You Can Sit Or Leave

Lanre asked who called her name. She did not want to think it will actually be K. She was busy arranging plates on the dinning table and had to leave it to see who had come into her house and called her name like that. One could not tell who ran into who, but Lanre found herself in K’s arms. She had not seen his face. But the scent coming from his body was quite familiar and she tried to know who’s fragrance it was.

“Did you really sprain your ankle? How badly hurt are you?” K asked. At this point, Lanre struggled to break free from his embrace. It didn’t take much effort since K was not expecting that.

“Dinma!” Lanre yelled. Chidinma who was already scared that Lanre was going to get hurt had already arrived before Lanre called her name. She was afraid for Lanre but had not expected the man to hug Lanre.

“Aunty, I’m sorry! He pushed me”. Chidinma said. Lanre bit her lips. She had wanted to scold Chidinma for letting in someone she did not know. But seeing that the girl was already frightened. She told her to go inside her room and that it was okay since she knew the man.

Chidinma went inside leaving K and Lanre alone.

“What is the son of the Governor of Lagos state doing in a lowly area like Igando. And that too at mosolashi road?” Lanre asked. K just stared at her without blinking his eyes. It was as though he was seeing her again for the first time. She looked a little different. He did not notice last time because he only followed her from afar. He felt she has reduced.

“Are you sick?” K asked her. She shook her head. Then she asked him if he wanted hot water or cold water. He looked at her quite confused. She told him that she heard men about to get married are supposed to be offered water alone when they come on invited to the house of their fiancée’s former friend.

K saw himself struggling with what to do with Lanre. He did not even have a word to say to her anymore. It sudden felt awkward especially as she did not answer any of his question. Whereas Lanre decided to walk away since K would not say anything or move from where he was.

“You can sit or leave, I was busy before you barged in”. Lanre said. Instead of arranging plates further, Lanre dished spaghetti inside a plate and covered it. She placed it in a train and placed a bottle of water and a spoon. Then she took it to Chidinma’s room. She told Chidinma to eat in her room. She wouldn’t want Chidinma to see the drama that would be on display should in case things gets out of hand.

She went back to the living room. Then she walked towards K and tapped him on his shoulder. “Get out of my house!”. She said.