Veritable Amigos

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter
Thirteen

   Vin went for Gayles as he had promised. He drove her to a shop that sells fashionable clothes. When they went in to shop, Vin selected many beautiful big-ticket clothes. "Will you help me choose clothes for your cutie?", he asked.
   "Meh. When did I say I have a baby?", asked Gayles.
   "I meant Abena", he added helpfully.
   "Of course, it will be a pleasure", she said, her face cracking into a smile.
   Gayles was the mannequin for the clothes. Vin chooses the clothes, puts them on Gayles to check if they were chic and elegant. With that, he chose so many clothes for Abena. He was billed the clothes, he paid for them and they left. "The clothes were too costly", said Gayles.
   "It is less expensive when I have such a precious stone with me", Vin answered.
   "What do you mean if you say that?", she asked.
   "I didn't want you to understand so if you are flummoxed then forget it", he ribbed. Gayles made a face when he made fun of her. "Can I tell you something?", he asked.
   "What is it?", she called for response.
   "I madly love you", he exclaimed.
   "Thanks for loving me", she said in delight. Five hours later they got to Aunty Addowah's home. Gayles lead him into the log cabin. Aunty Addowah was knocked off her socks to see them in the house, she welcomed them effusively and made them felt at home. She offered them with water from her cooler to refresh their system from the suffocation they might have had in the car during the long journey.
   Shortly afterwards Abena returned from school. She was delirious with joy when she saw Gayles in her house.  She quickly drop her schoolbag on the floor and run to embrace her.
Gayles felt special with how Abena had loved her like her own sister. "Uhm... is this your boyfriend?", Abena asked with a sly smile playing on her face.
   "Is that what you were thought in school?", her mother scolded, "is that how to speak in front of visitors? You didn't even greet".
   "I am sorry mum", she apologized. "Good afternoon to you all", Abena greeted and run into the room. Vin wasn't pleased with the scene so he sought permission from her mother and went after her. He purposely visited them to see little Abena and win her love as Gayles had done.
   "Knocking! May I come in?", he asked.
   "Of course you may", she said with her head bowed down and sitting on her small bed. Vin sat next to her and said, "aren't you going to make friends with me too? Don't you want me to be your friend?", he asked with the voice of a child.
   "I am actually sorry for my bad behaviour, I was so happy when I saw Gayles here. Forgive me", she said.
   "If that is the case then I should also be sorry for barging in like this", he said.
   "No need for that, you came here because you want to speak with me right?", she asked.
   "Yes. And it is just the same with what you did. So yours shouldn't be termed as a bad behaviour just as mine. My mum used to scold me with the pratfall I made, and do you know why?" he questioned.
   Abena looked at him for some minutes and said, "because she loves you".
   Vin was amazed with the little girl's intellectual ability. "That's surely right", he remarked. "So you are not upset with mummy right? She did that because she loves you and want the best for you. Your mum would be hurt if she hears any bad comment passed about you, that was her reason for scolding you", he explained.
   Abena calmed down and was no longer angry with her mother but glad she corrected her wrongs. Vin waited for her to morph into her house attire and they both walked into the room where her mother and Gayles were sitting. They met them conversing, Gayles was surprised at how Abena was confidently holding Vin's hand. She realized he had not only dab hand at making people admire him at first sight but even he was expect in making children also like him. Abena sat on the laps of Vin when he got seated. She was happy speaking with Vin and cracking jokes with him, she even forgot the presence of Gayles. Gayles became jealous of Vin, he had won the heart of her beloved within few minutes, he was indeed charismatic. 
   After some time, they presented the gift they had packaged for Abena and her mother to them. The little girl was very happy with her gifts. "So many sweets for me?", she said as she opened her gift box, "Aww, there's a fudge and bickies. I will share them with my posey friends tomorrow in school, they will be so happy".
   "Were those the only things you saw?", her mother asked, showing her the clothes.
   "Wow! Beautiful clothes too", she exclaimed and frisked around. "The two of you are too much. Thank you and God richly bless you".
   Her mother was too flabbergasted to speak. They had completely surprised her, she wasn't expecting so much gifts from them. With the help of Vin, Gayles had somewhat changed the condition of the family. All too soon it was getting late. They made their excuses and left, but before they left Gayles introduced Vin to Aunty Addowah and told her about their amour. She was happy with her choice of man and advised them to stay away from any sexual immoral activity till they were married.
   Vin as always dropped Gayles at her school and drove to his. She went in to freshen up as soon as she entered the room and dropped her bag. Shortly after she dressed, she flopped on the bed.
   She woke up late in the afternoon the next day by Stellie's call. She was loath to wake up but answered the phone. Stellie told her she would no sooner get to the school and that she, Gayles, should get ready because they were attending Ray's show. At the beginning she refused but after Stellie had explained why she needed to be there, she got up to get ready.
   Before she finished dressing, Rennie entered the room. "Did you just wake up from sleep?", she asked.
   "Hmmm, it seem like that", Gayles answered.
   "Seriously? Where were you all night?", she demanded.
   "I know what you are thinking but it isn't like that at all. Yeah, we might have gotten here kind of late but it wasn't so late. It's just that I was knackered", she riposted. In the middle of the conversation, Stellie also arrived.
   Their faces changed as soon as Stellie blew in. "What's with that face?", she questioned. Gayles beckoned Rennie not to disclose a word.
   Rennie didn't say anything about Gayles' sleep though she disapproved of it. Rennie made mind to reprove Gayles when they came back from the revue. The friends waited for Gayles to finish dressing and went to the revue together. On their arrival, they saw many people gathered just to watch the cracking performance of Ray. Gayles saw it to be mildly interesting whilst the two others found it to be very interesting. The main reason for the gathering was delayed because Ray was no where to be found. His big fans got a little disappointed, the show was getting to the end but there was no sign of him coming.
   But from no where he showed up on stage, he got everybody hailing him. He had so many fans including Rennie and Stellie but not Gayles. He was happy to see the lady he adored most amid the fans. His performance was the best in all.
He thanked Rennie for being there and later approach Gayles. He requested to know her decision so far on his proposal, Gayles then made it known to him that she was in love with somebody else. It was hard on him but he had absolutely nothing to say about it.
   Gayles excused herself and left with her friends.