Chapter 14

Fikayo was seated in the bar taking shots of vodka while his mind wandered away.

He was honestly tired of the misunderstanding he had with his wife. She intentionally refused to cook for him before leaving for work this morning like she usually did. He can't seem to see why living with his mom for a while was such a big issue.

'Can't they just try to understand themselves? What's the matter with women? There should be a whole book on how to understand women, honestly.'

That was what filled his head as he filled his stomach with the alcohol.

His mom called him this morning to ask when he would be coming to get her saying that her friend had already started making it seem like she's a beggar.

He tried his luck by asking her if he should get her an apartment to stay instead of staying with them but it only resulted in another headache for him as mama flared up saying." Is it that your wife? She does not want me in my own son's house! I'm sure if she could kill me, she would have done so. She thinks I'm her rival!"

Fikayo had to hang up the call after telling her he'd get back to her.

"Sup, man!" Biola, one of Fikayo's best buddies slapped his back as he took a seat on one of the chairs beside him.

Two other guys who are also Fikayo's friends followed suit and took their seats on the other empty chairs while exchanging pleasantries.

"This one that you're the first person among us to be here, it never happens. Hope all is well with you?" Kunle, another one of his buddies asked with humor.

They all ordered for different brands of alcohol from the Barman as they started their conversation.

"See, I don't even know! Guys, I'm tired." Fikayo lamented.

"Of what?" Biola asked.

"Of misunderstandings between Oma and I."

"You have just started man! You have not seen anything, I thought she was the sugar in your tea before, your heart rob, did she turn to a bitter leaf in your tea?" Ade, who's the only bachelor amongst them said while the rest of the guys hissed.

They don't take him serious when it comes to marriage issues because he does not respect women neither does he believe in love or marriage. It's all bullshit to him so he finds every means to discredit anything marriage or love.

"Ade, how many times do we have to tell you that whenever we are talking about marriage issues, do not contribute! You end up saying the shittiest rubbish ever!" Kunle reprimanded.

"The truth is bitter! Whether you guys will admit it or not, you are tired of your marriage and I can understand. Imagine having to eat the same type of meal everyday. Just imagine, I'll commit suicide!" Ade said laughing at his own joke.

"Who told you that I'm tired of Oma? The way you jump to conclusions like a frog ehn! I'll never be tired of Oma, in fact, she's still the sugar in my tea. I can't imagine life without her and she's my forever but these misunderstandings, I really wish I have a way to do away with it. It's really straining our relationship." Fikayo praises while Ade rolled his eyes and hissed.

"Don't worry man, you'll understand one day." Fikayo patted him.

"Don't mind him, it's not even as if he doesn't understand! Abi is he not the same guy that fell in love with Chioma that year? Always doing everything for her? The girl turned him to big time maga! Because that one broke his heart now, he no let us hear word again. You better open up your heart for a soulmate!" Biola chided.

"Me? Love Chioma? I was only acting for her to get punani! No be only love." Ade replied even though Chioma is a touchy subject for him.

"If you don't shut up there now, we will open up your matter today. You that when she got married to that old man then and left you, you considered suicide. If not because someone was there to stop you on time from taking the sniper, na underground you for Dey now. Don't worry, today is not about you and Chioma, if not, we for table am here small. Today is for Fikayo so shut your mouth and let's hear him out." Kunle said.

"You people and your arguments with Ade ehn. Maybe he forgot na!" Fikayo added laughing.

His clique were always like that, always bickering at each other and still there for each other. They have been friends since their first year in the university.

"This misunderstanding now is about mama. I told her that I want mama to come and stay with us for a while before I finish her roofing, that's all and Oma flared up. She refused vehemently as if mama is an hired killer." Fikayo explained to his friends.

"Oh, about the roofing that rain removed? But what's wrong with her always picking fights with your mother? What's her problem?" Biola asked.

"Calm down, Biola. Don't judge like that, have you ever been opportuned to be there with mama and Ifeoma when they are arguing or something? I once witnessed it, and before God and Man, Fikayo, your mom is so extra! It's like she has this nurtured hatred for the lady. If you see how she cursed and abused Ifeoma that day all because she gave her One meat, you'll think its because she added poison to her food, it was when Ifeoma couldn't take the insult anymore that she replied her. Fikayo, your mom is annoying sometimes, I won't lie." Kunle said.

"It still doesn't mean! Ahnahn, she still deserves her respect! A mother will always be a mother. My own mother and my wife have been staying together for years now and they are cohabiting quite well aside some unusual misunderstandings. Ifeoma is not homely at all, I noticed that in her when you guys were dating in school then. She doesn't joke with us, always quiet. She won't even care to cook for us when we visit her. You know that I never liked her, I prefer Adesewa to Ifeoma anytime any day. Sewa with that big ass of hers back then, she'll cook, wash and even do everything for us just because she liked you yet you didn't even reciprocate her love for you. Na Ifeoma, the slim one you carry put for house." Biola explained.

"You can't compare your own mother to Fikayo's mom! They are different, you know what I'm talking about. Ifeoma may also be stubborn in her way but well... And you should know better that marriage and love isn't about shape." Kunle replied.

"Don't mind him, your own wife that has the big ass, big boobs now, hasn't it all fallen apart?" Ade said as he received a slap on his head from Biola.

"Don't talk about my wife like that! Do you expect her to be well shaped after two beautiful kids?" Biola stood up for his wife.

"No, I'm only saying you cared about curves so much and now that it's somehow, you're already following other girls with the ass." Ade accused.

"It's non of your business, that's just pleasure. Every married man does it." Biola covered up.

"Abeg, which one is every married man does it? Am I not married? I would never be part of that." Fikayo said.

"Sorry, the faithful husband." Ade mocked as the other guys laughed.

"Meanwhile, you just need to calm down and talk to your wife. See reasons with her and try to understand her point of view, maybe you'll get to understand why she's so against it." Kunle advised.

"Which calm down? You will never understand women no matter how hard you try to. I saw a book on how to understand women one day and man, it was blank! Nobody knows it..." The guys laughed... "See ehn, my own is that you should bring your mom in! You're the husband in that house, you command and she listens, that's the role. It's your mother we are talking about for God's sake." Biola advised.

"In this 21st century? He commands and she listens? You better go back to the 80s." Kunle joked.

While his friends were bickering at one another, Fikayo was torn between both advice, he then decided to heed to both.

Talk again to Oma first and if she still proves stubborn, he'll do what Biola said, after all 'I'm really the husband' He thought.