Chapter 14: Chapter 14

Fola's mother knocked on her daughter's room the next day after making sure that her husband had left for work.

She wanted to have a heart-to-heart discussion with her daughter.

She noticed she came back from her outing the previous day looking miserable. She locked herself up and refused to allow anyone into her room.

'She even refused dinner', her mother mused as she knocked again.

"Fola, please open the door dear", she called impatiently.

"The door is open mum", Fola muttered from inside.

Her mother turned the doorknob and was surprised to see it open. She tried opening the door the previous night all to no avail.

She entered the room and met her daughter sprawled on her bed like a sick child. She rushed to her. "Folakemi."

"Mummy", she called back as she embraced her mother crying.

"It's okay, my darling. Stop crying and talk to me", Mrs Obed comforted.

"Mummy, I am fed up", she said miserably.

"Don't say that. Tell me what the problem is. You've been acting all strange since you came back from your fiance's place yesterday. What happened? Did he do something to you?", her mother asked in one breath and scared of what Fola's reply would be.

"Mummy", Fola whispered, looking up from the embrace at her mother. "He tried to have sex with me", she finally said and bursted into tears.

"What?!", her mother exclaimed. "Fola, I warned you not to accept him yet but you wouldn't listen", she scolded.

"Mum", she uttered in between sobs. "You told me you would pray to God so I can make a good decision. Haven't you been praying?", she questioned.

"I have Fola. I have been doing that earnestly and I am not ready to stop anytime soon", her mother answered with tears too.

"You see", Fola said, opening her arms wide dramatically. "That is what I am saying. You have been praying and I ended up accepting him then it means that is what God wants."

"Don't say that", Mrs. Obed said, wiping her daughter's tears. "There is a reason for everything."

"Mum, I am doing it for your happiness."

"Your happiness is my happiness", her mother retorted back.

"This is what God wants", Fola blurted.

"Why are you talking like an unbeliever?", Mrs. Obed scolded her frowning.

"You are being childish. When I told you to make a decision on your own, I thought you were mature enough to know the right from the wrong but you have just proved me wrong. You were living a life I never wanted for you. You were carried away by the show of respect, position and affluent they possess", her mother stated.

"Let me tell you a short story", she continued cleaning her tears before clearing her throat.

"Abike used to be a friend of mine. She was a spinster till the age of 35. When she clocked 30, she prayed to God and fasted just so she could get a man. She then came across Olatunji on a social media platform and he asked her out. Abike, thinking her prayers were about to be answered, quickly accepted him and they dated for a year. Olatunji all of a sudden told Abike he was fed up with the relationship. He left her broken and she gave up on life. She became adamant about getting married despite the protest and struggles of her mother. Abike refused to give any man a chance not until one day. She met with a long time friend who was more like a brother to her. They've known each other for close to 10 years. Adeshina, who saw how emancipated she was, asked her what the problem was with her. Then she explained everything to him. As fate would have it, Adeshina just got a Federal Government job then which was not too far from Abike's family house. Out of sympathy and with a sense of loyalty, Adeshina made it a routine to always check up on Abike after the close from work just so she could get rid of the hurt. Every night, they meet and gist till 10p.m when he would leave for home. After a month, Adeshina confessed his feelings for Abike which he had been nursing even before they graduated from the university. Abike was confused, disappointed and mad at him and then refused to give him a chance not knowing they were meant for each other. Abike's mother was a great mother who took it upon herself to see to it that her daughter accepted Adeshina. After much fasting and prayers, Abike realised he was meant for her. She confessed to her mother that she used to have a crush on him when they were in school and because she saw him more like a brother, the crush faded. That was how Abike and Adeshina got married and they lived happily ever after", she finished.

"My question to you now Fola is this; despite the fact that Abike prayed before meeting her first love, why then did God make her path cross with Olatunji", she asked but Fola was silent.

"You do not know the answer right?", her mother asked again while Fola nodded.

"That is because God is indeed great, He is Merciful and He does things for a reason. When Abike and Olatunji met, Adeshina too was in a relationship that later failed. So if Abike had met with Adeshina then, things wouldn't have worked out between them. God was preserving Abike for Adeshina and he was distracting Adeshina for Abike."

"Another question I will ask you is this; What then is the role Olatunji played in the life of Abike", she asked but Fola shook her head signifying no answer.

Mrs. Obed commented, "The role Olatunji played in the life of Abike was great. He sponsored her Master's degree program amongst other things. In life, everyone has a mission to accomplish and that was what he was meant to do for her. He was meant to go into her life at that moment to help her during her trying moments. Abike wouldn't have gone for her Master's degree if their paths hadn't crossed. Can you now see how God works in wonderful ways?", she asked and Fola nodded tearing up again.

"Maybe Olamide is here to distract you or preserve you for the man you are meant for", her mother said.

"Oh mum!", she lamented with a scream. "I was foolish. What do you advise me to do, mum?", she inquired softly.

Her mother gazed at her and said, "Wipe your tears. Come here", she opened her arms and Fola felt safe in the embrace.

"You made a big mistake by shutting Ire out and giving Olamide all of your attention. You know he was changing you into what you never was yet you allowed him to control you. The plan is this, do not stay away from the both of them."

Fola raised her brows with confusion. "How?"

"Continue to maintain your friendship with Ire and continue your so-called courtship with Olamide."

"Mum?", she called.

"Daughter", her mother called back with a smug smile. "His father is obsessed with you and I think there is more to this than the eyes met. Let's not use our emotions to solve the problem at hand. Right now, I am mad at everyone including you and your father. But we need to find a way to come out of this charade and letting our emotions control us will lead to nothing fruitful. Olamide and his father will come begging soon and you need to accept him back. But I want you to promise me never to let your emotions get the better of you."

"You mean we should deceive them?", she asked and her mother nodded.

"Olamide, his father and my dad?" she asked again.

"Let's play along with them for now."

"What if they bring up the issue of marriage again?"

"Leave that to me", Mrs. Obed answered confidently.

"Mum, I still don't get the essence of all this."

"Don't you dare behave like your dad to me again or else I am out of the game", her mother threatened ignoring her question.

"Mum! Don't worry, I will do as you said but before then, I want you to explain better. I am in the dark", she furrowed her brows.

"Walls have ears! Bring your ears", her mother told her and Fola obeyed.

Mrs. Obed whispered for a few minutes into her ears and Fola gasped wide-eyed and her jaw dropped open in shock.

******

It was 8p.m and Mr. Garba and his son were in the sitting room pleading with Fola's mother and father.

Mrs. Obed told Fola not to come out.

Fola was in her room and she tried eavesdropping on their conversation. All she could hear was incoherent mutterings and whispering. She tried unlocking her door a bit without them noticing but the creaking sound her door produced, failed her.

She gave up trying and puffed out air before going back to her laid bed while stamping her feet on the floor.

She was curious about what her mother was about to do.

She told her father about what happened when he came back from work around 5p.m and her father was red in the face. If only she was in love with Olamide, she would have regretted telling him about it because of his reaction which she never expected but the case was different here. She was happy to see that his so-called son-in-law had failed him.

Fola heard raised voices and she rushed to the door. The raised voice worked to her advantage as she succeeded in opening the door without their knowledge.

'Curiosity they say kills the cat', she mused to herself. Her father's voice was audible enough to hear.

"I am highly disappointed in him. My daughter is a very precious girl and I am doing this for friendship sake but you don't want to respect that", Mr. Obed uttered referring to Olamide who was looking down out of shame.

"Please my friend, don't mind the foolish boy, just forgive him", Mr. Garba pleaded.

"When I got home this evening, Bisi informed me of Fola's presence at the house and told me she saw her running out. So I questioned him about it and he told me what happened. I was scolding him when your call came in'', he explained looking at Fola's mother.

Mrs. Obed exhaled deeply and commented, "I was mad at your son for taking my daughter for granted. But I am an understanding mother and I know things like this are bound to happen......"

Just then, Fola's phone rang interrupting her from listening further.

She silently closed the door back and rushed to her bed to take her phone. The caller was Bolu.

"Hello Aunty Boluwatife, how are you doing and how is school?", Fola said, sitting down.

"What's with the formality, Fola. I hope I am safe", Bolu replied from the other end.

Fola chuckled and replied, "Of course you are. Remember you said you are my senior and I should always respect you. That is what I am doing."

"Oh, you want to turn me to by-force old woman abi. God no go allow you. Abeg, quit the rubbish and guess what?"

"What?", Fola asked curiously, sitting upright.

"I'm home."

"What?", Fola screamed. "Since when?"

"I came back this afternoon. Tomorrow is Femi's birthday, that's why I'm back and he said he would like to take us out including Biodun."

"Wao! Happy birthday to him."

"Thank you", Bolu replied.

"Where is he taking us to?", Fola demanded.

"I really have no idea, he refused to open up to me", replied Bolu

"Tomorrow then?", said Fola.

"Yes, tomorrow by 3p.m, we would come pick you up."

"Alright, bye darling."

"Bye."

Fola exhaled loudly and fell on the bed. She felt weak all of a sudden and after a while she slept off without dinner.

Bolu, Biodun and her boyfriend came the next day to meet an already dressed Fola.

She entered the car after the exchange of pleasantries and they zoomed off.

Femi was a quiet guy unlike his girlfriend, Bolu. He was a police officer and even though Bolu's parents were against the relationship because of his profession, their love for each other conquered all odds and Femi was able to win her parent's heart with his calm nature.

Biodun was all smiles and snuggled next to Fola as they drove.

They went to Alkali road to get some Ice cream for Biodun. Femi decided to order two more cups for Bolu and Fola. It was a mixed flavour of strawberry and bubble gum and it tasted weird to Fola. She felt like throwing up and Bolu made jest of her.

Biodun took the ice cream from her which was already turning liquid and gulped it down his throat.

"Baby, please I want to get some bread for my mother at Ostrich bakery. Let's go there first before going to Chicken Republic."

"Alright then, we can spend some time there too before going", Femi muttered.

"Funny enough, they sell ice cream too. We would have gone there directly instead of coming down here for the ice cream."

"And that is because you didn't tell me", Femi scolded.

"I forgot", Bolu said, giving him a baby face.

"Alright", he said calmly and rode off.

Biodun was already feeling sleepy by the time they got to Ostrich bakery. Femi got down from the car and carried him. They entered and Fola and Bolu quickly settled down while Femi along with Biodun went to get the bread and order some cookies for the girls.

He asked Biodun if he wanted another cup of ice cream and he nodded grinning.

"Look who we have here, the Almighty Folakemi Obed, the daughter of Mr. Obed who happens to be a puppet to Mr. Garba", a lady said approaching Fola and Bolu.

Fola raised her head up to see Rachel in front of her with a sinister smile.

She stood up to grab her when Bolu stopped her. "Fola."

"How have you been sweetheart? Long time", she remarked at the fuming Fola.

"You haven't changed a bit", Fola replied sitting down.

"Why would I change? I am not here for a chit-chat. I am just here to warn you to stay away from my boyfriend. And don't forget I haven't gotten my revenge back for what you did to me 2 years ago. I am just waiting for the perfect time. As if doing that to me wasn't enough, you decided to snatch my long time boyfriend with your hypocritical behaviour", she responded eyeing Fola.

She stamped her feet angrily on the floor.

"Fola, be warned. Don't say I didn't warn you", she said and stormed away seeing Femi approaching.

Fola and Bolu looked at each other. "Who is she?"

"My former colleague at work, the lady I told you I had an issue with at Mrs B's......"

"Her boyfriend? Who is her boyfriend?", Bolu interrupted with a frown.

"I have no idea", Fola shrugged and sighed deeply.