ALL FOR NOTHING…

episode twenty six…

The following day, Toyin and I made preparations to visit her parents at Quebec City. It was about three hours from my place. We had to go by train and as we set off that morning, a kind of fear came upon me.

“Are you sure about this? What if your father doesn’t give me a warm welcome?” I asked.

“Don’t worry Ayo, dad won’t throw you out. I’ll tell him I love you. He doesn’t have any choice but to accept you.” She replied.

“Is he aware that I’m innocent of the false accusation that I raped you?” I asked her.

“No, I haven’t but I’ll tell him once we get there. You don’t have to worry about that.” She assured me.

I checked my phone to see if Lola had replied my message but she hasn’t. I noticed she hadn’t been online too since the previous night before I dropped the message.

We got to Toyin’s place after a tiresome journey. She had fallen asleep on the train resting her head on my shoulder. The scent of her perfume filled my nose as I brushed my hand across her braided hair.

My heart was at war as I was scared of how her father might react when he sees me considering the fact that he once hated me for taking advantage of his daughter.
When we got to her place, her dad actually gave us a warm welcome may be because he didn’t recognize me at first.

“Welcome home my princess. How was your journey?” He asked.

“Fine dad. Meet the friend I told you will be spending the weekend with us.” She said pointing to me.

“Good evening sir.” I greeted.
“Good evening son. What’s the name?” He asked.

“My name is Ayomide Akintunde.” I replied boldly.

“Alright come in, the other members of the family are inside.” He said.

“We all went inside and the view was perfect to behold. Toyin’s dad was really a rich man and has taste too.

The cook came to serve us at the table where we all sat down to have dinner. Her elder sister was there and so was her elder brother.

“So tell us more about you Ayo and how you came to know my daughter.” Toyin’s father said.

My heart was pounding because I wasn’t sure if he would like the fact that I had known Toyin since our days at Achievers high school more so that I was the one who was accused of raping her but I had no choice but to tell him the truth.

“Well sir, I’ve know Toyin for a long time. It’s about five years since I know her.” I replied.

“Where did you two meet?” He asked.

“Well dad, he was my classmate from secondary school.” Toyin cut in.

“Toyin allow the gentle man to speak for himself. Let him talk.” He said taking a glass of water.

“Yes sir, Toyin and I met at Achievers high school Utti.”

“Did you just say Utti? What did you say your name is again?” He asked becoming more serious all of a sudden.

“I’m Akintunde Ayomide, I was the boy who was accused back the for raping Toyin.” I said boldly.

“Wait a minute. You are the boy who raped my sister and you still have the guts to show yourself here.” Her elder sister said.

“He wasn’t the one who raped me. He is innocent. The person who did already confessed.” Toyin said defending me.

“He must have brainwashed you so you could defend him. Are you even listening to yourself? Were you not the one who said he was the one who did it.” Her father asked.

“Yes daddy, so I thought at first until the real culprit confessed to me. That was why I went to Nigeria last year.” Toyin said.

“But I thought you said you had an important research to carry out there.” Her father said.

“Yes daddy it was also one of the reasons. Daddy please listen, Ayo wasn’t the one who raped me.” She said.

“I brought him to show you that I love him and that he loves me too. We are now a couple dad.” She said grabbing my hand.

“Toyin, keep quiet. You are just twenty. What do you know about love?” Her elder brother finally spoke up.

“Young man, you don’t have anything to offer my sister. You’ve taken advantage of her before and you can still do it again. Go and find someone else. My sister isn’t available.” He added.

“Brother, why are you doing this? Ayo is innocent why don’t you people believe me?” She said.

“I’m sorry but I just lost my appetite.” Her elder brother said and walked out.

“Me too” her sister also said and left the dining room. I felt really ashamed but Toyin wouldn’t let go of my hand.

“You know what young man, you should be thankful that I fear God if not you’d have regretted coming here today.” Her father said and walked out too.

In my shame, I stood up and decided to leave.

“Ayo, I’m so sorry. I never expected my family to treat you this way. I’m really sorry.” She said as we came out of the house.

“It’s no big deal. I understand.” I replied even if I wasn’t hurting deep down.

“Don’t worry dear, I’ll talk to them. They’ll accept you I assure you that.” She said and threw her arms around me.

“I love you Ayo and I’ll do anything to make them accept you.” She said.

“Me too.” I replied. She followed me to the train station where I took a train to begin another three hour journey back home. I was really sad and ashamed at the same time.

“God why is this happening to me?” I asked myself.

“What do you really want from me? Why can’t I just be happy for once?” I asked in frustration.

In my bitterness I didn’t know when I slept off. While I slept I got a revelation that changed my life forever.

I found myself under a shed which was able to protect me from the rain that was drizzling.
I was hoping to find someone who had an umbrella to take me home as I was beginning to get wet. Luckily for me, Lola showed up.

“Ayo, what are you doing here?” She asked me.

“I was held back by the rain. I was actually returning from church.” I replied.

“Come and join me in my umbrella. There will be enough space for the two of us. The rain is getting heavy and you’d be wet if you stay any longer.”

She walked up to me and took me into her umbrella. Happily we shared it until a car drove past us and stopped in front of us. It was Toyin and her driver.

“Hey Ayo, come join us in the car. You are getting wet.” She said offering to help.
I was happy to know that I’ll be entering a car at least the rain won’t touch me again.

“Lola let’s go in.” I said.
“Don’t worry dear. You can go in. I’ll manage with the umbrella. Besides I’m almost home. I was actually hoping you could wait at my place till it finished raining before you continue your journey. You can go with her.” She said.
I left Lola and joined Toyin in the car. We had hardly travelled for five minutes when our car got into an accident and when I opened my eyes it was a dream.

“What sort of dream is this?” I asked myself.
There was nobody to answer my question and for that reason, I couldn’t sleep again. I was really disturbed because I had no idea what the dream meant.
Just then I remembered Mama’s statement.. “Ayo my son never forget the person that covered you with an umbrella when it was raining just because you’ve found some one who has a car to take you home.”

I realized I was really being unfair to Lola. She had been there for me when I really needed a friend and just because Toyin was back, I was jettisoning all of her kindness.
I decided to call her and then ask her about her own studies too. It’s been a while I did that and who knows she may be facing some challenges.

I decided to make it up to Lola and to show to her that I haven’t forgotten about her yet. She was special to me then and will always be special to me…

Vicky’s stories…
Touching lives….
Changing people…

All rights reserved: Ayodawha Ejaeta Victory

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