Hi Steemians this novel is about our choice we made in life.
Afolabi was excited. “At last, I am a graduate “he screamed on top of
his voice as he hugged his best friend James” Afolabi was a well built,
intelligent and sanguine fellow-a final year electrical electronics
student at Osun state university. He had just finished writing his final
papers.So he was very elated. He knelt down on his knees saying some
prayer of thanksgiving. He had barely concluded his thanksgiving prayer
when some of his hostel mates rushed into his room like a flood.
“Afolabi, you must celebrate this one for us oh, congrats!” some of
them said joyfully jumping on him.
After all the excitement and celebration had die down. He drifted off
in thoughts, to about four years ago when he was admitted into the
university. He had tried several schools for three years before he
finally secured admission. It wasn’t an easy journey.The pressure from
family and friends to secure admission was too much. When he finally
did, the circumstance then wasn’t favorable.
His parent were facing financial crises. His mum was a trader- she sells
clothing materials, and his dad was a trained security guard working for
a security outfit; they sought help from family members all to no avail.
Fortunately for him, he wasa dedicated member at a church, so his
pastor was able to assist him. As he kept reminiscing tears began to well
up in his eyes before a Knock on his door jolted him out of his thoughts.
Afolabi arrived home. Now done with school; he was waiting to be posted
for NYSC. It was a new environment, his family had just moved into a
new accommodation. The environment was serene and very quiet unlike
his former place which was livelier.
Trending music were usually played in the streets. He missed his friend
David, if he was around they would have visited lively places together
but sadly they were miles apart. He was in seclusion, home was so boring
to him and the elliptic power supply made things even worse.He was
thinking of ways to make things more exciting for him, but then he
suddenly remembered seeing a bustling restaurant around the streets.
Afolabi decided to visit the restaurant and he loved it. Soon he
frequents the restaurant so much that everyone who worked there
knew him by name. He had also made many friends already. One of his
friends, Michael had invited him to birthday party.He was very excited,
he wouldn’t miss it for the world. It has been while he attended a party,
way back in his 200l days. So he was looking forward to attending it.
Afolabi wore his clothes hurriedly, he noted the time, it was already
past 7pm and the party was schedule for 6pm; apparently he was an
hour late. He got to the party 7:45pm.he caught up with his friends and
they started chatting.The place was already buzzing; being that it was
the party of a socialite daughter, there was too much to eat, the drink
wouldn’t stop flowing, and the quality of the music played was great so
much that you won’t know when you start shaking your body. As afolabi
was looking around, his eyes met the eyes of a lady. ”wow! What a
beauty” he muttered under his breath. He kept on stealing glances at
her.
Helen a dark skin beautiful lady was an undergraduate at the
University of Lagos studying biochemistry, she was in her third year
already. She was very pretty and intelligent. When she noticed afolabi,
her stomach clenched. Meanwhile afolabi has been seeking ways to
engaged her in a conversation. “Guys excuse me for a moment” afolabi
said nervously to his friends.
He approached Helen -with butterflies in his stomach and managed to
say “hello”. To his surprise, he flowed with the Helen. They talked as
though they had known each other for years. He collected her contact
and they both went their separate ways.
The next day he went to Michael’s house. “How far bro” he said
excitedly to Michael; “I dey ooo, How the party na, I sure say you go don
catch one fish” replied Michael “omo the party make sense oo, I manage
catch one fish” afolabi answered with so much delight.“I hope the girl
sha make sense, shey she get barca and Chelsea” Michael said blinking
his eyes. Afolabilaughed and replied “bro, those things does not really
matter, the girl is pretty and intelligent that’s okay for me”. “Hmm,
okay now, I go like meet am oo, lover boy”. Michael responded.
EPISODE 2
Their friendship waxed stronger and stronger by the day. Afolabi and
Helenhad found companion in each other. They couldn’t do without
communicating with one another. Whats App, a chat application, had
made communication much easier forthem?They chatted all day and
night and shared every detail of what they were doing at every point
in time. What are you eating? What are you wearing? Who are you
with? Are you going out? When? Where are you now? Send me that
joke, send that voice note, take a picture and send me and all that goes
with a fantastic and fun love affair.They missed each other greatly
and tried to be with each other at least every other day. During the
course of the chat, he realized she wasn’t in a relationship, he was glad
to know that;He had been thinking of how to profess his love for her in
a romantic way. He finally got a way to ask her out.
On a Sunday evening, he put a call across to her, Helen saw his name
appear on her phone, she was excited as usual, and she shook off the
urge of taken the call quickly.So she waited to pick up until the
thirdring. They both exchange pleasantriesacross the phone, “I
wondered if you could come to my house tomorrow” afolabi said, “am
sorry I would be going somewhere with my mum, am really sorry” she
said with sincerity “okthen, what about Wednesday , is that okay?”
Afolabi asked “yes, it’s okay, I would call you when am coming” Helen
replied, “thanks, I would be anticipating you, take good care of
yourself, be a good girl” afolabi said with excitement.On Wednesday,
Helen didn’t disappoint, she was quite elated that morning, after her
house chores and other necessary things. She dressed up, and added
just a little make up.She was pleased with the person staring at her in
the mirror. She left for afolabi house, she had called afolabi earlier to
notify him.
Prior to her call, afolabi had been expecting her call earlier, he had
given up already, and had gone to see Michael, he was actually having
fun with Michael when the call came in.“I have to leave now, I need to
catch up with Helen” afolabi said,micheal was infuriated “why is it that
anytime we are catching fun you would make up some flimsy excuse, you
don’t evenhave time for me abi, every time Helen, guy this not fair oo,
remember chikala go, but your padi go remain oo” Afolabi tried to
explain but Michael didn’t care to listen, he rebuffed him. “Later bro,
don’t be annoyed” afolabi said.Afolabi headed home, when he got home,
he freshened up and slid into one of his best cloth, he was looking nice.
This evening is going to be a superb he said to himself.Helen arrived at
his place about forty minutes later.
Afolabi tossed a smile at her and said “wow, you look gorgeous” Helen
smiled and said “you are not looking bad too”.Afolabi took her out to an
exclusive cafeteria, they sat down, the waiter gave them the menus,
afolabi choose what he wanted, Helen peruse through the menus, she
didn’t know want to choose, she told the waiter to serve the same as
Afolabi. They had chatted for some time, then afolabi was looking
intently at Helen, that Helen started to blush a great deal. “Why are
you staring at me” she managed to say “I can keep staring at you for a
day without tiring, you got beautiful eyes”, at this point her pulse rate
soared, to the extent she thought it was palpable.She didn’t know what
to say, she just said “thanks”.
Afolabi spoke further “Helen, I love you”. Afolabi waited for a moment,
so that the word can sink. Her stomach churn, she hadn’t anticipated
this, she wasn’t prepared. She was totally speechless, her countenance
was blank.As if that was not enough, Afolabi stood up, knelt down, and
said “I would love you to be my number one, my one and only, Helen,
would you be my Fiancé?” for a moment she felt she was dreaming, she
pondered about what she heard, she shook off the urge of saying Yes
quickly, after a few seconds she said “Yes, I would be your Fiancé”.
Afolabi was excited, he went ahead and planted a kiss on her lips.
This was a day she wouldn’t forget in her life. She would keep on
reliving this special evening. She had never felt like this before. she
couldn’t tell why she felt so exhilarated; perhaps it was because of the
manner he asked her out, her ex boyfriend didn’t perform any
ceremony, in fact he asked her out over a chat, or was it the kiss, the
softness of his lips that made her feel awesome, she couldn’t tell.What
had just transpired, wouldn’t allow her concentrate, she had lost train
of her thoughts several times during their conversation as they
dine.She knew what had just transpired would still haunt her in her
dreams. Afolabi glanced at his watch, noting it was eight pm. “Let’s
start going, it’s getting late”. He said as he drank the last juice in his
glass cup.
They headed for their respective home.Helen was just rolling on her
bed she couldn’t get her mind off what had happened that night. it was
what she felt happened only nollyhood movies. She had always believed
African men aren’t romantic.She was still struggling to get some sleep
when a message came in, when she saw it was Afolabi, she was more than
curious to read the message. “Just thinking about you, my pretty
queen, sweet dreams dearest” she read the message aloud and
caressed her phone with excitement written all over are face.Sleep
managed to capture her after so many trials. She slept off
caressingher phone. The next day afolabi couldn’t wait to break the
good news to micheal who was furious at him. “michealo how far now”
afolabi said with his face beaming, “abeg free me, go meet Helen”,
“guy I have good news for you oo, infact let me celebrate it for you”.
Afolabi said bringing out his wallet, hethen ordered a chilled drink for
micheal. This gesture really got micheal’s attention, his anger fled
immediately he was now interested inwhat afolabi had to say, he has
never seen afolabi this excited before. “oya tell me, whats the good
news joor” micheal responded with so much curiosity.
“Guess what. I ask Helen out yesterday and she said yes!” Mtcheeew
micheal hissed, “just because a girl said yes to your proposal, you are
celebrating, chai, guy you fall my hand oo, I thought you even won a
lottery, chai guy your case is pathetic oo” Michael said disappointedly.
“oya then give me my maltina, I no celebrate again” afolabi replied.
“No now I am just joking, someone cannot even play with you again.”
Micheal said and they both laughed.
Writer- Tosin Oyetayo
