Talk with Oma
Nora returned home, her mind reeling from what she had witnessed at Kelvin’s place. She couldn’t fathom whether to cry or not. Upon arriving home, she encountered her mother at the gate, fresh from the market.
Nora’s Mum: “Nne o, how are you?”
Nora: “Good evening, Mummy. I’m fine.”
She replied, helping her mother carry the bags from the market.
Nora’s Mum: “But are you just coming back?”
Nora: “Oh no, Mummy. I’ve been back for about an hour. I just stepped out to see a friend for a short while.”
Oluchi, Nora’s sister, chimed in: “Her boyfriend brought her home. Good evening, Mummy.”
Nora: “This girl! Which boyfriend?”
Oluchi : “Your fine boyfriend, of course.”
Nora’s Mum: “Ah, Nora, which boyfriend is she talking about?”
Oluchi: “Mummy, her boyfriend from that year.”
Nora: “Shut up, Ada. You talk too much.”
Nora’s Mum chuckled. “Please take these things to the kitchen. Let’s cook soup.”
Nora obliged, heading to the kitchen with the groceries.
Chike, Nora’s brother, greeted her: “Hey, big sister.”
Nora: “Ah, Chike, how are you? It seems like just yesterday you were much shorter.”
She hugged him tightly.
Chike: “We miss you. You hardly come around, and even when you do, you don’t stay long. You must really like school.”
Nora: “It’s not like that. Warri is boring, but that’s not the main reason. I’m almost done with my studies, and I need to focus on getting good grades to make you all proud.”
Chike teased: “Anyways, welcome home. I bet all those Benin boys are still chasing after you.”
Nora laughed. “Chike, please, let me focus on cooking. Come on, go do something else.”
Chike left the kitchen laughing.
Nora’s phone rang, and it was Ben calling. She ignored his calls until she had to switch off her phone to stop the incessant ringing.
After hours in the kitchen, Nora finished cooking and served the whole family. Her two brothers, studying at different universities, were not present at home.
They finished eating, and Nora’s mum praised her for saving her from cooking that day.
Nora’s Mum: “Nne, thank you. At least I won’t be entering the kitchen to cook until you leave.”
Nora: “Ah, Mummy, it’s time you start teaching Oluchi how to cook.”
Oluchi, Nora’s youngest sister, protested: “Please, I’m not up to that age.”
Nora’s mum laughed and retired to her room.
Later, Nora lay on her bed, pondering what she had seen at Kelvin’s house. She didn’t know how to tell her friend. She gazed at the ceiling until sleep overtook her.
Nora spent two weeks at home without seeing Kelvin or him visiting her. She accepted what had happened and decided to move on with her life. Returning to school, she kept the incident from her friend and avoided Ben, whom she didn’t like due to his physique.
One day, while home and studying for her final exams, Nora received a call from an unexpected person after three months.
Kelvin: “Hi, beautiful.”
Nora: “Wow, you finally remembered my number.”
Kelvin: “Come on, babe. I always remember you. I’ve been thinking about you, and I miss you so much.”
Nora: “Kelvin, spare me. I’m not interested.”
Kelvin: “Why so cold, babe? Don’t you miss your baby boy? Because I miss you so much.”
Nora: “Oh, really? Okay, then.”
Kelvin: “I don’t understand you, babe. Anyway, how are you?”
Nora: “Kelvin, I’m fine. Thank you. I have to go now. I’m preparing for my exams.”
Before Kelvin could say anything else, Nora ended the call. It seemed Nora had finally moved on from Kelvin.
As Nora sat in her room, deeply engrossed in her studies, the sound of the door creaking open pulled her attention away from her books. Clara entered the room, her expression a mix of concern and curiosity.
Clara: “Scholar, how are you now?”
Nora: “Abeg leave me, jor.”
Clara: “Haba, what’s wrong? When I left this morning for my exams, you were okay o. Who don make you vex?”
Nora sighed, her thoughts still lingering on the unexpected phone call from Kelvin and the surprise visit from Ben.
Nora: “You won’t believe who just called me after how many months.”
Clara’s eyebrows shot up in surprise.
Clara: “Who?”
Nora: “Kelvin.”
Clara: “Ah! What does that one want?”
Nora shook her head, frustration evident in her voice.
Nora: “Don’t know for him. Telling me he missed me and all that trash.”
Clara: “Imagine the goat.”
They both chuckled, trying to lighten the mood.
Clara: “But babe, you have refused to tell me what actually happened o. Ever since you came back from Warri. You just sideline him. The Nora I know can never do that to her Kelvin.”
Nora’s smile faded as she remembered the events that had transpired.
Nora: “Babe, please, I just don’t want to talk about it. Let me finish this school and practically move on to something else.”
Clara nodded understandingly, knowing better than to push the matter further.
Clara: “Hmmm. Okay o. I know one day you will give me the gist. But anyways, is there food?”
Nora rolled her eyes playfully at Clara’s sudden change of topic.
Nora: “Na only food you know. You can’t even buy something from outside sef.”
Clara: “See this one o. Me that my head is hot from the exam I wrote, and you are telling me about buying something.”
They heard a knock at the door, and Clara stood up to get it.
Clara: “Abeg let me go and check the door jare.”
As Clara opened the door, Nora’s heart skipped a beat. She wasn’t expecting anyone else to visit, especially not now.
Clara: “Nora…”
Nora: “Yes?”
As Nora looked up, her eyes widened in disbelief. Standing before her was someone she never thought she would see again, Someone she least expected to see and she clearly wasn’t happy to see the person.
Question: Who do you think came visiting that changed Nora’s mood?
Find out in Episode 8
