*TOLANI*
© Esther Charles
EPISODE 35
When Chimaobi had left the investigation room, the investigator continued with his questions.
“How did he get to meet you?” The investigator asked.
“He didn’t reach out to me, I did. I stalked Chimaobi and found out about Drake. I reached out to him, introduced myself and made him offers. He rejected my offers to him, nonetheless, he volunteered to give me updates. I only, in return, swore never to reveal his identity, no matter what happens,” Linda explained, crying.
“Why didn’t you reach for your victim’s acquaintances but Chimaobi’s?”
“Because reaching out to Tolani’s acquaintances would have made me a scruffy gamer and an unintelligent hunter who sets traps that makes the hunter the prey. “How do you mean, the investigator asked?” If I had gone for her acquaintances, I would have easily been caught a long time ago. I have been in this game for too long to know that the victim’s friends will be the key suspects. Also, Tolani’s friend, Ruth, was so much into Ruth. She loves her to a fault and will not compromise her stance for anything.”
“You met her?” I asked.
“No, I wanted to. I trailed her to a bridal store to offer her a deal, but getting there, she was picking some wedding gifts and I overheard her telling the cashier she wants to surprise her bosom friend who would be getting married soon. With my experiences in fishing people, I knew using Ruth would simply mean pulling a trigger against my foot; hence, I decided against approaching her and went for Drake, who I noticed was nursing a grudge against his friend. Fortunately for me, he accepted. Although he was reluctant from the beginning, but became willing when I assured him on oath that his identity will be kept sacrosanct and never divulged for any reason.
“Jesus Christ! Ruth honey, I cried.” I felt so evil as I stood in disbelieve, looking at the both of them.
“This is not a reason for you to lose your empathy and become callous, Drake. Chimaobi is your friend. You know, it is actually funny and disturbing how you both say you love me but have made life miserable and unbearable for me. It’s like killing someone you know you will be actively involved in the person’s funeral processions. Drake, How could your love be this bitter? I would not even have agreed to go out with you were Chimaobi not to be in the frame because I never felt anything for you, not even as tiny as a mustard seed. God will not let me be with a devil in human skin like you. How could you stoop so low to work with your rival? Linda wanted me, but you were blinded by your delusions, and allowed your malevolent and malignant heart, to align with an unrepentant and perverse infidel to undo me, a poor girl who has nothing but likeness for her man’s best friend. Does it mean if you can’t have me, no one can? The both of you will surely rot in jail and trust me, I am going to send my wedding photos to you two, just to always remind you that no man is God over his fellow.” “The evil that men do will surely live with them,” I said as I walked away to where Chimaobi was, troubled.
“Please, take me to Ruth’s lodge, ” I said to Chimaobi as we drove to Ruth’s lodge.
Getting to her lodge, we walked to her doorstep and overheard conversations from the room.
“Did I not tell you to leave that witch, but you ignored me?” He said to her as she screamed.
“Please, Tochi, I’m in pains already.”
“Are you shouting at me?” He slapped her and Chimaobi hit the door open and ran in to her rescue.
“Don’t lay your hands on her, you idiot,” Chimaobi dragged Tochi away from Ruth as Ruth stood up immediately and fired at Chimaobi.
“Are you mad? What business do you have here?” I can’t remember inviting you.
“Ruth honey, I’m sorry, it was all assumptions which have proved fatal and costly. We thought you were Linda’s informant,” I attempted to hug her, but she pushed me away.
“You have no idea what friendship is. You are too selfish for my liking again. All these years, it’s been me trying to reach out to you. Me, trying to be friends with you. If I don’t reach out to you, you won’t. Look at this ungrateful fool I went all out for accusing me of betrayal. You are the betrayer,” Ruth said amidst tears as I begged her more.
“You all should get out of my house, Tochi inclusive.”
“Me?” Tochi asked.
“Yes, you first! I am tired and fed up with living for others. Yeah, I’ve been in this relationship with you for years, and it’s been tears and beatings. After receiving insults from you, I’d still reach out to you to apologize. I have been a lady who throws herself at others for validation. I am done with all that.”
“Ruth please…” We tried to beg.
“Get out of my house!” She screamed with mucus coming out of her nose as Chimaobi held her fist, dragged her to himself, placed her head on his chest and hugged her to calm her.
“You are selfless. Please, calm down.” He whispered as I kukuma joined them for the hug too. 🌝lol…
“Protect your man at all cost”.🧐😜 (Aside)
I laid my head on Chimaobi’s chest too, embraced Ruth with one hand and with the other hand, I was wiping her tears.
“I’m sorry, baby girl,” I said to her as she nodded.
Tochi hissed and walked away as we sat down and narrated everything to her.
“I’d never have betrayed you. I see you like my very own. Look…” She stood up and got some items.
“I have been buying different gifts at diverse times, saving it up to gift you. You both were just making assumptions that you began to read meaning to everything I did because you were already suspecting me. Going to Tessy’s hostel was just a plan B in case Chimaobi didn’t meet. Yes, I envied your relationship with Chimaobi but not the evil envy. I tell you how lucky you are to have him and wish I could find someone like that. This was just me wishing myself a good thing. My mind has been pure towards you. The only moment I kicked against your relationship with Chimaobi and advised you to protect your nude was when he slapped you. I know what I have been through this domestic violence with Tochi. I was just trying to protect you because I have been trapped. I couldn’t come out of the toxic relationship. I didn’t want…” She tried to continue talking, but Chimaobi asked her to take a deep breath.
That was how we reached out to Ruth.
Afterwards, we reached out to my parents and Chimaobi’s parents.
We had to travel to Abuja to see his parents who had been eager to see us, I specifically.
“My child” Chimaobi’s mom reached to me and embraced me.
“ I do not even want to imagine the stress and anxiety generated by these challenges. I don’t.” She held my cheeks and kissed my forehead, almost teary.
“I promised you both a gift when you come around. I have paid for a month session with a therapist and relationship counselor. You both need this before saying I do,” His father said.
As planned, we stayed out from sexual activities and attended the courses.
“We haven’t been intimate ever since I slapped you. I don’t want to until we are through with this course.” Chimaobi said, looking into my eyes.
“My body is yearning for you since then, but I think it will be best we wait until wedding night,” I smiled and winked.
“Jeez! Means we stayed off s*x for about 6 months?” He shouted.
“Oh! Yeah… And the wedding night would be maad hot. Stew everywhere 😉” I winked again.
“You can never stop being naughty, come here,” He tried to kiss me, but I ran away.
“We are keeping to the wedding night,” I laughed.
Everything was going in place. After the relationship course, I felt at peace the more with Chimaobi.
We had built connection within and without ourselves. We learned how to control our emotions. Not like we didn’t have clashes, but we managed our differences better.
When we felt we were ready, we fixed our wedding date and another the invitation cards were printed in tandem with the new date.
“Omo mi, I am fully aware and happy to give you out to this Igbo boy,” My dad said when Chimaobi took me to Ogun few weeks to our wedding…
To be continued!
