Love me, love my child

Moving On

Chapter Five

I couldn't get my eyes off Dayo as he ordered for our lunch.

"Finally, I am done. Simi, how have you been? An assistant secretary? I thought the goal was a flight attendant? What happened? Why the sudden change of mind?" He asked.

"A lot of things happened and I had to give up on my dream, Dayo. Although it was painful but it is worth it and I like my current job a lot", I replied.

"Oh okay, if you say so".

"Yeah. So about you, how did you become this big to be an investor?".

"It's nothing. I just worked hard in order to be able to lavish my money like I wanted and I am glad I achieved that but it would have been nice if you didn't give up on your dream, Simi"

"Yeah, I know but it is what it is" I shrugged

"I still can't believe that you are the one sitting in front of me. I have been looking for you ever since I had the power to. You just changed your phone numbers before the Nysc program ended. That's unfair, Simi", He assured.

"I am sorry, everything has a reason so I had to do what was right. At least, you found me now. So why are you looking for me as if you need me for something?".

"I just needed my close female friend back in touch with me. You don't know how much I missed your cute voice and your words of wisdom".

"Word of wisdom? Come on, Dayo, I got none of that, I just say things, that's all".

"You are still the changed, Simi, I know. Thanks for not changing your character and I just love that about you".

"Thank you", I timidly replied trying to control my emotions that wanted to hug him so tight and pin him down there.

"So if you don't mind me asking. Any man in your life yet?" Dayo asked as the waiter arranged our food on the table.

"No, I am married to work", I replied after thanking the waiter.

"That's good, I feel so relaxed right now. I thought there was a man in your life and no chance for me anymore?" Dayo said bluntly making me want to scream out my emotions.

"What do you mean by that? Dayo, stop with the rough plate. We both know you have a woman which is my friend, Grace", I said remembering how hurt I used to feel whenever he talked about him and Grace.

"Grace? It seems that you don't talk to her anymore because if you did, you know what is going on", Dayo said.

"I don't understand, don't tell me you guys broke up after all you guys have been through in your relationship?" I asked with a worried face but deep inside me, there was a crazy party going on.

"We did. The day before everyone graduated. I didn't date for love, Simi. I dated her so that I would have a reason to fight back for all what she did to you back there without you being the reason", He confessed, shocking me to my bones.

"What? You are telling me that you dated her for three good years to avenge me?" I asked in awe.

"Yes, I didn't want anything to hurt or obstruct your future, Simi. So I had to do what I had to do. I never planned on telling you this, but it has been years, right?" He said.

"Yes, I guess. I think one of our friends told me, she is happily married now", I said.

"Happily married? And she still disturbs my phone with calls everyday? She is just a golddigger. Did you know that when I was dating her, I realized she never loved me, she just wanted my money and I guess she does till now", He said.

"Hmm, I actually knew about this but I didn't want to hurt your feelings so I didn't tell you so that you wouldn't think I didn't wish both of you well".

"You should have. Enough about her, talking about her makes me sick".

"Okay, so what do you want to talk about?".

"I want to talk about us, Simi. We both loved each other back then and I can tell that you still love me till now. And I also do love you", He said looking into my eyes and my brain almost shut down because of this.

"I want to date you, Simi. I want to be that man in your life, just give me a chance and let me show that I understand the type of love you want. We could date now, we are not course-mates anymore", He said making me remember when he said that to me years ago. That particular sentence hurt me deep even till now but I didn't say anything.

"Hmm, Dayo. I really need to get back to the office. I was nice having lunch with you. Have a nice day", I quickly said as I stood up and left before he could call me back.

That evening, I made sure I finished my work and went to Adina's house to pick Adeife up and spend the weekend with her. I told Adina and Amina whom I called on the phone about what happened.

"I don't like him for you, Simi. Ever since you uttered those words too, I just disliked him. To me, Chidubem is way better than him and I just like him for you because when you were serving with him in Port Hacourt you were really happy back then", Amina said over the phone.

"Simi, I know you still deeply love Dayo and I want you to think deeply which one of them you are willing to spend the rest of your life with. I don't want you to rush into anything, you are just 29, not like I who is 31 and Amina who is 32. If none of them is for, just keep waiting till the right one comes", Adina advised when I went to pick Adeife up.

I stared at Adeife who was peacefully sleeping beside me. I flashback to when Chidubem asked me out, he was so innocent and I just wanted to get over Dayo after seeing how he was publicly affectionate with Grace throughout that week. Chidubem and I started dating during our second semester in our final year, it was a low-key relationship and people barely knew.

Luckily for both of us, we got posted to the same place and our relationship continued. Towards the end of our service, we went out together and got beaten by the rain. We booked a hotel and stayed in the room. In that room, our hormones were so tense that Chidubem had to deflower me that night. After we got our Nysc certificate, I realized that I was pregnant and I was so confused that I wanted to shut the world out of my life which I did by changing my phone numbers and my social media accounts.

Amina and Adina stood by me and pulled me out of the world where I shut people out of. I summoned courage and decided to tell my family but they were disappointed in me especially my father who had high hopes in me. I cried bitterly and went to visit my mom's graveyard. At that moment, I remembered how my mom fought for me and I decided to do the same for my child. Right now, I am stuck between going back to either Dayo or Chidubem and moving on from both of them especially Dayo.