"Daddy", Fola called coming out of her bedroom.
"Yes dear, I'm here", he replied from the sitting room.
Their relationship over the past few months had been really amazing.
It was the fourth month of Fola's stay at home which was due to the ASUU strike. It was March already and they were yet to resume.
Mr. Obed was doting on both his wife and daughter and Fola was in love with the improvement and this made her enjoy her stay at home.
'Alas', she thought drilly with a smug smile.
Even though they were now on good terms, he was still insistent on her marriage with Olamide.
Fola thought if that would make the relationship between her father and mother grow daily, she was ready to give it a shot.
A shot she had given it and it was beginning to change her being....it was changing everything about her.
She decided to shut her mind totally about Iremide. His thoughts brings nothing to her but aches and confusion.
She stopped calling him and rarely picked his calls. After a while, Ire stopped calling totally and this assured her that he has given up on her.
Olamide was becoming more loving by the day and she was getting used to him. They usually hang out twice a week.
Being the romantic guy he was, Olamide never fails to say sweet words to her which always made her blush.
'That was a gateway to getting a woman', he realised. 'Women adore men that praise and compliment them and Fola was not an exception. It can make a fish wife turn to a snail wife and it can make an irate and nagging woman succumb to a man's wish. Women are flexible in nature no matter their physique and bad character. The secret is getting to know the right buttons to press', Olamide mused to himself.
He was doing all he could to win her heart.
Due to the care and sweetness her father was showing her, she was ready and willing to play along even if she would end up regretting her decision on the long run. This was because her mother's happiness was at stake.
'If going along with this will bring my family together, I will obey dad', she once told her mum.
Her mother cried herself to sleep because her daughter was ready to sacrifice her future for her sake.
Fola's mother was totally against it but Fola wouldn't seize to show her and everyone that she is truly the daughter of her father.
She stubbornly stood her ground and all Mrs. Obed could do was call on her Creator to grant her daughter everlasting happiness and the very best.
"Daddy where is mummy?", she asked her father all dressed up to go out. She was wearing a pink embroided gown which stopped at her knee and a heel. She was heavily made up and she knew it.
She was changing and everyone knew it. That was what Olamide liked, a sophisticated beautiful woman.
"Wao, where to?", Mr Obed asked amazed at her appearance and looking at her from head to toe.
"I am going out with Olamide", she replied smilling at him.
"That's sweet", he said and sighed.
"What is the matter dad?", she said sitting next to him. Her perfume filled his nostril as he looked up at her.
"Nothing dear. I just want to give you a piece of advice."
"Alright, I am all ears", she uttered dropping her Gucci bag next to her on the couch.
"No sex before marriage", her father blurted and she gasped at his bluntness.
"Come on dad. You should know me better", she stood up furiously.
"I did not mean to upset you. I just thought it should serve as a reminder. I know you are a decent girl but I am just trying to perform my responsibility as a father. If a man disvirgins his wife on their wedding night and in their matrimonial home, it is a memory that will last forever. Whenever I am mad at your mom for misbehaving, the thoughts of our first night as couples appease and dissolves my anger. I respect her for that and I want the same for you dear."
"Dad, I have heard you. Talk to you later", Fola said moving out. I will be back before dusk."
"Alright dear, take care and my regards to my son-in-law."
Fola on her way out thought hard and long about her father's utterances. She remembered her first kiss with Olamide the previous day. Even though it was a stolen kiss, she couldn't deny the fact that she enjoyed it.
Olamide was gradually changing everything about her. She was transforming from a lady to a fully grown up woman all of a sudden.
She couldn't fathom how and when it happened.
She then wondered if he would ask her for sex one day.
She sighed heavily as she got to the bus stop where she was supposed to wait for him. She delved her hand into her bag to fish out her phone. She dialled his number and he picked at the first ring.
"Babe, I'm close by."
"Ok", she replied.
Few minutes later, he pulled over and she entered his car. He was all smiles but he was quick to notice the faraway look on her face.
"Babe, what's the matter?", he asked her.
The question jerked Fola out of her reverie and she replied, "Nothing."
"Are you sure?", he asked as he ignited the car into motion.
"Of course."
"Alright", he said and smilled. "You look beautiful as always."
"Thank you", she muttered.
"There is something I want us to discuss about when we get to our destination", his left hand was on the steering and he held her with his right hand and pecked the back of her hand. This sent a cold shiver all over Fola.
She looked into his eyes and saw love? Lust?... She couldn't tell.
Their eyes were still interlocked when they heard shouts from passerbys.
Shocked, Fola looked out and saw an old woman sprawled on the floor in front of their car.
Olamide quickly step on the brake to avoid hitting the woman.
Crowd was beginning to gather as Fola and Olamide quickly came down from the car. A lady in the midst claimed the old woman was about to cross the express road when she saw Olamide's car coming toward her and she fell down out of shock.
Olamide with the help of one other guy quickly carried the frail looking woman to the passenger's seat and he zoomed off with Fola to the hospital.
He dreaded what was to come. What if this woman dies? he asked himself. He would surely be blamed for it. He looked back at the woman at the back of the driver's seat severally to see if she was still breathing oblivious to the fact that Fola was right beside him.
Fola was studying him closely and she saw worry written all over his face. "I never knew Olamide could be this caring", she thought to herself and the thoughts almost made her laugh out loud.
In no time, they got to the hospital and they were asked to wait at the reception while the woman was taken into one of the wards.
Relief washed through Olamide's face when the doctor announced that the old woman was going to be fine.
"It was the shock that made her unconscious. But she is fine now, you can go in and see her", the doctor told them smilling.
After making sure that the woman was fine, Olamide paid the bills and took her to her home.
They were supposed to go to a polo club before the incident which delayed them and it was getting late already so Olamide drove to his father's house.
It was the first time Fola was entering the mansion and she couldn't help but gasp at the sight before her. The mere thought of living in the house someday after her marriage with Olamide excite her.
She was gradually realising her dreams of being a classical woman living in a big house. She was no longer the Fola who was always in need.
They go shopping virtually every week.
Having a taste of affluence, she was ready to feel among when school resumes. There was possibility that school would reopen by April because the issue between ASUU and FG was about to be resolved.
Fola and Olamide were about to venture into Mr. Garba's room when they came across Bisi, the cook who informed them of Mr. Garba's absence.
Olamide instructed Bisi to serve them while they settled on the dinning table. Fola was famished and she silently blessed Olamide when she heard his instructions to Bisi.
The food was served and Fola rejoiced in her heart that it was her favourite. She ate heartily and belched carelessly. Olamide stared at her and they both laughed.
They were beginning to feel free with each other. Fola also recalled the day Olamide unconsciously farted and she laughed more.
"Why are you laughing?", Olamide asked her suspiciously.
"Nothing."
"There is something, what is it?", he questioned again.
"I remembered the day you........"
"Never mind telling me again", he interrupted feeling embarrassed.
Fola giggled seeing his emabrassed face. She laughed more till he joined in laughing.
They got up from the dinning and went to the sitting room. "Mind if we watch a movie before you go home", he demanded.
"Sure", she said checking her wristwatch. She left home around 2pm and it was already half past 6pm. She then remembered telling her father she would return before dusk but quickly waved it away.
She sat down on the sofa opposite the television and he sat beside her.
Fola was engrossed in the movie on African magic and there was silence before Fola broke it with her eyes still glued to the TV.
"This girl is super crazy. Imagine what she is doing to the poor guy", she was met with silence and she turned to look at Olamide who was sitting right beside her. He was staring at her and it made her feel uncomfortable.
She was about to ask him what the matter is when he slammed his lips on hers. Her eyes widened in shock.
He kissed her lips and used his tongue to explore the insides of her mouth. He kept on kissing her till he ran out of breath. He broke the kiss to catch his breath for a while and he kissed her again.
This time around, it was not a suprise to Fola, she was actually expecting him to kiss her again. His right hand was around her shoulder and the left hand roamed her body starting from her bare legs. He was about to raise up her short gown in other to have access to her body parts when Fola came out of her reverie.
"No", she shouted as she stood up.
"What is it?", he asked recovering from the kiss.
"What were you about to do?", she asked him back and was met with silence. "Are you trying to have sex with me? Was that your intention?"
"Fola.......", he stuttered and ended up short of words.
"Just answer me with a yes or no", she yelled.
"Yes Fola, I am a man and I need you to satisfy my urges since you are my wife-to-be."
"And so what? You must be crazy. I am out of here", she said and stormed out of the house.
He was at her heels as he screamed back at her. "You did not object to it when I kissed you"
Fola was at the front door already and she turned back with mouth agape at his utterances.
She turned to her heels again and ran out with tears streaming down her eyes.
"Fola I am sorry", he shouted and ran after her. He was lucky enough to meet her struggling with the huge gate and he hugged her from behind.
"I am sorry, I did not mean to hurt or make you cry."
"Let go of me, you bastard", she screamed while struggling to free herself from his grip.
"I'm truly sorry and I promise you this will never repeat itself again. Not until you are ready for this", he said with a pathetic look.
Fola cleaned her tears and replied, "Just let me go home".
"No you can't go home like this babe. I am sorry, please forgive me."
Fola gave him a last look as she succeded in opening the gate and off she went.
*.........................*
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*Written By: Olawoore Nafisat Eniola*