PART 8: The Watch My Grandmother Left Me

As I dragged Nancy into my room, my eyes immediately landed on the complimentary card lying innocently on my bed.

Jesus!

I quickly sat on it before Nancy could notice anything. Thankfully, she didn’t seem to detect my very suspicious movement because she simply sat beside me on the bed and crossed her legs.

I released the breath I didn’t know I was holding.

Good. One problem at a time.

With a stern face, I folded my arms and nodded at her.

“Oya, spill.”

Nancy gave me one long look. “You know you also have something you’re not telling me. How did you meet Adaeze? She is—”

I raised my hand immediately. “No. The spotlight is on you. Don’t change the topic o.”

She hissed dramatically. “Hmm, okay. Here goes nothing.”

She adjusted herself on the bed before continuing.

“So, after our POP, when I got back to Lagos, Susan sent me a message saying we should meet for an important discussion.”

“I asked her what it was about, but she refused to tell me. She said it wasn’t something we should discuss over the phone. I remember asking if you would be coming because, honestly, after almost one year apart during NYSC, I was looking forward to all of us seeing each other again.”

I nodded slowly. That sounded reasonable.

“When I got there, it was just Susan and Becky.”

“When I asked where you were, Susan said she had already informed you about the meeting but you said you couldn’t make it because you were going through a lot.”

I sat up immediately. “What?!”

Nancy nodded sadly. “That was exactly how I reacted too. I was confused because you never mentioned anything to me.”

I frowned. Because I was very sure no such conversation had ever happened. I didn’t even talked to her that period, or was it when she asked me about-

Nancy cut my thought off.

“Then Susan said she didn’t want to disturb you because according to her, you sounded stressed and didn’t want anyone in your business.”

I laughed. A bitter laugh because now I remember this day she was talking about and something entirely different happened.

Interesting. Very interesting. So, Susan also cook up lies about me. No wonder others don’t seem to understand me.

Nancy continued. “Apparently, Susan had met some ladies online who were making money through luxury thrift sourcing and personal shopping. They buy designer items, vintage pieces and luxury fashion accessories from overseas vendors and resell them to influencers and wealthy clients in Nigeria.”

“At first, it was just small money. But after a few months, the business really picked up.”

I remained silent.

“So, where exactly did I enter the picture?” I asked quietly.

Nancy looked uncomfortable. “At first, no one brought up your topic but over time, the business group became more than business. It became where they discussed everything.”

That one pained me more than it should have. I already knew where this was going.

“Everything?” I repeated.

Nancy nodded. “Everything.”

She looked down at her fingers as if she is ashamed of what she was about to say, “Sometimes they talked about your dressing.”

My face tightened.

“Sometimes…” she paused.

“What, Nancy?” My anger rising at this point

“Sometimes Susan would say you always wanted people to pity you.”

I blinked. Then blinked again.

Pity? Me?

Nancy quickly continued.

“I never agreed with her o! Most times I would tell them you were just passing through a difficult phase.”

“Then why didn’t you tell me?” I asked quietly. She looked away.

Silence.

That silence told me everything I needed to know.

I shook my head slowly. “Nancy, do you know what hurts me the most?”

She looked at me.

“It is not Susan.”

She looked surprised.

“It is you.”

Her eyes immediately filled with tears.

“You knew me before all of them.” I could feel tears stinging my eyes too.

“You knew my family. You knew what I was going through. You knew how hard things became after…” I stopped myself immediately. I wasn’t ready to talk about Kamchukwu yet.

Not tonight.

“You could have checked on me. You could have defended me. You could have called me.”

“You could have told me there was a whole group discussing me behind my back.” By now, tears were freely rolling down my cheeks.

“And bringing my dad into our argument? Really, Nancy? Is that not life? Businesses fail. People struggle. Why would you mock me with that?”

Nancy burst into tears immediately. “Yemi, I am sorry.”

She grabbed my hand. “I know I failed you.”

“I know…I was weak.” She wiped her eyes.

“Susan was always saying I behaved like your slave girl because I always checked on you.”

I frowned, “What?”

“She would say, ‘Nancy, if you’re not careful, Yemi will use you finish. You are always running after her.'” Nancy sniffled.

“Sometimes she would even say that if I wasn’t careful, you would take my boyfriend the same way you took Kamchukwu from her”

I froze, “What?”

Nancy shook her head immediately. “I never believed her o! But Susan can be very intimidating. You know how she is.

I sighed. Oh, I knew. I knew very well.

“At that time, I didn’t want problems because Susan was already managing the finances and records for our luxury sourcing business. If she pushed me out, I could lose all the profits and my shares.”

I shook my head, tired. Seeing the girl I love and took as a sister get bullied into silence pushed the words out of me, “Nancy, if you don’t learn to stand up to Susan, you will become the next secluded friend.”

She remained silent.

“Think about it… Before we joined them, weren’t Susan and Becky already best friends?”

Nancy nodded.

“Exactly. So, one day, it might go back to just the two gullible best friends while you become the new topic for discussion.”

Nancy looked genuinely horrified.

I squeezed her hand. “I have forgiven you.”

Her head snapped up immediately.

“But promise me something.”

“Anything.” She spoke softly

“Never take the side of anyone who talks down on me again.”

She nodded immediately. “I promise.”

“And stand up to Susan. If not for me, do it for yourself.”

Nancy nodded again.

After a few moments of silence, she suddenly narrowed her eyes suspiciously. “Okay o. Since we are now friends again, tell me how you met Adaeze.”

I shook my head. In my head, I thought not to be too quick trusting her. I still don’t know if the Nancy I knew before now is in there. “Who is Adaeze?”

Nancy looked at me like I had just confessed I didn’t know who Wizkid was. “Adaeze, friend of the only daughter of Imade Kuti. Don’t tell me you don’t remember the lady that came dragging you off to God knows where. You are not even afraid they will kidnap you”

I almost laughed. Like it’s not better to be dragged away by a rich girl than seat with people who obviously don’t want good for me.

Nancy moved closer excitedly. “Yemi, do you know who that girl is?”

I yawned loudly before she could continue.

Honestly, the emotional rollercoaster of today had exhausted me.

“Nancy, abeg. My brain has closed for the day.”

“But—”

“I will gist you tomorrow.”

She pouted but eventually stood up. “Fine. But you owe me gist.”

After she left my room, I finally stood up, picked up Kemi’s complimentary card from the bed and slipped it safely into my shoulder bag.

I plugged my phone into the charger, switched off the bedside lamp and buried myself under the covers.

Within minutes, sleep claimed me faster than a bullet.

#thecomfortadeyeye#FictionStory#AllRightsReversed#NoCopying