After much
effort to provoke negative inspirations, only sensible thoughts crossed
my mind, and I ended up remembering Ogechi, who seemed to have forgotten
me. When I got it up to my neck I left for the sitting room and
continued watching TV. Just then, a replay of a TV broadcast featuring
TV stars of all sorts was put on air. That was my kind of program. I
loved it more than the football fans love football. I sat back and
watched. I was still aspiring to get there, so I wouldn’t miss anything
that could mold me to fit in.
A lot of
stars came on set, most of which I knew. Next thing I heard was
Ogechi’s name being called by the presenter to come on set. I couldn’t
believe my ears. I watched to see if she was the Ogechi I knew. Lo and
behold, she was her. She was interviewed and I could hear her talk about
me in parables. As a matter of fact, when she was asked what inspired
her to embrace music, she answered saying; a handsome prince charming
never stopped pushing me to do the things I lacked the courage to do.
And I’m here now as a result of that. The phone line was open to callers
and fans. I rushed to get my phone and call the number on the screen
but remembered the program was just a replay. However, I saved the
number. The date for the next live program featuring Ogechi was
announced and I stored it in my head, looking forward to it. The program
ended and I left to my room and retired for the day. That night, I
dreamed of Ogechi.
The next
morning I woke up to meet breakfast in bed. That never happened before
since I started living with Cynthia. ‘Who did this?’ I wondered. ‘Maybe
on of Cynthia’s cooks has a crush on me’ I concluded. I waved those
thoughts away and consumed the breakfast without brushing my teeth.
While I was eating, Cynthia came into my room to check on me.
‘Good morning miss’ I greeted.
‘Morning J. How’s the day going?’
‘Pretty cool’
I replied. One of your cooks made me breakfast in bed. Can you imagine
that? I wonder how she knew I really needed a woman to do this for me.
Maybe there’s a connection between us’ I said.
‘Really? Do you want me to find out who did? She asked.
‘Oh no. I
objected. Not now. When I’m ready to go back to Nigeria, I’ll find out
who she is and take her to mama’ I said, as a joke.
‘Would you really do that for this girl?’ Cynthia asked seriously.
‘Of course’ I replied, still joking.
‘Okay then’
Cynthia said. Until you’re ready to go back to Nigeria. But that won’t
be anytime soon. Everything is now ready for you to begin your Master’s
Degree program. I wanted to tell you all about it today in order to make
your day a pleasant one. That’s why I made you breakfast in bed to
prepare your heart for this news. It appears the breakfast accomplished
more than it was intended for’ she said, rolling her eyes and smiling at
me romantically as she left the room.
I was dump
founded afterwards. It was Cynthia who made me breakfast in bed! Na
Cynthia I want carry go show my mama? Omor see gogbe oo! She was five
years older than me for crying out loud. Did I just tell her I was
taking her home to mum? Oh no, that was just a joke. I hope she knows.
But on the other hand, this girl has tried for me oo. She single
handedly paid for all my travel documents and sponsored my trip abroad,
connected me to music producers and movie directors whom I was working
with from the background pending when time and chance will lunch me in.
She has provided me with the good life I’ve always desired, and made
necessary arrangements for me to further my education abroad. From the
look of things, she’s also willing to give me….. GIVE ME WHAT? Wetin I
dey think sef! I shook my head and dismissed that last thought. I
rejoiced greatly over the news she brought to me. I called my mother and
a few people at home and enlightened them on the development of things.
I began my
Master’s Degree Program after nearly six months of coming to America. I
was going to be through with it in eighteen months’ time. Cynthia kept
providing me with all my needs cheerfully. At a point I got really
curious about Cynthia’s source of wealth because she was spending money
extravagantly. At least it appeared extravagant to me. I wouldn’t know
if she considered her way of spending extravagant. I summoned her one
day and started enquiring. She told me she was just a fortunate girl.
She was into modeling in Nigeria before she relocated abroad. In her
early years as a model she was required to go nude on a magazine cover.
She was to be paid good money for that appearance. Being from a humble
background she could not say no to such offer, adding to the fact that
she had to do it if she wanted to progress in her career as a model. So
she decided to do it since her name did not ring a bell then. No one
would know who she was. Amazingly, the magazine got so famous and found
its way to the hands of a CEO of an American modeling company who loved
her body so much. Every Nigerian who saw that magazine was so eager to
know who the girl on the magazine cover was. Many people criticized her
while others gave her thumbs up.
So many
castigations came to her and she couldn’t take it anymore. Though she
had gotten rich, her image was at stake. Luckily for her, the American
CEO of a modeling company who saw the magazine and loved her body
reached out to her and asked her to come over to America and continue
her career in his company. That was the best and only option for her if
she wanted to escape the persecution her action had drawn to her. She
immediately consented and left for America. The controversy continued in
Nigeria after she left but there were no proofs to back up any
accusation labeled against her as no one knew who she was. They only had
her name but could not get to her. The Nigerian press followed her
diligently to get a picture or video of her modeling for the American
modeling company she worked with. But Cynthia was a smart girl. Igbo
girls no dey carry last nah.
She changed
her looks as soon as she reached America. She never went on TV without
disguising herself with excessive makeup and Brazilian hair that even
her colleagues in Nigeria couldn’t recognize her when they saw a picture
of her. Cynthia so disguised herself that no one who knew her before
was able to identify her in her new look. Only the press who traveled
abroad to get the picture knew that Cynthia was the one hiding behind
her make up.
Soon enough,
the reign of that Nigerian magazine that made Cynthia abscond was over
and no one talked about Cynthia or the magazine anymore. Even at that,
Cynthia refused coming back to Nigeria again except on a visit to her
parents, and that she did secretly. She didn’t want anything that would
resurrect that dead memory.
After
modeling in America for five years she became a millionaire in dollars.
She even became part of the management team in the modeling company and
wasn’t modeling again. That’s how she got all those connections with the
American stars. She made it clear to me that she never wanted to go
back to Nigeria again. She was going to live in America till death. As a
female child, she belonged to whoever married her so she had no
business at home anymore. About her marriage she explained that she
didn’t want to marry a white man. She wanted to marry a Nigerian man
based in America. And since she couldn’t find a serious American based
Nigerian man, she remained unmarried till she turned 32 years, even
though she looked 23. As a model, she knew what to do to keep looking
younger by the day, and she had the money to make sure of that. She was
determined to wait until her desired Nigerian man came. Hmmm, EVERYONE
WITH HIS OR HER OWN STORY OO!
I was
clarified on Cynthia’s source of wealth but was terrified on some other
of her issues. After she told me everything, I felt sorry for her. She
was afraid of going back home because of that involuntary action of hers
that was instigated by someone who neither shared the shame or the
pain. Anyone who doesn’t hear her side of the story would consider her
an indecent and ambitious girl. But I knew better than to call her
names. In fact, she’s an amazing girl, kind hearted and philanthropic.
Beautiful, tender, soft, curvy, brown eyed and with excellent dancing
skills. Chai! I remember the night she paid a visit to my room in China
with dance moves that nearly suffocated me in a fully air-conditioned
room. I started recalling all the wonderful things I noticed about
Cynthia and even began to compare between her and Ogechi.
I compared
and found it very difficult to say who among them was to die for. But
wait oo, what is wrong with me? Ogechi is my girlfriend for goodness’
sake. I’m not supposed to compare her with anybody. Wait a minute, did I
say my girlfriend? Damn it! She’s miles and miles away from me and we
don’t even communicate. On the other hand, Cynthia is here with me, just
that she’s not my girlfriend. She could be if I want her to. Am I sure
of that? Does she even like me? Come on, she made me breakfast in bed. I
must be stupid. Even if she likes me, I wouldn’t want to date a girl
five years older than me. Not like I’m going to marry her anyway. I
could just date her until I’m done with my Masters’ Degree Program. No
oo, I have no intentions of using and dumping anybody. If I get myself
into any relationship, it must be a serious one that could lead to
marriage if God wills, and I can’t marry a girl older than me even with
one month. But wait oo, why am I thinking all these? Am I falling for
Cynthia?
To be continued.
