Of course Dinma's birthday went on well as beautiful as planned. We had a lot of fun and most importantly, was her very obvious happiness as was evident with her uncontrollably grinning from ear to ear. I was definitely convinced that she was pleased(we sure put in a lot of work cos it was almost impossible to please Dinma).
After all said and done, it was time for me to face Hossie. He's been calling, text and all but I just needed to ignore him for those moments (I didn't want anything to ruin my moments with Dinma on her birthday), so since we've come to the end of that segment, facing Hossie wasn't such a bad idea.
I picked up my phone, scrolling through it to see the particular text where he said I should let him know when I got his text (so let's just say I just got it, so that it will not be that am missing him, make i form small.....lemme not hear anything from your mouth ooo). So I just did a quick, simple and unemotional text, "Hi Hossie, I got your text."
Then I lay back and awaited his reply. In less than thirty seconds, his call came in but I didn't pick (no name, I cannot come and fall my hand na). He called two other times and I declined. When he realized that I wasn't going to pick up the call, he sent me a text message. I read, smiling to myself
"Hello Pearl, I've missed you so much, I really need to see you. Please can we meet at our usual place? It has grown cold without you".
When I got back to the house, I found it extremely difficult to live my normal life. I couldn't eat,couldn't sleep and didn't even know how to talk to my friends(it was that difficult for me). I felt so different from them and it was killing me faster than even the fact that I was pregnant.
We all sat there starring at each other as no one knew the right word for the moment.
"We have to find a way to contact my brother, Archie" Janet broke the silence (as she always does).
"Why?" Goodness asked.
"He's obviously the owner of the baby or isn't he?" Nonso inquired.
"Nonso that's a silly thing to say" May queried, "We all know the owner of the child is Archie" she continued, "And I think we need to pay him a visit" May noted with a tone of finality as she stormed onto the room(she doesn't always show sadness but this time, it was obvious that she was upset and it hurt me to see her that way)
"Come on Pearl, you need to freshen up" Dinma said as she gave me a hand of support to get on my feet.
Twenty minutes later,we were on our way to Archie's house. On getting there, the house was locked.
"Pearl,do you still have his number?" Nonso inquired.
"Not really, it was on that phone that was stolen" I recalled.
"Let me try the one I have" Janet suggested.
"Hello big bro" she called out a few seconds later.
"Yes am at your house" she answered.
"I'll wait for you" she concluded as she hung up the call.
"He's on his way back" she announced.
"OK" May answered as well all sat on the stone outside the house.
Sooner than we sat down, Archie got back. The shocked look on his face showed that he wasn't expecting to see us all(I guess he was expecting just Janet). He stood pouted to the spot just staring at all our faces,('what the hell is going on'), I could almost hear his thoughts.
"Bro, the key" Janet demanded(waking him up from his traumatized state).
"Are you going to invite us in or not" Dinma shot at him still staring even when the door was open.
"What's going on here?" Archie asked
'Oh, he finally found his voice' I thought.
"Can someone tell me what this is all about!?" He thundered.
"You really want to know?" Janet exploded. "Fine I'll tell you" she concluded as she threw the test results at his face and sat down angrily.
"What is the meaning of this?" He demanded "What has this gotten to do with me?" He asked.
"Really it has everything to do with you" May thundered.
At this time, Nonso stood up defensively and said, "Maybe you can't read, but it is written there that Pearl is pregnant and you beyond all reasonable doubt, are the father of that child she's carrying" she concluded.
"Me?" He stammered(looking as confused as his speech sounded) "Is that what she told you?" He tried to defend himself. "She left my house about six weeks ago and anything is possible...." He was saying when Goodness cut him short with a slap(which sounded like the sound of many waters) across his face. Then he went dead silent as his brain began to reboot slowly again.
Hmmmm. 'I couldn't continue being angry' I cautioned myself. I was missing Hossie already and it wasn't funny.
I got up took a quick shower and ran off to our "secret place". When I got there, Hossie was already there waiting for me. Immediately I saw him I felt like running to him and giving him the greatest hug he's ever felt. 'But that wasn't part of the plan' I said to myself (I needed to feign annoyance a little).
In all of this, I got no morale support from myself 'cos immediately I saw Hossie, all the protective walls of pride I built crumbled as I tan into his outstretched arms for a teddy bear hug('oh! how I've missed this guy' I thought).
"I've missed you so much Pearl" Hossie cried.
"This place has not been the same without you" he continued('how e go be the same' my pride supported).
"Please let's go back to the way it used to be" he pleaded.
Hmm mm mm......(let me not just rush this thing, make I do shakara small,after all I sabi sey this guy love me too much so no shaking)
So I just stood there looking at him as he stood pleadimg (make e beg small).
