IMADE AND JAMAL

IMADE.

"Are you serious? He really did all that?" My mom asks a grinning Lola, who hasn't stopped gushing about Jamal since our mom woke up.

"Yes o mummy. I was even surprised because after how he denied knowing aunty Imade, I didn't think he would be kind enough to give up such huge amount of money. The thing that now pained me most was Sister Immy's reaction. You need to see the ungrateful look on her face." She blabs on and on, ignoring my death glare.

"Imade, is this true?" My mom turns to ask me directly but as expected, Lola doesn't even let me speak.

"Oya lie now! Lie that you did not rudely reject his offer to buy us food and even after he bought food that cost about thirty thousand, you still shenked the poor guy like he didn't just save our lives. Oya lie! Abi, the way you made him feel so uncomfortable and out of place that he had to leave. Oya go ahead and lie!" She attacked sharply and the urge to slap her immediately rose.

"Lolade, you better shut that pipe of yours before I descend on you mercilessly. Abi, ki ni gan? Are you possessed ni or just mental? Cause I don't even understand you at this point." I yell harshly at her and that seemed to reset her brain as her expression relaxes and she remained quiet.

"You both know I'm here, right? If you don't have respect for me, respect the fact that this is a hospital and that some patients are asleep. I did not raise animals o." My mom chimes in with an irritated look on her face.

"We're very sorry ma." Lola and I chorus apologetically.

"Much better. Now, tell me why you weren't comfortable around him Imade. Is it because he denied knowing you?" My mom questions calmly.

"Mummy, please don't mind Lola. Yes, I was slightly uncomfortable but it has nothing to do with what you're thinking. I, unlike my greedy sister here already felt ashamed and grateful that he paid your hospital bills and letting him do more was very embarrassing for me."

"I did not want to feel more indebted to him because not only did he pay your bills, he also offered me a full time job at his construction company that pays thrice my current salary. Please, tell me why I shouldn't feel uncomfortable." I explain to her and I could tell with the look on her face that she was surprised.

"Wait o, shebi, he's the same person that denied knowing you? Why is he being so kind? Abi, he's trying to get you or something?" She asks with a sly smile and I chuckle in embarrassment.

"No ma, it's nothing like that. He and I are not even friends sef and he doesn't want anything to do with me." I say to her and she furrows her brows.

"Doesn't want anything but is doing all this? Ahn ahn, that's not possible now." She replies and just when I'm about to clear her, Lola cuts me off.

"Mommy, I thought the same thing at first o but turns he has one werey girlfriend like this and Aunty yen mad gidi gan, won ti e normal rara." She tells her, earning a soft laugh from my mom. (That aunty is very mad, she's absolutely abnormal.)

"Kilode to so be?" She asks.

(Why did you say so?)

"She's a jealous freak ni o. Her body no dey stay one place. Afi gidigba gidigbo bi eni ton le." She replies her and now it was my turn to laugh.

(She's a restless person. Always too hyper like someone on the run.)

"Are you acquainted with her?" My mom asks me directly.

"She's my boss at work and she's the reason he decided to transfer me cause of how psychotic she is and the funny thing is, he's not dating her. She's probably just one of his goto girls." I tell her and she shakes her head as if she wasn't too surprised.

"These young girls and clinging on to men like their lives depend on it. It's actually very..." She was but was cut short when a nurse came walked in.

Nigerian nurses and their inability to be polite. She couldn't even knock.

"Sorry to disturb you but they're two men out there looking for you." She informs us.

"Two men? Did they drop their names?" I ask.

"Mr Jamal and Mr David. Should I let them in?" She asks.

"Yes, of course. Please, let them in." My mom quickly replies and deep down, I knew my mom and Lola were about to embarrass the hell out of me. "Okay ma." The nurse replies before walking out.

"Lola, better respect yourself when Jamal is here o." I warn Lola immediately but she keeps mute with a sly smile playing on her lips.

"Imade, be very polite o. I did not birth an ingrate." Mom suddenly warns and I struggled not to hiss at both of them.

"Mo to gbo ma." I drawl a reply boredly.

(I've heard ma.)

The door suddenly knocks and Lola doesn't even bother confirming before inviting them in and unsurprisingly, Jamal walks in with David and if I were being honest, he looked amazing. Normally, I only get to see him on official wears but for the first in years, I'm actually seeing him on shorts, paired with a white top that clung to his macho body tightly. He looks absolutely breathtaking.

As for David, he wore regular black joggers paired with a black T-Shirt that also clung to his body like an extra skin. Both men looked too good to be true honestly but if only Lola could be less obvious with her dancing eyes.

"Good afternoon ma." They both chorus, with David prostrating slightly whilst Jamal only bowed a little, an act I actually appreciated.

"Good afternoon young men. Please sit." My mom calmly replies and offers them a sit.

Unfortunately for me, Lola and I sat on opposite sides which left an extra space beside both of us and as expected, Jamal sits beside me whilst David takes a sit beside Lola.

"Uncle David, thanks for the other day." Lola suddenly speaks up, confusing everyone in the room including David himself.

"You're thanking me for what exactly?" He asks.

"For delivering my message to Uncle Jamal. It was very helpful, so I'm grateful." She replies and he nods in understanding before smiling a little.

"You're most welcome Lolade." He says with a small smile that showed off his deep well (Dimple).

"Jamal dear, how have you been all this while? You just travelled suddenly and refused to remember us again. Is that even fair?" Mom asks obviously joking but she did have a point.

"I'm very sorry about that ma. It's not

entirely my fault though. I was

actually in contact with Imade for a

while but after my parent's death,

things got pretty messy for me

lost contact with Imade." He explains and if I tell you that I'm shocked at the moment, it's an understatement.

"Your parents passed away? When? How? Where?" Mom questions quickly, sitting up to face Jamal properly.

"It's been about eight years now. They died in a plane crash." He replies, obviously not comfortable talking about it.

"Oh my dear, I'm so sorry. I really wasn't aware of this. It must have been very hard for you." She sympathises, gently holding on to his hand.

"It's fine ma, God knows best. How are you feeling now ma?" He switches the topic quickly and I almost chuckle at how confused my mom looked for the first three seconds.

"My dear, I'm getting better. At least, I'm alive thanks to you and no amount of thank you can compensate for what you did for me. May God always bless and protect my dear." Mom says.

"Amen ma, but there's no need to

thank me or feel you owe me gratitude ma. You're someone I've always respected a lot and I'm very happy to know you're doing better." He replies with a genuine smite that almost touched my heart but I refuse to be a fool twice

He could see me tomorrow and continue with his 'I don't care' attitude and I refuse to be hurt again.

"Eeyah, God will bless you dear." She thanks him again before turning to face David.

Ehn ehn, my dear, I'm sorry for not addressing you earlier o. How are you doing? I already heard your name is David." She says.

"Yes ma, David Kolawole." He replies politely, obviously unsure of what to say next.

"How long have you two being friends?" She asks, I frown. Is that question really necessary?

"I've known him since college ma." He replies plainly.

"Oh that's nice. What do you do for a living if I may ask?" She questions next and that was wren I knew I had to chime in.

"Mommy now! Why all this questions? Are you scrutinizing for a son in-law ni?" I ask with obvious irritation.

"Auntie, how is it peppering you? Did the young man complain? Abi, David, are you uncomfortable?" She defends and I had to hold back a long hiss.

"Mommy, ejo, o ti to. E ma fi ejo le won lo." Lola interferes quickly.

(Mommy, please, it's enough. Don't use too much talking to send them out.)

"You girls don't have to worry cause Daniel is not bothered at all." Jamal assures and I secretly pinch him to keep his mouth shut.

"Jamal, don't you have somewhere to be?" I ask, facing him directly and a soft, beautiful laugh escapes his lips and he keeps quiet for a while before eventually speaking up. "Daniel, I think we should take our leave now. Joshua is waiting for us at home." He says directly to Daniel who eagerly nods in agreement.

"You boys want to leave? Why now?

It's been very long since two good looking men like this graced my presence and both my shameless daughters have refused to bring anyone home for me to see but anyways, thank you very much for the visit. I'm very grateful o." She says to them and I immediately wished the ground could swallow me.

How embarrassing!

"No need to thank us ma. We actually ordered food for your room but the delivery is taking too long so I'm guessing, it will arrive after we leave." Jamal informs.

"Food? You didn't have to worry about that now. My girls can go home and cook something for me." Mom replies.

"No ma, they don't need to bother since they've already being through enough stress for the last couple of days. Lola, take this." He replies and hands Lola an ATM card. "You already know the pin so pat for the food and if it doesn't come, order another one." He instructs her and I'm dumbfounded.

"This isn't necessary though." I say to him but he ignores me.

"Keep the card till the next time I visit and don't worry, you can use it for whatever you may need, there's more than enough in it." He tells her and Lola's eyes immediately lit up.

"Thank you so much, Uncle Jamal." She squeals excitedly before rushing over to where he stood and hugging him briefly.

"You're welcome dear. Ma, we'll take our leave now. I'll be back sometime later in the week to see you." He says.

"No problem o, my dear. Take care of yourself and thank you again for this one. I don't even know what to say at this point." Mom replies with a gentle that showed she was just as dumbfounded as I was. "It was nice meeting you ma." David says and mom thanks them one last time before they both walk out of the room.

"Omo! Shopping ti ya!" Lolade squeals excitedly but neither mom nor I were clear-headed enough to even reply her. I was still surprised and confused and now my fragile heart is about to fall for him all over

again.

(Shopping time!)¶¶¶¶¶¶¶