~TOLANI~
Episode 11
Linda left immediately and Chimaobi didn’t notice when she brushed my bre3ast.
“Are you okay?” He asked, holding my palms as he squeezed it.
“You seem nervous.” He looked at me, then touched my hair, smoothing it.
“I’m fine, just shocke3d to see her.” I said to him.
“She’s such a nice person to have reached out to you.”
“Yeah, she is.”
“We could have her around during our wedding, you know. You know you do not keep friends, aside Ruth, none.” He smiled as we got into the car.
“I do not really want her around.”
“Why?”
“Nothing, just don’t want high school Buhaha around me.”
“Alright, if you say so.” He said and began driving.
On Sunday morning, before we left, Chimaobi’s parents called us as early as possible.
I and Chimaobi were seated on the chair, holding unto each other’s hands.
“Your marriage will be blessed. God will bless you both. Do your best to support each other. Chimaobi, Tolani is a very young and a beautiful lady, I want you to treat her with care. I treated your mum thus; hence, she’s still glowing at this age. If you want peace, just love her.” His father admonished.
“Tolani, he’s your husband, respect him, make the house comfortable for him to come home. You two would make great couples.
To the both of you, I want you to be as plain as possible. Be very transparent with each other. You don’t have to hide both the tiniest and biggest of things.” His father spoke, and I felt the words directly to me.
It was like he knew about the situation I was into.
After the lengthy admonition from both parents, his mom gifted me a gold jewelry.
“Have this, my child, I had always wanted a girl child to share women vanities with. I have one now.” She said, and everyone laughed.
I could see the genuineness in her voice and her eyes. She wasn’t faking it at all.
I couldn’t help but to hug her tightly.
“Thank you so much, mom. I love you.”
“I love you too.” She said and we left.
By afternoon, we were in Chimaobi’s house in Awka.
We had gone to a restaurant to eat before returning.
I refused to go back to my house throughout the next week.
“I will go back a week, close to examination.” I said to him.
The week before exams, I left to my place. We wrote the 3rd year second semester examination and I returned to Chimaobi’s house, I decided to stay back for 4 days before going to Ogun state, where my parents live.
Reaching to Ogun state, I had my parents around.
Before traveling, I had intended to speak to my parents about Chimaobi before he came.
Although, I hadn’t intentions of telling them of his tribe. But I couldn’t tell them about him. The joy in the house was so great, that I wasn’t ready to spoil the fun.
Linda, on the other hand, had been calling me, but I ignored her calls.
Fast-forward to the end of my vacation in Ogun, Chimaobi told me he was coming to Ogun to see my parents. We made all plans ready.
I decided to talk to Segun, my oldest brother, about it first. Segun had a very soft spot for me. All my brothers did, but his was extra. He could go any length to have me happy.
“Yahya Segun, I want to confide in you.” I said to him while he was in his room, listening to music.
“Come here,” he dragg3ed me to his laps and held me.
“What is bothering you? Talk to me. Kilode?” He asked again, and I hived a sigh of relief.
“I am in love with an Igbo guy. We are so into each other. He has shown me to his parents, and they are so into me, too.”
“Ah! TOLANI! Is that what you were sent to school to do?”
“Yayha Segun, it’s not what you think. I am still the good girl, you know. He is serious with me.” I said and he sighed.
“What do you want now?”
“ I want to have your support first. I know you supporting me will go a long way in convincing mom and dad.”
“Ah! Tolani, you know how dad is all about you. That man I know will never let you marry at this age, talk more to Omo Igbo. You are still in school, for God’s sake.”
“Is it not better to settle now with my soulmate?”
“Can I see the boy?” He asked, and I stood up from his laps, got my phone and showed him Chimaobi’s pictures.
“Na fine boy o. Naughty little girl. How did you meet this one? You are not a good girl. Come Tolani, have you had s3ex before?” He asked, and I stood up immediately.
“Yahya Segun, what type of question is that na?” I asked, laughing.
“Tolani, come here. Have you ever kissed before?”
“Stop nah, I didn’t come to your room for this but for support.” I laughed again.
He held my ears and hugged me while standing.
“Please, I don’t want anything to happen to you. I am not stopping you from doing what you want, but please be extremely careful. You are like our only egg. I will only support you if I speak with the guy. What’s his name?”
“Chimaobi.”
“Okay, give me his contact. I need to speak with him.”
I gave him Chimaobi’s contact, and the both of them spoke. I was so surprised on how they connected with each other, and I was extremely excited about it.
In a short time, Chimaobi came to Ogun state and lodged in a hotel.
.
I had told my parents I had a visitor I would love them to meet.
Preparations were made, but I refused to disclose his tribe and what he was coming for.
“Why do you want us to meet a young man without telling us the purpose.” They said to me.
“Dad, you will get to know soonest.” I told them.
Chimaobi arrived in my parent’s house in Ogun state, Nigeria.
Mom and Dad had refused lunch, and chose to have lunch with Chimaobi.
A lunch my mom and I had painstaakingly prepared. Right as we were settling in to eat, my dad turned to Chimaobi and started grilling him with question after question:
“Who are you young, and why are you here? Your friend has refused to tell us your aim” dad said, scooping rice from his plates.
“I’m Chimaobi Obiora. I am a real estate manager, and also a businessman. I…”
“What type of business do you do? You know, you young men literary do all sort of things and tag it business. So, be specific.” My dad interrupted him.
In case you care to know where I got my outspokenness badmouth3edness and fierceness, I got it from my Dad. My mom barely talked. She was a woman of few words.
“What’s your five-year plan?” Dad asked and Chimaobi answered.
“What’s your 10-year plan?” Dad asked again, and Chimaobi answered.
“If I met your best friend, how would he describe you in five words?” Dad asked and Chimaobi answered.
This went on like forever, and poor Chimaobi was a deep shade of crîmson when it was over. We ended up finishing the lunch in total silence. It was mortifying.
After lunch, we came to the sitting room and dad continued from where he stopped.
“How can we help you?” My Dad said arrogaàntly, picking his teeth.
I felt so bad, and I wanted to intervene, but Chimaobi showed he was man enough, he didn’t waste time.
“I want to marry your daughter.” Chimaobi said, so boldly that I couldn’t help but feel impressed.
He took my dad unawares.
Dad looked at him and asked him the same question.
“I want to marry your daughter, Tolani. This is why I’m here. I came to seek your consent and approval.”
“Ah! Igboya! Omo Obinrim mi Kan soso fe Omo Igbo. Shey Ogbadun? Odami loju pe, olanla ni. Iyawo ni, le jade sita kuro ninu ilemi.” My Dad said, dràagging his beards as he left the sitting room.
To be continued…
