Mr Dimples stretch forth his hand to help me up from the floor but I refused. “Have you not heard the word sorry before” I asked, he just smiled left me there and walked to one of the cars parked outside to retrieve what ever he came to pick. I stood up dust myself and rushed into the house murmuring to myself.
” What did you just say” asked aunt christy. ” I didn’t realized I was talking out loud I replied. All through the ceremony I didn’t come out, I pretended to be busy so as to avoid mr Dimples or whatever his name was.
As the introduction ceremony came to an end. Aunt christy called me out to introduce me to her fiancĂ©’s family. Standing right beside her husband to be was mr Dimples. ” Happy I want you to meet my hubby’s best friend Bayo, Bayo this is my sister Happiness”
“Nice to meet you happiness” Baysaid, “you didn’t sound happy this afternoon though” he continued. “Oh you’ve already met her” said aunt christy. ” Not really” I answered quickly.
All through the traditional wedding I pretended not to notice Bayo. I didn’t understand the feelings he evoked in me. So the best I could do was avoid him. If I see him coming my way I change direction.
We played cat and mouse for awhile until he cornered me at the bachelors Eve. “Why are you avoiding me” asked Bayo. ” Why would I avoid you” I lied. “When a woman avoids a man it either means she Hates him or like him” he moved close and asked ” do you hate me or like me”. ” I am… am.. I am sorry I don’t know what you mean” I stammered and walked away.
That night I could not sleep, I wanted to ask aunt christy a lot of question but I didn’t want to disturb her. “I thinkBayo is full of himself…but why do I get shy when he is around?
The following day at the wedding reception I and Bayo sat close to each other, he was the best man and I the best lady. I pretended to concentrate on the event. “You look beautiful today” he said. “Thank you” I mumbled without looking at him. ” Ok let me go straight to the point” he said ” there is something about you that interests me and I would like to know you better, what do you say” he waited for my reply. “Am leaving tomorrow” I replied, He laughed “that was not an answer” he said. I didn’t know what to say so I kept quiet.
The following day the couple went away for their honeymoon and I packed my bags ready for kaduna. When I got outside I saw Bayo leaning on his car. “Hello beautiful am your driver for today, where do I take you”. He said. I don’t need a driver” I replied”Come on don’t be stubborn the latest couple wanted me to drop you off at the park”. I got into the car and he drove off.
At the park he said ” I collected your number from christy since I know you might not give it to me. Expect my calls everyday.”
On my way to kaduna I realized I would miss lagos or should I say Bayo. I smiled to myself. I liked him after all !
Would this new found love stand the test of time when she discovers a betrayal that happened when she was just 8 years old?
I got into my normal routine as soon as I got back from lagos. But things were far from normal for me. Bayo calls me everyday like he promised, I felt different, I was always on cloud nine. I grew so attached to him in the short time I knew him. My first impression of him was really wrong. He is a good Christian, very caring kind and honest.
We talked hours on the phone, my phone was never far from my reach. We became good friends and our love blossomed. He told me about his stay abroad, and his present job. He also said his family were kind hearted and that they would love me. I didn’t tell him much about my parent because I was too young when they died to remember. I just told him few details about my past life.
My life with Bayo in it was fantastic, joyful, interesting and peaceful. The past was gradually fading away untione faithful morning.
On a saturday morning, I decided to clear out some old things from my room to create more space and I saw my dad’s office bag. It has been years since I opened it. I sat down on the floor and opened the bag. I saw the same contents as before, some pictures, documents and a bunch of keys. I picked up the pictures. The first picture was of my Mum and Dad on their wedding day. I stared at it for a long time trying to recapture a moment from the past but it seemed like another life time. I flipped to the second photograph, it was my mum’s pretty face. I discovered I looked a lot like her.
I went through the entire pictures. Next came the documents.
The file read “MY EYES ONLY” It didn’t feel right going through my fathers things but I needed to know the kind of man he was back then so I continued.
The first documents was titled “Evidence”. The hair on the back of my neck stood up. My instinct told me this would not be good but I continued reading. The documents mostly contained account statements and figures, I would need someone to help me make meaning of it. The last page of this particular document made my blood run cold.
Its was a letter written by my late father.
“I Otunba Joseph the accountant of Butler and shelfied international, found irregularities in our accounts, attempts have been made on my life since then. If you are reading this I am dead. Whoever you are trust No one. But ensure that justice is done. This file contain all the evidence you need. May God help you.
“could my father have been killed for this”. Were the police wrong when they termed the case an armed robbery case.
The last document was titled Asset. But when I flipped to the next page all I saw was an address and a name J.P okon. I have gotten a lead. All I needed to do was find this okon. He might have the answers I needed about what happened to my Dad.
If my parents were Murdered for this documents, I would find who was responsible and bring him to justice.
Watch out for the Next episode soonest till i come your way. Cheers!
To be continued. …