FARIDA
Oge’s Story
Episode 32
Wale told her on the way to the airport. Farida was not happy about it at all.
“Why are all of you travelling and leaving me behind?”
“You have a very good job and it will be insensitive of me to ask you to leave it to join me. I knew you would be upset that was why I didn’t tell you. I will miss you so much”.
“When are you leaving?”
“In six weeks. I am coming to Lagos next week. Will it be ok to spend every day with you before I go?”
“Every day? No, we mustn’t see that often. But, It is going to be lonely when you are gone”.
‘You will make new friends and I am just a phone call or chat away”.
“I know but it’s not the same”.
He saw her off to the boarding gate. He asked for a hug and she came to him willingly. He caught her off-guard by kissing her on the forehead. She looked at him and he smiled at her and hugged her again. He could see she was beginning to loosen up. Or was it the news that made her drop all her defences? He couldn’t wait to see her again.
By the time Wale returned to Lagos for his onward trip to the UK, Farida had started work. From the first day she stepped into her new office, she was determined to set herself apart as the best. Men bought lunches for her without her requesting. They offered her free rides home but she declined as she didn’t want to give anyone ideas. But Wale, he never took no for an answer. He insisted on picking her from work every day before he left. That was how everyone believed he was her boyfriend. One person recognized him. He had come to DPR with his father on occasions in the past. Wale helped reduce the pressure from men in the office since it was suspected she was in a serious relationship. She didn’t bother to correct that notion.
The night before Wale travelled, he invited Farida to his home. She helped him pack his things while they talked. Farida wasn’t happy and she was having a hard time hiding her feelings. This was the second friend leaving her. Wale tried to lighten the tensed mood in the room but it wasn’t going away. Farida was very moody.
“Farida, I will come back on breaks and you can also visit. It is not the end of the world. I am not going forever; I will be back”.
Farida had few words to say. She had no other close friends. Now she couldn’t talk to her friends at a drop of a hat. She was angry and frustrated. They didn’t understand how she felt.
His father came into his flat to give him some documents and money he would be travelling with. When he saw Farida, he beamed with smiles while Farida went on her knees to greet him.
“Omo dada. You came to see your friend?”
“Yes sir”.
“He said you got a job with DPR. That means all our problems with that department is over”.
Farida just smiled.
“Sit down my child. Where are you from?”’
“Ilorin, Kwara state, sir”.
“Those people are very hardworking people. They are business people. I can now understand Wale’s description of you. Where are your parents?”
“My parents are divorced. My mother is a teacher here in Lagos while my father should be in Ilorin”.
“He did not train you?”
“No sir, my mother trained my brothers and I although we all got scholarships”.
“That is very good. She must be a good woman. Wale told me your mother recently got her degree in Education. Is that true?”
“Yes sir”.
“I relocated the secondary school to Magodo Isheri. It is a boarding school. I need a head Matron for the school. She will live within the premises in a furnished three bedroom bungalow. Will she be willing to the take job? She can also teach but she will have to be screened before employing her and within three years of employment, she must have her Masters’ degree”.
Farida was completely speechless. This was a big opportunity for them. They could move to a more comfortable abode after so many years. She prayed her mother would agree to it. She had tears in her eyes. This was a beautiful parting gift Wale was giving her. She knew it was Wale’s doing. She couldn’t wait to get home and tell her mother.
Wale’s father gave Wale the things he brought. “I still owe you a present for doing exceptionally well. Take this and buy whatever you want” He then brought out a wad of N200 notes and gave to Farida.
Farida wanted to reject it but he dropped it in her hand and said to his son, “Omo dada ni. I like her. I will like to be seeing her often here when you get back”
“Ok sir”, Wale replied.
Farida dropped to the bed. She looked at Wale and wondered what she did to deserve such friends. It started with Monica and now Wale. Their families showed her so much love. Monica’s father rejected the money they returned but Farida insisted saying it was business. He promised he will give her another loan to start off the business in Lagos when she was ready. Now, Wale has gotten her mother a better job and even better accommodation. She was very happy.
Wale’s mother refused him going out alone that evening. She asked the driver to take them as Wale insisted, he was going along to drop off Farida. When they got to the house, Iya Farida was in the sitting room. Since graduating from the university, she was a different person. The way she walked and talked showed she was more enlightened and exposed. When Farida shared the good news with her siblings and mother, there was so much excitement but Akram was quick to point out, “Maami is the caretaker here and she is so loyal. Will she be willing to leave here for another? And, you know she is well respected here. Would it be the same over there?”
“The school is very big. Maami will be in charge of hostels as the head Matron. She will be better respected as she will be around highly qualified people who will know her worth”, Wale replied.
“I know this was your handwork. This means a lot to us. Thank you”, Farida added.
“Please let me have copies of all your certificates and CV to give my dad. Everything should be sorted out by next week”.
Maami prayed for Wale for his benevolence and also wished him safe trip. She prayed that he will be successful in all he does to which they all said a resounding Amen. Wale asked to be excused. He went outside with Farida and they talked for a while.
“I will make arrangements for a vehicle to pick up your personal effect for onward movement to the school. A bus and a car should be able to carry everything”
“Why are you doing all this?”
“Aren’t we best friends again? I want to ensure you are always happy before I come back”.
“How do I appreciate you for this?”
‘You just have to compromise a little”.
“What compromise?”
“I will tell you at the airport tomorrow. I will send the driver to pick you up at 4pm. Is that ok?”
“That’s fine. I will be ready”.
Back in the house maami was very happy.
“I told you this Wale is a good person. I am so happy he has come back into your life. Your friendship is so unique. Has he said anything more?”
Farida was confused. “More as in?”
“Has he asked for a relationship or marriage?”
“We are friends maami. Do friends get married?”
“You are still deceiving yourself. This boy wants more than friendship from you but he doesn’t want to push so you don’t run away. You are not getting any younger; within the next year you should settle down. If not for religious differences I would have said Wale is the best guy for you”
“Maami, I like Wale very much but I do not feel that way towards him. I see him as a best friend whom I can confide in same as Monica although I talk more to Wale than Monica but that’s really all”
“Farida, aren’t you seeing the handwriting on the wall? This boy just changed your status without it looking like he did something. Do you think I would have been considered for this job with my current position? He knows you don’t like people doing things for you so he used job opportunity for me to change our story. Wale likes you very much and I am surprised you don’t know he has feelings for you”.
She had heard this too often not to take note of it. How come she was not seeing what they were seeing or feeling what they claimed was there? She liked Wale as a good friend and nothing more.
The driver arrived at 4pm to pick her up. She had made pasta. Wale will eat before leaving the house and she had also fried meat, chicken parts, and fish he could nibble on during the trip. She packaged both very well and left for his place. Maami bought ori (shea butter) and aboniki (balm) for him to use when the weather was very cold. Farida hoped Wale knew how to use them.
Wale settled down to eat the food Farida brought for him. His mother came to check on him. Farida knelt down to greet her and she said she shouldn’t as big girls don’t do that. Wale was taken aback and eyed his mother.
“Wale, should I shoin you at the hairport?” his mother asked.
“You don’t need to, my friend is going with me”.
“I will not shee you for two years na. Let me shee you off”.
“No need for that” Wale’s father said from the door. “Can’t you see he is going with his friend? Let him be; he is not a baby”.
“Mo ti gbo. I am going; won’t you give me an (h)ug?”
Wale went to hug her and she kissed him on his cheeks. She slipped something into his hand and then she left.
“Farida, you are welcome. They will contact your mother on Monday. I have told them I want everything finalized before weekend so you can move in”.
“Thank you, sir”.
“It’s not me. Thank your bobo, he told me I will not regret it and I believe him”.
“You won’t sir”.
Wale got ready and they left for the airport by 6pm. His luggage had left earlier so he was just going to show himself and board. When they got to the airport, he held Farida’s hand and they walked hand in hand to the counter. Then it was left with boarding. Wale was very emotional at this point. He took Farida to a corner. She was also struggling with her emotions. She felt like crying but she tried to control herself. Wale held her close and then he looked into her eyes.
“I asked that you compromise a bit for me. Will you be willing to grant my earnest wish at this moment since we will be separated for a while?”
“What do you want? I will do anything to make you as happy as you have made my family”
“You and your family’s happiness is my responsibility. Do this because you want to do it not because I am compelling you to. If you say no, I will let you be”.
“Tell me what it is”.
‘Allow me k!ss you this once. I want to leave with a memory that will last me until I come back”.
Farida looked at him. She felt in her heart she should allow him, but her head was saying something else. She decided to shut the voice and take a risk. She closed her eyes and offered her lips. Wale took advantage of the opportunity without hesitation. He placed his lip on hers gently. He rubbed both lips against each other and then he parted her lips with his tongue. The feelings that hit him made him take a deep breath and sigh as the k!ss got deeper. He knew she didn’t have experience so he did all the work, he probed every corner of her mouth and felt good as her mouth got moister. His heart was beating very fast as the sensation rode all over his body and he had an er*ction. He didn’t care if she could feel; she needed to know what she did to him most times.
Farida didn’t know what came over her. The first brush of the lips sent sparks down her spine. When it became deeper, she lost herself in the sensation of the k!ss. She enjoyed the feeling she had when he probed the inside of her mouth. She enjoyed the k!ss. Wale pulled her closer to him. When she felt the bulge from his trouser, she separated herself from him in a reflex action. This was her first real k!ss and she enjoyed it until now.
“That’s what you do to me even without touching you. I want you to wait for me Farida. Just wait for me to come back. Don’t get involved with anyone please”.
“I will wait for you to come back. I’m not promising anything but I will wait”.
“I love you”
“What did you say?”
“I said I love you and I mean it. I know it won’t be easy to process right now but I think this is the best time to tell you. If you don’t feel the same way, I understand and I will still be there for you. I will always be there for you”.
Wale gave a confused Farida a hug and k!ss and he led her to the boarding gate. At the gate, he gave a final hug and went in. Farida stood there dazed for some time. She wondered what just happened. Why would Wale say he loves her? Were they not just friends? She did feel something for him but she didn’t think it was love but affection from their closeness.
She got home and shared her experience with Monica. She had mentioned Wale loving her before and she just wanted to confirm it.
“He loves you and he has told me that. He wants you to feel the same way about him before he declares it. Maybe he wasn’t sure what would happen on this trip that was why he wanted to secure his territory”.
“I like Wale a lot but I don’t love him……”
“But you k!ssed him”
‘He k!ssed me”
“He took permission before he k!ssed you. So why did you agree? And since when did you start hugging guys?”
“I have hugged only Wale and allowed him to k!ss me. Maybe I just wanted to appreciate him for what he had done. Or, I just wanted to know how k!ssing him would feel. I felt a bulge through his trouser”
“How big was it?”
‘I don’t know. I have never felt nor seen one before. How big is it supposed to be?”
“Farida! You are too naïve. You need to get exposed. Use google to see what a p*nis looks like. For you to feel it, it must have been big”
Farida was determined to discover what a p*nis looked like. She would use her computer in the office to check tomorrow. She was still confused. She didn’t want to tell her mother what happened because she didn’t feel she had to share some intimate details of her life with her. How would she tell maami she k!ssed Wale? How would she feel about it? She knew she would have to tell her about Wale’s proposal but that would be after they had moved.
Wale kept in touch and talked as though nothing happened at the airport which further confused Farida. She was also embarrassed about bringing it up so they continued as just friends.
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