The red flowers were in bloom the month he died. He died on a cool, Thursday morning in February, Valentine's day to be precise. Just the night before, he had promised his girlfriend, Mimi to make up for the valentine they couldn't spend together.
They hadn't spent Valentine together because he had been insecure. He had seen his friends plan out how they would spend Val with their babes. He had seen them reach out to gift vendors and make an order for surprise packages to be delivered to their girfriends’ doorsteps. He had watched videos of couples online doing surprise val parties, planning trips and all, just to celebrate the day. And here he was, with a mere two thousand naira in his account. It wouldn't even be enough to buy a large size Pringles for her and so he had thought of an excuse not to spend the day with her. He then lied to her that he had to travel home because of an urgency.
“Did she tell you what was so urgent?” She had asked. Concern for him coming first.
“No, she didn't. Just that I should come home.
“Can't you go after Val? Is it so urgent? I want to spend the day with you.” She whined.
“I want to spend the day with you too, Mimi. But mum said I should rush home.”
“This is not fair. Why now? I will be so lonely.” He could hear the sadness in her voice and his heart clenched. It almost made him want to say he could go another day. It almost made him want to blurt out that he was lying. That it was because he could not afford to spend that day with her. He knew she did not care whether he had money or not. She was the first girl he would experience pure unadulterated love from. Loving him not because of what he had but because of who he was. But he didn't want to disappoint her on that day. He didn't want her to see girlfriends receiving surprise packages and think he had done nothing. And so he kept lying.
“But don't worry. I already made an order for you. I hope it reminds you of my love for you.” When did lying to her come so easily for him?
“I don't want any order. It's you I want.” She retorted.
“Don't worry, when I'm back, I will make up for it. I promise.”
“Okay. Just don't stay long at home. I love you.”
“I love you more, Mimi.” And she had hung up. He exhaled, guilt and relief intertwining in his chest. In the next three days, he would receive money from his uncle and all that money was going to fulfill the purpose of making her happy. He laid back on his bed, a little smile playing on his lips as he thought of the numerous ways he could surprise her.
Mimi dropped her phone on the table and relaxed in her chair. She glanced at the white box dotted with red hearts, sitting on the floor. She had been anticipating seeing the smile on his face when she gave him the box. And now, Chike had to go home. On valentine's day. Which meant she would be home alone. Her flatmates would be out celebrating the day with their boyfriends, sugar daddies, and friends with benefits, and she would probably be in her bed watching movies or reading a novel.
Or maybe, she would just go to his house to drop the package on Valentine's evening. It would be sitting on his bed when he came back from his trip. She could imagine the excitement on his face when he saw it. Him, picking up his phone and calling her and calling her baby and telling her how much he loved her. That was enough to make her happy.
That was what she was going to do.
It was Valentine's day already. Chike sat on the cold white tiles, watching One Of Us is Lying on the TV. He was drinking cassava flakes laced with sugar, groundnuts and milk. He had called Mimi in the morning to wish her Happy Val’s day and tell her he loved her. He also told her he was already embarking on his trip. She had wished him a safe trip but all he was really hearing, was the loneliness in her voice. He had also lied to her that the surprise package vendor had called to cancel his order due to some unforeseen circumstances. So, he had promised to make it up to her when he came back. And she had acquiesced. He didn't intend on stepping a foot outside his house, to prevent being caught by Mimi or any of her friends. His meal was almost finished and the episode he was watching was almost reaching it's climax. The character behind Simon says was almost being caught out. He was so engrossed in the movie, he didn't hear his door lock clicking. Somebody was picking the lock from outside.
And then the person was inside, pointing a gun at his head.
Chike startled, his feet kicking the almost finished bowl of cassava flakes in surprise as his eyes came level with the gun. He looked at the masked figure holding the gun. The masked figure was lanky and tall with broad shoulders. He was dressed in all black.
“On your knees.” The figure said. Chike raised his hands in supplication as he slowly rose from his sitting position to his knees.
“You go kneel down for there quietly, make I carry wetin I wan carry. You hear me?” The person ordered. Chike remained quiet, assessing the situation and wondering if the gun was actually loaded, and if he could take on the figure. “You hear me?” The figure raised his voice as he shoved his head with the gun’s butt. “Or I go shoot.” Chike nodded. He watched as the figure turned his back on him and started opening the shelf on which the TV stood. That told him everything. The robber was alone and he was an amateur at this. It was probably his first time robbing which meant the gun might not be loaded. He slowly stood to his feet and approached the person's quietly. At the last minute, the robber had turned and Chike saw his eyes widening as he gripped the gun’s barrel in his hands, trying to force it from the robber’s hands. The robber was surprisingly strong and wouldn't let go. It became a tussle, the both of them pushing, falling, punching and a shot rang out, silenced by the body on it. Chike looked at the robber in surprise. Who did the bullet hit? Then the robber was shoving Chike off him and just then, Chike felt this intense pain. It felt like his innards had exploded inside him. It made him remember when Mimi described how bad her period cramps was and his heart twinged with nostalgia.
He tried to look at the spot where the bullet had hit but any slight movement made tears leak out of his eyes. So, he just lay there with his hands gripping his stomach. He watched the robber put his head in his hands and say, “E no suppose be like this. E no suppose be like this.” He watched the robber flee from the house but his mind kept going to Mimi. He should have just been with her. He shouldn't have lied. If he hadn't, he wouldn't have been here when the robber came. He wouldn't have underestimated the robber. His vision was growing fuzzy and dark at the edges when he saw someone in front of him. He closed his eyes and opened it slowly. It had to be an apparition here to taunt him at his dying minute but it was really her. His Mimi with a white box in her hands. What was she doing here? He smiled weakly at her as she bent and held his cheek with her tiny warm hands. Tears were pouring from her eyes as she said, “Stay with me, baby. Please, stay with me. I will call someone now. Just hang on. Don't leave me “
But he knew that was the end. He was happy he had seen his Mimi. “Mimi, I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I love you so much. More than I ever expressed. Please, don't forget me.” The last thing he would remember as he slipped into black nothing was Mimi’s heart wrenching scream, her tears dropping on his face, and her warm body covering his.
