Love is a very sweet thing, those who have never been in love will find it hard to understand this simple but powerful statement. Many people who feel that true love does not exist have never been in one, the day they happen to be in one, they will have a reason to change their perspective.
Itoro has been a hard nut to crack when it comes to love and relationships. He had been so adamant about love, hence he had been in just one relationship, which later turned sour. At 27 years, a normal Nigerian boy should at least be proud to have had many girls as some of his mates do boast about it.
Even though his friends will make fun of him and give him names, like, chimpanzee, crocodile, bloody bachelor, he remained unperturbed. In many cases, while sitting out in the street his friends will meet with their girlfriends, but Itoro will always be alone.
“Do you know you need a therapist”? Moses, one of his friends, told him the last time they met in a drinking joint before he travelled for his National Youth service to Edo state.
“Not just a therapist but a pastor to conduct deliverance for him”. Samuel Jackson gesticulated. Samuel has been a lover boy of all three friends. He had been in three failed relationships yet he wasn't giving up.
“So just like that you're leaving for Edo state single”, Moses interrupted while gulping down his last drink.
“..and may you never return single” Samuel added.
“Amen”, Itoro responded absent-mindedly.
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Not everyone can handle mistrust, especially when it comes from someone we had depended on and had much hope and trust in. Some years ago, after high school, Itoro did have a girlfriend, a fair, tall and slim beautiful damsel. Both of them were seeking admission into the university; luckily, both of them were admitted, and their relationship continued until one day, Itoro discovered that the girl was cheating on him. One night, as the girl spent a night in his house, oblivious to the fact that Itoro had the password to her phone, he woke up at night and went through her phone.
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After they had completed all the necessary programmes in camp, Itoro, together with other corps members, left for their respective places of primary assignments. It was his first time travelling out of his geopolitical zone. After about 5 hours of journey, they landed in Okpuje village. The following day, they were taken to their lounge.
The Coups members' lounge was a detached bungalow with 5 separate rooms. There was a building in front of the lounge where the landlord lives with his family. In this case, for the number of years that corps members began to live there, there had been close relationships between the man and the corps members.
Itoro had his room at the end of the building. One fateful afternoon, he walked out to get some goodies from the shop in the street. He was distracted by a fair and blumpy-looking girl selecting beans with a little girl, whom he thinks might be her younger sibling. Immediately, he wanted to initiate a discussion with her, but he respected himself and went about his business.
“Wow this girl is so beautiful, could she be the daughter of this man”? He reasoned. I must talk to her, he concluded in his mind. Coming back home, he didn't see her.
The next day, the girl was helping him with some chores like grinding pepper, fetching water and other stuff. Itoro had concluded that he had found love.
They started becoming close to each other as days passed by and it was becoming obvious that the parents became suspicious of the relationship and started cautioning their daughter to be careful.
One Sunday evening, other corp members were indoors, but Itoro and Christabel sat together on the pavement of the building having a nice time till midnight.
“God knew that I would meet a beautiful soul like you, hence he sent me to this place, you're the best thing to ever happen to me” Itoro poured out his heart to her.
She smiled showing her diastema
“I love you too,” she said,
Suddenly, the door jerked, her mom voiced out in her local dialect, and Itoro asked what her mom just said. “She said I should come and sleep”, Christabel interpreted, and she stood up to leave, but Itoro held her hand and whispered, “I love you most” She smiled and left.
That night, Itoro couldn't sleep; he was doubting himself. He remembered his first betrayal and suddenly advised himself to have a rethink before such a thing repeats itself. He thought of so many things; he remembered how his friends made fun of him, how they prayed for him to fall in love before he left. While pondering all of these, he dozed off and was brought back to consciousness by a bang on his door. “Kopa, it's time for school,” the voice said.
It was a hot afternoon and the four corps members were returning from their PPA, reaching home, everywhere was quiet. Itoro walked into his room, hoping that in a few minutes the love of his life would come as she usually does. She didn't come, he suspected that something fishy must have happened to her last night. So he stepped out of the house, and eventually, Christabel’s younger sibling came out of the corridor, and he asked her about Christabel.
“Kopa” the little girl said as she smiled. Her smile looked suspicious.
“There was a problem last night between Christabel and Daddy” she said as she walked closer to him so she wouldn't raise her voice. “So this morning, Daddy decided to take Auntie Christabel to Auchi to live with our Uncle”
The statement hit Itoro like a stray bullet, suddenly his countenance changed,
“When is she coming back”? He asked
“I don't know o because she packed all of her clothes”
He wouldn't want to show his emotions to the small girl. He wanted to ask if he could get a phone number to reach out to her, but he was interrupted by her mom calling from the other end.
Itoro wasn't himself; he couldn't bear the heartbreak, and he wouldn't stay indoors either. To help him reduce the pain, he had left the house to spend some time with friends outside. It was getting dark when he decided to return home. Heartbroken, he walked aimlessly and got to his room. The door was partially open. He probably thought he didn't remember to lock it. He entered and was about to sit on his bed, a light shone on him. Behold it was Christabel.
“What are you doing here”? He exclaimed with utmost excitement. They hugged each other for minutes, each of them could hear their heart racing like a horse on a battlefield.