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What's Love (A Romance Novelette By Kayode Odusanya) - Literature (3) - Nairaland

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30 Days And 30 Nights (A Romance Novelette By Kayode Odusanya) / All In One Night (A Romance Novelette By Kayode Odusanya) / Underlying Love (A Romance Novelette By Kayode Odusanya) (2) (3) (4)

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Re: What's Love (A Romance Novelette By Kayode Odusanya) by Rimini: 8:14am On May 31, 2021
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Re: What's Love (A Romance Novelette By Kayode Odusanya) by kayo80(m): 5:58pm On May 31, 2021
Chapter 8

We didn’t see much of each other during the week, but it was another weekend, and we decided to go and see a movie together at the cinemas. After arguing over which movie to see, we settled for the latest Fast and Furious movie, F9. It was a wrong move, because the tickets were sold out when we got to the cinema that afternoon, and we had to get tickets for an evening screening. With the traffic situation in Lagos, especially on the Island, it made no sense to go back home, so we decided to find a nice lounge in the mall to kill time.

The place we chose had lesser people than the other spots. It seemed like a new place that hadn’t garnered a loyal clientele yet. It was just Ejiro and I, with just about four other customers in the spot. It had a dark ambience look, but the bar area was lit up. Low tempo music played from hidden speakers and it set me in the right mood. I loved it. Ejiro and I were both wearing blue denim jackets, which was not planned; it just happened that way. We were sitting side by side in last both by the glass wall, on the right hand side of the wall. The glass wall was frosted, but not all the way to the bottom, so I could see people’s legs passing by outside the lounge.

“Do you think they are dating?” Ejiro said, with her gaze fixed on the bartenders at the bar. The guy and girl were about our age, and had all black on.
“Umm…I don’t know, but by their body language, they could be…You know.” I was saying, and stopped to wink at Ejiro.
“What?” She said and turned around to face me with a smile on her face.
“You know what I mean.”
“You have a dirty mind.” She said and hit my upper arm playfully.

From the corner of my eye, I saw a guy that had been sitting alone get up and start heading in our direction. I had noticed him staring at us earlier, and wondered what exactly he was about. The man was lanky, with a black laptop bag on his shoulder. He dressed casually in blue jeans, a white polo top, and black loafers. If I was to guess, I would say he was in his late thirties. “Hello. My name is Kayode, can I talk to you guys for a minute.” He said; standing in front of us with an affiliative smile on his face. He was a good looking man with a short boxed beard.
Ejiro turned to look at me, and I said to the man, “Of course, take a seat please.” I waved him over to the couch opposite us.
“I won’t take much of your time.” He said as he took his seat, went into his bag and pulled out a couple of books. I didn’t take him for a preacher, so I was wondering what this was all about. Ejiro also looked at me, confused. “So…my name is Kayode Odusanya. I’m a romance novelist.”
“Okay.” I said, and waited for him to continue.
“I self-publish my books myself. I just finished my new book, Undying Love, and I’ve been giving it out for free.” He said and handed us about half a dozen small black books that were about the size of a big phone. I collected them from him, examined them, and handed Ejiro a copy. “I write Novellas. They are a shorter than novels, but longer than short stories.”
“Okay. So…do we have to pay in any way?” I asked.
“No. You don’t have to pay anything.” He said with a smile on his face. “The only thing I ask is you share among your friends and family.”
“I love the cover.” Ejiro said with a polite smile on her face.
“Thanks. I hope you love what’s inside too.” He said and laughed lightly. There was an awkward silence for a few seconds before he got off the couch and said, “Okay. I’ll leave you two now. Thanks for your time.”
“Thanks for the book.” I said and saluted him as he bowed his head in greeting at us and headed back to his corner.
“Hmm. That was odd.” Ejiro said to me with a smile on her face.
“Yeah, I wasn’t expecting that.” I said as I opened the book. “What is love?” I said and Ejiro turned to look at me. “I’m reading from the book. He has a little poem about love at the beginning of the book.”
“Yeah, I just saw that.” Ejiro said, with her head buried in the book now. “Love is action. Love is divine. Love is passion. Your love is mine. To love you and only you is all I swore. All is fair in love and war.” Ejiro read out from the book. “Hmm. The man is a real poet.” She went to the inner back cover of the book, and there was a picture of the author looking dapper in a black suit. “This is quite impressive for a self-published book.”
“Yeah; it looks word class.”
“Do you believe all is fair in love and war?” She asked with her head still buried in the book.
“Well…I don’t know. What does that really mean though?”
“It’s kind of like…people do things that may be considered unfair in love and in war.”
“Hmm. That’s kind of true.” I said and wondered off in thought. Was I doing what was fair in this whole thing I had with Ejiro. Was she doing what was fair? Am I even in love with her, or did I just grab at the first opportunity I had at feel loved again, because my emotions were crushed by Abike? I looked to the side, and Ejiro had her head buried in the book, reading the first chapter already. I picked up my phone from the wooden table in front of us. The screen came to life when I pressed a side button and it showed the time. “It’s 5:15pm. The movie starts by 5:25pm.” I said.
“Wow. Time flies.” She said and closed the book. “The man is really good. I couldn’t stop reading.” She said as she put the book in her hand bag. I handed her the remaining five copies of the book, and she stuffed them in her bag too. We got up to leave, and I looked in the author’s direction to give him a two finger salute. He waved back at us. “I think I should get the man to sign one of the books.” Ejiro said. “I’ll be right back.” She added before walking off.

“Meet me outside.” I said and headed for the door. I had my head buried in my phone, going through Whatsapp messages. It is crazy how much you forget your phone when you’re with someone you enjoy being with. Technology was really killing us. I thought to myself. I looked up when I got to the exit and almost dropped my phone when I saw who was in front of me.

45 Likes

Re: What's Love (A Romance Novelette By Kayode Odusanya) by kayo80(m): 6:03pm On May 31, 2021
Chapter 9 will be posted Wednesday evening, or when chapter 8 gets 40 likes.

1 Like

Re: What's Love (A Romance Novelette By Kayode Odusanya) by Kawo9ze(m): 8:49pm On May 31, 2021
Its ejiro's brother, can't be abike again!

1 Like

Re: What's Love (A Romance Novelette By Kayode Odusanya) by treasuree95(f): 9:04pm On May 31, 2021
40 likes

1 Like

Re: What's Love (A Romance Novelette By Kayode Odusanya) by Rockyrascal(m): 11:51pm On May 31, 2021
It's been a while I read a romance novel and this right here is not just interesting but it is also very relatable... thank you! kay

1 Like

Re: What's Love (A Romance Novelette By Kayode Odusanya) by smartfashion(f): 12:30am On Jun 01, 2021
40 likes again
Re: What's Love (A Romance Novelette By Kayode Odusanya) by Ann2012(f): 2:14pm On Jun 01, 2021
Who did he hit oooo

Thanks for the update boss

1 Like

Re: What's Love (A Romance Novelette By Kayode Odusanya) by claxrep96(m): 1:27pm On Jun 02, 2021
[color=#990000][/color]
hvae been a ghost reader reading majority of ur book OP you are good and blessed it just seems you are telling my coursmate story in skool pls keep it up.
I also want to commend ur consistency in updating and pls my story alpha 60 will continue on june 22
Re: What's Love (A Romance Novelette By Kayode Odusanya) by rayvelez(m): 12:39am On Jun 03, 2021
Y'all ghost reader shud come out and click on like...
Re: What's Love (A Romance Novelette By Kayode Odusanya) by Kawo9ze(m): 9:13am On Jun 03, 2021
G'morning kayo80
Re: What's Love (A Romance Novelette By Kayode Odusanya) by Rockyrascal(m): 11:04am On Jun 03, 2021
Good morning! Kay... your last post have hit 40likes already

1 Like

Re: What's Love (A Romance Novelette By Kayode Odusanya) by PHEMMY1007(m): 11:12am On Jun 03, 2021
Oya oooo

2 Likes

Re: What's Love (A Romance Novelette By Kayode Odusanya) by bimberry1307(f): 2:19pm On Jun 03, 2021
Kayo80 come and update o. We already have 40 likes sir

1 Like

Re: What's Love (A Romance Novelette By Kayode Odusanya) by kayo80(m): 5:02pm On Jun 03, 2021
What's up guys. I've been busy all day...I just got back home. Give me 15-20 minutes, I will update with chapter 9.
Re: What's Love (A Romance Novelette By Kayode Odusanya) by kayo80(m): 5:40pm On Jun 03, 2021
Chapter 9

In front of me, entering the lounge was Abike on the arm of the guy I had gotten into it with at Ejiro and Tony's mom's birthday party. I felt a barrage of emotions; I felt fear, disappointment, and anger simultaneously. Abike froze for a second, but she quickly composed herself. I grreted her with a nod of the head. I couldn't tell what the guy was thinking. "What's up?" I said and raised my hand for a handshake. Surprisingly, he shook it without hesitation. Before walking off, I saw Abike squint and I was sure she had been hit with the second bombshell.

Standing outside the lounge waiting for Ejiro to come out, I heard her and Abike talking close to the door, but I couldn't make out what they were saying because of the noise from shorpers walking through the Mall. It didn't feel like there was a problem, so I assumed everything was cool. Abike was probably still in shock; too shocked to react according to how she was really feeling. Or, she thought there was nothing wrong with Ejiro and I being together in the place, since we knew each other before she came in the picture. But I doubted that; it had to be the former.

Ejiro walked passed me when she came out, looking disoriented. And then she walked back to my side, but didn't make eye contact with me. We walked towards the stairs that led to the cinema without speaking. There was so much to process. F9 was a big movie, and this was the release weekend. I knew a lot of people would be at the cinema to see it, but I never thought my ex and her new lover were going to be there. I thought the thing with the guy was going to be a one time thing, but for him to still be with her, he must want to take her serious. She must have transferred all the love I rejected the other night to him. I thought to myself.

I could feel Ejiro's palm get sweaty as we took the escalator hand in hand up to the floor that had the cinema. We still hadn't spoken to each other. I turned to look at her and from the look on her face, I knew she felt really bad Abike had just seen us together before she got the chance to tell her about us. The one week we had agreed to wait till we told Abike and Tony what was going on with us had elasped yesterday, but I guess we had both forgotten about it. I felt sorry for her; she wasn't the type to do something like this.

"Two medium sized popcorns please." I told the girl by the popcorn stand. "What drink do you want?" I turned to ask Ejiro.
"Umm...Coke." She said, staring at the menue on the wall behind the girl.
"Two midsize popcorn and two cokes." I said to the girl and she went to work on the popcorn machine. "What's up?" I said as I moved closer to Ejiro.
She had a nervous smile on her face as she said, "It was real awkward back there."
"Yeah, definitely."
"Here you go." The girl said, placing the popcorns on the counter. She turned around, opened the glass fridge behind her and pulled out two coke bottles. I brought out my wallet and paid her.
"So...how was your conversation with Abike?" I asked as Ejiro and I walked off with our popcorn and coke.
"It was...it was normal."
"Normal?"
"Yeah, that's why I feel so uncomfortable." She said as we got engolfed in the crowd walking into the theater. We couldn't hear each other talk anymore, so there was no use continuing the conversation. I walked ahead of her and led us to the very last row of seats at the back of the theater. It was still completely empty. We went to the extreme end of the row and took our seats. I put my drink in the cup holder by my right hand side and took a few popcorns off the top of the container. It was so full and some fell to the ground.

Ejiro was jittery. She put both her drink and popcorn on the floor, pulled out her phone, went through it for a few seconds, and then put it back in her denim pocket. She took a deep breath, faced me and said, "Olu, I don't think I can sit through this movie. I'm sorry, can we leave?" I sat there for a few seconds, and then got up. I understood how she felt. It would be torture making her seat through the movie.

As we were heading out, my phone beeped in my pocket and I had my hands filled with the drink and popcorn, so I just dropped coke bottle on the floor and kept it moving. I pulled out my phone from my jeans pocket and saw a text message from Abike; it read, 'So you and Ejiro are now dating? That's interesting.' I stared at the screen of my phone for a few seconds, thinking whether or not to reply her, and then I put the phone back in my pocket.
While outside the theater, Ejiro stopped for me to catch up with her. "Sorry for wasting your money." She said when we were side by side.
"No big deal. I totally understand." I said and we walked in silence till we got out to the carpark. It felt awkward walking to the car with popcorns in our hands, and I started looking for where to throw it. She saw me looking around and said, "No, please don't waste that too. We can eat it in the car."
"Okay."
When we got in the car, I didn't feel right just starting up the car and driving off, so I sat there. It was clear she was still going through her thoughts. "You want to talk about it?" I asked her, finally breaking the silence.
"I actually...I actually don't know how I feel."
"Hmm."
She was quiet for a while before saying, "I knew being with you was kind of wrong, because Abike is my friend and all, but the fact that you guys weren't actually dating made me feel okay about it."
"Okay." I said and waited for her to go on.
"I mean, she's my friend, but it's not like I didn't know she sees multiple other guys." I was silent and she went on to say, "I know you're thinking I'm a bad friend, but I really hated how she treated you." She stopped to open her coke and went on with, "She always talked down on you. She made everything you did for her seem like nothing." She stopped again to take a sip from her drink before continuing with, "She used to show me her Whatsapp chats with you, and I would read how...how you would beg her some times when you guys fought, and she would just laugh at you. Being your friend, that always infuriated me." The car was quiet now. I was angry, thinking about all the times I allowed Abike treat me like thrash. I was so needy, and was so happy to even have such a beautiful girl in my life I was willing to take a whole lot of shiit from her. I remembered a certain quarrel we had back in the day when she brought up how a particular guy she was seeing used to give her twenty thousand naira without even seeing her and how I was going on and on about the ordinary five thousand I had given her.
"But even through all that..." Ejiro started talking again. She stopped to take a sip from her drink before continuing with, "Even through all that, I never felt so dirty as I felt when I saw her earlier. I felt ashamed." She stopped to look at me now. "Even though I've like you for so long, and was so happy to have you kiss me and want me, I should have stopped you."
"Stop talking Ejiro. Don't say that."
"It's true Olu. What I did was wrong. What I'm doing is wrong."
"No, it's not. You just told me how she always took me for a fool."
"But still, she is my friend."
I sighed and looked up ahead. I didn't know what to say. Everything was fallen apart again. "So what are saying?" I finally blurted out.
"I don't know Olu. I don't know."
After a prolonged silence, I started up the car and navigated my way out of the car park.

48 Likes 1 Share

Re: What's Love (A Romance Novelette By Kayode Odusanya) by kayo80(m): 5:45pm On Jun 03, 2021
I will drop chapter 10 when chapter 9 gets 40 likes.
Re: What's Love (A Romance Novelette By Kayode Odusanya) by Kawo9ze(m): 5:49pm On Jun 03, 2021
E shock me!
So thats thy end of their love, ejiro is acting like a 13yrs old teen!
Every relationship do have its upandawn, you just have to man up n take your stand against all odds, for that's where your happiness dey!

2 Likes

Re: What's Love (A Romance Novelette By Kayode Odusanya) by Ann2012(f): 8:54pm On Jun 04, 2021
Ejiro should not start another drama ooo

Thanks for the update boss

1 Like

Re: What's Love (A Romance Novelette By Kayode Odusanya) by bigbauer(m): 12:25pm On Jun 05, 2021
kayo80:
I will drop chapter 10 when chapter 9 gets 40 likes.

the post got 42 likes at last count.

1 Like

Re: What's Love (A Romance Novelette By Kayode Odusanya) by Monero1402: 4:03pm On Jun 05, 2021
42 likes and counting....please paste the next chapter...suspense is hotttt��

2 Likes

Re: What's Love (A Romance Novelette By Kayode Odusanya) by aydfather(m): 4:46pm On Jun 05, 2021
42 likes already. Drop it hot

1 Like

Re: What's Love (A Romance Novelette By Kayode Odusanya) by kayo80(m): 8:38pm On Jun 05, 2021
Chapter 10

After church the following day, still in my white native attire, I drove down to the home of a friend of mine I hadn't seen in a while. I needed someone to talk to; someone that knew me well. The last thing Ejiro had told me before dropping from my car the day before was that she needed some time to think of all that was going on, and that she also needed time to talk to Abike. She indirectly was telling me she wouldn't be seeing me for a couple of days. I didn't blame her. She had acted off of pure emotions till she actually ran into Abike at the mall and was faced with the reality of what she had done. The honeymoon phase was over. I just wished it lasted longer.

My friend stayed in the back flat of a four flat building, and he had a personal gate leading to the little backyard space he had carved out for himself. The black gate made noise as it scrapped the ground when I opened it and Jack, my friend shouted out "Olu!"

"What's up bro? You need to get a welder to fix this your gate." I said and he started laughing. I closed the gate behind me and walked towards the entrance to his apartment. He had clothes hanging on the clothlines to my right, and the wall after the lines was painted yellow, different from the faded cream color the rest of the walls in the compound was painted in. "I hope you have my two bottles of big stout ready." I said as I tried to open the door. It was locked. A few seconds later, I heard the key turn in the door, and Jack swung it open. "Jack my guy." I said and gave him an excited handshake.

"Olu maintain." He said out loud while still laughing. Jack was a short guy that wore glasses and resembled the former Ekiti state Governor, Fayose. The only difference was that he was quite short, the opposite of the former Governor. He was a lot older than me, but we had worked together as factory supervisors for a couple of years at my present place of work before he left. "Olu maintain my guy." He said, still shaking my hand and beaming from ear to ear. He was in blue jeans shorts and a white tank top.
"Jack the ripper." I said and the smile on his face disappeared. It was replaced by a frown.
"Bro, you know I don't like that name." He said and I laughed. He laughed too and stepped out of the apartment. "Let's sit outside. Inside is hot. No light since morning." He said and shouted out a name. A teenage boy came out, and Jack instructed him to bring out chairs and drinks he had asked him to buy earlier.

We were seated side by side now, just outside his door, facing his gate. After catching up on old times, I briefed him about by dilemma with Abike and Ejiro. I even showed him some of their pictures on my phone. He picked up his white pack of Chestafield cigarette from the window sill, pulled out a stick, and stuck it in his mouth. I sat there, waiting for him to talk as he lit his cigarette with a sterling silver zippo lighter. After turning to the side to blow smoke out his mouth, he turned to me and said, “First of all, I don’t care how much you like that first girl…what did you call her name?”
“Abike.”
“Yeah, Abike. Please don’t go back to that girl.” He stopped to take another drag from his cigarette stick before saying, “From what you have told me and the pictures I saw, she seems like the kind that can never be satisfied with a guy like you.” I already knew that, but it was good hearing it again. He felt he had bruised my ego, and he went on to say, “Olu, you know I am a straightforward guy. I’m just being honest with you as a friend.”
“I understand.”
“Come, how you take hold that girl sef.” He said in broken English and looked at me for a while before adding, “You must be a pro in za oza room.” I couldn’t help but laugh at his assumption. He joined me in laughing and it made me laugh even more. When things got quiet, he said “The other girl. She would have been perfect for you, but the whole thing is just too complex with her."
“Hmm."
“You said the brother is your good friend, and she is the best friend of the other girl?” He asked and I nodded. “Hmm. That’s really complicated Olu. You have to make up your mind on that one."
I sighed and sat back in my seat. If it was left to me, I would choose to be with Ejiro against all odds. But it seemed like she was having cold feet. Even though it was something we both had secretly thought about, we jumped into it too quickly and probably at the wrong time. I hadn’t even told Tony about the whole thing, and honestly, I couldn’t say for sure how he would react. Ejiro was 23, and she could think for herself, but he still treated her like she was a little girl, even though, like me, he was just 3 years older than her. He had always been overprotective of her. He was a wild boy, and so were his friends, so he never wanted any of them anywhere near his sister. But, I was different. Still, he could flip out if he heard I was dating her, even if he knew I was going to be a perfect gentleman with her.
“So, how is madam and the kids?” I asked, trying not to make the whole day about me.
“They are fine o.” He answered with a smile and a faraway look on his face. Jack had gotten deported from England over some illegal activities, but his wife and kids remained there. He was working on traveling to another European country, and having his family join him there. But it had been four years now. I wondered how he felt. His problem was way more complex than mine. For the rest of my stay there, I decided to focus the discussion on him.

……….

After leaving Jack’s house, I got stuck in traffic on the Lekki Express Way heading back home. I was more or less driving on autopilot as my mind wondered off. All is fair in love and war, but Ejiro and I hadn’t yet had enough time to grow in love. We hadn’t had time to discover each other’s negative sides. No one is perfect; she might hate the fact that I sometimes like to be on my own for days. I might not like some things about her.

My phone beeped on my lap. I looked down at it briefly and saw it was a message from Abike. The message read, 'let's talk when you're free.' I wondered if her and Ejiro had talked about the whole thing. I was curious to know what she could want to say to me again. After thinking it through, I picked up my phone and dialed her number. She picked up almost immediately. "What's up Olu." She said in an almost inaudible voice. There was loud afro beats music playing in the background.
"Where are you?"
"I'm at Groove Gardens." The music sounded lower now. She probably was walking away from the speakers. "I came here to buy Suya. I'm alone."
"Okay. I'm actually approaching the spot now. I'll be there soon."
"Okay. I'll be close to the Suya spot."
"Okay. See you soon."

48 Likes 1 Share

Re: What's Love (A Romance Novelette By Kayode Odusanya) by kayo80(m): 8:48pm On Jun 05, 2021
Chapter 11 will drop when chapter 10 gets 100 likes.
















Hahahaha! Just kidding. Chapter 11 will drop when chapter 10 gets 40 likes.

1 Like

Re: What's Love (A Romance Novelette By Kayode Odusanya) by aprilwise(m): 10:28pm On Jun 05, 2021
kayo80:


I don't watch football, so sorry, the next chapter won't drop till tomorrow afternoon...or when chapter 7 gets 40 likes.
which sport do you watch?

1 Like

Re: What's Love (A Romance Novelette By Kayode Odusanya) by kayo80(m): 7:11am On Jun 06, 2021
aprilwise:
which sport do you watch?

I'm not really a sports guy, and I don't watch TV at all. But I like boxing...I watch it every now and then.
Re: What's Love (A Romance Novelette By Kayode Odusanya) by OlufemiWhit(m): 7:29am On Jun 06, 2021
100 likes kwa.....�

1 Like

Re: What's Love (A Romance Novelette By Kayode Odusanya) by Ann2012(f): 7:49am On Jun 06, 2021
This update is short ooo

Thanks for the update boss
Re: What's Love (A Romance Novelette By Kayode Odusanya) by kayo80(m): 7:59am On Jun 06, 2021
The update is actually exactly the same length as the last chapter...1,300.

Once again, my chapters are usually 1,000-1,700 words.

1 Like

Re: What's Love (A Romance Novelette By Kayode Odusanya) by kayo80(m): 10:20am On Jun 07, 2021
Good morning guys. So, there are two chapters left in this story; two short chapters. By the grace of God, if Nepa doesn't mess up, I will post both of them this morning. Oops! Speak of the devil. NEPA just struck. lol.

Anyway, let me quickly post chapter 11.
Re: What's Love (A Romance Novelette By Kayode Odusanya) by kayo80(m): 10:21am On Jun 07, 2021
Chapter 11

Groove Gardens was a massive open air bar along Lekki-Epe express way in Lagos. The place was just off the express way, with a large car park. Most people going home after a hard day’s work would usually branched off to relax at the bar because of the constant traffic congestion on that route. It was really a strategic location, and it was always like a carnival every night of the week. Even people that didn’t drink alcohol went there for other things like their legendary Suya, or the ice cream stand that operated till midnight.

I had parked my car, and was making my way to the Suya spot now. The car park was about three acres on its own, with well tendered carpet grass, and floodlights illuminating every inch of the place. You had to walk through the car park to get to the bar. Just after the car park was a straight line of small stalls that housed the drinks and food vendors. And when you walk through the space between any two of the stalls, you see chairs and tents as far as the eyes can see in front of you, well arranged in an orderly fashion. I had walked past the stalls now and was heading to the extreme left corner of the walkway between the stalls and the chairs, heading to the Suya spot. Afro beats music was playing at a low volume. I hadn’t made it far when I heard a female voice call out ‘OOA.’ I was shocked. The only people who called me that were my co-workers at the factory. OOA were my initials; Olumide Olutayo Abiodun. We all went by initials at work for smoother communication.

I kept walking and ignored the person, but the voice kept getting closer, and I was forced to stop and turn around. Walking towards me hurriedly was an excited looking tall girl with long braids. She had on a black tight gown that fitted her hour glass shape perfectly. When she got a lot closer to me, I recognized her. “Gloria.” I said just before she hugged me. “What are you doing here?” I asked as she pulled away from the embrace.
“I’m in Lagos now. I’m serving here.”
“Wow! You’re done with school?” I asked with a shocked look on my face.
“Yes.”
“Wow! Time flies.” Gloria did her IT at my factory a couple of years ago, and we developed a bound over time. But when she went back to school, we gradually lost touch. We sometimes would communicate on Whatsapp, but I couldn’t remember the last time I chatted with her.
“I saw you at the mall a couple of days ago.”
“Really?”
“Yes. You were with a girl, and I didn’t want to disturb you.”
“Oh, yeah.” I said and for a second my mind traveled. I focused back on Gloria and saw she was looking behind me. When I turned around, I saw Abike standing there. Her hair was parked in a bun, and she had on a white tank top and jeans bum shorts. One hand was holding the strap of the small bag she had on her shoulder, and the other was holding a black paper bag.
“It was nice seeing you OOA.” Gloria said and I turned back around to face her. She was slowly backing off, still facing me, with a smile still on her face.
“Yeah. It was nice seeing you.” I said and smiled at her. She waved at me before turning around and walking off.
“Hmm. OOA. What an interesting name. It sounds like a secret agent name.” Abike said when I turned around to face her. My eyes went to the black paper bag in her right hand; I guessed she had the Suya in there. “Let’s walk to your car.”
“Okay.” I said and led the way out of the spot. As we proceeded, I scanned the place and saw Gloria with a bunch of girls. She looked back at me at a point, but quickly looked away. I guessed Abike really intimidated her. I would have loved to talk to her a little longer, but maybe another time. I still had her number on my phone and would call her when I get the time to do so. “So…did your dad send you for that?” I asked as I turned to Abike and pointed at the paper bag in her hand.
“Nope.”
“Okay.” We kept walking. I wanted to make more small talk so I said, “How is your boyfriend?” She looked at me with a smile on her face and slowly shook her head.
“He is not my boyfriend; just like you weren’t my boyfriend.”
“Oh. I get.” I said. We walked silently after that till we got to my car. There was still traffic on the road, and I thought I probably should have bought drinks, because we definitely were still going to be here a while.
“I got you something.” She said as we got into the car. I saw her going through her bag and she pulled out a small white paper bag. Inside it was a green apple.
“An apple?” I said with a shocked look on my face.
She rolled her eyes before saying, “Just say thank you.”
“Thank you.” I said and collected the apple from her.
“So…how are you?”
“I’m fine.” I answered as I looked for where to put the apple.
“How much do you hate me today?”
I turned to look at her for a while before saying, “Why did you want to see me?”
“I just wanted to see you.”
“You just wanted to see me?”
She was silent for a while before saying, “It’s complicated.”
“Okay.”
“I don’t know jor.” She said and turned to look at me. “I miss you a lot, but…”
“But?”
“But…but I also like some other things you don’t have the capacity to do for me.”
“Hmm.”
“Olu, I’m just being realistic.”
“Okay.”
“I wanted to ask if we could just go back to you know…how we used to be, without the attachments, but then I see you and Ejiro are kind of a thing now.” I didn’t say anything, and she went on to say, “It hurt though. I mean, seeing you with her.”
“Have you spoken with her?” I said after a prolonged silence.
“Yes.”
“And?”
She sighed before saying, “Don’t worry about that. It’s girl stuff.”
“Okay.”
There was silence for a while again before she said, “You can do whatever you like, but to be totally honest with you, I can never be comfortable with both of you together.”
“Hmm.”
“I’m sorry if I’m messing up your happily ever after story.” She said and placed her hand on mine. “I’m only human.” My mind had wondered off, but I was brought back to reality when she started rubbing my hand up and down. I slowly removed her hand from mine. “I’m sorry.” She said before sitting back. The car was silent for a while before she said, “So what are you going to do now?”
“I don’t know.”
“Well, you can date both of us. That’s a fantasy many guys have, right?” She said with a smile on her face. When I turned to look at her, she laughed lightly before saying, “I’m kidding.”
I sighed before saying, “Abike, let me drop you at home.”
“Okay.” She said and I started up the car. As I put the car in gear and attempted to move, the apple she had given me rolled over on the dashboard, and she caught it as it fell. She held it up to me before saying, “You asked why I gave you the apple right?”
“Yeah.”
“It’s the forbidden fruit. If you get intimate with Ejiro, you would be eating the forbidden fruit.” I hadn’t known her to be so poetic and deep and I turned to face her. “I’m sorry, but even if you don’t want to be with me, please don’t be with Ejiro. I like both of you too much for you to do that.” I had never been this confused in my life. I sighed, put the car in gear one and drove off.

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Re: What's Love (A Romance Novelette By Kayode Odusanya) by Missmossy(f): 6:23pm On Jun 07, 2021
Ghen ghen cheesy it’s getting intense

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