Chapter 52: Friendship that stood the test of time

The friendship that has stood the test of time.

The chilled orange juice that was slowly sipped from the tall tumbler almost choked Kenny. She coughed. Her eyes were on the one who was not helping her with her new body goals, moving her body which was almost competing with Tacha.

Tacha paused seeing Kenny almost losing her breath. She wasn't sure if it was a result of their conversation or if her friend was eating too many snacks on the table at the same time. But she saw Kenny's eyes widen. Her not-so-long lash blinked at her.

She had better say something. She wouldn't want to say her friend was overreacting, but she was.

"Anthony what did you say was here!" Kenny almost slammed the tumbler she was holding on the table but remember to put it down with caution.  "Tacha, I told you this day would come. What are we going to do?" Her voice was scared for her friend.

Yes, she was right.

Her mother was damn right too.

They told her she couldn't keep Anna to herself with her father breathing heavily with superpowers that even the people above bow to.

His status was one.

His bank account was one.

He had all the superpowers that also made women fall eventually.

For the second time since she arrived in Lagos, Tacha had lost her appetite. The fear she had gone to bed with heavily on her mind had slowly crept back like it never left. The Jollof spaghetti that curled around her fork separated as they hit her plate again.

Tacha had lost count of what emotion she should express.

Fear. Anger. Displeasure. Annoyance. Hatred.

Also jealousy. When she saw Maria.

But she had exhausted it all except for her strong determination to never have anything to do with Nathan Brown ever again. The last thing she ever wanted to do was to meet with Nathan. See Nathan or come across any of his family members.

She used to be angry. Angry at him. For so many reasons which was even her fault.

But she had found peace in her heart when she had Anna. The one who has made her life more adventurous. How sweet her words were made her smile countless times, and that was the only fun part of being a mother. Why she never lost her voice would be thanks to her mother.

"What if you had told him from the beginning, Tacha? Maybe...maybe you wouldn't have suffered that much and you would have found a way to be together."

Tacha didn't find her friend crazy but she was led to laugh in her spirit.

Her laughter suddenly eased her mind and she felt relieved. She understood why her friend was down to earth with her reasoning. Kenny had found a calm and peaceful love that she cared less about her weight was no longer like her favourite celebrity and was lucky to have achieved the type of BBL that came with no flat tummy.

"What's funny?" Kenny asked.

Tacha smiled. "Years ago, you were crying so hard thinking something terrible was going to happen to me. And you swore never to let me have anything to do with them again."

"Well, I'm saying this because he called me six months after the incident. Just two weeks after you left for Ibadan. I didn't find it necessary to tell you but he sounded like he miss--"

"I wouldn't have come back." Tacha's voice was firm, cutting her friend off. She was suddenly interested in her food again, picking up her plastic fork.

"Tacha," Kenny called with a calming voice. "Anna is in the picture now."

"If she had not made it, we wouldn't be talking about this. I don't want to."

Kenny paused. She stared at Tacha whose eyes were clouded and heavily pregnant with tears. With one word from her, Kenny knew there would be a heavy downpour. So, she maintained absolute silence to stop their conversation. Kenny dragged her tumbler and placed it in between her heart-shaped lips to finish her juice. It somehow tasted bitter, and the only crime was, it was no longer cold and her friend was sad.

"I wouldn't have had a life of my own if I constantly keep choosing an option that messes up with my mental health and growth." Tacha managed to hold back her tears. She looked better, and her words seemed to have grabbed Kenny's attention, saving her from crushing the empty tumbler with her grip.

"I would have nothing to boast of. Wouldn't have been able to offer myself what I truly desire, talk less of creating the values and beauty I give to dresses today if all I kept thinking about was having a man." Those words came out as if Tacha had just bagged a masters in confidence. A course Kenny thought she studied along with making bridal dresses. Girl knew what she was worth for having a life she was proud of and didn't hold herself back from telling her truth.

Tacha dropped her fork for the second time. "While I agree that is also an important aspect of my life, I realised I wanted more for myself than just that life. It's pretty good, but my daughter would have grown up to meet a mother who is constantly being talked down because she was not seen as someone worthy to be with her father. Try to imagine what more I could have gone through and what kind of stress my daughter would be going through for being raised by an unhappy mum. I mean, we know a happy mother makes a happy home and some mothers think they are living for their children using them as excuses not to pursue their dreams and stay stuck." Tacha paused.

"I am not going to."

There were many other things Tacha couldn't add. She knew better. Maybe not, but she knew exactly what she wanted for herself. And she vowed her offspring would also get the privilege and life she never had. She loved her mother but her mother's choices for a while gave her a life she was not proud of and desperately would never pass on.

But she was grateful her mother had given her the privilege to be educated and learn enough to choose her life.

So while she was doing that, she would rather consider her future. Not only the things she desired now.

And the best thing Tacha could ever do for herself was to empower herself. And not go about with just a four-year certificate only.

There was silence.

A tear dropped from Kenny's eyes. Then tears. She took turn and immediately hid her face in her hands.

"Kenny!"

Those round eyes were suddenly bloodshot. They held Tacha with pride. She smiled. But her smile was pitiful to see and that made Tacha grin. "What now," Tacha moved closer to wipe her tears.

"I have seen you evolve from selling in school to survive, Tacha. To get a job with nothing to write home about as a salary, then a better one came in, at least better than previous, and then you had to deal with pregnancy you aren't sure will make it to a child," Kenny wiped a tear that made it down before she chuckled. "I know I didn't experience this, but I was with you in your journey and if today you tell anyone going so hard on herself that life might not happen at twenty-three just because it looks like it's happening for someone already, I will back you up. That it might also not happen at twenty-six." Tears were making it down again. This time, even Tacha could not stop Kenny from her emotions because she could no longer trust herself.

Kenny looked up at her friend. "But if one takes that period to empower oneself, learn what could move you closer to the life you want, life eventually gets better and it doesn't mean it will take them till they are thirty-one."

"Why now? I don't want to cry now."

Coming from someone whose eyes were heavy with tears again, a tear had begun to drop.

The two friends consoled each other with a hug. It did last for a while and was very comforting before they began to make fun of each other.

"I can't believe we are seeing for the first time this year and this is what we are doing."

Tacha gave a tooth grin before she laughed so loud. "Passing the laughter to the one who started this nonsense. Don't ever cry again. It doesn't fit you."

Kenny tried so hard. Her hard was not hardened enough and she had to get up to laugh like a squirrel.

"Coming from someone close to a zombie when she cries."

Tacha knew that was a lie, but her friend's marvellous reply was beyond funny to her. Kenny had a bad mouth.

"That reminds me," still standing, Kenny asked, "why is Natasha, their Miss Quality not sewing her wedding dress?"

"I saw it recently that she's engaged."

Kenny's smile was mischievous. "You meant she's focusing on her to be the talk of the town wedding gown for now. I bought five hundred million materials."

Tacha started with her naughty-evil grin. Till date, she knew Natasha was excellent with her skills and she was at the peak of her career to charge any amount and will still be heavily patronized. "Maybe she knows Maria personally and ran for her life."

Kenny's eyes widened with interest. She wouldn't like to pass that information by because she knew the Instagram sensation. She wasn't the popular one, but the respected fashion icon who educates people about their health on her page.

Tacha made fun of Kenny. "Stop stressing these eyes abeg." Tacha then added how Maria talked to her about her lost beauty. "If I screw up, there is no place for me in heaven. She will open Judges for me."

It was Kenny's turn to disturb the neighbours at her friend's new apartment. "That dress must bring back her beauty.'

Tacha chuckled. "May God have mercy on us. Especially you, you never carry one."

Kenny picked up her tumbler and faced the kitchen to save her face, hiding her cheeky grin. "Anna baby, Aunty Kenny is about to go to her mansion."

Tacha couldn't contain her laughter. "You go black. You will be melanin popping."

Kenny laughed so hard on her way to the Kitchen. She was glad her friend forgot she would be bagging nose abnormality too. Maybe nose popping.

••••••••

Anna was already plenty of steps ahead of the two friends. A few jumps and a few minutes jog were quite easy for Anna as excitement danced in her legs, her face became gorgeous from her new beaded hair grandma made for her. She swung her head passionately and Tacha knew so well to have already added a syrup paracetamol in her daughter's luggage.

Kenny had finally stepped out to leave. Now, they were outside the compound.

"Tacha, you should have gotten a car already. It will ease you a lot of stress as a mother." Kenny said as she unlocked her car. "Anna say bye to Mummy."

"Bye Bye, Mummy." Anna was too excited to keep her voice down.

Tacha bent down to her daughter's height. "Won't you kiss Mummy." She grinned when her daughter grabbed her face and threw her the indomie kiss to jump inside Kenny's car. Tacha closed her door. "Aunty Kenny, I should have a godmother like you in my next life."

Kenny rolled her eyes with a smile. She was about to reply when her eyes suddenly lit up. "Wawu! That's the last model Bugatti. "

Tacha traced the all-tinted sleek car. She didn't know which was the last model but because it was a Bugatti, even if it had been a toddler who came out of it, he had to be respected, and grudgingly addressed as sir.

"Your area is the definition of Oshodi houses with banana Island cars."

Tacha opened the diver's seat and pushed Kenny in. "This is Green estate." She shut her car door. "Drive safe."

Kenny rolled her eyes with a smile. "I know once I turn, you will miss me."

"Dey play."

The two friends laughed once again. As Kenny rolled her window up, "You can bless me also with one Bugatti for being a good godmother."

"Madam Anna, is like you will come down."

Kenny laughed so hard as she moved out of her spot. Tacha watched them till they moved far. As she was about to enter, her eyes darted to the Bugatti again. "Kenny must be ment." She blessed her friend with a compliment as she walked into their compound, yawning, and without doubt going back to bed.