HURDLES OF LIFE... Chapter two

Emeka and Chuks parted ways after practice later that afternoon. Emeka was an elite while Chuks is a middle class guy and so they lived in different regions of the city, although they attended different schools they still attended the same church which was originally the place of their first encounter with each other.

Emeka got home to his delicious meal which had been prepared and microwaved by his sister. He decided to eat before heading into the shower.

"Where is my towel?!" He shouted from the bathroom.

"I'll get it, just a minute!" Celina yelled racing to her room to pick up the towel which she had left lying on the bed, "here!" she said handing it over to him.

"how many times did I tell you not to touch my stuff again?!" He yelled 

"I'm sorry, I just like your towel" she said with her head facing downwards.

"I just like your towel" he mimicked her "lemme see you touch my stuff again" he said, hissing before closing the bathroom door.

"Sorry" She said and took her leave.

                                ***

"Hey Mum!" Chuks called as he stepped into the house referring to his Aunt as Mum, he also called his Uncle, Dad.

"Hey, honey, how was practice?" She answered.

"It was cool, Emeka sent his regards".

"Oh, well received, how is he doing by the way?".

"He's good, what's for lunch? I can eat the whole building right now".

"I can tell dear, well it's rice and fried plantains, just the way you like it".

"Thanks Mum, you're the best".

-"If you were wondering if Emeka ever had any conversation with his family except the quarrel? Well, he never had much time with his people. Ngozi, his Uncle's only child often spent her time locked up in her room until it was sunset, the only thing that strung her to her home was her job. His older siblings have their apartment, so it's just him, Ngozi, Chioma and Celina. Chioma was a boarder leaving all three with their Uncle and Aunt who were always at work and rarely home.

You probably are wondering how Ngozi and AJ got acquainted. Ngozi was an introvert who barely ever went out except for work related issues, but AJ is the life for the party. They got to meet for the first time at a birthday party in which Ngozi herself had been forced to attend. Ngozi had been too antisocial secluding herself from everyone, she sat at the bar sipping her glass of Coca-Cola, her elegance was what attracted AJ who had been the bartender for the night. They got to have a conversation and after a series of laughs, they exchanged contacts and soon found out they were neighbours living next to eachother."-

Celina entered Ngozi's room, after a knock, " Aunty Ngozi, Uncle AJ is back and it's just 3:15" she said running to her.

"How many times do I have to remind you that you need to wait for a response before entering my room?" Ngozi asked with a stern look.

"I'm sorry, it won't happen again" Celina apologized.

"That's fine, so you were saying?".

"Uncle AJ is back and it's just 3:15" she repeated happily.

"Goodness gracious me, this girl".

"Did you stalk him?" She asked curious.

"I don't even know how to stalk! I just saw him taking out the trash, let's go!" She said dragging Ngozi out of the bed while Ngozi followed rolling her eyes.

"I'm coming already, stop dragging me" Ngozi protested.

"Okay" Celina as she released her grip.

While they walked outside the house, Ngozi paused for a moment and asked "what will I even say?".

"Uhh... Aunty Ngozi now?..." Celina said stomping her feet.

"I'm going already" she made a way forward, "just go back inside and get dressed" Ngozi said making her way to AJ's apartment.

'Knock! Knock!'

"Coming!" AJ yelled at the sound of the knock on his door, the door opened after few seconds.

"Hey!"  he said greeting her with a bright smile.

"Hi" she smiled back

"Come in" he said opening the door wider for her to get into his home.

"Take a seat while I fix you something, water, drink, wine?" 

"Oh, no, I'm not here for that"

"Okay?" He raised an eyebrow "why are you here then?" He sat close to her with a serious look on his face.

"Celina wants you to come with us to Dominos, she insisted you come with" She explained

AJ took a deep breath "you scared me"

"How?" Ngozi asked

"Erm...I mean I thought it was something serious, the way you said you didn't want anything"

"Oh" she laughed "I'm sorry, I just didn't know how to ask you, you know how Celina can be"

"Come on, I no carry fire for head nah" AJ rolled in pidgin and they both laughed at it.

"Yeah, I know, but you may have other things you may want to do and I really didn't want to disturb you" she said

"Yeah, I wanted to do something on net, but anything for you, I mean anything for Celina, it can wait"

"You sure?" 

"Hundred percent"

"Thanks a lot, you can start preparing now, cause I really don't want to keep you out late"

"Okay, thanks" 

"Yeah" their eyes met and he leaned in for a kiss, but Ngozi retreated "Erm...huh...um, s-sorry, I'm sorry, I'll call you when we're ready" she said taking her leave immediately

"Yeah, sure" swallowing hard and sighing heavily.