CHAPTER 22 – © OPEYEMI OJERINDE AKINTUNDE Being in a relationship with Reuben was a differentballgame. It was love wrapped up in maturity. Hewould buy me gifts and flowers every two weeks. We knew when to act like lovebirds who were drunkenin love, and we knew when to discuss serious issues. There was no stones …
CHAPTER 21 – © OPEYEMI OJERINDE AKINTUNDE I was not planning to see Reuben that night. I justwanted to return to my hostel. I texted anotherprotocol officer, telling him he should see to PastorReuben, that I was not feeling up to it. I told him I hadgone to the hostel to rest. As I walked …
CHAPTER 20 – © OPEYEMI OJERINDE AKINTUNDE The next few weeks leading to the Fire week had me inmixed feeling I was chosen as the head of his protocolsince I was a member of his church; I was to book hishotel accommodation, take care of his welfare as theybelieved I knew him better. The mixed …
CHAPTER 19 – © OPEYEMI OJERINDE AKINTUNDE I didn’t speak to Reuben for three months but hemade it a duty to send me messages on the first ofevery month and the fifteenth of the month. He wasusing an unknown number; he must have guessed Iblocked his line…Daniel, on the other hand was beginning to take …
CHAPTER 18 – © OPEYEMI OJERINDE AKINTUNDE “So this is what all the drama has been about? Youwant to marry your rich Bishop’s son?” Daniel said“Daniel, there is nothing between Reuben and I, he isjust my friend”“A friend that brought you to school and wassmooching you here before he left, Nwala you are sucha slut…, …
CHAPTER 17 – © OPEYEMI OJERINDE AKINTUNDE We walked towards the Tundra he got, I didn’t botherasking, he had the money so he could have rented it…“Will you really give it a thought?” Reuben askedabout what I had said to Timo.“Reuben, can you let me breathe?” I said smiling“I am sorry”I turned to face him…“Please …
CHAPTER 16 – © OPEYEMI OJERINDE AKINTUNDE “Devil, I have no blood to give unless you want theblood of Jesus” I heard Bishop saying before I enteredhis office. Pastor Ben had told me to go in, but I stayed a fewminutes at the door trying to get my acts together, butin that few seconds, I …
CHAPTER 15 – © OPEYEMI OJERINDE AKINTUNDE ” Hello Nwala! Are you there?” Reuben asked again.” Yes!” I answered calmly“Wow! I am so favoured today, you called me” Reubensaid. Our 5 days of friendship was based on himcalling me all the time. I never called…“Reuben” I said firmly“What’s wrong?”“Did you tell your Dad about us?”“Us?” …
CHAPTER 14 – © OPEYEMI OJERINDE AKINTUNDE I woke up to about 10 text messages from Daniel andone from Reuben…Daniel’s messages were filled with threats like: “If I don’t marry you, You know no one can”“If I don’t marry you, I will kill myself and kill you”“If I don’t marry you, I will kill the …
CHAPTER 13 – © OPEYEMI OJERINDE AKINTUNDE I cried myself to sleep. The day had been hell; from embarrassment to almostkilling someone, to my mother’s drama. I just wantedit all to end. I woke up around 11:00pm. The house was mildlyquiet, I could hear my male cousins playing theirgame as usual… My throat was parched, …
CHAPTER 12 – © OPEYEMI OJERINDE AKINTUNDE “No Mum, Nwala will marry Reuben, I will speak withher” Amara quickly declined“You don’t want him too, birds of a feather” Mymother said pushing Amara away from her…Amara dragged me up the stairs to my room. *“Nwala… don’t cause me trouble… You know I have nomother and your …
CHAPTER 11 – © OPEYEMI OJERINDE AKINTUNDE Thirty minutes later, one of the doctors came out withgood news…“He is stable”“Wetin that one mean?” One of the hoodlums whoinsisted on waiting with us asked…“It means, we have stopped the bleeding and stitchedwhere he had injuries, he is sleeping now”“Ok, so he did not die?” he confirmed“No., …
CHAPTER 10 – © OPEYEMI OJERINDE AKINTUNDE My phone was on fire, I could tell Daniel was calling, but I cared less. I picked up my phone ready to turn it off, but I saw adifferent caller ID “Reuben Acme”“Why is he calling me? If not for him, all thesetroubles won’t have started. If he …
CHAPTER 9 – © OPEYEMI OJERINDE AKINTUNDE Service was ‘fireful’ as always, but I was on fire inanxiety. I kept looking towards where Daniel sat. Ifeared him doing anything strange. Reuben’s duty post was very close to where Daniel satand I could see how Reuben kept casting glances athim…I almost died when I suddenly saw …
CHAPTER 8 – © OPEYEMI OJERINDE AKINTUNDE The worker’s prayer meeting was from 6:30am to 6:55ambefore service kicks off by 7:00am. I was totally avoiding Reuben’s courtesy smile. Icould count over seven times he tried locking eyeswith me accompanied by the intentional courtesysmile, but I would intentionally look past him. The moment the prayer meeting …
CHAPTER 7 – © OPEYEMI OJERINDE AKINTUNDE My phone beeped as I laid on the bed confused, and ifI didn’t know any better, I would have pretended to beshocked it was Daniel texting. Daniel was a passionate lover. I checked my phoneand there it was: “Babe, I am at the Bordeaux Restaurant on yourstreet, I …
CHAPTER 6 – © OPEYEMI OJERINDE AKINTUNDE “Dee, Mum is worried about your lack of spirituality” Isaid hoping I could work this thing out. If Danielbecame spiritual, maybe mum could change hermind…“Ok” Daniel said“Yeah”“And what’s your take on that?” Daniel asked“I think it’s high time you got serious with God andstarted attending church” I Said“Ok” …
CHAPTER 5 – © OPEYEMI OJERINDE AKINTUNDE I walked into the living room. My mother was seated, knitting. My mother only knitted whenever she wasangry. Knitting was her way of keeping her cool. “How did it go?” She asked“Great” I replied sharply“Explain your definition of Great”“We had a decent conversation and we have decidedto be …
CHAPTER 4© OPEYEMI OJERINDE AKINTUNDE You could call me a chameleon; I am a man on theinside but you can trust me to show up to an event likea diva. For the sake of misleading my mother, I gave thelunch a killing outfit because I intended to kill theintentions in the heart of the G.O’s …
CHAPTER 3© OPEYEMI OJERINDE AKINTUNDE What?” My mother, my father, the two maids, my threecousins had rushed towards my room. “Nwala?” My father called my name with aquestioning tone. “Mummy, what is this?” I showed her the textmessage. “Daddy, please help me tell mummy I am not mysisters, I am not marrying a man she …
FINAL CHAPTERSWB: Akinsehinwa Oluwaseun. “Richard, there’s too much pepper in this stew, I told you to allow Dolly prepare it , you insisted, claiming an international cook, oh oh” I said pouting my mouth like an angry baby as my husband and his sister laughed. “Don’t mind him joor, sorry, manage it, I’ll prepare a …