Imade
"How's my mom doctor?" I ask shakily, with my heart in my mouth.
"I'm afraid she needs this transplant as soon as possible Imade. Her condition is getting worse by the minute and if she goes on like this, I'm afraid we'll lose her." He replies and I stagger, almost losing my balance but he quickly holds me up. My head hurt like hell from lack of sleep, I haven't had anything to eat since last night and if I go on like this, I might actually die from exhaustion.
"How long does she have left?" I ask.
"I can't give you an exact time but I doubt she'll make it if she doesn't get the transplant within a month. The donor is ready but if you're not ready in a month, the kidney would be offered to another patient. This is the best I can do for you Imade. Please hurry up." He says and quickly walks away, leaving me to my ocean of thoughts.
My eyes become blur from crying too much, my head felt two times it's normal size and I almost wish I could pass out and fall asleep till all of this was over but doing that would mean leaving my sick mother and my little sister by themselves, a risk I can't afford to take.
My phone rings, snapping me out of my thoughts and I check the caller to see Angela's name pop up.
"Hey babe, what's up? Wetin doctor talk?" She asks immediately I pick up.
"Angy, it's bad! It's really bad. The doctor said mom is getting worse and I have just a month to pay or she won't make it. How am I going to raise 3.5 million in a month? I can't even make that amount in a year!" I yell in frustration.
"I know how you feel and I promise to help you in any way that I can so calm down and go home. I'm sure you've not had anything to eat, so go home, eat and get some rest. We'll find a solution for sure. God has not left us yet. Have you tried calling Khalidat?" She asks.
"No, I haven't but I'll call her later. Thanks for calling babe, we'll talk later." And with that I end the call resumed my pacing. I wanted to go see my mom but I didn't have the courage to face her so I decide against it and instead leave the hospital.
Oh lord if you are really up there and you can hear me, send me an helper that will help save my mother. Lolade and I are not ready to be orphaned, please God, help us.
•••••
"Sister Imade, what did the doctor say? Lola asks as soon as I walk into the house.
I ignore her first and reach for the kitchen instead to satisfy my hunger.
"What are you cooking?" I ask.
"I'm making bean porridge with plantain, I had a feeling you'll be hungry since you didn't have lunch, food will be ready soon. But why are you avoiding my previous question? Is something wrong?" She asks.
"I didn't avoid it Lola, I just ignored it because of the aroma of food. I'm starving." I say, drawling the last part for emphasis and she snorts.
"Are you that hungry? I thought I left you some food before leaving this morning?" She replies and I point towards the freezer.
"You didn't eat again? That's the same way you didn't yesterday and even the day before! Aunty mi, this habit of not eating should stop o. Do you want to kill yourself? If anything happens to you, who'll fend for mommy and I? Can't you just focus on taking care of your health for once?" She blurts angrily and I lower my head, attempting to block her voice out. I didn't have the energy to argue with her.
"Hold on Lola, mummy is dying and you want me to worry about food? She has about a month left and if I don't raise 3.5 million naira, we'll lose her! How will I raise that hefty amount of money? How do I go about it? So with all this going on, do you really think I care about myself? If mom dies, we're alone Lola and you know the worst part, all her labour over us will be in vain because she won't get to enjoy life even after all of her suffering over us. So tell me, am I really important? Is eating really important?" I yell back at her and I could see her face change. She was on the brink of tears already but she tried as much as she could to hold her tears back.
"Sister Imade, starving yourself and depriving yourself of proper sleep won't raise the money. If you want to help her, be healthy enough so we can raise that money. I already decided, I'll get a job to help and I'm sure God above will help us. So let's not cry because our mother is not dead and she's not dying anytime soon." She said with a weak smile and I nod slowly before engulfing her in a tight hug.
"I'm so sorry Lola. You shouldn't have to work and juggle school at the same time, you just shouldn't." I mutter shakily amidst tears.
"It's not your fault sis, I'll be fine. We'll all be fine." She assures me with a smile, before going to check on her food.
"That reminds me sis, I saw a text message on my phone earlier today but it wasn't for me, it was for you. It's a message from auntie Khalidat. She asked me to tell you that she called but your number wasn't going through and she said you should check your mail." Lola informs me during dinner and I'm quick to rush to the sitting room to grab my phone.
Khalidat had promised to help me get a job and I sincerely hoped whatever I'm about to read was good news cause one more bad news today and I might not make it to the next day.
My eyes scan through the mail hurriedly and the context immediately left a wide smile on my face. "I GOT A JOB!" I holler excitedly, attracting Lola's attention as she immediately bolts to where I was.
"OMG! Congrats sis. Auntie Khali did it! Which company is it?" She asks excitedly.
"Safari Homes. It's a real estate company around VI." I reply and a wide grin spreads across her face.
"Wow! That's amazing o. You can even snag a rich guy that could help us with mom's hospital bills. All you need is to flaunt that beautiful face of yours and boom! They'll fall madly in love with you. Omo mehn, my big sis is finally getting there." She chirped excitedly, earning a light smack on her head.
"Will you stop saying nonsense! Who told you I'm looking for a boyfriend?" I hiss at her and she gasps.
"Sis, don't tell me...Are you still waiting for uncle Jamal?" She asked, sounding surprised bit I ignore her question. I didn't want to think about him right now to avoid ruining my good mood.
He has already moved on and forgotten me and I should be doing the same but it wasn't as easy as it sounded. He was still stuck in my head and my heart and part of me still had hope that he'd come back and give me a reasonable explanation as to why he hadn't contacted me in eight years.
"Sis, a few years ago, I would have awwwed at how cute your feelings for him are but at this point, I'm doubting it's even love. I'm starting to think you're just obsessed with him because I don't understand how you can love someone that hasn't given a darn about you for the last eight years! When it's not as if you're under a spell." She said, rolling her eyes every five seconds.
"Lolade, you're becoming rude o. Is it me you're talking to like that? Besides, who I like is my business so, kini ti ẹ? You better warn yourself o before I change it for you." I warn her sternly.
(What's your own?)
"E ma binu ma." She huffs quickly and heads back to the kitchen.
(Don't be angry ma.)
I take one more look at the mail and read through properly. The job was only an internship and I'll only get hired officially if I impress my supervisor. Impressing people was definitely my strong point so I wasn't worried. I just hoped that this new job will put a smile on my face and hopefully like Lola said, I find someone that can help me with mother's situation and I pray my helper is a woman and not a man.
~~~
"Just breathe Imade, you're a strong, beautiful and intelligent woman and nothing will stop you from getting this job." I repeat to myself for the umpteenth time, staring at the building in front of me nervously.
My stomach felt heavier than usual but that was because Lola had fed me almost two plates of rice. She literally sat in front of me and spoon fed me and when I refused to eat, she'd threaten to run away from home if I don't obey her. Sisters ehn!
I clear my throat, adjust my skirt and walk into the office with a small smile playing on my lips. Anyone that saw me would think I was living my best life judging from how expensive my clothes looked, courtesy of Khalidat and Angela. They had bought me these clothes the day they forced me to go shopping with them and I never found them useful till today.
"Good morning miss." I greet the woman, who I assumed was my supervisor.
"Good morning young lady. How may I help you?" She replies and I can already tell she wasn't going to be easy to impress, judging from that rock hard expression that she wore on her slightly wrinkled face.
"I am Imade Adeleke and I was directed to this office at the reception." I tell her and her grim expression changes to a slightly softer one.
"Oh, you must be the girl with connection!" She exclaims and to say I'm surprised by how she addressed me would be an understatement.
"Excuse me?" I respond, trying not to sound offended but I most definitely am offended by her remark.
"Did I say something wrong? I'm only letting you know that I know your type young lady but let me be kind enough to burst that bubble of yours. If you don't work hard within this three months, I won't hire you even if you're connected to the president. Do you understand?" She says with so much venom dripping from each word.
I stare back at her in shock, wondering what her beef was with me. She had not even met me and yet she already has a negative perception about me. Am I responsible for her misery or what sef? I mentally hiss.
"I apologize if you think this way ma but I'll definitely prove your theory wrong because I'm here to work and not laze around." I tell her quickly and she smirks.
"Do you know anything about real estate?" She asks.
"Yes ma but I'm still inexperienced." I reply.
"Okay fine, we'll start with something easy. If you go outside this office, down the hallway, you'll see a transparent door, go in and ask for Seun Matthews. He'll show you your table and hand you an assignment for today. When you're all done, you must report back to me, understood?" She orders.
"Yes ma." I reply with a curt nod and briskly walked out of the office. I dislike her already.
I did as she instructed and was heading down the hallway till the sudden ping from the elevator distracts my thoughts and I subconsciously turn to look at the people leaving the elevator.
The familiar face I see immediately hits me like a wave and I stood still with my eyes not leaving his face.
"Jamal?" I unconsciously call out his name and he looks up at me immediately. A surprised expression clouds his face for a few short seconds before getting replaced with a cold, unbothered and unfamiliar expression. He looked more broad than I remembered and his perfectly sculpted face looked more handsome than it did ten years ago.
"You're Jamal, right?" I ask again, earning curious stares from the men that stood behind him. He looked at me with his cold eyes, trailing them over my body as if trying to recall who I am but I push the thought aside, knowing that Jamal wouldn't literally forget who I was or at the very least, my face.
"I'm sorry miss, do I know you?" He asks with a blank expression and my heart immediately falls to the lowest pit of my stomach.
"You mean you don't remember me, not at all?" I ask again, still hoping this was just a playful joke on his side.
"I'm sorry miss but I don't know you, I think you're confusing me with someone else. If you'll excuse me now, I have work to do." He replies coldly and walks away hastily, not sparing a glance at me for one second.
I stood still, feeling numb and dumbfounded at the same. So this is the same person I've been waiting for, for the last ten years of my life and turns out, he doesn't even remember me or my face. Wow! Just wow!
I bow my head slightly, biting my lips hard to avoid breaking down in tears. I was here to work and that should come first for me for my mother's sake.
"Crying can always be postponed." I mutter to myself before taking a deep breathe and heading to my new office with a false smile plastered on my face.