Just A Number
After the rain, the ground become slippery and dangerous to walk on. That has been the predicament of the people who live in Opo. For Adline, she broke the protocol to see her boyfriend, the one who had made life reasonable to her.
Adkine clocked thirty-five years old last month. She had never had a suitor asking for her hand in marriage. She thought something was wrong with her. She decided to go to her grandma to give life a try.
Grandma Ngbeke live in a big compound. Big enough to house a large farm but she stayed their a lone. To quench boredom, she had to laise with the local government authority to bring youth corps members to get free accommodation in her compound.
Bode came to grandma Ngbeke's lose almost at the same time as Adline. Bode is twenty-three years old. He was well mannered and Adkine observed that. The two became friends, since they lived in the same compound.
Sooner than expected, Adline being a beautiful girl cell in love with Chim, a medical doctor who was just posted to the village community health centre. She had first refused when Chim asked her ought. What she wanted was something that could lead to marriage as she wasn't getting any longer.
Dr Chim and Adline became known in the village as lovers. It was no more news that Chim would propose to her but when that would happen is still eaknto Admine who had waited for the day to come.
Thursday evening after work, Adline visited Chim. They both prepared a fine meal and are. After eating, Chim told Adline to to accompany him to visit his parent. As an African lady, she thought that her life was about to witness a turnaround.
With the excitement, she ran home and asked Bode to accompany her to shop so she could buy some dresses that would fit her visit to her would-be inlaws. Bode obliged and they went to Enugu to get the dresses.
When they returned from shopping for native clothes, Adline decided to quickly go to see Chim so they could finalise on how they would travel to visit his parents.
She knocked on the door. When Chim came forth from within, he was sweating and stood at the door post so that Adline does not get inside his apartment. He had been with another lady. That experience was so awful for poor Adline. She returned home devastated.
Bode was outside waiting to hear how her visitation to Chim's place went. But the countenance on Adline's face announced bitterness.
What happened?
Bode asked.
Adline could not utter a word, she just walked passed Bode and went to her room to cry her eyes out of it's socket.
Bode followed her in. It appears that Adline doesn't want to talk.
Bode, please I would like to be alone now.
He wasn't disappointed at her outburst. He just walked out.
The next day, after she had weaned the ache, Adline came out to sit at her usual spot in the compound when Bode came to her and declared his love for her.
Adline could not believe her ears. Bode, to Adline is her little brother. She wouldn't give in to his profession of love.
Chim summoned courage and came to apologise to Adline. She disagreed but Grandma Ngbeke prevailed over her to give Chim another chance.
She did give Chim another chance. But she had to start loving him from the scratch and she doesn't trust him though.
A week after the incidence, Adline went to pay him a visit and found another lady, stark naked with Chim on bed. She just stood there, speechless, then walked away and made up her mind to return to her parents.
Luck hasn't been on her side with relationships. Bode was completing his youth service and would be returning home. This time also, Adline has outgrown heart breaks. She didn't cry or feel bad about what she saw at Chim's, it feels for her that it is one chapter of her life.
Adline relocated to Ibadan where her parents resides and Bode caught up with her. He loves her so much that he was able to convince her into marrying him.
At first, she thought about her age compared to Bode's.
It's just a number. My knows no bounds.
Bode spoke toner as Adline gave in and said yes to him. Her long worries about settling down was quenched by the one she once considered her younger brother.
First Published Here
