NO GREATER LOVE

CHAPTER 2

Days turned into weeks and Toriola drifted away from both his mother and Adeshina. the once cheerful boy turned into a shadow of himself, always confined in his room. he now finds it more difficult to concentrate on his studies. His mind was troubled and Owolabi was away on a business trip. He keeps getting severe punishments for things he didn't do up to the point that he now takes commercial transportation to and from school.

One day, as he was walking home from school because his transport fare got stolen, a car parked beside him and out of it came his father's best friend.

"Toriola". Ajani called and the boy stopped in his tracks.

"good afternoon uncle Benson". he greeted politely.

"what happened? why are you walking home in this scorching sun? didn't your driver come to pick you up? do you even know the way home? even if you do, I can't believe you planned to walk all the way home!". Benson Ajani queried as he opened his car door for the boy to get in.

after driving away from the place, he waited for the boy's response but Toriola was not willing to talk. He observed the boy silently, sighed and decided to change the topic.

"Have you eaten?"

"I'll eat when I get home sir" he muttered.

"Alright" he said uneasily as he drove to the Adekunle's house.

π

"Hello!" Ajani called Owolabi as soon as he got back to his office.

"Ajani Jani!, my good friend." owolabi praised cheerfully immediately the call connected.

"I didn't call you to exchange pleasantries" Ajani said annoyed.

"what? are we quarreling?"

"No we aren't. I called you so you can explain when you became so wretched that you can no longer afford a driver for your only son. ehn Owolabi! Even transport fare you no get! You had the boy walking the long distance home in the sun and you know his condition. what if something happened to him? your son Owolabi! your only child" Ajani kept on ranting.

"wait Ajani! what rubbish are you sprouting? you know the boy has never taken public transportation in his life not to talk of walking home from school. he has a car and a designated driver!" he exclaimed wondering what his friend was on about.

"oh really? he has a designated driver? then explain why I saw him walking home minutes ago. or you want to tell me I don't recognize Toriola anymore? I just dropped him at your house!" he said angrily and continued.

"be careful o Owolabi! be very careful so you won't regret all these later. you know very well that that boy deserves all the care in the world. both of us know how that boy came to be. don't regret it!". Ajani said and ended the call.

"what is the meaning of all these nonsense for crying out loud." owolabi muttered as he dialed wunmi's number.

Ewawunmi sat in their spacious living room with her legs crossed, a bar of chocolate in her right hand and the remote control In the other when her husband's call came through.

"hello honey"

"what is that I hear about Toriola walking home from school?" owolabi barked as soon as he heard his wife's voice

Ewawunmi's eyes widened in surprise as her mind worked overtime. s**t! who could have told him?

"are you dead? or have you suddenly lost your voice? I said why is our son walking home from school? what happened to his car and driver? even if something happened couldn't you go pick him up from school?" he continued yelling when he heard no response.

"honey calm down. I was as surprised as you are when his driver called me that Toriola was not in school when he got there. I drove out and started searching for him only to meet him at home when I got back". she quickly defended knowing how aggressive her husband can be when angry especially if it is connected to their son.

" what do you mean he wasn't at school? when did that start?" he said suspiciously.

" I wonder too o"

owolabi took a deep breath and tried to calm himself

" how is he now? I hope nothing happened to him?"

" yes he is fine. I was so scared when I heard that he couldn't be found" she said dramatically.

"so where did he go and why did he leave school? have you asked him?"

"no I haven't. he went to bed immediately after eating. I thought I should give him time to rest"

"alright! you've done well. please take good care of him. I'll try my best to round up here early so that I'll be with you people soon. take care of yourself as well. I need to get back to work now. I love you"

" I love you too".

π

"mummy" Toriola approached his mother days later. he had been careful enough to avoid her for days. funny enough that he has to come out of hiding himself.

"yes dear"

"umm!"

he hesitated. obviously afraid of what his mother would say.

"do you have something to say or not? as you can see, I'm assisting your brother with his homework so get out if you have nothing to say".

she snapped without sparing him a glance.

" I need money"

he whispered to himself

"you say? speak up!"

"I need money mum! you haven't been giving me my allowance and I need money"

Ewawunmi let out a devilish laughter which seemed to ring nonstop in toriola's ears. he took two steps back towards the door and contemplated running out of the room.

"are you blaming me for not giving you your allowance?I told you you're serving punishment and you have the guts to demand for money from me?"

her her voice was cold and devoid of emotions.

by now, Toriola was crying silently.

she took two steps close to him and he quickly too four steps back.

"alright, what do you need money for?"

she asked calmly with her arms akimbo and continued without waiting for his response.

"you have a roof over your head, you have clothes to wear and I feed you! you practically lack nothing so what do you need money for? to pay your school fees? to buy textbooks? for a project?. No, cook up the lies and serve it to me my dear son! I'm interested in it"

she said as she bent in front of him and held his shivering shoulders firmly.

he opened his mouth to speak quickly closed it back.

Adeshina glanced up briefly from is homework before turning back to it as if they were invincible.

"since you have decided to suddenly lose you sense of speech, kindly walk out of the room".

she stood up and moved back to Adeshina.

π

Toriola found himself standing in front of Mr Benson's house the following day. he raised his hand to knock on the gate but he hesitated and dropped it back.

he took a deep breath and raised his hand again but the gate opened before he could knock.

"Eh! oga Toriola, wetin you dey do for outside? oya oya enter house nah. oga dey inside. why you no knock?"

Audu, Ajani's gateman ushered him in excitedly.

"oga Toriola o. wey your motor sef? your driver don go?"

he continued hailing Toriola but the boy ignored him and walked into the house.

he stared round the spacious and familiar living room before proceeding to the stairs.

"ah! Toriola my boy! what happened? is everything ok back at home? why are you not dressed for school? oya oya come, come and sit down"

Ajani took the big by his elbow and led him to the mini living room upstairs

"darling!, darling come see who we have here!" he called as he handed a cup of water to the boy.

"it is a lie! Toriola. wow I'm surprised!" Mrs Benson exclaimed and hugged him tightly.

"so your mother has decided to release you to us today abi!? that's good but your friends have just left for school". she said and paused as if she remembered something crucial

" whya re you not dressed for school?" she said softly and sat beside him as she held his hand.

"uncle Benson, I need to speak to my daddy" he whispered as tears streamed down his face.

Ajani stared at the boy for a while before turning to his wife.

" go back to what you are doing" he commanded.

Mrs Benson stood and sighed heavily before walking away.

"Toriola, you know you can always tell me anything right? is everything ok?" he cajoled trying to make the boy talk but he just shook his head and continued crying.

" I just want to talk to my dad. it's been months since he left. when will he be back?"

"alright stop crying I'll call your father now. you'll be find after talking to him right?" Ajani fished out his phone and dialed Owolabi's number.

"hello* Owolabi's husky voice sounded from the other side.

Toriola rushed towards Ajani and snatched the phone from him.

"daddy!" he cried.