More than a Chance

Episode 7- Last chance

Adewale and Kaze walked gently to the car as they continue their conversation. “Did she come around this weekend?" he asked Kaze.

“I'm not sure, because I didn't go to her mother's spot yesterday and she doesn't come on Sundays except if the schools are on holiday," he replied.

“Okay, you seemed to know much about her itinerary,” Adewale said with a smile.

“Not really, I think almost every man around here knows this," said Kaze.

“Oh really?" Adewale asked with a surprise.

“Can I go and check if the shop is opened," Kaze requested.

“No, there's no need for that now, this coming Saturday is the D-day, come on in," he told Kaze to get into the car. They both got into the car.

“This is the plan, are you with me?”

“Yes bro with all ears and mind,” he replied.

“This coming Saturday there's going to be a car around this spot by 2' O clock p.m. It's going to be a brown 404 Peugeot car," he paused and thought of what to do to keep Kaze on schedule. “Okay, you know what, are you going to be free by 1:30 p.m. tomorrow?” Adewale asked.

“Yes, I will be available," he replied.

“Okay, good let's meet here by I:30 p.m.

“Alright, no problem bro."

Adewale realized he needed to hold on to Kaze for his plan to be successful, he brought out his wallet and gave him a fifty kobo note.

“Thank you, bro,” he bowed. Now Kaze just realized Adewale meant business.

The next Monday morning looked busy with files going in and coming out of Danny's office. First working day of the week is always a hectic one.

Adewale knocked on Danny's door.

“Yes come on in,” he said. He opened the door and entered his office.

“You may have your seat,” he pointed to the chair in front of him.

“Thank you sir,” he said.

“You're welcome."

Danny handed him some documents. “I want you to go through this file thoroughly and give me a comprehensive report by tomorrow noon."

“Alright sir,” he collected it from him.

During the break period one to two o'clock p.m. Adewale drove to the barrack. He wanted to make sure Kaze would be a reliable person for his plan. He got there 1:25 p.m. Kaze had spotted his car before he parked. He was smoking cigarette when Adewale arrived. He quenched it immediately and matched the stub under his bathroom slipper.

He rushed to meet Adewale. He was impressed with his timing. “How're you doing bro?” He greeted Kaze enthusiastically.

“I'm fine bro," he replied with a blush from the window.

“Come on in,” he told him.

Adewale isn't always impressed with the way Kaze dresses. He looked shabby and the smell of cigarette oozed all over his body as he hopped in the car.

He imagined how much first impression could matter to people, especially to a snub like Aaliyah. He thought of how to manage this aspect of him.

“What do you do now?” Adewale asked.

“I finished high school three years ago. I want to proceed to higher institution but my father said, I'm on my own," he replied.

Adewale was surprised to hear this, “Why would he say that?" he asked.

“He doesn't care much about us, he has a concubine he lavishes his earnings on.” Tears begin to well up in his eyes. “Is okay, a man like you shouldn't cry over that," he tried to boost his morale. He patted him on his shoulder.

“Your problem can't last forever, everything in life has an end no matter its status, if I get you a blue collar job would you accept it?” he asked.

“Yes sir, I would be very glad," he sat upright in the seat as he tried to dry his eyes with his filthy shirt. If you work for some time you'd be able to save some money for school, and I would see what I could do to support you,” he told him.

“God bless you sir, I will appreciate it a lot."

“And then you have to give up cigarette smoking and reduce your alcohol intake so that you can focus on your life and education,” he advised him.

“Okay sir, I will do.

He's very glad to have met Adewale, who not only advised him but was willing to help him too. He couldn't bottle it, so he let it out.

“I'm very grateful for your concern sir," said Kaze.

“You are welcome bro,” he replied.

Kaze cleaned the sweat on his face.

“Saturday's the D-day, but we would see on Friday for the final arrangement. I need to get back to the office now. So see you on Friday at five o'clock p.m. at this spot,” he told Kaze.

“Alright sir, have a nice working day ahead,” he greeted with a bow.

“Thank you, and enjoy the rest of your day as well but not with cigarettes nor alcohol,” he said. Kaze nodded as he tried to open the door.

After he had zoomed off, Kaze wondered why he had deserved this huge favor from someone he just met yesterday. He disrupted his thought.

“I guess what I would be doing for him on Saturday matters to him a lot. I have to be smart about it,” he muttered.

On Friday, Aaliyah made up her mind to come to Abeokuta. She packed her few clothes into a small bag. She would have to do some washing tomorrow.

On that same afternoon, Adewale had branched a boutique. He got new clothes and a pair of shoes for Kaze. He wanted to do everything possible to make it work right and to make Kaze happy as well. He remembered Danny had warned him sternly that this would be his last shot. He won't be giving him his car for this plan after this weekend.

“You've to be careful with people like colonel Kola when it comes to Aaliyah's matter. He can do something horrible to anyone trying to have her. I'm sure you are aware of that,” Danny's voice rang in his head.

Adewale advanced towards the barrack, he packed at the spot. He looked out for Kaze through the rear view, side mirror even out the window. But he was nowhere to be found. He had waited close to thirty minutes, yet he hadn't shown up. He became baffled with the situation. He wondered why Kaze would vanished with his offer.

“Could it be true about what Danny was apprising about. Or is Kaze a spy for colonel Kola?” Adewale was terrified and he's now drowning in the state of dilemma. His thought paced back and forth, his heart racing with fear and worry. He had planned this for days and Kaze has become a crucial part of it, but he was nowhere to be seen. He tried to man up and remained rosy about him coming, but on the other hand he tried to draw another plan B.

He raised his head like his nose was bleeding with his eyes closed, he held the steering wheel firmly thinking of another way out. He'd begun to sink into his thought when a sound disrupted his clairvoyance moment.

Adewale tossed up fearfully from his thought as he was severely scared. The door was shut with the sound of someone panting and perspiring profusely. The stench of cigarettes took over the car's aura. It was Kaze trying to catch his breath in the passenger's seat.

He struggled to say good afternoon sir. Adewale exhaled heavily, he tried to quell the shock in him. And then he checked his wristwatch. It's thirty-five minutes after the hour of five.

“What happened to you and what did I tell you about smoking?” he asked.

“I'm sorry about the smoking, it can be addictive but I'm doing my best to give it up," he said.

“You need to try harder, you were behind schedule," said Adewale.

“I saw Angelica in colonel's car; they're driving out of the barrack.”

“Calm down that doesn't matter now, what counts most is time,” Adewale told him.

(Hmmm, it seemed Adewale has been able to managed his anxiety lately.) And Kaze was a bit surprise with the way he's relaxed with the information. He deduced that time was more important to him.

“I'm sorry for falling behind the schedule,” Kaze sounded apologetic.

“Ok, apology accepted."

“My youngest sister fell ill. I had to wait for my immediate younger sister to come back from school. I couldn't leave her alone until she came back.”

Adewale felt concerned, “I'm sorry about that, how's she feeling now?” he asked. “She's getting better before I left the house,” Kaze replied.

“Great, I'm glad to hear that.”

“I appreciate sir."

“Let the colonel have today with Aaliyah, God owns tomorrow for us with her. Don't worry everything will be alright,” Adewale added.

“Are you sure about this bro?” Kaze asked.

“Yes, be calm there's nothing to be scared of,” Adewale replied.

Kaze's scared initially when he saw her in the colonel's car, because he doesn't want to do anything that involved with colonel Kola.)

Adewale pulled out the new clothes and shoes from the nylon.

“This is for you,” he gave Kaze. He was speechless with his jaw dropped, “I'm so grateful sir. But you don't have to do this before I help you, bro,” Kaze told him. He tried the shoe on, it was just his size. But you never asked for my shoe size. Kaze was happy and full of surprise.

“That's life; you have to look in depth most times with discerning eyes. I am a young man who's never scared of delving deeply into what interests me," Adewale told him. Kaze folded the cloths back into the nylon with admiration.

“God bless you sir,” he said.

“And you too,” he responded as if it wasn't a big deal.

Adewale told him that by two o'clock tomorrow, he would pack a brown 404 Peugeot car here.

“I hope you know how paramount tomorrow is to my soul,” he asked.

“Yes bro, but please can I ask you a question?" he asked Adewale.

“Go ahead,” he replied.

“Why is tomorrow very important to you, that made you buy me new clothes?” he asked and Adewale smiled.

“You see that tomorrow I want to satisfy my soul. The heart's land has become parched, tomorrow I want to get it. Aaliyah thought, em sorry I mean Aaliyah's talks have been overrated. The anticipation to prove me right had threatened most of my nights with insomnia. I want to put the whole ado behind me. I want to see her and talk to her, I want to hear that voice you described," he said.

Kaze sat dumbfounded looking at Adewale as he poured his mind.

“I'm sure you won't be disappointed about her charms when you meet her tomorrow," said Kaze.

“Please try your possible not to fall behind schedule,” Adewale implored.

“It won't happen again, Kaze assured him.”