Present day

October 21 2019

Abuja, Nigeria.

"Good morning WIFEY. Have a wonderful day ahead."

She read the message and as usual, she deleted it not bothering to reply. "I'm sorry ex husband . The days I used to be your wife are gone. All thanks to you."

She tossed and turned on her side.

She hates him and will continue to hate him till her last breath. She hates everything about him and what he does especially those morning messages he keeps sending her even after getting no reply. Thank God he hasn't dared to call her. She isn't sure of what will happen if he does but she's quite sure she won't be able to control the temper she has been controlling for so long.

"O my God!! He's here." she cried jumping out of bed. Their voices could be heard from the living room as they talked about what she has no idea of.

If Jay cares, he must have to go without her. She'll just have to complain about having a headache and that's all.

She laid back on her comfy bed and plunged into her soft pillow closing her eyes for some minutes before there was a knock on her door.

She grabbed a long black hijab and headed to the door. She needn't to be told. It's Jay.

As predicted, he was standing at the door and as usual, with a lollipop in his mouth.

"Good morning Jay." she said softly rubbing her eyes hoping they will turn red. He quickly grabbed a handkerchief from his jeans pocket and covered his nose with it.

"Is that odour coming from your mouth?" he asked. "I'm sure it is. Go and freshen up then..." she shoved him and closed the door to his face. She has no time for him this morning.

" Hey Divorcee!! I'll be waiting for you in the sitting room." he yelled as she folded her hijab.

"Do I have mouth odour?" she asked herself using her right hand to cover her mouth. She rushed to the bathroom and did as she was instructed. Every mouth smells in the morning by the way.

She was back on her bed when he started to knock again. "Go away Jay. I'm sick" she mumbled hugging her blanket tighter.

"Are you pregnant?" he asked storming into the room. "But it's been seven month since your divorce. Or are you aware and have been hiding it? " he asked looking around the room as if searching for something.

"Just go! I told you I'm sick and you're not supposed to be in here by the way."

"I know where I'm supposed to be and not and hey! I've always been coming to this room since you were a toddler. I changed your diapers here. And look" he said pointing at the stool beside the bed.

"This is where I sit and tell you bed time stories. So now get your lazy ass out of bed and get ready."

She nodded in agreement as she watched him walk to the door tucking her phone into his jean pocket. She let out a faint sigh plunging back into her soft pillow before she finally came down from the bed.

It was a quick shower which was so unlike her. She wouldn't want Jay storming into the room again and force her out of bed. She remembered how he would splash cold water on her face years back.

He's capable of doing it again.

She rubbed in some Shea butter on her thick dark mass of hair and braided the tip. She hated ribbons or hair bands. They made her feel so uncomfortable. She wore a black faux wrap dress with flared sleeves and paired it with a red scarf finishing the look with a gold bracelet. She didn't bother with makeup because she was in no mood for that. She would have spent hours painting her face on a normal day. After spraying, she grabbed a red box bag and paired it with a pair of red pumps.

"Is today Valentine's Day? " he asked the moment she came into view scrunching his nose. "Ammie, I really need to teach this girl how to dress again."

Her mother just smiled and she appreciated that. She's in no mood for her mother and him attacking her from different angles. "Can we? " he asked.

"Ammie,tell him to take very good care of me." she pouted.

"Don't worry divorcee, you can endure whatever I do to you. Remember, how you endured everything in his house."

"Please Jay. Stop referring to the past. Ammie warn him please." she was giving him death glares as he grinned sheepishly at her.

"You guys should hurry and leave before visiting hours will be over. " Ammie said. She watched her mother walk to the kitchen wondering what visiting hours she was talking of.

"Where did you tell Ammie we are going to?" she asked.

"Why ask?" he asked after starting the car. "I told her we were going to the hospital. Do you expect me to tell her we are going out for wife hunting?" he asked.

"Thank God you know it's not worth doing." she muttered. He simply ignored her and unwrapped a lollipop. "Here. Have some. "

She stared at the lollipop for a while before grabbing it and throwing it out of the window.

"Hey. Do you know how much it costs? It's not the normal sweet you see. "

"Do I care? " she shrugged.

"You are lucky I've got some left. " he said grabbing another one.

"What would have happened?" she asked grabbing the the lollipop from his hand and quickly tucking it in her mouth.

His phone started to ring and he quickly parked to receive the call.

"Hello Baba"

"Where are you?" his father asked.

"I'm out with Zizi. Is there anything you want? "

"No. Take your time. Just branch to Alhaji Aliyu's house. There's a package I want you to collect for me. And tell Zizi I can't remember the last time I saw her"

"Shikenan Baba. Consider it done. "

He waited for his father to end the call before he spoke. "Baba said he can't remember the last time he saw you. And I can see you are really enjoying my lollipop."

"Oh Baba! I'll have to create time to visit him."

"It's not a matter of creating time. It's a matter of getting your lazy ass out of bed and not staying indoors all day. Your Ex husband has really changed you for me and I won't spare him for that."

She kept mute as she looked out of the window enjoying the view as her silent kept on the bothering him. He hates to see her silent whenever they are together.

"Sunday driver!" he muttered fiercely jamming his right heel down hard on the accelerator. Her heart lurched as the tyres screamed around a curve and the car shot forward on a fresh burst of speed.

She clutched the handle of the door so tight that her fingers began to ache.

"It's pretty out here."he said as he glanced over his left shoulder.

"You can at least keep your eyes on the road if you are going to drive like a maniac" she sputtered nervously.

"Don't tell me you are scared" she simply ignored him and wanted to keep ignoring him till they reach their destination but her ringing phone forced her to speak.

"Can I get my phone please."

He looked at her with a smirk on his face before he gave the phone.

"Hi Fati" she answered the person on the line completely ignoring him. "Oh I'm sorry I completely forgot. When is it? Tomorrow right? " she asked."

"Yes. I would really appreciate if you come on time. The event is starting by four."

"I promise I will. Thanks for calling to remind me. " she let out a sigh after the call was ended.

" Can you believe I totally forgot there's someone who booked for a makeup tomorrow?"

He shrugged. " I'm not surprised since I know you have a fish brain. "

"I hate you" she said punching him on the arm.

"It's mutual."

"This is how it's going to work.We'll go to restaurants, malls, the movies, park and you know pretend to be doing whatever they do there while in reality, we are searching for my wife. We are going to scan and access.. " she rolled her eyes at his words.

"..whoever we see and that will continue till we see the right person. And I'm going to introduce you as a baby sister and I promise not to call you a divorcee in anyone's presence. Thank God it's Sunday, most slay queens would be out to compete with the others."

"Compete?" she asked.

"Yeah. Who's finer, most expensive, who's wearing the nicest clothes blah blah blah. I'm glad you aren't like them. All thanks to me. I trained you well. "

"Since you're glad I'm not like them, why would you want to choose one of them? " she asked.

He gave no reply as he kept his eyes on the road. The truth is he isn't going out for wife hunting but he wants to spend some time with his lonely divorcee who has gone through a lot. She rejected many offers so this was the best decision to make her drag her lazy ass out of bed. She can sacrifice anything to make him happy that's why he owes her a lot.

"How about the one in red?" she asked shoving a spoonful of rice into her mouth. They were at a restaurant and just at the smell of food, Azizah silently thanked him for dragging her out. This made her realize how much she has missed her old self.

He shook his head without even staring. "I caught her staring at me the other time. "

"For goodness sake Jay" she huffed. "We've been to over a thousand places now and you still haven't chosen one. "

"You dig over a million places when looking for a treasure divorcee. It's not easy to find. "

" I hate you. " she said wiping her mouth with the back of her hand.

"It's mutual." he replied.

They continued to eat in silence and used their eyes to search for someone Jay will want as a wife.

"Hey look at the entrance" He said

She turned stylishly and her eyes landed on a girl with far too much make. "It's not even as if,the make up is fine. " she muttered. Her clothes were too tight as Zizi couldn't help but wonder how she finds it possible to breathe. She glanced at Jay waiting for his comment.

"Nah nah. She looks too.... " he paused finding the right word to use.

"I would have shot you dead in the head if you chose her."

"Hey divorcee! It's nothing. Don't judge a book by its cover by the way. "

Azizah rolled her eyes at him. "Nice try spinster. Modesty counts by the way. "

"Hey divorcee! We might end up finding you a husband."Just look at the entrance."

Again, she turned and her eyes landed on a man of about 50 years above with bulging stomach. She stood up and poured her drink on his head. "I'll be outside waiting for you Mr Spinster. "

There were "Ooops!" and "Ahhh!" coming from almost everyone present. She walked out of the restaurant and walked towards the parking lot remembering she didn't collect the car key.

"Thank God I finally got to revenge" she muttered remembering how he severally embarrassed in public. Staining her clothe with icing, splashing drinks on her and lot more.

She stopped dead on her tracks as she leaned on a random car. That's his fragrance. He's somewhere around.

She guessed right.

There he was walking majestically into the building. Oh Allah, how lean and pale he looks.

Jay stormed out of the building and walked directly towards her. "are you alright?" he asked. She simply nodded as she was unable to utter a word. She's still yet to recover from the shock.

"Come. We need to get out of here. " he held her hand and walked her to his car. He opened the door and closed the door after she was seated. "Gentlemen overnight" she thought.

"Are you fine with us not heading home now. I wouldn't want to to lock yourself inside your room and soak the poor pillow. " he said calmly.

"Take me anywhere Jay and not home." she muttered.

* * * * *

Just the sight of him alone peels the flesh that has started to cover her wound making them to bleed again. How much he has changed just in seven months. She thought.

She needs Jay close to her now because anything can happen. "What if he decides to pay her a visit? " she asked herself.

That would definitely not happen.

The guy she was married to would never stoop that low. She's sure all the good morning messages I've been receiving are not from him. It could be a friend or anyone trying to restore his love back into her heart but her Ex husband doesn't even know what love is and how to show it.

"Already missing me? " she asked after picking the call.

"You wish. I was about to dial my girlfriend's number then... "

"...i crossed your mind and you realized I was more important. By the way, were you talking of the girl you see in your day dream? Because the last time I checked your relationship status, SINGLE was boldly written."

"Sometimes I wish I could smack you. You needed to see the number of girls offering to help when you poured your drink on me."

"I'm glad I finally got to revenge " she said.

"This is just the beginning divorcee. By the way, I called to check on you. Hope you aren't upset? "

"Awwwwww! You can be so sweet when you want to."

He let out a sigh. "I'm doing what is expected of me. So tell me? Are you?"

"No Jay. I'm totally fine. Neither am I soaking my pillow or planing to commit suicide. I'm perfectly fine. Just a little bit bored you know. "

"Do you want me to come over? " he asked. She was just few buildings away and he could get there in just five minutes. "No spinster. I'm tired of seeing your ugly face. "

"Did you just call me ugly? Remember how girls used to love and take care of you back then in secondary school just because of me." He said brushing over his low cut curly hair.

"That was then Spinster. Go check the mirror and see for yourself. Remember I have an appointment by three tomorrow."

"Do I care?" he asked.

"Sure you do. Just know how to squeeze your schedule because, you'll be the designated driver."

"OK Ma'am. Your wish is my command. Sweet dreams and I love you. " he said then ended the call.

This has turned into a daily routine for over years now. They spend hours on the phone at night and he always ends it with " Sweet dreams and I love you " Although, things changed after she got married but she's glad, everything went back to normal after her divorce.

She curled up into a ball with images of him still flashing in her mind. She heard her phone beep but she was too tired to look into it. She was so tired and exhausted that she didn't wish to lift even a finger. "All thanks to Jay" she whispered .

The next day as planned, he picked her up at quarter past two and as usual , he drove like a maniac to their destination. "How long will it take? " he asked.

"I can't really tell. I'll give you a call when I'm done. " she replied grabbing her makeup kit.

**

"Hi Zizi! I'm glad you could make it? You're welcome. " A girl who looked older than Azizah came running to her.

"Thank you Fati." she replied hugging her. "Ya Maryam is taking her bath. She won't take long I promise."

"It's alright. I'll wait." she hasn't known Fatima for so long but one thing she's sure of is, she's a rare gem. She's a woman of the people and relates with basically everyone. You'll end up getting tired if you engage yourself in a conversation with her.

So tell me

Favorite character so far?

Who do you think the mysterious HE IS?

Do you have a Jay in your life?

KINDLY VOTE, COMMENT AND SHARE.

THANK YOU 💞