More than a Chance

Episode 17 - Surprise visit 2

When the orderly entered the car, he was firm while he waited on the colonel to order him to report. “What did she say?” he asked the orderly. “She said you should be the one telling her not me,” he replied and the colonel sighed.

He paused for a moment before he opened the door. He began to walk towards Adijah's spot and they met along the way. “I'm sorry, I shouldn't have complicated your situation by reacting the way I did,” he apologized to her.

“It's okay, I'm sorry too if I aggravated the reaction,” she said. “Thank you for accepting my apology ma.” They both chuckled at it.

“Is the ma, a bribe or a cajole?” she said jokingly. “No that's not a bribe. But if I want to bribe you, do you know what I would do?” he asked her.

“And what would that be if I may ask?” she said. “Can you guess?” he teased her. “You know I'm not good at guessing,” she replied. “Okay, let me save you the stress. What if I tell you to get prepared tomorrow morning, we would be paying Aaliyah a surprise visit,” the colonel said.

She didn't even know when she jumped at him and hug him. He hugged her back. “Thank you for this, I appreciate this because it's the best bribe I have received in decades,” she said. They laughed over it. “Let me drop you at home personally,” he offered.

“Don't bother yourself colonel, you can go and rest for today and prepare for tomorrow,” she told him.

“No, it's not what you are thinking,” he told her. “Are you sure?" she asked. “Yes, I am certain about that,” he replied. “Okay if you say so,” she said.

Aaliyah's just pulled off her clothes after a sticky day. She hoped to take a shower before preparing lunch. She's still half naked when she heard a knock on her door.

“I'm not expecting any visitors,” she thought. She had lost hope of Adewale showing up, so he's not among her guess. “Who could this be?” she muttered while she hastily put on a decent clothe. She heard the knock again. She rushed out of her room. “Who's at the door?” she asked.

Aaliyah covered her body very well again. “I'm coming," she said. “Okay, is your bestie,” Nike said. Aaliyah opened the door for her. “Hah! I almost thought you're not around,” Nike said. Nike's her colleague in school and her former housemate.

“Good morning, or is it afternoon?” Nike said. Aaliyah glimpsed at the wall clock in the living room, it says 11:49 a.m. “It's still good morning,” Aaliyah replied. “How are you my friend and why does it take you almost forever to get the door for the First Lady?” Nike asked jokingly. And they laughed.

“Don't mind me, I just came back from the market and I was planning to take a shower before I would start cooking,” Aaliyah replied. “Oh! That's nice then, so that means we'd be having a special delicacy for the lunch,” Nike said while she gave Aaliyah a wink.

“Lest I forget what happened between you and the principal yesterday?” Nike added. Aaliyah hissed, “I don't even want to talk about it,” she said. “No, tell me now, or is it confidential?” Nike persuaded her. “What's secret about it, don't mind the ludicrous man?” Aaliyah replied.

“So are you going to tell me or not?” Nike said. “He wants to make me his second wife, can you imagine that ridiculous man?” Aaliyah said. “He can't be serious,” Nike added. “His matter is by the way let me have a quick shower so that we can start the cooking,” Aaliyah told her.

She went to the bathroom and Nike started making some preparation in the kitchen. After some few minutes, someone knocked on the door. “Please can you help me get the door?” Aaliyah made the request from the bathroom. “Okay, I will,” Nike responded. She washed her hands and rushed to the door. “Who's at the door?” She asked. “Is Adewale,” the guest said. The two of them were surprise because of the strange voices.

Adewale looked at the door to be sure if he's knocking at the right one. Nike hesitated, she didn't open the door. She went to the bathroom door to ask Aaliyah if she knows anyone answering Adewale. “You have a guest, named Adewale,” she told her. Aaliyah froze for some seconds, she couldn't believe her ears. “Did you hear me, Aaliyah?” Nike asked again. “Yes!” she exclaimed.

Nike went back to open the door and to her surprise they're two guys standing at the door step. Adewale and Murphy greeted her, she welcomed and allowed them to come in. “Please have your seat," she offered them. “Thank you, please is Aaliyah around?” Adewale asked. “Yes, she's in the restroom and she'd be with you in a jiffy. She's aware you're around,” Nike said.

Aaliyah was still basking in the euphoria of the surprise. She dried her body hastily and opened the bathroom door quietly. She tiptoed to the room. She put on her clothes quickly and she didn't even bother to cream her body.

Murphy was waiting anxiously for her to show up. Aaliyah opened the door, but she closed it back. She couldn't believe herself, she's now shy of Adewale. Everything seemed to her like they're just meeting for the first time. She tried to concoct herself, after she later decided to cream her body. (Maybe she's trying to buy some time to compose herself but how much time could she buy? Aaliyah can't deny the fact that no guy has ever made her feel this awkward.)

Finally, she came out and the fragrance of her body cream and her charm knocked Murphy off. “She's truly a goddess of beauty.” Murphy muttered. She's shocked it wasn't only Adewale. She didn't feel comfortable at first but she tried to hide it but Adewale could perceive it.

Adewale stood up to greet and hug her but she declined the hug. Nike was eavesdropping from the kitchen. “Good afternoon, I'm sorry I stayed away for this long,” Adewale told her. “Good afternoon,” she greeted back casually. He looked at her, and he knew she's infuriate with him. “No it's ok, you don't have to apologize,” she added. “Okay, if you say so,” he said. She gave him a warm smile.

“Please permit me the pleasure to introduce my childhood friend to you," Adewale said. She looked at Murphy and he smile at her. “Murphy meet Aaliyah,” he introduced the two, Murphy extended his hand and she shook it. He kissed her back hand, “It's my honour to meet you Angelica,” Murphy said.

She was stunned and she couldn't help it but gave him a bright smile. “Thank you, and nice to meet you," she said. Just in time, Nike came out but I think it's intentional. “Meet my best friend Nike,” Aaliyah introduced her. “Please to meet you all,” she said while they exchange greetings. “Please kindly excuse us, we want to do some cooking in the kitchen,” Aaliyah said.

Murphy whispered to Adewale “Wow she's exceptionally beautiful” and Adewale nodded. “I think, I told you in the poem,” Adewale added.

Nike just placed two plates of rice and plantain in front of Adewale and Murphy. Aaliyah hasn't gotten over the shyness, she has been hiding around the house. “Why are acting timidly? I thought you said Adewale's your friend,” Nike added. “Yes, he used to be,” Aaliyah said to her quietly.

Someone knocked on the door. “Who could that be?” Aaliyah asked her quietly. “Are you expecting anyone?” Nike asked. “No, I'm not,” Aaliyah replied.

She came out of the kitchen quietly as if she was not in her house. “Who's it?," Aaliyah asked. “We are the one,” Adijah replied. She was shocked once again. She opened the door and to her surprise, she saw the colonel behind her mother. She froze for a moment.

Aaliyah over-stayed on the doorway and it got everyone in between noticed. She was whisked away in the picture of what would happen in the next seconds but eventually, it stretched beyond.

Everyone in the scenario wondered, “what's happening?” Adijah asked while standing in front of Aaliyah waiting on her to give way for her to get in. Aaliyah succeeded in making the colonel feel bad in the first place by not showing enthusiasm in seeing them. “She's well-dressed, and I don't see myself as invading her privacy right now,” The colonel thought.

Adewale and the rest inside had stopped eating. They're looking at Aaliyah at the doorway. Adewale almost asked her if everything's okay with her before her mother said “Won't you allow us inside if not me at least the colonel.” The colonel raised his eyebrow. She shifted from the doorway and let them in. Her mother led the way and the colonel followed.

Everyone inside stood up abruptly to welcome them. The colonel stood by the entrance the moment he saw them inside. He cleared his throat, “I didn't only see the reason why you weren't delighted to see us,” he said. Everyone was standing, Aaliyah's legs trembled and she's perplexed. “I see why you've decided not to come home even during the holidays. You're having a swell time here,” the colonel added.