CHAPTER SEVENTEEN (IREAYO DUNCAN)

When I got to my mom's place, she wasn't around and I was upset.

"How can she call me to come urgently and then leave the house before I arrive," I said to myself in a fit of rage.

I wanted to leave when I saw her coming back with a big shopping bag. Even in my anger, I still went to help her out with the bag.

"I guess that's a duty a child must never ignore."

We didn't speak until we got inside, she went straight to the kitchen with me and I kept the shopping bag on her kitchen counter.

She started bringing out the items one after the other, they contained different types of vegetables, and my favorite was there as well, cabbage.

"I wanted to make you something to take to your office for lunch. You seem very thin Atinuke mi and so I wanted to make you something nice to keep you fit again."

I was trying to show my anger so that she knows that I am upset but she's ignoring me.

"Why do I need to be fat, it's not like I want to go for a modeling job of plus size women and be like those chubby models."

"Of course, you are not going to do that but the entire family complained about you and how you look." Mrs Dupe said to her and it was kind of shocking so I asked.

"The entire what? What family?"

"Our family of course. I went to the yearly meeting we always have and received an already expected information."

"Tell me about it."

Mom took my hand and we went back to the sitting room.

"Even though I want to hear it, I still can't waste more time," I said to her on our way back to the sitting room.

"Atinuke mi, I think the family is maybe right this time around. You look so thin and that seems unhealthy for any young unmarried Nigerian girl. How will your would-be husband be sure that he will get enough to eat after marriage." Mrs Dupe said to her daughter's surprise.

"Why will he have such thoughts? Whoever I am going to get married to will not make me his slave and keep demanding food from me every day." I said to myself and pushed my mouth to the side.

"Well. Your cousin, Adenike is getting married soon." Mrs Dupe said to her daughter with a smile.

I had mixed feelings after hearing this news. I was upset as to how Adenike of all people would get such an opportunity and at the same time, I was happy for her like anyone should.

"Who is she getting married to?" I managed to ask after a while of silence.

Mrs Dupe looked at her daughter slightly, she hoped this would at least instigate Atinuke to attempt to get married soon.

"They said that he is a well-known businessman both abroad and here in Nigeria. He is even the owner of Delight Travels, he is a millionaire and his name is Ireayo Duncan."

My eyes almost popped when I heard this. Ireayo was my celebrity crush when I was very young and even to this day, that guy is fucking hot and just his smile is enough to drive any girl nuts.

Irrrrrr, ire what? I exclaimed.

Mrs Dupe just sat down watching her daughter's reaction, she thought to herself.

"Is he that rich and great as my sister praised him earlier?"

I stood up instantly and paced forward and backwards before my mom holding my head sometimes and blinking severally sometimes.

"You are joking right?" I asked my mom just to make sure I heard the name right.

"No, I am not. Why will I joke about such a thing." Mrs Dupe replied.

"How on Earth did she manage that? How did she see him? How did they talk? How did she flatter him? How did he fall in love? How did he propose? How? How? How? How? Just how?"

I was so upset and kept asking questions. How? Just how on Earth does Adenike manage to beat me every time?

"This time around, she hit me hard and badly," I said to myself.

"I think my heart has broken to pieces," I said to my mom and started crying. I went to her and placed my head on her lap as I cried.

"You did so much drama," Sam said to Atinuke and she stopped pretending to cry like she did before her mom and continued relating her story.

"The guy wey I dey trip for. The guy I have daydreamed about spending my life with him, going on a dates and going for vacations." I said to my mom and then sniffed.

"Silly girl." Mom said and beat my head.

"Let me finish telling you what I want to. The family said that they hope you will be bringing someone to the engagement party."

"What? I tell you, Mom, that family of yours are terrible people. They keep insulting you and yet you don't react and keep trying to impress them." I said to my mom and she simply ignored me.

"I am telling you, Mom, that I will go with a man to that stupid engagement party," I said confidently and bit my tongue after I realized what I said.