BARELY BLONDE

I cordially welcome y'all to the premier of the third POV of FINDERS KEEPERS, just as I mentioned at the beginning of this book.Yeah I've been kinda ghosting recently due to study related matters and I apologize.Thank y'all for checking up on me. Without further Ado let's get into it.

Special Mentions: korisa_hex _ Don_chizzy _ liz_moses

. . .

At what point does love begin? At what point does love end?

-oblivion

. . .

KEYSHIA'S POV

      I had my ears plugged in as Ariana's "God is a woman" flowed through those thin wires and down to their rightful place. My hands fiddled with my phone's screen as I scrolled through some cheesy pictures on my food blog. "Food Photography" has always been an enticing hobby to me ever since i met several exquisite meals for the first time back at "New York", so a few years back i decided to put this hobby of mine to good use by opening a "Food Blog". It hasn't been easy toggling between managing my fashion brand "SONO" and running my food blog as well, both simultaneously.

But you just have to make out some time for the things you love.

They weren't recent pictures, but i had to keep those fingers busy cause i had this feeling that the drive from the hotel down to the hospital was gonna be a really long one, well at least not as long as the drive from the airport down to the hotel.

In no time we had come to a halt, but I didn't bother asking the driver "why" and looking out through the window had never crossed my mind. I was either too engrossed by the visuals being displayed on my phone or too in-tune with the music that hit my ear-drums continuously. I had just assumed that he probably stopped for a re-fill.

The Cab driver voiced out some inaudible words as he banged continuously on the huge glass that demarcated the passenger's seat from the driver's.

"What's the problem?" I voiced out in a subtle voice whilst pulling out the ear plugs

"No ooh...No problem dey..." he trailed

"But i say we don reach" he added

"Oh sorry ooh...i forget say you be O-yibo" he added with a wide grin

"Make i talk am well, Mada-" he trailed as he ran his hands through his hair like there was this really irritating itch he needed to get rid off

"Okay na like this... Ma'am we-we have arr-ived" he finally voiced out with a smile,

I watched as distant rays of light from a nearby kiosk sneaked in through the window crevices and down to his braced thirty-two while he smiled , he was probably learned after all.

"Abi i get am?..." he questioned as he exuded an expression that entailed excitement

While all these went on, I had been trying my very best to hold back my laughter but all to no avail. I finally gave up, and in no time I erupted in a full blown laughter which was of no doubt very contagious. Because the driver too had joined in.

"S-o ho-w i go pa-y yo-u now, Cash or Transfer?" I stuttered in between some lines, but i'm sure it was accurate enough to pass across the message.

Being away for all these years, my pidgin had now become weak. I could understand the message which was trying to be passed by someone indulging in "pidgin", but I couldn't quite place my words to reply, at least not without stuttering. I silently hoped my "Yoruba" hadn't deteriorated as much as my "Pidgin" had.

"But what's google for?".

What google cannot do, doesn't exist

I found this online class for "pidgin" newbies recently and I had started learning the basics all over again once I had the news of mum being bed ridden at a hospital and being listed for surgery. She had been so dramatic as to ask for me to come down before she kicked the bucket.

" I mean who dies of GERD "

It was probably one of their many schemes to get me back to Nigeria, trust me when i say they've failed dauntlessly and beyond a thousand times, but yet they keep on shooting their shots.

"I got hit this time indeed",

"Ahh...when Oyibo begin speak pidgin" The driver voiced out to himself, but he was rather too audible. He had this shocked look written all over his face.

"O'cmon, I'm Nigerian you know..." I trailed as the man threw a stouted glance at me for the second time.

"Ah so as you fine reach like this, you be my sister...?" he said with a smirk

"Abi you dey whine me?" he continued.

"Yeah go ONE-NIGERIA" I said as I threw a fist into the air to portray solidarity.

He fixed his glance at me, perhaps he was still trying to weigh the odds of me being Nigerian. I could see he had a lot of questions skiing through his head.

"So cash or transfer?" I voiced out again as to draw him out of his reverie.

"Oh no vex...just run me the cash for hand" he said and i chuckled for no reason exactly

"Na just 3k..." He continued

I still had a few naira notes which I had changed at the air-port, so I pulled out a couple of thousand naira notes and I handed it to the Man who shot me a confused look.

"Your tip is inclusive..." I trailed

"Oh Tip...Ah thank you Madam" He finally let out as a smile beamed across his lips

   I finally alighted from the vehicle, still trying my best to recover from the laughing flu that I had gotten only a few moments back. I was now standing right beside the cab whilst clutching my hand bag with my left hand. I was so glad to have dropped my luggage at the hotel's pent-house before coming down here. Otherwise I couldn't quite imagine the scenario of a lady walking into a hospital with tons of bags and boxes. it's safe to say such a person would be admitted into one of the wards immediately.

I stood there under the twilight night sky, peering at the huge lit signature board attached to the hospital building. it read out "Vastetine's Hospital".

  I pulled out my phone for a second time, glancing through the address dad had sent me, just to be sure I was at the right place. I without hesitation navigated towards the pull-glass doors.
I approached the very first nurse I laid my eyes on and I asked for directions to Mum's ward, but she only gestured towards a counter where a skinny lady stood.
I walked up to the lady at the counter, she was dark and skinny, she had a little mole fitted perfectly at the lower part of her nose. She had been doing something with her phone when I approached her. She barely knew I had been standing there for quite some time now, or perhaps she did but behaved like she didn't. Her mouth moved in various directions as she tossed her gum from pillar to post.

"Please can I get directions to warden A?" I finally let out and again those words fell on dumb ears.

"Uhhh...please where's Warden A?" I said again, this time staring down at the warden name dad had sent to me earlier on. At least just to confirm that it was a warden name in this hospital. Cause the way this lady was acting made me feel some worth stupid.

"Hello..." I trailed with a snap from my fingers

"Take your first right, then move towards the stairs, take a left and then two other rights." She said in a rather dull and timid voice. she dragged on every word, which seemed like she was being sarcastic.

"Excuse you, I didn't get that." I retorted and she threw me a dimming glance

"Madam, I don give you direction, Oya dey comot" She said whilst rolling her eyes on me and in no time she was back to her phone's screen.

I was about walking out when she called out me

"Madam...no vex ooh, but which cream do you use?..." She trailed

"See as you just dey shine like sun...give me update na" She continued with a mild tone, contrasting to her previous. I could visualize her teeth grinding against the gum more aggressively than before.

It was rather funny how she had swiftly switched the topic in a minimum of seconds, shoving off the previous scene like she did nothing wrong and to believe she was a Nurse, I couldn't help but wonder how and where she got her degree from.
    I was now getting pissed off and I had no other option than to walk away and I could hear her mutter some words from behind.

"Na to share update, na en this one dey do shakara"

I couldn't quite make out what she meant but I could tell from her voice that her statement was laced with "slight". What was all the fuss about my skin and me being "Oyibo '' anyways? I mean i was barely blonde, probably the atmosphere overseas had made my skin a little lighter though in my perspective i looked the same.

"Well it's been eight years...what can i say?"

"A right, then the stairs, a left and..." I trailed in my thoughts

"Was it a right or a left?" I silently asked myself as I stood between a cross-path.

"Right or Left '' I muttered to myself trying to recall what the sass nurse had said. Going back to ask her wasn't really an option. Calling dad wasn't an option either cause i wanted my arrival to the hospital to be an unexpected surprise. I finally decided to take a left and I walked towards the first warden I could lay my eyes on whilst silently hoping it was Mum's. Surprisingly the door to the room was open and I could hear some distant voices as I approached closer. I finally got to the door and I couldn't comprehend what I saw. I could visualize a few doctors surrounding a body and several nurses running from pillar back to post to fetch necessities when asked for. My heart skipped for a beat at the thought of mum being the nearly lifeless body lying right on the blood stained mattress.

"Get me my sons and my wife too," I could hear the patient mildly voice out. That was when I realized the patient was a "HE". Indeed his voice was laced with pain. As much as I dreaded the sight of blood I couldn't quite get myself to look away. Then the doctor called for the defibrillator

"Clear!" He yelled as he forcefully placed the machine right above the man's chest.

I had now had a full doze of the scenery and I couldn't take it any more. So I slowly began retrieving my footsteps but in no time I had been spotted by one of the nurses who hurriedly walked up to me.

"Ma'am are you in any way related to Mr.Udo Michaels or his Father?..."She trailed as she tried to catch her breath.

"Sorry i'm not and I have no idea who you're talking about" I let out trying to clarify the misunderstanding.

"Then why are you here?" She asked in a pissed tone

"I just got lost, i'm actually in search of Warden A," I let out

"This is warden A2,  take a walk to the lobby down you right that's Warden A" She said

"Oh thank y-" I trailed as she zoomed off to answer one of the doctors who beckoned unto her. At least not without closing the door behind her.

  I slowly navigated towards the lobby, down to my right and all i could ask myself was

"What kind of children would leave their dad alone to face the cold grip from death ALONE."

Whether or not I was being too sentimental by judging the book by it's cover, I couldn't care less. "My eyes saw what they saw''. I was so wrapped around reverie much that I didn't know when I bumped into someone.

"Oh I'm so sorry" the person said, steadying me. I quickly stepped back and glared at the culprit. The first thing I noticed was his seemingly moist brown hair that was braided and rounded up into a loose yarn. My eyes trailed down to his face. He had perfectly curved brows and deep brown eyes that made his skin look lighter.

I stepped back a little more to regain my composure. This stranger should be about 5'6, he was clad in a white short sleeved turtle neck which was neatly tucked into a pair of ash patterned slacks. He had a pair of limited edition sneakers stuck to his feet to match the attire.

"Just the perfect look"
"No doubt he looked expensive, and his sense of fashion was a hundred"

Before I could voice out a pathetic reply, he had rushed off towards the direction of the room I had been coming from. Like why was everyone in a hurry today. Just then it clicked "Was he perhaps one of the afore-mentioned sons from earlier?'' I silently asked myself as I took a second glance at him walking into the room.

. . .

There I was glued still, wrapped in dad's embrace. I had forgotten how much warmth that emitted from those arms of his. After all, it's been eight years. I locked my arms beneath his accordingly as I returned his embrace. Fortunately, there weren't onion bulbs around but even at that i tried so hard to hide those tears, tears of joy. Mum had already broken down as she lay bed ridden with  a smile glued to her face. I could spot her blouse being soaked already as I let loose of dad's embrace and approached her. I sat at the bed's end, caressing her thin legs with so much care.

She was no doubt in so much pain, no matter how hard she tried to hide it. I had always seen through her, she was like a transparent mirror. I laid my head in her bosom as she let out her hands towards my hai, caressing each strand intermittently. All I hoped for then was to never let go, but to stay glued at that spot. Glued to mother's care. It never occured to me that no one had said a word, right from when I stepped into the room, we all had been so engrossed in letting out those jars of liquid salt that had been bottled up for several years.

Oh sweet re-union, A family re-union indeed.

"How was your trip?" Mum finally broke the silence, her voice was indeed very thin.

"That doesn't matter Mum...How are you?" I said in a shaky voice as it slowly dawned on me that mum was in a probably worse condition than I thought. It really hurt me when I realized I had not taken the fact that she was ill seriously.

"O'cmon I'm fine..." She trailed as the nurse who just walked in cut in

"Please she needs some rest right now, she just got out of surgery a few hours back. Doctors orders" She let out as she gestured towards the door.

I was really reluctant about the idea of leaving, but I watched dad signal that we'd give her some space. I could tell he was in so much pain, but I couldn't really figure out a way to calm his nerves.

We both walked out of the room as the nurse attended to mum. I bid her a goodnight and she gave out a weak smile in affirmation.

"The doctor said with time she'd get better" Dad said as I stared through those huge glass windows watching the nurse pierce a syringe through mum's veins. I quickly wiped the droplets of tears that was left, they didn't really like the idea of drying up into the moist layer of my skin, so I gave them a hand.

"Yeah, I know she will...I know she will," I repeated continuously, trying my best to convince myself.

"You need to get some rest..."He trailed
"Should i drop you off at the house?"He continued

"No, no I'm lodged at a hotel already" I said hesitantly

"Oh..." he muttered beneath his breath

"YYou should go get some rest then, i'd stay back at the hospital" He said and we erupted into a mix of diversity. I wasn't kin on leaving, at least not while mum was in such a state. But dad insisted I get some rest since mum was going to be discharged tomorrow. I finally gave in though after I had noticed all the odds were in dad's palm.

"I have a meeting with a branch of my fashion's brand tomorrow, what time is Mum getting discharged?...I'd pick her up" I said as I stared at dad who had his arms crossed.

"Three pm tomorrow" He replied

"Okay then it's settled, i'd pick her up then." I said
"But a little help though, i just need the house address" I continued with a meek smile, and i watched dad give out a chuckle. I was so glad I got to loosen up some air.

"Get some rest too dad, see you tomorrow" I said as I slowly walked away, navigating towards the exit direction.

. . .

"So tell me, where can I get good food?, a full list of good food joints would be fine..." I trailed whilst stopping in my tracks with my hand stuck to my belly, grinning from ear to ear. Why wouldn't i? Ibukun had decided to stare at me like I recently rose from the dead.

"The second messiah indeed...as if ".

"Girl look at you..." She said as she gestured towards me with both hands
"it's been eight years and all you can talk about is food?" She continued with a chuckle.

"I've forgotten how naughty you are, you know," I said as I gave her a light shove on the shoulder.

"Well..a lot hasn't changed about me since you left..." She trailed
"But look at you... I lack words, though all I can think of to say right now is Dayummmm"  She let out and we both burst into laughter.

"So tell me are the boys..."
"No no are the Men still all over you?" I let out whilst raising my brows slighty away from its fixed position.

"And yet they say I'm the naughty one" She voiced out with a mild chuckle.

Ibukun and I had always been friends right from childhood to our college days, and even after I left the country, Long distance wasn't a barrier to our friendship. Of course we had something unique, we were like the bird and it's feather, we were always seen together, trying to be naughty one way or the other. After college, when I eventually left, Ibukun couldn't find a decent Job, Recalling properly she worked at a coffee shop then. I felt guilty for not being able to do anything for my dear friend, But years later, after I had been able to establish my fashion brand "SONO" in New York, I decided on expanding my brand towards a few other countries with Nigeria inclusive, which I eventually did. No doubt I made her the director of my brand over here in Nigeria, " What are friends for..."

"So...f-o-o-d joints..." I said emphasizing on the food with so much vigour while stopping in my tracks, right in  front of the hotel's exit.

"Well...Blue collars would have been the perfect place to be right now, I stopped by over there today, but unfortunately they are closed up today since their boss Udo Michaels recently lost his father. So in his respect they had orders to stay closed up. So i heard from the security personnel when I got there this morning, " she concluded.

"Oh...so let's go review the interns then" I said as we both stepped out through the hotel's exit door.

"Then later, we go searching for exquisite food joints for lunch" I said as we both erupted into another round of full blown laughter.

"What about Zara? have you heard from her recently" I asked as we stepped into the uber that had been waiting for us.

"Nahhh, i haven't, not since after that incident" She said while giving out a nod in the negative.

"It's been eight years, i'm sure she'd have forgotten about all that played out"I said trying so much to sound sure and convinced.

. . .

"Gather round, Gather round..." Ibukun let out, her voice hitting the roof top as she signalled towards everyone with the snap of her fingers.

We were standing in front of the intern's and the employees at "SONO NIG", to be honest, Ibukun had done a good job managing this place and the way she controlled the staff and them obeying her accordingly, it was just Nice.

"I'd like you all to meet the founder of SONO INT and my friend Ms. Keyshia Adams Adewole." She said and there was a clapping ovation amidst mutters.

"So she and I would be reviewing the interns roday, some of you would get to stay and others would leave also, Goodluck to you guys." She concluded, and there was another round of applause.
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We had long begun the interview, running into hours, there had been tears of joy and the other kind of tears. There were a few dramatic personnels though, but for what it's worth I kept the interview strictly professional. We had to review a sample of a few hand made designs made by the interviews. I must say they all were talented, but we had to keep the ratings of SONO at it's best, so we only sought for the best.

Ibukun had been reviewing a lady, when I called out the next intern I had on my list...

"Luca Michaels-s" I said, stretching on his last name as I glanced through the room  in  search of the bearer.

My eyes finally met with someone's who had decide to stand before me,

"I'm Luca Michaels" He said with a smirk glued to his face
"And here's my design," He continued.

Steadying on him properly, it finally hit me, it was the hot guy from yesterday. Glancing through his design and back at him, I couldn't really pick which was more beautiful. He or the Design.

"Sorry I bumped into you yesterday." He let out with a beautiful grin plastered against his face.

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Reference:

GERD: This term simply means Gastroesophageal reflux disease

OYIBO: A term used by Africans to describe people who are away or  just returned from the White-Man's Land. It's also used as reference to the white's in general.

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Luca Michaels...sounds familiar...hmmm

What do y'all think about Keyshia?

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Hey guy's it's Miguel here...♡
It's been a long time coming, been extremely busy and yes I apologize ♡

Hope y'all enjoyed Chapter 10 of FINDERS KEEPERS.

Don't forget to vote, comment and share... no sha hide update ooh..Lol

Till we meet again, soonest though

Udo say's hi though he's still mourning, Zara sends her greetings across as well.

Love y'all ♡

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