Because, It's you.

CHAPTER SIX

You cannot erase,

The memories of the past

But you can,

keep them in a box!

©Oluwatoyosi

Darasimi’s POV

Sundays were my only day off. I literally always sleep all day and it’s the best feeling ever, so you can imagine my joy thinking about the sleep I’m gonna get once I’m back from church.

I stretched my arm to switch off my alarm clock at 7am once again and wake up Praise. She mumbles a ‘leave me alone’ and turns back to sleep. I let her be for a few minutes to wake up Grace, who responded quickly but groggily.

“Praise, wake up, it's 7am and you know service starts by 8am.” I say still tapping her shoulders. She turns her body to face me and opens her eyes.

“Urgh, I’m so tired” she grumbles out. Yeah, I know the feeling. I’ve been working non-stop these past few weeks and it’s going to get crazier. I just thank God that it’s my final year in school.

“I’m going to have my bath first, so sweep the room” I say standing up to enter the bathroom.

After brushing my teeth and having my bath, I step out of the bathroom while Grace enters next and I walk to my wardrobe to pick out my clothes. Since it was a thanksgiving Sunday, which was the first Sunday of the month of April, I picked out the latest gown I had sown for myself. It was a simple, wine, yellow and navy-blue patterned round neck that was fitted to my stomach and then flair down to my knees. Quickly putting it on, I tied my wine-colored turban and put on my wine-colored heels and then I decided to just apply brown powder and lip-gloss. Once I was satisfied with my look, I walked to my table and put in my bible, jotter, pen, purse and phone. I picked out an outfit for Grace, who would wear it when she comes out.

“We are going to Anjola’s church, right?” Praise asks while putting on her shoes, while I nodded in response.

“Good, so we can buy Ugwu and water leaf, I’m craving Edikaikong soup and Eba.” She says while using her hand to rub her stomach. Edikaikong is a native soup that is prepared by mixing together Ugwu leaves and water leaf in a fried pepper and can be garnished with fish, ponmo (cow skin), meat, or chicken, while Eba is a kind of swallow food that is made by mixing a quantity of boiled water and Garri.

“Mummy, I want fufu instead” Grace said as her face lit up with a smile. Yep, she was her mother’s daughter. Fufu is another kind of swallow food that is made using cassava. It goes well with any kind of soup.

We finish dressing up and leave the hostel. Getting to Anjola’s church, which is Foursquare Church, we take our seats at the front since we were early for Sunday school. I attend The Redeemed Christian church of God, along with Praise, and our service always starts with Sunday school at 8am. I saw Anjola in the choir seat section and subtly waved at her. Soon Adeola joined us.

The Sunday school ended after an hour and the praise and worship commenced. We danced and sang to the praise songs, giving thanks to God for his faithfulness in our lives and when it was time for the worship, it was like the spirit of the lord just took over and we worshipped God. I was told that there was going to be a worship service but there would be a short charge, so I think it had already started.

After fifteen to twenty minutes of the normal praise and worship session, the worship session began and that’s when I saw him, Adeyemi. He was seated behind the keyboard, wearing a Purple Senate material top and trousers. He looked as if the keyboard was where he wanted to be and as he closed his eyes to speak into the microphone, I was so shocked that he was the one who was going to minister.

“That is Adeyemi Coker. He looks even better in person. I can’t believe he’s here” Praise said to my ears and I was jaw-dropped, shocked. I can’t believe it, the guy who did nothing but confuse me was the Adeyemi. My friends said was a big celebrity?

“Are we ready to worship our maker today?” he said to the microphone, and soon enough, every person in the church shouted in agreement and that’s when he started singing. My heart was moved and my spirit was becoming so charged up that I decided to question him later and just enjoy the presence of God. He was singing ‘Here as in heaven’ by elevation worship and as he sang, I couldn’t help but think back to the first time I heard my parents talk about selling me away. I had just gotten into junior secondary school 1.

**************************

14 years ago

I was never a playful kid.

People would say I was too smart for my age even though I’m just 9yrs old and was able to gain admission into secondary school or as my school likes to call it, high school. Of course, I was in junior class JSS1. I had studied so hard to get to this point and to say I’m happy is an understatement. I grew up in a society where the female child is seen as just baby machines and cooks, even my parents were no better.

My dad married my mum when she was just 14yrs old and he would always say, that’s what my life is going to be like. To cut my long story short, I’m going to be married once I get my period. Disgusting, right? The only reason I’m still allowed to go to school is because I haven’t gotten my period yet and the fact that my dad thinks having a secondary school education will make me look better when old men start to ask for my hand. I hope I never get my period, but I know it is scientifically and naturally impossible. I just hope it comes very late.

“Good morning class. My name is Mr. Olutayo and I will be taking you basic science”, the tall young man says as he enters the class. I took my notes from my bag and set it on the table. My goal in school is to remain invisible until I graduate. He starts to write notes on the black board while explaining Puberty and adolescence.

School was finally over after 8 hours. Packing my bags, I immediately left the school. Since my home was not far from school, I just walked. Getting home, I freshened up before going to the living room but stopped when I heard my parents talking.

“She is just a girl. If you weren’t so stupid, I would have had a boy. Like mother, like daughter, at least she will soon come of age and become a woman. The least she can do is get a big offer for her hand in marriage.” My dad said in his usual grumbling state. He never fell in love with my mum. In fact, he just sees her as a maid and, truth be told, my mum was smart, but because she has always been trained to be a vegetable wife, only doing what makes her husband happy, she never gets what she wants even though she argues about it.

“How can you say that she is your only child and you just want to sell her? I don’t agree, I don’t want her to be like me” she says, trying to stand up for me, but I already know where it was going.

“You women are only good for cooking and giving birth and so she will do what she is good at once she gets an offer for her hand in marriage” he shouts at her, as expected.

“Please, don’t let this happen to her” my mum begs with wavering voice, but just gets a slap in return.

“I said you should never question me. In fact, she will get married immediately after she finishes secondary school. There is no use wasting my money any further on education that she will not need.” Gasping in surprise, I took a step back, suddenly feeling tears in my eyes. This cannot be happening.

I held my daughter’s hand tight as I struggled to keep my tears at bay. That day was the beginning of the worst time of my life. I was just 9 years old, for crying out loud, I wasn’t supposed to understand all those things, but I did and, to make things worse, I was never given an allowance, so unless I wanted to steal or do something illegal, then I had nowhere to turn to and no money to run away because I knew for sure that I would be caught.

I didn’t know when tears fell from my closed eyes as I remembered the hardship and abuse I went through in the hands of my dad. I had waited and kept telling him that I hadn’t seen my period yet, which I was able to do till he found out on my final day of WAEC and that was the worst day of my life. I had written my WAEC when I was in SS2 only because I begged my mum to give me the money to do so, so I could at least have something for me if I eventually left.

He switched to another song ‘I surrender’ by Hillsong, making me feel even more connected to God, as I just spoke words of appreciation to him because I was so grateful for all he had done for me and the people he had connected to me to help my life. The song soon came to an end and everyone, still standing, clapped their hands and screamed for joy. The pastor came in and gave his charge on the importance of thanksgiving through worship. He explained that worship could come in the form of speaking appreciative words to God, through music, giving and having faith in God.

The service came to a close at 11:52am with us praying the grace. Soon Anjola came to meet us.

“I’m going to your hostel o, my hostel is having a party and all those Yahoo guys will be plenty, so I don’t want to go and see something I shouldn’t,” she says and we all laugh at her excuse.

“Did you guys enjoy Adeyemi’s session? I was just blown into the spirit that I wished he wouldn’t stop”, Adeola says, putting her hands on her chest and being dramatic. I was still surprised that it was the guy that I somehow knew, he was the legendary Adeyemi Coker. I wonder if he saw me. I hope he didn’t, because I wouldn’t know what to say.

“Oluwadara.” I guess you can’t always get what you want. I held unto Grace as I turned to see the only person that calls me Oluwadara. I won’t lie, this guy is extremely handsome and he is a Christian, which is a cake topper. He sounded surprised to see me.

“I didn’t know you attended this church, how are you?” he asks, holding out a hand for me to shake while looking from me to Grace. Did I need to explain this situation?

“I don’t, I attend Redeem, my friend invited me. I didn’t know you attended this church and that you were the Adeyemi Coker” I replied, ignoring the ‘how are you’ question, making him chuckle. I can feel my friends’ jaws dropping at the fact that I’m talking with the guy they won’t shut up about.

“I see you’ve heard of me and no, I also attend Redeem. I was just invited to minister here.” he replied.

“My friends won’t stop talking about you, but I didn’t know you were the guy. This is my first time seeing you, so imagine my surprise when I was told you were him.” I say making him nod his head in understanding. He looks behind me and greets my friends, who in turn just stare at him like he was a celebrity. Well he was.

“Did you enjoy the service?” he asks as he wants to continue a conversation with me.

“Yes, it was powerful. I enjoyed every song and every word; it was like the Holy Spirit descended on every person. You have a beautiful voice as well. When my friends told me you were coming to minister, I didn’t expect it to be this good”, I say smiling a bit while remembering how the service was.

“Do you know this is the longest sentence I’ve gotten out of you since we met?” he says more like a statement while smiling, and I think back, that’s not true.

“That’s not true, we talked when we first met while talking about the measurements and stuff” I replied, patting my back mentally for remembering.

“Like you said, we talked business. I mean this is the most I’ve gotten out of you with a smile.” he said with a bigger smile, making me flustered.

“I wasn’t that bad. Besides, you are a customer, you don’t expect me to be friends with all my customers” I say folding my hands while furrowing my brows together.

“That’s fair enough. So how are you? How’s school work going?” He asks and, strangely, I answer him.

“I’m fine but the work just keeps mounting upon each other, this project doesn’t seem to have an end” I complain only to hear him burst out laughing and I just stare at this guy who keeps confusing me, the guy who I don’t feel the need to run away from and just smile. This was my first time talking to a guy this long.

“You’re in your final year, of course it would seem endless, but all you have to do is do your part and let God handle the rest. I mean I almost cried during my final year in school and it was Harvard. I just decided one day to let God handle it. If you need any help, you can ask me. I would gladly do your typing and printing for free. So, you can bring whatever research you have done so far and we can work together to piece it together, how does that sound?” he asks in his British accent that would make any Nigerian girl melt.

“Why do you want to help me? Do you want something in return?" I couldn’t help but ask because I know people don’t do things without reasons, especially not a handsome celebrity who just happens to do his master’s degree program at my school.

“I just want to be your friend. You see, you are the only person I’ve seen who didn’t know who I was and was less interested in me. I don’t know why, I’m just so intrigued by you as my spirit is comfortable around you” he says, with confidence that I couldn’t help but just look at him carefully and assess whether I’m okay with his presence around me, and the answer was yes. Strangely and confusingly, I seem at peace with him, which is why I didn’t want to be near him in the first place. This all seems too good to be true. I sigh

“Okay. I could really use your help with the project and, since you are experienced and the last person I want to get out of my life, you are the best candidate”, I said after much deliberation, offering my hand to shake.

“I’m really glad we could come to this mutual understanding” he says, laughing and taking my hand in his. It gave me a warm feeling.

“Mummy, let’s go, I’m hungry.” I couldn’t speak. I looked down at my daughter who was still holding my hand and whining, and I looked up to see a shocked look on Adeyemi’s face. I can’t blame him. How often is it to see a woman who is not twenty-five years old with a daughter of nine years old?

“She’s your daughter?” he still had a shocked look as he spoke. I took a step back when he moved forward. I didn’t know what to do as I’ve never been in this situation before.

“You’re married?” he asked again and all I could do was stare as Grace tugged my hand.

“No, I’m not” was all I said before grabbing Grace’s hand and bolting out of the church. I heard his voice once but I didn’t stop.

“Guy's, please let’s go” I said in a small voice and they nodded, not asking any questions which I was grateful for. Was leaving him there the best thing to do? Should I have explained? Why would I need to? It’s not like we are friends or anything?

What was I supposed to do?

Whoa tough question.

Does any of this even make sense?

What do you think is going on in Ade’s mind (Adeyemi is too long)

Word count: 2869