Rebellion

21. Deuce

“We wanted the freedom to love. We wanted the freedom to choose. Now we have to fight for it.” – Lauren Oliver.

•••

“We can all have our seats, now.” The government executive gave the order, and they all followed. The conference of all heads of the museum, had kicked off and without much thought and contemplation – she was able to infer the motive behind the meeting.

They needed funding, and they needed it in abundance. For some reason, the expenses of the museum were elapsing the finances produced by the government. She knew that reason of course, and so did everyone in the room. Some government personnel at federal level was of course embezzling the funds. It was status quo for people with such power, even if a large amount of folk were suffering because of it.

“For the past month or so, we’ve encountered minor difficulties in running this place…”

Minor, my ass.

“…and after endless soliciting and pleading to the government…”

Endless, indeed.

“…We are fortunate to have someone willing to step into the government’s position and do what’s needed to be done. A donor, who is also willing to join the board governing the matters of the museum…”

Of course, you’d worship anyone who offers to do what you’re supposed to do.

“…He is a public personality of some sort, and I know that we all here know him to some capacity. Please, I’d love us all to get up on our feet as we welcome into our midst – Dayo Tijani.”

What!

A cold chill ran down her spine, as the door of the conference room at the other end of the room – jerked open and out of the threshold emanated – Dayo. Her mind went into hiatus, as she tried to get a handle on everything that was happening. Dayo – was the donor, why was she so surprised? He was always willing to render help to anyone or any body that needed it, but surely not the government people he had claimed to despise in the past? Or was it just some ploy to be in her life. She wasn’t that green to believe he was that strong-headed, after she had told him to stay out of her life yesterday, and more so – he was the living embodiment of apathy. The normal Dayo wouldn’t even drop by to see her, not to talk of forcing his way into her life after she had told him to stay away.

What the hell was happening?

What the hell was he doing here, looking like that? He was decked out in a sky-blue buttoned down shirt, rounded up with a brown bow tie and covered with a dimly-tinted green blazer. His brown fitted trousers, hugged his legs tightly with its helm folded above his ankle, where his legs were fitted in Red brogues.

Damn.

A smug smile tugged at the edges of his lips, as he shot a cursory acknowledgment glance and took the seat by the chairman’s right – opposite hers.

“Thank you, thank you. I’m so honored to be honored in such way. I’d be even more honored if we could all have our seats.”

What’s it with the rhymes, mister?

Her body quivered gently as she lowered herself back to her seat. What the hell was he doing, she thought again. Was he so bent on making her life miserable? Couldn’t he just let her dwell in peace? Not so long ago, she had given her heart to him and he had stomped on it viciously. It took almost a life-time to get over the pain, and now that she had begun to get over it totally, he had to show up again.