AKWAUGO
PART 38 – 40
Chidubem who preferred to be called Dubie proved to be patient, kind and very loving. He spoke to me every day. He talked about his day. I had an itinerary of his activities daily and I gave mine without any prompting from him. He visited me once every month with provisions and some foodstuff. It was easy to accept anything from Dubie as he preferred to be called with his loving smile. We went out whenever he was in town to eat and hang out.
I noticed each time he came he never checked on Chidera his cousin. When I asked him, he said he didn’t want her to know he was making progress with me. I found the reason he gave weird. Also, I observed, she had never asked me if he called or came around. I decided to ask her and also get to know more about him. He had been a complete gentleman so far but I had to know more about him. I set out to achieve that.
I met Chidera and asked her about her cousin Chidubem. She looked confused to me. I told her this guy told me he saw me when he came to visit her and she gave him my details. She said truly, she met two guys in town in December when she was preparing to close for the holidays. They offered to pick her from school. The guy ‘toasting’ her and his friend came to her room. The friend saw me and became interested. I told him you were not interested in a relationship as your marriage recently ended.
“That guy is a charmer. He made me enter the room and there I gave him your lowdown. He told me that was all he nee-ded. I haven’t seen him again since then”
“What of the guy he was with, are you both still dating?”
“We never did. He came once before I finally went home. We didn’t talk again since then” I opened my phone and showed her Dubie’s picture. “He’s the one. My roommate was tripping for him but he was only interested in you. I didn’t know he will actually come after you”
“Can I have his friend’s number?” She gave me the number.
I was uncomfortable. I had let my guard down. Why didn’t I investigate all this while? What if he was a serial killer or a ritualist or a kidnapper or he was sent by Jacinta and Ugonna to se-duce her and then exp-ose her? She was upset with herself for not asking all this while.
I didn’t know what to do or whom to ask for help. I began to think of the best way of getting information from a guy without him knowing I was doing that. I wasn’t skilled at that at all. Chiamaka came to my mind. She was in Abuja and streetwise now. I called her and confided in her. “Give me his friend’s number, I will get you all the information you nee-d”. I quickly obliged her.
Three days later, she sent me messages telling me everything about Dubie.
“The friend said he is a good guy. He is the only son of his widowed mother. He loves and adores his mother but takes his own decision. He learnt his trade from his mother’s brother and right now he is bigger than the man. He is a Master’s degree holder, he recently completed the Master’s degree from Lagos Business School. He has never been married. He dated a girl for five years but she broke his heart and married someone else. The guy wasn’t even half as rich as Dubie was. He wants to marry a girl not for her looks but for her intelligence. He is seeing a girl that fits his desi-re.”
“According to his friend, he is a good guy. He is very mature and friendly. He ha-rdly has enemies and doesn’t get angry. By the way, he is from Anambr@ state, Onitsha to be precise while his mother is from Afikpo”
I had gotten all the information I nee-ded. His resumé still looked very good but I began to fight off a feeling that became overwhelming. Why did he have to lie to me? Why did he have to give me the impression he knew me throu-ghsomeone? Did he have ulterior motives? I had to wait to hear from him.
I reduced my interaction with him and blamed it on schoolwork. I stopped responding to his early morning messages. I didn’t read his itinerary or post mine. Dubie is a smart guy. He sensed something was wrong and came visiting. I came back from my shift that afternoon and behold I saw Dubie walking my way. I called Chidera before he got to me and asked her to come. When Dubie got to me, he greeted me and behold Chidera arrived just in time. Dubie didn’t recognize her anymore since they met just once months earlier.
“Dubie, don’t you know your cousin Chidera? Chidera, isn’t this your cousin?” I asked as Dubie was looking confused.
“Cousin? He is not. I met him with his friend. They gave me a ride to school and that’s it” Chidera replied.
“She is not my cousin” Dubie replied, “thanks for helping me locate her,” he said to Chidera with finality that she had to leave. He turned to me still smiling, “Let’s go in and talk”
Dubie had a way of controlling me without me realizing it. I opened my door and he came in.
“Is this why you have been behaving strangely towards me? Because of her? You should have just asked me and I would have told you. What’s the worse that can happen? I told you she was my cousin so you wouldn’t feel she was diverging information about you to a total stranger. I saw you and liked you, that’s it”
“You should have told me. You have should confess it to me”
“It escaped me while I was having fun. I honestly forgot I hadn’t. I am not happy with the cold reception you were giving me these past few weeks. I thought you were involved with someone else and I came to find out”
“If I was, I will tell you straight up”
“We have been on this for five months. You are in your final year now. Do I still have to wait until you graduate before we can be official?”
“I am not ready to jump into the arms of another man while my ex is still hanging on. There is nothing between us but he is still there and he is there because of his sisters. I want it to be two years before I move on. I don’t want to rush. He nee-ds to get the message. At the same time, I have a reputation to keep. By the way, how will Onitsha people feel about you marrying a divorcee?”
He was shocked. “You have investigated me thorou-ghly. They don’t have a say. I was raised by my mother and her family why my father’s brothers and sisters took over everything he had. I am making money to buy back everything my father owned from them and then sue them to court. I will mess them up. My mother’s family are my family”
“I don’t think it is right. You have to relate with your father’s family. How did you know they took over everything?”
“My mother told me”
“Did you try to find out yourself? Have you gone there to ask them for your birthright? Go there and you might hear something entirely different and you can reconcile your mother to her late husband’s people”
“Are you trying to say my mother lied to me?”
“No. I am saying she was young and heartbroken. She could have misread intentions and ran away. I know Onitsha people don’t take over their brother’s property; they are not known for that. I have checked”
“You investigated for me?”
“No, I wanted to be sure all you told me was true”
“Well I didn’t lie”
“You are twenty-six. You will be twenty-seven this year. You told me you were twenty-eight. You have a Master’s degree; you made me preach about going back to school. Why did you do that?”
“I wanted to get to know you before opening up about everything. You married a guy ten years older and a guy three years older comes along. You are used to a more mature guy so I had to tread softly. I like you very much and I want to be with you. I don’t want you to dismiss me for any reason. That’s why I did all this”
“Can you ow tell me the truth? I will love to hear it from your mouth”
“I am Chidubem. I was born and bred in Lagos. My mother is a widow; my father died when I was ten years old. She never remarried. I went to a private primary school. I attended King’s College Lagos. I went to the University of Lagos where I studied Business Administration. I concluded my Master’s degree in February this year from Lagos Business School. I am from Onitsha but was raised by Afikpo family. I am twenty-six years old. I have never been married. I have my own business and I am comfortable. I am in love with a girl who is still indecisive if she wants to be with me. I am willing to wait until she is ready no matter how long it takes; I have age on my side” he made the last comment with a full-blown smile.
I was tempted to ki-ss him at that moment. I felt something I hadn’t felt in a long time. I was s-×ually attra-cted to him. What I don’t know now is if I just missed having s-× total. It hadn’t been a struggle for me to stay without it; I had stayed three years without it and nothing happened. I knew we couldn’t be left all alone otherwise if he made any attempt, I would fall.
My phone rang and jolted me out of my stupid thoughts. I answered the call without looking at the caller id. It was Emeka. I couldn’t believe it.
“Baby, I want to get you a pair of Christian Louboutin’s for Uju’s wedding. What is the colour of the dress so I can get them?”
“Loubu what?”
“Christian Louboutin”
“Who is Christian Louboutin?”
“He is a shoe designer. Just tell me the colour of the dress”
“But I don’t want anything from you? I don’t want shoes. Emeka it is over now, stop trying to buy me back. Please now” I stood up and excused myself to talk to him outside.
“But we are friends. We were lovers. I miss you. I miss your body. I can do anything for you. I still love you”
“Where are you now?”
“My contract has ended; I am back in Spain”
“And you don’t have any lover?”
“White girls are not as sweet as you”
“I find that disgusting you know”
“Have you been with any other man? Was he better than me?”
“I was a good girl before you spoilt me. I have gone back to being a good girl”
“You are waiting for me. I will be attending the wedding. I book a hotel where we will stay away from the prying eyes of others”
“It won’t happen Emeka. Tell your sisters to bring Chisom to make you happy. I have to go now; I have a visitor” I ended the call.
As I stepped into the room, Dubie said to me, “Your ex doesn’t want to let you go”
“He derives plea-sure in taunting me. Don’t mind him”
“You don’t taunt someone by buying the Louboutin shoes. Do you know how much those cost?”
“I don’t. I don’t care. I don’t nee-d shoes. I will tell my aunt to et me a pair of shoes when it is time”
“Whose wedding is it?”
“His cousin. She wants me to be her chief bride’s maid”
“His cousin?”
“We are friends. She was the lady I was taking pictures with after New Year Mas-s if you remember”
“I think so, although I don’t recall her face. You are a good person”
“Tell that to my ex sisters-in-law. By the way, would you like to attend the wedding with me? It is in October. She has taken my dress size body measurement. She is providing the dress and I have to get the hair, shoes, etc. I’ve asked her for a list of things I nee-d for my ‘job’ and she promised to send them”
“You will make a great Chief bride’s maid. She is sensible to have chosen you. Let me take you out” He stood up from my bed and then he stopped and asked me, “ I noticed you didn’t respond when I said I was in love with you”
“You said you were in love with a girl. You didn’t mention my name”
“Do I have to?”
“Yes, I can’t make as-sumptions”
“I am in love with you”
“That was fast. I like you but I’m not in love. Bear with me”
“But you like me and there is a probability you will fall for me. I have to work ha-rder”
I laughed. I enjoyed his company each time he is already. This was the first time we discussed anything R0m-ntic. He was a businessman to the core. He talked more about his travels and the places he had visited. I loved listening to him. It was because of his stories I was interested in living abroad. Even more, I wanted to explore the world. I wanted to visit many countries and experience their culture. He ignited it in me. That was one desi-re I heard very close to my heart.
By August, the first semester of final year was over. I began my project and didn’t have much time for socializing which I explained to Dubie. He asked me for the list from Uju and I refused to give him. I gave them to auntie Nneoma instead. She got me everything when she travelled. Uncle Emma was still abroad. I called him as often as I could.
Uju called me up with gist. Apparently, Ugonna came with a suitor for the introduction. The guy is a returnee and was madly in love with her. Everyone was excited as she would be settling down soon.
“The guy has collected the list and all. Their wedding is in December. She has been carrying herself like a peaco-ck. The boy’s family is very prominent. Didn’t they check? Didn’t they research? How will he marry Ugonna with what she did to you? Anyway, you didn’t spread the news of her being her baby killer but someone else might just do it. I told Adanne if her in-laws hear what she did to you, they back down. But she said you were caught in adultery so it doesn’t count. I have kept quiet”
“Isn’t it better she marries and leaves the house than she stays back and becomes a nuisance? She should marry so that the wives will be at peace”
‘You are too kind. It is too much. You don’t want to take revenge?”
“Why should I? Vengeance is of the Lord. I just want to live a good and righteous life”
“Righteous. Emeka still has an interest. He is coming back for my wedding and also Ugonna’s. He wants you back but I know his sisters don’t want. So, he wants them to leave the house before he makes a major move. I’m just telling you about his plans. I told him you have vowed to come back but he wants you”
“He is a joker. What of Jacinta? Has she remarried and moved out?”
“She had a major misun-derstanding with Chibuike’s wife. Chibuike sent her away from his house. Her father asked her to either go back to school or go and learn a trade. She is in Lagos with Adanne”
“She is staying with someone. I hope she uses her the way she used me”
“They will fight soon. I know them, they will fight”
I took in all the information. My second informant is Scholastica. We talk sometimes. She gives me some information she is preview to. I try not to hear about things that don’t concern me and she un-derstands not to bring such my way. I was giving her money and items for herself and the other two girls but one of them snitched and I stopped. I only give Scholastica. She was loyal to me.
I went home to stay during the holidays. I didn’t want anyone getting involved in my friendship with Dubie. I refused him visiting me in the house. Whenever he is around, I go to Abakaliki to see him. He asked me if I was ashamed of him.
“Why would I be ashamed of you?”
“You are hiding to meet me”
“I am not. I don’t want interference in this friendship; I want it to move at my pace. Seeing you in my home will raise eyebrows and definitely, I will have questions to answer. Once I am sure of what I want, I can only be sure after I graduate, you can then come boldly”
“When are you graduating?”
“Most likely December. They don’t rush us”
“That’s a long time to wait but I will”
“Wait? Wait for what?”
“For you to accept”
“You are funny”
He truly was. He would take me out and we talk and discuss everything. He never told me I love. We never discussed the relationship. He never made suggestive comments. He never stared at my body or looked at me lustfully. I was wondering if a man could be like this. Emeka would have bounced on me since if we were seeing this often during our courtship. I was more mature though. I knew what I wanted. He was cute, very cute and tall and slim.
Chiamaka was pregnant for her second child. Amanze did her the honours. He was still pushing for her to marry him but she just couldn’t bring herself to trust him. My parents and his parents didn’t know she was living with him. He wanted to prove to her there was no other person by cohabi-ting with her. Kosi was Amanze pride and joy. Now Chiamaka was pregnant, she prayed for a girl so she could have both s-×es and move on. She said Amanze blocked her chances of dating in Abuja. He shows up and is ready to create anywhere he finds her. She resolved herself to fate as he had her mother’s full backing.
Since Chiamaka knew so much about Dubie, I decided to discuss him with her. I had told her earlier about my confronting him and how it went. She seemed to like him. She was shocked that he didn’t make any advances at me.
“I don’t trust him. It is either he has a problem or he has a girlfriend. How can he see you every month and talk to you daily and nothing happens? As set as you are, the engine that has ha-rdly been serviced and he is not begging for it? You nee-d to check gear stick if it is working”
I laughed my head off. I wasn’t interested in knowing if the gear stick worked or not for now but to be honest her reservation tickled my interest. I decided to have that discussion with him without sounding vulgar or in nee-d.
The opportunity came when Dubie told me about his friend and the girlfriend camping in his house for the week. He said the girl had colonized the kitchen but her cooking was horrible. He said he had to be ordering food from outside. His friend joined him in his room to eat while pretending to eat her food. It was funny.
“Nne, I hope you can cook”
“I try.”
“Don’t try o. I will have to send you to catering school when you finish so you will learn. It is not about book. A way to a man’s heart is throu-ghhis stomach. I will love my wife to cook for me”
“Wife?”
“Yes”
“Who is your wife?”
“My dear, it is you I am waiting for you to finish school and I will marry you. I will pay any amount your people ask for”
“Why? Why did you choose me?”
“Something attra-cted me to you. Immediately I saw you, I knew instantly you were my wife”
I was worried. That what exactly what Emeka said. What attra-cted them to me? I liked Dubie because we were developing a friendship and we could talk about anything. I could talk about having menstrual pain and he would want me to describe what I felt, how bad the bleeding was and when it would stop. He would find out if it had stopped and if I was better. We could talk about my patients. We could talk about my neighbours. Anything at all. I liked that very much. I didn’t mind being his wife but I had to meet his mother and be sure.
He said, “You are quiet. What is the problem?”
“Why haven’t made an advance at me at all? Why haven’t you attempted to ki-ss me or hold me”
“I hate to be rejected. If you say no, I will be devastated. I don’t want that so I have learnt to control myself”
“Are you sure that’s the reason or you have a problem?”
“Problem how? You mean not getting it up? You are funny”
“I’m just asking. Or maybe you have a girlfriend”
“I don’t have a girlfriend but I must confess I have girls that help me ease the tension when it builds up”
I shocked. Why would he tell me that? I was going with the self-control story but this broke my heart in several places. I couldn’t talk. So I wasn’t that special after all. Emeka kept himself for months and even years for me and Dubie couldn’t. I was unhappy. It spoilt my mood and my responses to him afterwards displayed it.
“Akwaugo, you made it clear what you desi-red was friendship, not a relationship. If we are just friends, why can’t I satisfy my urge somewhere else why waiting for you to decide? Let’s be realistic here. I love you and I have told you. You have only likeness for me which I can’t for-ce. What am I to do until I am sure you love me?”
“Would you be happy to hear I have been with someone else too? I also have urges. While we are waiting, I can satisfy them with random guys”
Dubie’s voice changed. He sounded angry for the first time I knew him. “Why would you want to do that? It is because of you I am doing this. If you admit to loving me then I will stop but it is not a license for you to be promiscuous”
“But you are doing the exact thing. Why is it ok for you to do it and promiscuous if I do it?”
“I am a man; I am supposed to have experience for both of us. You don’t have experience and it is best you learn it in the confines of a marriage being taught by your man”
I laughed. I reminded him I was married for four years before it scattered. He laughed when he replied, “Married. You call that marriage? The man is an old man and couldn’t handle you, if he could there is no way you would have left the marriage. When you experience me, you would un-derstand”
I couldn’t fault that. I hadn’t experienced him. Emeka and I had a very interesting s-× life which I cherished. I enjoyed being with him. Was there a better experience? Was I missing out on something?
When I mentioned it to Chiamaka, she went “Ehen, I said it. Maybe he meets those ladies before he comes to visit so he is not tempted. How can he see you and not want to ‘do’? As per him handling you, do not keep your hopes up. Men that make mouth end up a hu-ge disappointment. I think you should sample that thing before you accept any proposal so you won’t live in regret. At least I am sure of Amanze’s own. The few others I tested were nothing compared to his. That’s why all the ladies in Abuja want him”
“Chiamaka, how did they know he can perform?”
“He sends them a picture of his manhood and they want to have a taste. I told him it should just bring in enough money. Those contracts the women are giving him is not free. I will only give them what is left”
“Amanze wants to marry you. After this baby marry him”
“I am still thinking about”
I never brou-ght up the issue again with Dubie. I would be throu-ghsoon and then I will know where my feelings lie.
Auntie Nneoma came back with my things for Uju’s wedding. The shoes she got me were silver and nice. I don’t wear very high heeled shoes and she knew. The heels were just 5 inches. I liked them. She bought my jewellery and other accessories. This was my first time of being a bride’s maid and I ended up a chief bride’s maid. I didn’t want to spare any expense.
I was going to stay at Uju’s house a day before the wedding. The wedding was slated for October 1st which was a Thursday. I planned on coming back to Enugu on Sunday. Emeka had called but I refused to entertain his questions on the things he should get for me. I asked my cousin’s girlfriend (auntie’s Nneoma’s son’s girlfriend) who was a model to shop for me and send down throu-ghauntie Nneoma. She did and I was glad.
I took my time to pack. I made sure I had clothes for every day and evening I would be there. I packed my pieces of jewellery, cosmetics and toiletries. My perfumes both from Emeka and Dubie were packed for the trip. Dubie booked and paid for my flight. I told him I would see him on the day of the wedding and after. I wanted to as-sist Uju as much as possible since I was coming a day before. I had Uju’s address.
The driver took me to the airport. It was my second time flying on my own. Auntie Nneoma was impressed when she saw me come down to leave. I wore a pair of light blue jeggings with a white tank top and a solid dark blue cropped denim jacket. I wore them with a 3inch heel ankle boots. Auntie bought me the human hair which I fixed the day before. It was very long, about 24 inches, straight human hair. I did the centre parting. I made up to travel. I was going to burst into Uju’s house looking like a billion bucks.
At the airport, I was the centre of attra-ction. Guys walked up to me and wanted to talk to me. I wasn’t interested. The guy I sat beside on the plane wouldn’t stop trying to talk me. He offered to drop me off as his driver was coming to pick him up. I had planned on taking an airport taxi to the house. I turned him down on second thoughts.
When we arrived, I picked up my luggage and walked out of the arrivals. This man followed me still trying to convince to go with him. I refused and walked ahead when I walked into Dubie. I was shocked and so was he. What was he doing at the airport? We were supposed to see after the wedding. He was not sure I was the one, he had to look again. The guy noticed us looking a each other and left me.
“You look amazing. I swear, I didn’t recognize you. Babe, you look hot” he said when he could find his voice.
“Thank you. What are you doing here?”
“How would I stay back when my woman is coming in today,” he said this a bit loudly for people to hear.
He took my box and we went to his car. He kept looking at me from the corner of his eyes and smiled knowing what he was doing.
He drove me to have lunch at Calabar kitchen in Ikeja to have pounded yam and fisherman soup. It was my first time tasting such food and I enjoyed it. He took me from there to the address Uju gave me. It was a hotel in Victoria Island. Her fiancé had booked the suite of the hotel for her. Dubie didn’t want to come upstairs with me so we went our separate ways at the reception. He gave me a paper bag and asked me to open it when I get upstairs.
As I got into the room, I saw Uju doing her nails and fixing her hair. Everyone in the room was quiet when I came in. that was the desi-red effect I wanted.
“Baby girl you look beautiful. My God, you look amazing. See transformation. This your figure na die!”
“Thank you”
She introduced me to the other bride’s maids. All of them were older than me but I flowed with them. One of them asked if I was Emeka’s wife and I replied, “Ex-wife”.
I had my nails and lashes fixed. I had a big girl look. I was glad auntie Nneoma had made me use palm kernel oil on my skin every night for a month because it glowed, I could see a remarkable difference even though I hated the smell. I was throu-ghwith everything. I picked my phone to check my chats. There were several messages from Dubie. I excused myself, entered the room to speak with him.
“I am so sorry when I came in I had to have my nails done and then lashes. There is so much noise here, I entered the room to call you”
“I thought you were in bed with your ex because there is no way he will see you and let you go”
“But you let me go”
“Yes, I did. Did you dress up because of him?”
I innocently replied, “Not just because of him but because of the family. By the way, he is not here. We are just ladies here”
“You didn’t dress up for me. I have never seen you dress up this way before”
“You’ve met me mainly in school and in the village. I do dress up when I feel like but because I ha-rdly go out, it is mainly Church or the school. You are used to seeing me plain. Don’t you like the look?”
“I like it. You looked very beautiful. And attra-ctive. Everyone looked at you, they looked at you lustfully”
“You are funny. What is lustful?”
“That guy followed you. I watched him running after you. He wanted you to go with him and you refused. He was lusting after you”
“Well, it’s possible. But men do that. If they see a beautiful lady, they go after her”
“There is a difference between beautiful and s-×y. You were s-×y today”
I could sense a change of tune in his voice and it made me smile. He was s-×ually attra-cted to me and couldn’t deny it. I liked the fact that I made him feel that way. I took pictures with Uju earlier and she posted it in her family group. They asked her who I was and she mentioned my name. The reaction was explosive. I had that effect on people. Dubie was just experiencing it. Before I cut off, he asked if I opened the bag he gave me and I explained I got busy.
“Open it as we speak” My box was in the bedroom with the bag. I open it and I saw the most beautiful high heel sandals with a platform I had ever seen. It was silver with rhinestone details all over the body It was not too high which I liked.
“I love it”
“Look at the heel” The heel was also crafted. I was lovely, clas-sy and obviously expensive.
“Thanks but I can’t have it”
“Why?”
“I already got what I will wear tomorrow”
“I ordered it specifically for you. It is a Jimmy Choo. Why will you refuse to wear it?”
“It looks expensive”
“I got it for you. You will look stunning in it tomorrow”
“Uju is calling me, let me join them. If I don’t respond immediately to your texts, know I am busy and don’t be offended”
“I won’t. I will talk to you later”
“Bye”
I packed the shoe back into the box and then into the bag. I came out to join others and sitting there with Uju was no other person but Emeka. I was surprised to see him. He hadn’t changed much. His hair was rescinding a little and he added a little weight, if not, he was just the same. He was shocked to see me. I had matured even more and I knew.
“Hello, Emeka. It’s nice to see you”
“Akwaugo? It can’t be my Akwaugo. Oh my God! Baby, you are hot. Nsogbu dikwa” everyone laughed at his exclamation. He came to meet me and asked for a hu-g which I refused and gave him my hand. “We now shake hands Akwam. You are so beautiful”
“Thank you”
“Let’s go to my room; we can talk there”
I laughed. I wasn’t going anywhere with him. I knew him well. I declined still smiling.
“Let’s talk now. I’ve missed you so much”
“Emeka, move on. I am not available, move on”
‘You don’t have a choice. I will keep pursuing you until you accept”
‘No problem”
‘Is that all you have to say?”
“What do you want me to say? If your sisters should see you here with me there will be a bomb blast”
“I can handle them”
“You can handle them now? When did you grow the liver to handle them?”
“I know you will look for an opportunity to bring the past up. I want to make it up to you. Allow me to make things right. I apologise. I never meant to hurt you. Right now, I want us to go back to the way we were. I still love you”
“We are friends, don’t get it twisted”
“This as-s doesn’t look like it has been flogged in recent times”
“It is waiting for the right person to flog it” I answered jokingly.
“I am here to do the honours”
“The right person is available and we flog I well when I am ready”
We went back and forth like this until he said he was going to get suya. I was interested but I didn’t want to be alone with him in the car so I declined the offer. Other girls said they wanted so they all left with Emeka. I was alone with Uju. She gave me a big fancy nylon bag.
“It’s for you”
“What’s this?” I saw a pair of shoes in a box, it had Louboutin on the carton. I opened the box and saw a stiletto pump with the entire shoe covered with silver glitter. It was equally beautiful. Was there a competition between these two men? There were also three bottles of designer perfumes, body mist, my favourite bath and body products and chocolates. I smiled and Uju said to me
“Take them, he got them for you. I am not asking you to get back together with him but at least be civil and kind to him”
“I can do that. He looks good. I don’t want to be around him to avoid temptation. I might not be able to resist him. His sisters would never allow us to be together”
“I know”
When Emeka came back, he gave me a wrap of suya. I thanked him for my gifts. He asked if we could talk for a minute. I obliged him. He came into the room with me.
“You don’t trust me that’s why you don’t want to come to my room”
“Every time we talk or text, it is mainly s-× you want. You want me to enter the lion’s den?”
We both laughed. We talked about our individual journeys. He was happy I was close to finishing. He was in Spain but from January he will move back to the middle east for another year’s contract. He told me he would be crediting my account until it gets to a certain amount and then he will tell me what to do with the money. I suggested he sends the money to his father but he refused. He refused even his brothers and Adanne. I finally agreed to help even though I was still sceptical.
I spent the night on the couch in the living area of the suite. I thought about my life before I closed my eyes. I wished things were different between Emeka and I. He was very thoughtful. I remembered Dubie too bought me a pair of lovely shoes. I hoped Dubie wasn’t competing with Emeka. I liked our relationship the way it was. His show of jealousy made me realise he was a man after all. I knew I had more than likeness for Dubie but it had not manifested fully.