KELENNA

It's... Manageable

"Call me when you're done here Victoria, I'll be on my way now."

"Alright, bye. And thank you for today." She beamed.

"But don't stay here for too long."

"Ha, will she hear? I've always had to literally drag this woman out and lock this place." I scoffed.

I was seated before the CCTV monitor, doing what exactly? I had no idea. I'd just swirled my chair around to reach for my phone on the other table when everyone suddenly turned to me. I froze mid-spin. Oh, I'd said that out loud?

"Well..."

"This boy, you won't even defend me? So I wouldn't have had you on my side if this was a court case?"

"Depends on the case we're handling ma. I'm not committing perjury for your shopaholic tendencies." I smiled and resumed motion, picked up my phone and messaged Jide.

"Kelenna...you..." She just shook her head "Betrayal stings, no? Good."

The man glanced at his wrist watch "Victoria, 5 p.m. Andrew can come if he wants, see you later."

Gozie frowned at that statement and hissed "He better not piss me off."

"Gozie, you were saying?"

"Nothing sis."

The man just smirked before using the door.

Gozie glanced at me, then at his sister, and back at me.

"You'll see him again Gozie."

He followed after the man and left with him.

"So Mr. Kelenna...Victor?" She folded her arms "What's your last name?"

Ha, wahala! Why she dey ask about my surname now?? Omo I don enter, na this my mouth go later land me for gbese.

"Steven."

"Steven? Aren't you Igbo?"

"I am, hence Kelenna. My father just preferred we took his first name." I shrugged.

"I've never heard you speak Igbo though?"

"Ohh, inula nu ya ugbua"

"Hm...I see."

Why do I feel like she didn't understand that?

"I said you've heard it now."

"Aghotaram ihe ikwuru."

"You do?"

"Yes so don't look at me like that."

"Ehh? Aren't you the one who was staring at me like I was speaking french?" I laughed.

"Whatever dude."

I had no more words, so I just nodded and kept quiet.

"So, Mr Steven Victor Kelenna..."

My full government name now? Haa.

"As I wanted to ask, what were you saying earlier huh?"

"About?"

She eyed me "What kind of question is that? You didn't support me earlier!"

"I was just kidding aunt."

"No you weren't Kelenna! You weren't!" She pouted her lips and threw a piece of paper at me.

What? Heeii, pregnancy mood swings??

"I've promised my friend that I'd be here by 5:30. She wants to see me after she closes from work."

"No." I frowned, "You'll see her tomorrow or she can come find you at home."

"You see...!" She whinned "This isn't fair, I'm supposed to be the madam here."

Please where is this woman's husband? Why is she behaving like a child?

"Well you are ma, you are. But the thing is, if we leave you alone you'd probably buy a bed and start sleeping here."

"Go away!"

Thank goodness! I stood up.

"Alright aunt."

"Do you have a girlfriend?"

I froze. From where to where? I didn't see that one coming.

"I don't."

"And before?"

I sunk back in my seat and facepalmed.

"Kelenna...?"

"Yes." I sighed

"Ohh you did?"

"Kind of...the whole thing was...well..."

"I'm...surprised."

"Why?"

"You're too serious for boys who has girlfriends."

"What?"

"Boys, not men... boys your age who has girlfriends? Most of them are immature and not serious with their lives." She rolled her eyes.

"That is a little funny, but now that you've said it. I kind of...wasn't thinking much then."

"And now?"

"A girlfriend now? Hmm..." I shook my head.

"This sounds complicated...?"

"Heh."

"That bad?"

"I...I almost went to jail being accused of rape."

She froze-rigid still, and just stared at me intently. So many emotions flashed through her eyes.

Who won't...be shocked at this? I wonder what she thinks of me now...

A few seconds passed...then five, ten, fifteen...I was literally counting down each tick with time until she would finally snap at me.

But then, her gaze wavered, and she just smiled, reached for her bag and said...

"Come here, get that poly bag over there."

Okay...? I did as she said.

"Unpack the bag. I brought some food and it's in there. Trust me you've never had anything more delicious, my cooking is the best! All those things I bought yesterday at the junction was for today, but Andrew had...you know, left me there. Fortunately, my sister was around and she was the one I left with. Since then I've had a really good time cooking, celebrating with her and catching up. Then later we went to the salon and all that."

She brought out the stuff she's been rummaging through her bag searching for and handed it to me.

"Here, she's getting married soon. This is the invitation, Feso is her husband's brother and a good friend of mine as well."

"These other bags just contains gifts I'll give to people both for the wedding and my birthday. 29 looks good on me right? I know."

"Now stop standing there and staring at me, get the food already. I brought it for you."

"No I-"

"Yes. Yes you will. You're going to eat it. So get your seat closer right now or you're going to sit down on the floor and have it. Get moving."

"Aunt..."

"Now."

I did, set everything, then sat down and...just stared at the food.

"Aunt I..."

"I believe you Kelenna. I believe you didn't do it."

I went still...did I hear right? She believes me? She does?

Just like that? No probing? No 'what happened? How can I be sure you are telling the truth?' No weird energy and trust issues?

I opened my mouth to say something-in my defense? to assert my disbelief and confusion?-I wasn't sure, but nothing came out. My throat suddenly felt like I'd swallowed a handful of dry sand. I had to look down at the fried rice just to hide the sudden, stupid heat stinging the back of my eyes.

Mummy didn't even believe me this fast, this much...I squeezed my eyes shut. No I can't do this here, not now, not any other time.

"Don't do that," She said softy, her voice losing every single drop of its earlier dramatic flair.

I still kept my head down. "Do what?"

"That thing you're doing right now." She leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table.

"Look..." She sighed "I've been around enough people in my twenty-nine years to know a liar, Kelenna. A guilty man either over-explains or gets aggressive when the topic comes up. Well, some are still very good at covering up properly and pretending. But you? You looked like you were waiting for me to hit you."

I swallowed hard, finally looking up. "It...almost ruined my life... my family, my school... everything."

"Almost, but it didn't" she corrected. "It's alright okay?"

A dry humorless laugh escaped my lips.

She tapped the edge of the flask with her index finger.

"Now, start eating before the steam dies. You have to finish everything."

Ehh? What? I have to be a tank before I can finish all this and still remain alive.

A small, involuntary laugh escaped me-half a scoff, half a sigh of relief.

"You're very dr—"

A piece of chicken suddenly disappeared into my mouth.

I halted. I didn't even seen her hand move, when did she... I tried to swallow--that was a wrong decision.

The chicken lodged itself somewhere between my throat and whatever organ was responsible for regretting life choices, and I immediately doubled over, coughing.

"Kelenna!!"

I waved one hand frantically, trying to signal that I was fine, but that sent the opposite signal.

"Oh my God, I'm sorry!" She shot up from her seat. "I didn't mean to choke you!"

She grabbed a bottle of water and shoved it into my hand, then started patting my back.

"Take it slowly! Breathe, breathe...are you okay?"

I nodded between coughs. She continued patting back slowly.

"Calm down and take it easy."

I coughed slightly now. "I'm okay, Aunt..." I straightened slowly, blinking at her.

"You're really okay?"

"Yeah."

She narrowed her eyes. "Wait."

I said nothing.

"You're actually okay?"

I just remained quiet and nodded like a kid.

Her eyes widened. "You faked that?"

I looked away.

"Kelenna!"

I bit my lip. "I just—" I had to bit back my words because a hit abruptly landed on my back admist the pats.

"Ouchh!!! Aunt that hurt!!"

"Oh it does? You stupid boy! Why would you freak me out like that??" She raised her hand to hit me again.

"No no no no, I won't do it again. Sorry double queen, don't hit me again please?"

"You better not."

"But, actually you're quite strong oo"

"Of course I am." She declared proudly "Andrew can testify." She whispered that last part.

Wait, what? I heard that. I heard it clearly! Andrew can...testify?? Is...is this what I think it is?? Hahahahaha!

I'm glad, I'll be even more glad if my guess would be right! At least I don't have to worry too much about that sorry excuse of a man doing anything crazy. Turns out he's the Andrew, hahahaha!

"Is anything funny? Why are you giggling?"

"Nothing aunt. Today was awesome, and happy birthday to you once more. You didn't even tell me today is your birthday."

"So that you'll do what?" She sat back down.

"Well..." That's right, what would I have done? Maybe singe her a song? No, that a bad idea.

I pulled a spoon out of the bag and took a bite. The food was actually very good! So good!

She fixed her eyes on me waiting for my reaction, but I wasn't about to give her the satisfaction of saying it out loud just yet.

"Soo... how's it?"

"It's... manageable," I mumbled, chewing.

"Manageable?!" She gasped, grabbing a stray receipt from the table to throw at me... only God knows if I will go home in one piece today "Get out of my shop, Kelenna! Pack your things and go home!"

"I have no 'things' here aunt, and it hasn't gotten to that Aunt." I held in a laugh.

"Actually, nobody does it better than my double queen. You sure you didn't cook this in heaven and bring it down here??"

"Of course! You think heaven just lets anybody into their celestial kitchen to cook? And besides, it's my birthday today, what do you expect?" She flipped her hair.

"And happy birthday to you once more! The baddest queen Victoria! CEO at 29! I comot cap for you."

"Clock it!"

This woman sef. Hehe!

"So by the way, why did you ask if I have a girlfriend?"

"Oh that? I want a grandchild."

"...."

My jaw literally hit the ground, but I eventually had to pick it back up to continue eating. If I make it home today with my mind intact it's a miracle.