OMOBONIKE

I think Omobonike just want to be independent ________________________________________ Link to Available Episodes •Episode 2

She cannot depends on her parent money for life nah

no

Parents and their troubles

Some parents are just not reasonable and inconsiderate

Please continue with d story abeg

she wants to be financially independent not dependent on her parent for everything

FIRE ON!

* OMOBONIKE * Episode 2 "Mum, please it's not about food or clothing, neither is it about the money I will make while working but mum, I have been so lonely all these while. It's not easy to stay at home alone all day doing nothing. I have persuaded you to allow me enrol for fashion designing, you still insisted that you wanted me to go to school. Let me work as a sales girl then, please mum, you just have to choose one out of the two, I am tired of this loneliness." "What loneliness Bonike? What happened to all the novels I bought for you?" "I read them all mum, I even read some twice, you know I love reading novels and..." "Then, read them again and watch T.V when you are bored," she replied on a final note as she started devouring the plate of rice and plantain before her. I felt like crying . My mum can be so stubborn. I used to wonder if that was why she no longer lived with my father. They got divorced when I was 5years old or so for reasons I do not know. Being an only child, I enjoyed all the care and attention of my mother but she never allowed me to be a spoilt child that can have her way all the time, it's a good thing though... I heard my Dad who now lives in California is married to another woman. My mum is a banker . The only days she stayed at home was on weekends. Saturdays, and on Sundays too. She's a woman in her late forties, quite beautiful than her age. People said I got my natural and flawless beauty from her. She had always been my role model since my primary school days. Often times, I dreamt of becoming a banker like her when I grow up. So, whenever I was asked to write an essay on "Who I will like to be in future," I gleefully would paint the picture of a banker, my mum's image was always on my mind while writing... But for some reasons, as I advanced in age, my desire to be a banker faded away gradually. Maybe because each passing day, I watched my mum leave home very early, and returned late in the evening only for her to eat dinner and before you know it, she would have dozed off on the sofa, tired and worn out. Since I passed out of secondary school, I have been the one preparing breakfast and dinner, so we had something good to eat before going to bed. But when I was much younger, we were used to eating junks and leftovers in the freezer. She would manage to wake up early to prepare a good meal for me to take to school maybe twice in a week, the rest of the days of the week, I either take bread and butter or she gave me money to buy food at the school cafeteria. All these made me conclude that it's quite an abnormal life for a woman to live. Anytime I complained about her too busy schedule, she would simply reply, "I am working tirelessly so that you will live a comfortable life, your dad left and I am left with no choice than to bear the burden of being a father and mother to you at the same time, so you ought to be grateful." Even on Saturdays at times, she did go to work, but usually came back earlier than week days. Sundays, after church service, we would serve siesta, do some laundry if need be, and then iron our clothes in preparation for the new week again. And that's how the cycle repeated itself all through the weeks, months and all year round, mum hardly had time for me. I began to detest this way of life that makes one to spend such a short time with the family, I do not want that. I want to become a wife and mother that will be close to her husband and children on a daily basis. I felt so sorry for my mum but I do not want a home like hers. I want a home where I would have a husband and children and will be available for them always. So, I stopped wishing to be a banker. I started desiring a more motherly and homely profession. Yes, I will be a teacher! I made up my mind, and it became the dream I pursued... I love the way female teachers lived their lives. They had time for their families and even for other peoples' children. A banker may earn more than a teacher but no matter how meagre the salary of a teacher is, no other profession can make one enjoy the joys of motherhood and the happiness of being around children everyday of one's life, I love children. I settled down with my mum on the dinner table, pretending to watch the ongoing drama on T.V but my mind was actually on how else to persuade her to allow me to work. Then, a scenario I could cite came to my mind, it was about a friend of mine and I thought it would be a perfect strategy. "This should convince her," I thought. "Mum?" I called "Yes?" She answered with heavy eyes as she popped the last grains of rice into her mouth. "Do you know Mary, my classmate at school that used to come around to say hello to me once in a while during weekends?" "Yea, what about her?" "You know she travelled to Port Harcourt to stay with her aunt after our SSCE exam?" "Yes, I remember you told me so." Mum answered hastily. It was evident that she wanted to go to bed as soon as possible. "I heard recently that she is pregnant." Mum turned to me sharply. "She is what? How come, how did you get to know, how did it happen?" She stammered. Obviously, the sleep in her eyes had rubbed off. "She was raped." I continued. "She was raped by one of her aunt's neighbour. She usually stay back at home alone, while her aunt goes to work. The rapist climbed the fence into their compound and perpetrated the evil act." "What? Jesus Christ!" My mum screamed. "You don't mean it. How did you get to know?" "She told me herself when I called her two days back. I even wanted to tell you about it but you were too tired that night. That is one of the reasons why staying at home alone frightened me the more." "Jesus! And to think the poor girl is now pregnant from such an abominable act. What a pity. . Why didn't the aunt take her to the hospital immediately? Oh my goodness!" She lamented and sat back slowly on the dining chair. I thought within me that it seemed I have pressed the right button, "this should work," I thought. Mum stared at my large portrait picture hung on the wall just ahead of her, she was deep in thought for a while... "Hmmmmmm, if this ever happens to you, I will never forgive myself. Your Dad too will capitalize on it to conclude that I am a negligent mother. No, a stitch in time saves nine. When did you say the resumption time will be at the supermarket?" She asked still staring at the picture on the wall. "9:00am, and closing time is 6:00pm." I quickly replied. "Okay then, let's give it a trial, you can start tomorrow. We should avoid a case like that of your friend, I am so sorry about her right now." "Yes! I did it." I thought happily. "Thanks mum, you are the best!" "You are welcome my dear, promise me you will be a good girl at work. You know you are all I have got, do not let me regret making this decision." "Yes mum, I promise." "Alright dear," she replied yawning. "Let us pray, I need to go to bed, it's getting late." So, we prayed after which I got my dress ready for work the next day. Bye bye to loneliness, I thought as I laid on my bed for the night. Meet me in episode 3 soon So, OMOBONIKE was able to convince her mum at last. What happened after she started work? The story hasn't started okay? Let's unravel it in bits.

Parents are still to realize that what teens need is freedom so they can put into practice the advice given to them! nice start! ride on

I hope she doesn't fail her mum

Ride on dear...seated

Ride on

nice ending,I'm happy you try for that ur friend sister, Weldon writer

Parents sha. they failed to understand that it's not all about money, but about getting yourself occupied.

Observing

but I just hope she won't he exposed to crazy lifestyle once she starts working

interesting

OMOBONIKE * - Episode 3 I got to work at exactly 8:50am the following day. My boss was already there. She greeted me with a warm smile. I just liked her warm personality. "Come over here Bonike," she called after I have entered the shop. "Let me show you the prices of each category of goods and their arrangements." She explained all the goods to me in details, some already had price tags on them. I was very fast in catching up with the mastery of the prices to the surprise of my boss . She was also impressed with the way I attended to the customers. One or two of them passed some compliments about my politeness. In short, my first day at work was quite an interesting one and my boss liked me a lot. At around 4:30pm, my boss told me she had to see someone down the street, so I was left alone in the supermarket. Some minutes after she left, a young man walked in. I quickly stood up to attend to him. "Good evening sir," I greeted cheerfully, "what will you like to buy?" "Errmmmm... shaving stick," he responded simply and quickly added, "you are new here, I am sure." "Yes," I replied, handing him a packet of shaving sticks. "Oh! That's nice. My name is Stephen, it's nice to meet you . I do come here often to buy get one or two items whenever I am around, in short, I am a regular customer. How is madam?" He asked. "She's fine, she went out some minutes ago to check on someone," I replied while searching for a nylon bag to package his purchase. One thing about me is that I didn't usually give guys my attention. Right from when I hit my puberty stage, I have had a whole lot of toasters but I never gave heed to anyone of them. One, because I believed I was still too young for a relationship and two, because I was a virgin and I intended to keep it till marriage. So, guys to me were meant to be handled on a platonic level, no strings should be attached whatsoever. But one thing I noticed about Stephen was that somehow, for the first time, i got attracted to someone of the opposite sex. Yes, I felt attracted to Stephen. Not because he was extremely handsome, No. Though he was moderately good looking, dark in complexion, averagely tall with a fine set of teeth, but all these I was sure was not the real thing that drew me to him. I have met countless guys who were more handsome. I couldn't really place the reason why he seemed kind of special but I knew the attraction was real. "What is your name?" He asked just when he was about to leave. "OMOBONIKE," I replied. "Wow! Such a nice name for a pretty face. I do hope to see more of you" "Thanks for your patronage," I responded, deliberately ignoring the personal compliment. And that was how I met Stephen. A 25year old, 200 Level Electrical and Electronics Engineering student in the University. Stephen is a very cool headed, well behaved, caring, sweet, and above all a God fearing guy, a born again Christian. Another virtue he has is the fact that he is really hardworking. His aged parents lived in the village at the time he gained admission into the University, he is from a humble background. The second child in the family of three children, he had an elder sister and a younger brother. Stephen had to do a lot of menial jobs at school such as car wash, laundry and others after lecture hours and on weekends to pay for his rent on campus, school fees and to keep body and soul together. Some days after we met at the supermarket, I longed so much to see him again but he didn't show up. I was really disappointed. The fact that we didn't even exchange contact pained me the more... A week later, I was alone in the supermarket one evening trying to write down a list of goods that were out of stock. "Hello Omobonike," came a voice from the entrance of the store. I looked up sharply from where I was seated. His voice had already registered in my memory so I didn't mistake him for someone else. Stephen, of course. He stood at the entrance beaming with smiles, then finally entered. He came to get a loaf of bread for dinner. My joy knew no bound. The first thing that nearly escaped from my mouth was "where have you been all these while that I have been longing to see you?" But I quickly restrained myself and greeted, "Hi Stephen, it's been a while, how are you doing? You haven't been patronizing us, why? Did we offend you?" I asked shyly, trying to avoid his gaze. I'm good and you? It's not like that oh, I travelled last week to check on my parents, it's my uncle that stays here in Lagos. I just arrived last night." "Oh, I see. It's good to see you again." "Same here, Omobonike. How is your family and work?" "We bless God." I replied We chatted for a while after which he begged to take his leave because his uncle would have been expecting him. I really enjoyed his company. It was as if I was with a friend with whom I have been so close for a long time. I felt neatly heart broken when he finally stood up to leave. "See you some other time Omobonike, I will be going back to school tomorrow morning. Our strike has been called off and we have all been asked to resume with immediate effect." It was as if I had just been dealt a big blow. My countenance changed, I just couldn't hide it. Why I felt so much at home with this stranger, I couldn't understand but I knew I had feelings for him already, his going back to school was such a bad news... He noticed my changed mood and said, "Huh huh, don't tell me you are missing me already, Shalewa." I tried to conceal my feelings. I thought within me, "of course I will miss you, can't you just ask for my contact?" Then, I said aloud "well, I really enjoyed your company today." "Don't worry, we will talk and chat more on phone. Can I have your number?" "Yes!" I was excited within me. But instead, I replied, "though I don't give strangers my number, but I hope if i give it to you, you won't be one of those guys that disturbs with both necessary and unnecessary calls, especially in the middle of the night?" "Haba Omobonike, I will respect myself okay? And besides, we are no more strangers to each other." We exchanged contact, I felt so happy. We called each other regularly. Our friendship got stronger. A few months down the line, he asked me to pray about us, that he believed God was leading us to each other. I prayed, I was convinced and that was how we started a relationship when I was 19years old. I didn't tell my mum about our relationship, though she got to know Stephen later when he came visiting at our house and I introduced him to her as my friend. Our relationship was a wonderful one. He was the best guy in the world to me. I loved him with the whole of my heart. He called me often, we did chat on WhatsApp too. . Stephen is a very caring young man, whenever he comes to Lagos when school is on break, he would have saved some money from the jobs he did at school and would shower me with little gifts... We did spend time together during the weekends by hanging out either at a restaurant or garden. We avoided being together in private places. Stephen respected my desire to remain a virgin till marriage. He told me already that he was a virgin too, so we made rules that guided our relationship so as not to fall into temptation. Whenever he came to our house to say hello mostly on Sundays, he would help me out with house chores and at times, wash my mum's car. Mum wasn't at first comfortable with our friendship because she believed such friendship will make me lose focus on my academics but as time goes on, they both got along when mum also observed that he is a nice and decent guy. My mum even liked him a lot more than I expected. "He is a good guy, he will make a good husband," just make sure you both stick to your rules to remain pure. God hates formication, I'm sure you know that Bonike," she counseled... Our love for each other grew by the day. I made a lot of sacrifices for Stephen too. There was a time I gave him all of my savings for 3 whole months to pay for his accommodation at school when his landlord threatened to give him a quit notice. It was one of the many things I did for him. Our care for each other was mutual, though he didn't have enough money to show how much he cared for me but he tried his best most times... In short, I couldn't really say that Stephen loved me more than I did or vice versa, all I knew was that the love was a genuine one, pure and sacrificial... But, little did I know that our love wouldn't last....... See you in episode 4 Okay, my sisters and brothers, what do you think really happened? Who else once had a relationship like Omobonike's own, probably your first love? NB:I won't post the next episode if the comments are not up to 10

Getting more interesting

I wonder wat wil hpen

what happened?