Miss Olowe 3

Welcome to Limitless! 

———————

Sku tum pum p… I watched in horror as my sick gen went off and started to emit so much fume. Ah, aye o! This thing has succeeded in embarrassing me. Kunle instinctively clasped his hand on mine and pulled me away from the choking smell of the fume. 

“Oh my days. Did I do something wrong? Was the fuel gauge on?” Kunle asked, with genuine concern in his voice.

I wanted to be serious for once but I burst out in laughter and looked at him unbelievably, “Yes, it was on. But, take a look at this gen. Does it look okay?” Ah! Gigabyte! This rascal has scammed me again. My hard earned 10k. Hm!

“Tanwa, what happened?” Came my sister’s voice, “Eh, wait, what’s this? Why are you using this type of gen?”

She stared at me in disbelief. I tried to suppress my giggle but I started laughing immediately I looked at Kunle’s face. This guy has a very contagious smile. The kind that would make you burst into laughter immediately if you’re trying to be serious. I turned to my sister.

“Well. I cut my expenses so I couldn’t afford a bigger one”, I said. 

“You cut your expenses?” She said, widening her eyes and pointing at me. “You, Tanwa Olowe, the most lavish person in the Olowe family?” 

“Huh. Sister Titi. It’s not that bad. Moreover, that’s the exact point of trying to cut my expenses”. I tucked one of my box braids behind my ear and stared down at my Gucci wristwatch. Must she even talk like that in front of Kunle. 

“Listen, I-“ my sister began. 

A heavy thud on the apartment’s gate cut her off. Whoever it was probably came for my neighbor who doubled as my landlord because I wasn’t expecting any visitor. Why were they knocking so heavily? I went to the gate to ask who it was. A male voice came saying they wanted to see my neighbor. Then, I made the worst decision ever, I opened the gate. 

I screamed as I got shoved to the floor by a bulky man with double tribal marks on each side of his cheek. He had two other men in tow, one with a cutlass, the other with a hunter’s gun. 

I scrambled to get up and started shouting to raise alarm. I could hear my heart beat loudly in my ears as the one with a gun started walking towards me, “Tí oò bá gbénu e sóùn, màá fó etí e danù”- If you don’t shut your trap, I will slap your face so hard, you will end in a coma- he bellowed with a hint of the Ekiti dialect. 

I stared him in the eye and watched him walk away. His eyes were so full of rage and hate. Plus his breath reeked of palm wine. He is definitely a native. All of them are probably natives. What do they want?

They started walking towards sister Titi and Kunle. 

“Ahah. Kunle Onalade, there you are”, the leader said. 

“What do you want?” Kunle said with spite in his voice. Wait, he definitely knows them. 

The leader moved closer and gave him a very heavy slap that made him stagger. My sister helped steady him and seemed so confused.

“O ma baje o”- You are so spoilt- the leader said. “So, our grandfather said you should come and take over the business but you have two heads right?”

“What business? You mean to be an Ifa priest? Ohh. Did baba send you? Or you just decided to bring your overzealous selves to harass me in another person’s house”, Kunle replied with mockery in his voice. 

“Ori e o pe, ode.”- Your head is not correct, fool- the one with a cutlass said. “We just came to give you a final warning. Either you come take over the business or you go meet our forefathers where they are”.

“Nibo? Eyin ati tani?”- Where? You and who?- Kunle’s sister roared as she came out. “There is nothing you can do. You lots are very very stupid for following us to this place. I’m sure baba did not send you to come here. He already agreed to leave Kunle alone. If you want the business, then tell him”. 

“Eh? Aunty Lara. What are you doing here? Ah. Maami. We didn’t know you were here o. We just said we should come and scare Kunle small. We don’t mean it like that”, the leader said. 

“You are sick. Eyin agbaya oshi”-  Foolish elders- “Get out of this place before I call my security team here!” Aunty Lara said.

I watched as they turned and rushed out of the gate. These people are insane. 

Aunty Lara moved towards him, consoled him, telling him not to be angry. 

I didn’t notice I was still sitting on the floor till she came to help me up. “We are so sorry things turned out this way Tanwa. We just wanted to check up on you but those fools ended up messing things up. I sincerely apologize” 

“No worries. You don’t have to feel bad about it”, I said. I guess I’m taking leave off work for the next two days because my butt was so sore that I flinched when I touched it. 

Sister Titi hugged me goodbye and left with aunty Lara. 

Kunle walked towards me. “Hey”, he tilted my chin up gently when I started looking away. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to bring you into this family mess. I can book an appointment with a doctor for you if you want” he said with pain in his voice. I felt so sorry he had to go through this. 

“No no. It’s no problem. I can do that myself. Thank you. You should get your face checked too” I replied. 

He smiled but winced when he noticed the effect it was having on his cheeks. “See you later Tanwa”. 

I watched his broad back as he swaggered out of my apartment’s gate. 

A long ride?

This seems like it is just the beginning. What am I getting myself into?

————————

THE END.