I got home much later than I had planned. Apparently, the whole of Lagos had collectively agreed to leave work at the same time because by the time I got to the bus stop, the crowd looked like they were rushing to a healing crusade.

To make matters worse, I practically wrestled with one agbero that insisted he doesn’t have change and refused to discount the fare for me. I was too exhausted to even argue, I just got off, collected back my money.

By the time I finally got a seat inside one korope, my legs were already protesting against the rest of my body.

Honestly, adulthood should come with compensation.

After surviving Lagos traffic and enough unnecessary shouting from conductors to last me one week, I couldn’t even think about cooking.

Abeg, who wants to start washing pots after all that? I jejely branched Mama Uche’s akara stand at the end of our street and bought enough akara for me and Nancy to save me from hunger and kitchen responsibilities.

Sometimes soft life is simply buying akara instead of stressing yourself.

As I entered our compound, I heard loud Afropop music blasting from inside the house. I didn’t even need anybody to tell me who was responsible.

Nancy. That girl could wake the dead with her speaker.

I unlocked the front door and immediately the music slapped me across the face.

“Nancy!” I shouted over the noise. “You go like deaf pesin before Christmas?”

She spun around immediately. The moment she saw my face hanging on the last thread of patience, she began searching frantically for the remote control.

“Ahn ahn… sorry jare!” she laughed nervously, finally finding it under one throw pillow before reducing the volume almost to mute.

“Better.”

She folded her arms and looked at me. “I was even wondering where you disappeared to. You close by four na. Wetin happen?”

I didn’t answer.

Lagos had already annoyed me enough today and conversation was the last thing I I have strength for. I simply walked past her towards my room while she followed behind me like one curious investigative journalist.

I rolled my eyes. Without looking back, I stretched the black nylon containing the akara towards her.

“Abeg hold this first.”

She collected it while I dug through my handbag for my room key.

That was when it happened.

One small card quietly slipped out of my bag.

Time slowed.

“No… no… no…” I muttered.

Before I could bend down, Nancy had already picked it up. She looked at it casually at first, then her eyes narrowed.

She read the name slowly. “…Kemi… Ku…”

Her eyebrows shot up.

“Kuti?”

She looked at the card again.

Then at me.

Then back at the card.

Then at me again.

The confusion mixed in sheer shock on her face was almost funny.

I ignored her stare and continued unlocking my door like nothing had happened.

Behind me, she finally spoke.

“Yemi…”

Silence.

“Is this the same Kemi Kuti?”

I sighed. There was no point pretending anymore.

I pushed my room door open and entered. Nancy followed immediately, still holding the card.

She closed the door behind her before sitting carefully on the edge of my bed.

“You have to explain this one.”

I crossed my arms. “What if I don’t want to?”

She frowned. “After everything we discussed yesterday?”

I looked at her quietly, turning over the thought of the strain on our friendship. I don’t think I should trust her with this information. She wasn’t wrong also.

Seeing the hesitation on my face, she placed one hand on her chest dramatically.

“I promise you. Nobody will hear anything from me.”

I raised one eyebrow. “Nancy…”

She quickly corrected herself.

“Okay… okay… except if it’s my pillow. But pillows don’t talk, right?…please tell me” she tried mimicking the puppy eye but failed woefully.

Despite myself, I laughed. “You are unserious.”

“I know.” She finally cracked that sheepish smile that always got me.

“But I’m serious about this.”

I collected the card again before finally sitting beside her.

“Fine.” I took a deep breath.

“So… remember that restaurant hangout?”

“The disastrous one?” she asked.

I almost laughed at her description of that day, “Yes, that very one.”

I nodded and began telling her everything.

How Adaeze had walked up to me in the restroom and Kemi had somehow recognised my grandmother’s wristwatch.

How they had invited me to a gala and till now, I have not called.

Then, how Adaeze coincidentally found me at the library.

Nancy listened without interrupting for once. By the time I finished, her mouth was hanging open.

“Wait…” she whispered.

“So that’s how you suddenly knew Adaeze?”

I nodded.

She leaned back slowly. “Jesus.”

For a few seconds she simply stared into space.

Then she looked at me again. “You know what is funny?”

“What?” I asked out of sheer curiosity

“If this story wasn’t coming from you, I would have said the person was lying.”

I laughed softly.

“I’ve been saying the same thing to myself.”

Nancy shook her head in disbelief.

“You have to go.”

“Hmm?”

“You have to attend that gala.”

“I don’t even know these people.” I said folding my arms over my bossom in utter tiredness

“You didn’t know them yesterday. Today they have searched restaurant, searched library, and now they’re practically chasing you.”

She folded her arms. With a stern look like a mother scolding her child,

“If rich people are stressing themselves over one ordinary girl like you, abeg go and hear what they have to say.”

“I don’t even know what to wear.”

She rolled her eyes.

“Didn’t you say she promised to sort that out?”

Before I could answer, my phone started ringing. Both of us looked at the screen.

” Unknown Number…”

Nancy immediately nudged me.

“Pick it.”

“What if it’s spam?” I retorted

“What if it’s destiny?” She lashed back

I laughed.

“You and drama.”

I picked the phone, took a deep breath like I’m about to dive into a 5ft deep pool of water- in search of the unknown. I answered the call almost at the last ring

“Hello?” I sounded squeaky

“Yemi.”

The voice was calm.

Elegant.

Familiar.

“This is Kemi.”

I sat up immediately. Cleared my throat

“Oh… Hi…Kemi”

“I’ve been expecting your call.”

I swallowed. “I’m sorry…”

She didn’t let me finish, “It took Adaeze finding you at the library before we could finally speak to you.”

There wasn’t anger in her voice. Just mild frustration.

“I even heard you were worried because you had nothing suitable to wear.”

I glanced at Nancy.

“I already told you not to worry about that.” She continued, soft on the worry part

I opened my mouth to apologize again, but she continued.

“In fact, we’ve stopped waiting.”

I frowned.

“Sorry?”

“We’re outside.”

I blinked. “Outside ke?” I blurted out without thinking

“Outside your house.”

“I’m sorry… where exactly?” I tried asking again because for five seconds my brain stopped braining

“Your house.”

I looked at Nancy. Nancy looked at me.

“Kemi…” I said slowly. “…you’re joking.”

She chuckled softly. “No, dear.”

Nancy had already jumped up.

“I’ll check!” She whispered and gestured to the window.

Luckily, my room window was front facing to the front yard and I could over see whatever goes on the outside from the gaps of the outside gate.—

Few seconds later, Nancy turned back to look at me mouthing the words “There is one black car outside!”

“What?” Shocked after I caught what Nancy was saying

“I’m serious!”

She grabbed my wrist and dragged me towards the window.

I carefully shifted the curtain.

My breath caught.

Parked quietly outside our gate was a sleek black luxury SUV that looked completely out of place on our street.

Two neatly dressed men stood beside it.

One of them glanced toward our house.

I immediately ducked.

Nancy was already bouncing with excitement. “Say yes!”

I covered the phone’s mouthpiece.

“Nancy…”

“No! Don’t Nancy me.” She lowered her voice dramatically.

“If you don’t enter that car today, I will personally carry you there.”

I couldn’t help laughing. I placed the phone back to my ear.

“I’m… I’m sorry for keeping you waiting.”

“No problem,” Kemi replied warmly. “Take your time. Freshen up. We’ll wait.”

“I’ll be outside shortly.”

“We’ll be here.”

The call ended.

For a few seconds, neither of us spoke.

Nancy suddenly grabbed both my shoulders.

“Yemi…” She looked like she was about to deliver a bittersweet news

“Your life is about to change.” She blurted and I felt a shudder run through my spine.

I looked toward my wardrobe, at the foot of it sat mama’s old handbag, hiding secrets I wasn’t ready to uncover.

Then my eyes drifted to my shoulder bag on the study table by the wardrobe. The wristwatch was still inside.

And just as Nancy has said…

I had a feeling tonight wasn’t just about a gala anymore.

It felt like I was about to step into a life I never knew existed and for the first time in a very long time…

I was both terrified…and excited

#thecomfortadeyeye#NoCopying#AllRightReserved#FictionSeries#FictionStory

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