Kunbi is lying on the settee in the living room watching the TV on Saturday afternoon. Wale comes out of his room wearing his wristwatch. He is dressed in black corduroy pants and a blue striped short sleeved shirt. He picks up his car keys from the glass centre table in front of Kunbi.
“I need to get to the mechanic workshop. I won’t be long”. He says to her.
“Okay”.
As he is about stepping out, Kunbi calls after him; “Wales hold on. Please could you get me some toiletries on your way back?”
Wale turns back and responds, “Okay. Will do”.
“Thanks dear”.
Kunbi goes back to the TV programme she is watching. About twenty minutes later, the doorbell rings and she stands up to open the door. She smiles as she sees Sola looking very handsome as always. She notices that he is wearing a different perfume as the smell wafts up her nostrils but decides not to comment about it.
“Hi. You did not mention you would be coming. Please come in”. She says as she lets him in.
“I needed to see you and be sure you’re doing well”. He answers as he walks into the living room.
“Thanks. I’m okay”.
Sola sits down as he asks, “Where’s Wale?”
“He went to the mechanic’s”.
“You should not be home alone”. Sola says with concern.
“C’mon Sola, what do you mean? I’m not a baby. I can take care of myself”. Kunbi laughs as she sits down.
“Are you sure?” Sola asks as he holds her hands.
“Yes. I am”.
“You know I am a call away if you ever need me”.
Kunbi smiles. “I know. I would get everything sorted out when I go to Ibadan next weekend”.
“Please be careful over there”.
Kunbi is embarrassed by the show of affection and stands up as she removes her hands from Sola’s.
“Ola and I will settle things amicably. What should I get you?” She says as she turns to walk towards the kitchen.
“Nothing. I’m okay. I was actually on my way to see Tolu. I want to give her a surprise visit”. He says smiling.
Kunbi feels a sudden pang of jealousy but pushes it aside immediately. “That’s very thoughtful of you. I hope to meet this babe that makes you really happy soon”. She says smiling.
“Of course. You will. I’ll introduce her to you at the right time”. He responds.
“Now get up and get going”. She says shooing him out.
Sola stands up as he laughs and does a mock salute. “Yes ma”.
“My regards to her and don’t forget to pick up some goodies for her on the way”. Kunbi says as she walks him to the door.
“I won’t forget that. Catch ya later”. He says as he walks out.
Kunbi smiles as she goes to the kitchen. If only Ola could remain the man of her dreams. She sighs as she gets a glass tumbler and retrieves a pack of juice from the refrigerator. Ola is not the man for you. She remembers Wale’s statement. I warned you about Ola. I could see traces of pride, arrogance and jealousy in him. Her mum had said. But I still love him. She says to herself.
She walks back to the living room with her glass of juice and is about to sit down to continue watching the TV when the doorbell rings. She drops the glass tumbler on the dining table and walks towards the door to open it. Could Sola have forgotten something?
As she opens the door, she asks, “Did you forget……”
The expression on her face changes to shock as the stranger at the door asks “I guess you are expecting someone”.
“What are you doing here?” She asks in annoyance.
She is suddenly pushed roughly into the sitting room as Ola holds her tight by the arm.
“Who were you expecting? Answer me”. He growls.
Kunbi grimaces under his grip. “What’s all this, Ola? Why are you here?”
“I’m here because of this”. He flings a brown envelope to her face.
Kunbi picks up the envelope as she asks, “What’s this?”
“Look at it before I pounce on you”. Ola shouts at her.
Kunbi opens the envelope, brings out some photographs and gasps. “What! Ola, how could you? You sent someone to monitor my movements with Sola? I can’t believe this”.
Ola claps his hands in mockery. “Good. Now I see. The same Sola, right?” He screams. “Answer me”.
Kunbi is startled. “I won’t answer you. Wale and my mum were right after all. You are just as jealous and insecure as my father was”.
Ola shouts as he moves towards her in anger. “You still have the guts to talk to me, you slut”.
Kunbi retreats. “Don’t come near me”.
“Don’t do what”. He reaches her in two steps and slaps her twice.
“Ola, you’ve started again. Get out of this place”. Kunbi screams in tears and anger.
“Not until I’m through with you”. He says holding her as she struggles under his grip.
She falls back on the settee and he pounces on her beating her mercilessly. Kunbi struggles with him in vain. Ola overpowers her and she begins to loose her strength. She screams but no one comes to her rescue. Her vision begins to blur and she knows that if she doesn’t do something, Wale will probably come back to meet her dead. She looks to her side as Ola puts his hand on her neck in a bid to strangle her. A ceramic flower vase is on the side stool to her right and she picks it up and hits it hard on Ola’s head with the whole of her strength.
Ola screams in pain as blood gushes out of his head. “You bitch”. He gives her a hard punch on the face and she faints. Ola places his right hand on his head which is already dripping with blood onto his white shirt. “Shit”. He curses as he grimaces with pain and staggers out of the house.
******
Sola is parking his car outside Wale’s apartment. As he steps out of the car to walk towards the house, Wale parks beside him.
“You’re back right on time”. Sola says.
Wale steps out of his car and walks towards the boot which he had opened automatically. “Have you been here earlier?”
“Yes. I came to see you guys but met only Kunbi at home”.
“Okay”.
“You know you shouldn’t leave her alone at home. She needs you by her side now”.
“Yeah. I know”. Wale says as he picks out two shopping bags from the opened boot. “I needed to get to the mechanic and would have been back earlier but she asked me to pick up some toiletries at the supermarket”.
“She said so”.
“So why are you back or did you see me coming?” Wale says as he touches the lock button of the car remote.
“No, I must have dropped my phone in your apartment so I had to come back for it. I am going to see my babe”. He says grinning from ear to ear.
“Na wa. I go love oh. This babe of yours is really doing something to you”.
“You bet she is”. Sola answers laughing.
They walk towards the apartment together. Wale pulls out his key to open the door. Sola walks in first while Wale tries to close the door behind him. As Sola walks in, he assumes Kunbi is still watching the TV which is still switched on. “Kunbi, I forgot…..Oh my God”. He screams and rushes towards Kunbi who is unconscious on the floor and bleeding from the nose. He leans down and places his a finger over her nostrils to check if she is still breathing.
Wale drops the bag of toiletries on the floor and rushes to the living room on hearing Sola’s yell.
“What’s wrong?…. What! Who could have done this?” Wale asks no one.
Sola carries Kunbi fully in his arms and says “Wale, get the keys. She’s unconscious. We need to get her to the hospital quickly”.
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