Meant To Be - Episode 9

 

     By the time Ayo hit the shower, she felt like she was going to drop dead from exhaustion. From Dimeji's office, they had gone straight to the tutorial. Talked with the manager for a short while then Kore had driven them down to Delight, Itunu's new school. As soon as they had stepped into the school's compound, they had all been impressed then they finally met with Tayo, Dimeji's brother. He gave them a form and the list of books and price and the school fee list . Kore immediately did a transfer to the school's account settling Itunu's fees and Ayo filled the form for her son then Tayo directed them to a wholesaler book store close to the school and Kore bought all the textbooks, workbooks but the notebooks were already paid for in the school. 

From there they drove down to the market to get the foodstuffs and then Kore bought a new school bag and shoes amidst Ayo's protests. Then he suggested they buy take out which she vehemently refused and decided she was going to make the soup she had intended to cook and then she boiled rice and beans to go with it. On their way home, Kore showed her the mini market in their estate where she could easily get anything, she wants concerning food.

Now, she was on her bed, she said a quick prayer before sleep eluded her. 

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     A week after Ayo started going to the tutorial, she went into the main house one evening to ask Kore who had just come back from work, what he would like to eat. She went through the back door into the sitting room only to see Kore hugging a lady

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. He saw her and slowly detached himself from the lady before Ayo regained herself from shock and said, 

"Oh My God! I am so sorry. Excuse me."

"No wait. Meet Fiona. Fiona, meet Ayodunmomi."

Ayo smiled, "It's a pleasure meeting you."

"Same here." Fiona said giving her a small smile. 

"Mummy, mummy." Itunu ran in from the kitchen. 

"Itunu, how many times have I told you not to run in the house?" Ayo asked Itunu in a raised voice. 

"Sorry mummy." Itunu apologized looking down and Kore said, 

"This is her son. Itunu."

"How are you my dear?" Fiona asked. 

"I am fine ma. Thank you." Itunu asked, 

"Please excuse me." Ayo said, scooping Itunu up and she left.

Fiona turned her gaze to Kore who stared back at her, she cocked her head to a side and asked, 

"Mind explaining?"

Kore explained, collapsing on one of the seaters, "That's Ayo and her son, I'm sponsoring their education and she's occupying the BQ."

Fiona asked folding her arms as she stared at him, "Kore, you've replaced me even before I've left, right?"

"Wait, is this the first time you are meeting a lady I am helping?"

"No but this one has a child. Who knows if she is looking for someone to father her son."

"Fiona, Ayo is not like that and even if she is, you should know when I am not interested in a woman, I am not, nothing can change my mind except I decide to. And moreover, what are you doing here? I thought we had an agreement?"

"Korede nao."

"Don't even start that."

"I can't cope. Is it easy to just close my eyes and let go? When it's not like I didn't have an iota of feelings before?"

"Fiona, do you think it's easy for me too? We just have to do what we have to do."

Fiona went to sit by him placing her head on his shoulder before saying, "But I miss you."

"I miss you too." Kore said quietly before pulling Fiona in for a hug. 

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     Ayo decided the girl was probably Kore's girlfriend and she stayed put in her apartment and cooked noodles for herself and her son before going to share this latest news with her friend. Sade didn't want to believe he has a girlfriend but Ayo ended the whole thing by typing that it was none of their business. 

One evening, about two weeks after, Ayo was cooking in the main house, Kore had texted her that his friends were coming over and he had politely pleaded with her to cook more than normal. She went to the mini market in their estate to get a bunch of plantain and vegetables then she went home. 

She was halfway through with her cooking when voices flooded the sitting room, one of them said, 

"It's been a while."

Another voice said, "Like seriously but where is this aroma coming from? Tade, are you also in this realm I am in?"

"Guy, no be only you. Kore, you didn't tell us you and Fiona are back together." The former voice questioned. 

Fiona? Who is Fiona? Ayo thought as she tried to scan her brain because the name sounded familiar.

"Yes, why didn't you tell us?" The second voice asked. 

Ayo finally realized it was the lady from the other day. 

"You guys are not serious. I am not back with her. Ayo should be the one in the kitchen." Kore said. 

"Ayo? You didn't tell me you snagged yourself another woman." The second voice said. 

"Guy, I did not. Ayo is..." Kore was saying when Ayo decided to put a stop to the guys' guesswork. 

"Good evening." She said wiping her hands against a napkin as she came out of the kitchen. She could feel the guys checking her out as Kore introduced, 

"Guys, meet Ayodunmomi Bankole. Ayo, these are my friends, Tade Baker and Tosin Adekola."

"Nice to meet you." She said smiling and Tosin replied first, 

"The pleasure is all mine."

"Tade!" Kore exclaimed. 

"What! I was visualizing some things. This is a model. This is what you call a model." Tade said, walking around Ayo who was amused by his weird behavior. 

"Tade, will you stop making A.Y uncomfortable?" Kore asked, pinching the bridge of his nose. 

"I am so sorry.

Read " Saved by Love " by the same author ( Olufunlola Adeola )

. This lady has potentials, imagine what I can make her face look like when my make-up artist is done with her." Tade said, his arms akimbo. 

"Nah, No, mmhmm, don't even go there. She is preparing for an exam. She is in my care and I won't allow it. Once she is settled, then she can make her choice but for now, media and photography stay far away." Kore informed.

Tade grumbled, "You are no fun." 

Tosin said, "Opportunist." 

Tade asked, glaring at him, "Did you say something?"

"No, did I?" Tosin asked keeping a neutral face. 

"You guys are so crazy." Kore said before turning to Ayo, 

"A.Y, how was the tutorial today?"

"Fine, we touched some major subject today." Ayo answered.

"She even has a nice voice, why isn't she on your radio work team?" Tade asked, 

Kore asked, exasperated, "Didn't you just hear me say she won't be able to do any extracurricular activities?"

"Oh!" Tade exclaimed. 

"Mum, Uncle Kore!" Itunu squealed, walking past his mother to hug Kore who lifted him up in his arms, 

"Hey big boy, how was school today?" Kore asked as Tosin and Tade exchanged glances. 

"Fine. We learnt some hard words today." Itunu replied. 

"Oh! That's cool. Did you get them well?" Kore asked. 

"Yes. Who are these people?" Itunu asked, pointing to Tade and Tosin.

"This is Uncle Tade and Uncle Tosin. Say hello."

"Hello sir." Itunu said as he looked away shyly and they both asked how he was, to which he replied, 

"I am very well. Thank you, sir."

"This is Ayo's son. He is a to-be six-year-old." Kore informed his friends who shared another look that totally said, 'How can someone so young and hot have a son?"

"Right." Itunu said nodding his head. He didn't want to be called a five-year old anymore. 

"Food is ready." Ayo's voice rang out from the kitchen and the boys didn't need a second call before making their way to the dining room where they all got to know each other more over the steaming hot meal of boiled plantain and vegetables garnished with all sorts of meat and fish.