By: Oyeyemi Israel
Jolly jumped into bed after changing his clothes as he arrived from the night party exactly 5am. Timy had invited him for the party three days earlier knowing fully well that Jolly will not resist the offer. Since they started a relationship, they have always loved to party together. Dancing in pair has been amazing to many and they seem unbeatable even if any competition arises. Their performances in parties have always been wonder to them also. It’s like the love bond boosted each ability to dance at parties. Unfortunately, the party didn’t go as planned due to the heavy rainfall that spoilt the show. Although people found shelter as the rain begun, no body went unbeaten by the heavy rainfall that started suddenly and perhaps because the party animals have forgotten themselves in the place of dancing. Timy jumped into a guy’s car for shelter when the rain begun and they started conversation. ‘I am Prince and you?’ ‘Timy is my name’ she replied. ‘You are such a beautiful lady and a good dancer. I have been watching the way you danced greatly with Jolly’ he said. ‘Thank you’ (she replied then looked surprised to hear her fiancé’s name. Do you know him? How do you know him? She asked curiously. Yes! He … (he stopped talking as he remembered some secrets. He wished he could swallow his words, he blamed himself for quick uttering and he tried to cover up with lies). (She looked into his eyes at the point) Please speak on Prince. Are you friends?
Jolly woke up some hours after and ready to have his breakfast when his roommate entered. How was the party? Henry asked. It was going well until the heavy rainfall started. Ooh! That reminds me, I have to call Timy! I hope she arrived her destination safely. (He picks up his phone and call) Hello baby! How are you? I am fine, she replied. I had to run into someone’s car when the rain started. He’s Prince, she continued (His head flew off as he heard the name) Pr…in…ce…? He asked. Yes, he is tall, baldheaded and fair in complexion. He told me you were close friends before your dad passed away and you helped him win a contract sometimes ago. She replied. Ooh! Yes! He was a close friend all until my dad died and he began to widen the scope of his business, getting prosperous then neglected me, but I never help him win a contract. He said. Hmm! That’s a lesson not to rely on anyone ooo. Many forget friends easily when they become successful! (she replied unhappily) Okay dear, we will talk more about that at Helinia’s joint.
Exactly five pm in Helina’s joint, many were already seated in pairs, eating and talking. Jolly sat for about thirty minutes before Timy walked in. ‘Bae, I am sorry for keeping you waiting. Apology accepted under one condition, he said jokingly. And what’s the condition? She asked and gave him the ‘you cannot get angry at me’ smile. ‘Not to ever keep me waiting because time is life’ he said as they laughed together. Its okay, I will always keep to time. She replied. It’s time to tell me more about who Prince ……(she didn’t complete the statement that her phone rang. She picked it up and the caller who happened to be Prince. She showed Jolly immediately and was reluctant to pick the call but he persuaded her to do so.) On phone, both greeted and Prince asked if she could pay him a visit in his house. She gave a negative response. He pushed further and asked if she won’t mind an outing at a five-star restaurant. She thought for some time then obliged. As soon as the call dropped, she saw Jolly with ‘where are you going’ look. ‘I cannot leave you for any man dear. You know I will forever love you. I purposely agreed to meet him at the restaurant so that I can turn his heart back to you since you were childhood friends. It’s high time we received money from this very rich guy. I promise you to be very smart while talking with him. I believe this will bring an end to average lifestyle’. He bowed his head slightly and gave her the ‘are you sure’ look. Yes, we will be glad of this step, she replied.
At Wazobia restaurant, Prince parked his new Toyota car and put a call through to Timy. She was waiting just opposite the restaurant. She picked his call and was very amazed with the car Prince came with but she kept that to herself. They moved in and Prince ordered his meal. Due to the heaviness of Timy’s heart to get her mission accomplished, that is, to get Prince back to Jolly, she couldn’t think about the sophisticated foods she had opportunity to take, all she ordered was chips and chicken. They began conversation. ‘Meeting you at the party was great. I believe such a beautiful lady like you should not be moving about without your own car. In fact, leaving in an environment like this shouldn’t be your portion. I am ready to give you all you need and we can both fly abroad’ he said. Thank you, she replied although those words were very touchy to her, she remained calm and asked why he neglected Jolly. ‘Ooh I didn’t distance myself from him deliberately. It happened that I won a visa lottery, I had to travel out then I lost his contact’ he replied. She shook her head bitterly because she knew he told her lies. ‘Since you are back, you can still be best of friends. He told me he tried reaching you but all his efforts were in vain’ she said. Alright Timy, I will get in touch with him. Thank you, she replied. What do you have to say about the blank cheque I offered you earlier? He asked. ‘Hmm, I will think about it when I get home and give you a call’ was her response. When are you reaching out to Jolly? She asked. As soon as I get a response from you about the blank cheque I offered you, he responded. At that point, Timy’s head flew off. She didn’t know what could do or say because she wanted Jolly’s friendship with Prince back. She didn’t know what she will tell Jolly as the outcome of the outing with Prince.
In Prince’s car, Timy sat at the driver’s side seat as Prince drove her home. She could hardly respond to the jokes cracked by him because she was lost in thoughts. Prince halted the car at a point to buy some snacks. Timy, being alone in the car and amazed by the car’s facilities laid hand on its different part until she mistakenly opened the glove box. To her surprise, she brought out a document with her fiancé father’s name boldly written on it. She was shocked, and then kept it inside her bag. Few minutes later, Prince came back with the snacks then gave her some. She thanked him and alighted after very few minutes before reaching her house. She proceeded to Jolly’s house and handed over the document to him. Behold! It’s a letter from Jolly’s father. It skipped Prince mind to keep it away from the car. It was always with him anywhere he went because he feared his friends might see it if it’s kept at home. It was therefore a secret to him alone. Jolly collected the document and read it aloud ‘Jolly my son, I have left a sum of ten million naira in the black sack in the kitchen at home. Do well to spend the money wisely’. Immediately, Jolly remembered when his dad passed on, Prince was the only person in the room with him while he went to buy some drug. He remembered he came back from the pharmacy store to meet his dad dead body without knowing Prince where about. As he told Timy all that happened, tears rolled down his face. He wished he didn’t inform Prince of his dad’s sickness. Timy held his hands and spoke into his ears ‘we will get all back. You know my uncle is a barrister’. She contacted her uncle and Prince was charged to the law court. He was found guilty and returned all to Jolly. He became poor just a little better than a beggar on the street. He regretted his deed and wished he was a better friend. He wiahed he handed the letter over to Jolly as Jolly’s father said he should help deliver the letter to him when he was about to leave the world.
