CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

Chike was already regretting his decision to come to Malawi on a whim. Truth be told, it wasn't a whim, it was just a well thought out plan that backfired. Chike liked his life simple, he wore simple clothes, simple shoes and drove expensive but simple cars.

One of the reason he was best friends with Jason Ekoh-Yagazie was that he never pushed him to be someone he wasn't. Jason was a complicated man that he never quite understood but he was a loyal friend to him and to Chike, loyalty was the only thing worth fighting for. Every other thing was secondary.

Chike alighted from the cab he took from the airport. He was in a car dealer shop in Blantyre. He felt relaxed in this strange environment, carrying his black backpack. He wore a blue pant with a matching shirt. The shirt had white maize shaped drawings on the chest area and the sleeves.

Jason watched with an amused expression at his friend. He didn't know he was going to come when he called him three days ago. If he was going to save the orphanage, he needed to think outside the box.

Jason waved at Chike whom smiled at him. They haven't seen each other for months. They hardly talked over the phone ever since he left for Malawi. Jason had his hands in his pocket when he approached Chike. They shook hands and hugged each other.

'The great Yagazie, I must say poverty looks good on you' Chike laugh was throaty like he fighting off the flu.

'Good thing you are here to experience it too. It's been too long, my dear friend' Jason's eye showed sincerity.

'If I was a sensitive guy, I would say you were avoiding me.' Chike said trying to mask his annoyance at his friend's abandonment.

They have been friends for years now but Chike eluded him. To the outside world Chike was the only son of Chike Samson Anene the senior, the heir to his father's airlines and vast arrays of hotels scattered all over the country.

Chike might have been able to fool everyone with his simple guy and heir to an empire routine but Jason knew Chike was dangerous. Not in the sense that he could ever harm Jason but Jason knew well enough about him to know he doesn't want someone like him as an enemy.

Jason had suspected for a long time that he might be a retired international spy, it was a stretch but it was the only explanation he could come up with. He had the perfect background for it. His father was Nigerian but Chike was born in Washington D.C to an African American mother. His father divided his time between Nigeria and D.C.

When he was eight, his mother moved Chike and his sisters to New York City. Chike never talked about it but his mother was one of the casualties of 9/11 when he was ten years old. . He joined the U.S marine at eighteen and four years later at twenty two, he left the marine for no apparent reason. Jason suspected he was recruited by the C.I.A but he could never prove it or ask him about it. He returned to Nigeria at twenty-five and he has not left ever since.

'I wasn't avoiding you Chike. I just had to save my grandmother's Orphanage but I should have kept in touch' Jason apologized or at least it was implied.

Chike smiled too. He opened his bag and handed over a file to Jason.

'That is everything I could find on Tony…May I ask why I ran a background check on your Secretary's boyfriend?' Chike asked.

'I didn't like his tone over the phone' Jason simply said

'Or you think he is banging that sweet secretary of yours' Chike said wittily but when he saw Jason's clenched fist, he raised his hand up like he was surrendering but he did not stop smiling.

'Anyway, Yagazie…McKenna did not sleep with Tony and if there is any part of you that wants her then call her because in three hours, her plane leaves for Canada and Jason, she will be there for four years' Chike was concerned for his friend.

'Let her go…what she wants from me, I can't give her, man and she deserves so much more than…sexual attraction and lust' Jason seemed to be trying to convince himself more than his friend.

'You could forget about Tammy'

It seemed like the earth stopped. Even Chike was apprehensive too. Jason grinded his teeth like he was under a lot of stress or trying to keep his anger at bay.

'It is just a suggestion, man' Chike muttered. He knew he crossed a line.

'You are my best friend…hell, you are my only friend Chike but if you ever tell me to forget about Tammy again. I will rip out your intestine and that is a horrible way to end a friendship' Jason voice showed no tremor, just pure steady flow of hostility.

'Okay…I guess I better find her for you then before you blow up your whole life' Chike said and went ahead of him into the car dealer shop.

Jason knew his best friend meant well but he crossed a line. Tammy was off limits, Chike knew she was but he still brought her up.

He could try apologizing to his friend but he was never very good at apologizing to anyone. His casual brown loafers gave him a smart but stylish gangster appearance with his baggy jeans and long sleeve body-hug white t-shirt. Jason followed his friend into the dealer's shop. He should at least try to apologize since he came all the way from Nigeria to Malawi for him.

Chike was standing in front of the dealers shop and his eyes scanned through cars. They weren't latest sports cars but they were okay by his standard. Jason definitely won't be happy with the cars. He liked his cars, fast, expensive and exclusive.

Jason stood beside his friend and took his hands out of his pocket.

'Chike, about ripping out your intestine, i…i…am…I guess what I am trying to say is….'

'Man, you are really terrible at apology…please; don't make me listen to you. I actually prefer you rip out my intestines' Chike was smiling.

'Thanks man'

'Why did you drag me to Malawi, Yagazie?' Chike asked.

'I need your help. The orphanage will shut down if I don't find funds to keep it open'

'That is sad but how can I help?' Chike asked him.

'I need you to donate 7 million naira to the orphanage' Jason didn't bat an eyelid as he talked.

'Sure, I will get right on that after I cure world hunger' Chike was purposely sarcastic.

When he saw Jason was serious, he turned and faced him.

'Oh...You are serious?' Chike asked

'Yes, Chike…yes I am serious'

'Okay…of course' Chike said casually

'You will really do that?' Jason was relieved and he will find a way to pay back his friend without breaking his grandmother's wishes 'Thank you' Jason said at last

"Now...can we please buy you a car and get to my hotel. I need my beauty sleep'

Both men smiled. Jason was eternally grateful and he knew now more than ever that Chike wasn't just his friend, he was his brother.

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