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'I...I...I' Jide stuttered, angry at
this sudden speech impediment.

'nothing but the truth' Grace cut in.

'if what i feel for her can be called love, well...'

'I thought you hated her, how come you now have unexplainable feelings for her' she said with sarcasm.

'I don't know how it began, but gradually she wound her way to my heart, all the things that irritated and angered me about her then, seem to draw me closer to her now. Sometimes I wonder why she chose to marry me' Jide replied dreamily, missing the sarcasm in her question. He felt
relief, for he had so wanted to express this feeling that suddenly
emerged from nowhere.

Grace felt jealous and angry. Why had she decided to marry him? Simple! She was a home-wrecker, a joy-stealer, nothing more! But she dared not voice her observation to this new Jide, gone was the man that came crying on her bossom, complaining about how his family ruined his life
with a 'movie-crazed' puppet. Now he was the 'whatever-her-name-was puppet. And she was the fool at the end, the pure loser!

Sighing, she moved away from the door.

'The food must be cold by now' she said heading towards the kitchen.

'do you think that's still necessary?' he asked

'come on, i cooked it specially for you, you wont deny me that atleast' she replied walking still, not a glance back.

Oh well, no harm in it. Jide thought and slumped on a settee, his anger relegated to the back.

Minutes later, clanging cuttleries signified that they were onto a meal of rice and stew. Jide thought the food better, but didn't think it surpassed that of his wife, however, he complimented her efforts
anyways.

In silence they ate, until out of nowhere Grace asked:

'Why din't you divorce her then?'

'she's quite harmless and simple' Jide replied simply and continued
grinding his chicken bone. That was Jide, he never undervalued good food and he was a big eater too.

That struck an anger cord in Grace, but she said nothing. That girl wasn't only harmless, she was dangerous! She was the reason why her life was crashing before her, 26, with no man of her own, prospect of starting over building a relationship! Yet here he was calling her harmless!

As she watched Jide deal with the chicken, she knew she'd lost him for good. The best thing she could do was to move on as he said. She silently prayed for God to help her forget him.
********

Jide gave out a long breath. You gotta give it to Grace to talk and nag out your existence! Thank God Daisy didn't seem to nag or maybe she was successfully covering that aspect of her wifely self, as far as he was concerned, women couldn't help the
act, twas as if they were all born with it. Whatever the case, He was
really done and over with this particular nagging chick. She was pretty, independent and all but she had no hold on him anymore, he felt pity for her, but he couldn't help it, he hadn't caused it either, the blame rested on Mama, his father and on their choice-bride. They had usurped her position while Daisy somehow finally managed to grip his heart. She
could have very well been the Mrs Olukoya, when he eventually decided to settle down. Too bad, he was as helpless as she was in this situation.

Jide could sight her compound now, she lived at an apartment in
Ojuelegba, like 30 minutes drive from Aguda where he lived. Everything had worked good for them then...the closure and all. But now, everyone's got to move on he concluded.

*****
'welcome darling' Grace said as she moved seductively, towards Jide, her hands wide open for a hug.

Jide raised his hands, his palms facing her, symbolizing her to stop.

Grace grimaced and stopped in her track, slowly bringing down her hands.

'a hug wouldn't hurt' she said pained.

'nor take us anywhere' Jide replied walking past her.

'we used to be so good, everything was perfect, we were the best around...'

Would she allow him land before she began her sorry speech? Jide
thought, irritation visible on his face.

'I didn't come for that...atall' he said and slumped unto a settee.

'what happened to us?' Grace continued unpreturbed, she was near tears now.

Not the tears! Jide thought bewildered. Grace was stronger than this, what was wrong with her today. Maybe this was a bad idea afterall, but then, what had he expected?

'...why don't we talk about us, our time together. I love you like I've
never loved another, 2 years of my life i gave to you, why are you
suddenly treating me with so much disgust, did you ever even loved me?'

'I surely did, but now I...'

'But now what? some dumb ass ninny from planet Mars came into the picture, and voila! Am outta the album, just like that?' Grace voice was ringing out now in anger.

'You make it sound as if i did it on purpose!' Jide matched her tone.

'you bloody well ain't doing anything otherwise!'she screamed.

'otherwise like what!'

'Like send the annoying thing outta the house and bring me the rightful Occupant in!'

'you don't f.ucking tell me what to do, neither do you run my life, you
hear me! Okay?' he shouted staring at Grace who was now towering over him where he sat.

'obviously i don't! Your grandmama does!' she retorted.

'that's it!' Jide said standing up then started walking towards the
door. 'like i said, I didn't come for this atall'.

What was wrong with these people anyways, was this a set up to keep him hungry and angry today? Before he could get to the door, Grace zoomed pass him and was now shielding the door with her hands wide outstretched.

'please get out of my way' he said angrily.

'Don't go please, am sorry, i didn't mean for this to happen, my fear of losing you made me...' Grace was pleading.

This woman was a nutcase Jide thought angrily and lurched to push her away. If he didn't get out now, with all that was going through him, he feared what he might do.

But Grace didn't bulge, regardless the push. Hers was the case of a
woman fighting desperately to hold on to a man she loved.

Resignedly, Jide ceased trying to pull her away, he was as spent as she was and just wanted to settle this amicably...if that was ever
possible...and be out of her life for good. All her drama was actually
stirring his well of hatred towards her in the negative.

Grace broke down in tears just then, this wasn't how she had wanted it to end, she had hoped to make headway with winning back his heart and love. But look where her tantrums had ended her efforts.Jide stood, unsure of what to make of this, he'd never seen her cry before. Suddenly, the weight of how deeply he'd hurt her rested on him. But then, he had told her not to expect more, maybe he hadn't been convincing enough or she had hadn't been listening atall. But what was
wrong with him? How could he just abandon a journey of 2 years for that of few months?

Grace sniffed back tears now and said 'tell me Jide, do you still love
me atall'

'Don't make this any harder' he replied softly.

'I can handle it, just tell me'

'I can handle it, just tell me'

'I don't, as much as before' Jide said slowly 'but that...' he was adding

'that's ok, you don't need to explain' a pause, then, 'do you love her...your wife?' Realising only then that she didn't even know her name. Or maybe she had forgotten, didn't matter anyways.

Chapter 11
Jide rode aimlessly around surulere environs, his thoughts were in a haze and he was feeling really angry. Minutes ago, he had rolled up the glasses of the car, settling instead for the A.C, it was like a defence mechanism, for he really didn't want law-breaking motorists or the damn
drivers of Molue commercial buses to get him more pissed. They seemed to be everywhere, gliding in and out of lane trying to beat whatever target they'd set for themselves. Wasn't today supposed to be Sunday,
why were they not resting or something? He wondered. Busy city indeed was Lagos. He concluded with a sigh.

As he approached the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Surulere, he reduced his speed and considered going in. 'To do what?' 'Whatever there is to do'. He answered the questioner in his mind.

Then Slowly he ebbed his way out of the road and made for a parking space quite close to the entrance of the stadium. His stomach rumbled then as if reminding him that it had not been settled. Jide winced
glancing at the time piece, it was quarter to two, and he hadn't eaten!

The realisation turned his hands on the wheel into a fist, he couldn't remember when last he'd have to eat lunch late apart from when he had a pile load of work.

Well, not after he got married anyways. Maybe what he needed now was food and not a day in the stadium. He concluded and pulled back to the
road, his sights set on any eatery close by.

What was with the new attitude of Daisy he thought as he drove, no doubt, that sullen rude stranger he met earlier on was the smoke behind the clouds, she definitely had nothing palatable to offer, 'whoever she
was, whatever was her name and wherever she appeared from'. Jide cursed bitterly. If he had his way she wouldn't even be a mile close to his house or his wife. She was nothing than another cog in the wheel in his progress of building up a home he had recently started craving.

Jide eyes shifted to his phone now shrieking helplessly on the passenger seat. He didn't feel like talking to anyone so he ignored the call, parked at one side of the road and set to choosing where to patronize between the two eateries facing eachother. He wasn't a pro at this
things, he didn't have a favorite 'cos he hardly patronized them, thanks to his secretary anyways.

The phone resumed its cries, its vibration paining the hell out of
Jide's ears, angry and irritated, he picked the annoying thing. The
caller's ID was hidden.

Pressing the receive button, he switched the phone to 'hands free' and said nothing, as a rule, he never was the first 'hello' to calls like this, if the callers weren't bold enough to call, they didn't deserve
his courtesy.

'Jide, are you there? Why did you cut me off that way, you promised to call and I've been waiting yet...'came the hysterical voice of a female

Jide sighed and shook his head 'Grace, what's the meaning of these?' he asked calmly.

'what!' she shouted.

'why the hell are you calling me with strange numbers and...'

'since you've made it a duty to ignore my call, when i call with...'

'you are better than this'. Jide interrupted.

'Really now, am I?' she snapped 'Okay okay, I know Jide, but am
desperately...' Grace resorted to whining.

Not the desperation word please! Jide cringed in disgust. He hated
clinging and desperate girls, just like he had envisioned Daisy then.
But obviously now, she seemed to be one to keep her distance. To an
extent, he was okay with it.

'Grace what do you want? Am sorry we ended, but you gotta move on...'

'No!' Grace cut in vehemently 'lets talk about us, the last time you
were in a fit of rage and...'

Jide sighed. There was no reasoning with her. 'look am damn hungry and i got no time for...'

'I cooked! Yes i did' Grace cut in, a hint of excitement in her voice
'...specially for you'.

No response from Jide's side.

'Am working on my cooking okay, Stella is helping me with it, am...am getting better just for you...'

Jide sighed again. Better wasn't what she'd prepared last, but since he was really hungry, it wont hurt to give her the benefit of the doubt. Fast foods didn't thrill him anyway.

'okay okay' he cut in resignedly. '...give me some minutes, i will be there'.

'Oh! Thank you, i promise you wont regret it, am gonna treat you real good, give you the best...'

Jide kicked start the engine drowning out her ramblings. That girl could talk all the way to her house if you let her, 2 year since they had been dating and she didn't know what kind of man he was? He wasn't one to give in to so much talk. Everything needn't be settled by talking always! God! Her nagging had become unbearable of recent.

'...okay, I'd be waiting for you.' Grace came to an end, she'd noticed Jide wasn't responding either. '...see you then?' she wanted to be sure.

'Grace am coming' Jide replied irritated after seconds of hesitation.

'okay' she said quite inaudibly and the air went silence. She had ended the call.

so sorry all.. Going front page, means greater responsibility to me and increased pace, i hope i can manage

let me post the little ave written..

thanks to all who've commended me...

glowingscenes, kai ur question plenty...

[quote author=Angel_777]Thanks 4 moving dis story to the frontpage if nt i
wldnt ve been aware of its existence, thnk i have to be visitng d literature sectn nw. @op, thanks 4 d story, u'r such a good
writer.[/quote]feel free to visit the board, they are countless other wonderful story to read and follow, free of charge

welcome and thanks for reading

emygreat747: lolz!!!nw u'r on frontpage u dont want to post again abi??¿

not so oh, infact am working on chapter 11; tomorrow tops, it should be out.


#welcome new readers, the next thing to learn now, is to cut me some slack

onegig: princesea.......wow lovely... I love it. Ok. Try this "in a stitch"

Am not here to blow steams
Am here to treat the broken seam
of your disrespectful speech
yeah, one stitch i need
to mend that attitude you bring

Don't come running that hole of s.hit
All over my three piece suit
cos amma give in to it
and slit your face in countless piece

know that phrase?
A stitch in time saves nine
yeah, where we heading is that phase.......
like a cat, your lives might be nine
but in a stitch, you're going down
You ain't got the chance to go nine

yeah baby...
In a stitch, you'll be going down
what would be left?
your catty meouws


#phew! a writtable phrase next time please

ok na, Tory don end, everybody go home.


*locks gate and goes with key*

Buoyantic: Blah blah blah blah blah...*continues til its fades*

i guess you meet the good and the ugly on frontpage..


thanks Mazi

Brenda, campaign manager, you over try...

tovot, hello

[quote author=Mynd_44]Done[/quote]lots of kisses and hugs

thank you

oh God...

thanks to everyone who've made it possible..
love you all, muah

ITbomb: Finally Frontpage tinz
*hugging her*
more alomo to ur effort

am i on frontpage already

#rushes to go and check...

repogirl: You guys should try and understand it takes brain power, sweat and even
blood to write. Hours and hours of thinking, strategising, correcting,
editing. And re editing. Not a piece of cake. Y'all see the end product
and it flows easily because of the huge work put into it.
So what if people wait? Blessed are the waiters for they shall receive
great updates.
Also don't forget that writers have their own lives and this is a hobby.
Thankyou.

ride on sister

[quote author=Mynd_44]**whistling**[/quote]oga shake body jó

Wizee: Hw we go tke do am? But you update late and if it makes
the fp people will want to follow the storey, but if you don't update,
they might become tired of waiting.

they got 10 chapters to meet up with, and before they are tru, i should have added to it...

and then they would have to wait like us, we've all been waiting, and its not really an easy task writing...

lets me conserve this mb for updating later...
thanks to all of you for your support

[quote author=Mynd_44]I thought as much.[/quote]thought as much what?
am i the first to make such request in a thread

i made it as a plea, but oh well, i got zealous readers as repogirl pointed out...

repogirl: Na wa o, y'all are not subtle at all, see how you all
went to bombard the endorsement thread, including me sha, but then we've
made it obvious that we were ordered to endorse the story. Not coded at
all, pele princessa, you have such very zealous readers.

did it look like an order?
i meant it as a plea oh...

Bantino: This is to inform Seun and his MODS to move this story to front page ASAP. Datz all

make your voice heard in the 'endorsement thread' on the board.......thanks


Brenda campaign manager, i see your work, my choice was right

thanks to those who've endorsed it already, but you also need to provide the link too......


#operation frontpage

luvmijeje: It is not too much. By fire by force dis story must reach front page. Lol

now you are talking
#operation front page has started oh...
Anyi and Brenda.......campaign manager


join the cause

tayo69: nyc poems
my phrase is "I am not looking serious"

let me try...


quizzically i peer at uptight creatures
Speaking like they affect the world in measures
they must feel so high and fly
strapped up in that hook called a tie
Giving off annoying smiles
like without them the world would die
life to them is work, work and work
if you didn't, you become a downtrodden dog

oh well, their life with them
what's in becoming too serious men?
when my money triple high
find me in Bahamas
carousing with the chicks of class
then when it runs dry
I get back to till the ground hard

And when in scorn they peer at me
them dumb aristocrat brats
with a gaze no less mean
I'd tell them: 'am not looking serious'

guyz endorse me for frontpage na, 10 lengthy chapter updates, no be beans na...

am also curious to know hw it feels hunh...

is that too much to ask?

i guess there is a part two to these

5 years later, Princesa is now a changed girl...

i can't believe i wrote all that bloody poem...

quite creative but very scary, i don't know if such emotion still rest with me...

but am not a lover any less