Love Bite: #Entry 4

This fictional series contains foreign language, Nigerian slangs and some inappropriate use of diction. This is for the proper portrayal of the character. 

Love Bite #Entry 4

I waited for the storm, but it never came.

Leke came home, a tired smile on his face as usual. He asked about my day. I had nothing to say. My tongue stuck to the roof of my mouth and the dryness tickled my throat. He smiled, planted a kiss on my forehead and headed into the bathroom to take a shower.

Once the water started running, I scrambled into the room, searching through his discarded clothes. It wasn’t there. It wasn’t under the bed either or in the wardrobe.

Where was it?

”What are you looking for?”

I turned to look at my husband, a towel around his waist, droplets of water scattered over his dark chest.

“Nothing. Err…looking to see if your clothes need to be washed. Isaac is coming this weekend.”

"Oh. I actually need him to starch my white native.” He turned on his heel and headed back into the bathroom. I started searching again.

“I’ll text him later tonight.” I said,”Or better yet I’ll text him now. Can I use your phone?”

“I think I forgot my phone at church.”

I stopped searching and cursed under my breath.

”Oh no! You don’t think we should head out and get it?” I called out towards the bathroom.

"No, it’s locked in my office. No one can get in.”

I had to get that phone. I could sneak in tonight.

”I hope you didn’t leave your keys lying around.”

”Lani. That phone needs aburo, I don’t think it’s a thief’s dream come true.” He chuckled.

“Where are your keys though?”

”With Pastor Remi. He needed the keys to the storage room. I’ll get it tomorrow.”

Snap.

A video of his wife moaning and panting with a stranger…The images stayed in my mind all night.

I thought about breaking into Pastor Remi’s house and into the church office. There had to be an easier way. I stayed awake all night, waiting for the morning, watching our ceiling fan blades cut through the air until they were invisible. Leke slept like a babe, his breathing heavy with an occasional snort.

For me, sleep had been elusive and it was beginning to tell. I had to get to the bottom of this. Jare was still away. I knew it was his wife. It had to be. If anyone knew it had to be the gateman.

I had to make him talk.

My eyes were wide open at 4:30 when Leke got up to pray, at 5.30 when he went into the bathroom, at 6.30 when he settled into the desk and chair in the corner to study his bible.

“Lani? You’ll be late if you don’t get up now.”He said. It was 7.30.

”I’m not feeling well. I’ll call in.”I mumbled.

”What’s wrong?”He got out of the chair. "Maybe a little Leke is in there?” He jested.

I smiled weakly. Not unless we had had sex in the last three months and I wasn’t aware.

He made me a quick breakfast of fried omelette and toast bread with a glass of juice for me. It made me smile.

“I’ll head to the other church branch first. I won’t be at work until about noon, so you might be unable to reach me ok?” He rested his palm on my forehead and said a little prayer.

“It is well, ok?” He said, as he threw on his blazer, and patted my scarfed head.

The moment he stepped out, I took a quick shower.

I’d go to his office before noon, wait for him to arrive and delete the message his phone. For now, I need to know what happened that night.

Jare’s gateman had to know who it was. He was the only one in the compound that night. I threw on a pair of jeans and a navy boat-neck blouse, shoved my feet into a pair of brown leather slippers and headed out. Ahead, Earnest was talking to someone through the opened gate. He stepped aside, and there was Jare’s wife, Ngozi. She towered over Earnest in her heels, she was dressed in army green pixie crop pants and a white t-shirt. A hand bag in the crook of her arm. Her slender face, half covered by long, full head of extensions and her round-framed sunglasses.

“Hello, Lani.”Her tone was sweet and cheerful.

I had stopped in my tracks.

“I was on my way out and I thought to say Hello. I have a PTA meeting.”

She looked like she was in a weekend relax day photo shoot.

“Hello.”I managed to say, my feet unwillingly walking forward.

“Would you like to meet up later at my place? Jay should be back much later but I’m sure we can fit in some girl time and chatter in the evening?”

I nodded,“Yes. Of course.” My voice tried in vain to echo the panache in hers.

“See you later.”

I waited until her car drove off and I walked briskly to her house and tapped on the gate. Ajibade opened the peep hole, his eyes hardened.

“Wetin you want?”

“Open gate. I wan ask you something.”

“No. Madam no dey. Oga no dey. I no fit open gate.”

“Ok.” I tried to peep past his head to see if any one else was there. His eyes cautioned me.

“Ok. You know that night. Last time…the night wey your oga…and me….who dey hold torchlight?”

He blinked a few times.

“I no know. Maybe na God catch una.” I caught the peephole cover as he began to close it.

“Just tell me. How much you want?” He looked at me.

Just then my phone buzzed in my back pocket.

“Just tell me how much you want?” I said to the gateman.

“How much den pay Judas?” He asked,”Which money you wan give me?” The hole disappeared.

I kept knocking, my phone kept buzzing.I heard his voice through the gate.

“I get your type for house. Dey sleep with landlord. She think say I no know. Na God go catch una. All of you together.”

“Hello.”I said into the phone, pinning it to my cheek with my shoulder. I was prepared to stand here all day. I reached into my pocket and counted ten notes of the thousand naira bill, 

“Babe,”Abby’s voice was urgent,”Come here fast. The video leaked at the office.”

The loose bills fell out of my hand and rained on the pavement below.   

Copyright ©2017 by IkeOluwapo Adegboye

Entry #5 out soon!