Wasted Years (Episode One)

Episode Ten

Wasted Years
(Episode 10)

I woke up to a day so bright.

For the first time I got up from my bed, and the thoughts of Dakota didn't flash.

It was already one year since we broke up. He'd gotten married to Yemi, and I had moved on. Inyene and I got ourselves a two bedroom flat in Badore.

I had moved my office to Victoria Island, and everything about my life and business changed.

On this day, a knock came on my room door, it was Inyene, she smiled brightly as she walked in. I was still on bed, covered with a duvet amidst the cold air from the air conditioner.

"There is good news." Inyene said as she settled on the bed.

"What?" I asked casually.

"I'm getting married!" She exclaimed excitedly, revealing her fingers and showing me the silver flashy ring. "Tadaa..."

"You have been in a relationship all these while?" I asked surprisingly, holding her hand and admiring the ring on her finger.

"Well, yeah, yeah. We started dating like a year ago. A year plus to be precise."

"Oh great. I am so happy for you." I said sadly.

"Are you sure? Or you don't want me to leave you abi?"

I sighed, "Mixed feelings jarè. When is the wedding?"

"Date hasn't been fixed yet until we meet mom and dad."

"Ah, your mom will be so happy." I said.

"Yeah, yeah. You should be happy for me too. After all, we will still be living in this Lagos. And you might come live with us if you want to."

I shrugged, "No. Ah. It won't be right to move in with newly married couple. You two will need your time alone for the first two years."

"Says who?"

"That's it. You will need time for yourselves alone for a while."

"There is something else I will like to discuss." She said.

"Go ahead."

"Can you go on a date?"

"A date with who?" I sighed, "See Inyene, I'm not really interested in all these dates, boyfriends, lover nonsense. It's not my calling. I don't have luck in it at all."

"Says who? How many men have you dated all through your life? Just one silly boy called Dakota that you were unfortunate to meet. Abeg, calm down and hear this one." She cleared her throat dramatically and continued, "My guy's best friend is looking for a serious girl to settle with. The guy isn't that cute sha, not really your spec. But he has good money. Tami said his dad owns a bank and various companies, one of the biggest men in Africa,"

"Who is Tami?" I cut in.

"My guy. He is Yoruba."

"Oh..."

"The guy is cool, calm and he is really in need of a woman. I haven't even showed him your picture yet."

"Okay better. No need wasting your time to show him to me and vice versa,  I am not interested. I don't want any wahala in my life at all."

She laughed. "Just one heartbreak and you're already dodging men like this, calm down and find yourself happiness, life is once." She said.

"Abeg leave me. Congratulations again on your engagement. I am so happy for you." I said.

There was no sincerity in my tone, and Inyene knew it. She knew I wasn't happy that she was leaving me.

That evening, we drove to a bar inside the mall  close to my new office to meet Tami for the first time, and as I parked my car and was about to alight, My heart trembled at the sight of Dakota and Yemi.
She was heavily pregnant, dressed in a maternity flowered gown that revealed her protruded belly. Dakota was holding her hands. I gave them a stern look until they got to their car.

"I can see what you see now." Inyene said.

"She is pregnant again. Great. I'm sure the other baby she was pregnant with is still little." I said sadly.

Inyene sighed. "Don't let that bother you. It's their life. I know you hate seeing them happy. Just let them go and find your own happiness." But the sudden quivering low in my belly provided one response I didn't even understand.

"Tami is waiting." Inyene said as she unhooked the seatbelt hastily.

I calmly alighted from the car and walked gently behind her to the wine bar. I met Tami for the first time and I liked him for Inyene. He was handsome, playful and had a good personality for himself. We talked about my work, our family and my hobbies. He loved Inyene, I saw it in his eyes; the way he looked at her when she spoke, the way he held her hands and laughed at her dry jokes. He was the only one I saw laugh so deeply at her dry jokes. I saw love between them and then I realized I had wasted many years with a man who didn't give me what love contains. The image of Yemi and Dakota, walking out of that mall saddened me. I smiled at our conversation, even when I didn't understand clearly what they were talking about. My mind had gone afar.

"Tell us about your boyfriend Ifure." Tami said.

I smiled shyly, I didn't know what to say to him.

"I have told you she doesn't have a boy friend. She has been manless for almost a year and a quarter now." Inyene said.

"oh. So, you are a celibate?" Tami asked teasingly.

"Yes."  The wild look came back into his eyes. "Seriously? Oh! I have been privileged to meet a celibate today. You should meet Olamide my friend. He is a busy dude, hardly has time for dates. You're his kind of girl, calm, pretty, no excess makeup and just down to earth."

"You don't even know me. You've concluded my characteristics." I said smiling shyly.

"Inyene tells me about you. So, I know you."

Looking uncomfortable, I admitted as much and fumbled at my erratic behavior.

©Vicky Bon
September 2018