Chapter 9: Chapter 9

Fola didn't go home like she promised her father and a week later, she received a call from Olamide.

"Hello wifey", he said from the other side.

"Hi", she replied calmly.

"How are you doing?", he asked.

"Who am I speaking with?", she asked back.

"Your fiance", Olamide replied.

"The last time I checked, I don't have anyone in my life with the name 'fiance' so you can call me back when you remember your real name", Fola remarked ready to hang up the call.

"Babe wait, it's me Olamide, your husband-to-be. I went to look for you last week but I was told you were in school. How are you coping?", he inquired but was met with silence.

"Hello, are you there?"

"What do you want from me and why are you calling me and why do you want to see me?", she asked angrily.

Olamide chuckled and replied: "For the first question, I want my wife. For the second and third question, it's because I miss you."

"When you are done deceiving yourself, let me know so I can go back to what I was doing before you called."

"Folake, I want us to make this work. I have thought hard and long about us and I think it's high time we stopped being childish", he stated.

"Actually, I am still a child and I won't stop behaving like one until you become sensible enough to know we are not meant to be. I am too precious to become a wife of a bossy, stupid and arrogant man like you who doesn't know what he wants", she responded with a sense of pride.

"First of all, I am not stupid. I agree that I am bossy and I am willing to change that for you. I admire your courage and I am beginning to like you", he commented.

"In your dreams", Fola retorted.

"I know I messed up big-time when we first met and even after knowing about our betrothal. Let's make this work babe, let's make our parents happy. I am very sorry", he said with sincerity.

"Are you done with your story?"

"When will you stop being harsh to me?"

"The day I die", Fola replied with venom.

"Ok, talk to you later wifey. Can you please send me your account number? I want to send you a little token for airtime", he said.

"Go to hell with your money", Fola blurted out and hung up.

'He thinks he can fool me', she soliloquized and hissed.

******

The next day, Fola met with Ire and informed him about Olamide's call.

They spent the two weeks break together tutoring and getting to know each other better.

It was the first week of another semester.

Over the past weeks, they became close friends and they do confide in each other. Fola got to know more about Iremide and about the death of his father.

"I started my diploma degree in Mass Communication when I was 18 and I finished at exactly 20. My ex-girlfriend couldn't go to the higher institution of learning because of her parent's inability to sponsor her. Her father was a carpenter while her mother was jobless. They could hardly feed and immediately after her SSCE, her father told her he wouldn't be able to sponsor her. It was that year that I applied for my degree in Mass Communication. I then decide to take up the task of sponsoring her. Instead of going for my degree, she went for hers while I stayed at home. That was the year my father died and things turned around for us. My father was a soldier and we hardly see him even though he always makes sure to send each and everyone of us our monthly allowance. When he died, my father's relative took all of our properties and that was because of the hatred they have been nursing for mum ever since they got married. You remember I told you my mother is a nupe woman, they were against the marriage and they ended up claiming she killed her husband whereas he was assassinated while on a mission. We were only left with just our house in Kano, mum's peugeot car and the money in our accounts. Dad and mum did a joint business of building a house in Kaduna with the sole purpose of renting it out before dad passed away. They were almost done with the house and after his death, mum couldn't go ahead with the construction and she almost sold it out. This was unknown to his relatives, if not they would have claimed it to be theirs too. Mum's business of selling drinks on wholesale failed because of lack of funds. She then started selling provisions in front of the house to earn a living. I started doing all sorts of menial jobs so my girlfriend can still be in school and at times, mum assists me in completing her fees. After her graduation, I was left with nothing having spent all my entire savings on her. Not losing hope, I applied for admission and I was admitted even though my course was changed. I applied for Mass Communication but I was given Economics. Mum couldn't cope with sponsoring me and my two sisters so I had to look for an alternative. Last year, my immediate sister got married leaving my mum to cater for our last born. Though mum was against the marriage saying it was too early but my sister had her reasons. My girlfriend on the other hand, stopped visiting me so one day, I decided to go see her at home but I was told she wasn't home. The mother was home and she asked me to come inside. I thought she wanted to ask me to wait for her but that was not the case. She said she had been meaning to talk to me about something important and when she said that, my heart skipped a bit. I sat down on a stool that was opposite her and she began:

"Iremide omo mi (my son), you are a very good and responsible boy and I want to use this medium to thank you for all you have done in or lives. My daughter, Bisi is now a graduate all thanks to the Almighty and to you. She used to tell me that you are God-sent and I believe that now. I have been meaning to come and see you by myself and now that you are here, that is settled. Bisi my daughter is not a wayward girl and I am sure you know that. You know the financial status of our family and my daughter has a lot of responsibilities to execute as the first born of the family and only graduate. As for you, you are not yet in school and there is no time on our side. I want my daughter to get married and I know you can't shoulder that kind of responsibility at this stage and age. So we are already making plans for her marriage with someone else because that is the only solution to our present situation. That is what will put an end to our sufferings and save us from this poverty stricken situation. Please my son, do not be hurt about what I have said. I am doing this for Bisi and your own good. I know you are smart and you understand beyond what I had said. Thank you once again and God bless you....... That is all I have to say", the woman said and turned her face to the other side as tears rolled down my eyes.

"Bisi blocked me from all her social media handles and also blacklisted my number. That added to my pain and I fell sick till the extent that I was admitted in the hospital for 2 weeks. My mum couldn't help but cry for me. I thought my life would end because I had planned my life and future with Bisi. I felt betrayed and used, I felt stupid and foolish. I lost the zeal to live and the zeal for everything. My love for her was beyond imagination", he continued.

"All thanks to mum who brought me out of my self-envisioned world through her tears and words of encouragement. She reminds me of my dad and how much care he used to dot on us. She made me believe that true love does exist. She gave me the courage to face life's challenges squarely and the ability to stand back on my feet. When I came back to school, I started working with Super-D's cafe who happens to be a friend of mine from my diploma days. I give tutorials for free and for a fee."

"My little kid sister is now in SS1 and by the time I am done with my degree, she will be planning to write her SSCE examinations. That is the end of my story, the others will be a story for another day", he finished and looked at Fola who stared with pity written all over her face .

"Hmm", she sighed deeply. "What Bisi and her mother did was unfair."

Ire shrugged and replied, "Life itself is unfair my dear."

"You've really gone through a lot."

"Everyone has a story to tell. Challenges and trials are what makes life a reality", he remarked.

"But why didn't she go against her mother?"

"Who knows? I tried not to judge her and I concluded that we are not meant to be. There is a quote in the Holy book that says 'What is yours will never pass you by and that which passes you was never meant for you."

Fola was looking into space as he spoke and when Ire noticed, he tried reading through her all to no avail. "What are you thinking of?", he asked, bringing her out of her thoughts.

"Whether Olamide and I are meant to be", she blurted and looked down sadly. "Ire, my life is so complicated at the moment."

"Don't say that, everything that is happening now is for a reason", he consoled.

"It seems he is beginning to like me", Fola stated.

"Hmm... really? How sure are you?", Ire asked but Fola shrugged not knowing what to say.

"Don't tell me you are falling for that guy's prank. He is only trying to show you love so you can fall into his trap. Don't fall for it dear, I am a guy and I know the extent a guy can go in order to get a girl."

"Does that mean all he said were lies?", demanded Fola.

"I can't say but I want you to be strong for whatever is to come. I have a feeling that there are great challenges ahead of us because I believe our meeting is for a reason. Perhaps, I am meant to help you fight your battles or otherwise. Whatever happens, just be strong and don't you ever show your weakness to that guy and to other people as well because they can take advantage of it."

"I have never been so confused and indecisive in my entire life. I am scared of what the future has in stock for me. I just wish things would go back to the way it used to be", she replied feeling miserable.

"Why worry about what is to come? You have no power whatsoever over the past or the future. You can only control the present by doing the right thing at the appropriate time so you don't regret it", he told her.

"Do you know what I wish?"

"What?"

"I wish I knew what love is and I have experienced it in a good soul li..like....never mind", she said, stuttering, afraid to voice out her thoughts.

"I understand you..... It's just a matter of time. You are a good, intelligent and brave lady and any man would want to have you", Ire said smiling.

"Even Olamide?" Fola asked laughing.

Ire hissed and replied, "I won't pray to God to make him the man for you even if he is the last man standing."

"Why?"

"Because of what I have heard about him from you. Even though I know I am not supposed to be this judgemental, I can't help it."

"Let's talk about something else, joor....... Leave that yeye dreamless guy alone", she replied. "Ever since you broke up with Bisi, have you been in any other relationship?", she asked.

"Of course not, I haven't. I have kept to myself ever since then and I see love as a childish play. But whenever I remember the love my mother used to show to my father and that of my father to my mother, it makes me believe and hope for a true love someday. The love between my parents is one of a kind. Their love looks beyond limitations and imperfections which makes it true love."

"Hmm love sees beyond limitations and imperfections", Fola repeated. "What does that mean?", she asked after pondering over it for a moment.

"Love sees beyond limitations in the sense that when you are in love, there seems to be no limit, no obstacles you both can not overcome and no extent you can not go to. It sees beyond imperfections in the sense that no matter how imperfect you are, that love will always prevail."

"Does that mean I can look beyond Olamide's imperfections?", She asked him.

"There is no perfect being in this world which makes us all to be imperfect. You have one or two shortcomings and I have mine. If you think you can cope, why not? But the question you should ask yourself is "Can you really cope with his behaviour and can he cope with yours?"

"Alright."

"Let me give you an instance....My mother is a Nupe woman while father is a Yoruba man. My father's people were against inter-tribal marriage but my parents tackled against all odds and got married. My father loved his work but my mother despised it because he was always travelling. Even with all these, their love for each other never seems to die down and that same love, they used to train us up. To love people around us and help those in need. My parents do quarrel like every other couple but because of the understanding between them, they make sure to settle their scores before the end of the day. People do say military personnels are not trustworthy and faithful when it comes to relationships. They believe they are all womanisers but my father was a perfect example of a gentle, loving and faithful father and husband. My mum was shattered when she heard the news of his demise", he finished and quickly wiped off a tear that ran down his bright cheeks.

"I am sorry to have reminded you of the past. I pray you find true love somewhere, someday in a good heart", she said to assure him.

"I have found it", he gazed at her. "She is an outstanding and exceptional lady but she is betrothed to someone else", he declared and Fola's mouth dropped open.