FARIDA

I just finished having my bath when a knock sounds on the door. Confused, I hesitate before going to open the door.

"Hi. Good morning." Hands in his pocket, he's looking at the floor but when he lifts his head to look at me, his eyes widen.

"Good morning, Miss. Lawal."

"Please, come in." I follow behind him as he walks inside the room and finally sits on the chair, me sitting on the bed.

"So, what do I owe the pleasure of having you here?" The sarcasm again.

"I wanted to ask you a favor." Me? Interesting.

"Alright."

"Since you told me that you're from here, I was thinking that perhaps, you could show me around. You see, I have never been to the North before, asides Abuja."

"Oh, really?" This man thinks I look like tour guide, abi?

"Yeah." See his head like yeah.

"You could get a tour guide." I suggest.

"When you are here." Imagine this man sha.

"Tohh, I respectfully decline."

"I wasn't asking, it was an order as your boss."

"My job description does not include offering tour services to you." I point out, spotting a smirk on his lips.

"But you are to do as your boss wishes."

"Not in this circumstance. I want to sleep, please. See yourself out when you're ready to leave. I want to rest before the trip." Its not a lie, though.

"I'll be here waiting. My eyes widen at his statement. He really was not budging at all and that further annoyed me.

"Sir, that cannot happen. In fact, what was I saying? You may take your leave now." I speak, still refusing to cave in.

"I have tolerated your disrespect for quite some time now, Miss. Lawal." His countenance changes. Oh, this man wants to go through that route with me? Is it in my line of duty to take him on a tour round Gombe? Is he not also being disrespectful by asking that of me?

"I beg your pardon." I won't let him trample on me like that.

"Pardon me to say but what you're asking of me is completely absurd. First of all, I am not a tour guide. Secondly, you disrespected me. You just come in here and request a take you on a tour, just like that. You're not even asking but insisting, SIR. How much disrespectful could be?" I throw daggers his way. My voice is raised and it is only after I am done with my outburst that I realize the gravity of what I have done. See, I am not usually like this with my bosses but with Mr. Bankole, something inside me just ticks. He knows how to pull my buttons.

"Will you just shut up?" I guess I have finally reached the peak of his anger. From inception, this man has never liked me. It's not like I did anything to him. I really don't understand why he had to be the odd one of all my bosses.

"Excuse you?" No man has a right to tell me that, boss or not. The amount of disrespect that I have chopped in this man's hand sha.

"You have serious guts, Miss. Lawal. I cannot work with you." Me neither. There is the urge to voice out this thought but he is Madam's son before he speaks against her now. [AN: hohoho. If only Farida knows the trouble Tobi went through when he told her to not have dinner with them the other day.]

"Alright, Sir."

"And stop calling me by that title when you are being sarcastic." He says, frustratingly. The corner of my cheeks lifts up in a smirk. Thank God he knows. I let out a low chuckle but he catches it and his eyes zero on me. If he likes, he should continue speaking English, I am not taking him on any tour. How many places do I even know here? So, being from here now means I live or know places here? See me see trouble.

"Sometimes I wish you could just die." He says and my smirk disappears.

Sometimes I wish you could just die.

Sometimes I wish you could just die.

Sometimes I wish you could just die.

Sometimes I wish you could just die.

Sometimes I wish you could just die.

Sometimes I wish you could just die.

The words repeat countless times in my head and my head suddenly feels light. Something snaps inside my head. Wordlessly, I get up and start walking towards the bathroom, making a pause at the wardrobe. After rummaging through it to get a suitable outfit, I then enter the bathroom to change into.

"Let's go." I state, not looking at him.

"I am sorry." He states.

"Alright, let us go." I really don't want to have any conversation with him right now.

"Can you just stop acting like I did not just offend you?" He runs his hand across his hair in annoyance.

"See, let's just get this done with. I am fine." This man should stop wasting my time. I need to be done with this and get back so I can rest and prepare the 8pm flight.

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TOBI

I know I shouldn't have made that statement. I know I crossed the line and for the first time, I think her anger is justified. I fucked up. Big time! Throughout the tour, she did not have a smile on her face. She did not even talk to me. I knew she was doing this tour just to fulfil all righteousness. It's because of her stubbornness that we are here. After the second location, I insist we end the tour because I was not comfortable with what I did. She said a quick goodbye when we reached the hotel, not even sparing me a glance. Our banters have never been this bad. Have never seen her mood this negative.

By 8pm, we are already at the airport, seated in the P.J. The pilot announces departure and the flight commences. She was all smiles with my mom but when her gaze meets mine, even if it is for a split second, I swear I could see the hate in the pool of fire that blazed in her eyes.

Once we land at the airport, she quickly books a cab and leave us, giving a quick excuse to my mom.

"Something is definitely wrong with her." Yeah. I agree in my head, but externally shrug.

"From the first day of the trip till now. Hope you are not the cause." She asks, her eyes narrowed at me. I let out a nervous laugh before responding.

"You think so low of me, mom. Of course not." Liar. My inner conscience chides.

"You that is behaving like I did not train you. I won't be surprised o." I roll my eyes, getting into the car. This time, she is right.

"I did not do anything to your precious Farida." I protest, closing the door. Definitely, I had nothing to do with her countenance on the day of our trip but I needed no soothsayer to tell me I am the cause of her current mood.

"Okay o. Let's just hope so." She gets into the car and her driver zooms off.

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OLAYENI BANKOLE

These two kids think they are smart. I know how to get the truth out. I am reading news on my tab when Seyitan, my second and last child, interrupts me.

"Mummy, good morning, ma." She greets, a smile on her face. She leans in to give me a peck and I smile deeply.

"How was your night, my dear." I ask her. She looks exactly like her father, just has my nose and lips. Her other features are him. May his soul rest in peace.

"It was fine, ma. Welcome back." Yeah, she was not awake when I finally got home yesterday.

"Thank you, my baby." She skips, heading to the kitchen but returns almost immediately.

"Mummy, I want to make pancakes. Should I also make for you?" She asks me.

"No, dear. But maybe you can impress Farida with your pancake making skills." She jumps up for joy, really excited.

"Aunty Farida is coming?" She asks.

"Yes, dear. She is."

"I'll make pancakes for her.' She smiles, running to the kitchen excitedly.

"Slow down o! Ko ma lo injure ara yin." I say, atop my voice, hoping she hears me. She is just 10 years old but I allow her do chores, bake and cook. She is also a big fan of art and paints too. Asides the typical reasons why females should know how to cook, Seyitan is dyslexic. At the time I found out, she was in Primary 1. At first, it seemed like she just liked to play and not read but after so many poor results and employing the assistance of the best tutors money could afford and there still wasn't any improvement, I decided to seek medical help. I had a hunch and it was confirmed after.

I was sad, honestly but it didn't stop me from loving her even more. My special child. To not make her feel the void, I began engaging her into doing other stuffs. That was how she started baking. She swims too, in addition to the many other talents she has. I actually wished she could grow up to be a Petroleum engineer but after the discovery and exploring the many talents she has, I am content that God has blessed me with such a special child. She does not go to the conventional school but a school for special kids. I plan to enroll her in a college that offers whatever she wants to explore, be it culinary arts or painting. And if she wants to go ahead to be a pro athlete, I have no problem with that.

"Ma, Aunty Farida is here." My help announces.

"Farida, how are you, my dear." I ask her.

"Tired." She admits, yawning but smiles a little.

"Tobi told me the both of you had a fight." I watch as her brows squint and she pouts her lips at the mention of Tobi. He did not tell me anything, if I am being honest. I am just trying out my guess and boy am I right. I had a hunch.

"Ma, I'm really sorry." She apologizes, a worried look on her face. I smirk, the wheels turning in my head. This was not why I put them together. I wanted them to be close and hopefully build a relationship. From the first day they started working together, they have been like enemies. I observed the both of them when they don't notice. Like fire and water, they never mixed.

My mind draws back to Iyabo's subtle threat.

"If your son continues misbehaving towards her, I will pair her up with my son. After all, she is a good girl." My best friend has also been eyeing Farida for her son.

Which mother would not want such a hardworking and well-mannered girl for their son? Definitely not me. I really need to step in.