"hello, Phunky",she whirled around with a frown on her face. She had nursed expected Dayo to walk up to her after what he did to her. She looked at him straight in the eyes and coldly replied, hello'. "it's really nice seeing you again", Dayo began. "I never thought I would see you today". "Neither did I hope to see you too" she replied.
"No, that's not what u mean; I had thought that you moved out of Lagos. I tried to reach you nine years ago but I couldn't. I even sent one of our staff at the Lagos branch to look for your address, but he was told you and your mum had left for another part of the country and nobody could tell me where exactly you had gone".
"Well, you probably didn't try enough", she coldly responded, "if you don't mind, may I take my leave? Phunky made a move to go but Dayo stopped her. "Not so fast young woman. I do not intend to release you so quickly after losing you all these years". "And what is that supposed to mean?" "it mean I still need your attention and there are so many things we have to discuss". "Do I look like someone who wishes to discuss anything with you?" "Look here, Phunky, however much you try to avoid me, I am not going to allow you to leave without listening to what I have to say"
"This is a public place and you are beginning to embarrass me". Phunky saw one of the Queen's Gallery securitymen passing by and stopped him. "Can you kindly ask this man to stop pestering me?" The man stopped and looked at Dayo. Obviously confused, he said, 'sir, the lady is... em..ehm.. "Don't worry, you may go back to your duty." Dayo told the man. HR then turned to Phunky smiling. "What did you expect him to do? March me out? You must be joking". Phunky suddenly rushed towards the office of the manager of the gallery. Dayo remained on the spot with the smile on his face. "Excuse me, sir,may I come in?" "Yes please, how may I help you?"
"That man standing over there has been pestering me for the past few minutes and I came trying to avoid creating a scene. I reported him to one of your securitymen but the guy seemed scared of something". The manager looked at Dayo and smiled knowingly.
"Madam, the security man you spoke to could not have walked that man out. It may interest you to know that the man you are reporting is Mr. Dayo Balogun, the new owner of the Queen's Gallery. Phunky was dumbfounded! How could that be true? How and when did Dayo become so rich to be able to buy such a big gallery? She neither knew what to say nor how to respond. It seemed that she was going to fall. Her legs were growing weak and they began to fail her.
"Not here",Dayo said as he caught her when she began to fall. "you need to get some rest",he said as he supported mher towards the entrance of his office.
"I am fine now. Please let me go home. My mother is waiting at home and above all, I don't want to go into your office". "Your mother? Are you still living with her. Wait a minutes", Dayo was beginning to enjoy himself. "No, you are not leaving now" "What exactly do you want from me?", the asked with desperation. Her frustratation was though not out of total helplessness. She could create scene and secure her release, but that is what she can't afford to do, S he is a very reserved person and her personal integrity also cautioned her. "I do not intend to disturb you. I just want to know when you have time for me. There are so many things to talk about."
" well, i do not know when I'll be free and I am not interested in discussing anything with the either". "There you go again! If you are not going to let us handle this issue as adults, I may as well insist on taking yout time today".
Phunky could see that his mind was made up and there was no point arguing with him. Particularly in his territory. She therefore decided to listen to what he had to say.
Dayo quietly led her to his office. This office is situated at the eastern end of the gallery. It no doubt shows the taste and the creativity of the person who owns it. A large mahogany table with the most exquisite silver-coloured marbel stone tastefully mixed with gold-coloured beads at its edge sit magnificently in the office. It's windows are adorned with beautiful Italian curtains while the floor displays an alluring Arabian carpet that brings back the memory of Tales from the Arabian Nights. "Have your seat", Dayo said. "I promise that I will not take too much of your time".
"Thank you". Phunky replied coldly. She was beginning to perspire heavily. Why was she feeling so uncomfortable? She knew that she was not uncomfortable because of her hatred for him. It is obvious that she was reacting to something beyond that. She was experiencing a feeling she had many years ago. A feeling which she thought had died with Dayo's absence from her life.
She could not deny that a part of her was awakened by coming closer to Dayo again. But a betrayer like him should not invoke such reactions in her. She was angry with herself for feeling this way. He deserved nothing more than the most stinking word she could muster. All these raced through her mind but she didn't say anything. She raised her head to look at him as he opened his refrigerator to pick a bottle of fruit juice.
Dayo has not lost any of his charms. He is still very handsome, though tiny signs of aging were appearing faintly on his face. His firm lips and strong athletic form as well as the grace and elegance with which he carries himself are still intact. Phunky quietly absorbed all these details but frowned at herself when she remembered that she was almost appreciating the man who devastated her life.
"Now, here we go", Dayo said calmly. "How have you been all these years?".
"I tried to get in touch with you before leaving Lagos but I couldn't because I lost my phone. You'll remember that it got lost that night we went to the cinema together. That was the reason why I asked your friend Dupe to give you my note.
My company sent me abroad immediately I arrived Abuja. And since u couldn't call you. I left with the hope that my boys in the office would get to you". "If you really wanted to talk to me, why didn't you collect my number from Dupe?" "I'm sorry, it didn't occur to me then", Phunky said.
"How would it occur to you? You never cared. Anyway, that was in the past. It's good to see that you are alive and doing well. Can I leave be now? Dayo could feel the bitterness in Phunky's remarks. He could feel the depth of her pains. He felt deeply sorry for whatever she might have gone through. He however did not know what she had passed through in the past since she was still single, though he couldn't understand why she was not married yet. "Can I leave now?", Phunky asked again.
As If he had been in a trance, Dayo was jerked into a sudden awareness of where he was. "yes, yes, oh no! Can I have your telephone number?"
"Dayo, we don't really need to meet again. As I said earlier, it is good to see that you are doing well, and you can see that I'm not doing badly either".
Saying stood up and faced her. He gently held her hands and pulled her up. It was obvious that he was suppressing a surge of tears trying to take over his eyes. He pressed those hands in his palms and close his eyes.
"Phunky, I know that you must hate me so much, I don't need to ask why. I know that you feel cheated, betrayed and utterly disappointed. I know that you heart is wounded but I also know that I am innocent of all these. I never intended to betray or cheat you. I am just a victim of circumstance.it is true that I didn't call you all these years but that is because I no longer have your number. I asked my colleagues in Lagos to look for you but they couldn't locate your whereabouts".
Phunky's eyes swelled with tears but she prevented it from flowing. She remembered how she had suffered.
She recalled the taunts of her friends and neighbours. She could still hear the scolding of her teacher and pastor. No, she could forgive Dayo but she can never forget the past. And as long as the past lives in her memory, Dayo can never again become a part of her life. She breathed in deeply.
"Dayo, I forgive you but I'll never again be foolish with my life". Phunky said firmly, "please let me go". Dayo quietly stepped aside and Phunky walked out of his office.
Here is the link to the previous part👇
part 1
part 2
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