Why? 3 || Shackled to the Heart 8

EPISODE 8

Grinning like a proud father

INT. KING’S MANOR- NIGHT

Imade sits in front of her vanity inside her really large closet. One half of the closet holds Imade’s things while the other is for Wemimo. Different kinds of clothes are hang together according to their types. Owambe clothes are neatly arranged on a wardrobe. Heels, scandals, shoes, sneakers are all arranged on shelves

Sitting in her nightgown, she stares intensely at the mirror and looks at the entrance when she hears footsteps. Wemimo comes in with tray of a well-chilled fruit in a bowl

WEMIMO

You didn’t eat at the restaurant

He uses one hand to adjust the cosmetics cases on the table before he drops the tray in front of her

IMADE

I am fine

He draws the stool next to him closer to her and sits them. Then he uses the fork to pick up a piece of water melon and brings it to her mouth but she pushes his hand from her mouth

IMADE

I am really okay

WEMIMO

I can’t just let you go to bed without eating something

IMADE

I was not going to come into the restaurant in the first place, so it is fine

She stands up and starts to move away but Wemimo drags her back onto the seat by her arm and then holds her down with his hand on her shoulder before putting the fork with water melon in her mouth

WEMIMO

(in soft voice and expression) I am not fine with it, so, please eat

She reluctantly eats the fruit and her husband smiles brightly. He picks up another piece of fruit but before he can feed her with it, she collects the fork from his hand and feeds herself. He smiles in satisfaction when he sees her eating the fruit

She forks a piece of pineapple and raises to Wemimo’s mouth which he opens immediately and chews

WEMIMO

I spoke to Maami today

IMADE

Did she tell you when she is coming back?

WEMIMO

I don’t think she is coming back anytime soon

IMADE

(With a scowl) But she is coming for Christmas right?

WEMIMO

I don’t think so

IMADE

And you are okay with that

WEMIMO

Queen is happy, you should have seen her this afternoon. I haven’t seen her laugh like that since father died… so, I was thinking if we could go spend Christmas with them in LA

IMADE

That is if they are still in LA, the last time I spoke to Maami, they were on a cruise to Madeira

WEMIMO

Wherever they are, we can go

She put another piece of fruit into his mouth before putting another in her own mouth

IMADE

You seem to be forgetting Akara Carnival

WEMIMO

Oh that, I completely forget

IMADE

(Scoffs) You are getting old, Wemimo

WEMIMO

(Chuckles) Whatever… then we can go for the New Year celebration, the twin will love it

IMADE

What about the New Year dinner?

WEMIMO

Oh!

IMADE

We have obligations here, Wemimo, the only way this is going to work out is for them to come back to Nigeria

WEMIMO

There will be many Christmas and New Year, let them have their fun

IMADE

I can’t believe my own mother left her two kids for her merry trip round the world

WEMIMO

Her two kids are two grown adults that she spent the better years of her life serving, let her have fun. It is not like she is doing anything for you anyway

She raises her two hands up to show her indifference

IMADE

I am off the matter

WEMIMO

Well, speaking of Maami’s two kids, did you hear about Bankole’s victory today?

IMADE

I am sure the whole world heard of his victory

Wemimo chuckles with his whole face radiating with joy

IMADE

Look at you grinning like a proud father

WEMIMO

Well… I am proud of him.

IMADE

Congratulation, proud father

WEMIMO

Thank you (Chuckles and sigh lightly) I just wish I can get him out of Ann’s control

IMADE

Good luck with that

WEMIMO

It is going to happen, he has a fiancé now

IMADE

And you think she has what it takes to stand up to Ann

WEMIMO

Well, she is still standing, isn’t she?

IMADE

That is because Ann does not know, when she finds out which she will, Ann is going to do everything in her power to break them up

WEMIMO

Not if I can help it, Ann is not going to get her way this time

IMADE

(Sighs lightly) You are still pissed at her, aren’t you? You never forgave her for marrying her husband

He looks away from her

WEMIMO

I really don’t understand why she will do that, everything was okay and all of a sudden she was walking down the aisle with another man, she didn’t even have the decency to break up with him

IMADE

You told me once that Ann’s reasons are best known to her. Leave it alone

WEMIMO

I promise you, Imade, Bankole is going to marry Jo

She stabs a piece of cucumber and raises it to his mouth

IMADE

Open

WEMIMO

I don’t understand why you are not angry with her, are you okay with her doing this to your brother?

IMADE

May be I like him with Ann and not with Josephine, have you even thought of that?

WEMIMO

You don’t?

IMADE

No, I don’t but Bankole likes Josephine and that is all that matters

WEMIMO

I didn’t know that, why won’t you like her? She is beautiful, smart, successful and well-mannered unlike someone we know, she is perfect, why won’t you want her?

IMADE

Like I said, Bankole’s feeling is all that matters

WEMIMO

I really can’t think of a reason why you won’t like her

IMADE

I didn’t… I didn’t say I didn’t like her, I just feel she is not a good fit for Bankole. That is totally different from not liking her

WEMIMO

Then who is? Ann?

IMADE

(Sighs deeply) Wemimo, I am not talking about this again

WEMIMO

You may not want her but I do

IMADE

I know

WEMIMO

I think she is a perfect for him

IMADE

(Shrugs) Okay

WEMIMO

And as long as Bankole is interested in her, I am going to get them married

Imade opens her mouth to say something, then she closes it back

WEMIMO

What?

IMADE

You know this is why Maami left us right, you made her got used to you handling things for her

WEMIMO

I am going to say this again, you two are grown up adults who can handle things yourself and she didn’t leave, she will be back soon

She smiles as she raises the fork to his mouth

IMADE

Open

He opens his mouth and eats the cucumber. Imade raise another fork of fruit to Wemimo’s mouth and then she notices him intensely staring at her

IMADE

(Uncomfortable) What is it?

WEMIMO

How do you feel?

IMADE

About what?

WEMIMO

Becoming a billionaire

She scoffs in annoyance as she drop the fork in her hand into the bowl

IMADE

Why is everyone asking me that stupid question?

WEMIMO

Hey! I just want know how…

IMADE

(Snaps) Why is my feelings fucking important to you? Am I suppose to say I feel on top the world for you to feel good about making me into a woman I don’t want to be

Wemimo scoffs and then stands up, then paces up and down before he faces her

WEMIMO

I can tell you want a fight and I have been trying to avoid it, hoping whatever this is will dial down but it is not going away, so it best I face it. Out with it, what is bothering you?

IMADE

I want out

WEMIMO

You want out?

Imade stands up on her feet

IMADE

Yes I do

Next on Why?

WEMIMO

No, I can’t let you go

IMADE

Like you have a choice