Because I Am Not One

Chidinma was the one who went out to welcome Ify and bring her in when she arrived Lanre’s apartment later in the evening. Ify greeted Lanre’s mother pleasantly while she and Lanre exchange false pleasantries.

“It is good seeing you alive my dear friend. I was so scared when Christian told me you fainted. I use to think you were invincible to fainting”. Ify said to Lanre. Lanre just smiled at her and walked away with the excuse that she needed to do something in her room and will be back shortly.

“So can’t I follow you to your room? Are we not as close as that?” Ify said. Lanre gritted her teeth. Then she looked at Chidinma.

“Dinma, go get me my phone from my room”. Lanre said. Then she turned around and sat on the couch. Ify scoffed. Lanre sure knew how to play well, but these are just elements outside the main game. She has the main card and she was going to use it today to beat Lanre. If there is one person Lanre can’t really go against, it is her mother. And Ify was going to be using it against her. It turns out this little game of theirs will end even before it starts. Lanre will end up being the dog that only barked but never bites.

Soon Chidinma came with Lanre’s phone. She kept staring at Ify suspiciously. She did not like Ify from the very first time she saw her, and after the incident at the beauty parlour, Chidinma despised Ify even more. So seeing Ify in the house was like spiking her hands with knifes knowing it hurts. She feared what Ify could do to Lanre. But Lanre did not seem concerned. She wondered how Lanre could be so cool being around someone who tried to hurt her.

“Lanre is she your house help?” Ify asked Lanre. Lanre looked at Chidinma, then she scoffed at Ify’s question. Rather than answering Ify’s question, she asked Ify what she thought.

“She must be your house help or something of that sort. You seem rich a little bit now Lanre, how did you get so much money to afford a beauty parlour as big as the one you have and even a two bedroom flat as this if not three?” Ify asked.

Lanre laughed and then she sighed. She unlocked her phone with her finger print and started using it. She felt at that moment not to open her mouth. If she said anything right now, it would definitely be fire spitting out of her cold mouth. Ify just smirked while Chidinma eyes Ify despicably.

“My aunty does not treat me like a house help because I am not one”. Chidinma said and walked away. Lanre had not believed Chidinma said that. But she felt it was good. It means the girl is learning her to own up for herself.

“I hate people treating others like rag, why will I do such a thing? Or is the world’s definition for a house help not the same as one for a slave?” Lanre asked. A question Ify could not answer.