Strong Emotions - Episode 1

 

          My name is Eniola and my friends call me Enny. I'm a 23yrs old young lady who couldn't stay a minute away from her families and friends maybe it's due to my relationship status or the fact that I know I'm single but doesn't wanna stay single. I'm pretty although I may not be pretty to others but judging by the statistics of what people say about me, it's obvious that I am more than pretty. But if I'm being ask, what went wrong or why I'm still single without a man, I know that it's definitely going to lead to a story. 
     The most challenging moments of my life had always been finding a man who truly loves me, not because of my physical appearance, not because of my intelligence nor wealth but because they love me purely without any selfish reasons . My love life had always been a complicated one, there were times I had been so confused, times I felt so depressed that I sometimes seek comfort from the wrong people. The fact that I was too emotional made it worse, I got easily disturbed emotionally and would sometimes cry myself to sleep.
       My first relationship was with Alfred. I met Alfred through my best friend Lola who claimed Alfred was her brother's friend

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

. Alfred works in Chevron which was one of the largest oil producing company  in Nigeria. George, Lola's brother had been my childhood friend, in fact we were more like families because both families treated themselves as one. We celebrate festivals together, attend parties together and we children of both parties attended the same primary and secondary schools together. Lola and I attended the same varsity but George had his degree and masters at the University of Toronto in Canada.Alfred on the other hand like every other gentlemen at first sight seemed cool and treated me like a queen. He would call me every minutes at the expense of his job to ask what I have eaten, where I was and what I was doing presently. He would sometimes surprise me with gifts, love cards and flowers which I found very romantic. I could remember the day he took me out to a restaurant on Valentine's day. We had fun and I suddenly  felt the urge to hold him tight and never let go. He loved the way I looked in his eyes and begged for a kiss and when he finally agreed to, he would kiss me passionately in a way I have never been kissed before. Alfred was a romantic guy and a good kisser which I wouldn't deny. His handsome face coupled with his accentuated height was one any woman wouldn't resist. 

        Our two years almost perfect relationship got complicated on my birthday. What happened that very day got me into an ebb. On that very day, I got a message from my George and Alfred at the same time. George announced his arrival from Canada to Nigeria as a surprise for my birthday and invited him to join him at Continental suite where my friends and his sister Lola were also waiting for me, I was ecstatic.
     I jumped out of my bed and spruce myself up with a sleeveless, close-fitting black dress and a silver purse and stilettos to go with. I love being natural so my make over doesn't exceed my normal lip gloss, white powder and a mascara to brush my long eye lashes. My mum gasped at my outfit when she saw me stepping down the staircase. She stood at the dinning table with an apron tied to her neck. She held a jug and a mug ready to serve my dad his usual morning coffee. She does that every morning.
  "You look so beautiful love. Happy birthday darling!..." She said and smiled.
   "Thanks mum". I felt flattered by my mum's compliment and I loved it. She loved calling pet names and she had always treated me like a baby and no one needs to ask before they would realise that I'm her only child. She had narrated how she waited for many years to have a baby and when she finally had me, she felt like the happiest mother on earth. I brought out the motherhood part of her and I came as a blessing to her as well.My Dad on the other hand was a passionate man who rarely display his emotions and hid them under the pretence of being strict and harsh. Mum had once said he had always pretended to be like that until the day he cried when she was in the labour room pushing and screaming for the baby to come out.
   "I have ordered Tracy to bring a birthday cake for you dear, but..where are you going in such an hurry? I'm preparing a special dish for your friends". Mum asked surprised because she was expecting my friends to come over and celebrate my birthday with me.
   "Mum..can you believe George is around? He kept it a secret to surprise me for my birthday. He had invited my friends over to continental suite." I said happily. Mum looked at me worriedly,
    "Why will George do such a thing? What kind of a surprise is that? Why can't he bring your friends over here and give you all the surprises here? Darling...you know you are not used to going out..."
   "Mum...I will be alright. Don't worry we are coming home together tonight. I love you mum". I said, while I pecked her cheeks. Mum smiled but I know the smile wasn't a real one, she was definitely going to miss me and I wonder how she will cope when I finally crawled out of the shell of my spinsterhood.
   I got to Ikeja where the continental suite and hotel was located. I walked up to the reception.
      "Good morning ma'am. I'm here to see Mr George who just lodged in here yesterday". I said to a young lady who appeared to be the receptionist. 
   "Good morning ma. Okay let me check ma". She looked at the records and looked up confused.
    "There is no such name here ma. I would advise you call him ma." She said politely.Disappointed and anxious, I dialled his number in a jiffy but I got more furious when I realised he wasn't picking his calls. I wondered what might be going on. Was he playing pranks on me? No he can't do such a thing or what type of surprise was he actually planning? Because I didn't find it funny anymore. 
   "Thank you ma'am". I muttered. I was burning with rage and as I turned round to go, I saw George on his knees with a rose flower and a small ring box. Three men came with a guitar and played "Iyawo Mi" by Timi dakolo. A young lady who carried a love-shaped cake with the symbol "will you marry me" beamed at me with a smile. I stood transfixed. Unable to move nor say a word, I just stared at George as if I saw a ghost.