Thanks guys. Your prayers really did work. So we have our next update tomorrow.

Centino:
Thanks guys. Your prayers really did work. So we have our next update tomorrow.

Centimo bro... U know what you just did, you have just robbed us of the midweek that is supposed to be the Christmas bonus, in light of this I wabr to believe tomorrow we'll have a bumper update.

Merry Xmas Centino and to every ardent follower
I patiently await the Xmas update

Merry Christmas to you all

Asek1:
Merry Xmas Centino and to every ardent follower
I patiently await the Xmas update

Merry Christmas my man.

Almost ready...

Ayobami7:
Merry Christmas to you all

Merry Christmas bro.

I'm sad I couldn't stop myself from reading through the story at such a fast pace!!!! I'm here now and I have joined "the wailers".

Well done Centino!! You try not be lie. Kept me glued.

Lemme too join the wailing: Bros Centino abeg wey our Xmas update?

Merry Christmas

It's Christmas guys and it's a bumper package. Enjoy. Merry Christmas.



REAL MEN


Because Chisco was an adept vigilante and hunter, he knew he had what it took to survive on the streets however long he needed to until he found his feet. Much was said about Lagos and how much different it was from his village in Arochukwu, but he had in his time dodged bullets and suffered knife wounds and stepped on charms and fallen from a palm tree. Risk was risk. If it came to it, death also was death irrespective of where it took place. His brother had challenged him to prove his manhood. It was a challenge he was going to embrace. Faced with life and death, Chisco knew that he would fight for his life no matter where in the world he found himself.

Living with the nurse was never an option. He knew from the first thrust that he was punching above his weight. The nurse would sooner come to her senses and kick him out. Then what?

Making love to her was good, but he still preferred his village sweethearts. They were raw and wild and smelled like real women. The nurse smelled of too much cosmetics and she washed her honey pot too much. Chisco never saw the need to interfere with nature. He liked her dearly but she was not the best lover he had had and he was not going to leave himself at her mercy because of a jealous brother.

Chisco had made friends with the market night watchmen and knew many homeless young men who slept in front of the stalls and defecated in the gutter and took their bath behind molue buses early in the morning before the first call of the muezzin. The chief watchman was sympathetic and gave Chisco a locker for his bag and allowed him to share his sleeping space on the side of the foremost supermarket close to the motor park. In the daytime he went into the market and selected clearance okrika items from bale owners which he sold by the roadside and made N10 per item. On a good day he sold up to fifty items, which ensured that he could have okpa and garri in the morning and then in the evening after the day’s hustle he had akpu and oha soup from any of the bukkas that littered the market. He maintained his positivity. He kept looking out for opportunities. He knew he would survive and thrive without Achike.

Then one morning, the motor park was rocked by gunshots and people running like what he saw in pictures of the Biafran war.

“Na cult boys!” someone said, “Run!”

“This yeye cult boys don come again. Dem no go let us get peace for this Christmas!”

The shooting continued and when it died down, a crowd gathered to see the casualties.

Three young men lay dead and seven others were in various stages of severe trauma. Chisco immediately recognized Wasiu slumped over a body and in tears. He went closer and found Ibadan, bleeding from the mouth and jerking with eyes rolled over.

“Carry am go hospital na!”

“No need. Him go die.” And as Wasiu said that, Ibadan cocked his head to one side and breathed his last.

“Sorry brother” Chisco said to Wasiu afterward, when the bodies had been cleared and some normalcy had returned to the park.

“Why you dey call me brother? Why you dey sorry for Ibadan after wetin we do you?”

“That one don pass.”

“Ibadan nearly remove your eye. And I see say the eye no too correct.”

“Ibadan don die. Me I dey alive. You don dey run like thief since. Wetin again I want?”

“You be correct man. Take five.” They did hi-fives and shared an embrace.”

“So how the compound be?”

“Everybody dey there. We don get new neighbor. Him name na Agbonyibo.”

“Which kind name be dat?”

“Dem say him come from Togo.”

“Which room dem give am?”

“Talabi room.”

“Oh.”

“E get wife and pikin. Dem fine I no go lie.”

“Eh hen?”

“The man take Talabi shop too.”

“Wetin him dey sell?”

“Dem say him dey sell animal. I never see anybody enter dia for afternoon. Na only for night wey old men wey get big nyash dey enter de shop.”

“Which one be men wey get big nyash?”

“E get as de man dey do. I dey suspect say aru dey happen inside dat shop.”

“Wetin be aru?”

“Abomination.”

“Dat one no concern me. Togo people no dey take eye see man nyash. Dem be like aboki. Make you just dey careful.”

“E no concern me. I don comot for de compound.”

“Where you dey live now?”

“I no get house. I dey sleep for outside China Supermarket.”

“Why?”

“Achike pursue me comot for him house.”

“Why?”

“Because of nurse.”

“Why?”

Wasiu kept his eyes on Chisco and when Chisco hesitated, realization hit him.

“Omo Ibo! You follow chop the ogbono!”

Chisco looked away in embarrassment but Wasiu jumped up and simulated a rear entry and pumped his waist repeatedly.

“The babe sweet gan! Hin nyash be like say dem use butter mould am. As e big na so e soft,” Wasiu said and continued his obscene gesture.

“E don do. Now I no get where to stay again.”

“Go stay for my room.”

“Ehn?”

“I go give you my key. Go stay there. Epp me beg dem make dem gree make I come back. As Ibadan don die I no fit go him house again. But if you stay there, after some days I go come back. Epp me talk to Oga Cosmas make him beg Oga Zubi for me. If you don forgive me, make dem also forgive me. Real men no dey fight on top woman.



Maya lay in bed consumed in thought. She had not spoken to Ndi in two days. Now she did not know what to make of the whole thing. Why did he hesitate to give her back her money? Why did he propose at the time he did? Could her mother have been right?

As she mulled this over she heard her phone beep. It was an SMS. Credit alert. One million naira. As she thought about it, her phone beeped again. “I still want to marry you. I hope we move on from this quickly. Is it still a yes?” Maya was not sure anymore. She stood up and went to meet her mother where she was wrapping her fufu in the corridor.

“Mum I have my money now.”

“Praaiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiise the Lord Jesus! It will not be good for the devil.”

“So what do you want? That I give it all to you?”

“Of course! I will take a proper shop at Apapa. I will employ strong boys who will be turning this fufu for me. I am getting old now and my bones are weak. I don’t want to die young.”

“How will you invest the money for proper returns? It is all I have, mum.”

“Don’t worry about that. I will do contribution with fifty thousand every month. I will buy keke and put on the road. I know some men that deal on Diesel and buy in tankers there at the wharf. If you give them five hundred thousand to put in the business, they will give you fifty thousand every month and you can withdraw your principal anytime you want. I have already contacted them. Don’t worry my daughter. I will create wealth for you. I will not wait for Atiku or Buhari. I will create wealth with my own hands.”

Maya shook her head mirthfully and started walking back to the room.

“So my angel Maya, the child of promise, child of my youth. When am I getting it?”

“I will pay into your account tomorrow if you want.”

“No o. Please bring the cash.”

“All of it?”

“Yes. All of it. What will I keep it in the bank for? So the bank owners will steal it and live lavish lifestyles while I am suffering?”

“Mama. Who told you that?”

“I know o. How did Bank PHB and Skye bank die? Why are their owners being pursued by the Law?”

“Alright. Whatever you say.”

Mama Tobi stood up, tossed the fufu basin aside, and began to sing and dance. Maya smiled and entered the room. Her phone rang as she lay on the bed. It was Jonjo.

“Good evening sir.”

“Don’t call me sir. Call me Jonjo.”

“Yes sir.”

“What do you say to my proposal?”

“I can’t go out with you sir. You know Ndi is my boyfriend.”

“I’m not asking you out for anything. You are the face of my brand. It is expected that you make public appearances with me. It is in your contract.”

“That means I can come with Ndi.”

“Yes, but not this time.”

“How can I explain that to him?”

“You don’t owe him an explanation.”

“But sir…”

“I saw the both of you the other day. You need a break.”

“I don’t think so sir.”

“You are young. You are cheating yourself out of life. There is enough time for you to dwell in the melancholy of the delusion you call love. First, explore the power of your God-given attributes, and then decide what you really want. You are unhappy right now. Whatever makes you unhappy is not good for you.”

“But sir…” Just then her other phone beeped. “It’s been two hours since I sent you your money and a message I know you have read. Don’t be like your mother.”

Her heart sank.

“Are you there Maya?” Jonjo who was still on the phone said.

“Yes I am.”

“So what do you say?”

Maya looked at Ndifreke’s message again and then said, “I’m coming.”

“Come, and let me broaden your horizon.”

“Send the Uber.”



The children and young adults pranced about. It was Christmas day. There were plenty activities in the corridor of both floors as they inhaled and got high on the sweet smell of stews and jollof rice. Mama Kike was always the first to finish cooking on Christmas day. Other mothers were in hot competition with her as her children always made a show of sitting in front of their friends and wolfing down their rice and coke and Fanta while others waited for their mothers to finish cooking. While they waited Tobi said “But Daddy freeze and Reno Omokri were saying on Twitter that we should not celebrate Christmas o!”

“Let’s go and ask Mr Cosmas.”

He was happy to receive them.

“You know I am a bachelor so tell your mothers to remember me when the food is ready.”

“We will sir. But Mama Kike has finished cooking and gave to only her children. Stingy woman!”

Mr Cosmas laughed and said, “She is only feeding her family first. Be patient. I have always eaten her rice since I came to this compound.”

“It is only you she gives.”

“Have you considered that maybe she does not want to offend your mothers by feeding you before your mothers’ food is ready? Grown-up women don’t do things without a reason.”

“You may be right Mr Cosmas.”

“Don’t be quick to judge. Remember that as you grow up.”

“Okay sir.”

“Now to the question of Christmas. No one has the right to question anyone who wishes to celebrate. If they are coming from the perspective of the Christian scriptures, then they must respect the words of the very revered St Paul in Romans 14 and Colossians 2:16. Let no man judge you in respect of meat or drink or of a holiday or new moon. Those who choose to set aside this date to celebrate are well within their rights to do so.

“Now why do we celebrate? The angel who appeared to the shepherds the night of Jesus’ birth said, “I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. We celebrate Christmas because, as the angel said, the birth of Jesus Christ is “good news.” Good news is meant to be celebrated. In fact, the angel said the news of Jesus’ birth would cause great joy and would be for all the people — the joyful celebration would be universal. People around the globe would be glad for this occasion. We celebrate Christmas by stringing lights because the Light of the world has come to us. We celebrate Christmas with gift-giving because of the indescribable gift that God gave to us. What I must however add is that we must not forget the reason of his coming as we celebrate. He came to show us the path to salvation. A path we must follow if we are to successfully traverse the darkness of this world to the safety of paradise. There is no point celebrating if in the end we lose our way.”

“Sir, they said that December 25th was a date of a pagan festival.”

“It may be true. December 25th might have been chosen because the Winter Solstice and the ancient pagan Roman midwinter festivals called Saturnalia and Dies Natalis Solis Invicti took place in December around this date so it was a time when people already celebrated things. However, the Jewish festival of Lights – Hanukkah – starts on the 25th of Kislev, the month in the Jewish calendar that occurs at about the same time as December. Hanukkah celebrates when the Jewish people were able to rededicate and worship in their Temple, in Jerusalem, again following many years of not being allowed to practice their religion. Jesus was a Jew, so this could be another reason that helped the early church choose December 25 for the date of Christmas. Whatever it may be, we celebrate the coming into the world of the greatest gift and the one event that changed the course of history. Know why you celebrate and remain steadfast, hedonism and other foul behavious at this time will only hasten your journey to eternal damnation. Please be guided my young friends.”



Later that Christmas evening the men of Katakata Street were able to finally set their eyes on Evae again. This time she wore a tshirt and wrapper and glided about like royalty and paid no attention to anyone while she carried out her chores. It was the way Agbonyibo wanted it. Let them hunger, let them strive. Nothing good comes easy. Lukman met her at the backyard. He had acquired a new hat and also spotted a gold eye patch. He now spoke in an American accent and was straight to the point.

“Evae baby, from the moment I set my eyes on the most lovely of lovelies that is you, my world has ceased to exist. It shrank into the shape of the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. You have become that world; I need you more than air, say yes to my love and witness the wonder of a love that will take you to paradise.”

“I have hear. I go give you answer in one week.”

Josiah was next. Evae was sitted in front of her father’s closed shop.

"Sweet Evae" he said. “I heard the announcement that an angel had escaped from heaven. The whole world is running helter-skelter and everyone is asking ‘have you seen the missing angel?’ I laugh when I heard that because they are all looking in the wrong place. I have the seen the angel. She is right in front of me. And with your permission I want to take her back to heaven, the heaven that is my heart, where she rightly belongs.”

“Evae looked at him in his new shorts and baseball top and said “I have hear. I go give you answer in one week.”

Mr Kingsley was next. Now Evae entered the corridor and was going to her room when he held her hand and looked into her eyes.

“Onto the sea
I sailed my boat
And prayed that it
Would stay afloat

From dawn til dusk
From dusk til dawn
In search of love
I drifted on

What happened then
I don't recall
I think it was
A sudden squall

For when I awoke
I thought I died
At the sight of an angel
At my side

But lucky for me
That was not true
For I found love
And love was you.

- Britney Brundage –“

“Oga I no know wetin you dey talk but I hear you. I go answer in one week,” Evae said.

Achike did not have time for too many words. He was the busiest in the kitchen that day. He made a pot of stew and a pot of ofe nsala and poured everything in two big bowls and knocked on Agbonyibo’s door.

“I love you I love no be for mouth. I have no time for too many words. Please accept this on this beautiful Christmas day and give your daughter to me. She will never hunger. She will never thirst.

Agbonyibo looked at Evae and nodded. Evae stood and accepted the gifts and smiled.

“I go answer in one week” she said and smiled again.

Agbonyibo took note of the fact that it was only Achike that drew a smile from his daughter.

Then they heard noises outside and Agbonyibo went out and saw that Alhaji Sirika was in the compound.

“Agbon-Agbon! Agbon-yanky, Agbon- fine boy!”

He prostrated before Alahaji Sirika.

“I hope they are treating you well in this compound?”

“Yes sir. I happy.”

To the consternation of everyone, Alhaji Sirika went into Agbonyibo’s room. Alhaji Sirika never entered the room of his tenants. He only banged the door and you will come outside and meet him.

Compound members waited and then ten minutes later, Agbonyibo and Evae came out of the room and went to sit in front of the shop but Alhaji Sirika was still inside the room.

Irikefe was the most curious of all. Agbonyibo had taken Talabi’s room. When the rumour became rife that Talabi was sleeping with Akunna’s wife, Irikefe had found a way to make a small hole in Talabi’s window and fitted a tiny lens that narrowed everything in the room. Whenever he suspected that Talabi was with Awero at night, he sneaked to the window and removed the black tape he used to conceal the lens and watched Talabi make love to Awero. There were people about that evening so he could not do that. But the curiosity was so much that he decided to take his chance. He reconnoitered the window area and watched everyone that watched him. Then the moment he saw that there were no eyes on him, he sped to the window and exposed his hidden lens and put his eye through it.

Until he left Katakata Street, Irikefe continued to wonder how he did not faint at what he saw.


TO BE CONTINUED.

Thanks for this update...

Merry Christmas to you Centino.

Finally it is here.
The suspense created from this update is at its peak.
Troublesome Irikefe has once again been the first to unravel the mystery of Agboyibo.
But Centino wouldn't let us know what it is.

Gbam! Agbonyinbo Don put am for landlord yansh ooooo. Chai! This Xmas update dope wella. Centino, ur head is there.

Centino..... More I want more plssss just perfect this holiday... Alh sirika and Agbon's wife what a wawu... In fact oh my wawu

Centino:


Merry Christmas bro.

Mah Nigga

This is getting serious oooo. Centino, Thanks for the Christmas gift

irikefe don see waiting pass his eyes......

phoenixchap:
Centino..... More I want more plssss just perfect this holiday... Alh sirika and Agbon's wife what a wawu... In fact oh my wawu

My mind no even go there. O yes, that could be the only reason the two came out and the landlord was left inside with nothing said about Agbonyibo's wife.

Fantastic Christmas update Centino. A million thanks.

Chisco and Wasiu. Typical guys. We'll share a woman and a bottle of beer the next minute and no qualms. The day women will be like that

See how money is tearing Maya and Ndi apart. I always knew that client was up to no good. Ndi must wake up else he loses his woman.

Mr Cosmas and Christmas. You're the best centino. Who knows daddy freeze nairaland moniker. Let him come and see. Jesus is good news. Good news should be celebrated.

The men of Katakata Street and Evae. Oh my

When centino said we should watch out for Agboyinbo's wife I knew it would be something strong. Husband and daughter sitting outside and landlord in the room and Irikefe wants to faint. It can only mean one thing.

Thanks again centino. You have made my Christmas. Awesome update.

After many days of thirst you have decided to release an update
I can't but imagine how you could write from each of the characters perspective without any flaw since the beginning of the story
E be like say u don live for compound wey get this kind setting abi

Make maya no put herself for whahala oo

HAPPY CHRISTMAS CENTINO

Merry Christmas � to you Centino, and thanks for this episode. Seems Alhaji Sirika is shining agbon wife's Congo, well lust can just destroy the man, as for Ndi, he need to work on his relationship very hard because they're already falling apart and I pray it's not late for Maya to understand

To hold us for one whole week and then finally drop small update...

Thanks for the update Centino; but I never belleful Calamus wants some more.

Nice update Centino

But i'm a bit confused... Sorry tho

First... That scene where wasiu, ibaddan and chisco met what really transpired. Was wasiu and ibaddan attacked or they were the one shooting.

Secondly..... Was it agboyinbo's wife that went outside with their daughter or agboyinbo himself. If i could recall correctly based on the last episode i guess the togo man is a nyash nailer but with this twist if not a mistake it means the family runs the business generally cos na only the wife remain inside with chief aka oga landlord.

Youngzubi:
Nice update Centino

But i'm a bit confused... Sorry tho

First... That scene where wasiu, ibaddan and chisco met what really transpired. Was wasiu and ibaddan attacked or they were the one shooting.

There was a cult war where Chisco was only a spectator and Ibadan a casualty. He was a street boy therefore always vulnerable.

Youngzubi:


Secondly..... Was it agboyinbo's wife that went outside with their daughter or agboyinbo himself. If i could recall correctly based on the last episode i guess the togo man is a nyash nailer but with this twist if not a mistake it means the family runs the business generally cos na only the wife remain inside with chief aka oga landlord.

You said it all na

It looks like the animals this man is selling are his daughter and wife.

Centino:


There was a cult war where Chisco was only a spectator and Ibadan a causlty. He was a street boy therefore always vulnerable.



You said it all na

What an update! merry Christmas!

AnikulapoPutin:
I will hold back my rod of criticism not becus Centino is gud enuff but becus I jus heard my broda wadewaltz jus got a ban for not doin so

Lmao, so this your new account

centino abeg wetin efe see na

Centino am allowed to be selfish

I need to know what he saw
Happy Xmas

Nice update

What did he see?!!! Boss Centino, why now? Wanna kill us with suspense. Thanks for the Christmas gift. Happy Christmas.

Centino u are too intelligent abeg, see how u analyzed Xmas. Merry Xmas bro

Irekefe is still the hero.. nice update centino God bless u and heal the ill one

But haha dis update take style short like Lala's preeq oo ;

We been think say u go give us like three pages on to say na Christmas level , at all at all na I'm badt pass shaa,

what a way to relax after a stressful day. Merry Xmas Centino. May all your heart desires come to manifestation