After Much Thought

Lanre sat down on the bed in the hotel room. She thought about what Ify’s mother had said to her. She did not want to go back to that flat. Ify had already said things to her that would make her stay with her really uncomfortable even though it is only but for a few days. And yet she can’t complain to the woman because it seemed childish to her telling Ify’s mother the things her daughter had said to her.

So after much thought on the matter, Lanre decided to please Ify’s mother. She decided that to avoid trouble with Ify, she would leave the house early and return late. Even if she has no where she would go, she will just go stay in an empty classroom. After all, exams were still ongoing for students below her level and they barely make use of the classroom. The exams takes place more often at the computer based test hall. She packed her things and checked out of the hotel later that evening when it was already getting very dark. She wouldn’t want to look at Ify for long.

When Lanre got to the apartment, Ify had been the one to open the door for her to come in. But either of them said a word to the other. They were like enemies forced to be in the same teams and asked not to express themselves. Lanre dropped her bags in the room, then she went back to the living room to sit down there, leaving Ify alone in the room. She took her only companion with her, her phone.

Lanre was already dosing off to sleep when her phone rang. She jolted up and picked it up. She didn’t even bother to check who it was, but immediately she heard the voice, she suddenly wished she had not picked up.

“Lanre, what’s up? Can we see tomorrow?” It was Okechukwu who had called her. She sighed and blunted out a “no” to him. He pleaded with her that it was just a friendly meeting between them, like a friendly date. And that it would be in the afternoon.

“Okechukwu, I have my defense to focus on tomorrow. I do not have time to meet with anybody. And please, do not call me at nights. It is a huge bother, you calling me at night. You are disturbing my peace “. Lanre said to Okechukwu. His mouth must have gone wide open with no words willing to come out of it. He never expected Lanre to tell him he was disturbing her peace. He didn’t even think it too late to call because the time was just past eight in the night. It was not even close to midnight and she was telling him this.

“Lanre, we can meet after you are done with your project defense na!” Okechukwu said trying to persuade her. “Okechukwu, zukwanike (rest)! Why am I even wasting my time sef?” She said and abruptly ends the call. Then she puts it on flight mode.