I Wish I Had Held Back – Episode 9
REAL LIFE LOVE STORY by POP FLAIR – Episode 9
She embraced me and said. “Oh Thomas….”
As she wept deeply.
I held her back by her shoulders and said.
“Tope…Please talk to me what is wrong?”
She then said. “Come to the church with me
and you will know everything.”
She held my hand and led me into the church.
I didn’t know what to think or expect, I just
needed to know what was wrong with her.
We got into the church and what caught my
eyes was the site of children playing on a
mat spread on the floor. Then I said. “Okay
Tope we are in the church, tell me what is
going on? And why did you decide to blank
me out completely?
She said. “I thought it was the right decision,
ending everything we started 2 years ago.
But I was wrong and I am sorry.”
I then said. “Okay, now tell me why are you
not in school? Is your mother okay?”
She then gushed out in tears. It was
becoming irritating and I grew impatient
and….. I heard a tiny voice of a kid saying.
“Mummy sorry.”
The little boy then embraced her by her leg
and she carried him up.
I was shocked the baby looked very much like
me when I was little…. He had the shape of
my eyebrows and my droopy eyes. I then
stuttered. “Is… That your child?” As sweat
began to drip from my face.
She then replied sobbing. “This is our
Thomas….This is our son.”
I then said. “How come, how is it possible?”
She said. “He is 2 years old, you are the only
man I have slept with, he even looks like you.”
I then said. “Oh my God!” As I sat down on a
bench because my knees became weary. “Tell
me everything Tope.”
She said. “3 weeks after you left Kogi. I
became ill and I was vomiting. My mom then
asked me if I was seeing any man. I told her
no. She took me to see the doctor, he ran
some tests and the result was that I was
pregnant. My mom beat me in the hospital
with her slippers. When we got home, she
threw my stuffs out and disowned me. I
went to meet my closest relative and in spite
of all the pleas my mom refused to take me
back……” As she started sobbing.
I held her hand tight to comfort her and said.
“Continue.”
She then said. “My relatives insisted I tell
them who was responsible, but I refused. I
didn’t want to implicate you and I know you
didn’t mean it. You have always wanted to
help me. So I did not tell them. 4 months
later, they started maltreating me and I then
decided to leave. A pastors wife took me in
and I was there for 1 year. That was were I
gave birth to junior and worked with the
church’s primary school.”
I then said. “You mean this church?”
She said. “No, I came to this church about 6
months ago. I had to leave the other place,
the pastor made some advances on me, I
reported to the wife and she threw me out. I
have been here since. It’s been terrible
Thomas….”She began to cry out.
My mind was heavy and I knew I had to do
something about her situation. She suffered
because of me, her education, her family. I
felt so much indebted to her. I then said.
“Tope, I know everything can’t be okay, but I
will do everything possible to make sure you
get the best in life. God has blessed me with
a good job and money is not a problem. I will
get you an apartment here in Kogi and every
month I will send you N200,000 for you and
Junior.”
She then said. “His name is Thomas.”
I took a pause and looked at him, he was
already asleep. I didn’t know whether to
touch him , carry him or something. I was
just too unprepared for these before me.
She then said. “I cannot stay here in Kogi.”
I then said. “Then where do you want to
stay? You can’t come with me to Lagos”
She said. “Thomas, I have nobody, nobody. I
have been rejected by my family, friends and
relatives. The only person I have is you and
my baby. I can’t stay far away from you…
Please.”
I said. “Tope, a lot has happened these few
years. I have moved on and you being close
could affect everything my mother has
established for me, everything I have worked
hard for recently. It can destroy me Tope.”
She then said. “Thomas, I understand but I
need someone to run to, someone to
depend on. I will never interfere in your life
again. I just need a new place to start all
over, I don’t want my baby to go through
what I went through. I need to further my
education, you helped me once and I know
you can help me again. I can’t provide for and
protect our child Thomas”
I started to reflect on everything she said. I
looked at the child, my child and I felt so
sorry. I knew I can’t deny them solace, cant
deny them what they want. That’s my blood
she’s talking about. I was hasty in conclusion.
I looked at my watch and it was almost 1
pm. I then said. “Tope, if we have to go to
Lagos we have to go now. Go pack your
things, I will be waiting in the car.”
It took us about 5 hours to get to Lagos. I
lodged them in a hotel and handed her
N50,000 in case she needed anything urgent
that night. I then left for home. I avoided
everyone and went straight to my room. I
was very unsettled and completely in
distress. Ella had been calling me but I was
too weak to pick her calls.
The following day, I drove to pick Ella so we
could go to church. She noticed I was not
myself and she asked me. “What is wrong
Thomas? you have been acting strange.”
I said to her. “I am pretty ill, but I will be
fine.”
I insisted it was a flu.
After church service, I dropped Ella at her
place and I went home to get some stuffs
for Tope and Junior. I got Tope a new Phone
and Junior, some of my old toys and lots of
candies. I got to their hotel room and she
appeared more relaxed. Next thing I heard
was. “Daddy!!”.
I saw the excitement on his face, it sent a
cold chill through my spine. Then Tope said.
“Junior, come on stop that. He is uncle not
daddy.”
He then said. “uncle!”
I smiled, for he looked so adorable. I gave
him his goodies and he said. “Thank you
uncle.” I was amazed and there was this urge
inside of me to spend time with him.
I then said. “Tope, try and relax today,
tomorrow you will go shopping with Junior.
Here is N150,000 for you 2. The driver will
come tomorrow in the morning, he will also
help open an account for you as well. I have
told him to secure an apartment for you in a
very good environment. It will take you guys
3 days at most to furnish and set up the
place to you taste.”
She then said. “Are you not going to be
around?”
I said. “I told you I will be traveling this week
and will be very busy. I may not see you till I
return from my trip. But I will always call
you.”
She took a deep breath in and was downcast.
I then said. “I know you have suffered
because of the decisions we made in the
past. I cannot erase the past but by God’s
grace, I can make your future and Junior’s
better. You will write JAMB again, you will
pass and you will gain admission, junior will
go to the best schools and he will make us
proud. But you need to keep to your word.
And I will keep to mine.”
I then hugged her then I left.
At home in my room, I was deep in thoughts.
I was wondering if this my plight will remain
secret. Ella and I had our wedding penned in
s few months, our families are involved and
the planning had begun.
Days later, I was in Port Harcourt and I was
kept abreast about the progress being made
regarding Tope’s accommodation. I was very
impressed at the development. I just wanted
her to have a place she could call home and
raise our child. Ella noticed something
different about me and I was tired of giving
her the excuse that I was ill. I later told her I
developed cold feet regarding our planned
wedding. That I will be fine.
I returned to Lagos after my official
assignment and the first place I went to was
Tope’s new apartment. I made sure it was a
far from my place to avoid any trouble. I got
to her door and I rang the bell. She then
opened the door. She was looking more
gorgeous than ever. She had her hair done,
her nails, she even added little weight. She
had a smile on and I just stood there looking
at Tope…. She had a bum shorts on, with a
half top. She was amazingly sexy, I just
couldn’t help but stand there and look or
should I say lust on her.
She then said. “Are you going to stand
there?”
I said. “Oh sorry.” As I entered the
apartment.
The sitting room was beautiful with a touch
of different shades of purple. I was very
impressed by her choice
***Please follow this space and share out articles, I would also appreciate it if you can invite friends to follow and read????***