by Oluwatosin Fatoyinbo

I had an image of our future together; our wedding, honeymoon and kids. Our career paths, how I will manage the home and the kids while pursuing a career in the corporate world…

– Read Episode 1 of the compelling story HERE.

– Read Episode 2 of the compelling story HERE.

EPISODE 3

How depressing it must have been for David that on the only day he chose not to come to the Library with me, his rival met his love. That fateful day, I called David as usual informing him I was going to Library and whether he will meet me up. He said he was not in the mood for Library ‘thingy’ and I should call him once I was through with my work for that day. I felt sad and thought how boring Library will be but I felt perhaps his absence will help me concentrate more. However, his absence that breezy afternoon will concoct a radical change in my life.

Although David had never asked me out, I knew he loved me more than life itself. With this knowledge, I had fantasized in my head how he would ask me out. He was charming so I expected nothing less of him. How he never came around to asking me out is baffling though and this oversight was the genesis of my problems. If he had asked me out, I wouldn’t have had to bother about Gboye and even if I was bothered. But I kept expecting him to say ‘Nike, will you go out with me?

I had an image of our future together; our wedding, honeymoon and kids. Our career paths, how I will manage the home and the kids while pursuing a career in the corporate world…… I thought about every tiny detail including the wedding gown and the first car we would buy with our own hard earned money and not gifts from our parent. I knew our parents would insist on buying us cars but I have never believed in relying on my parent’s wealth. I wanted and still want to make my own money. David generally had a non challant attitude towards money but I planned on getting him a good business manager to help convert his skills into money. I believed if he was well managed, his art works will not only bring fortunes but also take him around the globe promoting the Art. Of course, he could afford to travel around the world on his father’s account but he didn’t care about such frivolities. Everything had received a touch of my organizational acumen even without David asking me out. I fully planned my future with him featuring in it. I never envisaged a life without him in it but how life surprises us and alter our best plans.

Gboye walked me to my hostel that evening, by the time we got to my hostel, we were still arguing and enjoying the chit chat so we stood at the entrance of the hostel locked in our conversation. It was around 8pm that I realized how hungry I was. I told him I needed to go and fill my stomach but I had no strength to cook that night. He insisted on accompanying me to the closest restaurant to the hostel. I didn’t want to go with him because I felt I was already getting myself attached to a complete stranger. All I knew was his name, department and his sweet mouth. Gboye was a sweet talker and it didn’t take long for me to be persuaded to go along with him. I told him I needed to drop my books in my room and he said he would wait.

We went to the restaurant and ate. We continued our discussion and stayed another hour in the restaurant till my phone rang at around 9pm. It was then I realized David must have been calling me for hours and indeed the calls log of my Samsung Galaxy phone registered twenty five missed calls. I felt so guilty; not only did I fail to call David as promised; I also totally forgot about him and was so deep in conversation with Gboye that I didn’t hear my phone ring even once. I was addicted to my phone so I couldn’t explain how I got my books out of the bag and also took money to pay at the Restaurant without once checking my phone.

David could be persevering but to imagine that he called twenty five times patiently expecting me to pick his call each time brought a clot to my heart. It felt like I had committed murder and was standing trial for killing me my best friend. I was not sure of what I was going to tell David. What on earth will I say I was doing that made it impossible for me to pick his calls or at least send a text message?

Fright must have registered on my face and body or perhaps I became jittery and sweaty because I heard Gboye say ‘what’s wrong Nike, hope nobody is dead?

“No. but I must go immediately” I replied.

“Well, at least tell me what’s wrong or is there anything I can help you with?

“There is nothing you can do ok? As a matter of fact, I’m in a mess right now simply ‘cos of you”

“I don’t understand. What did I do?

“Nothing, you did nothing!

“Then tell me something…..

“Look I have to go ok? I stood up and made for the door in a rush as if pursued by a mad man. He dashed after me in the same manner. I heard him say “can you at least give me your number?

“NO!

“I like you ok? I really like you! He shouted

“I don’t care! I said and disappeared into the night feeling the disapproving eyes of David all over me.

To be continued……………….

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Oluwatosin Fatoyinbo is a Christ-follower..simple.. friendly.. music lover..writer..arsenal fan..Lawyer in equity..curator at http://paarapo.com. He Tweets from @tosinfat