Novel by DadaDupeola - You RIP what you sow AT THIRTY ---Chapter 7

Chapter 7

Phillip in his third year at a university in Lagos studying medicine. The three years he has spent so far in the institution has been a roller coaster ride with him trying hard to get good grades every year. So, he moves into the hostel in his second year with the hope of fully concentrating on his studies but the distractions that comes with him being a handsome fair complexioned aspiring doctor with a 2015 Toyota Camry for transportation, made it difficult for him.

  So, as his third year examination approaches, Phillip decides to go home for the weekend to catch up on his books. He takes his keys from his pocket and inserts it in the lock of his parent's rented apartment. As he turns the knob opening the door, he hears the sound of a woman moaning in ecstasy with the bedpost squeaking rhythmic to the noise.

Phillip walks straight through the living room to his room. He shuts the door behind him, turns on the tv in his room, takes the remote control and tunes the station to a music channel. Phillip turns the volume up, stretches on his bed and within seconds he is asleep until a loud bang on the door wakes him.

"Turn off that Tv," A masculine voice shouts from the other end of his door

Phillip drags himself off his bed and reduces the volume but doesn't turn off the Tv.

He opens his room door to see his father and a young girl, slim with a tight figure who is Phillipp's age walk majestically towards the living room to grab her purse.

The wedding picture of his parents hangs on the wall near the sofa her purse lay.

  Phillip's father is a middle aged man with a stern mien, dressed in a tee shirt and a pair of jeans with sneakers. He is standing by the front door waiting for his female guest to join him. He doesn't glance at Phillip's way the whole time. His female companion finally makes it to where Phillip's  father is standing dressed in a play suit, sneakers and her purse now clutched to her wrists as they walk out the front door without saying a word to Phillip.

Phillip walks back into his room, grabs his car keys, call his drinking buddies and heads to a pub. He gets himself drunk, drives to his hostel and passes out on his hostel bunk bed.

The next day, he wakes up reaching for his ringing phone. The caller Id read Angela.

"Hello," Angela said
"How are you?" Phillip responds
"I tried reaching you yesterday but your phone was switched off," Angela blotted
"Um, my battery was low and there was no light in the hostel, so I switched it off," Phillip replied
"Were you drunk?" Angela asks
"How did you..." Phillip stuttered
"You have to stop drinking this much Phillip," Angela tells him
"What i need is you. When are you coming home?" Phillips asks
"Soon. I am coming home soon," Angela responds
"When Angy?" Phillip demands
"I don't know Phil. I cant just pack up and leave this place," Angela says
"I miss you," Phillip tells her
"I miss you too" Angela responds
"No you don't. If you did, you will find a way to come to Lagos," Phillip says
"Its not as easy..." Angela says in her defense but is cut short by the beep on the phone as Phillip hangs up.

Angela calls back.

Phillip seeing the caller Id, cuts the call and switches off his phone.

...To be continued

Novel by DadaDupeola - You RIP what you sow AT THIRTY ---Chapter 6

Chapter 6

"No one will come between us," Angela reassures Phillip a day before she leaves Lagos for Abuja

It is late in the evening and the only illumination glaring into Angela's compound is the little glow from the streetlight. Peeping through the little space left from a half closed gate.

The compound is so small, it only occupies a car in front of Angela's bungalow. Angela's father managed his half plot of land to the best of his abilities, he built a three-bedroom bungalow and manage to build two self-contained quarters at the back attached to the fence walls.

Angy's father painted their house white, the lintels coated green, slide windows coloured green and a light green roof to match. The quarters at the back is dark green with a  light green roof while the walls of the BQ he painted white and made the fence so high up, making it difficult to see from the other side.

Phillip reaches up to her face and traces the lines on them. Her eyes, nose, mouth, and neck with one finger he touches her making her breathless, then he tells her she is beautiful and kisses her lips.

Phillip wanted to see Angela again despite spending the whole week with her. They visited the mall every day; watching movies, playing games, shopping for Angela's things and watching more movies...


He needed the reassurance that she is never going to forget him soon so he decides to give her memories she will not forget.

Angela closes her eyelids, she wants more but can't describe what she wanted. She is enjoying his touch, kisses, and she didn't want him to stop. She knew her mother was asleep because Angela's mother went to bed early against the journey ahead the next day. Angela made sure she heard her mother snoring before calling Phillip. He insisted they spent the last evening she had in Lagos together before her journey to Abuja the next day by flight and dating Phillip for more than 4months now, she is skeptical of his intentions because before he made several attempts to touch her in sensitive places on her body. So she chose the venue of where they will spend time together and inside her compound near the gate, away from prying eyes was the perfect place. Phillip is restricted there Angela thought to herself but as he touched her softly, with her lids closed, she wasn't so sure anymore because she was no longer thinking.

She tilts her head enabling him kiss her deeply as she leans towards him, allowing Phillip grab her breasts for the second time.

Phillip groans

Angela laughs

"Why are you laughing?" Phillip asks embarrassed

"I laugh when am happy and being with you right now makes me happy," Angela responds intelligently

"I want to make you happy always," Phillip says

"No one else can make you as happy Angy," Phillip continues

"I won't let them even if they try," Angela responds

"Good to know," Phillip says

"I love you," Angela blots out for the first time

Phillip opens his mouth to respond to the love Angela professes but he is distracted by the squeaking gate.

They both grab on to each other, hoping that the darkness shields them from sight. Angela drops her head on Phillipp's shoulder trying to hide her face when she sees Mummy rose walk into the compound. Mummy rose on the other hand is oblivious to her surroundings and walks straight without looking anywhere else.

Angela breathes when mummy rose is out of sight. She lets go of Phillipp's embrace and prompts him to leave.

" I love you Angela" Phillip calls out as he heads out of her compound just before Angela shuts the front door of her house.

Novel by DadaDupeola - You RIP what you sow AT THIRTY ---Chapter 5

Chapter 5

  Phillip

The relationship between Phillip and Angela changed  after the near kissed. Phillip and Angela drifted apart and barely saw each other but Phillipp's thoughts never strayed from her. Angela stirred something up inside him the day she brushed by him. It is electrifying, and he is sure Angela felt it too so he suggests they go to his house. When she refuses, he couldn't help the insults from pouring out because he is somewhat disappointed. He tried getting opportunities to talk with Angela afterward to apologize for the words he said to her but he never got the time alone with her.

Days turned into weeks and weeks turned into months. It is soon irrelevant to bring up the issue so Phillip let it go but he never forgot the near kiss they had...

Phillip wasn't going to let go of the kiss.


So the day after their final exams, Phillip finally got time alone with Angela at her house while her mother is out shopping. They were both excited school is over, their jamb results were out and they both aced the exams and the world was theirs so Phillip wanted it to be more memorable.

"I am so excited," Angela says
"Will you be my girlfriend?" Phillip says changing the conversation
"Wow, Phillip!" Angela responds
"Say yes," Phillip informs her
"Yes! Yes! Yes," Angela says hugging Phillip
"Have you ever kissed anyone?" Phillip asks again hoping she doesn't let go of the embrace
"Like on Tv?" Angela asks naïve pulling back from him
"Yup!" Phillip replies
"No," Angela says
"We should kiss....  To have an idea?" Phillip adds
"But I don't know how," Angela responds
"it's easy.... Practice with your arm like this," Phillip says bringing his forearm to his mouth and starts to kiss it while Angela follows

They kiss their arms for a while....

"Enough practice.."Phillip says
"Close your eyes," He adds
"But I wont be able to see," Angela responds
"That is the whole point Angy," Phillip says getting frustrated
"Do it!" he adds seeing Angela look at him confused.
"Okay," Angela says and closes her eyes
"Now, count to three," Phillip adds
"One, Two, thre...." Angela counts but before she says three, Phillip leans forward and kisses her.

At first Angela is stiff and not aware of what to do with Phillipp's tongue while Phillip licks and sucks at her tongue... mouth. So she gets comfortable and tries to mimic Phillips actions and soon they are both licking and sucking at each others lips and tongues but Phillips decides to take it one step forward and reaches to grab Angela's breasts.
Angela jerks away and sits back against the couch.

A long silence...

"I am sorry," Phillip finally says
"Um, don't ruin the moment," Angela responds
"Please don't tell anyone," Phillip says
"I wont but who will I tell?" Angela asks
"I don't know... I just don't want anyone knowing yet," Phillip adds
"Well, you better not tell anyone you grabbed my breasts either," Angela responds

They both laugh

" So, i guess its official that we are dating," Angela says
"i guess so," Phillip adds as he stands up to leave, he tries to hide the bulge in his trousers caused by the reaction from the kiss they had.
"Bye," Angela says
"Goodbye." Phillip responds heading out of the house smiling

...To be continued

Novel by DadaDupeola - You RIP what you sow AT THIRTY ---Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Home alone the next day late in the evening on the sofa in the sitting room, Angela is in front of the TV and with the remote in hand she mindlessly switches channels hardly staying on one station for more than three seconds.

Bored, she stops and picks up her notepad to draw. Angela is making a sketch of the picture of her mother in her wedding dress placed above the TV beside her father's picture. Both portraits are black and white showing that her parents married in the early 80's. Angela's mother found her sweetheart in a neighboring village while fetching firewood one day. Angela's father is studying Engineering in a school in the west and he had gone home on holidays when he set his eyes for the first time on a beautiful damsel who came to his village to buy firewood. He is tall, dark complexioned with a properly shaved beard and is smitten by this chocolate brown lady who is beautifully shaped in front and back. She is endowed and Angela's father followed her home that day to meet her parents.

Two years later, after graduating with honors from the university and getting a job in Lagos, the first stop Angela's father makes before relocating is to marry the woman he couldn't take off his mind the whole time. He didn't even mind that she is 19 years old and had finished secondary school. He wanted to start a family with her and that is what he got. After 10years of marriage, 3 kids; a girl and two boys, and owning their own small bungalow, Angela's father gets transferred from Lagos to Abuja and he has been shuffling the two states. He takes his two boys along with him and leaves Angela with her mother but that changed because Angela's father insisted Angela will school at the University in Abuja where he resided.

He feared Angela's mother isn't harsh enough, and he needed to hold Angela with a strong grip especially now that she is going into the higher institution. Angela's mother who needs to stay in the bungalow to manage its affairs because they had built 2 boys quarters at the back of their building which they collect rent from yearly and mummy rose; the gossip is one of their tenants. The money they got from rent helped with general upkeep and paid the rent of the flat Angela's father and her 2 brothers lived in Abuja. So, typically due to financial reasons Angela's parents decided it is best Angela's mother stayed with Angela in Lagos and her father lives with the boys at Abuja.
Angela is enjoying herself drawing claws on her mother's fingers when she hears; knock knock at the front door.

She drops the note pad, walks to the door and opens it to find Phillip at the other end.

"hi" "You didn't send the picture yesterday and i didn't see you all day in school so i came to see what the hair looks like myself," Phillips says
"I completely forgot" Angela says as she lets Phillip inside
"Its beautiful" Phillip says
"Thanks" Angela responds blushing

Phillip moves in and seats beside her note pad

"I saw your mom leave with mummy rose so i knew you were home alone and decided to keep you company. We could take a stroll down the street" Phillip tells her
"Okay" Angela responds, it was a welcomed distraction.

In no time are they out of the house, holding hands and walking down the side walk of their street.

Angela is beautifully dressed in a blue jean skirt, a white blouse and blue slippers. Her dark complexioned skin is radiant in the evening moon as she laughs and nods listening to Phillip talk about a movie he watched.

"I cant believe you haven't seen the movie I.T" Phillip says
"My mum wont let me watch movies rated 18" Angela responds
"You shouldn't be looking at those movies either, they are a little too old for you" Angela continues

Phillip stops walking and looks at Angela, surprised.

"What? I am 16 years old... I think am old enough to watch pornography if i want to" Phillip says

"Eeeeuuuuwww, why would you want to watch such nonsense" Angela says squeezing her face in disgust

Phillip draws Angela close to him, she brushes on him and their faces are very close together as Angela looks into Phillips brown eyes and her heart starts pounding in her chest. She gives a distance between them looking down at her feet embarrassed.

"We should go back. My mum will skin me alive if she finds me outside at this time"Angela says

"Lets go to my house" Phillip suggests
"I cant, I'll get into trouble if my mum comes home and doesn't find me there"Angela responds

"Scary cat" Phillip calls out

"I am not" Angela replies

"Bed wetter" Phillip calls out
"Stop calling me names" Angela calls back

She turns around and starts to walk towards her house with tears in her eyes

"Duck" Phillip says pulling Angela behind a tree just as her mother turns towards the street and walks past them.

"Oh great, that's my mum and she is going to kill me" Angela says

"Ssshhhhh, don't let her see us." Phillip says

They watch Angela's mother walk away for awhile before stepping out from behind the tree and walking towards Angela's house.

"I am so sorry Angela" Phillip says for the 10th time as they get to the gate of her house.

"It's okay." Angela says as she walks into the compound leaving Phillip behind


...To be continued

Novel by DadaDupeola - You RIP what you sow AT THIRTY ---Chapter 3

CHAPTER 3

Angela is in her room which consists of only a single bed near the window, a ceiling fan, a wardrobe beside the door, a shoe rack by the wardrobe, a reading table and a chair opposite the bed beside the wardrobe. The walls are cream and brown with the colors flaking out but has beautifully painted designs done by yours truly. She is on her bed listening to Adekunle Gold's album "Gold" with ear plugs attached to her laptop while doing her art theoretical homework when her phone rings and the caller ID reads Phillip. She removes the plugs and picks up the phone.

"hey, what are you up to now?" Phillip says
"i finished weaving my hair and am in my room doing my homework," Angela responds laid on her back, facing the ceiling.
"I want to see what your mum made this time. Snap pictures and send it to me on WhatsApp," Phillip says
"Okay, I will," Angela responds figuring out the answer to her homework as she stares at the fan rotating
"I hope she didn't stress you again on your studying art," Phillips asks catching Angela's full attention
"She more or less pulled out my hair while telling me to apply for law," Angela responds

Phillip laughs

"I am so sorry. I am sure she  

wants the best for you," Phillip says
"The best thing for me is for her to support me. Not compare me with everyone mummy rose gossips with her," Angela says with a hiss
"Eyah, i totally understand but i don't blame her. I am as worried as she is," Phillip says
"You?" "Why are you worried?" Angela asks sitting up
"Angy, you are going be in Abuja for 4years and am going to be here alone in Lagos. Shouldn't i be worried?" Phillip asks

Angela switches the phone to the other ear and lays back on the sheets .

"I am not going to space Phil but Abuja. Besides, i asked you to apply there, but you insisted on staying in Lagos" Angela responds
"We have our friends here and i have no family in Abuja" Phillip says in his defense
"I am your best friend, Aren't i?" "My dad is there too, and he is very fond of you" Angela replies hoping he will take the bait
"I know. I guess one of us will have to compromise," Phillip says
"That person should be you," Angela responds
"Why me?" Phillip asks
"It can't be me. My dad has made it evident its Abuja or nothing but your parents wont mind where you go to school," Angela says

  Phillipp's cell phone beeps

"I am out of call credit. I wanted to say goodnight," Phillip says changing the subject
"Good night Phil," Angela says.
"Good night Angy," Phillip responds

Beep. Angela hangs up, puts the plugs back in her ears and continues her homework.

..........To be Continued

Novel by DadaDupeola - You RIP what you sow AT THIRTY ---Chapter 2

CHAPTER 2

Due to the proximity in age, location and school, Angela and Phillip soon became good friends. She is a little taller than he but Phillip is plump while Angela had a skinny fit. Angela is dark-skinned, and he is fair complexioned; Phillip liked watching horror movies or anything associated with spilling blood while she was a sucker for romance.  Despite their differences, at some point when they both clocked 16years old, they became inseparable and everyone in the neighborhood knew something was peculiar about these two but no one raised an eyebrow because it never seemed harmless. 

Even Angela's mother was okay with her always being around Phillip because after getting to know his parents, she was more than comfortable with them together.

"Mummy rose said Phillip wants to be a doctor just like his father," Angela's mother announced while plaiting Angela's thick black hair in the living room.

Mummy rose is their nosy neighbor and Angela mother's best friend who knew everything about everyone but no one knew a thing about her. Mummy rose was very superstitious, relating every little thing to religion even something as simple as a rat in the house is linked to spirits and bad omens. So Angela has never liked her and the hate feeling just grew worse knowing the woman gossiped about her.

"Don't you want to study medicine too?" Angela's mother continues

Angela rolls her eyes wishing she had her ear piece inside her ear drums, with the thing plugged to her phone and loud music playing in the background.

"Mummy, i am in art class and you have to be in science class to study medicine". Angela responds

Angela's mother holds Angela's hair firm. It is one reason Angela dreaded Sundays as her mother is her hair stylist who always made painful styles on her head leaving her scalp scarred. Angela's mother had used her hair as practice to learn the craft and the whole ordeal is one she will never forget or forgive but it was her mother's painful hairstyles or the barbing salon.

"Y eh! Mummy it's paining me," Angela exclaims

"How wont it pain you? When you wont put your head well" Angela's mother responds but holds the hair less firm as she continues with the weave.

"Then, you should study law, since you are in art class." Angela's mother continues

"Mummy, I told you I want to study art. It is my forte, and that is what i will apply for at the University of Abuja," Angela responds

It is the thousandth time they would have that conversation and every time Angela will have to remind her mummy it is her father paying the school fees not her and she had no say in the matter because her father supports her decision.

Angela's mother will start to murmur something under her breath that Angela won't hear and soon they would both fall silent until Angela's hair is finished and she leaves the room...The matter adjourned till next week Sunday, same place, same ordeal but a different hairstyle and the circle of argument concerning her course of study continues until someone kidnaps Angela or her mother is struck with amnesia...

The thought of her mother having amnesia is so consoling, Angela felt bad she hadn't thought about it earlier and prayed concerning that in the morning while in Church. 

 ..........To be Continued 

Novel by DadaDupeola - You RIP what you sow AT THIRTY

                                                     Chapter 1

                           Angela

On a sunny Sunday in June, 12years old Angela had asked for forgiveness twice. Seated in a crowded bungalow auditorium painted cream and decorated with purple drapes and cushion chairs arranged orderly for a clear view of the podium on every side. The color purple used as an embellishment over the hall; purple rug, purple offering baskets and choir robes denoting royalty that aligned with the church's motto which stated "Christ the King". She listened in awe to the preacher standing ahead of her wearing a black suit matching his dark complexion, lean body and sparkling white teeth. The pastor wore a white shirt inside, red tie and a patent leather black shoe corresponding with his  attire which proved to be the mix of ensemble  to attract any audience while making forceful gestures behind the platform. Angela's first confession happened in Church as the pastor clearly pointed out that telling lies was a sin and sinners needed repentance.


She told a lie earlier to escape Church that day. She complained to her mother that she had an upsetting tummy and won't be able to attend Church but Angy's mother insisted. Uttering that her attending service was the cure of her stomach ache, "healing only comes from God and He can only heal you in His house" Angela's mother stressed while putting finishing touches on her makeup. She could not question that statement and knowing she had no choice, the girl tagged along dragging her feet during the 5 minutes walk to end up seated mushed up between two heavily bodied women; her mother and their nosy neighbor.

She wasn't too holy but her believes were people advanced to rapture and others went to hell after death. She assumed in life there was nothing anyone can do to change it,  you have to pray you are one of the chosen who gets to go to heaven whether you are good or not.... Maybe that is where a nearby charismatic Church got its name "chosen".


At that young age, she theorized in miracles not luck. She came to the conclusion miracles only happened after prayers and turns out, Angela's miracle had come without her asking for it.


After the Church service, Angela made her way home walking boldly up ahead while her mummy lagged behind chit chatting their nosy neighbor on the sidewalk. Soon, she notices a truck packed on the side of the road close to her own house and people moving things into an empty flat adjacent the structure of her house. As she walks past where the van is parked, she looks into the compound just in time to see expensive furniture scattered everywhere and a boy, fair complexioned, pink lips and chubby. The young boy whom she figured was her age was standing in between the furniture and the gate of the compound. The boy she will later know as Phillip was starring right back at her.


Her heart skipped a beat and from the moment Angela saw him, she was hopelessly in love. That was the second time she asked for forgiveness and even she had no idea what she needed to be forgiven for.


 ..........To be Continued next week Saturday

                      #Staytuned

This is my first post for the year 2016...Yaay!

Well, I have been experiencing a chronic annoying challenge called writer's block. It's a terrible thing to experience especially for someone who loves to write and share details of personal experiences. This is by far the most annoying block any writer can ever go through because I was in the middle of writing an intriguing story and had my audience gasping for the next chapter and without warning...BOOM!

I get blocked.

I cannot say what happened and why I haven't gotten over it after more than a month but I can admit that I let it control me. It has taken over my schedule and disorganized my organization...If you understand what I mean *raised eyebrows*

Sighs...

On a lighter note, this year is a very promising year for us. Aside the fluctuations of the Nigerian currency, things are looking good for us...Right?

Honestly, I don't ever want to be a pessimist so despite the gloom and doom I hear around town, I know that all things are working together for good.

It's the major reason I made Travis Greene's "intentional" single my ring tone for the year; last year it was Michelle William's "Say Yes". Listening to these songs when my phone rings-My phone rings often- has helped me get through seconds, minutes, hours, days and years...Lol...They save my life,

I am well aware of how much of a sponge my brain is. Any junk I consume for a long time only makes me squeeze out junk when time to be productive. So, listening to good music is as important as eating good food. 

Recently, I stumbled on the video by Tim Mcgraw "Humble and Kind" and it was so uplifting. I couldn't help but tweet how much the song said in so little time -@dadadupeola-

That is why it so important for me to get over this block and write again. There is so much healing that needs to be done in such a wounded world. People need good music, good reads and most especially good food and if anyone is privileged with grace and wisdom to dish this goodness out, nothing should stop them.

Cheers, to a year filled with blessings and a month full of love.

Spread the word, Shine your light