Ex-boyfriend Episode Two
Chima’s heart was clear that he still loves Linda. There is no doubt that he has missed her so much. He was sure of what he felt for her. He was sure she would make a very beautiful wife. He was sure he was ripe for marriage in terms of age. And he was sure his parents also want him to get married. In fact, his parents know Linda and they have often asked him what happened between the two of them and why they had broken up. He had often told them their relationship did not work out without giving them the reason.
Everything about Linda agreed with Chima’s heart and values. She was the woman he wants to be with when he wakes up and when he goes to bed. When he wakes up, he wants to see Linda and he wants to see her before going to sleep. He had endured so much heartbreak after their relationship ended. When Linda visited him with the invitation card, the fire in his heart was ignited and he could not quench it. When they were playing football on the bed, he felt so happy. It felt so good. It felt like it was the first time he was touching her even though they had done it several times before.
Chima’s heart is at peace with Linda and he would like to go ahead and marry her. The only problem was that he did not have money. Although, Linda had offered to sponsor the wedding, Chima understands that wedding is different from marriage. He is thinking of where he would get the money to take care of his family after the wedding. But all these things are not in Linda’s mind. She just wants Chima as her husband. She reasoned that whatever problems they encounter in the marriage, they would be able to handle it together.
“Please marry me. Don’t allow me to marry a man I don’t love. You are the one I truly love. I have been pretending to love Kele, but I don’t feel anything for him. You are the person I love. I just accepted Kele because I was tired of waiting for the right person. I was tired of waiting for other men to approach me. Of all the men who came my way since we broke up, Kele seems to be the better one among them. So, I just accepted him so that I can settle down. I’m no longer too young. You know, women have to count their age carefully. I can’t keep rejecting men, if not, I will enter menopause without getting married. But now, it is clear that we still love each other, please marry me.” Linda pleads with Chima. They were still on Chima’s bed after they finished playing football.
“I would love to marry you any time any day. Believe me, my heart has never forgotten about you. Since the day we broke up, I have been thinking about you. I just thought it was best to let you go because you are too beautiful to wait for a poor man like me. I know you would meet a rich man and end up leaving me. I was just protecting myself from future heartbreak. And now, that fear is still in my heart. I do not have the financial resources to maintain a beautiful woman like you. You deserve to be happy in the arms of another man. You deserve a rich man as husband. Linda, please, go ahead and marry the man you have chosen, I believe it is the best thing for you to do. You will not be happy with me because I’m poor. I’m telling the truth, because love without money brings anger and sadness. It is not love you will eat. Love does not put food on the table. Right now, I don’t even have a job. I’m still a student studying under a scholarship. Please, you have to go and meet your fiancé.” Chima said with tears in his eyes. Linda was crying too. She felt like the person she loves so much was pushing her away.
“Why are you doing this Chima? Why are you pushing me away? When we were dating, did I look at other me? When we were together in school here, did I ever cheat on you? Did I ever ask you to give me money? I was meeting my own needs and I still respected you as the man in my life. I have never disrespected you because you are poor. That is not even an issue for me. I have told you I will take care of our family responsibilities if you marry me. You don’t have to care about anything. You will get your full respect as my husband and I will treat you like a king. If you agree to marry me, I will handle you carefully like an egg. I love you so much Chima, please don’t leave me.” Linda said. Her tears were pouring like tap water. She held Chima’s hand tightly as if she wanted to prevent him from running away.
“I just said I don’t have money. I don’t have a job and I can’t start a family with empty pockets. Even if you carry the responsibilities of our family, I will still need to play my part as the man of the house because it will get to the point where you will be tired. Please, can you wait for me? Wait for me please. Give me three more years to make money. Once I make money, I will get married to you.” Chima said.
“No! I can’t wait for three years. That’s too long. I’m 29 years old. In the next three years, I will be 32. I don’t even want to get to the age of 30 without getting married. I guess I will have to settle down with the man I don’t love. But I will never forgive you for refusing to marry me.” Linda said. She stood up and picked her handbag and started going.
“Linda wait! Please wait. Don’t feel this way. I’m only trying to protect you. I know what I’m doing. A man without money cannot be a successful husband no matter how humble his wife is. A woman cannot pay the bills in the house for one month without insulting her husband no matter how humble she is. Don’t get me wrong. I know you are a good woman, but you are still human. If I get married to you without a job, you will hate me. And I don’t want that.” Chima said.
“So, why not look for a job then? My wedding with Kele is still two months ahead. If you can get a job within this two month, I will call off the wedding and marry you. Since it is a job you want, start applying. Get a job, and come for my hand in marriage. I will dump Kele and marry you without thinking twice.” Linda said as she leaves the room.
Just then, Chima remembered that he has not even applied for any job since he got his first degree. As a masters student who has some free time, he could get a job. He picked up his phone and started applying for jobs online. That night, he sent out 15 job applications.
“At least, one of them will invite me for an interview. If I get the job, I can then marry Linda.” Chima said to himself.
Watch out for episode three
