Episode 44
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“Why would you think that?”
“Because his aunty told me that. When she asked me to walk her to the bathroom, she told me that after I give birth, I should just leave Tobi to ‘avoid further embarrassment’, because I’m already ‘below his standard’.” Funmi rolled her eyes and looked at Abena. “Did you tell Tobi?”
“No. But I guess he already knows. He knows his family. I love him, but if I want to be with him, that would mean accepting everything, even his family and celebrity life.” Abena sighed.
“Then think. Is that what you want? Is he really worth it?” …
Tobi walked into his mother’s house with a sense of urgency. He didn’t remember the last time he had visited her, it was always her visiting him, and bringing various annoying women with her.
But that had stopped when Abena came into the picture.
“Mama. Good afternoon.” He said, prostrating slightly before sitting in the chair opposite his mother.
“Good afternoon. I’m surprised you’re here to see me. You haven’t been here in years.” His mother pointed out.
Tobi had left when he got tired of his mothers persistent nagging to get himself a wife, or at least, children. After walking into his room to see the daughter of a chief lying half naked in his bed, he decided he had enough, and moved to the house he lived in presently.
“I have something important to talk about.” Tobi said, ignoring her comment.
“Is it about Abena? Your aunty told me about the lunch, you should’ve known better Tobi, you shouldn’t invite family to meet your baby mama.” Mama said, not looking up from the fashion magazine that she was reading.
“What do you mean by that?” Tobi snapped, trying to keep calm. As angry as he was, he didn’t want to be rude to his mother.
“Don’t tell me you’re actually serious about her, omo mi. I’m happy that you finally got someone to have your children, but she isn’t wife material.” Mama replied calmly, adjusting her reading glasses. “I just think that after she has the children, you could just pay her off to leave you and the children alone.”
Tobi winced at his mothers words, because he knew that he was initially paying Abena for the children.
He felt no different from her.
“She is a perfect wife and mother material.” Tobi argued.
“I know. She’s a nice girl, and she’s very pretty. But she’s not Ademi wife material.” Mama stressed. “She won’t last a day in your world, and you can’t hide her forever. You’re going to have to bring her out. Can both of you handle the negative publicity?”
Tobi knew she was right, though he was still angry. What was it with people caring about his world? He knew that the world was cruel. People were
constantly looking for the bad sides of others, and revealing them to the world.
He knew Abena was afraid, and she knew that if she stayed with him, it would be a matter of time before the whole continent knew about her family.
He was willing to protect Abena from the disadvantages that came with being with him, but she was chickening out too soon, and he needed to give her a reason to stay with him.
“You mean, she’s not rich enough, and she has a disturbing past, which would taint the family name.” Tobi spat out plainly.
“Yes. That’s not the type of girl I want my only son to marry.” Mama looked up from her magazine, and smiled at her son, ignoring the scowl plastered on his face.
“Even if she makes your son happy?”
…
Abena had spent almost a month in Funmi’s house, and she was already thinking of going back.
She had outlined the pros and cons in her head, and she liked how it turned
out.
Pros:
She would be with the one she loves;
He would protect her;
She would finally have a family again.
She would be happy.
And she knew she deserved happiness.
Cons:
She would be hated and rejected by his family; She would be the new topic for gossip;
Her whole life would get out to the public.
Abena knew that even though Tobi said otherwise, the approval of his
mother meant a lot to him. He didn’t care about what the rest of his family
thought, just his mother.
She missed him so much.
She couldn’t help but think about him all the time. She had gotten used to him, to his presence, even his smell; and in Funmi’s house, all she did was miss him even more.
Would it be worth it? What if his mother never approves? What would she do when her personal life becomes the next topic on the news? Was she ready to take the risk?
Abena hugged his shirt that hung loosely on her body. It was the shirt that he gave her when they wanted to go shopping. She smiled at the memory, and realised that she was always happy when she was with him. With sudden determination, she thought:
Screw them all!
She was going to take the risk.
He was totally worth it.
Funmi had never seen her boss look so disheveled, but in the past month, it had become a usual thing.
He snapped at all the workers, frowned during presentations, had eye bags from lack of proper sleep, and he had lost weight.
She had to consciously bite her lower lip, to stop herself from telling him that she knew where Abena was, that Abena missed him, and that he should go and win her back.
He walked into the office that morning with a rumpled shirt and a loose tie.
His hair was getting too high, and his beard was a little over grown.
He hesitated, and then walked back to Funmi, with a hopeful look on his face. “Funmi? Do you by any chance know where Abena is?”
‘She’s in my house!’ She wanted to say, but instead she shook her head and his expression changed from hope to dissapointment and then to anger. “Let me know if you do. I don’t want to see anyone, apart from the investors from Australia.” He instructed.
She nodded, and ignored the pang of guilt that swept through her. …
“You need to see him, before he does something odd like donate all his properties to charity and then commit suicide.” Funmi said.
Abena lifted an eyebrow and Funmi gave her a sheepish smile.
“Too much?” Funmi asked and Abena nodded.
“I know. I feel terrible too.” Abena started, changing the topic back to the matter at hand. “But I’ve decided to see him.”
Funmi suddenly had a huge grin on her face. “Finally!” She gestured, raising her hands in exasperation.
“Yeah. I miss him, and I’m prepared to go through all the hate, rumors and insults, just to be with him. I just hope I can take it all.” She sighed.
“Honey, you’re strong. If you can handle your crazy step mother, I’m sure you can handle whatever comes your way jare.” Funmi said, engulfing her in a large hug.
“I guess.” Abena shrugged. “I’ve already packed my bags. Thank you so much, for everything. You’ve been amazing, and loyal. Thank you.”
“It’s no problem. What are friends for?” Funmi grinned cheekily.
“Carrying their pregnant friends bags?” Abena teased.
“Only because you’re pregnant.” Funmi laughed, and stood up to go to Abena’s room.
Standing up, Abena felt a wetness on her thighs. She looked down and cursed silently.
“Funmi?” She called. Funmi spun around and looked at her with a raised eyebrow.
“Yeah?”
“I don’t think I can go and see Tobi now.” Abena pointed out.
“Why?” Funmi asked, her eyebrows furrowing in confusion.
Abena looked down again and frowned.
“Um… my water just broke.”
…
“So, you still have no idea where she is?” Joseph asked, relaxing on Tobi’s couch.
“No. I’ve asked every possible person. Even Dalu!” Tobi sighed. “Dalu?”
“They met once.” Tobi said, waving his hand dismissively.
“Oh. So, what are you going to do now?”
Tbc…
BARGAIN