MORE THAN A CARVING CHAPTER 19

MORE THAN A CARVING
CHAPTER 19

 Lara, Temidun’s younger sister came around as usual and she was with Imisi in the guest room. She now visits Iwalade regularly all because of Imisioluwa. Iwalade was in her room, she heard them giggling and laughing but she was trying hard to be cool with it. She couldn’t believe that she can be that jealous but she tried to be mature about it. She has been trying to put up with Lara, for Christ’s sake, Lara is like her younger sister, her elder sister, Temidun is her childhood friend so her hands were tied and she couldn’t even speak to Imisi about it, she wanted him to make his choice. The two kept on gisting in the room and laughing then suddenly, everywhere was silence. Iwalade’s maturity betrayed her, she couldn’t handle it again. “What if they are having sex?” She said to herself and jumped out of her bed. Before she could even think, she had barge in on them. The two looked at the door, shocked. “I’m sorry. I……I…..” Iwalade was still thinking of an excuse to give. “Oh! The parcel we need to pick at the mailing office right, oh….I forgot too.” Imisi quickly stepped in in her defence. Though they were to pick a parcel the next day, so he quickly used that but Lara is no fool. She looked from Imisi to Iwalade. “Aunty Iwalade, I just told Imisi how I feel about him and guess what, he said his heart belongs to someone else.” Then she looked on to Imisi. “I think I just find out who the lucky woman is.” Then to the both of them, she said, “I’ll take my leave now.” She picked her handbag and phone on the bed and left. The two couldn’t say a word to Lara as they watched her leave. After she left Iwalade spoke up. “You are free to break up with me, what I won’t condone is you cheating on me with my friend’s sister and on top of that, doing it to my face.” She said and walked out on him. Imisi sank into the bed with his head buried in his hands, he knew he was getting too close to Lara but he thought Iwalade was cool with it because she never complained or even gave him attitude. He hated the fact that he made Iwalade had the impression that he was cheating on her. How will he even do something of such under her roof, he even became friends with Lara because of her, he felt ashamed of himself more because of Lara, he never knew he was leading the poor girl on, not until when she mentioned it some minutes ago. That was the reason why the two became quiet because the girl was kind of heart broken when he told her he is in love with someone else. He stood up from the bed and left the guest room. He stood in front of Iwalade’s door and knocked. “Imisi what do you want.” She said in tears. “Just open the door my love.” “I’m not your love.” “Fine, but please open the door and let’s talk.” He said and she stood up from the bed where she was sitting to get the door. She opened and he walked in. Imisi wanted to hold her but she stopped him.
“Now, you won’t let me to touch you!” “Imisi leave me be, please….” “I should be the one angry you know.” Imisi said and this got her angry the more. “Really! Oh! I’m sorry I’m like this. I did this to myself, right.” “Iwalade, will you stop all these and let’s talk like adults.” “Oh! I’m the childish one right.” She laughed hysterically. He watched as she laughed and then switched back to crying again. He tried to hold her but she wouldn’t let him. “I’m not cheating on you.” “I know and I’m sorry for saying that.” “And I will never cheat on you.” “If you say so.” “So, you no longer trust me.” He said. “If I don’t trust you, then why did I put up with you two all along?” “You should have told me when you got uncomfortable.” “I can’t do that because I needed you to choose.” “Choose! You only choose when you have more than one option. Iwalade, she was never an option. Lara was never an option for me, so I don’t have to choose.” “She loves you.” “I don’t love her.” He said and she scoffed. “You don’t believe me! Iwalade my heart belongs to you.” “Lara said so.” She said sarcastically. “Lara said so or you know so.” He looked at her all over again. The two had been arguing back and forth for close two hours, and Imisioluwa was really tired with the fight. Iwalade kept on dragging the issue and to Imisioluwa, he felt she was just working herself up over nothing; he has no feelings for Lara. “Look Imisi, you don’t have to be with me out of pity.” “Pity! Did you hear yourself?” “I know what I’m saying. That girl is what any guy of your age will desire. So go be with her.” She said and he grabbed her by the arm, she wanted to pull away but he didn’t allow her this time, he was really angry with her, his eyes said it all. “Can you look into my eyes and repeat what you just said.” He demanded but she looked away. “Iwa, why did you come into that room?” “I thought I’ve apologized for intruding your privacy.” She replied. “That does not answer my question.”
“Fine, I thought you two were having sex.” “And you still want me to go be with her? Why can’t you just put down your ego and claim your man for once.” He said and she broke down in tears again. Her heart was really heavy. “Fine, I love you Imisi, I want you and I want you to be with me and not with any other woman because you are my life and I want to spend the rest of it with you.” She said and for the first time ever since they were dating, Imisioluwa felt like her man, her real man. He took her into his arms and kissed her and she kissed him back. Imisi lifted her off her feet and carried her to the bed and placed her on it. He climbed on the bed and kissed her, he removed every single clothing on his body and was stark naked before her, she didn’t say a word so he helped her with her clothes too, he came on top of her and she closed her eyes as he lowered himself into her. While they were making out, Iwalade’s phone rang, it was Kayode, in her head, she was like ‘by this time of the night’ she silenced the phone, she saw the call coming through again but this time, the phone was on silence. The two had a very steamy sex and Imisi was the first man in her entire life that will have sex with her, it was great but she wished it was happening inside wedlock, so by the time Iwalade came back to her senses that had stopped working few minutes ago, the deed had already been done and she can’t take it back. Hot tears flowed from her eyes and Imisi saw it. “I’m sorry, I should have waited.” He made her lay her head on his chest as he pacified her. “You don’t have to blame yourself, I didn’t stop you either.” She said crying. “Iwa, you need to stop crying, I hate seeing you like this, you know.” He said as he helped her wiped her face. “Or are you still having doubt about us, Iwalade, I’m going nowhere, I’m yours.” He said but she didn’t say anything to him. “Iwalade, I’m glad to be your first and I promise to cherish you all the days of my life.” He said referring to her virginity. Iwalade checked the time, it was few minutes to 12am, she stood up from the bed and sat on the floor, she started praying inwardly even though her lips were moving, she just kept on asking God to forgive them for what they did, she was crying bitterly and beating her chest. Imisi realized she was praying, so he knelt down beside the bed and started praying for forgiveness too. While praying, she remembered the story, Mrs. Williams told her about her late husband and fear gripped her. Iwalade opened her eyes and realized Imisi had already dozed off while praying. She screamed his name. “Imisi!” He jerked immediately. “Imisi, you can’t sleep, I beg you in the name of God. There is no sleep for us tonight. The both of us are not going to sleep till day break.” “Did you see something?” “That is not the issue, just do as I say.” “Okay.” He obeyed. Both of them sat on the floor and they were there like that all
through the night even though Iwalade did not stop muttering words of prayers, this time she kept on praying for Imisi telling God to please protect him and keep him safe. Around 5am in the morning, Iwalade’s phone rang; it was still on silence, but the phone was beside her so she saw the incoming call, it was Kayode again. “Maybe, it’s urgent, pick his call.” Imisi said, he saw the phone screen and knew who was calling. “Imisi not now, I have a lot on my mind right now.” “Tell me about it.” “Do you even realize that you can die because of what we did last night? Imisi, remember your….” “My father. What about it, I know I won’t die as long as you are my life.” “Who am I? God, I just messed up some hours ago and you still think you can count on me.” “Don’t say that Iwalade, you know better, our God is a merciful God, you were on your knees throughout praying. He has forgiven us.” He said and Iwalade laughed scornfully. “And you think that all these will all go away, what about the consequences?” “What consequences Iwalade. Please don’t scare me. All I know is that God is merciful.” “I know, no one is disputing that fact but don’t you think that moment of weakness is a good time for the enemy to strike. I’m just trying to faith things here, Imisi, I am scared.” “What do you want us to do; I’m ready to do it even if we have to fast.” The two remained mute, each engrossed in their thoughts till day break. Morning came and Iwalade broke down in tears again. “What is it Iwa?” “Nothing.” She said, Imisi tried to get words from her but she refused to talk. Iwalade checked the time, it was 8am. “Can you please help me get a morning-after pill at the pharmacy?” She asked. “Is that why you are crying, you don’t want to carry my child because you are scared I may die like my father….” “Imisi!” She tried stopping him but he didn’t stop talking. “….And you don’t want to have a baby without a father.” “Imisi stop. Just stop.” She raised her voice. “Then why are you like this.” “You think I’m like this because I don’t want to carry your child! Wait, is gettingpregnant an option for us now, is it not enough that we had an unprotected sex and now you want to add pregnancy to it. How will I even face your mum?” She pointed out. “Am I not a man for God sake, leave my mum’s issue aside Iwalade and stop making me feel less of a man.” He said with tears in his eyes. Iwalade saw the tears and hurried to his side, she didn’t mean to hurt him. “Imisi, I didn’t mean it that way, I’m just scared of the things ahead of us.” “I’m scared too Iwalade and I don’t want to die.” He poured out in tears. “You will not die but live Imisi. You will overcome all your enemies in Jesus name.” “Amen. Just promise you will never leave my side.” “I promise.” She said. Imisi put himself together and then picked his car key and left for the pharmacy. He returned few minutes later with the pill. “Here.” He said and gave her the drug. “Thanks.” “Let me go get you water.” He said and left the room. Then Iwalade’s phone rang, this time it was Temidun, her childhood friend. “Iwalade, have you heard?” “Heard what?” “Haaa, I thought you’ve heard.” “What is it nau, Temidun talk to me.” “Okay, Kay’s sister just called me.” She paused. “Call you for what, Temidun I’m listening.” “Where are you at the moment?” She asked. “Of course I’m home.” “That means you are alone.” “Not really.” She replied. “A friend is around.” She added. “Okay, good.” “You are still not talking Temidun, you are scaring me nau….” “Iwalade, Kay died this morning.” “Which Kay?” “Iwalade, our Kayode.” “Temidun, please stop, Kay that still called me thrice before day break, it’s just that I didn’t pick up.”“His sister said so; he said you were the last call he dialed. I guess he wanted to say goodbye.” “What goodbye, Temidun, stop jo.” “Iwalade, Kayode is dead, he died of Covid, he was hospitalized for days but he didn’t make it.” She explained and Iwalade screamed. Imisioluwa rushed inside. The pills in her hands fell on the floor and she flung her phone, it landed on the tiled floor. “What is it, who called, what happened?” Imisioluwa asked, holding her tight so she could calm down. She couldn’t talk until few minutes later, and then she told him what happened. “Jesus, the guy who called this morning is dead!” “He wanted to say goodbye. Imisi, he wanted to say goodbye but I didn’t picked the call.” She wept loudly. “I should have listened to you. I was so engrossed in my own business that I refused to attend to him.” Iwalade lamented. “Don’t be too hard on yourself, who would have known that he was about to breathe his last. Just calm down.” “Ha….what did I do.” She wailed putting her two hands on her head. “Kayode I’m so sorry…..I’m so sorry……” “I’m so sorry for your loss, I know he means a lot to you but you’ve got to calm down, remember you are not doing fine yourself, you didn’t close your eyes all night, so please take it easy.” Imisi pleaded with her. Iwalade stood up and picked her car key on the dressing table. “Where are you going?” Imisi asked her. “I have to go, I need to go and find out myself, this can’t be true.” “Iwalade.” Imisi called out raising his voice. “Put yourself together, it is real, your friend can’t call to prank you, that’s an expensive joke.” “I can’t sit here, I need to go.” “Okay, I’ll drive you, let’s go.” He said. She accepted the offer and followed him. They left in Imisi’s car. Kayode’s death was real, they got to his parents’ house and the whole compound was filled up with people who came to commiserate with them. Kayode was very popular in the area, that is where they all grew up and he was loved by people in the neighbourhood because of his heart of kindness and jovial attitude. Kayode’s friends both male and female put heads together and planned the burial since the older ones won’t be going to the cemetery because of the Yoruba custom. They met with the family church Pastor and the church planned to hold a service for him before the burial. Some days later, Iwalade and their other friends and Kayode’s young family members gathered at the cemetery to pay their last respect as Kayode’s body was put to rest.