A typical Sunday Morning at Gbemisola Davies' condo would usually start with the quiet enjoyment of tea on the veranda and end with me lazing around till noon. However, that is not the case today. I had to wake up earlier than usual to get the house ready for the girls. They would be here any time from ten and those girls are wolves when it comes to food. Thankfully I had stocked up on drinks yesterday, the chicken was grilling to crisp on the grill on the balcony. My neighbours must be livid by the aroma alone. Rice is also cooking on the stove all that is left now is a good bath and the right Sunday bubu.
It was soon 10 am and the girls began to arrive. We immediately dived into planning Mum's event.
"Gbemi, how about we do a guinea brocade or damask instead of the traditional lace? I am sure mummy would love the Idea" Zeenat called just as Tunrayo reached out to show me a text where Bola confirmed that her husband and she would be attending the soiree.
We spent all morning and the better part of noon planning the perfect Event. I am sure Mum will love it Ewa said just as I returned from the kitchen carrying what would be our lunch in tow.
"That reminds me tunrayo was that your brother 'the Infamous Toba' the other day?" Zeenat asked as all of our eyes diverted straight to Tobi like we were expecting her to react to the question even though the question was directed to tunrayo.
"Yeah just don't ask me why he is back. I wouldn't know" tunrayo replied.
The gist continued on a lighter note until Tobi dropped a bomb. it was so unexpected and judging by Tunrayo's expression she had only just found out about it too.
There is no way I will be able to forget what she said and the way she looked when she uttered those words anytime soon. I was surprised, devasted and struck with guilt all at the same time.
"Did you guys know I was once pregnant?" she stated in a quiet tone very unlike Tobi. I could see the "how" and "when" written on everyone's faces. Our bubbly full-of-life Tobi suddenly looked dejected and unexplainably aged.
"mhm" she forced out a fake chuckle as she rose to stand. "God I need a drink I believe we all do" Tobi said proceeding to the wine fridge.
"did you guys know anything about this?"
No Tunrayo and Ewa immediately answered.
It can't be, can it? Ewa said as she suddenly remembered something.
" what?"
"So there was that one time Tobi disappeared from school for almost a whole Semester. she didn't even do the Exam when she showed up again we were already in the middle of the Second semester. That's why she couldn't graduate with us."
"What is even more curious is you know who left the country around the same time." Ewa continued gesturing to tunrayo who looked like she wanted to say something but was cut short by Tobi's voice coming out of the kitchen.
" looks like you guys figured it out; Toba and I have been dating hard since SS3" Tobi said in a sing-song voice. "now who would like to hear a really short long story?" she declared.
* * * * *
There has always been this undeniable attraction between Toba and I. Even when he never let any girl near him and there was that rumour circulating that he might prefer boys, Toba was always nice to me and he never once stopped me from messing with him. We became friends thanks to my friendship with Tunrayo. Remember our weekly sleepovers? during the holidays when we used to sleep in one another's houses in turns. I always looked forward to sleeping at Tunrayo's house the most. Tobi said as she turned towards Ewa who rolled her eyes and muttered "We all did that's where all the coolest things are" under her breath.
"Sure Ewa there was that and something else" Tobi replied.
The way he would rush downstairs at the sound of the loud echoes that announced our arrival at Tunrayo's house; only to pretend like he came all the way downstairs to do something really important.
There was also our chats on the rooftop. yeah, we also play video games in the upstairs parlour too. back then we didn't know what were doing. Toba was simply a cherished friend of mine whose company I valued very much.
It wasn't until that vacation in js3 when we had our sleepovers as usual and Toba was not around that I began to feel different. and then he had to come back to school with that banging body of his. Growth Sprout really did him good.
"I can't believe I have to listen to you talk about my brother like that" tunrayo stated.
"Well she is not lying majority of the boys in our year came back like they had been pumped full of steroids." Gbemi replied while gesturing at Tobi to continue with her story. the girls had come to a silent consensus that their friend was visibly still very much in love with Toba.
"I was annoyed and crazy at the same time about his new look" Tobi said as she continued with her narration.
The girls started swarming. God knows It took everything in me not to claim that hotness for myself. After all, I did not know if I was the only one feeling what I was feeling. I still don't know if it was because of me or some other reason but Toba started avoiding those girls. Even though we still played around like we always did, there was a shift in the air and this unspoken thing that only we knew but wasn't voiced to the other person.
"I still remember that day like it happened yesterday. Hell I remember every moment we shared like it is my favourite classic movie".
"hmm...sorry to cut you short Tobi but I must say this; I never pegged you for a hopeless romantic" Zeenat said. she was Immediately poked by Sumbo who had remained quiet all this while with her full attention on the story.
"Please continue jare" she said drawing everyone's Attention back to Tobi.
Ehen... It was on our prom day; shebi you people remember when you could not find me when the make-up artist came. I had gone to the rooftop to see if I would find Toba there He did not seem like himself just the day before. There he was standing at the railing.
"There you are" I called to him.
"Aren't you supposed to be getting dressed with the girls downstairs"
"Don't worry they won't notice me until Gbemi finishes her make-up. Mine is after her."
"Uhm" he replied as I sat on the sofa beside where he was standing".
"Is something the matter? you seemed weird just now and yesterday too"
"Its nothing... Tell me one thing. Who are you looking forward to dancing with tonight?"
"..."
"Forget I asked it is silly anyways"
"You won't tell me what's up with you?"
"..."
"Okay be like that I am leaving," I told him upset he won't tell me anything.
"I hate it" came a voice behind me.
"I hate that you will go downstairs and get yourself dressed up gorgeously. I hate that those good for nothing boys would not be able to take their eyes off of you because you will be the most beautiful girl there."
"Damn I hate that you have to go with that mumu Bolanle just because I am too much of a coward to let you know what I feel...How much I love you...and how I have to hold myself back from kissing you every time I see you".
"Why do you have to..." I voiced out and as if that was all he needed, his lips were all over mine the next second.
Seconds passed like hours and when we finally came to realization we looked into each other's eyes and smiled.
"Took you long enough" I whispered.
"I am a fool.. I should have known" he replied.
"Yes, a fool you are. I don't know where you heard it from but the girls and I are attending prom as a group" I told him as I started for the stairs to return to the girls.
"I should not have eavesdropped on Tunrayo" he said to himself.
"Well look what that got you" I called out from down the stairs.
YOU ARE READING
Old Maid
RomanceAlthough unmarried and in her early thirties, Gbemi had it all the job, the car and the nice apartment. Her relationship with her mother was however, not very good thanks to her unmarried status What happens when she meets her old best friends and...
