Dedicated to  tentimileyin

I took out the pills from the packet, put them into my mouth and downed half of the sachet water. I returned my pills into it's packet and returned to my bed from my dressing table.

Laying on the bed was always uncomfortable these days. I couldn't get any comfortable position. Sleeping on my back hurt most times because of the baby's weight. I couldn't also sleep on my chest as a result of the growing baby bump. I was stuck with sleeping on my side and it made my sides and back hurt. I finally succumbed to sleeping on my right side, one pillow under my protruding belly and another  behind me at my waist side while my head was without a pillow. It was moments like this I always said, "thunder fire, Daniel!"

A text message caused a beep on my phone. It was next to me so I picked it and tapped on the text.

Fefe😂
Where are you?
Jazz and I are downstairs. Let's go for a stroll.
12:15 PM

Tobi
I went out with grandma.
Don't have too much fun without me o.
12:16 PM

Fefe😂
Lol.
Alright, chicken
12:16 PM

I was trying to limit my friendship with Felix and Jazz. It was getting rather hard to hide my fast growing stomach. It was already the size of a watermelon and most clothes wouldn't fit anymore.
There were only  few clothes that would conceal my protruding stomach.

My flowery camisole was very fitted, something I was sure doctor Ernestina would reprimand me for. The fabric only ended half of my stomach reveling my belly button. I was very comfortable in baggy joggers so I wore them lately.

Remi's call came in and I picked it, putting the phone on speaker, next to me.  "Sister Tobi!"

"Remi!" I screamed with the same level of excitement then yawned. "How are you?"

"I came third position." I could tell she was beaming with pride.

"That's my girl!" I grinned, putting a finger in my belly button. "I'm sure mummy and daddy are excited."

"They sure are, but," her excitement started to reduced, "you know your parents. They asked why I dashed my teacher the remaining twenty six marks. Mummy even said, do the people that got first position have three heads?" She recounted. "It was mathematics that lowered my score. You aren't around to explain logarithms to me, that's why Chinelo and Anjola beat me to the first and second positions." She ended with a long hiss.

It was heartbreaking to hear I was part of the reason she didn't get the first position. "Why didn't you tell sister Deola to assist you?"

I heard her stomp, "you know she has gone for her youth service."

"How about you take more time to study and I help and teach you through video calls?" I told her still playing with my belly button.

"Alright."

"What's up at home?"

"The same thing. Mummy and daddy are still not in good terms." She paused before continuing, "sister Tobi, I don't want them to get a divorce."

Sighing, I shifted in my bed. It was all my fault my parents marriage was on the verge of a divorce. I thought when I left home things were going  to be normal again. They could carry on with their normal lives without me or having to think about the shame I brought  upon my family but I was wrong. The pregnancy, the baby, my mistake  and my entire existence will always be a reminder that I destroyed my family.

I continued to listen to Remi rant about things at home and the neighborhood while playing with my bump and my belly button then I felt something soft hit the inside of my belly.

I froze and stopped moving. I felt another movement in my stomach like a worm was crawling inside making my insides to flutter. I ran my hands on my protruding stomach. The baby! I struggled to sit up and pulled up my camisole. I rubbed my hands on my stomach and the baby responded by giving a small kick.

"Sister Tobi!"

My attention went back to my phone. I had forgotten we were having a conversation. I picked up the phone and responded. "Yes... Yes?"

"You fell asleep again, abi?"

I rolled my eyes. Was she ever going to forgive me? It was just one time I fell asleep. Ehn, maybe twice but it wasn't my fault. With my hands still on my stomach, I replied, "no. The baby kicked."

"The baby is kicking? You're in labour?" I could hear the panic in her voice. "Aren't you just five months gone?"

I chuckled. "The baby kicked for the first time. Also, I'm just eighteen weeks gone."

There was silence from her ended for a while.

"How did it feel?"

My orbs went to my protruding stomach, the baby had stopped moving now. The movement made my heart flutter and caused butterflies in my lower stomach. It was a confirmation I was bringing forth life. I really didn't know how it made me feel but it felt nice.

"I don't know." I shrugged. I didn't want to elaborate about it.

"Ehen, there's this new family that just moved to our neighborhood."  This piqued my interest so I listened attentively, pulling my camisole down and my back kissing my bed.

"They have four kids. I'm friends with the last daughter, her name is Dami. We're friends but she's in the class below me and her older brother Ade is in my class and he's so cute. Every girl has a crush on him."

I frowned. "You too?"

"Just a bit." She said in an undertone. "I find how tall he is attractive."

"Remi, stay away from him... Or any guy at all." I warned sternly. "Men are evil, they're scum. Stay away from him!"

"If men are scum, doesn't that include daddy?"

I could tell she had a frown. "Men are scum except daddy."

"What about Pastor Victor?"

"Men are scum except daddy and Pastor Victor."

"What about uncle Tamilore that always bought us candy when we were much younger."

"Ehn, except daddy, Pastor Victor and uncle Tamilore."

"What about P-"

"That's not the point." I interjected.  "Just stay away from him. You get that?" I held a ear even though she couldn't see me.

Her voice came out flat. "Alright."

"Trust me. I wan-"  I stopped when I heard a knock on the door. "Can I call you.." She didn't wait for me to complete my sentence before ending the call.

Groaning, I got out of bed with my hands on my  back and made my way to the living room. The knock came again. I peeped through the curtains and hurried to open the door for grandma.

"Ekasan ma." I tried to genuflect a little. After taking her bags, I dropped them on the table and started to snoop for any edibles.

"I got fruits for you." Grandma announced, falling to the sofa after giving an exasperated sigh. The corners of my lips curved upwards when my eyes made contact with the fruits. Green apples. They were my favorite.

Hurriedly, I went to the kitchen, cleaned up the apples and retuned to the parlour. I took two apples from the tray and plopped on the sofa across the one grandma was sitting in. While taking a bite from my apple, I placed a leg on the arm of the sofa and put the other apple on the top of my bump.

"Tobi, when you're done, you'll have to get to Iya Paul, the one down the road."

Frowning, I took the second bite from my apple while scrunching my face in anger. I spared her a glance since she walked into the house. Her green Adire scarf was neatly folded on her laps and her legs sprawled on the wooden table.

Grandma huffed. "Tell iya Paul to give you the agbo I asked her to make." She ended with a cough.

I looked from the tray on the table to grandma. She had bloodshot eyes and her face were swollen.

"Okay ma." I murmured.

Groaning, she stood from the chair and made her way to her bed room while her kaftan was flowing in all it's glory. it was one of my favourite clothes of her. When she was about to open her door, she turned around and said. "Felix asked of you. I saw he and that stubborn boy downstairs."

I nodded and took the first bite from my second apple. From my peripheral vision, I noticed grandma gripping the door knob tightly while she struggled to stand upright. A confused frown marred my features as I went to her.

"Grandma, are you okay?"

Just as she was about to reply, she let out a cough and her legs started to give out, I held her quickly with all my might causing my apple to fall.

"Help!" I screamed whilst trying to hold her up. When I held her head that was on my bosom up, I went pale when her eyes were closed. Slowly, I put her on the floor and ran like a madwoman downstairs almost tripping on the stairs.

I found no one downstairs. My heart was banging in my chest as I frantically hurried to the back in the house. I barged into Felix's flat. Felix's and Jazz's head snapped at me. They both stared at my protruding stomach in disbelieve. Felix blinked a few times. I became self conscious and tried to pull down my singlet but it just won't cover my big belly.

"You get belle or you chop belleful?" Jazz asked, eyes on my stomach.

Felix's mum joined us in the living room. There was a shocked expression on her face but she was quick to conceal it. "Tobi, how are you?"

"Grandma." I pointed at the way to the house. "Grandma collapsed."

Both boys stood and ran towards our house. I joined them alongside Felix's mom. When we got to the house, grandma was still lying in the state I left her on the floor.

"Wetin happen?" 

"She just collapsed while going into her room." I answered Jazz.

Felix's mom joined us and gasped when she saw grandma. She moved closer to her and checked her pulse.

"She don  die?" Fear was evident on Jazz's face.

"Thankfully, she's still breathing." We all let out a breath of relive. "We have to get her to an hospital right away." Felix's mum ordered.

Felix carried her bridal style while looking at my bump then he looked up at me and eyed me with contempt and walked out of the house with grandma in his arms.

Glossary
1)Iya - Mother.
2) Adire - Tye and dye.
3) Agbo - Herbs.
4) Ekasan ma - Good afternoon ma.
5) Belle - Pidgin English for pregnancy.
6) Belleful - Satisfied with food.

Q: What's the name of the first person you ever had a crush on?