EMEKA OPENED HIS EYES, half asleep to his phone buzzing beside him on the bed. He picked it up, not bothering to know who the caller was. "Hey! What's up?" Bimbo's voice rang with excitement...
"it's 6am" Emeka replied drowsily
"You're still sleeping?" Bimbo's excitement flattened.
"Well I'm up now thanks to you!"
"Anyways I thought to let you know I would be out with the boss today"
"You suddenly don't remember his name abi??"
"Pick a struggle oga!" Bimbo shot back
"Easy!" Emeka teased... "Small joke and you want to fight"
"You're so annoying!"
"And isn't that why you love me?"
"Yeah right" bimbo hissed.. "Got plans for today??"
"I'd have to get out of bed first to know" Emeka replied.
"Okay then.... Have fun"
"You too darling."
Emeka dragged himself out of bed to the kitchen. His head ached a little as he walked, grateful at least to still be able to gather his thoughts. He opened the fridge and took out a bottle of water... "Great! You're up early!" Amanda walked into the kitchen sporting a tank top and jean shorts...
"Why? Did you think I was going to sleep the whole day?" Emeka replied before taking a gulp from the bottle of water.
"Was thinking I'd have to waste my time waking you up"
"Well someone did that job for you already"...... "Nice sneakers by the way" Emeka commented
"Oh thank you! I just got them... You like?"... Emeka nodded his head as he took another gulp from the bottle.
"You going somewhere?"
"Yeah, Halima is taking me to the salon"
"Isn't it a bit too early?" Emeka probed
"This is Lagos" Amanda scoffed... "Its never too early... And besides, with everything happening today... I have to be back early" .........
"If you're hungry, there's some spaghetti in the freezer.... You can just microwave it"
"Whatever happened to fresh food?" Emeka asked with a child-like tone of displeasure.
"That's because I'm your sister and not your wife"...... "got to go... See you later!"
"One more thing!" Emeka held her back before she could run off. "Alex...... He thinks he is in love with you"
"Is that a problem?"
"Look.... He's the only friend I have in Lagos and I'd still like him very much intact."
"Bold of you to assume I don't like him too"
"Oh Come on.... we both know you don't" Emeka quickly replied... " and besides, he has a fiancée. That should be enough for you to look the other way... Just this once!"
"But Alex is a grown man though... And he can make his decisions" Amanda replied with a smile..
"Yes... But all I'm asking is that you go easy on him"
"Okay.. Sure.. Whatever"... "can I go now?"
"Of course.... Say hi to Halima for me"
"You're the best!" Emeka echoed as she walked away and she responded by sticking her middle finger in the air.
People generally looked forward to the weekends with excitement in Lagos. Partying in clubs on Friday nights into the dawn of the morning is basically what most lagosians call a good time. Emeka had never taken a liking to any city like he did Lagos, there was something about the place that made him feel like he belonged. Raised in London, he could still remember the first time he stepped feet on the little island. The breeze felt different, the people were different, it was here he got to understand the jungle that is life, that rules never really mattered to most people. Lagos boasted an incredible mix of luxury and poverty that puzzled him: "how can the rich and the poor be so close and yet so far" he would often ask himself. But between the luxury homes and beaches of Lekki and the slums and suburbs of Ajegunle, Lagos offered him something he couldn't refuse: ANONYMITY. Here, he could be himself without having to look over his shoulder or worry about his grandfather's legacy- the one thing that always left a sour taste in his mouth. "The Irony!" He thought to himself as he drove out into the streets, "who would have thought that I would one day fight for something I have loathed all my life"
