Kunle returned to his quarters in a very happy mood. He now knew he had cured his problem and now had a beautiful young girl to himself. He thanked his lucky stars and thanked God for curing him of this ailment and for bringing this beautiful angel his way.
He picked up his phone to give her a call. He was sure she would have been home. He switched the phone on and scrolled through his contacts. He changed her name "Sheila" to "BabyGirl". He noticed a text message come in but he was too elated with himself to read it. He dialed his new baby's number, and she picked up at the first ring.
"Baby, I'm home!!!! I was just going to call you," she heard her say.
"Great. I hope your aunt wasn't angry you came in late."
"No. I met only the kids at home. She and uncle went out."
"Honey, I'm glad you came today. Thank you so much for helping me out today to find out...you know..."
Sheila laughed over the phone. "I know baby, I know. I'm glad I was able to help you, but you don't need to thank me. I told you, I'm yours now. Just promise me one thing."
"What's that?"
"Promise me that with your new-found energy, you won't fuck me to death."
"Come on baby," Kunle laughed.
"I'm serious Kunle. I was scared when I saw that monster dick of yours. I almost fainted just from the sight alone. And the way you handled me...God knows you shook me."
"Okay I promise I will take it easy on you anytime we make love."
"You sure?"
"Trust me baby."
"Trust you? With that weapon you have? Mba!!!"
Kunle laughed. "Sheila, I will not do anything to hurt you. I promise."
"You promise me? You give me your word?"
"I give you my word."
Sheila sighed. "You know what Kunle? I've been thinking a lot about you lately." She paused. "I have to confess something to you."
"What's it?" he asked.
"Ever since you told me about your...problem, I had been hoping you...you know...open up more to me about it."
"But I told you all about it." Kunle replied.
"I know you did. What I meant was I hoped you ask me to...you know...help," she whispered shyly, "but when you asked me today, I wasn't too sure anymore."
She sighed again. "I'm glad you had me make up my mind about it afterwards." She concluded.
Kunle looked at his watch. They had been talking for almost thirty minutes. "Sheila, baby" he said, "You were the only person I knew could help me. I honestly wasn't sure how you were going to react. I was nervous as well, but I'm glad you saw it my way. Now I have you. I promise I'll never let you go."
"
Kunleeeeeee...
" she whined.
"Yes baby?"
"I don't know...I think I'm falling for you."
"Please do. Don't think about it. I love you already myself."
"Now you're making me miss you. I wish I was right by your side now."
"Baby, I promise you, we will make it official on Monday. I promised you a date, remember?"
"Yesss."
He heard some chattering in the background. "My aunt and her husband are back. I'll call you before I go to bed."
"Okay baby. Kisses."
"I...I...I can't say it." She said.
"Go ahead baby. I know you do, but just go ahead."
She paused for a while. "I...I love you Kunle..."
"I love you too baby. I'll talk to you later."
He hung up the call, his mind and body at peace. "I'm not going to disappoint this one," he told himself. "No matter what, I'll try my best."
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Sometime later after devouring a large bowl of eba and egusi soup, he remembered the call that had been trying to come through earlier. He picked up his phone and navigated to his missed calls. He didn't recognize the number but saw that it had been used to send him a text. He opened the text and read the contents. He sat up in surprise when he realized who it was from.
********
"Hello Kunle. I'm so sorry for bugging you today. I wanted to come over but I got holed up at a meeting at work and traffic was just not my friend. I know I'm the last person you want to set your eyes upon right now after the way I treated you, but I really need to see you. Please call me when you can. Miss you so much."
Lara.
********
Lara? What the hell?!!!!
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Lara?!!!! What the hell did she want? He read the text again just to be sure his mind wasn't playing tricks on him, or had she sent it to the wrong number? Yep, that was his name plain on the text. Or was it another Kunle she wanted to send the text too?
One part of his mind told him to damn her and ignore the text, the other part urged him to call to see what she wanted. He hesitated, not knowing which part of his mind to listen to. It had been how long now? Five, six months? He hated to admit it, but even after the incident at the party, some part of him had secretly hoped one day she would come back. Even after Sheila came into the picture, a part of him wanted Lara back. After a while he had finally admitted to himself it was all a pipe dream and she was gone. That's why he had decided to pour out his heart to Sheila. Now that they were about to finally make their relationship official, she now decides that she wanted to see him, throwing doubts in his mind. Kunle, he told himself, don't let this lady ruin what you have now. She's from your past and should and must remain in your past. Don't let an old relationship destroy what you are trying to build with Sheila. She's a good girl, and she loves you dearly. Don't destroy her trust and love in you, the reasonable part of his mind told him. But all that aside, deep down within him, he knew he still loved Lara, no matter what she had done to him. He thought he had gotten over her already, and he didn't know why he still had those feelings for her.
His mind travelled back to when they met in NYSC Camp, how he had asked her to the Bonfire night, their first kiss that night when he saw her back to her hostel, to when they both started seeing each other after Camp. He remembered all those long midnight phone calls they made, when he would play lovely music and whisper sweet nothings to her over the phone while she wept with joy, to when he finally proposed to her on the day of their passing out. He had saved every spare naira he had, how much he had scrounged just to save for the ring.
He remembered when he started hearing the rumors after she had been retained in the bank she served in, and how her behavior towards him had changed over time. He didn't want to believe any of it and had not confronted her. He told to her several times he wanted her to meet his mum, but each time he planned the journey, she had come up with one last minute excuse or the other. He should have known by then, but he had convinced himself that it was the stress of her job. She had received a large promotion and all the perks, and soon had been flying out the country for trainings, seminars, and conferences, sometimes without telling him. The big girl status eventually got to her head. His inadequacies in bed did not help matters either, and all of that cumulated to that day. Now her head had finally come out of the clouds, she wants to see him? She misses him? Is this some sort of joke?
He stared hard at his phone. Maybe just a harmless call, he thought.
But if you do, you know yourself. If she starts crying over the phone, you know you will cave in. Just let sleeping dogs lie and face who you have now.
Sighing, he deleted the text and the number from his phone before he could memorize it. He didn't want to be tempted to call her if he kept on seeing that number on his call log.
---------------------
Monday afternoon. Kunle had told his boss he was leaving early that day. His mind was focused on his date with Sheila. He searched online for a lovely restaurant and had found one in Lekki that overlooked the ocean. He called to make inquiries and made reservations for that evening.
He got home at around four in the afternoon and changed into the new shirt he had bought for the occasion. He remembered the last time this had happened, and immediately shook his head to clear his mind. No thoughts of Lara tonight please. Tonight's Sheila's night. He called her up to tell her he was on his way to pick her up for their date. Knowing very well that her aunt wouldn't tolerate her coming home so late, she had informed her she was going to visit an old friend's sister from back home for the evening. Her friend's sister lived somewhere on the Island and had agreed to let her stay.
Kunle called for an Uber. He gave him the directions to Sheila's friend's place and within forty-five minutes, they had pulled up in front of a pretty building. He came down and dialed Sheila's number.
"Hello baby, I'm here," he said when she picked up.
"Okay honey, I'll be out."
Ten minutes later, she came out with her friend's sister. Kunle only had eyes for her and didn't even see the friend. She wore an armless blood red gown which molded her figure, showing off an ample amount of cleavage and stopped just below her knees. She had a beautiful deep-blue jacket over the gown. She had recently braided her hair and her luscious lips were colored with a shade that matched her dress. Her silver ear-rings sparkled in the dim evening sun, a matching necklace around her delicate neck. A pair of high-heel sandals adorned her feet. She looked stunning.
"Bros, this your babe set well oh." Even the cab guy gaped like a moron.
Kunle finally found his voice and greeted the friend, not taking her eyes off Sheila for a second.
He smiled and took her in his arms, planting a quick peck on her lips.
"Please don't keep her out for too long oh. This is Lagos." Her friend admired.
"Don't worry, she's safe with me."
They got into the car and zoomed off to their date.
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Lara was not happy at all. Kunle never called her, and she knew he had received the text. She had moped throughout the day at work and finally decided to go home. She had instructed her maid not to disturb her and had been in her bedroom for a couple of hours when her phone rang. It was Dupe.
"Iyawo Kunle(Kunle's wife), bawo ni(how's it going)?"
"Shey o gbadun bayi(Are you in your right senses)?"
"Where you dey(where are you)?"
"Where else I go dey(where else will I be)? I dey my house(I'm at home)."
"Okay. Dress up. We are going out tonight."
"Iwo ati tani(You and who)?"
