Life Of Jiji

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©2021 Tena Ifiemi

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              | Damian Briggs |

This Ejiro girl had to be some kind of undercover fairy with magical powers because how she unconsciously keeps me going after her, I don't even understand. I've tried to recall if I've ever felt this way about anybody before now but it's not even possible. I can't watch kissing scenes in movies anymore without my nerves going haywire.

I'm convinced I've gone mad when I rush into the bathroom after viewing Reya's status. It was a selfie she took inside a car and both her and Ejiro were in view, although Ejiro probably didn't even know the picture was being taken. She was looking out the window and most likely lost in her own world as usual.

Who is going to be in spar today!!??

That had been the caption and I didn't need an explanation to make my decision. I had to see Ejiro and I knew where she would be today. The problem was, I'd been shit to her lately and I don't know if she would want to see me but then, if I let today slip out my fingers (now that I knew where she was), I was really going to go mad.

Getting my ass to Spar had been easy, but finding Ejiro in the gigantic mall, (with the crowd that was way more than usual due to the season) I didn't think that through. I scratched the back of my head as I looked around again to no avail.

Then I had an idea.

"Yes..." I stressed, "That's exactly what I'm saying."

"Sorry, say it again." She said and I felt my temple start to pulse.

"Khadijah, you're going to make me explode."

She laughed, "I'm not the one stalking the love of my life."

To my horror, that made me blush, "Look, all you have to do is call her, okay? Call her and ask her were she is."

"She'll say she's at the mall, how does that help?"

"Stop making this sound harder than it is, you girls love gist. When she says she's at the mall, ask her something like, 'so what are you buying right now?' It's that easy Khadijah and you know it!"

"You're right, I do." She said and I could almost hear her evil smile.

"You're evil." I say.

"Are we going to negotiate what you owe me, if I help you."

I sighed, "We'll do that when you tell me where she is."

So now, here I was, watching her from where I stood, I don't recall her having a baby sibling and her mom didn't look pregnant the last time I saw her but she stood, holding a pram by the handles. She looked around like she was waiting for someone and when she ducked her head to look inside the pram I finally cajoled myself to walk over.

I was standing there when she came back up and when she saw me she was obviously very surprised because she took a step back and might've fallen if I didn't immediately reach for her. "Ejiro."

She stared at me for seconds and what felt like minutes. I couldn't decipher the emotions her face held but I held her stare. This girl was so fucking beautiful and although it was hot that she wasn't easy to win over, I was sooner going to die in anticipation. I was so distracted, I didn't see when her eyes left mine. It was when she tried to maneuver herself and the pram around me that I snapped myself back to reality and blocked her way.

"Ejiro, hey, I didn't expect to see you here." I lied. I was very nervous but I hoped it didn't show.

"Likewise." She said and I laughed uncomfortably even as the ice in her words made me shiver.

"Stop sounding so formal." I begged but I must have sounded different from what I had intended because she looked away from me,

"Don't tell me what to do."

I sighed at loss of what to do since she obviously didn't want to talk to me but I didn't want to give up, "Ejiro... I wasn't telling you any... Please talk to me." I begged, not knowing what else to say.

"Damian please..." She says and I saw the sadness in her eyes. Because of me? Trust me, I felt bad for not replying her messages (which I had seen before she deleted them) and for not answering or returning her calls but things had been terrible for me.

This shouldn't be an excuse though, since she didn't know about how my mom almost died last week and it wasn't her fault either. It had been me who had called and probably caused her worry and it had been my brother who called her and said a lot of mean stuff.

I sighed and decided to try again but I was rudely cut off halfway through saying her name.

"It's obvious she doesn't want to speak to you." The uninvited stranger says and I vex

"And who the hell are you!?" I demand before it occurred to me that Ejiro knew him, "Who is he?" I asked her, praying for self control as well as hoping this wasn't another Richard.

Maybe she didn't want to be with me because there was always another guy in the picture!

She might have not realized but her eyebrows drew and she frowned in a way that told me that she wanted to defend herself but instead, she stood taller and said, "It's none of your business."

I sucked in a breath and ran my hands through my hair. When did she get so stubborn, maybe it was that guy. That guy! How long had she even known him? I looked up again and I must have looked really threatening because Ejiro flinched and hugged herself. If I wasn't mistaken, there where even goosebumps forming on her arms.

Stupid! I yelled at myself. This isn't about you Damian, you refused to be there after all, you caused this!

"Please Ejiro, we need to talk." I tried again. I didn't think she'd agree even though I decided to try so when she did, I was pleasantly surprised.

So much happened today and even now that I sit down and recount it in my head, I can feel everything. Probably why I'm randomly smiling right now and why a few seconds ago, my forehead was all wrinkled up as I gave myself a headache thinking about the fact that something was definitely up with Ejiro.

I know she didn't say anything like that, and that there's no public knowledge of anything but I could swear on my life that that girl was hiding something big. Something that she would like to take to the grave. Something that was easily triggered and with the way she cried today, it was something that really hurt. I sighed as I started to feel the beginning of another migraine.

Ejiro is very careful with whatever this is but I'm not stupid, I've noticed... A lot of stuff. I hate to pry into people's private life, but this is Ejiro. It bothers me.

My phone vibrated on the table and I smiled as I glanced at the screen.

Yeah, I'm up. I texted back. Why are you still up?

It's just 10 Damian. Y wld I be asleep? Besides, I'm feeding baby Grace. I don't think I hve ever fed sum1s child b4!!!

I could literally hear the excitement in her text. My unrealistic thoughts made me laugh as I imagined her squealing and doing a very awkward dance that will involve a lot of arm movement.

Wait.

Who is baby Grace? I typed quickly realizing that I never asked her about the baby I saw her with that day.

Muna's baby sister. I'm surprised he's even letting me hold her.

She types, inserting a cute, 'gushing' emoji.

Who is Muna??

I saw that she was recording a voice note so I waited till she finished.

"You met Muna the other day na! And I'm pretty sure you saw me with Gracie. Why are acting like you don't know?"

I bit my lip. Yeah, so why are they in your house? I typed, hitting send immediately. She took a while answering and it seemed like she had gone offline.

Of all times, now!? All this tension had to be bad for my health.

I got up from my chair and walked around the room aimlessly when I heard someone scream my name.

Mom? Oh no!

I ran out the room and went into hers to find out what the problem was only to find her laying on her bed and laughing as she clutched her stomach.

"What happened?" I asked narrowing my eyes at her. Didn't she just sound like she was in pain?

"This boy in this film reminds me of you." She laughed as she pointed at the television.

"Is that really why you screamed my name?" I whined, "I thought—"

"I didn't scream and you better not complete that statement." She told him sternly. "I'm not a baby, you know."

"I know but—"

"And for the 100th time son, nothing is going to happen, I promise."

I wanted to protest and say that that was what she always said and still ended up in the hospital last week. It was the most horrifying day of my life and I told myself that if she died I was going with her. These days when I thought of every single time I had taken my mom for granted in the past, it felt as though my guilt was about to choke me.

Let this cup just pass over and I promise... I promise...

"Come and sit beside me, come." My mom beckoned to me and I obeyed. "Oya gist me na, where did you go today?"

I turned to her, confused and surprised by her abrupt change of topic and then to my absolute dismay, I blushed.

"Eh ehn." Mom teased laughing. "What is that on your face?"

"Mummy, please stop." I begged and my subconscious mocked me for sounding like Ejiro.

"Gist me na. Why are you behaving like one small girl?" She laughed and I frowned at her. "Oya sorry, It's just that your brother told me that there is one girl around you that he doesn't trust at all. Is that who you went to see?"

My jaw hardened as I tried my best not to flare up. "My so called brother is very crazy to even think he has the right to say that." I said in the calmest voice I could muster as I stood up.

"Damian please don't use such words."

"Mummy..."

"And it's not a bad thing to like a girl but it's bad once you forget your boundaries. If you get anybody's daughter pregnant..."

"Mummy, can you not!?"

She didn't even flinch, "If you get anybody's daughter pregnant, you'll follow her and leave school. You people will fry akara together and feed your child."

I bit my lip and hated myself for wanting to laugh. Mom took one look at my face and exploded and it took her own laugh to make me laugh.

"Her parents will take care of us if you won't." I said between laughs, "And why Akara of all things?"

She shrugged, "Would you rather sell bole? And who told you her parents won't flog the daylight out of you both?"

"Don't know about her dad but I've met her mother, she's nice." I said, not realizing how much info I was giving off.

Mum raised her eyebrows up to her forehead, "So only me was absent for my son's introduction!?"

I flicked her arm, "You're not funny." I said even as I chuckled.

I ended up persuading her to turn off the Tv after a while and she grumbled about how I always treat her like a child. Then she held my hands and made me pray with her. I was not a very strong Christian but anytime she mentioned something about her health in the prayer, my 'Amen' got louder.

When I left her room it was past eleven. I went to check on my little brother and found him sleeping with a movie that he was probably watching still on on his laptop. After shutting it down, I went ahead to switch off the light and as I went to my own room, I wondered if Ejiro had already gone to bed.

Damian, r u jealous??? (＾▽＾)

Muna is my cousin oh!!

Hv u already gone 2 bed?

I blew out my cheeks as they burned in embarrassment. He was her cousin? I laughed and sighed in relief whilst spinning in my swivel chair.

Are you there? I typed and hit send even though I could see that her last seen was at 10:59pm. I only hoped that maybe she was connected to internet and with her phone so that she'll see the message pop up.

When she didn't reply after 5 minutes, I decided that she was asleep but hearing that the Moon guy was her cousin was enough to make me sleep well and dream sweet dreams.

•••

                      | Ejiro |

After feeding Gracie pap, I played with her for a couple of minutes before Muna came to take her from me. He was still being very hostile and I decided to just leave him be. He was starting to be more open about letting other people play with Gracie...other people being me and mom.

Reya didn't even look like someone that likes being around babies. And besides, it's either she was on the phone with Mitchel or out with her friends. I wonder why she went out so much, the process to leave my house was just too extra. If my mom or dad couldn't take you, they'll book Bolt.

After booking the bolt, mom will speak to the driver in person and ask about the person's entire history just to see how responsible he/she is. Then she'll give the person a long talk about child safety being the most unemphasized topic in the country. And then, like you're joining a cult, she'll make you pledge to make sure no harm comes to her child. She ends by slipping some 1000 naira notes into the driver's hands with a smile and a wink.

Did I mention that she'll pay for this same driver that she has talked to to take you everywhere you need to go that day? This was just to avoid you having to book another Bolt ride with a driver she hasn't met. Once, Reya did it and mom had yelled at her so much she actually cried. There was this driver that turned to us after we had driven out of our gate with a very confused look as he asked, 'Come, have they kidnapped any of you before?'

Long story short; mom was very safety conscious.

I stood up and my body automatically stretched itself. It was so extensive that I thought I was growing. Taking Gracie's bowl to the kitchen to wash it, I was surprised when I saw mom there with a mixer in her hand.

"Didn't expect to see you here." I said, voicing my thoughts.

"Oh, J-baby, are you done with Gracie?" She asked and I nodded scrunching my nose at what she called me.

I have the highest amount of nicknames in this family; mom literally manufactures new ones everyday.

"Gracie is such a sweetheart." Mom sighed. "I know she's adopted but I swear sometimes I can see Nnenna in her."

I gaped at her because one; I didn't know Gracie was adopted, two; I am very shocked that Gracie was adopted.

"Are you serious?" I asked my mom.

"Yeah, I don't know she reminds me of her sometimes."

"No, that she's adopted." I know I sound like I'm making this a big deal but I promise, I'm just surprised; maybe the resemblance I've been seeing between Gracie and Muna is just their skin color.

"Yeah." Mom sighed, "Nnenna was so happy about the baby. She had been looking into adoption for a while."

"Oh."

Then she went on to tell me how Gracie's birth mom was a young girl who died during her baby's birth. She didn't have enough energy to push. The girl had initially wanted to give the baby up for adoption because she had no means of taking care of her and she also wasn't emotionally ready for a child. Aunty Nnenna had actually met her and was even at the hospital when Gracie was born. When the news came in that she didn't make it, Aunty Nnenna had cried. Mom also cried at a point as she talked about it. Gracie wasn't even up to a year old and she'd already lost two moms.

"She was just 15! Honestly, rapists should be given a death sentence. That girl wanted to be a Lawyer and she had such a bright future ahead of her...scholarship to Stamford and all. How does someone's conscience even let them... Jiji are you okay?"

I gripped the counter as I begged my body not to do what I felt it was about to do.

1, 2, 3, 4, 5... 1, 2, 3, 4, 5... 1, 2, 3, 4, 5...

Mom held my arm, "Do you want to sleep on the floor? If you want to sleep you can go o!" She said and I shook my head and took the dirty utensils to the sink.

"I'm so exited for Christmas." Mom started to talk again. It was as if she wouldn't be able to breathe if the place is quiet I thought with a smile as I squeezed soap unto the sponge. "Your Aunty Brenda is coming as well as Mena. Your cousins are also going to be here, although I know you're going to lock yourself up in your room as usual." She nudged me and I shook my head, chuckling a bit.

She knew me so well.

After I had finished tidying the kitchen, mom kissed my forehead and shooed me off to bed. This time I was actually sleepy so I didn't even protest. The cake was in the oven so she set the timer and went to sit in the parlor.

That night I dreamt that I was nine again but it wasn't that regular nightmare. I was in the hospital and doctors and nurses surrounded me.

"Push" someone yelled followed by a very high pitched scream I realized was mine.

•••

My babies!😌

How are you? For those of you that have been waiting for this update, I hope I have managed to appease you. Can I now sleep well?

So... That long-ass Damian pov huh? So our boy is a mummy's boy. Even I didn't realize we were meeting Damian's mom so soon!!! What did you think of the mother of my crush though?? (You must reply this)

Also, doesn't Jiji text in the most annoying way ever?? Our boy is just too whipped to care.

I'm not very satisfied with this chapter and I don't even know if it's properly edited but I hope it sufficed.

Did you know that when you tap on the star at the bottom of the screen, a Christmas surprise appears?(⊙_☉)

No surprise? I'm sorry but please don't remove the vote <3

See you in the next chapter!

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