C1 H1
--1
NIGERIA
“Becca”
“yes mum” she runs down the stairs
“your sister sent a message”
“that”
“you should come over”
“to where”
“come on”
“I don’t understand, is it by force”
“come on, I’ll join you two later”
“bribe me…..”
That was a week ago
NYC
She sighted her grinning sister
“of course” she thought and walked up to her sister
“so what did mum bribe you with”
“novels and money for stationaries”
“of course, Mrs writer, come on, the car is waiting”
They walked away
-- My name is Becca, Rebecca as you should have guessed, I’ve got my sis and my mom. Though we’re step sisters, different fathers, but we good. We fight a lot, I mean a lot. I have a bad temper and a lot of absurd things that makes me up and she hates it. I don’t really like her that much, she pisses me off all the time but I can’t hate her. I’m a writer and a reader of books. Sometimes I draw and paint, but that’s not my line and I’m not even so good at it. Well, well, well, Becca is in NYC
“I’ve made a lot of plans for you”
“like what”
“job, marriage and….”
“let’s start with the job” Becca cuts her off
“What kind of job”
“there’s a restaurant job, there’s also a job, as a reporter”
“me, a reporter..” she chuckled
“I see, what marriage plans do you have”
“one of my friends brother just got back from South Africa and he wants to settle down”
“so”
“I told my friend about you and she told him”
Becca laughs
“oh my Jesus Christ, so you’re now a matchmaker”
“well, you’re 25 and you’re single..”
“that’s my problem, I’m not complaining. I know that you’re mom’s favorite doesn’t make you the destiny planner of my life”
“see, I care about you and I want the best for you. You’re not a dark skinned like me, so things will be easy for you”
“why is it that you and my mum wants to push me into marriage”
“we want the best for you”
“please, don’t be making decisions for me”
She turned to the window and her sis knew her mind has been made up
They drove home in silence. Esther glancing at Becca each and every time. Becca didn’t say anything until dinner
“so how was the flight from there to here” Daniel asked (Esther’s husband)
“good, not my first time actually just don’t enjoy traveling”
“Did your sister tell you about the jobs”
“yes, but I’m a writer not a waiter or a reporter. I want to be bigger than this. I’m making my life there, that’s why I don’t want to be here”
“Becca, its just holiday, to spend time with us”
“did the both of you plan this” D&E exchanged glances
“ok, now I see. A coup rising against me”
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
“for how long are we going to keep lying to my aunt, stella” he asked
“I don’t know, we can’t tell her Rebecca is missing. We don’t want her blood pressure to be high”
“I think that we should just tell her that Becca is missing”
“I’m trying my best felix, but I have this feeling that Rebecca is hiding”
“why would she be hiding. She can’t go into hiding now, when her family needs her more”
“I, never mind. You should go back and keep the family out of any worry. I will make sure Rebecca is found”
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
The next day
“so your sister wants you to get married quick”
“yes” Clara laughed
“what’s funny”
“she has planned your life for you. You’re lucky to have someone like her, someone that thinks about you”
Meet Clara, the only friend that I have in NYC. I also have other friends but they scattered around. We met in college. We were both born here but bred in different places. She’s a lawyer, she moved to NYC, some time ago
“thinking about me is different from making schedules for me..”
“do you have something against commitment”
“no”
“so why don’t you want to be committed”
“cause I have goals that I want to attain before settling down”
“no Becca, you’ve never planned on being a Mrs. Remember what you always say..”
“what”
“I want to be a rich single mother and give my child the world but will get strict if naughty”
She looked away
“you don’t want marriage, you want a child. You said, you don’t want to know how it’s going to happen, you just want a baby. Am I wrong or right”
“you’re right”
“so has the plan changed”
“no”
“why don’t you just tell your family about it”
“no, I should tell my mother, that I want to have a child out of wedlock and marriage isn’t on my L- list”
“so are you going to get married”
“no, I don’t know. I’m going to have a child. I don’t care what it will take”
“you’re crazy” Clara drops the file in her hand and removed her glasses
“tell me what your problem is, tell me what you running from. Marriage or love”
Becca didn’t reply
“by your silence, I’ve known your answer”
“so what did your sister say”
“she was angry, Audrey. I told you how she is”
“yeah, Jason will handle it. Just calm down. Let’s drink something or we’ll worry sick”
Esther chuckled
“how’s your son, Esther”
“fine, his trouble has increased by fifty” they laughed
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
“I want to know about your private life, Felix”
“why”
“cause we’re family, Felix. Its ok, so tell me, what type of woman do you like”
“that should be my private business. Why do you want to know”
“I like you. I know my elder sister doesn’t see you more than a friend but I like you”
“I have a girlfriend”
“I’m not telling you to leave her, but you can..” he stopped her hand before it reaches him
“thanks for the care, my priority now is your mom and that should be yours too, Lana. Your sister will come home soon and I don’t want to disappoint her”
He turned to leave
“Wait”
“what”
“Where are you going”
“The stables”
“Ok”
He left and she smiled. When she turned, her brother was there
“What”
“You sound pathetic”
“Are you jealous”
“I’m not miserable like you”
She scoffs
“Felix is fifteen years older than you”
“So”
“So, you’re shameless”
“I have things to do, tomorrow is Monday”
“Yeah of course, pathetic things”
He left
She sighs, then went out just in time to see Felix talking to another person
“So perfect. He’s good, patient, handsome, cool. He’s a good listener. I want him”
She waved at him when he looked at her
Felix raised a brow at her before leaving
“are you less busy” Becca asked
“nope, I have a case I’m working on”
“can you take me on a tour”
“Becca, I’m busy. I can try tomorrow, I’ll call in sick.”
“why not today”
“how about Netflix”
“yayyyy”
That’s it, that’s just her medicine. Movies, lots and lots of them. As far as its action or magical, she’s in.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
“so the small boss is crushing on you” à guy says entering the stable
“I don’t understand”
“Felix, don’t pretend like you don’t know”
“ash, if you learn to mind your business, you won’t be noticing things”
“so I’m snooping”
“nope, just vigilant” Felix says and turned back to the horse
“she’s missing, right?”
“who”
“miss Becca”
“no”
Ash looked around before moving close to Felix
“don’t play dumb with me, I know that you and miss Stella, are searching for her”
“who told you so”
“nobody, I figured it out myself”
“good, so you have to shut up. Ok”
“I can help you”
“how”
“yesterday, I saw someone that looks like her”
Felix chuckled
“I’ve heard”
“you know I told you that I was going to see a friend”
“yes”
“I saw her, I saw miss Rebecca”
“are you serious”
“you know that one thing I hate is silly jokes. I saw the lady”
“you saw Hayley McCartney”
“the color of her hair was different but the voice was the same”
“did you approach her”
“they were people around her”
“seriously”
“nope…”
“what”
“nope, just joking”
“are you kidding me”
“I didn’t see anyone, just pulling your legs” Ash stuck his tongue out at Felix before running away
“I hope I don’t add him to my death list” he says and turns to his horse
“hey Adam, I hope she’s fine”
“felix”
He turned
“Aunty, what are you doing outside” he says going to her
“I had a bad dream Felix. Where is Rebecca, where is my daughter?. Who travels without a luggage”
“aunty, you shouldn’t trouble yourself”
“I want to speak to her now”
“you can’t, she’ll be busy and you know that her phone is faulty. She wants to get a new one”
“excuse upon excuse. I’ve never spoken to Rebecca, you always give an excuse and I think your lying days are over. I give you just five days, starting from tomorrow to bring Rebecca back home”
“five days”
“yes, or I’ll kill my self” she walked away
“five days, how do we find her in five days. We’ve been searching for weeks. Oh God, where is Rebecca?. Who goes out and choose not to return but to hide. I’m so nervous”
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Clara turns off the Tv
“come on”
“we going out”
“is that more important than what I’m watching”
“yes” Clara says picking her purse
“there’s a new movie”
“I don’t care”
“Encanto”
“so”
“can’t wait to watch it”
Clara turned to her
“get up, hop up, stand up and let’s go”
“to where”
“to meet some old friends”
“your old friend, not mine”
“whatever”
she stands up
“I don’t have the time to be friendly or nice”
“just let’s go”
They left
Clara drove them to a building, they got down
“wow, so tall”
“there’s a pent house up there and that’s where we are going”
“are we going to climb the stairs up”
“of course not, come on”
They went into the building. Clara spoke to some people before they took the elevator up
“I’m starting to get sick”
Clara chuckled
“I’m still wondering how I’m coping”
The elevator stops after some seconds, opened and they stepped out. Clara led them to a door
“King, that sounds familiar. I’m very sure that, what I’ll meet behind this door will be nothing than proud peacocks”
“you judge too easily” Clara pressed the bell twice before the door opened and they entered
“seriously, luxury” she hissed and goes to sit
“did you bring me here so that your friends can flaunt”
“Becca, no. they are our friends from college”
“where are they, then. This is an empty sitting room”
“some one is grumpy”
They turned
“Fred” Becca says standing up
“come out guys, she’s better now”
Two others came out
“seriously” Becca says looking at Clara, who shrugs
“give me a hug, my son, you’re so big” Fred hugged her
“so you two are still doing your mother and son thing” Karl says sitting down
“someone didn’t see me” Nora says
“sorry, I was just too happy to see my son again” Becca says
“when last did you chat me up, mum” Fred says sitting beside Clara
“sorry, where is Alexa and Julius”
“couldn’t come”
“so who own this apartment”
“me” Karl says examining his nails
“now I see, that explains the familiarity. Karl King..”
“so now you’ve seen the proud peacocks” Clara says and Becca sits beside Nora
“it’s been a long time. You just left for Nigeria and cut all ties” Nora says
“not with me” Clara says
“and me..” Fred added
“but you didn’t tell me, you were here, Fred. Last week, you told me that you were in Manhattan”
“last week!” he scoffs
“you chatted last with me, two months ago”
“oh…”
“and I said I was in Manhattan”
“yes”
“I just moved in with Karl, two weeks ago”
“and he has been a pain in the neck, Becca” Karl says and huffs “he wakes me up with an horn. Can you believe it?”
“I can imagine Karl, that’s why he’s my son”
“ok, we should eat. Fred ordered pizza’ssssss and I cooked. Karl got popcorns and drinks”
“wait, Nora, are you two dating”
“we’re married” Karl says
“what!”
“yes Becca”
“you two were big time enemies. How come Fred stays here”
“I told him to come over after jumping from one hotel to another” Karl says
“I’m moving out tomorrow, sucker. Mum, I bought my own house. Its classier than Karl’s”
“hey, I’m cooler than you”
“I’m fresher than you, I’m a model” they began to make faces at each other
“come on boys, you don’t have to be at each other’s neck, you’re brothers” Clara says
“tell Fred to be nice”
“tell karl to be friendly”
“I’m used to it” Nora says and stands up
“my meal or pizza”
“pizza” they chorused
“seriously, all my energy is wasted”
“we told you not to cook, but you were stubborn” Fred says
“I’ll eat” Clara says
“I’ll do anything my son wants” Becca says and Nora huffs
“I cooked pasta to be frank”
Clara gives a face
“I’ll get the pizza’s” Fred says and left
“I’ll help” Clara stood up and left
“what are those two up to…” Becca asked
“they have” Karl cleared his throat “you know, I can’t count” Karl says
“oh, I see. Weird, mad relationship”
“so right, Alexa and Julius are engaged”
“I know that, Nora. You all took yourself in two’s”
“and you”
“me”
“yes, you, when are you going to show us something” Nora asked
“like”
“à boyfriend, Becca. You always turn every man down”
“I was a victim, Julius was” Karl says
“you all know what I want”
“A baby and money” Nora says
“that’s right”
“I don’t think that’s a good decision” Karl says
“you always say that” she stands up
“I should go check on those two, I don’t trust my son”
“if you’ll go, trust me, you’ll be blinded” Nora says
“I know I will” she walked away
Nora nudged Karl
“why are you looking at her that way, Karl” he shrugs
Becca frowns on seeing them. She clears her throat and they released each other “seriously, I wonder when pizza became that tangled”
** **
“we hitting the club tonight” Clara says
“good”
“you coming Becca, you can meet men that will give you what you want and will never show their face again” Nora says picking a slice of pizza
“ummmm, you’re right”
“becca”
“yes Karl”
“I want to challenge you” Karl says and they all looked at him
“excuse me”
“I want to challenge your heart, mind and attitude”
“you know my mom will win any challenge” Fred says
“ok”
“who am I to beat up this time” Becca says with pride
“not beat Becca, not everything is violence. I’m challenging you with love”
“who told you that she doesn’t know how to love” Clara says..
Karl looked at Becca, her expression has changed, stone hard and he smiled. He always enjoy seeing her in that temper..sweet.
Nora looked from Karl to Becca then vice versa
“you don’t have a heart to love, right?. Now, I’m challenging you with love. In six months, if you don’t learn to love, I will split all my wealth into two and give you but if you fall in love, I’ll take what you owe me”
Rebecca did not reply, she stared at him
“are you scared”
“what is going on between you two” Clara asked
“calm down Clara, this is between I and Becca. It’s an open challenge Becca”
She clenched her fist
“I accept your challenge”
“what!” the others chorused
That night
“where are you going” Esther asked
“out, with friends”
“what friends?, last time I checked, you not friendly and your getting here isn’t a week yet and you already running around” Becca looked at Esther
“what is it?, is it my fault that you stuck with a man for the rest of your life. I did not come to the world to slave for a man”
“I’m not slaving, Becca and are you insinuating that you not getting married”
“did you see it that way” she turned to go and Esther held her hand
“what?”
“what kind of future have you planned for yourself”
“a bright future, of an independent woman, a mother, being rich and successful”
“are you planning to have a child out of wedlock”
“I am not planning, I’ve planned it”
“Becca it’s not right”
“I’m done here” she leaves and went outside. She walked up to the car, opened the door and entered
“where’s Clara” she asked herself
“boom”
She jumped in fear and turned to see Karl. He gets down from the back seat and entered the drivers seat
“what are you doing here?, where’s Clara?”
“Not here”
“but this is her car”
“no, my car. We’re using the same vehicle”
“why are you here?. You challenged me and now you’ve reared up your ugly head”
He looked at her
“you always interest me, Becca”
“that’s a wrong answer, Karl”
“I told Clara not to worry and I came”
“why would you want to leave your wife and come pick me” he starts the car
“Nora had me tangled with her pregnancy, I wasn’t actually interested”
“who cares”
“though, she has lost the baby and I’m planning a divorce”
“you sick or something”
“I don’t like Nora, I like you and I want to marry you”
“I’ve rejected you before and I’ll do it again. No, thanks”
He stopped the car and turned to her
“what do you want in a man that I don’t have”
“nothing”
“then why can’t we be together”
“I’ve said it times without number, I am not ready to be committed. I only want a child to call my own and money”
“I can give you what you want”
“I know but I want a child from someone who will never show up in my life again, someone that will go far away and never come back for me or the child”
“you won’t get it”
“says who”
“you not getting a child from a stranger…”
“you not going to force yourself on me, are you?”
“you owe me…”
“I owe you nothing. You want a woman at your beck and call, a baby factory. I’m not Nora, that gave herself to you, I may be crazy, but I have self respect. Find your whore far away from me, Karl king. I’m not going to fall at your feet or any man’s feet so easily. I’m not weak, you’ve challenged me and I’ll show you. Keep your fortune to yourself”
“but if love wins..”
“now I’m about to owe you. If love wins, I’ll get married to you”
“you’re going to marry me, you’re going to be my wife, the mother of my children”
“that’s a deal”
they shaked hands
“can’t wait”
“you obsessed”
“you not like the others. Independence, confidence, courage and self respect is what I like in a woman” he says and he turned to the wheel
“you look splendid. What’s your motive”
“drive men crazy and walk out on them, untouched”
“I like that”
She smirks
“we’ll be a great couple” Karl says
“Mrs Rebecca Estella king. I like the sound of that”
She scoffs and turned to the window
“I’m not going to let you slip out of my hands, Becca” Karl thought
“not so easy Karl, I’m not so easy. You can’t get me easily, trust me, I won’t kiss your feet to survive, says me”
