The birds chirped sweet melodies into Tunde’s ears as he sat under the mango tree beside Hall 5, waiting for Samantha. The weather was also perfect; the large orange ball of evening sun cast its soothing rays over everyone and everything on campus, creating a somewhat celestial picture. Today was the day Tunde was going to tell her how he really felt about her. But he was afraid of how she might react because she was not just any girl to him. Samantha was more than his friend. They had grown up together, and fate had a way of crossing their paths. They attended same primary and secondary schools, got admission into the same university, went to same church, were from the same village…

Time and circumstance had also made them bond. They knew each other’s secrets, felt each other’s pain and shared each other’s dreams. Tunde knew Samantha was going through a rough patch in her relationship. In fact, as far as he was concerned, her relationship with Bamidele was over. Who beats a girl as if she were a thief, and have such girl return back to him? This would not be the first time Bams would be assaulting Sam. It was a kind of recurring decimal in their relationship since day one. Tunde felt Sam had had enough; she was too good a girl to be treated like trash. She deserved a better man. She deserved a man like him.

Sam had told Tunde of her fight with Bams about a week ago. And between then and now, Tunde had provided the shoulders for her to cry on, eardrums for her to lament into, and heart for her to speak to. In that period, Tunde felt a rejuvenated responsibility to be more to her. He did not just want to be her occasional listening ears. He wanted to be more. He wanted to be her man – the one she talked to everyday. And he knew this was the perfect time to tell her.

“Hey there!” Sam appeared from behind him, giving him a strong friendly hug. Then she sat beside him, her hand resting across his shoulders.

“Hey Sam,” he greeted.

“How long have you been here?”

“Umm, roughly fifteen minutes..”

“Aww dearie, sorry for keeping you waiting.” Sam gave him a light peck. “That’s to say I’m really sorry.” She giggled.

There was something radically different about Sam this evening, and Tunde was glad.  It was her glow. She cut a different figure from the Sam he had seen  the day before. The gloomy Sam who wallowed in self-pity was gone. Tunde felt like asking her what the whole excitement was all about, but decided to bottle it up at least until after he had disclosed what he had in mind. Whatever it was that put her in such good mood could be instrumental in her response to his impending confession. Today was his lucky day, he thought.

“Sam, there’s something I have to tell you,” Tunde said, wanting to get over with his confession already. Sam gave him a curious look but with a smile sitting on her face.

“Hold that thought for a moment, Prince charming,” she teased, placing a finger over his lips. “I have something to tell you too.”

Tunde gave her a disturbing look. What did she want to tell him? Was she back with Bams? Really? Was she?

The thought was so strong and disturbing that he did not know when he asked, “Are you back with Bamidele?”

Sam looked surprised at the question. Continue reading →