Omoshalewa - Episode 14

 

It is Stephen! Stephen Martins!! My first love!!!

"Am I dreaming? Stephen is that you?" I whispered like someone too scared about what she's about to discover.

He smiled broadly at me. "Omoshalewa! I can't believe this. How are you?"

I stood up and threw myself at him, he in turn caught me in a warm embrace. He carried me as if I am a toddler!  We nearly forgot that we were in the midst of a crowd . We are creating a scene in the hall already so we quickly sat down. He introduced me to four of his friends that came with him for the programme, three ladies and a guy. We both were so excited to meet each other again. He begged his friends to be excused and then took me out of the hall so we could talk without distracting others. 
 
I am really excited at the moment, Stephen of all people, right here with me? He has really grown into a handsome young man too, and from his dressing, I can bet it that he's living fine. He had on him a dazzling grey suit and trousers that looks rather expensive. His shoes and wristwatch too are breathtaking...

We soon got out of the hall.

"Stephen, you are now a big boy." I shrieked.

"You too Shalewa, see how beautiful you have grown, even more beautiful than I used to know you to be. I have really missed you, Shalewa mi."

"I missed you too Stephen

All episodes of this story can be found here >> https://www.ebonystory.com/story/omoshalewa

. You abandoned and forgot about me when I needed you most," I accused him painfully.

"Hmmmmmm, Shalewa, it's not what you think at all. Forgive me. I should even be the one saying you abandoned me. It's quite a long story, let's go and sit somewhere to talk."

He took me to the parking lot and opened a flashy black Toyota Corolla car. He opened the passenger door for me to sit in the car.

"You own this car Stephen?"

"By God's grace Shalewa."

"Wow! God has indeed blessed you. I am so happy for you."

"You can say that again my dear, I return all the glory to Jesus! I got a job with an Oil company at Port Harcourt where I did my NYSC. I have been there since, I only came to the South West because of this programme. I was invited by one of my friends... How's mum Shalewa? I can't wait to see her again."

Stephen just opened a wound unknowingly...

"Mum has gone to be with the Lord," I replied, tears gathering in my eyes.

"What? Oh my goodness! E yah, I am so sorry Shalewa. It is well. You know what? Let's go to somewhere more conducive so we can have a nice time together," he said as he ignited the engine of his car.

I nodded quietly.

He drove to a nearby fast food restaurant.

All the way, I remembered Oyinkansola's point of view about Stephen being an hustler and may not get a job for a long time after school. Can you imagine? Only God knows tomorrow. Stephen is living large now. "But I don't think he is married yet," I thought, as I observed the fingers on his left hand. "He has no ring, but some married men don't put on their wedding rings all the time." I thought...

I inwardly hoped and prayed that he isn't married yet. Stephen is still the only man that owns my heart. I just hope he feels the same way for me too...

We alighted from the car and entered the restaurant. He asked for what I would like to take.

"You should know, Stephen." I replied giggling.

"Yea, how can I ever forget? Vanilla ice cream of course, Ha! Omoshalewa, you haven't changed at all, have you?"

"Not one bit." I answered, laughing.

After we both settled to a cup of ice cream each, Stephen began to narrate his story.

"Shalewa, I was on my way to your school when I had a fatal car accident. I decided to come visiting you immediately after my exams since you refused to pick my calls. It was a terrible accident, only two of us survived in that car. One of my upper limbs was broken and I spent four months in the hospital. My phone got lost in the accident. When I was finally discharged, and was back to my uncle in Lagos, I checked on you at your place, I was told you have relocated to the East. I tried your line, it wasn't getting through, I didn't know mum's phone number off hand. I checked Aunty Mopelola at her shop, I was told she travelled to Dubai. I tried all my possible best to look for you Shalewa, I even searched for you on Facebook to no avail. When I got back to school, that was during my final year, I told Joel one day that I wanted to try visiting you again at school but he discouraged me. He said what will be will be, and I shouldn't forget the car accident I had all because of you, he even said who knows, you might have moved on with another guy. So, that was how I gave up on my search for you. I surrendered to fate, hoping that one day, we would meet again and here we are."

I was sobbing all the while he was telling his story. To think that Stephen got involved in a car accident just because of me and I wasn't available to share in his pains? So painful. I continued weeping...

"Come on Shalewa, it's okay. All that is in the past now. Let us thank God that we both are alive today. The lady you saw with me at the hospital, Mary. She wasn't my girlfriend. She was only obsessed with me, a one sided crush, I'll call it since I was in 100 level. She always wanted to be around me but I never gave her my attention. But that very day, I was sick and helpless, I needed to be cared for, that was why she came so close."

After a short silence, I responded.

"I am so sorry I concluded wrongly Stephen," I said amidst tears. "My friends gave me a bad advice and poisoned my innocent mind."

I went ahead to explain how Oyinkansola and her friends advised me, how I got into a relationship with Desmond, who was a fake believer, how he deceived and deflowered me. How I came looking for him (Stephen) at his uncle's place and I was told he had relocated..."

"I am so sorry Stephen, please forgive me," I wept bitterly.

Stephen took both of my hands in his and wiped my tears with his handkerchief. He then looked into my eyes and said, "Omoshalewa mi, virgin or not, I still love you. You hold such a special place in my heart. Nothing can diminish you in my eyes. We all make mistakes, we all have our past, no one is a saint, not even me... I just hope you are not engaged yet."

I shook my head. I knew what he was driving at.

"Ha! Thank God," he replied with relief. "Hmmmmmm, there is something I will like you to be aware of though," he sighed.
"You saw that lady in purple shirt when we were in the hall, that was among those who came with me?"

"Yes," I replied.

"That is my fiancée. We met just three months ago, we got engaged a month after we met and now we are planning to get married in the next three months. She just wanted everything so fast."

I opened my eyes in disbelief as he dropped what seemed like a bombshell to me.

"But never mind Shalewa," he continued. "I believe our meeting today is another proof that God is not done with us yet. You are the one I love. I know I was too fast to start a relationship with that lady, she rushed me into fixing a quick wedding. I succumbed to her wishes because my parents too are really on my neck to get married. Meanwhile, deep within me, after I have prayed about her, I felt restrained, I wasn't convinced at all.

Read " The Agony Of Beauty " by the same author ( Moyosore Teniola )

. I just told God to give me more confirmations if truly she is not His will for my life. Now, that I see you Shalewa, I believe it's a confirmation to my prayers. The Bible says "The steps of the righteous are ordered by the Lord..." I am ready to end that relationship. Shalewa, you are all I want in a woman."

I bowed my head in dismay. "Stephen," I finally spoke up, "though, I still love you a lot, no one has ever taken your place in my life since we parted but then, I am also a woman, I know how it feels when one is in love already with a man, please don't break that lady's heart because of me. Forget about me, assume we never met, go ahead and marry her, God will give you both a blissful home and provide me a good husband too. You have engaged her already, don't break her heart."

"No Shalewa, engagement is not marriage. Please Shalewa, you have sacrificed a lot for me, I can never forget the role you played in my life. I believe our meeting today is not just a sheer coincidence, I believe it's divine. Please don't say no to me my Angel." He looked at me pleadingly...

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Hmmmmmm! Our Stephen is now a big man unlike the thoughts of Oyinkansola and friends. Ladies, stop judging that man by what you see today, you are not his God...

So, is Stephen right about wanting to end his relationship because of his first love? What should Shalewa do? What will you do if you were in her shoes?

Comments please!