BUKKY ALAKARA (EPISODE 30)

EPISODE 30

Chike turned on his side and looked up at the wall clock. It was some minutes past twelve. It was a good thing that he didn’t need to go to school that day. It was a Saturday and he seldom went to the campus, except when he had an upcoming test, a pending assignment or a group reading. He needed to rest. It was his final year and his project was coming up fine. He prayed that he would be able to finish it before the end of the first semester and defend it before the end of his second semester, or else, he won’t be able to concentrate on his final examinations. His Industrial Training in the U.K had paid off well. Aside from the money he made, the firm he worked for created an opportunity for him to come back and work for them, when he goes back for his Master program. Initially, he never thought it was possible for a foreign student to work in such a place abroad, being a non-citizen at that. It would have been wonderful if several other companies also had the same policy.

He hoped to return to the U.K, before or after his NYSC program. He was excited at the turn of events in his life. His family were also happy for him, especially his parents. None of their children had travelled out of the country before. He was the first to go, but, definitely not the last.

Thoughts of Bukky flooded his mind. Despite the fact that he was out of the country for six months, the distance didn’t alienate his feelings for her. He thought of her constantly and the fact that she was with Gbemiga made his nights unbearable. Seeing her again, he felt like a man who had lived in the desert for so long and she represented an ocean. She was available again, free and single. He wasn’t sure if she was completely over her ex. He wasn’t willing to ask her out regardless of how much he loved her. The fear of rejection was greater than what he felt for her.

Maybe he should just move on. He tried going on a few dates with some of his colleagues at work in the U.K, but, he kept comparing them all to her in his frail mind. It was as if she had filled every vacuum in his heart. No space for anyone else. He turned on his belly. What was he going to do now?

He heard knocks on his door. He wasn’t expecting anyone. Maybe it was one of his neighbours. Now that he was back home, they had resumed borrowing cooking ingredients and utensils from him. He climbed down, took the tee-shirt on the leather chair and put it on. He strolled to the door and opened it.

“Hi.”

He blinked and looked her up and down, “Aren’t you supposed to be at your shop?” he noticed that she looked fuller in the white knee length cap-sleeve A-shaped dress.

“The market officials imposed a sanitation day. They said the surroundings of the market is filthy.”

They both went in. He shut the door and returned to the bed. Bukky settled on the leather chair.

“The officials are right, that market is a pigsty,” he propped his head with two pillows.

“Many of my customers were angry. They were not happy when they found the shop locked this morning.”

He chuckled, “I can imagine.”

“So…” she looked around the room, “Where is my stuff?”

He pointed at a red and green coloured ‘Ghana must go’ bag outside the kitchen. She got up quickly, hurried to the big bag and opened it. Her jaw dropped in astonishment.

“Is everything for me?” she glanced at him.

“Yes,” he smiled at her.

“Thank you,” she searched the bag and found clothes, purses, sandals, perfumes, beverages, candies, assorted biscuits, body lotions, hair products and a black berry phone. “You bought me a phone!” she turned around to look at him.

“What are friends for?” he winked at her.

“It is one of the latest set they just brought out!”

“I know now.”

Her eyes glistered with happy tears. She felt special. “Thank you.”

He cleared his throat, “You are most welcome.”

She dropped the phone in the bag and zipped it.

“What have you been eating?”

She glanced at him, “Hmmm…”

“You look like a size 12 chick.”

She started to laugh quietly.

“See your body, front, back, stomach, hands, everywhere has expanded. Hope you won’t turn into one of those shapeless slay queens out there.”

She placed her hands on her hips, “I am a big 10.”

He eyed her, “What is that supposed to mean?”

“I am a size 10, a big 10.”

“That is in-between size 10 and 12 abi?”

She nodded, “Something like that.”

He began to shake his head.

“I am not slim and I am not fat.”

“Keep deceiving yourself.”

“Any man who marries me will like me for who and what I look like. BIko, free me.”

He started to laugh.

“What about you? You are turning into one of those Wrestle Mania wrestlers.”

He jumped down from the bed. “Check me out,” he turned around, “I am a bloke, a stud, a Prince Charming,” he winked at her.

She hissed.

“I know you are one of those girls that like tall, broad shouldered, all muscled guys like me.”

She hissed again. “Ehn… whatever, I am okay too,” she turned around smiling.

The movement made her backside to swerve in several directions at once. His groin tightened in rebellion. He looked away quickly and cleared his throat.

“Oya, come and start going to your house.”

“Ah-han… but, I just got here.”

“If they send you to me this afternoon, tell them that I am not at home.”

She stared at him, wondering what was wrong with him.

“Oluwabukola, come and start going to your house.”

“What’s doing you sef?” she eyed him.

“I am not Samson, neither are you Delilah,” he glanced back at her.

Confusion was written all over her face. He chuckled and walked up to her.

“This dress, it makes you look very tempting,” his dark brown eyes observed her surprised dark ones.

“Is… is it too tight?” she felt very self-conscious.

“Not really, but, it brings out all your curves and… and the sight of you right now is driving me crazy.”

Her jaw dropped.

“You know that I will never ever touch you except you were mine.”

She nodded her head.

“This is becoming very difficult.”

His confession made her tremble with emotion. It dawned on her that he was still attracted to her and his feelings for her were unwavering.

He closed the gap between them and wrapped his hands around her. She looked up at him and sucked in breath. The passion in his eyes mirrored the battle she fought within.

“Kiss me…” she whispered.

He blinked and stared at her in astonishment.

“I want you to kiss me,” her heart beat accelerated.

“Why?” he looked deep into her eyes.

“I don’t want to wait anymore,” she stared back at him.

“Wait for what?”

“I know you like me. I know you have feelings for me. I know that you are attracted to me. I know that you want to date me. I feel the same way too.”

He swallowed hard. Was he hearing her right?

“I want you too. I like you too. I am attracted to you too. I have feelings for you too. I want to go out with you too,” her soft convincing voice re-echoed in his ears.

“Are you sure?” his heart beat began to hammer against his chest.

She smiled and placed her hands around his neck. “Yes, yes, I am.”

He smiled back at her, leaned forward and kissed her deeply. She responded, matching his eagerness, fire for fire.

“I love you,” he tore his lips away.

Her eyes grew wide.

“This is the happiest day of my life and I don’t want to ruin it. We must leave, now. Let’s go outside, anywhere. If we stay in here, I am going to sleep with you and I doubt if you are emotionally strong enough to stop me.”

She nodded quickly. He was right.

“Let’s get your stuff into the car, drop it in your apartment and look for somewhere public to go to, okay?”

“Yes sir!” she saluted him comically.

“Trouble maker,” he eyed her.

She started to laugh.

He grabbed the Ghana must go bag and pulled it towards the door.

TO BE CONTINUE…..