Erioluwa, Amara's mum, finally got discharged from rehab.
She walked into the brown Porsche and sank in.
Amara, on the other hand, was pulling her things into the car, then sank in as their driver drove off.
She was finally healed. She had moved on-no more hurts, no more grudges.
She finally got her hands on her properties again: the ones that man, her ex-husband, had tried so hard to take from her-her house in Lekki Phase One, the land her late father gave her, her car, her money, her life.
He wanted everything, yet she was sinking in depression as he continuously abused her because she could not give him a male child.
He made her hate him, hate his people-Igbo men.
But now, she's healed and understands that it's not about tribe but personality.
She was able to breathe once again.
They arrived at Lekki Phase One and drove into their street, then their house.
Anyway, Amara was raised partly by her mum, and for the remaining years, she lived with her aunt.
Her parents' constant fighting and abuse got the best of her. Her aunt couldn't stand it, so she took her away.
The car parked right in front of the parking lot.
Remi had already hired cleaners to tidy the house, and she rushed to hug her younger sister, Erioluwa.
"My love, welcome back," she hugged her warmly.
"Thank you," Miss Erioluwa replied, as Amara ushered her into the house.
It was a storey building, the kind that looked like a princess's home. That man, her ex-husband, really was something else, he wanted to get away with all his wicked actions.
She sat softly on the white couch.
"How's my boy?" she asked, referring to Tade.
Amara gave her a look that said hmm... without saying a word.
He was torn, worn out, now just a shadow of himself. It had been a month since he spoke to Anwana.
He was slowly dying inside, yet his mum kept pushing Aisha in, like she could fill the void in his heart.
"Ohh... Tade's good," Remi cut in sharply, not wanting her to know the real situation.
Amara gave her an eye look that clearly said it's a lie.
Her mum got the message immediately.
As Remi walked out of the parlour to the bedroom to inspect the cleaners she hired,
Amara hurried, got close to her mum, and told her everything-in Igbo language, so her aunt wouldn't understand.
At least, she could hear "Tade", "Tade" in their gossip as she walked down the stairs, suspicious of their discussion.
"Hmmm, you guys can't speak English?" she asked, suspicious , but they didn't say anything.
That afternoon, Miss Erioluwa was unpacking slowly as she tried to comprehend her older sister's actions toward Tade's relationship.
It didn't sound fair at all.
She hadn't planned to say anything immediately, but she couldn't hold back any longer.
She started.
"Sister Remi, I know about Tade," she cut in,
Her sister looked surprised, mouth open.
"I... actually, I didn't want to disturb you, you're just back from rehab."
"Hmmm... I won't say anything, but I'll say: let him choose. I think your son is dying inside but you're not seeing it."
"Tade?! Dying keehh... that young man is obsessed with a lady who cheated on him. For crying out loud, I don't hate my son-I just want the best. Because of that lady, Tade has been drifting off for years. He's always talking about her-up and down. Please...," she exhaled.
"I understand. Anyways, you guys should fix your issues."
Erioluwa didn't want to go further. It wasn't her son.
She just needed to speak her mind, not to pressure her sister or make her feel she wasn't doing well as a mother.
Amara spent the rest of the day with her mum while Remi went back home.
***
Ikeja's sun wasn't just hot, it was burning-harsh on her light-skinned toned body.
Her skin reacted to it, her neck started itching.
"Ohhh... mbom, afiob oo (Ohh... nawa oo. It's hot oo)."
She held her faded grey bag, clutching it to her shoulder.
Her legs burned. She couldn't cross.
The black bodycon gown did justice to her small, beautiful figure, but this justice came with heat. It was burning.
Some street boys called behind her.
"Ahh, my color!"
"Come now, you look hot oo!"
The city was buzzing-heat, and this terrible traffic.
Her headscarf wasn't doing justice at all. It was her bad hair day, as young ladies would call it, so she needed the scarf.
"If not, since I for commot this thing. Nawa oo, mbom oo Anwana, Idiaha don suffer for Lagos. Or abi I for just relocate to Uyo and breathe? This traffic choke."
She said it out loud, someone behind her could hear it.
The job offer Kene had spoken about? Already taken by someone else.
Yes, he had talked to the manager, yet the manager gave it to someone else. Maybe she was too late. Yes, she was late.
As she started crossing, a car honked right behind her. Beside her was the street it came out from.
She didn't even turn. It could be one of those men, especially the married ones, asking for who-knows-what.
She kept her face composed, yet this gentleman was still honking.
Until the G-Wagon's window slid downward, revealing the man's face.
She turned-it was him.
She pretended not to notice and turned immediately.
He called out her name like he had been reciting it in his memory.
"An...awan...a," he called out.
This time, she couldn't pretend.
It was so hot outside.
She immediately opened his door and sank in.
She needed to cool off.
His A/C hit deep on her face.
"Huhhh... at least," she said within her, as she adjusted and pulled the seatbelt.
Tade was stunned. Did she just sit beside him?
The woman who could ruin him and build him.
The one he had countless dreams of.
The one who cooked his meals a month ago.
He couldn't say a word.
A man, finished, as he smiled while staring at her.
"Tade, you'll not drive?" she asked, as he pulled up and started driving.
Silence...
The A/C she thought would cool her off became her enemy.
It produced a heat she couldn't quite understand.
Then came that masculine voice she longed to hear for a month now.
"You... emm... you're going where?" he asked, driving gently.
"Ikorodu. My house," she replied without looking at him.
"Okay... I'll drop you. Looks like you've been job hunting," he said, staring at the file she held softly.
She didn't say a word.
She came in just to cool off, but it backfired.
Too much heat between them. Too many thoughts.
Unsolved issues, hurts, and still... maybe a little love left.
"You know I could buy you the largest building in Ikoyi if you want to start something for yourself. I can
always support you no matter what," he said, glancing at her.
Her lips paused.
Then she started.
"I'm not interested," she made it short.