(MTB) Meant To Be (A Nigerian Story)

38

"Eh hen! You mean he came into this place?" Lara asked surprised.

Ayo hissed and went to the middle of her living room, "He was standing right here. I was so shocked and overwhelmed ehn."

Lara asked as Ayo came back to sit, "How did he find you? What did he want?"

"Looking back right now, I can't say this is the purpose of his visit but he said he has bought this building, he is going to pull it down, bla bla bla."

"Yes o. Apart from Media, Oga is now into real estate and from what I heard, he is gaining grounds o. So, he wants to pull down this building, I am sure he was joking. Where will you live?"

"My dear sister, I don't know o. Kore just want to kill me ehn. He should leave me na, let me move on."

"Hmm but then I guess whatever reason he came for on Sunday was accomplished and he will be back again and I just have that feeling that he is not letting go this time."

"Have you forgotten I and Wale are becoming a thing? What will I tell that one now?"

"Who you love is what should count and seriously, Oga is a nice man. I see what he does for people and ever since I have been at his station, I have never heard anything real negative like rape or promiscuous attitude about him. In fact it's girls that want to butcher him and eat him up."

"Hmmm." Ayo sighed and Lara moved close to her, placing an arm around her shoulder, she said,

"I feel you ehn. It will all work out but you know whoever you pick is fine by me. I just want you to be happy, to get fucked on the regular by the man you love and want and can have."

"Stupid girl, thanks."

"Yeah." Lara said and Itunu came to join them.

The next day at work, around past 10 in the morning, Ayo got roses delivered to her office. She was surprised, without reading the attached card, she picked up her phone and called Wale,

"Hello."

"Mama, how are you?"

"Why did you have to send me flowers?"

"Flowers? I didn't, do you want me to?"

"You didn't?"

"No, I didn't but you got one right?"

"Yes and I just assumed it was you."

"Hmm, so I have secret admirers to contend with. It is well o."

She laughed, "Na you know. Talk to you later."

"Aiit love. Have a productive day."

"You too. Be safe." She said and hung up then she checked the flowers and opened the attached card,

"My love, I hope this flowers make your day shine and full of happiness. A.A"

Only one person she knew had that initials and it was Kore. How did he find her office? Stupid question, she hit her forehead and said out loud,

"Why the flowers?"

The flowers did not stop through the week. By the next Friday, she got really pissed seeing the front desk lady deliver another for fourteen days straight. She picked up her phone and called a number she knew by heart.

"What exactly is your aim?"

Kore asked hesitantly, "A.Y?"

She asked, "Answer me, what is your aim? What are you trying to achieve by sending flowers to my office all week?"

He said, "Calm down, okay? I am just trying to tell you without much words how important you were, still are and will continue to be with me."

She asked patiently, "Has it not occurred to you that we are no longer in a relationship?"

He asked, "Baby, how long will you keep running from me? I don't care what it will cost me, but I am going to keep wooing you till you become mine again except you never loved me and it was all a lie which I don't want to believe."

"I can't believe you. Just go away." She said and hung up taking several breaths before going back to work.

The next day being a Saturday, Ayo was cleaning the kitchen while Itunu was cleaning the living room when the door bell rang. Itunu went to get the door while Ayo poked her head out from the kitchen.

Lo and behold, Kore stood at the door, Itunu smiled,

"Uncle Kore."

"Tunz, how are you?" Kore asked as he stepped into the doorway, not closing the door firmly yet.

"What are you doing here?" Ayo asked, stepping out of the kitchen, arms akimbo.

Kore asked already pissed off, "What is it going to take you to tell Itunu I am his father?"

Ayo stopped short.

Itunu turned to his mother and asked, "Mum, is that true? I knew it. I asked you and you didn't tell me. Why Mum?"

Ayo defended, "Look, I just felt it doesn't make sense bringing you into this matter. You are still small for crying out loud."

Kore fired, "It doesn't make sense bringing him into the conversation? What caused all these in the first place?"

Ayo instructed, "Itunu, go to your room. Kore, state your mission."

Kore said, "ItunuOluwa, stay here and tell your mum how much you don't need a father, how much you don't long for one. Tell her how many times we talked about how you felt knowing nothing about your dad."

"Itunu..." Ayo trailed off.

Itunu interrupted, "It's true, Mum. All my friends have a dad. I suspected it was him and I asked you from time to time but you always said no. Why Mum?"

Ayo said weakly, "Because he hurt me."

Kore said, "And I have apologized. I have begged. What else do you want me to do, Ayodunmomi?"

"Itunu, please go to your room. Please." Ayo pleased and Itunu went to his room and she dropped to the floor, legs stretched out, her back against the wall. Kore moved to her side and copied her position. He took her left hand in his, rubbing it gently, he said,

"Ayodunmomi, I didn't come here to fight you. I just came to spend time with Itunu. I don't like this situation at all. I love you so much and I really wish for us to be a family, just like we planned to before we found out about all these. Ayo, please nao. A day won't go by without me thinking about you. *O de jo nao. Wo ola ife toti wa laarin emi ati e*. Baby please. I miss you so much."

"Kore..." Ayo trailed off.

"Look at me. Just look into my eyes and see the truth. I am in pains and only your love, your forgiveness can heal me. I am incomplete without you. What's a heart without a beat? You are my heart beat." Kore said, the pain evident in his voice, his eyes misty.

Ayo said, tears rolling down her face, "Korede, I don't know... What do you want me to do? You hurt me so much."

"I am sorry. I miss you." Kore said he leaned forward to kiss her. She shivered under his touch and his tongue prodded her lips to open up and she responded.

Two minutes after, clang of keys dropping on the floor tore them apart slowly. Ayo's eyes narrowed as she saw Wale standing just by the doorway, his pain so evident on his face.

Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ

Hello Boos and Baes,

This chapter was so tough to write. Because of my inability to update frequently, I am trying to speed things up but still maintain the storyline.

Starred Words

O de jo nao. Wo ola ife toti wa laarin emi ati e - Please nao. Think about the love that has been between the both of us.

Leave me a comment, let me know what you think.