[Story] Broken Bottle – Episode 3

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CHAPTER THREE
Tjay looked out of the window. The rain had stopped. He had decided to visit Bina that evening. He would have waited for her to come back to her senses and apologize for her behavior, but, he needed to see her. He wanted to let her know how he truly felt about her. He had finally decided to confess his love for her and ask her out. He should have told her ages ago, but, he never got around it. He changed into a brown tee-shirt and a pair of blue jeans. He put on one of his brown leather slippers, picked up his car keys and phones on the table and headed out of the self-contain apartment. He met Adiza at the gate of the house. She was one of his neighbours and also a colleague at work. They both worked at the PHCN, Mafolukun branch. She moved in with her elder sister a week after she gained employment in his place of work. She was a pretty girl, fair skinned, an inch taller than he was, intelligent, homely and with a great personality. He would have loved to get to know her better, but, his heart was engulfed with someone else. He tried as much as possible not to get too close to her. He knew she liked him, but, he didn’t want to lead her on. He didn’t want to hurt her. He knew how unrequited love felt like.
“Hi… are you on your way out?” she smiled at him.
“Yes,” he walked up to his blue coloured Toyota Corolla parked at a corner.
“When will you be back?” her hazel eyes followed him.
“I don’t know,” he unlocked the door and got into the car. He started the engine and backed the vehicle into the muddy street. Bina’s place
was two streets away from his. His parent’s home was on the same street with hers. He might visit them after he had spoken with her. He drove to her place in less than ten minutes. The security guard opened the gate and he drove into the compound. He noticed her grandmother’s green Honda Element which was parked beside a black Prado Jeep. He didn’t recognize the car. They probably had a visitor. He parked his car, got out and locked it.
The house-keeper, Mrs. Ekaette, allowed him in. He met Bina in the sitting room chatting amicably with her grandmother and a brown skin man seated close to her, too close for his liking.
“Good evening ma.”
“Hey… Tjay, how are you doing? It’s been a while,” Lolly smiled at him.
“I am fine ma,” he smiled back at her and sat on the chair beside her, “Evening,” he nodded at the brown skin man.
“Evening,” Eru seized him up.
He directed his dark gaze at his friend.
She eyed him and hissed, “I hope you are not here to see me.”
“Ibinabo!” Lolly glared at her.
“Granny, please, stay out of this. Let me deal with Tjay as I deem fit.”
“I am Erhumu Ogheneochuko,” he stretched out his right hand.
“Tijani Kamson,” they shook hands.
“I guess you are a friend of the family,” Eru rested against on the chair.
“He is the only friend she has,” Lolly interjected.
“Really?” he looked from Tjay to his girlfriend.
“She is exaggerating,” Bina assured him and squeezed him by the hand.
“No, she isn’t,” Tjay eyed her.
“Are you here to make peace or start another war?” Bina attacked him.
Tjay swallowed a response and turned his attention to the flat screen television.
Lolly shook her head at her grand-daughter.
“I will like you to meet my boyfriend,” she leaned closer to Eru.
His shocked gaze flew to his friend and the strange man. He watched her give him a peck on the cheek and giggled. She seemed happy. It had been a while since he had seen her that happy. She must really like the guy. He sighed heavily. He was too late, again. There was no use confessing his feelings for her. She had already begun a relationship with someone else. He wished he had opened up to her sooner.
“Forgive her manners, what can I offer you?” Lolly smiled at him and noticed his pale face.
“Leave him alone. He knows his way around the house. He will get himself something to eat or drink when he is ready,” Bina snapped.
Lolly and Eru stared at her.
“What?” she looked from one to the other.
Tjay got up.

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“Are you leaving?” Lolly felt sad. She didn’t like the way her grand-daughter had spoken to him.
“Yes ma. I will visit another day,” Tjay feigned a smile.
“This is your fault,” Lolly pointed a finger at her.
“No, it isn’t. Is he a child? He has the right to come and go as he desires,” she eyed her grandmother.
“Have a goodnight ma,” he smiled at her and turned to Eru, “It was nice meeting you.”
“Same here. Hope we can hang out some other time,” Eru shook hands with him.
“Sure,” he glanced at his friend.
Bina hissed and avoided his gaze.
Tjay squared his shoulders and headed out.
“I didn’t know that you can be this naughty,” Eru turned to his girlfriend.
She folded her hands across her bosom.
“Come, let me tell you her history,” her grandmother offered.
“Granny please! Leave my boyfriend alone,” Bina shot her an irritated look, then hissed.
Tjay got into his car and started the engine. It was probably high time he let go of his feelings for Ibinabo. It wasn’t doing him any good. He had not been able to get into a serious relationship because of his love for her. His neighbor, Adiza, seemed like a good catch. If he drew close to her, he might develop strong feelings for her and forget all about Ibinabo. He needed to move on. It was about time anyway. He made a mental note to visit his parents on his way home. He had not seen them in the past three months. Although he tried to call them once in a while, they would definitely appreciate a one on one visit.
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He got home about past eight that night and met Adiza seated outside her apartment. They exchanged greetings.
“Do you have a cold drink in your fridge? I will replace it when I buy from the Mallam tomorrow.”
Her jaw dropped in surprise. He had never spoken to her for more than ten minutes at any given time, whether at home or at work. It was hard to believe that he was asking her for a drink.
“Em…” she got to her feet, “I think we have coke, I am not sure we have malt.”
“I will drink whatever you have. I need something chilled,” he gave her a smile.
“Okay…” she brightened and opened the front door, then turned to look at him, “Will you like to come in?”
“Yes, sure, thanks,” the ecstatic look in her eyes made him to relax.
She beamed, “Okay, good,” she walked into the apartment and pulled the door wide open so that he could come in.
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To be continued
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