🙂

TemplarLandry:
Hoe B the fraud.

Don't be cruel.

Instead of verbal response, she held my right, slipped it under the t-shirt and moved it on her left breast.

"I want you to feel this. Feel my love for you. Take it, take me. I'm all yours."

In the semi-darkness of the room, I shook my head.

"If you remember, I told you that we would be friends only. Sorry, I won't accept what you ask me to take."

I slipped my hand away from her breast and from inside the t-shirt.

"It's like you can not clearly see what I'm offering you."

She got up from the bed and switched on the full light. Then, she removed the t-shirt. I could see that she had earlier removed the tight. Now, she stood totally nude before my eyes.

"Can't you see this? Can't you see what you've been missing? Hello, Michael. Funmi, your babe, is back."

The sleep had disappeared from me. I sat up on the bed and stared at her. The nude body before me was pretty and attractive. The figure was curvy, no doubt.

"We're just friends, Funmi. We're no longer lovers. Thank you, but let's just keep the relationship at friendship level, okay? Now, please wear the cloth and come back to bed."

She opened her mouth in shock, unable to say a word. Slowly, she picked up the t-shirt and wore it. Her shock turned to muted anger. She climbed back to the bed, moved far away from me and even turned her back to me. I smiled knowingly and thanked God that I had passed the litmus test. * * * The shopping mall at Allen was a big one.

There were arrays of different products, most of them exotic. I moved to the section where they sold perfumes. The place itself had such a fascinating scent. But this was not my destination. I moved further to where they sold lingerie. Yes, this was the section I wanted to come. Different lingerie were on display, from camisoles to bras, panties, and so on.

A sales girl moved towards me with a smile.

ADAMUdaCOWBOY:
What do you mean by drained?

Feeling totally exhausted.

😄

She had come back after realizing that she had chased a wild goose. She had asked for forgiveness and had offered herself. Should I miss this opportunity? Was a bird in hand not worth two in the bush? I shuddered at these thoughts. Calm down, I told myself. Even if Faith decided not to come back to my life, having intimate relationship with Funmi must be a bygone matter, and I must let bygone be bygone. My mind veered to Mariam.

Despite her snobbishness, she appeared ... I could not finish the description. All I could say was that there was something special about her. I soon felt sleepy and dozed off. Many minutes later, I felt the hand of Funmi waking me up. "Time to go to bed," she said. "Yeah. Hmm...you can sleep on the bed while I sleep on this."

She looked alarm. "What! No way. Why would you want to discomfort yourself? The bed is more than large enough to contain the two of us."

I sighed and stood up. "Alright."

I went to the toilet to ease myself. By the time I was back, Funmi had switched off the t.v and was lying on the bed. I stripped myself down to the boxers and joined her on the bed. I tried to have a respectable distance from her but she gave me a close-up. I closed my eyes and tried to sleep. I could feel Funmi's hand on my chest.

"I miss you," she cooed.

I didn't say a word. Her hand gently rubbed on my chest.

"Are you still angry with me?" she asked.

"No. I told you to err is human."

Her hand rubbed more on my chest, down to my tummy, and moved to my chest again. "Why are you not responding?" she asked again. I could have chuckled.

"Responding to what?"

Instead of verbal response, she held my right, slipped it under the t-shirt and moved it on her left breast.

SETHARTHUR:
May Almighty God strengthen you. Amen.

Thanks.

She's a virtuous woman.

BItt:
It's sensible you stopped.
It will save you stress and give you more agility

You are right.

Reasons Why I Stopped Masturbation
It was a tough decision, but I have managed to stay off masturbation since January, 2023. I will like to share my reasons:
1. I never felt satisfied after doing it.
2. As a matter of fact, I always feel 'self abused' from it.
3. I always felt 'drained'.
4. Spiritually, I felt 'virtue' was coming out of me.
5. Finally, I felt it was not worth it.

Now, I am free.

Mhizzard:
It is mesmerising

"Okay, but get it at the back of your mind that nothing amorous will happen between us again."

She smiled. "Yes, sir!" she said sarcastically.

We went on to chat. She was currently working in the state ministry of land and survey, she said, and she was still living in her parents' house at Anthony. I told her about my job and the challenges. We chatted about old time. For now, I was relieved from worrying about any missing bra.

But I was miffed that Faith took the line of action that she took. When it was getting towards evening, I asked if my guest would like to take rice. There were some foodstuffs and we could cook rice. She agreed and pronto went on to cook the food. She was not a good cook but was better than Faith. I commended her for her effort. When it was minutes after seven, I asked her if it would not be a good idea for her to start going home so that she would not be late.

"I'm sleeping over tonight," she declared.

I raised an eye brow on that. "Is that really a good idea?" I asked.

She chuckled. "Is it really a bad idea?" she parried.

My mind was busy. I resolved that no matter the temptation, I would overcome it. I would have to prove to her that I meant all that I had said. We continued to chat and watch the television until late in the night.

"Do you have a t-shirt I change to?" she asked.

I stood up went to the wardrobe.

"Sure." I gave her a white t-shirt.

She stood up as she got it. She unzipped the ankara skirt she was wearing. I could see she was wearing a black tight underneath. Then, she unzipped the ankara blouse. The black bra that came into view immediately reminded me of the missing bra. What Funmi was wearing looked so much like the other one; but then, bras look alike, don't they? Without minding that I was there, Funmi unhooked the bra and unclothed her breasts. I looked away. It would be a tough task but I must pass the litmus test. She finally put on the t-shirt and came back to sit on the sofa.

My mind went to Faith. I was sure she did not mean it when she said it was over between us. I was sure she would be very jealous if she should come inside the room right now. But, what if she meant what she had said? What if we would never be intimate again? That would she would never be my love again. I sighed. Was it not fortuitous that Funmi was here?

She had come back after realizing that she had chased a wild goose. She had asked for forgiveness and had offered herself. Should I miss this opportunity? Was a bird in hand not worth two in the bush? I shuddered at these thoughts.

Calm down, I told myself. Even if Faith decided not to come back to my life, having intimate relationship with Funmi must be a bygone matter, and I must let bygone be bygone. My mind veered to Mariam.

"It's okay," I said in a way to console her. "In life, we stumble and move on again. I know God has a purpose for everything. I'm sure your real man will still come your way."

"Mike, that's ...why I'm here. I've come to plead and to ask that we continue from where we stopped. Please, Michael, forgive me."

I forced a smile. "I've forgiven you. After all, to err is human and to forgive divine. However, it will not be possible for us to continue from where we stopped for the simple reason that I'm in a relationship with another lady. You don't expect that I will be without a lover for the past two years, do you?"

She shook her head. "No, I don't. But since she has broken up with you, is she not a past issue?"

I looked confused. "Broken up with who?"

Now, she too looked slightly confused. "Hasn't she broken up with you?"

"Says who? There's no such thing, my dear."

She smiled wanly. "Come on, Mike. Be sincere. She broke up with you over the allegation of your infidelity."

I was amazed. "Where did hear you such story? There's no such thing!"

"Let's try to be sincere to each other. Your ex called Tope that she has got a good proof of your unfaithfulness and that it was all over between the two of you."

"Tope told you that my girlfriend said all these?" I asked testily.

"Yes. Is it not true?"

I wasn't happy with what Tope did, but I tried not to show it. When Faith called him about what she saw in my room and her decision to severe the relationship, was Tope, as a friend, not supposed to call me and asked about what went wrong? He didn' do that. Rather, he informed Funmi that the coast was clear for her.

"Well, it was true that my girlfriend, Faith, and I had altercation this morning. It was only a minor issue which I believe would be settled soonest."

Funmi disagreed. "A minor issue, yet she vowed that the relationship is over?"

I grimaced. "Anyway, there's no need we argue over that. The fact still remains that you can't just walk in now and expect that our relationship will go on like before."

"I understand, Michael. You need time to make some adjustment. I'll wait. Can we, at least, be friends, for now?"

That friendship could be dangerous, my mind said. All the same, if I could show self-restraint and a lot of discipline, there would be no harm.

"Okay, but get it at the back of your mind that nothing amorous will happen between us again."

"I know it's difficult to believe but it's the truth. If not that I have a visitor right now, we would go together to search my room."

"You have a visitor?"

I nodded. "Yes, a female visitor. But she's just an old friend. Once again, my sincere apology for the missing bra. See you later."

She nodded. "See you, Mike."

Wow, what a day! I left Mariam and went back to my room.

Funmi looked at me enquiringly. "Sorry, I went to settle a matter with a neighbour," I said. "What can I offer you?"

She shrugged. "Anything."

I nodded. "Give me another moment to get them for you."

I left the room for the main gate. Just opposite the house across the road was a provision store. I bought two bottles of malt and packs of digestive biscuits. Then I returned to the house. I kept thnking about the mysterious disappearance of the bra. How could it disappear just like that? Thank God, Mariam did not make further trouble about it. Then, my mind went to Funmi. I hoped her visit was just a social one. I would make her realize that though her abrupt exit was painful, I had moved on with life and was currently saddled with another lover.

By the time I re-entered the room, she had switched on the television and was flipping the remote control from one channel to the other.

"Here we are." I set the refreshment on the centre table and brought an opener from the fridge.

"Thank you, Mike. I know you're always a darling."

I opened the bottle for her while I sat on the sofa next to her.

"I know you're curious about many things," she stated. "Don't worry, I'll explain all."

I nodded. She was right, for I was eager to know a lot.

"It was Tope that gave me your address."

I had suspected this so I was not surprised about hearing it. Tope was my good friend and we had come a long way. I had also known Tope since I was in the university.

"I first asked Tope for your address some weeks back, but he was foot dragging. Meanwhile, I pleaded with him not to disclose to you that I had contacted him. I said I would make it a surprise for you. Finally, this afternoon, he gave me your address. Here I am with the surprise."

I grinned and nodded. She was a surprise indeed. "I thought by now you will happily married in America."

She shook her head sadly. "The guy is a scam. I discovered late last year that he was already married in U.S.A. Well, better late than never, but I'll prefer not to talk about it."

I nodded musingly. So the whole fuss Funmi made about marrying an American based Nigerian ended up unpleasantly. What a life. It was that same euphoria that led to my being jilted. Anyway, life went on.

"It's okay," I said in a way to console her. "In life, we stumble and move on again. I know God has a purpose for everything. I'm sure your real man will still come your way."

Seeing her now was a complete case of a bolt from the blue. She entered the room and looked around it appraisingly.

"Hmm, more like a cosy love nest. Not bad, though."

I offered the sofa while I sat on the bed. "So, this is where you're hiding," she said sarcastically.

Hiding? I disagreed. "Let's just say this is where I'm staying for now."

Then I remembered that Mariam would be expecting that thing from. I must see her and explain things to her whether she would believe me or not.

"Excuse," I told Funmi. "Just one minute."

I left my room. Almost timidly, I knocked at Mariam's door.

"Yes, open the door and come inside," she said from within. "The door is not locked."

I entered the room solemnly. She was watching a programme on the t.v and munching peanuts from a bottle. She turned to look at me expectantly. I shook my head.

"I'm so sorry I took time. You won't believe I've been searching for it."

She clouded her face briefly. "Searching for what?"

"The bra. I've been searching for that bra. I had put it in a polythene bag. Now, I can't find it inside, or anywhere."

"Wait a minute, are you saying that bra is missing?"

I nodded grimly. "Exactly. It's a mystery to me. I cannot find it where I left it. I've even searched inside the wardrobe and everywhere. I could not find it anywhere. I'm so sorry I put you in so much distress."

She seemed to muse over this.

"Look," I quickly put in. "I'm ready to pay the price. Just say the cost."

She sighed. "Don't bother," she said.

"I know it's difficult to believe but it's the truth. If not that I have a visitor right now, we would go together to search my room."

Goodness, she picked it!

"Hello, Faith," I quickly spoke into the mouthpiece. "Were you in my house not too long ago?"

"What are saying? Of course I was there in the morning."

I grimaced. ''No, I'm not talking about that one. I mean, did you come back to the house when I was not inside? Did you take the bra?"

"Bra?" Faith yelled. "What nonsense! What nonsense bra!"

I was aghast. "Calm down," I quickly put in. "I'm talking about the bra you saw in my room in the morning. Did you come around to take it? I need to take it back to the owner."

I could see that I was sweating.

"Are you high on something?" Faith yelled again. "How could you imagine I would take somebody's bra!? As if I don't have my own bra! SMH!"

Before I could say anything further, she cut the line. I was exasperated. Faith was the only person that had access to my place. If, as she said, she did not take the bra, who did? There was a knock at my door. I quickly brought handkerchief from my pocket to dab the sweats on my face. Then, I went to see who was at the door.

The whiff of the of the perfume the person was wearing hit my nose as soon as I opened the door.

"Hello, Michael."

My mouth dropped open on sighting the intruder.

"Funmi!" I said in wonder. "What are you doing here? How did you find this place?"

She smiled and corked her head to a side. "Are you not going to let me in before your barrage of questions?"

I was not in the mood to entertain visitors but I had no option than to let Funmi inside. Funmi was my ex lover as well as a benefactor. We met during our university days. She was a benefactor in the sense that she assisted me a lot financially back then.

She quit the relationship about two years ago when she told me she had met an American based Nigerian that was serious enough to propose marriage. It was not easy to say goodbye to her, but I had to move on with life. Seeing her now was a complete case of a bolt from the blue. She entered the room and looked around it appraisingly.

It is better to avoid mis information.

I said this, hoping my gambit had paid off. Once again, she appeared to be weighing my words.

She suddenly shrugged. "Okay."

I smiled radiantly at her. "Good. I shall be back with it in a jiffy."

I patted her left shoulder, stood up and left the room. Amazing! Women must be amazing creatures! Not too long ago, this same lady was insisting that the bra in question was not her own. Now, with little pet talk, she had agreed that I should bring it. Wonderful! May God bless madam landlady. I was happy when I unlocked my door and entered my room. Now, I could rest from the hassles of a missing bra. The white polythene bag containing the bra was still on the edge of the bed where I had left it. I went to pick the bag and immediately stopped short. Nothing was inside the polythene bag. Was it not in it that I kept the bra? I turned the nylon upside down. Nothing came out of it. Jesus!

Where did I keep the bra? I opened the wardrobe and started searching. I could only see my clothes. The bra! My mind screamed at me. Where was the bra? I searched under pillows, the edges of the mattress, under the bed, behind the camp cooking gas cylinder and everywhere. The item could not be found. I opened the fridge and the cooking pots, still, I could not find it. To show how desperate I was in the search, I lifted my t-shirt to be sure I was not wearing it.

That was preposterous, right? How could I, a man, ever wear a bra? That was desperation at it peak. This was astonishing to say the least. Now, what would I tell Mariam? Would I just say I could not find it; that the thing just disappeared? I had told her I would bring it and she would be waiting. What would I do now? I had never been as confused as I was now in my life. My mind frantically tried to find a reason. Had someone entered the room to take the bra when I went to the main building to see the landlady? Who could have done that? Besides, I remembered clearly that I had locked my door. Then, my mind wavered. Wait a minute. I gave Faith a key to my place so she could access it in case she came and I was not around. Did she come around when I was in the main building to see landlady? That could explain it, my mind said.

I picked up my phone to call her. I had earlier called her around noon but she refused to pick the call. This time, I hoped she would. The ringing went on and on. Oh, Faith, pick your call, pick your call, I muttered under my breath. She did not pick it. I redialed her number. It started ringing again. Oh everlasting Father, make Faith to pick this call, I found myself praying.

Goodness, she picked it!

❤️

Ride on.

This government has a lot to prove that it has the love of the masses at heart.

This government has a lot to prove that it has the love of the masses at heart.

One only hopes that there's something positive coming out of all these arrests.