Securing The Bag (The Lagos Hustle)

Reconciliation

JECINCTA
At my first glance, Fifi's flat still looked the same from the outside, the baby drier was still in the same corner, drying out her lacy underwear in the balcony, the aloe vera flower pots still lined the wall, only the resurrection plant I noticed was missing. But on a closer look, I realized some changes; the wall paint was peeling, the baby drier was missing a leg and had to balance on 3 stands, even the plants didn't look as lush as I remembered. Maybe I was just a horrible person, seeing things that weren't there to make myself feel good?

The three of us crowded the narrow gate and I felt a wave of nostalgia wash over me before ringing the bell.

I rang it twice and there wasn't any reply. "maybe she isn't in...." I sighed

"Then we can make ourselves comfortable..." Kanaku was already checking inside the flowerpots for a spare key. He glanced at Fuoyo, "whenever you're chanced just buy a iron cutter and leave in your booth for emergencies like this, but right now help me get your jack, these bars are far enough to work..."

"Who's there?" Fifi's voice called from inside and the outside bulb came on.

"Hi Fifi....it's me..." I called out.

The curtain shifted to the side immediately and soon after the door opened and Fifi came outside.

She hadn't really changed and I realized how much I had missed her, she still looked the same as the last time I had seen her, the day I informed her I was moving to my place. She hadn't taken the news very well that day but now she looked to be in perfect control of her emotions. She looked me from the head to toe before regarding my two companions.

"Jessy, so you still remember your way here?" It was a rhetorical question but her pause made the silence a little awkward.

"good evening to you" Fuoyo greeted

"evening" Kanaku echoed

She ignored them and looked me in a way that told me she hadn't forgiven me for snatching Mr. D and running away.

"what can I do for you, I'm kinda busy right now"

"please Fifi we have a couple of questions and I would be grateful if you took time to hear us out"

"I'm listening"

"errm madam, please can we come inside?" Kanaku asked

Fifi flared immediately, "come inside where?" she turned to me, "Jessy who are these ones? What of your precious Mr. D? Has he finally gotten tired of you?" she laughed

"Actually that's why we're here....Mr D was......" I trailed off

she looked at me expectantcly and I couldn't bring myself to complete it. Fuoyo helped me fill in the gap before she got too impatient, "...was killed last night"

"WHAT?!" that was the last thing she expected to hear, I had managed to shock her yet again.

She stood with wide eyes and a wide-open mouth, blinking at me in shock until she brought herself to ask, "what happened? How? when? who did it?"

"Please madam can we come in and discuss this properly?" Kanaku asked for the second time

"yes yes...sure" she opened the gate and stepped aside while we filed into her apartment. She was still at a loss for words.

I led them into the apartment. She had made some subtle changes, the red carpet had been replaced with a center rug and dark marbled floor reflected the white fluorescent light.