Shin-nae Nae

§§Chapter 10§§

✓✓✓ Shin-nae Nae's POV
My head hurt as I held my tears in my throat and dragged my bag down from the taxi and into the compound after paying. As I unlocked the door and got into the house Helen came to me and hugged me and I just broke down as she led to to the chair where we sat. These chairs that always threaten to swallow us. Nawa for the maker oh "Shin-nae Nae what wrong??" I thought I was done crying but when I sniffled it turned out I was not. It dawned on me that I had successfully chased my mother away. Something I didn't want. AT ALL. Helen held me as I wept then I said "My mom will leave soon Helen. I have deeply offended her and her mind's made up. I'm doomed" "Dear I'm sure when your Mother calms down she'll rethink her decision" I shook my head in the negative as I sighed and laid my head on the chair. She stared at me intently. Helen was never one good in comforting others so after a while things became awkward. Then she said "I will try to fix up some food for you to eat. Okay??" I nodded and sighed. By now Mom must have been told that I had left earlier today back to Helen's house. And this step must have further encouraged her to seal her decision and make it final. I had cowardly disappeared. I sighed as I glanced at my phone and picked up Dad's call.
"Father Good Morning" "Dear how are you??" "Father" I broke down but I managed to tell him everything in-between my sobs
"One thing is certain whether or not you offended her your mother would still leave. Her time there is far spent. It's just that your words quickened this action. And now she'll be leaving angry instead of hopeful to see you again. That's what makes this different." "Father what do I do??" He sighed "Nothing. She won't listen to you, me or anyone else for that matter so just don't push it. Hopefully with time she'll let it slide." I nodded and cleaned my tears as we rounded up the call.
Helen called me over to eat. When I got to the table she had made Egg toast lots of it. I smiled. I loved fried eggs and they fit in well with Crunchies bread when crisp fully toasted so I was down for it. I made myself some hot Twisco and sat to enjoy my meal. This helped relieve me of my sadness just a little bit. Plus my period had started so my mood was down. After the meal I gave Helen a long hug as she calmed me down. I told her I would be going over to Sampson's to see if we can fix things. Then she did something she hadn't done in a very very long time. She held my hands and prayed with me. I felt so much better after that. Then I left.

I lived at Tinapa and Sampson lived down Slaughter. So it was a bit far but it was gonna be worth it I told myself. When I got there safely by God's grace I knocked. It was Ope who opened and she was tying a wrapper!! I was taken aback at this. I just stood there and stared at her like I wasn't seeing properly. Since when did Sampson start...... flexing with women?? I was stunned but still we greeted and I  bypassed her into the living room. I wasn't here to cause more problems but t fix the one I caused so I calmed down and sat on one of the chairs. Besides I didn't know why I was feeling this way. (Maybe it was my period?? Or perhaps the deep sadness I felt concerning Mom's departure??) Then Ope came and talked to me. Looking at her I knew she felt awkward I just didn't want to add to it else I would have bombarded her with questions but like I said I came her to fix a problem not to cause another one "I know this looks messed up but I just moved in. And no Sampson and I are not a thing I could never do that to you." I thought 'Meaning???' "I stay in one of the many guest rooms quite far off from his so please don't see this the wrong way." I looked at her "Ope I understand you. Besides you really shouldn't be telling me all that I'm just here to see Sampson." She chuckled "I figured. He's coming and I'll go change" I nodded "In the mean time Sara will get you something to drink" she said and went upstairs. Sara came and greeted "Sara I'm fine thank you. Just two cans of spicy Pringles will do" She bowed and went to get them as Sampson came in on a call. When he saw me he ended his call and said "Why are you here??" "Sampson I'm here to apologize for my anger outburst. Please Im sorry." He sighed "I've heard now please leave" Sara came in with the snacks. "You can leave with the snacks. I don't care" I looked at him "Sampson you are my friend." "And you didn't have that in mind when you lashed out on me?" "Sampson" "Please leave" "Sampson I won't leave unless you are going to throw me out by yourself" He stared at me "You know I won't do that" "Exactly" I said as I came closer to him and held his hands "I am deeply sorry" I said as I hugged him and let the tears spill on his shirt. He touched my cheeks and sighed as he said "It's fine. I don't hold any grudges against you" I nodded but still stayed that way. Then he said "Are you okay??" "No...." I breathed "It's that time of the month." He smiled as he pulled away and began walking upstairs gesturing me to come too. As we reached his room door he said "You'll be fine but apart from that. What's wrong??"

I looked at him as he sat on the sofa and sipped some water "Mom's leaving. She heard everything I said." "How's that even possible??" I looked at him "Mom said you comlink was 'mistakenly' left on. 'Mistakenly'." He looked at me "Are you trying to say that I left my comlink on purposely??"  I dropped my bag and sat on the bed as I massaged my neck. "I haven't said anything yet. But it sounds like it." "With emphasis Mistakenly??" He looked at me as I avoided eye contact. "You're crazy." I nodded as I looked around his room. It's was still the same way it had always been. Then something flashed through my memory "When did Ope come here??" He breathed "Few days ago. Why??" "Nothing I thought just that you would have informed me" "As my PA abi my girlfriend or worse my wife" "Sampson I am serious here" "I am also serious here." I ignored him because I truly didn't know what to say. I truly didn't have any right to ask him such but I wasn't gonna apologise because somehow it bothered me even though I didn't know why. I just laid on the bed and said "I want to sleep. Be quiet" He squinted his eyes at me "Did you come to my house just to sleep??" I aimed him a pillow which he dodged then he laughed "it's what 11 in the morning and you travelled all the way to my house. Why?? Not to help me and wash clothes oh or cook or sweep the house oh. No you came here to jump on my finely dressed bed and sleep. This girl it's like you're mad" I rose from the bed and stared daggers at him "I dey talk you dey talk-" "Shey you wan collect??" It was Opeyemi that completed my threat as she came in now properly dressed and laughing as she balanced herself on the sofa right next to Sampson. Her entrance into the room ruined my mood and damped the room's atmosphere. So I sat up properly as I watched her.

"I thought I would find you two here" Sampson raised his head from his phone "Ope don't you have any other thing you should be doing right now??" He said it jokingly but it hit hard and her smile faltered "I'll just go finish unboxing. I'm sorry " When she left I just kept staring at the door. Then he said "You can leave too if you want to"  I looked at him "And miss out on sleeping on your extremely soft bed that I'm already sitting on?? Hmmmmmm lemme think. I don't think so" I relaid properly on the bed and soon enough I was fast asleep.
When I woke up I freshened up and felt lighter. Then Sampson came in "I been think say you no wan wake up" "Abeck Guy rest. Wetin dey house I wan chop." "I no sabi. Go downstairs go ask Ella." I nodded and got down from the bed. Then I stared at him intently sipping some RC and being on his laptop. I went and sat next to him "Sampson are you okay??" He looked at me and forced a smile "I'm fine. You don't need to worry" "I will until I'm sure you're okay. At least this way I can make up for my mistakes to you" He stared at me and nodded as we side hugged "You should come downstairs let's go eat." He nodded and we got up and went down. There we had garri and Affang soup. God! Delicious is an understatement. My God! Normally I prefer Rice, Yam, Spaghetti and the likes to Garri but today? Today was different I even had two servings. So did Sampson and even though he'd deny it cos he didn't want to be see complimenting his staff but he knew it was good. He just couldn't deny that. A mean! Damn!!

Annnnnnnyyywayyyssss After the meal I went home and called up father and talked to him for a very long time. Then I  prayed a hearty prayer and went to bed managing to fall asleep at 3 o'clock in the morning. I know because I stayed up all night staring at the clock hoping I'll fall asleep but I didn't not until 3. You can imagine my morning face........