UNMARRIED AT THIRTY
EP 18
He grabbed her tighter by the buttocks and kissed her longingly. She moaned softly as they both lost their memories of anything called sanity. That little naughty bird was back but this time, the chirping was melodious like the voice of an African story teller. Toluwani drew him closer, her tongue found its way around his neck, no!! It was his weak point. He let out a crazily soft m**n.
He slowly worked his fingers around Toluwani’s chest, he found a little opening but not big enough to put his hand. With one hand, Toluwani unbuttoned the first button, he placed his hand over her and gently, slowly he fondled her and she cried for more. Toluwani wasn’t ready to stop but Yinka was feeling apprehensive. This is not a gentleman like, he thought to himself.
“Baby, you will be late for work” Yinka said cunningly.
It was the only way he could save the moment. He wished to go down with her but surely shouldn’t be in such a way. It should be in a right situation.
He stopped and Toluwani’s memory was instantly reversed to factory settings. She quickly readjusted her dress and zoomed off as Yinka closed the gate behind her.
The very minute George came down from the car, he practically ran to Toluwani’s office but was disappointed as only empty chairs greeted him.
The road was busy that morning as vehicles of different sizes manuvered their ways through the thick multitude of people. Toluwani always hated driving through this busy road every morning, reason why she always leaves home as early as possible but that morning, she had left a little later because she waited for her parents to leave first. Well, maybe she was delayed at the gate house too.
She slowly like millipede drove through every available corners until she arrived at the office. “Good morning ma, you look great!” Jessica complimented as she took her bags to her office. “Thanks Jessy”. Toluwani arranged her files, each at the appropriate place, she sprayed a little perfumes to air the office. “Jessica, please bring the briefs of the yesterday meeting with the managing director Crane bank” she ordered through the intercom system.
“Bros, if you’re serious then just pay 1m. No need to dey price like say Na tomatoes we dey sell for here” the car seller said getting irritated at the back and forth haggling. Yinka wouldn’t care about his reservation, he knew how hard it was for him to pool the money together. He was ready to haggled until they arrived at a compromised price.
“Sir, i serious, nai make i come here but i can’t pay a million naira. I don’t want to continually paddle back and forth anymore. Make i just give you 800k. That’s the highest i can pay” Yinka said emphasising on his lack of money. “Bro, this car doesn’t have any engine issue. I’m disposing this car with tears in my heart, i have a very urgent family difficulties and this is my only option” the seller said. His voice was shaky, his reluctance at some point was evident that he was being pushed to the wall by life troubles to sell his car. Yinka felt pity for him but who doesn’t passed through Furnace of burning flames once in a while.
Yinka had never grew up to know his father, he died shortly after he was born. It was his mother who singlehandedly brought him up, unfortunately, he lost his mother due to medical complications which exhausted everything within his reservoir causing his dropping out of school. In this life, Yinka had no mother, no father, brother or a sister. He was truly alone except for uncles who maybe were too preoccupied with their own problems to ever remembered the existence of a Yinka. He wasn’t new to sleepless nights, he wasn’t new to shading secret tears neither was he new to the harsh reality of life.
Rosemary dolled herself up, she looked through the mirror and she personally affirmed her beauty. After work, she had decided to pay Yinka a visit, he had told her the area he lives though not the house number. If she could wait at the street, they was a great chance that Yinka would bump into her.
George’s heart was thumbing as he prayed Toluwani doesn’t disappoint him. Gently he knocked and opened Toluwani’s office door. “Oh sir, good morning” Toluwani greeted. George notice a difference demeanour about Toluwani. She was more relaxed and collected unlike before.
“Toluwani, could you please spare me few minutes of your time?”. George kindly requested.
“Sure, I’m all ears”
“Toluwani, you know for over some weeks now that i have been here. It has reaffirmed my understanding of your outstanding personality. Before i came to their branch, i have secretly admired you. Your character, your body, your sense of humour, your collective disposition and your sagacious attitude towards work are all the qualities i wishes in a woman. I have fallen so deep in love with —-“.
“Sir, stop” Toluwani interrupted him, she wasn’t a child anymore, she knew what he was driving at and she knew they was no possibility with her. She loves Yinka, she wouldn’t even want to think about it therefore it was better she saved him the trouble earlier. “Sir, i will say i understand your feelings towards me, it is sincere and I’m aware of it too but sir, a relationship won’t be possible between us two. I appreciate your love and compliments but sir, I’m in a relationship already and i—“. George picked at his nails nervously as she talks. Tears wellled up in his heart and it literally trickled down, he stylishly cleaned it not to be noticed.
“Tolu wait, few days ago you were still single if I’m not mistaken” George was maddened at the truncation of his love even before it saw the light of the day.
“Few days ago, i was single but not anymore”.
“Is it Yinka your security guard?” George asked inquisitively. He hoped she denied it, loosing to a security guard who’s got not half of his flares would really enraged him. Toluwani wasn’t ready to denied Yinka for anything, people may talk or look down on him but she wouldn’t be part of that. If she wasn’t going to be proud of him, why would she even considered him at all.
“Yes, it’s Yinka,. I love him and he felt same too”. Toluwani said unapologetically. George head dropped to the table. He rubbed his palm over his head, his fear came through even when he prayed against it. The fact that their relationship started some days ago mean that George would have had a chance at least for consideration if he had confessed his feelings earlier. His heart hurt, he fought hard to surpressed his anger. “What exactly does women want?” George asked furiously as he left the office.
Toluwani for the love of God did nothing wrong, she heaved a breath and brought out her phone. She opened her gallery and stared at the pictures she had snapped with Yinka at the beach last time. “I choose you over a director, please don’t disappoint me too early or at all” she talked to the picture and placed her lips on the screen kissing him.
TBC
I’m Victor Achegbulu Oinu your local writer.
ยฉOinu 2023
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As long as the new day Comes , don’t ever stop looking forward. Sometimes the pain and loneliness we hide under our sleeves is enormous enough to drown us but we still keep our head above the water surface because we know that troubles aren’t the end of the world.
It’s nothing wrong cry, nothing wrong to fall but it’s all wrong if you don’t get up and try again.