Being Human (14)

Jay zoomed into the compound without paying any attention to Musa who was hailing him as usual. He didn't have time for greetings and jokes; not at that moment. He parked his car and with the rage he still felt, walked towards the door and began hitting the door.
Saidat ran to the door before her madam would hear the noise from her bedroom upstairs, to see who who it was.

"Oga Jay, good morning"

Jay nodded in response and walked past her without saying a word, straight to the bedroom. He opened the door without knocking and blurted out:

"What is wrong with you? Why are you so bent on ruining my life? Why?"

Mrs. Martins was seated at her dressing table, taking off her jewelry. She knew Jay was going to come after she had barged in on him that Sunday morning, and she had him exactly where she wanted. She did not take her face off from the mirror, as she continued slowly with the jewelry.

"Are you deaf?" Jay could feel the heat and vibration passing through the pores of his skin. He tried to ask himself one more time why he had to come to her house to state his point but he hurriedly pushed the thought aside and decided that since he was there already, he would make his decision not to go on with the affair clear and afterwards, he would know the next step to take.

Mrs. Martins ignored Jay's shouting.

"I spoke with your mum yesterday, you know?"
She turned her face slightly from the mirror to catch a glimpse of Jay's countenance. She almost laughed out, seeing that Jay looked helpless. He needed her, she thought to herself; else he wouldn't be here, in her bedroom.

"She was so excited on phone, she told me how glad she was about your progress here in Abuja. She... No, We prayed for you and my kids during the conversation. Your mum adores you, your determination and the progress you've made so far. You wouldn't want to disappoint her, i'm certain. So, sit, let's talk about making this work..." 
She patted the edge of the bed, with a smile on her face, beckoning Jay to sit.

Jay could not believe his ears. He thought for a second what his mother would do if she eventually found out what the actual situation was. He dismissed the thought almost immediately; it would break his mother's heart, and he was ready to right his wrongs right there and then. He tried to calm himself down, as he mentally began putting his thoughts together before voicing them out.
Mrs. Martins turned to face Jay and was about getting up when Jay started:

"See, I appreciate all you've done so far. I just don't want to go on like this. I want a life of my own, a family of my own, and honestly, I don't care about all the connections, the money and all of these; not anymore..."
Jay couldn't even believe his own self, speaking all calm at this critical moment but he went on all the same.

"I just want out!"
"... And I want the prayers you prayed with my mum over the phone come to pass. I know you can let me be. Please, let me be..."

It felt more like a plea, it wasn't what he had planned but he couldn't be bothered. If this was what he had to do to get her off his back, he was ready.

"you can have the contract, i'll move out of the house; i'll pay you back the rent you've paid for the restaurant; just let me be!'

There was an uncomfortable silence in the room after Jay was done talking. He waited a bit to see if Mrs. Martins will respond to all he had said, but she just stood up and walked towards the window, drawing the curtains to allow the ray of light into the room.
Jay turned back to take his leave after waiting for about 30 seconds. As far as he was concerned, he was done with this conversation. He walked out of the room, down the stairs and out of the house; got into his car, drove to the gate and handed two 1000naira notes to Musa. He smiled as he watched him bow in appreciation and drove out of the premises, never to return again.

***
"Sir, we're here"
Mr. Shupo stretched out his hand from the driver's seat to tap Jay on the knee, after calling him twice without response and seeing that he was lost in thought at the back where he was seated.

"Oh, i'm sorry. I didn't even realize." 

"No problem sir. Welcome back" Mr Shupo smiled again as he opened the door to help out with the small box Jay had in the back seat.

"Thanks again. I'll see you around." Jay said as he waved and watched him drive off.

He was now here, he sighed heavily and prayed silently that everything turned out well.
He could feel his heartbeat going faster. He shook his head in a bid to forget all that he was thinking about from the airport where Mr. Shupo picked him up till that moment. There was no going back now. He took his box in one hand and his phone in the other.
He began taking slow, calculated steps towards the door as he dialed her number.

***

"Amen, Amen mummy. Thank you so much. Love you too ma...
wait, a call is waiting... It's daddy... okay, talk to you later..."

"hello daddy... thank you so much. Amen, amen... awww, thanks dad... love you"

Dolapo was all smiles. She knew the day will continue that way - calls from family members, friends, colleagues; and she was prepared to blush all the way, especially since she had no plans to celebrate in a big way.
She rolled on the bed and smiled again. It was here, her 28th birthday, but there was no ring on her finger and she wasn't sure there would be any in the coming months. She laughed at herself, at the fantasies she had built around herself for the last one year of her life.
The smell of something nice alerted her fully. She knew it was Lizzy's handiwork.
She got up from her bed to go see what Lizzy was cooking...

"happy birthday to you...."

Dolapo was shocked, happy and embarrassed at the same time. She hurried back into the room to take a covercloth. Lizzy and Febi followed her inside.

"Oh my God, Lizzy... You should have told me pastor was here naw"

"I'm sorry. You were sleeping peacefully, I couldn't wake you. Happy birthday dearie" Lizzy hugged her friend.

"And you, Febi. You finally came to my house... Thanks dear." Dolapo hugged her church friend, she was surprised that Febi could show up at her place that early. Well, it wasn't so early. It was already 10.30am.

"Okay, okay. You have to get dressed ASAP. Remember you're taking us out" Lizzy cut in.

"Woo, no plans jor. You know now, no salary yet..." she laughed.

"Seriously, just get into the bathroom. We're going out" Lizzy persuaded further, before rushing back to the living room to check on Dare and then to the kitchen to check on what she was cooking.

In no time, Lizzy was back in the room with a dress she presented to Dolapo as a birthday gift; she then walked to her shoe rack and brought down the pair of shoes Dolapo had bought at the mall in Abuja, which coincidentally matched the dress she got for her.

"Awww. Lizzy... Thank you so much. It's beautiful" Dolapo blushed.

"I know right?... Now, hurry. We're going out soon, courtesy Dare" Lizzy laughed; she was so excited that everything was walking out as planned.

Dolapo couldn't object as Febi had obviously been assigned to dress her up. She laughed as she watched her friends go about executing their coup.
"Febi, you'll tell me what's going on, abi?"

She tried to get Febi to talk but she won't bulge. She just laughed at Dolapo and helped out with her make-up and hair.
At exactly, 11.10am, the celebrant was ready and she stepped out of the room with Febi helping her with her purse like a celebrity.
She couldn't help the laughter and a few tears that made their way down her cheeks simultaneously. This was so thoughtful of her friends. She could feel the love; she kept saying thank you as Dare led them out to his car and drove off to a place she was yet to figure out.

***

The Orient looked beautiful from outside. Dolapo had always talked about visiting the restaurant on her own once she had enough money to throw around. She had only been there with her boss on a few occasions when she had to finalize agreements with her top clients over lunch.
Dolapo wondered what they were doing there but she decided not to ask any more questions since all her previous questions had gone unanswered. She followed her friends into the restaurant. Little did she know what was waiting for her.

***
First, it was Lanre, next, Chisom. Dolapo looked round and noticed three people from her office, seated at the corner of the restaurant. She was excited at the faces she saw. She pinched Lizzy as they walked closer towards them. She couldn't tell who the other people backing her were. She was just excited that Lizzy could pull this off.
As they got to the edge, she began hearing one of the ladies who was backing, her sing out...

"Happy birthday to you, dear Dee, happy birthday to youuuu"
Folusho stood up from her seat, walked towards Dolapoo and hugged her best friend, who was now standing with her mouth agape.

"Oh my God. Folushooo"
Dolapo couldn't help herself. It was all too much to take in; her best friend was here all the way from Lagos, just to celebrate this day with her. She hugged her tight and let the tears of excitement, of appreciation and joy roll down.
Her colleagues and a few friends from church, including Febi's fiancee were also present.
Before long, Dare began his MC job and the surprise birthday party kicked off.

***

He walked into the restaurant with his phone in one hand and his other hand in his left pocket. He was nervous. He had called Folusho again, having knocked on Dolapo's door without anyone responding. He had taken the next cab to the restaurant after he was told that a party was holding in Dolapo's honour.
All he wanted Folusho to help him with was to make Dolapo give him audience. This was hard, he knew.
As he walked towards the section of the restaurant where Dolapo and her friends were seated, laughing, chatting and having a good time, he dialed Folusho's number again but she wouldn't pick up. She most likely didn't hear her phone ring.

Jay took faster steps till he got to their table.

"Happy birthday babe... i'm still very sorry. I regret all my actions and I sincerely want you back..."
Jay began by getting on one knee, not minding the look on the faces of everyone and particularly on Dolapo's face, and the fact that it was beginning to look like he was ruining the exciting moment.

Folusho and Lizzy looked at each other at the same time and then looked away. Folusho prayed silently that nothing awful would happen, as she squeezed her friend's shoulder.
Dolapo was indeed shocked; she couldn't react reasonably to the drama that was unfolding before her very eyes. She decided to ease the tension that was already mounting up. She laughed out as she looked back at everyone seated, and the others joined in the laughter, though, quietly.

"Get up, Jay. Thank you so much for showing up..."

"No, let me stay this way. I still have one more request to make" Jay insisted as he took out a small box from his left pocket.

Dolapo stood up from her seat before Jay could take the next step to opening the box and doing what she thought he was about doing. She hugged her best friend and flat mate, thanking them for a beautiful party, then smiled at her colleagues and friends from church, before excusing herself for a moment. She walked past Jay, and out of the building. She needed some air.

Jay stood up immediately and rushed after her. He found her standing by Dare's car. He was determined to hear what she thought. She had not spoken a word to him since that Sunday. It killed him to see her hurt that way without voicing out.
He walked towards her, a part of him wanted to hug her so tight; he decided it was best he didn't .

"I'm sorry, babe"

"I know you are. I just don't know what you want me to believe or do right now" 
Dolapo wiped the tear from her eyes as she listened to Jay relay the episode that took place after he dropped her off at the airport that Sunday.

"... and till date, she hasn't called me, nor pestered me. I'm doing fine, hun. The restaurant is not doing bad. It's gradual but we'll get there. Please believe me..."

"What about the house?"

"Yeah, that. I've been saving. It costs a lost to rent a good flat in Abuja but very soon, i'd move out of that place. Like I said, she hasn't bothered me since then..."
Jay went on one knee again and brought out the box; this time he opened the box and was about asking...

This was what she had always longed for. It was the perfect day, the perfect place and it was 12months she and Jay had been dating, but she just stared on at the beautiful ring in the box. She was confused, and she couldn't go on with that confusion.
Dolapo sniffed as she pushed back the tears this time.

"I'm sorry too, Jay. A part of me feels responsible for all these. I guess I put too much pressure on you with this whole marriage thing. I'm really sorry..."

"No babe. It's okay. Please don't say No, please..."

"It's a beautiful ring, Juwon. But I really think we should chill. Let's sort this issue out first, let's get Jay's cuisine fully rooted, and let's get accommodation settled. Let's just see where this will lead..."

Jay sighed; Dolapo sighed too. She had eventually voiced out what she had decided upon. She loved Jay, no doubt but she had to be double sure.
She helped him up as he got up from his knee.
They hugged each other so tight for what seemed to be like forever.

Dolapo released herself from his hold, took him by the hand, and  smiled at him

"Thanks for coming all the way... 
Party is still on; and you're welcome..."

Jay smiled back at her. He was not giving up; not now, not anytime soon.
They both walked back into the restaurant to join the others at the party.

*The End*

*Being Human
*Faith Tunde-Yara
*photo credit: bossip.com