I WILL MAKE YOU LOVE ME

The Dinner War

Mummy said we must eat together every night at 8pm sharp. Family that eats together stays together.

I sat opposite Cole. He was pressing his phone, ignoring me completely like I was invisible.

"Can you not make noise when you eat?" he snapped at me without looking up.

I nearly choked on my jollof rice. "Sorry o, Mr. Billionaire. For Ajegunle, we dey eat to enjoy, we no dey pose for Instagram."

Mummy laughed loudly. "I like this girl! She has fire! Cole, leave my daughter alone!"

Cole rolled his eyes. "Mother, you wanted Egusi soup with bitter leaf. Tomiwa, can you cook real Egusi? Not that Ajegunle type with too much oil."

He wanted to disgrace me. He thinks Ajegunle girl no sabi cook.

I stood up, tied my wrapper well. "I will show you what Ajegunle girl can do."

I entered that big kitchen. I saw everything - stockfish, ponmo, dry fish, locust beans, bitter leaf, egusi, palm oil. I cooked with anger. I cooked like my mama taught me.

Thirty minutes later, the smell filled the whole mansion.

Mummy tasted first. She started crying. "Chineke! This is exactly how my own mother used to make it in our village in Imo State! God brought you to this house, Tomiwa!"

She held my hand tight.

Cole was pretending to be busy but he was perceiving the smell. He came to taste secretly when nobody was looking. I saw him eat THREE wraps of pounded yam with my soup. He cleaned his mouth and tried to act like nothing happened.

Later that night, he knocked on my door.

"The soup... it was manageable. Not too bad for a first try."

"Manageable? You thief! You ate three wraps! I counted!"

"It was only because my mother liked it. Nothing more. Remember Rule Number 3. Don't fall in love with me."

"You are so proud! If pride was money, you for be Dangote himself! I can never fall for you!"

"Good. Keep it that way."

He left. I slammed the door. But my heart was beating fast fast. Why was it beating? Why did I care what he thought of my soup?

God, what is happening to me?