Adanike

chapter ten

I hear the knock on my door at about 7:00 o'clock,I invite him in,he takes the couch he took the last time,he and Tobi exchange greetings,start discussing about football,clubs, players,coach and all other boring football stuffs,I put Kachi to bed and come out, Papa is already sleeping inside.

The dinner was just at the junction were mama Siri prepared local dishes,she was surprised to see me because it has been a long time since I came to her restaurant,she kept giving me funny looks and smiling like she won a contract,she even insisted on serving us herself,and when the time came to pay for the meal she blurted her question unashamed in Yoruba
"Is he your husband?"
"Ah! no oh aunty he is my friend"I answered her back in Yoruba grateful for the language used to communicate,I paid for the meal and we left to go home.

"Thank you for showing me this restaurant,you know I've eaten ewedu before but it wasn't prepared this good,though I liked it like that then but today's own was fire oh lord!"
We both burst into laughter,
"So the meal is to cover two days of free baby sitting"I joked
"Eh you and who?,if you want baby sitting,sister,provide ewedu"
"I can't believe mama Siri did this to me"
"No oh she made work easier" he said laughing.

"Thanks for the ride Mr Gabriel" I said smiling and unbuckling the seat belt,
"You Know babysitters always have the numbers of the babies  parent or guardian" he said, directing his phone towards me,
"Oh! ok you're trying to be professional abi?"I continued the joke, collecting the phone, putting in my number and returning it back to him,I opened the car,got out,he reversed and came back to the same spot,we said our goodnights and he left.

Within the week we got to chat on WhatsApp and I'll say he keeps the conversation going with his great sense of humour, he loves voice note,I couldn't always see him at their school even though I always hope to,he began to fit into my time schedule,and I wouldn't dare chat with him without finishing my domestic and school work, because he makes me forget how heavy the burden is.

It's yet another week of serious school activities with exams drawing near,I examine my class questions and everything to make sure all mistakes are avioded,I am at my class teaching health education my students giving me rapt attention, teaching is not something you can just do in your head or feel your effort is enough,you have to come out of your comfort zones and do your best going from simple to complex,putting energy to get instructional materials for easy understanding and though it might not have been easy at first but now I'm getting the hang of it and it's amazing and fun too,Im pointing at a dustbin I was using as an instructional material,I was teaching them the importance of proper waste disposal,I felt a shadow block the entrance of the class,lo and behold there he stood sleeves rolled up and an ignorant Kachi who had his full attention on an iPad,I rushed to the door to get my brother but then he walked in to the back of the class and sat down smiling,my students who had already greeted him Sat down waiting for an explanation of the visitor,I told them it was an uncle from the neighboring school and they all chorused,
"Welcome to primary five B"
"Thank you primary five B,Aunty you should continue with your class"he replied a sly smile on his face,I started stammering a little and have to look at my notes more than I usually do,so that I'm not saying the wrong things,but then I got composed again and delivered the topic as planned,that was the last class,the bell rang,so all the students picked their bags and assignment notes I had marked,then exited the class,it was just him at the back with Kachi,
"Hey" I said working towards them,
"Hey you too,you are so amazing with the students,I wish a lot of teachers would go this far to explain topics to their students,it seems like you have a place for each one of them in your heart because you know when they loose concentration,you teach them so lovingly" I stood there smiling and watching as he showered me praises,
"Thank you,but I guess I'm just doing my job to teach our future leaders"I replied"Mr Gabriel, how did you enter this school without being stopped at the gates?"
"I have my ways sweetheart"
"You know you could have called me?"
"I knew you would be in a class, I noticed you started slacking on our chats, I wanted to know if you were ok,now I realize you've been really busy,and sincerely...I wanted to watch you without you questioning why"he added smiling and looking at my every move to see my reaction,I kept blushing,I couldn't even stop the blush, truly I had been slacking a bit on our chats because of the forthcoming exam,I gave lessons to some of my students privately for free to help them get ready for the exams and for their common entrance,some had fear for the exams,I knew I had to do something.

We stopped at the mama Siri's restaurant where he ordered takeouts,he offered to buy for us but we refused the offer we had food at home I'm always careful to manage my time,I had lessons to give after I refreshed,so I woke up earlier and made lunch.

The lessons today was good,the fear is beginning to evaporate and they are gaining confidence in themselves,on getting home tired and exhausted,I move over to Papa's room to see him bent over and drops of blood on the floor,Oh MY GOD!,I rush to his side to see him holding his eyes,his hands are stained with blood and though he is not writhing in pain,his hands are shaking,I rush out of the house shouting and bidding the neighbors to come and help,I rush in and papa has gotten up trying to find his way to where? I can't tell,I rush out again,my head confused,I don't know what to do,my eyes are already teary,a neighbor rushes in and when he sees what is happening,he rushes to call a taxi,I didn't even think of that,I sit on the floor,Kachi is already crying profusely,I rush to him and raise him up, hiding his face from the site,the neighbor returns with a taxi,I give Kachi to him and enter the taxi with papa,I don't want to think of what could be wrong cause my fears are so big,God I want to trust you right now but my strength is failing me,I turn my head and look towards heaven,God what else can I do but trust you,what else?,I wipe off the tears rolling down my eyes and pray.

Another chapter to Adanike,please vote for this story,if you find it pleasing to your heart,and I would love to hear your feedback,tell me what you feel about this story,tell me whatyou want to see,just tell my anything,and please vote! Vote! vote!

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