NEVER SAY NEVER

As I stood by the window and gazed out at the stars, pure pleasure and fulfilment ran through my body. The wedding had gone on well in Nigeria. And now at Maui, I felt so happy and anxious. I’ve never dreamt of any better place like Sheralton Maui Resort and Spa to spend my honeymoon.

          Everything was too good to be true. And as I sank down on the master bed waiting for my husband, I went into trance that drove me down the memory lane of the day we met.

          It was a sunny day and I was dressed in “Oleku (the new generation Iro and Buba) ,stood at the University Hall watching a pantomime display. It was the school 's cultural day and almost everyone in the hall were dressed in their cultural regalia. As I stood mesmerized with the ongoing display, I felt a presence beside me and I do not even bother to look. The hall was too crowded with students and staff, and heat was emanating from every angle. I was not in a good mood, if not for the play that kept my attention.

          Suddenly I felt a soft touch on my arm and as I looked up to see who had gathered ''enough liver'' to touch me without my permission, I was met with a brown eye, glaring at me. The face was unfamiliar and before I could gather my thought, he spouted out “Will You Marry Me?”

          Of course I was caught off guard and surprised I boiled with rage and hissed before I ''cut eye'' for him (eye him). He was strange and his question was ridiculous ,  I was speechless! I could not help scanning him from his bushy hair down to his old slippers. What insolence! I thought, and decided not to utter a word to him. Though I wasn’t the best in the school, but I was popular and student on campus knows I do not hang out with  his ''kind''. Before I know it again, he moved closer as if he had gathered his wit. This time around, I moved back and gave him a look, the kind that would keep a baby away from milk forever.

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          As I glared at him, he changed his stance and looked forward, pretending to watch the play. He was embarrassed, I knew that but continued watching the play and he kept mute and still throughout my stay.

          My life on Campus hadn’t been the best life to dream of; I made sure I keep rich friends, though ironically I am from a humble background. I lived with my aunt in Ilorin, who was frequently complaining about her circumstance. She would advice that “if you want to be rich, you must move with people who are rich” Throughout my growing up, she had always sang these in my ears and it finally got into my head and became my personal living mantra.

          Not one of my friend came from a poor home, as I forced myself into their midst. I acted like them and followed them around, most time, run errand for them while they sit idly. I could not complain for fear of being cast out. This was the life I lived before I learnt the hard way. I learnt never to say never.

          I remember walking down to the library one day, full of thought'; I was thinking about my life. Then I thought out loud “what if I end up being poor like my aunt” my other mind retort “you can’t be poor, your friends are rich, so you cannot lack” but in real sense I was lacking in many areas, while I had to manage and hide, my friends Luke, Jade, Pearls, Enny and Emerald spends lavishly and shine.

          I was still talking to myself when I noticed that someone was with me, and was dominating over me with his height. The figure had blocked the sun, so I could not place it. It looks familiar somehow; I thought and gazed up at him again. He glared back like a leopard awaiting confrontation.

          Then it dawned on me, he was the strange guy from the school hall. I stood still and said nothing. He broke the silence and said “You are too beautiful to be walking alone, you even talk to yourself! His declaration arose some anger in me but I could not find the right word to use. I thought to myself “this guy does not fit in my class”, but now looking at his eyes that held peace, I melted.

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          We started chatting as we walk on to the school Ultra Modern Library. He then introduces himself as Makinde Lah. I felt some connection with him but my mind revolts “he doesn’t meet up your standard” I noticed throughout our conversation that he was been careful not to press the wrong button.

          After the days work, I was tired and was sleeping deeply when suddenly I heard noises. They were all speaking at once, Wake up! Wake up!!! As I forced my eyes opened, I saw Luke, Enny, Emerald, Pearls and Jade. They all surrounded my bed holding something that looks like a wine bottle each. And before I could guess their intention, chilled liquid was running through my head down to my spine. As the cold drink touched my scalp, I jolted to a sitting position. They all shouted on top of their lungs, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!! Chai what a funny way to wish me happy birthday, I shouted, spoilt brats, I later thought.

          I was pampered all through the day, my girlfriends, Pearls, Emerald and Enny, the richest of them, Enny, took me shopping. Jade and Luke with their friends organized a party in my honour. It was so fun, I had thought then that I was lucky, I called my aunt, told her all the wonderful things my rich friends did for me. She echoed through the phone that it was the opportunity one get keeping rich spoilt kids as ones friend. She had simply reminded me not to forget her shares too....

          If they had sold our house and my aunts shop, I wouldn’t have been able to afford that kind of party... I thought to myself. Surprising, Makinde had came to the party too... I hadn’t thought him to be the party type; he looked like the serious type. I was happy to see him, and we chatted all night long.

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          He looked so handsome as I looked at him closely, just that the doesn’t belong in my league... through our conversation that night, I got to know that he was in his final year, studying Aeronautics Engineering. He is from Osun State, where his parents were traders.

          After the big party, campus life continued with me being the shadow of my rich friends. Makinde and I enjoyed each other’s company, but things got bad the day he asked me out and I rejected him. He refused to visit or call me till the holiday period.

          During the break, I lived a normal life, eat when there is food or sometimes slept on an empty stomach. Back at home in Ilorin, my aunt is easy to live with though I dislike how she had to put social status and status standing before good health and well being, I had to listen to her every morning lament about the wrong choices she had made and regretted she would end it by saying “Love is not enough, but money embraces it all”. Out of nowhere, the phone rang and I was surprised to hear from Makinde since all this time, he told me he was coming to Kwara State. Actually, he came to my place looking his best but was met with my aunt scrutiny, she hadn’t approved of him as I predicted, it was an embarrassing moment for both of us. Makinde left that day looking sad. I tried to cheer him up as we walk to the junction where he would hail a cab back to the park.

          All of a sudden Makinde had bent on his knees and asked me to marry him again... I stared at him blankly. The day was surely marked a bad one. I told him that I cannot date him let alone marry him, he looked sad, hurt and disappointed, his eyes asked why? I told him my aunt would not approve of him because he was not rich... I cannot forget the look in his eyes, he looked at me with sympathy till I felt like a fool... I didn’t want to hurt him, and I know that I had feelings for him, but he cannot take up my responsibility. All my life, my aunt had taught me how to live off others wealth. That moment, when he kissed my temple and said goodbye, I know I had to fight my demons, as they kept on overcoming me...

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          Resumption drove in and I continued my dependant life. Now I see less of Makinde, I tried to make it up to him and change but it was so hard. “I can’t live without my friends, my ATMs”, I thought, until that day that I will forever remember came. Though I’ve heard people saying that dependant life is not worth living at all, I hadn’t paid attention... I’ve heard the elders say never say never and no one knows tomorrow, I had not believed, until I learnt the hard way.

          It was a Monday morning and we had 8.oclock class, we were all getting ready for class; when Pearls suddenly announced are Wrist watch missing. You won’t belief it; but all their eyes were on me. I felt uncomfortable but shrugged it off. We had gone to class and came back when hell broke loose. They all gathered round me urging me to tell the truth, I was amazed, I marvelled. Are you girls mad? How could you thing like that? I said angrily. “You are the only one who could steal, no one here collects less than half a million as pocket money but you! Enny declared. I felt a jab on my heart, I could not move, and before I knew it, the guys joined in, Luke, Jade and some of their friends... they looked at me with contempt and search through my belongings, upside down. Most horrible thing happened as they found the exact watch in my jewellery box. I sprang up to explain to them that it was the one they bought for me on my birthday, I had exclaimed “their father, it’s the same brand as Pearls ooo” that faithful day they had took me shopping and bought it for me.

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          But before I could even finish my explanation, my cheek was so much flaming up, Pearls slapped me!!! I fought back tears but let it go at last when I couldn’t take it anymore. They beat the hell out of me, like a dog. Enny had told me that without them, I was nothing. Luke and his friends drove me out of the room without a dim. They said nothing I had is worth the diamond Wrist Watch. I was left stranded and heartbroken I had thought I would die from all those bruises and heartbreak. But God gave me a new hope...

never say never......even the sun ain't so sure itself......tiaragoldImages

to be continued....