KELENNA

Do His Choice

I left earlier, Aunt Victoria literally ordered me to go home around 4:35 p.m. assuring that she even if she didn't want to leave early, Feso would come get her and he won't be having any of her excuses.

She also insisted I went home with the remaining food. I hadn't even eaten a quarter of what she'd packed-it was simply too much. And I knew it was intentional, because ain't no way she was actually expecting me to finish all that in one sitting.

Am I that poor? Haha.

And the cloth I was initially working on? Aunt only said she'd have a better look at it another day.

I don't even know if I was expecting to see Jideka around or not when I reached home and opened the door. Honestly I'd even be surprised if he actually kept my commandments, especially after his absurd reply to my message.

I dropped my bag, took off my wristwatch and pulled my airpods from my ears. Honestly, I have to stop this bad habit of blasting my eardrums while walking.

But the noise in Owerri is too much, I feel like I'm going to lose my damn mind from it all. I'll just lower the volume next time.

Ehh? Where's my...? Wait....I heard a voice...a low one...soft lyrics were echoing from the kitchen.

"I will sing in happy tunes, and dance my life away to foreign tongues that feel like home..."

Oouui...what's that? Hehe...this nonsense boy and his nice voice that I'll forever be jealous of. So he's around.

"The land is our home, it beats our hearts' soul, lyrics we may not be part of, but drums made of our skin..."

But I didn't hear him when I... Right, the airpods! I'm ditching them for real this time, what if it was a thief?

"...In every lifetime

find me here in a thousand years

with my shimmering tassels swirling

thrifting my cowries for melodies

for the voices, for the tunes..."

What's...got Jide in this mood this evening? This one wey he dey sing like this...

I walked to the kitchen, stopped at the entrance and leaned back against the door frame. Of course Jide knows I'm already back, maybe even from the minute I opened the door.

And I will rather believe an orange grew on a mago tree than believe he hadn't noticed me by the door. But he just ignored me.

A few minutes passed and I got tired of watching-not listening-to him sing and arrange the many things he still went ahead to buy even after I said he shouldn't. So I sang along with him.

"...Give me songs I cannot translate

give me rhythms I cannot name..."

He threw me a glance and I stopped, I know I probably sound like a broken background noise.

"Don't stop Kel, your voice is great."

"Yeah whatever."

"I'm serious, why are you always reluctant to sing?"

"And why are you suddenly singing?"

"Kel, you're either going to join me, or get out."

"Your welcome is indeed very warm Jide, I'm touched." I rolled my eyes.

A maggi cube came flying at me the next instant, I didn't even bother dodging; I let it hit my shoulder and drop into my palm. I thought this guy was in such a calm and somber mood a while ago?

"Well, if you really think it's not that bad... alright then I'll sing."

"I'm listening..."

Wow, this Jideka.

"...the language may belong to you

but the feeling finds me too

let the whole world sing its tale

I'll find something familiar in the tune

if the melody can move my body

then perhaps we're not so far away..." I sang.

"Find me here in a thousand years

still elated at the sound of gongs

thrifting my cowries for melodies

spending all my years away

for the ankle bells and moving feet..." He joined me.

I found myself relaxing and closing my eyes. There was something easy about singing with Jideka, and l it's been awhile since we did this.

I calmly opened my eyes and watched him.

He was still arranging the food stuffs he'd bought, and moving about.

"You know you're actually good, right?"

"I know." he replied without turning to me.

"Hmm."

"What?"

"Nothing. I was expecting you to pretend to be humble."

"Why should I?"

I scoffed. "See? This is why I don't compliment you."

"You complimented me?"

"Forget it."

He laughed under his breath "Kelenna you're not bad, you really are not. Your voice is good."

I just nodded.

"And when my voice has gone still

let the drums carry my cheer

across the age of time

if there's music somewhere

find me there in a thousand years

at the center of dwelling dancers

with my shiny fringes flinging..."

We sang in sync, and I just let myself slip away...it soothed and calmed me that much.

But at a point I stopped, and just let Jide sing, the guy was almost down on his feels.

His voice was getting, quieter, heavier... what is...?

"Hey, Jide...do you need a guitar?"

"Yes...I do, and don't look at me like that, why did you skip half the verse?"

"I was meditating."

"Lies. You forgot the lyrics."

I shook my head, laughing. "It's okay Jide, stop singing."

"Let a man be Kelenna. Just this once?"

"You're getting too emotional."

"And you're not?"

"Umm..."

"I miss the early days Kel."

"I do as well. I do. Also this song kind of...reminds me of Cecilia, you've seen her back home recently?"

"No, and...?"

"And those absurd times with you and mum." I laughed "Is that why you sang it?"

"Mum..." He let out a dry chuckle.

I stared at him "Did she come around?"

"She's gone already."

"O...kay..."

"My father...came back as well."

I stared at him. For a second, the words felt like Spanish in my ears... but the thing is that I understood this particular Spanish.

His father? His father came back??

"What... did you say?"

Jideka didn't answer immediately.

"You heard me, Kelenna."

"Yes, I heard you. I just-" I paused. "Your father came back?"

He nodded. Then he added quietly, "And Dad knows."

My fingers tightened around the edge of the counter because I no longer trusted my feet to remain firmly rooted to the ground.

"Wait." I looked at him again. "Dad knows?"

"Yes."

My heart skipped several beats... "All these...all these time you've been away..."

He smiled, "Calm down Kel."

"I am calm. I am very calm Jideka so start talking now. What happened? What happened at home?"

"Mtcheew." He sighed weakly and threw his head back. His shoulders sank, and for once there was no reply waiting on his lips. Even his usual restless movements had disappeared.

For a moment there I couldn't even recognize my friend anymore.

"Kel...dad..." He hesitated.

Something about the way he'd said Dad suddenly pulled another memory loose. Why did this just jump into my mind now...?

"I remember something now..."

Jideka's brows pulled together. "What's that?"

"On the day I came to Owerri, I experienced some really weird things and people..."

Jide's brows pulled together in a deep frown "What's that?

"It's..." I observed him. "It's okay... don't worry..." He might get worked up. I just took a deep breath, got water, drank a glass and gave him some.

"Are you alright?"

"Yes...!" He breathed out.

"Good. Today was actually great, you can't begin to imagine what happened and how my madam showed up after the incident I told you about yesterday."

"The one with a useless husband?"

"Useless...?" I sniffled back a laugh.

"Well isn't he useless?? From what you said he did?"

"I guess he is."

"You miss her?"

"Miss who kwa? Mrs Victoria or the useless husband?"

"Cecilia."

"What? f**k no!"

"So we're throwing around the F-word now?" He arched a brow at me.

Damn you Gozie!

"Ssoorryy..."

"Whatever, so who's he?"

"Who is who again?"

"Gozie..."