CHAPTER TWENTY NINE
A growing fear
I drove through the unfamiliar streets of Paris with the help of google map. I could feel Alice’s eyes on me but I ignored her. Ever since we left home, there has been an awkward silence between us but I felt too betrayed to fill it up
“So, what club did you call it again?” Alice questioned finally breaking the silence as I turn into another street
“It is a band” I said sharply without adding any additional information
“Can we talk?” she asked in a low voice
“If you wanted to talk to me, you would have told me before catching you in bed with Maria’s daughter?” I replied bitterly even though I wanted to be cool but then, I have always been told that I am intense
“That is why you are mad” She retorted in surprise “Because I didn’t tell you”
“Of course, I thought we are friends now and friends tell each other everything. To find out that you are keeping things from me, especially the most important one about your life hurts” I complained harshly
She looked away in discomfort and that is something she only does when she found out that she was wrong
“Why do you think I am angry”
She looked at me and looked away again
She did not?
“Oh my God, did you think I am homophobic?” I lamented loudly as I swipe focus between Alice and the road. Maybe, I shouldn't be having this discussion on the road
“Of course not, I mean…I mean—” she stuttered as she struggled to find words to defend herself
“After all this time, you think I am that close-minded”
“I mean.... you are Nigerian” She voice out
Okay, that makes sense. Anything that does not go in line with the culture and religion is deemed as an abomination by Nigerians. Those caught in the act back home in Nigeria were always arrested and jailed. So, I get where Alice is coming from but that is not an excuse for her, we have been together for months, she should know by now that I am open-minded about sexuality.
My favourite movies are ones with gay love, my wattpad library is only filled with boy x boy stories, I even fucking marched during the pride parade, how else could I have shown this woman that I won’t crucify her for her sexuality
“If I can accept Frances for being Trans, then I will definitely accept you for being who you are” I argued viciously focusing my attention on the road again
“You know Frances is Trans?” she asked in utter surprise and when I looked at her, there was a deep scowl across her face
“Yes, is it suppose to be a secret?”
“Did she tell you or did you…”
“Saw her naked like I caught you in bed with the chef” I teased her
“This is not a joke, Bewa” she retorted with seriousness
“What? You have no right to be angry, that should be me. I was the one kept in the dark, remember?”
“Bewa…” she muttered impatiently
“She told me”
Alice lowered her gaze
“She is passing her boundary” she said in a low voice
“What?”
“I am sorry for not telling about who I am. I am the close-minded person here, it was stupid of me to assume you won’t accept me for who I am and for that, I am deeply sorry” she apologized and I could tell that it was geninue
“Apology accepted… so, when did you come out?”
“When I was 14, first to my family and then the next day, to my teammates”
“Does Kylian know?”
“Yes, everyone accepted me for me” she replied with a soft chuckle
“I am happy for you and I hope you know how lucky you. A lot of people don’t have it as lucky as you especially those in my country”
“Oh! I know and that is why everyday, I am grateful to whoever is out here for what I have” she commented
"You mean God?" I corrected her
"I repeat, to whoever is out here" She replied sassily and I chuckle heavily
“So Isa, when did that start?”
“A little over two years ago”
“Oh! come on” I groaned in a high pitched voice “Are you telling me I am the only outsider in that house”
She held my hands and smiled to me
“Not anymore, you are family now” she responded as I pulled up in the front of Joy's house as indicated by Google map
As I follow the Joy’s housekeeper deeper into the house, I heard the melody of musical instruments and a angelic voice singing. I guess they started without me. the sound got louder as we moved closed to the source of the sound. The housekeeper stops and open a door and like a tsunami, the music hits me. She gestured to me to go in and I did
My eyes landed on Joy the moment I entered with a microphone close to her mouth. She hurriedly hugs me with a smile her face
“Hey Guys, this is Bewa…. The lady I told you guys about” she introduced me to the band
“Hello Bewa” they are greeted me. I looked around the room and counted about three guys and two ladies including
“So, that guy with the guitar is my husband, Adebayo” she started introducing the band “The lady with gangan is Fatima” Fatima waved to me “And Fatima is happily married to Abdul” Joy pointed to the man next to piano waved to me “And finally, you know him” she pointed to the drum set and I saw Marcus poke his head out from behind the drum. He smiled brightly to me and waved to me
“It is good that you finally decide to join us” he commented
“We will continue the remaining introduction later but right now….” She stretched the microphone to me
“What?” I asked with my mouth wide open and raised eyebrow
“Lead us with some songs” Joy requested with a subtle smile
“I can’t sing, I mean, your voice is so good”
“It does not matter if your voice is good, we are not in a concert…. We are here to de-stress” Adebayo stated
“And as a first timer, you lead us in songs” Marcus added
“So…” Joy placed them microphone
“I don’t really know Christian songs” I tried another attempt to get myself out of singing
“Good!” Joy exclaimed “We are not in a church” she picked up the jazz next to the piano and positioned it
I felt a growing fear in my gut as I was been pushed to song. What if I tank this and I didn’t meet their expectation
“Relax, Bewa…. This is not an audition, we are here to de-stress and enjoy ourselves in the process” Joy tried to make me relax…. I nodded, breathing heavily in and out
“So, sing the first song that pops into your mind”
And that I did, whatever discomfort or fear I felt earlier was gone by the time I reached the third song. I let everything go, all my worries, concerns, problems and gave everything into the songs. If I was singing rubbish, I couldn’t tell because the instruments did all the work. Marcus is a badass drummer, Fatima totally killed the gangan, Adebayo is a fucking genius with the piano, Joy should seriously consider a career in Jazz and Abdul... Abdul is a god with the guitar. These people are pros and they know exactly what they are doing. Everything was in harmonious, I felt so elated, free and on top of the world
After an hour of some intense song rendition, we ended the session with a round of applause.
“What the hell was that, girl?” Joy exclaimed as she dropped the jazz
“I thought you said you could not sing” Marcus asked as he dropped the drumsticks on the biggest drum
“With that voice, you should totally join the choristers in church” Joy added again
“You guys should stop teasing me, you did all the work”
“No, No, we have never had that kind of session before, am I right?” Fatima disagreed
“Your voice was perfect, I vote that you be our new soloist” Adebayo suggested with a bright smile on his face
“What?” I exclaimed
“I second that” Marcus added
“Come on!” I countered back in disagreement
“We can all agree that she will be a perfect soloist” Joy said
“Yeah” They all agreed
“See, all you just have to do is say yes” Joy urged
I am not going to lie, I totally enjoyed myself, so I nodded and they all shouted in excitement
TO BE CONTINUED NEXT SATURDAY 9.00 PM WAT
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