FREE FALLING

To Simon and Ngozi (i wish the very best)

 

Shade was late, she looked at her wrist watch “shit!” she exclaimed, it was 6:45pm, she was an hour late for her meeting with Chiaze. “... when we celebrate we dey pop...” her phone rang, she reached for it from her purse, it was Chiaze. “ Hello.... I’m sorry... please just give me some few minutes.....” by the time she hung up she knew only a miracle could get her out of here in time. “How long would his patience last?” she asked herself. She was stuck in one of those unexplained Lagos go-slows. “Olosi... Can’t you see your front” someone was shouting at her but she cared less.
Shade worked in an advertising company as a graphic artist, she was creative, spontaneous and ambitious – the perfect qualities for her field. Three years ago when she joined the company straight from service, no one expected her to go as far as she had because she was stunningly beautiful but she had proved everyone wrong and shown that she was not just a pretty face. She got the work done, was ruthless when necessary and took no nonsense from anyone. Men were all over her, she had them all, the rich, the handsome, the politicians, the old and young, and even the pastors’ saw visions from God that she was their life partner. Everyone wanted a piece of her but Shade heard none of it. “Na wa o, which kind one you want sef?” her friends were always fond of asking. So, it came as a shock when she fell madly in love with this unknown fella – Chiaze.
“Who e be?” was the question on everyone lips. She remembered Tega her best friend asking her if she was sure about him and the answer was yes. “Na wa o Shade, na you be dis... who would have thought” Tega used to tease her.
Chiaze was not what you would call a Mr. World, he was plain. Nothing physically jumped at you about him. He was just a young chap that knew what he wanted in life and she bought into his dreams. She had met him at Tega’s birthday party. He came with Tega’s cousin Maro and was unnoticed until he stepped onto the dance floor. Shade would never forget that day. It was Sean Paul’s “get busy” that was playing and Maro had begged him to please dance. From the very first step he took, he got everyone’s attention, he was beautiful to watch, he had this gait, control and smile on his face that was infectious. After the song, Tega had run to have a dance with him and together they were captivating. He danced it all, reggae, dance hall, pop, disco, old school, salsa, just as long as it got a beat, he moved to it. It wasn’t until about an hour later that Shade got the chance to dance with him, he was gentle with her and she enjoyed every minute of it. Like she always said “he danced his way into my heart.”
After that day, they saw each other regularly. It was like he had the whole timetable on every show that happened in Lagos; he took her for them all whenever she was free. He seemed to know all the celebrities, he got her backstage passes, one on one talks with the celebs and front role sits for she and her friends. As her birthday gift, he got her to have supper with Richard Mofe- Damijo (RMD).” She was an RMD fanatic and it was an unforgettable experience. For someone who didn’t have anything, he was there. He always had a way out of every situation, there were countless occasions when a show was not going well or something and immediately he was called upon, he made it happen. He was your go-to -guy. It was for this same reason that when “DEFCOM” an entertainment company was organising a show which had all them international acts, Chiaze was the man to meet as a show of that magnitude hadn’t been done in the country in like thirty years. That event was the turning point for Chiaze, he set up his own company and things only got better for him. After he finished his one year course on event management and planning from England, he asked Shade to marry her. Those were the good days.
Shade drove into the parking lot of “Ocean view” it was 7:42pm.
Chaize dropped his glass, picked up the bottle to refill but realised it was empty, that was his third bottle of wine for the night. He was tired of waiting; it had become a normal trend in their relationship for the past two years. It first started with thirty minutes lateness which she was apologetic for then it grew to total cancellation of dates and late night home coming. He first thought he could bear it but it had become a part of their life, anytime he tried to show his disgust she interpreted it as him just being chauvinistic. He noticed her walk in, looked at his wristwatch, (a gift from her when things were better) it was 7:55pm. As usual, heads turned as she walked in, watching how her hips and waist moved brought back memories. He remembered him teaching her how to move it to all them dancehall songs back in the day, now she was a master.
“Your friend just walked in two hours thirty minutes late for her own birthday party” he said bending towards Tega who was sitting by his right.
“Take it easy with her, you know its work” Tega said, defending her.
“Yeah, I forget that... I’m unemployed” he said with a smirk on his face getting up.
“Come on Chiaze, you know no be like that and it’s not like I’m trying to defend her”
“That’s what you’re supposed to do, defend her... I understand you are her friend Tega” he said walking past her.
“Where are you going to?” she asked, concern showing in her voice.
“The bottles empty... it needs a refill” he answered a smile on his face.
Tega watched him walk away with a slight stagger not from wine but from that of a sad man. She knew Shade was over doing it and she had talked to her. Its funny how fond of him she had become; he had become a yardstick for men generally for her. He was responsible and took care of his business unlike Gab her fiancé.
“Where is he going to?” Shade asked as she got to Tega,
“Girl, you no dey hear word ba? You’re messing things up, there is only so much a person can take” Tega scolded
“Haha, you no even make I sit down before you begin harass me. Its work girl, you of all people should no that”
“That’s what you have been saying for how many years and.....”
“Ehn ehn ehn Tega its okay...I have heard enough...haha... ki ni mo se fun e now....” Shade cut in getting pissed.
“Madam no vex o... but if I don’t tell you, who will. Do”
“I’m sorry Tega” Shade apologised “It’s just that things her crazy at work”
“I know girlfriend.... Come on, go talk to your man.” Tega said pushing her to the bar “and hey, happy birthday”
“Hello you” Shade greeted as she got to Chaize “I’m so sorry... it was the office and I couldn’t get out. They needed me, sorry” she explained
“Yeah, I know, superwoman... everybody needs you except me. Well, your office should marry you then”
“That’s not fair Chiaze, you of all people should understand”
“That’s the problem Shade, I always understand, in fact, I have been understanding for the past two years but guess what? I’ve had it. O ti su mi now... For God sake, your own birthday party that I have been planning for the last month, I even gave you heads up weeks before, reminding you... no, begging you to clear you schedule or at least make it light. But no, you had to go do it all at work. Don’t I mean something to you no more?”
“You do, darling you mean everything...” she replied almost to tears. Shade held him tight as if he was her life support. “Forgive me” she pleaded.
Chaize allowed himself to be held, in her hold he felt at home. Something he had missed for so long, “Its okay girl, its just painful. Do you know D’banj and Wande Coal were here?” Shade put her hands on her mouth in disbelief, tears falling down her checks, “I’m sorry...” she sobbed. “I’m so sorry dear”
“Its okay, thank God you’re here now.... let’s go join the others” he said kissing her. “Come on, you know you have my mumu button and I can’t stay pissed at you for long.”
“Look at them, lovee lovee people... abegy, come cut cake make we chop i.” Tega teased them as the joined in.
“longer throat” Shade said “e... we dey pop champagne...e” her phone rang. “Excuse me guys, I gotta take this. Give a minute” she said excusing herself. “I won’t be long honey “she said giving Chiaze a kiss that lasted longer than usual.
“Abegy, carry your wahala go corner” said Tega
“Jealousy” replied Shade as she walked off
“So, you’re all smiles now right” Tega asked Chiaze
“What can a brother do Tee?”
Chiaze was watching Shade and he knew something was up form her body language. “I hope there is no problem” he thought to himself.
“It’s going to be okay?” Tega said as if she was reading his thoughts. He just smiled in response.
“What’s up?” Tega asked as she joined them. Shade was scratching her hair, Tega knew she only scratched her hair the way she was doing only when she about to drop a bombshell.
“I gotta go” she announced
“What!” Chiaze let out unable to control his surprise and disbelief.
“Honey, you remember that contact I told you about, the one from Dublin? Well, he is around”
“And?” Chiaze asked hoping he misunderstood something somewhere.
“He his leaving tomorrow and this is my only chance I would have to get him. He is at the Hilton not too far from here, so, I gotta run. I won’t be long, I promise” she said giving him a peek and then running off before he could say a word.
“I’ve had it Tee” Chiaze said walking off.
“Chiaze! Chiaze!!” Tega called after him but he didn’t respond.
“Leave him, he needs to be alone” Gab told her “You need to talk to Shade” he added.
“Talk? Just let me be Gab. Don’t I always do?”
“I know but I don’t think its enough”
“Please please.... just no vex me this evening.”


Chiaze saw the lights from the car as she drove in. He was waiting in the sitting room, the lights were off, he could not sleep. He was tired, sad and fed up.
For the second time in the day he had seen Shade walk in, only this time it was their home. He watched her sneak in trying hard not to wake him up, she walked to the bar, poured herself a drink and sat on the chair. “what a day” he heard her say smiling “I cant wait to see the look on Mikes face tomorrow when I show him this” Chiaze watched her as she moved across to him, she bent down over him and whispered into his hear “I’m so sorry love”
“really?” he replied taking her unawares.
Shade was shocked, she thought he was asleep. “You scared me, I didn’t know you were awake” she said.
“I know” he replied “so, how did it go?”
“Oh lovely, I sealed it love”
“Congratulations. At least some ones happy between the two of us” he sneered
“Oh baby, I’m truly sorry about this evening, really’
“That’s what you say every time” Chiaze said getting up from the setae and moving to the dining area. “Believe me I am fed up, this your job thing is becoming something else” he said.
“This my job thing as you put it, is what I have been doing before I met you, this my job thing is what used to support us. Do you expect me to quit just to satisfy you? I’m sorry, but I’m not one of those women... I take care of my own business.” she replied, her temper rising.
“Who said anything about you quitting Shade, all I ask is some balance. For gods sake I don’t see my wife any longer, it’s like you do not exist. When was the last time you cooked for me? I’ll tell you, it was a year three months and two days exactly. And I know you’re not one of those women, that’s why I married you.”
Shade walked to the wine cabinet and poured herself a glass of whisky. She drank it all in a single go “I’m not ready for this, not tonight “she said pouring herself another shot and drinking it all.
“When will you ever be ready? When? We are getting to our third year in marriage and still no child. Why? Because her majesty isn’t ready yet. When will you be ready? When we are all grey?” he mocked
“So, that is what it’s really about right? A child?”
“If it was about that I would have gone to have myself one outside...” he replied already ticked off.
“Go now, who’s stopping you? Go and have a bastard from those whores chasing you around town. You think I don’t know right” she said at the top of her voice taking another drink.
“Would you slow down on the bottle” he ordered trying to get the bottle from her.
“I would drink how and when I like Chiazendu, after all, I bought it” she only called him by his full name only when she was angry, drunk or wanted to get under his skin. Chiaze, went for the bottle but she moved away as if she expected it.
“Leave me the fuck alone” she screamed at him shocking him
“Are you mad?” he asked
“It is your great grand parents that is mad, iya baba baba e’” she abused.
Chiaze was fuming mad but in order not to do anything stupid he decided to walk away.
“Where are you going?” she asked “Come and fight like a man”
Chiaze still walking away choose not to respond, he had taken his third step on the staircase when he felt the pain. Shade had thrown her glass at him aiming for his back so as to get his attention but instead she missed hitting his head. Chiaze dropped to the ground with a scream holding his head. Shade had never heard him scream like that before, she ran to him and when she saw the pool of blood on the floor she screamed.


Gab was in between Tega’s leg licking her. She moaned with pleasure “Yes, yes, right there” she moaned. “What are you waiting for? I need you” she begged holding her breast as if they were gears for a car. He had just entered her giving her so much pleasure when her phone rang.
“No!” she ordered, giving Gab an I-will-kill-you look as he stretched his hand for her phone. “It could be important” he said as he thrusted in and out of her.
“I can’t believe you, how could you even think...” she broke off not able to coordinate her thoughts any more as the excitement increased.
But the phone kept on ringing and was becoming a nuisance. Tega stretched her hand to get her phone and was about to switch it off when she saw it was Shade calling her. She panicked because she knew her friend never called her at this time of the night unless it was an emergency.
“What’s wrong Shade?” she asked a little bit concerned and a little bit irritated with Gab still on top of her.
“Tee, I am dead...mo ti ku o!” Shade replied at the other end in tears
“What’s the matter?” she asked scared
“It’s Chiaze....” Shade obviously could not get herself together.
By this time Tega had shoved Gab aside and had sat up. “Whats wrong with him?” Tega asked, fear evident in her voice. When no reply came from the other end she asked again “What the hell is wrong with Chiaze!”
“He’s in the hospital...” came the reply.
“Hospital? Whats happening Shade”
“I can’t talk Tega... please if you can, meet me at Lavens Hospital...”
The line cut. Tega had never heard Shade that shaken, she got up from the bed picking her “undies” from the floor.
“what’s wrong with Chiaze” Gab asked trying to get his hands on things.
“He’s in the hospital... lets go Gab” she replied her skirt already on.
“Never knew you could dress this quick” Gab said getting up looking for his trousers. When Tega didn’t reply he knew she was really worried, the Tega he knew had a ready reply for every situation or comment. So, instead he walked up to her and held her by the shoulder “It’s gonna be okay” he told her.