Story

The Village Gardner

*Episode 18*

After relaxing for a while. I went to see jumbo at the gate. Isabella and co are now against me. So Jumbo is my only friend for now. I bought two bottles of beer for ourselves. We were gisting on different things. I told him i might be going back today. He pleaded with me not to go. I told him my stay depends on Anabel’s hands. We were still gisting when Isabella walked closer to us. I saw her and hissed loud. You and your sister are the same.
ISABELLA; *clear throat* hi guys.(i kept silent and started looking at the gate).
JUMBO; Aah anty Isabella. good morning o.
ISABELLA; Good morning. How you dey today?.
JUMBO; Anty anty i dey fine o.
ISABELLA; Hi Tobem.
I kept silent and looked away. Jumbo just looked at me and say.
JUMBO; Oga Tobe, Anty Isabella dey greet you.
ME; I don hear. Tell am make she no disturb me.
Isabella was disappointed with my hash reply which made her to walked away almost in tears. I didn’t regret my action towards her. She deserve it when she slapped me nko. *mitchew*.
JUMBO; Una dey quarrel? I mean you and Isabella.
ME; No, we dey fight. Why u dey ask?.
JUMBO; See the way you take talk to her. It was hash na.
ME; Jumbo forget that okay.
We gisted for some minutes before i decided to take a walk around the street coz it has been long i did that. On my way, i started hungry so i branched at one of the restaurant to feed myself. Some minutes later i looked up and saw Anabel with two of her friends walked inside the restaurant. She looked towards my direction and saw me.(what is this pharaoh’s daughter doing here). They went and settled down far away from me. They ordered for what they want. I was still eating my own food. Anabel didn’t looked at my side again. They concentrated on there food likewise me.
Some minutes later. The waiter brought another plate of fried rice and chicken for me. I was surprised coz i didn’t ordered for any other food except the one i was eating.
WAITER; Excuse me sir. Here is your food.
ME; Food ke. Please i didn’t order any other food na. This one am eaten is what i ordered, beside this food you brought is very expensive. Maybe it was a mistake.
WAITER; *smile* actually, someone has already paid for the food. She said i should give you. She has also paid for the one you are just eating now. So feel free and enjoy yourself.
ME; *confuse*. she ke. Sorry miss. Who is she. I mean the one that asked you to give me the food.
WAITER; The lady over there.(pointing at Anabel.)
ME; *hope am not dreaming* Are you sure of what you just said now?.
WAITER; Yes sir. Am very sure.
I wasn’t feeling hungry any more so i asked the waiter to help me with take away. She package the food for me and i started heading home. Anabel and her friends were still gisting only God knows. I looked at her for the last time. I don’t know what to say or do again. I took the take way and left the restaurant.
On my way a car drove and stopped very closer to me. Who be this mumu wey no sabi drive. You dey craze, you want hit me, nonsense. I was still shouting at the stupid driver that nearly knocked me down. When a lady walked down from the car. I looked up and saw no other person than Anabel. I became speechless instantly. (i must confess. Anabel is very beautiful like her sister, just that she is black but very pretty. While Isabella is fair, that was the only difference between them). I finally found my lost voice.
ME; Anabel do you want to hit me. Eeh, are you blind. Has it gotten to this? So you want to kill me abi. You won’t succeed this time around. *i poured my anger on her*.
ANABEL; *clear throat* Hi Tobe. I am very sorry for my reckless driving. I wanted to stop beside you. But it went very close. Did the car touched you?.
ME; *angry tone* before nko. You don’t know that i am the only son of my mother. You want to kill me for her abi?.
ANABEL; *smiled* you are very funny Tobe. Why will i kill you. Please get inside the car lets go home.
ME; (i don’t need your help f**l) Eerm don’t bother yourself. I will find my way. *i made to go away*.
ANABEL; I am heading home. Come on let me drop you. Okay please lets go.
I started asking myself some questions. Is this truly Anabel behaving this way or is this her photo copy. Anabel of all people. Why the sudden change. Today is the deadline day that she will make her final decision. If this is a dream, please nobody should wake me up otherwise i will fight the person.
We drove silent through out the journey we didn’t talk to each other till we get home. She killed the car engine and we came down.
I made to go without any word to her, but she called me back.
ANABEL; Are you walking away without even thanking me for the ride.
ME; Eerm, thanks for the food.
ANABEL; What about the ride?.
ME; No thanks. *frown*.
ANABEL; Naughty you. I will catch you. *smiling* (you and who dey smile, mitchew).
I left her to my room. She stood there looking at me.
I went closer to the door that lead to my room and saw another shocker. Isabella was sitting at the only plastic chair beside my door waiting for me. Isabella, what are you doing here?. I asked her.

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ToBeContinued...