TITLE: THREE GENERATIONS
WRITTEN BY: OGECHI ALABI
CHAPTER 68
Nwadiuto was the first to notice the change in her mother. She looked happier and was always on her phone. She watched her glow. She dressed differently too.
Since her return to Lagos after the official introduction to her stepmother who accepted her with open arms, Nwadiuto had concentrated on her job. She had dinner once with Josh and lunch on a day he was around her vicinity. He refused to give her his address.
The following weekend, he invited her for a get together at an exclusive resort. She was ready to have fun. The problem was not having company. She didn’t want to be around people she didn’t know or care for her. But Josh as-sured her it wasn’t like the last one. She will have people she could connect with.
She came to the resort wearing a white net (with big holes) knee length free gown with a purple bikini top and a pair of black bum shorts un-derneath it. She had her beach hat, sunglas-ses, sli-pper, and towel. She had Br@ids done and packed in a bun. She wore just powder and li-p gloss. She had prepared for this outing.
“Why are you always determined to Se-duce people?” Josh asked her as he walked up to her.
“This is a beach right. I came in the appropriate attire.”
“Well, some people are more daring than you. You might have to take off your fishnet gown to compete”
“O really. Not interested in competing with anyone”
“Cool because my friend is here”
“Which of the ladies is she?”
“Look out for Naomi Campbell”
Nwadiuto saw her. She was tall, a bit taller than Nwadiuto. She had on a bikini and had the figure of a model truly. With all the challenges she had faced, Nwadiuto had lost some weight. This lady had a small set of Bre-asts and a small hip and bum. White men like this figure and white men were giving her attention.
She joined Josh. He introduced her around and she got to meet old faces and new ones. He introduced his cousin to her. The guy believed they were Siamese twins after that. Nwadiuto wasn’t in the least interested in him.
She had a few drinks and some barbecue. She chatted with everyone there and then decided to go for a walk along the shoreline. She was prompted to walk in another direction where there were private beach houses. As she walked she saw two people sitting on beach chairs with an umbrella over them. What attra-cted her to the couple was the beach bag that was beside the lady. She recognized the bag when her mother was packing for an official retreat. If there was a retreat, why was she and someone else alone here? She walked past them for a small distance and then walked back. When she did, she caught a full vision of the guy because he stood up to go inside. Then she looked at the woman. She had on a swimsuit. She raised her hand to remove some of the beach sand she had on her, she saw her mother’s rings. She wasn’t mistaken. She walked very slowly. The man returned and she turned on her stomach. With that turn she saw her face; it was her mother. She quickened her steps back to the party.
“Where have you been?” Josh asked while she dragged him away from the group.
She pointed to the umbrella which was a small distance away and said to Josh, “My mum is un-der that umbrella with a man”
“You are kidding me!”
“I ain’t joking; she has gotten her groove back”
“Should we go closer to watch them?”
“I have seen the guy. She’s with him and she looked really happy. I have never seen her look that happy”
“Guess who joined the party when you took off?”
“Malik?”
“Yeah, this is your opportunity”
“I will see him when I get back. Your babe is chilling with the oyibo guys”
“My friend you mean. She was with Malik briefly until I warned her off him. I told her he was yours”
“You are a good friend always protecting my interest. Let me go there and pepper him” she removed the gown she was wearing and Josh went “Damn”.
Malik was all over her when he saw her. She asked the usual questions of why he didn’t call her. He said her number mysteriously disappeared from his phone. She smiled. He led her to the beach but she refused to jiggle her jugs or arse for anyone. She walked out of the water majestically unlike other girls around.
She didn’t join the ball games or tug of war. She was ready for the truth and dare. ‘Naomi Campbell’ rushed to sit beside Josh which irritated her. She left him to sit opposite him. He begged her with his eyes. They un-derstood each other.
This Truth or Dare game was different. Cards with questions for the game were available and ever had the bu-tt of the bottle asked whoever had the front a question. Some questions came with “You Can’t Drink”. If you choose to join the game, you couldn’t chicken out. The bottle was spun and it stopped with the first person. It went on until it was Nwadito’s turn and the bott-om faced ‘Naomi Campbell’. Nwadiuto chose dare.
“Sit on the lap of someone you like here and ki-ss him on the li-ps. You can’t drink.” Naomi announced excitedly.
Nwadiuto stood up. Everyone expected her to go to Malik including Malik but she walked over to Josh sat on his lap-s facing Naomi Campbell and ki-ssed him on the li-ps. Everyone was shocked including Josh. He stood up immediately almost dropping her. She knew he would freak out. She looked over at Malik and saw he wasn’t happy at all. She winked at him.
The game continued with guys trying to get her to do stuff which she declined. She chose only Truth after that. They played other games and people were pairing up as it was getting late. Malik asked to speak with her.
“Why did you do that? Is there anything between you and Josh?”
“He’s my bestie. Nothing at all”
“Why would you ki-ss him?”
“I can ki-ss whoever I want. Why are you acting like a saint? I saw you with another lady when I came back from my stroll. We aren’t in a relationship; we just want to be bad together. If you are still interested, I should be in Abuja soon. We can be nau-ghty together all night long”
“Give me your number”
They exchanged numbers again. She didn’t save his name with Malik so it doesn’t mysteriously disappear again. Malik left before Nwadiuto because he had a call and had to go.
“Why did you ki-ss me? You will give Malik ideas” Josh asked.
“Or Naomi Campbell?”
“She is just a friend”
“She wants more than friendship”
“She has oyibo body which doesn’t appeal to me”
“Liar!”
They looked down to where the umbrella and the beach chairs were. No one was there. They walked there together. There was light in the beach house and they could hear a woman giggling.
“Your mum is having fun. I wish I could see the man”
“Let’s knock and ask for something”
“Good idea.”
They knocked and Paul came to the door. They asked for drinking water and he graciously gave them. She saw her mother’s handbag. That was all she nee-ded to see.
“This is a beautiful place. I wish I could look around. Are you here alone?”
“No, I’m with my wife”
“Sorry for intruding. Can I take some pictures down here?” Nwadiuto asked.
“Sure”
Nwadiuto took pictures close to items she knew belonged to her mother. Then, they thanked the man who introduced himself as Paul and they left.
“She is there. When did she develop the guts to get away with a man” Nwadiuto asked quite impressed.
“You know your mum is human; she has nee-ds too. And the guy is nice.”
“I will show her this picture and she would want to die. So her getaways are with this guy”
“Behave yourself. It is time for you to go home, your baby brother is waiting for you. I had fun with you today like always” he gave her a hu-g and pec-ked her on her cheek.
Nwanneka was embarras-sed when Nwadiuto showed her the picture. It was her secret and this child wanted to ruin it.
“I am not judging you. I like the guy, Paul right?”
“Yeah. We met while I was in the university and broke off because he was in another relationship. Fate brou-ght of back together.”
“I saw the difference in you when it started; you have your glow back and you are the happiest I have ever seen you. Don’t hide it from me. If you want to be with him, just tell and you can go. You deserve all the love you can get.”
She hu-gged Nwadiuto and said “Thank you, child. This remains between us.”
“Not a problem. He called you his wife with so much confidence. This might be serious for him”
“It is for me too but I don’t want to remarry. I can introduce him when bobo enters secondary school and un-derstands what I am doing”
“They don’t care. Live for yourself first. You are happy now and it will tell on them. Where are you taking them for summer?”
“I was thinking the UK. But I haven’t asked Paul yet”
“You nee-d to ask him. Let their grandmother go with them and then you can jet out with loverboy”
“I can’t believe we are talking about my boyfriend. What about yours?”
“None for now. Once I serve, I might get one”
“And the Br@nch manager?”
“Friends mum, we are just friends”
“I think he likes you though”
“Not in that way. He has a babe with him in his house as we speak”
“That’s not good. I think you should consider a serious relationship so you can get married and start a family early”
“Initially, I didn’t want to have children. I wanted to marry a man that reasons like me. With what has happened, I want to have children. I believe I will be a good mother especially with you and grandmother supporting me. The problem is, I also want a career. I am not interested in the ministry work you are doing. I want to own my own IT company. So, we have to agree, I will go to India for one year after service”
“Whatever you want to do, I am solidly behind you. Don’t let anything deter you”
“I know I never tell you this but you are an amazing mother and I love you. I will be eternally grateful to you for whom you have made me be. I have no regrets about how I came into this world and for keeping me even knowing the implication, there is no love like that.”
Nwanneka couldn’t believe her ears. Her daughter complimented her and even told her she loved her. She cried tears of joy as she hu-gged her daughter saying in between tears, “I love you too”
Nwadiuto worked for two weeks and then an opportunity to be in Abuja presented itself. Her boss had a meeting in Abuja with a government parastatal. He threw the option of joining him open to Nwadiuto and she took it.
She waited until she was in Abuja before she called Malik. He was excited to hear from her. He told her he would see in later that night after she was throu-ghwith their presentation.
She went back with her boss to the hotel they were lodged with two senior management of the parastatal. One of them was talking to her with his eyes but she paid him no heed. She had plans and he wasn’t a part of it. Immediately after the meeting was over, she called Malik to come. She dashed into her room, took a bath and got ready for him.
“This isn’t Hilton, but this will do. It’s got a beautiful view. Your boss put you in this room?”
“Yes, he did”
“Where is his?”
“The next room”
“Are you sure he didn’t have plans to come over later tonight?”
“He will see you here”
She ordered drinks for them which she paid for herself. Malik watched her looking all Se-xy and hot but, he wasn’t in a hurry; they had all night.
“How is my rival?” Malik asked out of the blues.
“Who is that?”
“Josh. Lily-livered Josh. He doesn’t know how to take a girl that is hungry for him. He believes in being a nice guy; girls don’t like nice guys, they like bad guys”
“Really?”
“Yes. He follows you around like a pup without telling you how he truly feels about you. Something all of us are aware of”
“Josh doesn’t have such feelings for me. He had them for my sister and had a good friendship with me”
“What are you saying? The way he looks at you and goes all out to protect you doesn’t explain his feelings? You are more naïve than I thought. That guy has the hots for you. It is either he has eyes only for you or I think he has a problem. Most of the girls who showed interest in him said he never made a move on them. How can you allow such a piece of arse to escape from you? The other one refused to tell me what happened between both of them. I wanted details but she refused to give them. I suspect he has issues; Se-xual issues. It is possible he can’t get it up. This must be the reason he has female friends who are comfortable being around him”
“I don’t know about that”
“Has he made a move on you?”
“Never, he respects me”
Malik slapped her arse and asked her, “He respects this arse or he can’t see it? I think he just might be ga-y”
“Because he didn’t tap my arse”
“Come here bitc-h. Are you talking back to me? You deserve to be punished” He turned her over on his lap and spa-nked her arse. Then he rolled up her dress and spa-nked her ba-re bu-tt. Nwadiuto liked it. This was what she wanted and more. “Let me introduce you to my world, rou-ghor gentle?”
“Both”
It went crazy from there. From rou-ghki-ssing to cunnilingus which got her trembling when she had an Orgasm. It seemed he was out to make her squeal and M0-n all night long. He ki-ssed and lic-ked almost every part of her body. She had turned to jelly in his arms.
Then he stood up to undress. He did it gradually in a seductive manner as if stri-pping for her. She watched him with keen interest. He had a ripped body like that of a god. He must be building his body because he was Se-xy. When he took off his jeans, then she became worried. She suddenly didn’t feel like giving him her V¡rginity anymore. All the feelings she had for him suddenly disappeared.
Malik joined her back on the bed but her excitement was gone. He tried getting her excited again but she wasn’t responding like before.
“What is it?”
“I don’t think I am ready”
“What are you saying?”
“I don’t think I am ready for this”
“Are you joking? Suddenly you are no longer ready? Do I look like a joke to you? Did you come here to play a prank with me? What kind of childish attitude are you displaying? After you had an earthshaking Orgasm you are no longer interested in me having my way.”
“I thought I was ready to give up my V¡rginity but now, I realise, I am doing something wrong. There is no future between us and you have no regard for me. Why then should I give you something so precious?”
“What? You are a V¡rgin? You are joking right. V¡rgin! Who told you I do V¡rgins? You have spoilt tonight for me. I don’t have Se-x with inexperienced ladies who don’t know how to handle what I’ve got. So all this while, you were a V¡rgin? No wonder. Josh must have suspected. He warned me off you calling you innocent. Meanwhile, I thought he was smacking this arse.” he replied.
Nwadiuto was upset. He made her feel stupid and not up to par just because she considered him to be her first. She stood up, entered the bathroom and locked herself inside there. She took another bath, came out tying a towel. Malik was already dressed. She went to get her dress while he spoke to her.
“I might have come off sounding insen-sitive. I’m sorry. You have a great body; one of the best I have ever seen. But, I am not into the V¡rgin thing. We can repeat this at the Hilton when you get rid of the obstacle and you are emotionally ready. Josh might be able to help if he is man enough. When you are ready, I as-sure you, you will have the time of your life. I’ve got to run. I just got a call. Duty calls. Good night, dear” and he went to the door without waiting for a response.
Nwadiuto was more upset than before. She wanted to cry at that moment; premium tears but they refused to drop. Malik had what many women believed they liked. But on sighting it, she knew she didn’t want it and definitely not for her first time. But, she expected him to be nicer, appeal or cajole her to try, show that he cared about her but he threw her away for another without batting an eyelid. Josh would never have treated her like that.
Malik was Se-xy and hot. He was like melted chocolate; brown and yummy. But now he no longer looked like that to her. She saw an insen-sitive guy who had no regard for women. The body of a woman was a toy to him.
Still, she wanted to have the opportunity to be with Malik again. She had been cured of the bad girl lifestyle by his attitude. She enjoyed the spa-nking he started with. She would want to experience him again; and this time, she would be the one to insult him just like he did her.
She wanted to call Josh and vent but she stopped herself. They had agreed on no discussion about Malik. She didn’t tell him she was going to Abuja. She wanted to talk to him so badly but also didn’t want to share her experience with Malik as Malik. It didn’t have to be Malik. She called him. They exchanged pleasantries.
“I was with a guy today but I couldn’t pull it throu-gh. He was upset. He made another appointment with someone else, dressed up and left. What kind of childish behaviour is that?”
“You are not happy he left?”
“Why should he? Am I only good for Se-x?”
“You should be thanking your stars he didn’t Ra-pe you. What if he had been violent with you? He was ready for action until you declined.”
“He can’t Ra-pe me. We will die there”
“Stop Br@gging and thank your stars. I agree, he was childish in a way but, that’s what you get when you are not in a committed relationship. You have to choose how you want to be treated. Se-x isn’t everything. If I was in that situation, I would have handled it differently. But you ladies would prefer to be with guys that treat you like shit and still be lusting after him. I keep wondering why”
“The heart wants what the heart wants. I un-derstand. The good guys don’t get the girls they want. But, they are also attra-cted to bad girls sometimes. That craziness nee-ds to be experienced. That whole throwing caution to the wind and having a wild time”
“But good guys can give that experience too. The problem is, you are not willing to try them. When I was in the university, I lived off-campus and had this neighbour. He was short and had a slender body frame. He wasn’t someone you will look at twice and he didn’t have so much money. But guess what, he had a girlfriend. She was hot. All of us tried to get her but she refused us all. Beautiful chic. One night, there was no light and we all sat outside to take in the fresh air. They lit a candle in the room and started action. We went silent when we heard her M0-n the first time. Their window at the back was open. We went to the back of the building, a distance away and watched them make love. We couldn’t believe what the guy was capable of. I mean this girl was having the time of her life. That was when we un-derstood why she wouldn’t leave him for anyone. They are married now. He is still as gentle as ever. They have three kids. Good guys also make good lovers. Get a good guy”
Nwadiuto thought about her conversation with Josh until dawn. She realized how mistaken she was about her desi-res. She could get all the naughtiness and still be treated with respect before and after. She tried to imagine what would have happened after if Malik had been successful. It was a conquest for him. It was sinking in now.
Her boss informed her they would be leaving for Lagos earlier than planned as he had another meeting in Lagos. She didn’t mind. She checked out and met him downstairs. Her mind was far away. They met with the Minister they came to see and went to the airport from there. With the delays and all, they got to Lagos at about 7pm.