mmesoma

chapter 4

My mom said. “Good make sure you do your thing.” vera and
I became so close, I went to see her family and they gave me
a warm welcome, her siblings were so friendly… Things were
getting more and more interesting.
We travelled to Abia for the wedding. I had with me the
engagement ring and I was praying she would say yes, a part
of me was sure…
She decided we stay in different hotel rooms because she
told me she was still a Virgin that she needed to keep till that
special night, I felt so lucky…
After the church ceremony at the reception, I gave someone
my phone to make sure he captured the moment. I then
called vera’s attention.
“vera.”
As I knelt down with the ring. She said. “Oh my God…” I then
asked. “Will you marry me?” She covered her eyes and
screamed. “Yes!! I will.” To my surprise, people around were
clapping and that made me very uncomfortable. After the
event we headed back to our hotel rooms and I called my
mom telling her the good news.
My mom was really glad. That night, I went on Facebook to
post the proposal picture. I noticed I had several unread
mails so I took my time to read them. There was one mail
that took my attention the most.
The sender didn’t have a profile picture so I went ahead to
read the mail.
It said. “Please are you the korede that served in lagos
over a year ago? please call this number ********** mmesoma.”
I felt very disturbed and I called the number immediately.
Unfortunately the phone was switched off. I checked when
the message was sent and it was about 4 months ago.
I got back to Abuja and kept on trying the number with no
success. On Wednesday morning it rang. I waited to hear the
voice and it was mmesoma’s. I then said. “Oh Jesus,
Mmeso I just saw your mail are you okay?”
She began to sob. “korede please come and help me. I
need your help now more than ever….”
I then said. “I don’t get you mmeso is everything alright?”
She said. “Nothing is alright, please come I need your help.”
I then said to her. “I am at work now,
I won’t be chanced to travel.” She then said. “How about
Saturday it’s very important .” The line then went off.
Memories of mmesoma came back, I was confused and very
bothered about her situation. I kept on calling but the phone
was switched off. I then sent a text message to her. telling
her I would be coming on Saturday, but will leave on Sunday
morning because I had to prepare to travel to ogun state
on Wednesday on an official assignment.
She responded the following day with the address and her
location. I had made arrangements with a driver to take me
there with my car and I told Vera I was going on a business
meeting at lagos. I left very early in the morning and I got
there around 11:30am.
The location was a church far inside the town, it wasn’t easy
locating it. I saw mmesoma by the gate of the church, standing.
She looked pale and mucky, she had lost weight and she
looked very unpleasant and troubled. I came down from the
car and she ran towards me. She embraced me and said.
“Oh korede ….” As she wept deeply.
I held her back by her shoulders and said. “mmeso… Please
talk to me what is wrong?” She then said. “Come to the
church with me and you will know everything.”
She held my hand and led me into the church. I didn’t know
what to think or expect, I just needed to know what was
wrong with her.
We got into the church and what caught my eyes was the
sight of child playing on a mat spread on the floor. Then I
said. “Okay mmeso we are in the church, tell me what is going
on? And why did you decide to blank me out completely?
She said. “I thought it was the right decision, ending
everything we started 2 years ago. But I was wrong and I am
sorry.”
I then said. “Okay, now tell me why are you not in school? Is
your mother okay?” She then gushed out in tears. It was
becoming irritating and I grew impatient and….. I heard a
tiny voice of a kid saying. “Mummy sorry.”
The little boy then embraced her by her leg and she carried
him up. I was shocked the baby looked very much like me
when I was little…. He had the shape of my eyebrows and
my droopy eyes. I then stuttered. “Is… That your child?” As
sweat began to drip from my face. She then replied sobbing.
“This is our korede ….This is our son.”
I then said. “How come, how is it possible?” She said. “He is 2
years old, you are the only man I have slept with, he even
looks like you.”
I then said. “Oh my God!” As I sat down on a bench because
my knees became weary. “Tell me everything mmeso.” She
said. “3 weeks after you left Lagos. I became ill and I was
vomiting. My mom then asked me if I was seeing any man. I
told her no. She took me to see the doctor, he ran some
tests and the result was that I was pregnant. My mom beat
me in the hospital with her slippers. When we got home, she
threw my stuffs out and disowned me. I went to meet my
closest relative and in spite of all the pleas my mom refused
to take me back……” As she started sobbing. I held her hand
tight to comfort her and said. “Continue.”
She then said. “My relatives insisted I tell them who was
responsible, but I refused. I didn’t want to implicate you and
I know you didn’t mean it. You have always wanted to help
me.
So I did not tell them. 4 months later, they started
maltreating me and I then decided to leave. A pastors wife
took me in and I was there for 1 year. That was were I gave
birth to junior and worked with the church’s primary
school”. I then said. “You mean this church?” She said. “No, I
came to this church about 6 months ago. I had to leave the
other place, the pastor made some advances on me, I
reported to the wife and she threw me out. I have been here
since. It’s been terrible korede ….”She began to cry out.
My mind was heavy and I knew I had to do something about
her situation. She suffered because of me, her education,
her family. I felt so much indebted to her. I then said.
“mmeso, I know everything can’t be okay, but I will do
everything possible to make sure you get the best in life.
God has blessed me with a good job and money is not a
problem. I will get you an apartment here in Lagos and every
month I will send you N200,000 for you and Junior.”
She then said. “His name is korede.” I took a pause and
looked at him, he was already asleep. I didn’t know whether
to touch him, carry him or something. I was just too
unprepared for these before me.
She then said. “I cannot stay here in lagos.” I then said. “Then
where do you want to stay?
You can’t come with me to Abuja ”
She said. “korede , I have nobody, nobody. I have been
rejected by my family, friends and relatives. The only person
I have is you and my baby. I can’t stay far away from you,
Please.”
I said. “mmeso, a lot has happened these few years. I have
moved on and you being close could affect everything my
mother has established for me, everything I have worked
hard for recently. It can destroy me mmeso.”
She then said. Korede, I understand but I need someone
to run to, someone to depend on. I will never interfere in
your life again. I just need a new place to start all over, I
don’t want my baby to go through what I went through. I
need to further my education, you helped me once and I
know you can help me again. I can’t provide for and protect
our child korede……
I started to reflect on everything she said. I looked at the
child, my child and I felt so sorry. I knew I can’t deny them
solace, cant deny them what they want. That’s my blood
she’s talking about. I was hasty in conclusion.
I looked at my watch and it was almost 1 pm. I then said.
“mmeso, if we have to go to Abuja we have to go now. Go pack
your things, I will be waiting in the car.”
It took us about 10hours to get to Abuja . I lodged them in a
hotel and handed her N80,000 in case she needed anything
urgent that night. I then left for home. I avoided everyone
and went straight to my room. I was very unsettled and
completely in distress.
Vera had been calling me but I was too weak to pick her calls.
The following day, I drove to pick vera so we could go to
church. She noticed I was not myself and she asked me.
“What is wrong korede ? you have been acting strange.”
I said to her.
“What is wrong korede? you have been acting strange.”
I said to her. “I am pretty ill, but I will be fine.” I insisted it
was a flu.
After church service, I dropped vera at her place and I went
home to get some stuffs for mmeso and Junior. I got mmeso a
new iPhone 7 and Junior, some toys and lots of
candies. I got to their hotel room and she appeared more
relaxed. Next thing I heard was. “Daddy!!”.
I saw the excitement on his face, it sent a cold chill through
my spine. Then mmeso said. “Junior, come on stop that. He is
uncle not Daddy.” He then said. “uncle!”
I smiled, for he looked so adorable. I gave him his goodies
and he said. “Thank you uncle.”
I was amazed and there was this urge inside of me to spend
time with him.
I then said. “mmeso, try and relax today, tomorrow you will go
shopping with Junior.
Here is N500,000 for you 2. The driver will come tomorrow
in the morning, he will also help open an account for you as
well. I have told him to secure an apartment for you in a
very good environment. It will take you guys 3 days at most
to furnish and set up the place to your taste.”
She then said. “Are you not going to be around?” I said. “I
told you I will be traveling this week and will be very busy. I
may not see you till I return from my trip. But I will always
call you.”