love me tomorrow episode 3

"LOVE ME TOMORROW"

+Episode THREE+

kenechukwu and Ibeh were the notorious thieves of the Village. Always responsible for the missing goats, hens, yams and lots more. They've expertly diverted into stealing hunter's meat from their trap.
They are the two good for nothing sons Obi the Village wine tapper.

"Nna eh, the Hunger wey dey worry me too much"Kene groaned

"If to tell me about hunger, I will slap stars out of your stupid eyes.. Did I not tell you to lock the door before we started eating? But you didn't and Papa caught us and finished off our hard earned pepper soup"Ibeh said in anger. He's the older one, just older that Kene with a year.

"Slap me maka gini? Is your hand broken that you can't lock the door yourself? Everytime Kene do this, Kene do that.. Am I not a human being with feelings? Biko kwa"Kene ranted

"Ngwanu na.. Hunger will so deal with u.. Keep ranting Inugo?"Ibeh said and stood up to leave.

Just then, Kamsi walked in.
"Ndewo nu o"She greeted

Ibeh paused and looked at her smiling. They knew about Kamsi the most beautiful girl is the Village who had fair and spotless skin with killer dimples and nice curves..

"Ndewo nwa oma"Kene replied

"Emm.. Can I speak to your Father? I'd want to be getting like 7 pots of freshly tapped palm wine every evening"Kamsi said

"Ah.. 7pots of palm wine every evening? For what? Are you doing marriage or?"Ibeh asked surprised

"marriage ke.. No.. I and my man just set up a palm wine and pepper soup joint close to Ama-ifeke and we need palm wine every evening for our customers. You know your Father taps good wine so I want to make him my customer"Kamsi said smiling

"Uhm.. That one would not be a problem. What time do you need the wine tomorrow?"Ibeh asked

"3-4pm"

"OK.. You can come here by that time and your pots of wine would be here waiting for you. Or do you want us to bring it over for you?"Ibeh asked.

"Yes Yes.. I'd really appreciate it if you bring it over for me"Kamsi replied

"Ngwanu, we will be there by 3pm tomorrow.."Ibeh said

"Thank u o.. Chukwu gozie gi"Kamsi said and left.

"Ibeh what sort of stupid negotiation was that?"Kene asked as soon as Kamsi was off ear-shots

"What do you mean?"

"I mean.. Why would you offer to help her? I can smell you have something up your sleeves.."

"I like that girl alot.. A whole lot"Ibeh said licking his lips

Kene bursted into a long feast of laughter
"Future Impossible tense! You see that girl, she wouldn't even look at you twice.. As in eh, you are not even her class.. Nwannem you no reach her slippers"Kene continued laughing

"You are just stupid. Did I make mention wanting to have anything to do with her?"Ibeh asked angrily and Kene stopped laughing

"So why were you so generous to her if you don't want anything to do with her?"Kene asked

"I want her for brother Felix"Ibeh said

"Did Brother Felix tell you he's looking for a wife?"

"Yes he did.. And I like Kamsi already for him"

"Ogbasadim. Both you and the brother Felix, she go fall una hand.. Don't you know that Ifeanyi guy she's madly in love with? Didn't you hear her say they've opened a business together? Asin eh, you have ear block"Kene said sitting down

"She can't reject Brother Felix. Our obodo oyibo brother..Fine fresh guy with plenty money. She can't reject him over that village rat"Ibeh said

"Ngwanu.. I'll just watch and see. But for now, kam cho nhie nga etinye na'onu (Let me look for what to eat)" Kene walked away.

+++++++++++++

Ifeanyi and Kamsi put in all their strength into the business. Kamsi was in charge of making the meat while Ifeanyi served the customers.
They put in their best in the business and soon, "KAMSIYO BUSH BAR" became known in their Village and other neighbouring Villages.
Ifeanyi insisted on using Kamsi's name for the bush joint.

As they were making progress, they kept saving and growing the bar.
Soon, they had rented a shop instead of the raffia palm they used before.

One day, Ifeanyi went to the market to get ingredients for the evening sales because Kamsi couldn't make it as she had to help her mother.
Ifeanyi was done buying the stuffs from the market and was coming back when he saw people gathered around someone.

"Wete mmiri!(bring water)"

"Nye ya ohere! She needs air!!(give her space)"

He heard people saying. He moved quickly to catch a glimpse of what was happening and saw a young lady on the ground, beside her was scattered bucket of sachet water.

"Lydia!!"He called and struggled to get into the crowd. Yes! He knew her.. She was his junior in school years back. She was 2classes below him. While he was in ss3, she was still in ss1 but was known by everyone as a "brain box".

"Oga you know am?"One man asked

"Yes.. Yes.. Na my sister"Ifeanyi replied as he bent down and felt her temperature. Her eyes were open but she looked weak and couldn't speak.

"una wicked sha. How una go send her make she dey sell pure water everyday? Morning and night na so I dey see her sell pure water everywhere. Food sef she no dey eat"The man said angrily and others started throwing abusive words at him.

"Abi na una house girl?"A fat woman asked angrily

He ignored them all and carried her on his shoulder and with one hand, he carried the nylon bag which contained the things he bought.
He moved out of the crowd and stopped a Keke that carried both of them to his bush bar.
When they arrived the place, he paid and carried her into the shop and lay her on one of the benches.
His customers don't arrive till evening and it was just 12pm in the afternoon.
He quickly searched for a wrapper and spread in one corner of shop before keeping her.
He dashed out and bought Fufu and egusi soup from a restaurant nearby and came back.

He squatted before her. Her eyes were still open but she was too weak.
"Nne, get up and eat. I'm positive that if you eat, you will be fine."

The girl nodded faintly
He quickly helped her up and helped her wash her hands and she slowly started eating. In a short while, she finished two big wraps of fufu. Ifeanyi went in and came back with a plate of pepper soup, Lydia ate everything, digested it with three cups of palm wine and belched satisfactorily. Truly, na hunger sickness dey do her! Because she regained her strength immediately.

"You can sleep now. I want to get my things ready before my customers start arriving"Ifeanyi said

"Thank you so much.. But why do I feel I've seen this face before?"She asked

Ifeanyi laughed "Didn't you attend UCC?(Umuoma community college)"

Lydia racked her brain "Senior Fine boy!!"She exclaimed

"We too fresh!!"Ifeanyi replied and they both laughed.

That was their slang in school. him and his group of friends.

"Wow! It's been ages.."Lydia said

"Our brain box"Ifeanyi laughed

"biko"Lydia said and stood up

"Let me help you with your cooking eh"

"But you're not strong enough"

"Says who? Not after eating two hot wraps of fufu, one plate of pepper soup and palm wine.. Biko let's go"She said laughing and Ifeanyi led the way to the backyard where they cooked.
Ifeanyi and Lydia kept gisting and catching up on school times.. Lydia helped Ifeanyi in making the pepper soup as Kamsi hadn't arrived yet.
Soon, customers started arriving and Lydia was serving them and joking around with them. She was indeed a very lively girl.
Suddenly, Kamsi barged in and saw Lydia laughing with a customer.
Lydia didn't notice her presence.
Kamsi went to the backyard and met Ifeanyi.

"Who is that girl there? gallivanting with our customers? We didn't plan on bringing a sales girl"Kamsi said

"Ah Lydia? No o.. She's not a sales girl. She's an old school mate I met at the market today. You will like her, she's so friendly and.."

Kamsi interrupted him "So friendly? No.. I don't like her and I can't like her. She looks like a prostitute. Imagine playing with a customer. Who does that? please, let her leave"Kamsi said angrily

"Haba Uto'm, you don't even know this girl. She needs help.."

"And this place looks like a charity home? let her leave or I leave"

"Don't worry I'd leave"Lydia said from behind. She had been eavesdropping. Actually, she was coming to the backyard to get a plate of pepper soup, a customer's order when she heard them.

"Lydia can you hold on for a bit? This is my Fiancé Kamsiyochukwu.. and Kamsi this is Lydia my school mate"Ifeanyi said trying to lighten up the air.

Kamsi looked disgustingly at Lydia who got the message.
"It's nice meeting you Kamsi.. The pot-bellied man that just came in with his girlfriend needs two plates of pepper soup and a jar of palm wine.. Fine boy, we'll see some other time. I'd leave now"She said and dashed out before Ifeanyi could say anything.

"Uto'm why did you behave like that to someone you barely know. It's not good na"

Kamsi only hissed and went to attend to customers.

TO BE CONTINUED...