• “ Artist , so ranti Tiwa? O ș’ọmọ daadaa. O ri mi ti mo n gbe ẹru, o dẹ sare gba eru naa lowo mi, o sib a mi gbe dele..”

  (“Artist, remember Tiwa? She is a properly trained young lady. She saw me and helped me with my luggage. She carried it all the way to our doorstep..”)

  Iya Kunle continued her story with a knowing smile on her face. Even though her back was turned to Kunle as she washed the dishes in the sink, she knew that Kunle was now paying careful attention to every word she said. She had used the magic word at the beginning of her sentence after all,  a word that had not failed to capture her son’s attention for the past four or five years. The only reason she didn’t use Tiwa’s name too often was because she wasn’t sure that the increased heart rate it caused in her Son was very healthy for him.

  You see, Kunle had been in love with Tiwa for a while. Everyone knew. Well, everyone but Tiwa.

  Now, Kunle didn’t mind his Mom knowing. At least, she was cool about it.

  At least, she didn’t  guffaw at him whenever  Tiwa walked past him ( Unlike his chill-less friends)

  

  There goes your babyyyyyyy..psst, artist, artist, say hello na…ahan, una don breakup ni? artist liver don cut, hehehe

  She also didn’t throw shade whenever she caught him drawing the love of his life..

  Kunle’s friends :You don dey draw am again, abi? If na to follow am talk, your pencil no go work again o

• 

  Kunle : Nooo na, na person talk sey make I draw am guys, stopeet

  No, Iya Kunle was as cool as Mums got.

  He had wanted to win the Third edition of The Nigerian Visual Arts Competition so badly, specifically because He had known that Tiwa would be there. She hadn’t been to the last two editions, but Kunle had known that she was going to be attending the Third one, because Panbi was going to be participating.

  And everyone knew that Panbi and Tiwa were best friends.

  No problem sha.

  Kunle ’s groundnuts flew expertly in the air and landed in the gulley that was his throat. He was not going to be petty about this. Everyone still greeted him normally. They must have realized that he was still the best..even the best lose sometimes, right?

  He was a two-time winner of the prestigious art competition, with cash gifts running into millions of naira.

  Izz not easy.

  And it wasn’t so painful anymore. Weeks had passed. Everything was back to normal, including his bladder.

  And Tiwa was still there for the taking. Panbi obviously didn’t want anything romantic from her. Maybe he was even gay sef.

  If only Panbi knew that he, Kunle Galant, had a plan for Tiwa.

  The smell of fried meat swept through the kitchen and jolted Kunle from his thoughts temporarily.

  Another thing everyone knew was that Tiwa was turning 19 in a matter of weeks and that there was going to be a big party.

  And he, Kunle Thaddaeus Galant was going to make it a celebration to remember.

  But for now, it was time to beg Maami for some eran dindin.

   

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