CHAPTER FIFTEEN

**Bummi's Perspective**

Eighteen months have flown by. If someone asked me what I've been up to all this time, what would I say?

Still jobless?

Well, not exactly.

Sometimes, I help Mom at her new shop, which is conveniently close to our house, saving us transportation costs.

My dear friends Lola and Ojo, who were born into wealth, run a classy boutique together—a well-known one in Lagos.

They've asked me to join them, but—thanks, I'm good for various reasons.

Today marks the eighth month since I moved back home, and I decided to stay behind instead of going to the shop with Mom.

I designated today as my cleaning day—a day to clear out the clutter in my house.

Cleaning is one of my hobbies. Cleanliness is next to godliness.

The house is covered in cobwebs again, one of the things I detest.

Mom should be fine managing the shop alone; she's been handling it well before I started helping her.

With the help of my long brush, I finished removing the cobwebs from the ceilings in the rooms and moved on to the ones in the kitchen.

I was working in the living room when I suddenly heard my phone ringing.

It turned out to be a text beep, not a call, and I didn't immediately recognize the customized tone I had set.

Putting the brush aside, I wiped the sweat off my forehead, took a deep breath, and walked over to the center table where I had left my phone.

I scrolled through and saw this message:

"HELLO STRANGER? DO YOU MIND IF WE TALK IN PERSON?"

No way!

After 18 months, I finally received a response from him!

This can't be real!

Mom would be thrilled if I told her I was close to getting my job back.

I'm already at the doorstep; all I need is the key, and it's right here.

I feel my cheeks getting hot, as if I'm blushing… feeling a bit nervous.

I think I should chat with Lola and Ojo or visit them at their shop.

"It's a lie," Lola said on the video call a few minutes after seeing the message.

"She's just teasing us again," Ojo rolled his eyes. "She's been doing that since we lost our jobs."

Teasing? Me, Bummi Ademola, teasing?

"I'm serious." Since they didn't believe me...

I sent a screenshot, and their shocked expressions said it all.

"What were you guys saying about teasing?" I scoffed. "This doesn't look like a joke, right?"

They immediately shook their heads vigorously, eyes and mouths wide open in shock.

"Cut it out, guys," I said. "What do we do now?" I was glad Ojo had come to his senses.

"Good question!" I added.

"Chat him up?" Lola suggested.

*****

"Chat him up?" I snapped when Mom suggested the same thing at dinner. "Are you kidding me?"

"Kidding?" Nifemi passed the bowl of stew. I didn't ask for his opinion. "What if he's rich? He might be useful, you know." He shrugged.

If only he could sense the anger boiling inside me.

The urge to knock his head with the stainless steel spoon in my hand bubbled up.

As if Mom knew what I was thinking, she quickly intervened. But her statement didn't help much.

"It's not like I'm asking you to date him because you don't know if he's a ritualist."

Dating? Seriously, Mom?

I narrowed my eyes and crossed my arms. "So, Mom, if he was a ritualist, you'd agree I DATE HIM?"

She gestured heavenwards. "For crying out loud, Bummi, stop being sarcastic. All I'm saying is to use this chance to get what you want—your job, right?" When I nodded, she added.

My tattletale brother Nifemi dropped his spoon, focusing as if Mom was talking to him. "Get him to give you your job back by communicating with him."

Come to think of it, Mom is making sense.

After dinner, I settled on my bed, staring at the text while biting my lower lip, trying to come up with a good response to draw his attention.

I wanted to call Lola or Ojo, but they might be sleeping at this hour. Besides, I want to handle this myself.

So only I can take the credit later.

An idea popped into my head. I quickly wrote, "I'M NOT A STRANGER. I'M SOMEONE YOU KNOW. DO YOU MIND WHATSAPP FIRST?"