Subdued (18+)✔️ [A Nigerian Romance]

19~Worried

Aria ran into Pete immediately she pushed open the door of the club and his hands shot out to break her imminent fall.

"Who's chasing you?" His eyes swept her then he looked behind her.

"No one, let's just go." She righted herself and tugged on her tank top. "I have to get out of here."

"Who's got your panties in a twist? You're all sweaty and out of breath."

She tugged on his arm and led him out of the club. After confirming that Kachi had left, she made her way to the car.

Should she tell him? Would talking about it make the entire situation make sense? All those questions ran through her mind, but Pete was kinda judgemental. He was her best friend from childhood but sometimes he could be a little too much and was fond of pushing his opinions on people. Maybe later, when she'd had more time to process and digest everything; when she'd made sense of it, she would tell him.

"I'm good, just overworked," she sighed.

He started the car and turned on the radio while she closed her eyes and let the sounds of the busy Lagos street calm her nerves.

***

Her ringing phone woke her up from sleep and she cursed the person who was mean enough to call her before the sun was up. She was free till night so sleeping in had been the number one item on her to do list.

She cursed more when she looked at the clock to see it was just few minutes past six in the morning. Her phone went silent and before she could take in a relieved breath, it started ringing again.

The number was unknown to her but she had to answer since they seemed relentless.

"What?" she growled.

"Na me, Nkiru. I stay at Mama Peter's compound and she asked me to call you. Something happened to your mother," she said in a hurried tone. She recognized the woman's shrill voice immediately and wondered what terrible news would warrant her calling. She wasn't even aware the woman had her phone number.

"My mother? What happened to her?"

"I'm not sure o," the woman cried. "Mama Peter just got a call and ran out to meet your mother. All she said was to call you."

"Thank you, please hang up let me call her." When the woman hung up, Aria immediately dialed her mother. It rang and rang and she didn't pick up. She tried again and was so relieved when it finally connected.

"Hello?" It was her mother's voice and she almost wept at the joyous relief she felt. In the few seconds that had ticked by while she dialed her mother, her mind had pictured so many different scenarios. She had feared that the worst had happened and something was wrong with her mom.

"Mummy, it's me," she said.

"Nkem? My daughter how are you?" She sounded fine and cheery even, there was no trace of something terrible happening in her voice.

"What happened? Aunty Nkiru called me. She said something bad happened."

"Ah, this woman and her mouth. I called Mama Peter and somehow it got to her," she laughed. "Don't worry Adam, everything is fine. I'm fine."

"Is that Nkem?" Aria heard Pete's mother talking in the background and the muted sounds of the women arguing. "You have to tell her," Mama Peter hissed.

"Nkem already does so much for me, so no. I can't tell her," was her mother's whispered response.

"Tell me what?" Aria cried and yet no one answered. It seemed the other two women had forgotten about her on the phone and was content to just argue within themselves.

"Better tell her or I will," Mama Peter said in a much louder voice.

"Hello?" Aria's mother said into the phone. "Nkem are you still there?"

"Yes Mom. What's going on?"

"It's nothing serious, so please relax. You don't need to come all the way to Asaba, okay?"

"Mom, just say it." The more her mother delayed, the more her worries skyrocketed. If it was nothing serious, she would have spoken up and she definitely wouldn't have argued with Pete's mom about whether to tell her.

"The debtors came again. They broke a few things-"

"A few things?" Mama Peter screeched. "They broke your windows and you even got cut by one of the glass pieces!"

"Ah, Bernice! You shouldn't have said anything to her," Aria's mother sighed. "It's just a small cut."

"A cut that missed your eyes by a few inches," Mama Peter interjected.

"You got hurt? That's serious, mom!" Aria yelled over the phone and rubbed her temples. There was no way she'd not go check on her mother. It didn't matter that it would take her nine hours by bus and her pay would get docked for the days she'd miss. As long as it was about her mother, she knew it was a given.

Her mother knew too. "I'm fine, please don't come. Just stay at work and keep doing what you're doing."

"I'm going to the park now, Mom. Please give Mrs. Bernice the phone." She kicked off her blanket that was still wrapped around one feet and ran to her wardrobe.

"If you come I'll be pissed, Nkem."

Aria sighed as she set her phone on loudspeaker and began to grab clothes. "There's no way I'm not coming to check on you. Please give the phone to her."

"Nkem?" Mama Peter's voice was loud and clearer this time.

"Ma, good morning ma. Please stay with my mother till I come, please."

"Of course. Don't overthink anything though, she's not seriously hurt, only a bit shaken up."

"Thank you ma, thank you so much."

"Safe journey," she said and then hung up.

Aria's shower that morning was the fastest one she'd ever had and she absentmindedly shoved clothes into a bag. After she was dressed, she zipped her bag shut and hurried to the door. Her phone rang again and she answered, hoping it wasn't more bad news.

"Hey Mom, I'm on my way to the park now. Let's talk later."

"Um, I'm not your mother. Good morning Miss Aria, I'm Usman Mohammed."

"Who?" she frowned in confusion.

"Usman Mohammed, I work for Mr. Onyekachi Obiagu."

***

Sorry for the late update guys, it's been hella busy.

I used a few strange terms that was put in italics and I wanted to leave a short glossary for you guys.

*Na me; means it's me.
*Adam; means my first daughter.

Also, I'm sure you noticed some characters being addressed by so many names, don't get confused. An example is Pete's mom. Sometimes she's referred to as Mama Peter, that's Peter's mother. Then she was also called Bernice which is her actual name. Adults usually don't tell us kids their names so that's why Aria's mom addressed her as Mama Peter when talking to her daughter and Bernice when talking to the other woman.

Please ask questions if you have any.

As always, thanks for reading. Please vote and comment if you enjoyed this chapter ❤️