VILE

Chapter 22: The Present

Lagos was always plagued with traffic anytime of day. It was one thing Tomike couldn't wrap her head around. There were danfo buses, okadas, kékés and the likes all scattered on the road. It was so chaotic to watch that it gave Tomike a headache. Couldn't lagosians just be organised for once.

But she couldn't complain much as she was sitted in a fully air-conditioned car. She couldn't help but feel for a young boy and his mother whose lap he was seated on, sweating by the window inside a bus, inhaling all the dust from the commotion. Bose broke into her thoughts.

"Tomike can I be honest with you?"

No, please don't be honest with me.

"Yes Aunty"

"That boy really missed you. And I think, I honestly think the reason he does what he does is because he wants to get your attention."

Tomike subconsciously rolled her eyes "Aunty please. Beating up people in school and parading himself like he has no home training, is that trying to seek my attention?"

The last person Tomike wanted to be talking about Dayo with was Bose. But since she left the boy for them to train, they could talk to her any which way they wanted to about him, and she disliked it.

"I know it sounds somehow, but think about it Tomi. He just wanted you to call him or message him, maybe even come back to see him or something. It's as if the moment you stepped foot in America you completely forgot about him. Or was that intentional?"

Of course yes, it was.

"Aunty the hustle is real. For the first two years I was busy with my masters and I was working at the same time. It was difficult for me to keep in touch."

"Yes we know, that was how you got a first class"

"Exactly. And then I moved to Boston and everything changed. I had to be working, I was busy all the time. The time difference didn't even help."

The lies you tell yourself to evade your responsibilities.

Even Tomike was not convinced with her excuses.

"Come off it Tomike. If you really love someone and miss them, time difference or distance doesn't change that. I honestly think you need to deal with somethings inside of you. That boy...he's a good boy"

"Huh Aunty, a good boy? You are here with him, I'm suprised you are saying that. With all the things Iya Bose tells me about him?"

"I know, I know. But I've watched him grow Tomike, and this sudden change started after you left. I don't know but I really think he misses you."

Tomike now looked outside her window expecting to see the mother and son she had seen earlier but soon realized they were long gone as the traffic had eased up. Bose continued.

"Now that you are around, take time to really talk to him, or listen to him...or I don't know, bond perhaps? See, children get like this sometimes but they just need some love and care. Me myself I have two teenagers at home. I have experience in these things."

Love and care or some good spanking.

Deep down Tomike knew Bose was right but she wouldn't allow herself take such an advice which was strange to her non-involvment policy. Besides, she was getting bored with all the talking.

"I honestly feel like Dayo needs to know that he is someone's responsibility. Iya Bose is too old and doesn't have the strength to properly discipline him, I have my own family and so does Temilade. Left to me I don't see any reason why you should leave Nigeria without him."

"What?"

"I'm just saying my own" Bose looked away, as she tried avoiding eye contact with Tomike.

Tomike almost laughed. What was she insinuating? That Dayo go to Boston with her? And live where? And she'd tell her friends what? She thought to rephrase that as she only had one actual friend. And she'd tell Todd what? Tomike kept quiet so as not to offend Bose with the words she wanted to say. The last thing she wanted was to resume their frequent arguments. She and Bose never really saw eye to eye.

After a few minutes of weird silence, Tomike asked, "Do we know how Iya Bose is doing today?"

"Yes oo. She's much better according to the person I spoke to this morning. She had her bath, ate well, and even sang."

"She still does that?"

"Of course. Iya Bose, the nightingale of the Olarewaju family. It's a pity none of her children got the gene."

They both chuckled.

"I'm just glad she's fine."

"But Tomike"

"Yes Aunty" she could sense another scolding coming along.

"You should have called Iya Bose more. She was always complaining of how you bearly called or returned her calls. Or were you avoiding her too?"

If avoiding Dayo is avoiding Iya Bose, then yes.

"Of course not Aunty. I thought I told you i was busy with work"

"Abegi, which work? You know you are her baby, and she really missed you"

"Me? Her baby? Noo Dayo is Iya Bose's baby o, not me.

"No. You Tomike, you are her baby. And you know this. But anyways, make sure you make it up to her"

"Yes aunty, I will. I'm back now and I will."

"How long do you plan to stay?"

"As long as it takes, two months, three months. As long as it takes for Iya Bose to get better."

"Okay, but what about work? Are your bosses that lenient?"

"Aunty ever since I started working there I haven't taken one day of leave. I'm sure they wouldn't mind me taking some time off. Plus I have someone who knows someone high up. Besides I doubt they'd risk losing a gem like me so they'll wait"

Bose chuckled.

"Alright then"

Danfo- a yellow and black colored bus used for transportation in Lagos
Okada- commercial motorbikes
Kéké- commercial tricycle

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I finally updated! Jeez. To be completly honest I really have no excuse. But let's just say I was a little preoccupied with something that it didn't feel right to write or post a chapter of Vile until I was done, and I'm done now. So here we are. And for the wait, I'll be publishing two chapters. The second one is coming right after this. I sincerely apologise. I hope you enjoy the chapter. And please your feedback means a whole lot to me, so comment, vote and share. Who enjoyed the dialogue between Tomike and her Aunty Bose? I know I did 😋