Single and 30 - Episode 9

 

Hey readers! I don't want to kill the suspense just yet.

Bear with me. Ndo.

Author's POV
"Cheers!" The ladies said in unison, hitting their glasses of wine together, all except Stella the expectant mother who was nursing a glass of mango juice.
"So what are we cerebrating, Doyin?" Stella asked sitting down. The other ladies followed cue making themselves comfortable on the love seats in Doyin's residence.
"Our friendship of over ten years", Doyin answered taking a sip of wine.
"That's true", Amani agreed . "More than ten years".
Chika blurted out, "I thought you wanted to say Jeremy proposed".
Stella pouted. "I don't think so. This girl here has been playing hard to get".
"No one is proposing to anyone. We are not even dating, at least not yet", Doyin corrected them.
"Mmm..... Not yet?" Amani asked quoting her friend's last phrase.
Doyin shrugged. "Well..... I may still agree to date him exclusively, but what's the rush?"
Chika's eyebrows furrowed. "Your birthday is now a month and few weeks away", she reminded Doyin.
"I know I am almost thirty", Doyin said picking the remote from the table to reduce the volume of the music being played in the background.
Amani places her drink gently on the table and rubbed her hands, ready to ask questions.
"I thought you wanted to get married before your birthday", Amani asked curiously.
Doyin smiled remembering her frustration when Tega broke up with her. She had felt that an African woman single at thirty is single forever

All episodes of this story can be found here >> https://www.ebonystory.com/story/single-and-30

. She talked, "Many things have changed about me since then. I no longer see a marriage as my everything. I am no longer desperate. I deserve to get married to a man who loves me and won't cheat on me. I also want to take my time to fall in love with the right girl. Marriage is a big deal. I shouldn't get married because I feel time is not on my side. I should because I want to. Besides I don't want to end up with the wrong man all in the name of getting rid of loneliness".
"This is the first time you will be using your brain and not just your heart", Amani said.
"Besides you are too mature to be making mistakes take your time, sister", Stella puts in.
"If I was the one who advised her not to rush into marriage. You guys will start calling me mummy G.O but thank God she has gotten back her senses", Chika added.
"I would just pretend you guys did not just imply that I was senseless", Doyin said pretending to be angry.
"I didn't mean it that way", Chika defended.
Stella cuts in, "You should know they were just pulling your legs. You are smart, beautiful with good character. Any man will be lucky to have you".
"That's true. You have a good heart. What could be a greater asset to a man than this?" Amani asked.
"Now you guys are trying to boost my ego", Doyin said disbelievingly.
"They are saying the truth", Chika chirped in.
Then Amani brilliantly switched subjects "And now that the real iron lady in person of Doyin Inioluwa is falling in love with a particular someone. Can you not just give the guy a chance? Jermey is good for you unlike that fool".
Doyin groaned. Not again. Why is Amani playing the middleman?
While Stella was smiling happy that someone is supporting her brother.

Stella POV

Why is this man keeping me waiting? I mentally asked myself.
"Stella", I heard Chika call my name.
"Hey! Chika", I called back smiling.
We hug ourselves.
"What are you doing here?" I asked her. Why is she here in a hospital?
"They brought my mother back to the hospital this morning. It was an emergency", she replied.
Her mother just recently woke up coma but.....
I frowned. "I thought, she's now okay. She even cooked and joked around with me the day I visited her".

Chika sighed. "I don't understand why. Although, the doctors might have a good explanation", she said before changing the subject. "Why are you here?", she asked.
"I came for antenatal", I explained.
"Iya Ibeji herself. Why did you not call one of us to come with you instead of coming alone".
I smiled. "My husband is actually....." I started.
The man being discussed interrupts me.
"I'm sorry dear. It's just being long since I saw Doctor Kennedy", he apologised.
He notices Chika.
"Chika, longest time", he greets.
"Uche".
Uche hugs her. "How are you? How are your parents?" He bombrades her with questions.
"Well..." She said her voice cracking.
I hit my husband with my elbow. "We would check up on you when we are done. That same ward, right?"
Chika nodded in reply. "I have to go", she added and walked away.
"What was that about?"
"I will fill you in with the details after we see the gynacelogist", I told him.

I really hope Chika's mother will get well soon. The woman is too nice to be going through all of this.

Doyin's POV
After the ladies left, I met up with my therapist.
My therapist has finally declared me good to go. I'm so happy. Fourteen years of therapy is not a joke. Now I feel free from my painful experiences.
I pick up my old diary from those horrible years. Time to face the truth of my past.
I open my diary and stare shocked at the name written on it. I write this? Of course, I did. It's my writing.
I read through the page I opened.
I MET A NEW FRIEND TODAY. HIS NAME IS JEREMIAH DUROSINMI, BUT I WILL CALL HIM MR. J. HE IS VERY NICE AND HANDS.....
I flick it to another page.
DIARY, I WISH I COULD HAVE A LITTLE PUPPY, LIKE SIMBA, MR. J'S PUPPY. DOGS ARE CUTE, PUPPIES ARE CUTER. AH! ME AND MY DRY SENSE OF HUMOUR.

And to another page.
I WISH I COULD TELL MR. J. OF MY SECRETS, OF THE THINGS I AM PASSING THROUGH, BUT I CAN'T FATHER WILL KILL ME.
Another.
DEAR DIARY, I THINK MOTHER SUSPECTS ME. I DON'T WANT HER TO KNOW I HAVE A FRIEND.
ALSO, FATHER HAD ONE OF HIS TANTRUMS TODAY. DESPITE MOTHER'S INTERVENTION, HE INJURED ME WITH HIS WHIP. I THINK IT WILL TAKE TIME FOR THESE INJURIES TO HEAL. I MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO MEET J. FOR THE MEANTIME.
Another page.
DIARY, MY MOTHER FOUND OUT THAT I PLAY WITH MR. J AND SIMBA. SHE DIDN'T TELL FATHER, BUT I WAS LOCKED IN TODAY.
I FEEL LIKE RAPUNZEL.
I read another page.
MR. J. JUMPED OVER THE FENCE TO VISIT ME TODAY. HE MADE MY DAY. HE BROUGHT ME FLOWERS.
Another.
TODAY WAS A BAD DAY.

Read " A Bride For The Dumji Prince " by the same author ( Queen )

. LAW OFFICERS CAME TO RAID OUR HOUSE TODAY. THEY DIDN'T SEARCH THE GARDEN WHERE I KEPT THE GOODS. THE GUILT IS EATING ME UP. WHEN WILL BE FREE FROM THIS SORT OF LIFE?
MR. J. IS ALSO GOING BACK TO ITALY. I DON'T KNOW WHAT I WILL DO WHEN HE LEAVES.

******
I breathe in heavily. This is a shocking revelation. I knew Jeremy? Then slowly like a dam of water unleashed the memories came rushing back to me.

#Finally! What do you think of this episode? It gave me serious work. Still, it was fun writing it.
Happy val in arrears. Lots of love.