CHAPTER ONE

Ebun had a perfect life, being a doctor in Atlanta, America. After a hectic day at work, Ebun,
still clad in her blue scrub, tiredly went back to her apartment which was on the third floor.

From afar off, she noticed the door was ajar. The only person who had keys to her house was her two best friend, Charlotte and Mide. 

She picked up her phone putting a call through to Charlotte "Hey, did you by any means stop by at the house? Or you're currently at the house"
"No. Why would you ask?" Charlotte asked and she sighed in worry.

"I met the door opened, I mean it was literally opened,"
"Like the door pushed from the knob open?" Charlotte asked and she nodded.
"Yes"
"Oh my God, are you sure it's not a break in?" She asked and Ebun shrugged.
"How am I supposed to know?"
"Call Mide" she suggested, "He might be the one"
"You're right" Ebun sighed then she called him.

Mide was no. 1 on her speed dial. They've been friends for six years. She met Mide through Charlotte and they've been best of friends ever since.

"Ebun, ki lo de?" He asked and she exhaled, "Are you at home" "Yes I'm at home"
"My house?"
"No. Mine actually, why?"
"Jesus! Now I'm officially scared"
"Ki lo de? Mase beru ba mi (Don't make get me scared)"

"I got back home from work and the door was opened! Ilekun wa si si ( the door was opened)" she repeated in Yoruba.
"Mide I'm scared, I don't think I can enter"
"What are you so scared of?"
"There has been some recent break in okay? I don't think I can enter. What if there's a thief in there? Or what if it's those evil people from my state?"
"Maybe they're the ones" he answered and her heart leapt in fear. She obviously knew he was being sarcastic but the thought of it scared her.
"Don't joke about that kind of thing"
"You made the assumption not me. I was just kidding" he laughed and she rolled her eyes.

"Just go in, I'm pretty sure it's nothing scary. The thief must have left" he assured and she exhaled.
Ebun ended the call hoping to God he was right.

"Hello Gift" a next door neighbor, Jake called out and she flashed a smile at him. Those who can't pronounce her name usually refer to her as 'Gift' which is the English meaning for Ebun.
He had a grocery bag in his hands and that flirty look in his blue-greenish eyes.

There was something different about him that night, Ebun couldn't really put her hands on it, perhaps it was his newly dyed blonde hair.

Jake was an American of average heights, good looking too. He had likable characteristics, Ebun found him attractive but she rather found herself bluntly refusig his proposal because she was hung on another man.

"Your hair" she pointed out and he chuckled.
"Do you like it? I was thinking if changing it up a bit, you know, trying something different. I have never tried blonde"
"Really?"
"Yeah" he chuckled then he nodded towards the door,  "Are you okay?" He asked and Ebun shook her head.
"No. I just got back and I saw my door opened. I'm really scared to go in"
"You mind I..." He asked and she stared at him not knowing whether to trust him or not.
"I promise not to bite or pull any kiss stunt"
"And if you do?"
"I give you my word" he promised .
Jack took the lead pushing the door slightly. There was no one in the living room but she could hear laughter coming from the kitchen.

She rolled her eyes.

It was Charlotte and Mide. She rushed in angrily on them then she crossed her arms across her chest.

They both turned towards her and munching on pizzas and drinking Coca-Cola soda.

Jake walked into the kitchen too.

Ebun suddenly felt embarrassed about being scared for nothing.
"I'm sorry I bothered you" she apologized brushing her hands through her hair and he chuckled biting his lower lips in a way that made Mide boil with jealousy.

"It's nothing Beauty, I volunteer to be bothered any day." He replied and Mide scoffed.

Charlotte pinched him and he hissed inaudibly.

"Thanks" Ebun replied.
"I was about making dinner, I was wondering if you would like to join me" Jake asked and Ebun stood still speechlessly staring at him.

"We already made plans already" Mide answered clearing his throat and Ebun turned toward him.

"Yes" Ebun noticed Mide give Charlotte that familiar look like he wanted her to support him cause he was obviously lying about the plan.

"Yes. We made plans for dinner, we already bought pizzas and we made orders too" she answered and Jack gazed steadily at them in total disbelief.

"Okay. Goodnight beauty, goodnight guys" he added leaving and she waved at him.
When she heard the door shut, she glared at the two of them. She didn't even know who to blame for the prank.

"I never realized we had plans" Ebun stated laying more emphasis on the "plans".

"Charlotte bought pizza hoping we could eat together"
"You guys are doing a great job eating it before me. That's rude by the way and why did you guys scare me that way?"  She snapped dropping her bag on the kitchen counter then she moved towards the sink, turning on the tap to wash her hands.

"It was all Mide's plan" Charlotte raised her hands innocently, "How old do you think you both are, Five?" She asked then she sprinkled some water from her hands on his face.

"Yeah, real mature, who's acting like she's five now?" Mide asked and Charlotte laughed.

"I lied. It was all me, Mide just played along"

"I'm sorry." He apologized, "We didn't intend on scaring you but it just happened." he added and I placed my hands on my chest.

"You call that a little? I was scared out of my brains. I thought maybe some evil spirit walked in" Ebun answered knowing how stupid it sounded but her mother has always spoken about evil spirits that resided in Osun state. One that takes people's lives.

"Again with that evil spirit talk" Mide rolled his eyes. He has never been a believer of her tales because he also came from the same state as her.

"Are you trying to say there's nothing like evil spirits?"

"There are, it's everywhere, Eastern State, west, north even the southern states in Nigeria. It's even here in America, it's in Mexico and also in the whole world. It's like saying witchcraft exist mainly in Osun state." Mide tried to make Ebun see reason but she was blinded by the tales her parents fed her.

"Even if there was an evil spirit, it would have passed through the door and not pushed the door open like a normal human"
"You say it like you've seen an evil spirit"

"Well I've watched a whole lot of supernatural movies to know spirit don't knock on the door, they pass through doors or they appear. Your parents really did a number on you Ebun, you know that right?" He asked and she shrugged.

Ebun looked away then she rolled her eyes.

He wasn't wrong. She lived hey entire life in fear of going to Ile-Ife even though she has been yearning to go.

She was given birth in Ile-Ife, according to her aunt. She lived there for six years until her family decided to move for reasons unknown to her.

Ebun was given everything she wanted by her parents, the good life and a good education but she had one rule, not to ever go to Ile-Ife.

Her mother never loved talking about why she had to stay away from Ife.

Each time Ebun brings up the topic, her mother will either shove it under the carpet or tell her the 'Evil spirit' tale.

"All these talk about evil spirit is beginning to give me the creeps. Can we change the topic?" Charlotte Interrupted raising up her hands.

"I second that motion" Ebun agreed.

"This African juju stuff really scares the crap out of you don't it so?" Charlotte asked and she rolled her eyes again.
"Weren't we supposed to change the topic?"

"I do hope my African boyfriend doesn't come from a family with juju activities" she answered.
This forced Mide and Ebun to laugh. It kind of lessened the whole tension.

"You're still going on about this African boyfriend thing"
"I'm serious, someone once say, when you go black, there's no going back. I can't have enough of African guys, it's like..." She bit her lips sexually.

"God we're not having this discussion" Mide shook his head and Charlotte.

"I feel like Kind Kardashian right now. I've been dating a lot of black guys, African guys but I haven't seen the right one. It's like maybe I have to draw one up from the source"

"And that is?" Mide asked, "From Africa, maybe I'll have to go to South Africa, Ghana or Nigeria" Charlotte answered dreamily.
Ebun and Mide laughed out loud.
"Come on, don't blame me for having an African man fantasy. I want to be like Deardre in wedding party"

"Wait..." a quite surprised Mide glanced at Ebun.

"You made her watch wedding party"

"Point of correction, she made me watch it all over again and again; the first part and the second part"

"Dozie's brother is hot, I need me a guy like that. I heard Igbo guys are the main deal" she turned towards Mide and he shook his head.

"Uh uh, nah, you're not having that discussion with me" he answered drinking the coca-cola and Ebun chuckled.

She leaned against the counter in between the both of them.

"Jake looks hot tonight" Charlotte commended and Ebun watched Mide roll his eyes. He was definitely fuming with jealousy, it wasn't so hard for Ebun to see it that night.

He wasn't hiding his feelings well.

"Maybe it's his new hair" Ebun chipped in hoping to make him even more jealous.

"What's hot about him being blonde? The guy looks like he could use a hair cut" Mide took a big bite and Charlotte laughed.

"Just because you enjoy not having any hair on your hair doesn't mean others do. The hair looks good on him" Ebun retorted.

This made Mide hiss.

"I think someone is jealous" Charlotte chipped and Mide scoffed, "I'm not, why will I be jealous of someone that looks like... Like as if.. as if..." He stammered and Ebun waited for him to complete his comparison.

"Charlotte is not wrong, you do sound jealous"

"Of who? That guy that looks like... Like something I don't even know"

Charlotte exhaled loudly. Mide's excuses to cloud his true feelings were beginning to get old.

Ebun picked up a slice, taking a bite out of it.

"My point is, the guy is not that awesome" he continued and Ebun chewed then she noticed Mide staring at her.
"What?" She asked and he shook his head.
"Nothing"
"You can't say nothing, I'm sure it's something."
"Okay! This is my cue to leave" Charlotte took a slice of pizza then she kissed Ebun and Mide on the cheek.
"Good night good people" she gave a quick salute just before she walked out of the kitchen.
Ebun smiled back at Mide.

"We're alone" She smirked and he wondered why she was staring at him like she had a knife behind her back to end his life.

"And?" Mide asked clearly puzzled and she made my way to the kitchen drawer.

"Do you know the fun part about being alone?"
"No" he answered and Ebun brought out a knife then held his shirt pointing the knife to his throat.

"I can threaten you to tell me the truth or I'll slit your throat" she threatened and he opened his eyes in horror.

"Please don't let the devil use you. Madam kindly drop the knife" he begged to me and she laughed.
"You should see your face right now" she waved the knife and he pointed at it.

"You're still scaring me with the knife, this how evil spirit start working oh" he emphasize and she dropped it.

"Tell me, you know i hate it when you stare like you have something in mind and you don't want to tell me. Come on, you're supposed to be my best friend. I know when you want to say something"

"I just wanted to say you look pretty" he answered and she raised my nose in disbelief.

"My face is all groggy from being tired and you have the guts to tease me." I picked up the knife again, "Give me a reason why I shouldn't use this knife now?"

"Cause I'm being sincere and you know it. You remain pretty even when you look extremely worn out. You always look pretty every damn morning you wake up. You're pretty even without make up, you look even prettier on low cuts"

"That was last year" She dropped the knife on the counter smiling.
"That's really sweet" She moved closer to him and he cleared his throat drinking from the bottle of soda once again.

"So... You and the Blondie, Jacob right?"
"Jake... He prefers Jake like you prefer Mide to Ayomide" 
"Oh yes... I don't really care. You two seem close" he added and she wondered where the awkward discussion was heading to.

Ebun has always hated when he brings up topics about ex-boyfriends and boyfriends.
It always manages to leave a tensed and weird atmosphere especially when they both had feelings for each other.
"He clearly followed me because I asked him to, we're not exactly close." "Has he asked you out ... again?" He asked and I opened my mouth to speak but words seemed lost in space.
"Did he?" He asked again and she had to restrain myself from rolling my eyes.
If you like a girl, go ahead and tell her,  don't ask stupid questions!!!!  She yelled within. 
"Yes. He did it just now, right in you guys presence. Remember when he said he was having dinner?"

"Are you contemplating dating him?" "Would it be a bad thing?" I asked and he scoffed.
"And suffer another heartache?"
"What do you mean? That my relationship never work?" "I'm saying, you go into every relationship and it always keeps you depressed. Aren't you tired of trying?"

"Can you listen to yourself right now? I should stop trying. Well I can't stop trying until the right guy comes my way!" She yelled and he rolled his eyes.

"What do you have against Jake? He hasn't done anything wrong to you and he's not a bad guy"
"It's doesn't exactly show on the forehead does it?"

"What's up with you? Why do you get angry around him. If I didn't know better, I'll say you're jealous" She snapped, of course she knew better.

Mide scoffed.

"Who's.... Me?" He stammered.
"Mide It's okay to be jealous" Ebun held his hands and he pulled back quickly.
"Don't be crazy. I'm not jealous.... I just.... I just don't like the color of his hair"

"It's his first time using blonde"
"Well.... Maybe it's his face, there's something off about the way he looks at you"
"Mide, if you have something to say to me, it's okay to say it now. I'll totally understand" she gave him the green light.
Instead he paused searching for words to say.

"I'm not jealous" he denied and Ebun felt something pop in her, it was the tiny thread that held her patience together.

It had worn out from having Mide's denial but this time she couldn't bear it any longer.

Ebun furrowed her brow at him, She brushed her hands through her hair then she tightened her fist.
"Wa ma lo (Leave)"
"Why?"
"Cause it's my house and I have every right to tell anyone to leave"
"Are you angry? Did I say anything wrong?"
"Yes. You know what Mide, I'm tired of waiting, I'm tired of.." she hesitated then she exhaled loudly.

" I would rather go have dinner with Jake than stay here stucked with you"

"Are you going to accept his date?"

"If necessary"

"Why?"

"Because unlike you, he's no a coward. How hard is it for someone to tell a girl he likes her?" She snapped then she busted into tears.

"What if he's scared of ruining their friendship? What if he's scared it might not work?"
"What if he stops being a wimp for a minute and be the strong man I know he is" she requested and Mide's moved close to her.

"Ouch for the wimp part" he answered and she laughed.

"I'm sorry" she apologized but Mide shook his head. Ebun wasn't wrong, he deserved to be called a coward and even worse!

"I deserve it" he admitted then his lips grazed hers and she kissed him so passionately.

Mide wrapped his hands across her waist but he couldn't take it further than that. He was still scared and uncomfortable because of he still felt like he was still that friend zone.

Ebun pushed him against the counter and she kissed him harder, their tongues collided and then she stopped.

She chuckled for no particular reason then she sucked in her lips to control how happy she was.

"Finally" she sighed and Mide laughed.

"I only saw this happening in my dream" she confessed biting her lower lips and he tilted her chin upwards and they kissed once again.

LAGOS

Fortunate Miracle, sat in her tricycle, popularly referred in this part of the world as 'Keke'.

She was expecting a customer, Mr Raymond who had placed a ride to his work place that morning.

He was supposed to meet her by eight but it was already ten minutes past eight.

Nigerians and their African time mentality!

She's one of those people who holds strongly that Nigerians need to emancipate themselves from the African time mentality.
Even the country's development was on African time! She thought within then she hissed or loud then she noticed someone enter with a familiar perfume.

What the hell? It could be anyone apart from her boyfriend!

"Mr Raymond" Fortunate called out then she turned to see her boyfriend, Kwame smiling at her.

"What are you doing here?"

"Isn't that obvious? I came kiss my girlfriend good bye before going to work"

"You won't dare, i'm working and I'm in public transport and not just that, I'm in public" 

"I don't care."

"Where's your car?"

"I parked it somewhere around. I'm not leaving unless I get a kiss" he demanded and she rolled her eyes.

Kwame wasn't the kind to bluff so she turned her head backwards pursing her lips and he pulled closer kissing her on the lips and then she broke the kiss and Kwame groaned unsatisfied.

"Your lips tastes great" he commented and she laughed.

"You say that everytime"

"And I can't get enough of it. Should I be expecting you tonight?" He asked and she gave a gentle nod.

"Definitely" she replied.

Kwame got out of the tricycle after this.

"Bye Baby" he blew kisses at me before leaving
Fortunate shut her eyes saying a quiet prayer to herself. "Good please make this last" she muttered letting out a worried sigh.

They have been dating for six months. She met him on one of the many symposiums that she was invited to as a guest speaker.
He immediately took interest in her. Although she didn't want to accept him out of fear of having something bad happen to him.
She had to take a leap of faith.
They've been dating for six months and everything seems so surreal and  it's scared her.
It was actually the longest relationship she has ever had!
Business wise, Fortunate has always been lucky but when it came to relationships with men, It was the exact opposite of her name.

She gets the really good looking and rich guys but horrible things usually ends up happening to them.

She even lost one of her boyfriends to the cold hands of death.

There's no place she hasn't gone to, no mountain she hasn't climbed to get some form of cure for this 'plague' that seemed to ruin her relationship.

The last prophet she went to promise that the last misfortune she experienced would be the last.
She hoped for it's to be true; for her sake and also Kwame's.

After the close of the day, Fortunate went over to Kwame's home. He prepared dinner for her, ghana jollof rice.

Fortunate knew they were definitely going to argue once again about which rice tastes better like they do all the time.
She didn't care at all about the repeated jokes or repeated debates, she loved him with all of her heart.

After dinner, Kwame brought out a ring then he proposed that Fortunate gets married to him.
Her response was 'yes.'
They both made passionate love from the sitting room all the way to the bedroom where they had went at it for the third time.

It felt amazing!

Fortunate lifted her head from Kwame's chest then she whispered, "I wish this didn't have to end"

"It won't" he answered kissing her on the lips.

"You know why?"he added, "Why?"

"Because I'll be here all the step of the way, I'll be your husband. I'll be here doing you right like I always do" he tickled me and she aughed.

"I love you Kwame" she confessed and he smiled.
"You know I've always loved you" he replied back and she leaned in for a kiss.

She woke up the following morning in bed smiling then she stared at her ring. A lot of thoughts ran through her mind.
She couldn't wait to tell hey friends and her parents.

She wondered what her parent's reaction would be, especially her mother.

She thought of her wedding and how it would look like.

Fortunate turned towards Kwame whose eyes were still closed.

"Morning sleepy head" she whispered.

She expected Kwame to open his eyes since he was never the deep sleeper but he didn't.

He just laid there very quiet.

She watched him closely, there was no motion, no expression on his face then her eyes became fixed at his chest.

There was no upward and downwards movement. Fortunate placed her index finger to the side of his neck to see if she could get a pulse.

There was nothing.

She shut her eyes busting into tears.

She called her best friends, Kike and Bisola afterwards to inform them of the misfortune that had befallen her again.

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