“So there was a time when I was deployed with a team to a small village in the heart of one infamous conflict zone here in Africa. Our mission was to restore peace and help rebuild the community.”

It was one quiet evening in the Mills-Odoi household. With steaming mugs of Milo in their hands, it was an evening of stories of Remaliah’s days in the army. Akushika had been treated to quite the account about Sir Remmy’s days as a young soldier, and it was clear that he had seen a lot and experienced a lot. From near-death experiences to peacekeeping missions, he had experienced the lot. This new story was about one of the latter.

“So one day,” he continued, “we were in our base, and then we received word that there might be trouble brewing nearby. So we had to get to the central square where the problem was, and  as we approached… tense is too weak a word to describe the situation. The two factions were present, and the rate at which they were arguing and going at each other, you just knew that one bad move would set the place ablaze. Honestly, the bloodshed would have been nothing short of nasty.”

Akushika simply breathed in and out, picturing the scenario.

“So we were already moving with one or two villagers serving as our interpreters. They took us over to where the fracas was ongoing, and I’m still quite surprised as to how to sight of us soldiers got them to mellow. Because these factions, when they clash, it’s more than bloody. It’s an absolute massacre. We had to use our listening and empathy skills to the fullest, and trust me, it was intense!”

Listening on, she smiled as she watched the retired soldier continue to narrate his story. This had been going on for a new days, and the man never ran out of new experiences. Of course, three decades of military work would have you full of innumerable tales.

What she loved, though, was the way he told those tales. There were lessons to be learned at the end of each of them, but the warmth with which they came were a sharp contrast to the harsh admonitions she had received as tales over the years from Mr. and Mrs. Acolatse. Not that they had been wrong, obviously, but… it felt good to receive life lessons from a parent figure without feeling subtly threatened.

“So at the end of the day, we managed to quell the rising tensions, and the groundwork we did in establishing more open lines of communication was so essential. I heard other peacekeeping operations went and built on that, and now things are better there. That was my first peacekeeping mission, and I sure learned a lot from it. Honestly, it’s way better to restore peace than to have to go to war. Not that I had any choice if I had to go for war, by the way, but… you understand the drift.”

Akushika nodded and took a sip of her hot drink. “I can imagine. War isn’t pleasant, is it?”

“Honey, trust me. I’ve fought in wars before, and I’ll tell you this, it is not the glorified spectacle that some might imagine from movies or novels. It’s rough. It’s horrible. Seeing lives lost on either side is not a pleasant thing at all. The things I had to deal with after I came back from that last war I went for… there’s a reason why God gave me Dru, coz honestly, I was on a bit of a downward spiral after that. That’s a story for another day, but Shika, this woman literally fought me to get help, and if she hadn’t… believe me, nobody here would love me the way they do.”

“Wow,” Akushika gasped, looking at the two of them. Drusilla must have left that chapter out of the story she had told her when she first came, because this was the first time she was hearing this.

Drusilla simply smiled and tapped her husband on the knee. “Yeah, that’s a story for another day. We’ll tell you at the right time, because thinking about that is still mentally exhausting. I just thank God I didn’t lose my husband.”

“Indeed. You didn’t, because you’re a smart woman. And I would’ve been totally messed up without you,” Remaliah smiled, placing an arm around her. “Thank you.”

Akushika resisted the temptation to say aloud ‘awwww’, but cracked a grin at the cute little moment before her. These two certainly knew how to be romantic towards each other, and it never got boring to witness.

Man, I can’t wait to see what they’ll do at their thirtieth anniversary…

***

Wherever I go

Wherever you are

Baby, baby, you’re never far away

You’re always on my mind…

Another day in Tu Nyom Dede, another day of being enchanted by the magical voice of Bukky.

She was on center stage, belting out Lagbaja’s ‘Never Far Away’, and Akushika, who had heard Remaliah playing that song earlier in the week, was spellbound at how phenomenal it sounded. She simply leaned back and watched on in awe at her friend’s otherworldly ability.

She noticed a movement beside her. She turned, and Raymond was wiping tears.

She smirked. “It’s those runs, right?”

Raymond sighed and nodded. “Chale, I can’t… I no know why her voice does that to me sometimes…”

She grinned and rubbed his back. Bukky’s voice just had that power to drive a man to tears, it was just that powerful. She had had her own share of tears from the last couple of visits, especially when the girl virtually tore the house down with her rendition of Maverick City Music’s “Promises”. She virtually tossed the mic aside and belted out so passionately, Akushika was a hot mess by the time she was done. So she understood him perfectly.

As she turned back to watch Bukky singing, though, she noticed something.

Bukky was still singing, but a slightly darkened expression was taking over her face. And her eyes were in a certain direction.

Akushika followed her gaze, and once she saw who that displeased look was pointed towards, she sighed.

I should’ve known.

It was Jonny.

Busy on his phone as always, looking more interested in whatever was on his phone screen.

She nudged Raymond. “RayRay, he’s at it again. And now Bukky’s looking at him.”

Raymond looked at her, then at Jonny. He threw his hands up in frustration. “Why kraaa is this boy like this? Ah?” he whispered furiously. “Which kind selfish behaviour be this? Your own girl, you no dey fit pay attention to am? Ah!”

Akushika shook her head. It was certainly unimpressive how Jonny behaved. She had convinced Raymond to talk to him a few times, but Jonny remained as headstrong as before, insisting he was paying attention ‘with his ears’.

“Come on, Jonny, put your phone down,” she whispered, more to herself than to even Raymond, wishing that the boy would put down his phone and focus on his girlfriend, whose expression grew darker and darker.

Then Jonny reached into the front pocket of his shirt and pulled out his ear pods case.

“Oh, seriously??” Akushika whispered louder, disgust tinting her voice.

She wasn’t the only one to react to that, though. And her reaction was like smoke in the face of the other one.

“OH, FOR GOODNESS SAKE, JONNY!”

Bukky’s angry yell startled everyone. She had stopped singing and was glaring at Jonny, who had stopped short of putting one of the pods in his ear. He looked at her and waved his hand in what felt like a dismissive manner.

“Oh, come on, Bukky, it’s just a quick check. I’m still listening.”

Bukky shook her head, irritation etched across her features. “You’re always ‘just checking.’ This is important to me, Jonny!”

He sighed and put the case back in his pocket. Seemingly oblivious to the disapproving glares on him, he spoke up. “Bukky, it’s not like that. I just got a work message, and I thought it was urgent. It’s not like I’m trying to ignore you-“

“No, Jonny, stop lying! I’m tired of this! Every time I’m singing, you’re buried in your phone. I don’t know what it is, but you’re clearly not interested in what I’m doing, and I’ve had it up to here with your constant disrespect! I kept letting it go, thinking you’d wise up and see how much I need your support, but it’s so clear the only singer you care about is you! Abeg, it’s over. I no fit do this thing again.”

“Come on, babe, don’t be like that,” Jonny protested, springing up to try and calm her down. “Look, just calm down-“

“Calm down keee you there! Abeg shift!”

Shoving her boyfriend aside roughly, Bukky stormed out of the auditorium.

Immediately turning into a humming ground of criticism and gossip, Jonny looked to the back to Raymond and Akushika. The look on his face seemed to suggest the question on his mind to be: what’s her problem?

Akushika watched as Raymond stared back at him, a disapproving look on his face. He shook his head and curled his lip in disgust before turning away.

If Jonny was looking for support, he wasn’t going to get it from his tight paddy. Not this time.

***

“No, Shika, honestly, I’m tired. Just tired. Every day, this boy is playing with his phone when the rest of us are singing. Yet when he sees someone looking uninterested in his performance, then he’ll be complaining lowkey. Which kind yeye lifestyle be that?”

Akushika sighed, looking at Raymond as they sat in the back of an Uber. Obviously, Jonny had not been very happy with Raymond not backing him up, so he stormed out and drove away without them. Raymond was nowhere near perturbed, though; he was sick and tired of Jonny’s behaviour himself.

“Bukky, I know, I know. I saw it for myself. I know he’s not being fair to you,” Akushika spoke into the phone. “It’s pretty selfish of him. But are you sure of this? Ending it?”

“I’m damn sure, Shika! See, as I dey here, I’ll put my everything into supporting my man in whatever he does, because that’s what I was taught. I can’t be giving you my all, and when it’s time, you can’t be bothered. Everybody in our group can see it; you’re not bothered about my performances. At best, you’ll pretend to be clapping when it’s all over. Please, I’m damn sure. I can’t do this anymore. He loves himself, so let me leave him to enjoy himself by himself. Nonsense! Na me he dey take do accessory. Idiot!”

The phone line went dead.

Akushika sighed and turned to Raymond. “She’s really pissed.”

“Oh, for sure. She’ll be very pissed,” Raymond agreed. “And I don’t blame her at all.”

“But… but isn’t there anything we can do? We can’t let this relationship go bust, can we?”

Raymond sighed, running his hand over his head while shrugging. “I don’t know, Shika, I don’t know. We’ve done all we can, chale. Long before you came, what haven’t I said to Jonny, yet he doesn’t care. Until he reasons up, chale, forget it. Bukky might just be serious about it, and there  will be no turning back.”

Smh. What the hell is wrong with Jonny? He’s really being selfish about this…