Lola's Story✔️

Chapter Five

Chapter Five

Working was indeed hectic. Tana and I couldn't interact often cause she was also very busy with her job.

Okay... Confession. I totally envy that girl, her parents are so supportive and she even has her own place. Her parents did not even object to that in any way, read the course of her choice, her life seemed perfect, although she has her own issues. Okay that's enough about my bestie for now.

   Today's wahala is for Laila. I could not stop laughing when she stomped into my room. She was furious and I knew better than to open my mouth without her giving me the go ahead. Mr and Mrs Gregg were at it again, that's the only thing that makes her look so fierce, scary in fact.
  
I gulped when she sat on my bed, still wondering if I should speak, when she finally spoke up.

"Your parents want me to get married." She said with an unusual calmness.

I sat up on my bed, then I burst into a bout of unending laughter. She glared fiercely at me and I finally shut up, actually trying to contain my pent up laughter. The amusement was still very much present in my eyes. I thought it was typical of Nigerian parents to put pressure on their child, especially females,to get married. I mean Laila was twenty six. I know for a fact that she's been single for quite a while but I guessed this push from our parents was just what she needed to move on from her relationship with Tunde. That's a story for another day though.
 
The words my sister said next dropped on me like cold water, I found myself shivering.
 
"They've arranged for me to marry Yemi Adetokunbo." She said in that calm tone that was beginning to scare me. I knew Laila was trying to hold back her tears from falling. She always pulled a strong front in front of everyone else, she never wanted to be seen as a weakling, especially because of our parents.
    
She gave me a quick glance, I opened my arms wide and she fell into them, she finally let the tears flow. Her body shook from the sobbing. I, on the other hand was doing my best to not let the tears flow. I was supposed to comfort and console her.

I took a deep breath, cupped her face in my palms and said "Why are they doing this?"

My voice almost betrayed me, trying to be strong ain't easy. Laila looked me straight in the eyes and said...

"Dad owes them money and he wants to use me to get them off his back."

I wasn't at all surprised, Dad's firm had been suffering financial setbacks, that's why he didn't let us work there. That was the reason why he kept pulling favours from business associates, so that we could get jobs. But selling my sister off was so wrong. I didn't know what else to do but I couldn't let it happen.

Laila's the only one who understands me in this family, I would do anything for her.
"Lola, I know what you're thinking, but please don't do anything. I'll marry Yemi." she said to me in a pleading tone
  I stood up abruptly "What are you saying Tolani?"
  
I called her by her native name whenever things got grave, and this matter was indeed very serious.
    
"Lola I've met Yemi he's a nice guy, and he doesn't seem to have any qualms about the marriage, besides everything has been fixed. I'm getting married in less than two months." She said. I was astonished, I sighed in defeat. When her mind's made up, it is finished.
 
   "Tolani, so that's it?" I asked tilting my head, letting the tears flow. I didn't know how to react. I should have been happy that my sister was getting married, but I didn't want it to be so soon and certainly not in this manner. I did not want to sound selfish but I still did not want her to leave me now. She sat up wiping my tears, and hugging me.

"It's okay sis, just pray for me, I know everything's gonna be alright."She looked at me with a faint smile on her lips. I observed that her eyes were puffy from all the crying.