Make It Rain

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Seun leaned comfortably in his chaise lounge, taking gentle sips of his tequila as he waited for information from Jeje. He was confident that after the whole plan, Samuel would be out of his life for good. But now he was stuck waiting for that 'fool' to confirm that the doctors couldn't save Samuel, that's what he hoped for at least.

"Ooo what's taking this guy so long?" Seun picked his phone to call Jeje, but almost immediately his

phone started ringing. It was Jeje

Great!

"Sir Samuel survived but the boy died"

"What?!! Those foolish thugs!! The blood of that boy is in their hands not mine"

"Look sir. I suggest you forget this whole thing and let this Shola girl go"

"Shut up! How dare you?!" Seun snapped at him. "Now listen, that boy's death can still be useful to us. Tell Mrs. Akande that…"

"Okay sir. But after this, I am not doing anything again for you regarding this case" The officer cut the call.

The smile on his face couldn't help but linger there long enough. His plan was ruined but it was only the beginning of the game for him. He was going to do whatever it took to get Shola into his arms. And she was going to sate all his carnal desires, even if it meant ruining her life for it. He didn't care.

If I try to be all good and caring with her she will still pick that dwarf of a man over me, so I will be the bad guy now. The big bad wolf!

He was right about one thing, Shola would pick Samuel a million times over him. Maybe even more. Even if Samuel were dead, would Shola pick Seun as her new knight in shining armour?

I doubt.

Having set his new plan into motion, Seun strode to the little bureau in his bedroom. He had some pieces of paper and pencils strewn all over it, of which he snatched a piece each to write.

What now?

I received news about your little boy's death. I must say, I was really hurt by it. It was unfortunate he had to die for his brother, but it's only a universal law. An eye for an eye, a life must go to save another.

Take this as a warning from me, if I see her with him again, he won't be so lucky to survive. My condolences.

As if murdering Jimmy was not enough, he was going to do more if it meant he would get Shola. He picked his phone and quick dialed a number.

"Dora!!!!!"

"Oh cut the act! You and I know you don't miss me" She quickly averted his pretence. "If you aren't calling me for s*x, then you need something else"

"Okay you got me," Unable to deflect this time. "I need you to help me with sending a message"

"My vote was strongly on s*x, but okay" She was always so horny.

Dora was Seun's invisible person. She was everywhere, yet nowhere. She always helped him with money drops when he had to pay his thugs, spying on people and at times even assassination. She was his connection underground. But she never did anything physically demanding, except s*x of course. Like every other female Seun came across, he had studied every inch of Dora's body. Every hill and every valley, especially the ones between her thighs.

"One more thing Dora. Make sure you remove all my fingerprints, I don't want any of this pointing back at me" He was always so careful about his name.

"Okay dear. Just send the package"

"Done!" He quickly disconnected the call.

If I couldn't succeed in taking Samuel away from Shola, I might as well just take Shola away from Samuel.

But this time, Mrs. Akande would be the one doing all the work for him. All he had to do was wait.

***

It had been a week since the incident occurred. Samuel, having survived the gunshot, was left in a coma, not ready to face the world yet. Maybe blaming himself for not being able to save his brother, only if one could chose to be in a coma.

Not a day passed did Shola not come to stay with him, she would talk to him and tell him details of what she did all day. Most of it was boring stuff, he put the spice in her life ever since they met. She would talk all day without really expecting a response, but constantly hoping that soon he would give her one.

"Seven days ago, you said I was irreplaceable and you would be with me forever. Why don't you come to me then?" A tear slowly rolled down the cheek of Shola.

"Today is another day with you. But it feels like you are absent" She placed her palm on his hand. "I need you back Samuel, please feel my touch"

Who was she kidding? He wasn't going to give a response.

"I will wait for as long as I need to." She said, drawing her hand back.

Shola was dressed in all black that morning, who wasn't. Afterall it was the day of Jimmy's burial. She didn't attend the church service but she was going to be there at the final moment before he was put in the ground.

She wiped the tear off her face and stood from the armchair, letting out a doleful sigh.

"It's time to say goodbye" Was she referring to Jimmy or Samuel?

Could easily be both.

"I will be back by evening. I love you" She leaned forward, touching his forehead with a soft kiss before taking her leave.

On the corner of his eye, a tear molded up and slowly made it way down the valley of his cheek. Even in a coma, the thought of his brother's death still hurt him.

***

''I am the resurrection and the life,' saith the Lord; 'he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. I know that my Redeemer liveth… " The priest started the service by reciting a reading from the scripture.

The pains in everyone's heart was clear to see that even a blind man would. Mrs. Akande was sitting, tears flowing non stop from her eyes. The mood was different from other burials, Jimmy was different from other people. Even the breeze went still for him, even nature felt his absence and mourned him.

After the recital was complete, the priest called Jimmy's mum to say him a prayer before the final part of the burial ceremony.

Placing her palm on the coffin, Mrs. Akande prayed

"Holy God,

Assure us that Jimmy is safe in your eternal love. Help us understand our sorrow, and strengthen us with hope. We pray that we overcome this sadness, in the confidence that Jimmy is in a better place with you.

May Jesus Christ welcome him into his arms and bless him abundantly."

"Amen!!" The entire congress yelled.

She left her head down with her eyes closed in commemoration. A few seconds passed and a gentle tap on her shoulder followed. She responded to the priest's tap and raised her head as her eyes locked with Shola's gaze.

With a flower, Shola stood at the opposite end of the coffin. Her sorrow was glaring to see, her pain, deeper than everyone else but Mrs. Akande.

Remembering what happened in the hospital, she stood there hesitant.

Was Mrs. Akande going to send her away again?

"Shola" Mrs. Akande cried

With her face glistening from all the crying, Shola replied "Ma?"

"Shola please go" Mrs. Akande tried to stiffle her cry. "Please stay away from my children"

Shola couldn't believe what was happening, her only friend didn't want anything to do with her anymore. What did she do? She had always been Innocent, so why is Mrs. Akande sending her away?

"What have I done to deserve this?"

"Nothing. But please leave, let's remain colleagues. I don't want to see you near Samuel, my home, or even Jimmy's…" She stopped as she started crying.

"Shola please, just accept her request and leave" The priest decided to get involved.

She nodded her head and covered her mouth with her hands, blubbering as she took gentle steps away. Her condolences were not needed, at least not to Mrs. Akande.

May you always walk in sunshine,

and God’s around you flow.

For the happiness you gave us,

No one will ever know.

It broke our hearts to lose you,

But you did not go alone.

A part of us went with you

The day God called you home...

Shola could only hear the poem being recited for Jimmy. Without a glance back, she continued on her lonely walk back to her car. Uninvited, unwanted, she had nothing left to do but to head back home in tears and sorrow.

After a very long, sad day of trying to get used to Jimmy's absence at home and shedding tears, Mrs. Akande was finally beat. Her eyes were sore and her nose all dry, her body couldn't take it anymore.

Kind enough to stay with her for a few days, Esther brought her a glass of water to her bedroom.

"Something told me you'd still be awake." Esther stood at the door. "Here, take your medicine with this"

"Thank you" Mrs. Akande opened a drawer beside her bed for her medicine but met a letter in it.

The scent from the letter was strong and pleasant, permeating through her room as soon as she opened the drawer. Cancel her thought of taking a medicine, who dropped that letter there, and how?

"What is it?" Esther noticed her friend's hesitation.

"A letter? Let me see" She collected it and immediately opened it.

"It doesn't have an address on it, not receiver or sender"

"Read it" It was a request more than a command.

"I received news about your little boy's death. I must say, I was really hurt by it. It was unfortunate he had to die for his brother…"