Midnight Saga

Episode 49

I was in a mess, a messed up mess, where do I
place Yemi? I could have lied saying she was
my cousin, Aunt or a family member, but my
mum was there.

I had to not only tell them about Yemi, I had
to provide a credible explanation to the
obvious closure she and I shared.

At that moment, I wished the ground would
open and swallow me up, I was between the
devil and the deep blue sea.

A great part of me, regretted ever waking up.

My mouth was half way open, trying to give
an inexistent explanation. When Yemi said.
“Oh I own the company, the company where
Jeff works”

I turned around to look at everyone, they
actually fell for it.

I tried not to convey a look of surprise on my
face, it might arouse scepticism.

I thought I had crossed the sea, my woes got
intense. When Mr Johnson came in.

“Good morning, Jeff, I got a message that
you’re awake.”

“Yeah, obviously” I replied.

My heart was beating fast, few minutes ago,
Yemi claimed to own the company I worked
for. Mr Johnson was the only one who could
ascertain that.

“Good morning ma’am, could you please sign
these documents” Mr Johnson said, to Yemi
“Sure, she replied” she unzipped her purse, got
her pen and signed on the documents.

Mr Johnson was about leaving, his hand was
on the door knob, he turned around and said.

“Ma’am, the vice president of the company
told me to remind you of the meeting with the
affiliates”
“I haven’t forgotten” she replied.

I used my left hand to pinch myself, in case I
was dreaming or in a trance, but I wasn’t.

Is Yemi truly the owner of the company?
I thought.

I was troubled at the same time glad I had
gotten out of the dilemma. It would have been
tragic.
My mum brought food, I only ate a little of it.
We continued talking and laughing, all six of
us.
Sandra did her best to take my mind off the
pain.
The previous semester, she was the one on a
hospital bed and I was the one sitting beside
her and comforting.
This semester it was her turn, to keep me
warm and loved.

I think that’s what a relationship is about,
being there for people, especially when they
need you the most. That’s the prime purpose
of being a relationship, leaning on each other.

In the evening, I had to persuade Ibro,
Amarachi and Drake to leave, they were
hesitant at first, but I insisted. Not too long
after they left, a few of my dance crew came
in. Capon, Rita and Gabriel.

I was really happy to see them, at least if I
had died, I knew I had people who would miss
me.

While we were cracking jokes and laughing,
something popped up in my thoughts.
“How’s my colleagues, Paul, Gladys, Lydia and
Rose?Have they been discharged already?” I
asked
They all kept quiet.

“Will someone please answer me?” I yelled
Sandra placed her hand on my chest,
“Jeff, there’s something I have to tell you”
My heart was beating fast again, I was
sensing danger.

“One of your friends died” she said.

“What?” I screamed out.

Tears was already rolling down my cheeks,
“who is it?” I asked. Bracing myself up for the
worst.

“The male guy, I think his name is Paul, the
doctor said he broke his neck and died
instantly”
I was quiet for a while, then suddenly broke
into a rigorous session of weeping.

I cried like a baby, not even minding the
people around.

Paul and I were big time buddies. He was a
great guy.

Of all my colleagues, he was the only one who
knew I was receiving higher pay than them all,
but he wasn’t worried about it.

I want to see him, I screamed, trying to get off
the bed, Sandra held me back and they all
pleaded with me to further recover before
seeing his body.

A week later, I was discharged, I was
beginning to use crutches. My leg and my
head was still bandaged.

I borrowed Ibro’s phone to make a call.

“Good evening Yemi”
“Hey Jeff” she said, recognising my voice
immediately.

“Can you please come over to my place. I
know you already know where I live” I said
She laughed a little, “Alright am coming” she
replied.
Thirty minutes later, she came over with a
flashy car. One that I hadn’t seen before.

“What’s the problem Jeff?” she asked, stepping
out of the car.
“We’re going somewhere” I replied
I gave Ibro his phone back, and sat beside
Yemi in the car, while she drove.
“Where are we going?” she asked
“Take me to the mortuary”
She drove into the mortuary, I was taken to
the ward were Paul’s body was kept.
Yemi stayed outside while I walked, I needed
to be alone.

I began crying bitterly, soon as I unveiled his
face.

His head was twisted a little, and a part of his
vertebrae was sticking out of his neck.

Am not sure I’ll be able to properly describe
how I cried. With tears and catarrh flowing
from my eyes and nose respectively.

I remember how he would use jokes and
parables to try and convince customers to buy
our stuffs, how he always laughed with his
mouth wide open.

I knew I was gonna miss him. I had to cry
over him one last time.

After about an hour, I was done, I was
experiencing a slight headache.
I came out, Yemi handed a white handkerchief
to me. I used it to wipe my face.

We got into the car, and she drove away.
“Yemi, how were you able to do that?” I asked.
“do what?”
“About the ‘i_own_the_company_talk’”
She laughed hysterically.

“There’s nothing money cannot do, she
replied”
“You know why am a very successful woman?”
she asked, rhetorically
“I expect everything, especially the worst”
“Yemi please stop the car” I said
“Why should I do that?” she asked
“Just stop the car”
She parked the car by the roadside
“You and I have to talk” I said.

She laughed again and said.

“Are you planning to end what we have?” she
asked.
“I nodded”
“My life is really messed up, i think this is my
second chance to make it right”
She was silent for a long while.
“Relax, I’ve been thinking too, I think it’s
about time I moved on too, I’ve had enough
fun.” she said.

“I felt a wind of relief”
“But we’ll be friends” she said, pointing to me
with her index finger.

“Yeah sure” I extended my hand so we could
knuckle it out.

“What’s that for?” she asked
“You’re suppose to clinch your fist and hit on
it” I said.

“No way, that’s a guy thing.” she said and we
both laughed, she ignited the car and drove
me to the market, where she got me a new
phone and sim card.
She later drove me home.
We hugged and she left.
I slotted the sim card, into the new Android
phone.
As I had already memorised Sandra’s number.
I saved it immediately, followed by my Mum’s
number.

At about 10pm. I called Sandra.

“She picked, not recognising who it was that
was calling.”
I didn’t even bother introducing myself.
“Sandra, if I have never told you how much
you mean to me.

You mean everything to me
Sandra, if I have never told you how much I
need you.

You are indispensable.

Sandra if i have never told you how much I
love you
I love you with all my heart.”

She began crying softly over the phone, I
heard her sniffle and wipe the tears off her
face.

I later hung up.

Sandra visited me at about 12 Midnight.

And that’s the reason for the story:

THE END