₦airaland Forum

I followed Desire to the big sitting room downstairs.

‘Please, sit down,’ the house girl told us.

Desire and I sat together on a sofa. The house girl disappeared upstairs.

I held Desire’s hand. ‘I really appreciate all your troubles,’ I said.

‘It’s alright. What’re friends for?’

Some moments later, the house girl came with a tray of malt drinks and two glasses.

‘Oh, no, I’ll have nothing,’ I said. ‘Thanks.’

Desire decided to take a bottle of the malt. We still awaited Madam Aleshi. Desire sipped her drinks and then put the glass cup in my mouth. I didn’t really want the drinks but I took some sips. That was what love could do.

We could hear approaching footsteps. Madam Aleshi was on her way. As soon as I sighted her, I understood why they called her Madam Aleshi. Everything about her was big - her weight, height, body frame, and even her bosom.

Desire knelt to greet her while I stood on my feet.

‘Good evening, mummy,’ Desire greeted.

‘Desire, my daughter,’ the woman greeted. ‘How’re you?’

‘Fine, ma.’

Madam Aleshi turned to me. ‘This must be your husband,’ she told Desire. ‘I trust you. I know he must be handsome.’

Husband? Not yet, ma, my mind said. I smiled, but said nothing.

Desire too smiled. ‘His name is Richard,’ she said.

‘Ah, Richard and Desire, please, sit down.’

‘Thank you, ma,’ we chorused and took our seats.

‘Yes,’ the woman turned to face me. ‘Desire has told me a lot about you. I’m happy for her that finally she has decided to settle down. She’s a good friend of my daughter, but she’s my daughter too. Even after you people have married, continue to stay here. I’ve told Desire to move over here, but she says the place is too far from her place of work. I hope the two of you are working hard on doing your wedding. For Desire’s sake, I will travel down to Nigeria to grace the occasion.’

We were all smiles.

‘Yes, I’ll be traveling to the U.K by next week. The house girl of course will go back to her people, but I don’t want this place to be completely vacant. The boys’ quarters is also big and comfortable. I’m sure you’ll enjoy the place. You can stay there for as long as you want.’

I gave a bow. ‘Thank you so much, ma. I surely appreciate.’

‘When are you moving in?’

‘He’ll be moving in by this weekend, ma,’ Desire quickly answered.

‘Yes, that’s very good.’ She turned to Desire. ‘Don’t take too long before you join him. The almighty God will make you the best of couple.’

‘Amen,’ Desire and I chorused.

Some minutes later, Madam Aleshi took a bunch of keys and we all went to the BQ together. The place was not built like a boys’ quarter. Rather, it was a semi-independent, detached two-bedroom flat. The interior too was good. There were already furniture in the sitting-room, beds in the bed-rooms, and cooking gas and pots in the kitchen. All the floors were tiled, including the kitchen. It was a nice place and I liked it.

She handed the keys to me. ‘You’re free to move in, even tonight.’

I prostrated for her. ‘Thank you so much, Madam Aleshi.’

‘Mummy, thank you so much,’ Desire said. ‘I would have loved to stay with you much longer, but we have to go now. We’ll see you on Saturday when he’ll be moving in.’

‘I’ll be expecting you people. How I wish you, Desire, will be moving in with him straight away.’

‘It won’t be long again,’ Desire said and smiled reassuringly. ‘We’ll be going now, ma.’

Madam Aleshi accompanied us to the gate. We waved goodbye to her as we entered the car and Desire drove off.

‘Wow, she’s a Madam Aleshi, indeed,’ I said. ‘I don’t know how to thank you, Even before becoming my wife, you’re already playing the role of a strong pillar.’

‘We thank God,’ Desire said.

‘Oh, you’re such a wonderful person. How do I thank you enough for this?’

She smiled. ‘Maybe you should try this.’ She pouted her lips.

‘But, you’re driving,’ I pointed out.

‘Very well.’ She slowed the car down and stopped. I moved across to her and kissed her.

‘Hmn,’ she muttered.





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I had already saved some money. Getting a two-bedroom apartment now would be a welcome and most desirable thing.

I thought over the area I should choose. I would have to move out of Ibeshe. What about Agric area? I would prefer a place not too far from where I currently worked. I decided that on Monday, I would find time to explore Isawo road. I would meet an agent who would look for my specification.

I called Desire and told her about my imminent relocation from my abode.

‘I will see an estate agent tomorrow,’ I informed her. ‘I think getting a place off Isawo road will not be a bad idea.’

‘Why don’t you move in with me?’ she asked.

My heart skipped a beat. Move in with a woman? No way!

‘I don’t think that’s a good idea,’ I said.

‘Why not? We’re one now, Richard. There are two bedrooms here. Jemima will continue to use her room while we share mine.’

I shook my head. I remembered that some years back, I read in a gossip newspaper the story of a Nigerian tabloid editor who had married a society woman older than him, and who was living with the woman in her apartment. When the relationship turned sour, the woman threw the man’s belongings out of the house.

No way, I would not want such a fate to befall me, love or no love.

‘Er, thanks, Desire darling, but I still think I should get my apartment.’

‘Okay, if you think so.’

‘Yes, I think so my dear. Of course, your home will be my second home.’

That seemed to make her happy. ‘Alright, dear.’

‘Yes, thanks. Bye.’

On Monday, I decided that the best time to see an agent would be during our break time. I was working on a cooler when Desire called.

‘Good morning, darling,’ she greeted.

‘Hello, honey,’ I replied. ‘How was your night?’

‘Fine. How about yours?’

‘Great,’ I said.

‘We thank God. Yes, concerning your renting an apartment, I think you should shelve seeing an agent for now.’

‘Why?’

‘I remember meeting Madam Aleshi some days ago. She said she would soon be relocating to Britain to stay with her daughter. She lives in their big house around that place, and the whole place will be deserted if she travels. She told me the last time I met her she wished I should come and occupy the two-bedroom in the BQ.

'She wants someone around the place to maintain the house. But I told her it’s too far from my place of work. Her daughter happens to be my very good friend.’

‘So, what are you saying, baby?’

‘I called her yesterday night and told her about you. She gladly welcomes the idea that you should come and occupy the BQ. Free of charge, of course.

I was full of thought. ‘Who did you say the person is to you?’

‘She’s the mother to my good friend, Helen, who is now in London. They own the big house. The woman wants to join her daughter in the U.K and will travel out any moment from now. She doesn’t want the whole house to be completely vacant.’

‘I see,’ I said.

‘I’ve already told her about you, and she said no problem. She was the one I went to visit the day my car broke down close to Agric bus stop.’

‘Oh, I see.’

‘So, what d’you think, honey?’

‘Thank you for going through all these troubles for me,’ I said. ‘I think it’s not a bad idea.’

‘Good. At least you can use that money for something else, for now. I’ll call Madam Aleshi again and tell her that you will be taking over the BQ. But we have to see her soonest, because she’s traveling out any moment from now.’

I sighed. ‘So, when d’you suggest that we should see her?’

‘Let me see.’ She appeared to think briefly. ‘What about today? I can leave office early so that I’ll be around that place by five or five thirty. Then we’ll go and see her. I’ve already told her you’re my fiancé.’

Her fiancé! I thought briefly.

‘Alright,’ I said. ‘Thanks very much for all the troubles. You’re such a darling.’

‘Wait for me over there. Let’s meet around that spot where my car stopped working. I should be there latest five thirty.’

‘Oh, many kisses for you, my darling.’

‘Alright see you.’

‘See you, dear.’

By few minutes to five, I stopped working and took a good shower. I then changed into my blue Armani cotton shirt and navy blue trousers. I might not have enough to buy many clothes like Desire, but I always ensured that I looked very neat and good. This had always been my habit. To show the kind of person I was, I always had my Calvin Klein perfume in my bag any time I went to work. I believed a man must always look and smell good.

Before I left the bakery, I put a call to Desire.

‘Where’re you, dear?’ I asked.

‘I’m at Ketu now,’ she said.

‘Alright.’

I mentally calculated. Barring any serious hold-up on the way, she should be around in twenty-five minutes time. About twenty minutes after I had talked to her, I moved out of the bakery and loitered around where I had first met her. Within ten minutes of being there, she came. I entered the car to join her at the front.

‘Oh, my darling, see all the troubles I’ve put you through,’ I said as I gave her a short kiss.

‘It’s a pleasure,’ she said, smiling.

I did the seat beat and she moved on. The house was off Isawo Road. She soon parked the jeep in front of a massive house.

We got down from the car and she knocked at the gate. A pair of eyes peeped to have a look at us and open the gate.

‘Good evening, aunty,’ a girl I suspected to be the house girl greeted.

‘Good evening,’ Desire replied. ‘Shey, Madam Aleshi is around?’

‘Yes, ma.’

‘Good. I’ve called her that we would be coming.’

We entered the compound and in one quick sweep, I surveyed the frontal part of the house. It qualified to be called a mansion. It was just one storey building, but I knew there would be many bedrooms there. I followed Desire to the big sitting room downstairs.





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‘And where were you coming from?’ she asked.

‘I visited a friend,’ I replied.

‘It’s that lady, right? That lady you were talking to the other day?’

‘What if she’s the one?’ I parried.

‘So, that’s how you’re going to use and dump me, right?

I was irritated. ‘No one is using and dumping anyone,’ I said.

‘You can’t treat me so selfishly,’ she said in emotion-laden tone. To my surprise, she came to hold my shirt in that I-will-not-agree manner.

‘Bimbo, for God’s sake, what’s the meaning of this?’

She pulled the cloth more.

‘Oh, please, for God’s sake, let’s be reasonable.’

She put her head on my chest and started crying. I was scared. If anybody should see us like that, what would I say?

‘Alright, Bimbo, please, stop crying,’ I pleaded. I had to use my most mollifying tone. ‘Please, I’m sorry, calm down.’

I wrapped my hands around her and petted her like a baby. I then led her to sit on one of the two plastic chairs in the room.

‘I said I’m sorry,’ I repeated.

She used the back of her hand to dab her face. I offered her my handkerchief.

‘I’m sorry,’ I said again. ‘But you’re taking this thing too far. Ehn, you’re taking it too far.’

She kept mute, gazing soberly at the floor.

‘Bimbo, listen. Please, listen. We cannot go on having an affair. It is very wrong. We have to put a stop to that.’

‘Is that why you completely ignored me?’

‘I’m sorry about that. How could I ignore you? How could I ignore a wonderful friend like you?’ her countenance relaxed a bit.

‘Listen, Bimbo, you remain my friend and confidant. Stop having that kind of feeling. Let’s be good friends. Good platonic friends. Come on, smile.’

She smiled briefly.

‘That’s my girl. Now, let me give you a hug.’
We hugged for few seconds. She relaxed.

Later in the night, Desire sent me a WhatsApp message.

‘Hello, Richard darling. I hope you know the implication of what we did the other time.’

I was a bit curious. What did she mean by implication? ‘Sorry, what exactly do you mean by implication?’ I wrote back.

‘The implication of the sexual intercourse we had is that you’re mine, and I’m yours. You must never sleep with any other lady.’

‘I thought we’ve already agreed on mutual faithfulness,’ I replied. ‘On my part, I’ll be faithful to you, I promise.’

‘It’s more than a promise, Richard. If you dare sleep with any other lady, there will be dire consequence.’

She used red prints for the word, ‘dire.’ I chuckled to myself. Why was she stating all these?

‘There is no need for threat,’ I wrote. ‘My dear Desire, you can count on me.’

‘I’m not threatening. I’m only stating what will happen if you’re not careful. I love you,’ she wrote.

‘I love you more than you could imagine,’ I wrote back.

‘Good night, love.’

‘Good night, honey.’


On Sunday, when I was coming back from the church, an idea occurred to me. There was no way I would be the one visiting Desire, while she could not visit me. I had to speed up renting a small apartment for myself. I had already saved some money. Getting a two-bedroom apartment now would be a welcome and most desirable thing.





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I earnestly looked forward to another Saturday when I would visit her place again.
I was there as early as nine in the morning. Jemima came to give me a hug. I was happy to be warmly received by mother and daughter. A couple of minutes after I arrived, Desire told Jemima she could change the channel to cartoon station.

‘Mummy and Richard want to have a little chat.’ She stood up.

‘Okay, mummy,’ Jemima replied.

She led me to her bedroom. The room was cozy too. The smell of exotic perfume filled the place. The wardrobes were opened and I could see that the place was fully stocked with clothes. Different clothes of different colors and makes adorned the spaces. Indeed, Desire was a fashion freak. It was obvious she had more clothes than she needed.

‘Sorry, I didn’t tidy up the place,’ she offered.

I smiled warmly. ’It’s okay.’

She pointed at the bed. ‘Let’s sit down. We need to talk.’

I nodded and sat beside her.

‘Sorry, if I’m sounding like a broken record, but do you really want to go ahead with this relationship?’

I laughed shortly. ‘Oh, come on, Desire. Is that what we want to talk about? If I don’t want to go ahead with the relationship, I will not be here.’

She sighed and closed her eyes. She even looked prettier doing that. I wrapped my hands on her shoulders and drew her closer. The flowers I had brought for her were still in the hunchback bag I had brought. The flowers could wait.

I kissed her long and hard. I gauged her response and noted the high responsiveness. Tentatively, my hands moved across her boobs. This time around, she did not stiffen or try to stop me.

That was very encouraging. I moved my hand over it more. It was an alluring caress and she moaned softly.

My right hand slipped under her top and worked its way to her chest. The feel of her boobs hinted that they were small. I felt them for several seconds and stopped.

‘Maybe I should remove this,’ I said, touching her top.

She didn’t say anything. I removed my shirt and her top. The black, lacy and sexy bra she wore looked like one of those I had seen in an advert in a women magazine. I was sure it was a designer’s wear.

I unhooked the bra and removed it. I could not but stare at her breasts. They were indeed small, although the nipples were large. But the most remarkable thing about them was how erect they were. They looked like they were just budding.

‘You’ve got remarkable tits,’ I commented.
She smiled and clung on to me. My mouth and hands played with the boobs and other parts. By the time the systemic play was over, we lay in bed, satisfied with each other.

She placed her head close to my chest while her hand moved over the chest.

‘Desire, my baby,’ I said.

‘Hmn.’

‘Did you enjoy that?’

She smiled. ‘I think so.’

‘You think?’ I tickled her side and she giggled.

‘Do you still love me?’ she asked.

‘Love? That’s an understatement. I’m crazy about you!’

She laughed. She was very pleased to hear that. I played with her hair.

‘I’ve never felt so satisfied like this before,’ she said. ‘Richard, don’t you ever disappoint me.’

‘I won’t,’ I said.

She climbed on me, her tits kissing my chest. I kissed her lips again. And so, we began another journey to the land of eros. Thereafter, I lay on my back, quite exhausted. She rested by my side and we had a nap. I was still napping when she rose from the bed, wore her clothes and moved out of the bedroom. Many minutes later, she came to tap me on the shoulder.

‘Darling, breakfast is ready.’

I opened my eyes and smiled. The funny thing was I was dreaming about her. I wore my clothes and moved out of the bedroom. At the small dining table, the plates of fried eggs and slices of bread were already set. The three of us ate together.

Once again, I was in that house till evening. Later, when I was about to leave, she offered to drive me to my house.

‘Oh, no, no, no,’ I said. ‘I would never give you that trouble.’

‘But, it’s no trouble and …’

I hushed her with a short kiss. ‘Don’t you worry, my darling.’

I felt I was one of the happiest men on earth that day as I returned home. My mood must have been noticeable, for as soon as I entered the house, Bimbo came to my room.

‘And where were you coming from?’ she asked.
‘I visited a friend,’ I replied.



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‘Perhaps I used charm on you,’ I suggested.

She wrinkled her nose. ‘Perhaps.’

‘Perhaps, I’m a bad boy who only needs your money and will play games with your heart.’

Again, she wrinkled her nose. ‘Perhaps.’

‘You won’t tell me?’

‘Not right now.’

‘Alright, I give up.’

She smiled. ‘Don’t worry, you’ll get to know everything at the right time.’

‘How’s your ankle now?’

‘It’s better. I’m okay now.’

‘We thank God.’

I moved over to sit next to her, smiling. I touched the ankle and rubbed it gently. She seemed to like it.

‘Maybe I should have got permission before I touched your leg,’ I said.

‘Oh, come on, Richard.’

I sat upright and held her hand.

‘We’re going very fast, Richard,’ she said.

‘It’s good to move forward, not backward,’ I replied.

She smiled. ‘There’re certain things I should let you know.’

I rubbed the back of her right palm. ‘Such as what?’

‘I’m not after any fling,’ she said. ‘What I desire is a lasting relationship.’

I appeared to muse over it briefly. ‘It is very good that one should desire a lasting relationship,’ I said. ‘I desire a lasting relationship too. The one that will last till death does apart.’

She nodded. ‘And you think Desire is the one to fulfill that role?’

I smiled again. ‘Yes, I believe so. Seriously.’

‘Our society seriously frowns at an older lady marrying a younger man.’

‘Our society is not the one to decide who I fall in love with or who I choose to live the rest of my life with,’ I answered.

She was silent for a while. I kissed her briefly.
‘There’s another thing,’ she said.

I sighed. ‘What’s that?’

She looked at me straight in the eyes. ‘There must be no other woman. There must never be any other lover.’

I laughed shortly. ‘But that’s expected, isn’t it? In relationship, partners are expected to be faithful to each other. That shouldn’t be a problem.’

‘I’m very serious on this, Richard,’ she said, looking stern. ‘There must never be any other lover. Never!’

I nodded. ‘Of course, I understand. That is in order.’

She relaxed and smiled. I kissed her again, long and deep. My hands went to her boobs and she stiffened and stopped my act.

‘We can’t go to that extent for now.’

‘Why? Any good reasons?’

She didn’t say anything for some moments. My eyes went to the boobs. They looked moderate, but my imagination ran amuck on how exactly their shape would be.

‘We just can’t go to that extent for now,’ she repeated. ‘Don’t tell me you’re here for that purpose,’

‘Oh, no,’ I quickly said. ‘I only felt it is part of showing love.’

She smiled and squeezed my hand. ‘Don’t worry. When we get to that stage, you’ll have everything to yourself for as long as you desire.’

‘Okay.’ I smiled it off.

Later, she brought fried rice and chicken and the three of us ate together. Thereafter, we chatted excitedly and played ludo. I noted how Desire related with her daughter and concluded that indeed they were the best of friends. I was in the house till early evening before I returned to Ibeshe.

Bimbo was back at home for the weekend but she sulked me. I let her be. Desire and I continued our exchange of calls, chats and messages. I had now convinced myself that I was crazily in love with her. I earnestly looked forward to another Saturday when I would visit her place again.



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Dear friends, compliments of the season.

Happy holiday.

She laughed shortly. ‘If I was angry, I would have given you a dirty slap.’
‘Ouch! And that would have been very painful.’
‘Yes.’
‘Ah, thank God you did not.’
‘Yes, thank God.’
‘Thanks for the call,’ I said, smiling.
‘Thanks for receiving it,’ she replied. ‘Well, just to be sure you got home safely. Good night, Richard.’
‘Good night, Desire.’

The next four days, we were calling each other every day. By Tuesday, she resumed her work and said she felt much better. By Wednesday evening, she asked if indeed I would be visiting her on Saturday.

‘Sure,’ I replied. ‘I’ll be off duty that day.’

On Saturday morning, I left home about nine a.m. I had selected a new jeans trousers and a well-suited, sky blue, Tommy Hilfiger t-shirt. I completed the dressing with a white Reebok canvas shoes. I was certain I looked good. I was at the door post of Desire’s apartment few minutes to eleven. Jemima opened the door for me.

‘Hello, Uncle Richard. You’re welcome,’ she greeted.

‘Hello, Jemima. How do you do?’

‘Fine.’

I sat myself comfortably on the sofa I had sat on the first time I came. Desire soon emerged from the bedroom.

‘Hello, there,’ she greeted.

‘Hello, Lady Desire.’

She smiled. I could see that she had done her hair. She was in casuals, but was as pretty as ever. She sat down opposite me.

‘So, how’s the weekend going?’

‘So, so. But I’m glad I’m here,’ I replied.

‘I’m glad to see you too,’ she replied.

The television was on and it was on a fashion station. I guessed Desire was a fashion freak.

‘What can I offer you?’ she asked.

‘Oh, but I just came. No problem, I’ll ask later.’
I sat back relaxingly on the chair. ‘There’s something I don’t understand,’ I said.

She raised her brow. ‘What’s that?’

‘Look at you,’ I said. ‘You’re so pretty. How come you’ve not got yourself another man since Jemima’s father left you?’

She smiled. ‘You really don’t understand, do you?’

I shook my head. ‘No, I don’t understand.’

‘Men have been pestering me,’ she said. ‘But I wasn’t interested.’

I still shook my head. ‘So, how come a young man that is just starting off is the one you’re interested in? Among all men!’

‘Do you want me to tell you the truth?’

‘Yes, please.’

She took her time. ‘It’s because I saw in you what I did not see in other men.’

I was pleasantly pleased by that. ‘What could that be?’

‘That evening I first saw you, you were completely different from others. There’s something about you.’

‘Can you honestly tell me what that thing is?’

‘Sure, I’ll tell you, but not now.’

I looked at her curiously. ‘Desire?’

She made a slight face. ‘What?

‘So you won’t tell me right away?’

‘No, I won’t.’

‘Perhaps I used charm on you,’ I suggested.

She wrinkled her nose. ‘Perhaps.’

‘Perhaps, I’m a bad boy who only needs your money and will play games with your heart.’

Again, she wrinkled her nose. ‘Perhaps.’



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Go on.

Ride on.

She cut the line.
‘Who was that?’ Bimbo asked. I was surprised to find that she was at the doorway and had been observing me.
‘Oh, it’s just a friend,’ I said.
She shook her head. ‘No, that look on your face shows that it’s not just a friend.’
‘Oh, come on, Bimbo.’
‘Who is she? It must be a lady.’
‘And how can you tell?’
‘Because I know.’
I chuckled. ‘Yes, actually, it’s a lady I just met.’
‘Hmn, hmn. And you’re falling all over for her already.’
I shook my head. ‘Look, Bimbo, let’s discuss something else.’
‘So this is how you’ll treat me.’
‘Oh, come on, what are you talking about?’
‘After all the love I gave you.’ With that, Bimbo left angrily, slamming the door.
I shook my head again. How long would it take her to understand that we could not be lovers, no matter the mistake of feelings we might have had?

By five o ‘clock on Monday morning, I sent a poem I had carefully crafted to Desire. I wasn’t much of an artist, but I used to be very good in literature in my secondary school days. I was sure she would like the poem. Later, at my place of work, I decided to call her during the lunch break. The phone rang on and on, but she did not pick it.
Maybe she was very busy, I decided. I went back to work. Several minutes later, she called me back.
‘I saw your missed call,’ she said.
‘Yes. Good morning.’
‘Good morning. And I saw your poem. It’s beautiful. Thanks.’
‘You’re welcome. How’s work?’
‘I’m not at work. I couldn’t go. I had a domestic accident.’
‘A what? I hope it’s not serious.’
‘No. This morning, I had a sprain on my right ankle while preparing for work.’
‘Oh, sorry about that.’
‘Thank you.’
‘You’ve taken some medication?’
‘Yes. I went to a chemist shop around. I’ll be okay.’
‘Okay. If you don’t mind, give me the address of your place. I’ll come and say hello after closing today.’
‘That’s alright. I’ll text it to you.’
‘Okay.’
Truly, a minute or so after I had spoken with her, she sent me the text message of her residence. She lived at Abina, off Randle Avenue, Surulere. I decided I would go there right after I closed from work.
At six o’clock on the dot, I left the bakery. From Agric bus stop, I took a BRT bus going to CMS. I would have to alight at Barracks bus stop. From there, I took a bike to Abina. I was in front of her residence by 6.55 p.m. It was a recently painted bungalow that looked small but nice.
‘Hello,’ I greeted.
‘Hi.’
She ushered me into her sitting-room. It was a cozy and nice place. A girl soon came in. Even without any introduction, I knew this must be Jemima, her daughter.
‘Hey, Jemima, meet my good friend, Richard. Richard, this is my daughter, my confidant and my best friend in the whole world, Jemima.’
‘Jemima, how d’you do?’
‘Fine, sir.’
She looked very much like her mother, except she used glasses.
‘What do I offer you, Richard?’ Desire asked.
‘Nothing,’ I said. ‘I came to greet you. How’s the ankle?’ I stared at her right ankle and the bandaging around the place was obvious.
She touched the place slightly. ‘I’m relieved of the pain now. It’s getting better.’
I nodded. Jemima left the sitting-room for an inner room.
‘Why don’t you want something, Richard? Are you shy?’
‘Oh, no. As I said, I came to greet you briefly and I’ll soon be going.’ I smiled and sat back comfortably. I studied her. She still looked very pretty even in casuals.
‘How was work today?’ she asked.
‘Fine. It went very well.’
‘I appreciate your coming,’ she said.
I looked around the room again. ‘A nice place you have here,’ I said.
‘Thank you.’
‘I won’t be staying long,’ I said. ‘You know, I’m still going back to Ikorodu this evening.’
‘I understand,’ she said. ‘Thanks for the trouble.’
‘It’s alright.’
She adjusted on her seat. ‘Even if it’s just cold water, let me offer you,’ she said and called out Jemima. She then asked her to get me a bottle of cold water. I took the bottle and the glass and poured the water for myself.
‘Thanks for this,’ I said.
Desire nodded.
‘If you don’t mind, you can come around on Saturday,’ she offered. ‘You’ll be well entertained then.’
It was my turn to nod. ‘That will be a pleasure.’ I stared at her.
‘Why’re you staring at me?’ she asked.
‘Oh,’ I blinked rapidly. ‘I’m sorry about that.’
She smiled and shook her head.
‘What does that mean?’ I asked.
Still smiling, she shook her head again. ‘Nothing.’
I held her hand. The palm was very soft against mine. In a swift move, I planted a short kiss on her lips. She looked surprised by my action. I stood up.
‘I should be on my way, now,’ I said. ‘See you again.’
‘You had no permission to do what you just did,’ she said softly.
I gave her a dramatic bow. ‘Forgive me. Have a wonderful night, Desire.’ I stared at her ankle. ‘And I wish you soonest recovery.’
She smiled. ‘Thanks for coming.’
‘My regards to Jemima.’
‘Sorry, I won’t be able to accompany you a bit.’
‘It’s alright. Good night.’
I left the place a happy person. At the Barracks bus stop, there was now traffic gridlock. I crossed the expressway to the other side to take a commercial bus back to Ikorodu. I didn’t get home until few minutes past nine in the evening. It was quite unusual, but no one raised an eyebrow. The one who could have done so – Bimbo – had gone back to campus.
By nine thirty, Desire called my line.
‘Hope you got home on time,’ she said.
‘Yes. About twenty minutes ago,’ I replied.
‘Good. Thanks for coming around.’
‘It’s a pleasure,’ I said. ‘Were you angry with me?’
‘Over what?’
‘Over the short kiss of the rose.’
She laughed shortly. ‘If I was angry, I would have given you a dirty slap.’
‘Ouch! And that would have been very painful.’


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