Love Finds A Way To The Heart - Episode 6

 

Ejiro glanced stealthily towards Ada’s direction and spoke quickly to Gbemisola.

 ‘How about lunch tomorrow? Madison’s. Two o’clock.’

‘I know the place.’

‘So?’

‘I’ll be there then,’

‘Okay. See you then.’ Ejiro moved away before Ada returned.

‘Hey,’ said Ada.

‘Hey.’ Gbemisola smiled.

‘Who was that handsome guy I spotted you with a moment ago?’

‘Oh . So you saw him?’

‘Were you trying to hide him?’‘Not really. He’s a friend of mine.’

‘Don’t mind me. I don’t mean to be nosy.’

‘Mm.’

‘I wish your father had been here to watch you perform.’

‘Me too. But you know he is on night shift.’

‘Yeah. I hope you’re staying till the end of the show.’

‘I wish I could, but It’s already ten p.m. I really don’t fancy staying out late.’

‘I understand. So you want to take your leave now?’

‘Uh-huh.’

‘Okay.’ Ada gave Gbemisola’s hand a squeeze. ‘Good night.’

‘Good night.’

Gbemisola turned and walked towards the door.’

                    ***

    Ejiro checked his wrist watch for the umpteenth time

All episodes of this story can be found here >> https://www.ebonystory.com/story/love-finds-a-way-to-the-heart-1

. He’d been at the restaurant for over an hour, yet Gbemisola had not showed up. When he’d arrived at first, a waiter had approached him where he was seated right now, and was, like, ‘May I take your order, sir?’ 

    Ejiro had replied the waiter in the negative, adding that he was waiting for his date to arrive before ordering anything. He’d been there ever since the waiter left. Still, there was no sign of Gbemisola. He’d tried calling her several times but couldn’t get through. Looking at his watch once again, he said to himself, with a sigh, ‘I’ve been stood up!’ He was about to rise from the table when he saw a maitre d’ seating a buxom woman in a corner of the restaurant. The woman had short-cropped hair, glittering clip-on earrings, and a fancy wrist watch. She was dressed in a tasteful cream skirt and black sequined blouse. Ejiro suddenly realized who she was, and a little nervousness ran through him. Edidiong Iniabasi, his ex! He turned his glance away, trying to make sure she didn’t catch his eye or see him at all. When he finally got up, he lowered his head and casually scrolled through his phone, thinking this stance would serve as a good cover to dodge her. He had almost got to the door when he heard her call his full name, her voice stopping him in his tracks.

    He turned, and their eyes met. She beckoned him to come and join her. When he reached her table, she greeted him with a sweet smile, and motioned for him to seat in front of her, which he did.

    ‘You were trying to avoid me, even run away, weren’t you?’

    ‘Not really.’

    ‘I see. Well, our meeting each other by chance in this place today is fortuitous, I must say.’

    ‘I don’t think so.’

    ‘Why not?’

    ‘You and I are through. I made that clear to you the last time we were together. I mean, we are never getting back together.’

    Edidiong laughed. Who’s talking about getting back together, sweetie? But then again, don’t you realize it’s been ages since we’ve seen each other?’

    ‘Mm.’

    ‘Have a meal and a drink with me. My treat.’

    ‘Okay.’

    Edidiong stopped a hovering waiter and asked for the menu. When the menu was presented, she asked Ejiro what he would like to take.

    ‘Whatever you order for yourself,’ said Ejiro.

    ‘Okay.’

    Edidiong expressly told the waiter what to bring them. The waiter took their order and left. He returned shortly with everything Edidiong had requested. 

    They drank two bottles of wine between them, to the accompaniment of the meal.

    ‘That number of yours I had has not been in use for a while,’ said Edidiong.

    ‘True.’

    ‘I came to your place three days after we had that fight. I came so we could make up, so I could apologize. But your neighbour told me you had moved out of the house and no longer lived there. It was to no avail all the times I tried calling you. I even went to your store, but I never met you each time I came. Didn’t you get the note I left with your head sales girl?’

‘I did.’

‘You should at least have found a way to reach out to me. It was obvious you changed apartments and your mobile number because of me anyway.’

    ‘It wasn’t because of you.’

    ‘That’s hard to believe. You blocked me on Facebook, WhatsApp, Imo and Instagram. That was too much, Ejiroghene.’

    ‘I was carrying a lot of emotional baggage as a result of the things I went through in the course of our relationship then, and I just didn’t want to keep any memory of you.’

    ‘You make it sound like I am a devil.’

    Ejiro shrugged.

    ‘We did have beautiful moments together, and you know it.’ Edidiong dropped her cutlery in her plate, reached across the table, held his hand and looked him full in the face. ‘I missed your voice and what it did to me each time you spoke inside my ears. I missed the touch of your hands and the shivers your hands caused to my body. I missed how you made love to me and sent me to that place where orgasms upon orgasms reign supreme. I really wish those times would come back, but I won’t impose.’

    Ejiro sighed. ‘I get your point, Edidiong. Can we go on eating, please?’ He looked from her face to his hand which she had clasped in hers.

    ‘Oh. Okay.’ She let go of his hand.

    They engaged each other in small talk in the course of eating and drinking.

    Moments later, Gbemisola walked in. Looking for Ejiro, her eyes swept round the place until she saw him where he was seated with the woman she didn’t know. 

    Ejiro and Edidiong were laughing and having a good time in a world of their own. Unbeknownst to Ejiro, Gbemisola stood staring.

    Part of Gbemisola wanted to walk up to the table occupied by Ejiro and the woman. On second thoughts, she remained where she was. Then, letting out a heavy sigh, she turned and left the restaurant.