°°°Chapter 3°°°

Unedited

The second update is here 💃💃💃

A week later

"I got the job!!!! I got it!" A woman dressed in a pink blazers which she paired on a white camisole and a white trousers yelled. She has just been offered a job in the newly opened Henz hotel.

"Congrats" Osas along with others who were waiting in line for an interview with the Human resource manager. 

"Thanks you guys" she flashed a smile at them, "I wish you guys luck" she added putting a call through to her friends, "Guess what Babe, I got the freaking job! Before nko? You no trust me?" She asked leaving and Osas envied her.

If only she can just have her luck!

A man walked in, not up to five minutes, he got out wearing a frown on his face, "Who be Osarieme Ovbiókpomwan?" He asked and Osas rose up raising her hands.  "You are next"

"How far? You face be like who lick lime, e be like say you no get joy"

"That's why I no dey like make woman be head of anything"

"Haba! You no get Mama and sisters?" She asked and he hissed. "The woman na stupid woman, she tell me say she no dey find second class lower. Like say na she help me pay school fees, God punish her!" He snapped leaving and Osas swallowed hard.

If the woman can reject a second class applicant, what will she say about her?

She walked in with her round neck yellow top and a black jean on, "Good morning Ma" she greeted the woman who was looking into a file.

"Good..." The woman trailed off after raising her head, her brow creased arrogantly at Osas,  "What are you wearing?" She asked and Osas examined her dressing.

"Ma?" "Are you sure you're for this interview?"

"Yes"

"I don't think you are, please call the next person, Susan Williams"

"I'm not calling anyone oh" she refused looking away and the lady scoffed. "I said" "I hear you the first time, I no call anybody! I don dey wait for the past two hours. Remember when you go piss and the time when you go eat, I don dey since. I no fit go anywhere without you hearing me out" she snapped and the woman exhaled pointing to the chair.

"Have your seat then" she demanded and she did. "There's no copy of your resume here, didn't you summit yours? Please speak in English"

"Huh?" She asked, "I said speak in...." "No be that one. It's not that one, it's that thing.... Resu...."

"Resume.... Like a CV"

"Oh.... I don't have it"

"Why? What qualification do you have? O level? I mean secondary school certificate"

"I stopped in JSS2"

The woman scoffed,  "What can you do for us then?" She asked and Osas smiled. "I fit wash plate, I fit serve as waiter, I fit clean, I sabi clean very well! My second name na cleaner."

"I'm sorry, but we're not giving jobs to people who can't speak proper English"

Osas raised her brow in shock, "E be like say you no understand, I no dey apply for managing director, na cleaning service or waiting service naim I dey after?"

"Let me tell you something Osarieme, this life is all about the branding, I'd rather buy Minimie chin to road side chin chin any day! Not because the road side chin chin doesn't taste nice, it's the brand that matters. That girl didn't get the job because she's the most brilliant among the applicants, it was the way she branded herself. I'm all about the packaging and I'm pretty sure a lot of people hold on to such ideology too, it's a new hotel and I'm sorry Osas but you're not wanted. Faa Hotel should be all about the quality it has to offer, we don't want people like you destroying our image. Call on the next person on the list, Susan Williams, thank you!"

"You're welcome" She replied then she wondered why she gave such response when she just got insulted by the woman!

Osas held a knife to slice pumpkin leaves on a tray while Osato pounded pepper in a mortar. Amen rushed into the kitchen with her phone, "Aunty Aunty, you get call" she passed the phone to her and she picked it up, placing it on her ear while using her shoulder as support.

"Omo, what's up? How work?"

"I dey fine, work dey. How far the job?"

"The woman no give me work oh," "Ehya, wetin she talk?"  "First of all, she tell me say, why i dress like that come interview like say na post of managing director I dey apply for" she continued slicing and  Omo laughed, "You for where suit now!" "I for also knot tie join, con carry briefcase follow body! Pastor Osas!" She answered and they both laughed.

"E no end there oh, she con tell me say make I bring, resu.... Re-su-me, yeah that's it. Resume, i tell her say I no understand, she con interpret am for me. Abeg which time CV turn to resume?" She asked and Omotoyosi laughed.

"Even the CV you no get"

"Abi my sister, she com say she no fit employ me because say my brand no get levels"

"You being tell am say you dey sell something before?" "No, she mean say, my packaging no get levels, say I no dress well. Maybe I for don where my church cloth"

"Even your church cloth no fine reach"

Osas laughed, "Waka! You're a very stupid girl" "And I love you too" she replied then she exhaled. "I hope say you no cry, I no say you get tears plenty for eyes"

"I cry small sha but.... Me na strong babe, I don bounce back, I dey cook ogbono for hand in case you want show"

"I hear. Thanks"

"You're welcome"

"Bye dear" Omo said ending the call, "Bye" Osas responded. Just when she ease her shoulder to get the phone, it fell into the bowl of water she used in washing the vegetable.

Osato stopped pounding.

Amen removed the phone quickly from the bowl looking at Osas, he suddenly felt guilty for bringing the phone to her. "Aunty sorry!" "No wahala, open the phone, commot battery and sim make e dry. The phone think say I get money to buy another one, him don fail!"

Lagos

It was guys night out! Raymond, Obinna, Goriola and Kubiat, sat in their usual spot in a Club while Mapariwo by Zinoleeski played.

Raymond turned back anticipating to see Osaze walk in, "Who you dey expect, you don dey look back since" "Osaze" he replied and Goriola rolled his eyes. "You invited a party pooper"

"Hey! It's that attitude I don't want when he comes" Raymond replied and Goriola rose up raising his glasses up, "This bad guy is getting out with that lady who has been staring at me for a while now" he turned towards a woman then he winked at her.

"You guys just managed to ruin guys night out for me" he added, attempt to leave when Obinna dragged him back. "Who will now pay for the drinks?" He asked and Goriola pointed to Raymond. "Let me not kukuma order for expensive things before OYO (on your own) becomes my case" he answered and Raymond laughed, "What do you mean? That I can't pay for drinks?"

"You can pay for Guinness stout not a bottle of champagne, on the other hand, don't take it personal, I'm not doing comparison oh, Gorilla here, sorry Goriola" he paused and everyone laughed, "Can pay for Champagne and even my future wife's Bride price and your wife's Bride price again" he answered.

Goriola laughed throwing his head backwards. "You're a mad man"

"His salary is triple your own"

"Dude, I'm a family man!" his phone rang, he stared at it long enough, it was a call from his wife but he wasn't sure to pick it.  "Na your wife be that? Pick now"

Raymond picked the call, "Hey Nuju" "Nuju, seriously? Are we seriously on first name basis now?" "Darling, sorry, I'm just ....." "Are you in a club?" She asked on hearing the loud music.

"Babe, are you in a club?"

"Yes dear, I'm in a club, remember you suggested I ask Osaze to come for for the guys night out" "Why are you guys always choosing clubs"

"We're men. Is there anything wrong with it?"  "No, I'm not comfortable knowing you're with your crazy friends, what if they talk you into leaving me or getting another woman pregnant"

"Darling"

"Forget it, just don't drink, don't drink and you'll come home to a happy wife. I want you in your right sense"

"I've only had one drink dear and I'm perfectly okay" he whispered as though his friends could not hear. "Is Osaze there yet?"

"No, but he assured me he'll be coming"

"See you later"

"Later dear" he chipped in and Goriola scoffed, "And people wonder why I kick against marriage"

"I don't owe any woman any explanation in this life and I will never!"

"Say our very own Mommy's boy" Kubiat noted and everyone laughed. "Who did you just call Mommy's boy? Even though,  mommy is a different person, you cannot compare Mommy to an ordinary woman"

"Yes, because she doesn't have boobs" Kubiat responded laughing and Goriola laughed too. "I am not a Mummy's boy!"

Obinna's phone rang immediately and he peeped to see the caller's ID.

My woman my everything.....

"I will have to pick this call in private"

"Oga pick it here! It's your Mom shey?"

"Let's spice this up, prove you're not Mummy's boy by not picking the call"

Obinna picked the call and they all busted up laughing, "Mummy, I'll call you back. I'm in church service"  he replied, "Love you dear" "I... Love you too" he whispered and they all laughed again.

"Did he just say, I love you too to someone that isn't his girlfriend?"

Obinna looked at everyone then he hissed, "It's people that don't love their parents that will laugh at my show of love and respect"

"Yeah right!"

"Besides, I will never tell a woman that I love him! Who she be?"

"I'm not disputing that fact" Goriola raised his fingers,  "I'm just shocked that you still haven't grown from being Mummy's  boy. Who saves his Mom's names as my woman, my everything?"

"What do you guys save your mother's name as?"

"Mom!" They all answered and he hissed looking away.

Goriola noticed Osaze step into the club then he tapped on Obinna's shoulder. "I'm off guys, order whatever you want, bill's on me!" He exclaimed walking away and Obinna raised a glass up at him, "That's what I'm talking about. Ome ego!" He chanted while he watched  Goriola walk up to a woman.

"Bar man!" Obinna yelled.

Osaze sat down, "Hey guys" he said and Raymond chuckled.

"Where you come from?"

"I just stepped in, you didn't tell me you invited him"

"Who, Goriola? Come on Osaze, it's guys night out" He answered and Osaze rolled his eyes.

"Osaze, how you dey? Are you still brooding?" Obinna asked and Kubiat slapped his arm, "Who starts a topic with are you still brooding?"

"Shebi he's always brooding now, what did I say that's bad there."

"Obi"

"Why are you guys doing as if I'm not used to it, is it not Obi again? He's just trying to get me to notice him and he has been noticed" Osaze replied raising his hands at the bar tender.

"I'll have what they're having"

Raymond laughed, "True Sha, Obi na attention seeker. I'm glad you made it out here, how long has it been since you've been out for guys night out?" "Since forever!" Kubiat replied, "The guy practically abandoned the tradition"

"Osaze, whenever I see you, the only thing I see is waste of six packs. If I just have just two packs out of what you have, just two, I for don blow oh but you, you have it and you're just wasting it"

The bar man gave Osaze his drink and he smiled, "Maybe I should stop wearing clothes then, I should walk naked because I have six packs or maybe I should model instead" he replied with a sarcastic hint which Obi found annoying.

"Annoying son of a bitch"

"Right back at you"  he replied raising the glass up at him.

They all busted out laughing, "I've missed this" he admitted, "Maybe I should come out more often" "You think?" They all asked and he laughed, he can't remember the last time he laughed that loud.

"Osaze" Obinna called out, "Let me honest with you, what you need is a woman to spice up your life. I'm not talking marriage oh, no sane man should jump into such a hasty decision"

Raymond rolled his eyes.

"Just find one babe that'll be doing you right every night or you can change. It'll help you think straight, I promise you"

"Will it?"

"Works everytime"

Osaze gasped up out of his nightmare and the woman lying close to him jerked up in fear. "Blood of Jesus!" She yelled sitting up stark naked now looking at him with horror plastered on her face then she looked around the room.

"What happened?" She asked breathing fast and he fell back in bed.

"What is it?" She asked and he turned his back at her now shutting his eyes, Obinna said sleeping with a woman was supposed to clear his head, did it work? No!

It didn't even make him feel better!

"No be you I dey ask something? Na wa oh"

By 6:35, Osaze got out of the shower to find the prostitute still waiting for him. "What are you still waiting for?" He asked and she laughed hysterically then she stretched her hands at him. "What?" He asked and she rolled her eyes. "My money. You never pay me my money now" Obi said...." She trailed off, "Oga no waist my time"

"How much is it?"

"Five thousand" she replied looking away crossing her fingers that he doesn't argue. He quickly walked towards his trousers, he took out his wallet removing wads of one thousand naira notes then he handed it to her.

"Why do you do this?" He asked and she rolled her eyes then she shook her head, "Ehn hen, no be time to start to dey preach for me"

"It's just a question"

"Why you go sleep with asewo when you know say your conscience go dey prick you the next day?" "I just wanted to clear my head, but it didn't work. Now my turn, why do you do what you do?"

"Some of us..... We don't have choice, choice ehn.... Na luxury wey we no fit afford. Besides, I like the job, e dey pay my bills, e better pass make you dey date guy why dey sleep with you for free, Las Las him con break your heart go marry one bayelsa girl"

"I guess you're speaking out of experience"

"What if I say I can give you a choice to leave this job and work elsewhere"

"For where?"

"There are non governmental agencies that are out to help" "Wetin be the catch?"

"No catch"

"Oga it's okay. I'm not asking for help oh, this asewo work dey enough for me, I no ready to be anybody slave. Thank you"

"When you change your mind, I'll be here"

Osas heard a knock on the door after brothers had gone to school then she quickly rushed to open it. "Hey" Faith waved and she shut the door against her face.

"I know you're angry, just hear me out! I owe you an explanation" She screamed and Osas opened the door frowning. "What do you want?"

"I've been feeling guilty"

"Why you no go feel guilty? After wetin you do!"

"I did it because of my boyfriend! I didn't mean it, I didn't want to put him in trouble, he gave me the drugs but it turned out pretty bad. After I woke up and my mom asked who gave me, I panicked and I told them it was you! I didn't want her getting angry at Paul"

"Na me resemble scape goat shey?" She asked then she scoffed, "Alele, con dey do commot for my house, your explanation no hold water. Oyinbo go say, you have overstayed your welcome"

"Wait?" She raised a finger bringing out a brown envelope. "I don't need your money?" "I'm offering to give you. Please help me managed.."

Osas slammed the door against her face and Faith shut her eyes in guilt.

"Please I'm sorry!"

Eniola Badmus walked past Obianuju's seat towards Osaze's door, "Excuse me, what are you doing?" "See a friend, what does it look like?" She asked and she rose up. "You're supposed to pass through me first"

"Pass through a simple secretary before seeing my friend and colleague? Do you have any idea who I am or do I need to remind you"

"Please remind me

"I'm Barrister Eniola Badmus, one the youngest and successful lawyers in the whole of Nigeria" "Why is it not in Africa or the whole world, that would have been better. I hope you're familiar with the saying when you're in Rome you act like a Roman"

"I hope you're familiar with the idiom, a beggar has no choice? Well I have to see Osaze"

"You don't have any appointment with him"

"Oh wait, so it's by appointment now right? I don't have book appointments, I'm not like everyone else, I'm Eniola Badmus"

"You can be Eniola Badmus in your father's house not here! You can act all snobby in your father's house or anywhere but when you come here, you respect the principles on ground and the first one is whenever you want to see the boss, you kass through one person and that's me!" She snapped and Eniola scoffed.

"You who? What's your last name? Who are you?"

"Obianuju Peters the girl who's going to punch your face if you don't respect yourself!" She snapped and Osaze pushed the door open.

"What's the rukus about?" He asked now looking at Obianuju then he turned towards Eniola. Was there any point asking again, it was definitely one of their cat fight!

"Hey Osaze, I was coming in to see you but she said I had to come through appointments. Please let her know that I'm not like others" she explained and Osaze turned towards Obianuju.

He could see the anger clearly written on her face. "Come in Enny" he replied entering in and Eniola stuck out her tongue before entering.

"Osaze dear. Good morning"

"Good morning, how are you Enny"

"I'm fine, I just woke with you in my thoughts, I've been thinking about you all morning" "Why?" "You know why" she replied rubbing her fingers on his chest and he pulled back.

"What do you really want?"

"A date. We already fixed one at one of the most exotic restaurants in thw whole of Lagos" "Without my permission?"

"Um, that's why it's called a surprise date"

"And, what's we?"

"Your mother and I"

"My...... Eniola, we're not dating"

"I know. It's not a date between us, it's a family date, I'll be there, Mom, Dad, you, your Mom and Dad in exception of Goriola, we all know how itchy you get when you see him so..." She trailed off flipping her hair.

"What do you say?"

"I don't like people imposing things on me"

Eniola exhaled, "it's a family date, no one is imposing anything on you. If it was a date between the both of us, yeah, you're free to say that but.... What the hell the five of us on the same table! What harm is there? What do you say Osaze, is it a yes or a no?"

"Osas!!" Hilda called out to Osas after sighting her at the other side of the road. Osas turned back at her smiling, "Hey, sister!" She waved and Hilda crossed the road over to where she was.

"It's been a while"

"Yeah"

"You're no longer at the pharmacy"

"Yes. Things con get as e be" she replied scratching her neck, "Because of the abortion thing?" She asked and Osas forced a smile. "How you dey? I hope say you dey itch again?"

"It doesn't" She replied folding her hands, "Nice try, you're trying to avoid the topic right?" She asked and Osas laughed.

"Somehow"

"What do you do now?"

"I ..." She scratched her hair looking around, "I'm looking for job"  "Oh, sorry about that. Have you found one?"

"No."

"You know what? A friend of mine spoke to me earlier on about this ushering gig, it doesn't pay much but.... It's manageable"

"Really?"

"Yes. I'll talk to her if she has found someone to fill the spot then I'll get back to you"  "For real? You'll do that for me?"

Hilda laughed, "Why not? Let me give you my number?" "The phone of screen is bad. Sorry," she laughed, "What am I even saying, the screen of my phone is bad, let me give you the number instead" "No wahala now" she brought of her infinix hot 8 from her bag.

"Call out the number"

As a slow classical music play in the restaurant, laughter erupts out of Eniola's lips after her father told a joke about his first time eating Chinese. "That's so hilarious! Oh my God" she said now looking at Osaze.

"Have you had Chinese before?" Mr Badmus asked and he shook his head.

"I don't have interest in things that are half done. I rather fry, boil or roast my fish rather than eat it raw" he replied and Morenike flashed a smile at him.

"There was that one time" she chipped in, "How old were you again?" She asked, "Sixteen?" "Seventeen it was shortly after my graduation from secondary school" Osaze chuckled nostalgically.

"That most talked about Chinese restaurant that opened up that year and you had to use me as a test subject" he continued now looking at his mother and she laughed.

"It didn't taste that bad"

"Mom, it was horrible!" He yelled and she laughed. She hasn't heard him call her 'Mom' in a very long time! 

This was followed by a long silence.

"I love Chinese, if there's anywhere I'll like to spend my honeymoon, it's either China or Dubia" "Why not somewhere in South America, or any place in America. Mi fi be feran awon Chinese yen (I really don't like the Chinese)" Her mother answered and Morenike laughed.

"It's her choice, let her make it"

"What if Osaze decides to make another choice?" Mr Badmus asked and she laughed, "What?" Eniola scoffed laughing, "He obviously has no choice but to agree, I mean duh, it's my wedding"

Osaze's eyes lit up in interest, was there blood boiling in his eyes or he just heard his name in that question. There must be a mistake somewhere.

"What wedding?" He asked and Mrs Badmus laughed, "Let's not scare Osaze just yet, we haven't even sat down properly to discuss about when we'll hold their engagement party. When will it be Osaze?"

"What?"

"Your engagement party of course? When will it be?"

* They are the guys at the club

Guess who played each characters

What do you think about this Chapter?

In your own opinion? Can you forgive a person like Faith?

Me: 🤷

What do you think about the characters, specifically,  Eniola? 😁