Chapter Five: The visit

We had gone almost two weeks into the month of February and it was Monday morning around 10 am on the 12^th February 2019, when I received a video call from Peter. As I picked, he greeted me with a song by Christiana Perri, A Thousand Years. He sang along as the song was played at the background. He smiled along and blew kisses to me, with a look on this face that felt like “I want you.”

I smiled and sang along.                        

...I  have loved you for a thousand years

I’ll love you for a thousand more...

After singing, we talked about how much we had missed one another and some things going on. I told him how my advanced classes were going, and he, in turn, explained how he was faring at school and how some lecturers behave and also how girls are tripping for him.

‘babe, your boyfriend is the talk of the campus, every girl wants me but I am reserved for only you, baby.’

As we spoke, a female figure passed behind looking somewhat scantily dressed; a crop top and a bum short. So I said to him and you want every girl too right; I see you are busy, let me leave you to it.

I shook my head, suggesting he was having fun.

He turned, looking at her and said, ‘she’s the reason I called you.’

My heart missed one beat and went faster; what would he tell me? Was she living with him? Were we breaking up? Was he tired of the whole distance thing? God help me, I said my eyes wet with tears dripping down my cheeks.

‘Olivia,’ he called out. ‘That’s Stella. She’s been at my place for three days now. She lost her house due to house rent issues. But don’t worry, there’s nothing between us. I just helped her as a friend would until she gets her place. Olivia, I love you. Would I be saying that in front of her if I am still into her?’

‘I don’t know Pete, I don’t know,’ I said.

He somehow managed to get me to stop panicking but for some reason, I still felt like he was keeping her around as a second option in case we did not work or am I the second option?

‘Did you break up with her?’ I asked.

‘She’s going through a lot right now. Her Mum is seriously ill.’

‘All is well. Alright, no pressure. Just take your time but you better not be playing me.’

Before he dropped the call, he told me Stella would be coming to Abuja for a two-week event at Peace Haven hotel. He explained that she’d need a place to stay. He told me that the hotel was in Wuye where I stayed and that she couldn’t stay at his place because she’d be bored since neither he nor his sister was home. She may not know how to navigate her way around since she was new to Abuja.

‘Well, she can come I guess. I’d just go back home for two weeks till she leaves,’ I offered

‘Thank you so much, you’re the best, your kind heart is second to none, I promise you, you would not regret this’ he said.

After his call, I felt uneasy but what could I do? Perhaps, he was just being a good neighbour and helping out a needy person, who incidentally was his ex-girlfriend. He could have just gotten her a place or perhaps he was broke at the moment.

‘well, the bible teaches us to be our neighbours' keeper’

With the feeling of uneasiness around me, I worked to John’s room and laid on the bed. John was out to work.

I, hugging his pillow cried to my heart’s content. I could not help but see him kiss her, how he would cup her in his arms. I imagined them in a deep kiss leading to sex and then I sighed.

‘Olivia, you do not even come close to her; here you were saying, you will never have premarital and there she is giving him freely. You have lost the war I said crying 

‘Hmmm, I’ll never get used to you surprising me, Pete. Look how she’s dressed,’

‘More often than not I have tears in my heart for you, sometimes I wonder how I entered such a toxic relationship. I have lost a good deal of weight because of him, gradually, my sanity is leaving.’

I bet they were kissing right now or worse I said out loud. I couldn’t imagine. Oh well, when she comes around I’ll get to know her. From what I’ve heard Anne say about her, she’s fun. I picked up my phone and called Anne…

‘Olivia, she’s been to our house before. I was the only one that knew she was his girlfriend. She was all shades of fun. You’ll like her once you get to know her...’ Anne was full of praise for her. It would not hurt for me to give her the benefit of doubt I guess.

‘I’m going to put sentiment aside and host her well. She’s really not at fault here. For all I know, she might not even know me,’ I resigned.

I’m really not cut out for drama, my heart is just too weak to carry such burden.

Peter sent a text almost immediately after my call with Anne, informing me that she’d come the next day so she could rest a bit before the event on Saturday... I’d give her some girl time I thought, that is if she isn’t impossible.

I called John and informed him that Stella would be visiting for two weeks and that I would be going back home for the period of time she’d be around after that I called Mum who had no problem accommodating her. Dad would be back too before she’d leave so I had to inform Dad too. With this strange visit, I was somewhere between telling her about Peter and me or just leaving everything the way it was and just pretend that all was well. I picked my note pad and I wrote something that looked like a letter, but I didn’t intend posting it.

Dear love,

I’m scared, are you mine or someone else’s

My crime is I’m too deep

I feel so uncomfortable

I am the side chick obviously

Oh have mercy love

Make me smile and make it last

I love you, my love

Dear love,

Like an onion you bring tears to my eyes

Like a knife, you cut too deep

Like acid, you have eaten up my flesh

You took my smile and turned it over

I am like a dead tree branch

My only lifeline was you but still

I wonder how long that line would hold

Immediately after this, I began to take some things I would need at home. My phone rang, it was Peter. I didn’t pick up because I was quite unhappy with him. He had been accommodating her for three days without telling me and he expects me to take it that there are no strings attached. It is sad enough he is younger but draining me like this is not part of the bargain.

‘I didn’t sign up for this I said out loud.

For some reason, I still have a soft spot for him and I just could not break up with him. I was willing to convince my heart that I’m still the queen of his kingdom even though I could see the crown is being handed to another.

Peter then sent a text which read, ‘please pick up Olivia; I need to talk to you. I sighed and as he called again, I decided to pick up.

‘Haven’t you shocked me enough for one day Peter?’ I asked

But he responded, ‘I love you, Olivia, you’re my number one, I swear it.

‘I felt guilty not telling you about her and had to call you back. I do not want you to ever think I’m cheating on you with her. I don’t even as much as kiss her. I’m just trying to... ‘

‘It’s enough Peter,’ I cut in. ‘She’s going through a lot. I understand.’

‘I love you, Olivia baby’ he said

I kept mute, and wondering if I’d be telling a lie by telling him I loved him too as I could not make out what my heart was feeling; love or disgust?

‘Okay? Olive, please say I love you back so I can be happy...’

‘I love you back,’ I repeated and asked happy now?

But of course, with lots of doubt in my mind, I was beginning to see reasons with mum and dad about their sentiments and reserve about a younger guy.

But knowing Peter was a man of his word made me relax a bit. He usually does not say things he doesn’t mean.

‘Olivia my olive oil, my one and only, my steady rock, my light, my source of peace.  Forgive me please, so I would be fine.’

I had to brighten my face a bit so as to be in a better mood.

His words, as usual, got to me and before long I gave him a peal of genuine laughter and an ‘I love you’ that I didn’t have to force.

He ended the call with promises and more promises that left me believing in hope against all odds.

The Party

The next day, Tuesday. At  3:15 pm precisely, Dad surprised us and we were all shocked to see him. He came along with Hannah my kid sister. Dad loved surprises.

‘Hannah! Dad! what are you guys doing here?’ I asked as I jumped up hugging them both tightly.

Dad explained ‘I want to give your Mum, the woman that owns my heart, a birthday surprise that would send chills down her spine, she is my baby girl for the life you know right?

I wasn’t at all surprised that dad planned this but for Hannah keeping it a surprise that is not something we see every day.

Dad continued, and I wanted all my children around as my woman was going to celebrate her forty-fifth birthday. Preparations began immediately.

Tomorrow would be fun, I screamed.

Mum and dad’s love story was a unique one. Mum once told us how they met...

She said, ‘We both entered a taxi together, he was on his way to Kano to supervise his Potatoes farm as it was planting season and I was having a really bad day as my boss in the office constantly made advances at me which made me resign. The same day I met your dad. We boarded the same taxi which was to drop us at Zuba where we would get vehicles to our respective destinations. Your dad turned to me and said ‘Hi, having a bad day? I could make it better if you would let me.”

How? I asked.

‘First by saying you are beautiful and you should not let anything spoil that pretty smile you got there.’

Mum continued, as I heard that I replied but I haven't even smiled. it must be beautiful he said, I smiled widely . There, he said, I wasn't wrong, that’s perfect.”

Mum and dad spoke at length till they got to Zuba and dad paid her fare and asked for her contact number. They kept in touch and eventually got married and since then they remained the perfect couple.

Mum is a wizard in the kitchen and she would always tell us “the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.” That statement I have come to understand is underrated. I used to despise that statement but as I grew older, I realised they are ‘words on marble’ and they cannot be overemphasized.

Dad literally runs home daily to enjoy mum’s cooking. In his own words “I cannot miss her dishes, there is none like it in the world.”

Inasmuch as dad enjoys mum’s cooking, he still tells her to stay away from the kitchen sometimes so he could dazzle her too. Dad thought us never to overburden your partner and always know she is the bone of your bone and flesh of your flesh. He would always say look for new ways to excite your marriage.

...

With Dad’s huge success in business and Mums birthday, the house was lit and Stella was about to witness a party in the Chikamso’s family-style.

Stella arrived by 5 pm and I was bent on giving her a real good time, get to know her and then possibly we could talk about Peter. I wasn’t planning on telling her about Peter and me, but I planned on knowing if Peter was cheating on me and if they were still together. Who was even the side chick, me or her? Gosh! I hated dramas and now I am cut in the middle of one.

‘Stella, there’s a birthday here tomorrow for my Mum.’

‘Oh, Valentine’s Day,’ she said.  ‘Double celebration. Peter tried to get me to stay for Valentine at Akure but I refused. I wanted a new environment, new adventures. I wanted to celebrate Valentine differently this year, away from kissing or movies with a man. She giggled’

‘Ok… it’s a good thing you’re here I could really use a hand in picking gifts tomorrow morning if you don’t mind,’ I said changing the uncomfortable line of discussion.

‘Not at all, ‘she replied with a smile.

Stella was a beautiful, fair-skinned lady. Not tall, one would wonder how she agreed to date the very tall Peter, contrast is good. A little bit chubby like a bunny. She wore a beautiful blonde tip weave, blue jeans, black T-shirt and white snickers, she looked like she just came back from a party and not from a long stressful journey; or was she dressed to impress? If so, she did good, her first impression was solid ice and I admire but for some reason, I am getting the vibes that she is seeking information about Peter of which I was not the least prepared to give out.

I gave Stella some space in my room as Hannah went over to John’s house so Mummy’s surprise birthday won’t be ruined. Mum heard some conversations a couple of times but felt it was about Dad. Dad managed to convince Mum he was celebrating his success tomorrow. So she joined in the kitchen and preparations for her own surprise without the knowledge of it.

Dad is a genius!

Stella slept pretty early that night because of the journey from Akure down to Abuja. She told me the roads were terrible and that she felt nauseous almost all through the journey. Though she didn’t look it to me. She complimented my cooking saying she had never tasted groundnut soup before. I told her to expect many more such treats from the Chikamso’s. The house where everyone is a chef and she gave a burst of loud laughter.

Looking at her I noticed she was a likeable person just as Anne said. No wonder Peter fell for her. Most guys would.

As I laid on my bed that day Pete called on face time. ‘Hey baby,’ he said.

‘Cut it, Peter,’ I said. ‘ I know it’s about Stella, Look, she’s fine. She got here safely. She’s sleeping and I want to do the same. She’s...’

‘Olivia,’ he cut in. ‘I want to know if you’re okay. You’re a one in a million personality…’

‘I would not trade you for anything in the world,’ I echoed as he spoke. I had memorised the line so well that I could say it with his exact words and tone.

He sighed and said,’ Look, Olive baby I...’

‘I doubt she even knows who I am to you. Honestly, Peter, does she know me? Try a new line Pete, ok, just be real to me,’ I said.

‘Olive my love, I told her before now that you’re the only person I love aside her. I told her I once asked you out before her which you refused and that you’re my best friend. I haven’t told her we are dating because I can’t hurt her more, Please when this phase is over I would tell her.’

We spoke together, ‘she’s going through a lot now because of her mother’s health... excuses Peter that’s all I hear.’

‘Olivia baby I love you, though I can’t find a better way to convince you right now I promise I would soon.’ He added.

‘I know you love me but it just feels so sad. I won’t question you again, I’d give you all the time you need boo,’ I said.

‘I love you.’ he chipped in almost immediately.

‘And you too,’ I replied.

‘Tomorrow is Valentine,’ he said, ‘I got you baby. Ours is love forever, and I do love you my Olive plant.’

...Alarm rings... 6:00 am. It’s Wednesday morning, the 14^th of February 2018.

‘Happy birthday Mum, happy Valentine’s day everyone!’ I said.

‘Happy Valentine’s day,’ the already dressed up Stella said. ‘You said we would be going shopping today as early as 6 am, it’s 6 am, let’s get the day rolling Olive. Tick tock says the clock.’ We both laughed.

‘Girl, you really keep to time,’ I complimented.

I rushed to the bathroom, freshened up and we joined the family for morning devotion after which we left to Silverbird zone 5 using the Uber I booked.

On our way, Stella told me how she met Peter and that today would be their second Valentine together. The first was as a friend she said but we kissed on that day too. My boyfriend then was an animal she continued, he abuses me at every slight opportunity, beats me and forcefully has sex with me. I am glad we parted ways, thanks to the charming Peter, he was God sent to me, she said eliciting a facial expression from me which I gave none. I knew the game she was playing, she wanted to know if the best friend thingy was a sham or there is more to it, but dear Stella has never seen my kind, I would not give her the satisfaction.

She told me Peter had been so distant towards her for some time, saying that she was cheating.

‘But babe, seriously, I’m not. He just misunderstood me and I love him so much, yes I agree I had a crush but it was just mere chats, I never would cheat on him.’ She was desperate for me to believe her as if for some reason, she believes I would relate the message back to him.

I sighed,’ Well, love has it flaws girlfriend. Stella dear, Peter aside. Let’s catch up on ourselves. Like, where you’re from? Your family? You know, let us get to know each other. Don’t you think so? I said smiling.

She nodded her head in agreement as we continued talking. Stella told me she was a Yoruba girl from Ibadan and that she met Peter during a science fair at Ibadan last year. They became close immediately. She never stopped for a moment from talking about Peter. Oh well, she loved him at least that part is clear to me now.

‘Stella, I’m an Igbo girl from Enugu state. I’m a psychology graduate from Uniport and I’m undergoing professional training so I can practice it’ I explained to her.

‘Wow!’ Stella exclaimed, obviously surprised you look so young, dear.

‘I’m in my final year at the University of Ibadan studying Sociology.’ She said.

‘Final year,’ I interjected. ‘How come you’re dating a first-year student? How old are you?’

‘Twenty-two. And I guess love doesn’t look at age or class or achievement. Besides, he is a direct entry student so...’  She spoke casually.

‘Oh that’s right dear,’ I said, I had gotten so used to calling him a first-year student that I forgot he went in through DE.

After shopping, we went back home. Once we were all complete, Dad kissed Mum and said, ‘ Happy Valentine’s day.’

And we all screamed happy birthday mummy. Just then Hannah and John walked in through the door, opened it and a beautiful lady walked in with them carrying a very huge cake, well decorated with all of Mum’s favourite colours, blue, red and white. My mind was all on the cake John made, so lovely I thought. We sang for Mum and each presented her a gift.

Mum was beaming with smiles all over, this is such a lovely surprise she said hugging Hannah tightly. My baby girl is home all just to surprise me and the whole lot of you made me prepare my own surprise with you all without knowing she added.

Lovely music playing in the background, Dad doing some funny dance moves. Mum’s friends started coming in one by one and the whole place was lit. Cutting the cake was my favourite part and eating it, of course! I can’t wait!

Just as the party was going on, I noticed I had left my phone in the room. Oh no. My phone must have been ringing. Perhaps so many Valentine messages or even birthday wishes for mum, as I wrote a poem on my Whatsapp timeline about my mum being my weapons valet, and my bedrock.

I looked around and noticed Stella too wasn’t in the parlour for the party. Perhaps she must be feeling left out I guess. Or could she be on my phone! I quickly walked to my room and found Stella on my phone. My suspicions were confirmed. She was flipping through my picture as I do not even have a password on it. Perhaps she must have seen my chats and text too.

‘Olivia,’ she said. ‘Who is this?’

‘My aunt.’ I replied and asked her what she was doing with my phone.

She said she was only looking at pictures when a message from Peter came in. She read it out of curiosity and he said that he loves you and wants you to be his Val date for today.

‘Tell me,’ she said, ‘are you the reason he’s been distant from me? Are you guys dating? Tell me, how old are you? Why would you want Peter’ she yelled. Let me tell, she continued. Peter is mine alone, he does not love you. No wonder why he has never mentioned you to me. You scavenger.

I was fuming with anger and muttering some words to myself. Keep calm Olivia, keep calm. Don’t let anger overcome you.

I had a wave of terrible anger that I could not let overcome me or I’d tear her to pieces.

‘Well, you could answer yourself, after all, you are good at snooping.’ I said while snatching my phone from her and walking away as quickly as my legs could carry before I would do something irrational. I called Peter immediately and told him to quit playing games with my heart. I yelled.

‘you think it is right to play games, keep two women hanging so you would have a backup plan should one of us leave you eventually or were you planning to eat your cake and have it? You have failed Peter. I ended the call without letting him say a word. My whole body vibrating in anger. I could kill you right now Peter I said out loud. You made this girl insult me, you are not even that special.

John rushed out to check why I left the party and met me walking towards the sitting room crying. Without asking any questions, he pulled me to his old room, hugged me and began petting me.

I spoke through gritted teeth, ‘John, I hate drama you know right? It’s why I never wanted to date anyone before my life. Stella, she’s Peter’s girlfriend. He had told me they were breaking up but they’re still an item it seems.

‘Since she came I’ve made up my mind. I and Peter won’t last, because I have seen she loves him. I have been avoiding him since she came. She went snooping around and read the Val message he sent to me. How dare she?’

‘Calm down,’ he said. ‘You’re shaking. Your anger is terrible. It’s a good thing you didn’t hit her.’

I’m not angry at her, I’m just mad at myself for being stupid... I... I’ I was sobbing now.

‘Sweetie, Sweetie, calm down, you’re so many things but stupid.  You love him. You never knew he had another girl. This is complication at its peak. You already gave him your heart before you knew, it is not your fault,’ John said.

‘I should have ended it the day Anne told me about Stella but I chose to trust him and give him the benefit of doubt, now look where it got me. Big brother, why did you let me fall into such a trap, you should have talked some sense into me. Mum and dad are right, younger men are trash. It seems he prefers older cause she is a year older but I could care less John, I just want to be whole again.

‘I must speak to Peter at once.’ He picked the phone and left the room. The room suddenly became so cold, I searched through the remaining things John left back at home just in case he’d come visiting so he would not have to carry clothes whenever he intended to come around. I found a purple sweater and put it on; I was so cold.  I started rubbing my hands together. Why did you have to love him, why Olivia, why I questioned myself?

John came in kissed my forehead and assured all would be fine. I nodded without conviction.

‘We should get back to the parlour,’ I said. ‘I wouldn’t let anything ruin Mum’s special day. John asked if I was strong enough to. I said that I was. It would be a good distraction for me.

‘It’s time to serve the food isn’t it?’ We both smiled.

‘This sweater though,’ he said.

‘I’m cold, John.’ I said.

‘Sorry, my love. All is well.’ He said.

John’s words were like the moon; calm and loving, he knows just what to say in every situation. I couldn’t ask for a better big brother, though we quarrel a lot, but that doesn’t change the fact that he always got my back.

He did not tell me the discussion he had with Peter as he believed it would hurt me more, he only assured me all will be fine.

‘What’s on your mind? He asked;

‘You’ I replied coolly.  ‘I love you, big bro.’

‘I know cupcake, I know.’ He held my hand and said, ‘you’re the most beautiful, talented and selfless girl I know and I love you too.’

At this particular moment, my temperature was restored back to normal like magic. I took off the sweater and we moved hand in hand to the parlour. I zoomed in my thoughts on my family and away from Peter. I was consciously avoiding Stella’s gaze. I didn’t know who to blame in all of this. It all seemed so wrong but the love felt good while it lasted.

Meanwhile, in the sitting room, Mum and Dad with their friends were having a good time. As Hannah and I proceeded to serve everyone, Stella opted to help and I wanted to decline, saying she was a visitor too and not a member of the house. But the thought of ‘conscience Hannah’ rebuking me saying that that’s not polite big sis and was totally uncalled for made me sigh...

‘Okay,’ I said with a straight on my face, that says ‘I don’t like you’; but Stella seemed not to care. It felt like she wanted to say something, but my countenance wouldn’t let her.

I would hear her out, but not now at least. She should know I didn’t appreciate what she did. Especially calling me a scavenger. Perhaps I should have told her about Peter and me, but I could not because somewhere between the love we shared was this feeling that we would not last. It was the reason none of my friends knew about us.

‘Here,’ I said, serving the food. ‘Start from the most elderly.’ I instructed Hannah and Stella.

That night I wanted to sleep in John’s room, but he shut the door and left with the key. Hannah slept off too and did not hear when I knocked and called her phone I went into the room. Looking at Stella, I sighed sitting on my bed I asked her,’ Stella, hope you’re good?’

‘Yes.’ She said leaving her bed to sit with me. I made as if to tell her, not to come close cause I despised her but good-natured Olivia would not bring herself to do that.

‘Olivia,’ she began. ‘What I did today is inexcusable. No matter my doubts, I shouldn’t be snooping around your phone. I did wrong. You see Olivia, I love Peter so much but whenever I offend him, rather than tell me, he just neglects me and makes me feel so bad. Since December last year about one week before he came home for Christmas break, I was at his house and was on my phone on WhatsApp chatting with a friend. He was my bestie. He told me that he loved me and I said that I loved him too. Peter saw it and that’s how he started neglecting me. I was very disturbed and that’s why when I saw Peter’s message on your phone, I just lost it and took out my anger on you. I’m sorry Olivia’.

I sat still, watching her and then I said,’ Stella, I did not know you and Peter were a thing. Peter asked me out some years back, I didn’t accept because I was two years older than him however, seeing he didn’t give up made me fall for him. I decided to give him a chance, it was after I had accepted and given my heart to him that he told me about you.

‘From what he said you guys were having a hard time. He told me you guys were on the verge of a breakup and that because of your Mum’s health and exams he couldn’t. But seeing you right now, I really don’t know what to do. I’d call him and break up with him, I’ll...’

‘No Olivia dear, don’t do that. You love him and I do too. Let’s wait and see if he’ll come clean to any of us. Let’s just be friends all over again and forget about Peter for now.

One thing Stella did not know about me is I have self-pride and I would never give Peter the satisfaction of choosing, he is not a trophy, he is dispensable. I had made up my mind that we were done and if peradventure he broke up with Stella, I would still dump him in a heartbeat, this decision brought peace to me.

Stella and I grew closer until when she was about to go back. It was so difficult to say goodbye. I felt so sad and lonely. Dad booked her, a flight back to Ibadan and gave her some money to get an apartment and also a part-time job as a stock keeper at his warehouse in Ibadan where he sold wholesale goods.

None of them knew about the love triangle except John and Hannah who did not even know about the saga. Though a new friendship was born between Stella and I and all through her stay, I avoided Peter’s calls but inwardly I desperately needed to know how he was doing and if he was going to break up with her for my sake or me for her sake. Despite all the drama, my heart was still yearning for Peter, this was such a terrible feeling and even after my resolve to dump him, the heart still wants what it wants.

After about three hours that Monday morning the of February 2018, she called to tell me her flight had arrived safely and that she was headed to Peter’s.

You have lost Olivia, get used to it I said to myself.