Chapter 11
1073 Words
The ride to his place felt longer than usual. When I got there, each step to the door came with doubt. What if he did not want to see me? What if he was already done? I stopped once and almost turned back. But then I remembered his voice. The calm way he used to say my name and how much I missed him, I kept going.
When I reached his door, I stood there for a long time. My heart beat fast. I raised my hand and knocked.
The door opened after a short pause. Yemi stood there in a plain shirt and house long pants. His hair was rough like he had not brushed it properly. His face looked thinner. Was it just me or was I imagining this? When he saw me, his eyes widened just a little. He did not smile. He did not frown. He just looked at me. Surprised by the fact that I was at his door.
I held up the container.
“I made jollof rice, peppered chicken and gizzdodo”, I said with a smile like it was the password to entering the house.
He stepped aside to let me in.
The room smelled like nothing. No food. No music. Just air. I followed him inside. He closed the door gently.
We stood facing each other. The space between us felt too wide.
“I came to say sorry” I started.
“For how I spoke. For how I left things hanging. How I am”, I continued slowly.
“I was scared. Scared of losing my scholarship. Scared of disappointing my parents, myself, you, and I let that turn into anger”, I said.
“I transferred all the blame on you because it’s easier to do that than carrying the weight of the blame alone. I’m sorry babe. I really am”, I finished.
He listened. He always listened. His arms were crossed, but his shoulders slowly dropped.
“You hurt me, Hana. I did not know how to reach you. I was worried and the outburst at the bar, it was uncalled for. I can’t take that anymore. I love you doesn’t mean I’m a fool”, he said.
His words were soft, but they hit deep.
I nodded. My eyes burned. I know. I was wrong.
“I don’t take you for a fool, babe. I love you too”
He smiled with his eyes and his face suddenly rose up with life. His face wasn’t slimmer, just sad.
I placed the food on the table and opened it. Steam rose up. The smell filled the room. He looked at it, then at me.
“You still remember how I taught you to make it?” he asked me and I replied.
“Well, I tried my best”, I said.
“I hope you like it”, I added.
“I love it babe”, he said and gave me a quick kiss on my lips.
“You haven’t even tasted the food yet”, I said laughing.
“It’s the thought that matters ife”.
I smiled a little. Of course.
He sat down and took a bite. He chewed slowly. His eyes closed for a moment. When he looked up again, his face had changed. Something warm returned.
“This tastes good. Too good. Did you get this at a restaurant?” He asked me but I shook my head to signify no.
My chest felt tight. I sat beside him. Not too close. Not too far.
He drew me closer to him and fed me also.
I talked. I told him about the fear I did not know how to name. About feeling small. About thinking I would lose myself if I leaned too much. My words came out messy, but they were true.
He reached for my hand. I flinched at first, then relaxed. His palm was warm. Familiar.
“I never wanted to cage you”, he said. “I just wanted to stand beside you”.
Tears slipped down my face. I wiped them quickly.
“I know. I see that now”.
We sat there for a long time. Eating. Talking. Sometimes not talking. The silence no longer felt heavy. It felt full.
After the plates were cleared, he stood up and pulled me into his arms. I rested my head on his chest. His heartbeat was steady. I had missed this. I had missed him.
His fingers moved slowly along my back. Not rushed. Not demanding. Just present. I breathed him in. The scent of soap and something that was only him.
“I am here”, I whispered.
He kissed the top of my head, “Stay”.
We moved to the couch. I curled up beside him. His arm wrapped around me. The world outside faded. The light in the room dimmed as the evening settled in.
He brushed his thumb along my cheek. I looked up at him. Our eyes met. There was heat there. Not wild. Deep. The kind that grows from knowing someone.
He leaned in. Our lips met softly at first. Then again, slower. I felt my body respond without thought. His hand rested on my waist. Mine clutched his shirt.
We did not rush. There was no need. Every touch carried meaning. Every breath felt shared.
Day turned to night. We moved from the couch to the bedroom without words. The room was dark, lit only by the city glow through the window. We lay together. Skin close. Hearts open.
He traced patterns on my arm. I smiled in the dark. My leg rested over his. His forehead touched mine.
“I missed you”, he said.
“I missed you too”.
The rest of the night was ours. Quiet laughs. Soft kisses. Long pauses where nothing needed to be said. The kind of closeness that speaks louder than sound.
When sleep finally came, I was wrapped in his arms. Safe. Calm. Full.
In the morning, light crept into the room. I opened my eyes and saw his face relaxed in sleep. I reached out and touched his cheek.
For the first time in days, my heart felt light.
I had come with jollof rice to say sorry.
I stayed because love was still here.
- Writer
