LOLA

CHAPTER TWO

A frisson of nervousness swept over Jacob when he heard Lola was coming back home. He was successful in his vow not talk Lola during her stay in London, since she left without a single consideration on his part, he was so furious when she informed the family she was going abroad for her masters degree. She stubbornly refused to be swerved from her decision, having taking it upon herself to make decision that also concerns him by herself. The day she left was almost has painful as when his father left his mother and him. He almost went to the airport to stop her from leaving but in heart he knew it was for best. She was doing the right thing. Yesterday he waited for her arrival with the family, his step father was jittery with excitement, his mother was a tard nervous, she and Lola had never really gotten along. His heart was in his mouth when he heard the car come in, they all came out but she was not there. He almost had an heart attack and he felt the panic within, so many thought went through his head. Had she change her mind? Did she not come to Nigeria after all? When Ahmed came in with her bags and explained that Lola went somewhere else. He felt so relieved, perhaps she went to see Titi before the party, couldn’t she have at least come home to see her family? Before going to the party, he went to pick up Tosin, one of his co workers at Daniel enterprise, he had called Titi countless time but she insisted that Lola wasn’t there. On getting to the party he was immediately drawn to her, it was as if she had never left, anytime she was in a room, he always knew, his entire being just reacts to her.

She was still undoubtly the most beautiful woman he has ever known, at first he was taken aback by her hair cut but it didn’t take from her looks, she had little make up on, she was also looking tired and too thin. After talking to her at the party, she avoided him like the plague, He didn’t see her at all but he knew she was around somewhere. After a while, it was getting quite late and people were beginning to leave, he told Tosin to wait so he could drag Lola along with them if the need arise. When he went looking for her, he found Titi who told him Lola had already left with someone. Her stubborness knew no bounds, he was distracted throughout the entire way to Tosin house. He apologised for being a poor company and sped home almost immediately she came out of the car. Lola was already at home and her room was locked. He couldn’t sleep well, he kept tossing and turning, even in sleep she was still able to torment him. Waking up the next morning, he was in a soar mood, he was relieved that it was a weekend and he wasn’t going to work. From his room he could hear his step father and Lola talking excitedly. It would seem that his step father has forgiven her for her thoughtlessness yesterday, he was so sure that Lola has her father around her fingers, afterall she was daddy’s little girl. He quickly washed up and got dressed to meet the family at the living room.

‘Oh, son I wondered when you will come down, I’m sure you met with Lola at the party.’ His mother said, welcoming him as he entered the living room. His eyes met with Lola’s, who immediately looked away.

‘Is it not wonderful to have her back, my dear don’t leave your poor dad alone again, don’t worry after two weeks of eating african food, you would soon fatten up.’ His step dad said.

‘Oh I hope so, and I am so sorry for wasting the food cooked yesterday, if I knew I would have come home right away ma.’ Lola said, surprising everyone with her apology, something was definitely wrong but his mother was eating it up and seems so happy so he kept quiet.

‘Don’t worry about it dear, it’s nothing.’ His mother replied.

‘I am still at shock with this your new look, you really loved your hair.’ Her father asked. ‘I just got tired of it, needed a change.’ She said, almostly too quickly.

Lola once had really long hair which she took care of almost

religiously.

‘I wish I can stay home and chat with you some more but when I come back I expect every details of your stay at London.’ her father said.

‘Where are you going to by the way?’ Lola asked

‘I’m going for the Tokunbo’s daughter wedding. I wonder when both of you are going to get married. I think you need to start thinking of marriage.’ Her father said. He and his wife shared a look.

‘Oh! Jacob is always with that Tosin girl, I think there is something there?’ His mother teased. His mother was always poking her nose in things and always coming ‘I just got tired of it, needed a change.’ She said, almostly too quickly.

Lola once had really long hair which she took care of almost religiously.

‘I wish I can stay home and chat with you some more but when I come back I expect every details of your stay at London.’ her father said.

‘Where are you going to by the way?’ Lola asked

‘I’m going for the Tokunbo’s daughter wedding. I wonder when both of you are going to get married. I think you need to start thinking of marriage.’ Her father said. He and his wife shared a look.

‘Oh! Jacob is always with that Tosin girl, I think there is something there?’ His mother teased. His mother was always poking her nose in things and always coming up with some kind of theory or the other.

Luckily for him, she turned her focus on the other unmarried person in the room.

‘Maybe next Saturday Lola should follow us to her the Adenirans wedding, you will find a lot of eligible men to choose from.’ Leave his mother to turn men to the pieces of meat she chooses from at the market place. The two men in the room were not even offended.

Lola looked at him, he wondered what was going through her mind, he looked away and did not say anything. After talking for some time, his mother and step father went upstairs to get dressed for the function they had to attend. He ignored Lola who seem to not know what to do with herself. After battling with herself for a while, it seemed she decided not to spend time in his presence as she stood up to go, he asked ‘How did you get home last night?’

‘You are not my father and I don’t have to give you any details about my life.’ She scoffed. ‘Moreover, you should concentrate more on your soon to be wifey, what’s her name sef, teletobies?’ She asked. Jacob rolled his eyes at her.

‘The name is Tosin, what are you? Twelve? Don’t be petty, she has done nothing to you.’ Jacob said defensively. He wanted to keep her with him here as long as possible before she locks herself in her room all day. ‘Whatever, I don’t care what she is called. Infact I almost feel sorry for her, I hope when you get married you would be leaving this house, I wouldn’t want you guys sucking all the air in this house. I thought you had your own place.’ She said.

‘So when are you going to tie the knot, don’t tell me you are still lonely and bitter.’ He returned.

‘Ah, he thinks he is funny, maybe I will go to the Adenirans wedding next Saturday and find myself an handsome chap, what do you think?’ She asked sweetly. Jacob clutched his jaws and almost immediately smiled his annoying smile, his eyes flashing mischievously. ‘So you admit that you are still single, but who would bear your annoying personality and uncharming wits.’ He said.

‘Please, don’t worry about my personal life, I wouldn’t be single for long, judging by the hulk that drove me home last night, he didn’t seem to mind my personality and wits. Come to think of it, I have a hot date with him tomorrow.’ She said, dramatically dusting her bums and walking away. Jacob stared after her, he changed his mind, staying at home today was such a bad idea, she has only been at home for two days and he was already losing his mind.

Lola was in her room fuming, angry with herself for letting herself be worked up by Jacob, all her plans to ignore and avoid him have turned to dust immediately she saw him. She doesn’t understand why she let him get under her skin and why she was bothered he was serious with his girlfriend made her even more angry. She was even more angry he moved on while she was away fighting for her life and her sanity, the fact that he didn’t think of her at all made her sad considering he was all she could think about every minute of the day.

If he has moved on, it just as well. She remembered the first day she met him, he was just as imposing and so self confidence with a type A personality, it was hate at first sight. The fact that she and his mother was always at headlock, figuratively of course, did not help matters at all. Lola did not remember when things began to change, perhaps it was when they went to a family friend’s party and he has distinctly told her not to act like she knew him, she was just too happy to oblige him.

As the party went on, the crowd grew larger, music louder and drinks being shoved down throats, things at the party soon got out of hand

but of course it was just in good fun. Shockingly Lola was upset that he ignored her completely at the party and he was so consumed with the pack of girls throwing themselves at him and he was all too eager to catch them. It came at no surprise that Jacob had a lot of female admirer, he was easily the best looking guy at the party. Lola was soon dancing wildly at the dance floor when all of a sudden a total stranger who seem to also be a guest at the party began to dance behind her, he soon firmly held on to her, dragging her away from the party to a dark corner, just as she was about to drunkenly protest he shoved his tongue down her throat while trying to rip her very skimpy attire off.

She manage to shove him away.

‘Get away from me, what do you think you are doing?’ She said breathing heavily, thinking of an escape plan, but her drunken brain couldn’t come up with any. The swine of a man smiled at her, promising to show her a good time. He shoved her roughly on the wall behind her and pressed his body against hers making it difficult to breath. In a second, Lola was being crush to death by his weight to being free of his weight. She blinked and staggered forward to see Jacob on top of her would be r****t, beating the hell out of him, soon the man was beaten to a pulp and he was bleeding everywhere. Not long Jacob friends rushed in from no where to remove Jacob from the unconscious man. Jacob breathing heavily looked at her in anger, bloody murder was written in his eyes. At this point Lola was

paralysed with fear, Jacob moved towards her and grabbed her hands, roughly dragging her away from the party, he was moving at such a speed that she had to staggered along with him.

‘Jay, let go of my hand, you are hurting me, my head hurts.’ She said, forcefully retrieving her hands.

‘Good, it better hurt, I can’t believe you could be so stupid, making out with a complete stranger.’ He said, almost yelling. His eyes raking up and down her body in disgust, clearing blaming her for the altercation they left behind them. She shook her head furiously in disbelief.

‘How is this my fault? Excuse me, I was not making out with him, even a blind man could see he was forcing himself on me, I did not invite him to assault me.’ She said, visibly shaking with anger.

‘Oh you did, dressed and acting like someone with loose values. You are practically naked. You only need a sign that says I am desperate for sex.’ Lola gasped, taking a step back as if slapped, waiting for him to apologise.

‘What do you mean, it is a party for freak sake and you are one to talk, rocking and following everything that has a vaginal.’ she returned.

‘At least I don’t do cheap girls.’

‘How dare you? You scumbag, I swear I will not spear you.’

‘Why? It’s true, I’m not the one dressed like a whore.’ He retort. Only to

be awarded by a resounding slap. His face moved sideways due to the shock of the slap.

‘You will not hit me ever again.’ He warned. He took a step towards her and she moved backward cautiously.

‘You don’t get to talk to me like that, I was doing just fine on my own and I never asked for your opinion about me nor did I ask for your unwanted help, you can shove you chivalry down your ass.’ She said bitterly. Jacob laughed mockingly, which only infuriated her the more.

‘I can see that you were enjoying his mouth on yours just like the little slut that you are.’ he said mockingly. His gazed fixed on her lips. She moved forward to slap him again but he got her hands and shoved her towards him, she made to scream at him but he swallowed her words as he planted his lips on hers. Lola was shocked but even more shocked at the butterflies dancing in her stomach and current running down her body and she was even more shocked that she was kissing him back. She was dissappointed when he abruptly ends the kiss and looked at her with lust filled eyes or was it hatred. He cleared his throat a few times.

‘Go home now before you do something stupid again.’ He said walking away from her. She stood perplexed looking at his back as he walked away, she was confused, upset and maybe a little drunk.

Lola snapped out of memory lane, shaking her head. It felt like

yesterday, coming back home was not to rehatch any past indiscretions she had with Jacob, as a matter of fact, she needed to stay away from him, for her sake as well as his, what was going on with her is much more serious and she needs to prepare those around her for whats to come and she was so sad her father will take it the hardest and she hated so much to hurt him in anyway. This was a life and death issue. At least if she was to go down, she should do it with honour.