LOLA

PROLOGUE Lola clutched the armrest of her seat, it wasn’t her first time being on a plane considering she was returning to Nigeria from London after three years. She was nervous, uncertain and mostly afraid of what awaits her at home, afraid there wouldn’t be enough time to right her wrongs, to give after years of selfishness and to accept the hand that has been dealt to her. She was also afraid that things might remain the same and even more afraid that things might change. She willed her heart to slow down but as always it failed to listen to her head and as time drew near her heart beats faster. She had a million what ifs in her head which was interrupted by the flight attendant announcement informing them the plane was about to land. CHAPTER ONE Ahmed Abdullah whistled as he drove the latest Range Rover to the airport. He worked for one of the richest men in town, Mr Daniel. Ahmed Abdullah whistled as he drove the latest Range Rover to the airport. He worked for one of the richest men in town, Mr Daniel. ‘Madam your father asked me to give you this phone.’ Ahmed, Lola’s father driver said handing over to her a phone after she has settled at the back of the car. Lola quickly looked through the phone to find most of her friends contact already inputted in the phone. The car pulled away from the airport, soon they were on there way home. ‘How is madam and the children?’ Lola asked Ahmed, the last time she saw him, his wife was heavily pregnant with their fifth child. ‘My iyawo is fine and the children are doing okay, infact Fatimoh my first born is preparing for her waec exam.’ He said ‘Am sure, she is now a big girl.’ ‘Ah! when you see her, I am sure you wouldn’t recognise her anymore.’ Lola laughed out but it was forced because his statement got her thinking, that things may indeed have change and it was selfish of her to secretly will it to remain the same, when it was better and safe for it to be otherwise, afterall she wasn’t going to be here for long, her father had once called her a peripatetic. She was jerked out of her thought by the unfamiliar ringtone of her new phone. It was Titi, her best friend, accomplice and currently the birthday girl. ‘Tell me you are coming straight to my house.’ She joked, Lola laughed. ‘Am fine, thank you very much for asking, how did you get my new number?’ Lola asked. ‘Oh me! I just guess some numbers and lo and behold, it turns out to be your number.’ Titi joked. ‘Ah ah, very funny. Please tell me the whole community do not have this number.’ ‘No, Jay gave it to me.’ At the mention of his name, Lola was speechless for a minute. ‘He promised to give you a ride when coming for my party, I have missed you so much babe, can’t wait to see you, best birthday gift ever.’ Titi continued. ‘See you later tonight.’ she hanged up. Lola sighed, she has not seen any close relative yet and she was already stressed out. Looking out the window, she thought about going to see her mother. She told Ahmed to stop the car, perplexed he asked what was wrong, she came down from the car and told him to take her luggages to the house. Seeing the confusion in his face, she reassured him. ‘I just need to make a quick stop somewhere, I will find my way home, just borrow me two thousand naira, I will refund it later, I don’t have naira notes with me.’ Thirty minutes later she was at her father’s old house, she sat at her mother's grave side and felt a little comforted and less troubled. It has indeed been a long time she spoke to her mom, after her mom’s death, she had always come here to calm herself when she was upset, angry, overwhelm or happy. She swear her mother is the only one she trusts with her secret. She pictured her mother when she was still alive, so beautiful and down to earth, she had been the best mother anyone can ever hope for. When her mother died, she went out of control, she couldn’t understand how her dad quickly moved on after her mother’s death, she lashed out at everyone except HIM. She made a mistake and now she is always running. After two hours of thinking of everything and nothing, she glanced at her phone only to see it beeping with notifications and messages. She checked the time and saw it was already 7:30pm, there wouldn’t be enough time to go home and prepare for Titi’s birthday, she would have to go as she was and wear one of Titi’s clothes. Lagos traffic is a menace after two hours she was still stuck in traffic and jet lag was already catching up with her, funny when your heart and mind is in distress you forget your physical needs. By the time she got to Titi’s house by 10:45pm, the party was in full swing, she took a deep breath and went in, there were so many people and she had to push her way through bodies to get to the front where she was sure to find her friend. ‘Oh, my god Lola, is that you?’ Lola turned around to find one of her secondary school classmate, they ran in the same circle but were not particularly close. ‘Debbie, how are you doing?’ ‘When did you get back?’ Debbie asked, just then Lola heard Titi shouting her name. ‘I have to go, it was nice seeing you though.’ Lola walked to Titi, who was jumping like a monkey upon seeing her plus she thinks her friend has had a little too muchto drink. ‘Oh my God, Oh my God.’ Titi hugged her. ‘Have missed you so much.’ Lola said. ‘Where have you been? Your family is going nuts, Jay have been calling non-stop, oh he is calling again.’ she showed me the screen of her phone. ‘Hello, she is here, oh okay.’ She eyes were brimming with happiness upon seeing her friend. ‘Happy birthday, happy sweet 26, but you don’t look a day over 16.’ Lola said ‘I know, right.’ Titi tease and they burst into laughter. ‘I have missed you so much, no one can make me feel so happy the way you do, don’t ever leave me for so long again.’ Titi said, hugging her again. ‘Have you been fasting or something, you are so thin.’ Titi said. ‘And you my friend look so drunk.’ ‘Am not that drunk, oh look Jay just arrived.’ Lola heart skipped a beat and she turned around slowly to see Jacob walking furiously to where she was standing. He kept his eyes firmly on her, holding her captive with his gaze, silently forbidden her to look away. Lola heart dropped to her stomach, nothing has changed, running away had not change anything, time apart had only intenstify this fire that would soon consume and burn her. He was still so handsome, tall and imposing. Why can’t he be ugly and unattractive. His presence robbed her of air and she felt herself suffocating. Jacob stood in front of her staring furiously at her in anger, she had no clue what he was angry about now, she just got back and had not done anything yet. She didn’t realise Titi had left her side. ‘Don’t you have anything thing to say, sister.’ His eyes mocked her. The rich baritone of his voice made her miss a heart beat. ‘Hello Jacob.’she said hoarsely. ‘Hello indeed, I see you are still the self centered brat, only concerned about yourself not caring about how your actions affect others around you.’ He said, his dislike of her laced in his words and his eyes were spitting fire. ‘What are you talking about?’ She asked confused. ‘Where in God’s name have you been? Your father has been besides himself. You couldn’t pick your calls, did you drop out of the surface of the earth.’ He roared. ‘You don’t have to be a prick about it, I lost track of time and why are you so concerned about me, You are not my father, what I do and do not do has nothing to do with you.’ Lola roared. ‘Mom even organised a small welcome home party but was only received by your luggages, I don’t know why we bother with your selfish ass.’ He continued as if she had not spoken. ‘If your mother decides to do that, well that’s on her, I did not ask for it and I do not have to explain myself to you, now if you would excuse me I would like to enjoy the party.’ Lola tried to walk pass him but he reached out and grabbed her arm. ‘Let go of me.’ Lola said under her breath hating herself for allowing his presence to affect her this way, so much for trying to be immune. Surprisingly, his eyes soften and he looked almost concerned. ‘Are you okay?’ he asked. ‘I’m fine.’ what the hell was he talking about. What does he know? ‘Where did you go?’ He asked softly. ‘I was worried sick, I almost sent out a search party.’ He continued. When he put it like that she saw why he was upset but why did he care? He was suppose to hate her. ‘Stop exaggerating, I went to see my mom’ ‘I should have known.’ He sighed. ‘But you should have picked your calls, you crazy girl.’ He said. ‘Why? Did you miss me?’Lola asked softly. ‘Last time we saw you couldn’t wait to see me gone.’ She continued. ‘You wanted to leave, what were you expecting, that I will chase you to the airport, go down on my knees and beg you to stay.’ He scoffed ‘You are not that special.’ Lola yanked her arms. ‘Jacob, I have been looking every where for you, you just left me in a rush.’ A dark skinned woman walked up to them. Jacob turned to her with an apologetic smile. ‘Am sorry dear, forgive me, just had to see if my sister was okay.’ He said. The lady smiled and offered her hand for an handshake. ‘Am Tosin, good to finally meet you, I have heard a lot about you.’ she said. ‘Umm umm. I have heard nothing about you.’ She said with exagerrated sweetness. ‘Excuse I am needed elsewhere and by the way he is not my brother.’ She left them to go look for Titi. Titi was nowhere to be found, so she walked towards her room, only to hear noise coming from the room. ‘Babe, are you there?’ she called out. Titi came out of the room with Chidi closely behind, she could see that are friend was upset and looked almost frightened. ‘Are you okay?’ She asked, she sensed that something wasn’t right. ‘Of course, I am good, Chidi is just lecturing me on my alcohol intake.’ Chidi laughed and shook his head. ‘Lola, it is good to see you again, let me go join the boys and leave you girls to gossip.’ He joked and left immediately. Titi looked so relieved, Lola wondered what was going on.