Meant To Be
By Olunfulola Adeola
Episode 13
The saying goes thus that, ‘The journey of a thousand miles begins with a step’ and that is how we can describe Ayo’s turnaround. She had finally made it to her finals and in some months, she would be a graduate re-ady to serve her Father’s land.
Kore has been nothing but kind and nice to her all throu-gh and others couldn’t say otherwise. She still had her show with Lara every Saturday and she was some of the selected people that will be working at the TV Station they were working to bring to life . In short words, Life has been good.
They were alre-ady in test week in school and a matter of time before they write their exams and finish off the second semester. Tosin and Tade c@m£ to visit Kore in his office one Saturday afternoon. He was not surprised to see them as they made their way into his office,
“My guy, how you dey na?” Tosin asked as they made themselves comfortable.
“we-tin una dey find for here?” Kore asked,
“We come watch match.” Tade said,
“Una no fit watch match for una office abi?” Kore asked,
“we-tin dey do you this afternoon?” Tosin asked,
“Na se-xual frustration.” Tade said laughing and Tosin joined in.
“Ha ha. Very funny.” Kore said.
“True
. How’s your baby mama?” Tade asked,
“How many times have I told you to st©p calling her that? She is not my baby mama.” Kore answered exasperated.
“Okay, Tade, let’s put it this way for him, how’s your live-in girlfriend?” Tosin amended.
“What the fv¢k is wrong with you two? Una don high?” Kore asked, irritated.
“Nope, Tade are you?” Tosin asked with a serious face.
“Definitely not.” Tade said, shaking his head, a ghost of smile in hisl-ips.
“Seriously, how’s AY?” Tosin asked.
“She is fine. Why are you so concerned about how she is doing?” Kore asked,
Tosin answered, “Well, I am not. I am concerned about you because you are going to die alone.”
Tade said, “I second that. Cause of death will be unrequited love.”
“You guys are sick.” Kore said.
“No, we are not. Guy, how many times do you want us to tell you to shoot your sh0t?” Tade asked,
“It’s easy for you to say.” Kore said.
“I know it’s not easy. You’ve been with this girl for how many years now? Going to three years and you never insinuated anything. I think that should give you a kind of leverage now that you are crazy for her.” Tade said
“I didn’t say I was crazy for her.” Kore countered.
“You said you liked her.” Tosin said.
“Yes, I do.” Kore confirmed.
“Wait, why are we talking about her now? I thought you guys c@m£ for the match.” Kore asked,
“Yes, we did but we also c@m£ to talk to you about your life because we don’t want you to die alone. Ask her out and if she says no, move on. Do you know how many ladies are dying to be with you? Even in this your office?” Tosin asked.
“I don’t know. I am just scared. I don’t want her to think that’s why I have been doing all I have been doing for her.” Kore confessed.
“I don’t think she will think that way and if she does, make sure to clarify that. Now where is that red wine I kept here last week?” Tade asked.
“In the fridge I guess.” Kore said as he put on the flat screen in his office. Tade stood up to get the wine when something caught his eyes from the window. He called,
“Guys.”
“Kore you nee-d to see this. Come fast.” He said and Kore c@m£ to join him by the window with Tosin on his heels. Ayo was downstairs waiting.
Then a black Benz drove in and she walked to it. The guy in the car got down. He was wearing sunglas-ses and was dressed casually. They met halfway and he gr@bb£d her by the w@!st and they k!$$£d. Kore’s fist clenched. She pu-ll-ed back and hit him on his back pla-yfully and he laughed, opening the car door for her.
. She got in and he closed the door, went around the car, got in and drove away.
Tosin said seeing Kore’s face,
“Guy, just calm down. It could be nothing.”
“You are telling me it’s nothing when they just clearly k!$$£d there. Ayo does not go around k!ss!nganyb©dy.” Kore said, distraught.
“Just take it easy.” Tade advised,
Kore lamented, “I can’t believe I lost her even before I had a chance.”
“Anything can happen.” Tade said,
“I can’t believe she didn’t tell me.” Kore said,
“Nah, that’s where you shouldn’t go. Are you her father? That’s a grown woman for chrissake. She doesn’t have to tell you all of her business all the time.” Tosin asked defended.
Kore asked, “What do I do now?”
“Just keep watching, if they don’t break up soon, then you should move on. Get yourself another girl. You deserve to have the best relationsh!p. You are a good man.” Tosin adviced.
“Tosin, are you sure you are not g@y? Maybe you are a shim.” Tade said.
“Must you make jokes out of everything?” Tosin asked
“I was just trying to lighten up the whole mood. We c@m£ here to watch a match; not watch you moon over a girl.” Tade said.
“Shut the fv¢k up, man.” Kore snapped.
Tade mimicked Zi-pping his mouth and they turned their attention to the flat screen TV. Kore stood up minutes later to get the red wine and cu-ps and served them all then settled to watch the match fully. He couldn’t f0rç£ what is not meant to be.
Meant To Be
BG Olunfulola Adeola
Episode 14
A month after, on one night, Kore was watching television around past 7 when Ayo c@m£ in throu-gh the back door, looking all steamy and h0t.
“Where are we going tonight looking all yummy and steamy?”
“We? Did I invite you?”
“Oooh. We are excluded from the p@rty . It’s all good.”
“Kore, be serious jo. I am going out and I don’t know if Itunu can stay with you till I get back.”
“Okay, he can. We will have a boy’s night. Then he can come over tomorrow morning. All these are un-der one condition.”
“Which is?”
“Where are you going? You didn’t even tell me you were seeing anyone. I thought I was your friend.”
“Of course, you are, I was just trying to not count my eggs before they hatch. He is my course mate. His name is Seun and we are having dinner tonight.”
“Okay. Cool. You deserve it. Enjoy yourself.”
“Thank you.” She said smiling then turned to Itunu whose eyes were glued to the television,
“Hey Boy, make sure you behave okay?”
“Okay Mummy.” Itunu said turning briefly and Ayo went out the door.
It was painful. Very painful but there is nothing he can do, he just had to move on, Kore thought before giving Itunu his full attention.
***************
Ayo finished her examinations, defended her project, graduated and was waiting for her call up letter to serve.
. She knew she was going to serve in Lagos at the Station. She had told Kore some nights ago. She can remember he started by asking,
“Madam, where do you want to serve?”
She said, “Here, at the station. I was thinking I was going to work it.”
“All by yourself?” He asked, raising his eyebrows.
She replied, “Yes. You have done a lot and I can’t thank you enough so I was thinking I would handle this myself.”
He said, looking offended, “Wow. Way to say my help is not nee-ded.”
She said, getting irritated, “Come on, man! Are you trying to make me feel bad now? Because I don’t want you spending more money?”
“Hmm. Maybe.” He said.
She rolled her eyes and said, “Who gets angry because someone is saving him from spending money?”
“Who?” He asked, feigning ignorance,
“You of course.” She said and he laughed and said,
“Okay, that’s settled then. Will talk to a friend of mine and keep you upd@t£d.”
She grumbled, “You are so impossible.”
He said smiling, “Thank you. I know you like it when I am insistent.”
“No, I don’t like it.” She said and they started arguing,
“You do.”
“No.”
“Yes.”
“No.”
“Yes.”
“No! And that’s enough! You act like a kid sometimes.”
“That’s why you are our mummy.”
“You and who? I have only one son.”
“You have two.”
“You have two children, Mum?” Itunu asked, coming in from the kitchen,
She replied but not before glaring at Kore, “Of course not, baby. You are my only child.”
He said smiling, “Okay, thank you for the disowning. Who wants lunch?”
Itunu answered enthusiastically, “I do.”
She said smiling, “My treat.”
Kore opened his mouth to protest but she beat him to it, “I insist.”
“Fine! Let me get the other car key upstairs.” He said and they went out
Tbc