MORE THAN A CARVINGCHAPTER 3

MORE THAN A CARVING
CHAPTER 3 

Iwalade’s mum got back some minutes later when she got in, they took their dinner and went to bed. Her boyfriend, Martins called and asked if she was still travelling the next day and she told him she’ll be travelling the next day. He told her how much he had missed her and couldn’t wait to see her, she didn’t reply him because the truth is that she didn’t miss him and she kept on beating herself up for attempting a relationship with a guy she’s not really in love with. They talked for few minutes and he ended the call. Iwalade closed her eyes, thinking of what to make out of the whole mess she had got herself into because the truth is that it’s just her body that is dating Martins, her heart and soul are actually with Kayode. Two weeks after resumption, the rate at which Kayode and Iwalade now converse on phone was on the top notch, the both of them hardly sleep at night and this raised suspicion on the part of Martins, he began to have funny ideas in his head thinking that there was something actually going on between the two. So he started voicing out his fears to Iwalade but she continued assuring him that she’s not leaving him for Kayode, she had made her decision by choosing him, it’s just that she can’t just stop being friends with Kayode, in fact, if she did, she too will also miss that part of him because they were gist buddies right from when they were young. There was a day, Iwalade and Martins were in the room, Iwalade’s room precisely and it was late in the night, their lodge is not far from each other, so Martins do leave her girlfriend’s place late in the night but that particular day, Martins planned to spend the night. “It’s past eleven, are you not going to your lodge?” Iwalade asked Martins. “I don’t feel like, I’ll stay the night.” “Martins……” She called suspiciously. “No, no, no. It’s not what you think; I’m not passing the night because of that.” “Martins…….” “You made it clear nau, no sex and I agreed. If I want to have sex with you I don’t have to sleep over to do that.” “Okay.” She said but in her mind she didn’t like the idea of him sleeping over, not just because there can be temptation but because Kayode is going to call that night as usual. It was the period when a particular network made night calls free and they usually talk from 12am to 5am and obviously no boyfriend will be cool with that. Martins did not sleep and it was almost 12am, he had some assignment that he was busy working on. By 12am Iwalade’s phone started ringing, she was about to pick the phone but Martin’s snatched the phone from her. “You won’t pick this call.” He said to Iwalade. “Seriously! I don’t think you have the right to do that. So, give it back.” She said stretching her right hand towards him and trying to keep her cool at the same time. “Why is he calling you by this time of the night? If he badly needs company then he should get himself a girlfriend.” “And you think getting a girlfriend is a problem for him, right. Just give me the phone.” She was still trying to take the phone from him but the line disconnected. The phone started ringing again and this time instead of returning the phone to his girlfriend, Martins picked the call. “Hello.” Kayode said. “Hello.” Martins replied. “Oga, please give the phone to the owner.” Kayode said calmly. “Seriously, what right do you have to call someone’s girlfriend by this time of the night?” “And what right do you have to pick your girlfriend’s call.” Kayode was very sure it was her boyfriend that would have the nerve to try that. “Oh! Thank God, you acknowledge she is my girlfriend, so bounce.” He said. “Hello….Mr. boyfriend, she is not your wife so you don’t have any right over her until you put a ring on it which I’m very sure will never happen anyway.” “Really!” “See I don’t know you and I don’t give a damn about you, so give the phone back to her.” Kayode said. “And if I don’t!” “Is simple instruction too much for your thick skull to process? I said give the phone…..” Kayode was still saying but Iwalade who was tired of the shades the two were throwing at each other hijacked the phone from Martins. “Hello, Kay it’s me. I’ll hang up now, good night.” “Iwa….” He was still saying but the line went off. Iwalade switched the phone off immediately. She lay on the bed, grabbed her covered cloth and covered her body. “What is that all about?” Martins asked. “Put off the light when you are done with your assignment.” She said and turned her back on him. She closed her eyes to sleep and in her mind she was like ‘the two of you cannot come and kill me.’ ******* A year later, Iwalade was already in her final year and she was still dating Martins. Iwalade came back from class on a Thursday evening, she just finished bathing and was about to cook, then her phone started ringing. It was Kayode who was calling. “I’m in front of your school gate. How will I get to your lodge?” “What! Kay, you are joking right?” Iwalade asked. “I’m not joking woman, send the address except you want to keep me stranded here.”“No need for me to text, just take a bike and tell the bike man you are going to….” “Honey Hostel.” He took the word from her mouth. “So, you still remember the name of my lodge?” “So for your mind, you think I won’t remember! Anyway, expect me.” He said and the line went off. There is virtually nothing, the two doesn’t talk about so they know everything about each other, Iwalade also know the name of his lodge in school and she has never visited him before. They hardly forget anything they tell each other. Surprise was written all over Iwalade’s face when he saw Kayode; she didn’t believe him one bit that he was in front of the school gate until he showed up at her hostel. The two hugged each other and she led him into her room. “Wow! Cash madam, your room is beautiful.” He commended. “Thank you….” Iwalade said and gestured for him to sit on the bed. Though she had plastic chairs but she wanted him to feel comfortable. Iwalade’s self contained apartment was indeed cozy and welcoming. She just wanted to enjoy her final year days in school since all her years in school had been hustling. “I can see your script writing business is paying off.” Kayode pointed out. “It is o and I bless God for it. The money had really been helpful.” She said. Even though as at that time the money wasn’t that much but its sure paying her bills and that of her siblings. “I’m happy for you; you eventually rise above the odds.” “Let’s just return the glory unto God.” “Yea.” “I’m sorry I was about cooking when you called, so I just started boiling the rice few minutes ago.” “No wahala, at least you were not expecting me before.” “Imagine you just show up just like that.” She said. “I can see you don’t like surprises.” He teased. “Says who.” She said and laughed. When the food was ready, she served the food and they both ate from the same plate; back home, right from their teenage days, they do eat together. The two started discussing, they talked about their projects since they are both in final year including Martins and Temidun. As they were discussing, Iwalade was busy thinking on how his boyfriend will handle Kayode’s visit. She wasn’t aware he was coming maybe she would have stopped him. Martins had travelled down to see a lecturer in another university in the south west to get the materials he needed for his project and he won’t be back until the next day.
Iwalade excused herself and went out to place a call. She called Martins to let him know that Kaayode is around and we all know what his response will be, he actually flared up and ordered Iwalade to send him back to wherever he came from. “Martins, he’s my guest not yours. So why don’t you just calm down.” “I won’t calm down, I am coming back tomorrow and I must not meet him by the time I return.” “Martins, you are taking this thing too far. We are all adults.” “Meaning, I’m behaving a like a baby, right. In fact, he must not sleep in that room.” “You are telling me not to allow a friend that I’ve slept on the same bed with severally back home, not to sleep in my room!” “That is home, this is school.” “Okay.” “Okay what?” Martins asked. “I’m done talking. That’s the meaning of the okay!” “Really!” “We are not yet married and there is a limit to how you can push me around. Goodbye and have a nice stay over there.” She said and ended the call because he had almost exhausted all her airtime. She went back inside and smiled at Kayode who was going through her picture collections. “What did he say?” He asked. “What did who say?” Iwalade questioned back. “I know you went out to call him.” “It’s none of your business.” “Am I safe?” Kayode asked. “You should have thought of that before coming but its fine.” “Do you want me to leave?” “Kay, let me be. How far, how’s Temidun doing in school?” “Temidun……Temidun…..” He said slowly. “Talk nau, I asked a question.” “I regretted living alone this semester. That girl has been on my neck, she comes to my lodge every day, she even brings foodstuffs and cook. My friends now think we are dating and we are not for God sake.” “Are you for real? Finally my girl is shooting her shot.” Iwalade said, clapping herhands in excitement. “Iwa stop. What’s that suppose to mean.” “Nothing, I’m just joking nau.” “Funniest thing I never gave her my address and I don’t even know how she found out till date and she refused to tell me.” “Maybe, you should give it a try.” Iwalade suggested and he frowned at her. “Give what a try? I don’t love her!” “You can choose to love her, you know. She’s a nice person and we’ve all been friends with each other since childhood. You know her well as much as I do.” “Oooo…….Iwalade, stop forcing this girl on me.” He kicked the air out of frustration. “No nau, I’m just…..” “Iwalade I want to shower and rest my head abeg.” He said and she laughed at him. “Okay, let me show you to the bathroom.” She said and led him into the bathroom and showed him the things he’ll need for bathing. Few minutes later, he was out in his shorts and singlet, he then lay on the bed. “What do you want for dinner, this is past seven?” Iwalade asked. “I think I’m okay with the rice I ate earlier.” “Okay, but I’ll prepare beverage for you before you sleep since you don’t want to take anything again. Is that fine by you?” “Yea, it’s fine.” “Good.” She said and lay beside him and they got talking again, they were still awake till 10pm and Iwalade decided to prepare a cold beverage for both of them. Afterwards, they went back to bed to sleep and she put off the light. Iwalade knew if Martins had wings he would have fly over to school just to get rid of Kayode but unfortunately, he couldn’t leave until he gets all the materials he went in search for, if not he would have returned that night. Kayode and Iwalade were both on the bed; they lay quietly in the dark. After few minutes, he broke the silence. “Iwalade, I want us to be like this at night for the rest of our lives.” He said. “If God wants it that way, then He will make it happen.” “We can make it happen, you know.” He said and search for her face in the dark and held it close to his. “Why are you still with that guy, I know you are only punishing me because I was a coward who refused to come out straight to you but I’ve begged for your forgiveness times without number.” “Kay, he’s not a trash that I can just throw away!” “But you don’t love him, your heart beats for me and you know it.” “Kay….” She was still talking but he shut her up with a hot kiss, she responded and the kiss intensified until they were both naked in the dark. Kayode was about to lower himself into her but he stopped. “Are you ready to give it up?” He asked referring to her virginity; he knew she was still a virgin. He knew she never got physical with her boyfriend. Iwalade didn’t reply him so he had to repeat the question again. “Iwa…….” He said quietly into her ears. The two were still feeling hot but he needed consent. “Are you ready to give it up for me?” “Kay, I don’t know, I’m not sure.” “Yes or No.” He asked but she didn’t say a word, she was still busy thinking. She wants to stay virgin till she gets married, she and her friend, Temidun had promised each other that. Iwalade who is still in a relationship with Martins now finds herself in the arms of the man she truly love and still clueless. “Iwa, you are not talking.” He said and she started crying. “Iwalade, you are hurting me, you know I can’t stand seeing you cry.” “Kay, I love you.” She sobbed. “I know and I love you too.” “But why are things complicated with us.” “I wish I have an answer for that.” He said. His heart broke as Iwalade was crying and shaking in his arms. They were like that for minutes. “Put on your clothes.” He said as he grabbed his boxers and wore it. She wore back her night dress and he made her sleep on his chest. They later slept off. The next morning, the door began to bang loudly and continuously, the two were so scared that they jumped out from sleep. “Open this door.” Martins shouted. Iwalade looked at Kayode who nudge her to open it, she opened the door then Martins barged in and went straight for Kayode. He pushed him so hard that he hit his head on the wall. The next thing, the two started yelling at each other. Before Iwalade could think of how to stop them, the whole of her hostel mates were already out, the noise actually woke most of them especially those who doesn’t go for lectures on Fridays. Martins kept on yelling despite that people had come in between them to separate them. “How dare you sleep over at my girlfriend’s place?” Martins came for him again. “Your so called girlfriend is my childhood friend so just stop babbling and face the fact that you are been tormented by insecurity.” Kayode lashed at him this time.