KEHINDE

Chapter 4

"You have no choice!" Mr. Adebayo says.

"Look, mum, You said I'm old enough and can make my own decisions a few minutes ago," Kehinde says.

" You aren't up to eighteen, You're still under us," Mrs. Adebayo retorts at the top of her voice.

"Kehinde it's just for the main time, It's just for a year, You need a change of environment, During the next jamb,l you would be back afterall you threw away this opportunity didn't you?" Mr. Adebayo asks meanwhile Kehinde stares at her father wondering if he cared at all, all he cared about was her going to school, to study Business Admin for his f*****g selfish reason, she thought. Since he had no son she was the only one to take over her fathers business.

"Mum, dad am not going anywhere," Kehinde says and storms out.

"Like you have a choice." she hears her mum say.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

" Jasmin," Tosin who had been watching her friend for so long calls out.

It's not been too long she arrived, she was directed to the bedroom by Mrs charity, She was the only girl Kehinde was close to besides her late brother, Kehinde wasn't a jovial type so she never had friends, The few she had, she valued.

"Tosin, my parents are getting divorced!" Kehinde lets out breaking down in tears.

"Jaz, Seriously?" Tosin asks

"Am not joking and they are selfishly sending me to Ibadan," Kehinde says

"Jesus!" Tosin couldn't help but exclaim" To do what?" She asks.

"My mum's elder sister lives there, She is the fourth wife of an Imam," Kehinde says now cleaning her tears.

"Imam, How come? Isn't your mums family a Christian family?" Tosin asks surprised.

"No they are Islamic, My dad is Christian here, He converted my mum," Kehinde says.

"Wow!" Tosin exclaims quite amused.

" Tosin, All the way to Ibadan, What am I going to look for in Oyo state? That bush" Kehinde exclaims making Tosin laugh out loud.

"You are laughing abi? I have lived almost all my life in Lagos, what am I going to Ibadan to look for?" Kehinde asks giving a funny expression making Tosin fall off the bed.

" Jaz, I heard they are the ones with the heavy tribal mark," Tosin says with a mock smile.

"Ode!" Kehinde who noticed her friend had been mocking her says with a small smile, forming on her lips.

"You know it's not forever, Just till jamb," Kehinde says.

" Wait, So you have finally decided to write jamb olodo?" Tosin asks playfully.

"You are a fool!" Kehinde says with a smile. She was always happy around Tosin, Atleast tosin tried her best to bring her out of the shell.

"As for me, I'm going back to school tomorrow, Was thinking you wouldn't cope while I was gone, But see my best friend is traveling to Oyo I'm," Tosin says in laughter.

"You are very stupid, Okoko, Like am going anywhere, No one can force me."

"Le le, Ali ka, like you have a choice," Tosin says with a broad smile.

"You are annoying," Kehinde says trowing pillows on Tosin.

"And you love me like that," Tosin responds, "you know Madison and Alison are hosting their birthday Bash!" Tosin says trying to change the topic.

Alison and Madison were both students of unilag like Tosin, Alison was Tosin friend, she really didn't like Madison but had to put up with her cause she was Alison's twin sister, Kehinde had only met them once

"That's nice," Kehinde says with a smile

"You know na,"

"I don't know oh, my parents are home and I don't really know when I am leaving for Ibadan, not sure I would attend," Kehinde responds weakly.

"Ahan, can you remember that guy at Kira's birthday party?" Tosin asks knowing what her friend's reaction would be.

" Please!" Kehinde who hated talking about guys pleads.

"I think he likes you, You know he asked for your contact," Tosin says.

"Hope you didn't?" Kehinde asks looking grim.

" How could I? Without your consent,"

"Better!"

"Jaz, you have to stop treating guys like this, you cant be . . . . . .

" Tosin!"

"Don't Tosin me,"

"You know my story!"

"I do, but it doesn't mean, All guys are the same," Tosin tries to explain.

" Oh shut up!" Kehinde says in anger, but becomes moody when she sees her best friends facial expression.

"Am sorry!" she mutters meanwhile Tosin smiles out mischievously and moves backward, She knew her best friend wanted to say something annoying.

"Mrs. Oyo state, Hope you find your prince charming there," Tosin says while giggling.

"You are mad," Kehinde says, while she throws a pillow on her friend.

"You know, Your aunt did the," Tosin says now laughing heavily.

"You are a fool, like I am going anywhere!"

"Like you have a choice, " Tosin says still laughing, but stops when she thinks of something, She suddenly becomes emotional.

" What's wrong?" Kehinde who noticed her friend's mood ask.

"Jasmin, you mean we won't see each other for a year?" Tosin asks almost in tears meanwhile Kehinde burst in laughter.

" Jasmin, this isn't funny," Tosin says like a baby.

Kehinde knew she was, but her friend was way worse than she was.

"Like we cant communicate on phone, it's not like am going forever," Kehinde says with a smile.

"You fool are you sure they have network!" Tosin asks

"Tosin what do you think of Ibadan? Haba ni, "

" It's still Oyo na!" Tosin says in a funny manner.

"Ode!" Kehinde says hugging her friend, She knew she was going to miss her dearly.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Ayomide who was on his way back from solat hurriedly walked into the yard, it seems like it was going to rain, so he started his heavenly race all the way from the mosque which wasn't far from home, It seems like it was going to rain cat and dog, he becomes alert when he quacks someone.

"Tolani again?" He mutters

" What happened?" She asks rudely and attempts to walk away but he drags her back, Surprised at what he did Tolani gives him a scornful look.

I deserve to be regarded here, Am an Alfa for crying out loud, is it because I live in your father's house?" Ayomide who had just lost his temper asks.

"I never said so oh!" Tolani responds.

"Look, I have a younger sister of your age and she wouldn't dare be rude to me this way," Ayomide says

"Mr big boy, Like you are way older than me, you are just twenty-one, If not mistaking, I wonder what you are doing here, Am sure you just came to cover up your sins up here, Alfa my foot," Tolani says and hisses Meanwhile Ayomide stares at her with his mouth open while she walks away.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Kehinde hugs Mrs charity tightly, She could remember that this woman had been there for her when she needed motherly love, She couldn't believe she was leaving her meanwhile the maids puts her boxes into her mum's boot, she gently lets go of Mrs charity and focuses on her mum who was obviously on call, She couldn't remember the last time she hugged her mum, Not even her dad, Come to think of it, Where was he? She could remember she hadn't seen him since the argument, he didn't even bother to come and check on how she was fairing she thought but get distracted when her phone beeps, it was a w******p message from Tosin.

"Mrs. Oyo, greet your people for me oh, save journey," It reads meanwhile she smiles on seeing the emoji of sticking tongue out her best friend sent to her she would really miss this girl she thought and quickly replied her "you are a fool" with a confused sticker but gets a reply immediately

"You see how confused you are," It reads meanwhile she smiles and decides to reply but suddenly pays an attention to her mum who was calling her.

"Kehinde, our flight is by 12 pm," Mrs. Adebayo says.

"Okay," Kehinde respond while she checked her wristwatch, it was already eleven, She took a good look at the woman she called her mother for a few minutes before walking over to the car

"Kehinde, hurry up." Mrs Adebayo says.