“Yeah?” Obiora replied, Ejiro’s excitement contagious. “That’s great, baby! I’m so proud of you. You see what I said, abi? You need to start listening to me more.”
“Okay, okay, okay. I’ve heard.” There was laughter in his voice. “How about you? How was work? Did Esther make you take over her class again today?”
Obiora grinned, almost helplessly. “You already know.” Ejiro laughed. Obiora’s heart began to race. “That’s what I’m calling you about, actually.”
“Yeah?” Ejiro encouraged.
Obiora hesitated. Once he said the words out loud, there was no going back. He inhaled, then exhaled explosively.
“I’ve decided I’m going to talk to my dad about leaving. Tonight.”
“Really? Oh, Obiora, that’s wonderful!”
Obiora felt shy. “Thank you, babe. Honestly, the truth is I’ve been procrastinating doing it ever since I got back, because after being away for so long, being back didn’t … feel too bad? If you know what I mean.”
“I know exactly what you mean,” Ejiro said softly. Things with his mother were still strained; she was still badgering him about going back to Nigeria, and he was still wavering with the guilt of telling her that he didn’t want to go.
“I just know that if I go on like this …” He knew he didn’t need to finish the sentence.
Ejiro sighed. “I guess … I guess this means I have to talk to my mother, too, huh?”
He sounded so reluctant that Obiora couldn’t help but say, “Baby, you don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do. Just because I—”
“I know, I know,” Ejiro interrupted. “I know, baby. But firstly, I made a promise to you.” Obiora’s heart expanded. “And secondly, you’ve already said it; I can’t go on like this.”
Obiora ached for him. “You don’t have to do it today, babe,” he continued stubbornly. “Maybe take some time to think about it. I want you to do it because you’re ready, not just because I’m doing it, promise or no.”
“I don’t think I’ll ever be ready. And honestly, I’m tired of making excuses and placating her feelings.” There was an edge to Ejiro’s voice that Obiora hadn’t heard before, one that simultaneously made him feel proud and horny. “Maybe it was my being away from her badgering for two months, but I realise that’s exactly what it is: badgering. I’m only hesitating because I know she’ll be hurt and I don’t want to hurt her. I don’t—” Frustration bled into his voice. “I don’t want her to think I’m being cruel or ungrateful.”
“Baby,” Obiora began.
“I know,” Ejiro answered softly.
Obiora smiled. “I love you.”
He could practically see Ejiro blush. “So, you’ll talk to your dad and I’ll talk to my mum, yeah? Then we’ll reconvene.”
“Yes. They might be upset, but they’ll get over it. In fact, I’m pretty sure our relationship will be stronger after this. Honesty and vulnerability go a long way to strengthening bonds.”
Ejiro sighed. “I hope you’re right.”
EJIRO WAS BESIDE HIMSELF WITH with nerves, which was why he’d only replied with a thumbs up emoji when Obiora had texted him “I’m about to do it, pray for me”, after he’d had finished having dinner with his family.
Ejiro had also finished with dinner as well, which was usually when his mother called; she always called either right after he’d finished work, after he’d had dinner, or when he was going to bed, there was no in-between. Though she didn’t call every single day, she did so every other day.
It’d been two days now since her last call, which meant he was due for one really soon, possibly today.
As Ejiro had silently panicked, trying to gear himself up for the tough conversation ahead, he’d noticed Ajiri seemed just as agitated as he was. It made it easy for Ejiro to push his own anxiety aside so he could take care of his sister.
“You all right?”
Ajiri startled. They were cleaning the dishes and filling up the dishwasher. Blessing was in the sitting room, spreading out their laundry.
“We really need to do something about the drier,” Ajiri muttered.
Ejiro laughed. “We do. But that’s not what’s really bothering you, is it?”
Ajiri looked away, cleaning off the plate in her hands and dumping it into the dishwasher. Ejiro didn’t push.
