KELENNA

Five Years Later

My eyelids had never felt this heavy my entire life, I feel like I'm waking up to my 60th marriage anniversary. Everywhere has been black since yesterday evening, but I was determined to get up, I had to.

It's been five years now, I've been... Damn! Why the heck did I drink legend again?

Oh, my dear head! I propped myself up holding my throbbing head.

A week.. it's been a week since I started working at Senator Suites. Not five years, this is the last time I'll try myself with alcohol again I promise.

At this rate, the court should issue a restriction order to us both. It's confirmed that we're not compatible. Our genotypes just don't match!

I squinted my eyes and crunched up my face painfully, still holding my head that feels like it'd have left my neck if it had a choice.

Ah! don't split into two will you? We'd both suffer!

Yesterday evening, there had been a marriage ceremony close by and I was so bored staying at home on Sunday, my phone was off, no light for three days now.

So I went there, just sat down at the far end of the canopy to feed my eyes with any view apart from the depressing walls of my apartment.

The guys around me had been drinking, and at a while they started giving me weird looks, until one came up to me with a bottle of legend.

"Guy you go sip?"

I knew that was a very bad idea, but I wasn't about to tell my fellow man I'd black out because of my flimsy tolerance when they were bragging about who had the best stamina.

I didn't say anything, because I didn't trust my mouth to not blurt out my concern. So I just collected the drink and opened it, that was the last thing I remember before my consciousness checked out.

I don't know how I got here but, they prolly placed my fingerprint on my phone sensor, unlocked it and went through my contacts to see who they could reach. I saved the number of the malam that keeps watch at the gate, he must have been the one who brought me back.

I can't think of any other possibility, picking up my phone I went to my call logs and my speculation was right, the malam was the last number that was dialed around 5:35 p.m.

I managed to say only the Lord's prayer, got out of bed feeling the weight of Nigeria's problem on my whole body and went to the bathroom, omo the kind of time I spent there feeling like a wreck eh, even ladies wey dey do skincare every morning never stay reach like that.

Everything was a blur-I wish I could say that. I really do. But no. Everything moved tick... tick... one excruciatingly slow step after another. It wasn't until I took some drugs after eating was I able to meet up a bit with reality.

By the time I was done getting ready and checked the time, it was already 8:45 a.m, I dropped my phone back on the table because it just switched off again.

Well, I could still rest for some minutes before leaving, because enweghizi ihe m na aghota for now.

Thank God my madam said she will be going for antenatal today and wouldn't come on time.

I lay back down on the bed and supported my head with my right arm underneath.

But just as my eyelids met each other in a comforting hug, nepa restored light.

The bright light that immediately flooded my rather dim room caused me to squint my eyes even while they were closed.

But just as I got up to charge my phone, the light went off again, I didn't even have strength for any reaction sef, I just jejely went back to the bed... but the rest I badly wanted didn't come back, nepa had ruined my mood.

I tossed around on different postures for a few minutes on the bed until I finally sighed and got up.

I caught a glimpse of my reflection in the mirror... that's right, why the heck did Jideka put a full length mirror in here though? Like I should just keep admiring my self like a girl or what. A smaller one or none at all would have been better, he for just use that money buy me power bank.

I rolled my eyes, I still haven't been able to reach him though, but he called with another number two days ago and just said we'd meet soon-he had to deal with something, before hanging up.

Good to know he was okay. He even sent me some money. Still, until I see his crazy face with my own eyes, I no go fully rest. But as long as the landlord isn't disturbing me, make the werey settle whatever he's settling first.

Now, seeing the casual shirt and trousers I was ready to head out in... I decided to change clothes. Maybe for today let me try and do a bit better, it's not like I was a pauper in my parents house. I have great wears.

Time was already slipping away, so I quickly dressed in a simple but sharp black senator cloth, hehe, madam will definitely be surprised I restocked on my fashion sense today as well.

I wore a black wrist bead on my right hand and removed my watch on a second thought, but I wore it back five seconds later.

I re-combed my senior afro cut neatly, and... for the first time in a very long while, picked up a zigzag shaped earring and put it on my left ear, that was the only one pierced, and geez, my father had almost cut off my ear the day I did it!

After getting ready, I stood fully and stared at myself... well... ok... and... this is exactly what I didn't like about dressing up out of casuals... looking like the rich guy that I'm not!

Should I unbox myself?

Nah, another day. Madam is already expecting me. Bye!

But immediately I closed the door behind me, nepa brought back the light, I didn't even bother to look back, I only stopped briefly to make sure I was with my phone and after confirming it was in my bag, I walked right out.