Oleng looked at the bank manager who to her was smiling foolish, not smugly like he thought he was and thanked him. She quietly got up from her seat and walked away with her head held high. That was the last time she would visit the office. She had come there for materials for her project but the bank manager insisted on going out with her first which would of course end in a hotel room but she refused. To hell with him, she said inwardly.
When she got to the banking hall, she thanked the customer care officer who had been of immense help to her. She ignored the others who probably thought she intended going out with their boss. Well, it was their own headache. Oleng knew she was looking good in her cream corporate shirt and black skirt with high heels so she was not surprised when both, male and female customers stared at her instead of filling their slips. She cat-walked her way out of the bank. She was almost at the gate when she heard her name. She wondered if the bank manger had changed his mind.
βGod! Is this really you?β she heard behind her.
When she turned around, she screamed. Standing before her looking handsome even in his youth corps member uniform was Dave. Not minding that customers pouring out of the bank and security men were staring at them, she hugged him.
βMy God! Is this really you?β he said again and she laughed.
βI canβt believe my eyes also.β she said happily.
βWhat are you doing here? Where have you been? Where did you disappear to?β he enquired all at once.
She laughed. βOne at a time, Dave.β
βYou canβt blame me. I havenβt seen you in six years.β
βI know.β
βCan we go somewhere to talk?β
She shrugged. βNo problem. Are you through here?β
βForget here. Itβs no longer important. You are much more important.β
She laughed. βLead the way.β
βSure.β
They went to a restaurant close by. They sat down and Dave ordered soft drinks for them.
βSo tell me. What happened?β
βItβs a long story.β
βIt always is. Iβm all ears.β
βWell, to cut it short, my mum woke up one morning and decided I needed to relocate here. She seized my phone and laptop so I couldnβt tell any one I was leaving. When I got here, I sat for my exams and made all of them. I got admission into the university here to study banking and finance. Iβm in my final year. I went to that bank to search for project materials.β
βDidnβt you think of us? Didnβt you even think to come and look for us?β
βI tried. Believe me I did. I tried, but my mum would hear nothing of it. I had already made up my mind that I would go back to look for all of you after my graduation.β
βI still canβt believe Iβm seated before you. When my friend in the bank said, βDamn, look at that gorgeous babeβ, I looked up and was shocked to see you looking drop dead gorgeous, leaving the bank. I had to follow you to make sure. I knew you were going to be beautiful but I never envisaged that you would be this gorgeous.β he complimented her grinning while she smiled shyly.
βYouβre not looking bad yourself.β
βReally? βHe laughed. βO Oleng! Iβm so glad to see you. I, Zinny, Marvy even Eddy called your number to no avail. We tried finding you on Facebook but you were not there. Even messages to your yahoo mail kept coming back undelivered. We even went to your house but we were told you no longer resided there. We missed you. We all missed you. I missed you. I thought your mum sent you to school in Saudi Arabia. I thought one of her customers probably told her to bring you there. I never knew you were just a few hours away; Calabar for that matter where I was posted to. How come I didnβt set my eyes on you all these months Iβve been here?β
She shrugged, all smiles. βI donβt know. Maybe it’s fate. Maybe this is the best time to meet.β
βWhen I have just two months to leave? Iβll be leaving here by July.β
βThen we have to make the most of it.β she grinned but became serious again.
βDo you still communicate with the others?β
He shook his head sorrowfully. βNot really. Eddy schooled in Lagos. He studied Geology. I think he just started working in an oil company in Delta state. Zinny is in her final year in a private university studying Nursing. Marvy is also there studying Pharmacy. Sheβs also in her final year.β
βWhat about you?β
βI studied petroleum engineering in Uniport. And as you already know, I was posted here last year June. Iβm serving in an oil company here through my uncle’s connections.β
βBig boy.β she teased and he laughed.
βOleng,β he solemnly called and she knew what was coming.
βYes,β she answered in a small voice. Her drink suddenly became very interesting to look at.
βWhat happened between you and Eric?β
She shook her head as tears gathered in her eyes. She couldnβt believe the thought of Eric still made her cry.Β She took deep breadths to gain control of herself. She felt it was due to seeing Dave again. Sweet memories were beginning to crawl back into her brain.
βEric is a forgotten issue.β she finally told him, albeit firmly.
βThat canβt be. You guys were just too close. I was shocked when I heard you’d broken up. We all asked what could have destroyed the friendship we all called made in heaven.β
βDave, Eric hurt me. He broke my heart. He abandoned me when I needed him most. He broke all the promises we made to each other.β She raised her head to look at him and he saw the unshed tears there. He was sorry to see them.
He shook his head. βIβm sorry. Eric seemed too nice to actually abandon you.β
βAre you calling me a liar? Did he tell you something else? What did he tell you?β she angrily asked.
βHe didnβt tell me anything. Eddy told me he came to Nigeria for his parents’ anniversary. I wasnβt around then. I wished I had seen him then, maybe I would have heard his own side of the story.β
βI donβt care about his own side of the story.β she vehemently said shocking him.
βOleng, I sincerely think that if given the opportunity, you guys can resolve your differences. I really would like to see both of you back together again.β
βThatβs a tall order so donβt count on it.β she solemnly told him, keeping him quiet for a while.
He smiled. βDoes it mean I canβt call you Erica again?β he teased hoping to soften her heart but he was dead wrong.
βYes! Please donβt ever call me that awful name again. My name is Oleng. If you ever call me that name again, Iβll never speak to you again.β she declared robbing him of words again.
He stared at her. He wondered for the umpteenth time what had destroyed the two love birds. It was a shame because he had already day dreamt of how their wedding would be.
He stared at the girl he once and truth be told still had a crush on.Β She was more beautiful than ever. Her skin shone with a glossy silkiness. Seeing her again stirred the old feelings he had for her.
Over the years, she had always been on his mind even though he had had girlfriends. He wondered what she would say if he told her of his feelings. Probably pick her hand bag and run away, never to speak to him again. It was just too soon to do that.
βWhyβre you looking at me like that?β she asked uneasily.
βI was just reminiscing good times. Remember βEricβs not just my best friend, heβs my lifeβ?β Dave threw at her but regretted doing so when her eyes moistened.
βIβm sorry.β he quickly said.
She shook her head. βItβs okay. Yes, I admit it; he was my life but not anymore.β
βSo, someone else is your life right now?β he innocently asked but was amazed when she smiled.
βIs that a subtle way of asking me if I have a boyfriend?β
He had to smile at that.
βNo, I donβt have a boyfriend.β
βWhy?β
βWell, I havenβt seen anyone who has appealed to me yet.β
βIn the whole of Calabar?β
βYes, in the whole of Calabar. What about you? I know girls would have fought themselves naked because of you.β
He laughed heartily. βMe? The introvert?β
βGirls are attracted to gentlemen.β
He shook his head. βNot this one.β
βReally?β she asked in disbelief.
βAlright. Iβve been in one or two relationships but they didnβt work out. Iβm free now.β
She laughed. βStill searching for that missing rib, huh?β
He laughed also. βSomething like thatβ¦what about you? Donβt tell me youβre also searching for your Mr. Right.β
She shrugged nonchalantly and smiled.
βOr is it that youβre still in love with Eric?β he chipped making her frown.
βYou know, if you continue bringing up that guy, this might very well be the last time you set eyes on me.β she firmly told him.
He raised his hands up in mock surrender.
βIβm sorry. Itβs just that itβs quite hard to come to terms with the fact that you guys are no longer together.β
βWell, you just have to accept itβ¦I really have to get going. I have to check out some other banks to find out if I can get any help.β
βYou didnβt get any from that bank?β
βLetβs just say the manager was more interested in giving me help in a hotel room.β
Dave chuckled. βWell, canβt say I blame him. Youβre a very beautiful girl.β
βThanks but if my so-called beauty canβt get me help except via a hotel room, then I prefer being ugly.β
He chuckled again. βCome off it. Girls are dying to be in your shoesβ¦anyway, I have an uncle who is a bank manger here. Why donβt we go and find out if he can help you?β
βReally?β Oleng was all smiles.
βReally.β he replied smiling.
He paid for their drinks and they left the restaurant. Dave took her to his uncle who was of immense help to her. She smiled shyly when his uncle seemed to think she and Dave were going out and told Dave that he hoped she was the one. She had been surprised when instead of Dave to answer in the negative, he smiled and said time would tell.
She had never envisaged going out with Dave. He was a nice guy and a handsome one at that but he was more like a brother to her. She waved the thought aside. He’d probably been joking.
Dave and Oleng continued seeing each other at weekends. Oleng never knew Dave was so much fun to be with. Growing up had changed him. They went to fun places and tourist centers. They got to know each other better. They missed some weekends when he would be called out to the field; off shore and would be unable to make it. They missed weekends also when she was preparing for her final exams.
Dave was waiting for her when she finished her last paper and took her out. They stayed out very late that day and for the second time in her life, she was not only tipsy but drunk also. She woke up with a hangover the following day but smiled through it when she remembered all the fun she had had the previous day.
It was a sad day when Dave actually completed his youth service and had to leave Calabar. It was also a joyful day when he told her that the company had retained him due to his uncleβs strong connections. She was very happy for him and they went out to celebrate. She finally took him home to meet her aunt who was ecstatic.
βYouβre welcome, my dear.β she said beaming from ear to ear. βYou said youβre from Bayelsa, right?β
βYes ma.β Dave politely answered.
βIβve never been there before. I heard itβs a nice place. I can just imagine. Bayelsa and Cross River. It would be a Niger Delta wedding.β
βAunty Vien!β Oleng nearly died of embarrassment.
βWhat?β she sweetly asked. βThis is the first guy youβve brought home. Shouldnβt I think heβs special and heβs the one?β
βAunty Vien! He was my school mate back in Port Harcourt. He was a close friend.β she explained.
βAnd an even closer one now.β She winked at her niece who looked at her in exasperation while Dave couldnβt stop smiling. She hit him.
βWhat?β he feigned innocence.
βQuit that smug look on your face.β
βAlright princess.β
She had to smile at the pet name he had suddenly developed for her. She wondered why guys seemed to think she needed a pet name. She shrugged and tried not to remember the one Eric used to call her.
It had been very hard for her not to remember Eric every time she was with Dave, after all they had been not only classmates but friends as well but Daveβs cheerful nature always made her push the thought of Eric aside. He was really fun to be with.
Dave became a regular visitor in her Auntβs place which made her Aunt very happy. He had been given one month break by the oil company before coming to work for them. When Oleng finished defending and submitting her project work, she decided to pay a short visit to Port Harcourt to seek her old friends out. Dave decided to go down there also; so they traveled together. Aunt Vien was sorry to see her leave but she promised to come back soon. Aunt Vien had become a mother to her and vice versa.
When they got to their estate, she and Dave parted ways. Oleng marveled at the changes in the estate, after all it had been six whole years since she last saw the place. She almost didnβt remember her house. The taxi had passed the house before she told the driver to stop. She couldnβt help the smile that came to her face when she alighted. It felt good to be home. She tried real hard to forget the circumstances in which she had left the place. It was a new beginning for her so she really didn’t want to start thinking of the past.
She was surprised to see a new gate man when the gate was opened after she had knocked. She introduced herself and rolled her box into the compound. The gate man didnβt even offer to help her with it. She wondered what happened to Mr. Andrew. He would have rushed to help her had he been the one. She shrugged and rolled her box towards the house and noticed that her mumβs car, a Peugeot 406 was in the garage and two other cars, a Lexus SUV and a Honda civic. She hoped her mum didnβt have visitors ’cause she wasnβt in the mood for pleasantries.
On impulse, Oleng opened the door. She didnβt even think of knocking first. What she saw when she went inside rocked her to her bones. The living room door was ajar so from the lobby, she could see inside. There, she saw her mum and a man smooching on the sofa. Oleng slowly walked into the living room as if in a trance. She wanted to make sure it was her mum she was seeing.
βI hope Iβm not interrupting anything.β She finally said when she found her voice.
Her mum and the man sprang apart. Guilt was written all over their faces. They both spontaneously stood up and righted their clothes while she just crossed her arms at her chest, watching them in disgust.
βOleng! I wasnβt expecting you.β Her mum finally said smiling sheepishly.
βObviously.β she replied coldly.
βVivien told me you would be coming either today or tomorrow. I assumed tomorrow.β
βWell, you assumed wrong.β she said in concealed anger and fixed her stare on the man.
βYes.β Her mum quietly said and when she saw her looking at the man who was standing beside her, she turned towards him. βThis is a friend of mine, Mr. Akinyele. Wale, meet my daughter.β
The man sprang forward. βHow are you? Iβve heard so much about you. Whatβs your name?β
Oleng sized him up, hissed and left the room. She went to get her box and rolled it to her room. She was glad the door was opened. She went into the room and noticed everything was just as she had left it. It would require a lot of cleaning though. O well, she didnβt have anything doing at present so she was equal to the task. She walked around the room like a stranger.
βWhat was the meaning of that?β Her mum angrily asked her as she came into the room.
βWhere are my phone and laptop? I need them.β she informed her, not even sparing her a glance.
βIβll not take any form of insolence while you are here!β Mrs. Akpan fumed.
βThen I better leave. Donβt you think so?β she threw at her.
Air seemed to leave her mother at that instant like a deflated balloon. She was silent for a while.
βHow was your trip?β she enquired.
βFine, thank you.β she answered albeit coldly.
βCongratulations. I wasnβt in the country that very day else I would have sent you congratulatory messages.β
βThank you. Whereβre my phone and laptop?β she inquired again.
βHave you forgotten you spoilt your laptop when you smashed it against the wall? I threw it away. What about the one I sent to you? You have a phone now so what do you want with the old one? Moreover, your sim would be blocked by now.β
βI need the phone numbers inside it.β
βTo call Eric? Donβt tell me you still havenβt forgotten him?β her mum sneered.
Oleng counted to ten because she felt like slapping her mother for the question she just asked.
βI need to get in touch with my friends who I left behind.β
βItβs been what…six years and you still want to contact them? I would have thought you would have moved on by now. Why donβt you forget about them and start a new life? Who knows, theyβve probably forgotten about you.β
She looked at her mum in bewilderment.
βForget about the people who stood by me through thick and thin? The people who knew about my condition six years ago yet accepted me as their friend? True friends who have never stopped asking of me?…when I need your advice about friends, I’ll inform you but for now, please just get me my phone. Please.β she told her mum with barely controlled anger.
Mrs. Akpan wanted to say something but thought against it and quietly walked out of the room. She returned with the phone.
βHere you are.β
βThanks.β she replied and continued sorting through the contents of her box so her mum had to drop the phone on the bed.
βI didnβt know you were going to come today. I intended hiring someone to clean up your room tomorrow because Iβve been so busy. Just tidy up a few things, Iβll call the person tomorrow.β
βNo need for that. Iβll clean it myself. I donβt have anything doing so I might as well do it myself.β She continued checking out the contents of her box.
βIβll be in the living room if you need me for anything.β
βDonβt worry, I wonβt.β
Mrs. Akpan looked amazed then. She walked to the door and came back.
βOleng?β
βYes?β She still didnβt look up.
βBelieve it or not, Iβm happy youβve come home. Iβm happy to see you.β With that, she walked away.
Oleng sat on the floor and burst into tears. She cried profusely yet she didnβt know why. She wished things had been different between her and her mum. She wept for the lack of a motherβs love. She wept for the two Erics she had lost. She couldnβt bring herself to stop weeping.
When she was spent, she laid on the bed and slept off. It was her mum who woke her up to tell her dinner was ready. She thanked her but told her she wasnβt hungry. She got up and tried the numbers of Zinny and Marvy she found in her former phone after changing the battery but they were no longer in use. She decided to go over to their houses the following day.
She wondered if her mumβs lover boy was still around. She didnβt give a hoot. It just shocked her. No wonder she hadnβt seen her mum in more than a year. She hadnβt spent the previous Christmas holiday with them. She hadnβt known she was rollicking with her lover boy or man rather. She had wondered all these years if her mum had a male friend and now that she knew, the shock of it was overwhelming. She wondered if they would get married. She doubted it. They were probably just having an affair. She chuckled. So her mum was getting down with a man. Her always cold looking mum finally attracted a man. Very funny! What about her motto that all men were bastards? Maybe loneliness finally caught up with her.
Oleng continued her musings while she cleaned up her room. When she got hungry, she brought out the snacks Dave had bought for her on their sojourn to Port Harcourt. She ate them with relish thinking how eating them was better than eating her mumβs food.
She got up early the following morning and continued her cleaning. When she was through, she had her bath and decided it was time to go and look for her long lost friends. As she was about leaving the house, she saw her mum entering the compound in her new car or was it that of her man friend, she wondered.
βWhere are you off to?β Mrs. Akpan asked as she got down from the SUV.
βTo look for my friends.β she said nonchalantly.
βSo youβre bent on looking for them.β she replied.
βYes.β Oleng shortly replied and began walking away.
βHave you eaten?β
βNo.β She didnβt bother turning around.
βAre you watching your weight or something?β her mum quizzed.
She turned around then. βNo. I usually donβt have an appetite in the morning.β
βAre you all right? Hope youβre not sick.β her mum asked with concern.
Oleng looked at her strangely. What was the caring mother act for? βIf you had really known me then, youβd know now that Iβve never been much of an eater. Even while I was pregnant.β she threw at the woman who claimed to be her mother.
She quietly walked away leaving her mother to stare after her. She didnβt care a damn about her feelings. If her mum had been half this caring six years ago, she would have loved her more than life itself but right now, she felt nothing for the woman called Mrs. Linda Akpan, only a void.
Been stalking this page since morning…..sally thank u so much for sharing these stories with us. I must say that I enjoyed take me as I am so much that I had to look for all the episodes…..great work TM
Oleng pls dont date dave,eric is just around the corner.weldone Aurdery & thanks Sally for sharing.
Thanks dear
I want more plsss…..
More coming soon!
I knew Dave would eventually enter the picture. Next episode please!!!
Really? Lol!
Hmmmmmmmmmmm nice one next episode pleaseeeeeeeeeeee. Sally dear thanks keep up d good work
Thanks dear. Coming soon!
I really wanna hear Eric’s side of the story before Oleng falls for Dave.
I keep wondering who deceived Eric.
Audrey, it’s a wonderful story. Sally, thanks a lot for sharing.
We’ll get to hear all about Eric soon. Thanks dear
Thanks for this episode, I thought it wouldn’t come. It was nice meeting someone you never thought you would come across again, but it won’t be fair if Oleng and Dave start dating oooo!
Why? Thanks dear
Oh not dave….great write TM
Lol! I’m AT not TM sha
Woow,Oleng is really vexing.thing will fall into place gradually I hope.mrs Akpan u dearve more,how can u b dat heartless towards ur daughter no mata wat might ve happend.
Hopefully. I wonder too
In as much as I loved their relationship earlier that’s oleng & Eric. She should move on. His side of the story is not needed
Wow! Different strokes for different folks really. I get your point though
Please when is Eric coming back? Oleng please don’t date Dave ooh, he should continue as a brother like that. Good job Timms. When is Take Me As I Am coming back? Missing the Characters ooh…..Lil Rukky, Tonye, Liz….etc.
I don’t know. Lol! Thanks dear
TM… i know you know the story…pls dont let dave date oleng. Mrs Akpan… you don enter am… Hugs Sally.
TM? Why are you against Dave dating Oleng?
oh pls Oleng don’t fall for Dave. i know Oleng still loves him, Erica. he has something to explain to u, listen to him when ever d tym comes….. I really like this story. I always feel carried away, and mostly paying more attention while digesting it….. Aunty Audrey u r really a writer. kudos to you.
thanks to aunty Sally too for bring in such a wonderful writer.
Hmm…thanks dear
Beautiful as usual. Just so eager to know what will happen next. I just hope Eric is back to the country so he n Oleng can meet again
Thanks dear
Alot of posters are acting nollywood here,for pete’sake life hardly work that way,Eric is less likely to be with Oleng that way again,lets see the story from the reality angle and not fantasy……
Oleng should stop being rude to her mum,fine she is cold and heartless towards her but must she do same to her mum????
Good work Audrey
Lol! Oleng is hurt. Thanks dear
Pls I don’t want.Oleng and date to.date pls.what is Eric excuse?
Lol! Why dear?
What way too short. Why nah? Can’t wait till next week to read another. Oleng go girl but please don’t ever date Dave.
Short? Hmm…lol!
Wow what I was expecting, I didn’t get please I am eagerly waiting for the next installment. Kudos Timms
Thanks dear
Eric is also angry with Oleng now for all I know, whoever stopped Oleng’s mail frm reaching Eric, also sent him a different msg frm Oleng, so, d chance of them coming back 2geda is slim. Nevertheless, Oleng shldnt date Dave ‘cos dat wld be a point for Eric to use against her. Well done Audrey, thanks sweet Sally for sharing.
Hmm…nice theory. Thanks dear
hmmm. all things past are past. if it happens that she falls in love with dave, den so be it. eric will be angry bcos he has been fed with lies, sure, he will use her relationship with dave as an excuse but please Aunty Audrey, m tired of watching nollywood movies and reading novels that the third party has to give his love up o. Dave has always loved her. he kept silent bcos of Eric, now that things went bad for them, please oleng should give Dave a chance. *whispers* truthfully i am not as eager to have Eric back with Oleng. To me, he was quickto believe the lie he was told. Aunty Audrey, m waiting for twists n turns ooooo, bcos this novel is going the way ive been imagining it……… Gracias much. Aunty sally.*hugs*
Lol! But you donβt know Ericβs side of the
story yet. Anyway, I donβt watch nollywood
movies, so keep your fingers crossed. I like
readers thinking they know whatβs coming
next, then I shock them. *sticks tongue out*
Thanks dear
Hmmnnn! Keeping my fingers crossed!
Lol! Okay
Hmmm Intresting
Thanks dear
Too short, wanted more. Good job Audrey.
More coming. Thanks dear
Just changed the meaning of hypocrite in my dictionary to “Mrs Akpan”. Men are evil, men are wicked, men are this and that, see where she landed. Just waiting for when she’ll spill her “i’ve changed” story; Karma obviously won’t hear that one.
As for Oleng and Dave dating, i’ve been patiently waiting for it to happen. And i’m willing to bet my new #100 note that when Eric hears about it, he too will turn to Sherlock Holmes and start searching for old friends network connection.
Have an awesome weekend Audrey!
Lol! Emm…care to share the new #100 note with me? Thanks dear
that’ll only happen if i lose the bet. ;(
Let’s wait and see
Oleng must not date Dave oooo.i dont want tha.she must be with Eric again. My heart will be torn apart if she eventually end up with Dave…..pls dont make me cry Aunt Sally
Aww! Please don’t let it tear your heart, dear. Eric is in the past now. She has to move on.
Lol! But you don’t know Eric’s side of the story yet. Anyway, I don’t watch nollywood movies, so keep your fingers crossed. I like readers thinking they know what’s coming next, then I shock them. *sticks tongue out* Thanks dear
I just wish Oleng answered Mr Akinyele’s greeting at least even if the answer wld be a cold one. Her beef is with her mother na!
Oleng and Dave yes, at least just till Eric comes back into the pic, if ever. Eric is there having other girlfriends,she can’t put her life on hold for old love biko.
Hmm…
NICE STORY, I JUST WISH U WILL POST ALL EPISODES TODAY. ALL I WILL DO IS LAY ALL MY BED AND READ ALL DAY, SINCE MY COMPANY HAS CLOSE FOR THE YEAR AND I DONT HAVE ANYTHING TO DO
Lol! Sorry about that
I wee kill someborri on dis Blog o,why do you people like doing crazily insane write-up,Keep it up Audrey,Nd also sorry for not commenting on Previous Episodes,kinda had Network Ish! Merry Christmas…..NEXT!!!!