VILE

Chapter 21: The Present

Tomike stepped into the living room and was welcomed with the smell of fried eggs and coffee. 

A little girl was sweeping a corner of the room, while Bose sat in the dinning area, a cup of hot tea in her hand. Tomike could hear the clanging and clashing of pots in the kitchen. It seemed everyone was up and about.

Bose was in her mid fifties but looked much younger. After four children one would imagine she'd be on the bigger side, but she had a good body frame and could fit into clothes that were just a little larger than Tomike's size.

She too wore a jeans trouser with a pink flare top that was held to her waist by a black belt. She had no make up on, but her caramel face was as smooth as silk, without blemish or spots. She was obviously a beautiful woman. Tomike couldn't help but admire her as she sat there at the table as if shooting a commercial for the tea she was drinking. She aged like fine wine just like her mother. Tomike hoped such good genes found their way to her somehow.

"Sweetheart, good morning"

Bose broke into her thoughts.

"Good morning Aunty" she knelt down to greet.

"Oh please stand up. How was your night? Hope you slept well?"

"I did oo aunty. Nepa was good to me, the AC was on throughout the night. I slept like a baby." She approached the dinning table, dragged out a chair and sat down.

"That's good. But don't expect it every night oo. The electricity people here are funny, one day they're nice the next their eyes are red" she let out a light chuckle, and then continued.
"Anyway, if you are tired of Agege and miss twenty-four seven light, come to GRA, my doors are wide open"

"I will certainly take that into consideration." That wasn't a bad idea in Tomike's head. Afterall, she didn't know a lot of people in Agege. If she wasn't at the hospital, she'd be bored out of her mind. Plus she wanted to avoid Dayo.

Wait, Ivie.

"What are you having? I had them make English breakfast, since you are now an oyinbo lady." She winked.

"Aunty, which one is English breakfast again, me that I was hoping for some akara and ogi"

Bose laughed. Her laughter was frail, but in a good way. It was a laughter that tingled the ears and brought about a resiprocation to the one who heard it.

"Sorry oh! Sha manage it, another day you'll eat your beloved akara"

Tomike took off the chain bag that was across her chest and dropped it on the couch closest to her. Soon she was munching on eggs and sausages while sipping coffee.

                      **********

Tomike was done with her meal. The table was being cleared by two people.

"Thank you ma"

"You are welcome dear. Let's get going so we can beat traffic" she stood up and picked up her black bag that matched her trouser colour. Tomike immediately recognized the YSL bag. It was in Annalise's collection and was quite expensive.

"Aunty aunty, this your bag is something else o. Show me the way now. This money, I want to have it too oo."

"You are not serious. A whole you,  money bag"

Before Tomike could reply, words came out of Bose's mouth that was directed to someone behind her.

For a millisecond, Tomike's heart stopped beating. It was Dayo. She turned around, a decision her body made without her consent, and there he was, her son.

As soon as Tomike and Dayo locked eyes it seemed the whole room went silent. They hadn't seen each other in four years and no one knew what to expect. Perhaps it was for a moment but Tomike thought she saw her younger self in him.

She was a little shocked, perhaps it was because she had never really accepted he was hers, that he had her DNA in him and her genes too.

Dayo broke the silence that seemed to last forever.

"Good afternoon ma. Welcome"

Tomike was a little taken aback as she wasn't expecting to hear the baritone sound that escaped his mouth. It was deeper than she expected. His voice wasn't this deep during their phone calls, their very brief phone calls. She now wondered how long it had been since she spoke with him.

"Oh, thank you. And how have you been? You've grown so tall, look at you. Any day now and you'll be taller than me" she couldn't help but admire his features, he was growing into a fine young man. She couldn't believe he was her son.

"I'm fine ma. I'm already your height sef" a small smile escaped his lips. He was obviously nervous. She made him nervous.

Tomike smiled back, she was having another moment. This time she saw her mother in his eyes.

"That's good. And school?" She walked closer to him, her two thumbs in the belt hole of her trousers.

"Hmm, it's ok."

"You sure? You don't sound convinced" she was now standing right in front of him.

"Yes ma"

Tomike wasn't sure what she was doing, but she raised her hand up and placed it on his head as she sunk her fingers into his afro. Her actions apparently shocked him as much as it shocked her.

"I missed you mum" Dayo whispered as he hugged her. Tomike could feel the eyes of everyone in the room on them. Although they pretended not to notice.

"I missed you too Dayo" Tomike replied, not sure if she meant it. She patted his back with both hands as it seemed he wasn't letting go any time soon, and then she pulled away from him, still holding his arm.

He was teary-eyed. Tomike wasn't expecting it. She thought he'd snub her, be rude to her, or perhaps even hate her. But blood is thicker than water isn't it.

Seeing him that way almost melted her heart, that was before flashing images of her horrible encounters with his father flashed through her mind, and she let go of his hands.

She picked up her bag from the couch as she talked, "I'm going to see Iya Bose in the hospital, I haven't seen her at all. I'm going with Aunty Bose, I'll be a while. I left some stuffs for all of you on my bed, it's in a red bag. You're in charge, make sure you give everyone something and take something for yourself as well."

"Ok ma, thank you" He seemed excited.

"You are welcome. Bye bye" she walked away and didn't look back.

"Bye!" He almost shouted as she started down the stairs.

Oyinbo- foreign
Akara- Beans cake
Ogi- Pap

**********

Excited for this chapter. Dayo turned out to be a softy, lol. But do you think it'll continue that way considering his history? Let me know what you think in the  comments. I hope you enjoyed the chapter.
Quick fact, did you know that it's custom in Yoruba land for females to kneel and males to prostrate when greeting their elders or people in higher positions. It shows respect and regard.
Running off to write chapter 22🏃🏃🏃.
Xoxo  💕
Val.💕💕