Thirty - Chapter 21

Read Chapter 20 here

‘Hey babe, I’m on my way to yours, see you soon.’

I read the text again, seeing that it’s been 30 minutes since he sent it. That can only mean he will be here soon, I thought, jumping off the bed to quickly change out of my little nightshirt.

It’s been a week since we got back to Lagos, and although Omololu has been putting up an act to assure me that all was well, in my gut, I knew that something was wrong. We have talked over the phone every day since then, and not once did he mention his visit to his Parents.

“Even an idiot can see something is off.” I scoffed. “Telling me everything is fine as if I was born yesterday.”

My phone buzzed loudly signaling a new message,

‘I’m here, please come out, let’s go for a drive,’ the message reads.

“Okay,” I muttered, quickly texting him that I would be out shortly.

This man had better speak up today. I really can’t endure another week of not knowing, I thought, as I locked the front door

***

“So, what’s going on?” I asked in barely concealed angst.

“What do you mean?” Omololu responded, looking deeply troubled.

‘What do I mean?” I chuckled humourlessly. “Babe, you have been acting strange since I asked about your trip to see your Parents, you won’t tell me anything. Then, you spent all week pretending, acting like I won’t notice that something was off. Now, you come to my house, asked me to come downstairs so we can go for a drive, but since I got into this car 10 minutes ago, you have not started the car, let alone drive anywhere. Look around babe, we are still in front of my house, and you’ve barely spoken to me,”

I took a deep breath and continued, “So, babe, that’s what I mean,”

‘I’m sorry Teni,” He said quietly, resigned.

Omololu looked dejected, like he was fighting a lost battle. “Baby, please tell me what’s wrong,” I encouraged, holding on to his hand. “You know whatever it is, we will figure it out together, right? Besides, how bad can it be? It’s not like your parents are sick right? And they are not opposed to our relationship, so...”

“They are,” He interrupted.

“Huh?” I removed my hand from his.

“My parents are opposed to my relationship with you,” He said, releasing a deep breath.

“But they have not even met me,” I said, looking at him in confusion. “What could they already have against me? Did they tell you? It couldn’t be tribe right? We are both Yorubas. Do they think I’m a gold digger or something? Did you not tell them I work too, and it’s not like you have Dangote money anyway, so what’s the problem. Why?”

“Why are you quiet? Won’t you say something?” I snapped.

‘Calm down Teni. If you calm down for a bit, I can explain,” He said, his calmness irritating me.

“You want me to calm down?” I asked in exasperation. “Would you be calm? Oh my God, you mean I’ve wasted time on yet another relationship, oh my God, it’s over right? Shit!!”

“What! Stop driving yourself crazy babe. Nothing is over, didn’t you say we would figure whatever it was together?”

“Well, I didn’t know I was the issue then, did I?” I snapped. I knew I was over-reacting, transferring my anger and frustration on him, but he was the only one here, and I have just been told that yet another relationship was going down the drain.

“Babe, calm down please, you are hyperventilating,” I heard Omololu said rubbing my back.

“We are not over babe, we can’t be. I won’t even allow it. This is just a small hurdle we must cross, and we will,” He said. “Together,” He emphasized.

“Let’s get you inside the house okay? We will get you a glass of water to calm you down, and then we can talk more,” He said, looking at me until I nodded.

“I didn’t tell you because of this very reaction, Teni.” He said, his arms around my shoulders, as we walked back towards the house. “But I figured it’s better to deal with this than have you kill yourself with worry,” He added.

“But why?” I asked in a small voice, my voice sounding foreign even to me. “Why don’t they like me?”

“It’s not you babe,” He sighed. “It’s about your mum. They have a prejudice,”

“My Mum?”

“Let’s get inside first, then I’ll explain,” He promised, as I unlocked the door.