The Congruence XXVII

She had to remind me to close my mouth…the shock was that much.

She got up and hugged me; I didn’t know we could ever hug again going by the awkward twist that kind of ended our friendship.

We talked all the way to Lagos. She started off by apologizing for the way she treated me back in school, after I left Captain…

“I’m really sorry, I know I could have and should have been a better friend but I have no excuse.

I am just happy for this opportunity to at least apologize.

I later tried to reach you but had deleted your number and couldn’t find it”

I didn’t say anything at first, I was just amazed at what was happening (I had learnt from Folahan to listen more and talk less) so I let Deola do most of the talking.

She went on to inform me that she was working with a major Telecoms company in Abuja and that was the last favor she got from Chief Agbabiaka. Things had gone sour between them after Chief found a younger girl while Deola was away for Youth Service.

“It happened so fast

I was only gone for about a month

I still believe the girl “jazzed” him (used voodoo on him)

How could chief switch just like that? It couldn’t have been ordinary

Well, I was somehow prepared for it…

It had always been a 50-50 thing as far as I was concerned

I just didn’t like the way it ended

I hate “elimination by substitution”…that’s why I hate Mathematics  

It made me feel like a replaceable part

His friends that I thought could help talk to him also wanted to date me

One almost raped me inside his office, thank God for his secretary that barged in because of an emergency…I felt like a cheap, road-side prostitute

After talking to three of Chief’s friends and getting the same response, I knew it was time to walk away with the little dignity I had left.

I still appreciate all that God used him for in my life

Na husband I dey find now (I’m searching for a husband now)”

“Let’s assume that indeed God sent Chief to help you, are you sure that’s how God wanted him to help?”

I just had to ask the question…because somehow Deola didn’t sound like anything was wrong with the relationship she had with Chief Agbabiaka.

“You are still doing this your SU thing?” she responded

I went on to talk to her some more about Christ and how God turned everything around for my family after I walked away from my previous lifestyle. I told her about my new job, I told her about Sister Grace, I even told her about Folahan…not that I wanted to, but I needed to let her know that there are times we shortchange ourselves by embracing the devils’ imitation of blessings when God actually has something better in stock for us. I also invited her to our church in Abuja since she wasn’t a member of any.

“Hmmn…I have heard o.

Actually, I have tried to mingle at a few churches in Abuja but most of the brothers are unserious, they are either too stingy or looking for whom to ‘hit and run’ and I don pass that stage (I have outgrown that). I am 28 now and need to see what’s on the table before rolling my dice.

A larger percentage of the serious ones are too busy chasing money, they are not even considering marriage. They want girls that will hang in there and wait indefinitely

The few that are ready to settle down prefer younger girls and/or are already dating someone. Wetin person go do?

God should provide me a good husband and see if I will not serve Him forever”
She added jokingly.

We exchanged numbers and Deola promised to stay in touch…she also promised to check on me before going back to Abuja. She was travelling to Lagos for a work-related meeting and would be there for about a week.

It was a boring three weeks…most of the things they taught us, I already knew. The Training School was in Captain’s neighborhood and I hated that. It was one of my major reasons for moving to Abuja and not wanting to be in Lagos. During our lunch breaks, I would stay put in class while other members of my team were exploring the area or going out to eat.

As promised, Deola visited me twice at the Bank’s Guest House; before she returned to Abuja…she said she would like for us to be friends again and also needed me to help her get closer to God…I liked that part.

She wanted my address in Abuja so she could visit but I didn’t have my own place yet so I promised to let her know as soon as I got a place. Folahan was still helping to find a decent accommodation but I could not afford the areas he wanted for me. Although he was willing to assist financially, I didn’t want him to…I advised him to invest the money instead. Before I left Abuja, I had to move most of my stuff to his place because I would still be in Lagos on the day we’re supposed to hand over the keys to NCCF and I didn’t want to leave Tokunbo in charge of my things. Jealousy apart, she was not given a permanent position at her place of primary assignment which meant she had to return home.

Deola then asked if I didn’t mind renting a room in a 3-bedroom flat, as a cheaper option…there was an extra room in the flat she was staying and she could give me a very good deal. A good location, furnished, pretty close to my office and would save me a lot of transportation money.
 
“And you get to drag me to church…” Deola added

I liked the idea…but I could not commit to it yet. I promised to discuss it with Folahan and get back to her.

“Ok o…let me know your decision as soon as possible. I have people that are interested and I don’t want to hold it if you won’t end up taking it”

About a week after that discussion…Folahan called me early in the morning. It was a Thursday morning and asked

“Who is Deola?”

PART 26                                                                                          PART 28

Picture Credit (c) aitonline.tv
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental   

© 2017 Lanre Olagbaju All Rights Reserved

The Congruence XXVI

Folahan left after that but I couldn’t go inside…I stayed outside for a while, clutching my bag. Tokunbo was inside and I didn’t want any dose of “frenemity’ to poison my loving thoughts that evening.

I was so happy that God brought me such a man. It didn’t matter if I got the job or not; Folahan had taught me vital life lessons, on that day, that would go a long way to form how I saw and carried myself.

I had butterflies doing the merengue all over my tummy…I wish I had a girl-friend I could just talk to about how I felt. I had thought I loved Captain but there was something pure about this, that my relationship with Captain lacked.

Sure, Folahan loved to give gifts as well…little but meaningful gifts. Most of them were inexpensive but I valued them so much. He was the person that introduced me to the gift of flowers…he would write sweet words on a note, attach it to the bouquet and leave it on my desk. All those “I saw this and it reminded me of you” gifts. I preferred them to the more expensive material things Captain provided.

It look about three days to get the news but I got the offer to be converted to a full-time employee…our manager had to write another recommendation highlighting my achievements during the service year. He threw in the fact that Folahan wasn’t staying. The Bank actually offered to keep both of us and have Folahan move to Lagos but he didn’t take the offer.
 Auntie Felicia also called to congratulate me and kept saying “You are such a lucky girl…look how that worked out”
 
My mum was ecstatic when I shared the news with her. She laughed, she sang, she danced, she cried, she even screamed…she reminded me of how I had always wanted to be a banker and how God made the seemingly impossible a reality. How God turned around the story of our family. She then told me Sister Grace was expecting and that her husband bought her a car.
 
“I will soon become a grandma, one of my daughters owns a car, and another one is now a banker.  

Me? The poor and wretched me? The laughing stock me?

Chei! This God is good o”

 Folahan’s Uncle was able to get the interview set up…but it meant being interviewed, in person, by the Deputy Managing Director of the Bank. The interview was in Lagos and as usual, Folahan dazzled the man. The interviewer was so impressed that he also offered Folahan a second level position and wanted him to start as soon as possible. Apparently, that bank was aware of the big check/account Folahan got from the Federal Ministry and wanted him to resume as the team lead of their Public Sector unit in Abuja.
 
It was a day of celebration when he returned from the interview…I picked him up at the airport. That was the first time I slept in his house (a lovely self-contained apartment in a gated rich neighborhood in Wuse 2).
It wasn’t planned but we were having so much fun and talking that time just flew by.

We had some really deep conversations that day and we talked till almost 3a.m.
We sat on the Sofa, holding hands…it was both romantic and deep. Folahan told me how he was not that into marriage in his early years because of the abuse he witnessed at home. How his dad was very abusive both verbally and physically. How he used to feel sorry for his mum but was helpless.

“It was rough and tough

There was a day he broke my mum’s hand and didn’t even feel sorry It was such a traumatic childhood…although we had silver spoons but the comfort and luxury did not make up for it.

 The weird thing was that outsiders could not tell…they saw a perfect picture of a perfect couple raising a perfect family.
 
My dad was all about his reputation…keeping up appearances and being seen as a responsible man  
But God works in mysterious ways and sometimes has funny ways of dealing with issues…it took a life-threatening experience for my dad to change his abusive ways
 
It was almost too late to salvage the marriage but thank God they were able to work it out.
 
Those memories seared my heart and I daily pray to God to give me the strength to completely forgive my dad and wipe those memories.
 
After all, I still learnt something from him…how not to treat my wife”
 
I was feeling so close to Folahan that night; I laid my head on his left shoulder as I shared my own story of the abuse I witnessed as a child.

“Wow, I guess abuse is not a function of class or societal standing.
 
May God help us to do it right and make our children tell better stories about us in Jesus’ name”

I wasn’t sure whether to say Amen or not…that was the second time Folahan was hinting at marriage or at least, a future together.
 
He looked at me intently and said “Or we are not planning to have children?”

I just smiled

That was the day I got to talk to Folahan’s siblings abroad, we didn’t feel like sleeping so he called them…he had talked to them about me and they couldn't wait to talk to me.
 
My new job at the bank required that I also traveled to Lagos for a 3-week New Employee Orientation and Training. The bank provided accommodation and bought the flight ticket. It was my first time on a plane and Folahan had encouraged me because I was a little scared. I was going to miss him so much; I had gotten so used to seeing him every day.
 
“Don’t worry, I won’t be too far away…I could even surprise you with a visit”

He dropped me off at the airport and waited for me to go through security. It was so hard to walk away from him 

I had intentionally asked not to be put on a window seat, I wasn’t planning to look down from way up there…not a fan of heights, landscapes or aerial views.

When I finally found my seat, guess who was sitting next to me…Deola.

PART 25                                                                                          PART 27

Picture Credit (c) Shutterstock
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental   

© 2017 Lanre Olagbaju All Rights Reserved