Twelve | Bipolar?

Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength while loving someone deeply gives you courage— Lao Tzu

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Benjamin leaned on his car as he waited for his cousin's arrival, he wasn't a fan of waiting but he would be patient— just this once. His cousin was probably the reason they invented the word 'African Timers'. The brat was late for everything, she had even arrived a month later than her supposed birth date.

The piercing glare from the headlamps from a car jerked him out of his soliloquy, the brat had arrived.
He watched as the car came to an abrupt stop, the headlamps were turned off and two figures emerged from the opposite doors of the car— from one side, a tall man with a muscular build, he made himself comfortable by leaning on the car while the contraption groaned under his weight. Ben couldn't see his face but he definitely did not know him and didn't want to either.

She came out from the driver's side and sashayed towards him almost too quickly. As she drew closer to his car Benjamin could see her lovely figure, the skinny jeans hugging her hips and the tight tank top moulding her perfectly shaped breasts. If she wasn't his cousin he would have dated her twice, he mused.

"You're late," he stated when she was standing in front of him. She ignored him, her heart shaped face showed her annoynance as she peered into the car.

"Where is she?" she asked coldy trying to mask the nervousness in her voice but Benjamin knew her too well.
"Did you drug her or put her in the boot or hurt her? I warned you Benny whatever you do don't hurt—"

"She left," he cut short her rambling as it was getting on his nerves. Benjamin knew she was going to blow in about five seconds.
One, two—

"What!" Her eyes widened with disbelief as she tried to process the information.
A new record, Benjamin mused.

"That's impossible! You sent me a text, you called me and then this! You are so unbelievable Benny."

Benjamin cringed, he hated that nickname. He had once loved it but one Christmas when he found out it was the name of a condiment his mother had put in her delicious Jollof rice he had begun to hate the sound of it but his cousin failed to acknowledge that he wasn't too excited on being called the name of a chicken stock.

"I sent you a text an hour ago—"

"Traffic Benny, it's the infamous rush hour for crying out loud!"

"Well that's good for you because she left with your boyfriend. Apparently he has been stalking our dear Kemi. The two are really close don't you think?" He asked with the aim of getting on her nerves.

She clicked her tongue trying to grab what he said. Benjamin shook his head as he thought of how unbelievable daft his cousin was.

"Who is my boy—," Her voice trailed as reality hit her. "Nnamdi?"

"Ding ding ding we have a winner," he announced his voice devoid of enthusiasm. It had been a really hectic day at work and now his cousin wanted him to play babysitter. It was just sheer luck that he had found Kemi at the bus stop, he had sent the brat a text and now she was blaming him for her tardiness.

"Did he recognize you?" she asked curiously.

He shrugged, "I don't think so."

"You should not have let her go," she announced flatly.

Ben smirked. "And why's that, Nnamdi was too keen on having her and who am I to object huh? I wonder where they are now you know, some motel or even better his bed—"
She cut him short by smacking her hand across his cheek twice swiping the obnoxious smirk off his face.

"Shut up!" she spat.

Benjamin swiped his cheek and glared at his cousin. "What the hell is wrong with you! Need I remind you that you aren't even paying me for this– this nonsense and besides what did you want to do with her huh?"

"I just wanted to warn her Benny!" she yelled.

"Don't call me that! And besides that man over there doesn't look like someone who likes to 'just warn' people," he snapped looking over her shoulders to the macho man leaning on her car.

She followed his gaze, "oh! That's my new bodyguard. Daddy thinks I need extra protection."

Benjamin laughed as she squeezed her face in disgust. Her father wasn't actually an honest man, he had beef with every businessman in Nigeria. The man swindled anyone that thought of doing business with him. His time was almost up, Ben thought.

Benjamin looked at her and his gaze softened. He sighed. "Why don't you just approach him, tell him how you feel. You know rekindle old flames, talk about old times—"

"You know that won't work!" she snapped impatiently.

"Why?" He asked then snapped his fingers, "oh! I know, it's because of you—"

"Watch you tongue before you lose it," she threatened him in a vile tone. Her tone softened as she pleaded with him. "Please Benny boo just this once pretty please, if it doesn't work I'll– I'll go to him I promise. I cross my heart." She made a show of crossing her heart over her white tank top.

Benjamin chuckled. He looked at her for some minutes then put up a serious face. He picked his words singly, "just this once brat and I'm never ever  doing your dirty work again."

                        💎💎💎💎

"You can take this street it will lead us back quicker," Kemi told Nnamdi.

He gave her an amused glance, "I know."

"Okay," she mumbled to herself as she leaned back on the soft fur covered leather seat. The car smelled of brand new leather, roses and Nnamdi's cologne. She flared her nostrils to get more of his masculine smell.

She still had the incident at the back of her mind, still wondering what that Benjamin— if that was his real name—had been up to. She shivered at the thought of what would have happened if Nnamdi hadn't come to that street.

"What of the friend you were going to—"

"I'll call to cancel," he interrupted without sparing her a glance.

Kemi huffed and kept silent folding her hands across her breasts, she was ever aware of the hunk of gorgeousness sitted close to her. Arrogant species.

The streets in G.R.A were interconnected, one street led to another. Kemi had been relieved to finally see houses that she was familiar with only for her spirit to dampen when she had noticed a road block in the middle of the street that led to hers. Nnamdi had suggested that they took the main road, they had no choice but to go back the way they came.

That meant spending more time in the car with him.

After what seemed like ages to Kemi, he finally swerved into the main road joining the horde of cars held up in traffic. When Kemi asked about the lack of commercial drivers Nnamdi told her that they were on strike protesting against the increase in the price of fuel, the few that were available were the ones who knew that nothing good would come out of the strike as usual.

Kemi watched as his slender fingers fiddled with the radio, checking for a reasonable radio station. He finally tuned in to Dream FM , the presenter was saying something about drug abuse. Nnamdi switched off the radio totally.

"Who wants to listen to a talk on drug abuse in traffic?" Nnamdi answered when Kemi gave him a questioning look.

She scoffed. "Tell me about it, I also thought the presenter's accent was fake. It was like if she was trying too hard to speak through her nostrils."

Nnamdi laughed at the look of disgust on Kemi's face. He liked that she wasn't ashamed of expressing herself.

"True," she continued. "My aunt went to Paris once. She came back a changed woman, you know always wearing sweaters and berets and she said her 'the' as 'zee'."

Nnamdi laughed, "seriously?"

"Yep, she would be like 'Keke dear get me zee lemonade from zee fridge si vous plait' and I would be like 'huh English please.'"

Nnamdi threw back his head and laughed, Kemi watched him with a smile on her face basking in euphoria that she made him laugh. "How long did she live there?"

"She spent three weeks for a vacation," she giggled.

Nnamdi chuckled, "it must have been fun living with her."

"No! Not at all. I did French in school and I can testify that most of the French she spoke was garbage. My dad had a good talk with her before she finally dropped the act."

Nnamdi nodded stifling a laugh.

They fell into uncomfortable silence again, well for Kemi it was unnerving. She watched as Nnamdi concentrated on the road as he tried to manoeuvre traffic. She debated on whether to ask him about his parents or not. I'd rather not, she thought. It was better to let sleeping dogs lie for now.

"You can drop me off here thank you," she suggested when they came to the beginning of her street.

"It's my car remember. I could decide to drop you off at your bedroom if I like."

Okay we're back to cocky and arrogant.

She was almost tempted to ask if he was suffering from schizophrenia or maybe he was bipolar.

Okay Kemi, too far.

She hissed and faced the window making it obvious that she was annoyed with him. "It's the big black gate by the right," she mumbled.

Nnamdi turned off the ignition and honked twice at Kemi's request. "I would have dropped you off in your bedroom but—" he purposely let his voice trail off his eyes shining mischievously under the yellow light of the car.

Kemi laughed and tried to no avail not to read any meaning to his words. "Thank you so much. I owe you."

Nnamdi smiled. She was so innocent.

"Who be dat? (Who is that?)" Ahmed yelled as he opened the smaller gate and approached the car.

He poked his head into Kemi's rolled down window, Kemi held her breath as the gateman reeked of tobacco and harsh soap. "Ah madam nah you and you bring oga come (oh ma'am it's you and you also came with a man)" Ahmed's eyes twinkled in amusement. "Oga welcome oh anything for the boys?"

"Ahmed just open the gate." Kemi was dying of embarrassment.

The short man frowned and grumbled as he made his way to the gate, "oga you go come inside house? Make I know whether I go open the big gate. (Will master come inside? Let me know if I should open the big gate)"

Kemi looked at Nnamdi as she played with her hand bag, "ermm... Will you join us for dinner?"
Nnamdi cocked his head to the side and studied her— his expression unreadable.

"Nevermind. Goodnight," she said as she stumbled out of the car.

"Goodnight Kemi."

"Oga goodnight oh, dream of madam. Ow..." Ahmed received a slap at the back of his head for his stupid statement.

"Goodnight Ahmed," he laughed at the witty gateman.

It took a lot of effort for Nnamdi not to look at her retreating figure.

🎤Hello from the other side— *voice cracks cough cough* 😲

Late update I know, please ayam sorry. 😊

Would do you think Curry I mean Benny was talking to?

Teddy: why are you asking us aren't you the author?😒

Did you enjoy this long... chapter. If yes comment and make that star pop! 🌟
Who is your favorite character so far? 🍑

Have a wonderful day chicken nuggets! 😆
Notify if you see typos and a hearty welcome to my new readers! 💙💙💙

Much love,
Sky_teddy✌