I Wish I Had 4given Him Earlier..other Side Of Love - Romance - Nairaland
Nairaland Forum / Nairaland / General / Romance / I Wish I Had 4given Him Earlier..other Side Of Love (2129 Views)
I Wish I Had HIV/AIDS / ... / Job Antwi: I Never Knew Sex Is This Sweet, I Wish I Can Do It Everyday (2) (3) (4)
| I Wish I Had 4given Him Earlier..other Side Of Love by Popflair(m): 11:04am On Aug 26, 2015 |
This is not my story, just felt like sharing so u could learn from it She thought it'd be nice if she made something 'local'. Egwusi soup perhaps. But she hasn't seen him eat that before. She hasn't even seen him eat anything. Before that Friday of last week she never could have imagined there was still a possibility for her to feel this way again. Every heartbreak came with a different kind of torture, and its accompanying decision. Ujunwa has had them enough to be sure she was never going to feel anything for any man again. The last one had been two years ago. It might as well be the worst. He had come with a refreshing sugariness at the start, a deep promise of hope. His name had been Ireti, something alike, something that had ‘hope’ in its meaning. He told her that he was going to replenish all the love she has lost in the past. And she so believed him. So she had given it her all, as she always did. She had always told herself, 'Uju, you are not that tall or beautiful to be so choosy.' And so she returned love with immense gratitude. She always obeyed, endured, whatever it required to make it last. Her dream was to finally one day become a wife. She would then know that she has finally won. She would call it her victory. But Ujunwa was always defeated, sometimes even before the battle took off. That day she discovered Ireti had been married, a beautiful wife and two lovely girls, she didn't cry as she did a year earlier when Ikenna disappeared to Malaysia with all her money. She gently pulled off the ring he had engaged her with and dropped it on the table before him, his wife and kids. The whole staff of Tantalizers was watching. Without a word, to him or his wife, she walked back to the front and picked her order. Inside her blue Corolla, she turned the player on and Beyonce's Halo started where it had stopped when she parked the car. She quickly changed the song. She turned the volume high and sang along to the chorus as led by Pink, 'So, so what? I'm still a rock star, I got my rock moves...' In her flat, she didn't cry either. It has always been the ritual whenever it happened, but that day she was feeling different. An overwhelming sense of control engulfed her. She poured herself a glass from the bottle she had bought earlier, the one she'd kept specially for their meeting that evening. She poured a glassful into her mouth and poured out another which she drank up quickly again. She lifted the glass and hurled it at the wall above her TV. It shattered. As she picked the tiny glass pieces, she envisioned them as the pieces of her heart so she picked them with delicate care. That evening when she threw away the trash with the glass pieces inside, she was sure she had thrown away her heart. And she felt so good afterwards. The thought that 'it' would never happen again. It had ever worked so because since the morning that followed that day, she saw men differently. The cuter they appear, the more nauseating they made her feel. And when they try to be nice, she only felt pity for them. But the Friday of last week has changed something, if not everything. She was surprised. The harder she tried putting on the barricading thoughts, the more he crumbled them. Without effort. 'I'm so sorry, my dear, I wasn't looking,' he'd said to her as he bent to pick her papers which he'd knocked off. 'Please, don't be so mad at me, you see--' She jerked the papers and cards from him. She raised a wary eye at him. 'Thanks,' she said, ever so grudgingly. She started to rearrange her file. 'Can I help you with that?' She gave him another look and walked off. She was already at the gate of her office building when he called, 'Miss?' She turned, doing nothing to mask her impatience. 'Please can I get your card?' Her brows came together. 'What for?' 'Well, you see, I just started with the Green--' He pointed at the next building. '...apparently we are neighbors. I mean since you work with Armac's, we...we can...it'd just be nice if we connect.' She noticed he was tense. His forehead had grown sweaty. It might have been this feeble show of vulnerability that got her interested. She wondered if men blush so visibly. But then she also noticed that he was good-looking. She ridded herself of the thought quickly. She was surprised at herself that she didn't feel nauseated. 'Well, I don't work here,' she said. 'Oh, you don't?' 'I work with Armac's, yes, but not this branch. I'm only here to--' She remembered she doesn't have much time. She opened her purse and handed him a white card. He looked at it. Ujunwa Okolo. Head, Corporate Communications. He nodded. He raised his face and saw that she was gone. He half smiled. When he called that evening, she was quick to notice he's got back his cool. He sounded so in control, so a man. ‘Helo.’ He had to say this a few times. ‘Who’s this?’ ‘My name is Ayo. I’d like to speak to Miss O-ju-n-wa please.’ She felt slightly amused at the way he called her name. She had guessed but she still asked, ‘May I know who Ayo is?’ She had put on her ‘edited’ voice, the one she used to talk to clients at work. ‘I was the guy that knocked off your papers in front of your Armac’s building.’ ‘The blind guy, I see.’ She heard an appropriate chuckle. ‘I’d have to say that I’m sorry again.’ She hummed. ‘It’s ok. So why are you calling me?’ ‘Oh, I’m just calling to say hi.’ She was surprised he replied so fast. ‘Okay. I’d say thanks then.’ ‘You need not to.’ ‘What?’ ‘It’s a delight hearing from you.’ ‘Thanks.’ ‘Bye, angel.’ He ended the call before she could do it herself. She felt beaten. He called her every day after that till finally they were laughing and arguing on the phone. The last time they spent over an hour on the phone. She was cooking but she had had to turn off the gas and walk out to the sitting room. After they shared a bout of laughter he made about his white boss, his voice turned serious as he told her he needed to see her, that he has something to tell her. She tried but he insisted it wasn’t something they’d talk about on the phone. Finally the Saturday of their meeting had come. An unusual feeling had been with her all day. Something close to excitement, laced with apprehension. Two She waited for the knock to come again. She opened the door. As surprising as interesting as it is, he was dressed rather sporty, in a white and black striped Polo shirt and dark grey chinos. With his blue Vans trainers, he created the impression of a UNILAG student. 'Good evening.' They said this together. She smiled and he chuckled, revealing sparkling, well-set teeth. 'Can I come in?' he said. 'Of course.' She showed him in. He looked round the room. 'Beautiful place.' 'Thank you.' He moved close to a painting of her on the wall. 'Your mum?' Her eyes got wide. 'That's me.' 'Oh. The painter should refund you then.' Interest flickered in her eyes. 'You think it's not nice?' He said nothing. Then he gave a tiny shrug. ‘Not done well.’ ‘What?’ He turned back to her. ‘I see beauty not fully represented.’ She couldn’t help but pull down her eyes. She’d felt a discomforting rush of emotion. Something she hadn’t felt for so long a time, never knew she could still feel. She nearly became angry with herself. Matters worsening, he took her hand. His palm was soft and warm, almost feminine. 'I'll paint you finer,' he said. 'If I let you.' She took back her hand, hoping he hadn’t noticed they’d grown sweaty in his touch. 'Of course,' he said. ‘I will beg if need be.’ Change the topic now, a voice said in her head. 'I made stew,' she said 'What?' 'I made stew in case you are hungry.' 'Oh I am.' At the table, his eyes lingered on her all the while they ate. She felt so weak under his stare. She couldn’t describe how she was feeling. There was just too many emotions whirling up inside her. She thought of herself stupid for allowing the situation in the first place. ‘So what is it that you have to tell me that can’t be said over the phone?’ He dropped his fork suddenly, as if startled. She guessed her voice had come out a little too harsh. He stared at her. She watched him. She could have sworn his eyes were growing watery. |
| Re: I Wish I Had 4given Him Earlier..other Side Of Love by Popflair(m): 11:12am On Aug 26, 2015 |
Did he lose someone? She tried hard to make sure her face was soft enough. He was taking so long to speak. ‘Alex? Are you okay?’ she asked. They had promised to refer to each other by their English names on the phone— he would call her Grace and she would call him Alex. He blinked but not a word still. ‘Alex?’ She prayed his lips doesn’t burst open and he would begin to wail. But he didn’t. He pushed his chair back and stood. He walked across the table and took her hand. He guided her up and took her other hand so that they now faced each other. Her mind went blank. ‘I love you, Grace.’ She jerked her hands away from him in reflex. ‘Alex, what are you saying?’ ‘Ever since that day at the garden, I’ve been in love with you.’ ‘What are you talking about? Which garden?’ ‘GV. Palm Estate.’ Her eyes went narrow. She was at GV Gardens two years ago or so. With Ireti. It was their usual hang-out place. ‘Alex, the last time I was at GV Gardens was two or so years ago, so what are you saying?’ ‘Yes. May 12. You wore a purple gown.’ Her eyes ran wide. ‘You were there with my brother. I came to drop his dry cleaning. You called me the dark version of Lynx.’ Awareness hit her. ‘Yes, yes. You were the young graduate that was supposed to travel to London the next day for a training.’ He smiled. ‘Yes.’ He reached into his pocket and pulled out his glasses. He wore it. ‘Remember me now?’ He touched his shaved head. ‘The hair is gone—I took your advice and got rid of it, but this is how I looked that day. Remember?’ She smiled. ‘You were so young then. And it was just two years, how come—’ He chuckled. ‘I was never that young. Dapo was only two years older than me.’ ‘Dapo?’ ‘My brother.’ ‘Oh. He told me his name was Ireti.’ His face dulled. ‘He did?’ ‘Yes. Your brother is a crook.’ He quickly took her hand. ‘Forget my brother. I learnt everything but I’m here for you now.’ He leaned forward and pressed his lips to hers. The act was over before she could pull off a protest. THREE She had rehearsed her lines well. Once she entered she was going recite them all and leave immediately. 'I'm so sorry, Alex, but this won't work.' 'You see, I had a very horrible experience with your brother and I'm not ready to go down that lane again.' Of course she knew he will put up persuasion but she would be gone before he'd even start. She had it all well planned. She picked the phone and dialed his number. She told him she was on her way and he said ok. She saw No. 12 and slowed the car. She waved at a lanky young man standing in front of a provisions' kiosk. The tall boy raised a finger to mean ‘just a minute.’ She watched him dip his hand into his pocket and pay the store owner, a heavily-built middle-aged lady with the mean face of women who are experienced in beating their husbands. The boy had leaned over to listen to her when the store owner called out. ‘Oga! This money wey gimme no good o.’ ‘Madam I no get another one o.’ He turned back to Grace. ‘Ehe, Madam, ema binu, continue.’ ‘Is this Iseyin Street? I’m looking for—’ Someone pulled the man from behind. Grace’s eyes ran up and she saw it was the fat store owner. ‘Take your torn money.’ She threw the note at him. ‘Pay me or give me back my detergent.’ Her Yoruba accent was thick. Grace understood little of Yoruba but she picked nothing from what the woman said. The tall boy put the green sachet of detergent into his pocket. ‘Madam, I no get another fifty-naira. If I get I go give—’ He hadn’t finished when the woman grabbed him. ‘Give me back my A-li-al. I no sell again.’ ‘Madam, take.’ Grace extended a clean N200 note to the woman. ‘Please leave him.’ The woman gave the man one last glare before releasing him. But it was the tall boy that got to the money first. He gave it to the woman. ‘Oya bring change.’ The woman scowled at him. She took the money and opened the purse hanging round her waist. She gave him N150. The boy returned the change to Grace. ‘Thank you, ma.’ ‘You can keep that,’ Grace said. ‘Ma?’ ‘You can keep it. Please tell me how to get to No. 34.’ ‘Thank you, ma. Eshe.’ Grace smiled. ‘No. 34, you said?’ ‘Yes.’ ‘Okay. Just follow me.’ Grace wanted to tell him to just show her the direction but the boy has walked off. She started the engine and followed him slowly. The boy showed her No. 34 and helped her park the car. The street was narrow and lined at both sides with cars, some of them so dusty one needn’t think twice to know that they hadn’t been moved in years. She stepped down and slammed the door shut. She saw her reflection in the car window glass and suddenly felt the urge to use a mirror. She wasn’t one of those women that owned a mini make-up house at home. She only had the few very-needed ones. The second man she dated had said his reason for breaking up with her was because she didn’t take care of herself as a woman should. After the ordeal, she spent a portion of her school fees on make-up items but she dumped them aside only after some weeks. She has once said to a girlfriend that covering her face in make-up after a bath made her feel dirty. God’s blessing abound, she has smooth dark skin. She only wished she was taller and her nose longer. She ran her hand down her hair and clutched her purse in her front. In her fitted, blue gown she looked every inch what she is. A thirty-two year old working class woman. |
| Re: I Wish I Had 4given Him Earlier..other Side Of Love by Nobody: 11:13am On Aug 26, 2015 |
Popflair:  3 Likes |
| Re: I Wish I Had 4given Him Earlier..other Side Of Love by Popflair(m): 11:14am On Aug 26, 2015 |
She passed the gate and headed toward the stairs. The house was considerably neat and from the cluster of big generators she’d seen at a corner of the compound, she’d reasoned it wasn’t a place so many could afford to live in. It might as well have been the most expensive house on the street. She got to the second floor and saw the door at once. It was just as he’d described it for him. She put back her phone which she had brought out to call him inside her bag. She dithered a second before knocking. She inhaled deeply and knocked. She looked around, there was no bell box. She knocked again. She has raised her hand to knock again when she heard the sound of unbolting. The door moved inwards to reveal a happy young man. He revealed so many teeth while smiling and strangely, she found it attractive. He was wearing his glasses and a black stay-at-home shirt with white shorts. Either he had large thighs or the shorts were too tight. Either way Grace wouldn’t want to look down at him again. Looking up at his muscular arms, square shoulders and well-cut lips wasn’t that easy either. ‘Please sit,’ he said. ‘Actually, I’ve not come to sit.’ Something leapt off his eyes. She was not happy that her statement had taken away so much light from his face. He stared at her. ‘What’s the matter? We had a deal, didn’t we? We were supposed to spend time together.’ She quietly dropped her purse on the couch. It was black, bound with loose shiny stones that sparkled in the dull blue light of the room. She joined her two hands together, in her mind, searching for the perfect way to start. He watched her with near pleading eyes. ‘Alex, this will not work.’ His lips came apart. ‘I mean I like you, really, but you are…you are…I’m 32.’ She moved her hand through the air in disorganized demonstration. ‘You are only 27. I…’ She looked at his face and the words sank further back. She didn’t even know why she was talking about age now. Though she had thought about it during her deliberation but the decision was to base all reason on her past relationship with his elder brother. He inhaled audibly. ‘So the issue now is my age?’ ‘No, not just your age. You are younger than I am and your brother and I didn’t…Alex just…’ With over 10-years’ experience in communications she never knew that she would one day find speech so taxing. ‘Alex, please, you have to—’ He threw his arms around her and enclosed her. She was startled. ‘Please,’ he said. ‘Please don't say that to me. Don’t leave me.’ He smelt chokingly of masculinity. He must have used one of those perfumes made by combining scents with marijuana. She tried to pull herself out but he held on, tight enough to make sure she doesn’t slip away yet loose enough to ensure she was comfortable and getting air. He made a sniffling sound and she wondered if he was crying. ‘Please stay with me,’ he said. ‘Tell me that you will stay.’ ‘Alex.’ ‘Please, Grace. Please. This is more than you can ever imagine. Please.’ She was curious. He moved his hand and held her face up so that their eyes met and held. His eyes appeared cloudy. She was able to perceive the intensity of whatever it was he felt for her in his eyes. Slowly he lowered his face to hers and planted his lips between hers. She hesitated but he was sweet. Everything about him. In a moment they were kissing. He pulled her close and secured her to himself. She felt loose, feathery. Sucking sounds of affection filled the air. Slowly her subconscious felt him rising. She needed not see it to know how blessed he was. He was Dapo’s brother, after all. Hot emotions whirled inside her. Mechanically he drew her this way and that till they landed on the couch. He released her lips and held his shirt. As he pulled it off, she wished he hadn’t, that she had stopped him. She became helpless. The chest concealed under that shirt all the while was the perfect-built chest of male magazine models. She ran her fingers down the hard lumps on his belly. He let her. A great feeling of ownership sprang up inside her. He lowered down to her, kissed her lips for a while and then her neck, her ears. Anything he did made her shiver. With chivalrous gentleness, he slipped one arm of her gown down and then the other. She helped him unstrap her bra and her breasts came to view. They were of adequate size and strength so she had no reason to panic. In her mind, she has decided go through with it to the end. It was something close to that feeling of courage you have when standing in front of a big lump of delicious chocolate and you decide to eat it all and savor the sweetness and worry about the calories later. FOUR They lay side by side on the lush rug. Her eyes were fixed at the ceiling fan. In the speed, the brown blades had meshed into a consistent circle. In her mind she tried not to think about what just happened some minutes ago. But it proved hard. Very hard. The images kept coming back. They were not ordinary pictures one could see, she felt them instead. The sweetness and all. She was nearly consumed in the pleasure. Some of it still lingered, as if she could taste it on her tongue if she wanted to. But a part of her was not very at home with the great feeling of pleasance. The part that blamed her for loosening it all up again. She pondered on it for a while before she blew the thought away and rested her mind on the more pleasurable feelings. She remembered how she had moaned, screamed, groaned under him. She resisted the urge to smile. She turned to him. She met his eyes suddenly and was nearly startled by them. He'd been staring at her all along. She smiled at him and he returned it. He was really cute. Way cuter than his brother. She inhaled deeply, as if to be sure it hadn’t all been a dream. His stare deepened. Her eyes went narrow. He took her hand with his free hand. His other hand held his head up at an angle that set his eyes straight at her face. He folded her hand inside his. A peculiar feeling of security settled on her. 'Marry me,' he said in a tiny whisper She pretended not to hear. 'Will you?' he said again, in same quiet, serious tone. 'Will you like me to make something?' she said instead. Cooking was like a passion to her. 'I'm not hungry,' he said. His hand tightened around hers. 'Grace,' he called. She stared at him, not knowing what to feel. 'I love you,' he said. |
| Re: I Wish I Had 4given Him Earlier..other Side Of Love by yatch360: 11:17am On Aug 26, 2015 |
read it through finally.... didn't want to but found It interesting |
| Re: I Wish I Had 4given Him Earlier..other Side Of Love by Popflair(m): 11:18am On Aug 26, 2015 |
She stared. ‘I want you to marry me.’ A heavy feeling descended on her. She got up quickly and straightened her gown. She ran her hand over her hair twice and picked her purse. Without a word she walked out of the room, leaving him still, staring and lost. He jerked when the door banged shut behind her. In her apartment she dropped on the orange and black-colored couch and kicked off her shoes. A big lump formed in her throat. She felt insulted. It was the same tactic his brother had used. Quick, deceptive promise of marriage. It may be what they are experienced in. She walked into her room and changed into a casual brown dress. She so wanted to talk to someone. She had few friends, mostly colleagues from work. Her best friend, Bisola, has moved to Ibadan where she now stayed with her husband. Her younger brother was far away in FUTO. She wanted to call her mother but thought better of it. She was in the kitchen boiling water when she heard a knock on her door. She opened the door at the same time she said 'Who?' 'Can I come in?' he asked. 'Come in,' she said quietly. He stepped in and she shut the door. The room smelt heavily flower and fruits. 'Why did you run off like that? Did I say anything to offend you?' She stared at him. He came a step closer. 'Talk to me.' He took her hand. She felt the heavy lump of anger in her chest dissolve and flow away. His touch, his face, there was something so innocent about them. 'It's nothing,' she said. 'It's just your mention of marriage, it got me...got me...annoyed.' 'Really? Why?' She signaled for them to sit. They settled on the couch. 'Tell me,' he said. 'Your brother gave me a ring.' 'Dapo asked you to marry him?' 'Yes. Barely a week we met.' 'I didn't know.' 'That's okay.' He pulled out of the chair to stare at her. 'I now understand your action. You see Dapo kept a lot of dishonest relationships way back. He yet still pays for it till this moment.' ‘Tell me more.' He shifted nearer her and held her. 'You see, Grace, I'm not Dapo. I will never hurt you.' He stared down at her till she moved her head in a nod. 'Thanks. If you can't marry me, will you accept to date me?' He extended an open palm. ‘At least?’ She smiled. 'That I can manage for now,' she said. She took his hand. They hugged. They hadn't completed the act when his phone rang. He reached into his pocket and brought out a Samsung phone. 'One minute please.' 'Go ahead.' He tapped at somewhere on the phone's screen and put the phone to his ear. He spoke entirely in Yoruba. 'I'm in my girlfriend’s house, why?' ‘Yes, I now do.’ ‘Since…’ He looked briefly at her. ‘…today.’ ‘Thank you.’ ‘Okay. Tell me.’ 'Fifty thousand?' 'No. I can't raise that in so short a time.' 'What?' 'It has to be till Monday...that's what I'm saying.' 'Please, Brother, I will call you back.' He ended the call. She noticed the lines on his face. 'Who is that?' 'It's Dapo.' 'Dapo? Your brother?' 'Yes. He said he needed 50k urgently now.' 'He is asking you for money? What happened to his Shell job?' 'He lost it. It was a long story. But I don't pity him. He is actually paying for his sins.' She found some consolation in that. But she still would like him to help his brother, if he could. Grace may not be the softest of people but she is not stone. She stood. 'Let me fix you something to eat.' 'Thanks,' he said. FIVE She laughed out loud and flashed a tongue at him. In the screen facing them, she had just slaughtered him and he dropped to the ground with a near-human groan. Graphic blood stains splashed at the screen. He looked at her and said nothing. He couldn't believe that barely thirty minutes of teaching her the game, she was now beating him to it. He somehow found satisfaction in her victory. He knew he would win her if he put in more effort, but he somehow was happy with her winning, smiling, flashing a clean, red tongue at him. He restarted the game and chose another player. He was now a samurai warrior and she a white-topped bad ass bitch still. Her player had let out a shrill growl to mean the game has started when the knock landed on the door. 'One minute.' Alex paused the game and stood. The knock came again, twice, before he could get to the door. Grace could sense the impatience. She wondered who it might be. Perhaps his landlord? Is he owing rent? She has her chequebook. She wouldn't mind signing him a cheque if that was the case. But it wasn't. The face that met her eyes sent tiny sharp sands flying all around her. She stilled for a second. But she recovered quickly and turned her face away. 'Brother mi, ekabo,' Alex said. Dapo nodded, his eyes down on Grace. She knew he was staring at her. She could feel it. She didn't want to feel captured. She stood, threw out a flat hi at him and sat on the couch. 'That's my girlfriend, Dapo.' 'Oh,' Dapo said. 'Meet me in the room.' 'Actually, the money is downstairs in the car. Let's—' 'Ayodeji tele mi!' Dapo led the way into the room. |
| Re: I Wish I Had 4given Him Earlier..other Side Of Love by Popflair(m): 11:19am On Aug 26, 2015 |
‘Are you insane?’ Dapo did not wait for Alex to get through the door. Alex wondered why he asked him into the room if his voice was going to be so loud. He could as well have thrown the tantrums in the sitting room. In her front. But whatever he did would not matter. His brother has lost the right to mentor him many months back when he found out what he did. That he still talked to him was just for same blood’s sake. ‘What’s that woman doing in your house, Ayo?’ ‘That woman is my girlfriend, Brother. I introduced her.’ ‘You are very silly.’ He said this Yoruba. ‘Do you not know who she is? Do you not know her? That woman destroyed my life.’ ‘Nobody destroyed your life, Brother!’ Dapo pulled back in surprise. ‘Yes, you set the fire that burned your feet yourself.’ ‘Ayodeji, so you can now insult me? Over some cheap omo-Igbo girl?’ ‘No no, Dapo, I will not have you insult her like that.’ ‘What? Are you— ’ The door suddenly burst open. Grace came through. ‘This meeting is over. Alex, I will like to see you in the kitchen.’ She did something with her eyes. ‘Right now.’ The air stilled with tension. Grace walked out. Alex ignored Dapo’s eyes and followed her. In the kitchen, Grace waved at Alex to save the apology. She asked him to go downstairs and get him the money. He obeyed and left. Dapo was standing in the sitting room when Alex came back with the money. Grace walked out of the kitchen. Fury has tightened Dapo’s features that he was now difficult to recognize. ‘Here is the money.’ Ayo extended the bundle of N500 notes to him. Dapo jerked the money from him and threw it back at him at the same time. ‘I don’t need your filthy money!’ He turned to Grace. ‘As for you…’ He produced a small smile filled with malice. ‘…by the time I’m done with you, you will know what it means to meddle into family matters.’ ‘The empty threats of a sinking man.’ Grace threw this out with great aplomb. She read English, speaking was the least of her problems. Dapo swerved back to her. He scowled briefly, did something like a nod and left. ‘Let’s pick the money,’ Grace said. Alex nodded. |
| Re: I Wish I Had 4given Him Earlier..other Side Of Love by Popflair(m): 11:20am On Aug 26, 2015 |
The weeks that followed were smooth, filled with love and its accompanying passion. They spoke to each other on the phone every morning on their way to work. They went out to lunch together sometimes and spent their weekends together. On a rainy Saturday they visited the City Mall at Ikeja and saw a movie. She had told him she doesn’t like sci-fi movies but had ended up seeing Man of Steel with him. Persuading her was always a cinch for him. She admitted to having liked the movie at the end though. On Sunday they attended Harvesters International Church together. It was her church. After the service, as they drove back home, he asked her teasingly if people come to her church to party on Fridays. She smiled and told him she approved of themodernizationof worship. At home, she made stew and fried plantain. After they ate, they showered together in her bathroom. They made love afterwards. She had tried out something she called crazy while they were in the bathroom. She’d crouched down in front of him and taken his organ into her mouth. In the wetness provided by the sparkling shower waters, the pleasure seemed all heightened and he moaned out loudly. He held her when she wanted to stop and urged her to continue. She liked that he reveled in the act and was ready to keep on pleasing him, but she had to stop when he half-consciously pushed himself deeper down her throat and she nearly choked. He apologized and they went into the bedroom together and he returned all the favor. She offered to help him do laundry so they drove to his apartment together. They were in front of the tall white machine in his balcony waiting to hear the click when the knock came on the door. She asked him to answer the door while she watched the clothes. He was gone for so long and then she began hearing voices –unfamiliar voices of two men. She removed the wet clothes from the machine, dropped them in a bucket and listened. One of the voices spoke mostly in Yoruba and the few times he spoke English was with the characteristic word bending of Yoruba accent. The other voice she was quick to pick. It belonged to Dapo, Alex’s elder brother. She stepped closer, making sure she was concealed by the plush curtain. She heard the brothers address the voice with thick Yoruba accent as uncle and she confirmed her fears. She steeled herself on a deep breath and walked into the sitting room. |
| Re: I Wish I Had 4given Him Earlier..other Side Of Love by Popflair(m): 11:22am On Aug 26, 2015 |
Grace stared at the man Dapo had come with. The old man stared back at her, his lips hanging inactively open. The two brothers watched them. The old man took off his slantedfilacap and put it back again with two hands. ‘Ah! Madam, is this you?’ Grace still looked lost. She was sure she knew the man before but couldn’t recall where from. ‘Please remind me,’ she said. ‘It’s me na— Oga Keh, Access Bank, Ikeja.’ ‘Oh.’ Grace smiled. ‘Mr. Kehinde, so you are related to the Adewunmis’.’ The man’s entire dentition showed in a large smile. ‘Yes. Their mother is my sister.’ ‘Oh I see.’ ‘Uncle, you know her before?’ Dapo’s disbelief was evident on his face. The man turned to him. ‘Yes, my son. Wait, don’t tell me she is the witch you were talking about?’ Grace stilled. Alex’s eyes ran up to his brother’s face. Dapo was forced to blink in remorse. ‘Is she any less?’ he muttered. ‘No, my son,’ Mr. Keh said. ‘This one is good. Very good. She was the woman I was always telling you people about na, that I said I cried the day she was leaving our company. My fellow security guard, Obi, in fact everybody at the bank was sad the day she was leaving.’ He turned to Grace. ‘That was in 2005, right?’ Grace nodded. He turned back to Dapo. ‘No, Oladapo. You are wrong this time.’ He took off his cap and put it back again. He turned to Grace. ‘Eh, Madam, please forgive him, oh, please. You see he is just—’ ‘Uncle you can go now.’ ‘Eh?’ ‘Yes.’ Dapo’s voice was even firmer. ‘Okay.’ He took off his cap and put it back again. ‘If you say so.’ ‘Yes.’ He took a step forward and then turned back to him. ‘But didn’t we come together? Are we not supposed to be leaving together?’ ‘Uncle the door!’ ‘Dapo, don’t talk to him like that.’ Dapo glared at Alex. When their uncle left, he turned to Grace. ‘Don’t think this is over yet.’ ‘Actually, brother, it is.’ It was Alex that replied him. Dapo turned suddenly to him. ‘What did you say?’ ‘Yes. Grace and I are getting married soon. There is nothing you can do now.’ Dapo smiled his smile again. ‘So you think you are in love right? You are talking about marriage. You have forgotten that I know you too well. I know all your secrets, kid bro, and I tell you no marriage can work between you two.’ ‘What do you mean?’ ‘Do you think she will still agree to marry you if she found out what you have done?’ Alex did not say a word. Grace sensed his vulnerability. She remembered the first time they met in front of her office building. ‘Yes, I will,’ she said. Dapo’s brow rose. ‘What?’ ‘I will stand by him through all times,’ Grace said again. Dapo smiled. ‘Fine then. I wish you two a happy married life.’ When the door banged shut behind Dapo, the air in the room appeared to grow rigid, like it was going to impede movement if one wanted to move. For many seconds they remained in silence. ‘Start talking, Alex,’ Grace finally threw out. ‘Now.’ Alex scratched at his head. |
| Re: I Wish I Had 4given Him Earlier..other Side Of Love by Popflair(m): 11:24am On Aug 26, 2015 |
EIGHT Grace picked one of the cushions and pressed it into herself. ‘Who and who were aware of this relationship?’ ‘Virtually nobody. We kept it entirely a secret.’ ‘So what happened next?’ Alex’s chest rose and fell in a deep breath. ‘She refused to have the abortion.’ ‘So? Why couldn’t you have allowed her keep the baby?’ ‘I was eighteen. Mum was at the hospital for heart problems already. I was so scared.’ Grace inhaled deeply. ‘So what happened next?’ ‘I put the tablets in her drink.’ A sudden gasp fell out from Grace. ‘Without her knowledge?’ Alex nodded, slowly, miserably. ‘Yes.’ ‘Alex!’ He looked at Grace and looked away quickly. A drop of tear ran down his cheek and he quickly wiped it off. ‘Continue.’ ‘She dra…she…she drank the juice. She started to ble…bleed an hour later. It continued and—’ ‘And what?’ ‘And...I was with her in the bathroom all along. She…she—’His shoulders heaved up and down. He looked at Grace. Tears were now flowing down his face. He shook his head. ‘She didn’t make it.’ Grace’s lips fell open. Alex dropped his face into his hands and started to cry. Crying looked more pitiful when done by men. Grace stared at him, her heart pounding from multiple emotions. ‘Dapo helped me cover it,’ Alex said under relentless sobbing sounds. ‘I was so scared.’ His tear-soaked face glistened under the light from the bulbs. ‘What exactly did you do?’ ‘We drove out in the dead of the night in Dapo’s car. We…we threw the body into a river.’ ‘Jesus Christ!’ Alex sniffled. A thread of saliva hung across his mouth when he opened it to speak again. ‘Her body was discovered in the morning. People called it an accident, that she drowned. Some mentioned suicide.’ Goose pimples walked round Grace’s skin. She covered her face with two hands and tried to breathe. She turned to Alex. ‘Wait, did this happen sometime in 2004?’ Alex nodded. ‘It was all over the news.’ Grace stood. Alex’s eyes ran up to her. Deep remorse has reconfigured his features. ‘Baby, please.’ He held her hand. ‘Baby, please don’t leave me.’ Grace looked down at him and shook her head as if in pity. ‘Please.’ She pulled away from him and walked away. The door banged shut behind her and Alex fell to the floor, croaking with tears. *** Grace has worked in Communications long enough to know how both to initiate communication and hinder it. She was experienced in cutting off all unwanted interactions whenever she needed to. He did all he could but no success. His calls were not answered. Emails were not replied. Online chats didn’t deliver. Finally that evening, he summoned up courage and drove to her apartment. He knocked and knocked but she didn’t open the door. Her car was parked in the compound and he also saw her clothes on the laundry line. He was sure that she was home. But that evening, as she watched him totter away through her window, a small sense of forgiveness penetrated Grace’s heart. She remembered her promise – that she would stand by him through all times. Though she had made it without knowing what his crime was, but she couldn’t easily take it back now. She dropped to the couch, folded herself up and began to think. He was not a murderer, she reasoned. Just a scared teenager, with an evil elder brother. But a body was thrown into a river, a human body and for over eight years he kept quiet. Grace heaved a deep sigh. Finally, she came to a conclusion. He would go and seek for atonement and she would stand by him all through it. And then when everything was settled, they would live together. It was late already so she would visit him in the morning. But that same evening, an evil thought crept into Alex’s mind and he started seeking alternative ways to find release for his torture. As he browsed the internet for the quickest way to end one’s life, Grace read a book on Brand Management. As Alex drove out that night to go and look forjunk, Grace turned off the light in her room and lay down to sleep. He was a Lagos boy, he knew where to go. He also knew how expensive those things could be so he went along with extra cash. He also needed to buy enough stamps of thesmack. As the online article directed, if he took four to five stamps before morning, his body would even forget to breathe and it would all be over sooner than he’d realize it. Best of it all, it’d be all smooth and painless. The much-desired relief. |
| Re: I Wish I Had 4given Him Earlier..other Side Of Love by Popflair(m): 11:25am On Aug 26, 2015 |
NINE She found herself in a strange forest. Strange but beautiful. Healthy trees were surrounded by a lush greenery. Sunlight flowed down in a gentle smoky gold. Whole white flowers filled everywhere with charm. Grace looked round, relishing the beauty of nature. But the moment was cut short by the disturbing screech of an unfamiliar bird. From the corner of her eyes she saw the black bird fly off from a nearby shrub. Then there came the blood. From above, it rained down the forest, staining everything that was in sight; the white roses, the green leaves, her cream-colored gown. Drenched in red, she threw her lips open and screamed. She came awake on her bed with a sudden start. She rose to a sitting position and tried to settle her breathing. The AC was on but she could feel the moisture on her forehead. She turned, fumbling around the wall for the light switch. When she finally turned the light on, she saw that it was only 4 O’clock. But she didn’t go back to sleep. No way she could have. She entered the kitchen and poured herself a glass of cold juice. In the sitting room she reopened the book she was reading last night. She tried to read but the letters appeared blurry. It was a few minutes to Five when she drove out of the compound. She parked some distance away from his house, the only space she could see on the car-lined street. She entered the compound and hurried up the stairs. She knocked at his door and waited. Nothing. She pressed the bell. She didn’t hear any sound. She was about to knock again when she remembered she had her own key. She opened her bag, brought out the key and slotted it into the hole. She entered the room and an unfamiliar smell greeted her. It was the pungent smell of alcohol mixed with something else, mildly irritating but not extremely unpleasant. The TV was loud with sports noise. She picked the remote and turned down the volume. ‘Alex?’ she called out. She dropped her bag on the blue sofa and walked into the room. When she opened the door to his bedroom, the sight that greeted her froze her briefly. ‘Alex!’ She ran to the male body hanging down from the high bed. Two legs were on the bed while neck and hands hung loosely down. She held him up and tried to see if he was breathing. It was all over his nose, his mouth, the bed, the white dust he’d taken. The transparent sachet beside him was nearly empty. Beside it was the note. She picked the piece of paper and read the handwritten lines hastily. It was love. I know it really was. I know you felt it too. Only I wasn’t clean enough for you and I apologize for that. Call it the other side of love but please don’t forget me. Alex. ‘Oh no, Alex, please don’t do this.’ She shook him. ‘Alex, don’t die on me please!’ Her heart was pounding. She wiped at her eyes and ran out of the house. She returned shortly with two of his neighbors and they carried him to her car. TEN The doctors at All Saints Clinic were all professionals. Most of them were trained abroad. But also in the big clinic were a few interns and residents who do not know what they are doing. Most times, the licensed doctors are busy. Sometimes they become too busy that these interns are given undue right to cater to a patient. You can’t spot them easily, those ones. They usually don’t look any different. But there is one thing common among them –they broke bad news to people without any show of moderation. And it was one of those kind of interns that informed Grace of her misfortune. ‘What do you mean you lost him?’ Grace screamed at the slim man. ‘It was a huge overdose, Madam,’ he told her. In his blue coat, he looked mid-thirties, but he was obviously younger. ‘I’m so sorry for your loss.’ As Grace dropped to a nearby chair, her shoulders heaving violently up and down as she sobbed, the young intern shook his head and walked away. |
| Re: I Wish I Had 4given Him Earlier..other Side Of Love by Popflair(m): 11:27am On Aug 26, 2015 |
But then in those rare miraculous moments that it appeared the light at the end of the tunnel just flashed across your face, Grace saw the young intern coming towards her again, this time accompanied by an older, more doctor-looking man. Their steps were hasty, silent on the gleaming tiles of the hall. ‘I’m sorry, Madam, are you the lady that brought in an overdosed patient?’ the older doctor asked. Grace nodded, wiping at her runny nose. ‘We actually got a pulse, but he is still deeply unconscious.’ Grace didn’t understand. The man tried to explain, something about how lack of oxygen to the brain had caused him anoxic brain injury. Grace nodded readily to each statement but in the end all she had managed to grasp was that Alex was not dead yet, that there was still a chance of him waking up, holding her, kissing her. She fought the urge to slap the boy doctor. She asked the doctor if it was coma. He didn’t answer the question and only assured her that he would come around. ‘It will take some time, but he will make it. All chances are in his favor.’ Grace stared fixedly at the man. ‘Madam, do you believe?’ She nodded promptly. ‘I believe, Doctor, I believe.’ She has wiped her face when Dapo arrived the hospital. He sighted her leaning on the short metal demarcation in front of the hospital. He ran to her. ‘I got your message, what happened?’ Grace looked up at him with reddened eyes. ‘He tried to kill himself.’ Dapo turned away quietly, like a snail pulling back into its shell. An act that made Grace curious herself. ‘Please can you take me to him?’ he asked. ‘Not possible now. He is currently under intensive care and no one is allowed to see him.’ ‘He told you, right?’ Grace looked at him and nodded. ‘I was the one that gave him the tablets.’ ‘The abortion pills?’ He joined her in leaning on the metal demarcation. ‘Yes. I didn’t tell him dosage.’ Grace’s hands tightened round the metal bar. Dapo shifted closer to her. He wiped off a trickle of tear that sped down his face. ‘He was a good boy, you know. Quiet, always reading, got wonderful grades in school, mum loved him best.’ Grace stared at him. Dapo sniffled and continued. ‘He has always regretted it. It kept him sad for months. You should have seen.’ ‘Why are you telling me all this?’ ‘Because I’m truly sorry.’ ‘What for?’ ‘For being so mad with you, you both. For allowing your relationship to torment me.’ Something leaped off from Grace’s eyes and she blinked. Dapo took her hand. ‘Please you have to forgive me. This situation wouldn’t have manifested had it not been me.’ Grace nodded and took back her hand. She straightened up and folded her arms on her chest. ‘So your wife left you?’ she asked. ‘She didn’t get home with me from the restaurant that day.’ ‘I’m sorry I wrecked your marriage.’ ‘It’s okay. It was meant to happen anyway.’ ‘Why say that?’ ‘We were married for the wrongest of reasons.’ ‘Yea. I heard she was the one that set you up, gave you the big oil job and all that.’ ‘Yes.’ He turned and extended a hand to her. ‘Friends?’ Grace took his hand. ‘Sure.’ Dapo nodded. ‘Thank you, Grace.’ Alex regained consciousness the following week. ...The END. 2 Likes |
| Re: I Wish I Had 4given Him Earlier..other Side Of Love by vani86: 11:28am On Aug 26, 2015 |
just write a novel, since you like to write. this is tooooooo long to read |
| Re: I Wish I Had 4given Him Earlier..other Side Of Love by afolwalex20(m): 11:33am On Aug 26, 2015 |
misssclassy:Dats y u quoted everything |
| Re: I Wish I Had 4given Him Earlier..other Side Of Love by Nobody: 11:35am On Aug 26, 2015 |
| Re: I Wish I Had 4given Him Earlier..other Side Of Love by donholy28(m): 11:39am On Aug 26, 2015 |
This story is just excellent |
| Re: I Wish I Had 4given Him Earlier..other Side Of Love by Nobody: 11:43am On Aug 26, 2015 |
well done @op...an interesting and humane read..the value of forgiveness and unconditional love, I learned |
| Re: I Wish I Had 4given Him Earlier..other Side Of Love by Popflair(m): 12:03pm On Aug 26, 2015 |
BlaqCoffee109:thabks bro |
| Re: I Wish I Had 4given Him Earlier..other Side Of Love by Nobody: 12:26pm On Aug 26, 2015 |
Amazing but I think the name should have been " the other side of love" or something else the name u gave it is not suitable. But that was a great story kudos |
| Re: I Wish I Had 4given Him Earlier..other Side Of Love by Forta(m): 1:06pm On Aug 26, 2015 |
One of the best write ups I have ever read on this forum... Keep kudos |
| Re: I Wish I Had 4given Him Earlier..other Side Of Love by Smhart1(f): 2:23pm On Aug 26, 2015 |
soooo beautiful.. |
| Re: I Wish I Had 4given Him Earlier..other Side Of Love by Baldmarv(m): 2:53pm On Aug 26, 2015 |
Very Nice! I enjoyed every bit! |
| Re: I Wish I Had 4given Him Earlier..other Side Of Love by Cope1(m): 4:51pm On Aug 26, 2015 |
interesting read,kudos to u op |
| Re: I Wish I Had 4given Him Earlier..other Side Of Love by Nobody: 6:50pm On Aug 26, 2015 |
wao 9ice story op bt try to gv anoda tittle to this short beautiful story.but hope u took permission frm the person dat rightful own this story bfore pasting it here? |
| Re: I Wish I Had 4given Him Earlier..other Side Of Love by Popflair(m): 1:50pm On Sep 05, 2015 |
wao 9ice story op bt try to gv anoda tittle to this short beautiful story.but hope u took permission frm the person dat rightful own this story bfore pasting it here?not really! |
| Re: I Wish I Had 4given Him Earlier..other Side Of Love by Kingsley1000(m): 1:58pm On Sep 05, 2015 |
ebubemicky:seconded.....finally I don finish am#interesting op u don give me work today |
| Re: I Wish I Had 4given Him Earlier..other Side Of Love by godstreasure23: 6:34pm On Sep 07, 2015 |
This made my day.... Excellent. Muwahhhhhh |
| Re: I Wish I Had 4given Him Earlier..other Side Of Love by Popflair(m): 11:38pm On Sep 09, 2015 |
misssclassy:shiza pain in d ass |
(1) (Reply)
My Mum Won't Approve My Marriage / SEE What Happened To Bello After ‘having Fun’ With 2 Prostitutes In Kubwa / Mr. Sex-starved Marriage
(Go Up)
| Sections: politics (1) business autos (1) jobs (1) career education (1) romance computers phones travel sports fashion health religion celebs tv-movies music-radio literature webmasters programming techmarket Links: (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) Nairaland - Copyright © 2005 - 2024 Oluwaseun Osewa. All rights reserved. See How To Advertise. 145 |