Chapter 2
The first wind of fate blew rather too soon for Ola. The day had begun like every other Monday. There was nothing out of place about it. He was woken by the inbuilt stress alarm in him as usual, some few minutes before five. It took a look at the bed to remind him that Kemi was not beside him. She had left for an uncle’s house somewhere at Ogba the previous day, after spending two wonderful nights. Ola mumbled some words of thanks to God for making him see another day. He picked his phone and was tempted to dial Kemi’s number but decided against it, and instead began typing a text. When he was through, he read the text half aloud to himself but not loud enough to disturb his immediate younger brother that lay on the bed sleeping beside him, as slowly as he could help it:
It is said that what a man feels
Is greater than what he thinks
But how do I resolve it
Now that what I think and feel are same!
I think, feel and now I know, you’re the one.
I love you, Kemi.
Good morning…
He liked
it and all he could do was hope Kemi felt same way. He added a kiss emoticon
before pressing the send key. He rushed into the bathroom thereafter and about
twenty minutes later, he was all set for work.
He was
all happy with himself as he drove to work. His phone rang occasionally but he
did not bother to cast a glance at it. Taking calls while driving was always a
NO for him. Whatever the call was about had to wait.
Nothing
warned him about the fate that lay ahead of him that day. But if only Ola knew
how the day would change a lot about the future he dreamt about Kemi and him.
You May Yet Read The Previous Episode: Love You Another Day Episode 3 (You don't want to miss anything)
* * *
Bukky Roland was in exhilarated spirits as she stepped into the office building. Monday was always a day she looked forward to ever since she joined the organisation, five months ago. Her excitement was only a quarter borne out of her love for the job. It was more about the opportunity Monday usually brought; another week to be closer to the man with that intense effect on her system.
Bukky was a young woman in her late twenties. She was a beautiful woman with such delicate looks. She could easily put her age at five years younger than the actual figure, and not too many people would argue that. And no one who did not know her would believe she had a seven year old daughter, a product of a marriage that crashed eighteen months ago. A daughter she loved dearly, the only thing that was not a mistake about her failed marriage. Only one person seemed to be competing with Temilade, her daughter, for a place in her heart. And that one man was Ola Johnson.
Bukky found herself too weak for her feelings for Ola. It was something she could not explain. There were times she had even scolded herself for feeling that way about a man, after all the inhumane experience she had suffered from Dennis Oboko, her estranged ex husband. But yet she felt helpless anytime the thoughts of Ola seized her. And this happened a whole lot of the time. Ola practically lived in her blood stream. She could hear his voice and laughter, and even smell his cologne even when they were miles apart. No, she was not only crazy about him, she was convinced she was in love with him.
One look at the parking lot told her Ola was around. She did not bring her car, a step in the calculated scheme she had mapped out for the day. She checked on her wristwatch as she mounted the elevator to the fifth floor that housed Yellow Vine Ventures, the time was twelve minutes to eight, the official resumption time. She reckoned the few minutes would be enough to get a word or two out of Ola. Her walk to her desk was punctuated by exchange of pleasantries between her and some colleagues, but she tried to make the greetings as brief as possible. She had ensured her relationship with everyone in the male dominated organisation was near strictly official, except Ola. And this she knew was not lost on anyone at the firm. She dropped her bag at her desk and headed for the only place she was convinced Ola would be. She rapped on the door and it took all the patience in her to wait the few seconds that Ola waited before urging her in. Her heart was racing fast like that of a sixteen-year old on her first date.
"Hey. Good morning," she offered rather excitedly as soon as she opened the door.
"Good morning," Ola returned looking up from the the computer screen. "How was your weekend?"
"I would say good, thanks. And I'm sure yours would have fared much better, right?"
"How do I know that unless I'm told how yours went down!" Ola said amidst a smile. "Maybe you should tell me about it."
"You're sure about that?"
"Try me"
"Okay. I owe you an explanation but it's got to be over lunch. Agreed?"Ola didn't see that question coming. It left him a little fazed. But he knew there was no way he could turn her down. He had unwittingly committed himself.
"It's alright. I'll come get you."
"That would be no problem. Got to go now. At least now that I'm sure you're back at work in one piece," Bukky said as she turned to leave.
"Thanks. I do appreciate. And hope the day offers great stuffs."
"I hope so too. See you..."And with that Bukky was out of the office, leaving Ola gazing and deep in thought. He was not so naive not to know when a woman wanted him. But he was also aware that his heart belonged elsewhere. He promised himself he would be careful as his eyes and attention once again returned to the computer before him. And it took him less than three minutes to forget about Bukky's visit to his desk.
But for Bukky, it was a different story. She checked on her watch as she settled into her chair, ready to begin her primary assignment at the firm. It was just three minutes past eight. 1:30 p.m. seemed so far away. But she was excitedly looking forward to it. Everything was working out well so far, according to plan.
* * *
Meanwhile, Kemi was just stirring up from sleep. She was in no hurry to get out bed as she reached for her phone. She had no misgivings about what to expect while waiting for the phone to boot. She read the text from Ola with all the attention she could muster. She was not great at composing romantic texts, so she decided against typing one, and so put a call through to Ola's number instead. She could tell it would be a great day after the call. But little did she know the day was a beginning of a new twist in her love life.
N.B.: How much careful can Ola get in trying to handle Bukky's advances? What ace does Bukky have up her sleeve? Would it play out well?
Join me again next week Saturday to find out the answers to the above questions in Episode 5 of 'LOVE YOU ANOTHER DAY' series...
Lovely Weekend.
