NOT ME – Episode 7

NOT ME…chapter 7
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….As we drove, I had a mixed feeling,though Derrick is a nice man,he doesn’t stop the fact that he is a stranger, and I know little or nothing about him,,,,But good friends were once stranger to each other I encouraged myself…. Derrick noticed I was kind of scared, and he cheered me up,am not going to harm you madam, I don’t bite,stop being tensed and relax,,,,that helped a little, and I was a bit relaxed, we stopped somewhere in ore to have something to eat,and then continued our journey, At past noon,we were in Lagos,, we drove for another hour or there about and finally got to his place,a big and beautiful compound… You live here all by yourself?, I asked out of curiosity, of course not,my younger sister is abroad with her husband and kid,dad is late and I live here with my Mom, and two helpers,that makes us four,and you now five,he said smiling, I smiled back,sorry about your dad,,,no problem, its been five years and I have gotten over it,though I misses him sometimes, he said,of course you will miss him,I can’t just imagine life without my dad,okay, enough daddy’s girl,let’s go inside…..
Getting inside,we met Derrick’s mom,a beautiful, and sophisticated Lady, having a cup of juice and reading a magazine,,,, hellooooo mum,Derrick said and gave her a hug,welcome back baby, she replied.Good afternoon ma,I genuflected, Afternoon my dear,she was staring at me,like she was trying to remember something,,,, what is it mom,Derrick asked,,, this face,this face,I have seen her somewhere, but I just can’t place it,I know,and sure I have seen this face before, really mom,Derrick asked, yes son I am sure,,,have you met my mom before, He asked me,no Derrick, I have not,its okay mom,may be you saw her pictures in my phone,we had some couple of pictures the last time I went to Benin,,, well maybe that’s the case..,
Oga welcome sir,Nene the cook said,good afternoon Nene,how are you,and where is Lara,her mama no well Sir,so she go see arm..Derrick took me to my room,a beautiful master room,I had my bath and changed clothes,we soon had launch of pounded yam and melon soup,,,Derrick mom was still trying to get my face,deep down,I already knew it was the problem of mistaken identity as usual, I was sad God didn’t fully answered my prayers,I was happy God had delivered me from the shackles of the digital pastor, but when didn’t he deliver me from this too,I had wondered.. Since Derrick’s mom couldn’t place the face,I vehemently prayed she shouldn’t remember the face,because I know It won’t be nice,since everyone that ever mistook me for who ever she was seems to always be angry at her or for immortality, I really prayer and hoped it stays like that, a face she couldn’t place…..
The next day Derrick asked me if I had gone round Lagos the first time I visited,I told him no,hence he asked me to get dressed so he can take me to some exciting places in Lagos, like I did for him when he came to Benin.He took me to the National museum,we went to ride Horses at Oniru private beach ,even though I was scared to seat riding a horse, we went to enjoy delicious suya at the university of Suya,we saw about two movies,and much more, it was wonderful, a day I would never forget in a hurry.After resting for about three days, it was Monday,and so Derrick took me to Teri’s catering world,,,,it was an amazing place,finer than it looks on line…. Derrick knew miss Teri in person,according to him they met in London, so we went straight to her office…
After the friends had exchanged pleasantries, we were back to the reason we came,miss Teri was surprised as to why Derrick came with me,he explained am a friend of his,,,,they had different programs,,, 6momths,a year and 2 years,,,,,they came with elaborate fees,,,Derrick wasn’t even concerned about the fees,he asked miss Teri which she felt was the best,,,and miss Teri concluded that she would prefer I go for a two year program, so that,I would have been well thought and tested ,to make me an outstanding caterer from Teri’s house… Derrick asked for my opinion using signs and I nodded affirmatively…He requested miss Teri should give him discount,and she did,he then paid all fees for the two years, I was so shocked and grateful, Derrick had given me a scholarship by paying for everything in the next two years,all I needed was to come to school everyday,,,I knelt and thanked him for his generosity…
I resumed classes immediately while Derrick went back,to come pick me later.Derrick has been taking me to school and bringing me back home fore the past three days,he said he would do that for a week,until I get use to the road, because he doesn’t wants me to get missing in the big and busy city of Lagos…. What’s going on between you and Charity, I could hear his mom asking him one evening,what do you mean mom,oh you don’t give me that, you know what I mean, what’s going on between you and the young woman you brought from Benin, mom she’s a friend,a friend you say,and you are this nice to her, it better not be what I think it is…come oh mom,you are full of drama,Derrick said and walked away…Derrick’s mom was neither nice,nor harsh to me,she was just on the fence….
I was enjoining my catering school, and life was going fine,till one Sunday afternoon,,,,we were having lunch,when Lara ,the house help,who had gone home to take care of her sick mom came,she greeted Derrick and his mother, but was very shock to see me,Lara what is it,Derrick’s mom asked,do you know her,why that look, Madam no be this aunty thief your purse run that day for near market,I knew it,I said it,that I have seen this face before,,Derrick’s mom said,
…….On my world, not again, not when I thought life has become fair,,, what do I do now?