Must Read: Taking Chances

Episode 7 years ago

Must Read: Taking Chances

Jide gave out a long breath. You gotta give it to Grace to talk and nag out your existence! Thank God Daisy didn’t seem to nag or maybe she was successfully covering that aspect of her wifely self, as far as he was concerned, women couldn’t help the
act, twas as if they were all born with it. Whatever the case, He was
really done and over with this particular nagging chick. She was pretty, independent and all but she had no hold on him anymore, he felt pity for her, but he couldn’t help it, he hadn’t caused it either, the blame rested on Mama, his father and on their choice-bride. They had usurped her position while Daisy somehow finally managed to grip his heart. She
could have very well been the Mrs Olukoya, when he eventually decided to settle down. Too bad, he was as helpless as she was in this situation.
Jide could sight her compound now, she lived at an apartment in
Ojuelegba, like 30 minutes drive from Aguda where he lived. Everything had worked good for them then…the closure and all. But now, everyone’s got to move on he concluded.

*****

‘welcome darling’ Grace said as she moved seductively, towards Jide, her hands wide open for a hug.
Jide raised his hands, his palms facing her, symbolizing her to stop.
Grace grimaced and stopped in her track, slowly bringing down her hands.
‘a hug wouldn’t hurt’ she said pained.
‘nor take us anywhere’ Jide replied walking past her.
‘we used to be so good, everything was perfect, we were the best around…’
Would she allow him land before she began her sorry speech? Jide
thought, irritation visible on his face.
‘I didn’t come for that…atall’ he said and slumped unto a settee.
‘what happened to us?’ Grace continued unpreturbed, she was near tears now.

Not the tears! Jide thought bewildered. Grace was stronger than this, what was wrong with her today. Maybe this was a bad idea afterall, but then, what had he expected?
‘…why don’t we talk about us, our time together. I love you like I’ve
never loved another, 2 years of my life i gave to you, why are you
suddenly treating me with so much disgust, did you ever even loved me?’
‘I surely did, but now I…’
‘But now what? some dumb butt0ckz ninny from planet Mars came into the picture, and voila!

Am outta the album, just like that?’ Grace voice was ringing out now in anger.
‘You make it sound as if i did it on purpose!’ Jide matched her tone.
‘you bloody well ain’t doing anything otherwise!’she screamed.
‘otherwise like what!’
‘Like send the annoying thing outta the house and bring me the rightful Occupant in!’
‘you don’t f.ucking tell me what to do, neither do you run my life, you
hear me! Okay?’ he shouted staring at Grace who was now towering over him where he sat.
‘obviously i don’t! Your grandmama does!’ she retorted.
‘that’s it!’ Jide said standing up then started walking towards the
door. ‘like i said, I didn’t come for this atall’.
What was wrong with these people anyways, was this a set up to keep him hungry and angry today? Before he could get to the door, Grace zoomed pass him and was now shielding the door with her hands wide outstretched.
‘please get out of my way’ he said angrily.
‘Don’t go please, am sorry, i didn’t mean for this to happen, my fear of losing you made me…’ Grace was pleading.
This woman was a nutcase Jide thought angrily and lurched to push her away. If he didn’t get out now, with all that was going through him, he feared what he might do.





But Grace didn’t bulge, regardless the push. Hers was the case of a
woman fighting desperately to hold on to a man she loved.
Resignedly, Jide ceased trying to pull her away, he was as spent as she was and just wanted to settle this amicably…if that was ever
possible…and be out of her life for good. All her drama was actually
stirring his well of hatred towards her in the negative.
Grace broke down in tears just then, this wasn’t how she had wanted it to end, she had hoped to make headway with winning back his heart and love. But look where her tantrums had ended her efforts.Jide stood, unsure of what to make of this, he’d never seen her cry before. Suddenly, the weight of how deeply he’d hurt her rested on him. But then, he had told her not to expect more, maybe he hadn’t been convincing enough or she had hadn’t been listening atall. But what was
wrong with him? How could he just abandon a journey of 2 years for that of few months?
Grace sniffed back tears now and said ‘tell me Jide, do you still love
me atall’
‘Don’t make this any harder’ he replied softly.
‘I can handle it, just tell me’
‘I can handle it, just tell me’
‘I don’t, as much as before’ Jide said slowly ‘but that…’ he was adding
‘that’s ok, you don’t need to explain’ a pause, then, ‘do you love her…your wife?’ Realising only then that she didn’t even know her name. Or maybe she had forgotten, didn’t matter anyways.
‘I…I…I’ Jide stuttered, angry at
this sudden speech impediment.
‘nothing but the truth’ Grace cut in.
‘if what i feel for her can be called love, well…’
‘I thought you hated her, how come you now have unexplainable feelings for her’ she said with sarcasm.
‘I don’t know how it began, but gradually she wound her way to my heart, all the things that irritated and angered me about her then, seem to draw me closer to her now. Sometimes I wonder why she chose to marry me’ Jide replied dreamily, missing the sarcasm in her question.



He felt
relief, for he had so wanted to express this feeling that suddenly
emerged from nowhere.



Grace felt jealous and angry. Why had she decided to marry him? Simple! She was a home-wrecker, a joy-stealer, nothing more! But she dared not voice her observation to this new Jide, gone was the man that came crying on her bossom, complaining about how his family ruined his life
with a ‘movie-crazed’ puppet. Now he was the ‘whatever-her-name-was puppet. And she was the fool at the end, the pure loser!


Sighing, she moved away from the door.
‘The food must be cold by now’ she said heading towards the kitchen.
‘do you think that’s still necessary?’ he asked
‘come on, i cooked it specially for you, you wont deny me that atleast’ she replied walking still, not a glance back.



Oh well, no harm in it. Jide thought and slumped on a settee, his anger relegated to the back.
Minutes later, clanging cuttleries signified that they were onto a meal of rice and stew. Jide thought the food better, but didn’t think it surpassed that of his wife, however, he complimented her efforts
anyways.


In silence they ate, until out of nowhere Grace asked:
‘Why din’t you divorce her then?’
‘she’s quite harmless and simple’ Jide replied simply and continued
grinding his chicken bone. That was Jide, he never undervalued good food and he was a big eater too.
That struck an anger cord in Grace, but she said nothing. That girl wasn’t only harmless, she was dangerous! She was the reason why her life was crashing before her, 26, with no man of her own, prospect of starting over building a relationship! Yet here he was calling her harmless!
As she watched Jide deal with the chicken, she knew she’d lost him for good. The best thing she could do was to move on as he said. She silently prayed for God to help her forget him.