

A MOONLIGHTS BOOKS PUBLICATION

Baby On Drugs

©2014

Copyright

All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the re – production or utilization of this work in the whole or in part I any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in other information or retrieval system is strictly forbidden without permission from the author.

Kanu Jeremiah O

_Jeremiahkanu@yahoo.com_
TO MY LATE FRIEND ODEH GERALD.
**PROLOGUE**

Mary watched the house chef as he carefully stirred the soup, he was about completing the story on how he escaped a bike accident on his way to work, her body became restless. She kept on looking through the window checking on the gate. Solo was very good at being late, he fairly nearly had ever returned early from an errand, she murmured in her heart, scratched her hair and bit her fingers as her vision starts to glare.

"Mary! Can you hear me?" the chef shouted

The chef rushed to get her, she was squeaking on the floor, he was confused, and it was too sudden.

"What's happening to you? Talk to me please." Abiodun panicked, he held her up and bent his ears closely opposite her lips as she mumbles words softly.

"Tell -Solo, to –hurry, please!"

Abiodun knew Mary had been earnestly waiting for the gateman's son, for of what he knew not, but he had to look for him. Abiodun was confused as he carried her to lie on her bed, no one was at home except the old gate man. He said prayers in his heart as he ran out to look for Solo. Just as he approached the gate he heard some group of boys outside gisting and arguing about football, _"it must be Solo,"_

"Solo what are you doing? Mary is lying in her room sickeningly, looking like she's dying." He shouted at Solo like he was a doctor.

Solo immediately dropped the bag in his hands, past hurriedly from the midst of the guys he argued with. He ran like a mad man into Mary's room. As Mary saw him she jumped out of her bed to the floor with so much energy, Solo brought out from his pocket a brown wrapped paper, Mary dragged it from him, poured a white powder from the wrapped paper on the floor, she bent down and sniffed it in continuously and grievously, her red eyes got even, as tears streamed down her cheeks. She then laid on the tiled floor and faced up, the ceiling became whiter as she looked, the drug was taking it rightful place in her, she felt the energy and glamour it carried. An unfazed feeling starts to make way in, she fought to regain stability as she rose up again, the door creaked open.

Abiodun the chef, walked in, he met Solo on the floor besides Mary, her nose and fore head was as if she had visited a shrine, he looked down near Mary who stopped shaking, he saw some powder substance on the floor, he wasn't sure but the same stuck to her nose.

"Solo! What did you give to her, what is this on the floor?" Abiodun said as he went on to look closely,

"Hope It's not what am thinking, Mary? Someone answer me, someone should answer me now. What is this on the floor?" Abiodun still stare at them, he became angry but smells something burning,

"Hey, my soup, Jesus!" He ran out of the room. Mary stood up walked to the door and locked it. She stood and turned to Solo with fury.

"So the kuli was on fire that you had to wait right?" she said with a squeezed face, Solo could tell that Mary was very angry.

"Mary...."

"hey spare me any cock and bull tale, don't even think about it, tell it to someone interested to hear. I totally forgot that today was Saturday and that you would forget about me for football"

"Mary, that's not what happened, please"

"so what happened? do you think am an idiot, you of all people should know better, I had not taken in since the day before. Solo you always love to..."

Mary paused Just as she had the door banged, Abiodun was back for them, he has been murmuring in the kitchen and praying that what he saw wasn't what it was, He kept on knocking.

"Both of you open this door now, Mary unless your father would hear of this." He threatened, he just had to.

Mary opened the door and went back to seat on the floor then faced Abiodun, before he asked again she answered him.

"Uncle Abbey, I'm a drug addict, and what you just saw is called locally known as kuli, our local coke, its content I cannot say but that's one of what i take, one of many" Mary said quietly, Solo placed his hands on his head, feeling disappointed that Mary exposed herself. Abiodun's mouth opened, he heard what she said but wasn't sure he just heard what he knows he heard.

Abiodun sat down on the floor too, he observed that Mary said it confidently, well it may be the drug at work or she had been on drugs for a very long time now she had become totally shameless to speak about it.

"Mary! Since when?" Abiodun asked in a quiet tune, he looked at Mary, she was only eighteen years of age, too young to be addicted to hard drugs, he pitied. Mary did not reply, she was breathing Spuriously, she needed to take more of the drug, Solo knew what she had wasn't enough and that she might even need to smoke, so he stood up to appeal to the bewildered chef, Abiodun was much bigger than them both, but he was a young man, dark, tall and was always fun to be with. He started working as a chef in the house last month, Solo on the other hand was also a young Man, he was just twenty five years of age, he is like a brother to Mary, he was always with her, everywhere, everyday. He was into hard drugs dealings, he knew Mary ten years ago, when his father started walking as a gate man for the house, they had been very close friends since then, Solo hadn't been all a good influence to Mary, he had been the genesis of Mary's intake of hard drugs, but everything Mary became was surely her will, Mary never knew her Mother, her father was always very busy, sometimes she feels no one really cares about anything she does, Solo was always there for her, made her happy, helped her and even drugged her, it all started with smoking, Mary started smoking when she was in junior secondary school, she went farther and faster into Indian hemp and marijuana the next year and the year after she started using some narcotic drugs, drinking whiskey and high level Alcohol, it made Solo like her the more, few years back he introduced her to Kuli, it was more like cocaine but it was less harmful, she feels better stronger after sniffing, Kuli wasn't cheap, a wrap would cost her five Thousand Naira, but it wasn't going to stop her. Mary wasn't entirely irresponsible, she graduated college two years ago, she was top of her class, she volunteered for different charity group after school, she was even a part of a famous female empowerment agenda and she was doing fine. Mary wasn't a trouble maker, she would only speak only when she is spoken to, Mary doesn't relate too much around boys, except of course Solo, she doesn't also have the best of relationship with girls too, she had only two girlfriends who sometimes spend time with her when they were free or back from their businesses. As time past and growth took it place she became lonelier and had started losing touch with her friends.

* * * *

Solo begged and begged Abiodun not to involve anyone in what he heard, Abiodun was still shocked, although he hasn't really heard the Genesis of the story, he got the surprise of the year; shake his head as he quietly walked out the room. Solo followed him at the back to lock the door after he left, he quickly brought out another wrap and dragged Mary to her bed placed it on her hand, Mary helped herself take it in through her nose, Solo did the same, when they were done, he brought out another paper well wrapped like cigarette, it was Indian hemp, he lit it, Mary smiled, she had forgotten quickly the anger she felt, it worked very fast, she swayed in the moment.

"Solo, what do you have?" she said gesturing her fingers above her head and twisted her eyes.

Solo smiled back as he passed it to her and poured the smoke on her face.

"I have peace" he answered as his face brightened,

"How many? How many peace son?" Mary said.

"Two. One for me, and one for you" Solo and Mary laughed as Mary fed him the hemp, so that he pours the smoke on her again.

They both fell to their face, Mary slept off, she loved how she felt, Solo was still in his right mind, the packed everything they had, dropped her change in her wallet, and then switched on the air condition, before he left the room.
**CHAPTER ONE**

It was Saturday morning; Mary woke up, yesterday rephrased in her head, Friday night party. She tried getting up but the floor was too strong for her, it happens like that most morning, after a _inebriated_ night, she quickly stretched her hand to her drawer to reach for a drug a repellant against hangover and hang on, she poured out three tablet and threw them into her mouth. Last night she and her boys fought with some gang at Paradise crib Hotel. Her boys, more like her gang, Mary was part of a gang, she more of a queen to the cult. She started the Fight, when a boy forced her to dance, she accepted but then the boy had other intentions, she did not know when she hit him with a beer bottle, the boy fell to the floor, and then the fight escalated, the fight ended the party, Mary Remembered that it was Miko that She hurt, she felt greatly sorry for him, Mary hated any sexual relating contact, she made it very clear to everyone that moved with her, even Solo respected it and had never tried crossing it, sometimes her friends Ijeoma and Dupe would mock her _virgin Khalifa,_ they called her, She wasn't interested in any of those things.

Mary could perceive the homely aroma of _dodo_ (fried plantain). Abiodun was around, Abiodun and Mary have not been as close as they used to be, Mary noticed that since he found out about her, she was not happy about it, but there was nothing she could do now, he thinks she was a bad girl. And she was, but was better for him she did not see her that way.

"Hello Mary" it was the House cleaner.

"Ha, Mummy Kayode, good morning" Mary came down from the bed to greet properly.

"Mary!" she exclaimed, "What are you thinking of, this early morning, here you are and I have called Mary more than three times now"

"haa!, sorry ma, I did not hear you, in fact I just woke up" she said looking sorry

"hmmm – There's no problem, I came to take your dirty clothes for dry cleaning." she said, Mary pointed at the basket.

Mary dressed up In her sport wears as she would traditionally go for her morning exercise,

"Uncle Abbey, good morning" she said as she walked past the kitchen.

"Young woman, come here," Abiodun called onto her,

Mary came to the kitchen, her face were asking questions.

"Sir?" She replied.

"Rumor has it that you attended a party yesterday, and then involved yourself in a fight" he said as he stirred the egg swiftly, Mary looked like she was lost, she wad bad at denying things, her face wasn't acting it role.

"I went to a party, yes, but fight, no, how will I fight, Uncle Abbey no ooo, it wasn't me" she replied.

"it wasn't you right? " he asked again, she nodded, "Please don't waste more than ten minutes in that exercise of yours, breakfast is almost ready" he said.

Mary nodded as she set out, Abiodun shook his head. "Who's that one lying to?" he pitied.

Mary was jugging on her street, she had her hair packed, and listened to her favorite playlist of James Blunt, she thought on her way "how did Uncle Abbey know about the fight" was he secretly watching her. She asked herself, Mary later shifted thought to her father

_"What do you want be, who are you now! What do you want to be, who are you now?"_

Mary had always taken life the way it came and bothered less about the future, her father's wealth was a shelter but anytime she was on her own, she bested on what father had once said to her, she wanted to be a fashion designer but had always feared so many things, some being leaving her Drugs. Mary always wished she had a mother, she remembered her Mother's sister, Aunty Bisi, she would've loved to stay with her, but there comes the fear again, leaving home, getting her drugs would be difficult away from home, or even more difficult to be used there.

Mary as usual stopped at a very deserted corner, brought out her cigarette and her lighter, she lit it, as the music changed she nodded her head to the rhythm, as she was about to finish, she saw an old woman walking with a stick support, she quickly threw the remaining cigarette away, then pretending to be cleaning her body but she was sure the old woman was approaching her.

"My daughter, what's your name?" the old woman asked as she sat down on the same drainage edge as she.

"Mary ma!" she became a little scared.

"Wow, what a beautiful name." The old woman said and smiled, as she smiled Mary noticed that she was very old and stricken, Mary stood up and try acting like she wants to leave.

"Mary please don't leave, I want to talk to you." she said, Mary sat down back looking straight at her as she smiled and showed her broken set of teeth,

"Mary am seventy years of age just so you know, and it's very good to listen to the words of our elders, I saw you smoking so I decided to meet you and talk to you, I won't ask you anything but I would assume, I will assume that you would be below eighteen years of age, without probably a mother, influenced by the wrong people, refrain your steps not later but now, stop smoking, and most of all, avoid those bad friends, avoid them with all you got because when you leave here, those evil friends would convince you otherwise, you'll hurt yourself, and you'll probably end up saying had I known. My name is Agnes take care of yourself my dear" she concluded and slowly she placed her stick carefully, comfortable to the ground she bent her waist slowly, till she was stable to move.

"Thank you ma." Mary said very calmly, the Old woman smiled and went her way.

Mary sat back like she doesn't want to go anywhere else, she knew Abiodun would be worried but, What the Old woman said to her, made her uncomfortable. She knew she needed to change, she thought of a life without those drugs, how miserable? she became worried as she heads home.

Mary still looking wearied walked into the parlour, she met Solo and Abiodun playing video game, they nearly did not notice that she had returned.

"What took you so long?" Abiodun said facing the television. Mary sat down on the dining table, she opened her cooler to dish out the well fried plantains in to plate, and then opened another cooler to dish out fried egg, she stood up, went to the fridge to take her fruit juice.

"Solo. Solo! Please I want to see you now" Mary shouted, as she sat down to eat her breakfast.

Solo in no time left his game pad and ran playfully to were Mary was still eating,

Solo removed from his pocket a drug in tablet, opened it and poured it into Mary's drink, as Abiodun watched surreptitiously .

"No not that, I did not call you because of this" Mary said sipping the juice

"What's wrong?" Solo said quietly

Mary told him of the old woman that approached her and how she predicted her life correctly,

"What do you want to do now?" Solo said

Mary looked at Solo and drew her chair to him.

"Solo I want to stop drugs, I want to start something with my life, and I want to retrace my steps" Mary looked at Solo's eyes with guilt,

"Mary, I am here for you, anything you need, bad, worse and even good. Everybody in hood knows that they need to make their life meaningful, the problem is just, the first step, most of us wants the change to meet us. See, whatever you want, I'll Solo it, trust me" Solo said, Mary hugged him with plantain on her fork; she wished all boys were like Solo. Comforting, he was comfort.

"but Solo before my step retracing. Today, we burst, from every angle, let the gangs know. We'll hit heaven today at my place, every dope must be carried here with honor, let it be memorable, you know how we do it?" Mary said quietly with so much excitement,

Solo nods his heads as they both did a funny hand shake, she brought out her ATM card and gives him. Solo left her and rushed out.

Lagos road was as busy at night as it always was, Senator Ayo arrival from the airport would be classified impromptu, but he had made up his mind to go home after the state's senator convention at Kano. He was with some of his party friends, they had decided to all go to the senator's place. Seven convoys rode on the highway, one carried Mary's dad.

"Senator, you left your daughter all alone at that big house?" Kemi a personal assistant to the senator said.

Senator Ayo smiled, "she's a big girl now, and she's not alone, I've got workers at the house remember." Kemi smiled, Kemi had been in a simple jovial relationship with her boss. Ayo was once in a relationship with her, she still remained in his sight even after it ended with him marrying someone else.

"Mary would be asleep by now, no one to welcome us" Kemi said again,

"is that what you're about? Please leave my angel alone o. And don't be surprised if you meet her still awake watching Telemundo."

They both talk about Mary very much, Kemi was interested in knowing what she likes and hates, it wasn't difficult, Mary loved anything about fashion, costumes, designer wears, and all kind of makeup kits, Mary hates cooking, Mary fears the kitchen, Kemi on hearing that felt it was because she never knew her mother, "it must have been really hard for her, Senator I would love her visit me some times, I'll love to spend some quality time with her,"

Senator Ayo smiled, "Mary won't visit you, and you don't know that girl oo." The senator continued, "she's refused to visit anyone, she's even refused to further her education, you can't believe a girl that stay at home every time, no friends, to me her life's boring" The senator concludes and looked out the window with disgust.

"That's why she needs a mother, Ayo" Kemi said. He looked at her, Kemi turned out her face.

He had always knew where she was hitting at since the discussion started, he then stylishly looked at the driver and the guard at the front, then rubbed Kemi on her laps, she wore a very attractive skimpy short skirt, she looked at him in a way they both understood.

"Hey, about us..." The senator said trying to lure her back into the discussion.

"we are not done yet, I asked for space, because of the campaign, and before then, because of my daughter, I thought you said you understood?, ehnn Kemi" He said, as she now turns to him.

"We've been friend, for more than twenty years now Ayo, I watched you Chased your dreams, you have become addicted to your work, since Mary's death you've...."

"Stop it there Kemi, it's enough, let's just stop the conversation, please." He said, his countenance changed, he moved a little bit away from her.

Kemi faced the window, memories of when Mary was still alive breezes in her mind, Ayo and Mary were couples that everyone envied, even herself, they were perfect.

"a-han Kemi. Why would you say such a thing" Mary said as they all laughed. "my husband is fat o, can't you see his cheeks, his chubby sweet cheeks" Mary joked dragging her husband by his cheeks, they laughed.

"Lunch is ready. Kemi joins us"

"Ah no ma, I have work at the office" she said spying Ayo.

"Which office, my husband office by 4pm, in fact, what work is that? Common let's eat" Mary persuaded without even consenting her husband.

They ate and spoke at the table, she loved everything about Mary, Mary talked a lot, even when pregnant, she jokes about everything, and she was a total fun to be with, her hair were always braided red, same with her lips, she was very beautiful. Her character were the best of her, she was humble to the extreme core.

Kemi remembered running to the hospital were Mary was admitted to be delivered of her child, they were to operate on her when she got there, she was with Mary only sister, Mary's pastor and Ayo, they held hands and prayed at the reception. Three hours later a doctor came to tell them the news, the baby was fine but the mother was gone, Kemi could remember the way she felt that cold evening, she was standing but floating, she couldn't control the tears, she heard nothing again but only saw, Ayo who was condoling everyone with tears in his eyes saying "she's not dead don't cry" he said repeatedly.

Bisi was rolling uncontrollably on the floor, tears rolled down her cheeks, she for once thought she was dreaming, but then it was real, Mary was gone.

"Guards, where is that noise coming from?" Ayo said. Kemi realized that they had reached the Senator's Villa.

"Sir, I think it's coming from the house I see some boys at the gate sir, "

"What?!" he exclaimed as his guard and other guards from the convoy ran out with their guns, to check out what's going on.

Mary was sauced to the brim; there was nothing she did not have. She smoked, drank and even sniffed in, her gang kept on hailing her chanting "Khalifa, Khalifa Khalifa!!!"

Mary with other girls danced, the music was too loud, but she felt it was low, some of her gang were swimming, some were busy with drugs, while others fornicated.

It wasn't the first time that a party would be held at Mary's Place, so no one expected any Interruptions.

The armed guards approached the boys at the gate, unknowing to them the boys were also armed, the boys fled the premises but shot continuously up, to alert the rest that there's need to flee, the gangs alerted everybody to run, Boys and girls jumped over the wired fence, while others stood to shoot back at the guards who covered themselves from the uncontrollable shot that kept on flying, they never expected what they saw, some minutes later the place was quiet no music, no shots, only distant blaring sirens.

They ran straight to the back of the house were the music sounded from, the place was deserted, not a single soul.

"Senator's daughter" one of the guards shouted, they ran to were Mary laid, they panicked as they turned her to see if she was hurt, Mary Smiled, "why, why are you people here, now no song no nothing, leave me " she shouted still smiling.

The guards helped her to a seat, they were confused and wasn't sure what to think, but they were very sure, that a party was held at the house.

The senator and his members after a very frightening moment made their way to the house, the Senator for once thought, hired killers came for him, he had almost peed on himself were he sat.

They all looked through the house before they all gather Mary who kept on smiling, her eyes looked like She was sleeping,

"MARY!" Her father shouted as he approached her, "what happened here? "

Mary looked at her father, stood up, "do you have peace, how many? How many peace do you have, ehnn? Ayo looked at her with disgust, he was sure that she was drunk, so as she continued he slapped her greatly that it shocked everyone. Mary only saw black lights as she faded.
**CHAPTER TWO**

Mary woke up the next day, her eyes opened slowly, she was on her bed, the air condition was on, she wore her pajamas, she was totally confused on how she got to the bed, there were voices heard from the sitting room, she could recognize her father's voice, "My Daddy is back?" she thought, she smiled try stepping on the very heavy floor, she opened her bed drawer to get her drugs, she took some pills, faced up, she tried reminiscing how last night party went, but couldn't, she could only remember how it started but could not remember how it ended, not even a glimpse.

She never knew her Dad would come back this soon, even though he was to, he would call to inform her.

"What really happened, Mary? " Mary shouted to herself, after few minutes of contemplating, she decided to go out to meet her dad and anyone at the sitting room.

As she walked quietly past the parlor towards the bathroom, she greeted everyone there from daddy's group members to Aunty Kemi, but no one replied her, her Dad was on the phone, speaking quietly, he had thought all night of what he would do to his only child, he had tried to protect her from everything he saw last night, now her daughter did the worst, not too long after they all had their breakfast, that Abiodun exposed how Mary had been hooking up with some notorious gangs, famous for their hard drugs sales and use, How Mary had been having party at the house and even fighting at some. Abiodun made his friends understand that he was just getting to know all of that.

Just then an armed guard came in with three armed Police officers,

"Sir. We came for your daughter, Miss Ayo Mary Pelumi..." one said

"Officers seat down, seat down!" he said, "I had been Expecting you people" he said, some of the members left the sitting room to the large backyard, so as not to disturb the senator from his negotiations with the officers, so the men played snooker while Kemi and a lady there relaxed near the pool.

"ah, no sir, what we are talking about here is a very serious case o, imagine that the national law drugs enforcement agency hear about this, it'll be a more serious case, three hundred thousand is too small sir, this is a Girl that involved herself with culprits that even attempted killing some of our boys, her punishment is a long term detention oh if we issue an arrest and it gets to the court, So.... sir May be you'll have to increase the amount, sir" the head said as the rest nodded in approval.

Mr Ayo just shakes his head, as he brought out his cheque book to sign a cheque that he knew would shut them up totally.

"Young men, my daughter wasn't part of any shooting or gang or culprit nonsense, is that clear?" he said as they nod their heads looking graciously at the paper, with smiles from ears to ears.

"Again, I'll call any of you when i find the boy that put my daughter into this mess, he's still going to come to her, So, when I call, please don't hesitate to come for him, maybe he'll lead you to their gang, so that you'll arrest all of them. Is that clear? "

"Yes sir" They salute as they walked out quietly without even seeing who they came for.

Mary heard everything they said from the bathroom, she wanted them to leave before she could come out, she came out of the bathroom quietly, walked into the sitting room, though nervous but she has to face her father anyhow, Mary sat on the cushion, as her dad kept on pressing his phone, acting like she was not there.

"Daddy?" "Daddy!!" Mary called out, he looked up at her, and threw away his face. "Daddy. Now!"

"where is he?, Mary where's your father, I don't think you understand, am already in doubt, and I really wonder if am your Dad, because the girl I saw yesterday wasn't my daughter, she wasn't the daughter I trained, the girl I saw wasn't Mary, you know..." he continued, "I said a lot of good things about you in the car on our way here last night, but all you had to do was shame me, now I look like a fool to all of my friends, Mary am really calm now, I don't even know what to think or ask you, so please help yourself out of my presence, and I won't repeat myself, GET OUT! " He shouted.

Mary walked out of the room with her head faced down, she was almost angry with everything her father said, there was no sign of remorse or regret, she felt he said too much.

Mary after a quiet day felt she needed to call Solo, she called but his line wasn't available, she tried calling some of her gang, still the same result, she knew what was up, she immediately used her laptop connected it and private sent a private chat to Solo, " _Solo what trigger? it's Khalifa?_ _"_

_" queen! bin waiting like hell for text, what's triggering na? "_

_"Solo, every where's burning o, don't even think of showing face"_

_"Message received. Khalifa, Heard that Abbey exposed us, we will kill him,"_

_"Message received, but Solo I suggest we threaten the asshole, I still need drugs, he'll be my handsman, abeg_ _"_

_"Khalifa you'll get your share, anyhow somehow, please disconnect, customer around. I'll miss you Khalifa, take kiss and keep the remaining."_

Mary smiled as she disconnected.

***

It was 7pm,the awkward feeling was back, she kept on scratching her hair, the fan was turning very fast, but the heat wasn't a kind torture. Mary stood up, this time the ground was light, everywhere was shaking, she sat down on the floor near her bedside drawer. She opened it to look for her very famous drug, as she opened the container, it was empty, now the heat cored internally, She cried in her mind, she knew it was going to be a long night. Suddenly she heard a knock on room door, she answered but it would have sounded very low, because the person kept on calling, she feared her Dad would see her in this state, she wasn't sure what of what to do, Mary had to get on her feet as she struggled to get to the door, she was very afraid as she kept on shaking, scratching every where, as she opened the door partially, It was Abiodun he pushed himself in and immediately locked the door, Mary was very glad to see him, she graciously sat on the floor near the door, Abiodun delivered everything he was sent to her, he knelt down and arranged the drugs and he waited for her to sniff in the Kuli, Everything was getting better and she felt very cool, the feeling was unexplainable, Abiodun looked to her like a small boy with dreads, she smiled as she stood up with the other drugs she was with marijuana and other rolled weeds, she looked at Abiodun and kept on smiling, he looked very scared.

"Uncle Abbey, give this money to Solo when you see him, don't worry they won't hurt you and your family, as long as, you know now" Mary gave him Money enough to get another of what she just had.

"Err, Mary please dinner is ready, your Dad said he wants you at the table immediately" Abiodun said as he quietly walked out of her, before he misbehaves because of what he was inhaling.

Few more minutes Mary walked to the dining table confidently,

"Daddy who is this? Tell him to leave my sit..." Mary said and folded her hands at the back of the person.

"young woman seat somewhere else and don't be rude" Her father replied as he was very surprised at the tone of someone that should be feeling remorseful. Mary immediately realized that here motions were heightened, she quickly bow her head and went to a vacant seat, Abiodun brought out the food and placed them on the table, Kemi stood to serve, Abiodun had been looking uneasy ever since he came to the house, something everyone noticed, when Mary's father asked him, he lied he was a little ill, Mr Ayo made sure he left after he finished cooking, the dining table was dull no one spoke, Mary spoon barely carried anything to her mouth, she was very worried, she thought of what her gang might have done to Uncle Abbey, her mind flashes back to what the old woman told her, she feared she won't be able to stop smoking drinking and taking In hard drugs, she was more afraid of what the future holds for her, she thought about life without the drugs, life impossible she mumbled in her head again.

"Baby girl, why aren't you eating? Don't you like the food?" Kemi asked looking concerned, Mary said nothing, and she doesn't like being called _baby,_

"Pelumi, if you know you are not hungry, please go to your room, I don't have time for all these" Ayo tells her,

"Ahan-han, daddy Mary, don't say that to her,She has not eaten anything now" Kemi quickly said, "Dear, don't mind your daddy, eat your food, you hear?"

"no Aunty Kemi it's fine, I'll go to my room" Mary said, Kemi disagreed, and followed her begging her back to the table, she even followed Mary to her room, begging her to eat something, Mary agreed to eat noodles as proposed by Kemi, she was happy make her something.

Kemi left the kitchen she saw Ayo sitting facing the television watching the news, Kemi boldly walks to the flat screen and reduced the sound of television.

"Kemi, please am not up for any arguments now"

"Ayo what was all that for?" Kemi said with a silent tone, "what's wrong?"

"Kemi for the last time don't come in between me and my daughter,"

Kemi seriously smiled and sat down near him, "is she your daughter, ehn? Because the last time I asked I was told you were in doubt, that Mary was your child."

"oh, see I was angry, you know I should be" He answered and threw away his face

"aren't you still Angry? Angry man, come to think of it, shouldn't Mary be angry too? "

"Angry for what?"

"angry that you have not been the father she wants, angry that she almost have no one, angry of life for taking away her mother, sometimes in certain stage, drugs is a better companion, Ayo how much do you know, your daughter, because she asks herself everyday if you're truly her father, this stage of a child is very delicate in parenting if you miss it here, you'll miss it truly" Kemi said quietly but in a rush.

She walks to Mary's room to know if she was done with eating.

Mr Ayo, laid back on his chair, he was filling the guilt, memories and thought of his pregnant wife flood in.

Mary ran to her, okó mi listen. Ayo smiled as he gently leaned his ears on her big stomach; he brought out a big grin. "Finally I get to hear you kick, Haha, can you feel that?"

"Yes now" she laughs, am the one carrying her now.

They both sat down, Ayo brought out a stool for her to place her leg. And gave her milk

"My love let me remind you, how much I love you...."

"Daddy, Daddy!!" Mary called out, her father was already asleep, as he gently opened his eyes gently he saw his wife, he was convinced it was Mary.

"ma-rr-ri, is this you" he said pointing weirdly

"Yes Dad it's me"

Ayo sighed on realizing it wasn't whom he thought, for once he thought he had seen a ghost, he had always wanted to see his wife in ghost form, but it was his Daughter.

"Hey why, aren't you asleep yet?"

"Dad I was. Why are you sleeping in the cushion, its 2am in the morning, you need to go to your room" Mary said as She sat down near him.

Her dad sat up, stretched himself and faced his innocent looking Daughter." I heard, you said you doubt me being your father." he said, Mary said nothing as she kept on looking at him.

"Mary, how would you think such a thing? After all I've done for you, taken care of you alone, without the help of anyone."

"Daddy, let skip the part, were you'll pretend to be perfect daddy" she responded sharply before relaxing her gut, "I have never complained to you, but sometimes I go through whatever without anyone too, I love you Dad, I really do, and I'll be damned to criticize you, but Dad I too have a story to tell." she said.

Mary stood up and knelt down and begged her dad, telling him that yesterday would be the last day he ever caught her on any drugs, her Dad also apologized for neglecting her and promised to be there to listen to her always.

It was a long night, for the first time in a long time Mary knelt and prayed to God before sleeping, she knew it was going to be very difficult to quit smoking, not to talk of kuli she mumbled, she thought for a very long time of the strategy she was going to pull, it was looking an enigma and mostly certainly unrealistic, she thought of smoking once every week, or better still once every month, she prayed for strength she really would need one of those.

After a disturbing night, she woke up as someone kept on hitting her, who would had her extra room key, if not Solo. She opened her eyes she saw him seating comfortably beside her, she smiled that she could see him again, Solo smiled back with his shining bald head and lovely set of white teeth, she wasn't ready to get up yet, but she Knows that Solo won't let her so she struggled to get up,

"Solomonii." she said with a weak tone and when she brought out her hand for their handshake, Solo ignored it and hugged her warmly,

"Solo!, what's wrong with you now?" she said as she couldn't help but feel confused.

"Khalifa, am doing the apology hug" he said as he slowly removed his hands from her shoulder,

"I wouldn't have let you go through all you went through alone. I'm a bad person.."

"what would you have done?" Mary smiled, "Solo, nothing of what happened was your fault, if you had stayed you would have endangered boys, and am daddy's girl nothing was sure to happen to me, they were even chasing me to eat." she said, Solo smiled and felt better. "But Solo how are you here now? how were you not spotted?"

"Girl, your Dad left with his members three hours ago, and I did the rest, I really wanted to see you to know you're fine. "

"my dad left, three hours ago? What time is it? " she asked as she checked her phone and gasped "ah it's almost one in the afternoon, and am still in bed.. "

"Khalifa, were you on drugs last night? This one that.... "

"No o" she interrupted him "I spoke at length with my old man, and I promised not to use those things again, Solo I really I want to try, I want to stop, I want to stop all this for good, please I need your help,"

"am listening.. " he said

"even though am looking dead, don't ever give me, any form of drugs. Okay?!"

"no queen, if u ask for dope, I'll give you, I don't think you understand, you can't stop this thing, it'll kill you if you try,"

Mary was scared, she sat on the floor, confused she started scratching her head, and coughing, she stood up but her legs were too weak ,Solo was now saying something it was too loud but yet she couldn't understand what he said, she rubbed her eyes but everywhere still seemed blur. Every were started turning , she was the one turning, Solo rushed to her and held her, He wanted to give her kuli, but she fought and insisted, Solo quickly rolled marijuana for her and lit it, and gave her, "take peace queen, take."

Mary smoked more than three wraps without realizing so, she was now high, Solo locked the door, Mary dragged the kuli from him, and sniffs everything in. "Solo, I told you not to give me peace, now see everything is peaceful, look what you did, I hate you, I hate you.." she said as she laid down on the floor looking at the turning fan.

Solo was shocked, he has never seen her this angry for being doped, he then knew she was serious to stop, he became ashamed of himself, just then he heard a strong and commanding knock on Mary door, he quickly Ran into the bathroom when he heard Mary's father voice, Mary without hesitation went to open the door, it was her father, she smiled, "hello Dad, you caught me again. This time it's Solo's fault" she said and staggered. Mr Ayo entered into the room furiously, he knew his plan had worked, he was grateful, that Daddy Solo cooperated with him to hunt down Solo, it wasn't hard finding Solo at the back of the bath tub, some group of police officers took him into their Van while Mr Ayo stayed in Mary's room and locked the door, he waited till she slept, hoping she'll recover when she wakes.

Kemi later joins him in the room, Mr Ayo was packing Mary's things, Kemi helped out, knowing full well that He had made up his mind to send his daughter out of his house, they had already contacted aunty Bisi, the room was silent, when Ayo was done, he sat on the floor, Kemi brought him whisky and a tombola, she was sober that Ayo is unhappy with the choice he had made, but she couldn't do anything about it now, not when they had packed up every of her loads, Ayo felt he was the worst father for everything that had happened to Mary, her aunt may know what to do, she's a single mother, she would have time for Mary and it was best for Mary to leave the area that made her what she is.

"Dad, aunty kemi, what are you guys doing here?" she sits up on her bed, and looked round, her Dad was on the floor and aunty Kemi was with him, she looked at the big bags beside her bed, "dad?"

Kemi stood up, with the whiskey and glass cups and left the room,

"Mary, please get dressed freshen up get something to eat, take any car you like, and leave my house" Ayo said as he stood up. Uncontrollable tears roll down Mary's cheeks.

"Daddy, please... "She cried as she quickly went on her knees, "please sir, please.." she kept on crying seeing that her dad was very serious about what he had said. If anything she knew her dad to be a man of his words.

"Daddy please now, I don't have anywhere to go, sir, please.. " she cried loudly as she became even afraid as the thought kept buzzing in her mind that she was going to leave for good,

"Mary, you can go to your Auntie's place I don't want to have anything to do with you again," He said ignoring Mary's continuous plead, "please the more time you waste here the more I get angry, so just leave my house, you're a big girl now" he concluded and left her room, Mary pursued him, she met aunty Kemi in the parlor She quickly went to her and hugged her, still crying penuriously, "aunty, come and beg my Daddy please now, aunty kemi, my Dad want me to leave, aunty please help me"

Kemi was sad, she felt great pity for her, but she drew her to herself, telling her that her dad is very angry and he needs time to heal, advising that she go to her auntie's place.

Mary after an hour, she was done with eating, it was almost evening, it was going to be a long drive to the island in Lagos, she called the mallam at the gate to help out with the luggages, she picked her favorite jeep a red range rover sport and packed her loads into it till she was sure that nothing was missing, she hugged Aunty Kemi that stood and watched her, "take care of my dad, ma"

"I will, do call me you here?"

"Yes ma" she replied as she enters the car and drove off, Ayo watched his daughter from the window upstairs, tears covered the surface of his eyes, "my baby" he mumbled
**Chapter Three**

The night was long as she expected it be, she had never been so afraid all her life, her Dad had never done anything like this to her before, she drove on top speed down the freeway, it was almost dark, she increased the volume of her audio box, to listen to Enya's _only time_ , the Music always made her wish her mother was here, a comfort came to her to know that Aunty Bisi was like mother to her, she really looks like her mother, from the pictures she had seen, Mary had always wish to spend more time with Aunty Bisi, but drugs had always been the hindrance, now she's left with no choice.

" _Hello! Aunty mi,_ there's tarffic jam at the bridge, but I'll out of here soon."

" _wo!_ Baby, be careful oo, _ah jesu_ , am going to fight with your dad o, he would not see this coming, ehn, tell me how Ayo would give you a car this night to drive from Main land to the island, _tori kini?_ , please be careful, I'll call you back." She panicked

"Hello Ayo. " Bisi yelled

" _ehehen_ , Bisi have you heard from my daughter?"

"Ayo _, o da bi kpe, eti ya weréy_ , You are very Mad, ah you don't know me o, maybe because _mon ba e soro lori phone_ (maybe because we're always speaking through the phone) , because if you are in your right senses you would not send Mary to me alone, you even gave her a car to drive here by herself, Mr Man you have crossed your boundary and if anything happens to my baby _, ah ma kpa yin_ ( I will kill you), nonsense!" she concluded and cut off the connection without waiting to hear his side of reasoning.

Bisi quickly ran outside with her flip flop, it was almost 8pm in the evening, she walked to the junction of Her street the only road that could lead Mary to her house, she wanted to call again but she feels it was risky calling someone on a steer wheels,

After some minutes she saw a car slowly maneuvering into the street, she felt totally convinced that it was her niece, and she was right. Bisi was now very relieved and at ease, she was even more relieved when she entered the car, and saw that Mary was looking very Big, matured and can even drive very well, she was amazed, "oh, how time flies" she mumbled in her heart.

"Hello Bisi..."

"Yes! "

" _jor_ , have Mary gotten to your place, because she's not picking my call, please.. "

"yes, Mary is fine. Good night "

"Bisi Bisi!! Please don't hang up I need to explain the reason for my actions, please hear me out."

"Ayo, tomorrow, it's already late, I'll hear you out tomorrow, and am sorry for how I reacted earlier, goodnight Daddy Mary"

"Mama Ibeji, good night" Ayo said and smiled, he was happy, that Mary was okay.

"Sir Can I come in? "Kemi said peeping through the door,

"kemi, Work time is Over, you are going to be my Wife, so drop all this act, you need to start acting as my wife" Ayo said and smiled

Kemi walked shyly into his room, She sat near him on the cushion, Ayo reduced the volume of the Television set, "Kemi, in case you're thinking , or you'll be feeling guilty as to be called my wife, don't. I just want you to know that you're not replacing My late wife, I'll love you more than I have ever loved anyone, you are not the lucky one, I am. I love you Kemi Damilola the daughter of Fasasi"

Kemi looked into Ayo's eyes as he spoke, her heart pounded, she had waited for more than fifteen years for this day, she was very happy in her heart but the expression on her face did not really show it so. Ayo brought his face; Kemi warmly closed her eyes and kissed him.

* * * *

Paul and peter were very quiet children they looked much like their mother Bisi facial but not in the quiet aspect and some random behavior, they were five years of age, They did almost everything together, especially the house chores they would rinse the dishes, Mary loves them so much, Paul and Peter were very handsome and well taken care of, Mary knows the story of Aunty Bisi and Uncle Lanre divorce. Well as she heard it was all Uncle Lanre's fault, all she knows is that, Uncle Lanre is at London with his Igbo wife, who gave birth to another twin for him.

"Aunty Baby! Mummy says I should tell you that Breakfast is ready, that you should come and eat now." Paul said to her and ran off

"Baby!! Aunty Bisi doesn't want to quit that Baby name she calls me ni?" Mary said, she was almost done dressing her room, everything were in place, it now almost like home, only her room was way bigger." Mary had already said her prayers, she knows she had entered another phase in her journey to be a better girl.

Mary led the prayer at the table, were they ate the twin favorite food, bread and egg with beverage, Mary ate comfortably, and also gist with her aunty like they were sisters.

After breakfast her aunt was curious to know everything, Mary couldn't lie to her mother like aunty, Mary told Bisi the Genesis of her life encounter with hard drugs, she was very surprised and at the same time touched at how her little niece have been fighting everything on her own, she wanted to blame Mary on some part of the story she heard but she felt it wasn't necessary. After the talk Bisi left Mary and went to her room, she held the tears in her eyes as she picked up her phone to call Mary's father, she wanted to hear his part of the story he Planned on explaining.

"Hello Dady Mary?!" she quickly said

"hey iyaibeji, how are you? And my boys"

"They're fine."

"Bisi, yesterday you were angry because that Mary came to your house alone, I wanted to explain my actions to you.. "

"am listening " Bisi quickly said, it was infact why she called.

Ayo continued "before anything, i got it all wrong, training my daughter, understanding her " he went on "Mary, is a drug addict, it has gotten deep into her, in fact she sniffs a drug, that is highly sold around here, yesterday I made a decision, a hard one, I intentionally sent her, I never specified were she should go, I knew you were her only hope, Bisi you're my only hope too, I took a risk in letting her go by herself, Bisi please, for counseling help and care, please help her. Hello are you still here?"

"hello, Ayo, Mary told me everything anyway" she pauses "you know I will take care of her, I was just angry with your decision, it was careless and stupid, what if she was involved in an accident coming here, did you even think of that?" he said and He fell dumb realizing that his emotions shredded his decision making.

"Anyway, I will do everything in mu power to help her" she said.

He was pleased, "thank you"

"but Ayo, "she cuts in, "Mary is your daughter, never forget that"

Bisi woke up some hours later, she sat up on the cushion chair, the power supply was interrupted and in no time the parlor was unbearable to sleep in, Bisi wondered where everyone was, she sluggishly walked to the balcony, her sons were playing football with her neighbors, when she asked about Mary's welfare, she was told that she left them for her room just some minutes ago, Bisi immediately walked fast to her room, when she got there bang in without knocking, she found Mary on the floor twirling and turning on the floor,

" _jesu omo mi omo mi(my child, my child)_ " she panicked

Mary strived as she was pulled up to the wall, she sat and faced down, looking lifeless.

She wanted to speak but she wasn't able to.

Bisi kept on shouting "Mary talk to me, what's wrong?! " Bisi was very scared she thought of what to do, she quickly immediately carried Mary to the bathroom and turned on the shower, she made her seat under the cold water, she felt that Mary was getting strength so she kept it pouring, after a while Mary made her know that it was okay, "it was the kuli I told you about ma, I can't just do, without it". Mary was surprised on how the water revived her, she is grateful that there was something at least able to bring her back.

When she was dressed Bisi took her to the back of the house, she had earlier sent a neighbor to buy cigarettes.

Bisi helped herself lite up one, and passed the matches to Mary, her hands were shaking like she was feeling feverish, Bisi helped her lit It.

"you'll try leave without KULI and smoking, because I'll take you to a rehab here"

"Re—habbb. Were they keep mad people?" Mary exclaimed

Bisi smiled and tried to ameliorate "Baby, Rehab though for some crazy people but, are for people sure of recovery, you'll get through this okay you're not alone"

"yes ma," she answered as she lit another cigarette, she avoided any second thought, "aunty mi, please let's go tomorrow, unless I'll drive myself back to where I Can buy drugs, Aunty mi, I'm restless right now and am fighting hard. "

Bisi was proud of her, "Baby, tell me, why are you fighting it now? " she paused "Why do you want to change? What's your motivation?"

* * * *

As Mary parked her bag, she came across her picture album, it's been almost two years she opened it,

Mary remembered the good old days, days were she had little worries, she remembers her friends Ijeoma and Dupe, "triple Beauty" she mumbled and smiled.

Mary picked up a picture it was Kingsley, Kingsley was the only guy she admired, like she never believed that there would be any guy that would get to heart this much, he was super cute in her words, even though her ego and pride made it less obvious to anyone, what surprised Mary's friends was that he was a junior. Kingsley was very quiet with his cute afro hair and red lips. Mary smiled as she saw the only picture of Kingsley with her, on her graduation from senior secondary, she remembers how she stalked him all through the party, and later got to take a picture with him, and the after parties they rocked and danced. "See my small face! ". Mary said, Mary was double minded but then picked up her phone from her bag, searched for minutes for the battery, after some minutes of fixing up her abandoned phone, she called her best friend,

"hello Ijeoma!"

"ehnn! Queen Khalifa, is it really you?!" she exclaimed

"I J, how far, it's me..." she replied warmly

"what's wrong with you babe, your voice sounds like you're sick, are you okay?"

"babe, don't know where to start, there's a lot going on with me, I've been a bad friend too" she paused "how's Dupe?!"

"Dupe is fine, she finally _don_ travel go Ilorin now, she got admitted into University of Ilorin"

"seriously? And no one told me?"

"were u _dey_?, your phone no _dey_ always on, security no fit allow person enter your place and i _dey_ always avoid embarrassment you know now.." there was silence between them both "Mary we were shoulders, I loved you, you tell me everything, now I can't even keep up with you.." Ijeoma said quietly and all emotions in her tone too,

Mary could not help it, she started crying, Ijeoma could hear her audibly even though she removed the mouth piece from herself. "Mary.. Mary!!"

"I.J, I love you, and I miss you, I'll be fine..." Mary said and cuts off the call, she wanted to quickly call Solo before her aunt came back for her. She immediately started feeling her fingers move, her body had began to react again, every part of her body starts itching her real bad, she haven't felt this way before, maybe the water therapy she had earlier used worsen the sustained pain, she wasn't able to shout she knew nobody would hear her, she just gently laid down on the floor, tears rolled down her eyes, tears of regret mixed with tears of pains, the pain she felt were more than just itches they were severe, they were sharp strong unbearable pains, it hurts. She remembered her happy moments, she remembered Kingsley, after the after Party of her graduation it was 7pm in the evening, he accompanied her, they stopped along the way. She had been laughing since they started walking.

"well you aren't a bad dancer, I think you just let your ego come In your way of so many opportunities and high school fun" Kingsley said,

She blushed, "... I don't think I missed much." Then they stopped, she feel her heart beat as he took her by her hands, her sweaty hands.

"I love you Mary." He said, Mary quickly looked at him, his blue eyes stayed glue to hers. "well say something!"

"what??" she giggled already blushing, as she acted as if she's forgotten what he said, Kingsley smiled too, it became awkward how they both smiled at themselves, suddenly he started bringing his mouth closer to hers, Mary knew what he was up to but was scared if she could, this was something she had never done before, so many thoughts flew through her mind, " _is my mouth smelling?" "am I going to bite him or the other way round?" "would I taste his saliva.?" "hope he won't take me a novice?!"_

She finally gently kissed him gently and slowly, her toes were up and her eyes shut, his hands reached out for her butt, and her hands rested on his shoulder, " _men!, this was good."_ She told herself as they had a break; she threw herself on him again, trying to ease herself and the way she felt.

After a while she was almost home.

"Mary, was that your first kiss?!" Kingsley asked

"me? ha-ha-ha. Why would you think so?" she replied trying to totally deny in a way he wouldn't notice, but it was the reverse case.

"no, nothing, just that it was mine, and I loved it, though I was anxious, but I just reached out.." he said, Mary just smiled.

Mary smiled she was almost home "stay healthy king" she said as she slowly left his hands and waved him.

"stay healthy?" She kept saying to herself, "what type of stupid reply was that?"

A sharp pain made her opened her eyes, though everywhere looked blur and upside-down, she could see aunty Bisi jumping up and down, and three men kneeling just besides her. Her eyes closed gently, it wasn't something she could stop.

"You'll be fine"
**CHAPTER FOUR**

" If heaven was a mile away. Focus. Heaven is a mile away, heaven is a mile away"

The room is spotless all white, just a mirror and a clogging fan. Some basic lyrics from a song, "ANGELS _"._ Sang through Mary's head and heart, her room was also scanty with just a bed and a table with water, After three months of life unbearable rehabilitation at the state's capital, Mary could barely say she's seen hell, her body still feels every pain of every syringe pierced in to her, she get injected very often, every time she gets injected, she builds a world in her head, a very perfect life she had wished for or had happened before.

Her best times were recess and consultation period. Her best consultants were Miss Zara, Mr Ike wasn't bad either but she hated him or more like she pretended to, they prepared her for the life after rehab. Mary had refused to speak to anyone, not even her aunt, till now.

"hey just so you know, in three minutes' time, you'll be allowed to speak to anyone, and someone is here to see you." An attendant said through the hole from the iron door.

"I'M NOOT SEEING ANYONE!" Mary shouted at the top of her voice as she had repeated countless times.

Mary could hear the attendant hiss in disgust talking to another attendant,

"I told you, the senator's daughter don't want to see anyone, tell that Solo guy to go" A guy said already leaving the door when Mary pounced on the iron framed door, hitting her head against the frame, she had not fully recovered from the injection she received, but could not help it when she heard the name. Three attendant immediately rushed into her room, her head was bleeding, two nurses rushed in, try to pacify her was the problem, Mary kept on shaking and struggling with them, on the bed as they held her down trying to inject to her drugs to make her calm, Mary knew that if she was injected, she would miss Solo, she tried speaking but everywhere seemed so loud to her, "leave me, leave me!!" she kept on shouting, "please don't let sooo low go, please help mee". Everything Mary said made no sense to any of them, not until one of the attendant noticed the frequent call of Solo, he felt She was in her right senses, he immediately ordered that they treated her wounds, and also he sent someone to stop the person waiting for the senator's daughter from leaving, Solo wasn't even ready to go yet, he disagreed, he couldn't believe Mary would ask him to leave no matter the circumstance.

After some minutes, Mary was a little conscious and was ready to see her visitor, she walked up to a corner, and pressed a button that alerted the notice of the attendant, in no time she was released to see Solo.

Mary smiled like a sickened patient with a bandaged head, as she approached the visiting room, she saw Solo Waving with a wide and big grin, Mary sat down facing Solo and the glass demarcation, tears surfaced her dark eyes when she saw how Solo was. He had surely missed him but Solo might have gone through a lot, He's hair on his head was now full, his beards were not shaved, he wore a clean cloth V-neck sweater but that was not his style, and he was very lean. She was sure that it would have been all her fault.

"Queen Khalifa!" Solo said in a quiet and shaky tone.

"Solomon" Mary replied and placed her hand on the glass. Solo touched the glass on which she placed her hand dramatically. Mary smiled and folded her hands in her white uniform like she was cold. Her hair fell that it covered half of her face and half on her smile.

"how are you? Mary" Solo asked as he had already guessed what her answer was, Mary just smiled and bent her head, Solo continued "your aunt sent her greetings.", Mary still said nothing, I brought your favorite dish, fish soup, its with the house caterer."

"Thank you." Mary said and smiled.

Solo waited for Mary to say something, Mary just stared at him, she was happy Solo was at her front, that was all she wanted.

"Mary are you happy?" Solo asked quietly

"The road is narrow, but the end is heaven." She said and coughed "Solo, how's the hood, gist me"

The question got Solo up, he raised his shoulders and move closer to her. His eyes spoke a thousand words as he scratched his head and looked around, "Queen, king is Dead." Solo answered in a quiet tune. Mary covered her mouth, the news shook her.

"Shittu? How? What?"

Solo continued, "he was shot, I was arrested by your father, and was tortured till I exposed us, the POLICE and NDLEA ran an operation on our route, killed our number one and other saints, they arrested some."

Mary looked at Solo's eyes and instead of seeing poverty, she saw fears. Her hand never left her mouth.

"Solo, you have been marked." She said

"Queen that's why am here, I am at the edge of traveling to Spain but I need some cash to add to my own, Queen any way you can help me" Mary stands up,

"I'll help you..." she moves her chair back and went to the spot, to make a call. She quickly called her father.

"Hello, who's this?" Her father answered, he was in his office.

"Daddy Pelumi, it's me"

"Mary?? "He quickly answered.

"yes sir, it's me, I need something very urgently, and I have not less than two minutes here, can you hear me?"

"sir. ." she continued, "I'll send Solomon to your house in the evening, sir, please give him seven fifty thousand naira, he wants to travel out, don't ask me why you would help, just know that you are have done a lot to him already, Solo is running for his life, and he can't die, he just can't die, so if you want to still be called Daddy Pelumi, you have to help him." Mary commanded,

"what's this rubbish you're saying?" Ayo quickly replied without hesitation, "I am not going to help any criminal. You've lost your damn mind, I had come for you at your rehab home, times after times, you refuse to see me, you refuse to see your Father, now, Now you're asking me to give a criminal, a culprit money, bullshit." he shouted.

Mary bends her head, she was very angry her emotions were heightened again, she breathed in and out and then dialed her Aunt Bisi who promised to assist Solo with half a million naira.

"I'll miss you. Solomon be careful OK!"

Solo was already crying, he had a lot to tell her, but there was very little time, and it wasn't the best place for a goodbye. Mary couldn't help herself tears started rolling from her eyes too, she ran to open up the door of the glass demarcation, it was locked she knelt down there and screamed at the top of her voice, attendant rushed to her to see what had happened, she kept on crying saying she wanted to hug Solo, they opened the door, she then rushed out and jumped on him, she hugged him tight.

"Solo, take care of yourself, please make it there and come back, please." She cried

As Mary sat down alone during recess in a table, where she was served the fish soup her aunt prepared her. Memories of her and Solo sweeps through, she thought of when Solo cooked fried rice.

Father had not employed a chef, Mary was with Ijeoma and Dupe one Saturday afternoon, Solo went to the Market to get items for the fried rice, the deal was Solo would buy the items for cooking , Dupe would plait Mary's hair and Ijeoma would prepare the food. Not for Solo to come back and say he must cook, all the girls disagreed because they were all hungry and was not ready to play with their lunch, Solo insisted after promising them that if they hated the food, he would buy them lunch. They all later agreed after minutes of pleading, Solo was very happy, he took the food stuff to the kitchen and in no time started cooking.

Mary and her friends were in the parlor watching _Telemundo_ but were perceiving the nice aroma coming out of the kitchen, they were rather scared than surprised, they waited patiently for Solo, after about thirty minutes later, Solo served the fried rice on the dining table. They slowly walked to the dining table, to their surprise Solo had really prepared fried rice, they gave him a hundred percent before even tasting the food, and when they finally tasted the food, they were very impressed that they stood up and went to give him a hug and kiss each, Solo got lot of the love and praises that day. In the evening that same day, Solo and Mary were discussing about future plans, when she asked him of what he really wanted to become.

"you know, being a chef wouldn't be bad for you, seriously"

"yea, I know, i was once a chef" Solo replied as Mary immediately jumped up, removed the folded wrap of weed she was smoking, so that she would shout well, she had been with Solo for years and never knew he was once a chef or even knows how to cook.

Solo made her know his intention of making it big, So that he would own a big eatery. That night, Solo prepared Semolina and Egusi soup.

* * * *

"you've been smiling at your food for minutes now" an inmate said occupying the empty seat beside her, Mary heard him but acted unlikely, she wasn't fond of talking with anyone, the churl, dreaded with a whole archaic fashion, was still tossed to Mary and her fish soup, Mary felt quaint and demised by everything that he had to say, she left the peasant with her zesty fish soup.

Minutes later they were all sent to their wards to receive their dose, the same fashion every day, Mary was already sick of everything, she was feeling Itches, she had not felt the impulsiveness of the almighty Kuli on her for a long time, but they still served her the same quantum of dose every time, she for once felt that those dosage she had always received was now her problem, when she receives them, Like drugs she have no very control of her actions.

Even as the nights draw nigh there was still time for therapy for special mates, Mary was one of them, today, Mr Ike was to speak to her, the effect of the drugs given her was still heavily felt on her, she laid her head on the wooden table, wishing she wasn't there and everything wasn't how it was.

"how do you feel now, young designer?" He said taking his position facing her.

Mary did not reply, she knew that was the first thing Ike would ask her, she hates Ike's sense of approach, he would always smile, he's smile is always big and loud, Ike is a very handsome young man, highly piquant he sometimes looked, but she hates his questions, she hates how his questions sound very direct and annoying, so most times she answers using a smile as an approval and an awkward silence for a negative response, Ignoring his shrewd.

"so you had a visitor today." he began. Mary showed him her miserable smile.

"Well that's good seems like you're tired of staying alone" Hearing that Mary said nothing "he have started again" she mumbled in her heart.

"so who came by? " he eventually asks evasively

"Solomon"

"wait, like Solomon you mean, Solo, the same guy?" He asks

"yes."

"wow, how did he know about your were about? " Ike asks, Mary still keeps quiet, Ike continued. "And for once I thought you had changed, like you've started seeing your family. But no, you'd rather prefer seeing the person that made your life a mess than the people that are trying to make you better, Mary right?"

"that does it" Mary grunted in her heart

"Mr. Ike, what is change to you?, what do you even know, This lady seated right before you is change, am in this fucking rehab, this stupid place I find myself today, I brought myself here, I am change, I would rather see someone that made my life capricious but beautiful, a whimsical, lively man, stranger like a brother, brother like a husband and servant like a friend, not a father like stranger, an aunty like a friend and still a family like deserted city. Be corrected Mr. Ike sir, you're sitting next to a changed girl..." she shouted Panting as her voice echoed and as she stopped talking it dropped like no one had said a thing, her hands were doing most of the work gesticulating,

Ike smiled like he was fulfilled, he just stretched his leg like he was looking for money, while Mary sat up and folded her hands, waiting to attack him on anything he says, Ike wasn't looking like he wanted to reply, Mary was surprised she saw Ike bring out well grinded paw paw weed, in a transparent nylon, Ike acted serious on his endeavours, he brought out a wrapper and in the traditional method he packed the weed in the wrapper, folded it with caution and antique, he does for another, while Mary watched, her heart were beating fast, so many thoughts crossed her mind, her eyes popped out she looked at Ike, her faces were asking the right questions, when Ike was done, he brought out a lighter, smiled at Mary using her hand gesture, signifying that Mary hold up for a minute. He put light in on the well wrapped weed, leaving two other on the table, he smoked the weed in, filling his mouth with enough smoke, that when he blew out, the whole room was choked up, he smiled and said, "help yourself, if you want"

Mary was confused, like she was in the middle of the red sea, and she had to choose between Pharoses and the wilderness. She watched Ike take on the second wrap, she immediately stretched out her hands for the last wraps, as she struggled with it she placed it on her mouth, she then reach out for the lighter and burned the wrapper on, before she knew what was going on more than four attendant rushed into her ward they grabbed her and quickly injected her, chained her to her bed, as she kept on screaming and shouting raining causes on Ike, till everything faded and she could own her world.

"what's prof favourite saying?"

"put on your seat belt, in life you don't only need IQ but I CAN" Dupe answered

"hey that was easy. " Ijeoma groan

"my turn, my turn, how many guys did I date in sec? " Dupe asked as her grin spread wide .

Mary and Ijeoma laughed,

"Junior, Rafael, Tami, Josh, Kunle, Joseph, Matthew, err what's his name oo..."

"kpekpe!" Mary and Ijeoma shouted

"Dupe's dating life was a mess; she dated any guy that said she was pretty." Mary said shaking her head

"hey you all, who was and is still my one and only baby boy?" Mary asked leaning down to her chair.

"was, okay but still, if it's Kingsley you're referring to, he's not yours oo."

"what do you mean by that? " Mary immediately sat up and asked, ijeoma tried to change the topic but Dupe continued seems like the truth they made her know, gutted her.

"wait, khalifa, are you thinking that because you kissed Kingsley last week officially made him yours" she said and continued "king boy, na bad boy o, forget say him just quiet for school, that boy na banga lee, if you see him babe, girl! You go fall" Dupe said, the parlour was quiet, Mary leaned back pressing her phone acting like she don't care but her hearts was beating simultaneously. "if you still dey doubt babe, tomorrow at basheer lounge, Makinde bash party I swear, Kingsley with his bae go dey there"

"Dupe, e don do you now," Ijeoma interrupted and hissed.

***

The druggy smell of her ward was still intolerable, as she drank her red wine, she was now used to life at the rehab, she was treated nicely, last month she spoke with her step mother, Kemi was happy, that Mary accepted her with opened arms, she was now a big girl at least that was What Kemi felt.

Early this month, Mary gained Admission into University of Lago.s To study Insurance. She never told anyone not even her aunty, Miss Zara from the rehab was the best thing that had happened to Mary, she relates a lot with Mary, helped her with the exams and processing, Mary was very grateful to her.

"so you caught Kingsley at the party with his lover?" Zara asked as they gisted whilst her consultation seconds, Mary smiled and nodded her head,

"yeah, he's girl was way cuter and much matured than I" Mary said. "In fact, i approached him where he sat, he acted very happy to see me, he hugged me, and dragged me to were was less noisy, for us to discuss, after all said, I asked him who he was with, he smiled and boldly told me that, Priscilla was his wife, as in like more than girl friend to him, he was even bold to say, and that they had been together for like one year then. I was so upset, but I smiled and tapped him on his shoulder, after I left the party I felt Like a fool, I was Khalifa, boys big boys were afraid of me, and I stoop myself so low to my junior who played snooker with my Heart, that's what I told myself when I went home" Mary said and Zara laughed and laughed.

"After then, which other guy came your way?" Zara asked

Mary smiled, and shakes her head. "Who would dare? Miss Zara" I was the Queen of my cult, even my King never for once misbehaved, may he Rest in peace. Personally I placed myself very high, were I saw guys as trash, and it worked, I never needed a guy for anything, I got satisfaction from different pleasures, Sexual aside ma."

"Anyway, I know that after here, you'll give your heart a chance to love someone."

"I hope too Ma."

An attendant walked in "Ma, it's her dosage time"

"Baby drink up... It's your last night."
**CHAPTER FIVE**

(some months later)

If there's one thing Solanke hates was the boys missing their chances when they had it, he wish he was on the ball, as he watched them from the goal post, he knows that he doesn't have the choice to gamble in with his role like they did, he would be highly criticized, but no one would criticize their errors, the coach would just shout, and sometimes hail them telling them _'more of that'._ Well the training was a soft one, so he relaxed and kept on drinking water.

Solanke looked at the fans seat, the same red head girl, more than five successive training now, always watching the training and reading God knows what. Maybe she was looking for a player, a costly joke that cost him a goal, before he could dive the round Nike ball hit the top of the bar and then reach the back of the net, he smiles and put his hand on his head, the whole team was on him, asking questions that he couldn't answer.

After the training, he packed his bag and ran up the stairs of iron framed stadium, he was restless.

"red hair girl, red hair girl!" he said as he moves closer, she moves backwards raising her head in disgust.

"excuse me? If you're referring to me, that is not my name" she replies quietly without looking at him.

Solanke quickly remembers an encounter with her, the girl from the faculty of banking and finance he assumed, the girl that once called him a cobbler at the fresher's night party.

"red hair girl, don't you remember me? Me _show boy,_ that you called cobbler at the fresher's night."

She hissed and started packing her books, "try again, that was lame."

Solanke scratched his head, "err I wanted to know why you always show up during our training, are you looking for a boy friend? Because, all of us here have wives o, so..."

Now she was done packing she pull herself slowly out were he stood.

"excuse me red hair girl, at least your name now" Solanke asked, She turned back seductively starred at him,

"you don't need my name, you need prayers your goalkeeping today was horrible." she said and somehow acted like she winked him.

It made him very angry, who was she any way.

"Show Boy, Show Boy." His guys and play mate called out, he hurried to meet them.

On their way he kept on complaining about the girl he met, his guys wasn't even concerned about what he was complaining about, they were bothered about what they would eat that evening. There wasn't enough cash so there was no time to talk about girls.

Solanke in his heart vowed to impress her in the next training.

At the next football training, Solanke was at his worst, everything got him angry, but he was more angry that the red head girl wasn't at her usual spot, she insulted him, and dumped him, his team conceded five goals before he removed his gloves and angrily walked out after he was replaced, he packed his bags, Solanke later realized that he was just angry over nothing. The girl in contention was not even beautiful, she had her rubbish red hair, her black lips, she was fine small but was she finer that Gloria, Fumilayo, or even small Banke in his department, she's even a fresher why would the rubbish she had to say interest him, all shuffled in his heart, as he crossed the road heading to his hostel outside campus. When he got to the gate of his hostel, he met three very troublesome friends of his, they might have been waiting for him because they were all very happy when they met him, hailing and chanting his name "heyy Show Boy, Show boy"

Solanke wasn't really in the mood but he was left with no choice but to accommodate welcome them in, hours later Solanke had already forgotten what almost spoilt his days as he gracefully won all the match he played with his guys on his PC, turns out video games were better relief than to a bad day. "NEXTT!! " he would shout after winning.

The boys hardly realized that it was evening already after so many games not until the power was interrupted, they shouted, Temi had already scored Solanke one goal when the light went out, others laughed at him. They boys waited for Solanke as they promised to buy him Dinner.

They went to the junction, the T – junction was very busy. Traffic light held some bus and cars moving horizontally while the cars moving vertically were on pace, Market men and women turned on their generator, food vendors sold at one end, other activities at the other.

They had their dinner at a tea joint, were the mallam fried egg with bread and prepared tea, when they were done, Yomi and Ben jokingly thought of hanging out at Iya kafayat place, Iya Kafayat sells agbo, gin, alcoholic drinks and some herbal drinks at _Pako_ bus stop just a cross road from where they sat, they persuaded Solanke to follow them there "one SK won't kill now"

Solanke was studying Medicine, He was in his first year second semester. To most of his friends Solanke brings life to anywhere he stays, they so much enjoys his company, his humor, intelligence and character made them love him.

Unlike other days Iya kafayat joint was filled with people, girls and boys, smoking, drinking and dancing to a familiar music playing across the street, they sat at one end.

Solanke noticed more than five of his guys, students, he got cigarettes for himself so he could feel among, then he went round to greet them, as he patted Afolabi he noticed one red hair girl smoking. He ignored her, "was there only one red hair girl in the area" he thought to himself as he sat down shaking his head to the music, "what was I even thinking, how would my Red hair girl be in a place like this?" he smiled.

Minutes later, he raised his head to really look at the girl, she had smoked more than three wraps, and it wasn't _cigga,_ she held weed, she was on her phone ignoring the environment, listening to music, Solanke attention was drawn when he noticed some area boys disturbing her. One held her shoulder as she shrugged his hands off, he wanted to challenge them but they were street boys, and that was their hood, so he relaxed and watched. Solanke later stood up, stretched himself, he danced more to the rhythm as his guys hailed, he immediately stopped and rushed towards The red hair girls comer were there was a little commotion, she was fed up with an area boy's disturbance that she slapped one, he wanted to react when Solanke quickly ran hitting some chairs down, so the attention would be boldly drawn out. Solanke quickly pushed the man down, as his friends gather and it looked like they were going to really fight as some carried beer bottle, Solanke back up were too much, and it was obvious that the area boys were outnumbered, after minutes of arguments and shreds of curses with broken bottles. It was obvious that, the girl was high on what she smoked; he aggressively dragged her out of the scene. He held her phone and her hands, and walked out past the junction walking down the aisle.

"Osubo right?" he asked again

"ye_ss we're almost there. Sir" she replied down

"you remember me right?" Solanke asked

"yeah, the cute football player, right.?"

"you're high girl. Hope this is the right route?"

"hey, am fine, just three peace and you're panicking, I'm serious am fine, and that black gate over there, is where I stay." She said, Solanke brought out her phone and pushed it down into her back pocket. Then he left her hand, but then she was reluctant to let him go.

"you did not even ask for my name, do you already hate me? " she asked looking sober.

"we'll see tomorrow, ask for Show boy, am everywhere on campus. "

Mary smiles and staggered to her gate, while Solanke stood and watched. She turned back, and waved.

Ijeoma, sat outside and rushed to Mary, immediately she entered the gate, Ijeoma has been waiting impatiently and was very relieved when Mary walked in.

"am a fool, am a fool, am a big fool!" Mary repeated as she again filled her glass cup with the bottle of Mc Dowell already devoid of its content.

"yes you are. A big one at that" Ijeoma said, she was in her pajamas, she took away the cup, and sat near Mary, bending her head, so she could comfortably lie on her, "tomorrow morning, you're having a class as early as nine. A hangover over a hangover is not wise at this point."

"who's talking about one stupid general English, I messed myself up babe, how did I even get to pako junction sef, Chaii" Mary grumbled. Ijeoma smiled,

"infact do what you like, I'm even here begging you, when I should be asleep, my shift at work starts at 7am, if you like continue drinking, or you could sleep so that your face would look pretty for another try tomorrow."

"I J, don't go now, I want to hold you, ple_asse." Mary cried out

"Good night. Jor. "

Mary's mind ride back to when she entered the school, her lifestyle was private, she uses a red range rover, during lectures she pays less attention to anyone, she was so focused, she fight less to register for anything in school. Her name always spoke for her, she was extremely rare. Ijeoma lived with Mary at her hostel a mile away from school, she applied for a job at a hospital. She was in no time appointed, because of her record of experience.

On this day, Ijeoma disturbed Mary to go for their fresher's party, Mary insisted, she never wanted to attend any school party ever, After days of hot pestering, Mary agreed to go only if Ijeoma accompanied her, which was certain to be no issue.

As Mary and Ijeoma sat down there at a coner, Mary refused to speak with anyone, she just watched the activity, and there was this guy. He was always moving around, he looked like he was the one running the event, the moved up and down, either he was touching the microphone or clearing the stage or taking selfie or pictures with some dump girls that don't like to stay one place, or he was chatting hurriedly with some guys, he was just too much, Mary thought, is it because he was good looking with his afro hair style and nice looking body. He thinks he can ride up everyone she said to her self, as she folded her face. When the party started Mary had earlier vowed not to involve herself with alcohol, as Mr Ike would say _"to drink is easy, don't listen."_ Mary sat alone, moving her head as Ijeoma rocked boys that she was older than. The guy she had always stared at before the party, approached her, Mary was a bit scared but she had to man herself up to put Him in his place, he bent his head and was saying something, Mary really did not hear what he was saying, she Shouted "I CAN'T HEAR YOUU", He understood that the hall was booming, he held her by her hand and slowly dragged her to a less noisy corner, outside the hall.

"hey. You don't want to dance! Why?"

"excuse mee??"

"no offence, but you've got a body. Babe dance now, stop forming" he left her hand, "do you mind" he said stretching out a drink.

"no offence taken, busy body, I don't need your murky drink, and please don't touch me again." she was about going in.

"the name's Show Boy." he said and smiled.

"funny, try cobbler" she finally walked away as she looked back to see if what she had said went into his skull, but was irritated when she saw girls lurking round him, one was almost kissing him, the others laughed stupidly, like who was cracking the jokes? she wondered, as she still stared. When his eyes met with hers, she immediately removed her face and looked up, like there was something there.

After that day, though he never met her. She was curious to know who he really was, she liked everything about him, he was tall fair, with his Afro, always looking smart, he laughed with everyone, he was someone everyone loved to move with, he had sexy lips, with a point dimple and a small nose, he being social was the only part she hates, he goes to party a lot. Girls were always around him, for one reason or the other, and maybe he would be secretly into a gang or something.

She watched him train every Wednesday and Saturday, the way he handled the ball were sexy, the way he dived to get the ball, was extraordinary. The way he looked divine. Ijeoma had warned Mary of being obsessed with a boy she doesn't really know, after she claimed that she knows him, she denied liking him, but later confessed when It became very obvious. She was very happy when he approached her on that Wednesday after his training, she felt a bit happy, and her very dreams now were tarnishing.
**Chapter Six**

Mary woke up earlier than she expected but she was sure to miss her first class, Ijeoma had already left for work, she quickly tidied up her things, she needed to catch Solanke at the famous Bread and beans joint opposite works and service in the school, she wore shade and left her car behind.

As she got to the joint, she very sure to see him so she did, he was there with five other guys, gisting like ladies, he was done with eating, but they just stayed there talking.

Mary bought rice and plantain and fish. As she sat hitting the sides of the chair obstructing her, on her intentions.

She was sure to gain their attention, the guys looked together at her corner, she wasn't a girl they saw around often, she wrapped a black scarf round her head as her red hair were plaited stylishly towards her back, she wore a short top that showed her lower abdomen and a sexy Jean trousers that drew their attention for minutes before she dropped her shades and in an order manner ate her rice and pressed her phone.

"Hello red hair girl." someone said

Mary's heart dropped as she heard him, she slowly raised her head up and on seeing him she smiled in a very cute way that made Solanke forget about last night.

"Hi.. err Show Boy" she replies and smiled again, she wasn't good at it, her face looked awful when she smiled like that. Solanke gave her shake hands with her and brought out his God made smile she thought, his Smile were heavenly, with his red lips and cute dimples, a girls heart would surely melt when he smiled that way, Mary had to compose herself.

"it's Solanke"

"yes, I know" Mary said, "you're quite popular, for a fresher you know."

Solanke smiled again.

"And your name?" he finally asked

"Mary." she quickly answered. As Solanke gave her that look, she avoided his eyes and looked at her food, it was still big.

"Last night. Mary, do you remember what happened last night?"

Mary heart pounded again, what has she done she wondered. Mary just nodded her head.

"do you remember everything?" he asks again.

Mary smiles and shake her. "I think I remember little" Mary said.

Solanke drew his chair closer and spoke in a lower tune. "hey between me and you, you were high on dope last night, and even wanted to fight. You were jabbing out curses I had to help you home, Unless you might have done worse" he said.

Mary stopped smiling and bent her head, she felt ashamed, Solanke held hands that was on her laps and raised her head, "hey, am just saying. But you okay right? "

"Hey Thanks for last night, see you." Mary said and stood up about to leave.

"Mary! Hey" Solanke called out, Mary turned back "am sorry if, I had said anything wrong, please stay let me get to know you."

"am fine. " she replied and walked out of the joint.

As Solanke and his friends left the joint, he thought to himself about his encounter with Mary, he got angry with himself for bringing up the topic, "she must have been going through a lot" he thought "maybe she even lost a parent!" he wondered "that must have been her reasons for smoking". He already liked her, everything about her was perfect, everything except the fact that he saw her smoking all alone at a junction.

Days has past and Solanke had not seen or heard from Mary, he had even traced her to her faculty, were no one seems to know her were about he was worried, he sometimes had sleepiness night, he wondered how life would be with a girl like her. Though Solanke was in a relationship with a three hundred level student of Law,Toyin, Solanke never considered what would happen to her, Toyin was not a girl that was always available, she was tagged _green light_ by Solanke's friends as she was always available for sexual pleasures and outings and nothing more, words on campus was that she performs the same activity with other guys, it never moved Solanke, he knew that one day he would easily end it.

During training one rainy Saturday, Solanke saw Mary. She was there at her famous position, but this time she shouted and cheered him at the top of her voice " _otu_ show boy, _otu_ keeper" she waved and jumped happily.

"me _otu_?" he smiled, "okay, I'll show you otu"

Coach was very much surprised how Solanke performed. Solanke made himself a super man. He dived far to length that was unbelievable, Mary just kept on cheering, she was flattered by his saves.

After the training, Mary carried Solanke's bag, while he hanged a hot towel on his neck, smiles kept pouring out of his face, he was very happy that out of the moon, Mary is here and it's like they've been friend for long. Mary wore her sport wears, Addidas silver colored short and a pair of white Addidas boots, he was sure she just finish jogging.

"so, where are we headed?" he asks after a long prolong silence.

"my place." Mary quickly answered as they got outside the sport complex.

"what?!"

"yeah, my place, you know were I stay right?" she faced him, he was way taller than she, she had to look up to him, in way that got him confused.

"yess. but?"

"no but, you'll drive" she concluded and faced her car.

Solanke was shocked, she rides a range rover, he thought to himself as Mary dropped his bag at the back seat, no wonder she was not seen around the school, who really is this girl he wondered as he perplexingly collected the key and joined her.

As he reversed back he lowered the tilted glass so that his mates coming out of the sport complex would see him and the ride he was on.

As they drove out of the school, there was another bilge awkward silence between them.

Solanke wondered what he was to do when he got to where she stays, he was shaking due to the rain and powerful air conditioner inside the car, but he kept on feigning and nodding his head to rhythm of the song.

Mary wasn't sure of what would happen when they get to her house, but she very enthusiastic that he agreed to go with her, she kept on staring at him and when he looked back she would lubberly look away and smile making Solanke smile too, Solanke smiled but in fear, he knew she liked him and he her so what now.?

"hey, the direction, is this it? " he asked and he coners

"yeah you're on track? " she said and smiled

"Mary , hope there's food? cause am famished."

"no! Okay let's get snacks at that junction." she said pointing

As they got to the junction she got down and bought snacks for both of them and drinks.

When they got to her place, She made him feel comfortable, and served him snacks, she went to quickly take her bath. Solanke was surprised that a student was leaving in a duplex, with a range rover and no parent, that was sure going to be his first question when she gets back. He tuned to a sport station as he drank from a red plastic.

Minutes later Mary entered the sitting room, she wrapped herself with her towel exposing a lot of her legs, as she searched the dining table for something Solanke was interested in finding out, he just stared at her, his heart pounded and his body cells aroused him.

And some time she joined him, after apologizing for the delay they watched a movie together, gist for a long time, this time she leaned on him as he told her things about himself, not until he mentioned that he has a girlfriend, she slowly raised her head up and looked at her,

"excuse but after all that, why are you guys still together? " she asked and leaned back on him.

"to tell you the truth, I don't even know. I guess waiting for the right time to..." he said. And raised her head, "hey your turn. "

"nothing much, as I had said am a senator's daughter, I don't know lot of guys, because am always indoor, the ones I really know, I've got nothing attached to them. Not to say too much, I have never been with anyone, I mean date a guy, yeah" she said

"but its going to change soon." she concluded and dragged out the remote from him, she turned off the television. She soon turned on him, and took of her polo, Solanke pulled her to himself, pack of warm breath showered her face as he brings his lips nearer, her eyes immediately melts as she meets his lips. They continued to shelter their skin with warm cuddles and soon he laid her on the cushion, his libido froze and his body detached.

"We can't do this" he said, and kissed her fore head.

She smiled, just whom she needed in her life she was now very convinced. Although she felt embarrassed, she loved every part of him now.

"You wanna take a warm shower?"

"I'd love that very much."

Solanke was done bathing, Mary was watching a movie, as she laid on the cushion chair, Solanke went there and made her lay on his laps. Not for long Mary slept as Solanke kept on scrolling his hands softly on her red hair. Saturday was matchday so he watched football matches that was displayed live on the screen, he soon fell asleep.

Solanke's eyes opened slowly, the homely scent of Egusi soup with dried stock fish and pepper was enough to wake him up, with a soft music too, " _African queen_ " by Tu face played on a stereo in front of the TV, he sure wasn't with mattress when he fell asleep, two girls were gisting and laughing loudly, he could not see them but he guess they spoke from the kitchen, he looked at his left hand his watch showed that he had been sleeping for more than Four hours, he felt ashamed of himself, how would a girl turn him, roll a mattress on him that he could not realize.

Solanke immediately sat up, not quite long Mary ran to check on him, she was happy he had woken up, she ran to him, "hey you!"

"hey, I over slept" he said and laughed,

"yeah, I guess, it's my fault, I did not let you rest properly after training, sorry"

"nah, it's not. I think it's the late night study.." he spoke dryly "Where's my phone?" he asked as he looked round.

"yeah, one reason I wanted to wake you, your phone kept on buzzing, I think the missed calls should be up to fifty." She said and gives him his phone.

"it must be my guys. I think I'll start going now."

"going where, when the food is already done" Mary insisted "you've not even met my twin sister. Wait let me call her" she ran out.

Solanke sat up, he wasn't sure what to think, he had a nice time with her, he even told her that he loved her and was going to end his complicated relationship with Toyin. What was going to go wrong, was he really going to date Mary, he wondered. As a very gorgeous looking girl came out of the corridor with Mary, she was very pretty almost as pretty as Mary, the white florescent made her face look white and her teeth bright, she was fat and bigger than Mary but she looked perfect.

"HI" she greeted, Solanke stood up like he's met Mary's mother, Ijeoma stretched out her hands for an hand shake. "am Ijeoma."

Solanke stood up, gave her his charming smile and then shook her. "am Solanke, you can call me Show boy"

"you'll join us for dinner, dinner is ready, okay? " Ijeoma said and left his hands, to meet Mary, Mary was turning the garri, she was bad at cooking, so she stirred the eba with all her strength that most of it poured on the floor, Ijeoma came to intervene.

After dinner, Mary accompanied him, before they start up the car, she turned to hi, "Thanks again for your company, you made my day." she said and kept her eyes on his, she chuckled, "show boy, I know there is no we yet, but I'm not shy to say, I want a we, before this can happen, you would need to end things with Toyin, I just really need you, I need you very much"

"and I need you too" he said and held her hands, "Mary, before we talk about we, I'll end up anything I have with Toyin, alright" he said and gave Mary a smile, "and You!" he continued "you'll stop using drugs, cigarettes and alcohol, you must promise me" he said..

Mary's heart pounded she never thought he would bring that up, they kissed and Mary dropped him off. On her way back words of Solanke kept on buzzing on her head, "you'll stop using drugs, you'll stop using drugs, you'll stop using drugs."

She remembers how she went back into the act after a successful rehabilitation, it all started one afternoon during first semester after a lecture, she was on her way home when it crossed her heart that she heard not had alcohol or even smoked for months she decided that she would have to still use some of her old ways, Mary decided that every Friday night only she would smoke and try feel alive again. It later shifted, she later started it anytime she likes, she knew she was getting as bad as she earlier was but she was less concern, sometimes it bothers her but a thought in her would comfort her, telling her that she was a better girl on drugs than without, later when she saw that it was back to being an addiction, she became worried.

"you'll stop using drugs! " the statement rephrased again like a heavy bang.

She became less worried but more happier just as she sang "you are my African king! The man of my dreams"

She got to her room and pounced on the bed and quickly brought out her phone. Just immediately Solanke called ,

"HELLO Baby." he said, Mary paused and smiled as her face covered the pillow filled with uncommon joy.

"Hiii"

"sure you're home safe." he said

"yeah, am safe... with you" she said and giggled that Solanke could hear, he just smiled. "you know.." she continued "it's been long, like never that I got a call that excited me this much"

"Mary" he called her name at a stretch "you know... I have never felt this way, about any girl before, and am not even lying.."

"felt what way?" She quickly snapped as her teeth couldn't help but display

"felt...uhmmm.. cold" he said and covered his mouth that almost laughed

"COLD?" she shouted still laughing..

"yes now, am cold, what were you thinking?" He said laughing uncontrollably

"oh I see.." she said pretending to be angry

"Baby girl, we'll see surely tomorrow, I got to sleep, am officiating tomorrow at church. Okay?"

"okay. Thank you, I had a nice time today"

"i did too" he said "I love you.."

"wha.." Mary wanted to hear him clearly just as the line went off immediately. She smiled and hugged her phone for minutes

"i love you too"
****

**CHAPTER SEVEN**

"Heelloo dear! "

"ba_aby don't tell me, you're still on bed" Solanke said, Mary noticed he sounded like he was in a hurry,

"yess now, today is Sunday." She said, "Solanke, are you going to church?"

"aren't you?"

"am not going today, _oya_ where's your church I'll meet you there." Mary said undoubtedly, if there was anyone that would change her habit of missing church, it has got to be Solanke.

"okay, I'll send you the address ASAP, hey got to go, we'll see then"

Mary quickly jumped up, just the thinking that she would see Solanke in some minutes time gave her joy, Ijeoma had gone to the Hospital, most times when she goes to work on Sunday, Mary would not go to church. Mary looked radiant in her Yoruba attires and her high heel shoes, she was ready and in some minutes times Mary got the address of the church and she was off.

After the service Mary sat at one corner pressing her phone, she loved the atmosphere, the service she felt was wonderful, from the praise to the sermon, Solanke was an usher, she was amazed on how a very social boy like him would be a worker at church, but notwithstanding she loved that he had a good sense of religion, after the service Mary waited with three other new members after they were asked to repeat some words, and confess Jesus, Mary was no novice to those words, she had confessed Jesus a lot that she's forsaken the meaning, they were served malt, and they asked if she would become a permanent member, she agreed.

For minutes Mary waited for Solanke to be done with his duties, and when he was done he came to her, he carried her bag and held her hands as they left out of the cathedral.

Solanke refused to drive he asked to take him to her aunt place, Mary was overwhelmed, she spoke a lot about Aunty Bisi the day before.

On their way, they sang together to Mary's favorite song, _Tu face African Queen,_ Solanke sang with his hands gesture providing so much drama, Mary sang but ignored like she do notice Solanke calling her his Queen, not until the playlist changed, after some minutes Mary reduced the volume of the song and stared at him,

"did you mean, what you said last night?"

"and what was that,?" Solanke said evasively

Mary adumbrates, but found out that Solanke knew what he said and was pulling her legs,

"you told me you love me before the call dropped last night. Do you love me Solanke? "

Solanke smiled gracefully, "Mary didn't you hear pastor Timo preaching today? He said Jesus is love, and we should Love as Christ did. So.." Solanke said. Mary frowned and Solanke grin he kept on smiling.

"you better stop smiling like that, am on staring." She said and smiled

Hours later they got to Aunty Bisi's they got to the apartment, it was her new house, the man that proposed to marry her lives in Malaysia, he is famous for his travels, Mary had heard a lot about him but had never seen him, he built Bisi a very big storey building somewhere on the island, they drove inside, the gateman pushed the gate, Bisi children were jumping up, Mary parked her car and brought out a big smile as they ran to her, Mary hugged Bisi and held her tight to show how she had missed her, as they walked into the house , Sholakne brought out the best of his glaring smile as he pretended not to be amazed of how Big the house was, the rug was brown and cover big with animal hair design, beautiful artilleries, a big flat screen television showing cartoons, while the home music sound played a song which he could familiarize, there was also a small bar at a corner , he stared as Aunty Bisi brought drinks walking down the bar, Aunty Bisi was very pretty and looking very young, it was hard to think that she already has two children, she was very cheerful and happy to see them, he just stared and smile as Mary spoke about him like he was not there .

"so you're the Solanke, nice meeting you" Aunty Bisi greeted and moved closer to him, Mary left them, Solanke knew that it was going to be a very long interrogation session.

He smiled and replied after asked her the first question "yes ma. Very much"

"And...." Aunty bisi said waving her eyes for something more.

"no ma, not yet, but we are working on it. We plan on making our relationship perfect if only it going to exist ma."

"so why are aren't you guys dating yet, why the holdup" Aunty Bisi asked and moved even closer to him, Solanke dropped the cup in his hands

"Ma, certain mandatory, Some things we needed to change first"

"yes go on, Mary is my Daughter what mandate did you guys give yourself?" she said, Solanke smiled and sat relaxing to his chair as he drank from his cup filled with red wine and then turned to aunty Bisi's eyes that kept buzzing on his

"Ma! I'm in a relationship with a girl i don't wish to spend my life with, to be with the one I truly love to be with I have to make do with the other."

"okay, and Mary?" she asked "what's mandate did you give her?"

Solanke looked at her, "no more drugs, she must make do with everything drugs, or else, we can't be." Solanke replied almost boldly.

Aunty Bisi thought as much, but was very much disappointed that Mary was not still done with drugs, but loved that Solanke was serious with the relationship, she became very supportive in their union, she quickly called unto Mary,

"baby, the cloth does fit, and seriously I don't wear that trousers again, you pack all of them infact" Bisi said as Mary turned round for her to see.

"Thanks mum, I love you muah muah muah" she shouted jokingly, Bisi laughed

"wait come first, see you can take anything but not the shoes, those are not for the taken" Bisi said and stood up as Mary took off the shoe and took to her heels as Bisi predicted she would he chased her round the parlor till she was tried she finally gave it up,

"come now Baby, am not chasing you _ you again" she said breathing profusely

Mary later made her way to seat near Solanke and held his arm bringing back his concentration to the gathering, Mary was still breathing heavily wondering if it was one Aunty Bisi's trick to get the shoe from her hands ,

"so Baby you still secretly do drugs?" Aunty Bisi asked without smiling and in haste, Mary was shocked at the question as her wild grin slowly shuts, she looked at Solanke and gently removed her hands from his,

" _Ṣé ìwọ kọ ni ẹni tí mò ń bá sọrọ?_ (Are you not the one am talking to)" Aunty Bisi asked as Mary still kept silent. "Mary! Look at me, let me tell you, thought I could remember telling you before, you don't have anybody to blame anymore, everything you're doing right now, you molded yourself, it's all your doing, I've tried my best for you, see you're surrounded by the people that loves you, people that only want the best for you" Bisi continued "I've spoken not more than a minute with this young man here to know that he want the same for you, because he loves you, I'll be hurt if you allow this one slip, I'll go now you guys must be hungry, there's some tomato soup let me prepare rice" she said and stood up "Solankemi make yourself comfortable this is home"

The only sound audible in the parlor were the sound from the television set, the incessant silence continued between the both of them.

"Mary...." Solanke broke the awkward silence, and stretched out his arm to her, she immediately resisted and walked out; Solanke followed her, as she entered her room lais on her bed, and faced down.

"Mary what's wrong with you?" Solanke sat on the bed and rolled her hair to the side and asked gently, "why are you behaving like a baby?"

Mary now sits down close to him, "I was going to change, I promised it, but no you had to tell her"

"Hey! It wasn't like that; it was like one question to another" Solanke said

"no it wasn't, I guess you think it's going to be easy for me" Mary said as her voice was getting intense.

"What is going to be hard, ehn?"

"Do you even have to ask? Do you think it's easy for me to choose between you and drugs? I've been on this I can remember, and..."

"Hey!" Solanke interrupted "I've heard enough, I think you are saying too much, don't say what you may regret later" Solanke said as Mary now heed her face down, Solanke raised her face up. "Tell me you love me" he said quietly

"I love you but..."

"but; nothing, don't say but, I love you is enough, I would give up anything to wake up next to you till I die, I do anything to know you're are mine, I'll choose you over and over again, I'll fall in love with you every day, I chose you, would you do the same?" Solanke said as Mary just looked at him, tears dropped down, Solanke moved closer to her and kissed her and whispers in her ears "Love is greater than anything."

As Solanke left the room, Mary's heart pounded, she remembers an occurrence three week ago, as she came out of her gates to buy ingredient for soup, just opposite her apartment, she bumps into Chuka. He sat with some boys at a famous palm wine joint, She knew Chuka back when her life was a mess. Chuka was the guy that made her Queen in their cult. He wasn't in her region but she was very sure he heard everything her father did to his people and worse still she disappeared without doing anything; she quickly turned back and prayed in her heart that he had not seen her, and as she walked back, she heard a bold and loud call.

"KHALIFA!!"

Mary's heart pounded even more, she thought of what to do but it ticked too late as she slowly turned to him, there he was, always with a stick of cigarette, he wore a black hoody covered a little of his face, Chuka is a very mild man on the outside but the most dangerous man Mary had ever seen. He sold amenities and has so many gang frats at his call, but then he's Jovial and talks a lot too. Mary screamed like she never saw him, as she ran to him he stood up and hugged her, looking happy too.

"Hey! Look at you, babe what's trigger na!" He said and laughed out,

"Chubi du bi, Ha! who say? who say?" Mary hails pretentiously,

"Who say? Girl let them say, them go..."

"DIE." she answered "Chubi du bi, what are you doing here?"

"was going to ask the same. But I'll answer you" Chuka said as he dragged her to sit and offered a well rolled and bonded Indian hemp.

"Queen, na work o. I go sell one house like that, not too far from here, na money matter now oo." he replied and blew air to the sky as he slowly hit his cigarette to his chair.

"True, True" Mary said as her heart kept on pounding

"you _nko_ , what's shooting?" he asked.

"Chubi, na school o, I study here" Mary answered, and tried clearing her head as her smoke went in.

"so.... Where you up to now?" he cornered like he meant no harm.

"Chubi, I want to buy soup things, I want to cook, my girlfriend would be already waiting" Mary said as she was already done smoking she stood up.

"Okay now" Chuka said. "I'll leave you to.... you know, buy your soup ingredient." Chuka said and rest chair manly on his chair.

"Chubi. du bi money." Mary stood up and waved bye as she faced forward to were to where she supposedly headed she heard Chuka voice again those time more loudly.

"KHALIFA!!"

Mary turned back with a more worried face,

"How's your dad?" Chuka asked and smiled, grinning terribly from ears to ears.

Mary had been praying that, Chuka does not mention her Father.

"Senator!" Chuka continued "that your father, how is he, I heard his new wife is pregnant"

Mary heart pounded even harder as she went back to seat near him.

"he's fine" she replied, looking sorry and more like a girl.

"yeah! My bad." Chuka turned to Mary. "girl you're supposed to be a dead meat, my bad too. Your father your damn stupid father should have been feet down stinking on the floor, another bad, your brother, Solo, should have been in hell, my bad as well. Well, while you're busy with your soup things to eat with fufu. My three brothers are probably in hell singing shakitibobo." Chuka said as the guys with him chuckled, Mary kept composed. "Senator raided the saints, killed so many of us, so many I mean so many which include my junior brothers, ha! Mary three brothers gone. Do you know?" he asked, Mary was very frightened, there was tears gathered at his eyes surface, and he had never had Chuka called her Mary before, Mary kept silent and faced down,

"Answer me!!" Chuka shouted and hit the table, Mary shakes and stood up, as she looked up, she could recognize some guys there with him, Bade, Tunji. Bade was her class governor, Tunji _honourable_ as he was referred to was the school SUG President. And to her surprise she saw Baba, Baba was the elder brother of their number one that died also. She felt cold hitting her from the top of her head down. She had to act like a lion she said in heart.

"Chubi, i did not know." Mary said boldly

"Ooh ..." Chuka laughed and Mary quickly interrupted

"What do you want chubi?"

Chuka stood up to her and poured, Smoke to her face.

"fuck up, is take off. To kill one of my brother might just cause your Father's life, but to kill all my brothers. Dear! Your mother in law and her child would go also" Chuka concluded and stood to look at Mary's face.

"Chubi, what am I to do?" Mary asked Chuka shakes his head and laughed loud, he held Mary by her hand to her seat, he then looked to his back, and then brought out a small pistol and placed it under a towel and smiled at her face as Mary looked worried.

"well girl you're still a Queen, pick up the pistol, renew your oath. And I'll tell what's next." he said and bent his head to sniff in kuli,

"HERE! Now?" she exclaimed whispering,

"yes, both your oat to take a life in maybe a month time, so Queen now! Nothing _me' ga'_ , do it here."

Mary was scared, she looked round, bike drove past the muddy road even cars, the wooden shop demarcated only by bamboo stick, by the side was mama Kazeem canteen and the shop after that was the shop she buys films from a loud music played from there, the thought in her head was sure not the same in Chuka's and the guys that were with him, "what if passersby sees her with a piston raised up on her hand?"

She then stood up quietly and renewed her oath saying the words quickly and with regrets. Chuka gives her a mandate to control their activity in the school and that means she must be present in all their meetings, if she draws back Chuka threatened to make her life a living hell. The week after she attended their meeting, everything went fine not until they started using drugs, all kind of, she thought she could resist the marijuana and tobacco in the air with the alcohol she held firmly, well she couldn't as she unwrapped Kuli that every one sniffed she felt a bit alive and ready to conquer her resistor as she smoked and smoked until she wasn't sure what went on around her. She later feared that if that goes on she go back in addiction to drugs.

Later that evening, Solanke checked on Mary again, she had been sleeping since the argument, he had not want to disturb her, to even join in on the dancing competition they had, and ball game also, they had a lot of fun without her,

"Solo!" she grumbles and spoke quietly

"No, Solanke. Mary, what's wrong with you?"

"Hey you! I think its fever, don't know, all my body hurts"

Solanke pulled her up, "it could be malaria." he said to himself, he helped her to the car.

"i will quickly take her to the clinic for medications, i think it's not something too serious, ma" Solanke said to Bisi as he got to the car,

"okay oo, _dokitor_ " she mocked and waved at Mary, "Baby! Take care of yourself okay, you'll be fine, you are in good hands" she smiled and winked weirdly at Mary.

"yes ma, i will. And would call you soon ma, byeeee!!" she cheered and waved at peter that was spontaneously waving as the car reversed.
**CHAPTER EIGHT**

Mary stay at school this past years has been amazing with Solanke, she now worries less, everything was as it should be, except she still secretly uses drugs, smokes and adds some other harmful drugs to her drink just like old times, sometimes she wonders how it all came back, how she can't do without them, but then she had the answers lying everywhere and clear. Solanke have had a good relationship with Mary the only time they had misunderstanding with was when she gets insecure, but Mary knows that Solanke was by far for her, in fact the whole school was aware, they were once nominated for the best couples one SUG social week. Mary had taken Solanke even to see her father during their child's dedication, Kemi delivered a baby boy and Solanke got to meet with Mary's dad.

Mary was always around Solanke, if not for Ijeoma, Solanke would be a full timer at their apartment, but it was clear to Mary that Solanke could not sleepover.

Mary though at her three hundred level was a first class student, Solanke was sure to jeer her up during exams, people sometimes turn up to her letting her know how lucky she was to be with a guy like Solanke, like she doesn't know, a smart, intelligent and loving guy like that was hard to come by. They were at the beginning of their first semester after returning from the vacation tour at New york city sponsored by Aunty Bisi fiancé, it was one of Mary unforgettable moment, it was only her and her man together.

They were back to another semester, another hush in school, life as student, running helter-skelter to either sign one document or the other, they would queue up at the Head of department office waiting to be responded to, rush up for lectures so as not to miss registering their names on the attendance list and a lot of other activity, sometimes they don't even get to see each other a whole day.

One raining Friday, a bald headed man drove into the school with his well shaved beard, drove a new black model BWM jeep was in search for Mary, drove confusedly from one department to another asking for Mary, he knew the task wasn't going to be easy, but there wasn't much choice he got.

"am very sorry but please you're not the Mary am asking of, i don't know where her faculty is?"

"hey no problem." the Mary answered "please sir excuse me." she called out, he turned back.

"you said she's a senator's daughter right?" he nodded. "so ask the school registrar, i think they are not so many senator daughters in this school" she said. He smiled and thanked her

"thank you Mary I'll do that ASAP."

It was a good suggestions as they attended to him as though it was a matter of urgency, after he was accommodated a staff quickly went to Mary's department and stopped her from writing a test informing the lecturer that it was an important call Mary needed to attend to.

Mary was worried as she was dragged out of the class, her dad had never sent for her before, she would see no reason why, she feared that something had happened to him or if her life was in danger, she even thought Chuka had spotted any disloyalty in her and had acted, her heart pounded as she approached the door, praying only for good news, as he pointed to who had sent for her as she saw him, he faced back, she sees his bald shining head, Mary immediately felt electrocuted with shock, she dropped her bag and fell to her kneels before he could even face her, he and some other guys quickly rushed to her thinking she had fainted not until she breathes out and quietly mumbled "am fine", as she stood up everyone watched her in the office, all were bewildered.

"SOLOMON" she said in excitement and joy and ran to him "Solo Solo Solo" she repeated and started crying, as they watched them in confusion.

"hey, stop it, it's me.. It's okay " Solo took her outside the complex, he called the guy that helped him and gave him tip in dollars, he thanked him and ran graciously.

Mary kept on looking at him, lost in words to say, he had totally changed just in less than four years, his complexion was lighter, he had a nice car, his wears were certainly latest designers made not to talk of his expensive golden wrist watch she wanted to ask if he was really the one,

"what?" Solo laughed, he knew she wouldn't be able to contain the surprise, she stood still, her hands covered her mouth still bewildered.

"I can't believe that the guy standing here with me is the same guy that came running to me, years back for money to travel out, like his pants was on fire, the same guy that i spent almost all my life with, my crime partner, my protection, my drugs in person.." Mary said as tears again began to drop, she controlled it, she was overwhelmed that Solo was alive and in good shape ,Solo went to her and hugged, kissing her head, as it was looking like a drama as student looked at them like what was going on.

Solo laughed "no look at you, all grown up, looking good. In school? Like who would have thought of that? Not me." he said and laughed out louder as Mary spanked him.

"Common lets go to my place, Ijeoma is on night shift, so she would be around" Mary just kept on looking at the car, "what a beauty"

"you like it?" he said and smiled

"i love it, i love love it" she said and looked at his handsome face "Solo you have a lot of explaining to do now, like look at you, no you sure would have a long line of gist in stalk for me, how come?"

Solo did some narrating of his experience abroad as Mary paid uttermost attention as they drove to her place,

"you what!" Mary screamed, Solo laughed but Mary was serious "no what!!?" she repeated

"hey chill now!" he said stilling laughing,

"and here i am thinking you've changed" she said and slightly tapped her forehead

"yes now am changed"

"change ko change ni" she quickly replied and swerved her finger through the roof top.

"see marrying his daughter and divorcing her through, was the perfect idea for a green card but that was not even the bad part" he said, Mary was quiet like she wanted to hear what he called worse.

"after the marriage her old and ill father gave me the company and everything like the family house, since she was his only child and i the husband, we're talking a company as big as Kentucky Tasty Fried chicken, having so many branches round the US" he said and demonstrates with his hands, "so when he later died something i kind of had hands in, i changed the company's name to mine, laying ten percent of the company to my wife at that time." he said gave out a dashing smile.

"and you divorced her, leaving her with nothing"

"hello, weren't you listening i gave her ten percent of my company's profit..." he quickly corrected

Mary hisses "what is that?"

"it's called the hustle sweetheart"

"you're wicked. Chai" she exclaimed

"well yeah, judge me all you like i just seem to love myself more" he said and acted like he was frowning he turned into Mary's street as Mary pointed.

"look at you good to see that you've not changed a bit, still burdensome." he said "but physically you've changed and you look even matured and all grown up, good to see you're good." he said and stretched his hands and rubbed her shoulders

Mary smiled "taar am still that small girl o." "Hey here, you can park over there." Mary said she was feeling too excited and overwhelmed she needed to quickly call ijeoma , so she when she came down from the car and saw that Solo was making a call she quickly uses the opportunity, as she rushed inside.

As she got to the glass door, she noticed a white Nike boot, which wasn't for neither her nor ijeoma, ijeoma was with a guy she concluded and used her key to open the glass door, when she got inside she could hear and sounds of ecstasy, "no no no! Ijeoma, wrong timing"

"I J" she shouted loudly "I J _you dey sleep_?" and waited for five minutes before she could hear Ijeoma's voice "Mary is that you? Am coming,"

"no is not me, its iya kazeem" she jested in her heart "come now now!!" she shouted not wanting to disturb any drama she's in to with the guy she's with.

Ijeoma then sneaked into the parlor like something was up, waving her hands, she was on a wrapper and was sweating perfidiously to Mary and spoke quietly " _wetin_ now, Mary why you come this early?" she whispered

"God is watching you oo, who are you with inside?"

"Mary that cute guy i told you now that i met three week ago, he's the one inside, _i don do shakara for am taya_ , _wetin you sef dey do here by this time_ , i thought you said you were having test today" she said quietly

"yes, not until someone showed up" Mary said.

"ehn, someone, let me change up" she hurried back.

"hurry!"

"im here, I'm here" she dragged ijeoma outside and pointed " _that guy wey dey make call_." Mary said and stood like she was posing give Ijeoma the unsolved riddle.

"Babe is that not Solo?" she said and heavily taped Mary on her shoulder. Before Mary could say anything ijeoma ran out to meet him, Mary laughed out loudly, ijeoma ran ignoring her weight, Solo quickly cut off his call before he realize who was really running towards him she had already jumped on him, "yaaaay! Ijeoma abeg no kill me oo, Jesus"

Mary continued laughing then she turned in shock when she heard a bold and threatening voice

"KHALIFA ! "

She slowly walked into the parlor to ease her pounding heart as she thought she did not just hear what she just heard, to her surprise it was Chuka, "Chuka?" she exclaimed surprisingly.

"yes!" he said and closed the fridge and opened the can beer he brought, "surprised, oh don't be, your friend, right? she's mine girl now, so i guess we're now related"

Mary was left in the middle confused, she was not even sure what to think, as Ijeoma and Solo got nearer, she stood still mouth agape.

Solo then tapped her shoulders as he made her moved from where she stood, stunned she laughed awkwardly.

As they entered the parlor, Mary immediately became sad and angry, "Chuka had hit jackpot" she thought to herself, she never wanted to involve Ijeoma in any of her mistakes or drama, but something was sure to go down and she may be caught in between it. And she feared Solo may think that she had set everything up, _"no Solo knows me more than that and more over i never knew he was going to come today_ " she tried convincing herself.

Chuka was surprised to see Solo come in, he never expected who he just saw.

Before Solo entered the compound he had seen Baba and some other boys smoking just opposite Mary's house in a shop shaped up with bamboo sticks. He was sure to expect the unexpected on his arrival, so he had already made plan for back up before coming. Paid up in advance and when he got out of the car he quickly contacted the gang giving them required on where he was. So when he approached Mary and saw her looking surprised like something was wrong he was sure that something was up, something that surprised even Mary he knew.

Mary pushed him in and laughed, when they entered the parlor ijeoma quickly introduced Chuka.

"hey guys this is Michael, my everything." she said and laughed out loudly as the rest of them laughed in, soliloquizing that she was the only foreigner in their midst so they all had to play along as they all exchanged pleasantries with him,

"I've heard small about you" Mary joked, trying to act her role properly and praying Solo does too, for the sake of ijeoma,

"MARY!" Ijeoma exclaimed as they all laughed, and sat down.

" _Chuka hunh! Who would have guessed_?" Solo had little to do as he smiled shook hanfs with him.

Mary sat on his laps as they gist, like Chuka was not there, Ijoema ran into the kitchen, while Chuka picked up his phone ordering a change of plan message to his boys outside the compound. He had come for Mary but blackmailing Mary would have to wait. Years when Solo was trying to escape, Chuka was on him, caught him, abducted him, and beat him to pop. Taking the money with him, even when he begged that it was borrowed to him by Mary's aunt, Chuka insisted that the dead do not need money. After three full night of torture, on the fourth night Chuka decided to lay waste of him, when he got to where he was tied, Solo was not there, he left a message, "I'll be back." Chuka later found out that he had help from his girl friend Fiona.

"Lunch would be served in some minutes guys" Ijeoma said excitedly

Minutes later Mary and Ijeoma went to the kitchen to dish out the meal.

Chuka and Solo faced themselves.

"Chubi du bi money.." Solo hailed quietly with looking at him "bad guy."

Chuka smiled and kept on typing, he knew Solo very well he was back and he was ready for any trouble so something was about to go down.

" _you sha came_ to crash the party, boss. Well who does it more if not you boss? Chuka Michael well done sir.. Ha-ha ha-ha" Solo said mocking him almost loudly.

Chuka was very angry but he had to smile. "Baboo, is that how to greet your patron, after years of manipulations." Chuka said even quietly as he kept on typing, they both kept silent when Ijeoma walked in and when she left they continued.

"chubi, leave all those message, twenty of those your Lagos cowards can't stop me chubi."

"if you see war you go stand? _Malaye, something ge' me ga'_ , _this evening_ " speaking their slang

" _baba nothing me ga_ '" Solo quickly replied and drank his beer that was on his drinking stool.

Chuka couldn't take it anymore; one punch to the face should spoil the drill and at least give him the respect he deserves as he raised his right hand,

"to the table guys" Ijeoma intervenes carrying a steel boll filled with well cooked white rice, she dresses the table as she was joined by Mary carrying the stew also in a well designed round boll, they could all perceive the sweet smell of fried tomato and pepper with turkey.

They gathered round the table in a particular order Chuka sat with Ijeoma while Mary with Solo, and ate , Solo talked about how Nigerian pepper would never change and how it was done were he stayed.

Mary received a text from Solanke _"ife mi where are you? Am on my way to your place."_

Mary wanted to panic, she quickly text back. _"Solanke am not at home oo, i went out with Ijeoma there's no one at home."_

Then he immediately sent he's _"good thing am with a spare key, anyway meet me at home I've missed you, okay?"_

Immediately she received the message her heart dropped, "no no, not my Solanke, oh God!" she cried in her heart as her face showed despair just as she heard the gate open, everyone except Ijeoma became alert, just as Chuka had been worried of what Mary kept on typing on her phone, he became scared thinking of the right pull off plan so as not to harm Ijeoma, just before they all looked to the glass door, Solo hand quickly went to the back of his trousers while Chuka moved his hands slowly to his jacket.

Solanke was surprised that there were visitors, as he recalled that Mary stated that she and Ijeoma was out, he could barely see them, the dining table was a distance away but he saw Mary. "maybe it wasn't her" he thought "but that Ijeoma coming to get the door" he thought again. Before Ijeoma got to the door they all had a loud sound of gunshot, " _KPA KPA KPA!!!"_ It hit Solanke. He fell to the glass as his blood stain rubbed on the transparent glass door.

Mary and Ijeoma screamed loudly. Mary jumped out off the table as Chuka and Solo exchange shots, Chuka a second too slow was shot in the head, while he misfired and hit ijeoma to her leg, as he dropped dead in the pool of his blood. Ijeoma also fell down and fainted, "NOOOOOO!!!" Mary shouted and quickly ran to her room to her piston. They joined Solo boys that shot continuously to the boys that came for Chuka, minutes had past, Solo boys chased of some of Chuka boys and killed many. "start my car Mary quickly, quickly!" he shouted as he ran back to go get Ijeoma, running even with her weight panicking Mary shouted "I'll take her to our hospital" crying she continued, "carry him in my car, that's my key, please take him to a hospital please he's my husband, please save him, make sure he does not die, Solomon please save me." she concluded in unbearable pain that tears could not contain and drove off with speed, she could not control the tears, tears of regret, confusion, and pity "had i known that things would get this messes"

"Hold on bro stay with me, stay with me, be strong for Mary" Solo challenged him as he breaths and groan in pain.

Later that evening, Mary was detained into police custody only some hours till she could get a lawyer, it was a murder case, Mary had to testify though it wasn't a totally true story, she became the victim and was soon released.

That evening Mary's father, her step mother and aunty Bisi with the children, brought her back from the police station.

Mary laid on the cushion chair as police men surrounded the environment, ambulance and blaring sirens were still outside, journalist and news casters were all on duty.

The SUG president was confirmed dead with a gun in his palm, also with some wanted gang members.

Mary after her testimony to the commissioner of Police said nothing else to anyone. She wrapped her self in a warm wrapper, tears kept rolling down her eyes.

She remembers this funny moment, she was to write a rhyme to Solanke, she reads it out to him he was on a branch top of a guava tree.

_"_ _i hate the way you talk to me,_

_And the way you cut your hair._

_I hate the way you drive my car,_

_I hate it when you stare._

_I hate your big dumb football boots, and the way you read my mind._

_I hate you so much, it makes me sick,_

_It even makes me rhyme."_

She laughed and continued,

_"i hate it... ... I hate the way you're always right._

_I hate it when you lie._

_I hate it when you make me laugh_

_Even worse when you make me cry,_

_I hate it when you are not around,_

_And the fact that you didn't call._

_But mostly, i hate the way i don't hate you,_

_Not even close; not a little bit, not even at all."_

"baby it's okay now, you heard that the operation on Solanke and ijeoma was successful, your friends are fine now, so stop crying and be strong for them" Aunty Bisi said as she besides her and laid her head on her thighs, cleaning her face and the tears in her eyes.

"it's late, everyone are on bed, you need to forget everything that had happened and rest, please."

Mary took Aunty Bisi by her hand "aunty mi, i love him..." she mumbled soberly

"yes, yes and he loves you too. You know that right, and you'll not lose him that I'm very positive of."

"and.. and did you know what he replied me?"

"baby, replied what?"

Mary continued, more tears dripped down her cheeks.

"he came down the guava tree and said he's without reading from the paper, and said,

_I didn't fall in love with you, i walked into love with you;_

_with my eyes wide open,_

_Choosing to take every step along the way,_

_I do believe in fate and destiny; but i also believe, we are only fated to do the things that we'd choose anyway and i choose you;_

_in a hundred lifetimes; in a hundred worlds, in any version of reality, I'd find you and choose you_ "

she said and cried loudly that her father could hear.

"hey, hey stop it! It's not your fault Solanke is hurt, and he's definitely going to recover alright so you better be calm. Because you're getting everyone worried."

Mary sat up and Aunty Bisi sat close to her, she wrapped her hand round her legs and folded them together.

"i caused everything that happened here today, mummy mi" Mary said she wanted to cry again but she had to let her aunt hear the whole truth. She narrated all that had happened since she encountered Chuka opposite her house till she had Solo come over.

Aunty Bisi was disappointed, she had a lot to say but she couldn't, Mary looked at her face, expecting she scolded her.

"Baby! Stop crying, choose your steps from now on, all is left to you" she rubbed her cheeks stood up, "everything you are, you chose them yourself, hey and anything you want to be, you have to do something first, you have to choose, it's all in your hands. Good night baby"

Mary like always felt lost.
**CHAPTER NINE**

Mary woke up, and turned round she could barely see but the noise came from the cushion chair repeating the same sound, she faced the ceiling, the fan was moving slow but it was surely the highest she knew, she couldn't think straight, not until she sat up and swipe her screen to the left ignoring the snooze, she felt the familiar great buzz hovering round her head, she scratch and hit her head continuously as it continued. It was past five in the morning and her alarm read _"ADULT EDUCATION PREPARATION."_

she couldn't stand the discomfort, _"you got to smoke something, as you have always done, its already part of you, you can't turn the hand of time, you smoke, you buzz it's for your benefit_." "Do you prefer the way you're feeling?" A very comforting voice said, she struggled to the back of the fridge were she had kept the wrapped weed somewhere no one could even think about, she was very quick smuggling it to the back of her compound where she had most times done it, she quickly used her saliva to seal up the wrapped paper, she brought out lighter from the back pocket of her bum short.

_"one mandate each, you keep yours i keep mine_ " Solanke said as she could see him in the pool of his blood with his blue eyes saying _"why."_

_"and i thought you have changed"_ Mr Ike said pointing a white torch to her face as she could see her room in the rehab with those ugly faced attendants officers

_"it all comes down to i will"_ Miss Zara her favorite consultant said, as the words kept on repeating _, "it all comes down to i will"_ till she finally faded to her last words _"can you? Can you ?"_

_"choose Baby"_ Aunty Bisi voice could be heard like almost a distance away

_"one mandate, one mandate!"_ the man in the pool of his blood continued " _do you love me?"_ he coughed. Mary saw him crying as his eyes shot, those innocent looking eyes.

"Yes, yes i love you. I love you" Mary said literally, she was sweating, when she realized she was still at the same spot. She quickly dropped the burning weed in her hands as her heart drums.

"What have i been doing, she asks herself." she quickly throws it far away.

The press interrogated some witness on what they had seen happened. People had things to say; some said they saw the senator's daughter also involved in the shooting,

"for me," the old man smiled as he tries to show himself clearly to the round lens of the camera,

"it must be a duel from the OPC and some armed robbers, i can't really tell because i hide myself under my dining table when i heard roar sound of shooting, it sure wasn't my time to die." he said feeling fulfilled.

Mary looked out the car as she was driven by her aunt to their place, the very busy street was quiet, shop owners were sure not to open for a while, she saw blood stain even on the floor and at the entrance of Iya Kazeem shop, she hope nothing had happened to the innocent people that came there.

Mary sat uncomfortably at Aunty Bisi's place, there were policemen guarding the gate, it was almost evening, she had begged and begged the boys that guarded the gate that she wanted to leave but they insisted, it was a direct order from her dad that she must not leave her aunt place for no reason till the whole news of the incident dies down.

Mary had earlier received a call from Ijeoma. Ijeoma wasn't all fine, she now temporarily uses crutches. Also she had not spoken to Solanke and Solo though she heard that Solanke is alive, all she wanted was to see for herself.

She tried calling her dad begging him to allowing her see Solanke, promising to be back by the next day, he just hissed and cut of the call. After hours of doing nothing she decided to call her step mum, and after she picked up, she starts pleading.

"Baby see, tomorrow i promise I'll make him see reason, not today. He has even refused to eat he's very angry and i don't even know why." she said

Mary still frowns, she knows she won't be able to sleep knowing that Ijeoma is alone and going through much pain because of her and Solanke may hate her for life, she had to leave there by any means possible, before the line could go off, she could hear her father voice from the background.

"Woman bring that phone, i told you not to answer her but you decided to disobey me, right?" he shouted

"she's your daughter now, at least listen to her, you've become aloof and austere, what's wrong with you?" Kemi weakly shouted

"mind your business, mind your business!!" he warned as he dragged the phone out of her hands,

"it's my business too, daddy Mary, because am part of this family" she replied and walked out angered as he chased her calling her, Mary heard everything before suddenly she had her father's voice.

"hey you! Don't you have other things to think about, rather than boys?"

"no sir! I don't" she replied

"seems like you're sick, do you even know how much trouble you have put me in, how much i have spent so that this case won't be taken to the court, all this because of you, and here your step-mum thinks am austere, the last time my name was heard in every corner of the television for wrong doing, it was you, my beloved daughter, now the same thing. Now what your stupid head could think about is one boy that even joined in tarnishing my image"

"Daddy!" Mary cried, "it's just about you, and your name, never about me, you act like you care but no you don't, you're only concerned about your name i so hate you, because everything am facing now, drugs, gangsters and even partying, those lifestyle are as a result that you were careless, i bet if i had a mother, all this wouldn't have come to be, dad you hurt me more than any cultist or even bullet can, the funny thing is that the only person making me a better person, driving me closer to you, you're accusing" Mary shouted as she cried loudly, "i regret i could ever call someone like you my dad, see i want to leave here to find the people i have really hurt, people that deserve my apology, I'll do something crazy to anyone that crosses my way, try me!" Mary said, she cleaned her eyes and packed her things. Aunty Bisi heard everything she said to her father, it made her a little proud, she spoke like her elder sister she thought, she wished her sister was here to see her daughter grown up,

"let me talk to your father" she said as Mary gave her the phone, as she forced her legs into her shoes, before she could even call him, a guard knocked and came in,

"ma! Mr. Ayo said her daughter could go anywhere she wanted, but must be with any body guard if she chooses" he said, Mary looked like she wasn't paying attention as she stretched out the rope handle of her bag,

"i don't need any non sense body guard."

"hey, shut up. Don't be rude" Aunty Bisi immediately scolded back; "thank you sir, she'll be fine without bodyguards"

As the guard left Mary apologized for being rude and for every pain she had cost her, she promises that she would never hide anything from her again, she even begged her aunt to help her beg Solanke for her mistakes.

"Baby! I know how much you love Solanke, i know you're regretting you mistakes, well your mistakes may cost you some things, am sorry i won't be able to beg Solanke for you, if he loves you maybe he'll forgive you"

Mary entered public transport, she had been given the address Solanke was admitted and had even earlier texted it to Solanke friends.

It was already evening some minutes past five when she got to the hospital where he was admitted. The hospital was surely expensive and she was grateful in her heart to Solo, as she entered the reception she saw Solanke friends, on seeing her, they quickly rushed to her, greeting and hugging her like they have been waiting for an angel, they were waiting for someone that would allow them see Solanke as the nurses could not, Mary was pleased to help as she spoke with doctor, her reputation spoke for her as the doctor allowed them into the ward.

She precesses them as she opened the door her heart was beating fast, she closed it and slowly turned to the patient, Solo and Solanke quickly turned to her, she stood at the door and gazed maladroitly.

Solo held sliced bread on his right hand and a cup of tea on his left and Solanke, Solanke was drinking tea, she really wasn't sure of what she was seeing, as their wide grin quenched slowly.

Solo and Solanke were shocked, they were never expecting to see her. Solanke gazed at her, she looked like something was wrong with her, she didn't make up her face, Mary never forgets her face even at night, she wore a black Nike designed face cap and a white Real Madrid jersey with a three quarter short and boots, she carried her Lenovo bag and her hand bag and just stood there by the door shedding tears and trying to speak.... "Some of your friends are here to see you." she said cleaning her face as she allowed them in.

Solo sat up as they rushed in excited to see Solanke, they were all filled with joy, Solanke was very happy to see them, she kept on looking at Solanke, thinking of what she would have done if he was dead, probably kill herself she thought as Solo came near her, squeeze her shoulder and whispered "he's fine now, Mary. Everything is fine now."

Minutes after they had talked and chat about the incident it was late, they snapped some pictures with him, and hugged him gently individually. Solo volunteered to carry them in his ride to a bus stop were it would seem easy to board a bus

As they left, Mary sat near him, for minutes there was an uncommon silence between Solanke and Mary, before Mary starred at him then slowly went on her kneel, as she did it almost made Solanke stood up he disagreed, "no, no. Hey don't do that, stand up"

"am so_rrrryyy! am sorrry!!!" she pleaded as Solanke dragged her to his bed and she rest her head on him still pleading with a good amount of tears begging for forgiveness as Solanke presumed she would.

"its okay Mary stop crying, listen to me, hey!" he said as he pulled her up to get her to look at straight at him, his eyes were red, he wasn't crying but it looked like scar in his eyes, his head was bandaged, he his lips were swollen, it might have been a narrow escape from death she thought,

"everything you think you might have done to me, I've forgiven" Solanke said and smiled as an assurance that he meant it. He slowly draws her head to his as she looked confused, they stared at each other again, "it's alright" he whispers and kissed her on her cheeks.

Just then Solo merged in, Mary was rubbing her hands gently on his banded head.

"excuse me Mary, please can I see you for a moment please?"

Solo and Mary sat down at the reception, Solo held Mary by her hands and looked at her for some seconds.

"solo.."

"Mary. We have lost, we've lost the battle of love, trust and even ambition.."

Mary listened to the tuned of Solo's voice it was rare, he continued. "but it's not yet over for us, you see.." he paused and cleaned the tears from his eyes. "I lost my mother at an early age as you know, my mother died because we were poor, a small illness killed her, it made me money driven, I started selling drugs at age ten, I adrift from my family thereafter, my father, my sister..."

"Your sister?" Mary quickly cuts in,

"Yes Mary. I have a sister, her name is Rita she stays at Kaduna with my aunt I had never said it to anyone" He replied and continued "my father started seeing me differently, he wasn't sure who I was anymore, he was old and sick but still worked as a gate man while I got good money from cultism and drugs and yet I wasn't able to take care of him. He visited me one night at the prison cell and told me, _le cha e chi._ Which means think of tomorrow. He died the following day, I lost, I was a disappointment in myself" he said and left her hands, he continued "Solanke said something that struck me when we spoke, he said that in all his years of doing things, he figured that the right way are always the most deserted way and the wrong way had become the best, Mary! Look at me, I'm not shot and I'm not dead, I could make up for my wrong and that I will do. First I'll give the company back to Sophia, and maybe work under her, get a degree there and even bring my sister" He said and waited for Mary to say something. Mary looked at him as he waited; she raised her hands to his cheeks and cleaned his tears.

"Solomon, no more drugs."

"yes, yes Mary" He replied very quickly as they hugged themselves tight, Mary couldn't let go, she also cried and was happy for Solo, she too was to face her fate.

Solo shake hands with Solanke, like they always knew themselves, Solanke was indebted to him, for saving his life.

"be safe man, and hope we'll still hear from you?" Solanke said as Solo nodded he hugged Mary and left the ward without looking back.

It was night Mary slept near Solanke, her head bent to the side, Solanke stood up, he saw she wasn't sleeping properly, he then tapped her,

"Mary, Mary! There's a little bed over there, it'll be best you sleep there than here, okay!"

Mary stood up, stretched her hands to the side, as she realized that the time was already past four in the morning, Solanke was not asleep, he was with his tab, scrolling through their pictures, he hasn't spoken about the incident to her since she got there , Mary sat down on the chair close to him,. She wasn't satisfied, she was sad that she wasn't allowed to apologize after all she had done to him, it was eating her up, she still felt Solanke hasn't really forgiven her.

" _ife mi!_ " she said, Solanke looked at her, her face looked sorry again, he knew it was still about the accident, it read all over her face.

"baby, I know, we're still going over this discussion, listen when I mean I've have forgiven you, believe me, I meant every bit of it."

"but I need to explain.."

".. Explain what?" he yelled, Mary moved back, "please I don't want to ever think about how you hurt me, I don't want to talk about it and I will also appreciate you don't speak about it." He breathes in, "you don't understand, i get scared when I remember everything, my head is really pounding right now. Please you don't owe me anything, I... I don't need to hear how you went back to your old ways, and how the shit went wrong because you were trying to save me, please!" he said and slowly looked at Mary, his voice was loud, but he did not look angry, he took her by her hand, Mary brittle hands were shaky and wet, tears flowed into her mouth, she merely could speak but she murmured "am sorry!!"

"Mary, I was shot, as the bullet pierces through my skin hitting my bones, i held still, I pushed my self enduring the pain, till I was dragged to the hospital, I prayed to God for life to see you, I never wanted to leave you soon, and I thank God for life. Now I don't feel any pain in my hands, I feel pain in my heart, and my brain, and there no quantity of sorry that can take this pain away." He said smiled cutely

"sho...solanke ke Pleassse!"She cried "please what can I do?.. Please!"

Solanke wanted to rid her off the pain he's putting her into, he draws her closer to himself as she cries softly, pat her back, rubbing it more intensively. "Baby my parents would be here this morning, Please I want you to leave. This can't go on...please"

Mary wasn't shocked she cleaned her tears, left his hands gently packed her bags, it was the probably what she deserves, it was time to move on she thought as she went out the door slowly without looking back. Solanke cried for hours and days.
**CHAPTER TEN**

It has been exactly three weeks now since Mary last spoke to Solanke, the last time they spoke was at the church, Mary heart dropped when she saw him as she repulsively shouted "HI" and Solanke waved at her and smiled gorgeously she thought, they were now just fellowship members.

Mary was on her way to visit her rehab enemy it has been exactly three years she last saw him, Doctor Ike, a consultant manger and resource manager, his office was more than ten floor high, Mary starred up, it was a beautiful scenery, she admired the structural design, she asked for his office, as she was directed to the last floor were his office was.

"You're welcome dear. Be with you shortly please make yourself comfortable." He said as he hurried away.

Mary looked round, his office was big, designed with books, and covered with glass windows, a portrait picture on his table, he posed with his wife and two boys, his sons she assumed, she took the picture to herself and smiled, Mr. Ike smiled awkwardly in the picture she smiled.

"yeah, my very own personal enemy, just the lady I want to see." Doctor Ike said and smiled as, Mary quickly dropped the picture and ran to him, he caught her and laughed out loud.

"hey, someone's in a good mood" He said as she left him, she was very happy to see him, Ike had always been someone she adored even during the hard times at the rehab where she had wished that she had gotten a chance to kill him, because he added to the difficulty she already had back then, but everything he taught her helped her a lot.

"Mr Ike, am not in a good mood oo, I've missed you now. It's been years" she said and smiled like a baby

"yeah_yeah!" he said and sat on his table as Mary sat down just in front of him.

"Am so happy to see you dear. Look at you, you look good. I like what am seeing." He said, and blushed up Mary's face.

"err sir, why's your office at the last floor, chai, I had to stand on the elevator for hours.." she said exaggerated, with an Igbo ascent like her friend does.

" ha ha ha, lazy girl. Well am a consultant, personally and for the company, so my patient would be given more time to themselves before coming to me!"

"What??" Mary exclaimed. "I don't understand"

"hahaha, girl you can't understand. So hey, what's up with you? Zara tells me that you doing well now, and have even found love in a guy, don't be surprised, we talk about you a lot, and even though you don't ask about me, I do ask about you. So tell me what's going on, something's bothering you, what is it?" He said and seats beside her.

"have not been doing well o, in fact, this is one of the most difficult time in my life, my best friend don't stay with me anymore, because she was shot by a member of my gang, my boyfriend was also shot, Solomon the guy I talked much about came back and now he's left, this time I think he's gone for good, my dad and I have not been in good terms, I think I've lost every one, I need your advice, because I don't know what now to do"

"what of your mum, I mean your aunt?"

"She's fine, I think for now she's the only one I've got" she replied

"Mary! Tell me how everything went wrong."

"Doctor, it's a long story" She said and tried to smile

"tell me, am all yours." He said and smiled too.

"no no Mary, all is not lost" he quickly replied, intercepting her while she narrates and says all was lost.

"lost in your perspective means you can't get back, things were out of place, but I believe they will come back to place, Solanke is not lost either, he probably cried he's eyes out when you left the hospital that day, your dad is probably sorry for all the pain he's putting you through, in everything he had done, he's still your dad, that is one thing that can't change, now you do exactly what I say, okay?"

"Yes sir" Mary nodded.

After lectures on this sunny afternoon, she sat with her course mate Comfort, just on an edge. They both were listening to song playing on the earpiece they shared, nodding their heads and humming as they could not follow the singer on the song.

Mary noticed group of boys ranting and singing, jeering from one class to the other shouting,

"na show boy oo! Na show boy oo..."

"show boy!, vote show boy!!"

They were certainly campaigning but for what she thought.

"That must be the campaign group for Solanke Akinwunmi" Comfort said pointing at someone putting on a customize cloth with Solanke head in it, and boldly written VOTE SHOW BOY, "SUG SOCIAL DIRECTOR"

Mary was surprised she knew nothing about a campaign in school.

"he'll surely win, I don't understand why this guys waste their time "Comfort continued, "Dj okodi and Bamijo can't even match up with Solanke socially not to talk about educationally" she sighs "will you be at Babalola hall this evening to witness the aspirants debate?"

"What? Hunh? Yeah yeah, sure will be there" Mary said, feeling ashamed on how standoffish she had been.

Mary waited for hours to hear Solanke's speech, alas he was up, he was the real deal and was surely the people's choice as they cheered from every corner of the hall, the aspirants from various category debated and talked peacefully for hours, reading out their manifestoes. Solanke spoke buoyantly and with vigor, in his manifesto he spoke thoroughly against Cultism, using the late SUG president as an example and how he ended tragically he also spoke on Drugs encouraging the youths to live a life without depending on anything that may bring them down later in future.

Mary chased after Solanke on the walk way he walked too fast with some guys, discussing as they walked, she ran even calling out, _Solanke! Solanke,_ till he finally heard and slightly turned back as he still walked forward seeing Mary running he stopped together with the guys that walked with him,

"hey guys, would join you guys now." He said as his friends left him, Mary caught up with him, panting trying to catch her breath,

"hey what's up?" he said pulled her up, and hugged her mildly, "how are you?"

"am am fine, damn, you guys walk too fast."

"hey sorry about that"

"yeah, no problem. Well I just got to know today that you were aspiring for an SUG post" she said as they walked

"yeah I am, it was also sudden for me."

"show boy, anything I can do to help, please ;let me support you in this." she said and pulled him back by his shoulder

"ok kaay.. thanks"

"thanks for what?, tell me here now! What can I do?"

"here? Ahh no, maybe you come over to my place this weekend"

"that sound cool. Okay" Mary's eyes opened.

Solanke was in a hurry she brought her hands to shake him, he drew her to himself and hugged her again this time tighter, she smiled,

"we'll see this weekend then.." she said and pulled herself slowly out of his arms

"yeah. Yeah baby, err I mean Mary. Yeah Mary this weekend it is, okay, bye"

"bye Solanke" she gave a dashing smile as moved slowly in confusion but with an adept joy.

*****

Bisi joined Kemi in the kitchen, as they both prepared lunch, the children sat with Ayo in the sitting room watching cartoon, and later they all gathered at the dining table.

"Bisi so when are we going to meet Richard, you remembered you promised that he would come here with last week" Ayo said while they all gathered round the table.

" _wo!_ Daddy Mary am tired of that man already" Bisi said" he doesn't even have time for himself, talk less me. He was at Nigeria last week as I told you, but he had several conference meeting according to him, at Abuja and he was to leave urgently again, I did not even get to see him, you can imagine" she said, Ayo could feel her frustration.

"ehehen!" he exclaimed

"that how he does oo! Its either he's for one business or the other" she concluded and sipped her fruit juice as she was done drinking

"well maybe he's up to something different, because he can't be doing that when he wants to settle down, he can't be here and there at the same time now can he?" Ayo said

Later that afternoon, they sat near the swimming pool on a sun lounger to receive the cool breeze as the sun was setting. They watched the twin swimming, they laughed. Peter struggled with Paul for a balloon on the water, screaming that it was he's, Bisi jumped up and started screaming;

"hey chill, boys would always be boys, sit down!"

Kemi hasn't spoken since the kitchen, she was uneasy and dull, she wore shades and looked up the sky.

" _kemi, iya wa! Kilode?"_ Bisi asked "what's wrong? You've been quiet, and you looked bothered, are you I'll?"

Kemi smiled and shakes her head.

"Thank God you're the one asking her this, because I've also asked her the same thing." Ayo said and acted carelessly, Kemi looked at him, he laughed out loud at the boys again, she wanted to say nothing but she has over kept her words, she now seats up and faced him.

"you Ayo! You've made me sad, for weeks now and you can't even tell, look at you laughing, laughing at what now?" she said and hissed, it drew her husband attention, he wanted to speak,

"Kemi what did he do to you?" Bisi quickly stood up and sat down slightly close to her, rubbing her back as she looked like she wanted to cry, she frowned and continued

"it all started with his daughter issue. Every time I try to bring them together, he separates me like am one stranger, and i'm fed up with that attitude, if i'm Mrs Ayo then Mary Pelumi Ayo is my daughter too, step or not." Kemi spoke up almost shouting, Kemi was some one that rarely gets offended or lay offences, her yelling most times were weak, she smiled always that most people confuses her anger for a smile, it was now really obvious that she was angry, Paul and Peter had to stop and listen to know if Aunty Kemi wanted to fight their mum.

Bisi supported her totally, so she kept silent, Ayo knew that was the problem, but he never wanted to bring it up, not when Bisi was there.

"Am sorry" He said softly, as he smiled in his heart looking at her funny face that tried to look angry.

"no you're not sorry, you're never sorry, I bet you don't even know why you said sorry." Kemi said as they both looked at him. He scratched his head

"Err, _Kemi Damilola Ayomide, omo fasasi, iyawo Oba_...." Ayo praised as Kemi immediately cuts him short,

"please just stop, you've gotten it wrong this time, you left a hole in my chest maybe you think am just throwing mere brawls, you've gotten it wrong, let me ask you, why do you hate your daughter, or should I say maltreat her, what really has she done, what don't we know?"

"excuse me?" He replied as he was now as drawn as she was,

"Yes! Why do you maltreat her? Most men don't play with their daughters; they can be all hard with their sons if only, but not their daughters, they pamper and care very much for their girls, but that's not the case with you, you've forgotten she grew up without a mother, now she thinks she don't have a father, tell me what do you think she has, no one. You're so into her mistakes than any good she has left, you've given her too much money and no love, times after times you've chased her away ignoring that she a girl and not a boy, just ask yourself, if Mary your wife were here, would she treat her daughter the same way, or was that the way you guys planned training you first child?" Kemi said as she cools down, trying to catch her breath.

Bisi was very surprised with Kemi's reaction, she was very glad and relived, she was very sure now that Mary has a very caring step mother.

Ayo was speechless and touched by Kemi's words he had been asking himself the same thing ever since he last spoke with Mary.

"on 25th August, after me and Mary regular exercise, Mary looked very healthy, fairer in fact, her stomach was very big that you would think that she carried triplets " he narrates as they affirmed to it, Kemi concentrated even more "that same day we visited our family doctor at our Family hospital, Doctor Chinedu. He ran some scan and test, and said that the baby was very fat, as he had said before, and suggested an operation advising that it would be less harmful and painful, Mary hated the idea immediately she heard it, she was very positive she would deliver her baby normally like every woman do, Mary's positivity gave me hope. Even when I left the hospital scared, Mary was not a bit scared" he continued as the ladies beside him felt the emotion behind his voice. "she joked like nothing was wrong, we joked ourselves into a store where they sold babies wears , and we started buying things for our unborn child, to be honest I doubted in my heart about the success of the delivery, I feared I won't carry my child. And at night Mary made sure we had concluded on the baby's name, she was to be called Blessing Pelumi Ayomide, we gist, I told her stories , but she couldn't sleep. She then frowned like she was angry, and accused me of loving the baby more than her, saying she would have to still fight for her place when the baby is born, I laughed when I tried defending myself, she mentioned that I had not touched her for more than three month, I laughed that day, but she was serious, amusing as it sound i touched her and though I was afraid of her big stomach she flew on me, and when she wanted to lay my head to sleep and she switched off the light, and said I love you." Tears has started to find it way out of his face.

Ayo paused and cleared the tears in his eyes and continued, "the next morning was Sunday, we were to go to church, she laid there on the bed, and merely said she won't be able to go church I looked at her again she looked healthy I said to myself that If I had to take her to for her words something somewhere may go wrong, I prepared our things and headed for the hospital, she even mocked me and called me names, whilst the way I was panicking like I'm the one pregnant, on our way, not even a mile away from the house, labor started, I just heard her scream loud, very loud that I was afraid she was going to deliver in the car, I accelerated, I had already on the way called the doctor so when we got to the hospital they waited for us, and quickly rushed her to the labor room, she held my hands and screamed that they should let me go in with her but my doctor assured me that they would handle the situation and I should be rest assured, I waited outside for hours before I couldn't take it anymore called my pastor, and my mum, just almost immediately after I dropped the call, I saw the doctor, he's face was weary I was afraid as hell, he informed me that they would have to carry out operations on her, a _ciseria_ he said. Hours since he told me and I had nothing from him and any nurse, then you guys know the rest, we all decided to start praying, but the real truth was that I prayed a different prayer, I asked God to save my wife no matter the cost even if it has to do with baby dying, but my wife should be well, I could not withhold the pressure I kept on looking at the door's handle, hoping someone would come out with good news, finally someone came out, it was Doctor Chinedu, I rushed to him, in fact we all did, then he gave us the news, I can't remember how I felt to hear what he said, in fact I doubted he said something true, you don't understand I felt like I was in a very bad dream that I lost the way to come, when I faced back, I saw you Bisi, rolling on the floor, Kemi's you held your hands to your head, the pastor was agonizing on the chair, I quickly started condoling you guys, telling you guys to calm down. Bisi can you remember what I was saying to you guys that day?" he asked

"yes. You said, calm down, stop crying everything is going to be alright, she's not dead." Bisi said crying and smiling

"yes, I believed my wife can't just die, I ran to the doctor's office, trying to ask him, of what I can do, as I barge in to his office, I met him crying, then it dawn me that it was true and that there was nothing I could do, then I started crying too. To be sincere it wasn't easy for me, I felt ill, you know I fainted on two occasion, there was a time I nearly committed suicide, I hated life and even more I hated my daughter. I blamed her for killing my wife, it was a serious matter that even involved my pastor, after he saw a revelation that I stabbed myself and my daughter he did not only prayed for me but he counseled me. Till recently, any time Mary commits or misbehaves, it would ring in my head that she killed my wife and how she shouldn't have been conceived, I really did regret having her as my daughter, I had lost my mind, until the last time, we spoke she sounded like her mother when she replied me and said she regretted having me as her father." He said and looked at them, they were already emotional.

"guys please help me, I need my daughter now, I want to redeem myself" he said crying as he went on his kneels swallowing all his pride "I need my BABY."

Mary is totally in love with Solanke new apartment, the environment was very conducive and spacious it would have cost a fortune; she wonder how he got such money. Solanke's friends were all round the compound, It's was Saturday and she wasn't surprised. Some of his friends were playing football at the large compound, some football game on his laptop, some girls were jiggering and screaming as they watched movie some gisting and plaiting hair at another corner. Solanke prepared lunch, Mary sipped her wine and watched Solanke moved round either searching for one thing or the other, Coza his best friend joined him in the kitchen, Mary smiled when she heard them arguing about the taste of the food and how they sounded like one of them was better than the other. Mary still waited stylishly watching movies with the girls when he noticed Solanke come out the bathroom with his towel, he shouted to everyone in the parlor,

"go watch your plate and spoon ooh!"

No one dulled themselves as they fought for plates though the plates were sufficient, they all got their credentials for eating. Mary took a second to look at Solanke, his abs were intact like he worked out daily and he looked even more masculine and sexy too, she feared he was seeing someone already, he certainly could she thought.

"Mary Mary!!" Solanke called out.

"sir, sir" she said as she was caught unconsciously "thank you"

"you welcome, please I'll be with you shortly." He said and handed her a plate of spaghetti and five alive with a tombola

Others formed a queue on a straight line as they got their share. The spaghetti wasn't bad, she thought, her mind quickly drove past when she first tasted Solo's food.

After lunch everyone were back to their former activity, Solanke had time now to gist.

"oh you mean this?" he said pointing round the parlor, they were all Aunty Bisi's doing.." he said

"what??"

"yeah, she bought me this flat, this is not a rented place, I own it, as a matter of fact." He said smiling even more widely' before Mary repeated her former question,

"wha.. wha like I don't even understand what you're trying to say here, please come again." She said and face even showed confusion. Solanke drew closer to her and held her by her shoulder.

"let me tell you a story, about the first day we visited your aunt's " He said and Mary was all ears with a wild gear of curiosity.

"after I left your room, that afternoon. Aunty Bisi called on to me" Solanke narrated

"sit down Solanke" she said and serve me her best red wine

"Solanke let's talk more" she said and I was to enjoy the conversation, and then the question came

" what is a mandate?"

"ma?" came my first replied, she then reminded me that I used the word mandate a lot and again she asked, "tell me, what is a mandate?"

I would as I often placed my hands on my hair and scratch the inching lice, but that would have shown a loss in the face of her daughters guy, I must be sharp but no strong and convincing word came out of me. Then I just smiled. Like we both know what a mandate is but...

"what do you think ma?, sorry for redirecting the question" I said and moved closer to her as she did me.

"okay, its fine. Now dear let's be practical a bit, say I love you right now, I buy you a house and lock the door, for a reason, that if you go outside you crumble, so stay with me." She said and looks at me

"that's a mandate, don't go outside" I replied

"Now what's love?" She asked, I could guess a little at where she was headed, now I know what reply I should give her.. "love is feeling, care. Don't crumble because I love you, so there goes the mandate"

"True True" she agrees as she sipped her wine and made her lips redder, "love my dear is not a switch" she said and like I did when I answered a question "or is it?" she asked as I shake my head in approval.

"love knows not mandate, feeling does but love is even more than that, love is just... take our lord Jesus as an example he said john 3 verse 16"

"for God so love the world..." I replied as she immediately snapped

"the world, God love even after they failed to follow the mandate he sent his son to DIE, love is a much more than feeling and care and do and don't, love is Great. It should have been the most tightest bond to man, but man don't love, they feel something like plants and any other living things and that's it's, Mary will fail you no doubt, as she has me so many times, but only. Love is the Greatest." She said and sipped again, this time she stood up and drew me up.

Mary covered her mouth and was already crying, when she remembered what her aunt told her when she begged for her to talk to Solanke, she replied that she won't. It really hurt her but she had not the slightest idea that her aunt was her savior,

"she was here last week, we spent time with her, I and Coza we looked at some of your baby pictures you kept at her place, men you were ugly.." he said brought smile to her face and she playfully hit him at his back.

"Mary" Solanke said in a cool an calming tone "I love you, and am not just saying this to take us back from where we stopped.." he said, tears covered his eye lid as he deep his hands into his pocket and his voices deepens.

"I want us to start again, this time I want to know..." he said and went on his kneel, every ones attention shifted to the center of attraction.

"Will you be with me for a million years?" he said and brought out a golden ring. Mary looked at every one screaming and some recording, Solanke was on his kneels looking up to her , a cold wave blew on her, it was shocking, it was happy, it was love, it celebration wasn't full till she nodded "YES"

The whole room went A-wire like they were waiting for the party, as the massive crowd roared in celebration with the loud stereo of hip hop and Solanke placed the ring gentle into her wet and feeble finger, she cried. He carried her easily up that she spread her hands and laughed even loudly.

"so redemption was for every one after all..."
