EPISODE 5.
🍒 (UNPREDICTED LOVE) 🍒
(C) Judytex_Stories
From Annabelle’s point of view.
That evening while we were drinking at the bar, I had so many thoughts and unanswered questions running through my head.
I kept wondering if Deji genuinely loved me back then in school.
“Was he with me then only because of the financial support I was giving him? Was I wrong to have kept the pregnancy? If I hadn’t had a son for him, would he have seen or treated me differently when we met again? What did his new girlfriend do for him that I didn’t?”
As all of these rhetorical questions ran through my head, I suddenly heard Raymond’s voice snapping me back to reality.
“Your turn,” he said, snapping his fingers in my direction.
“Huh?” I asked looking confused and lost.
Then my eyes wandered to my wristwatch and when I saw what time it was, I knew immediately that I had to hurry home because I have a son who might still be awake waiting for me.
Now, this is the difference between a single woman and a single mother. A single mother builds and plans her entire life and time around her child.
Then I begged Raymond and the rest of my colleagues to please let me introduce myself at our next meeting. With the promise that I would buy each of them a drink. And so they agreed. Then, without hesitation, I stormed out of the bar and quickly hailed a cab to take me home.
In the cab, I was busy thinking about what would become of me now that no one wants me because I’m a single mom.
At that very moment, I heard the taxi driver throwing insulting and abusing words at women.
“Women eh…..tueh!” He began shaking his head in disgust.
“Wetin women do you?” I asked, trying to distract myself from thinking.
“Women na devil dem be,” the driver continued.
This time, my curiosity was so high that I was so eager to get the whole story out of his mouth.
As if reading my mind, he continued:
“You fit imagine say, Woman wey I suffer train for school finish, don leave me follow another man go abroad?” He asked.
“You don’t mean it” I said in disbelief.
“My sister, you see this world ehn… na only God fit judge women. The one wey pain me pass be say, she run leave her two-year-old Pikin for me. Women no just get shame for body I swear. She say I no be her class again. While this na girl wey been dey hawk for streets when I meet her. It’s well sha. The man wey she leave me and her pikin follow na my neighbor brother wey come for visitation self” he said with disgust and anger in his voice.
“Ehn?” I asked amidst shock.
“You don see am na. Person no just fit satisfy una wey be women at all” He said.
He went on to narrate all the sacrifices he made for his said lover who went after another man abandoning him and their two-year-old daughter.
When I heard his story, I felt sorry for him. But then it dawned on me that greed, ingratitude, and selfishness weren’t gender-based.
Thanks to the cab driver, I finally got to understand that Deji didn’t do what he did merely because he was a man. As there were women who do worse things than what he had done.
I then understood that he would have done the same if he was born a woman. Because that’s who he really is on the inside. Therefore, anyone can be selfish, inconsiderate, and ungrateful just like Deji. Because it all boils down to that person’s personality and convictions. Irrespective of their gender.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
From the Writer’s point of view.
When the taxi driver finally dropped Annabelle off in front of her house, she began looking for her handbag which was nowhere to be found.
“What’s going on?” she asked, trying to remember where she last dropped her purse, but in the end, she still couldn’t think of a place.
“Madam do settle me make I dey go,” The cab driver impatiently shouted.
“I’m sorry. I can’t find my handbag. And It’s quite confusing because I am sure I took it with me when I got into your cab,” Annabelle said.
“If na joke abeg stop am madam. Pay me my money make I dey go. You don dey waste my time for here o” The cab driver scolded.
Being left with no other choice, Annabelle dialed Keturah’s number and recounted her ordeal to her. And a few moments later, Keturah came out through the gate with the cab fare, which she handed to the cab driver.
“Madam you know say you suppose pay me extra for wasted time abi?” The cab driver asked, starting his car engine.
“How could misplace your handbag on your first day at work?” Keturah asked.
“I don’t know Keturah. I’m just as confused as anything right now” Annabelle said still trying to recall where she had dropped her bag.
Just then, her phone rang.
“Who is this?” she asked, staring curiously at her phone.
“How will you know if you don’t answer the call? Anyway, I’m going inside,” Keturah said and walked away.
Then out of curiosity, Annabelle took the call.
“Hello…” she said, paying attention to the voice.
“Hi. Annabelle. This is Raymond,” Raymond said.
“Raymond?” she asked, racking her brain.
“Raymond, your colleague at work,” he said.
“Oh, Raymond. Hey, what’s up? How did you get my number?” Annabelle asked in surprise.
“It’s a long story. By the way, I’m calling because you left your bag at the bar where we were drinking earlier,” he said.
“Thank goodness! Do you know I have been busy trying to recall where I dropped that bag? I thought I would never get to see it again. Thank you, Raymond,” Annabelle said with elation in her heart.
“It’s fine. Maybe your mind was probably busy with something else that you didn’t know where and when you misplaced your bag. So if you don’t mind, I can come over to your place and give you the bag before I go home,” Raymond said.
“Wouldn’t that be inconvenient for you? I mean, it can wait until tomorrow, you know?” Annabelle said.
“Not at all, dear. I’ll just hand it over and go home,” Raymond said.
“Okay, if that’s okay with you then I don’t mind,” Annabelle said.
“Okay, just forward me your home address,” Raymond said.
A few moments later.
Annabelle, who was in her room, received a call from Raymond.
“I’m already here,” he said as soon as she answered the call.
“Okay, I’m coming,” she said.
And without hesitation, Annabelle found her way out. She walked out the gate and saw Raymond standing by his white car.
“I’m so sorry for the stress I put you through,” she said, walking towards him.
“Nah. It’s not stressful for me at all. I enjoyed taking this opportunity to look around the city. Here’s your bag,” he said, handing the bag to Annabelle, who quickly collected it from him with a beaming smile.
“Thank you, Raymond,” she appreciated.
“Do well to check that your things are intact,” he said.
“No need. Since it’s coming from you,” Annabelle said.
“Really?” Raymond asked with a smile.
“Yes. By the way, why don’t you come in and have a drink before you go?” Annabelle asked.
“That won’t be necessary. Maybe another time. Because I have an appointment that I have to make up at home,” Raymond said.
At that moment, Annabelle’s son ran out of the gate and hugged Annabelle.
“Hey darling, why are you still awake? I thought you were asleep already?” Annabelle said, carrying him in her arms.
“Mommy, who is he?” her son asked, staring curiously at Raymond, who was still trying to understand what was going on when the little boy asked.
“Is he my daddy?” He asked.
Hearing this, Annabelle’s mood suddenly changed as she felt a sharp cut in her heart. She was still trying to answer her son when Raymond, noticing the difficulty in her eyes, suddenly changed the subject.
He walked up to Annabelle and gently pulled her son’s cheek.
“Shouldn’t you be sleeping now?” he asked, smiling at the little boy.
“Who are you? Are you my daddy?” The little boy asked Raymond, who quickly stared at Annabelle. Annabelle seeing his stare, quickly looked away in shame and lack of words.
“I’m your mom’s friend. But you’re free to call me daddy, okay?” Raymond replied, rubbing his hair.
Hearing this, Annabelle gave him a quick, shocked look. But he just ignored her gaze and continued to smile at her son.
“So tell me what’s your name?” Raymond asked.
“My name is Ebunoluwa, but my friends call me Jasper,” Ebun replied.
“Wow. You’re such a bright kid. And your name suits you so well. You know what? Now that we’re friends, how about I call you Jasper too? Don’t you like it?” Raymond asked.
“I like it,” Ebun said, with excitement in his eyes.
“Good boy,” Raymond said, pulling his cheeks.
“So, daddy, when are you coming to my school to play with me? My friends always have their daddy playing with them during school games. But my daddy never came to play with me. And mom always goes to work. Can you please come to my school and play with me?” Ebun asked holding Raymond’s hand.
This made Raymond so emotional that he just nodded in response. Meanwhile, Annabelle, unable to take it anymore, quickly dropped Ebun and instructed him to go inside immediately. And he hastily did as he was told.
As he ran in through the gate, Annabelle turned around, trying so hard to hold back her tears.
“Your son really speaks like an adult. How old is he?” Raymond asked.
“He’s five,” Annabelle managed to reply.
“Wow. And he’s so smart and outspoken? I have to say you did a really good job raising him. But pardon me for asking. What happened to his father? I know it’s not in my place to know, but…” Raymond was still talking when Annabelle interrupted.
“……He doesn’t want to have anything to do with my son. So he’s long dead to me,” she interrupted.
“Wow. That’s…pretty touchy. But what sane man wouldn’t want anything to do with such a bright kid? Honestly, seeing him now makes me want a son who is as smart as he is. I mean, it’s hard to tell that he is just a five-year-old boy from the things he says. And you don’t look like a mother either. I’m really surprised to find out you have a five-year-old son while you look so young.” Raymond said.
Upon hearing this, Annabelle simply scoffed and said:
“That’s because I had him when I was very young. At the age of 21,” Annabelle replied.
“Then you must have had a really hard time raising him all by yourself,” Raymond said in a calm tone.
“Yes. But I’m glad it’s worth all the pain and struggle. I mean, you just witnessed that yourself,” Annabelle said and they both burst out laughing.
A few moments later, Raymond left while Annabelle returned to the room, only to meet Keturah, who was staring at her curiously and suspiciously.
“So? What’s going on?” she asked, crossing her arms while her eyes locked on Annabelle, who shrugged and replied,
“Nothing.”
“Since when did you start having night visitors? Is there something you won’t tell me?” Keturah asked, walking around her.
“Keturah, he’s just a colleague at work who happened to see my handbag and decided to bring it over to my house,” Annabelle said.
“Really? I don’t think that is all. Because I can smell something fishy” Keturah said demonstratively.
“You’re obviously ill. Please I’m going to bed. And don’t forget to turn off the lights on your way inside,” Annabelle said as she hurriedly walked away.
“I don’t know why I have a feeling that something extraordinary is about to pop up again,” Keturah said, sitting cross-legged on the sofa.
“Look, Annabelle. You better introduce me to this guy so he can be properly screened and verified. Because I won’t let you hang out with any guy. Who knows if he’s Deji’s boss in the game?” she called out to Annabelle, who quickly covered herself with her blanket so as not to hear Kerurah’s voice.
“She’s crazy,” she said.
(In Mr. Tobi’s house)
Raymond walked into the living room and met the angry look of Roseline’s father, who had been waiting all night for his return.
“Hey, hey, hey, easy on the frightening look, okay?” Raymond said, trying to calm his anger.
“If you weren’t my nephew, I would have pounced on you this instant,” Mr. Tobi said demonstrating with his hands.
“Now that was pretty scary. And I’m sure you don’t want me to lose my appetite from fear,” Raymond said, clutching his chest.
A few moments later they were all seated and eating in the dining room when Mr. Tobi asked:
“Tell me, Raymond, what about the sudden interest in one of my employees? What prompted you to ask for one of their phone numbers?” he asked curiously.
“Oh, that? Well, I took my new colleagues out for drinks and unfortunately one of them happened to forget her handbag at the bar. So I had to look for her phone number and then return her bag to her in good condition,” Raymond replied.
“Wait a minute. Why do I feel this goes way beyond your attempt to be a good Samaritan?” Roseline asked, staring at Raymond curiously.
“I had already suspected that,” Mr. Tobi supported.
“Come on, it was just a harmless gesture. Nothing out of the box. You all need to get your hearts cleansed at this rate because it smacks of negativity and naughtiness,” Raymond said, pointing his fork at them.
“So, if I may ask, who is this lady that put you through such stress?” Roseline asked.
“It’s Annabelle. My colleague in marketing unit,” Raymond replied.
Hearing this, Deji, who had been eating in silence the whole time, almost choked on the water he was drinking.
