No More Mistakes #Projectnigeria

Chapter 37

Chapter 37

AYODEJI'S POV

  It’s been one week since Friday when that stupid incident happened. So many things have changed for me since that day. I had to get a new phone and open another bank account. I tried calling my mum and talking to her, but she didn’t believe me when I said I was aiming to be better. No one really believed me, even Omolara, she didn’t have to say it for me to know she still had doubts. I don’t even blame anyone for not believing me.

I resumed work on Wednesday. Working as a business administrator in a small company could be aggravating sometimes. I had to make sure all the departments in the company were organized but this was what I went to study at the university so I was ready for it. I would have loved to work at a bank or health care facility but I couldn’t get a job there so I settled for the one I got.
I had just finished today’s work, I stayed longer than I usually do. I started paying attention more to my job, I had to.

I went home on a public bus, no one was home as usual. I was getting used to meeting the house like this. I strolled to Omolara’s room which was unlocked surprisingly, I walked in and saw her bed arranged, every corner was neat. I went to her cosmetics table and saw her perfume. The perfume smelt so great like a mixture of jasmine and rose scent.
“Jimmy Choo” I read as it was written on the perfume bottle.
“What am I even doing here?” I asked myself, as I was about to leave my phone rang. Lydia was calling, I was contemplating whether I should answer the call or not. I decided against it because she had nothing good to offer. It was funny how I now thought of it like that, if it was before maybe I would have gone to meet her immediately after she called, I was such a fool.
Talking and spending time with Omolara and Eriayomi made me realize I had everything and I abused it. Sadly, an unfortunate thing had to happen for me to realize that. No wonder Daniel wanted Omolara badly, he saw what I failed to see. I decided to go meet her at the store because why not? This time I didn’t care if I was doing too much because when I had the chance, I didn’t do enough.

The store was crowded with customers. Omolara was trying to attend to them, Eriayomi was crying at her back. Omolara needed help so I went to help her. Immediately, she saw someone walking where customers shouldn’t be she looked defensive until she realized it was me. She visibly relaxed.

“Lara, go and take care of her. Let me help you, you’ll just tell me the price of the things” I said, she nodded and went to take care of the baby. I sold to all the customers although they were still increasing in number. I asked for the price of everything.
“Lara, how much is this Golden morn?”
“1500 Naira”
“Fox cookies?”
“900 Naira”. I kept asking until I was able to sell to everyone there.
“Lara, this place is too stressful for you. Why don’t you get an assistant?”
“How will I pay the person?”
“I’ll add some money to pay the person” I walked over to her and sat beside her.
“But you have…”
“Lara, I want you to do something for me. Anytime I say I want to help you, don't argue or say any ‘buts’. Just say okay or yes, okay?” I asked smiling at her.
“Okay, Ayo”
“Mummy Yomi, good afternoon. We came to gist with you” Two girls came into the store.
“I don’t have strength for you today, Titi” Omolara replied.
“Mummy Yomi, who is… wait oh, na Daddy Yomi” The girl, Titi said. She had a petite body shape unlike the girl beside her who was chubby.
“Titi, how you take know?” The other girl asked her. I looked at Omolara as she laughed and shook her head.
“Shola and Titi, meet my husband, Ayodeji” Omolara said as I stretched my hand to shake them.
“Call me Daddy Yomi” they both chuckled.
“Nice to meet you, see as you fine. Kai, Mummy Yomi you get eye sha” Titi said as she shook my hand.
“Nice to meet you” Shola said as she also shook my hand.
“Shola, make we go oh. No wonder she no get our time today” Titi winked at Omolara and left. I later found out they were salesgirls in the wig shop on the ground floor.
“This girl will not kill me. Ayo, how was work?”
“Call me Daddy Yomi” I wiggled my eyebrows at her.
“You are not serious, Ayo” she giggled. The baby was sleeping so I couldn’t carry her. We talked about the day, I sold to some other customers until it was time to go home.
We were walking home.
“Ayo” Omolara said.
“Yes, Lara” I replied.
“Uh, don’t worry. I’ll tell you when we go home” she said and I nodded.

When we reached home, I asked her to tell me what she wanted to say.
“Ayo, I don’t know how to ask this. Let me just go straight to the point.” She was starting to make me nervous.
“What is it?”
“Ayo, have you been tested?” I knew exactly what she was talking about. I didn’t want to think in that direction. I wanted to make things right, make her see the good in me and love me. I needed her to love me and it would be hard for me if I had AIDS. I wasn’t ready to give her up, I was selfish like that.
“I don’t get it, tested for what?” I asked.
“Ayodeji, you know what I’m talking about. Ayodeji, have you been tested for AIDS?” she said, it sounded so simple but it tore me apart just thinking about it. I didn’t know what I would do if I had AIDS.