Saved by Love - Episode 19

 

     True to her words, by Wednesday, the accommodation issue was history. The teenagers and youths of Akinlolu's church were delighted because the program is an international program, a week of learning about the word, praying the future into good places, games, making new friends and other wonderful and fun filled activities. 

At the program and even later on, Akinlolu got to know more about Tara. He got to know that really father pastors a Church at Manhattan, New York and she is the last born and second girl in her family . She schooled in Nigeria and America for her high school and Bachelor’s degree respectively then she travelled to United Kingdom for her Masters and Doctorate. 26 years of age, runs a couple of variety store and lectures at the Premiere University, Ibadan for a living.

Tara also got to know him, his work, his family. They called each other from time to time and they just seemed to click. Just like that. 

.......... 

     One fateful day, after about two months that Tara and Akinlolu met, Akinlolu got a message from Tara saying, 

'Can you get me ice cream and rice from a restaurant on your way back from work? I feel so weak, I can't even stand. I am home.'

He was immediately alarmed, 'What could be wrong with this lady?' he asked himself as he tidied up his office and went to take permission from Mr

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. Cole to fall out and he agreed. Then he left. 

He stopped at the market to get some stuff he was going to cook for her. If she was not feeling well then she needed to eat homemade food. He also stopped at her favorite restaurant and bought two large ice cream tube, her favorite. Then he drove down to her place.

He rang the bell about three times before she answered, she looked pathetic, her eyes were red rimmed and she was wearing her pajamas. He went in, locking the door behind him and hugged her then asked after dropping the bags with him in the kitchen, 

“Tara, what happened?”

“I have been having these multiple headaches and I just feel weak all over. I called my doctor friend, Rebecca, she came over and did some checks then she prescribed drugs for me to use.”

“Sorry dear, come on, let's pray. I just need you to have faith, okay love?”

He sometimes called her love as an endearment. 

“Okay, I believe, let's pray.” Akinlolu prayed with her and then went to the kitchen to cook her favorite, Jollof Rice with fried chicken after rolling up his sleeves. He instructed her to lie down and he scooped some of the ice cream he bought into a bowl with a plastic spoon and served her. Then he continued his cooking. 

An hour and some minutes later, food was ready. He served them and went to give her food. Then they settled down on the rug and started eating. 

“Akinlolu, why did you go through all this stress? You could have just bought food from a restaurant and how come you are here this early?”

“I can see you are feeling very better with all your questions. I just felt you need a home cooked meal and I was worried about you being all alone and I know you can't do without me, hence, my early arrival.”

“You flatter yourself too much. Proud man!”

“Let me flatter myself, no one will, if I don't.” He said and they talked about everything and anything as they ate. 

They finished their meal and while Akinlolu went to do the dishes and Tara went to take her bath. 

She came back to the living room to see Akinlolu stretched out on her sofa, sleeping so peacefully. She was in love with him. Madly! As her friend, Rebecca had pointed out. He probably was not going to ask her out anytime soon and Rebecca had told her to ask him but she knew it wasn't accepted both religion wise and culturally in Nigeria. Rebecca was deep in her American ways and so it was not a big deal to her. She bent down to remove his socks, rubbed his feet with affection, sat by the sofa on the rug and went through her phone.

Sometimes in the evening, Akinlolu woke up to see Tara sitting by the sofa on the rug, working on her laptop. He sat up as she turned towards him and he said yawning, 

“I can't believe I slept off.”

“You must have been very tired.”

“I guess I was. What are you working on?”

“My next Friday lectures.”

“Lecturer! Hmm, somebody is hungry. Can I have some rice?”

“What kind of question is that? Were you not the one that cooked it? Of course, you can, let me help you get it...”

“Just keep working, I will serve myself.” He said standing up and he went to the kitchen and came back with the food. He sat by her side and commenced eating as she worked more. Then some minutes after, she closed the system and placed it on the sofa.

Read " Meant To Be " by the same author ( Olufunlola Adeola )

. She turned to Akinlolu to find him staring at her, she asked amused, 

“What?”

He asked as he placed his bowl of rice on the table, “Can I kiss you?”

She asked, not believing her ears, “What?”

“Sorry, I am sorry. I just...” He apologized but was cut off by Tara's lips on his. One minute he was asking that ridiculous questions, the next, she was sitting in his laps, and they were kissing like they were being timed. 

Then they came up for breath. 

Akinlolu asked, “Does this mean you wanted that kiss as much as I did?”

Tara replied, bringing her eyes to meet his, “Even if I did, I don't have the right to ask for it.”

“And why is that?” He asked, looking into her eyes.

“We are not dating; I don't have any hold on you and vice versa.”

“Do you want to have a hold on me?”

“Do you want me to have a hold on you?”

“Tara! Okay, I want you to have a hold on me. I want you to care about me, to get jealous when I interact too much with another woman, I want you to love me because I do.”

“You do?”

“Yes. I love you. I care about you. I like to spend my time with you. You mean a lot to me. I want to be that guy you are dating. The one you talk to before sleeping at night and the one you dream about.”

“Akinlolu, I love you too. I will be the girl you are dating.” She replied and hugged him. 

And that was the beginning of immense happiness for the two of them.