Naya and Vince

18

Like I had planned on Friday, I headed to Richard's apartment after school. Before I could knock, the door flew open. He must have seen me enter the compound from the window.

"Come in". I obeyed him. After locking the door behind him, he joined me on the couch.

"How are you?" He asked.

I raised an eyebrow. "I'm fine. Why?"

"Nothing. So. . .you said you needed a bank account?" He started.

"Yes".

"I'll have it that you are not going to tell me how you are getting whatever money you're going to get but I'll just tell you this, it's not worth it."

"Huh?"

"It's not Naya," he said again.

"What exactly do you have in mind that I'm doing or planning to do?" I asked him.

He inhaled. "I know that you're schooling with rich kids and you need to get money for things and –" he paused and looked at me.

I shook my head continuously, "do you really think that low of me? You are literally insulting me!"

"See –"

"You have already guessed that I'm hooking up with someone? If you know me so well, you'd know that I'd never sleep with someone for money! I'm only tutoring one of those brats, that's the source of the money".

"Oh."

"Yes Richard". I rubbed my forehead trying to calm myself, "can we go to the bank already?"

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean –"

"I don't care! Let's just go to the bank." Of course that was a lie. I cared a lot. Richard seeing me as a whore was heartbreaking, if not heart shredding.

"Banks are already closed for the day. And with the way I'm seeing things, you might never be able to open an account."

"Right. They close by four." I thought for a while, "do you happen to know what they might ask from me if I want to open an account?"

"Yes. They'd ask for your–"

"Wait!". I ransacked my bag for my pen and a sheet of paper before telling him to continue. After writing down the information, I gave him the sheet of paper.

"What for?"

"I want you to help me open the account tomorrow. Here's my student ID card," I told him handing it over.

"Okay? What of the passport and phone number?"

"I think I have a passport here," I answered checking my bag. "Yup. I know I did" I handed it to him. "Just use your phone number. You know I don't have a phone and it's not even in my to-buy list" I shrugged.

"If you say so."

"Yeah. I'll be going now," I said standing up. He didn't say anything but followed me to the door.

"I'm leaving soon" I heard him say immediately I crossed the threshold. I turned immediately. He was leaning on the door frame, hands in his pockets.

"Did you say something?" I asked him to be sure.

"I said I'm leaving soon. I got the job in Abuja," he answered.

"A-abuja?". I could remember when he was telling me about his application for a job in a cosmetic firm in Abuja.

"Yeah."

"Oh okay," I said.

Richard frowned. He was expecting more than an okay. I wanted to say more than that too. "See you on Wednesday."

I rushed out of his apartment. I couldn't believe he was leaving. He was going to leave me alone. I couldn't explain my attitude but I didn't want him to go. I wanted the best for him but if he left I'd be alone in my sad life again.

He was the only one I could easily tell my problems and he was the only one who knew just how to console me. Bolaji knew nothing about my life.