ASAKE! SOMEONE KNOWS

Source

Asakẹ stayed in front of the mirror Father had brought home from the big town, a year ago. The first one they had received was for her mother, so they rarely ever got the chance to take a look at it. When he had returned with this, a year ago, Asake and her sister had been beyond ecstatic. They had stared it so much, for weeks, that it got them into trouble with their mother, often time than not.

Now, she stood looking at herself, noting the visible changes her body was undergoing with her pregnancy. She has always been petite, so, her weight gain was less noticeable than it would have been. It had been two months since Akinlabi got called to war, which was a few days before she discovered her condition. If the calculation of her monthly flow had gone correctly, she was about four months pregnant. Yet, she had only put on just a little weight and her stomach was only starting to protrude into a round swell.

Asakẹ would not deceive herself. She was certain it was only a while now before she was discovered. She could not hide it for too long. She was grateful that she had managed thus far, without the dreadful sickness that usually befell pregnant women. Perhaps, this was the gods' way of showing her mercy, bidding her time until Akinlabi returned.

Akinlabi! She exclaimed quietly to herself as she went to sit on the mats on the floor. She worried about him. Two months and not a word from him. She had no idea how he was doing, if he was fine, if he was still alive or not. She tried with all her might, not to consider that possibility. Akinlabi could not die. He had to survive this long enough, to return so that the same to be borne would be averted. Akinlabi had to return to attest to her words, that she was not a liar, for she knew the accusations that would follow, after this has been discovered.

Now, she could only hold on to hope. They said the war was progressing, and Ilu-ore was winning. So were the reports. She could only hope, that Akinlabi too was winning alongside with them. Unable to help herself, she stood to behold herself in the mirror again. Her hands flew instinctively to her stomach, and just as she touched it, Awero stepped into her room.

Startled, she made a move to withdraw her hands and act like nothing was amiss. But Awero, ever wiser than her age, knew of her sister's secret for a while now.
"Ekasan, sista mi." (Good afternoon, my sister.) The younger girl greeted as she went to take a sit on the mat.
"Oohh. Ekasan. Ṣe ko si nkankan? O ma tete de lati oja leni." (Good afternoon. Hope there is nothing amiss? You came back early from the market today.) Asakẹ turned away from the mirror and began to assemble clothes she would wash when the sun went down.
She could feel her sister's watchful eyes on her, but willed herself to think nothing of it.
"Ko si. Oni lojo oja. I sold all I had to on time and came back home." (Nothing at all. Today is market day.)
"Oh. Okay then. Bode nkor?"
"He is done too. O ti ṣere lo." (He has gone to play.)
Silence reigned as she finished packing the clothes and started to put her room together. She could still feel Awero's eyes on her. After a while, unable to hold it in, she queried.

"Kilode? Ṣe mo gbe'na sori ni?" (What is it? Is there a burning fire on my head?) Awero broke into laughter at this and it annoyed Asake further. Straightening up, she placed her hands on her waist and stared her sister down, anxiously waiting for a response. Awero must have figured out her sister's mood for she quickly sobered up. When she spoke, her voice held a hint of sadness.

"Sista mi. Ki lẹ ma ṣe?" (My sister, what will you do?) Asakẹ was going to ask what she meant by that when she saw Aero's gaze move to her stomach. Her breath catched as her heart skipped a beat.
"Ko ye mi. Ki ni ma ṣe si kini?" (I don't understand. What will I do about what?) She had to be sure. Had to be sure that Awero knew nothing.
"Hanhan! Sista mi. I know now. I know that... " She leaned closer to whisper. "I know that you're pregnant."

A haste escaped Asake's lips and she immediately raised her hands to cover her mouth. Forgetting what she had been busy with, she rushed to seat beside Awero, lowering her voice into whispers too.
"Bawo lo se mọ? Mi o sọ fun alaye kankan!" (How do you know? I have told no living soul)
"Ehn. Sista mi. E fiyen le.(My sister, leave that alone.)I am very observant and I see things many do not see. I also know that all the wrappers you have been requesting from mama for your monthly flow have been burnt unstained!" Asakẹ could not believe her ears. All this while, she had thought she was doing a good job keeping her secret. Apparently, she had been wrong for someone else knew of it. And was it really a secret, when it was already known to more than a person. Willing the panic not to take hold of her, she grabbed her sister by the shoulders.
"Awero! Sọ ootọ. Who else knows of this?" (Tell me the truth.)

She released her grip as her sister shifted uncomfortably, realizing that she must have been hurting her. An apology sufficed and Awero replied her question.
"To my knowledge, no one else. I have told nobody. And I am certain mama does not know, because, hell would have been let loose by now, otherwise. However, mama Ireti ti n fura si e. I heard her asking mama this morning, if she has noticed anything different about you." (Mama Ireti is becoming suspicious.) Asakẹ's heart beat tripled, thudding wildly against her chest and she almost willed for the ground to follow her. She had hoped to at least have a few more weeks.

Perhaps, the war would be over then, and she had Akinlabi would tell her parents together. Maybe the gods were not fair after all, and this was her punishment for disobeying her Father's teachings.
"It's Akinlabi's, Is it not?"
She threw her sister a look that held sharp daggers, narrowing her eyes to slit. "Iru ibere oshi wo niyen? Ọmọ ta' lo ma jẹ tẹlẹ?" (What kind of silly question is that? Whose child would it be, otherwise?)
"Ah. Tọh. E ma binu, sista mi. You must know I never doubted that for a second."
Asakẹ said nothing, knowing she had no reason to be angry at Awero. Her sisters has proved herself trustworthy, over the years. She was not her enemy.
"So, what will you do?" Awero asked again.
Short of words, Asakẹ dropped her head into her hands and dropped a huge sigh.
"Ahh. Awero. Mi o mọ. If the war does not end any time soon, emi mọ pe, temi a tan. Maami yio pa mi ati ọmọ mi." (I have no idea. I know that I will meet my end. My mother will kill me.)

Awero was going to reply when the wrapper at the entrance of her room got pushed aside and her mother stepped in, eyes wild like a lioness on the hunt.
"Ki ni mo sẹsẹ gbọ yi? Ọmọ wo niyẹn? Abi eti n dun mi ni? Asakẹ, ngbọ, ọ loyun?" (What is this I have just heard? What child are you speaking about? Tell me, you are pregnant?)
This was it, thought Asakẹ as she began to tremble. Forget everything else. If Akinlabi survived the war, there always no doubt that he would return to her grave.

Pixabay

To catch up on the story, please read Asake, A yoruba love story 1, Asake, a yoruba love story 2, Asake, a while to tarr...., Asake, a while to tarr 2...