Broken: Episode 22

I couldn’t believe my eyes, the day I dreaded the most had finally come. I never thought I would get here, but here I am about to get married to a woman. The accident changed my life and I decided not to take my life for granted. My life took a series of unexpected turns to get here and I wouldn’t say I’m proud of all my choices but one way or another they led me right where I was standing facing this little crowd. I didn’t think I deserved to be married off in a church but for some weird reason I was more comfortable with taking this sacred vows in here than anywhere else. Finally it began, the sound of the keyboard playing the very famous “Here comes the bride” tune. As my bride walked up to me in her beautiful white dress the past few months of my life, flashed before my eyes.

Cynthia ran after Kofo and almost fell on her way out as she stepped on a milk can Kofo had dropped. A nurse quickly came to pick up the cans. I tried to get up but she told me to get back on my bed. I tried to imagine what Kofo would be thinking, what Cynthia was going to say to her, I knew it was only a matter of time before my world came crashing down again. I waited and waited for someone to walk through the door, seconds turned into minutes and the minutes began to seem like hours, finally I gave up, she was never going to forgive me, not this time.

“Hi…Hi Bayo” her voice cracked.

I couldn’t believe my eyes, it was Kofo. I starred at her speechless.

“Cynthia explained to me…” she said.

“…Kofo, I’m so sorry. I-I don’t know what came over me…” before I could finish my apology, she ran to me and hugged me.

“I should have been the one here for you, not her. I pushed you to her. I’m so sorry dear.”

I felt the tears rolling down and it soaked my chest. I was grateful that Kofo was able to forgive me, more especially to Cynthia who was staring at us from the door. She was hurt and was about to explode, her eyes widen in an attempt to hold back the tears then they shut. I saw the tears roll down her cheeks and she left. I knew at that moment that it was over between Cynthia and I, we wouldn’t even be platonic anymore but I took consolation in the fact that the love of my life was back in my arms.

They say if you love something, you let it go. If it comes back to you, it’s yours forever. If it doesn’t, then it was never meant to be.

I couldn’t wait to be discharged from the hospital. The next few months would be quite dramatic. I would have to revive Kofo’s trust in me, seeing Cynthia was going to be hard, avoiding her would be the preferred line of action. Kofo would move in with me and eventually life would go back to normal. At least that’s what I hoped.

The doctor came in a few hours later to check my progress and I was discharged 30 minutes later. He told me to get plenty of rest and that I would need to come back for check-up. I was relieved that I was leaving. I missed my apartment. I was delighted to be back in it and most grateful to God that I survived the accident. Kofo helped me to the three-seater sofa in the living room and she sat on the carpet beside me.

“Bayo, I’m really sorry I put you through all these. I’m sorry I left. I shouldn’t have.”

“But you’re back now” I responded “that’s all that matters.”

“I love you.”

The words resounded in my ears. It occurred to me that she had never said those words to me before now. Although I had dreamt of this moment for a long time, it felt strange. I didn’t know how to respond. I was confused. I shouldn’t be. This was Kofo, the goddess who changed my life, the one whom I almost died trying to get to. Her gentle eyes looked like they were probing me. I turned to her and she kissed me passionately. I kissed her back and prayed that was the response she was looking for. She stopped and starred at me for a while then she kissed me again.

This time around it was more passionate than the first. I must have forgotten how good it felt to kiss her lips. They tasted like strawberry. I was getting too excited for my own good, my groin was hurting so I pulled away.

“I love you too.”

She fluttered her eyelashes at me and asked me what I wanted for lunch. I told her to prepare whatever she could find and she hurried off to the kitchen. I was fumbling around with my phone and found pictures of myself lying on the bed at the hospital. They were lots of them. I kept scrolling and I found one with Cynthia and I, her face was a bit swollen and I was lying on the bed in the background. She took another, pretending to be asleep next to me and it looked really convincing. The next one, she had a broad smile on her face. It was the day I regained consciousness and oh that black dress!

“What are you smiling about?”

I quickly closed my gallery.

“Nothing”

“Hmmm…Well I need to go get some things at the market. Hope you’ll be fine?”

“Of course I will.”

I thought about calling Cynthia after Kofo left but I didn’t know what I was going to say. I dialled Cynthia’s number anyway and waited for her to answer. I called three times but there was no answer. I sent her a text thanking her for everything she did for me and that I would forever be grateful to her.

Kofo got back from the market and looked upset. I asked what was wrong and she told me her fiancé just called her. He was furious that she left for Lagos without telling him. They exchanged words and she told him it was over between them. I consoled her the best I could, she lighten up a bit and took the products from the market to the kitchen.

My phone beeped. It was a Cynthia.

“You’re welcome.”

I was delighted that she replied my message. A little too delighted.

The following day I told Kofo she didn’t need to stay over anymore that I would be fine. Besides I wouldn’t want her aunt to find out I was the one camping her niece from the world. Kofo mentioned she wasn’t planning on continuing her service with the bank anymore. She also wasn’t comfortable with the fact that I would still be working in the same office as Cynthia. I admit, it would be a little awkward but I didn’t have an aunt somewhere who could get me jobs at the snap of her fingers.

The weekend was over and I wasn’t going to partake in the Monday morning rush. At least not this Monday. Kofo had prepared breakfast the night before and I just had to microwave it. She had an interview with an IT firm that belonged to her aunt’s friend. After my breakfast and a long nap I woke up and found four missed calls from Kofo. I called her back and she had told me she had started work already. She promised to stop by on her way home. I was bored and tired of watching TV and craved company, work, anything. There was a void in my heart. I called Cynthia and she answer at the first ring. She probably was in her “hyper work” mood and didn’t realised I was the one calling.

“Hello Cynthia”

She was silent. I could hear her breathing.

“Cynthia, I don’t know why I feel this way. I miss having you beside me. I miss seeing your pretty face. I can’t believe I’m about to say this but a part of me wishes Kofo didn’t come back…”

“…why are you telling me this?” she interrupted in a low tone.

“I..I don’t know.”

She cut the connection. Did I say something wrong? I called her back and this time she spoke first.

“Look Bayo, it was fun while it lasted. I don’t want you to be my booty call and I don’t want to be your booty call either. I’m happy you got a second chance with Kofo and I really hope you don’t mess it up.”

“But I love you.” I did it. I said the three dreaded words. It felt like it slipped but deep down it felt true.

“What!?” and she cut the connection.

Kofo stopped by as promised and brought dinner along. After she left I tried calling Cynthia again but she didn’t answer. I tried to get across to Cynthia all week but she kept ignoring my calls. I sent numerous texts but she didn’t respond. I was feeling stronger so I decided to go over to her place. I rang the doorbell a couple of times and she opened without asking like she was expecting someone. She was surprised to see me leaning on the wall with my crutch. She wore a red V-neck pencil dress. She was definitely expecting someone.

“What are you doing here?” she asked.

“I had to see you. You haven’t been picking my calls or replying my text.”

“It’s called moving on, Bayo…”

“…but I don’t want to move on. I want you in my life. I need you in my life.”

Her date arrived just before I could say anymore. She apologize for leaving me hanging and went with him.

When I got home, I got a text from Kofo that her aunt was leaving town for the weekend and she would be coming over to spend the night. About an hour later, I heard someone knocking on the door. I opened the door and was surprised to see Cynthia. She grabbed the back of my neck and kissed me. I pulled her in and she kicked the door close with her Louboutin pumps. We staggered and almost fell. The pain raced to my spine and Cynthia noticed as I whimpered. She helped me to the sofa and we laughed it off. Her side bangs covered one of her eyes as she starred at me wordless. I brush her hair aside with my hand so I could see her eyes.

“Cynthia, I…”

“Shhhh”

She shut me up and kissed me. She pulled closer to me carefully not to hurt my arm or my leg and we continued kissing.

Kofo walked in and found us. Cynthia pulled away, looked me in the eyes and said it “I love you.”

“I love you too.”

Kofo dropped the bag of groceries in her hand “You bitch!” she screamed at Cynthia. She turned to me and said with tears in her eyes “I never want to see you again in my life! I never want to see both of you again!” then she walked out.

Few months later I was standing at the altar. Cynthia looked adorable in her beautiful gown. Her brows perfectly arched, flawless skin and plump lips. It wasn’t long before we said “I do.” I was going to spend the rest of my life with this woman. She had forced me to reconcile my differences with my family and they were present to witness this special day. At the reception, I was a little surprised to see Kofo’s ex-fiancé with Brenda but I wasn’t about to bother my head with that. I couldn’t wait to whisk my wife away to our honeymoon suite at the Burj Al Arab Jumeirah.

I always wondered what happened to Kofo, I got my answer two years later, during a business trip to Ibadan. I went to the hotel bar to have a couple of drinks when this beautifully shaped damsel in a short bodycon dress took the seat beside me. I caught a glimpse of her thighs as she sat down, I looked up and was surprised to see that it was Kofo. She was also surprised to see me. We exchanged pleasantries and I bought her a drink.

“So what brings you to Ibadan?” she asked.

“Business” I couldn’t take my eyes off her.

She looked different, radiant and her dress was barely long enough to cover her butt. A few drinks later, she swung the door of her suite open and we entered making out from the door. We ran into a few furniture along the way but finally found the bed. She pulled down my pants and pushed me to the bed. She read my mind and didn’t take off the dress. She straddled me and f**ked my brains out.

I woke up as Kofo wiggled her naked body out of my grip and went into the bathroom. I felt the hangover creeping inside me. What have I done? The details were hazy and I wasn’t sure I wanted to remember. I got up and quickly got dressed. As I searched around and found the key to my suite I also found Kofo’s journal. My curiosity got the better of me and I opened it. I flipped through and one statement stood out on various pages “I HATE MEN!” I was the origin of it all. I heard the water closet flush so I grabbed my key and made for the door. I was just about to close the door when my phone rang. It was Cynthia, I knew from the ring tone. There was just one problem, the phone was not with me.

I went back in and got there just in time to see Kofo pick it up and answer. She smiled.

“Hello Cynthia, your husband can’t come to the phone right now ‘cos he can’t seem to stop starring at my nakedness. Guess he can never get enough of Kofo.”
***
“It was a mistake," you said. But the cruel thing was, it felt like the mistake was mine, for trusting you.” 
― David Levithan

THE END.