Chapter 3

Run!

The thought flashed through my mind as I crossed the well known Palms shopping mall that was the largest of its kind in the whole city.

Run!

The word sounded again in my head as I kept jogging forward, passing an upscale estate in Lekki, while advancing with only one destination in mind.

Every single problem I had overwhelmed me in that moment and I felt the need to run it all out of my system.

I kept going, maintaining a quick but steady pace until at long last, I reached the nearby Lekki Golf Club and when I eventually halted my steps, I fell to the ground right away due to exhaustion. I felt burnt out almost like I had been worn to a frazzle and measuredly, I took in deep breaths by the minute.

After what came across as a whole duration of 20minutes, Bankole finally jogged or ran—in fact, did something that looked like running but halfy on the jogging side—owing to extreme tiredness as he approached.

"How...did...you...ju–," he managed to pronounce the words in between breaths while at the same time, he had fallen onto the green grass, placing himself directly beside me and it was no doubt that he was already dead on his feet.

The next words just wouldn't come out and no matter the effort and struggle, his vocal chords and the resultant tightness in his chest had other plans. I had laughed hard at the rib-tickling sight, handing Bankole a bottle of water before he could decide to die on me.

"Ughhh! I needed that," he exclaimed after gulping down the whole 150cl of water at one go, and I was left stunned—Dude! Fish much?

   He devoured the bottles' contents and even his clothes had joined him in drinking as some stray drops trickled down from the sides of his mouth on a quest to soil.

We sat for a few more minutes on the cool grass whilst savouring the crisp of an autumnal morning breeze and as well drying off with our towels.

"So, are we going to talk about it?" He queried, verbalizing his thoughts which I knew had been swirling turbulently since he had pretended to be searching for something in his bag.

"Talk about what?" I fired back, stalling for at least some moments before I came face to face with the one question that had been nagging at my mind for the past few days.

'Do I attend the dinner?' The question popped once again but that was before Bankole spoke up.

"The fact that you're about to get married," he dropped the dynamite and having abandoned the bag seconds before, he twisted now to face me fully but I cut him off in advance.

"I'm not marrying anyone, Bankole!" I stated firmly and he just sighed.

"But the company! Your dad had sai-."

"Look, I know what he said okay, you don't need to remind me," I interjected straight away because his impending words would have been too evocative. 

   I didn't need to be reminded of the ultimatum my own father had placed on my future, if at all, I wished to erase it wholly.

"Still, Jacob, is it worth it? Throwing everything away because of your fear of commitment," Bankole persuaded and his words had hit a little too close to home.

   A harsh breath broke out from my lungs, I couldn't remember a time when I had been this cornered and in further frustration, I raked my hand through my short hair.

"I don't have a fear of commitment, who said that?" I stated incredulously, while throwing a confused glance his way.

"I did, Jacob and I'm your best friend, I know you more than you know yourself. I'm certain it's fear that's stopping you from going to that dinner," he deduced again, using his pointer finger to prod me incessantly.

"Say I do go to dinner eventually, do I marry someone I have no knowledge about? You yourself said it, marriage is a lifelong thing and it's either you're in or out," I explained, trying to make a stand-able point and tug successfully at the strings of his reasoning.

I had no idea what she looked like; her character, favourite food, hell even her name, and now, they were requesting I walk down the aisle with a complete stranger whom I didn't love.

It wasn't as if I was some kind of hopeless romantic that sought for non-existent things like true love, I had never even been a strong believer in commitment, but alas, one day, I knew it would definitely be inevitable not to settle down.  

  Once I had hoped or let's just say once I had tried but when you duel with Lucifer, don't expect rainbows. I hadn't even thought as far as marriage then, and presently, the thought of ending up with a total stranger was just plainly outrageous.

"Certainly, the whole situation is overwhelming but think of what is at stake here, the company, your life's work. Jacob, you've sacrificed too much to give up now," he coaxed, still pressuring and insisting I attend the event on Saturday.

"I'm just confused, Bankole. I honestly don't know what to do," I muttered while settling on a nearby bench and he just offered a hand to my shoulder as consolation.

...

Mary Cardoso, my best friend's wife and also, a high profile lawyer. She was the last person I expected to see at my doorstep that afternoon, holding two bundles of joy in her arms but sans Bankole. 

Without delay, I thrust the door open, letting them into the penthouse I resided in and afterwards, my godson and his sister barrelled into the place, setting about their raid by bouncing repeatedly on my couch. I could only just stare at them, looking absolutely horrified.

"Please don't tell me they are staying here," I uttered in fear but then she gave me that look and internally I whined, like hell no!

"One night, Jacob. Bankole and I decided to go on an impromptu trip but it's for the two of us only," she explained and instantly, I understood what was going.

"Ohhh...honeymoon plus," I voiced in realization while she just smiled sheepishly at my comment but they could be going for a trip to the Bahamas for all I care because those little twits weren't spending a night in my house.

At that thought, I darted my gaze to them and shockingly, I saw Creeda holding my precious record tape of the reggae legend, Bob Marley and his popular 70's album 'Soul Revolution.'

   My face went pale as I noticed she had begun to bend the tape into two.

"No!" I shouted and luckily, I had managed to jump in on time before she damaged the 400 pounds worth record. I was an avid keeper of the tapes of old albums. It was a habit that had just stuck for a long time and I couldn't seem to let it go. 

I clutched the tape firmly while letting out a sigh of relief and wondering how she had reached the top of the shelf that was almost tailing my height—she was only 4.

"Creeda, don't touch those things!" Mary reprimanded her daughter while pulling her towards her.

Now, where was twit no.2? I grumbled in annoyance as my eyes scanned around, pinching them closed in agony when I couldn't find him anywhere.

"Creed!" I shouted once more, walking further into the house and I had literally searched everywhere but still, I couldn't find the kid. 

  In that moment I had seriously and silently cursed big spaces because It took us about another 15 minutes to find the impish twat hidden and curled up inside the bathroom drawer.

  Jesus! These kids would virtually fry my brains out if I left them here...

"Please now, what of Osaze?" I couldn't help but grouse and grumble at Mary as she dragged her kids back into the living room. I was still begging for her to reconsider but it was like the heavens had decided that tonight would be the exact night I babysat kids for the first time in my life.

   Though, it didn't help that at the mention of Osaze's name she looked a bit uncomfortable.

"He's not been available since the gala," she revealed, settling the children down on the couch with a stern warning to be still and behave themselves which surprisingly, they had obeyed.

"That's strange, he didn't travel for any match these few days, not that I know of though, but Mary, I'm sure you have girlfriends," I responded, unrelenting in my pleas for her to carry the miniature devils away because I knew I would lose it even before the night ends.

"They are all booked and believe me when I say you were the last option," she replied and I had sighed in return, rubbing the wrinkles on my forehead but seconds later, I reluctantly muttered a barely audible 'fine I'll do it.'

"Thank you so much, Jacob! This means a lot," Mary expressed in gratitude and her joy had been evident in her tone. After a chaste hug and an air kiss, she hastily dropped down a list of do's and don'ts on the counter before turning to leave.

When she was gone, I centred my focus on the two humans sitting obediently on the couch. I stared at them just as they reciprocated in reply and before I knew it, I entered a fierce battle of wills with the twins. A staring contest that they were currently winning, and honestly, it was striking as to how they could keep their eyes opened for so long.

  Realization filled me with a dose of mortification at my actions—a staring contest with kids, me! A whole Jacob Cross! It was disturbing almost, and I wasted no time in leaving them still willingly and obediently rooted to the couch. I had hoped they would remain there and let me at least have some peace and quiet.

An hour later and I had successfully read through some documents in peace, brewed coffee, listened to a documentary. With that being so, I decided it was finally time to go check on them. I was completely shell shocked when I had seen that they were still planted on the couch and not up to their heads in something mischievous. They kept themselves busy with a hand game but in spite of that, they looked extremely bored. 

   Their sulking was endearing, but I just had to fall for their tricks and unleash the tricksy monsters within.

"Are you hungry?" I asked once I had settled onto the couch opposite theirs. I tried to rack my brain on what kids enjoyed doing, going as far as to picture myself in their shoes but in the end, I came up with nothing.

My question was received with a blank stare and in a way these guys were making me feel somewhat stupid.

    I couldn't tell the next action to take and Mary's list appeared to be my only option and so, unhesitatingly, I picked the paper from the table and began reading each word; bubble baths, brain teasers for fun—crossword puzzles, allergic to peanuts, the kitchen is restricted, do not give them sweets, veggies for dinner, daily nap by 3pm, lullaby for Creeda, no TV before bed, make sure they say their prayers,

Blah...

As I reread the contents, I couldn't help the indelible scowl that remained etched on my face while streams of complaints rang inside my head. Of all days Mary had to pick now! She most definitely owed me for this.

I learned the time from the wall clock that was hung high up and almost reaching the start of the ceiling. It was about to strike 3 on the clock which meant I had to start thinking of how to get them to sleep but how on earth was I going to do that...

My best shot was to wear them out, getting them to be too tired, because if they were spent of all their energy then definitely, they would fall asleep without much effort but I had underestimated them, totally.

...

This was the one hundredth time and counting since I had begun riding them around the house on my back as a donkey and still, they weren't tired in any bit. We had done rounds of hide and seek, built a cubby house, played balloon tennis and even embarked on a scavenger hunt with toys as well as many other games for kids, I had done them all! But now, the funny thing was, I was the only one feeling knackered and exhausted while they still jumped around in vibrancy almost as if their energy bank was plugged round the clock to a power cable.

"God! These things were evil," I mentally exclaimed before collapsing on the floor while doing the 150th round. I had made a mistake though, I shouldn't have passed out.

...

Coughs!

Snores...

Coughs again!!

'Urgh! something smelled weird and was it just me or was I actually dreaming?' The questionnaire prompted my mind on waking up to find my body still splayed out on the tiles with the twins nowhere near and my house smelling smoke. 

Fire!

The realization jabbed me like a slap to the face and I stood straight away before running with added speed into the kitchen.

The gas burner wasn't on and there was no sight of fire anywhere but that was until everything had registered.

My whole kitchen was covered in white patches of something that I just couldn't define and if I was asked how they did it, I wouldn't know because like I quoted, they were a perfect example of disaster on a pair of legs.

Faint clouds of smoke were billowing through the airspace and my nostrils still caught on to the acrid scent of something burning. Eventually, when I had turned to search a different angle of the kitchen, I noticed they had put a bunch of paper in the waste bin which was currently on fire. Without further ado, I carried an extinguisher and diffused the flames.

Their puckish behaviours were getting out of hand and I was fed up with it all. I couldn't dare leave them here as if I did, it was either I ended up killing them or they killed us all before I would even get my chance. Impulsively, I locked them inside my car, securely strapping them up with the seatbelts while I disappeared inside to get my keys.

Keeping them there alone was probably dangerous but earnestly, I prayed they didn't possess some kind of kid ninja instincts that could make them capable of escaping seat belts and wrecking havoc afterwards.

  Luckily, none of that had happened and when I returned, I drove off to my father's house immediately as Shade was my best option.

...

"Shade!" I called out instantly as I entered the house, holding the hands of the kids in mine and a minute later, she answered. On coming out, she looked overly dressed up for home and I could only hope she had no other program scheduled for today otherwise I would be finished.

"Aww, you brought my little niece and nephew for a visit," she voiced excitedly like a dog with two tails but I'm afraid it was more like a sleepover than a visit.

"Is my father home?" I asked and once she shook her head in reply, a sudden wave of calmness filled me as I learnt the news. We hadn't talked since that night and sadly, I knew it would stay that way till I gave him an answer.

"Matthias just stepped out but he had mentioned he was going to work late at the office today," she replied, crouching down to the heights of the kids in order to play with more ease, just like a natural...Yeah, I know, kids weren't made for me.

Moments later, she had called for Darey and when he joined us, the three were involuntarily sucked into each other's company. Subsequently, Shade and I found ourselves in the kitchen while the children were probably in Darey's room being and doing what kids do best. She was finding her way around now, trying to whip up some snacks which I presumed were obviously for them but as I kept watch on her every move in silence, I couldn't help but ask,

"Are you going somewhere though?" 

At the reception of my words she beamed at me before performing a '360' and undeniably, she looked ravishing that's for sure but I couldn't tell my mother that now could I...

"I look great don't I?" She gushed, neck deep in clouds of puffery but she had asked for it and I let my eyes wander in a not so subtle appraisal before speaking.

Though, the words that left my mouth next had me regretting them afterwards but I guess I had just wanted her to pay.

  I inched closer to Shade, placing my hand firmly on her waist before bringing her up against me and whispering closely in her ear.

"Mistresses always eat up leftovers don't they?" I jeered, letting my lips graze over her ear lobe. I didn't miss the shudder but she had already jolted away at once from my hold, looking so incensed and clearly affronted. I expected it, what came next.

  Shade backhanded me before I even had time to react.

"Don't you dare insult me! Jacob, you have no right," she warned as I grasped my cheek that was no doubt burning in pain—she did have a good aim though.

  She stormed off and I couldn't comprehend the conviction I suddenly had that made me chase after her, hot on her heels. When I had eventually caught up in the hallway, I grabbed her by the arm with a little force but it was done smoothly and securely so as not to hurt her from the angle.

  What I didn't expect was for her to be hauled close to me, bodies flushed with the other and now, our faces were a hairsbreadth away as old memories began to resurface.