CHAPTER ONE (LODA COKER)

It was a beautiful Saturday morning. I woke up to the first rays of sunlight lighting up my room through the silky curtain on my window.

I rubbed my bleary eyes and walked to the window. There was a pearly glow in the sky, another day has dawned bringing with it new hopes and aspirations.

I love Saturdays because I didn't have to rush to take my bath or prepare only egg and bread or even in a hurry to beat traffic and get to work early.

It was 7:20am and I have to go out for my morning run.

I went into the bathroom to brush my teeth, the water from the tap was a bit warm and I loved it that way. When I was done, I went to my wardrobe to change into something befitting for my walk. I found my black track suit with a white stripe at the edge. I love this particular one because it suits me well and I feel more comfortable in it.

At exactly 8:50am, I got back home. I went to the bathroom to take my bath. After taking my bath, I went to my wardrobe to search for something simple but elegant.

I needed to go to the boutique to get a beautiful dress for the dinner party that was coming up next week at the office, it was an annual party organised by the company to appreciate the staffs for a job well done and to also encourage them to do better by giving awards, monetary rewards and even all expense paid trip to Dubai.

Everyone at the company always looked forward to this day yearly because we all love the happy moments and beautiful memories we had.

So finally I made my choice, a pair of jeans and a beautiful sleeveless top with a band around the waist and a beautiful sandal to go with it. I quickly got dressed, put on some light make-up and in no time I was ready.

Looking into the mirror, I was satisfied with what I saw. My beautiful long hair weay down and shiny, with my beautiful cloth perfectly fitted on me.

I had to smile, "God too try, I fine Sha ooo."

"What is that sound? Oh my God!" My stomach is growling, I am so hungry.

I almost forgot I haven't taken breakfast, so I decided to take my usual "tea and bread" because if I don't leave the house early, I might get stuck in traffic and might not get to the boutique on time. On my way to the kitchen, my phone started ringing.

"Who is calling me again by this time of the morning?" I checked the phone and realised it's my mom.

"Oh my God, it's been a while I visited my mom ooo, I know she will be angry with me." I picked the call and just as I predicted she started the conversation by scolding me.

"Tinuke... I can't believe you can be in the same state with me and not call me, what have I done to deserve this from you?"

"Mom, I am sorry, it's been work work and work, ma." I replied as I dipped in a tea bag into the hot water in the mug.

"Okay ooo, but you don't go to the office today, so you don't have any excuse. You must come over to my place to spend the weekend and you can't say no."

I checked the time on my wristwatch, I was already running late.

"No problem ma, I'm actually preparing to go out to the boutique to get some stuff, when am done, I will come over to your place to spend the weekend.

"I will be waiting for you my dear, what will you love to have for dinner?" She asked in excitement.

"My favorite ma. You know how much I love rice and dodo. I have to go ma, before I spend the whole weekend in Lagos traffic. See you later mom, love you....." I quickly hung up before she could say anything else.

My mom can be so much at times, she has spent the whole time complaining. Now I just have to take cold tea, so that I can get to her place early.

I rushed my tea and bread, put off the lights and my electronics, I locked the door to my beautiful one bedroom apartment and was on my way to the car when I tripped and almost fell.

"Oh my goodness, what kind of wahala is this now! My beautiful sandal is spoilt, this one is serious bad omen oh, may God help me."

I went back to my apartment to change into a white sneakers and in few minutes, I was driving out the parking lot to the boutique to get my dress.

Towards the gate of twinkles estate, where I live, someone almost ran into my car.

"What is all this nah, who drives this way in an estate?" I complained bitterly.

I came out of my car to confront the driver and to my surprise, Loda Coker was standing in front of me.

I couldn't believe it, Loda coker.

Jesus! I exclaimed even though my mom always warned me not to call the name of the Lord my God in vain.

Loda coker is what we call Lolade Daniel Coker, she is my bestie back in secondary school, we were also neighbors. We did a lot of things together like going to school, going to the movies and even going to church together. She was the sister I never had.

We got separated when after secondary School, Loda's parents moved to America because her dad got a new job there. I felt so bad, I cried for three days. She was my favorite person after my dad well, before he betrayed me.

I met Loda coker on a Sunday morning. I had just finished dressing up in a beautiful pink gown that my mom bought for me. Mom came out of the kitchen and asked me to go outside and check if Mr dauda our taxi driver have arrived.

I quickly ran outside but the taxi man had not arrived yet.

"He is late again. This man self with his usual late coming habit. That's how he comes late every time and makes us get to church late. We will soon become the topic of discussion for our church gossipers and everyone's attention will be on us whenever we walk in."

Since my dad holds a high post in church, we are expected to set good examples for other church members and future leaders to follow. But what can poor Mr dauda do when he has already overburdened himself by marrying two wives and given birth to twelve children. "No wonder he always ask for half his salary even before the month runs out. What a world."

I hissed and was about to go back inside when I saw a cute young girl riding a beautiful bick cycle, she was about my age. I waved at her, she smiled revealing her white milk teeth and waved back.

When we got back from church, I saw the same bick cycle I had seen earlier in the morning, it was packed in front of the next building. That same girl came out from the building. I waved at her again and she came over to introduce herself to me.

"Hi, I'm Loda coker. We recently moved into this neighborhood."

I laughed out loud. She just stared at me in silence, I quickly stopped.

"What kind of name is that?" I asked.

"I am glad you asked. It's actually Lolade Daniel Coker, the L.O stands for Lolade, D.A is for Daniel and then Coker my surname."

"Wow it's actually a beautiful name."

"Thanks."

I have thought of a plan and this was the right opportunity I needed to execute it. I will become friends with Loda so that I can ride her bick cycle since dad refuse to buy me one unless I take first position in class. I smiled at her.

"Loda... Can you please be my friend?" I asked quickly.

Her eyes widened as she grew excited.

"Off course yes. I am new here so I don't have any friends, I will be so happy to be your friend."

From that day we became best friends. We didn't have anything in common but we got along very well.

She is calm, sweet and patient but I am tough, stubborn, temperamental and inpatient.

Each time I try to get into a fight with someone she always calmed me down and took me away from there. If I make her angry, she would tell me and not hold a grudge against me.

We did so many things together, sometimes we even took turns in sleeping over at each others house. Going to parties together when we turned fifteen. Buying ice cream every Saturday, going to amusement parks.

We shared everything together, even secret that I couldn't tell my mom, I shared it with her. She even forced her parents to enroll her in my school. We were inseparable.