She had saved him more than once. Literally. Apart from being his girlfriend, she was the typical kind of person Yoruba people called ‘Akorede’ – The one that brings good tidings. Blessings falling on him from every side since he started dating her. Kolade knew there was something about Fadesayo that was just special. It almost sounded like something off the screen of a Nollywood movie, but it was just the truth.
Everything seemed to fall into place when Fade had a hand in it. Was it when he was attacked by the cult boys and her arrival just in the nick of time was what saved his life or when he almost carried over a 3 credit course because his lecturer had a personal ‘beef’ with him when he thought he was one of confraternity boys? Or when his business suffered a setback because of a bad decision he made? She had saved the day again.
It was only natural that he was in it for the long haul. He had asked her one time when they were dating if there was something that was a deal breaker for her. She had looked him straight in the eyes and told him, “Cheating. If you cheat on me, the only way I’ll forgive you is to pay you back in your own coin.” He had laughed hysterically about how that could never happen. “When I’m not moving mad,” he responded.
They got married three years after youth service. If his life had the magic touch before, it became the Midas touch after they got married. They had more money than he could ever have imagined. If Fade was beautiful before, having children made her even more delectable. Her curves filled out in all the right places and she was usually the cynosure of all eyes when she came into a room. Life couldn’t be better.
It all started when the new IT lady was employed in his company. He should have been part of the panel that did the final interview for her but he missed it because he was in Abuja. The first time he saw Remi was during the staff retreat. Dear Lord! The attraction was instant on both sides. They didn’t even talk much but before he knew it, he was neck deep in an affair he never planned for. A year after, Remi relocated to America and the affair died a natural death. But a dragon had been unleashed in Kolade.
From Nkechi, to Fatima, to Kanyinsola, to Isoken and Onome…He had them all in his archive. Yet he still managed to be hide it from Fadesayo. Until one day, she asked him after a particularly intense session in the sheets while stroking his beard like he liked ….”Kolade, who is Isoken? And Onome, oh… and Kanyinsola?” He was too shocked to deny. Because he thought he had buried the corpses well and he felt she was blissfully oblivious to all his escapades. He broke down in tears and begged for her forgiveness. He expected anger, screams and crying. She did none of that. She held him close and told him it was going to be okay.
He kept walking on eggshells and trying to be on his best behavior. It wasn’t even necessary. Fade never mentioned it ever again. He thanked his stars that he had such a magnanimous wife that was willing to forgive his transgressions.
Two years passed without any hiccups. Life returned back to normal. Kolade had to travel to Abuja for a few days to sort out some transactions. He finished a day early and decided to surprise Fade by arriving on the last flight to Lagos. The first thing he noticed when he got home was the car in the compound. Looked like his friend Bolaji’s car.
What was he doing here at this time of the night? The next thing he noticed was the eerie quietness of the house. The children were in boarding school but where were all the domestic staff? The last thing that was completely out of place were the giggles and sounds coming out from his room. Who was Fade talking to? He opened the door to a sight that almost gave him broken heart syndrome.
There she was, his Fadesayo, lips locked with Bolaji, his hands roving all over her in unimaginable ways, wearing that negligee he liked. The sounds that erupted from him sounded like a wounded lion. Bolaji jumped out of the bed like a wet cat. “I can explain, Kolade…it is not what you think.”
“Explain what? Explain what Bolaji? I will kill you even if its the last thing I do. And you Fadesayo! Bolaji? What have I done to deserve this?”
Bolaji had found a way to escape while Kolade was approaching them. Fadesayo sat on the bed looking unruffled.
“Kolade…you must be insane. What did I say? Wèrè aláso gbáà ni é. What do you take me for? A fool? When you did all those things you were doing thinking that you were having fun, did you stop to think how much it affected me? Did you even know how I suspected and found out? Have you heard of the saying about a scorned woman? You think sorry makes it right?”
She continued…”Do you remember what I told you when we were dating? Oh…you don’t remember? I will refresh your memory. I told you expressly that the only way I can forgive you if you ever cheated was to pay you back in your own coin. What I didn’t tell you then was that it would be a higher denomination. I didn’t even become an ‘animashaun’ – free giver like you. I stayed with one person. When you apologized and I accepted without saying a word, you thought that was the end of it? You’re a joker Kolade. We’re even now. Frankly, I really don’t care. Do you want a divorce now or not? Let me know so I can speak to my lawyers.”
Kolade looked at her dazed. Shocked. Stupefied. With tears streaming down his face and looking almost like he had aged five years in that short time…he dropped to his knees in front of her..”Fadesayo, forgive me. I know I was your first and only boyfriend. You had no other but me. I didn’t realize how much of a monster I created with my actions. I am sorry Fade. I am so sorry,” he kept chanting with mucus running down his nostrils and looking like a total lost case.
“You poor baby….come home to Mama,” Fade said opening her arms wide. You didn’t create a monster. There’s a monster in everyone. You only need the right condition and state of mind to suppress or awaken it. You are now forgiven.”
Whew! The mind of a writer. Trying my hands at short stories. Do let me know what you think.
Disclaimer- All characters and stories purely a figment of the writer’s overactive imagination. Any resemblance to anyone living or dead is purely a coincidence.