“You are the one that will live with the
consequences of your choice. That’s why you have to choose wisely and not allow
unnecessary sentiments cloud your judgment. Tunji has been with us through
thick and thin…this new guy also seems to like you. Look deeper, look beyond
the surface, and beware of ‘Greek gifts’…hopefully that will help you. I will
keep you in my prayers but you have to make this decision on your own. I also
want to be ‘àna olówó’ (A wealthy man’s in-law) but not at the expense of your
peace and happiness” my mum added as she hugged me and said she had to go
out.
I was home for 3
straight days, trying to figure out what to do…Tunji didn’t even know I was
around, likewise the people working at my Salon. Bro Dipo was also around and
he tried to encourage me in his true, but harsh way.
On the 3rd
day, Tunji came over…I tried my best to look like there was nothing wrong. He
however was acting strange. He wore a frown and snapped at everything. I had to
ask what was wrong with him. He said it was nothing…he didn’t stay for too
long.
After he left, I
started to wonder what could be wrong with him. The following day, I decided to
let things be and play themselves out…so I went back to work. The thought of
the Salon I saw in Lagos, the mental picture made my shop undesirable. It was
like comparing sleep with death…my heart wanted to own the Lagos Salon;
especially since Baba T said he would give it to me without any strings
attached.
“But would that be possible? Would he really
hand that kind of investment over to me without a motive or with nothing to
benefit?” I kept questioning myself. I was so uninterested in my immediate
surrounding that one of my customers actually said I looked “detached”. She
asked if everything was fine …I laughed it off and told her I was just going
through a rough patch.
Tunji came over
later that day and his demeanor had not changed. He said a quick hello, stayed
for a while and said he had to go. He didn’t even ask how my Lagos trip went or
what the business proposal was about.
“Could it be that he was being suspicious?
Or was he just trying to make this decision easier for me?” I was beginning
to get angry at Tunji. The following day was a Friday…I had only been at my
salon for a few hours when Laide walked in. I was surprised to see her…she said
she did not like the way I left Lagos and just wanted to come check on me.
Besides, Baba T had been bothering her to come find me. I asked where she
parked and she said Baba T drove her down…he was waiting in the car and didn’t
want to come in because of my ‘boyfriend’.
I didn’t want him
to come in either so I picked my bag and quickly followed Laide to the car.
Baba T said he was sorry if he scared me with all the things he said back in
Lagos…that maybe he said too much too soon and he just wanted to come clarify
that he meant everything but would give me time to work it out if I needed to.
He begged me to come back to Lagos on Monday to check out the Salon as it would
be completed over the weekend. I could see Laide in the rear view mirror
smiling mischievously.
After the brief
discussion, Baba T drove to our house to see my mum, but she wasn’t home. He
had brought her a lot of ‘provisions’ (Milk, Milo, Corn Flakes, Corned Beef,
Titus and the likes) and dropped them off with an envelope that I could tell
had money in it. He left for Lagos after making me promise I would come on
Monday.
As at that time,
I wasn’t sure if I would go to Lagos but I didn’t see Tunji for two days. I
went to his house and he wasn’t there….he finally showed up on Sunday evening
and when I asked where he had been, he got angry and said I didn’t care about
him or his future. I was shocked at his reaction
“You are the one acting up since I got back
from Lagos…you are the one that did not ask what became of the business
proposal that took me to Lagos…you are the one that has been incommunicado and
unreachable and you dare say that I don’t care about you” I yelled at him.
Tunji got up and
started to walk away “When you know what
you did, you know where to find me” he said and walked out
I was so angry
that I almost ran after him to make a scene but my parents taught me better
than that. I could think of a thousand and one things to say to him as he
walked out on me. “Ęni tí à ń’to rí ę
gbàwę…tó ń’jǫ sán” (the irony of
someone you’re fasting for but was caught eating like a glutton).
In annoyance, I
left for Lagos as early as possible the following morning and went straight to
Laide’s house. My mum was wondering why I couldn’t wait till it was daybreak…I
didn’t want to tell her what happened between Tunji and I. She would have
wanted to intervene and I didn’t want that. I knew it couldn’t be because of
Baba T, there’s no way Tunji could have known. Even if he had any concerns or I
did something, I would have expected him to be more mature and just tell me
what it was...not even after I asked if anything was bothering him.
Laide called Baba
T from their home telephone and he said he would come get me on his way to work…he
got there in about 30 minutes. He said he was dedicating the whole day to me.
He drove me to
the Salon and my god! It was breathtaking. It had the exact name of my salon
back at home but in lights and with grandeur. Laide came with us, although she
kept saying “three’s a crowd”…she
hugged me and was jumping up and down as we toured the completed project. The
interior was something else, I thought it was beautiful from outside until we
stepped inside. I didn’t know whether to cry or scream…I didn’t know when I jumped
at Baba T and hugged him real tight. “I
guess that means you are moving to Lagos?” He said. I wasn’t sure how to
respond
“She doesn’t have a choice o…when she is not
stupid” Laide quickly cut inPART 10 PART 12
© 2016 Lanre Olagbaju All Rights Reserved
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