KEHINDE

Chapter 23

"Tolani, where are you coming from?" Iya Ibeji asks in Yoruba.

"I was in the bedroom, " Tolani responds with composure. She doesn't fail to notice the look her mum gave her.

  Iya Ibeji glares at Tolani before resuming what she was doing. Meanwhile, Iya Aisha says something to Iya Ibeji in Yoruba before walking out.

With the look on Tolani's face. Kehinde knew she needed to tell her something important urgently. She becomes self-conscious when Iya Ibeji gets up from her sitting position.

"Tolani. If you like allow the ewedu to get burn, " Iya Ibeji says on her way out of the kitchen. Tolani facial expression suddenly changes. While Kehinde couldn't help but smile. That is Nigerian mothers for you. They will always tell you the direct opposite of what the want, What will it take them to use the right language.

"Jasmine, it's out, " Tolani says with a smile snapping Kehinde out of her thoughts.

"What?" Kehinde asks quite confused.

"My period, " Tolani responds.

"You see! I told you, " Kehinde says, letting out a sigh of relief.

"I nearly died, because of thinking. Jasmine, I won't try that s**t again, " Tolani says making Kehinde laugh.

"What if he wants it?" Kehinde found herself asking with a naughty smile.

"Shebi he travelled and I was the only one suffering in fear? He should better caution that thing down there," Tolani says making Kehinde smile.

"You are not okay, " Kehinde says.

"Did the Alfa tell you anything?" Tolani asks changing the topic, looking very serious.

"No. He didn't, " Kehinde responds feeling confused.

"He hasn't been seen anywhere close to the mosque since morning, which has never happened before. He didn't tell anyone he was leaving, " Tolani says.

"Maybe he just went to get something," Kehinde says with a small smile.

"Tobi said, the manner he saw him leaving this morning, seemed like something was wrong," Tolani says to Kehinde who just keeps mute replaying whatever Tolani said in her head.

____________________________

   It's been two weeks, two weeks of pains and t*****e for Kehinde. Her mum finally called saying that they have finally got a divorce. The fact she hadn't heard from Ayomide got her very scared and worried. She wondered what really happened, why he left the way he did, how he was doing, if he was really okay.

She really missed him, crying has been her hobby for the past two weeks. Her parents divorce really got to her. She really missed Taye and the fact Ayomide was no we're to be found weighed her down.

She doesn't even have a name for whatever they were to each other. She wasn't his wife, neither was she is a girlfriend. She was just his s*x mate. That was what she always called herself. She never failed to notice the attitude Fatiah and Aisha were giving her. What did she care? "Shey the Ayomide was know where to be found? They should come and drag her breast with her, " That was what she always told Tolani whenever the issue was been brought up.

Still lying on the bed with her thought going wild, someone taps her, she groans now turning to Tolani.

"Jasmine, you are sleeping too much this days oh, " Tolani says with a serious look on her face.

"You who doesn't sleep. Era ma, " Kehinde respond in a mocking tone. Meanwhile, Tolani smiles at her.

"Just so you know, " Tolani says making Kehinde smile.

________________________________

  Immediately Kehinde runs into the toilet, she shuts the door and starts laughing. Been fully aware she did something wrong. Meanwhile, Aisha bangs the door in rage.

"You are just too childish, " Aisha says in anger. Meanwhile, Kehinde starts laughing aloud.

"Aisha, what is wrong?" Fatiah who came out due to the fact she heard Aisha voice asks.

"Is it not that stupid girl Jasmine. Immediate she saw me she ran into the toilet and locked the door. I'm seriously in discomfort." Aisha says, Meanwhile, Kehinde who was inside the toilet listening to there conversation is busy dancing to the tone of Aisha's voice.

Fatiah nods her head and starts knocking on the door, when she gets no response she hisses.

"Let me see if you will sleep there, if you come out today it's your shame, " Fatiah says.  Meanwhile, Kehinde burst into laughter.

"Fatiah you aren't even helping matters," Aisha says to her cousin before turning to the toilet door.

"Jasmine, please open up, I might just mess up, " Aisha says in frustration.

"Suit yourself, if you like mess the whole compound up, " Kehinde responds amidst laughter.

"Hypocrite, " Aisha screams.

"That we are, " Kehinde responds. You could tell she was gigging.

              ___________________________

  Tolani laughs aloud while she hits her cousin playfully on her laps. Meanwhile, Kehinde walks in. Her facial expression shows she is shocked seeing Tolani laughing. She knew Tolani rarely related with her sisters. So who was making her laugh so hard, Kehinde asks herself.

Kehinde uses the corner of her eyes to take a good view of the person, she was dark, she wore a short hijab which stopped at her neckline, Kehinde didn't fail to notice the other girl who was lying in the bed. She could make out the girl was chubby.

"Jasmine, " Tolani calls out finally taking note of Kehinde's presence. Both girls also turns to her direction.

Kehinde uses her eyes to scan the chubby girl, she was dark and prettier than the slim girl and younger too.

"How far," Kehinde says while walking over to the bed to join them.

"Jaz, this are my paternal cousins. Teniola and Titilope, " Tolani says with a smile. Kehinde let out a gentle smile while she takes a good view of Teniola. She looked her age. She could guess Titilope wasn't more than sixteen. If you ignored how chubby she looked.

"Hi, " Teniola says with a smile.

"Hey!" Kehinde says while she returns the smile.

"So, my favourite cousins have finally met each other?" Tolani says smiling sheepishly.

They all began conversing. Kehinde noticed Teniola was quite a talker while Titilope didn't talk much, the girl just spent her time staring at them without contributing. Kehinde knew her type, they were the observers. During there conversation, Kehinde found out they had a brother who was also around. They will also be staying for long. Titilope was done with secondary school, Teniola had been looking for admission, and she had written JAMB again.

She felt awkward in their midst but she knew it was partly her fault. While they were laughing over something, Kehinde didn't fail to when Fatiah and Aisha walked in and the glare both girls gave her made her laughter worse.

"Ahan, why are you laughing more than us? We were yabing you na, " Teniola says with a smile. It seemed like she hadn't noticed Fatiah and Aisha yet. Meanwhile, Tolani who understood what went down lets out a smile.

"What's wrong? Why did she look at you in such a manner?" Tolani asks meanwhile, Kehinde let's out a smile.

"You don't know what I did today, " Kehinde says with a smile while Teniola stares at her like a lost puppy.

"What?" Tolani asks quite interested.

"I was coming out of the bathroom, when I saw Aisha running in. I knew she wanted to use the restroom, so I ran in and locked the door, " Kehinde says making both girls laugh. Including Teniola who has no idea of what had been going on.

"Jaz, that's wickedness, " Tolani says and laughs.

"You needed to hear her voice, it really hooked her, that was perfect timing, " Kehinde says.

"Wow, wish I was there, what about queen mother?"  Tolani asks. Meanwhile, Teniola stares at them amused wondering what they were talking about.

"Fatiah came later na. She was ranting, " Kehinde responds with an evil smirk.

"I wish it was Fatiah in that position, it would have been fun watching, "Tolani says making Kehinde laugh.

" I swear, " Kehinde mutters.

                ___________________________

  Kehinde let's out a smile on sighting Tobi who was obviously talking to a guy. They both sat by each other side.

"Jazzy baby, " Tobi hails as soon as he sights Kehinde.

"Funnybone, " Kehinde responds while she approached them. She didn't fail to notice the other guy eyes we're on her. She walks conscious of every step she took.

"How far?" Tobi asks taking her hand into his.

"These days no one sees you at home again, " Kehinde complains still smiling.

"Ahan, don't you know I'm a busy man with business deals and appointments?" Tobi says cleaning an imaginary dust off his shoulder. This act simply makes Kehinde burst into laughter.

"You are something else, " Kehinde says amidst laughter. She doesn't fail to notice the other boy was smiling. She quickly took note if his features. He had a tiny face with a side beard, which made him cute. She smiles when she notices the beard he was saving.

She could tell he was tall, because even while they were sitting. He looked talker than Tobi.

"Haba, Jasmine. Must you drool now?" Tobi asks, making Kehinde him playfully on his chest. While the other guy grins.

"Your not serious, " Kehinde responds.

"It's not bad na, if my both cousins mingle. I don't see. Anything wrong, " Tobi says and winks at Kehinde who suddenly wonders why she was feeling embarrassed.

"Tobi leaves too much talk. Introduce me to your cousin joor, " The guy says meanwhile Kehinde smiles at how girlish his voice sounded.