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"Okay," she said finally. "How was your night?"

I was not going to tell her exactly how I spent the night.

"The night was okay, just that I did not really like how you left abruptly."

"But I told you I was going for choir practice."

I sighed in discontentment.

"You know what?" she went on. "I can make it up.

Do you want me to come this afternoon?" I smiled. "Oh, that will be very nice of you."

There was another pause. "By three, I'll be there."

"Okay, see you." She cut the line. Once again, I had the kind of excitement I had the previous day prelude to her coming.

I still had fried chicken and some stew in the house. Maybe, I would prepare white rice. My mind said I should wait until she came before cooking anything. I sat to play some soft music as I patiently waited for her. I had to wait for two hours. Her sight, once more, dazzled me. We hugged briefly. "Hello darling. Sorry, I am late," she cooed.

I smiled at her. "I can understand." She set the nylon bag she brought along on the center table, opened it and brought out two packs of food and carbonated drinks.

"I bought these for us," she said.

"Oh, that's good."

She opened one of them and sat down.

"I'll like to eat right away." I sat next to her and started to eat too. It was jollof rice and beef. The taste was very good.

"Did you go to church?" she asked.

I nodded. "Hmn hmn."

"One of these days I will invite you to my church."

"I will gladly come," I replied. We ate on. After the meal, she cleared the table. As I took the drinks, she sat next to me.

OK.

Sani should keep his peace.

She was all naked. I remembered she used to, sometimes, sleep like this. That was when we were romantically involved. That was no more.

What was she doing in my bedroom? Why was she nude? I knew these were silly questions. What I was supposed to do was to wake her, berate her for her indecent exposure and order her out of the bedroom. She suddenly opened her eyes and stared at me. She was not sleeping after all.

"What ...what are you doing here?" my voice was so hoarse I could hardly believe myself.

She grinned and turned, lying on her back and giving me the full view of her unclothedness. I briefly ran my eyes from her face to her boobs, midsection, pubic region, thighs and down to her slightly spread legs. Her grin was still on; so was the unabashed invitation.

"I miss you," she said. "I really miss you."

I tried a grin too. "I miss you also," I intoned.

She spread out her hands. It was a jolly invitation. I never declined it before but things were different now. The image of Bimpe hit my mind. I shook my head.

"I really love her." It was a mumble but it was loud and clear.

Eniola reacted as if I had thrown cold water on her. "What?!" the grin slipped off her face.

Her outstretched hands flopped as if they had come in contact with fire. "You are rejecting me!" she yelled. Her voice was filled with accusation and acrimony. She hurriedly came down from the bed, picked her wears from the stool, hissed and stormed out of the bedroom. I was amazed at her response.

I thought she would understand and take it maturely. I shrugged. I was glad that at least I was able to overcome the temptation. Before hitting the bed, this time around, I remembered to bolt the bedroom door.


* * *


Few minutes after seven o'clock in the morning, I woke up. It was Sunday and I would have to prepare for church service. Then, I remembered I had a lady in the house. My mind briefly went to the event in the dead of the night. Three months ago, it was unthinkable that I would spurn her sexual overtures.

I was not a saint as we had gone on many sensuous voyages together in the past. I was particularly fond of her full, 'luscious' boobs. I could not understand why that part of a lady would make my heart beat in expectation.

I was not a freak. The experience was one of those associated with youthful exuberance. But, then, things appeared to be changing. Since Eniola walked out of my life, I had lived the life of celibacy. I went to the sitting room to see if I could ask to come to church with me. In the sitting-room, Eniola was no where to be found. I looked around. She had gone.

She must have terribly felt disappointed. I shrugged and described her case as good riddance. Some of the fried rice I cooked the previous day still remained. I warmed it, ate, relaxed a bit and prepared for church service. The service went smoothly.

We had youth group meeting thereafter. Then I went home. I thought of Bimpe as I entered the sittingroom. Would it not be nice if I gave her a call? Just then, my phone rang. Surprisingly, Bimpe was the one on the line.

"Hello, dear. I was just thinking of calling you," I said.

"Since yesterday? Desire, that's not fair."

I grinned ruefully. "You are right, I should have called before now. I'm sorry about that."

There was a pause across the line.

"Okay," she said finally. "How was your night?"

I was not going to tell her exactly how I spent the night.

"Alright, stand up," I said. She jumped up to give me a bear hug, holding me so tightly I could barely breathe. "There's one important thing, Eniola. One very important thing. I've got a new lady in my life."

She quickly stopped the hug and moved back.

"What?" I nodded. "You heard me right. I've got a new love. As a matter of fact, she left not too long before you came in."

She looked crestfallen. "Oh, no. How could you do that?"

I snickered at her. "You shouldn't have left me at all."

"But, I'm back now. Desire, your babe is back."

I still dissented. "Too late, we can't be lovers again."

She looked distraught. "But let's continue friendship," she put in. "I want us to still be friends, please."

Would that work? How could that work? "Oh please, Desire, don't throw me out just like that."

Eniola came to hug me again. My mind flashed back to how she left the house. The way Bimpe left showed that things were inconclusive. Could I really say I had secured her love? Was the reemergence of Eniola not a case of a bird in hand worthier than two in the bush?

"Alright," I told Eniola.

"We can still be friends." Her grip on tightened until I disentangled her. "Easy. when I say, I mean just friends."

"Okay," she muttered. My eyes went to the small bag she had brought along. "I brought something for you, for us, actually." She unzipped the bag and brought a food flask out. She opened the flask and showed me the poundo yam and assorted egusi soup she had prepared. She knew I loved that delicasy.

"We can take it for supper," she cooed. I could also see that she had some clothes in the bag.

"Don't tell me you're sleeping over here tonight," I injected.

"Yes, but not to worry. I can sleep on the couch in the sitting-room." There should be no problem about that, I thought. I sat down to continue watching the football match.

Eniola took the food flask to the kitchen. Some minutes later, she was back in the sitting-room. From that moment on, I could not concentrate on the match. She prattled on how she missed me and how her conscience kept disturbing her that she come back to apologize to me. The separation, she said, made her realize how much she missed and loved me. I had few responses to her prattles.

Later, she went to the kitchen to warm the soup and bring the poundo flour meal. "How do you find the food?" she asked. I had to admit that her culinary skill was top-notch. As we ate on, my mind veered to Bimpe . I imagined if she should come in that moment and see me eating with my ex girlfriend. Surely, I would have a lot of explanation to make. The sumptuous meal was over. Eniola cleared the table. We still had a long evening ahead. I settled to watch movie channel.

"I want to change clothes," Eniola announced as she took her bag and went to the bedroom. Minutes later, she came back, wearing a short, sexy, satin sleep wear. I had to force myself not to stare at her body. It was not that I did not miss her; but just that things had changed. I continued to watch the movie until late hours. By then, Eniola had slept off on her seat. I had to wake her up when I decided to go to bed.

"You can sleep on the couch now," I said. I left for the bedroom, stripped to my boxers and slept off. Some hours later, I woke to use the toilet. It was when I returned to the bedroom that I realized there was a lady lying on the bed. My mind was quick to decipher that Eniola was the body that appeared to be sleeping. The sexy, satin sleeping wear was gone. She was all naked. I remembered she used to, sometimes, sleep like this. That was when we were romantically involved. That was no more.

I started by apologizing for being a poor reader of mind. I then asked her to allow me show my love for her. To my surprise, she burst out laughing as if I had said the funniest thing on earth.

"What's funny?" I asked. "Why are you laughing?"

She stopped laughing and looked at me sternly.

"Is that how to propose to a lady?" I looked confused.

"How else do I propose?" Again, she shook her head. "You're yet to say the appropriate words."

What appropriate words was she talking about? I asked her to be specific. She shook her head. "Sorry, but I cannot put the words in your month." It was my turn to shake my head. This lady would not stop baffling me.

"Do you love me?" she asked.

I sighed. "Yes, I do."

"Are you really sure?"

Now, what type of question was this? Why must she ask this, after all we had said? She stood up.

"If you really love me, you will bear with me," she said. Bear what?

Before I could voice the question, she added: "I must thank you for the warm reception you accorded me. Thank you so much. I will like to take my leave now." I was stunned.

"Now?"

She nodded. "Yes, now. I'm a member of the choir in my church and we have singing practice in an hour's time. It's better I leave now." She took her handbag and strapped it across her shoulder. I was so disappointed in her sudden departure I did not say anything further. I felt happy I had expressed my feelings to her, on one hand.

On another, I felt disappointed by her response. I accompanied her the other side of Tipper Garage Bus Stop where she would take a bus home. On my way back to my apartment, my mind went over her visit. It was not totally unfulfilling, but it could be better. There was nothing romantic about the visit and it hurt me to think of how it ended so abruptly.

Back in flat, I locked the main door and sat down in the sitting-room to watch a live football match. The truth was my mind was barely on the match. My mind kept thinking about Bimpe . About ten minutes of watching the match, there was a knock at my door.

"Who is it?" I called out.

"It's me," a voice returned. It was a female voice. Had Bimpe forgotten something? Had she realized she treated me brusquely and had come to apologize? Well, I would soon find out. I went to the door, unlocked it and opened it.

No, Bimpe had not come back. Quite disappointingly, it was Eniola, my ex girlfriend that was at the door. I was surprised to see her there.

"What ... What are you doing here?" I asked.

She put on what looked like a smile. "Can you please, let me in?"

I hesitated for some seconds before stepping aside to allow her inside. I was about to demand why she came around when she went down on her knees. "Desire, please, I've come to beg for forgiveness. Kindly forgive me."

The scene was incredible. I could not have imagined that Eniola would come back to my apartment again. This life could be whimsical, couldn't it? Despite my resolve, my heart melted as I watched Eniola looking at me so plaintively.

"Alright, stand up," I said. She jumped up to give me a bear hug, holding me so tightly I could barely breathe. "There's one important thing, Eniola. One very important thing. I've got a new lady in my life."

Nice.

Cool.

Saturn101:
Nice update.

Thanks.

No iota of evidence. This news is speculative.

It is not just about acting fast, it is about acting appropriately. Mr. President needs to attend to many other pressing matters.

Unmerited favour.

She told me she got her bank job some months ago and had been posted to Palm Groove branch just that week. I told her about my own job and the modest income. I asked her what drinks I could get her, but she said that could come later.

I also announced that I had prepared some delicacies for her.
"Really?" she looked pleasantly surprised. "You can cook?" I smiled.
"Well, I try my best," I replied modestly.

"Good, I can't wait to taste your food." she followed me to the kitchen. We dished out the food and returned to the sitting-room.

"Hmn...the food smells delicious," she remarked. "I'm sure the taste will be so too."

I smiled. "You will soon find out. As the saying goes, the taste of the pudding is in the eating."

"Yeah." I moved the centre to the sofa and placed the dish on it. She said a short prayer before she started to eat. "Wow, the taste is tantalizing," she commented. "It's hard to believe that you prepared this." I smiled broadly. "Thanks for the compliment."

There was silence for the next few minutes. After the meal, she offered to take the dish to the kitchen. When she came back to the sitting-room, it was time for conversation. She was the one that set the ball rolling. "How long are you going to keep hiding it? I was nonplused.

"Hide what?"

She chuckled. "You know what I mean, Desire."

I shook my head emphatically. "No, I don't. Hide what?"

"Your feelings," she replied. "How long are you going to hide your feeling from me?"

I still looked confused. "Honestly, Bimpe , I don't know exactly what you mean."

She stood up from where she was sitting which was opposite me to sit by my side. "I know you had always have a crush on me, since our days in the college. Now, thank God the two of us are grown ups. Go ahead and be a man."

I could hardly believe what I was hearing. How could she say I had a crush on her? And she said it so emphatically! I suddenly softened my stance. She was quite right.

"But, you've always been so arrogant, so pompous," I spluttered.
"You've always created a barrier between yourself and others." I thought my words would provoke her, but she was unruffled. "I'm not talking about others. Desire, I'm talking about you." I nodded. "You created that same barrier against me," I said gently. She shook her head.

She looked at me calmly. "You did not understand me. I've always seen you as different from others."

It was wonderful to hear Bimpe say this. Now that it appeared she had come down from her horse, I should not hold back my feelings again. I started by apologizing for being a poor reader of mind. I then asked her to allow me show my love for her. To my surprise, she burst out laughing as if I had said the funniest thing on earth.

Nice work.

Too bad. There is no fulfilment in rape. The fact is, sex is highly exaggerated.