The next day Wunmi was woken up by a knock on her door. It was Mama, she had brought breakfast for Wunmi who had overslept, because she spent most of the night in conversations with Debo. Debo was coming back to Lagos for a few days. He had a few gigs scheduled for the month of February. In particular was the Valentines gig he was billed to host and disk Jockey at Eko Hotel and suites. He wanted Wunmi to attend. He was planning to propose to Wunmi on stage in a spectacular manner. They spoke for a long time, just like a couple whose wedding was the next day. Wunmi was so smitten, at one point during the phone conversation, her thoughts went out to Folarin, she remembered how she was serenaded by Folarin and how he would make short calls and text messages during the day checking on how she was doing. Folarin was like a Knight, sworn to defend her from harm’s way. He used to treat her like a queen being led to her coronation ceremony, holding the door for her and doing little affectionate things for her. Often times, she felt that Folarin was overdoing those things or maybe exaggerating his affection for her. Debo offered something more different, brash, husky and witty. She only started dating the fellow after the incident with Folarin. Then her mind switched back again to the conversation she was having with Debo. She tried to convince herself that she done the right thing, maybe she should have given Folarin a chance to explain his actions. All these thoughts delayed her sleep much further that night
Mama Wunmi was surprised that her daughter had slept for so long. Wunmi offered her an explanation for that, she said she spent the whole night chatting with a male friend. Mama asked, “Is it the same friend you were talking to yesterday, as we drove back from the airport?” Wunmi replied in the affirmative. “Mama, yes I was talking to Debo, the same guy I was talking too yesterday, he is a Disk Jockey in Peckham, London, and he comes to Lagos a few times in a year to play at gigs and parties…” Wunmi seemed a bit more relaxed and willing to talk to her mother about Debo. She told Mama about how they met in London, and how Debo had been a charming romantic ever since. Debo would send flowers and send her short messages throughout the day. She said Debo was very romantic and always seemed to know what a lady wanted from her boyfriend. He would send her small affectionate gifts like chocolates and cakes, always very little but affectionate. Wunmi described how he would take charge of situations. She saw him as her hero.
Mama asked, “But Folarin used to do all that for you…You used to describe him as you knight in shining armour, your Lancelot…So tell me what happened. Because I know Folarin to be as affectionate and caring as you have described Debo to me, unless there is something you are not telling me”… Wunmi’s countenance changed as her mother uttered those words; it was as if her mother was reading her mind. Mama continued, “Tell me, Wunmi, I’d love to know what really happened, I am not saying that Debo is a bad person, but you have known Folarin for many years, only for you to fall head over heels for Debo, a man you have barely known for six months.”
“Maami, Folarin hurt me, I will never forgive him. I made a promise to myself thereafter that I would move on.” “What did Folarin do?” Her mother asked? Wunmi didn’t feel like talking anymore or saying what exactly Folarin had done to her, she was still hurt presumably. Mama didn’t want to force it, she knew that Wunmi would talk to her when she was ready. And whenever that time came, she would try to help her daughter to forgive Folarin. Love wasn’t easy; it required a lot of patience and forgiveness. She felt that if Wunmi could forgive Folarin, then there was chance for Folarin again.
Later that evening at Folarin’s parents’ residence, Folarin arrived back from work very tired. He had gone house hunting for a flat. He was ready to move away from his parents place. He sat very tired at the sofa. His mother asked, “So how did it go boy…Did you like the house?” Folarin told his mother that he liked the place and had made an initial deposit to secure it. His mother gestured, “Folarin, you will need a wife once you move in… Oh I wish you and Wunmi could get back together”. Folarin replied, “Mother I have moved on, that chapter has closed for me, I am seeing someone else now. Omolara, you know her. She is the daughter of Chief Olopade…” Folarin’s mother received the news with a shock. “I know Omolara, that girl, I know her parents, and they have attended our church for decades. But I see her as a desperate little girl. She has an eye for the rich and famous…” Folarin told his mother that he had fallen in love with Omolara not too long after the breakup with Wunmi. He said Omolara offered him a shoulder he could cry on after his bitter break up with Wunmi.
“Really”, sad his mother. “Omolara, that girl, I know her very well. She is so full of intrigue and sinister tricks”. She continued, “So she offered you her shoulder to cry on, I wonder when that girl became Mother Theresa”. When Folarin noticed that his mother wasn’t impressed with his strange declaration. He quickly tried to assure his mother that he was just good friends with Omolara, and that he wasn’t ready take it yet to the next level. His mother asked, “ I hope that means you still have some sort of feelings for Wunmi? “Mom, I am confused, I don’t know what to feel? I was left in shambles about the breakup, Wunmi just called me that day I was in London, without any sort of explanation and requested for the break up”.
“Explanation for what”, mother asked. “Never mind mother, I can’t talk now, it’s been a long day and I am glad that I have gotten my own place”. He walked away from his mother, and then she said, “My son , the only advice I will give to you as my son, is that you need to be careful with Omolara, and leave your options open with Wunmi, don’t close the chapter entirely with her just yet.”
Folarin’s mother wanted so much for her son to get back with Wunmi. They were childhood sweethearts for a long time and the families knew each other. She wanted Folarin and Wunmi to get married and was prepare to do anything to help them get back; even it meant getting rid of the vile Omolara. The thought of Omolara becoming her daughter in-law was unimaginable, it was suicidal. Omolara just had to leave the scene, she simply had to disappear, but Mama Folarin didn’t know how to but the plan into place.
