The Odds Are Against Me - Episode 10

She entered the sitting room from the kitchen, and saw me sitting down. She tapped me by my elbow, and I looked up slowly. She smiled but I didn't smile back because I wasn't ready for her shenanigans.

"Any problem?", I asked.

"Really? Is that all you have to say to me?", Lola said.

"No, I'm sorry", I replied. She said she had finished cooking and would like me to join her in the dining table. I hesitated but was overwhelmed by the curiosity of tasting her food. The aroma emanating from the food was so pleasing. I followed her to the dining table. On the table was a big plate of egusi soup, which was thick in texture with different types of meats. She added vegetable to the egusi soup making it to look palatable and attractive. I kept wondering how she knew egusi was my favourite soup for her to prepare it. She opened another plate, that had eba in it. I kept staring at her, as she scooped the soup from a bigger round plate into a round ceramic plate. And then the nicely moulded big eba. She smiled and said I can start eating. I gave her an unpleasant smile. I took a mould of eba, dipped it into the egusi soup and swallowed it. The taste was out of this world

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. She added enough dried fish making it to have a unique taste. I didn't want to flatter her too quickly and continued eating as fast as possible. She noticed how I was rushing at the food; our eyes caught each other and she was smiling. After countless rumbles with the food, I wanted to take another mould, it dawned on me that I had finished the eba. She started laughing.

"You need more?", she asked.

"No, thank you", I said. Picked up a glass, poured water inside it and started drinking.

"Errm, I have more here, if you want?", she asked.

"I am okay. You can eat it yourself. I guess you haven't eaten since", I replied. The gentleman in me wanted to compliment her culinary skills but the love I have for Funmi overwhelmed me and I ignored her. I didn't want to make her to start feeling somehow or that she had gotten me. I stood up immediately.

"Thank you, you tried", I chirped in.

"Is that all you have to say to me", she said. "I saw how you enjoyed every bit of the food", she said while smiling sheepishly.

"What else? You tried", I said. I dipped my hand inside my pocket, brought out my wallet, opened it and counted five thousand naira which I handed over to her. She collected it and stared at me.

"What's this?", she asked.

"For the food you cooked for me. Or is it higher? Ten thousand naira?", I asked and wanted to open my wallet again.

"Stop!!", she shouted.

"Stop what?!", I asked angrily. She noticed that I wasn't having it all.

"I don't need your money. I need your love. That's all. I will admit that Funmi equally love you, but she can't perform wifely duty. That's why Raymond beat and cheated on her", she said. She tried to come close and pointed at her not to try it.

"Really", I said and shook my head. "I think I need a space", I said and waved at her, so she would go. She obeyed and left. She stared at me for few minutes before she locked the door.

"Girl bye!", I shouted and jammed the door, then bolted it. I picked up my phone lying on the table, and deleted her number. I didn't want to have anything to do with her ever again. After I'd deleted her number, I threw my phone on the sofa and it bounced up and then down. It started ringing.

Read " A Tale of Five Bandits " by the same author ( Obinna Tony )

. I picked it up and it was Mrs Awoyemi. I hope it's not another problem now, I said before I answered the call.

"Hey, dear. How are you?", she said.

"I'm fine", I said, after some seconds. I waited and tried not to make my tone obvious that I was angry.

"Why so much wait to reply me?", she asked. "This woman is clouded with wahala abi she is a witch ni?", I said in my mind.

"Nothing, Ma. I'm feeling somehow, but I'll be fine", she said.

"Yes, you'll be fine. I have a surprise for you tomorrow. You can take tomorrow off from work", she said, and hung the call. It dawned on me that tomorrow was my birthday. I shook my head. Is that the surprise Funmi also have for me? I said and smiled.