TOLANI
Episode 6
“You didn’t come with your YouTube gadgets, Tolani. I need you to get serious with creating content on YouTube. This is why I bought those things for you.” Chimaobi said to me while I prepared breakfast on Friday morning.
“I came for relaxation, for God’s sake, man. Let me be.” I said to him, turning the plantain while it fried.
“I don’t get you. This is the fourth week you have not updated on that channel. I have told you to learn a skill, no, start YouTube channel, wahala. I shouldn’t be pushing you to do what you are supposed to do. You are not a child.” He blurted angrily.
“Don’t talk to me like that. Don’t insult me, Chimaobi. What do you mean by that? So, I have no standing and bearing? I am lazy, abi?” I asked him, dropping the frying spoon loudly in the sink.
“You can interpret it however you like. It’s not my business. I will not say anything to you concerning skill acquisition or your YouTube channel again. I should not keep begging you to help yourself.” He repeated.
I became mad, switched off the gas, leaving the plantain in the frying pan, as I walked out on him.
“Tolani! You are walking out on me? Tolani, I’m talking to you.” He called out, but I ignored him.
I got to his room, opened the wardrobe and picked up my clothe.
“Tolani, I’m talking to you, and you walked out on me?” He said again, coming into the room.
“Is it a bad thing to tell you the truth?” He asked me, while I dressed up.
“Where do you think you are going to?” He asked.
“Tolani?” He said, touching me, but I slapped his hands and hissed.
He became hushed, looking at me.
“If you walk out of that door, Tolani, it’s over between you and me. Don’t call me.” He said.
“Does it look like I care?” I asked him, clapping my hands as I picked my bag and left.
Surprisingly, he didn’t stop me.
Getting to my lodge, I threw my bag on the floor, fell on the bed as I choked with tears. I could feel a lump in my throat as I blinked away the tears.
“I don’t blame him, I blame myself for sleeping in his place.” I cried again, waiting for him to call me.
I never wanted to leave, I thought he was going to stop me as usual or apologize, but he didn’t which got me angrier.
“I will never call him again, to hell with him.” I said, crying the more.
At afternoon and at night, I waited patiently for his calls, glancing at my phone in every minute, but he didn’t call.
“Call him and apologize.” I resonated, typing a text message, but I cleared it, dropping my phone.
“Why should I reach out to him. Why should he talk to me like that?” I thought again.
I went on with these thoughts until I slept off.
Opening my eyes on Saturday’s morning, I had hope to see his calls or texts, but I didn’t, unlike him who would apologize even when he’s not at fault.
“What changed?” I pondered and cried, as I blocked him on all his mobile lines and social media handles.
A few minutes later, I unblocked him again and waited for his calls, but none came in, and I blocked again.
On Sunday morning, I told myself I was not going to cry for him. I dressed up so fine and left for church.
Coming out from the church at about 11:24am, I saw Mr. Ernest, my lecturer, who had been on my neck for a long time.
Mr. Ernest was a handsome guy who has had eyes on me since my first year in school.
“Tolani, how are you?” He said to me as I greeted him.
“I’m fine, sir.”
“Can I offer you a ride? Don’t say no, again, please.” He pleaded, and I didn’t hesitate. Although, I had still wanted Chimaobi back,, but I couldn’t help but to free myself from the hurt.
“ Plenty of men are after me. He shouldn’t feel he’s in disposable.” I said, entering into the car.
Not quite a long time on the ride, as we discussed, Mr. Ernest began his lengthy love speech again.
“Tolani, just give me a chance. Even if you have someone, just try us both first. You can choose who you want to be with. And don’t bother about your result this semester, it is safe.” He begged me.
“I will think about it, sir.” I said, as he drove to my gate.
Before I could know what was happening, he pecked my cheeks and smiled.
I felt like slapping him but couldn’t for him hurting me by failing me in his course.
“ I don’t blame you, I blame myself for entering your car because I want to hurt Chimaobi.” I thought within me and faked a smile.
He brought out a bunch of money and asked me to use it for my transportation fare to school.
I was shocked, dumb.
“No, sir. Please, don’t stress.” I said.
“Please, don’t say no.” He pleaded on and on, until I collected the money from him and got down from the car.
Turning around to get into the gate, I saw Chimaobi, standing in a black senator wear, looking sternly at me.
I got angrier, and walked past him.
“Tolani!” He called, following me, but I kept walking faster.
He trod behind me and held my left arms.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
“Get your hands off me.” Letting myself out of his grip.
“Babe, it hasn’t gotten to this.” He gripped me again.
“If you touch me again, I will shout for my lodge boys to come beat you up. I no get chill.” I fired him, and walked into my room, shutting the door against him.
For almost 20 minutes, Chimaobi continued to knock on my door, but I ignored him.
He got tired and left.
I didn’t want to think about him, so, I called Ruth, and we went out to five-star restaurants to have our lunch.
As usual, I gisted her of all that had happened.
Getting home, my phone continued to ring. It was a new line, but I refused to pick the call.
Monday evening, after lectures, another new mobile line called me again. This time, I decided to pick the call.
“Hello, good evening. It’s Onyi, Chimaobi’s cousin.” Came the voice.
“How can I help you, please.” I said, rudely.
“Please, Tolini” so did she pronounce my name.
“Tolini, stop punishing Chimaobi this way. He has refused to eat food since Friday, you both had a fight. Please, unblock his lines.” She pleaded.
“The last time I checked, you were keeping malice with me. Keep the same energy, girl.”
“Please, girl. Let’s side our differences and talk about my brother, your man. Chimaobi has talked to about you while I was in London. He has no time for ladies. Chimaobi is strong at heart, but I see how he’s so weak and soft when it comes to you. Please don’t take him for granted. You know he loves you. You are the only girl I’ve seen him with. Chimaobi would never let any girl into his house. Please don’t hurt him for loving you this much. He has refused to talk to anyone. Mom, has been calling him,, but he has refused to pick.” She said, melting my heart.
“Are you serious? How is he? I hope he’s fine?” I became alarm, and sorry for letting my grudges linger.
“I will come pick you up with his car now.” She offered.
“No, don’t worry. I will come right away.” I said, and we hung the call.
I immediately picked up my YouTube gadgets which were usually packaged in the bag, picked up my handbag and some few clothes to attend lectures from his house and left to Chimaobi’s house.
Getting to the house, I rang the bell and Onyi came in and opened the door, hugging me tightly, and I could sniff the strawberry scent from her clothe.
“Thank you so much for coming, Tolini, I’m grateful.” She said, taking my YouTube gadgets bag from me.
“You don’t have to be, please. Where is he?”
“In his room”
“Alright…” I said, feeling happy and sad for winning the fight and also making my man sad.
Onyi knocked on his door and called out to him.
“Chimaobi, please, come and eat.”
“Onyi! Let me be.” He shouted.
“Let me call him on the phone.” I offered. She nodded her head and smiled.
I dialed his number and he picked in a second.
“Bae, I’m sorry. I know…” He spoke, apologizing.
“It’s ok, bae. Just come and open the door.”
“What?”
“Yeah. I’m at your door.”
He opened the door and hugged me tightly.
“I’ve missed you so much.” He carried me up with excitement, as I wrapped my legs round him and held his head with my both hands, while he held me before him, kissing my neck.
“Tolini, watch out before he injures you.” Onyi said as we all laughed.
He carried me into the room, shut the door with his right leg and sat me on the desk, looking at me closely.
“I’ve missed you. I’m lost in your love, Tolani. You’ve broken my manliness. I can’t even form not to love you. I am sorry for speaking to you in that manner. It will never happen again.” He begged.
“ I am sorry too, bae. You were actually right. You have my studies and career at heart. Men like you are rare. I’m sorry for walking out on you. That was disrespectful.” I tried saying more, but he placed his hands on my lips and kissed my forehead.
He placed my head on his shoulder, stroking my head.
“I love you so much, Tolani. So much that I don’t want to lose you.” He said, helpless.
“I love you much more, Obi m.”
“Who was the guy I saw you with?” Referring to Mr. Ernest and I laughed.
“Jealousy! That was Mr. Ernest, my lecturer. The one I told you of.”
“Hhhmm! I nearly died when I saw you stepped out of his car.” He said, and I laughed at him again.
“Yeye girl! I almost had a heart attack.” He said, dragging my ears.
“So, what were you doing in his car?” Curious.
“Forget him, he’s no match for you. He just offered me a ride, gave me a hundred thousand.”
“What? You are taking it back to him. What nonsense?” He said.
“No mind, am, he wants to impress me. But I can’t be impressed because Chimaobi has set the standard” I praised, and he smiled.
“ Guess?” He said
“What? Just tell me.”
“We would be going to Abuja this weekend. I want to show you to my parents.”
“Man, chilax! We are not in a haste. And is that how to propose?” I asked, laughing.
“Me na your guy na, you can’t say no to me.” He boasted and began tickling me.
“I can’t wait to marry you. I am not comfortable, touching you and I can’t control myself again. Marrying you now is the best option. So, will you go and see my parents? Please?” He begged.
“On one condition!” I rolled my eyes.
“What?”
“You take me on an adventurous journey tonight. 😉”
“Naughty girl. You have spoiled me. Where do you learn all these things sef?” He said, and I laughed hysterically as he bit my neck and tickled me the more.
Would Chimaobi’s parents accept Tolani?
Would this love journey stay forever?
Is Chimaobi genuine?
©️ Esther Charles (The Storytelling Diva)
