Chapter 51a

CHAPTER 51a


Kurt holds her hand more tightly wishing she would change her mind immediately...)

KURT : please...I beg of you, don't say that...
BUKOLA : that's the truth, its late...I'm with someone else now. I can't possibly break his heart just like that.
KURT : (he readjusts)...tell me, how do you feel about me? Can you?
BUKOLA : but that's not important any more...(She looks away)
KURT : of course it is...tell me....please. I really need to know...
BUKOLA : Jide, let it be, okay...
KURT : I can't. (Readjusts again facing the road, he lives her hand)...I've lived the past six years wondering how you really feel about me. I think I deserve to know...
BUKOLA : I...I....(she changes her mind)…no Jide, let's just forget it. It’s better that way...(still looking way)....
KURT : know something...(Sighs)...I've been fond of you ever since high school. But....(Chuckles)... you were way out of my league and Ken was after you...moreover, I didn't know what it was I felt then. When the whole thing with Carol's murder came up, it brought out so many negative feelings in me, from anger to hatred to the thirst for vengeance, due to the loss of my folks. Those negative feelings overshadowed almost every good thing in me, till that day I spoke to you so harshly. I'd hated myself since then for doing that to you, most especially when I heard you'd risked your life to prove that I was innocent. I knew I owe you my freedom, my life, my everything....
BUKOLA : (turns to him)...no, you owe me nothing....you were implicated all because of me Jide.
KURT : nah. I was framed 'cause of my goodness, my naivety...(Chuckles)...more like my stupidity...
BUKOLA : yet you owe me nothing. Knowing you lost your parents and 5 years of your life was a pain no one could relieve...
KURT : you had no reason to risk your life just to save me from prison...if you had ignored me, it wouldn't have been a sin...
BUKOLA : I had to do it. I can't stay unconcerned seeing the only man I ever...(She stops)...
KURT : (looks at her)...come on, say it...the only man you ever loved, right?
BUKOLA : (she looks away)...take me back home Jide. Take me back home...
KURT : (smiles)....you still owe me that date, you know?
BUKOLA : (smiles)...I can't possibly go out this way...dressed in a skimpy gown and a flip-flop....and my phone is still at home....hey and I didn't even lock my door! This is Nigeria Jide not the UK or US.
KURT : (laughing)...my bad...let's go...
BUKOLA : hey, why don't you pick the little boy along and let's go?
KURT : (starting the vehicle)....nah...three is crowd...(He drives off)





(Meanwhile, Lara is very devastated after receiving Kurt's call she storms inside Nike's room...)

LARA : mummy, this is the first time Kurt will be like this. Can you imagine? He called me and said he wants this farce to be over.
NIKE : you see, that's what I've been saying ...that you should hook that boy up before some other girl comes up. Now in less than 24hours in Nigeria, all this hungry Nigerian girls have found him.
LARA : I won't allow it Mum!...I have to do something...(Starts pacing)
NIKE : yes, you better do something now. We can't let that boy go. With all the money with him. Moreover, you have more right over that money than any other girl.
LARA : I will do everything possible. If not that he left, I was ready to put some sedatives into his drink today but he left. That was not part of the plan...
NIKE : (looks at her at disgustingly)...you are very foolish o.
LARA : (surprised)...haha, why did you say so?
NIKE : why didn't you think of that when you two were staying together in New York?
LARA : because...because I didn't see any other woman with him. There was no threat for me over there.
NIKE : oh....so now that you two are staying apart, you now want to drug him? It will be so easy, abi?
LARA : (pacing)...I'll see what to do...
NIKE : you better do...and fast too.
LARA : I have to think of what to do....

(She starts thinking of what to do next, then she remembers Ken. She immediately goes into her room to look for his card and call him...)

LARA : hello?
RECEIVER : hello, who am I speaking with?
LARA : this is La...I mean Toyin.
RECEIVER : Toyin...which of the Toyins?
LARA : hmm...(Shaking her head)…Andrew's friend, we met again at the reunion, remember?
RECEIVER : oh ...what's up?
LARA : em....that girl, the one you were showing me with my husband that day...
RECEIVER : yeah...Bukola…what about her?
LARA : do you know her very well?
RECEIVER : of course...why?
LARA : she's messing around with my husband...
RECEIVER : Bukola? Are you sure?
LARA : yes. I was at her place yesterday to warn her but she refused to listen.
RECEIVER : wait...you went to Bukola's house to confront her about it?
LARA : of course...
RECEIVER : I see...
LARA : she's bent on taking him from me, I guess.
RECEIVER : where does she leave?
LARA : somewhere in omole estate.
RECEIVER : I see...so how do you want me to help you?
LARA : do you know her very well? I need to know how else I can get her off my husband's back.
RECEIVER : hmm....let's hook up.
LARA : okay.
RECEIVER : is this your number?
LARA : yes.
RECEIVER : okay...em, let's meet up tomorrow...I'll send you the address of the place and the time.
LARA : okay. Thanks!...(she hangs up)…yes!...i knew he would help somehow. Bukola or whatever your name is, the battle line is drawn.




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(Kurt and Bukola both had a silent ride back to Bukola's house. Sometimes she  would look at him admiring him...)

BUKOLA: (in her thoughts: wow Jide is so handsome now, look at his skin, his eyes, he could melt any girl. (Looking at his arms)...his hands are so strong. He looks absolutely nothing like he did when he was in prison, no one could ever think both are the same person. He's such a gorgeous guy now, able to get the attention of any girl....(she looks at what he has on)....and he's got such a good taste for clothes and shoes. A well fitted muscle top, he must have been working out really well. Look at his broad chest, nah, its not too big, just perfect. Wow, a well trimmed and shaped beard...(she kept looking at him lost in thoughts)....no I shouldn't let all this get to me, cause Jordon is there...damn it, Jide is such a temptation... I can't just let Jordon down...(she tries to look away)...)
(Jide had seen her looking at him...)
KURT : miss...?
BUKOLA : (trying not to be caught looking at him)....hmm?
KURT : is there a reason why you're staring at me?
BUKOLA : me? Who was staring at you?
KURT : oh sorry, i thoughgt i saw your eyes on me...
BUKOLA : no you did not...(she looks away. In her thoughts : shit! He almost caught me...no Bukola don't fall for his charms...)
KURT : sorry ma'am...(in his thought : i know you were looking at me. If only you know how long it took me to pick what to wear, just to impress you. I had to get to you somehow....hmm and i can see its working. Keep lying that you weren't staring at me....)
(The journey continues silently till they got to the house. They both enter into the compound, walking towards the house...)


BUKOLA : Jide...
KURT : hmm
BUKOLA : you have a lot of explanations to do, you know...I mean where did you get all the money you're throwing around?
KURT : (chuckles)...yeah, I know I have a lot of explanations to give to you...
BUKOLA : it’s not like you have to give me...I mean, you're not obliged or something...(Getting to the door)
KURT : of course I am. You're the only one I've got now...

(They get inside...)

BUKOLA : so this is my humble abode...make yourself comfortable. I'll get you some juice...(Walking towards the kitchen)
KURT : are you staying alone?...(Looking around)
BUKOLA : yeah...(Opening the fridge)
KURT : your Mum?
BUKOLA : she's in the UK with her husband.
KURT : husband?...your Dad?...(Taking his seat)
BUKOLA : nope...she never married my Dad...he only got her pregnant.
KURT : oh...and where is he now?
BUKOLA : he died some two years ago and left me this house as my inheritance.
KURT : oh I see...so do you have other siblings?
BUKOLA : yeah two from Mum and I don't know how many from Dad. He sent the whole document and everything to me even before he died...so I don't know them...(Placing the drink before him)
KURT : ...my condolences.
BUKOLA : thanks..
KURT : do you miss him?
BUKOLA : miss him?....(Chuckles)...if I have to sum up all the hours I spent with him, I don't think it’s up to 168hours, that's a week in days....(Goes back to the Kitchen to get him some potato chips)
KURT : what!....(Sits up)...are you serious?
BUKOLA : yes, very. We were never close even though I needed him so much. All my friends would talk of their Dads, how he carries them on his neck, swings them, told them bedtime stories...I'd wished I had one...
KURT : hmm...(Shaking his head)
BUKOLA : but Mum tried though...it’s just that its incomparable.
KURT : do you know what he was like?
BUKOLA : really, I don't. I only know him from a distance. He calls me only once in a while to say hi. I must not call him except he calls me...weird right?...
KURT : hmm...
BUKOLA : I don't know what kind of relationship he shared with my Mum and I never asked. I believe it may bring back some old an unwanted memories or something so I never bothered asking.
KURT : it’s better that way...you know what they say, what you don't know may never hurt you.
BUKOLA : yeah...may....(Sitting in front of him)...
KURT : (taking his juice)...you really need to get a gate-keeper you know.
BUKOLA : yeah…so that someone won't come and yank me away just like you did.
KURT : (laughs)....yeah that's true...but mine was necessary.
BUKOLA : if there had been a gate keeper there, he sure wouldn't have allowed you.
KURT : yeah....thank God there was none.
BUKOLA : anyway, enough about me...tell me exactly what happened.
KURT : (takes a deep breath)...Carol's lawyer, Barrister Charles took a special interest in me...
BUKOLA : yeah Stan told Suz and I...
KURT : so, with the evidence you got, him and Stan spoke to Stan's Dad and he pleaded with the state governor to give me a pardon, that was how I got out...
BUKOLA : I heard all that.
KURT : now there's this other Lawyer that took a kin interest in me, he was Barrister Charles' friend....he was the one that took me to the US. He took up not just my case, but my whole life. He helped changed my name here and saw me through school....
BUKOLA : (cuts in)...that's so nice of him...but, come to think of it, it’s almost five years since you left, how come you have 2 degrees and a masters already?
KURT : the US universities run 3 semesters in a year. Spring, Summer and Fall. Most people do two - Spring and Fall, having summer as their holiday...but I ran the three semesters in the year. No holiday, no fun. And I ran both courses concurrently.
BUKOLA : yeah I know about the three semester stuffs, that's why some of those that study there can have their degrees in less than 3 years. But how did you run 2 degrees at a time? That's not possible...
KURT : it is. There are online schools remember?
BUKOLA : oh.....but...wow...you must have studied like crazy....(Shaking her head)
KURT : it wasn't easy... but I finished and went into business immediately. In fact, after my 4th semester, I had the best ideas in business and involved my mentor in it...
BUKOLA : hmm mm..
KURT : yes. We started buying companies here in Nigeria and reselling...but the moment I finished, he retired and transferred his wealth to me...
BUKOLA : (surprised)....his wealth how?
KURT : almost all the money in his possession.
BUKOLA : haha…why? Why you?
KURT : I have no idea myself. He just said he wants to go away. He only waited for me to finish from the University.
BUKOLA : but doesn't he have a family or something? I mean, it’s not like you're related to him or are you...?
KURT : I'm not. But seriously, that's a question he never answered. In fact, all the companies he purchased when I was in school were left untouched but running till I finished. I had to sell some off.
BUKOLA : hmm...that's weird..


To be continued....