The story of Deji
Anthony Naomi@naomianthony081585
12 days ago
The silence that followed Baba’s words was unbearable. My hands, still gripping the knife, trembled as I tried to process what had just happened. Deji stood frozen, his head hung low, while Baba turned and stormed into the house without another glance at us.
I dropped the knife like it burned me and took a shaky step back. “Deji, what have you done to us?”
Deji’s voice was barely audible. “I didn’t mean for things to get this bad.”
I wanted to scream at him, to shake him until he understood the mess he had dragged us into, but I couldn’t. Instead, I shoved past him and ran into the house, locking myself in my room.
The next morning, the tension in the house was palpable. Nobody spoke during breakfast. Baba refused to even look at Deji. Mama, as usual, tried to keep the peace, but it was clear she didn’t know what to do anymore.
After eating, Baba broke the silence. “Deji, you will pay Kayode back. I don’t care how you do it, but you will not drag this family down because of your foolishness.”
Deji nodded meekly. “Yes, Baba.”
“And you, Seun,” Baba continued, turning his hard gaze on me. “Next time, stay out of matters that don’t concern you. You’ve embarrassed me enough.”
I felt my chest tighten, but I swallowed my pride and nodded. “Yes, Baba.”
Baba left for his shop soon after, slamming the door behind him. Deji didn’t stay either. He muttered something about trying to find work and disappeared before I could confront him again.
Mama sat across from me, her hands clasped tightly together. “Seun,” she said softly. “Your father… he’s just scared. We all are.”
I looked at her, surprised by the vulnerability in her voice. “Scared of what?”
“Of losing everything we’ve worked for. Your father may be strict, but everything he does, he does for this family.” She reached across the table and took my hand. “Promise me, no matter what happens, you’ll stay strong. For us.”
I nodded, though I didn’t fully understand what she meant.
Days passed, and Deji seemed to be making an effort. He took on odd jobs around the village, trying to scrape together enough money to pay Kayode. But it wasn’t enough.
One evening, as I returned from the stream, I spotted Deji sitting under the mango tree, his head in his hands.
“How much have you made?” I asked, sitting beside him.
“Twenty thousand,” he muttered.
My heart sank. It wasn’t even close to what he owed. “Deji, this isn’t working. You need to talk to Baba. Maybe he can help.”
He shook his head fiercely. “No. Baba will only make things worse. I’ll figure something out.”
I wanted to believe him, but the desperation in his voice told me he was out of ideas.
That night, everything unraveled.
It was late, and I was lying in bed when I heard a commotion outside. Voices, loud and angry, pierced the stillness of the night.
I bolted upright and ran to the window. In the faint moonlight, I saw Kayode and his men standing at our gate. Baba was there too, shouting at them to leave.
I rushed outside, my heart pounding. Deji was already there, standing behind Baba with a terrified expression.
“Old man, I’ve been patient enough,” Kayode said, his voice cold. “Where’s my money?”
“I told you, my son will pay you!” Baba shouted. “You don’t need to harass us like this.”
Kayode sneered. “Your son has no money, and neither do you. So, I’ll take something else instead.”
Before anyone could react, one of his men grabbed Deji and dragged him forward.
“No!” Mama screamed, rushing out of the house.
“Let him go!” I shouted, stepping in front of Deji.
Kayode smirked. “Fine. If you want to take his place, be my guest.”
I froze, realizing too late that I had made a mistake. One of the goons grabbed me, and before I knew it, I was being dragged away.
“Stop!” Baba roared, charging forward. He swung at Kayode, but the thug was faster. In a flash, the knife was out, and the blade glinted in the moonlight.
Everything slowed down. I saw the knife plunge forward, saw Baba’s eyes widen in shock.
“No!” I screamed, breaking free and rushing to his side.
Baba collapsed to the ground, clutching his stomach as blood seeped through his fingers.
Mama fell to her knees, wailing. “What have you done?”
Kayode stepped back, his face suddenly uncertain. “This wasn’t supposed to happen.”
Deji stood frozen, his face pale as a ghost.
I cradled Baba in my arms, tears streaming down my face. “Stay with me, Baba. Please.”
His eyes met mine, filled with pain but also something else—regret.
“Seun…” he whispered, his voice weak. “Protect this family. Don’t… let it fall apart.”
And then his eyes closed.
Kayode and his men fled into the night, leaving us broken and shattered.
In that moment, as I held my father’s lifeless body, I realized the truth. This wasn’t just Deji’s fault or Kayode’s fault. This was my fault too. I had let my anger, my pride, and my fear consume me, and now I had lost the one man who had tried to hold us together.
I wanted to scream, to cry, to disappear. But all I could do was sit there, holding Baba’s body............
TO BE CONTINUED........
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