Ex-boyfriend Episode Three
Linda continued her preparation to marry Kele even though she also knew the wedding might not hold. She was holding on to Kele because she does not want to lose on both ends if Chima fails to find a job and come for her hand in marriage. It was a strategic game.
“If Chima fails to come, I will get married to Kele and remain unhappy for the rest of my life. I can’t just dump him without being sure that Chima would come for me. I have to secure one person.” Linda said in her heart as she woke up the next morning after she visited Chima and played football with him.
“But that football we played was nice though. I so much love how Chima dribbles with the ball in my football field. He is so skilled in the game, unlike Kele who gets tired after running for a few minutes. Chima understands me and how my body reacts and he is such a skillful striker like Lionel Messi. I hope he will score a goal and get me pregnant. If he does, he will have no other option than to marry me. Everything in me wants Chima. I keep wondering how I was able to stay alive for the past one year without him in my life. Immediately I saw him the other day, it was like the old firewood in my body was set on fire. I so much love the fact that I visited him. At least, we played football. I will find time and visit him again.” Linda said. She was standing before the mirror and preparing to go to work.
“I don’t know why he will not allow me to handle the financial responsibilities of the marriage for him. I work with a big oil company and I’m well paid. He is feeling proud. Men and pride. He wants to be the one to be paying the bills, but it is obvious he can’t afford it, yet he is rejecting my help. I can even give him money to pay my own bride price if he wants. Well, if he is able to find and a job, fine, I will dump Kele without looking back. I don’t love him. I only accepted him because I was afraid of staying single forever.” Linda said. She stepped out of the house and entered her car. She drove gently as he continued to think about Chima.
“My heart cannot just forget about him. He is everywhere in my mind. Let me branch to UNILAG hostel and see him. I will just see him briefly before going to work. I still have like one hour before the resumption of work today.” Linda said to herself as she turned the steering of the car and headed to Chima’s hostel.
When Linda arrived at the UNILAG hostel, she saw that Chima was getting ready to leave the house. He was standing before a small broken mirror in the room and combing his hair.
“Ah! Linda! You are here this morning? Are you not going to work?” Chima shouted.
“I’m going to work, but I couldn’t just go without seeing you. I feel like I could stop breathing if I don’t see you in a day.” Linda said.
“Please come in.” Chima said. When Linda came in, Chima hugged her passionately.
“I feel the same way about you. I’m just trying to be strong and to apply self-control.” Chima said.
“My dear, no need for self-control. Come let us go to bed and play football. It will be a quick one.” Linda said as she dragged Chima to the small students’ mattress in the room. They enjoyed themselves again. After the football match, Linda did not feel like going to work again. She sent an email to her manager, telling him she was sick. She was telling lies. She felt like spending more time with Chima. Her manager accepted the lie and even gave her one week leave.
“We will have to use this leave wisely. I have seven days to spend with you and I want to help you apply for good jobs. Have you applied for any jobs?” Linda asked Chima. They were still on the bed, and Linda was using the bedclothes to cover herself.
“I applied for a lot of them yesterday. I got an invitation to attend an interview this morning. I was just about to go before you walked in. The time has already passed. If I go now, they will not interview me.” Chima said.
“What kind of job is that?” Linda asked.
“It’s a teaching job. I applied to be a mathematics teacher in a secondary school where I saw a vacancy online.” Chima said.
“God forbid! My husband cannot be a teacher. How much are they going to be paying you?” Linda asked with a mocking smile.
“They said the salary is N45,000. At least, it is good for a start.” Chima said.
“No way! You are not accepting such a job. You are too intelligent to be paid N45,000. Remember, you were the overall best-graduating student in our set back then. I can’t allow you to accept such a ridiculous amount. Just wait for me. Let me go to my car and bring my laptop.” Linda dashed out of the hostel room and went to her can. Soon, she returned with a laptop. She started helping Chima to identify companies that paid very good salaries. They found one job in an oil company and they applied for it.
“If this company accepts you, you can as well abandon your masters degree. Because the salary is so high. Do you know how much my company pays me?” Linda asked.
“How much?” Chima asked with a smile.
“I earn in dollars. But when I convert it to naira, its N2.5 million monthly.” Linda said.
“Wow! If earn such amount, na to marry you straight!” Chima said with a loud laughter. Linda laughed too as she savoured the prospects of being Chima’s wife.
“Let us wait for them to see if they will invite you for interview.” Linda said happily.
“When will visit my house? Please, can we go to my house now?” Linda asked.
“Of course, we are on holidays. I’m not doing anything. Let’s go and spend your leave together.” Chima said. Soon, they were driving to Linda’s house. When they got there, they saw Kele’s car parked outside the gate.
“Oh God! My fiancé is here. He is in my house. I don’t want him to see us.” Linda said to Chima.
Watch out for episode 4
