Could you be loved, and be loved…

“Ei, Marley’s girls that!” Bruce teased as Nana Asor and Becky had their hands in the air while singing along to the timeless Bob Marley tune. No way would those girls hear a song by the reggae legend and keep quiet.

“Abi you know dada!” Becky agreed. “Robert Nesta Marley forever and ever!”

“Mr. Cues, give your DJ a pay rise, wai!” Nana Asor called out to Quincy, who was walking about as always. He and other customers laughed in response.

The squad, minus Clarence, were seated in their usual spot in Cues Corner, waiting for the newest employee of Prosperity MicroCredit to arrive. Once Deladem put up the suggestion on the group chat, it was a no-brainer for the rest of the squad. Everyone was more than eager to celebrate this victory with Clarence. It was such a relief to know he had made his way out of the mire of having no source of income.

At the other side of the table, Deladem was smirking as Delasi listened to a secret recording of Olivia and Estella singing in sync to “The Anthem” by Planetshakers. As expected, they sounded more than amazing. The absence of Aretha was obvious, but didn’t make it less incredible.

She looked up at Deladem once it was over. “Chale, these women are serious ooo! This is amazing!”

Deladem nodded in agreement. “They’re too much. Chale. It’s unfortunate Estella and Aretha are not ready to come out with it. Even Olivia doesn’t know I recorded this.”

“Hmmm, Olivia told me one time. I don’t understand. Na Dela, can’t you talk to them or something? As for Olivia, they’ll not mind her, with her silly self.”

Deladem shook his head vehemently. “I beg, I’m afraid, please. That Estella lady, chale, I’ve never seen a woman so beautiful and so scary at the same time. Like, I beg, let’s not go there kraaa. If she knew I recorded this sef, I think she’ll discipline me as if I broke her sister’s heart.”

Before Delasi could stifle her laughter, the door to the restaurant opened.

Everyone at the table turned.

The man of the hour had arrived. Looking super crisp and dapper in a long-sleeved white shirt and jeans, with his loafers looking like they had been polished about five times before he left the house.

“YIE-YEEEEEEEEEEEE!!” the crew cheered loudly as he strode over to them proudly, the happiest of glows on his face.

He took turns to hug each and every one of them before taking his seat. “Chale!” he started, “it is official. The next time we meet here on a weekday, you’ll be looking at a Finance Official of Prosperity MicroCredit!”

The cheers erupted again.

“Ohh, thank God!”

“Magnificent!”

“Glory be to God!”

“Chale, we’re grateful kraaa!”

Just another moment where this crew shared in their joys.

***

“Ei, so he’s fine, eh?” Nana Asor asked, amused at how the guys spoke highly of Clarence’s new boss. They had just narrated the events of Wednesday evening to the crew, and once done, decided to highlight just how good-looking Rakim was.

“Walahi! He fine, roff!” Deladem confirmed. “Tall, light-skinned nigga with muscular body ankasa. No be joke!”

Clarence grinned and nodded. “At all, chale. He be handsome guy. Muscles too dey on point. I dunno if he’s married or has a geh, but chale, if you watch am, ibi juicy babe wey dey fit am waaa. Sweet, voluptuous babe.”

“Ohhhh, you mean a babe with flesh, eh?” Bruce asked teasingly.

“Proper flesh, my guy!”

“A babe with beauty, nice hips and an impossible-to-ignore ass, eh?”

“Mr. Aforo, you are in the spirit!”

Everyone snickered, as Becky rolled her eyes and focused her gaze elsewhere. She was obviously the one they were talking about, and they all knew it.

Bruce turned to her. “Rebecca Maayaa! Missed call, wai! Pick up your phone!”

“And if you say anything about Margot Robbie, make sure it’s about the Barbie movie or Suicide Squad or whatever movie she’s in!” Clarence warned. “Else you go pay for everything here! You hear?”

Becky turned to Clarence, her mouth agape. “Ei, Mr. Addy, which kind vawulence be this?”

“Please, it’s a warning. Not vawulence,” Clarence corrected her smugly. “A warning that vawulence will follow if you step out of order. So please, collect your sub make we move.”

Becky sighed and shook her head. “Okay ooo, I’ve heard you. I’ve taken my sub in peace.”

Clarence snickered, along with the others. As the laughter died down, his face softened.

“But chale, all jokes aside, I’m really grateful for you guys. It’s been hell, chale. Serious hell. Having to live for almost one year without a job, getting bounced at every single interview. If you know the number of times I woke up frustrated and went to bed upset, eh, it’s not even funny. It’s been crazy. Too crazy. But now it’s over, and it’s all thanks to you guys. Of course, a major, major thanks to Didayy for forcing my lazy ass out of my house; God knows I’d still be miserable if I hadn’t listened to him. And as a whole… y’all kept me going when times were tough, and I wouldn’t be here without you.”

A couple of awwws and youre-welcomes followed in response.

“You know we’re always there for you, Clay,” Becky assured him. “With all you’ve been through in the past year, we were just happy to support you however we could. Because we love you, you know.”

Nana Asor’s face suddenly had a streak of mischief cross it. “Please, me, I’m not part ooo. I don’t love you like that. Please. Me, my love is for specific people.”

Everyone shot her dirty looks while she smirked, pleased to have played her role of Madam Out-Of-Order perfectly.

Clarence gave her a quick up-and-down look before shaking his head. “I don’t blame you. Everyday, ‘I’m climbing my husband, I’m climbing my husband’. Kotokuraba Madame Web, well done, wai.”

Everyone burst into laughter.

“Asor, this one, he’s done you dirty!” Delasi snickered.

“Big time! Madam, collect your L, wai,” Deladem agreed.

Nana Asor couldn’t help but giggle herself. Trust Clarence to find something savage to shut her down with.

“But yeah, that fooling aside, we’re really happy for you,” she stated once the laughter was done. “And you know we wouldn’t be at peace if you were drowning and we did nothing to help out. I mean, we’ve got our little problems and all, but we still had to come through. And that’s how it ought to be.”

Deladem nodded, then took up his bottle of Malta Guinness and rose to his feet. “How about a toast?”

Everyone nodded, then took up their drinks.

Deladem pursed his lips for a moment, then started. “I still remember it like it was yesterday. That day our old man dropped Delasi and I in school for our first day of class 2 at Columba Preparatory School. We all came into the class, met Mr. Kodua standing there. This man decided that he’ll choose where everyone will sit. Hehe, I remember not too many of us were happy, but of course, no be now you dey come do rebellion.

“So this man made Clay sit at the front with that boy, what was his name… Bernard. Then me behind Clarence, and Bruce next to me. Then on the next row, at the front, Becky and Nana Asor. And then Victoria behind Asor, and Delasi behind Becky. I’m sure he wanted to keep Delasi and I apart but close, some way bi like that, hehe. But who would have thought that arrangement he did would breed this tight-knit friendship? I don’t think he himself anticipated it. But we thank God.

“It’s been a long ride. We’ve had so many moments over the years. Campaigning for Miss OB to win Miss Columba. Our numerous visits to Gey Hey to see Becky and Asor. That dangerous breaking bounds to visit Delasi at Syte. Dealing with these two lovebirds and their nonsense tensions and fights and make-ups back in uni. That evening we all watched “Drag Me To Hell” in our room and regretted it…”

Everyone laughed. That was one memory they wouldn’t forget. The guys in particular were so traumatized, they played gospel music nonstop for an entire week afterward.

“All the way into adulthood. We’ve been there for each other. Low moments, high moments, moments of unwinding, dull moments… we’ve had it all. And it won’t stop. And, more importantly, we shouldn’t allow anything to make it stop. This bond we have is special, chale. And we should do all we can to protect it and keep it going. This was just an outpouring of what this bond is all about: being there for each other, loving each other, letting go of any shortcomings and remembering that… we promised each other this bond is unbreakable, and keeping it that way. So, to this unbreakable bond, and to Clarence’s new job! We’ll be celebrating many more wins as a team. Amen?”

“Amen!”

A warmth sifted through the atmosphere as bottles clinked after Deladem’s heartwarming reminder of how far they had come. Indeed, this bond was there for a reason, and nothing was allowed to touch it.

In many ways, this was a reminder for Deladem himself, pertaining to his relationship with his sister.

As he sat down, he glanced at Delasi. She nodded back at him.

He briefly looked around at the others, a mischievous little smirk playing on his lips. With the exception of Clarence, everyone else knew what was coming.

Time for the surprise for Clarence.

He then turned to Clarence, who had just downed the rest of his Alvaro. “Yeah, so anyways, Clay, we no go keep too long, wai. We know you need to speak to Irene before you sleep, so don’t worry.”

Clarence froze.

His facial expression was a mix of confusion and panic as he tried to absorb the impact of what he had just heard. The mention of that name had him stumped.

How in the world was he being asked about her?

“Uh, w-w-what are you talking about?” he stammered, attempting to play dumb.

“Massa, massa! Make you no try that thing! Abeg! You think sey you slick, eh? Please, we all know about Irene. All of us.”

Clarence looked around the table. Everyone was watching him intently, looking ready to ‘cook’ him for keeping this secret from them.

This had been a really sweet get-together, but this ambush… nowhere near expected.

He then turned to Delasi.

It was definitely her that told the squad! She had to be the one!

“You are watching my face? Ganyobi, you are watching my face?” she mocked.

That was the confirmation he expected.

But how did she find out? She wasn’t supposed to know about this. Nobody was supposed to know about this. They were still thinking about how and when to break the news to the squad.

His forehead immediately wrinkled into a frown. “But… but we said we wouldn’t tell anyone! We agreed tha-“

“Ei, ei, ei, please, Irene didn’t tell me anything. Please, don’t go and fight with her ooo. Please! Coz if you make my Jamestown baby cry, you’ll have serious issues with me. Me, I’ve said it!”

As the others laughed at Delasi’s warning, he looked around, still too stunned to fully comprehend what had just happened.

The cat was out of the bag.

Bruce shook his head as he covered his mouth before speaking out. “Ei, Clarence Nii Ayi Addy. So as you dey watch the girls that day, na you dey make your move underground, eh? Eish, I’m amazed.”

“No be you alone ooo. I’m shocked myself,” Nana Asor added, giving Clarence a wicked grin. “Everyday I’m out of order, I’m out of order, please, is this orderly to you? Eh? Order prefect, is this in order for you?”

Laughing out loud, Becky also stared at him. “Hmmmm. So Bra Clay, when you said you’re not interested in relationships till you get a job, na you dey whine me, eh?”

Clarence scratched his head as he shook it. “Uhh, no, no,” he stuttered. “It… it… it was one of those things, I guess. Heart wants what it wants, I guess?”

“Okay ooo, Labadi Noah Calhoun! We hear you!”

Everyone snickered at Nana Asor’s playful retort. She was enjoying getting back at him for his earlier trash talk, that was for sure.

“But guys, guys,” Deladem called out, “in all of this, there’s one good thing. This girl di33, she has Delasi’s stamp of approval!”

Everyone laughed and agreed. “Yeah, very true!” Bruce agreed. “Delasi, abi this Irene girl be total upgrade on that borla bird?”

“Ahhh! Bruce, it’s like moving from some Ashiaman ghetto to Despite’s East Legon mansion! Watchu sayin, mann!”

Everyone laughed even harder at Delasi’s response. That was more than a stamp of approval, it was an irrevocable seal of approval.

“In fact, lemme show you guys her picture, so you see the cute human being this our boy has gone to grab.” She took out her phone, scrolled through her gallery, and found a picture of Irene before showing it to Nana Asor and Becky first.

They were in love from the onset.

“Oh my God, she’s so cute!” Nana Asor squealed. “What a sweet baby!”

“I know, right?” Becky agreed. “She’s just adorable! Awwww!”

Bruce then took a look, then nodded at Clarence. “Nii Ayi Addy! Your eye good roff! See the cutie you go grab. You be harrrrd guy, wai!”

“Super hard guy!” Deladem agreed, already having seen a picture of her. “She be too cute. Chale, the way you grab am, eh, if you no know, wey you fool plus am or break ein heart, we all go shake you well well!”

“Tell him again!” Becky agreed. “This girl, you have no choice but to treat her well, do you hear?”

“Listen well ooo! You figure sey ibi Delasi p3 she go shake you, eh?” Nana Asor butted in. “What we’ll do to you if you move out of order, eh… walahi talahi! You go hear your dwii for air!”

Peals of laughter rang around the table, as Clarence himself had his head on the table in stitches at Nana Asor’s Fante threats.

What a good evening this was! He had just nabbed a job after so long, and was celebrating this milestone with the squad he cared about the most. They might have found out about his relationship, which was meant to be a secret, and were already issuing threats against him, but hey, he’d rather they found out than anyone else.

What mattered was that he was with the people he loved, and that they were sharing in his joys with him.

Yep, that’s what matters. And this is just another reminder of how strong this friendship is. Don’t we love to see it?