✡️CHOICES✡️
©️ Tunde Oni
Chapter 2
Okay so I was beginning to think maybe I did not love Uche so much after all. All I gave him was about 30 minutes tears and that was it. Tola and Chinonso started to reminisce about all the hot guys we met at the club last night and Uche’s treachery lay forgotten.
As expected, he came knocking at about 5pm that evening and thanks to Chinonso, I didn’t even have to face the stress of dealing with him. She gave him the talk of his life right at the door and asked him never to come back.
The next day happened to be a sudden. I didn’t feel like going to church but Tola just wouldn’t take no for an answer.
We finally walked into church at about 10 a.m, while the praise and worship was going on. As soon as I sat down and dropped my purse on the sit, I saw him.
He was sitting beside me. I was pretty sure he felt it just as much as I did. The attraction was instant. He had the most gorgeous face I had ever seen. I quickly composed myself and averted my eyes after ogling him for over a minute when I heard the Pastor say,
”somebody shout Halleluyah”
I tried my best not to look to my right after then, I kept my attention on the stage and on Tola who was sitting to my left. I passed her a note I secretly scribbled,
“I just experienced love at first sight sitting to my right, Oh my God!” I saw her pass the note to Chinonso who turned and winked at me.
I was so jumpy through the service and listening to the Pastor’s sermon was a strain. It did not help that he was sitting so close to me. I caught his eyes on me so many times and the smile he gave me each time was melting my heart.
I had to remind myself I do not even know the guy and I just broke up with Uche the day before. I really did not need a guy right now. My rising heartbeat was definitely telling me otherwise.
I somehow managed to finished the service without embarrassing myself and I quickly picked up my purse to escape when I felt him tap my shoulder. I took a deep breath and turned to face him,
”Hi”, I needed to keep this short so I don’t give myself away.
”Hi, my name is Josiah, my friends call me Josy. What’s your name please?”
”I am Oluwateniola, my friends call me Teni”.
”Okay Teni, can I see you again? I would really love to know you better”.
”Please don’t say no. Just give me your number. I promise not to be a pest”
”Okay here’s my card” I said while handing him my card. ” My friends are waiting by the car so I really have to go”.
******
I went to sleep that night and yours truly, I just had to dream of that gorgeous face in my sleep. By the end of work the next day, Josy had still not called. He is probably not as into me as I am. I walked out of the office at about 5:30 p.m and went to my car only to find him leaning sexily by the side of my car.
”Hello gorgeous”
I was so shocked, I left my mouth hanging open. It took a few minutes for me to compose myself.
“What are you doing here? How did you know where I work?”
”You gave me your business card remember and it has your office details on it. The security guard showed me your car and told me when you were coming out”
”Wow! quite impressive, I did not expect to see you so soon”, I said truthfully.
”I did not expect it either. I hardly know you but I just feel so drawn to you and I have felt like that since yesterday. Anyway, let me take you to dinner”.
”Okay, I’ll drive behind you”.
We got to a cozy chinese restaurant somewhere in Wuse 2 and talking to Josy was so easy. We talked about everything and nothing in particular.
“Teni, I really like you and I am definitely attracted to you. Can I get to know you better?”
I knew I felt the same way exactly and there was no reason trying to be modest about it but before I could reply, he said,
”Wait before you decide, you need to understand something”
I raised my eyebrows at that.
“I am married” he said.
”What?” I shot up from my seat immediately like I had been burned. ”Is this a joke? Are you mad? You are married? You have a wife?”
”Yes being married means I have a wife”
”So what the heck are you doing taking me out to dinner?” I did not even bother to sit down again. I already picked my bag, thankful that I came in my own car.
”Teni, please don’t go yet. I am in over my head. I have never done this before. I am not a habitual cheat but I have never felt so drawn to anyone at first glance in my life like I felt with you. I know you feel it too”.
I was so angry at the rubbish he was spitting out. ”Look here Mr Josiah, I don’t care if you cheat on a daily basis or monthly basis. Whatever stupid thing we could have felt evaporated the moment you mentioned the ‘M’ word. I do not date other people’s husbands. I cannot be your mistress. Tear up my card and do not ever call me again”.
I stormed out of the restaurant and it wasn’t until I had my car finally on the road before my anger began to dissipate. I cannot believe I wasted 24 hours crushing over a freaking married man.
*****
At times I wonder if my beauty is a blessing or a curse. Attracting both the good, bad and the ugly. I wondered what was it about me that just drew men in. I just cannot get over the fact that I had almost entered one chance with a married man.
I decided to stop over and get them some pizza and chicken to appease them.
“Hello, how may I help you?” The cheery voice of the woman working at the counter kind of pissed me off because of my mood and I just visibly glared at her.
“I want one large spicy pepperoni pizza and 3 pieces of peppered chicken.” I murmured quietly, avoiding the gaze of the extremely good looking guy standing beside me.
The pizza place was quite full but I still found an empty table towards the back since I still had to wait for the pizza to be freshly made.
I looked up when I felt somebody sit at my table and I was already angry when I recognized the guy from the counter.
“Is it okay if I sit here with you?” He asked with a genuine smile on his face and I scowled at him,
“You’ve already sat down so why bother to ask?”
“I am so sorry, I didn’t mean to offend you. I will just move to another table.” He said politely and I immediately felt guilty.
“No, it is okay. Sorry I snapped at you. I am just in a really bad mood”.
”No it’s okay. It happens to even the best of us doesn’t it? Do you want to talk about it? My sisters always say I am a good listener”
He sounded so genuine that I decided to give him the full gist. I was quite surprised at myself because I am usually closed up to people I don’t know.
He actually laughed at me when I told him about how I was making a full of myself on Sunday and when I rolled my eyes at him he stopped laughing.
By the time I finished the whole story to the point where I walked out of the restaurant and stopped over to buy pizza, he actually bust out laughing and people around actually turned to stare at us.
“Now that you have had a good laugh, can you see why I was angry?”
“Yes, I get it but I guess the guy was just captivated by your extraordinary beauty.” He said and started laughing again.
They brought our orders at that moment and I just got up. “I am happy I could be your amusement for the day. Good night Mr.” I walked away.
I wasn’t surprised that he caught up with me just as I was getting into the car. “Can I at least know the name of the beauty that makes even married men weak?”
I raised my brows at that.”Seriously, you ask for a girl’s name by mocking her?”
He just shrugged,”It works at times. My name is David by the way, David Oke.”
“My name is Oluwateniola Williams, my friends call me Teni. Thanks for listening though. It was nice having company while waiting for Pizza.”
“So are you going to give me your number so I can at least check up on you and make sure your broken heart is healed?”
“Thanks for caring David, I do not have a broken heart,” I said as I got into my car and drove off waving to him and smiling.
I was definitely not giving out my number so soon after being fooled once.
When I got home, the girls also had a filled day laughing at my predicament. I was just about to go to my room after dinner when the doorbell rang.
That got Tola and I curious and my jaw literally dropped when she walked back in with David smiling behind her.
“Seriously, are you stalking me? What the heck are you doing here? How do you know my house? Is this a joke?” I bombarded him with all those questions at once.
“Which of those questions do you want me to answer Teni?” He asked with an annoying smirk on his face.
I was still a little bit pissed and wary so I fired him straight, “answer all of them now.” I snapped.
”Okay, I was not stalking you. I was just driving home after you drove off and I noticed we were driving in the same direction. Coincidentally, you stopped here which made me realize you live just a few houses away from me. I live at No 30. I went home and decided to come back and be sure you feel better now and to introduce myself to my neighbor and no, this is not a joke. Does that answer all your questions? I am really sorry I scared you”.
I was quite dumbfounded but Chinonso and Tola quickly ushered him to sit down.
“Okay as you can see, I am fine. Thanks for checking, you can leave now”.
Chinonso was the one to reply me, if you want to go to bed then please do, we will gladly keep him company. I sighed and sat down finally.
I kept silent and listened intently while the girls grilled him about his life. I had felt quite free with him in the restaurant and I didn’t quite understand why I was feeling quite scared now.
About an hour later, he finally left the house after succeeding in getting my number from the girls since I refused to give it to him the second time.
I thought of David the whole night. Should I give him a chance? What if he’s just like the rest?
Tbc…
