Chapter 24: Chapter 24

: my home

4 months later.

"I hate you" I whined into my screen.

"Indeed" he smirked in return, not minding the fact that I glared at him through my screen. Welcome to my world for the last 5 months.

It has been bliss, laughter and wholeness. 5 months of courting him, at first I wanted to say no.

A part of me knew we were rushing into it just courting outrightly. Until I told mum and she said there is no logic to it. It turns out that you can date for long and still marry wrong, marry early and marry wrong or right and vice versa. So I searched deep down for what I felt for him; It was pure, I felt safe, I felt bliss in me when I looked at him or heard his voice, his voice still tugs the string of my heart, his eyes were my home. I could look at them for hours, it changed slightly every time.

His pupils dilated showing speckles of gold and honey when surprised, dark chocolate when naughty and pensive. Surprisingly he was yin to my yang; we were so opposite and so similar at the same time.

"Come back to earth Tee" he said softly.

" I miss you, come back home" I whined more. "Where are you at?" I asked.

"About to meet my home" he replied.

"I Don't do well, when you speak parables you know." My phone vibrated letting me know I was needed for ward rounds.

"Bye I have to go. I have ward rounds now, then surgery in the morning and CDS as a youth service corp."

"Awnn my poor baby, you look so stressed. Take care." As he waited for me to end the call, isn't it weird that even though I was the more open and noisy one he was more romantic. Gentle but not shy, quiet and at the same time naughty.

*****

Dragging myself out of the teaching hospital, I was stressed out emotionally and physically. I absentmindedly kicked the coke bottle in front of me and it flew. I looked up at my target of football practice and saw him.

He was here! Hot fudgy chocolate was here. I launched into his arms not caring etiquette or how desperate I looked.

"Told you I was on my way to my home. Home is not a place its a person" smiling down at me.

"So you missed me that bad huh? Enough to choke the life at me with your crushing hug?" He asked.

"Yes." Too tired pretending, and saying hateful words. I missed him the last 2 month made me understand what it means to give part of your self away. Absence doesn't just creates fondness it leaves a giant gap of longing and loneliness.

"I know." The proud annoying hot guy answered.

"Whatever, arrogant Mumu" pushing up my nose while at it.

"Your arrogant Mumu" he replied, while pulling out the bands in my hair.

"Come I'll take you home, shower then food. I'm starving and jet lagged." He added.

As he drove, I flipped through the radio channels since he went to comfortable silence ghost mode. He winced at the volume of the radio, so I put it off. I decided to the silent ghost mode with him, so I stretched my seat backwards and got comfortable.

"Wake up, snoring beauty. Home sweet home"

"I don't snore" I snapped aggressively. OK, maybe I snore but once in a while and for long hours not this short 20 minutes nap.

"Yea, indeed. Wipe the spittle at the edge of your mouth while at it" he replied and came down.

Issalie I didn't just snore and pour out spittle in front of him.

I rushed to check the car mirror, Yup there was a line of spittle out of my mouth.

Thank you so much village people, of all days to show my sleeping talent its today.

He opened the car door for me and grinned.

"Thank you. If you don't see ketchup you'll see spit, come and go back to your Germany sef" embarrassment coursing through me.

I opened the door and went straight to my room slamming it.

"Hey! I'm a visitor fah" he shouted at my retreating back.

"Visitor my left yansh" I shouted out in reply.

"Crude girl" he shouted.

"Rude boy" I replied.

"Fine girl" he shouted.

"Ugly goat" I replied, smiling already. Forgetting why I was mad in the first place.

"Ayo's fiancee" he called out back in return. My previous smile turned to a full blown grin as my insides turned mushy and soft.

"I love you" I semi shouted, praying he didn't hear me.

"Me too shy girl. Instead of you to tell me to my face you are hiding in your room" he said.

"I take it back."

When I came out of the shower and changed into jean trouser and a nude top. I went to the sitting room and found him sprawled out on of the sofa. He looked younger while asleep, long lashes fanned his cheekbones and worry lines creased his brow. So peaceful and innocent like a child.

"I'm hungry, stop staring I can feel your gaze." I reached out my hands and threaded it into his hair on impulse. His hair was so soft and curly definitely from his maternal side. "Dont stop. That feels so good" he said sleepily.

"Big baby, I have to go to CDS get up." His deep breaths filled the room as he adjusted to my touch. I just let him sleep for 1 hour more, I gave up trying to pull my hands out of his hair, it felt so addicting.

"Let's go" he yawned and I laughed.

"Imagine my mum coming back home right now to meet a guy in her house with bed hair and looking all grouchy and tired. After slap of my life she'll bundle me to prophet." I added continuing my laughter.

"Oh you didn't add the part where she'll pour me pepper water" he also added.

Four hours later brunch and CDS was all done, I felt my phone ringing which I ignored twice. We sat there at our table and talked for hours me mostly laughing while he squeezed his face like spoilt beans.

"So I'm inviting you to a dinner party on Saturday evening in Lagos" he casually said.

"I have tons to do, am busy. Whose party is it? I can't just be traveling Ibadan to Lagos as I please. What will I tell my parents?"

"Too busy for me right? I flew across oceans to see you. You'll just tell them the truth. I hate events they bore and inconvenient me, come and be my guardian angel."

"Its not like I'm too busy for you, but I don't base in Lagos you know. The stress of it all is tiring, the last time was a burial ceremony which is understandable. More so you are rich, press and affluence is a part of your life. I'm not sure I can' fit." I replied

"Oh please! We both know you can fit in wherever. I'll have someone pick you and drop you back. The airport here in Ibadan is not working if not I'll send you ticket. You and me had become part of each other so if we marry you still have to deal just take this as target practise. Please do this for me, I hate it when you hide behind that shell you know" he said and jutted his lips together in a pout.

issokay this fine boy will kill me last last.

How do I say No to that cute face?

"Fine alright. Whose dinner is it? " I grudgingly accepted.

"You gave me your word already don't take it back" he implored.

"Yea sure"

"Nina's, She is back home here in Nigeria and opening up a her own law firm. Her parents decided to this and I'm mandated to attend." He said fondly.

"Wait! You mean annoying rude lawyer lady?" I asked, as I felt a familiar wave of anger pulse through me. He picked his glass cup and placed it on his lips hiding his face from me and said "yes" in reply to my question.

Hiss " there's no way in hell I'm going there." Fuming silently.

"Its not like you are going there for her, you are going there for me. We can Dance all night, and I'll get to see you in a dress. You gave me your word remember, also Nina isn't that bad she is just overprotective and you guys got off on the wrong foot"

"So you are taking her side already and not mine, Is she the fiancée or I am?"

"Tee na!" He whined.  "Don't compare the relationships, she is like my sister and you are my future wife. Your lives will intersect one way or the other why not just start now?" He added making that same cute eyes.

"Don't judge a book by it’s cover, get to know the Nina I know. I am a good judge of character and Nina is solid" he added again.

Would he defend me like this also, with so much passion and trust?

"Fine. Get up I am going home." The whole enthusiasm of the day being drained from me.

"Alright, I'll go with you" he replied. He went to pay for the meal came back and slipped his hands into mine.

It’s funny right? I was giving him attitude and here he was holding my hands as a show of support.

"What if my mum is at home?" I asked.

"You'll introduce me then. She'll get to know me before general introduction. She'll like me you'll see" he said and winked at me.

*******

Wonders shall never end?

Where did my strict, dramatic Yoruba wonder woman go? Here my mum was falling in love with the annoying goat who enjoyed all the attention as he and Tolu watched my baby albums.

"Temitope bring juice for him now before the food is ready he'll be thirsty."

"But mummy he is not thirsty" I murmured.

"Ah. Thank you ma. I'll enjoy the drink" he answered and even curtsied with is head.

I'll castrate you annoying fiancee.

"Thank you jawe omo Dada(good child)" my mum said smiling affectionately. "Will you get up and go for me" she hissed out at me.

As I brought out a carton of orange juice and salt which I decided to add, to give it flavour with my evil mind singing hallelujah I got a text on my phone.

Hey bitch! I haven't forgotten you, may you rot in hell and know no peace for what you did. Evil mongrel, Matt and I finished our divorce proceeds today. You can go back to him home wrecker _Ava

As a familiar wave of guilt and dirtiness hit me, I clenched the glass cup hard and breaking it while at it. The button part hit the floor with some parts making cuts on my palm. I deserved the pain and more and so it didn't register, as tears and darkness washed over me.

"Tee! Tee! What's wrong?" A familiar voice shook me.

How do I tell him I'm more broken than he knows and so dirty, how do I look him in the face after I know his pain being the child of a mistress, how do I tell him I was what he hated badly, that I've broken a home of mine.