Omoshalewa - Episode 7

 

True to his words, Desmond was at the fellowship, he even arrived before me. He was seated about four or five chairs away from mine and we exchanged glances from time to time during the service.

One thing I noticed and admired about him was the fact that he had a very fine voice. His tenor rang out clearly amidst the crowd as if his voice was amplified by an invisible microphone.

Soon, the service was over and we met outside. He suggested that we go to a nearby eatery to talk but I turned down his offer, I insisted that we should just sit somewhere in the school premises to discuss . We spotted a location where there were just a few students and we settled on a pavement under a tree.

"Shalewa, I know you already have an idea of the reason why I wanted to see you," he began. "Tope already told me that he spoke with you about me some days back, so I will just go straight to the point.

You see, Shalewa, I rarely admire ladies and whenever I did, believe me such girls must be special. From the very first day I set my eyes on you, I knew you were just the one for me. I really love and admire your peaceful nature, and of course your outstanding beauty. Can you give me a chance in your heart? I promise you won't regret it."

I sighed, then answered, "I understand all you have said but what you are requesting for won't be possible

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. I am in a relationship and we love each other a lot. I am sorry. Had it been that I wasn't in any relationship, I would have considered your request."

"Okay Shalewa, I get you but you can still give me a chance to be a friend at least, peradventure along the line, I might be lucky to steal your heart. Please, don't say no."

"Alright, if it's just being friends, I am okay with that."

"Oh! Thanks so much, I so much appreciate your generosity. You see, I don't just see you as a pretty lady with a good character,  you know what and who I see in you? Ask me what?"

"What?" I asked.

"I see in you that person, that beautiful woman that will welcome me back home everyday of my life, the person I will see by my side when I wake up each day, the mother of my cute children, that woman that will grow old with me and yet not age in my eyes..."

"Eee-eeh! It's okay," I said, cutting him short, that's so much for just friendship Mr Desmond, let's leave our discussion the way it is okay? I am not even considering dating you yet not to talk of waking up next to you every morning!"

"It's alright queen. Even if it takes a hundred years, I will wait for you."

"Really? Hundred years my foot! Indeed... Well, I have to go now. I am tired and I also need to go and prepare for tomorrow's classes."

"Alright dear," he replied offering me a handshake. "At least, we can shake hands now that we are friends," he added smiling.

I shook his hands briefly as I waved to a bike man to stop.

"Take care of yourself for me oh, Shalewa." He called after me as I walked towards the bike man while he followed.

"For you? You are so funny. And by the way, I just remembered, you have a very fine voice. I heard you sing a very fine tenor when we were at the fellowship the other time."

"Really? Was that Tenor? I didn't know oh, I just sang. Thanks though... Coming from you, I really appreciate the compliment."

"You are welcome," I replied. 

I climbed the bike and zoomed off. All the way home, I thought about Desmond. Truly, between me and you, I felt so much flattered by his words. There is also something about him that made him somehow unique too, maybe his humorous nature... 

"But Stephen, Hmmmmmm, Stephen is still the only guy that owns my heart no matter what. Very peaceful and cool headed person. I see in him a friend that understands me even more than my mum. He is the only guy that makes my heart leap each time I thought of him. I love him genuinely. Desmond too is handsome and has a good job like Oyinkansola said but the bond was not just there, no chemistry whatsoever unlike the first day I saw Stephen..."

Then I remembered what my friends said about Stephen. What if Stephen has a girlfriend at school? No, he can't, I trust him, he loves me... Or what if after he graduated, he couldn't get a job for years? Well, I will get a job and we both can manage through it. But, I want to be a teacher, can that little stipend teachers receive sustain us both? Of course no! 
And again, what if he goes for his Youth service and meets another lady of higher status and beauty compared to me?"

I got scared at the thought of that. "Oh my God, is wisdom not profitable to direct like my friends said? I think I need to be wise. No man is dependable, only God is. Hmmmmmm, I pray God lead me..."

I got carried away by my thousand thoughts that I nearly by passed the junction of my house. I entered my room and I heard my phone beep. It was a text message from Desmond.

"Thanks so much for the time angel, I really appreciate it." 
- Desmond

I smiled and dropped the phone on the bed. I was about to undress and go into the bathroom for a shower when a call came in, I hissed.

"Men and their wahala, once they have your number like this, they won't allow you to rest."

I checked the phone to confirm the caller, I was expecting to see Desmond but it was a strange number that appeared on the screen.

"Hello Shalewa, it is me."

"Stephen?" I replied. "Are you alright? Why are you sounding like this? I tried your number all day, it was switched off. What happened?"

"Shalewa, listen to me please, I am in so much pain. I only borrowed this phone from a colleague so as to reach you, my battery is down. I have been diagnosed of malaria and typhoid fever. I am presently receiving treatment in a private hospital in town because the medical workers in my school are on strike. The problem now is that I have no dime on me to pay the hospital bills and to buy the prescribed drugs. It was even my friend that paid for the admission fee, that was why they were able to treat me. You are the only one I can call right now..."

"Okay, wait, like how much will you need for the hospital bills or never mind, let me speak with the doctor... You know what? Just drop the call, let me call you back so you won't consume your friend's airtime."

I quickly ended the call and dialed the number again, my heart was thumping so loudly. I have never heard or seen Stephen in this kind of condition before. I felt so much for him.

He picked the call and told me the drugs in total is about #4,800 but the total amount of the hospital bill can't be ascertained yet.

"It's alright," I replied him. "I will transfer some money into your account now. You can buy the drugs and pay the bills. Let me know if it won't be enough. I'm so sorry dear. It is well with you, God will heal you in Jesus name. I will be praying for you okay? I feel your pains, just be strong for me. Have you eaten...?"

We finally ended the call after we talked for about eight minutes. I immediately transferred #15,000  to him out of the #20,000 that remained in my bank account. But somehow, I still felt I needed to travel down to see Stephen. I didn't tell him though because I knew he wouldn't want me to pass through the stress.

His school which was also in another state in the South West was about 4 hours journey from mine. The challenge now is that I have just #6,500 left on me, the #5,000 at the bank plus the #1,500 in my purse which I think may not be sufficient for the trip because there might be a need to get some things for him again when I get there.

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

. I made up my mind to call my mum to send me some money the following day, only that I wouldn't inform her of my travelling.

I remembered Oyinkansola's advice again about giving my money to a guy when he is supposed to be giving me... 

"Could she be right? I just hope I wouldn't do it in vain. God help me," I prayed.

I prepared for the journey I was about to make the following day. I sent a text to Oyinkan informing her about the impromptu journey I was to embark on and who I wanted to visit...

I couldn't sleep well that night. I woke up as early as 4am, did my morning devotion and quickly took my bath and dressed up for the journey. I left home as early as 6:00am, withdrew the remaining cash from the ATM and headed for the motor park. I decided not to inform Stephen, so I planned calling him only when I reach his school.

I got to the motor park on time and I was lucky to be the last passenger expected for the bus to move. I got to the town where Stephen's school was located around past 11:00 am that morning. I was told that the campus wasn't far from the motor garage. 

"Stephen is in for a big surprise!" I thought as I brought out my phone to call him but his number was still switched off. So, I called his colleague's number, the same line he used to speak with me last night. It rang... "Thank God." I sighed with relief.
The guy picked the call,

"Hello, who am I speaking with please?"

"Hello, this is Omoshalewa, Stephen's fiancée..."

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Okay oh! Was Shalewa able to see Stephen? What do you think really happened?

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