Omoshalewa - Episode 15

I looked at his pleading eyes. My heart was so heavy that very moment.

"God, why?" I probed in my thoughts. "Just when I thought I had recovered the relationship I lost a long time ago, this other issue is now coming up? Why didn't I meet Stephen before that lady met him? God, if truly you wanted us to be together, why did you allow him to start his wedding preparations before I met him again, God why?" I lamented in my thoughts.

We both were quiet for some minutes. Each of us lost in our thoughts. After a while, I summoned courage. I stood up and told him,

"Please, let us move on with our separate lives Stephen. I believe if God had wanted us to end up together, he would have allowed us to meet before now. I don't want to be the reason for another woman's sorrow. If I had even known you were planning your wedding already, I wouldn't have allowed such closeness between us today, while your fiancée is around. I am so sorry Stephen, let's just accept our fate. Having said that, I picked up my bag with a tear filled eyes and left a saddened Stephen at the restaurant.

I headed straight to the conference hall. I made sure I didn't return to the same spot where I had met Stephen and his friends earlier. I needed to avoid their company through this programme

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

. I sat on a chair at the other end of the hall. I looked in the direction of Stephen's fiancée, she was talking with the other lady that sat with her, smiling every now and then, they were probably analysing the testimony a brother was sharing on the podium at the moment. I on the other hand wasn't listening to the brother, I wasn't even hearing anything. I was lost in my thoughts. My eyes were on Stephen's fiancée almost every passing minute. "What a lucky lady!" I thought.
Then, she stood up and walked out of the hall with her cell phone, probably to call Stephen to inquire about his whereabouts. Judging from her looks, I concluded she must be in her early thirties, same age range with Stephen.

My mind was no longer in that hall. I had travelled miles into the past in my thoughts. I remembered how I had loved Stephen since my teenage years. All the sacrifices I made for our love. How I never allowed any other man in my heart up till that moment. 
"Ha, what a waste! Another woman who never knew when Stephen was suffering will soon take my place, and reap the fruits of my labour. I allowed my friends to mislead me." 

Given the kind of person I am, I can never allow myself to be the reason why a fellow woman would cry. I would rather take the tough decision of letting go. I believe God will provide a husband even better than Stephen for me.

I made up my mind to leave the venue of the programme since I wasn't taking in anything being said there. I also knew I would never cope with the presence of Stephen and his company around me. He may want to hang around me and I wouldn't want to cause trouble between him and his fiancée. I left the hall and checked into my room where I wept my eyes sore till night. I later slept off without taking dinner, I had lost my appetite. Very early the following morning, I took my bath, packed my luggage and went home. That was how the much anticipated singles' conference turned into a nightmare for me. 

I prayed to God for mercy. He was the only one I could turn to for comfort at that moment. I wished my mum was alive to share the burden with me. Aunty Mope too had travelled abroad. I stayed indoor all through the day being a Saturday...

I went to church on Sunday with a heavy heart. I toyed with the idea of discussing the issue with my pastor but I later dismissed the thought. I went back home after service, still with the burden on my heart. I felt so lonely at home. I had no one to share my burden with. I thought over the issue again and again. I really wanted to be sure that I made a right decision by letting go. I pondered on the issue endlessly till I slept off on the sofa in my living room. 

It was a loud knock on my door that woke me up around 6:30pm. The person had probably being knocking for some time. I stood up immediately to get the door, wondering who it could be because I had no appointment with anyone that Sunday evening.

I was astonished when I threw the door open and came face to face with Stephen. Yes, I remembered I gave him a brief, not detailed description of my place while we were gisting at the restaurant on Friday but how he later got to know the exact house I stayed is what I couldn't explain. 
I opened my mouth wide in surprise, though I was also happy at the opportunity of seeing him again before he leaves Lagos.

"Hello, Shally." He said quietly.

I could see the pain in his eyes. He must have been so hurt when he discovered my sudden disappearance from the programme.

"Can I come in please?" He asked

"Oh! Sure. I am sorry. I was only surprised at seeing you here because I know I only gave you a skeletal description of the area I live.
How were you able to locate my house?" I asked.

"Well, Shalewa. I was really disturbed when I couldn't see you at the venue of the conference. And because we didn't get to exchange our phone contact, I decided to find you out by all means before I return to Port Harcourt. I kept on asking after you from the people around until one woman on the third street from here whom I believe God used for me led me here. She said if the Shalewa I was looking for is a teacher, then she's very sure that this is your place. Seems her child attends the school where you work."

"I see," I replied tiredly. "I am sorry I left without notice. I just had to. I couldn't cope with staying at that programme any longer..."

To my utmost surprise, Stephen went on his two knees and said, "Shalewa, look at me, look into my very eyes and tell me the truth. Do you still love me?"

I couldn't look down at his face, tears were streaming down my cheeks already. 
"Of course, I still love you Stephen. You are the only man I ever loved, you still own my heart..." I confessed.

"Then marry me Shalewa, please."

"I wish I can but..."

"But what?" He interrupted. I have told you I will quit that relationship. Love is all we need to fight it out. We both still love each other, and that is all that matters."

I noticed the tears gathering in his eyes.

I sank to the floor beside him and started crying too.

"Shalewa, take a good look at me, he continued. "I am a successful man today. I have all it takes to live a comfortable life. All that I need in my life right now is a woman that will complete me, not just a wife. I still strongly believe that God is not done with us yet. Omoshalewa mi, my dearest friend, my first love.

Read " The Puzzle " by the same author ( Moyosore Teniola )

. Please marry me, grow old with me, be the mother of my children..." He cried bitterly.

I have never seen Stephen this way before. We both cried for a long time, then stopped. He later comforted me and assured me that all will be well. We both forgot about the time, I was enjoying his company. I served him rice for dinner and we talked till late in the night. At around 11:30pm, it was clear to both of us that he couldn't leave that night.

Somehow, we both let down our guards. The flesh took over us. One step led to another, we were overwhelmed by our emotions and we had inter course that very night.

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Hi guys! Happy New Week. I am so sorry about the delay in the episode. Please forgive me.

Hmmmmmm, so Stephen and Shalewa had done it.

"He that thinketh he stands, let him take heed lest he falls... "

Waiting to read your lovely comments.

I sight you all