The Picnic - Episode 11

Rukky arrived at Duro's flat an hour later, she knocked severally but no one answered. It seemed as though there was no one home but Rukky noticed his car was parked outside, she knew he was definitely at home. 

Duro finallyopened the door scratching his heavy eyes. He was sleeping.
Rukky couldn't help but stare at his topless muscular body. "I knocked" she blurted, "Sorry I was sleeping" he answered then shut his eyes remembering his original plan for the afternoon. 
"I forgot about lunch" "It's fine, at least just let me in"
"Sorry" He apologized and they walked in. You look nice" Duro complimented looking at her sky blue gown with red flower prints on it. 
"Thanks" she replied with a smile.
 "I'm sorry, I didn't know when I slept off. I haven't slept in a while"
"Are you sure I shouldn't give you a time out to sleep?"
"I'd rather spend the day kissing you" he paused pulling her close giving her a soft kiss on her lips. "You look so pretty and I'm sorry I've been so busy to tell you that"
"You know what I think, have your time out while I make lunch"
"I promised to make lunch" Duro argued, "It's the least I can do to help you out. Just let me do this"

Rukky made spahetti and sauce while Duro drifted off to Dreamland. Just as she washed some utensils she used in cooking; she had an apron on and hairnet on. She felt a hand wrapped around her waist.
 "Hey love" he muttered and Rukky bit her lower lip. "Aren't you supposed to be sleeping?"
"I did have some sleep but like I said, I rather have a time out with my girlfriend" He answered and Rukky chuckled almost melting at his touch. "I'm sorry about your disappointment today"
"It's okay"
"Is it about the sponsorship"
"No, quite different from that... There was something I was helping my mom with" Rukky stopped rinsing.
"What?" 
"Nothing to worry your head about" she continued. "What?" "I'm serious, it's nothing" She answered almost getting angry. The last thing she wanted was another charity offer from  another person. 
It makes her feel pathetic.
"Okay I give up" Duro said raised  his hands up in surrender then chuckled at the hairnet Rukky wore. "You carry hairnets wherever you go to?" "I guess I'm used to it" she turned to him then glanced at his muscular chest once again.
"Does... Does it look bad on me" she turned back to resume washing then exhale inaudibly, she was nervous already.
"Even if you wore a grocery bag on your head, you'll still look good" he commented slowly and gently working her shoulder. "You're more tensed up than I am" he added with a smile. 
Rukky shut her eyes in pleasure, she forgot the water was left running.
He brushed a kiss across her nape as his hands glided across her waist. She quavered at his touch and she lets out a soft mo*n. She wanted more, she wanted Duro to go beyond  the kiss and touching. 
Her body wanted more. She has had relationship with s*x involved and had come to a conclusion that it ruined things. She swore never to end up in another man's bed if she wasn't sure of his intentions. She felt like she could risk it with him. Damn! Duro was making her feel good.
She turned off the water then turned towards him. "Lunch would get cold" she announced and Duro smiled. "You're scared" he said laughing and Rukky scoffed. "Who's scared? Or you should be scared" she said in a flirty tone and Duro laughed.
"Okay um....." He laughed then shook his head. "I meant you're scared of the thought of s*x. "
"Oh" Rukky paused, rather embarrassed.
"Look who's flirting" he chipped and they both chuckled. "I've been accused of being unromantic"
"You're romantic in your own way" Rukky commented and Duro laughed. "We have the same boring personality"  he added and Rukky laughed touching his chest. 
"My relationship sucked because of s*x, they become uninterested after s*x. It seems that way to me though"
"I don't want s*x if you don't want it. I've been accused of being a lot of things. I was just trying to use you as a means of correcting my past relationships mistake. I'm trying to create time for you"
"That's the most romantic thing ever" Rukky complimented biting her lower lip. "Who says you're not romantic?" She added and Duro chuckled. Then she leaned in for a kiss and he resumed wrapping his hands around her waist. He deepen the kiss teasing her with his tongue. The kiss became rushed and demanding. 
She wanted more, Duro could see it in her eyes. He lifted her up and carried her into his room and lowered her on the bed.
"What about lunch?" Rukky asked kneeling on the bed and During leaned towards her. "I have something better in mind" he cupped her chin kissing her deeply on the lips and Rukky closed her eyes mo*ning into his mouth. 
Her senses were crashing, Duro touch was messing with her head that she was sure of. 
"Who needs lunch when the only lunch I need is right In my presence" Duro continued and Rukky giggled. "Are you sure you can take me on without having lunch, i'm just concerned"
Duro chuckled looking into her eyes, he was already excitement and his excitement was already visible from his arousal.
 "We'll see" he replied in gently with a scoff then he untied the apron Rukky wore throwing on the floor then they resumed kissing as his hands roamed up to her zip pulling it down. 
He gently pulled her gown down planting hot kisses on her neck.

Omo walked into the house to meet her mom sealing already fried plantain chips with candle. "Mummy good afternoon" she greeted picking two chips into her mouth.
"Mama Nelson don talk to you?" She asked and Omo shook her head. "Wetin she get to tell me?"
"That new supermarket around the corner needs a sales girl and Mama Nelson thinks you should take the job"
"Aunty Rukky said I should wait next year that I'll sit for jamb"
"How much your sister they earn wey she go from am pay your school fees?" 
"How much do i pay for my shop and how much gain do I get? How about our house rent ?" She asked almost bringing Omo to tears. "Omo, you need to dey reasonable for here." She busted into pidgin.  "Rukky no fit kill herself. You know how many of your papa debt wey dey ground wey she dey try pay? You know things wey she suffer to do?"
"I wan go school"
"No be everybody dey go school. Omo you fit learn work leave school. You know how you take struggle finish secondary School."
"I go take the job" Omo agreed in tears and her mom stood up to hug her. 
"Why Papa go die?" She asked and her mom joined in the tears. "I no fit promise say things go better but all I know is, it's well. Even in the well, we'll survive as a family"

Rukky giggled in bed as Duro's teeth played on her ear lobe. "Do you want to eat my ears too?" She asked pulling away and Duro dragged her back and she continued giggling. "You already ate me out"
"I haven't even started" he growled pouncing playfully on Rukky then stopped looking into her eyes. 
"I just wish we can have this everyday" he said now playing with her hands. "I wish I can wake up and see you every single day of my life"
"That's a big wish"
"I know" he replied leaning back in bed. "What's it you went to do and you got disappointed?" Duro asked not ready to let the topic go.
"I don't want to tell you"
"Why?" Duro asked, he seemed hurt by her response. "I'm not a stranger Rukky, I'm your boyfriend"
"I don't like feeling vulnerable" she confessed and Duro pulled her close and she leaned on his chest. "I didn't want to tell you cause I don't want you or people thinking I'm with you for your money"
"That's absurd... Whatever it is, you can tell me"
"I went to discuss with a lady to extend our deadline" "What deadline?" Duro asked, "Before dad died, he...." Rukky paused, "we're currently servicing three loans and the bank and cooperative have been on our neck, the bank would take dad's land in Delta State if we don't refund. They've been merciful enough."
"Three loans?"
"It was one at first, he used in establishing my mom's provision store and paying for our fees and my waec fees. He had hope to refund everything before the police case went wrong then he borrowed to settle the matter and the third was used when he fell sick. We took him everywhere but there was not enough cash to keep him alive. Few family members offered help. It wasn't up to the time range of six months when all these things happened."
"I'm sorry"
"It hasn't been easy for me, after dad died, we were given time to gather the cash but....I was barely nineteen and there was no good job I could do. My dream to go to the university got ruined. I had to do every petty thing to survive. The interest rate has been crazy. My fifty thousand naira salary cannot fully help out. I have to take out my transport money for the month, feeding and other expenses. For crying out loud I have been making endless promises to take Omo to school and I still haven't" Rukky cried out. "I don't like talking about this" she chipped in, "It's okay, you're not saying this to just anyone Rukky, it's me" Duro assured. 
"How much is all the loan?" He asked and Rukky sat up shaking her head. "No way, uh-uh, no way. Don't even think about it"
"What?"
"I don't want your pity"
"When's the deadline?"
"I don't want people to think"
"They can think whatever they want i don't  care.  Maybe God brought me to you so I can  be of help to you. Please let me help you lessen your burdens"

Toke woke up to find herself in bra and a pant. She didn't remember much from the previous night, all she remembered was drinking and ending up in her husband's house. 
Henry walked in with breakfast on a tray. "Morning sunshine" he said looking at Toke and she quickly covered a duvet over her body.
 "What am I doing in our room?"
"You came home last night" he answered dropping the tray on the dresser. "Did we...." She trailed off looking underneath the bed sheets. She was curious to know if they had s*x.
"Yes... We had real hot s*x" he answered sitting on the bed"
"Seriously?"
"No" he answered laughing and Toke slapped his arm. "Not funny!"
"Breakfast in bed just like before" he chipped In looking at her and she pulled the tray close. "Your mom called and I told her you were with me. Charlotte sends her hi"
"That's a lie! Charlotte would never" Toke argued and he laughed. "You're right" he added and they both laughed now staring into each other's eyes.
Toke has always been a sucker for his blue eyes. Toke has always admired the fact his parents were African Americans. They met in college and had fallen in love with each other.
Henry pulled closer kissing her on the lip and she kissed him back pushing the tray away. "I miss you" he confessed and she scoffed.
"So I'm no longer a sl*t"
"Get over it Toke! I was angry. I'm no longer angry over the s*xtape. I want us back together"
"I want the divorce"
"Toke"
"I have my reasons for saying it, I can't keep on disappointing you. All I've caused you is heartaches and drama"
"Yes but we have happy moments too. We have Charlotte"
"Henry...I've gone back to using drugs again and I know you'll be disappointed"
"I was" he said bringing out from his pocket, a little white substance in a transparent little bag.
"How long have you known?" He asked and she scoffed. "Toke you're horrible at hiding things"
"I'm sorry" she apologized. "Bola and I... What we had was a one time thing"
"Go on rehab Toke"
"I'm tired of rehab, It doesn't work for me, that's why I need the divorce"
"I can't let Charlotte grow up with a drug addict. Toke you'll leave me with no choice" 

Rukky shut the door of Duro's car and he walked out looking at her. "Thanks for dropping me"
"It's nothing"
"Aunty Rukky good morning" Omo called out smiling. "Hey" she answered looking at Duro. "Good morning Sir" she added. "You didn't come home last night. Now I see why"
"It's not what it looks like"
"I have to go sister, I'm late"
"For what?" Rukky asked, "Work"
"Wait, work? When you start work?"
"Mama Nelson, mumcy say make I accept" "Wait"
"Sister I have to go. I don't want to be late" Omo concluded leaving.
"Mummy!" Rukky called out while she walked by some kids who greeted her. She didn't go far before she saw her mom holding a pail half-filled with water.
"Which time Omo start work?"
"Which time you start to sleep for outside"  Her mom retorted, "Mummy no be that one matter now" she paused, "Mom, you don't even know the place"
"Let her experience life as it Rukky! You're spoiling her"
"I no want make she go through wetin I go through"
"She no be small pikin again. Why are you always protecting her?"
"Omo...." Rukky stalled. "This life is unfair and I swore to Papa to take care oft her"
"You don try Rukky! You wan kill yourself?" She asked almost in tears.
"I never do anything. I don fail Papa and I just dey find how I go take compensate"
"Rukky wetin happen?" Her mom asked, she looked really worried. Until recently, Rukky and Omo have been  acting secretive though she had no idea why. "What you two hiding from me?" She asked and Rukky walked into the house.