Last updated on October 7th, 2025 at 03:28 pm
It’s been over five months at my new job, and I’m enjoying every bit of it. Eliam, my son, has been staying with my parents, and I still share an apartment with Zabby, my cousin. After Tochi, I did a mental reset. Actually, the mental reset was before we eventually broke up. We haven’t been in communication since then, and there’s a part of me that’s concerned about Eliam, but for now, I don’t have to worry. Instead, I’m focused on getting my life back on track after that little detour.
Somehow, my parents have also made their marriage work, even with my dad’s other kids. Every time he travels to see them, I get worried. I cook up a lot of stories in my head and wonder if there might be a third stepbrother soon. If my mum’s concerned, she hasn’t let me know. On more than one occasion, she has dropped him off at the park.
—
Immediately after work, I go to the eatery nearby to order takeout, then call Zabby, aka Elizabeth, to check with her.
“Angie, what’s up?”
“I’m at the eatery. What are you eating?”
“Umm, pasta and chicken. Add plantain. Bills on you, sis.”
“Bills on me and you ordered plantain and chicken? Isn’t this theft?”
“Talk to me when you refund the money I used to get you that gown you’re wearing. ‘Zabby, get the gown. I’ll pay you when you return.’ Madam, that was five months ago.”
“It’s not your fault.”
“Now you can’t talk abi?” Zabby asks. I roll my eyes and end the call.
Zabby being my cousin and flatmate is an enjoyable experience. While I’m currently keen on my white-collar job, she’s putting her effort into her content creation career. Her YouTube channel is thriving with more than 20k subscribers, and her Instagram is also doing well. We are both doing well enough to pay our rent without any external input. Not that it’s easy but it’s adulting and we enjoy the experience of having our own space.
I order two takeouts and head home. As much as I love my job, it’s tedious and I live for the weekends. Every Friday, I order takeout and have a movie night as my weekly reward. Though my parents refuse any financial input from me concerning Eliam, I still save his monthly allowance as if I’m sending it to him. Supportive parents or not, Eliam’s my responsibility and my major expenses as a twenty-four-year-old adult are my son’s welfare and my housing.
My life’s pretty much boring and repetitious right now. I say this as someone who’s had the drama of an unstable relationship for more than three years. Work, movies on Friday, chores on the weekends, travel to my parents’ every now and then, rinse and repeat. There’s nothing really exciting about my days. Any excitement is usually from Zabby and sometimes, her boyfriend. Not that I’m complaining, actually, I’m savouring life as it is; no excess, no drama, just routine.
I get home and meet Zabby in the sitting room with her laptop on her thighs.
“Zabby lovey.” I say smiling.
“Angie, come and give me one hug. I need it. This laptop is old and frustrating me. Do you know I’ve been editing this video for more than three hours now?” She drops her laptop and walks to me with her arms spread out. I walk into her arms and we hug each other.
“It’s due for a change. You said it.” I say as I go into the kitchen to drop our food.
“I know. The model I have in mind is really expensive. It’s worth the investment in the long run, but what about the short run? I have to eat you know?”
“I understand. What’s the plan then?” I walk out of the kitchen and make for my room, Elizabeth trailing me.
“Honestly, I might have to buy something slightly cheaper.”
“So, you forfeit the quality?”
“Not really. It’s only for a while. I can always swap the laptop for the intended one when I’m ready.”
“That sounds like a good plan,” I say, as I start to undress.
