Chapter 2 Collide

COLLIDE

ARINOLA

The sound of my alarm woke me up but I ignored it wanting to go back to sleep and dream about the good life.

The life where I was rich and married to Osaze, with no problem at all.

"Arin!" I buried my head in the pillow, I should have known she'd disturb me too.

She was the second Alarm clock in this house. Once she was up, she wanted the whole house to wake up with her.

"Arinola Ajisafe!" she called again but I ignored her hoping she'd get the message and leave me alone.

"Don't let me come inside that room o lazy girl! Your mates are up and at work, you're still lying down there" she shouted from the living room.

"Oooh, what is it na, why wouldn't she just leave me alone to sleep?" I grumbled before getting out of bed.

I'd slept late yesterday after a night out at the bar with my girls.

They'd taken me out last night to drink and forget about my problem with Osaze.

"Arinola, I hope you're out of that bed because if I should enter that room and meet you still lying down there you will hate me" My mother called again.

I swear some African mothers were created to frustrate their children, my mother being one of them never failed to frustrate me.

Few minutes after dishing out threats from the living room, She came into my room dressed in an Iro and Buba, an angry expression on her face.

"Lazy girl, you're just waking up. Didn't I tell you to get up early so you can put the icing on that cake and deliver it? Am I the one that will decorate the cake and still deliver it for you?" she asked.

"Good morning" I greeted grumpily.

"I did not kill my mother Arinola! You will not kill me, is this how you will be sleeping from morning till night in your husband's house? So that he will send you back here, God forbid! You will not disgrace me and your father" she raged on and on theatrically.

Did I mention that my mum is a drama queen?

"Mummy I'm going to bathe now" I rolled my eyes.

"Is it me you're doing that face for, silly, naughty girl? I will slap your face" she hissed referring to the way I'd rolled my eyes.

I shook my head to avoid more drama, she simply glared at me before walking away.

I don't know why mummy is always so worked up in the morning.

I took off my sleep shorts and singlet before walking into the bathroom.

Mummy ran a confectionery and a restaurant and I worked for her, after I'd graduated from the University of Lagos and completed the youth service I hadn't been able to secure a job.

So I turned to mummy and she taught me how to cook. After her teachings and mentoring, she offered me a job.

The arrangement then suited me because I hated the stress of the Nigerian labor market besides Osaze my boyfriend already promised to help me start up my restaurant when we get married.

I'm hoping it's soon because I'm getting fed up with working for mummy and I want to leave this house.

I hastily brushed my teeth and took my bath before mummy would start screaming my name again.

After having my bath quite quickly, I hurried to my wardrobe and got dressed in my mini blue flower prints chiffon dress that showed off my fantastic legs and fixed my makeup and hair hastily.

Born with really pretty features, I loved to accentuate it more with makeup and wigs.

I slipped into my nude-colored heels and walked to the living room to go decorate the cake I was delivering in a few hours.

My dad, Mr. Olakunle Ajisafe was sitting on his favorite chair in the living room reading a newspaper.

"Daddy good morning," I said walking over to him, leaning down to kiss his cheeks.

"My light-skinned princess, pretty angel. Turn around let me see you, my gold, my wealth" I chuckled and turned around as daddy went on with the compliments.

Mummy came into the living room scowling.

"My husband, don't encourage her jare! You're the one spoiling this girl" she said to my father before turning to me.

"What are you wearing, is this what you will wear to go and deliver the cake? Heels! So that you will fall and destroy my cake? Go and wear your sandal or your sneakers joor" mummy hissed.

I frowned, pouting a little before looking to daddy to support me.

"Hey! Abike, leave her alone. Let her dress as she pleases, look at how beautiful she looks. Don't you know she's the one who will bring our fortune? You'll never know the rich man she'll encounter on her way" Daddy chided mummy.

Mummy hissed and rolled her eyes at my father's statement.

"Like father like daughter," she said walking into the kitchen.

I followed her to the kitchen to put the finishing touches on the cake.

"Ehem! madam hurry up, let me drop you off at Alesh so you can get a bus going to Oshodi," mummy said.

"Alright, I'm almost done," I said.

Minutes later I was done with the cake decoration and packaging.

"My husband, I'm leaving there's breakfast and lunch in the kitchen. If you need anything else, just come to the shop" she handed him a couple of Naira notes.

Mummy has been the breadwinner of the family since my father retired from the Nigerian power holding company.

He'd spent his pension on bad business and lost a lot of money, since then mummy took care of the house rent and the bills.

An outsider would never know that because mummy never harassed him for money or disrespected him.

I admired the love and connection between them.

Soon mummy won't be able to work again and the both of them will look up to me to take of them.

When that time comes, I don't want to disappoint them, not after all they've done for me.

I kissed daddy goodbye and followed mummy to her car.

The old battered family car that daddy had bought during his working days.

"Nothing should happen to that cake Arinola, Mrs. Okoji is my very good customer and I don't want to disappoint her. Don't fail me" Mummy reminded me.

"I won't mummy," I said frowning, she treats me like I'm incompetent sometimes and I don't like that.

"Okay," she said as we drove out from the compound and into the main road.

Mummy's restaurant was located at Ikota while we resided in Ado-Ajah area.

She dropped me off at Alesh to get a bus going to Oshodi.

"Goodbye Arin, don't fail me" she repeated.

Words.... I've been hearing since I was a child, 'don't fail us Arin'.

I sighed, smiled, and nodded before getting out of the car.

Minutes later after standing under the merciless Lagos sun for a long time, I began to regret wearing these heels.

I checked my wristwatch and groaned, I didn't want to take a public bus because of the way they packed people like sardines in it.

Mummy will kill me if I mess up her cake, I couldn't also get a BRT.

I stood under the sun hoping for a private vehicle going to Oshodi.

I checked my watch again before saying a silent prayer to God to send a private vehicle, God must have answered my prayers immediately because luck smiled in my direction.

A/N: Iro and Buba - A traditional Yoruba attire for women, consisting of a blouse and a wrapper.