Óloturè

Sparks

CHAPTER FOUR

“Onomatopoeia is a figure of speech in which the sound of an idea is used to suggest its meaning. In this case, it is the sound....” my mind drifted off from whatever Mrs okonkwo the English lecturer was saying to the dream i had last night. It gets worst lately and it happens almost every night. One thing that doesn’t change is the appearance of a certain kolanut tree, what significance does it have in my dream? This sudden nightmares has been going on for the past two weeks and within these two weeks I’ve had them like eight to nine times, it’s beginning to take its toll on me as i can barely have a good night sleep, i try to escape these night mares by keeping awake reading or surfing the web. I also find it hard to focus in class due to lack of sleep. I yawned, I really need to find a solution to this.

“Nancy, i can see you mind is elsewhere” mrs okonkwo said bringing me out of my thoughts

“Am Sorry ma” I apologized

“Pls let us all try and focus, this is a very important topic that may show up in your exams” she said and continued the lecture thereafter, this time i tried my best to focus.

We were done with classes for the day so i headed home, I decided to stop by the market to get ingredients for making dinner and there i met Nicholas, Chioma’s crush.

“Nic, what’s up na?” He spurned around.

“Ayy, Nancy, am good oo how are you” he asked “what of your friend Chioma”

“Am fine, seems like you both planned not to come to school today, anyways what are you buying? Or are you getting something for Chioma?” I teased

“Hahaha..” he laughed “please oo”

‘Mtchwwww’ a weird looking girl walked by hissing and eying Nicholas.

“Who’s that one?” I asked confused

“Just a random jealous girl that hates seeing me with other females, i dont even know what’s wrong with her” he answered unbothered.

“Ahh, before she comes and pour me acid, let me be going, bye bye” i said jokingly. I bade him goodbye and went off to the stall where I normally buy my items.

Nicholas, we weren’t that close but we attended the same junior secondary school and i knew him from afar although he was also my class mate then, he used to be a very timid boy then and the class bully would always pick on him, a small, pimple-faced boy that not a lot of people loved to socialize with but now he seemed to be doing well for himself, with a really nice physique and clear skin, i must say he’s quite a sight to behold, little wonder Chioma wont stoo blushing around him “splash” i had the sound first before i felt the impact. A white Mercedes Benz had zoomed past and splashed mud water from a pot hole on my blue jean “s**t” i cussed, whoever was behind the wheels didn’t even bothered to stop.

“Ahhh sorry oo, abeg no mind all these reckless drivers, come take water wash your leg aunty” a shop owner beckoned on me and gave me some water in a small bucket. “Thank you” i thanked him and went off, nice way to ruin my mood.

Chioma came back that evening, she wanted me to go with her to a birthday party holding at mintex lounge. The celebrant happens to be Nicholas’s cousin and room mate. Yeah exactly why she wants to attend

“Come along jor, who knows you might me your future husband there” she said giggling.

“Yeah right, weren’t you the one selling me off to Santos” I replied

“Ehn if that one doesnt work will you remain single forever? You move to the next one na, the guy is cute tho and i know you like him” she winked

“Please leave me alone’ I laughed ‘I’ll report you to Nicholas that you want to snatch my boyfriend”

“Oh hes your boyfriend now abi” she threw a pillow at me laughing.

Chioma has lots of admirers both public and secret, but she only has eyes for one person, you know who. I hope he gets to know the kind of amazing person she is and they work things out.

Anyways i agreed to go along with her to the party. It was scheduled to start by 8:00pm so by 7:30pm we’re at Chioma’s place getting all dolled up. She made me wear a very slutty dress and hers was way worst. I had on a short black tight-fitted leather dress with an opening above my cleavage, it wasn’t comfortable but ‘fashion is pain’ chioma quotted. Hers was also a leather dress but red and has an opening at the back, cleavage, and slits at the both sides.

“You’re really going out looking like a ho’ aint you” I asked

“A ho’ that aint going to look for money, but the love of her life” we both burst into a laughter.

“I’ve called the uber guy already, so he should be here in ten minutes” she said, applying finishing touch to her makeup.

The uber arrived and off we went to the venue. The party was dimly lit with different colorful lights ‘calm down’ by rema boomed from the speakers, and lots of bodies to were pressed against each other dancing to the rhythm. Chioma sighted Nicholas and a corner of the room, she half screamed ‘have fun’ and began walking towards his direction. I watched as she got to him, hugged him and whispered something to his ears, he turned and we made eye contact, i waved at him and he waved back.

Someone vacated a couch close to where i stood rooted like a tree and I quickly occupied it and got comfortable, I started scrolling through my phone and i made a mental note to get a drink later.

“Her gorgeous” an obviously drunk looking rascal approached me where i sat, “Do you mind sharing a drink with me?” He asked swaying from side to side.

“No thanks, bye” I quickly dismissed him.

“Oh come on lets dance”, he grabbed my hands before i knew it pulling me towards the center of the room.

“Let go of me you jerk” I screamed amidst the blaring loud music. I struggled but he seemed quite stronger. Suddenly he released his grip, i looked and saw that he has been punched by someone towering above him as he rolled on the floor in pain.

My ‘savior’ kept dealing him heavy kicks and when I tried stopping him, it was then i saw his face “santos?” I asked surprised. By then few people had stopped what they were doing as they watched. The bouncers came and picked up the drunk guy, taking him outside.

“What’s up beautiful, wanna get outta here?” He asked with a slight smirk on his face, as though I didn’t just witnessed him almost killed someone. I was too stunned to answer, He took my hand and we headed outside.

“What the f**k were you doing back there? You coulda killed that guy” I screamed at him because it was still a little loud outside as we were still in the party premises.

“Well he could have broken your wrist” he said taking my wrist and accessing it “this would need a plaster, it could get swollen by morning.

“What are you talking about am fine” i said as we kept on walking

“What were you even doing there?” He asked

“I should be asking you, its my course mates cousins birthday so i was invited.

“Oh, makes sense, well the celebrant is my close pal, kenechukwu, so i was invited too”

“Really, thats nice” i said

By now we are in a safe distance away from the blaring music. The night is cold, I hugged myself trying to keep warm.

“You’re cold?” Santos asked

“Yeah”, i replied

“Thats some really exposing dress you’ve got right there” he said checking me out.

“It’s Chioma’s idea i wear this oo” i said defensively. “Speaking of Chioma, she doesn’t even know I’ve left the party, I didn’t see her in the midst of all that drama”.

“Call her then, tell her you’ve left” Santos suggested.

I dialed Chioma’s number, it rang and went to voicemail, i tried a couple more times and it was still the same, then i just texted her ‘babes i left the party, am with Santos, going home now’.

“Woulda been the romantic guy from the movies and give you my jacket if i had one right now” i heard Santos saying,

“Yeah right’ I giggled ‘you Nigeria guys that dont like being romantic, this isnt kdrama”

“Ahn ahn, but i just said i will, for you now” he said laughing.

“Oh please, is what you guys normally say” i joined in his laughter.

Just then a white Mercedes pulled over, a young man stepped out and was walking towards us. The street lights illuminated his face and i could make out some of his features

“Good evening.. sorry i mean no harm’ he started saying as soon as he got to us ‘my name is Dominique, you might not know me but i do know you, not personally tho”. He said all these maintaining eye contact with me. For a moment i was confused, then Santos spoke first

“Just then a white Mercedes pulled over, a young man stepped out and was walking towards us. The street lights illuminated his face and i could make out some of his features

“Good evening.. sorry i mean no harm’ he started saying as soon as he got to us ‘my name is Dominique, you might not know me but i do know you, not personally tho”. He said all these maintaining eye contact with me. For a moment i was confused, then Santos spoke first

“Okay mr dominique, how may we help you?” He asked him

“Pls just call me dominique” he returned his gaze back to me.

“I was the guy that splashed mud water on you the other day with my car’ he continued ‘i was in a really bad state of mind that I couldn’t stop to apologize, but I promised myself that if i saw you again I’ll do it, thank God i found you again”

He said the last part as though we’re long time buddies

“So it was you, i knew I’ve seen that car somewhere before” i said taking a glance at his car “its past already no problem, apology accepted”.

“Thank you so much”. For a second we all stood there in silence, Santos took my hand as we made to leave.

“Oh wait, you didn’t tell me your name” Dominique said eying our intertwined fingers. I felt Santo tensed up beside me as his hands slightly squeeze mine.

“My name’s Nancy” I answered then turned to leave with santos.

“Sorry but is he your boyfriend?” I heard him asked again. Okay.. this guys is really pushing his luck. I mean Im not about to witness Santos punch another guy in the face. I didn’t miss the death glare Santos shot at him, if looks could kill this guy would be dead by now.

“He’s my neighbor” i blurted out. I know, what could i have said, yes he’s my boyfriend? Although i like him but I don’t wanna be too forward, i mean he hasn’t even asked me out yet.

“Okay Nancy, I’ll be seeing you around” he said taking backward steps towards his car. I saw santo’s jaw tightened, he grabbed my hand and we resumed walking. The walk home was uncomfortably silent.

We got to the hostel gate and Santos turned around facing me

“So.. you like him, dont you” he said shocking me

“How? I dont even know that guy” I replied laughing nervously

“Hmph’ he breathed ‘The jerk was even so sure he’ll see you again”

“Heheheh, i wont so sure if i were him” i said as we entered inside.

“Here we are neighbor, see you tomorrow” he turned and headed for his room. I noticed the emphasis on the ‘neighbor’, I shrugged and entered inside my room.

I began to undress getting ready to hit the shower when i heard a knock on my door. “What does Ngozi want this time” I murmured to myself. Ngozi, one of my neighbors is fond of coming to borrow stuffs from me at night. I quickly wrapped myself in a towel and opened the door. My eyes widened, theres stood Santos, holding what seemed like a plaster in his hand gazing at me who just stood there clad in nothing but a white towel, i saw him swallowed, I flushed in embarrassment, if I were a white girl, I probably would have turned red by now.

“I.. i brought you a plaster.. for ..for your wrist” he stammered. Okay i never knew Santos to be a stammerer i thought.

“Thank you” i said collecting it quickly and slamming the door on his face. That wasn’t deliberate but i was too embarrassed to stand there longer.

“Damn!” I cussed “and I thought it was even Ngozi” i said to myself.

I had my bath and applied the plaster on my wrist as ‘doctor Santos’ recommended. I had dinner while scrolling through my phone. A message came in from Chioma ‘okay babes, take care of you both(wink)’ it says. I smiled ‘You both’? This girl has got to be joking.

Later that night i went to bed, with the thoughts of all that happened that evening lingering in my mind.