Fanning the flames…

The sound of Tunji’s voice startled Chigozie and I. We instantly stepped away from each other. He grabbed the broom and I rushed over to the microwave. Tunji walked into the kitchen oblivious to what he had almost stumbled on.

“What happened here”? He asked Chigozie, as he spotted the pieces of broken plates on the floor.

“I had a little domestic accident trying to warm some food for both of you”. I said.
Tunji chuckled as he walked over to me.

“We both know you are prone to accidents in the kitchen. Why didn’t you just tell my cook to come whip something up? You didn’t have to bother”. He said hugging me and planting a quick kiss on my forehead.
I was so embarrassed. I know I am not the best cook in the world, but he really didn’t have to say that in front of his staff…his staff that I had just shared a rather heated moment with. I was so uncomfortable. Chigozie avoided my gaze and spoke directly to Tunji.

“Good Evening Boss. So I was trying to fix the speakers but obviously I wasn’t doing a good job. I’ll get one of the guys in the office to come sort it out tomorrow”. He said.

“Ok that’s fine Chigozie. I just need this house ready for madam when she moves in two months from now, I don’t want her to be bored or anything”. Tunji said.
Was he implying I would be spending a lot of time in the house? He winked at me and walked out of the kitchen.

“Adesewa…..”Chigozie started to speak but I interrupted him. I was too embarrassed to listen to anything he had to say. I wasn’t in the mood and I was worried Tunji would be within earshot.

“Chigozie, please let’s just forget what just happened”. I said. I couldn’t even look him in the eye.

“I can’t forget what just happened between us and I cannot forget how tense you were when he was here. This is the first time I am seeing you two together and I didn’t recognize you”. He said

“What are you insinuating? I have known him for over a decade and you for a few weeks and you think you are an authority on how I am? Please like I said let’s just forget what happened. It was a mistake”. I said.

“Wow. OK then ma’am see you around”.

With that he walked out of the kitchen. I heard him have a brief conversation with Tunji and then head out the door.
All of a sudden I wanted to lock myself in the kitchen and never come out. I was so confused. Was Chigozie right? Was I a different version of myself when I was with him? And did I like that version better? Was my decision to marry Tunji as a result of me being

“safe” by marrying the only man I had ever dated? Was I unwilling to let myself really explore whatever it was with Chigozie because I was afraid of the answers I would find?

I needed to talk to someone. Someone who would understand, someone who wouldn’t judge me and wouldn’t give me “good counsel”. I wanted the raw truth and I knew just the person to talk to.

I spent an hour at Yinka’s place and then I headed straight to my friend Tosin’s house. She was the only one who would understand. I had told her I was coming over and when I got there, I met her in the middle of her living room. There were clothes and shoes littered everywhere.

“Did your wardrobe explode or something”? I asked.
She laughed out loud.

“I have to travel tomorrow and I have no idea what to pack”. She said as she walked over to give me a hug. “So what’s up? I already accepted to be your maid of honour so I am not doing you any more wedding favours”.

I rolled my eyes at her.

“Wow! You’re such a great friend! Insert sarcastic smiley in case you missed the sarcasm in my voice”. I said.

“Whatever! So you said you needed to talk…out with it”. She said pulling me on to the only couch in her cosy living room.

“It’s about Chigozie”. I said.

“Who”? She asked with a confused look on her face.

“Tunji’s staff! You and Onyeka met him the other day when we went out for drinks”. I said in frustration.

“Oh that hot guy. Did he ask for my number? I knew he would, I felt some chemistry between us”. Tosin said jumping up and down on the couch… like a school girl.

I grabbed her two hands and forced her to stay calm. Now I could see why Onyeka treated her like a child.

“Tosin behave yourself. He didn’t ask for your number. I think I like him and I think he likes me too”! I blurted out before I could stop myself and then I told her about all the moments we had shared and the chemistry I felt with him.

After I was done talking, Tosin remained frozen with her eyes opened wide.

“Say something”. I said.

“Cold feet”. Tosin said with a straight look on her face.

“What does that even mean?” I asked. Now I was the confused one.

“You’re getting married and you have cold feet, its normal…it’ll pass”. Tosin said as she shrugged her shoulders casually.

“Yeah, I guess that’s it. So I should avoid him right”? I asked.
She moved closer and then she spoke in a light whisper even though we were the only two in the room.

“Adesewa, you have two options. You can continue to be the good girl you have always been. Plan your wedding, marry Tunji your first and only love and live the life your parents expect of you. Or you can live for the first time in your life…really live. You can get to know this cool guy you just met. You can spend the remaining eight weeks you have as a single girl, exploring a side of yourself you never knew existed. You can create memories that would last a lifetime and then you can go and marry your prince charming”. Tosin said with a mischievous sparkle in her eyes.

“Are you asking me to cheat on Tunji”? I asked her.

“Nope. I’m asking you to eat your cake and have it. Let this handsome stranger give you all the fun you never had as a single girl and in eight weeks marry the love of your life”. She said.

“What if after eight weeks I don’t want to marry Tunji anymore”? I asked. It was a very valid question.

“Adesewa I am not asking you to fall in love! I am asking you to have fun. In eight weeks you will marry Tunji’’. Tosin assured me.

“Ok. I think I need this to revalidate my decision and know that I didn’t miss out on anything by dating only one man my entire life”. I said.

“Good, just make sure you don’t fall in love with him and you don’t do anything that would make Tunji leave you. Now give me your phone”. She said.

I unlocked my phone and handed it to her. She typed a message and before she hit the send button she paused and asked;
“Ready for the time of your life”?

I gulped and nodded.

“Good”. She said as she sent the message that would change my life forever.

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