AWERO

AREMO

It was barely morning, the crow of the c**k was yet to have been heard, drops of dew fell on her lap where she sat reminiscing on what it was like to be loved, be seen by the she cared for, she had spent the previous night wondering what her husband and her new concubine were up doing in the dead of night, she tried to fight back tears, she wanted someone to blame for her woes, for falling out of favor with her husband but she dared not call out the only people responsible for her pains, she dared not question the gods or their will, she dared not question them on why they had decided not to bless her with an heir to her husband's throne or a male child that would compete for the throne, who wouldn't relish the chance to be the Iyaoba.

She was the first of four wives, she was more deserving she would cry out in her chambers whenever she watched as her husband Oba Deotti showered Daramola the third wife and mother to Adekunle the Aremo oba, with praises, she knew her husband becoming the king meant she could never be the only wife but she had hoped to be the first to bore him a son thereby cementing her relevance in the palace but on three occasions she had fell pregnant, cries of female children were heard coming from her chambers at the end of nine full moons and now as she watched as yet another maiden sneaked out of Adekunle's bed chambers her pains were doubled. This wasn't how she had envisioned her life, she gave up so much to be where she was, but what was here? she thought, letting out a sigh of frustration, a drop of tear dribbled down her cheek, she had worked and sacrificed with her husband, she stood by him during every challenges and confrontations from his uncles and chiefs who favored his younger brother whom the late oba had asked for the throne to be passed down to but now it seemed all her efforts were all for nothing. Daramola had won the heart of her husband and subsequently her husbands cabinet members.

If being the only son out of eleven children came with privileges then being the king's only son and heir meant he was untouchable, no matter how many times he erred, how many people complained bout his attitude he always got a slap on the wrist from the king and should any of the other wives complain to his mother, she took the liberty to remind them who he was to the king and would oftentimes chalk off their complains to envy and the king on the other hand was too protective of his only son, so he was left to do whatever he pleased, he was worshipped within the palace and without. He was an irresponsible brute, he caused trouble wherever he could, but he had his wits about him and so had his way with women, there were rumors he was responsible for Bunmi the hunter's daughter unexplained pregnancy and had forced her to terminate it leading to her demise but none dared to confront him because of who he was. Sanwo she called out, when he turned his eyes lit up, his cheeks turned bright red, he bit down on his lower lip to prevent it falling to the ground, he brought a cup of palm wine to his mouth, she flashed him a flirtatious smile then turned to her friends asked to be excused, they frowned at her reminding her they had somewhere to be she replied saying she wasn't going to take too long then turned and walked towards where a shy Sanwo sat. She greeted him and he offered her a seat she declined gesturing to where her friends stood watching in disdain, he asked her to call them over to join them but she told him that had somewhere to be, he tried for five minutes to convince her to stay but she declined instead she reached out and picked up his half full cup of palm wine downed it with one gulp and took a bowl of salted bushmeat as a peace offering to her friends, he whispered something into his ear, it broaden his smile then she turned to leave just in time as Dekunle walked out from behind a dilapidated hut adjustinghis sokoto followed by Kaffi the Iyalode's youngest daughter, they exchanged glances, she greeted him as did her friends, he tried to ask them over but Sanwo was quick todecline citing that they were on an errand, "Ore mi ase awon omo bayi si be ni ilu wa yi" Dekunle said as he tried to wash down his mouthful of bushmeat with palm wine"Aremo o tun ti fe si ju si awon eleyi ni" Sanwo replied jokingly "Ha beeni o Sanwo, n je ki ni oruko omo ti o wa ba e yen" his question caught him by surprise and he responded with a stern look "Aremo ma je a se ba yun o omo yen omo mi ni o" Dekunle laughed out at his response "Mo ma yi le gba ni owo re abi oti gba gbe pe obalola ni mioba si ba le ohun gbo gbo ni" he teased "Oba lo la e jo e ma ba ninu omo e le yi omo yen wunmi gsn mo si fe fi se aya ni sugbon mo le ni ko ba yin wa kan ninu awon ore re"he responded "to ba ri be ore mi omo eyi to pupa ju inu wan nje kini o mo oruko re" Dekunle murmured with a mouth full of wine "Dunni ni oruko re mo gbo wi pe ohin na si ti nia fe so na" he laughed looked him squarely like a predator that had it prey where it wanted it, "Oba ba le ohun gbo gbo" he repeated.

"Dunni, Dunni, Oladunni bo de o ni a le jo" her mother yelled out to her, her voice resonated through the house forcing her to wake from her short nap, she turned withglee to face the visitor "E mu ijoko ni be yen o ma ja de wa ba yin ni sin" she called out to her again, this time louder than the last, she answered with a sleepy voice,rubbed whatever left of the sleep off of her eyes, the last thing she needed was her mother nagging her but as she started out she remembered it's been four days she lastsaw 'Motoye, he had told her of his plans to take some of his farm produce to Oja Oba, the famous market in the neighboring village of Gobi, he had promised to come homethe previous day but she had been to his house but met his absence, Daud had told her he wasn't back yet so as she walked out she had hoped to see his beautiful smile, hisarms waiting to gather her in to an embrace.The expression on her face turned sour when she came out and there he was, smiling at her, gesturing for her to come, her heartsank, the excitement she had hoped for turned into despair, what does he want this time she puzzled her mind as she walked to where he sat. "E ku ijoko Aremo" she said asshe was a feet away from him."Awero mi, aya obalola" he teased, she pulled away from his reach as she tried to hold her hand, her faced creased, eyes almost changing toa fiery color, "Mo ti so fun yin Aremo, Omodunni ni oruko mi, iyun e'kini e'keji mo ti ni oko a'fe so na, emi ati yin o le fe ra Aremo" she managed to keep anger out of hervoice when she replied, his lips curled to a smile, "Ta ni, ta lo to be la ti ba emi Aremo, obalola du iyawo ni nu ilu wa yi enh, abi se ko nse omo okunrin Mobola abi kini oruko re" he paused, let out a laugh stood, tilted her face to meet his gaze, she tried to look away but he gripped her jaw firmly "Ko si eni kan kan to le gba e ni owomi ni nu ilu wa yi" he released his grip on her, turned to take his leave but hadn't taken two steps when her voice stopped him, "Eni ti okan mi ni fe si nu ohun lo si wun mi fe" was what she had said. He was livid but still managed to force a smile, her words had cut deep into his ego, he had spent the last five months trying to convinceher, he had tried every means possible, sent hers and his friends to talk to her, he sent her all manners of expensive gifts he could find in and outside their villagebut she still didn't budge, she wouldn't even look at him, on some occasions he had confronted 'Motoye and had warned him to stear clear of her but with each attempts hemade the stronger their bond became but at least he thought, he had her mother's support, he could manipulate her to do his bidding, 'Motoye was no longer welcomed at herhouse on his instructions, so when he responded "koburu" to her last statement and got on his way to leave, the mother called him in to inquire about how their conversationwent.Whatever they discussed in the last ten minutes was of no relevance to her, she wasn't even within an ear shot, she had once mentioned eloping with 'Motoye but he hadopposed her and right now all she could think of as she watch Dekunle leave with some renewed confidence was burying her face in 'Motoye's chest, kissing him, stroking hisbeards while at it, having him inside of her. "Ma fi oju mi so na Ife mi" she whispered to the evening breeze before squinting her eyes shut in hope that it carried it towherever he was.