone on the table.

  "Aaahhh... a dey baff myself oo" Frankie responded looking a bit embarrassed.

  "Oh... Owk" Kunle said while remembering when his 8yr old son demanded he wanted to himself a bath. Kids can be funny. He smiled to himself. "Oya come make you go baff." He motioned at Frankie.

  "OK sir" Frankie said as he followed Kunle. From the window, Frankie heard dogs bark. "We go-go house?" He asked looking up at Kunle. "A nova know oo. Why you ask?" Kunle looked concerned. "Na because bingo our dog go dey hungry" Frankie responded almost immediately.

  "Oh... Yea... We go give am food later. Maybe we go carry am come back sef."

  "Yeaa!" Frankie danced. For the first time since last night Kunle saw Frankie smile. That gave him joy.

  "Oya make you go baff.”

  ∞∞∞

  "What are you doing tomorrow?" Nel asked the tired looking Nk.

  "Oh... I'll be going to church, and then I'll rest."

  "Oooowk.... I was wondering if you'd want to have dinner with me." Nel asked.

  "On a Sunday?" Nk’s expression looked swashed.

  "Yeaa..." Nel said with his eyes raised rather pleadingly.

  "No way..." Nk said, sounding a bit harsh.

  "Uhm. Owk." Nel nodded. “Wouldn't you want to meet up again? Nel asked with a plea face.

  "Like seriously?" Nk asked a bit surprised at the sudden request. There was a brief silence "I barely know you. I wouldn't go out with you, at least not alone."

  "Ok, bring someone... anyone... I'll pay for anything just to have to see your face again tomorrow." Nel promised.

  She blushed. "Let me ask Vicky..."

  "Vicky are you up for an outing tomorrow???"

  "Sunday?????!" she shouted from the distance where she and Harry had trekked to.

  "Yea..!" Nk shouted back.

  "No way, I’d like to just sleep till tomorrow runs out!"

  "You see... We don't do Sundays..."

  "Uhmmm..." Nel helved with a half smile.

  Seeing his disappointment, and not wanted to lose on both sides, Nk began to consider.

  Damn... He looks childish.... She thought.

  "OK, see. I'll see you anytime within the week."

  He brightened up...

  "No assurances.... But please don't disturb my life..." She smirked.

  "Owk... How best would you want to be addressed... reached?" He asked.

  "Nk... Just call me Nk. No additions. I prefer chats to long talk" She dropped.

  "So you wouldn't want me to call you Nkem???"

  "No no please... I don't belong to you..."

  "Hahahahah...."

  Time check...

  "Awww... It’s late...4pm already..." Complained NK She stood up and stepped out of the tent. "Vicky!! It’s late! Let's go please!" Nk shouted out.

  Vicky and Harry started returning. She turned to catch Nel staring at her lustfully. As if knowing what she wanted to say, she smiled when he spoke.

  "I think you are a very attractive woman. If you are game, I'm game too. We can go all the way down the line."

  "If it's what I think that you are talking about, then I think it’s a bit too early to begin to have such conversations dear..."

  "I don't care...”

  "Well...I do...” She said as she stood up and started returning to the car.

  Vicky and Harry were out later. "Love bird...let's go please." Nk smirked

  "Jealousy...” Vicky mocked her jokingly.

  ∞∞∞

  4:00pm

  "We got one of the guys who attacked Mama." Detective Kola said to Kunle as soon as he sat down.

  "Oh that's good. Who are they?"

  "Interrogations are on the way and we have cause to believe that it was a premeditated action."

  "Oh... Owk... Why so??? Why the sudden shift from the hoodlum story?"

  "We found Mama's picture in their hideout.” The detective dropped the bomb.

  "What?!" Kunle exclaimed.

  ∞∞∞

  Home at 7pm Kunle could not help but wonder who could want to harm mama. Considering he grew up under her, Kunle recalls vividly, throughout the years he has known mama, she wouldn't want issues with anyone. Soon his phone began to ring.

  "Hello Detective."

  "Yea... Kunle"

  "Just to remind you, please do think of all possible links to mama who you think would ever be threats to her. We need to get to the root of this. "

  "OK sir..."

  "Are you sure you can pull through?" The detective asked.

  "Yea, we are gonna be fine." Kunle dropped the call and switched off his phone.

  ∞∞∞

  Getting home, Nk showered and dosed off. Waking up at 9pm she decided to read her mails and messages. She remembered that there was a message from Kunle.

  "Mama has been admitted. She was attacked by hoodlums last night. She's in coma now after undergoing surgery" it read. She felt cold after seeing the content of the message.

  "The number you are trying to call is currently switched off. Please try again later." sounded the automatic voice as she tried to call Kunle. She felt bad, and so, tried over and over to get him. When she couldn't, the memories of the last day she saw mama filled her heart.

  She dozed soon after.

  The next morning Nk woke up to a stranger outside washing her car. She went down and there met an unknown face.

  "Sorry... Who are you???" She asked with her sleepy face.

  "Ah. Madam good morning oo..."

  "Uhmmm. Who are you?"

  "I'm Babatunde, your new driver." He smiled broadly.

  "Ooh. OK. How did you get here?” She queried him with some attitude.

  "They send me the address so I asked the gateman when I reach here.

  “Ok, welcome”

  Thank You ma"

  "I'll be leaving for church in one hour." She said as she turned to go inside.

  "Ok ma. I’m waiting oo."

  In church Nk was worried. It was the first Sunday without Kunle and it felt weird. She felt worried for him, Frankie and Mama. So after church NK decided to try Kunle again. He picked up.

  "Hello Kunle... "

  "Hello good afternoon ma. His voice was calm and gentle. "

  "I've been trying to get you. I saw your message..." On his side, Kunle was silent. "How's she doing???" She tried to sound as calm as she could.

  "She still dey coma. No serious improvement. But we thank God.”

  "Which hospital is she in?"

  "Garage General Hospital..."

  "Can I go see her?"

  "Yes... No... Don't. Investigation still dey on. The police no go gree for security reasons.”

  "What are you talking about? Thought it was just a hungry attack?"

  "Dem talk sey dem see mama picture with one of them."

  "Ah ah seriously..?"

  "Yea..."

  "How's Frankie..?" she asked with a concerned tone.

  "Him dey fine" Kunle said.

  "Can I see you both later today? Maybe you'll take me to see Mama..."

  "Uhmmm… Frankie dey sleep now and me I dey busy. I’ll let you know when we can see."

  "A don finish am oo. Come make we begin." A voice from the background said.


  "OK. I dey come." Kunle responded to that voice. "Sorry ma." He apologized.

  "It’s OK. Just let me know when we can. "

  "OK ma."

  She quickly dropped the call. Truth is she felt a scratch of pain in her heart when she heard the female voice at the background. "What's wrong with me..?" She asked herself. She swore not to call Kunle again. After all, I don't have an obligation towards him. Mtcheew… She hissed. Getting to where the car was packed, she couldn't find the car. She looked around for the driver but couldn't find him. She didn't even have his number. She waited.

  ∞∞∞

  "I dey call and you just dey make noise... Respect yourself oo. I've told you to no dey do that kin thing, e no good." Kunle cautioned.

  "Sorry Uncle." Bisi Kunle's neighbor's 15yr old daughter said. She has always been helpful around the house.

  "Where Frankie..."

  "He's watching cartoon in the parlor."

  "Owk. Una don chop?"

  "No...”

  "Oya put food make una chop. Make I go hospital a dey come."

  "OK sir."

  "Make una no go anywhere oo"

  "OK sir."

  ∞∞∞

  Not wanting to create a scene, NK just flagged down a taxi and decided to make a stop at Vicky's house.

  "O girl... I didn't hear you drive in..."

  "Yea... That's because I didn't." Nk who was looking worn out responded.

  "What happened???"

  "Don't know where my driver went to with the car."

  "Aahhh... And you don't have his number?"

  "No. I don't."

  "Uhmmm… that's risky. Wait... It’s the new guy?" Vicky observed. They were walking into the house.

  "Man...Yes."

  "Oh man..?” Vicky sounded rhetorical.

  "I didn't have time to get his number before the service."

  "Uhmmm sorry; make yourself comfortable, although you don't look it." Vicky said as she turned away.

  Silently they went into the sitting room of the four bedrooms duplex. Being a good business person, Vicky carved a notch for herself in the elite world. Her desire for comfort made her work hard.

  "You didn't go to church???"

  "I went for 6am mass and I’ve been back since 8am. Abi you think sey a no go-go?"

  "Hehehehe...don't mind me.” An uneasy silence existed between them and this worried Vicky.