Ola waited until Bukky was fully seated in the passenger seat and the door closed before he began what was to be one of the most daunting speeches he had ever made. He chose his words carefully in order not to come across to Bukky that he was rejecting her. He started by speaking at length of his admiration for Bukky’s personality and great character of strength for a young woman, and how strongly he felt attracted to her for some reasons he too could not explain. But he begged her afterwards to let all that had happened within the confine of the elevator earlier in the day to end there. He went further to inform her of how dejected he felt already at the thought of cheating on his partner. He promised to be a true friend but would love it to stop just at that, as his heart belonged elsewhere. He implored Bukky to understand his position reiterating his claims that he was sure that a more deserving man who would truly love and cherish her would come her way soon. It took all the courage in him to bring himself to look at Bukky eye to eye, as he rounded off all he was saying. That was when he noticed the unshed tears that had welled up in her eyes.
The eerie silence that filled the car as Ola awaited Bukky's response was deafening. The near three minutes' wait he was subjected to seemed like forever. His heart was in his mouth as his gaze was fixed on Bukky's lips, as if he did not trust his ears not to miss out on some of the words when they began to drop. He could tell she was struggling not to allow a drop of the welled up tears in her eyes fall. Her lips quavered wildly and Ola could only wonder if a hell of fury was not about to be unleashed.
But it was a relieved Ola who drove out of the compound some moments afterwards. He could breathe normally again as he drove home. The response from Bukky had left him surprised but relieved. Instead of putting him on the defensive, she had readily taken the blame for leading him on for that earlier afternoon incident. It was a reaction he had not anticipated. But the way the words had poured out slowly but convincingly was enough to make him believe he had not lost a friend with his decision after all. A smile formed on his lips as he changed gears when he remembered how Bukky had apologetically begged him to have a place in his heart to forgive her. It had happened all too easy for him.
And then it dawned on Ola that he had not spoken to Kemi for more than six hours. He slowed down the car, produced his phone from his jacket's breast pocket and dialed her number. But her phone was switched off. How he longed to hear her voice now that he had his clear conscience back.
* * *
But it was a relieved Ola who drove out of the compound some moments afterwards. He could breathe normally again as he drove home. The response from Bukky had left him surprised but relieved. Instead of putting him on the defensive, she had readily taken the blame for leading him on for that earlier afternoon incident. It was a reaction he had not anticipated. But the way the words had poured out slowly but convincingly was enough to make him believe he had not lost a friend with his decision after all. A smile formed on his lips as he changed gears when he remembered how Bukky had apologetically begged him to have a place in his heart to forgive her. It had happened all too easy for him.
And then it dawned on Ola that he had not spoken to Kemi for more than six hours. He slowed down the car, produced his phone from his jacket's breast pocket and dialed her number. But her phone was switched off. How he longed to hear her voice now that he had his clear conscience back.
* * *
But long after Ola had driven off, Bukky knew she had not told him the whole truth about her feelings for him. There was nothing sincere about all her claims to him moments back. It was all a charade. How could she be sorry to get what she wanted so much? As she lay on the bed alone to her thoughts, she knew there was no stopping her from loving Ola until she had given all the fights and efforts it would take to sway him over. Loving him was natural. It was not something she had planned. Well if playing along as friends was all it would take to be closer to him, she would gladly play the waiting game.
* * *
It had been a fun day. Kemi could not have wished for better as she was dropped off by a taxi in front of her uncle's house. After the lunch, Dave had taken Miriam and her to see a movie at the Mall. Dave had been all practically all over her. It had taken quite some resistance before he gave up on his offer to drive her home. He had made her feel like a queen, a feat no man had achieved in a long while. And more still, he had not been rash to ask her out like most men would have done. She knew he was only biding his time. But that too was cool. She rang the gate bell with Dave's parting words after she had given him her number playing on her mind; "You'll sure be hearing and reading a lot from me. Hope you're prepared for that." He had said the words with a lot of conviction in them. But as she waited to be allowed into the compound, she knew she had a job on her hand turning down his advances.
Once in her room, the first thing she did was plug her dead phone in. She had a feeling Ola must have been trying to reach her. Momentarily, she forgot all about Dave as thoughts of Ola permeated her mind. Would he be home yet? She hoped he would not get stuck in the traffic. She made it a point to call him once her phone came up as she undressed before heading for the bathroom for a quick shower.
About an hour later, Kemi with a clearer mind turned on her phone and there was no surprise when two text messages popped up, one from Ola and the other from Dave. Ola asked her to reach out as soon as she got the text, he said he was seeing a football game. Dave wanted to know if she was home.
Kemi was scrolling through the phone to call Ola when it rang. It was a strange number. She concluded it had to be Dave calling. But she was wrong, it was Tolani informing that she lost her phone earlier in the day and could only be reached on this new line. She had barely ended the call when another came through, and this time it was Dave on the line. It was a long call. And Kemi enjoyed every minute it lasted. Dave's sense of humour was really tasteful. There was something smooth about him.
Kemi did put a call through to Ola but his phone rang several times without an answer. She got a little irritated. Why on earth wouldn't he pick up his phone? After trying for several minutes with no luck, she switched off her phone in frustration.
Much as Kemi tried, it was difficult shutting out Dave's voice in her head. His words kept playing back over and over. His face too was all over her mind. Could it be she liked him already? She had to caution herself with the thought that a day out should not be enough to draw a conclusion about any man.
She was tempted to switched on her phone to call Ola but changed her mind. She was still angry with him. She reckoned he must have been engrossed in the football game to have missed her calls. And he should be punished for that. This was not the first time his love for the round leather game had stood between them. She had to make him realise, she should be taken more seriously than his 'stupid' passion for football!
* * *
But unknown to Kemi, Ola though in front of the TV but was there with his eyes closed. He had actually dozed off on the couch with his phone on silence. He stirred up about fifteen minutes after Kemi's last attempt at reaching him. And he was a little disappointed with himself when he found out Kemi's phone was again switched off. He waited in vain for over two hours trying to reach her. And for the first time in months, he forgot to send Kemi a good night text before he dozed off on his bed finally for the night.
And that one oversight of the night was to mark the beginning of Ola's struggle for a grip on Kemi's heart.
You May Yet Read The Previous Episode: Love You Another Day Episode 6 (You don't want to miss anything)
* * *
It had been a fun day. Kemi could not have wished for better as she was dropped off by a taxi in front of her uncle's house. After the lunch, Dave had taken Miriam and her to see a movie at the Mall. Dave had been all practically all over her. It had taken quite some resistance before he gave up on his offer to drive her home. He had made her feel like a queen, a feat no man had achieved in a long while. And more still, he had not been rash to ask her out like most men would have done. She knew he was only biding his time. But that too was cool. She rang the gate bell with Dave's parting words after she had given him her number playing on her mind; "You'll sure be hearing and reading a lot from me. Hope you're prepared for that." He had said the words with a lot of conviction in them. But as she waited to be allowed into the compound, she knew she had a job on her hand turning down his advances.
Once in her room, the first thing she did was plug her dead phone in. She had a feeling Ola must have been trying to reach her. Momentarily, she forgot all about Dave as thoughts of Ola permeated her mind. Would he be home yet? She hoped he would not get stuck in the traffic. She made it a point to call him once her phone came up as she undressed before heading for the bathroom for a quick shower.
About an hour later, Kemi with a clearer mind turned on her phone and there was no surprise when two text messages popped up, one from Ola and the other from Dave. Ola asked her to reach out as soon as she got the text, he said he was seeing a football game. Dave wanted to know if she was home.
Kemi was scrolling through the phone to call Ola when it rang. It was a strange number. She concluded it had to be Dave calling. But she was wrong, it was Tolani informing that she lost her phone earlier in the day and could only be reached on this new line. She had barely ended the call when another came through, and this time it was Dave on the line. It was a long call. And Kemi enjoyed every minute it lasted. Dave's sense of humour was really tasteful. There was something smooth about him.
Kemi did put a call through to Ola but his phone rang several times without an answer. She got a little irritated. Why on earth wouldn't he pick up his phone? After trying for several minutes with no luck, she switched off her phone in frustration.
Much as Kemi tried, it was difficult shutting out Dave's voice in her head. His words kept playing back over and over. His face too was all over her mind. Could it be she liked him already? She had to caution herself with the thought that a day out should not be enough to draw a conclusion about any man.
She was tempted to switched on her phone to call Ola but changed her mind. She was still angry with him. She reckoned he must have been engrossed in the football game to have missed her calls. And he should be punished for that. This was not the first time his love for the round leather game had stood between them. She had to make him realise, she should be taken more seriously than his 'stupid' passion for football!
* * *
But unknown to Kemi, Ola though in front of the TV but was there with his eyes closed. He had actually dozed off on the couch with his phone on silence. He stirred up about fifteen minutes after Kemi's last attempt at reaching him. And he was a little disappointed with himself when he found out Kemi's phone was again switched off. He waited in vain for over two hours trying to reach her. And for the first time in months, he forgot to send Kemi a good night text before he dozed off on his bed finally for the night.
And that one oversight of the night was to mark the beginning of Ola's struggle for a grip on Kemi's heart.
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