'I don't want to be too sure yet, but I see it coming Nike', Titi told her friend as they strolled out of the salon complex.
Titi had come to make her hair at her friend; Nike's salon as usual, and had updated her on the latest with her new found friend- Richard.
Adenike has been her closest friend for over ten years now. They had attended the same secondary school back in Ondo State, and also went to Nursing school together. Unlike Titi, Nike had not been lucky enough to get employed after school, but had acquired the hairdressing skill. She was also lucky to find her well-to-do husband; Dapo, who opened a big salon for her shortly after their wedding, six months ago.
'Well, you should get prepared then', Nike advised.
'Oh please Denike, don't act like you don't know my trouble. I'm not just ready for this'.
'And why is that?', Nike asked her.
'Though we have been friends for two months now, and he has been dropping hints of his intention to take our friendship to the next level, but you know how it usually ends with them when they get to know about Sam.'
'Then if I must be frank with you Titi, you should tell him about it before he does, so he knows what he is in for.'
Titilayo shook her head. 'You mean I should tell him I have a six-year-old son already? And you think he will accept me with open arms? No Denike, I can't'.
'Come off it Titi', Nike reproved. 'What difference will it make at the end of the day, if he later finds out after you start a relationship with him? Then, it will be worse, because he will never trust you again and you might end up losing him. So please, tell him the truth now baby girl, If he truly loves you, he wont be bothered by it.'
'Denike I don't think I can. I'm scared', she fretted.
Titi had always been plagued with the thought of the fact that her previous lovers dumped her when they got to know that she already had a child. In the past two years, when she finally made peace her past and allowed herself to love, she had been dumped four consecutive times by different lovers whenever she told them about her boy. They either gave the excuse that their parents/family members would kick against their marriage to her, or they won't be able to cope with the extra luggage she would be stringing along into the union.
'Perhaps I've been too sincere, Nike, I think it's better I don't tell at all' Titi said, worried.
'What?!', Nike exclaimed. 'Please don't try it Titi, that will be the worst idea! For how long do you think you can keep up with that? Because sooner or later, he will stumble on the truth, and then he might never forgive you. Please tell him now, don't let him find out himself.'
Titi thought for a while and took a deep breath. 'Ok then, I'll try and hope for the best'.
Nike nodded in agreement as they continued to stroll down towards the side of the road.
'Richard is coming to pick me up at the bus stop'. Titi told her friend.
'Really? Is he taking you out on a date?'
'No. That is the way he has been since we met. Anytime he is around, he practically plays chauffeur on me. He calls and asks where I am, then he comes over to pick me up and drops me home'.
'Wow! Baby you're one lucky girl you know, I really wish I was single once again', Nike jested.
'Single indeed', Titi laughed mockingly. 'You had better stick to your husband and hold him close to your heart. Afterall, he is obviously taking good care of you. It's evident from the way you have been growing more and more robust each passing day in the space of six months'.
'That's the more reason you should make it snappy and join my league', Nike replied with a teasing smile and they both laughed.
Just then, a wine colored Mercedes jeep pulled up beside the road. Titi was quick to recognize the car as Richard's, and she immediately bade her friend goodbye. She walked up to the vehicle and slipped into the passenger's seat and the vehicle swerved off.
'I love your hairstyle', Richard told her, casting her an admiring glance as he drove on.
'Thank you', Titi smiled, 'Compliments of my friend'.
'You mean your friend made your hair for you?'
'Of course; my bosom friend, the lady I was standing with at the bus-stop, she's the owner of the salon and she makes my hair everytime'.
'Fantastic! Then you should have introduced us. I never knew she is the one that enhances your angelic beauty with those beautiful hairstyles, I would have compensated her for a job well done.'
'You know, Richard, you should stop patronising me. I'm not an angel, I'm just me, there is nothing special', Titi said, feeling self-conscious.
Richard gave her an unbelieving look. He swerved the car to the side of the road and brought it to a halt.
'Why are we stopping?', Titi asked him, confused.
'I just want to make some facts known to you', he told her as he unfastened his seatbelt and faced her, looking straight into her eyes.
'Titilayo', he started, 'It hurts me when you call yourself ordinary or nothing special, because it's far from true. You may not see yourself for who you are, but I see it all. You are priceless, you mean a lot to me, more than you can ever imagine, so please don't say that again.'
Titi laughed. 'Richard, you wont cease to amuse me. Of course, I mean a lot to you, so as you do to me, because we are very good friends', she said with non-challance and looked outside the window, pretending not to know what he meant.
'Look here, Titilayo', he said, turning her face to himself, 'It's not because we are friends, it is because I'm in love with you. I wan't to spend the rest of my life with you, I want to marry you. Will you do me the honor?'.
Her heart skipped a beat at what she just heard. She was not totally caught unawares though, she just wasn't prepared to hear it yet. She tried to speak but just found herself spluttering.
'Save your breathe and say nothing if you can't for now', he said, to ease her tension. 'I'm not in a hurry, I can wait till you make up your mind. But please, don't keep me waiting for too long. You know what they say long-term hope does.'
Titi simply inclined her head and turned to face the window again as Richard started the ignition and got the jeep back on the road. She didn't believe her ears. Perhaps, when she entered the car, she'd just stepped into one of the wierdest dreams she'd ever had.
When Titi got home, she couldn't stop thinking it through. Of a truth, she was in love with this promising gentleman, whom she was sure, also loved her with all tenderness and sincerity of heart. But how was she to relay her most sacred secret to him; that if she would be saying yes, she was not coming into the relationship alone? She would be stringing along her six-year old son?
Titilayo bore Sam when she was seventeen years old, shortly after her secondary education. Her father had died before she put to bed, and her mother'd had to cater for her and the baby, along with Titi's younger brother and only sibling; Tosin. Luckily for her, she gained admission into a nursing school in Abeokuta a year later where she also got a job immediately after finishing school. Her brother, Tosin now studied in a university in Lagos state, where Titi sponsored his education, while Sam, Titi's son lived with her mother in Ondo state.
Titi made it a point of duty to pay them a visit twice every month, and in her little way catered for her son and that of her aging mother; who sold petty items for a living. Initially, she had planned to take custody of Sam when she finished school and got a job, but the boy had already grown fond of his grandmother and vice versa, thus Titi had decided to let him live with her.
When Richard asked to know everything about her, she had told him every other detail but carefully held back that of Sam, because of her fear of the expected; that he would reject her. Meanwhile, Richard hid nothing, he told her virtually everythingabout himself.
To her, the only flaw she had seen in Richard's life was the fact that he used to drink, and now, he had even stopped because of her. Other than that, Richard was perfectly perfect. He had no other flaw she could point out. Now, was she to get rid of her son to be perfect for him too?
Her nervousness grew.
Nike was right. If Richard got to find out about Sam by himself later,then he truly might not forgive her. But then, as long as Sam stayed in Ondo, there was no way Richard was ever going to get to find out, she thought as she paced up and down her room.
Yes, that is what she would do; never let Richard know till they got married. At least by then, even if he finds out, he would have no choice than to forgive her, she thought. She couldn't risk losing him, so she made up her mind not to let him know, no matter what.
***************************************************************************
About a month later, Richard was in his car with Titi on their way out on a date when a call came in and he'd parked to answer. He cast a quizzical look at her when he ended the call he had been receiving.
'Why are you staring at me like that?', He asked her. 'Did I do something wrong?'
'Nothing', she said bluntly as she tilted her nose in the air and looked away.
'I won't take that Tee, there is something', He insisted, taking her left hand in his. He knew her expression had changed in the past few minutes, he could recognize the pain in her eyes.
Then it occured to him, the call he just received; he had addressed the caller as sweetheart. It just made sense to him now.
He smiled and shook his head. 'Titilayo, you know, I can't seem to understand you. I mean, why don't you just say yes, since you love me this much? You are yet to agree to my proposal, yet you get jealous whenever I speak with or come in close contact with a lady.'
'Who is talking of jealousy here? Did I tell you I am jealous?', she defended herself.
'Very well then', he started the engine, 'let's get going.'
Titi sighed and silently thanked God he didn't probe further. he had almost caught her, and of course, she had been jealous when she heard him address the caller as 'sweetheart', and from the voice she heard faintly from his earpiece, the caller was a woman.
She knew that despite the fact that Richard was not a cassanova, desperate ladies would still find their way to him. And then he had every right to flirt with them if he wanted to, because she was yet to agree to to be his.
'But..', he said, breaking into her thoughts as he steered the car back unto the road, 'You should know that the caller is no strange woman, it was my younger sister, Sandra'.
'Oh, Ok', was all Titi could say. His explanation has just sated her curiousity and she smiled inwardly.
Richard swerved into the restaurant parking lot and they walked hand in hand into the building.
They placed their orders and Titi was surprised that Richard only requested for a drink. He had told her he was hungry earlier on phone, when he had called and informed her he was coming to pick her up for dinner.
'Is that all you are going to take?', she asked, pointing to the glass of fruit juice on the table.
'No it's not. This is just an appetizer, the main meal is coming, just go ahead with yours', he smiled and motioned to her to eat her food.
Titi nodded and resumed eating. She had ordered a plate of fried rice and chicken; her favourite delicacy.
She could have worried, but Richard had whispered something into the waiter's ear when they came in, perhaps that was when he had requested for his main meal that was coming.
Titi was halfway into her meal when the waiter emerged with a big tray containing a covered plate. She wondered what kind of special meal Richard was about to eat that required so much special attention. He had never placed his order for food in that manner before. Perhaps the dish was finished before and they had just prepared another one. These thoughts swirled around inside her as he thanked the waiter who responded and took his leave.
Richard stood up, cleared his throat and spoke up. 'Ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention please?', he announced.
Titi stared at him in confused surprise. What was he up to? Announcing he wanted to eat, or advertising the quality of his meal?
Everyone turned their gaze to their table and Richard, satisfied that he now had their attention, continued his speech.
'My intended bride here', he said, gesturing towards Titi, 'Has held me to ransom for the past few weeks and is yet to grant my proposal in camera, and as an impatient gentleman, I don't think I can wait any longer. So I entreat you all to bear me witness, as I ask her once again in public.'
Then he turned to Titi who was already tensed and mortified beyond movement.
'Titilayo Olakunle, will you spend the rest of your life with me, do me the honor of being my wife, my helper, my soulmate, the mother of my unborn kids; will you marry me?'
Titi gasped and rose from her seat with her palms to her mouth, while Richard opened the covered plate, retrieved a ring and went down on one knee in front of her, holding up the ring.
'Oh my God!' 'This is so romantic!', were the muffled comments that came from some of the other ladies present in the restaurant.
Titi's palms moved from her mouth to her face, as she tried to buried the expressions of mixed feelings that glowed on it; Mixed feelings of embarrasment, surprise, joy, and of course; love.
'I'm waiting', Richard whispered expectantly.
Titi uncovered her face and managed to find her voice. 'Yes, I will marry you', she said shyly, giving him a smile filled with sunshine.
'Ladies and gentlemen', Richard announced again, still maintaining his position on his knee, 'At last, she grants my wish and agrees to my proposal; she will marry me'.
Everyone applauded and cheered. With this, he took her left hand, put the ring on her middle finger, and then rose to his feet.
Titi stared at her betrothal ring with joy. She couldn't evaluate how much it cost, but it was worth treasures to her. It was a silver ring with a diamond center. She remembered Richard had told her he is silver-obsessed, he'd pick silver anytime. Funny guy, she thought as she smiled to herself.
'Thank you for honoring me', Richard smiled as he tilted up her chin and kissed her.
-Temi
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