FRIDAYS WITH NMA…….WHAT YOU SAY

Well this week has had the screening of the ministerial nominees trending. Finally,those guys are good,see as senators just dey fire them question and they did so well. See oppression, i come dey ask myself which level i dey, anyways lets leave that aside. Heck today is Friday and thank God its Friday

Today is going to be more of a discussion, so here is the gist ,its quite lengthy but i would do a summary. A couple had two daughters and the wife had to travel out of the country in search of greener pastures as she was a nurse. As God would have it she fared well and usually sent her husband and the daughters financial assistance. From time to time she comes back to meet her husband and kids. In one of her returns,she discovered that there was trouble brewing between the husband and her daughters. She asked her husband who told her that the girls were upset because he was strict with them and didnt give them the much needed freedom they so desired, the lady was quite happy that the man was doing good,  training the girls only for her to confront her daughters and they blurted out that their father was abusing them sexually. She was shocked and asked if they could repeat the allegation before their father and they did. The father couldnt believe his ears and told his wife that the children were lying but the children were willing to reiterate their statement before their pastor and members of the family. The woman was confused and didnt know who to believe but eventually took the girls along with her as she went back and  severed relationship with her husband. The man continued to beg and claim he was innocent, he lost most of his friends,his job and eventually became admitted in s psychiatric institition. The girls blossomed into beautiful women but were unable to find suitors. After being taken to several churches and prayer houses, it was discovered that they broke a union and have caused pain to someone. The elder of the two girls denied knowing anything but the younger suddenly burst into tears and confessed that they lied against their dad, because he wouldnt allow them to do as they wish. Can u imagine that? So what do u think? Was the woman wrong not to have believed her husband putting in mind that the rate of child molestation is on the increase, what can she do at this point ? If you were the husband what will be your reaction?. So lets talk!

FRIDAYS WITH NMA…………..I FORGIVE YOU

The world teachers day was just celebrated on 5th of October, the celebration made me remember an incident that happened with one of my favourite teachers in primary school. She came in one day and started scolding our class captain, although she didn’t tell us her offence but kept repeating the importance of being reliable and trustworthy. Being the amebo that I was, I couldn’t concentrate in class that day, I needed to get to the root of the matter, and what the heck- they were close, what could have provoked such scolding. I was sometimes jealous of the relationship my class teacher shared with the captain. It was always Funke this! (Not real name) or Funke that! I couldn’t wait for it to be break time to get the full gist. So at break time, Funke told me what happened, the teacher gave her a note to give a fellow teacher but she opened it and was caught by the teacher in the process who in turn reported to my class teacher who was really disappointed. Thinking about it now i realized why my class teacher was really pissed, this was someone she relied on but she just threw the trust out of the window. Funke broke the first rule of every relationship, either between parents and children, between spouses, between an employer and employees. Something about trust is that when it is lost, it is difficult to be regained. It is quite disappointing to be betrayed by someone you trust. Have you ever carried a baby and you throw the child up, do you wonder why he isn’t afraid but smiling and laughing. It’s because he trusts that you would not let any harm come to him. That is the same way it is when someone trusts you and relies on you.

People make mistakes, sometimes very serious ones. What is done is done and you need to just get on with things. In as much as it is difficult to give another chance, i want to encourage those who feel they have been hurt in one way or the other by someone they trusted. What i believe is that one who is sincerely sorry will be indebted to you for the gift of another chance.

I am sure you want to know how it ended between Funke and my teacher, well surprisingly they made up and soon returned to buddies. So dear friend forgive that friend, forgive that spouse, forgive that colleague and let it go, and see how light you will feel. I understand its difficult, especially forgetting but what is forgiving if you keep reminding the erring party of his faults. Why not give a clean slate and watch how things fall into place. Keep moving forward, stop holding back.

CHIDINMA MMADUKA

Guest Columnist

 TEACHERS:  THE REAL HEROES!

A Tribute to all teachers on World teacher’s day!

From ”uncle Friday” in my Primary School days to the one we called ”Stone cold” because of his strictness and zero tolerance for indiscipline down or up to (depending on the position you are viewing this from. Lmao) the one people call: ”Ike man” during my days at Department of Architecture in the University, my experience with good teachers are always the same. You always tend to hate but love them, you never want to miss the drama in their classes, you don’t want to fail their courses or subjects, they don’t deceive their wards/students and they all have zero tolerance for indiscipline.

As a kid, I was once told by one of my big uncles; Prof. Joseph Obi of how his father discouraged him from going to the then prestigious college of Education in Rivers state, My curiosity to know why ended up making me dismayed at the answer his father gave him. I am sure you can guess correctly what the answer was but in case you are not one for guessing, I will tell you. His father told him that teachers are the ones who teach people how to make millions yet are always poor, he argued with my uncle that he will live a miserable life trying to make a teaching career because the government never releases their peanuts until after several strike actions. All these discouraged uncle Joe and after several years of looking for that “life changing job” with his now late late father described, Uncle Joe ended up in the states where he still followed his dreams. He started as a college teacher whilst continuing his education. Today, he is a professor of English at one of the biggest universities in America. Apart from been the financial backbone of his family, Prof Obi has encouraged his siblings and others into this wonderful profession of teaching. I was also privileged to have him write a forward to one of my books: ”Swinging Emotions”.

As Uncle Obi will rightly say, in Nigeria we always forget the basis. People always neglect the fact most of the problems Nigeria has today as a nation originated from poor values and norms. Our youths who should have been our greatest asset as banners and torch carriers of both economical and political continuity have had their ship of education completely wreaked by disillusionment, strike actions and the rather disturbing quality of education they now depend on.

Now, imagine if the ”Uncle Fridays” of my primary school,, the ”stone colds” of my secondary school and the ”ike man” of my university days were at a point in time in their short careers encouraged and given beffiting awards and rewards for their outstanding works like Gov. Fayose of Ekiti will be doing today, this would certainly have spurred others in their era to do more. Until we learn that ”Teachers” are our real heroes, the ship of education in this country will continue to sink further in the ship of nothingness and moral bankruptcy.

 So guys its world teacher’s day! Who was your favorite teacher and why?

 

ONYEKABA N. Charles (arc)

Architect & creative writer.

Author of “Swinging Emotions: The poetry of my youth”

& ”Shadow of Truth”

Email: onyekabaeme@yahoo.com

Blog: http://www.charleyrosu.wordpress.com

……….FRIDAYS WITH NMA………

N/B : Chidinma Mmaduka is our new columnist and she will be in charge of this space: ”Fridays with Nma”. She is a young, exciting writer. I hope we will all enjoy her articles. Jpin her every friday if you enjoyed this and please don’t forget to encourage us.  Cheers!

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Have you ever eaten an orange after which you take an apple and it feels like wow there’s no fruit like an apple but shortly after with the pineapple juice dripping through your fingers and you smacking your lips you testify that pineapple it is,none other tastes better. But u fail to realize that each fruit is different, how the heck do u compare an orange to pineapple?for crying out loud it will always be an orange! Am sure you are thinking who in his right senses does that? Right? Let me disappoint you that’s the mistake most of us make in our relationships. We feel Ade is not as tolerant as segun or Seun is more caring than Segun. We tend to compare our present partner to our ‘exes’ or ‘nexts’ if i may say while forgetting that each of them is a different individual and treated as such. Why not find out the strengths of your partner and  appreciate it instead of hanging to the flaws and comparing how poor her cooking is while your ex is excellent at it. Theres nothing as romantic as a couple recognizing each others weaknesses, understanding it and working on how to tolerate or improve on it instead of rubbing it into his /her face. If you continue at this pace of comparison, you will end up from one relationship to another without ffulfilment Rather than compare Aisha to Bola and Bola to Ngozi,why not compare them to a vision of what you want from a relationship partner. Focus on the bigger picture and you will have a better chance of meeting someone who is more fully like what you want in a partner
Have you ever found yourself in such scenarios?what was it like?Were you doing the comparison or the one being compared? Share your experience, let’s keep the ball rolling.

Article by

CHIDINMA MADUKA

Guest Columnist

MALL DESIGN AT LAGOS ISLAND

Mall : Images showing the perspective views of the Mall.

The contemporary Shopping mall is an effort to associate with each building type, an architectural identity, style and elements and thus indirectly improve the image ability of the environs. the mall was designed for a syndicate of businessmen to house a variety of shopping activities and thus provide an economic base for the locality. Aside from commercial shops, supermarkets, the complex also houses a large food court, a cinema and administrative offices. Its interior embellishment is characterized by open, spacious lobbies leading to various interior spaces. Glass was widely used as the partition elements to ensure that spaces see through themselves. Aside from the use of Natural lighting and ventilation elements, the design also integrates the modern HVAC system as practised in most part of the world to ensure that the thermal comfort of its users is always met.

The 3 storey Symmetrical building is largely characterized on its exterior facades by the use of Aluminium composite bonds (Alluco bond),mass glassing, steel elements and is unique roofing style as is the case of most urban contemporary designs

Another 3D view of the mall.

Sorry, I have been away for some time but i guess it never too late to be back. I just did this poem. Decided to post it here to see how many of us will derive a meaning from it. Read and please tell me what you think……….Cheers

Image courtesy of: enoughisenoughnigeria.com

,

THE PROTEST

“Where is your sense of pride” we yelled,
“How do you sleep in your gold beds, knowing we rot in penury?”
“Do you not hear these cries when you close your eyes?”
“Will you not at least attempt to wipe our ferocious tears?”

You have driven us nuts
And led us to flames!
“How long will you deprive us of our mother’s breast milk?”
Our cities and villages smell of blood of our innocent brethren
Yet, you have turned your back to repentance.

Abused, Plundered and disinherited,
Still, we occupy these streets in protest,
The few who speak must be heard,
“Call no land free, until its rescued from the clutches of corruption,
“Call no man a leader, who crushes his followers,
We must unite in this fight,
Until our nation is rebuilt in the dreams of her heroes!

Onyekaba N. charles (Author of the books: Swinging Emotions And Shadow of Truth)

COMPLICATIONS : EPISODE 5

  Sorry, I didn’t post this last week. I was bereaved and had to do the needful. Permit me to dedicate today’s Episode to my late uncle: Sir Christopher I. Okafor.  Kindly check http://www.charleyrosu.wordpress.com or http://www.facebook.com/charleyrosu, if you’ve missed any episode. Enjoy! And please don’t forget to leave your comments————————

COMPLICATIONS

By Onyekaba N. Charles

EPISODE 5

I quickly rushed upstairs to meet Timi who had been gazing at Shantel with so much interest all the while.
“Timi am sorry for taking…………” “Oh no problem Ken!” He cuts in almost immediately. “Such a damsel”
“Yea she used to be my girlfriend” I replied.
“How could you lose such a beautiful girl Ken?
“Long story bro. Besides, it’s in the past. I’d prefer not to discuss it please”. I said with a rather stern tone.
“Hmmmm, No problem, I don’t mean to intrude, but I was curious because you both look good together. Besides, her face looks familiar even though I am yet to ascertain where we have met”
“So how far Timi” I harshly interrupted him. Obviously, I didn’t want him to take the conversation any further, especially after he mentioned the word ’familiar’.  In the few months I have been Timi’s neighbor, I have noticed he is a ‘Womanizer’. In fact, before he travelled to Abuja last month, the landlord himself, came to warn him probably after one of a co- tenant reported the various cases of nuisances and disturbances his visitors had caused the compound. He apologized that day, even though he had bullishly shrugged off the complaints saying that he’s a bachelor on one hand and a good tenant on the other. Thus, does not owe anybody an explanation whatsoever on how he lives his life. He paused for a while and looked at me so distraughtly that am sure he was wondering why I reacted that way. “I am fine” he answered reluctantly.
“Let’s go in” I said, pretending not to take any notice of his mood. “No Ken! I’d rather we stay here and discuss. I don’t intend to take much of your time” He replied. So I quickly got another seat from my sitting room to join him at the balcony. He had just purchased a plot of land somewhere at Ikorodu and wanted me to do a be-fitting design for him. We discussed his brief, quickly agreed a small fee and I promised to get back to him with a preliminary design in a month’s time. He thanked me and left in a mood that suggested that he was still not happy at the way I ignored his questions earlier on. I thought about calling him back to apologize but on a second thought, I decided not to.  
“I didn’t do any wrong” I thought aloud. So I shut my flat door and went inside my room. I picked up my phone, dialed Shantel’s number and she picked after some beeps.
“Hey! How far are you now? I asked curiously.
“Am at Ketu” She replied. “Serious hold-up dey oh” She continued. “Oh my goodness” I lamented as I checked my wrist watch. It was already 7:12pm.
“I just pray you get home on time. I continued.
“I will be fine Ken!……Thanks for the reception, I really enjoyed my time with you” She replied.
“I guess that means you’re coming tomorrow?”. I said with a smile. There was silence for awhile as though She was pondering if she could make it before promising, but I continued:
“I will call you again to know what the situation is” She said thanks and I hung up the phone. I dropped the phone on my reading table, sat down and reflected for awhile on a poem I titled: ‘The cry’ which I had started earlier in the day. I picked up my pen and managed to scribble the following:
“She drinks down in her sorrow, Her heart pierced with an arrow. To escape emotions so repressed, And looks, so depressed.
I tried to add another line but just couldn’t concentrate. My thoughts were just on Shantel and Emeka. How possible? I kept asking myself. I picked up my phone again, dialed Shantel’s number severally but the call didn’t go through. The replies I got was either “Network busy” or “The MTN number you are calling is not reachable at the moment, please try again later”.

Thirty minutes passed and I was still staring at my phone. I thought about calling Emeka but I doubted If I still had his number. So I searched my phone using his nickname: ‘Meks’. I found a match, tried it, but the replies were same as Shantel’s call. I sighed, scratched my head, stood up and paced the length of my room aimlessly. I suddenly noticed that I was more bothered about Shantel’s relationship with Emeka rather than her getting home early. I tried calling Emeka again. This time it rang severally but there was no one at the receiving end. I became so restless at this point. “Is this a game? Why was she crying when she announced her wedding plans to Emeka?, Is this whole thing a ploy by Emeka and Shantel to see if I still have feelings for her?, If not why did Emeka elected not to call me to tell me about his plans to marry Shantel: a girl he met through me?”. These questions kept pondering my mind, yet I tried pretending as though I didn’t care. As hard as I tried, I noticed, I was clearly in two minds. One cared to know what this whole thing was about, while the other was ready to forget it and move on.
“Do you really care? She is your past!” I could hear a little voice telling me, but almost immediately I found myself reminiscing her company. I just couldn’t pretend. I enjoyed the warmth of her embrace, the fragrance of her skin and could even remember the stray strand of her hair that brushed my face while we hugged. I couldn’t believe I still felt this way about her after all these dark years. It made me even more determined to know what her visit was really about. I checked my wrist watch again, it was 8:00pm. “She should be home now” I thought aloud as I moved towards my reading table. I picked up my phone to call Shantel but unconsciously dialed the last number on my call log. It rang and almost immediately someone picked and I heard a male voice.

———————————–JOIN ME NEXT WEEKEND FOR EPISODE 6

COMPLICATIONS: Episode 4

  COMPLICATIONS

By Onyekaba N. Charles

EPISODE 4

“I don’t want water” She murmured. “please sit down” As I took my place close to her on the bed, She wiped her face thoroughly with a white handkerchief she squeezed out of her hand bag. After which She held my two hands closely, and said with a firm voice; “Ken, Emeka proposed to me last week”

“Emeka!  Do I know him? “Yes you do!” She replied almost immediately. I could already sense some panic from the warmth of her hands.

The only “Emeka” I remember Shantel and I have a common knowledge of, is my erstwhile best friend in my university days, whom I have since lost communication with. The last time I checked, I heard he now lives somewhere in Benin. “Hmmmmmmmm, wait a minute, is it Emeka Okoye, my……….”
She cuts in before I could complete my sentence. “Yes, it is Emeka, your best friend.”  She said, as she began another session of sobbing. My head sunk and the wind was knocked off my sails, immediately she confirmed it was Emeka. I was so shocked and confused that I gently pulled my hands from hers, stood up and wandered around the room. I just couldn’t fix my thoughts on one direction. Many unanswered questions kept coming up in my mind; “Does it mean Shantel was cheating on me while we were dating?” “If not, where on earth did she meet Emeka?” “How long have they dated to have considered marriage?” “Why did both of them keep me in the dark all this while?” I paused for a while, turned around to observe Shantel’s reaction. She was still sobbing quietly and was so shy that she couldn’t even look into my eyes. She probably feels my disappointment and knew I needed her to make some clarifications, but Instead of attempting to straighten out things , she turned her left wrist, checked her time and whispered;
“Ken, I have to start running home, it’s already 6:30pm”
“Go home? You aren’t going nowhere, I screamed!” as I pulled her up rather violently. At this point, I had obviously lost my cool. “What gives you the impression that you can come to my house and announce your years of unfaithfulness without even an explanation?” I continued. “You are hurting me Ken. Let go of me!” She screamed. The atmosphere of the room was so tense and moody that one wouldn’t believe it was an amicable one just a while ago. “You were cheating on me, Shantel!” I said quietly. “I didn’t, I never did” she said emphatically. “You should know me better than that” She continued as she picked up her bag from the edge of the bed and prepared to leave. “Then what happened? Why Emeka of all men?” I asked curiously. “Because I love him” She managed to say. “Oh really? You love who……………………?” I was interrupted by the ring tone of my phone. I paused for awhile and was in two minds whether or not to pick the call. “Won’t you pick your call?” She asked. I made my way to my reading table, picked the phone. It was Timi, my neighbour but as I attempted to pick the call, but it dropped. I waited awhile hoping he will repeat the call and within seconds, he was calling again. This time around, I picked the call almost immediately.
“Hey, Ken! you dey house?” “Yea boss, you don come back? I replied. “Yes oh, I dey your flat door” he answered. “I will be there in a jiffy” I said as I cut the phone and turned back to face Shantel who was now set to leave. “You have to wait Shantel, don’t go leaving me in the dark again. I have been there for too long that all I demand at this moment is just the truth.”
“Its 7pm Ken! I’d rather go and see you some other time. You know Lagos traffic na?” She replied, as she tried dodging me on her way to my room door. “Okay! No problem” I accepted reluctantly ” I’d call you”. She nodded her head in agreement as we both made our way to the entrance door of my flat. I opened the door and a man in his late thirties, of average height and medium complexioned was already waiting at the landing of the stair hall. “Good evening Ken” Timi said as we quickly exchanged pleasantries. “Timi meet Shantel, my friend. Shantel meet Timi, he stays in the opposite flat.
” I quickly introduced both of them and Shantel who already had one foot in the stair hall had to come back up, to shake hands with Timi. “Timi, i dey come abeg. Make I quickly see her off” I said.
“Okay! No wahala, he replied with a smile and face gesture which suggested that I should enjoy and take my time. Timi made his way to the seat on my balcony while Shantel and I went down together. “Ken, I didn’t know it was this late oh. Am sure, my dad will be vexed at me” She said, as she looked up to the already darkening skies. “Oh sorry!” I sympathized with her. “Oh shit, there are no bikes around”, she said immediately she made her way out of the blue gate of my compound. “I’d rather pay a taxi to take you home direct, since you are already late” “That will be nice, thanks!” She said with a fake smile. We continued chatting but albeit in a sour manner. The pleasant mood we enjoyed when she arrived had since changed with the news of her getting married to my friend. I was sad, but couldn’t pick out the specific reason why I was. She didn’t help matters too by deliberately avoiding my questions. That alone, made me very strong in my resolve to get to the root of the matter. “I don’t understand how you can keep your relationship with Emeka secretive for this long?” I said bitterly but she halted me with a hand gesture almost immediately. “Ken! I thought we had agreed to discuss this later” She said rather rudely. “What a pity! I felt we were enjoying ourselves until you came up with this news of your mysterious plan to marry my friend” “I beg your pardon Ken!” She said with a very stern voice. “You are beginning to get on my nerves please” “Sorry” I sheepishly apologized for my rude remarks. There was a moment of silence as we strolled down the street until she spotted a taxi. “Taxi! Taxi “we both screamed and waved at the taxi. Eventually, the taxi turned up and she got in after the rather long negotiations. “Can I see you tomorrow after church? I asked as I brought out #2000.00 from my wallet to pay the driver. “Let’s see how it goes” she murmured. As the 1999 model Camry sped off, I could clearly see her sticking her head out of the back window with her right hand on her cheek. A gesture which probably suggested that she will call me later.    ——————————————————————————————————————————-JOIN ME NEXT WEEKEND FOR EPISODE 5    

COMPLICATIONS – Episode 3

If you missed last week’s episode, kindly check http://www.charleyrosu.wordpress.com. Enjoy and please don’t forget to leave your comments. Cheers!
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COMPLICATIONS
By Onyekaba N. Charles
EPISODE 3
For a moment, she loosened the grip, removed her eyes from mine and looked admirably at my tanned skin. she had always told me how she admires the texture of my light complexioned skin. She let her gaze slip lower to the rest of my body, and by this time could carefully notice the goose bumps all over her body. Simply put, she was terrified.
What are we doing Ken? she said as I tried to wrap her waist with my arms.
We shouldn’t be this close……………………..No! I can’t do it
Do what? I replied in a rather embarrassed way.
But she cuts in, “I actually came to tell you about …………(she paused and sighed).
About what? I asked with such curiosity, that she was suddenly feeling very uncomfortable.
Won’t you at least offer me something Ken! She said as she pulled herself away from my grip almost immediately.
Oh sorry, I murmured with such a feeling of dejection, like that of a child who for no reason has just been told by his mates that he can’t play with them. I made my way to my I.5 meters high Haier Thermercool Refrigerator.
Will you take malt, Juice or soft drinks?
None of that!, she replied. You didn’t answer me Ken! she continued
Answer what? I replied, with my hands still on the open door of my refrigerator
“I had asked you if I changed and you didn’t answer me” She said gazing at me as she stood up.
“Yes you did” I answered almost without thinking. “You look more beautiful, finer, prettier, thinner………” At this point I was indeed running short of comparatives to describe how much Shantel had evolve into an ” angel” since we last met.
“Thank You!” she said confidently as though I hadn’t said anything she didn’t know. ” I changed my diet completely and worked on my weight immediately after school”
“wow” I said astonishingly, as I close the refrigerator and moved closer to her.
“Yea, you needed to see me, I was Obese and in fact it was getting out of hand. I had to take to my doctor’s advice. This is the result!” she said as she turned around, as though she was a model taking her turn on a red carpet.
I applauded her loudly and we both smiled while the applause lasted.
“So you see!…………I can’t take any of the things you want to offer because they are in my list of ‘Don’t(s)’. I’d rather take water” she said as she made her way to the fridge.
She brought out one of the “Lasena table water” bottles from the fridge, picked a glass cup and moved over to the edge of the bed where I was already sitting.
“Seriously Ken, I want us to discuss about something important” She said as she poured the water into the glass cup.
“I’m all ears” I said as I watched her gulp the water.
She dropped the glass cup and the remaining water close to my bed lamp, looked at me shyly me and said gently: “Am getting married soon”
I was not sure I completely heard her sentence in full yet I just couldn’t deny I didn’t know my heart just skipped. I turned to her immediately and screamed: “you said……..?”
“Am getting married soon”. This time she repeated rather loudly that I couldn’t help it but to look away from her. The room was very silent now that at that moment. We were so both so moody as though we just got a sad news.
“Congrats!”. I managed whispered
“Don’t be nice please”, she pleaded. “I can’t take it if you’re nice”.
To my utmost horror, she began to sob. The sound grabbed my heart, that I pulled her into my arms while she wept it out. To think that, it’s the first time I’m seeing Shantel weep, saddened me the more. Even though I can’t place what exactly is the cause of her perceived sorrow. After awhile, I pulled her away from me and guided her to sit upright.
“First you’re going to sit down, then I’m going to get you some water and we can talk.” I said with my emotions in check.
“You have to be strong, She mustn’t know that you are sad” I could hear my mind saying to me. So I tried not to allow her know her see how weighed down I was at the piece of news she just gave me
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JOIN ME NEXT WEEKEND FOR EPISODE 4

Like I promised, here is the second Episode of the short story I started last week. If you missed last week’s episode, kindly check http://www.charleyrosu.wordpress.com. Enjoy and please don’t forget to leave your comments. Cheers!

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COMPLICATIONS

By Onyekaba N. Charles

EPISODE 2

In front of me was a damsel, in her mid twenties. She was in her characteristic cheerful character, voguish-ly dressed albeit in a rebellious way. She wore a pink, light sweater on a faded, deep blue jeans and a black, sleeveless leather jacket over that. Her dark hair tumbled over her shoulder, while her eyes were rapture blue, with its brows slender, but what stunned me was her imp-thin figure. The last time I checked, Shantel was plump. I could vividly  remember how Florence (Shantel’s elder sister)  and I used to tease her about her weight.

“Shantel you too big, help yourself jare! you no sabi say you be woman sef?” Florence will say and Shantel will always shrug off the issue nonchalantly.

“Ken! won’t you at least let me in! she screamed with a wide smile as if she knew I was completely lost in thoughts. So, like a stupid child who just found out he went to school without his school bag, I quickly opened wide my door and welcomed her.

” Forgive my manners Shantel, long time!” I said.

“yea, what were you thinking?” she said as she gave me a quick warm hug.

“I know you are surprised I found my way to your place without calling you”

“Yes, in fact I was about calling you to know if you were still coming” I replied as I led her into my sitting room.

She smiled with mirth, ” The moment I saw your address, I knew locating here won’t be difficult because my  uncle lives in the next street.

As we made our way to my room, I noticed she was looking at almost everything in my sitting room but gazed seriously at my big framed family portrait on the wall that leads to my lobby.

“Do you stay here alone?” she asked

“For now, yes!, but later…………….” I replied but she cut me short as though she was not surprised at the rationale behind a young bachelor staying alone in a 3 bedroom apartment.

“Why here?”, she queried

“The proximity to my new office and it’s  relatively a cool area” I answered,

“Nice choice” She chuckled and continued almost immediately : “but why haven’t you furnished your living room?”. I shook my head vigorously, breathed and turned around, ” won’t you at least seat down before you finish me with your questions?

“Hahahahahahahahhahaha!, Ken you have not changed oh, you’ve always complained about my curiosity”

“Na you wey don change abi?” I said ironically. I have always known Shantel as a  very curious person who will go extra length to find answers to her questions. I remember I used to tease her back then that she would have made a good lawyer rather than wasting her talent on microbiology.

She walked into my Kitchen as though she was a police officer doing some kind of inspection, looked around, checked the cabinet and peeped into the adjacent balcony before finally following me to my room.

” Ken!, longtime!, she said as she sat on my bed. “you didn’t change at all; same face, same body build-up, same character…………….” she continued humorously.

“how I go do now? ……..you changed a lot babe that I could hardly recognize you when i opened the door” I replied as I made my way to the bed to sit close to her.

“I saw the way you were gazing at me as though you saw a ghost,…………..Did I change that much to have kept you in a trance for that long?

“Trance for that long…… ?” I humorously repeated after her as we both laughed for a while.

“Seriously Ken, did I change? She asked again with a stern look.

In response, I moved close to her, held her so close that her heart raced and seemed to beat twice as fast as it did initially. She looked into my eyes and managed a nervous smile. I was completely lost in her magic and wondered what was going through her head.

I felt the tremble in her chuckle, a low, throaty sound that vibrated through her neck as I kissed her forehead. I loosened my grip on her a little, turned her face to meet mine and carefully placed her arms around my neck. I leaned in, my gaze so full of heated passion that she nearly melted right then and there.

With my lips close to hers, she couldn’t stop the trembling that shimmered through her body. She hung on tightly as he nibbled her mouth, barely registering his fingers at the waistband of my boxers.

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IT CAN ONLY GET BETTER, JOIN ME NEXT WEEKEND FOR EPISODE 3