Chapter 9, Episode 1

Last updated on February 2nd, 2024 at 04:18 pm

I couldn’t send Tochi a birthday gift since he was unreachable at the camp, so I texted Zabby.

Need to get Tochi a birthday gift, come with me. I saw that she was typing, so I sent a message: No excuse!

Urgh, Angela. I knew she wouldn’t want to follow me, she hadn’t tried to hide that she wasn’t cool with Tochi. She knew everything that happened in my relationship and I intended to keep telling her rather than bottling everything in. 

I am ordering an Uber already. I typed in response.

Okay, hun. After a while, she messaged again Has he ever gotten you a gift?

I didn’t reply to her but it got me thinking. I was not sure I ever received a birthday gift from Tochi, we always had one issue or the other around the time and he’d wish me a happy birthday but that was just it. Well, we only officially started dating and his birthday came first.

***

“I got you something,” I said, fiddling with my bracelet. I was on the phone with Tochi. We had spoken many times on the phone but it still felt strange for him to pick up when I called him.

“What did you get me?”

“Your birthday gift.”

“Wow! Look at my babe!”

“How do I send it to you?” I had gotten him a pair of shoes, I could have ordered it online and had it delivered to him but I wasn’t sure I could handle Instagram vendors. He was quiet for a bit.

“We have to see soon. I already miss you. I and some friends are trying to get an apartment in Lagos so we can all share.” I was taken aback by the information. If I had not gotten him a gift, I wouldn’t have known that he was trying to get an apartment already. Sure, he had to stay somewhere obviously but I expected us to discuss it. I was going to stay with one of Zabby’s friends in Abuja but we had not concluded yet. Had I been sure, I’d have shared with him and gotten his opinion. I didn’t want us to have any issues so I kept quiet and just asked the important question, “So I should hold it until we see, right?” 

“Yes, baby.” 

“How’s my Angel doing? I miss you so much.” At this, I forgot why I was hurt and just melted. With Tochi, his words melted me and he knew it. 

“I miss you too, I’m not doing well at all. It’s been over a month.” 

“Once I get that apartment, you are coming over. You’d help me decorate my room, and start preparing.” At least, I’ll be going there. I felt butterflies in my stomach as he mentioned me decorating his room, we were definitely in this relationship long-term. Some of my friends in school broke up before service because both parties concluded that they couldn’t make it work given the distance, so being with Tochi filled me with hope–he was my guy. 

***

I slept better that night than I had in days. Tochi wanted me to decorate his room. Maybe if I had dated Joe, we would have broken up by now; this was the right choice.

I was packing my stuff to go to Abuja, I had decided to stay with one of Zabby’s friends who was just serving. Tochi did not sound too interested when I told him though. ‘How would I see you when I come around?’ He had asked. I never really thought about us needing privacy, we had dated for months without either of us having our personal rooms. 

Apart from the few kisses we shared though, we had never really done anything. Sometimes, I worried that that might be the reason for Tochi’s attitude, but he always assured me that he was not ready to get sexual. I didn’t know how I felt about the possibility of that now. Regardless, I felt silly for getting a space without considering Tochi visiting me. Knowing him, this could be an excuse for him never to come to visit and I really wanted him to come, I needed him to show that this mattered to him as well.

Zabby had suggested him lodging in a hotel whenever he came around. When I told him, he did not seem to buy the idea, he just seemed upset by the whole thing. I should have asked what he thought before doing it but after he also made his decision without asking for my input, I did not consider it necessary to ask him.

…

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