Twenty-one | Letting go

If you love someone, set them free.
If they come back they are yours; if they don't they never were— George Sand

~•~

Nnamdi turned off the ignition as he approached the big black gate and sighed as he raked his fingers through his dense hair—a habit he was fond of these days. Getting out of his car, he got the package from his backseat, he took long strides towards the gate and knocked anxiously. He hadn't seen her since the party which was expected because it was the holidays.

It was just four days to the new year and Nnamdi decided that it was time to let go of the past and make new decisions.

New year new life right?

Wrong!

Nnamdi was as anxious as hell. He could vividly remember the night he told her that he wouldn't bother her anymore. Well he was doing the opposite of 'not bothering her' now.

Nnamdi raised up his knuckles to rap at the gate again before the small square by the gate squeaked open.

"Ah Oga nah you? (Oh Sir it's you?)" Ahmed asked as he peered through the square hole.

No it's my ghost, Nnamdi thought as he forced a smile.

"Is Kemi in?"

"She dey (she is)," The gate man answered as he opened the small gate allowing Nnamdi to enter the large compound.

If he was feeling anxious before, Nnamdi didn't know what he felt now as he stood in awe of the beautiful compound. Flower pots placed at strategic positions adorned the sides of the walls. The big gate did a very good job of hiding the beautiful green and cream duplex from the outside world.

As he followed Ahmed to the glass house in front of the duplex, he couldn't help but admire the exquisitely designed interlocks on the ground. His heart dropped when he noticed that there were three cars in parked in the compound. Maybe her parents were around, he thought.

Nnamdi wondered how he would introduce himself as he didn't meet up to Engr. Femi's standard.

Yes, he had done a quick background check and Kemi hadn't told him half of what her family was that day at the cafeteria. Engr. Femi Bankole was stinkingly rich, the Gormet magazine had described him as an icon thriving in a foreign land—he being a Yoruba man living in Enugu. The familiar feeling of low self-esteem unnerved Nnamdi.

Ahmed turned to him as they reached the front door. "Big madam dey oh but Oga no dey. Him travel. (Madam is in but her husband isn't as he travelled)," he said as if he had read Nnamdi's mind. Nnamdi nodded slowly.

"Oga, madam Kemi no dey happy at all this holiday. She just dey fake smile I no know wetin cause am but if nah you, better do something oh. (Sir, Kemi has not been very happy this holiday. If you caused it please try and do something about it)"

"What do you mean?" Nnamdi asked the gate man, his confusion visible on his face.

"You no understand? Okay make I speak English. (You don't understand me? Let me speak English.)"

Nnamdi laughed wondering how Ahmed planned to do so. "It's fine just continue. I understood what you meant." The gate man heaved a sigh of relief as he had been trying to construct a proper sentence in his head.

"Oga, white man dey say time and tide no dey wait for any man. That means if you want something eeh better do get am now oh. You no know wetin tomorrow go bring. (Sir there is a saying that time and tide waits for no one. If you want something do all you can to get it.)"

"I understand thank you," Nnamdi chuckled slightly.

"No problem oga!" Ahmed smiled as Nnamdi handed him some naira notes as compensation for the advice.

He took deep breaths before knocking on the metal door with the door knocker. He stood back and waited.

"Hello dear." A woman greeted as she opened the door.

"Good afternoon ma'am. Is Kemi in?" Nnamdi spanked himself in his mind for asking that foolish question.

"Yes, I can help you?" she persisted.

"Um... Yes, I'm here to see her."

The woman who was a replica of Kemi narrowed her doey eyes as she studied him thoroughly. Nnamdi held his breath suddenly feeling under dressed in his black shirt on denim pants and brown loafers.

After what seemed like eons, she smiled brightly as she held the door ajar and ushered him in. "Come in dear."

"Thank you ma'am," he bowed slightly.

"Oh that's so thoughtful, thank you. Are you Kemi's heartthrob?" she inquired as he handed her the Christmas hamper filled with exotic biscuits, candies and beverages.

Nnamdi was tongue tied as he didn't expect the question. He gulped and replied, "Actually I really like Kemi. Ma'am I..."

"Don't mind me sweetie and just call me Bisola." She smiled happily as if he had just announced that he was here to pay the bride price.

"Ma'am is fine with me," Nnamdi said politely. As Bisola smiled, Nnamdi knew he had just scored a point. He didn't know of any African parent that would want someone way younger than them to address them by their first name.

Although, Mrs Bankole looked ten times younger than whatever her age was in her Jean shorts and cherry t-shirt. She had her long natural hair in a weave and her red rimmed glasses were perched on her button nose.

"What's your name sweetie?"

"Nnamdi Okwundu," he answered as he admired the expanse living room.

Kemi Okwundu did have a nice tune to it, she thought and laughed at her stupidity.

"Please sit down. Last time I checked my chairs didn't have nails," she joked as she led him to the red couch in the sitting room.

"Actually they do ma'am. They were made with nails." Nnamdi chuckled as she laughed at his observation. He didn't know when his fears had turned into excitement as he longed to see Kemi after a long time.

It has only been two weeks fool.

"You are so adorable," Bisola cooed as she pinched his cheeks and Nnamdi tried to no avail to hide his embarrassment. Looking at the handsome man, she decided that she was going to have a lot of cute grandbabies.

"Where are my manners?" she grumbled face palming herself. "Do you want anything sweetie?"

"No, I'm good thanks." Nnamdi looked amused at the animated woman as he rubbed his cheeks. He didn't need to think twice about where Kemi got her attitude from.

She shrugged and tugged at his cheek again. "I'll go and call your sweetheart. Make yourself comfortable," she added as she looked at the man perched apprehensively at the edge of the couch.

"Thank you ma'am. I would like that."

💎💎💎💎

Kemi flung the pink paper across the room and flopped back down on her bed. She rubbed her forehead as she was having a mild headache. She wondered the coward that was sending these letters and so wondered why the pattern of the letter had changed;

Two lovers hands entwined
Gaze into each other's eyes in love

Two fragile hearts inclined
As one lay in a pool of blood

As the moon moves across the sky,
I finally claim what is mine

I've waited long enough
For this paper heart of yours

Ahmed had brought it in for her earlier this morning saying that a young lady had dropped it at the gate. To Kemi's disappointment, he hadn't seen her face.

Kemi cranked her head towards the door as her mother peered in.

"You have a visitor sweetie," she announced happily.

"Um... Okay. Why are you so excited?" Kemi asked yawning.

"Maybe because of the fact that you are having a visitor that isn't Ada or Nifemi and is not even a woman!"

"A man?"

"No a goat," Bisola said sarcasm lacing her voice.
Kemi laughed at her mother's childishness.

"Okay. I'm coming down. Did he tell you his name?" She asked as she pushed her feet into her fluffy flip flops.

"He said it's Nnamdi and he's so cute!" Bisola smiled. Without noticing that her daughter had a mortified look on her face, she continued. "Kemi darling why didn't you tell me that you knew a handsome man? I mean I'm your mother after all or are you not serious with him..."

"Mum—"

"He's nice too. And does he work at your office..."

"Mother!"

"Yes dear?"

"Tell him to leave," Kemi said as she lay down on her bed using the sheets to cover herself.

"What?! Why?" Bisola came closer and spanked her daughter's bottom over the flowery sheets. "Get up and get ready!"

"Nothing, it's just—I don't want to see him," she sobbed softly. Kemi had never felt so confused in her life.

Why was he here? He said he didn't want me, didn't he? Why does he make me feel this way?

"Kemi stop behaving like a child!" Her mother yelled yanking the sheets off her head cutting into her train to thoughts.

"I'm not behaving like a child! You don't even know him!" she yelled back storming into the bathroom and locking the door behind her. Sliding down to the tiled floor, Kemi buried her face in her hands and wept.

"God, I don't know what to do," she cried. "These useless feelings and those stupid letters..."

"God, I hate him so much," she sobbed. She couldn't even convince herself and that infuriated her more. She decided that it was best to let him go and do away with her stupid infatuation.

"Kemi get out here this instant! You can't keep rejecting every man that comes your way, at your age I was married oh!"

"Mum I'm twenty three!" Kemi whined wiping her tears with the back of her hands.

"And so?"

"You got married at twenty-five!
Mummy this is different, please tell him to get lost!"

Bisola waited impatiently outside the door to the bathroom. She sighed her frustration when she decided that Kemi wasn't coming out anytime soon.

She trudged towards the stairs as she wondered how to break the bad news to the anxious young man.

Kemi took deep breaths to calm down and wiped her tears again. She felt like her heart was about to burst, she wouldn't see Nnamdi again. It was a good idea but why did she still feel this way?

The creepy letter was right, maybe she did have a fragile heart.

Her paper heart.

So sad 😩

Feels like it's downhill from here. Nah, I love happy endings.
Few more chapters left, I think!

Quick questions;
(Are you tired of my questions?)

❇Who is your Fav avengers hero?

*Guess mine and I'll send you a chocolate 😝*

❇What is your favorite Cartoon Network show that they don't show anymore?

*Courage the cowardly dog, I miss that dog 😥*

*Teddy jumps on a Pegasus and flies away into the sunset
⛅ 🎠💨*

Stay yummy,
Sky_teddy ✌