Babe, have i told you how much i love you and your work?

Well, i do.

Really. A lot.

I love its realism and the choice of words.

Well done.

P.S. I thought Akwa would walk out on Morgan, so i could have him. I think he's the first fictional character since Ricky Underwood in The Secret Life of an American Teenager, I've had a crush on.

Update on board.

Episode 32 -Past demons.

Tinu chuckled as she left the twins jabbering with Dapo over the phone. Though they had been devastated to leave D.D. behind, the thought of seeing Dapo again had lifted their spirits. They'd been on the phone with him for thirty minutes, and it didn't seem like they were going to be done soon. Dapo had called his entire household to come see his friends. And Temi and Tomini had gone on chatting with everyone.

She didn't mind. At least, they were happy and that was what mattered. She walked to the kitchen and pulled out a bottle of water for herself.

'You know you're the beauty in the kitchen, the spice in every food that comes out of it.'

His thick voice had carressed her ears as she stood in front of this same fridge, four years ago.

She sighed and shook her head.

Stop it, Tinu.

Her heart melted as she tried to avoid remembering the many times he infiltrated her kitchen, claiming to want to help her out. Rather, he'd tire her out with questions.

'Why don't you use this spice instead?'

Why was it so hard to forget him?

She walked to the drawer and pulled out a glass.

"Mummy!" Tomini shouted as he ran into the kitchen with Temi hot on her heels.

"Mummy, can we call D.D.?" Tomini said and raising the phone up to her. "Please."

"Mummy, please." Temi begged.

Tinu sighed. She could take them away from their father, but she couldn't take their father away from their hearts. She wasn't vengeful. She was only trying to protect them from the pain she'd seen Ajiri go through.

Her father had divorced her mother, and remarried another woman. Ajiri had suffered the pain of watching her father put his wife and his step daughters ahead of her every single time.

Their fees were first. Her shop rent first. Their excursion payments first. The man never even spent time with Ajiri. The pain was Tinu's as well. She had held Ajiri every time she came back from her father's place empty-handed. She had been the one who begged her parents to foot Ajiri's WAEC fees when her mother lost her job.

She didn't disappointment and dashed expectations for them. Not for her children. It was inevitable if Dele married Seyifunmi. Her artifice with Ireti had put Dele off her scent. While the conference call Ireti led him to believe she was in the US, she could lead a quiet life with her children in Abuja.

There'd be no foul.

"Do you remember all the rules?" She asked and placed the bottle on the island.

They nodded.

"No matter what, we should never tell Daddy where we are." Temi said.

"If he insists, we hang up." Tomini said and frowned.

She sighed. Tomini had been against their leaving. The girl was so angry, threw tantrums and had plainly called her out.

She'd spoilt them. When she was that age, she couldn't say half of what the girl said.

She'd gotten angry and slapped her.

She collected the phone from her daughter.

"Let's go upstairs."

Tomini and Temi skipped out of the room and she followed. They walked to their room, and sat on their bed. She unlocked her phone and dialed Dele's line.

She handed them the phone, and sat on the chair by Temi's reading table.

*******
"So you're telling me there's no legal action I can take against her?" Dele shouted at his lawyer.

The man stared at him expressionless. His dull eyes remained passive and fuelled Dele's irritation.

"We can't sue a person we can't find. It's only when we find her, we can discuss how to bring her back to the court's jurisdiction." The man stated.

"F*uck!" He swore and rubbed his face.

He stood and walked the length of the living room and back.

"Can we get Interpol?" He asked after his third pair of to and fro movement.

"She has sole legal and physical custody. She didn't kidnap the children." The man stated.

"I can't let her just take my children like that and do nothing!" He stopped and shouted at the man.

He had begged the COSA to use his influence with the Minister for Aviation to get him flight manifests. But he'd been led to a dead end. Tinu had broken her trip, flying to Egypt first. He'd called the airline, but they refused to give him any information. He couldn't believe she outsmarted him. How long had she been planning this?

"Dele." Seyifunmi called as she jogged into the room. "Tinu's calling."

He snatched his phone out of her hand, and accepted the incoming WhatsApp video call.

Temi and Tomini beamed at him , and shouted, "Daddy."

His heart raced and he smiled.

"How are you? Are you okay?" He asked.

They nodded.

"I miss you." Dele confessed. "Where are you?"

"We miss you too, Daddy." Tomini said with tears in her eyes. "Daddy, I miss you so much."

He squeezed his eyes shut and clenched his fists, chanting in his mind.

Dele, be calm.

He opened his eyes and said, "Where are you?"

"In America." Temi answered and Tomini's tears fell.

"Where in America? Tell me." He asked, waiting desperately to hear their answer.

"We are not supposed to." Tomini said.

"Who said so?" He shouted.

"Mummy." Temi answered.

"I'm your father. Please, tell me." Dele said.

Their looked beyond the camera for a few seconds and then returned to him.

Obviously, she's supervising the call.

"Daddy, how are you?" Tomini asked.

"I'm sad, miserable and angry. In short, I am not fine."Dele answered.

Tomini pursed her lips. And there was silence for a few minutes.

"We should go."Temi said.

"Wait. Why are you two wearing singlets? Isn't it chilly this time of the year?" Dele asked.

"It doesn't get chilly everywhere in the America during fall." Temi responded.

"Where are you then? California? Florida? Texas?" He called, thankful for Temi's revelation.

"Daddy, bye bye." Temi said and his screen went black.

Ann2012:
I really don’t know what to say about Seyifunmi and her manners, it’s totally uncalled for.... now look at the damage she has caused with her irrational behavior
I believe Tinu and Chris will reunite in US
Thanks for the update ma’am

Chris is the UK.

Hi guys...

So there's a new link for voting, due to the site being on maintenance.

https://theagoratv.com/vote-olorodes-story/


Thanks for your support, guys.

There'll be update later on today.

P.S. Let me know what you think about the update.

P.P.S. Who loves Higi Haga?

Awwwn

Thanks for voting guys.

I love, I love you. (In Omah Lay's voice)

Please, kindly send your transfer receipts to me on Whatsapp on 09011259790. Or you can simply post it here and I'll screen shot it.

Whichever works for you.

Thank you guys so much.

Episode 31 - Yam, Pepper, Scatter, Scatter Part 2

Temi bami. (I'm in trouble.)

Her teeth chewed her lower lip like gum, as Dele drove and ranted at how Tinu's action was irrational.

God, what do I do?

Dele had shown her the letter his mother had snapped and sent to him. Tinu left because of her. No diviner had to tell her.

"Will I spend the rest of my life making up for a mistake I made six years ago? Am I supposed to continue living in fear that any moment Tinu could up and leave without a trace?" Dele shouted.

She jumped at the boom of his voice and tears glimmered in her eyes.

If Dele found out that she was the cause…

"I'm sorry." Dele said, and turned to look at her. "We were supposed to check out the reception venue, and you're here, listened to my ranting-"

"It's okay." She said to silence him.

He shouldn't be apologising. Not to her.

"Let's just get to your mum." She whispered and turned to look out the window.

I just hope she won't hate me.

If Délé's mum found out that she was behind this,after what happened after her birthday, she was finished.

The woman would put her foot down and ask her to leave her son alone.

God!

Why am I so stupid?

She'd had a row with Délé's mum, the weekend after her birthday. She'd gone with Dele to introduce the wedding planner to her and her husband.

Unfortunately, the door was answered by Omotunde, who was just returning from an event. The lady was clad in a mermaid dress, made of the exact same material she'd gifted Délé's mum.

She knew the woman didn't like her, but giving the cloth to her maid was just low. She had been dejected throughout the meeting. Dele kept on asking her what was wrong. She could only smile and say nothing.

Just before they left, she'd opened up to him and told him his mother had given the expensive material to her maid.

His mum had overheard their discussion, and accused her of trying to turn her son against her. The whole incident seemed orchestrated by the Devil.

The woman had burst into tears, saying how she was against their union, how she'd eventually tear her only son away from her, and how she'd ruin Délé's relationship with his children. The woman had asked her maid to get her the gift box from her room.

The woman had thrust her gift back into her hands, and asked her to leave her house.

The woman's husband, Dele, Omotunde and she had spent close to an hour begging the woman.

If the truth came to light, Délé's mum would proudly beat her chest and say 'I told you so', Dele would leave her and she'd be finished.

Her mother had warned her never to return to the house if she ruined her engagement to Dele.

Why did Tinu have to go?

She'd left her so many texts and voicemails apologising.

Why did she have to react this extremely?

"I'm sorry this had to happen." Dele said and reached for her left hand laying on her laps. She turned to face him and the love in his eyes made her stomach quiver.

He interlinked their fingers and kissed the back of her hand.

Dele, I'm sorry.

"No matter what, December sixteenth is December sixteenth. We'll find them. And the wedding will push through. I promise." Dele said.

A tear fell as her heart pleaded with her to tell him the truth.

"Dele," she whispered and pulled her hand away, "don't make promises you can't keep. I understand if we have to postpone the wedding."

"Seyifunmi, we're getting married. No matter what. We'll manage everything. We'll find Tinu, plan our wedding, convince her to return, and I'll have my children at my wedding. Do you understand?"

Dele, I'm sorry.

She wanted so bad to tell him what she'd done, but her lips were stapled to each other.

*******
Donald watched his wife mope and push her plate away. Since they returned the afternoon before, she hadn't had anything to eat. Her red eyes let out more tears and something broke within him.

"Elsa, stop this nonsense." He shouted and pushed out of his chair.

She sobbed harder and he heaved in anger. He'd never seen her this sad. It was like he counted for nothing. She'd tried comforting her, but she only wept.

"Why would she do something like this? I raised Reggie since she was born. I took care of that girl with my blood and sweat and with my entire heart, and she just left. I'm sorry for any inconveniences. She took my grandchildren and left to God knows where. What if she relapses again? What will happen to them? What if she hurts my grandchildren? Donald, I'll die if anything happens to those children."

She sniffled and the door bell rang. Donald shook his head, trying not to imagine the pain that would kill him if his new wife really died like his first wife.

He left the table and walked to the door. He unlocked it and pulled it open. Dele stood there frowning with his fiancee ducking her head.

He just hoped Elsa wouldn't cause another humiliating scene. This girl had gone through enough. And Elsa's behaviour the last time, she was here was nothing short of appalling.

The girl hadn't even been talking to her. She was only sharing her fears with Dele, and Elsa had brewed a tempest in a teapot.

"Good afternoon, Sir." Dele greeted and the girl did same.

"Good afternoon." He answered and moved out of the way.

"It's even good you're here, Bamidele. Maybe you can talk sense to your mother." Donald said as he locked the door. He led them to the living room and Elsa's eyes lightened as she saw her son

"Bamidele," Elsa called and shot out of her seat, "thank God you're here. Have you gotten through to Tinu? Has she contacted you?"

Dele shook his head, and her pallor returned.

"Aye mi baje." She said and walked to the nearest sofa. (My life is ruined.)

"You see? Do you see?" Donald shouted. "Tinu had only been gone for a day, and Elsa was about to cry herself to her grave.

"Mummy, calm down." Dele pacified and walked to seat beside her.

"Odindin omo merin." Elsa howled.(Four children.) "Where do we start from? That was what she did six years ago. She left with the children, and you yourself know how we sweated before we found them. Dele, o mo. If you can't remember, I do." (Dele, you know.)

Dele sighed and looked at his fiancee. The lady looked miserable. Her eyes red with unshed tears and her teeth fastened unto her lip.

The girl was probably scared Elsa would blame her.

"Mummy, I-"

An Apple chime filled the room, cutting him short. Elsa sat up and whipped his arm.

"It could be Tinu. Answer it." Elsa shouted.

Donald sighed.

Dele pulled the phone out of his pocket and frowned at the screen.

"It's an international number," he said and picked the call, "Hello?"

His frown eased into a look of relief.

"It's Tinu." He announced and Elsa shouted that he put the phone on speaker.

"Hello, Dele. Can you hear me? Hello?" Tinu asked.

"I'm hearing you. Tinu, what's this now? Where did you go? And why did you take the children without informing me?" Dele said, with his tone livid.

"Dele, I didn't call you so you could shout on me. If you didn't notice, this is an international call and it's pretty expensive. I just wanted to let you know that my children and I have relocated to the US-"

"What?!" Dele and Elsa shouted.

"Tinu, kilode? Kilosele? Even if something went wrong, o ba ti so funmi.", Elsa cried. (Tinu, why? What happened? Even if something went wrong, you should have told me.)

"Mummy, this is for the best. I just wanted to let Dele know that we're fine and that in due course, Temi and Tomini will get in touch with him-"

"Tinu, mo fi eleda mi be e, mase bayii!"(Tinu, I beg you in the name of my creator, don't do this.)


"Mummy, I'm sorry. This is for my children." Tinu said and a beep filled the room.

"Hello?" Dele said and checked the screen. "She hung up."

"Ah! Ina jo mi."(I'm ruined.) "Where in the US will we say they are now? Dele, o pade b'aye mi je. I told you that this your relationship with this girl will ruin everything. O o gbami gbo"(Dele, you've eventually ruined my life. You didn't believe me.)

She cried and writhed unto the floor.

"Mummy," Dele called confused.

Donald turned to look at the girl and saw her crying.

"Elsa, calm down."


********
"How is my son doing?" Jason Oduah asked the two men in white coats.

He turned from watching Chris take struggled breaths. Was this all a mistake? Had Chris gone senile to the point of attempting to take life over and over again?

"He's stable now, but still comatose." One of the men announced.

"Mr. Oduah," the psychiatrist called, "we are terribly sorry. We don't know how he got hold of the chemical, but we'll do better next time."

Jason sized the man up from head to toe.

"If my son dies, I'll ruin your entire life's work. By the time I'm through with you, you'd never be allowed to treat even rats." Jason said and stood.

"We apologise once again." The other doctor said.

He hissed and touched his son's forehead. Tears stung his eyes and he blinked them back. It was his fault his son was this way.

"How much do I have to pay to get him permanent nurses?" Jason asked still bent over his son.

"We'd have to check with accounting and-"

"Just get it done. Get him the best there is. They stay with him twenty-four seven. They wake with him and sleep with him. They are to become his shadow. Do you understand?" He barked at them.

"Yes sir."

I'd do anything to protect you, Chris. And I'll protect you even from yourself.

BTW, I'm sorry for the silence....

I've been trying to think up ideas for a project I'm working on.

I had nothing.

Drained all my motivation.

millieademi:
[i][/i]Hi guys.



So, I need your help to win the _Teens Can Blog Short Story Competition

Please, I need you to vote my entry Social Distance Date by Iyanuoluwa Olorode.

A vote costs just #100. You can vote as many as *50 times.

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Episode 30 - Yam, Pepper, Scatter Scatter Part 1

Donald turned in his bed, and stretched out his hand for his wife. He met an empty space and his eyes fluttered open. He sat up and met his wife searching their luggage.

Was it already morning?

He turned to bedside clock.

2:13

Apparently not.

They were going to board the cruise ship by seven that morning. The ship was leaving from South Africa and Tinu had booked them a ritzy hotel and they'd been given world class treatment.

God bless her.

Elsa had been so giddy the past three days, her excitement, so tangible, it was the third person on their trip.

"Elsa Mopelola Banire," he called out, and she turned to face him with a frown.

"Donald, something is wrong. I don't know. It's like we're forgetting something. Our passports and tickets are here. But I can't shake the feeling something is about to go wrong." Elsa muttered, with her voice shaking.

Sleep vanished from his eyes.

"Donald, I'm scared. Maybe we should go back home." Elsa sighed.

What?!

Since Tinu had gifted them the tickets, all Elsa could talk about was the cruise. Now, she wanted to go back home?

"Elsa, calm down. Tell me what it is exactly?" He asked and pushed the covers away.

She shook her head and clutched the neckline of her pyjamas shirt.

"Donald, there's a stone in my heart. A stone of dread. Like something terrible is about to happen. And then it's like I've forgotten something at home. I don't know. My spirit doesn't want to go tomorrow." She said as she walked to the edge of the bed and sat on the supple mattress.

He sighed. He knew better than to argue with Elsa when her spirit was against something. She was the more spiritual one, and her instincts hadn't been wrong yet.

"I'll call our travel agent and see what we can do." He said.

She turned and smiled at him.

"Thank you."


******

Elsa picked up the piece of paper she met lying on the floor by the threshold. The brown manila envelope was addressed to her. She pulled her suitcase in and wheeled it to a corner of the living room. Her tension, rather than reduce as they landed at MMIA, increased. She felt more than before that she'd lost something.

She didn't know what. Her heart quivered as she turned the envelope around in her hand. Donald walked in with their doorman helping him with the rest of their luggage.

"Elsa, what is that?" Donald asked.

She shrugged as she broke the seal.

"I found it at the door." She said and pulled a white sheet of paper out of the envelope.

She unfolded the paper and scanned the contents, and her fears grew more vivid.

"Mummy, I'm sorry it has to be this way, but my duty is to think of my children first and what is best for them. They are my number one priority. And my decision might hurt you and Dele, I'm sorry.

"I've left with the kids. We'll contact you once we're settled. I apologise for any inconveniences."

"Inconveniences?" Elsa whispered as the sheet slipped out of her shaking hands.

"Elsa?" Donald asked.

"She's taken them away," Elsa turned to say, with tears with her eyes.

"I knew something was wrong. Donald, she has taken Temi and Tomini away?" She sobbed.

"Away, bi to bawo?"Donald scoffed and picked up the paper. (What do you mean by away?)

Elsa walked to the nearest sofa and descended slowly.

"Donald, what did we do? Why did she decide to punish me this way?"

Donald shook his head and slipped his phone out of his pocket. He dialed a number and pressed the phone to his ear.

What could have happened? Why did Tinu have to take the children away? They could have talked about it. Why did she have to up and leave?

Inconveniences?

Was it just merely inconveniences to her?

Did she not know that a part of her heart belonged to the children? The twins and their siblings.

"Her number's unavailable." Donald announced and she let out a weak sob.

"Donald, what are we going to do?"

She'd be lost if she didn't see her grandchildren. Not after everything she'd gone through, all because she wanted grandchildren.

******
Her moans carressed his ears as he kissed her intimately. Pants left him as he pulled away to peck her neck.

"Dele…" she sighed, "I thought we were going celibate till the wedding."

He raised his head to look at her.

"I thought so too." He said and kissed her lips again. Her hands roamed his back and came to a rest around his neck. She pulled away from him, and rested her forehead against his.

Their mixed pants for air filled the room.

"Dele, we have to stop. I'm fertile now, and I got my IUD out yesterday." Seyifunmi gasped.

"Shay," he whined as his hands skimmed her thighs.

"Dele, I don't want to be pregnant before my wedding." She said, her resolve pedestalled in her eyes.

"Guess, it's blue balls for me till December sixteenth." Dele whined and rolled off her to his side of the bed.

Seyifunmi smiled and turned on her side, facing him.

"Sorry." She said smirking.

"Leave me, jo." He said, right before his phone rang.

Seyifunmi reached over to the stand by her bed.

"It's your mum." Seyifunmi said frowning as she handed him the phone.

"My mum?"

Wasn't she supposed to be on the cruise?

He tapped the green icon and brought the phone to his ear.

"Hello, mummy." He said.

Rather than his mother's voice, her husband's voice came on, "Wo, Dele, mewa ti sele!"(Look, Dele, something has happened.)

Was his mother sick again? Did she have another heart attack?

"Good evening sir. What happened to mummy?" He asked, trying to school his racing heart.

"Nothing. At least, not to your mother. Tinu ti ko awon omo lo."(Tinu has taken the children away.)

To where?

"Lo si bo?"(To where?)

"Wo, ma bi mi ni'bere. I don't know what you did this time. But she's taken the children away and her lines are unavailable. Your mother is devastated." Donald shouted. (Look, don't ask me questions.)

Tinu? Took the children? Without telling him? Just like that?

"Ayobamidele."

His mother's voice sniffled into the phone.

"Se mo se e ni? That you decide to push Tinu to taking the children away?"(Did I offend you?)

He got off the bed.

"Mummy, I didn't do anything to Tinu. This is all strange to me. The last time we saw each other was two weeks ago. On your birthday. And we didn't have any issue. E ma gbami. Why? What- why will she take the children away?"

"Dele, s'aanu fun mi. Bring back my grandchildren. Mo f'eleda mi be e."( Dele, pity me. I beg you in God's name.)

Okay, with the recent comments, I have to say this.

Again.




Ocean of Secrets doesn't end here. There is a book 2.

Ocean of Secrets: The Flow (Ocean of Secrets Saga Book 2)

That's the name of the new thread.

Please. Do not be disheartened.

And Love From The Thread is in no way related to Ocean of Secrets.

I stated that at the beginning of the book.

Please, let's take note.

[i][/i]Hi guys.



So, I need your help to win the _Teens Can Blog Short Story Competition

Please, I need you to vote my entry Social Distance Date by Iyanuoluwa Olorode.

A vote costs just #100. You can vote as many as *50 times.

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Hi guys.



So, I need your help to win the _Teens Can Blog Short Story Competition

Please, I need you to vote my entry Social Distance Date by Iyanuoluwa Olorode.

A vote costs just #100. You can vote as many as *50 times.

The link to read the story and vote is:
https://www.teenscanblog.com/2020/08/31/vote-iyanuoluwas-story/


Please

Help me bring this home.

Here is how you vote:
You can either vote through an online payment system or bank transfer:

Here is the paystack link: Your transactions online are protected.
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Send your prove of payment to https:///+2349011259790

Episode 29- Intromimo

Seyifunmi pulled her hair out of her face with her left hand and smiled inwardly as Damilola's eyes followed the rock on her finger. She'd been hesitant to wear her ring out because she didn't want to get robbed.

Dele had ordered Arnold to pick her up from work and drop her off everyday with his Audi. She'd been thrilled about it and had stuck it to the ladies who had been long been making her life miserable since she was made the head of the hub.

Damilola had been swift to weave the fact that she was being dropped off and picked up by an Audi everyday into Seyifunmi's sleeping with an older man. She had been irritated and asked Dele to drop her off at work.

Everyone in the Nigeria Silicone Valley knew who Bamidele Daramola was. And everyone at the hub was shell-shocked as Dele held open the car door for her and gave her a kiss on the lips.

That was before he whispered in her ears that she owed him for the drama he put up for her.

She smiled at the memory.

Shameless Damilola had asked her in the reception what she was doing with Dele Daramola.

"He's my fiance." She said letting her hand rest on her hair, longer than necessary.

"Are you serious?" Riyyah, one of Damilola's cronies, asked.

She smiled and nodded.

"Your ring is beautiful." Funmi, Damilola's bestie said.

Damilola turned to glare at Funmi.

Shior, make jealousy kill you there.

Seyifunmi beamed wider.

"Thank you."

"Congratulations, Miss Seyifunmi." Kasim, her assistant said.

She smiled at him and Damilola's horrified face.

"Thank you, Kasim. Please let's get back to work. We have to pitch the honeypot today." She said and strutted into her office.


********

Dele locked the door and walked round the cartoon meet her. This was it. They were finally going to her her parents pick the date for her wedding. Délé's mum and her husband had asked them to get a date from her parents and then get back to them.

He smiled at her and held her free hand as they walked to the front door of her parents' home. Her other hand was carrying a big shopping bag of all the things she knew her parents liked. She'd bought them, and paid with Délé's black card.

She had just started seeing his wealth for what it was, and she couldn't believe she never notified any of these things before. He'd never used his black card before. He'd never used the Audi before.

Just last week, they'd dined with the Commissioner for Environment for Lagos State and his wife. The man had been Délé's old classmate. It's like he struck a gold mine all of a sudden, but she knew that wasn't the case.

Had he been testing her all this while?

She shrugged. She must have passed if he decided to marry her.

She knocked on the door, seconds later, Sewa, her parents' maid opened the door for them.

"Aunty Seyifunmi," she cried in excitement. "Oju yin re!"

"Sewa, bawo?" She asked beaming at the lady as they walked in.(Sewa, how are you?)

"Uncle, e k'asan." She said to Dele and he answered.(Uncle, good afternoon.)

Seyifunmi wrapped a hand around his arm and said, "Oko afesana mi re." (This is my fiance.)

"Ahh!" The lady beamed and genuflected, "Uncle, e k'asan." (Uncle, good afternoon.)

Dele smiled at her.

"Mummy ati Daddy nko?" Seyifunmi asked (Where are Mummy and Daddy?).

"Won wa ni parlour." The lady responded and closed the door.(They are in the parlour)

She offered to carry the bag, but Seyifunmi declined smiling and led her fiancee to the living room.

"Mummy, Daddy,e k'asan." She greeted and went on her knees. (Mummy and Daddy, good afternoon.)

"Ahh! Oluwaseyifunmi. Abefe mi. How are you?" He father said smiling. (My Abefe.)

"Mummy, Daddy, e k'asan." Dele greeted and prostrated before her parents.

"E dide. Dele,bawo ni?" Her mother said, beaming happily. Ever since she called her to inform her about Délé's proposal, the woman had been extra happy with her.(Get up. Dele, how are you?)

They stood and Dele sat in a sofa, while she handed over the things they'd bought for her parents.

"Awa nikan tan?!" Her mother exclaimed as she rummaged through the bag. She gasped in surprise as she brought out a bottle of her husband's favorite brand of Porte.(All this for us?)

"Ahan! Ese o." Her father greeted and collected the bottle of wine from his wife.(Thank you.)

"Ko t'ope." Dele said smiling.(It's nothing.)

She beamed as her parents smiled at the love of her life. This was everything she ever wanted. To finally get settled down with a man she loved, and one her parents approved of.

"Mummy, kilo n sele?" Sister Simi asked as she walked into the living room. Seyifunmi felt her smile wane.(What's going on?)

Of all people to be around today.

"Good afternoon." Dele greeted and Sister Simi smiled and responded, "Good afternoon."

Seyifunmi mumbled a greeting and her sister gave her a stifled smile.

"Anyway, your Dad and I have spoken. Since, you said you want to get married this year, we decided on December sixteenth. Is that okay with you, Dele?" Her mother asked.

"Any date you pick is fine by me, ma." Dele answered.

"How do you want to plan a wedding in two months?" Simi cried in shock.

Seyifunmi opened her mouth, but before she could get her words out, her mother spoke.

"Maybe we should call Siju. You know she planned the wedding of the daughter of the governor of Ogun State."

"Siju cannot plan my wedding, o!" Seyifunmi cried.

God forbid horrible thing. Siju that still hadn't forgive her for what happened with Gbade. Gbade had called off their wedding because of her and Siju still hadn't gotten married since the incident eight years ago. Siju, rather than plan her wedding, would destroy her relationship with Dele as revenge.

"See her mouth!" Simi snarled, "You're too proud. Who are you that Siju cannot plan your wedding?"

"All me I know is that Siju cannot plan my wedding." Seyifunmi reiterated and crossed her arms across her chest.

"Seyifunmi, it's okay." Dele chided.

"Ti mo ba ko'gbati fun e, wa a ma gba'be m'omi!" Simi threatened.(If I slap you, you'll start drinking water.)

"It's okay. You want to slap my baby in front of me?" Her father asked.

"Baby ko, born boy ni. Daddy Lanre, this girl is no longer your baby. She is now Délé's baby. Abi?" Her mother said to ease the tension.
Seyifunmi smiled and turned to Dele who had a grin on his face.

"Aunty Simi, don't mind her!" Dele said and grabbed a hold of her hand. "What she meant to say is that we've already hired Fariha Jubril to plan our wedding."

"Ehn!" Simi shouted and her aged parents jumped in their seats.

"S'o fe pa ara e?" Her mother scolded.(Do you want to kill yourself?)

"Mummy, Fariha Jubril's the lady that planned that wedding we were watching together on TV that day na. The wedding of that actress. I can't remember her name." Simi chanted smiling.

"Iro ni?" Her mother called in shock. "C - c- can you afford her? Simi said she's very expensive."(It's a lie.)

Seyifunmi swelled with pride as Dele said, "Agbara Olorun ka."(God's grace is sufficient.)

"Wait o. Is that not the wedding you people said that they divorced three months later?" Her father asked.

"Yes o." Her mother inputted.

"You see. That was what I was telling you the last time we spoke, Abefe. That a wedding is much easier than marriage. Marriage takes effort and work and the mercy of God. It takes the determination to stay with the person regardless of the odds that might rise."

"Yes, Daddy."

The man continued unto a lenghty sermon on the virtues that uphold a happy marriage.

"Anyway, let me know how ever I can help out." Simi offered when their father was done.

Seyifunmi beamed and thanked God. She didn't know how to ask her sister to bake her wedding cake, but now that she'd offered.

"Our wedding cake, sista mi. I want you to do it. Please." She cooed in a baby-like voice.

Simi was very good at what she did and Seyifunmi didn't want anyone else.

"That's what you want?" Simi asked smiling.

Seyifunmi nodded.

"Okay na. Anything for my baby sister."


*****

"Seyifunmi, I'm tired!" Dele groaned and crashed unto on the white sofas in their new home. They'd moved in together and she'd cashed in on her lease at her apartment.

She followed him and sat beside him. She rested her head on his shoulder and placed a palm on his bare chest left accessible with the shirt buttoned halfway through.

"Dele please." She begged.

"Seyifunmi, I said I'm tired. All this running around is why I got us the best wedding planner there is in the country. If she isn't capable, I'd fly in a better one-"

"Dele, she is. I just want you to come and check out the hall with me. It's where we'd get married." She cooed.

"Shay, I don't care if we get married at the registry. All I want is that we get married. All this senrenre I don't understand. I told you if you like it, get it. The cost is not the issue." Dele said.

"Dele, by the grace of God, I'll only get married once. This is a big deal to me. I don't want you regretting my choice or resenting it. Just come with me. Please." She said stroking his chest.

He sighed.

"If I do this, I'm not doing the food and wine tasting thing." He said.

She smiled and nodded.

"Okay."

"Thank you, Dele. I love you." She chippered and pulled away.

"Yeah yeah."

She smiled and straddled him and pasted kisses to his face.

"I said I love you."

He laughed and said, "I love you too."

Episode 28 - Love vs Fear

"Hey." She heard a voice call and rub her back. The familiar, smooth, up and down movement on her back chased her sleep away. She raised her head and squinted as the bright yellow light from the sun outside hit her pupils.

She groaned and turned to her side where she saw the familiar, skinny, black woman, clad in a silk, rust coloured, long sleeved shirt and black pants with a white coat over them.

"Doc, good," she started and her greeting culminated in a loud yawn.

She placed her fisted hand over her mouth and stretched.

"Good morning, Doctor Baker." She greeted scratching her head.

The woman gave a weak smile.

"I wanna ask if you slept well, but I sure as hell can see that you didn't," the woman drawled with a strong African American Vernacular English accent.


Rosanna frowned and turned to Dare, who was laying on his back, still and with his eyes closed. She picked a piece of lint away from the blanket covering him.

"You don't have to spend every night here." The woman said and perched onto the foot of Dare's bed.

"I want to be here when he wakes up." Rosanna said still looking at Dare.

She'd woken up that day just to hear Dare was out of the OR, but in a coma, and he'd been comatose for two months and counting. Her eyes skimmed over his full beard and she sighed.

She'd asked his nurse to give him a shave. Apparently, he'd forgotten. She made a mental note to buy an electric razor as her hand reached for his. His nails were longer as well. She'd have to bring in her manicure kit as well.

"Ro, you're going to waste away if you keep this up." The doctor said.

Rosanna rolled her eyes and regretted getting casual with Dare's doctor. No one had the right to tell her she couldn't sit by his side everyday till he woke up. Not her mother. Not John. Not Aunt Martha. And certainly not his doctor.

She pushed out of her chair and picked up the porcelain vase of marigolds and said, "These need water."

"So you just gonna ignore me?" The woman said.

"Yep." Rosanna answered and walked to the ensuite.

The woman said, "Then, I better start charging you rent."

Rosanna smiled and turned on the faucet. "Up the ante and give me cable and free WiFi, then we'd begin negotiations."

The woman chuckled and said, "I'm going on rounds. Don't get in trouble before I get back."

"Aye aye captain." She answered and turned off the faucet.

She sighed and lifted the vase out of the sink and carried it back to the bedside table. She sat back in her seat and stared at him.

"Morning, baby." She said and kissed his hand.

The doctor had told her to talk to him like she would normally. He said Dare was only incapable of speaking and moving and he could very much hear her.

"So I was thinking, maybe I should walk up to that nurse and give her a piece of my mind. I'm not going to just ignore her rude comment. Or what do you think?" She said and waited for Dare to give her a response.

The monitor kept on beeping and she continued.

"Anyway, the audiobooks I ordered will be here tomorrow and we can both listen to them. I got your favorite, Every Day, and I can't wait to listen to it." Rosanna said as someone knocked on the door.

She turned and met Alicia and her mother standing by the door. The urge to hover and hog Dare came over her. She spread her lips into a pretentious smile and said, "Hi."

"Hi." They chorused.

The thirteen year old girl looked a little bit pale and she had her cracked lips glossed. Rosanna's heart stirred with pity. To be so young and have a major organ failing. She had her life ahead of her and that life could be snuffed out if Dare, a father she's never known remains in a coma.

Talk about awkward.

"Sorry, but Alicia wanted to see you." Madison announced.

"M-m-me?" Rosanna stuttered and the girl gave her a weak smile.

Why?

"Allie, I have to call my boss. You talk with Rosanna, okay?" Madison said, holding her daughter's shoulders.

"Okay mum." She answered.

Madison kissed her forehead and walked out of the room. Alicia turned to her and smiled weakly.

"What did you want to talk to me about?" Rosanna asked.

The girl grabbed a foldable chair by the sofa and set it down beside Rosanna. The girl sat in it and stared at Dare for minutes without saying anything.

Maybe she wanted to see her father without telling her mother that explicitly. This was the first time Rosanna had ever seen the girl in her father's ward.

It must be so overwhelming to have your life linked to someone you've never met and yet you're supposed to have known all your life.

"Do you hate me?" The girl asked breaking Rosanna's thought process.

What?

"What did you say?"

"Do you hate me?" The girl asked and turned to face her.

"Why would I hate you?"

"Why wouldn't you? You were supposed to get married and I ruined it." The girl says.

"I d-"

"I never even knew he existed. All she told me whenever I asked was that my Dad died in Afghanistan, that he was a soldier. I joined a pen pal group to write to soldiers because of that. I never knew I watched my dad play for the Longhorns. I never knew the man I hated on for leaving Longhorns for Lakers was my father. To me, my dad was dead. He died while serving his country. And now, when the doctor says I need a transplant, she finally tells me he's alive.

"And that he never wanted me," tears brim in her eyes and she blinked them back and smiled, "I'm not even sure if he's going to want to help out with the transplant costs. I'm not sure if I'm going to live till he wakes up. You have no idea how much dialysis sucks. I'd quit but Uncle Durango's out in Alaska working on a rig because of me.

"I want to ask him why but then I have no right. Just like he isn't obligated to help me-"

"Don't say that." Rosanna chided. "Your father's a good man. The Dare I know would never turn his back on his responsibility."

"You met a better version of him and not the jerk who knocked my mum up and hung her out to dry. I got my weak kidneys from his side of the gene pool." She said and a tear slipped out of her eye.

Rosanna wished she could stop Dare from hearing the hurt words of his daughter, but he had to.

Did he really reject the baby?

"I just wanted you to know that my mom and I have no intentions of ruining your relationship with him. If this never happened, I'd have probably never learnt he existed." Alicia said.

"I understand and I don't hate you."

The girl nodded and wiped her face.

"I'll wait here till my mum gets back." She's said and returned the chair back to where she picked it up from and sat back in it.

******

Rosanna clipped off the nail and put it back in the dip. She picked out his other hand and began filing his nails. She'd already done his toes and given him a shave.

A terrible shave.

It started out as a trim, then she'd cut too low, and then decided to shave everything off. She'd cut him more times than appropriate.

At one point, she'd thought the pain would wake him up.

"Can I sign up for a free mani-pedi?" Ose's voicemail called and she turned.

"Ose!" She calls and dropped Dare's hand. "What are you doing here?"

He'd returned to Nigeria a week after Daresay accident. What was he doing here?

"How are you?" He asked after kissing her temple.

"Great! How about you? How's Seyifunmi? And the new book?" She asked and resumed filing Dare's nails.

"I'm good. Shay's mad and plotting Dare's murder." Ose said and she paused. She'd asked him not to tell her anything, only that the wedding got cancelled.

"Did you tell her?"

"What do you think?" He replied and took off his jacket and perched on the bed.

"Thanks." She said smiling and continued filing.

No words passed between them. Only the monitor's beeps and the scraping sound of the file conversed in the room.

"Ro?" He called and she looked up.

"When was the last time you left this room?"

"Last night, to get a change of clothes." She answered, unfazed.

He sighed. "Your mum's worried. I'm worried. You can't keep this up."

She didn't look up at him as she began coating his nails with clear lacquer.

"Are you going to keep quiet?"

"Ose, not to be rude, but it's none of your fucking business how I chose to stand by my fiancee. You can either leave me alone or change the topic." She said, applying thin even coats of the lacquer on to his nails.

"It is my fucking business. We're friends and I'm not going to watch quietly as my friend fades into nothing. You've been by his side for two months. You wouldn't love him less if you took a day off." Ose fired back at her.

She looked up and said, "What if I'm not here when he wakes up? What if the first person he sees when he wakes up is Madison and then he realizes that he never stopped loving her? What happens to me then?"

She didn't know the details of their relationship. All she knew was they had sex the summer break after his parents' deaths.

"Are you here because you love him or because you're afraid you'll lose him?" Ose asked.

A tear slipped out of her eye and she whispered, "Both."

"Ro, Dare loves you."

"I know that. But Madison. Did he love her as well? I'm scared, Ose." She cried.

"Don't be. I'm a man. I know these things. Dare loves you. He really does. I can bet my life what he felt for Madison's like an ant compared to what he feels for you." Ose reassured.

"Thanks." She said and smiled.

She'd never forget Ose for this. How he took the time to always reassure her and wuench all her insecurities. She really hoped he'd find the woman for him.

"By the way, how did the blind date with your fan's granddaughter go?" She asked and resumed painting Dare's nails.

"Okay. But she's not my type." He said.

"What's your type? There's this cute nurse here. She's Ghanaian American and I think you'd be great together." She gushed.

"My type's crazy ladies who shave the beard off men in coma." Ose answered. "God, Ro. What is this?"

"It's that bad?" She whined, smiling nervously.

"It looks like you went over it with a lawnmower." He howled laughing.

Missmossy:

This exact one is what I want to clarify is this the update after the previous one...

I'm not exactly sure if I get you but... This was a teaser. The real update is on the OOS:The Flow thread.

Missmossy:
Thanks for the birthday wishes and dedication Millieademi

Happy belated birthday to you also,may God enlarge your coast.

I`m a bit confused though, from the part where Dele was playing with the kids with Seyifunmi and Tinu been around, is that where that exact update ended.

Kindly clarify and kudos with the good work,hope you enjoyed yourself yesterday??

Can you highlight or quote the update exactly?

[quote author=enirock post=93342011]We love love your birthday gift. Me thinks Millieademi is the greatest gift of all. Thanks dear.[/quot

Thanks love

Hi guys....


Honestly, I'm totally speechless. You guys made my day. Sorry, I didn't reply to your well wishes and prayers on time.(light issues)

Thanks for the love and everything.

I don't have the words to express how I feel.

But I pray that my father in heaven will care for each and everyone of you and surprise you beyond your wildest dreams. As you've all put smiles and grins on my face, you won't lack reasons to smile and laugh.

Thanks again.

I love you all to the moon and back.

The End.

Hope you liked my birthday gift to y'all.

Thanks again for the wishes.

Happy birthday Oremeyii Long life and prosperity. Love ya loads, hon. May God grant you all your heart desires according to his will.

Marcus Antonio.

A sigh leaves my lips as I push open the door to my office. I'm so tired. So, I spoke to Chef Sedleigh last week and I've been promoted to Chef de Cuisine. Chef Lucy's been transferred to Glyks, his restobar closer to her house.

I've had to prepare complimentary meals for everyone as a live singer cancelled last minute. We've closed up and I think I'm just going to sleep in here.

I shuffle through the door and meet Maribelle sitting in my chair with her head bent watching what I'm guessing is a movie on her phone with a ginormous power bank hooked up to it. She has headsets on and doesn't hear me come in.

What is she doing here?

Who let her in?

And why did no one tell me?

The shirt she was wearing is draped on the back of my chair.

That reminds me. I have to get someone to check the air-conditioning. It's been acting up.

She bursts into giggles, still staring at the phone and I just stand there and soak up her happiness.

I don't know what gives me away but she looks up. She pulls the headset away from the bronze coloured Ghana weaving on her head and taps her screen, probably pausing the movie.

I remove my neckerchief and work on the buttons of my jacket.

"How are you?" I start, ending the silence between us.

"Good. And you?"

"Perfect." I say with a sting.

Why am I angry?

I'm not sure.

She stands and says, "Um, I met Cris. She asked someone to let me in."

Figures.

"Okay. Um, are you okay? Is there a reason you need to see me?"

What am I saying?

I pull off the jacket and I'm left in a white vest. She eyes my chest for a few moments and I can't help but feel proud.

I walk to the sofa and unlace my shoes.

"Uh, yeah," she says after clearing her throat. "I came to apologise for my behaviour. Running out on you like that, ignoring your calls and messages. I'm really sorry. I just had to think things through and… Basically, I'm sorry."

"Are you back together with Faramade?" I ask.

No need beating about the bush.

"No. God forbid." She says, snapping her finger around her head. "I can't deal with baby mama drama."

There's silence for a few minutes and then she asks, "Is my apology accepted?"

"I don't know."

"Someone once told me it's rather impolite not to accept apologies." She says.

I look up at her.

"I'm sorry."

"Why did you run off?"

Her tiny smile disappears and she scratches her head. She fiddles with her cord for a few seconds before she says, "It's complicated."

Complicated? Interesting.

"Uncomplicate it."

"You won't understand."

"I have an LL.B. I think I can understand."

"It's personal. More like something I don't want anyone to know." She says looking at her phone.

"In that case," I say and shrug, "I don't accept your apology. Thanks for giving it anyway. I'd have loved to drop you off but I'm dead tired and it's pretty late. There's a hotel nearby. I'd advise you spend the night there. It's too late to take public transport."

I speak so distantly and detached that she just stared at me in awe.

What was she expecting?

She gives me no reason at all, and all's forgiven?

"Leo-"

"Maribelle."

She sighs and steels her back.

"Thanks for the advice." She says and begins to stiff her phone and other gadgets into her black and white tote. She snatches her shirt off the chair.

"Bye." She says and storms out of the office, slamming the door behind her.

And I'm wondering if I was right.

I sigh and lay down on the sofa.

Comparmentalise Leo. The bistro needs it Chef de Cuisine rested.

I chant to myself, trying to forget the shocked look on her face, trying to forget the brimming of tears in her eyes, trying to forget her in entirety.

I close my eyes and all I can see is her giggling.

The door swings open and I open my eyes. She's standing there crying and she stalks to me vibrating in anger.

"I ran off because I'm a psycho. I'm a scarred, bruised girl whose scared of d*icks. There. I've said it." She says, with her chest heaving heavily.

Did I hear her correctly?

"I'm not sure I heard you right. You're scared of what?"

"A man's penis. Okay? You can start laughing now." She snaps.

How does one get scared of a man's… Hold the phone. She said scarred and bruised. Was she raped?

I feel like a jerk right now. She said she didn't want anyone to know. And I can only imagine her pain.

"I'm a medorthophobe and a phallophobe. I'm scared of joysticks. Erect or otherwise. I was molested once by my older brother's friend and I never got over it. That's why I ran off. Feeling your-"

She stops and shivers as though the Devil were standing before her.

Is she so scared just by the mere thought of it?

"Oh God," she cries and holds her forehead in anguish.

I stand and move to her. I want to hug her, take her pain away, but I'm not sure if I can or how to go about it. What if I accidentally … I don't even know.

"You don't have to talk about this if you don't want to. I'm sorry I asked." I say.

She shakes her head and starts sobbing.

"I fucking hate this. I'm tired of being slave to this memory. Rotimi's married and no matter how much I hate on him, he's still going to go on living his life and I'm the girl who can't stand dicks." She sobs.

"Faramade wanted to have sex that night, but I was scared senseless, and look what happened. We we're making out, and look what happened." She continues.

I reach for her hand keeping a respectable, Deeper Life distance between us. I'm not sure how to go about physical contact with her anymore, but I do this to reassure her.

"Faramade's a jerk. Even if you aren't a medo-whatever-phobe, he'd still cheat because that's what he is. And as for me, I had known I'd have taken things slower and I wouldn't have let things get so far." I say.

"Well, it's not exactly something I put out there when I'm meeting someone for the second time." She says sniffling.

"I understand. We'll work through this. I've got you."
I say and she stares at me.

"Why? Why bother?"

"In case you haven't noticed, I sort of like you." I say and she smiles.

And it's like a rainbow after a stormy day.

"You like me? I'm not just an opportunity to get laid?"

"F*uck no!"

Where did she get that impression from?

The erection on your second meeting. A voice in my head says.

"I'd like to see us become an item. Maybe I should have started with this before making out with you. I want to see where we go."

She smiles and nods.

"I like you, too." She says in a cute, bunny-like voice.

She's so cute.

"So, are we boyfriend and girlfriend now?" She asks.

"Only if you don't want us to be."

She nods enthusiastically and I chuckle.

"Okay then."

This is weird, but for Maribelle, it's mushy.

And I think I'm beginning to like mushy.

���������

One year later

AnaGrey**

It's been a year since Leo became my boyfriend and today's our anniversary. So many things happened between then and now.

We've both grown, changed and learnt. We're like fine wine. (Yen yen yen, say anything you want, twelve months no be joke.)

I just wonder what my life would have been like if I missed the wonderful person Leo. And it's all thanks to Nairaland (Who knew good things could come out from that Nazereth?)

Today's also the grand opening of Casa Maribella, Leo's restaurant.(Yeah, I snagged myself a boyfriend who names his restaurant after me. Shoot your catapult of envy, e no go kill our love)

The make-up on my face is somewhat flawless.(Yeah, I started learning and Cris was very helpful.)
My cut crease eyeliner is perfect, though my brows are a bit uneven. I've redrawn the right one four times now and I've just given up. I'm late as it is. I just hope I won't be late to heaven.

The phone dings as Bolt notifies me my driver is here. I spritz on my perfume and grab my clutch off the vanity and sprint out of the house with my mother begging me not to break my leg.

So I didn't move out anymore. My down payment was refunded with a two percent deduction removed from it. My stingy self is still smarting but I couldn't say no to my mother. Not when she started crying.

Yes, I'm a weakling when it comes to my mother.

Technically, I may never have met Leo if I hadn't been looking to buy her a phone. So…

I get into the taxi and the ride to Ligali Ayorinde begins. And after an hour and forty-five minutes, I get there, barely make it to the ribbon cutting, which is done by a National Industrial Court judge. Leo's dad of course. The man is something else.

All the glamorous, posh guests shuffle into the restaurant and I can hear the compliments on the decor.

The ambience is cool and chick with hues of yellow, brown and orange. There's a live band playing classical pop. I think the band is playing Happy by Pharrell Williams.

Waiters and ushers lead people to their tables and I can't help by smile at my boyfriend's achievement. Leo's worked hard for this and I'm happy to see everything go smoothly.

I go to sit at the bar and I request a glass of champagne. Waiters begin to flood out from the kitchen with trays of delicious looking food. I've tasted a few already. I was one of his guinea pigs for new recipes. (He stopped using me when I couldn't give the tough criticism he needed. I'm not a critic. I just enjoy food.)

Thank God for my metabolism, else a panda would have been calling me fat by now.

I spot Cris and I wave at her. She's still round with baby fat, but still looks gorgeous in her purple floor length, empire waisted dress. The sweet heart neckline is doing wonders for her milk filled boobs.

I hope lactation does that to me. I've never been on the big boobs side of the divide.

She waves back smiling and whispers something in her husband's ear. He looks at me and waves as well. I return the gesture. Cris excuses herself from the group and crosses the room to meet me.

I'd have gone to meet her but she's with her father (yep, they mended fences after she gave him his only grandsons. Sexist much.) and he doesn't like me.

I'm not sure I like him. Not with all the stories I've heard. He's like Viru Sahastrabuddhe on steroids. (If you know, you know. I met a kindred spirit in Tade.)

And technically, he already had lined up for Leo the daughter of the name partner of a big law firm. Leo put his foot down and since he doesn't want to push away his only son, he takes out his aggression on me.

Crazy.

He doesn't know I'm crazy too. Mum's warned me not to disrespect the man and that's why I'm keeping my distance.

"Hey bitch." Cris calls and I smile.

With the way she talks, you'd think she's in her twenties.

"Your brow's off." She says.

"Leave it. Who's looking at me?" I say frown a bit.

"My brother, my father, half the eligible bachelors in this place." She says.

"Are you trying to hook my girlfriend up?" Leo says behind me.

I turn and smile at him as he kisses my temple and wraps a hand around my waist.

"Yes. She can do better than you." Cris says matter-of-factly.

"I don't want to do better than him." I tell her.

"Really?" She asks smiling.

I snuggle closer to Leo. "You'd have to pry me off him with a diamond crowbar."

"Love in Tokyo." Cris jives and I giggle.

"If you're done, get your fat ass back to your husband and stop trying to corrupt my girlfriend." Leo says and Cris gives him the middle finger.

I laugh as she walks away.

"I'll be sure to do that around the twins." Leo calls and she turns to give him the glare and I laugh again.

Leo chuckles lightly and walks to stand in front of me.

"Happy anniversary." He says and I smile.

"Happy anniversary and congratulations."

"Thanks Mar. I got you something." He says and pulls out a necklace from his pocket and places it in my free hand.

It has a rose engraved medallion with his initial on the back of it.

"So I'm close to your heart."

I look up at him.

"You're already in my heart, Leo."

He smiles and collects the necklace back. I turn around and he puts it on me.

"Thank you." I smile and look down to see the necklace. It doesn't suit the highnecked dress I'm wearing but I don't care.

�����������

Two years later

Marcus Antonio

The urgency with which we are shedding our clothes would make you think there are ants crawling in them. I lack restraint and control right now. Not after I've waited for three years.

It's funny thinking about it. Most of my guys didn't believe it, but who cares what they think. How I stayed celibate three years waiting till after marriage is a mystery.

But I'm not putting it past my love for her and her mother's prayers. When Mar finally opened up to her mother about her phobia, the woman was heartbroken and angry that she couldn't keep her only daughter safe from abuse. It was an emotional moment. Maribelle tried to comfort the woman but she wouldn't be. She was pretty devastated.

Long story short, the woman begged me not to hurt her daughter. She begged me because in her words she knew how to handle a pestle well and she wouldn't want me begging her when she came trying to crush my family jewels.

I'm quoting her.

That was a scary moment.

The woman said she'd be praying and if I wasn't the man for her daughter, God would help her destroy our relationship before I did anything with her daughter.

Anyway, it took a while before we did anything beyond a light peck on the lips. I didn't trust myself around her and I didn't want to scar her. And when she said she wanted to wait till marriage, I was okay with it.

"Leo," my wife pants, "please make love to me."

She tugs at my waist band trying to figure out how to remove the silk strip and I laugh.

"Take it easy. We've got a whole lifetime ahead of us."

Marcus Antonio.

"God bless you, Leo." Cristina, my fourth older sister, says.

Her husband's off on a conference and she can't stand staying alone in their house with her big belly and her due date gradually getting closer.

She's married to this great guy, Efe, a psychoanalyst. Her relationship with Dad hit the rocks because she chose to marry Efe and not Judge Felix, his choice for her. Cristina, being his prettiest daughter, was optioned to the young, promising High Court judge (Dad has a dream of starting a legal empire. Marital alliances have been working since the dawn of time.)

Cris(as I call her for short) went against Dad's choice and married Efe. They are expecting twins, one year after and I can beat my chest that she's the happiest of all my sisters.

I smile at her as I flop on to the couch beside her, after satisfying her cravings for fried plantain and egusi soup.(I've been dealing with all kinds of weird cravings all week.)

"Amen. Anything for future CJN and AG Fed." I throw at her and she gives me a stink eye.

I can't help it. I love poking fun at her.

Left to her, her children will not smell the letter L let alone read law. She struggled with two extra years just to give our Dad the LL.B degree he wanted and still she didn't get his devotion.

She was the first to realize that Dad wasn't going to love any of them like they wanted. And somehow, she's the only one who doesn't resent me. We are tighter than garlic in a clove and we get each other.

"Take your time," she warns as I laugh.

My phone rings out from my pocket and I pull it out.

Maribelle.

She's been calling non-stop and I'm honestly not ready to hear her explanation.

"Who is she?" Cris asks as I mute the phone.

The words no one are at the tip of my tongue, but I know that's not true.

She's not no one.

"Someone I want to forget."

Was she already back together with Faramade when she came over?

Call me obsessed but I went to check the CCTV footage just to make sure she was the one.

She was.

Was that why she ran like that?

She didn't want to make the same mistake her boyfriend made.

I can't even believe she took him back. She seemed resolved about it.

I thought she felt something for me. Maybe it was just physical.

"You're over thinking. That means something serious went down between you two." Cris says flashing her gap-toothed smile.

"It doesn't matter anymore."

"It does," she says, "Did she hurt you? I've been watching How to Get Away with Murder. We can kill her and throw her body in Dad's backyard. No one will ever suspect you."

I grin and shake my head.

I wonder when the vendetta between her and Dad will end.

She never forgave him for forcing her to read law. And he's not forgiven her for marrying Efe.

Probably on his deathbed.

"Don't worry, I'll manage."

She frowns.

"I don't like seeing you like this. I thought this gloomy Leo was gone."

I thought so too.

I sigh as Cris holds my hand. She's my rock. She's the only one who saw me cry after Iheoma threw my ring in my face and called it quits. She peptalked me back to work. She helped me rid my house of anything Iheoma.

"It's complicated."

"If I had a dollar for every time I've heard that, Bill Gates will be carrying my handbag and calling me madam. I can bet it's not that complicated." She says.

I sigh and tell her everything.

She smiles and asks, "Your d*ick scared her off?"

"Is that all you brought out from everything that said? And can we not talk about my.."

I can't believe she said that.

But then again I can. Cris has no filter.

"What? I diapered it and I've seen it the hundred times I bathed you." She says.

"T-That was then. And please stop. It's annoying."

She laughs and says, "Maybe she's just a shy virgin. You know all those girls that put on a brave facade that they've done it all, and then when it's time to do the do, they're scared. Maybe she was just afraid of her reactions to you."

"That doesn't explain the ex part."

"Leo, I'm friends with all my exes. It could have been a friendly dinner. And the waitress said she left after what seemed to be an argument," she starts and sighs, "Leo, don't over think things. You are not going to get the answers you want by muting her calls. Talk to her."

"What if I don't like the answers she gives me?"

She palms my face and says, "Then we kill her and dump the body in Dad's backyard."

I chuckle and she smiles.

"You'll find someone better then."

"Thanks Cris."

"De nada. I think I'm getting hungry." She says and stretches.

"Bia, when is your husband coming back? If you want a personal chef, I have to discuss my fees with him."

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AnaGrey**

I was so not into my work today. I tried teaching inflation today, but I kept trailing off in class. This has never happened to me. Not even after my breakup with Faramade.

I called Leo twenty-nine times(now that I think about it; WTF) and he didn't pick any.

Leo always returned my calls, but now, no returned calls.

All I have is a call log with blue arrows and 00:00 call durations.

Not even a text.

I know I deserve this but it still hurt.

Real bad.

I'm standing in front of his door and my knuckles are raised to knock but I can't. I took permission from work and left early, just so I could see him, before he left for work.

What if he doesn't want to be friends anymore?

Maybe he's only looking for a friend with benefits.

Or what if he liked me but doesn't anymore because of my attitude.

I shake my head and knock.

Think of the one-two you spent on Taxify and have sense. My alaroro self screams at me, still pissed that I didn't take public transport.

I shun it as I try to practice my apology speech. I wrote one, but forgot it at work.

The door opens and I'm faced with a heavily pregnant woman.

Another Faramade. Tsk, tsk, tsk. A voice says as my alaroro mind begins to calculate what I could have done with the excess money I spent on transport.

"I'm sorry I think I have the wrong door." I say and want to get the hell out of there.

"You're Maribelle, right." The lady says smiling.

Did he tell his baby mama about me?

"No," I lie, "I'm sorry to disturb you. I'm at the wrong unit."

"Even if I were blind, with the way he described you, I'd be able to recognize you." She says smiling.

So, they talked extensively about me? What did he tell her? She's the pitiful girl calling twenty-nine times.

"I'm Cris. Leo's sister." She says.

His sister?

"Please come in and tell me your own side of the story. I've been plotting your murder all week." She says and walls into the flat.

Did she just say murder?

Run, Maribelle, run. My alaroro mind says. You've already put up the down payment for your new place.

I defy the penny-pincher in me and enter.

Do I have a sense of self-preservation?

Apparently not.

I enter and shut the door behind me. I walk slowly to an arm chair. Cris is sitting in the sofa Leo and I fooled around in.

I can still feel his hand running up my thigh and his warm breath on my neck and the taste of chocolate in my mouth.

My toes curl as I bite my lip.

The guy's a f*ucking good kisser.

My mind replays the moment I felt his erection and I feel nauseous.

I take deep breaths and focus my gaze on Cris's face. I spot a little resemblance. They have the same chin and lips. Other than that, nothing.

"I'm sorry I left you at the door. I can barely stand five minutes with this big belly of mine." She says and I smile.

My mum and I stayed with Michael and his wife, Bimpe, when she was happy their first baby and it was like I was the one carrying the pregnancy.

Being orphaned, Bimpe had no mother to explain the experience to her and while books predicted the feelings that would come, Bimpe was nowhere near ready for them.

I went through the mood swings with her, the putting on weight insecurities, the aching feet and all. She held my hand to her belly virtually every time the baby kicked. I think I got more the experience than my brother. Even in the labour room, I was the second person she was holding and beating.(as though I was there when she was getting knocked up.)

Iya Michael was busy cooking and praying like Paul and Silas every midnight for the safe delivery of her first grandchild.

I swear, Ayomide has no reason not to be successful in life. Not with all the prayers my mum prayed and all the maternity prayer meetings she dragged Bimpe and me to.(She said I should start praying in advance for my own children.)

"I understand." I say smiling. I turn to look around for a trace of Leo.

"He's still at work." She answers and I cringe at getting caught.

"Tell me. Are you still single or you're back together with your ex?" She says bluntly.

Wow! They really have talked extensively.

And f*uck! Leo saw me with Faramade.

That's why he's not picking my calls.

Double f*uck! He thinks we're back together.

I cringe and curse Faramade. Enemy of progress.

"I'm still single. My ex only wanted to return cash I lent him." I explain to her.

Her smile returns.

"He's still at the restaurant. He'll be working late, but nothing's stopping you from dropping by. I'll put in a word with Wole, so you're let in."

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Hi guys....


Honestly, I'm totally speechless. You guys made my day. Sorry, I didn't reply to your well wishes and prayers on time.(light issues)

Thanks for the love and everything.

I don't have the words to express how I feel.

But I pray that my father in heaven will care for each and everyone of you and surprise you beyond your wildest dreams. As you've all put smiles and grins on my face, you won't lack reasons to smile and laugh.

Thanks again.

I love you all to the moon and back.

This update is dedicated to Missmossy (whose birthday was yesterday) and pearl009.

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

AnaGrey**

You got this.

I tell my reflection and leave the restroom. Faramade's here and rather than just hand me my money, he wants us to have dinner first.

And all the while, he's been apologising, and he even held my hand and tickled my palm. Once, long ago, it might have made me smile, but now I can't help but feel like I'm cheating on Leo.

It's not like we're dating or anything. He never even told me if he liked me. I just started kissing him and we went with the flow.

Fada! I cry in my mind.

I feel loose and cheap. I really should learn to control my emotions.

Maribelle, you're going on twenty-five. F*ucking act it.

I sigh and walk back to the table. Let's get this done and over with.

Maybe I'll form posh and order a salad and get the hell out of here.

I slip into my chair, as Faramade calls the waitress and asks what the Chef's special is.

That is your own. I say in my mind as I glance the menu for salad options.

"Chicken a la Maribella-" the waitress says and I look up.

Maribella?

It's probably just a coincidence.

"Deconstructed potatoes and chicken-"

Ewo tun ni deconstructed?(What is deconstructed?)

"And white chocolate cheesecake." She says and I look down at the menu.

Delectare.

Oh my God! This is the bistro Leo works at. Why didn't I pay attention when Faramade kept on yapping about the restaurant he was taking me to?

Oh, yeah. I had my airpods on.

What if Leo comes out and sees me with Faramade and thinks we're back together?

He's the chef. What is he looking for in the dining area? A voice tells me and I sigh in relief.

"Do you want to try the Chicken a la Maribella?" Faramade asks shooting me one of his panty-dropping smiles.

As if.

I scoff and shake my head.

"One Caesar salad and house water." I tell the waitress.

"Maribelle, you can order anything you want." Faramade says and the waitress lets out a small gasp.

I give her a yeah-I'm-Maribelle smile and turn to glare at the loose mouthed Faramade.

"Money is not the issue." He says.

"I know. You currently owe me a hundred k, so money's not my issue. I want a Caesar salad and house water." I grit at him.

He sighs and says, "Chef's special for me."

The waitress nods and leaves.

"How are you?" He asks for the eighth time this evening.

"How is your son?" I say and he groans.

"Maribelle, you're not making this easy-"

"You think I want this? I don't," I say raising my voice and he shivers as people turn to stare at us.

"Faramade, you cheated on me, lied to me and you think I'll make this easy? Just give me what I came here for and I will be on my way."

His sighs and pulls out an envelope from his breast pocket.

I snatch it out of his hand and stuff it into my clutch.

"Thank you. I believe money isn't the issue. You can pay for the salad." I say as I stand.

"Maribelle-"

"Don't call me again, Faramade. Take care of Shola and your son. They need you. I don't." I tell him and leave.

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"Chef, three more orders of your special." Simon says as one of the new girls returned with the salad she just left with.

If there's anything that irks me, it when food is sent back. It's like I've been slapped in the face.

"What happened?" I ask her and pause garnishing the Maribella soup I was plating.

Call me obsessed. I named the soup after her. I was frustrated one night thinking about her and decided to channel my frustrations in whipping up something new.

End result. Chicken a la Maribella's been on the Chef's special list three times in two weeks. The people love it so much.

"The lady who ordered it just left her date. I think they had an argument," the girl says, "Funny thing, her name's Maribelle."

What the f*uck?

"What did you just say?" I ask her, hoping I'm not hearing things.

"The lady's name is Maribelle." The girl whispers, looking unsure.

Oh my God. She was here. And with a date.

Something vile curls up within me.

She ignored me for two weeks, and she's going on dates?

Is that what she does?

Possess a man's being till he's so preoccupied with her that nothing else seems to matter, and then dump him and move on to the next guy?

Maribelle's not that kind of girl. A part of me vouches for her.

And I detest that part.

I do one of the things I am good at. I lock my feelings up in a safe. At the bistro, I'm Chef Leo, not Leo, the man with woman issues.

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AnaGrey**

My finger hovers over his number and I wonder what explanation I can give to get me off the hook. He's been calling for two weeks, sending me texts and I've just been ignoring everything.

Why?

Because I am ashamed. Apart from Doctor Alakija, no one else knows about my phobia. Most will probably think I made it up.

Chicken a la Maribella.

I chuckle at the memory. I wished I had tasted it.

He even put our cheesecake on the menu.

Our cheesecake? A voice asks me and I roll my eyes at it.

It's our cheesecake.

Maybe I shouldn't be too cold to Leo. Maybe I should just tell him I'm not ready to be physical. Maybe I should start off with whether he likes me like that or he's just looking to get laid.

Yep. I have to start with that.

God forbid he jumps at my mouth with his d*ick in the middle of the night and….

God! I need help.

Pushing all doubt away, I tap the voice call option and the phone rings. I cross my fingers as I wait for him to answer.

He doesn't.

Maybe he's busy.

I redial his number.

Again.

And again.

And again.

No response.

He's probably angry.

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AnaGrey**

I toss myself on my bed, hating my phobia and cursing Rotimi(Michael's friend) for trying to force my fifteen year old self to give him a Mouth Gig. I'm probably going to be scarred for life and I'll never get married.

So once after the incident with Faramade, I went to see a shrink(not the most pocket friendly decision I've ever made) I thought I was abnormal. It's normal for a girl to get a feel of her boyfriend, especially one she's been dating for four years. But just the thought of that part of Faramade's anatomy had me cringing in fear.

Long story short, the sessions with Doctor Alakija didn't help so much. She was so insistent on talking about my childhood, whereas the only scarring incident happened to me as a teenager. I didn't really get most of the deep mumbo-jumbo she usually rambled about, so after three sessions, I called it quits.

With Leo, I felt good. Really good. And for a second I could have gone all the way with him. Except for I couldn't go all the way with him without…

My mind conjures the heft of his erection against me and my skin crawls.

God, help me.

So you can go fornicating, abi? My church mind says and I sigh.

Maybe it's better this way.

People should try medorthophobia for abstinence. It works like a charm.

I hiss at myself and my stupid subconscious and slip my phone out of my bag.

Nine missed calls.

I can bet they're from Leo.

I can't bring myself to explain my phobias, so I just ignore him. Better he thinks me a weird prude than a girl with a wordy psychological issue.

I tap the chrome app after unlocking my phone. Straight to Nairaland.

No update from YoungSelene. I search for a story with a large amount of views and doesn't have a sexual title or a plus eighteen or plus twenty-one.

I stumble on a story that I've seen on Wattpad. Bringing the Nation's Husband Home. I shrug and decide to read it again.

I'm almost half way through the first post when a call from Leo comes in.

I don't want to block him, yet I don't want to speak to him either. I roll off the bed as the Roar by Katy Perry continues. I strip out of my clothes and leaithe puddle of clothes on the floor. I'm left in my underwear and I stroll to my cupboard and I pull out an oversized sweater I stole from Moses and grab my Spectranet MiFi.

By the time I get back to the bed, the call's ended and there's a text from him.

Maribelle, I'm sorry if I did something wrong, but just pick up the phone. Are you home safe? I'm worried.

I hit reply and type.

Sorry, didn't hear the phone ringing (God please forgive me). I'm home and safe. Thanks for asking.

I hit send and place my phone on airplane mode and turn on the WiFi. I go to WhatsApp and change my Last Seen settings to Nobody.

Maribelle's on ghost mode.

I check a few statuses and make sure to skip his. I already know what's there, anyway. He uploaded it after cooking.

There are pictures of me and him and the food he prepared.

P.S. His french toast beat the cafe's hands down.

I'm smiling at a Maraji skit when a new message notification pops up.

Faramade

Hey babe. Can we talk?

Today must be my unlucky day.

I mute his chat for one year and head to YouTube to watch some Five Minutes Crafts videos.

The im*becile apparently can't take a hint and he voice calls me on WhatsApp.

Can't a girl enjoy her data in peace?

I let the call drop and continue watching more fashion hacks. He calls back again, and I let it drop again.

And he calls back five more times.

At the fifth, I answer and yell, "What?"

"Babe, please."

"I'm not your babe anymore. You had better be calling me to refund the hundred thousand I lent you." I snarl at him.

"Maribelle, please. I'm sorry. It's been almost eight months. Please. What happened between Shola and I will never repeat itself. I'm sorry." He says.

I know just how well it'll repeat itself. I will never be able to give him what he wants.

"Maribelle, please. I miss you."

"Taking care of a baby isn't a cheap as you thought?"

"I've gotten a better job now. With KPMG." He says.

Is that supposed to freak me?

"Then pay me back my money."

"Maribelle-"

"Stop saying my name with that disgusting, filthy, lying trap of yours." I grit and tears sting my eyes.

I loved this guy. I really did and because of my problem, he cheated on me and now, he has a child with another woman.

Somehow, I can't help but feel it's all my fault.

Maybe I shouldn't have pushed him away. Maybe I should just have endured it if he wanted sex that night. Maybe I gave Rotimi some sort of sign that said I wanted his d*ick in my mouth.

I honestly don't know.

Or maybe I'm not destined to have love.

"Please. Can we at least meet and talk?" He says.

"I have nothing to say to you. If you have my money, send it to my account."

"How about I give you in person? At least, you gave me cash. It's only fair I return it in cash." He says.

I really need the money anyway. I want to move out. Mum's nagging is getting too much.

"Fine. Text me when and where." I say and hang up.

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I'm not sexist (I have six sisters and I'd never have lived this long if I didn't learn to respect women), but I wish our Chef de Cuisine was a man. Chef Lucy's been on mummy duty for every night this week and I'm wondering why I haven't asked to be promoted to Chef de Cuisine.

The saucier passes me a tablespoonful of our house gravy. I taste it and nod at him and he's off to his station. Greg waits on me to approve his selection of wines to be ordered as I vet the menu and confirm the chef's special. Funto, our accountant, is waiting for me to sign the cheque for some orders and Jide and Constance, our potager and legumier, are eyeing each other waiting for me to decide who is right.(They fight a lot and I think it's just sexual tension between them.)

Speaking of sexual tension…

I swarmed with work, but my mind still flits back to Maribelle. It's been two weeks since she ran out of my house like I had EVD. I've tried reaching out to her, but since the text she sent me that she got home safe, I haven't heard anything from her. Even on Nairaland. She's not commented on Love Me Like You Do and the book ended three days ago.

She doesn't pick my calls, answer my messages and it's almost like she dropped off the face of the Earth. I wish I knew the address of her tutorial, so I could go visit her, but I don't.

Then it hits me.

"That's it." I say out loud.

"Chef?" Greg asks. I beam at him and approve the order.

There's only one Savant Polymath Tutorial College in the world (there has to be only one. No two people can be crazy enough to think of that name). I just have to look it up.

I sign the cheque smiling and Funto looks at me warily. That guy is suspicious of everything. I ignore him and turn to the chefs in front of me, and threaten to fire them if they keep up their behaviour.

Constance goes away sulking and cussing Jide. I think I hear her say chupacabra, but I'm not sure.

"Chef Leo, your dad's asking for you." A waiter says as he brings in a tray of dirty dishes. I nod at him and take off my apron, and hang it on the rack and leave the kitchen with my white chef's jacket and my toque blanche

I scan the room and locate my Dad at a table filled with business looking men.

If I know my dad, this is a closing dinner. He knows he already has them over and he just needs to show a little opulence or importance and they have him on a retainer or accede to his demands.

"Ahh. It's Leo, my son." My father says as I approach the table.

I've been through this a million times, so I know the routine.

"He's the sous chef here. That's third in command." My dad educates them and I just smile and nod and the men nod in surprise.

"I thought all your children studied law," one man with a thick Igbo accent says.

"He did, before pursuing his passion. He graduated top of his class at Cordon Bleu." My father says and I feel bad for my sister, Dominique. She graduated from UNILAG and Law school with first class, but I'm not sure my father's announced it as much as he's announced my achievement at Cordon Bleu.

"So, tell us. Can you really prepare eggs one hundred and one ways?" An elderly man says eyeing my toque.

They say the one hundred and one pleats on the toque represent that fact.

"I wouldn't have graduated top of my class if I couldn't, sir." I reply, smiling and the men laugh.

"Please, what's the best thing to order?" Another man with a British accent asks.

"I'd suggest you go with the Chef's special. I'll be making that," I suggest and they look at me with rapt attention as though I was giving them the directions to heaven.

"For first course, we have Chicken a la Maribella. It's a soup I made up myself. For main course, deconstructed potatoes and chicken. And for desert, white chocolate cheesecake." I tell them and snag Femi, our wine expert to recommend wines to them and excuse myself.

That was enough drama for Dad's purposes. Right before I reach the kitchen door, a familiar scent spirals into my nostrils.

Maribelle's perfume.

She wore it both times we met and I can never forget it. It was this floral oriental, citrus scent that just captivates.

I turn and scan the room once more.

Maybe it's just a coincidence.

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Guys, I'm back.

Thanks to our mods.

Spambot dehin leyin mi o.

This is dedicated to Missmossy. Happy birthday, love. Long life and prosperity. I wish you all you wish yourself.


Marcus Antonio

I once heard there is nothing more beautiful than a woman who doesn't know she's beautiful. Never believed it till I met Mar. She doesn't have plies of makeup on. She's simply flawless and all natural beauty.

I imagined her a bit taller, but her 5'5 is still cute. She has three holes pierced into each ear (lobes, second lobes and forward helixes. That's what she called them), and she is currently wearing three studs and two threader earrings. A bit raw, but still sexy. Her straight brows are perfectly plucked and a coat of what I'm guessing is Vaseline's Rosy lips therapy or some other lip balm is on her plump and wide lips.

She's fairer than I imagined. She's not exactly fair, more like melted caramel.

For those who aren't familiar with caramel, her skin's like the color of Alpenliebe.

Just as brown. Just as glossy.

And the flint coloured, monoshouldered, short flare dress she has on takes the greyish colour from boring office pallette to happy hour material.

The good girl look she has going on with her hair makes me wonder how many layers there are to this girl and how much fun it'll be unraveling them all.

Her straight, waist length weave which is pulled away from her oval face with a rhinestoned, thin, headband flutters in the wind(we are sitting outside the cafe) and the entire moment seems cropped out of an Indian movie.

I can so hear the playback singers humming and the sitars strumming. (I'm holding Tade, my nextdoor neighbor responsible for corrupting me his late night Bollywood binging.)

"You actually look pretty good." I say just as she is about to bite into the sweet and savoury stuffed french toast I ordered for her.(Apparently, she's too indecisive.)

I ordered for this for us because I know just how much she loves meat. Unfortunately, I can't stop counting the number of things wrong with it.

This is why I hate eating out.

"If you insist. Thank you." She says and moans closing her eyes.

How can she not taste the weird tang in the dip?

"I can't remember the last time I had anything that isn't rice or bread or spaghetti.. Iya Michael is anti-foreign food. If I bring home a box of pizza, she'll so it down with her words till I eventually throw it away. I've been too stingy to order from work. Everybody will eat from it and I'd get nothing." She explains as she opens her eyes.

Her mum's a caterer, and has been one for over thirty years. How can she not be open to new meals?

I remember when Mar told me of her catering ambitions which were killed by her mother. She'd tweaked the regular household omi-obe and added iru to the stew. Her mother had beat the Betty Crocker out of her.

"Aren't you eating?" She asks and dabs her mouth with the paper towel. "Or did I gross you out with the moaning thing? I'm sorry. I can't help it. I'm a gastronome."

I smile at her insecurity. She's so cute.

"You didn't gross me out. On the contrary, it's the food." I say right before analyzing the meal, telling her mascarpone suited cream cheese better than ricotta, that the ham used ought to have steak, and that the custard wasn't properly mixed.

She smiles and says, "I am so never eating with you again."

I shrug and say, "I can't help it. I'm a critic."

"You don't say." She says and picks up her toast again and takes a humongous bite and drawls out a long, intentional moan.

"I love it." She says with her mouth full.

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AnaGrey**

I can't help the smile on my face as he closes the door to the Bolt taxi. Today's been exhilirating. From the cafe to seeing Tall Girl at the cinema to the arcade and lastly our stop for fro yos and more popcorn.

This meeting had more fun than most dates I've been on. Leo's such a gentleman, he didn't let us go Dutch and my vex money still intact.

"Until next time Ana Grey." He says.

"I will be waiting, Mark Anthony." I coo in my best Italian accent.

"I want to eat you up when you sound like that."

Oh!

Is this still playful flirting or is he serious?

"Can we leave?" The irritated, Bolt driver calls and I want to stab him with the heel of my stiletto.

Don't ruin this for me.

"Wait," I grit out, "I will still pay your hundred naira waiting fee, so chill out."

Leo laughs and I turn back to him.

"You're so crazy."

I grin like a fool and say, "Takes one to know one."

About a minute of silence goes and we just stare at each other, smiling.

"When will I see you again?" He asks and his hand reaches into the vehicle and tucks a stray strand of hair away.

I always thought the move so corny and overused but you can't imagined how my blood is rushing and my heart is fluttering like a bird trying to escape a hunter.

"I don't know. When do you want to see me again?" I say, hoping the vibes I'm picking up are real.

He shrugs.

"I'm free next weekend. How about you come over and I show you what a real, sweet and savoury french toast tastes like." He drawls with his hand lingering on my bare, forward helix.

My breath catches, and for no reason heat pulls in my lower belly.

He smirks and I know he heard me.

Unable to speak, I simply nod.

"Saturday, it is then, Bella." He calls and just as I am about to protest, his hand drops to my lips and skims over my bottom lip.

A shiver shakes me over and I look at his hand and then at him.

"You had sugar grains on your lip." He says slowly. He pulls his thumb into his mouth and says, "Delicious."

Oh my God!

"I have to go, Leo." Something pushes me to say.

"Bye, peaches." He says and pulls his hand out of the vehicle.

The driver starts the car and I wonder where that nickname came from.

"Bye." I wheeze and then clear my throat.

He waves as the driver pulls away, but I'm too dumbstruck to wave back.

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

09011259790.

...........

Ann2012:


Shift for me jor

Come and sit beside me if there's no space there.

Elvictor:
but aunt Mill, why so much secrets and oceans in your stories, are you from Niger Delta?

Maybe in my past life.

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