PLEASE BREAK MY HEART E9 by Tomi Adesina
“Hey Darlene” Dora called as I walked in. I turned with a fake smile but it was enough to convince Dora and her guest. He did not look familiar after all; I do not know him. “Meet Kolapo, my boyfriend” she introduced. ‘Boyfriend,’ I thought.
“Hello, I am Darlene” I said, stretching out my hand.
“Nice to meet you, I am Kolapo, but I’d rather you call me KP” he replied, coolly taking the handshake.
“Alright KP” I replied with a smile. “Are you guys heading out?” I asked, staring at the car, which had its front door open.
“Yeah, we are going over to Shoprite to pick a few things for the house, wanna come?” she asked.
‘Now Dora is taking over the grocery duties’, I thought. I guess I am being negligent of my traditional duties and it was due to Jake’s absence, if he were available, we would have picked the groceries together. I was not in the mood to tag along. “No, I have to work, see you when you return” I replied and left them.
I was going to have the house to myself for the rest of the afternoon. Dad has joined up with his friends for a day golf-tourney, and with Dora and KP out to the grocery; it meant the house was available for me. It is not as though the availability of the house would add anything to my ‘boring lifestyle’, but I would take the opportunity to drown myself. I am not an alcoholic, so drowning will not imply ‘boozing’. I was in dire need of a swim. As the water touched my skin, it took away my thoughts. Such therapy! I said aloud as I swam across the pool.
“Ms Darlene, you have a visitor,” the house cleaner said as she approached.
“Visitor?” I asked. I was not expecting anyone. I racked my brain thinking of who could be visiting.
“His name is Daniel,” she said. “He says he is your teacher from the driving school”
“Yea…right” I scoffed. “Now what does he want?” “Keep him in the living room, will be with him soon”. I could almost let out a scream. I decided to swim to refresh my thought, but Daniel’s reappearance might just add some fuel to it. I hurried to my room to get dressed before returning to the living room to meet him.
“Sorry about what happened earlier ma’am” he said.
Seemed to me as if Daniel now knew his place, the ‘ma’am’ in his greeting signified it. “Its fine” I replied taking my seat. “How may I help you?”
“I want you to please return for your lessons,” he said
“I am no longer in the mood today, maybe next week” I replied.
“Please ma’am, I will be fired if you do not return and I will be ruined,” he begged, getting on his knees.
I have never liked a compromising position. “I will just grab my bag” I said and left for my room. We strolled down the street, the driving school was just five minutes from the house so we could just take a walk, and I guessed my teacher could start to shove the ‘status’ thought aside. He pushed the gate open and led me to a Range Rover SUV. “I’ll be right back” he said and dashed into the building. I stared at the car and shook my head in disdain. “You are such an extremist,” I said as he approached me.
“I don’t understand you” he replied, opening the door.
“Who uses a Range Rover Sport for driving lessons?” I asked. “I can see that you are still on about the status thing”
“No ma’am, I just felt that the Volkswagen Beetle might be faulty” he replied.
Daniel did not have to explain any further. It was obvious that he was trying to make up what happened earlier, but what did a Range Rover SUV have to do with this. I understand that we humans are are of insatiable wants, but was an SUV not too glamorous for learning.
“I will need you to move to the driver’s seat,” he said.
I obeyed. Learning had to start with obedience. I trained for about two hours and when it was over, I had a good knowledge of the basics. “Thanks a lot,” I said as I handed him the key.
“Can I take you out to dinner to make up for what happened?” he asked, biting his lips.
JESUS! I could not believe what I just heard. Daniel was asking me out to dinner. I stared at him with the ‘are you serious’ look. “Dinner?” I asked.
“Yes Dinner, but I must warn you, it won’t be at Golden gate or any one of those fancy places, but it will be cool” he replied smiling.
“I don’t think I am up for an adventure” I replied.
“It will be spontaneous, something different from what you are used to” he replied. “Just think about it”
I could say Daniel had so much nerve. Going out to dinner with Daniel might not be such a bad idea even though I really did not know him, he cannot be worse than the guys I already know. I took a quick glance at my wristwatch.
“7pm” he said smiling.
Now I was sceptical, if I go out by 7pm, I might be too tired to go to Church tomorrow and I already got a text from the Church that I have skipped Service in the last few weeks. “I am not sure, maybe some other time” I replied, with squinted eyeballs.
“I will fetch you by 7pm” he replied. “We won’t be long” he assured.
I gave him no reply and walked out of the driving school. My phone beeped. I had a message from Jake. “What does he want?” I said aloud as I scrolled through. ‘Hope I am not missed? Love you! Jake x’, his message read. I smiled as I returned the Phone to my bag. Jake had no idea of what I had been through in his absence and I could not wait to fill him in on his return from the Bahamas.
I had dinner with the family. I left instructions that Daniel shouldn’t be allowed in; I was not ready for any silly adventures. He might have been disappointed but I am not ready to miss Church for the fifth consecutive week. I might not be God’s perfect daughter, but I still have to be in his good books.
“I am happy to see that you came to Church today, Praise God,” Pastor Ben said.
“Hallelujah Pastor” I replied, nodding my head casually. I wished Pastor Ben could spare me the after service sermon, I was on my way out of Church when he stopped me.
“Do you remember when you were still a little girl and you used to lead the Choir?” he asked.
Now I officially stuck with Pastor Ben. It has been years since I was responsible in the Church; this has been my Church since I was a little girl. If Pastor Ben did not remind me, I had actually forgotten that I used to sing, even though it has been a while. “Did I have a good voice?”
“Oh my child, it was the best I heard in the Church those days” he replied. “I think you should do it again,” he added quickly.
It felt good to hear that I used to have a good voice, but all that is in the past. “I am not sure Pastor”
“You need to use your talent for God child, and now that you are still young. The day is still young and you can work for God, night cometh when no one will be able to work. I know you may have the world at your feet now, you are beautiful, young, and with so much power and cash at your disposal, but you still need God in your game plan” he concluded, patting me lightly on the shoulder and returned into the Church.
Pastor Ben’s last words struck me and it felt as though those were the words meant for me from the Church today. I hailed a cab and rode home ruminating over Pastor Ben’s word. I am not sure if I am up to the task that Pastor Ben posed.
PLEASE BREAK MY HEART E9
#OpraDre
PLEASE BREAK MY HEART E10 by Tomi Adesina
“What did you think of KP?” Dora asked as we ironed our clothes. I
stared at her as I pressed the iron firmly to my shirt collar, the shirt
needed a great deal of aggressiveness, just as Dora’s question might
require. I did not have any real encounter with her boyfriend so why was
she asking my opinion. I guess it boils down to one of those
traditional questions that require an answer whether it was appropriate
or not.
“I think he is cute”. I replied, trying to avoid her gaze.
“Cute? Oh…whatever, I don’t need you to
make me feel good about KP” she replied, sounding unimpressed with my
replied.
‘This girl is such a wonder’, I thought. I decided to
switch the topic. “Hope you guys had fun yesterday?” I asked, smiling at
her.
“Come on Darlene, is there any real fun
in picking groceries?” she asked, looking straight-faced.
Now Dora had stunned me. Here I was trying to make an
effort in being friendly, but she was bent on rebuffing my efforts. I
was now wearing a frown.
“Oh no!” she yelled as she caught sight
of my face. She then burst into a cold laughter as she tried to cover
her mouth with her hands. ‘Now what did my evil stepsister consider
funny?’ I thought. “You really need to develop a sense of humour,” she
said, as she smiled. “You shouldn’t take life too serious, it’s too
short, and we ain’t going back alive,” she concluded with her eyebrow
raised.
I must admit that I did treat life with a great deal of
seriousness. That is my nature and I shouldn’t be crucified for it.
Nevertheless, Does Dora’s definition of ‘sense of humour’ imply replying
me meanly? I would rather not have a ‘sense of humour’.
“I would say that your jokes are wacked”
I replied, sounding offended. Only yesterday, she was an angel and now
all I can see are the traces of ‘Cinderella’s evil stepsisters’, but I
honestly, I can’t be bothered.
“I will have to improve on them in the
nearest future” she replied. “I am taking lessons from Chuck Norris,”
she added. “Let’s talk about you Darlene,” she said, clapping her hands
excitedly. She looked like a middle school gossip ready to hear
anything. I turned off the iron as I hung my cloth. “Tell me about your
love life”
“I don’t have a ‘love life’” I replied,
taking my seat. “But, I used to have a boyfriend.” I said.
“Are you single?” she asked.
“Yes”
“Wow!” she sighed. “I have never
pictured you as the single type even for a day. You have everything a
guy wants.” She said. “Well…almost everything.”
I sighed.
“Why are you single?” she asked as she
put aside her iron. “This is Lagos and single guys are like flies here, I
can get you a real man in a snap,” she said, snapping in my face.
I jerked. Dora smiled at me and trotted out the old
cliché that ‘a trouble shared is a trouble halved’. “I don’t have a
problem,” I said, standing up.
“You do Sister” she replied, following me. “You are still single and that is uncomfortable”
“I recently broke up with my ex!” I yelled. “Is that comfortable”
A grin danced round her lips. “Now we are getting to
somewhere” she started, taking her seat. I leaned against the door and
watched Dora ‘psychoanalyse’ me. “The real problem is that you haven’t
met a real man,” she said. “Just look at KP, he’s a real man, he has all
the packs in the right places.”
“Are we going to talk about me or KP?” I asked.
“I am so sorry” she replied. “What was your ex like?”
“Well…Paul is the one way guy, not
really funny, but he tries to bring up some wacked jokes like you” I
replied, wiping a sweat off my brow. “I think he loved me”
Dora sighed. “Did you love him?” she asked, with her
eyebrow raised. I stared at Dora and shook my head. It felt too heavy to
say ‘I never loved him’. I had started to feel guilty about my break up
with Paul. “Why did you date him?”
I smiled. “To keep my pride and prove a point to Sir
Williams.” I replied, taking my seat. “Dating Paul was my decision and I
accept full responsibility for it, but I wish I never did”. Dora stared
at me carefully; she opened her mouth and then swallowed. “Don’t
swallow it Dora. I’d rather you spit out what you think about me.”
“How could play with a man just to
appease your ego?” she asked. I buried my head in my hand. “Did you at
anytime fall in love with him?”
I wish I could have had an affirmative response. “No.
Dora, we broke off on very weird circumstances. He threatened to commit
suicide, and I was lucky to have my boss around to help.” I stressed.
‘Did Dare really help?’ I thought.
“Where is Paul now?” she asked, as she sat beside me.
“Honestly, I have no idea. He disappeared after he threatened to commit suicide,”
“Do you think that he could have carried out his threat?” she asked.
‘Oops!’ I had never thought of the possibilities of Paul
actually committing suicide because he packed some clothes. “I don’t
think he could have, he packed some of his clothes and left his phone
behind as he left town.”
“I think it is important that we carry
out a detailed investigation on his whereabouts. I don’t think you will
feel comfortable until you are sure that he is alive,” she said. ‘Paul
couldn’t have committed suicide’ I thought. Dora inhaled deeply. “Let’s
talk about Jake,” she said.
“Jake?”
“Yes…Dad calls him your ‘guardian angel’,” she replied. “I am dying to meet him”
If Dad could mention Jake to Dora as my ‘guardian
angel’, it meant that he held him in high regards, maybe not as high as I
might imagine, but Dad must have him in his heart. “He is in the
Bahamas” I replied, with a smile. “Personal retreat” I added quickly.
“Is it a body and soul retreat?” she
asked. I nodded in agreement, not knowing how to explain Jake’s
‘personal retreat’. “Is he fun to be around?” she probed.
I laughed. “He makes everything fun, I have missed his
presence.” I replied, with a large smile. “I have not been able to
communicate with him and that makes me so upset,” I added, with a frown.
“You must like Jake a lot.”
“I love Jake. He has been my friend and
brother, I miss him”. I yawned. “We have got work to do tomorrow”
“Yes, we are going to have a busy day
tomorrow in the office, Dad always require alertness of me” she replied.
I smiled at her. “Do we continue this tomorrow?” she asked.
I looked at Dora as a lady who was throwing in every
effort to make friends with me, the least I could do was to come down
from my high cloud. “Sure Sis”
____
“Why did you turn down my lunch request on Saturday?” Dare asked as took his seat.
I rolled my eyes. “I was under no obligation to accept your invitation, was I?” I asked.
“No.” he replied. “How is your speech for the Annual Meeting coming?”
“I have something drafted up, but I will
check with Toni later in the evening” I replied. Dare cleared his
throat. “Is there any problem?” I asked.
“No, just make sure that the speech is fabulous” he replied, as he walked out.
It was lonely on the top floor. I could understand why
the top floor used to be for Dare and his ex. They would have some
cherished moments on the top floor. I couldn’t doubt the fact that Dare
must have taken interest in me. Why else would he bring me to the top
floor? He claims it is professional, but cheap tales will not buy me. I
stared through the large window that provided me an amazing view into
the city. ‘Looking might help ease the boredom’ I thought.
“How is the lady on the top floor doing?” Toni asked, barging in.
I was so excited to see her that I could not rebuke her
for barging in. “Take me away from here” I said, hugging her. I did not
like being away from Toni; it was boring. “I miss you Mrs Small”
“Oh please…”she stressed, releasing me
from the embrace. “You have a beautiful office here. I can see you
changed the wall papers, Reina liked it Turquoise”
“Toni, you know so much about Reina, why is that?” I asked.
She sighed and took her seat. “Reina attended the same high school as Dare and I”
“Wow! You were Dare’s school mate?” I asked, taking my seat.
She smiled and nodded her head in agreement. “We
attended virtually all the same schools”. It sounded like ‘Jake and I’
to me. “Reina was in love with Dare since we were kids and she did not
stop until she was finally his prom date. The whole school rocked when
they won Prom King and Queen as a couple. They were a cute couple.”
“Why did they split?” I asked curiously.
“Reina had her excesses. I am not saying
that Dare is a saint, but Reina always pushed him too far. She always
wanted to be the captain of the relationship; she took decisions on
Dare’s behalf, especially concerning this firm”
“Hold on Toni, I can’t believe that Dare
would have allowed anyone ‘boss’ him.” I said, interrupting.
Toni scoffed. “Anything is possible when you are in
love. He loved her but their break up was inevitable. She took swipes at
every lady around Dare, including myself, and I guess she also got
bored of him.” Toni paused and smiled. I raised my eyebrows in
anticipation. “You are so into Dare right?” she asked.
“Oh, come on… why do you say so?”
Toni knelt before me and held my hands. “Don’t fall in
love with him”. I immediately released myself from her grip. “He’ll make
you suffer”. She then took her seat and smiled. “Did I act like a
mother?” I shook my head.
“Are you also taking lessons from Chuck
Norris?” I asked. “My step…umh…My sister also spits out some
unbelievable jokes, and she is a Chuck Norris ardent. I am not in the
least attracted to Dare, I am only interested in a few details about
him, and maybe I could psychoanalyze him”
“If you want to analyze him, you can
meet him in person. But, I think there is more to your interest in Dare,
anyways he and Reina ended things maturely.” She said.
Mrs Small was taking a swipe at the way my relationship
ended with Paul. “How did you know that they ended their relationship on
good terms?” I asked with a grin.
“I think I was well informed with that relationship, maybe I
skipped out on the bedroom details. Anyways, to your question, Reina
still sends Dare monthly good will messages, and don’t ask me how I know
that” she replied, standing up. “By the ways, how are things with you
and Dora?”
“I think we are coming along well, she
is very sweet, except on her dry days when she dishes out what she calls
‘jokes’.” I replied, pouring myself a cup of coffee. “Do you care?” I
asked. Toni nodded in affirmative and I handed her a cup. “Here you go.”
“Thanks dear, is there any news on Paul yet?” she asked.
I had no answer to Toni’s question. Dora and I haven’t
started our investigations yet. “There is no news yet. I am going to
contract a detective on his case before the week runs out; hopefully I
can find him alive.” I wiped the tears that were soon gathering in my
eyes. “I’ll find him Toni.” I said, trying to assure myself.
“Don’t worry Darlene, I am sure that Paul won’t hurt himself.” She replied
She was right! If Paul should commit suicide, he won’t
be hurting himself because he’d already be dead. The only person he
could hurt directly would be me, as I will feel guilty about his death.
“Toni, I need you to help me look at my speech for the annual meeting,” I
said, trying to divert from my current sorrow.
“I’ll check it over lunch. Do you want
to go with me to Chinese?” she asked, approaching the door.
I nodded my head in agreement. She winked at me and
closed the door gently. Thoughts of Paul flowed through my mind as soon
as Mrs Small left. There was a light tap on the door. “Please come in”
“How are you finding your new environment?” Dare asked.
I had to be professional about my duties and start
‘compromising the truth’ when necessary. “It’s been wonderful here,” I
replied, with a large smile.
“You don’t have to tell a lie Darlene,”
he said taking his seat. “By the way, you look beautiful when you
smile,” he said. I smiled. “I was teasing,” he said, quickly.
I frowned.
“I like it when you frown, your attitude
is enchanting” he replied, with a grin. I shook my head. “Do you mind
joining me for lunch this afternoon?” he asked.
I smiled. “I am booked for lunch.” I replied, as I opened my laptop.
“You turned down my request on Saturday, and you are doing it again today, why?”
I shrugged. “I am booked today, just like I was on
Saturday. I am having lunch with Mrs Small, I don’t know if she will
appreciate a third party”
Dare laughed. “Third party?” he asked. I didn’t need to
give him an answer. “I am no third party to Toni, not that I want to tag
along, but she won’t refuse me”
I grinned. “I’ll have to check with her,” I replied,
lifting the receiver of the intercom. Dare was all smiles as soon as I
dropped the receiver. I don’t have to tell you how the conversation
went. Toni said, ‘I’ll be honoured to have him with us, yaayyy!’ What a
woman! Couldn’t she have guessed by the tone of my voice that I didn’t
want Dare with us at lunch?
“So, do you want me?” he asked.
I drew a dry hiss. “Do I have a choice?” I asked. “Oh…yeah, you are also the boss!”
Dare stood up. “I will not come if you don’t want me there.” He then reached for the door. “See you later”
“Please join us.” I said, almost sounding desperate.
…to be continued
Please continue ?