Palm lines 2 - Episode 2

 

Ade's POV
"Fiance you say?" I asked and she nodded. "Yes I'm her fiance" "I'm sorry, I didn't get the memo" I added and Tuni pinched me from getting angry.
"What Ade is trying to say is..." She paused.
"It's a shock for us, judging from the fact that we're besties"Tuni snapped emphasizing on the besties. "If I may ask, how long has it been since you proposed?"
"A month now" Felix answered and I laughed . "Did you hear that Ade? A month?" Tuni laughed hysterically.  
"A month?" She repeated and I pinched her too. 
"It's actually funny cause I spoke to Sharon yesterday and she didn't say a word" she turned towards me then at her.
"I wanted to"
"But what?" She asked, "I .."
"You what? Cats got your tongue?" 
"Okay give her a break!" Felix commented and Tuni raised her fingers at him. "Oga mind your fucking business"
"I was waiting for the right time" "When would have been the right time? Would you have said a word if you didn't come for this reunion?" She asked and Sharon shrugged. 
"Come on guys!" He added. 
"Maybe we should rethink this friendship thing. Let's face the fact, it's been more than six years, I don't know you any longer Sharon and you don't know me" she answered leaving. 
"Is everything okay?" A dark complexioned woman asked in an American accent and Sharon nodded. 
"Can you both leave Ade and I alone?" I asked and Felix left

All episodes of this story can be found here >> https://www.ebonystory.com/story/palm-lines-2

. "You too Tasha" she added and the lady left.

"Sharon I have a lot of questions I wanna ask" I began, "I don't even know who you are anymore. The old Sharon would have ran after Tuni"
"I'll explain to her later on, you know how crazy and touchy Tuni gets about stuffs like this." She answered and I scoffed. 
"What?" She asked and I nodded. 
"You stopped picking up my calls neither did you return it. You didn't even open  my mails any longer" 
"I'm sorry" she answered. "I'm sorry but I couldn't keep on hurting myself! We were apart, I had to grow to realize we're worlds apart and there was nothing to hold on to. I had to move on, what we had we're just... They were just infatuations and childish feelings, I grew up and I moved on."
"Newsflash Sharon, I didn't" I answered walking away.  Erika held my hand, "Hey, you don't look happy, what happened?" She asked and I scoffed. 
"Maybe you should ask Sharon" i answered walking out of the house.

Sharon's POV
After the plane touched down Nigeria, Tasha and I waited twenty minutes for Dad. "Who dares to keep the princess waiting?" I heard him ask then I laughed. 
"You're late" I snapped. 
"I'm sorry" he answered. "I had some business things to take care of" "Why am I not surprised?" I asked and he laughed.
"How was your journey?" "It was fine" I answered and then Tasha cleared her throat. 
I almost forgot she was standing beside me. "Um.. dad meet.."
"I can introduce myself sharon" she snapped stretching her hands towards him, "I'm Tasha Winners,
Sharon's manager. I've heard a whole lot about you. I never knew you would be this hot" she commented and i laughed. "Geez Tasha! He's my dad and he's married" i warned and i watch Tasha give dad a seductive look, "I heard that too"  
"I've heard a whole lot about you too" Dad answered.
"Is she American?" "Half Nigerian and half South African, born and brought up in America" she answered just before i did.
"Let's just go home. I can't wait to see mom!" i exclaimed.
Joshua and Sam rushed to hug me and i smiled. "You boys are so grown up! Who's Josh and who's sam?" i asked, pretending to tell their difference.
"I'm Joshua" Sam answered, "And i'm Sam" Joshua. "Liars!" i exclaimed, " Ofcourse i can tell you two apart. Where's your sister?" i asked.
"She's sleeping"
"Hey dear!" Mom called out and i hugged her.
"Good morning mom!" i hugged her tightly. "I miss you so much, i miss you mom."
"I missed you too dear,  welcome back home"
Mom turned towards Tasha, her face looks familiar. You're Sharon's manager" 
Wow mam, you're very smart. Your home is beautiful but not compared to your husband. He's hot" she cleared her throat. "Thanks for welcoming me in your abode" she answered and mom turned towards me.
"Humble abode?" she asked. "Didn't i mention it?" i asked and she faked a smile.
"You clearly forgot. Welcome to our humble abode" she emphasized on the "humble abode" then she turned towards dad. Dad gave her a familiar look.
I knew i was in for questioning.
During lunch, I complimented on what mom had done with the interior. "Thanks" she answered. 
"Where did you meet your friend" she asked, I could tell that mom didn't like her. 
"Well I met Tasha in my first year in school. She was a senior colleague, she was I her final year just when I started mine. She helped me a lot"
"Sharon would have been lost without me" Tasha answered. "I realized your daughter had a rare gift so I decided to put her on the right track and teach her how to make money using her gift"
"And what happened to your own gift?" Mom asked and Tasha laughed nervously. "Not everyone was created with the golden touch. I had contacts and with Sharon's amazing talent i was able to show he the way" she answered. 
"Sounds inspiring" mom answered and Tasha dipped a fork into the salad on her plate. 
"Thank you Ma but what's inspiring is hiw your husband is able to look so young even at his age. I learnt you're going to 55." She smiled at Dad. 
"Yes dear"
After we had lunch, mom and dad requested my attention and i walked into the room clasping my hands.
"Before you guys get angry, i want you both to know that i didn't mean to leave out the tiny information about Tasha staying here"
"Little?" Dad asked and i groaned.
"I'm really sorry.. She just assumed she'll be staying after i told her we had eight rooms"
"Next time, you let us know."
"I will. Um... There's something i must have also left out another thing from our discussion"
"What?" Mom asked and i faked a chuckle.
"She's faking her chuckle Darling, she's faking it. Should we be worried?" Then i scoffed, "I'm not faking it"
"Now she's denying it, i think we should be scared oh"
"My thoughts exactly" mom answered and i opened my mouth to speak. 
"Maybe one Oyinbo guy has knocked her up and she's pregnant" Dad guessed and I cleared my throat, "Hello! I'm here and I can hear you loudly. Some Oyinbo guy didn't knock me up, no I'm not pregnant!" I answered "I'm getting married" I answered.
"Isn't that weird? Aren't you supposed to be engaged first, please remind me this procedures cause I might be too old to understand. Aren't I suppose to know the guy"
"That's the stereotype relationship, his name is Felix, he's 29 years old and he's a model" "Model? Wait so that's a job now"
"That has been a job since the eighties and seventies. Do you have a problem with that?" I asked and Mom raised her fingers up and dad kept quiet. 
"How long have you known him?" "A year now" I answered, "When did he proposed?" She asked and I looked down. 
"Two weeks ago"
"And you deemed it fit to tell us now." Dad snapped and I opened up his mouth to talk but he Interrupted me.  "First you didn't inform us about Tasha and now you've been engaged two weeks ago. Wow Sharon Savage is this what being an adult means to you?" He asked and I shook my head.
"Im sorry. I wanted to tell you both at the right time" I answered and Mom and dad went quiet and I wondered why, I wanted them to say anything but they didn't. 
"Say something"
"Like what?" Dad asked, "Anything" "Tomorrow's Feso's reunion, i might need to think of this" he answered and I nodded leaving the room into my room.

David's POV
After Sharon left I rolled my eyes. For a moment, I regretted flying her abroad. "Are you sure that's my Sharon?" I asked and Erika nodded. 
"Are you really sure we didn't make a mistake sending her abroad. First she made a decision not to come back to Nigeria without our consent, she refused returning Ade's calls. She invites a stranger home without telling us and now she's engaged."
"It could have been worse, whsy if she became a lesbian"
"I would have preferred that" I answered and she moved to my back massaging it. "What is she feeling like? An adult that can make her decision herself?"
"She's actually an adult and she has every right to make her decision herself" Erika answered, "Be on my side here"
"I'm on no one's side darling"
"I feel like my baby has changed. Ade will be very disappointed. I called him to yesterday and he said he'll be coming" 
"That'll be really awkward, how will you break the news to him?" Erika asked and I scoffed. "Who will break the news to him?" I asked. 
"You"
"Why?"
"Because someone has to tell him, it'll be better if he stays back. It's going to hurt his feelings" "And it won't hurt my feelings when I break the bad news to him. Why don't you tell him"
"I can't break that news to him! It'll be crush him"
"So convenient, now I'm the bearer of bad news Shea?" "You're a man" "I renounce my masculinity for today, feel free to take it" I answered and she chuckled. 
"I pity Ade, worse, he'll feel like we were in on this and we planned it to make him look pathetic" she answered and I felt more guilty.
"You're not helping" I retorted and she laughed.
"Did you realize Sharon's friend was flirting with you?" She asked and we both laughed. "At least someone still agrees that I'm handsome enough" i answered and she kissed me on the lips. 
"I still think you're handsome, you're the best thing that has ever happened to me" she answered and I smiled. 
When I saw Ade walk you to me, I felt guilty instantly. I didn't know how to let him know Sharon was inviting her fiance.
When I saw Tuni leave followed by Ade, I began to gaze at my daughter in doubt. Perhaps, the real Sharon is still in America and they just sent me her doppleganger.

Tuni's POV
I wore a trousers to Bible study and a usher at the front stretched out wrapper to me. "I don't understand"
"Cloth yourself" she answered and I scoffed. 
"I don't understand, because of what? Because I'm naked? Madam don't even make me angry. I came here for Bible study, I came here to see Pastor Ay so I'll advise you to mind your stupid usher business and let me go in there"
"Go in where? Madam it's against the church doctrine"
"What useless doctrine? Let me in"
"Madam, just like the gates of heaven, this door is everlastingly close to you.  You're not entering" she argued. 
"You you want me to wrap this stinking wrapper across my waist" "Tuni!" Bode called out to me and I smiled. "Thank God! Someone I know"
"What's going on here and what are you doing here?"
"I came her for Bible study in my trousers and this rude lady here doesn't want to get in unless i tie this wrapper around my waist." I raised the wrapper up.
"The church doesn't allow trousers"
 "I don't know what the wrapper has cleaned, it looks ugly and it smells funny" I commented and she raised a pink linen up. 
"Pick one" she asked and I chose the pink the material.

"I hear you Sir" a guy rose up close to me busting in tongues. I found it unnecessary.
After service, I waited at a corner for AY he seemed so busy with some members. Just when I rose up to leave, I heard someone call out "Sister" then I turned to him.
"I waited for you"
"I'm sorry about that, I had youth meeting and sister Ife..." She pointed at the bitchy lady from the church.
"Let me not go into details"
"Is she your girlfriend?" I glanced at Sister Ife and he laughed, sounded almost like a scoff.
"She's not my girlfriend, she's just a church member" he answered then her laughed again. 
"Why would you think that?" 
"I'm sorry, I was just curious."
"How was Bible study?" He asked and i nodded. "It was soul lifting, my favorite part was were you mocked the crap out of me"
"I would never mock you" he looked so serious then he laughed. 
"It was just an example but I was diplomatic about it, I made your mistake seem normal" he answered and I scoffed.
"It wasn't a mistake it was Intentional"
"Don't lie in the house of God Sister" he said and I laughed. "It was..." I paused. "I forgot! I haven't been In Bible study it Bible anything in years" 
"Seriously?"
"Yeah, I'm a partial Christian but I'm willing to give my life to you" I bit my lips ans he nodded. "I believe what you meant was God, give your life to God"
"Yeah that too" I answered and he smiled. 
"You said we'll get time to talk after Bible study. I was wondering if..." I noticed Sister Ife staring at us so I placed my hands on his chest. "I was wondering if you'll be free tonight for dinner. Bill's on me"
"Sounds fine but I'm have a lot on my plate"
"Are you always busy?" I asked and he laughed. "You're not the first to ask me that but, I'm doing the work of the father"
"Even God rested on the sixth day"
"It's not six"
"Tenth?"
"How many days of creation are there?"
"I failed CRS, don't ask me" I asked and he laughed. "Seventh day, God rested on the seventh day"
"Thanks for the lecture Pastor so when can we meet up?" I asked and he laughed. "Tomorrow's counseling, I counsel youths"
I shut my eyes, I had a shoot. "How about on Friday"
"There's this Three days Grace convention in Ile-Ife and I'm sorry, I'm the guest minister" "It's okay, maybe next week."

"Maybe" he answered.
"I have to go. Good night, i didn't get your name"
"Tuniola, but I prefer Tuni"
"Sister Tuni"
"Can you not add the sister?"
"In the household of faith, it's only courteous to use those terms" he answered and I smiled. 
"Good night AY"
"Brother or Pastor AY"
"Don't hold your breath" I answered and he laughed shaking his head. 

I walked Into the house and mom gazed at me suspiciously, "Where were you?" She asked and I shrugged. "No where important, I went to church"
"Church?" She asked and I nodded. 
"Your haven't gone to a church in years and I doubt if you still remember how to spell the word church" mom teased and I heard dad laugh from the study room.
"Well whose fault is it? If you had taken me to church, maybe I wouldn't have embarrassed myself in front the whole house that in the presence of God that there is everlasting life" I answered and mom laughed. 
"You're a shame, I should disown you" she joked and I laughed. 
"I was embarrassed in a church, but there's this guy I'm trying to get. He's a real hottie and he claims to be a Pastor. Pastor kor, Pastor ni and I'm going to test my theory on Pastors and he's going to fail"
"Tuni!" Dad exclaimed, it sounded like a warning tone. 
"Don't you think it's high time you bring a man home and stop sleeping around?" He asked and I rolled my eyes. 
"I'm not sleeping around, I'm just testing the product to see how well they last. I don't want a ten minutes products, they're hard to maintain. I don't want to start looking out to may new products. I would love a good and stable product" 

On Friday, Sharon stopped by almost in the evening, she didn't seem to happy. I was scared of how it would feel like between us but it we clicked like we used to she even spent the night at the house.
The next day, we set off to Feso Odogwu's reunion when I found out Sharon was engaged. I got angry and I left in anger.
Sharon entered into my room later In the evening, she wore pyjamas and she brought bed sheets. Just like old times, she looked so young. 
"What's all these?" She asked and I laughed. 
"My jammies, we're having a sleepover" 
"I don't recall inviting you for anything" 
"Well I invited myself" 
"Sharon, I don't want to speak to you. I'm angry"
"Mom is angry, Dad is too and Ade, I really can't have my best friend in the world angry at me too" "I'm not so sure about that title"
"Tuni we might have been million miles apart but you're still my best friend. I never had friends over there except Tasha"
"That's because you're horrible at making friends!"
"I accept it." I answered and we laughed. "Tuni I'm sorry for not telling you, I didn't exactly forget but I was looking for the right time. The right moment. I was scared what you'll think because of Ade and I"
"You guys were literally dating"
"We both promised to move on despite it and we were just kids and we were foolish." "And this Felix? He looks like an asshole"
"He's nice, you should get to know him"
"He's fine Sha" she answered and we both hugged then we sat down on the bed. "Are you planning to stay for good?" I asked and she stalled. "I get it, you're leaving after the reunion"
"Well I have an interview on Good morning Nigeria" "Was that what brought you to Lagos?" I asked and she stalled. "Not exactly. Tuni I missed you, I missed my siblings, I miss mom, dad and i missed..." She hesitated and I scoffed. 
"Ade" I guessed and she shrugged. 
"I stopped calling because I didn't want to keep suffering cause that was what we were doing and it wasn't healthy for me. I was so close to letting it all go, stopping halfway because of him.

Read " Dysfunctional " by the same author ( Essien Eno )

. I had to move on" she cried and I hugged her. 
"I'm sorry"
"Forget about my life, let's talk about yours. How has your life been?"
"Same old, I'm trying to act my way to the top"
"Any guy in your life?" She asked and I laughed. It wasn't our first time talking about this on video chat but she kept on asking anyways. 
"Would you follow me to church tomorrow? There's this Pastor guy I'm trying to pin down. You know all these Pastor bullshit, the guy is already into me. I'm going to make him fall and I'll break him then I'll leave him. I don't want to date a Pastor. I just want to sex him"
"Why? Is there any point?"
"Cause he's hot and fuckable. I mean he's really hot and judging from the tools in his trousers he should five inches or so" I bit my lower lip and Sharon laughed throwing a pillow at me.
"You haven't changed a bit!"
Sharon tagged along with me and together we went to the Church but he wasn't present. I was so disappointed after service.
 "You said he went for a convention right? Maybe he's not yet back" 
"Three days convention, he should have been back. This is a waste of trip" "The preaching was okay sha" 
"That Pastor hates me! Did you see the way he was looking at me all through the service? I felt like I was the only sinner there"
"Well I don't blame him, you're not wearing the most decent dress, maybe you should get new and moderate length dresses for church. Start with that"
"Abi?" I gave it a thought. 
"That should work"