Akwaugo – Episode 58

PART 58

 

I don’t know what happened while I was in but when I came out, both men were by the side of the car drinking and chatting away like long lost friends. Samuel was indeed sociable.

 

We went back to the house and I was dropped off while the guys went out together. Auntie Nneoma asked after Samuel and I told her he left from Amanze. I stayed with them all day and not even a buzz from Samuel. It was about 5 pm he sent me a message explaining that they had been in a series of meetings and he couldn’t use his phone. He asked if I was ok to which I replied I was. He asked me if he could buy me suya on their way back. I love suya. I told him he could but he had to buy for everyone in the house. He said he knew that but would get mine specially for me.

 

They came back home with drinks and suya. We all ate together as a family. I couldn’t even eat any more food. Samuel said they ate before coming back home. It was left with Chiamaka, the children and auntie Nneoma. The suya was ok for all of them. I sat with my wrap and ate while I watched them jest. Amanze told

 

 

stories about their outing. He cracked jokes too. Samuel concurred with his story even though I suspect it might have been false.

 

Amanze took his wife and children upstairs while we were still watching television. Auntie Nneoma had retired to bed before then. I could see Amanze was giving us space to spend time together. I smiled at what he was doing. Samuel and I talked about my experience at the collection centre. He listened to me share my experience and only asked questions after I had finished. I showed him the date I was given to come back to collect the visa. It was about two months away.

 

“I am praying our immigration documents will come out before then”

 

“How will they come out? You are building castles in the air”

 

“Let us go sightseeing together tomorrow. I was told there are many beautiful sights here. I love adventure. I know you do too. You served here, so you can take us around”

 

“How do we go?”

 

“We will hire a car for the day. We haven’t had much fun since we met. I mean we haven’t gone out since we met”

 

“I thought you had friends here; why not hang out with them instead. I do not like going out. I like my space. What you regard as fun to me is stress. Soon you will talk about going to the club. I do not enjoy such’

 

“No club. I could see a few friends if you permit me but I just want us to explore together”

 

“Why? I don’t like going out. It is stressful to dress up and makeup”

 

“Do it for me tomorrow. Please. We hardly have time to do anything except sit in your house or mine on Sundays. What else do we do? We are in a different town so we can take advantage of it and have some fun”

 

 

I laughed and pushed it aside. Later, we retired for the night. I went into auntie Nneoma’s bedroom to find her awake.

 

“Nne, I had a dream.”

 

“What was it about?” I asked her.

 

“We have to pray. I am hoping it doesn’t have anything to do with your travelling. Just be prayerful”

 

“I will not relent in my prayers”

 

“Why did you stay so long downstairs? It is past midnight”

 

“I was with Samuel; we were talking”

 

“I like the boy. He is humble and caring. The problem for me is the age. Most men who marry older women try to rub their masculism in their faces. They go about cheating and disrespecting the woman. It doesn’t mean older men don’t cheat but the feeling is different when he does it because you are older. Do you know Uche our cousin? The one that lives in Ibadan. She was getting old and married a man younger than her. The man had nothing, she sponsored the wedding and everything afterwards. The man will drop her off at work and use her car to pick up girls. The business she started for him went down the drain. He was more interested in young girls. She had two children with him. When he became disrespectful to her during her send omugwo, she told him she was no longer interested. She called the police and made sure he left the house with only the clothes on his back. He tried to make peace with her; the family came to beg but she refused saying he should pay child support for six months first before they can come back together. He couldn’t even do it for a month”

 

“Auntie, I have told you there is nothing. Anyway, he is not that kind of person that will bite the fingers that fed him. He has never disrespected me or acted in a manner to suggest it. I know he likes me; the feeling is mutual. But we are not romantically involved. We are good friends”

 

 

“Dump this guy; he will block your way to big fortunes. He will not allow correct men to come for you. He is a roadblock on your way. Why are you very close to someone you can’t marry?”

 

I allowed her to talk and complain and before long I fell asleep. I was tired of hearing such words from my fellow Nigerians. Why would having a male friend block my way? If the guys were serious, they would go-ahead to try their luck. If I tell them I am only friends with him, they will understand.

 

The next morning, Samuel asked why I wasn’t ready during breakfast. I told him I didn’t feel like going. He begged me to go with him. He had the day planned and it involved me. Chiamaka urged me to go with him and Amanze concurred. Auntie Nneoma was busy on the phone while we discussed this. After much persuasion, I agreed. I went to dress up to go. I wore a pair of crazy jeans trousers with a top. I hadn’t worn it before for lack of where to wear it to. I wore makeup; light but very cool makeup. As Chiamaka said, “Anything worth doing is worth doing well”.

 

Samuel was ready downstairs too. He wore jeans with a Polo t-shirt. He looked very cool. “Shall we?” he asked. I laughed and went outside to a waiting car. We sat together at the back and the left for our mini adventure. The driver took us around. He showed us new sites coming up around Amanze estate. We went into town. He showed us the different ministries, the CBN, NNPC and many other places. After moving around for about an hour, he asked the driver to take him to a hotel. He had a meeting with someone in the hotel. He asked me to come with me but I declined and waited for him in the lobby.

 

I sat at the lobby, picked up my phone and was engrossed when I heard a familiar voice ask me a question. I looked up and I was shocked to see Dubie standing right in front of me.

 

“I said you looked familiar when you walked in. So it is you Akwaugo”

 

“Hello Dubie”

 

“What are you doing here?”

 

 

“I am here with a friend who has a meeting in one of the rooms upstairs. What are you doing here?” I asked quite startled to run into him at the hotel.

 

“I came with some friends to relax here. They want to purchase some vehicles from me so we were concluding the transaction when you walked in. You look even more beautiful now than before”

 

“Thank you” I felt uneasy. For some reason, I didn’t want Samuel to come down and see me talking to him. He would ask questions and I wasn’t ready to give out too much information.

 

“Come and join us until he comes”

 

“Thank you but no thanks. How are Isioma and the baby?”

 

“They are fine. She was the reason you refused to marry me. I knew you would ask after her”

 

“I have to, that’s your family. What about your mother?”

 

“She is fine too. How are your folks?”

 

‘Everyone is good. I have a nephew and a niece now. I’m an aunt”

 

“We can still come back together you know. Seeing you brought back memories.; very sweet memories. I miss you”

 

“Dubie, I am sure you are camping a girl in your room as you are talking to me. I’m sorry I have no interest in you. I moved on a long time ago; do the same. Excuse me” I stood up to look for another location. As I turned, I saw Samuel standing by the side of the couch I was sat on. I didn’t like it and also didn’t like the look on his face. I acknowledged him immediately. “You’re back. Are you done?”

 

“Yes, I am” he waited for me to do the needful but I didn’t want to introduce them.

 

Dubie took the bull by the horn.

 

“Hi, I am Dubie”

 

“Nice to meet you, I am Sam. Should I give you some more time to talk?”

 

Dubie turned to me and asked, “Can I have your number?”

 

“No, you can’t Dubie. I can’t give you”

 

“Where are you staying in Abuja so I can pay you a visit?”

 

“Dubie! It won’t happen” I turned to Sam and said while lifting my bag, “shall we?”

 

Sam joined me as we left the hotel. In the car, he didn’t ask me any questions. We went all the way to Jabi lake mall to sightsee. We went to all the shops in the mall. He wanted us to watch a movie but I explained to him I didn’t like crowded places with many people being together. He agreed. We had ice-cream, pizza and yoghurt. He advised we eat little as we would have a hearty meal soon.

 

We left the mall and headed to a joint. It was owned by one of his friends. He introduced me to his friends as a close friend. She chided at him and said it was more than that. He told them we were good friends.

 

“Good friends? Someone you talk about all the time?”

 

“Guys, you are embarrassing me in front of my friend”

 

“We are sorry. You are welcome and thank you for bringing this big head to Abuja. We have been inviting him but he refused to come”

 

“It is nice meeting you all”

 

It was there we had interesting foods such as well peppered snail, bush meat in sauce, asun and peppersoup. I watched them interact with Samuel and saw how much he came alive when he was with them. They cracked jokes sometimes at his expense and he knew how to defend himself. It was interesting to watch Samuel let his hair down. He sounded different.

 

 

Finally, it was time to go back. We bade his friends goodnight and we went back home. He wasn’t chatty as usual on our way home. I asked if he was ok and he said he was. He claimed to just be tired and I believed him.

 

I waited for him after others had gone to bed and we talked for about an hour then he asked to retire. I knew he wasn’t happy about something but I didn’t know what it was. I asked him three times before he could tell me what bothered him.

 

“Who was that guy at the hotel?”

 

“Is that why you were behaving funny?”

 

“Not exactly but tell me who he is”

 

“He is someone I used to know”

 

“Just that?”

 

“Why? Why do you want to know who he is?”

 

“I don’t know. If you do not feel like sharing with me then we won’t talk about it”

 

I wanted peace to reign but I could see some traits in him. He was jealous. Why would he be jealous? To be honest, Dubie looked amazing. He looked good and smelt good too. It was understandable if Samuel felt beneath him but it wasn’t my making. I didn’t want that aspect of my life in the open yet. I was ashamed of what I did and I didn’t want anyone to make me remember it. I went to bed earlier than usual that night. Auntie Nneoma asked if all was well and I told her it was.

 

The next day, we left for Calabar. I enjoyed my trip especially the day before. I missed my family. I promised to visit again and I intended to keep that promise. On our way back home, he told me to ask him anything and he would answer honestly. I thought about it for a few seconds and asked,

 

“How do you feel about me?”

 

 

Samuel went silent on me. He decided at that moment to look out of the window. I realized What Chiamaka said was true. He didn’t reply until we stopped at my place. He helped me carry my luggage and surprisingly his upstairs. I didn’t ask questions too. As I opened my door and he went in, Henrietta came out of her room with a friend. I became conscious. I began to care about what people will say. I didn’t believe how things changed in a few days. I went into the room; Samuel was sitting on the chair. I sent on the bed when I saw the seriousness on his face.

 

“I want to answer your question as honestly as I can. I took you as a special friend. You have done for me what no one has ever done for me. I appreciate that. I know my boundaries with you. It was all good until I saw that man with you. I heard all he said. If you had told me who he was immediately, maybe I wouldn’t feel the way I am feeling. But, you refused to talk about which makes me believe you still have feelings for him. He told you he had sweet memories of both of you and he missed you. He still wants you, where does that leave us?”

 

I was dumbstruck for some minutes just looking at him. Where did this come from? I sat up from the bed and immediately became uncomfortable. He continued.

 

“I can see you are surprised and I can’t believe you are. We spend so much time together; what did you expect? We will definitely develop feelings for each other. We are friends first. I want more but I felt going to Canada together will draw even closer. I am speaking up now because I feel threatened. That man sounded like someone who is still very interested in you. I have met your family members and seen how well they live. Right now, I can’t give you the luxury you deserve but I love you, care for you and support you in all you do. I will work hard to ensure you are very comfortable. I never want you to suffer or regret being with me”

 

“Hold it. I think you are jumping the gun. I like you but I am not interested in a relationship with you. I enjoy your company and our friendship. You get me and you are not fussing. I like that. But Samuel, remove relationship from this equation. I am an Igbo girl from Umuoji. I am not an outcast to marry from another tribe. My parents will never accept the relationship. My auntie and cousin are enlightened and wouldn’t play the tribe card but my people will”

 

“Is that the only reason?”

 

 

“I’m older than you”

 

“By two years. I know that but we are still in the same age group”

 

“It never works. I can’t take the risk”

 

“We are not talking about marriage here. We have been friends, let’s take it to the next level and see where it leads”

 

“I don’t have the luxury of time. I have vowed not to get into any relationship that wouldn’t lead to marriage. The odds are against us. I want you to understand that. I don’t want anything to disrupt our friendship but I can’t marry you. Marrying me is facing a life of uncertainties. You are an only child and you would want to have children. With age, it becomes more difficult to have children. I have fibroids too. Would you still want to be with someone like me? As a friend, I will advise you against marrying me. Get involved with a younger girl you can groom to be whatever you want”

 

“Whatever I say will make no sense to you. I knew you would reject if he had proposed but I had to let you know how I feel. I will heal from your rejection. Time is not on our side. I still want to relocate to Canada with you. I want to be close to you because you have a positive influence on my life. I will do as you have said”

 

“Don’t take it as I rejected you. I tell, I never suspected you were in love with me. I see you as a good friend or a sibling. I am sorry if I sent out the wrong signal. As per relocating with me, I don’t mind”

 

“I am hurt, I wouldn’t lie. I will give you time to find out if you feel the same way”

 

I felt bad letting him down but I already knew we couldn’t be together. It would be unfair for him. An older man would understand the challenges but a younger man wouldn’t and an only son at that. He still chatted me up but he hardly called me anymore. I understood why. Our Sunday meeting continued but it was no longer as it used to be. There was an awkwardness between us. He still sent me foods every week like he used to.

 

 

One Sunday, I visited him at home. I sat with his mother in the sitting room for some time while we talked about her health. She was much better, looked younger and very active. I went to Samuel’s room and knocked on the door. He opened it for me. I saw a lady sitting on the bed and his chair was shifted out. I stopped and apologized for interrupting.

 

“You are not interrupting anything. If you won’t be comfortable here, you can chill with mum; she will soon leave”

 

I left for the parlour. I was tempted to just leave the house but I knew that would send a wrong signal. I sat with his mother and chatted with her until he came out with her and saw her off. I wasn’t happy. My heart ached badly watching them together. She was beautiful, she was average height, slim, very fair with nice hips and buttocks. She wore a bandage bodycon skirt that outlined all her assets. She wore it with a crop top. Her weave length was after her bottom. And she smelt good. Her only fault was her makeup; less would have made her look better. And her choice of colours for her complexion was too loud.

 

Samuel came back in and asked us to go back to his room. He brought the food he made and some drinks for us. We ate mostly in silence. I waited for him to tell me who she was but he was silent. We had endured the awkwardness after asking about work, business and family. He sat facing his table while I focused on my phone. I laid on the bed on my tummy facing the opposite direction when I saw something interesting. I felt uneasy. I felt someone was watching me. I turned suddenly and saw Samuel staring at me on the bed. I didn’t like the look in his eyes so I sat up, wore my slippers and told him I wanted to pick something from the car. I stood outside for about 15 minutes so he could calm down. As I sat in my car, he knocked on the window.

 

“Why are you outside? Come inside”

 

“Are you ok now?”

 

“I am”

 

 

I went in with him. I picked up my bag and told him I wanted to leave. He didn’t say or do anything. He saw me off. I was glad nothing we both would regret happened. He called when I got home and he said,

 

“I knew you wouldn’t ask who she was. I have studied you very well. I won’t tell you anything unless you ask”’

 

“I won’t ask. She is beautiful, she just needs to tone down on her makeup especially the colours. I am happy for you”

 

“Thank you”

 

The next Sunday, he told me he would come in the evening as he would be busy but I lied I was going to work so he wouldn’t come. That was how I tried to reduce our physical closeness because of the look I saw in his eyes. I understood it and didn’t want to fall prey to lust.

 

One Sunday morning, I was asleep when I heard a knock on my door. I stood up, tied my wrapper around my chest to answer.

 

“Who is it?”

 

“Open the door” Samuel answered.

 

I opened the door and he came in. He dropped some bags he came with while I looked surprised.

 

“You are going to work today I suppose?”

 

“Yes, later in the day”

 

“If you don’t want to see me, just tell me and I will understand. Don’t make me feel silly trying to find out why you are avoiding me. We are friends. I have moved on but I will not trade your friendship for anything in this world. Please, don’t do this again”

 

 

“You were looking at me in your room while I was lying on the bed. I saw lust in your eyes that’s why I left and I have been avoiding you. I didn’t want you to do what both of us will regret. That’s why I am keeping my distance”

 

“You have nothing to be afraid. It was the first time you were feeling so free with me. You laid on my bed. I loved the fact you did that and nothing more. How was there lust in my eyes?”

 

“I saw it. I was scared you were going to jump on me”

 

“Why would I do that without your permission? I can’t disrespect you like that”

 

“I was scared”

 

“I won’t deny you turn me on and the sight was very attractive but you have done that countless times and I didn’t do anything. I just take care of myself later. It is normal to get aroused when you are with someone you lo, no, share a special bond with. I know if I try anything, I will lose the entire friendship”

 

“It is good we set boundaries so we don’t tempt each other”

 

“I can’t tempt you; you are used to more attractive men. I took so many things for granted because we were close. I am trying to get over my love for you. It is turning to affection before he fades to friendship”

 

“That’s nice. I still like you a lot”

 

“If the issues you raised were not present, could you have loved me back?”

 

“Samuel, I am guiding my heart with those issues. If you were older, not an only child and maybe Igbo, it could have worked out easily. You are everything a lady needs in a man. I would have loved you”

 

“But I am not loveable with all the negatives”

 

“That’s not what I am saying. Understand me. Why allow something you can’t have”

 

 

“Let’s not talk about this anymore. We are going back to our friendship. I will cook while you shower and get dressed. Is that ok”

 

“That’s fine. I will join you soon”

 

AKWAUGO