Chapter 14, Episode 2

Last updated on March 6th, 2024 at 03:16 pm

I had been ignoring Tochi’s message since we last saw each other. It was only temporary though because he was still in Abuja and we had to see. His messages had mostly been him begging and insisting that what we had was good. He had still refused to call it a relationship. It didn’t matter. My mind was made up.

Today, I decided to reply to him. His last message was:

Someone is jealous of what we have. They can be bitter for all I care, they don’t matter. We matter, what we have matters, our son matters.

So I replied:

Good morning, Tochi. My decision remains the same. I am replying because I want to know if you have an idea of what to do concerning Eliam. Thank you.

I dropped my phone and got to work. I had to make up for the days I missed so I silenced my phone. Eliam was at home with Zabby so I wasn’t worried. The few occasions when we had gotten someone to babysit him were worrisome for me.

I didn’t touch my phone until it was my lunch break. I grabbed my phone and bottle, locked my laptop, and headed to the cafeteria. I had finished eating before I looked at my phone five which showed five missed calls and a lot of messages from Tochi.

Baby, please.

Baby, I am so sorry. Don’t do this to us.

We can’t do this to Eliam.

Talk to me, my love. Whatever you want.

We have been lovers since university, we can’t throw that away now.

I sighed as I read through his messages, then I dialled his number. He picked on the first ring.

“Jesus, Angela. My Angel, what can I do to right this?”

“You’ve done your best, to be honest. Let’s discuss Eliam first.”

“I don’t care about him. I care about you. It’s you I want.”

“Oh?”

“I don’t mean it that way,” He backtracked as if his cavalier response just occurred to him. “Baby, you know I care. I just mean that we don’t have to discuss Eliam if you are still in my life.”

“I don’t know what to tell you again, Tochi. I have to go back to work, later.” My lunch break was not yet over, but I didn’t intend to spend all my break listening to Tochi’s pleas. His desperation was suspicious.

***

Hello. Can we see on Friday? I am leaving on Saturday. Tochi had sent the message since yesterday but I purposely did not reply. I just got back from work now and decided to reply. He had not sent any other message since the last one which made me relieved but confused. What was he up to?

Hi, we can do Friday, in the evening.

***

Tochi did not reply until Friday afternoon. At that point, I thought he had changed his mind, though I kept my schedule open. 

Ok. That was all he said. I didn’t know what I was going to meet, but I was mentally prepared for any direction the evening went.

***

“Wow, you are back earlier than expected. What’s up?” It was just 7:30 in the evening, so I expected Zabby’s comment. I toed off my shoes and sat on the chair.

“How long has Eliam been asleep?”

“Umm, barely fifteen minutes.” Okay. He was in for the night. I had to return him to my parents the next day after he had missed a whole week at school.

“Thanks, babe.”

“Yeah, sometimes it feels like we are now so grown, you know, doing adult stuff.”

“I knowww.” I replied, laughing. “Glad to be doing it with you, though,” I added, looking at Zabby. It had not fully hit that I was done with Tochi, my friend of over five years and lover for…well, it’s been off and on.

“Same here, sis. Same here.”

“Sooo, Mr Tochi spent the first hour begging again.”

“Are you serious?”

“I am. It’s just annoying that he thinks someone is influencing me to break up with him like I don’t have a mind of my own.”

“If only he knew. If it was based on influence, you would have broken up even before you left school.”

“Honestly.”

“So, what did he do after begging?”

“Well, we switched to Eliam. He said he would continue sending Eliam’s allowance and whenever he is free, he would try to come around to see Eliam.”

“I really don’t buy that idea. I mean of him coming around to see Eliam. It still feels like you guys are keeping that gate open. But I can’t think of a better option.”

“I get. I just told myself that if he lives up to his word, then we will find a way to resolve it. Knowing him though, he won’t be able to keep up.”

“Yeah, true. That makes sense. He hasn’t specifically shown any signs of being a good father, anyway. But, you have to be prepared for the tantrums he can throw given that you have a whole child together.”

“I know, right? Sometimes I wish we never had a child.”

“Yes. But let’s not go down that route. If it comes down to blame, it is never Eliam’s fault. Y’all had sex.” Ouch! Zabby coming in with no filter.

…

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