Β Β Β Β Β Β It has been two months since Tehilah relocated to Lagos, to write a new book according to her contract with Bamanga publishing. In that time, she had rented an apartment in the heart of the Lekki, with the help of her first advance payment. She had chosen the apartment because of its ceiling to floor length windows, which gave her a view of the beautiful city of Lagos. It was at this window she stood, with a cup of coffee in her hand.
Β Β Β Β Β Β Tehilah had stayed the night working on the novel she promised Bamanga publishing, yet this morning, she still felt energized, and it was not due to the delicious cappuccino she was drinking. Everything felt right in her world. Today was the re-launch of her first novel, and the novel was already getting an offer from a top movie production house abroad, to be adopted. Even her relationship with Wale was going smoothly, despite the distance between them. It was just two months old, but Wale was already asking to see her parents. They had fixed a date for next month to travel to Port-Harcourt together.
Β Β Β Β βI feel so good, the universe is in love with meβ she screamed on top of her voice, not minding if she was disturbing her neighbors. βToday, I am going to parteβ
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Β Β Β Β Β That evening, after the companyβs book launch, Tehilah organized an after party for all her well-wishers. Everyone ate and drank to their fill. However, Tehilah was not happy because, Wale had promised to come, but failed. He missed the launch and even the after party. Tehilah looked down sadly at the dress Bimpe had helped her pick. She had worn it to look like a goddess for him, but all her efforts had been for naught. She leaned by a pillar and watched her friend Bimpe have fun with her plus one. Then, she felt a tap on her shoulder, and turned to find Haliru looking at her with concern in his eyes.
Β Β Β Β Β Β In two months, they had developed a friendship that went beyond an employer and an employee. They had lunch outings and even went shopping for groceries on some weekends.
Β Β Β Β Β βHi, you do not look happyβ he said.
Β Β Β Β Β βOh Haliruβ she managed a small smile, to conceal her despair.
Β Β Β Β Β βYou look alone, where is your plus one?β he looked around, pretending to look for the man that came with Tehilah.
Actually, he didnβt need to look, because he had watched Tehilah all through the night and seen her calling someone on the phone over and over again. He knew, that her man did not show.
Β Β Β Β βHe bailedβ Tehilah couldnβt keep the bitterness out of her voice.
Β Β Β Β βAllow me to take his placeβ he said and stretched out his hand for Tehilah to take.
Β Β Β βOh Iβm fine. I will soon head home anywaysβ Tehilah looked away, because she was angry and just wanted to be left alone.
Β Β Β Β βNot until we have a dance, come on, just one danceβ he insisted and took her hand, pulling her to the center of the room.
Β Β Β Β βDJ, please give us a special song so I can dance with this special womanβ he said and all the single ladies in the hall went green with envy.
Β Β Β Β Β Haliru was the most eligible bachelor in Lagos, and even the whole country, for he was handsome, wealthy and famous. He was every girlβs dream, but yet Haliru had taken himself out of the dating game, so much that people began to wonder if he was gay.
Β Β Β βI think you are a gold mine with a lot of promise. I can help you discover your capabilities, if you let meβ Haliru whispered into her ear as they danced to the music blaring.
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Β Β Β Β Wale gave her an excuse for not coming to the launch, and though Tehilahβs instincts told her that things were not right, she pushed her doubts aside.
Β Β Β βHe said he was busy, he really would have come, but for his scheduleβ she made excuses for him in her mind.
Nevertheless, whenever she thought back to the call, something told her that perhaps it was time to take a break from him.
Β Β Β Β βStop bickering, I do not like it when you do that. You should understand my kind of job, it does not allow me much free timeβ he had said when she complained of how sour he had made her feel.
Β Β Β Β Β Β Tehilah stood up from her desk, where she had been writing scenes that looked so much like her life, even though they did not follow the plot of her book, and stretched her limbs. She knew she needed a break, else her thoughts would make her go mad, so she walked to her bedroom, to take a shower.
I will go visit Bimpe at the boutique, she surely knows how to cheer me up
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β As soon Tehilah alighted from the green painted taxi cab, in front of Bimpeβs boutique, her phone began to chirp. Seeing Waleβs name flashing on her screen, she did not know how to feel, whether to be sad or happy.
I hate it, when you pull me back and forth.
She stepped into the posh boutique and waved at Bimpe, who was instructing a salesgirl on dressing the mannequin, and went straight to the dressing room. She needed to have a serious talk with Wale, and she didnβt want Bimpe eavesdropping. However, instead of a conversation, she argued with Wale, until they were both exasperated and she hung up the call on him. This was their usual activity since the book launch; they couldnβt hold a conversation without getting angry at each other, and it was because, Tehilah still felt bad about the book launch episode, and Wale had not thought it wise to apologize.
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β After hanging up, she turned to leave the dressing room, and bumped into Bimpe, who stood with her hands folded under her breasts.
Β Β Β Β Β βWere you eavesdropping on me?β Tehilah asked in a biting tone. She was already on the edge over Waleβs behaviour and having Bimpe eavesdropping on her was the last straw.
Β Β Β Β βI was going to take a smoke, but could not help listening in on your conversationβ she walked into the dressing room, and pulled her friend to sit down on the couch in the dressing room.
Β Β Β Β βGirl, you are dating yourself, or to put it more appropriately, you are a side chickβ Bimpe rolled her eyes in an exaggerated manner.
Β Β Β Β βHow can you say that to me, you do not have all the factsβ Tehilah interjected, and walked out of the dressing room, stomping her feet all the way to the door.
Β Β Β Β βUse your head, Tehilahβ Bimpe said to her friendβs retreating figure.
All through the ride home, Tehilah pondered on what Bimpe had said. She felt troubled, and confused. She didnβt know what step to take.
We are just having problems like every normal couple. Bimpe didnβt have to make a mole hill out of it.
She picked up her phone to call Wale. I am going to apologize, she thought as she dialed the number on her phone. She only saw the erratic car approaching at the last minute. Due to fear of a collision, she swerved the car, and it ran into a street light. Head collided with the steering wheel with a force that knocked her out. Suddenly, everywhere became dark.
oh wow!! this is getting more interesting by the day. Thank you Queen Bee and please give us christmas bonus too ooo*winks* . Compliment of the season to you,
She went to the boutique in a cab, where did she get d car she drove into the light with?
You would understand in the next episode
Lol….. im trying to appreciate the story honestly, but it’s just disjointed…
Woe… I enjoyed this episode but wait o I thought she came with taxi? So, how come she was driving?
You would understand this, in the next episode. Thanks for reading.
Nicee, I hope Bimpe is not right with her assumptions
Tehilah, there is a certain Mr Haliru Bamanga. I was also curious about the car, patiently waiting for next eppie