Serendipity - Chapter 2

Yemmy was right about one thing, the thought of someone hating her had never crossed her mind. Having that person be someone she loved so dearly was too much to take.

Although she was relishing finally having the upper hand and would have loved it to last longer, Yemmy knew needed to end it now. It was time to go to the next phase of her life.

“You just accepted it” Seeing the confusion in Oyin’s eyes, she elaborated “Your life…you just accepted it. It’s normal to live in a 15 room mansion, it’s normal to never know what the limit is on your bank account.”

“You hate me because of…these things?” Oyin asked incredulously.

“Not just things Oyin, people too. It's normal to be brush shoulders with kings and queens, It’s normal to have Bode Akins at your beck and call. The Bode Akins.” She stressed

“Bode is my best friend” Oyin didn’t know why she was explaining…

“Yes of course. The wouldn’t give any other girl the time of the day but not you…never you and what do you do? You go after Kunle…Bode’s rival but did you give yourself fully to Kunle? No again, instead you show him at every single turn how so not Bode he is” she laughed “and you wonder why he came running to me”

“I loved him”

“No you didn’t” Yemmy countered…her voice softening a little “You used him…you used him as a shield because you are scared”

“Of what…?”

Yemmy didn't answer, instead she walked to the window and pulled the curtain aside. She wasn’t surprise to see the young man in blue jeans and white t-shirt sitting on the hood of a Mercedes Benz parked in her driveway.

As if sensing her, he looked up and Yemmy quickly drops the curtain. She looks over her shoulder to see Oyin watching her…waiting expectantly, her chest tighten…despite the circumstances their friendship was built on, some part of her liked…loved Oyin but if there was one thing she had learnt growing up in Gboko, it was sentiment always got in the way.

“What am I scared of?” Oyin asked again

Yemmy stills herself before turning to face her ex-best friend and dealt the final blow.

“Call your psychiatrist babe…that’s why Daddy has her payroll”

Oyin felt like she had just been punched in the stomach. Any hope she held that their friendship could be salvaged dissipated. She schooled her face and nodded once.

“I guess that’s it’ she began and prayed her voice wouldn’t betray her “I’m glad things worked out well for you”

She walked to the couch where she had dropped her purse and picked it up. With her head held up high and her heart breaking, she made her way to the front door.

“I’m sure you’ll understand if I don’t say see you around Yemmy because I hope I never do”

Yemmy, who had been watching with admiration as her friend tried to remain her prim and proper self in the face of the nastiness that just took place, was taken aback. So she didn’t know she and Kunle were on their way to Switzerland. The coward didn’t tell her. Why was she surprised? Left to Kunle, a postcard from London was the way he would have chosen to break the news of their affair. Well since she was already giving bad news, what’s one more?

“Oh you don’t have to worry about that" She paused "Kunle and I leaving the country. We leave for Switzerland in 2 days”

Oyin was surprised at how well she took the news. She must be numbed, she excused. Without a second glance, she walked out Yemmy’s two bedroom apartment. Her heart breaking as she closed the door to the friendship she had cherished for 4 yrs.

It seemed like yesterday, the headmistress of the all girls they both attended had called thrust upon her the duty of showing the new scholarship recipient around. The girls, different in physical appearance and behavior had immediately struck a friendship. . . an unusual one, people said but Oyin had dismissed it. The fact that the New Liberal Arts and Science building was named after her mother, didn't take away the fact that she was just another girl trying to make an emotional connection and who cared if the person at the receiving end was a girl whose mother sold second hands clothes in Gboko Market?

Yemmy’s felt a flash of pain go through her as the door closed behind Oyin. She felt the urge to call her back and tell her it was all a joke, a practical joke. They’ll hug and be friend again. . .but it wasn’t a joke, it was real and even if she could somehow erase the last 2hrs, the baby she was carrying can’t be erased. She touched her tummy, she was only 6 wks pregnant and already she knew she’d do anything for her baby. . .even if it meant destroying the only normal relationship she’d ever had in her 20yrs.

You take what you can, when you can. The world does not care for people like you and me. if you don't care for you no one will. Remember that!

Her mother’s voice echoed in her head. The motto she had lived by all her life. She walked back to the window just in time to see Oyin being engulfed in a hug by the guy who had sat outside in the burning sun for 2 hrs.

Bode Akins.

Yemmy watched as he rubbed Oyin’s back slowly. He whispered something to her and she nodded. He stepped back and helped her into the passenger’s side of his car. After shutting the door, he walked around to the driver side and got in. He started the car and slowly backed out of Yemmy’s drive way. When the car was nothing but a dot in the distance, Yemmy dropped the curtains.

Bode and Oyin.

Oyin and Bode.

One day, she thought Oyin would thank her.