The present

It is Saturday today, and Ama decided to stroll out downtown to get something good for herself since she got her monthly pay a week ago. She entered the La'fredi's Mall, looking at every shop, confused about what to get herself. She had a new white curvy gown but didn't have jewelry and shoes to wear the crazy outfit.

"Oh my, this is so fine," She halts at a jewelry shop, looking at the golden work of art that was broadcasted outside for the likes of the passerby.

'But this jewelry might cause a fortune mere looking at it. What if I can't afford it?' she worried.

"Is that Amatoritsero Temile?"

She halts in shock because a male voice just called out her full name, and nobody here in French except the Fitzgeralds, family, and friends from Nigeria who knows her family very well. Instantly, she twirls around.

"It's you. It's you. What a great coincidence! You haven't changed a bit in features, just like the resemblance of both combinations of your mom and dad." The Melanie male, tall and slim, said with excitement springing free from his voice.

"You...Do you know my parents?" She stutters in surprise at the excited man that looks like he's in his thirties. "Do I know you, please?"

"Oh, you don't recognize me? I'm sorry for the overwhelming excitement. It is I, Tuoyo Edun, your cousin? Your fathers, brothers, first son," He introduced. "I used to visit your home back in Nigeria. Your brother that used to buy you birthday presents,"

"Oh...Brother Tuoyo. I remember you very well now. How did you manage to know that it is I, Ama Temil? What a small world we live in," Ama smiles in awe. "I can hardly recognize you,"

"It is I indeed. What are you doing here in Dijon, burgundy? I thought I heard from your late parents years ago that you moved to Paris. And oh, I'm so sorry for the loss; I heard everything from my father,"

"Yeah, it is what it is," Ama said slightly at him.

"So, how is life over here?" He asked with a toothy grin.

"Well, life had been fair lately. I moved in here three months ago, and I also work here in Dijon Burgundy." She said.

"Oh my goodness. You have even started working; how time flies. Just thinking back to when you were nine years old."

"Indeed. It's been a long time since we met." She said, sadly remembering that both her parents her also orphans, and now she's also an orphan.

"How is it going? Have you mastered that life here in Dijon? Please, let's talk over lunch," He said with a bright face.

"Uhmm...I-" Ama stuttered in words.

"C'mon, let's go, theirs is a snack restaurant by the left of the mall. We haven't seen each other for long; I will treat you to ice cream and snacks."

"Alright. Thanks in advance," Ama mumbled.

'I've never expected that he can be polite to me. This riff-raff bullied me because we attended the same primary school together, and he was my senior back then in Nigeria. And now, he's a gentleman.' She thought as he threw his arm on her shoulders as they both walked away.

A few minutes later. Their snack and Icecream orders were sitting nicely on the table, and they both started eating their snacks. Ama ordered Yogurt Icecream because it's her favorite, and Tuoyo ordered Vanilla with hotdog pie.

"May I ask what you're doing in France as a whole?" Ama asked, digging on her ice cream.

"Well, I came here for school, but I graduated four years ago; I've been here in Dijon for four years now. I have a small business that is good enough to support myself." He announced.

"That's cool," Ama said.

"How about you? I heard from my dad that you live with a wealthy doctor and his family; what happened? Why do you leave alone now? And why are you far away from them? Dad wanted to bring you back to Nigeria, but before your mother died, she called my father and said he should not worry about you that you're okay and healthy with a rich doctor that the doctor has a son, and you both leave well,"

"Oh, she did?" Ama asked in surprise.

"Yeah. So, how is the wealthy man's son? And why do you leave here?" He added.

"Uhmm...The Fitzgerald is an amiable and pleasant People. They have been good to me; they have supported me for nine-to-ten years and also helped me from high school to my university; I will forever be grateful to them. But indeed, I'm not related to them my blood and I don't wish to feed on them for long too, I've to depend on myself,"

"That's right. It's better to depend on yourself since you're working now. I didn't know that you'd be flying out of Nigeria with your parents; I would follow them even now that this tragic incident occurred with them. And now, I'm financially buoyant. You can call me whenever my help is needed. Okay?"

"Thanks for your generosity!" Ama said.

'Even though he's saying these words out of decency, he had changed a lot for real.'

"I am being serious, Amatoritsero; I know that I did a lot of wrongdoing towards you when we were very young back then in school," He added.

"It's okay, Brother Tuoyo; you can call me Ama instead," She said, and he nodded.

"I want to use this good time that God gave to me now to ask you for forgiveness. And also, I'm pretty sorry, but now, knowing that you're alright is a big relief to me, and I'm happy that you're okay and doing fine,"

"I'll be happy to thank the Fitzgeralds for taking good care of you." He breathes out in relief.

"It's okay, Brother Tuoyo; it's okay; I'll have your word for it. I forgave you a long time ago, so you don't have to feel bothered about the past!"

A few more minutes later, they work down the mall with bright smiles on their faces.

"Let me drive you home; where do you live? My car is parked outside,"

"Oh, I'm so glad about your generosity, but the thing is that I have a lot of things to buy at the mall, so I'm not ready to leave yet. I'll be hanging around a bit more." Ama voiced out with a meek smile.

"Indeed. Alright, can I at least get your call number?" He said.

"Sure!" Ama brought out her phone and called her number out for him.

"Thanks a lot, Ama. Alright, see you next time and take good care of yourself too." He waves at her as he mixes with the passerby at the mall.

'Even my cousin brother wants to thank the Fitzgeralds must, especially Pierre. Is it perfect that I don't want him in my life anymore? Is that being selfish?' Ama, though, sadly.

'Pierre's birthday is fast approaching, it's In three days, which falls on Sunday, and I'll have to get him a present for his birthday but what will I get for him?'

She walked to the other side of the mall, but instantly, she saw beautiful white sneakers. Pierre loves white sneakers, not any different color but white. 'I think he'll like this sneaker.'

"Woah! It's so beautiful!" She whispers. "Please, Monsieur, how much does this white sneaker cost?" She asked.

"Hundred and fifty euros!" He said with a smile and a slight bow.

"Uhmm...It Is costly. But Pierre will like this shoe for sure, and I know that he'll look good in it too. But still, I have to buy it for him, he and his family had spent more for me over these years that I can't release just a hundred and fifty to buy him something for his birthday. I miss him; I have to call,"

"Monsieur, can it be delivered to Paris if I purchase it?"

He nods. "Yes, we do that here. We do deliver products that were purchased here to anywhere around France." He announced.

"Here," Ama hands her debit card to the middle-aged man. He took it from her and swiped it on the debit machine, and asked her to insert her debit pin, which she did instantly.

"Now, you have to write down the address for the delivery," He said.

She nodded and immediately was given a pen and a delivery ledger to write on, which she did with care.

—

Ama walks straight to her bed immediately after her bath. She was feeling worried about Pierre. She hasn't heard from him for weeks, and it's her fault, and very well, she knows she's the one that makes it difficult for him to communicate with him.

"I bet that Pierre will receive the present in two days'. I've to inform him about it. I've to call him right now; I do miss him. Calm down, Ama," She added with a worried tone.

She picked up her phone and quickly dialed Pierre's number. Now, he picks on the second ring.

"Pierre, How are-"

"And you are?" A female voice booms through the phone.

"Is this Pierre's number?" She distances the phone from her ears to look at the caller.

"Are you Ama?" I heard the female voice take over the phone again.

"Yes, Indeed I am. Who are you, and why are you picking up Pierre's Phone?"

"I am Audrey Lavigne." She laughs Sassily.

"Why are you answering Pierre's phone?" Ama's voice was instantly replaced with pain.

"Oh dear, my apologies. He's taking a quick shower!"

"Show...Shower?" Ama felt heartbroken as her mind wanders to the dreadful act that must have led to him going for a shower.