RED ROSES

Our shattered love lies in pieces on the floor. I see the reflection of our memories scattered among shards of our broken promises. You are still my favourite chapter that i keep on re-reading night after night till my eyes are red with tears and my heart hurts from the memories if your lost touch.

Adedayo Falekan is the last born of a family of five, two elder sisters and two elder brothers. Like his Mother, Mrs Falekan used to tell him, he was the never expected child she gave birth to in her early 50s. He was the miraculous child that came when she thought she had reached her menopause. Her first child Adewale was 23 when she gave birth to Dayo, a graduate of Engineering; he had just finished his Youth service year! The second Adebola, female was two years younger than her elder brother and was in her third year in university studying Law. The third child, Adeleye was five years younger than Adewale. He was in his second year studying Medicine when his mother gave birth to their last born. While the fourth child Adedolapo was sitting for her entrance exams was 16 years. Adedayo grew to be home alone mostly. His mother visits his father regularly who was in the capital city where he was a Permanent secretary in one of the government ministries. He was a brilliant, handsome and quiet young man. Based in Lagos with his parents, He gained admission to study Marketing in University of Ibadan.

He topped his class throughout his stay. He was a quiet geek who had two geeks as friends until he met Teniola Odemuyiwa in his second year. There was a party in Dayo's hostel and because the celebrant is Dayo's neighbour and friend, he couldn't help but stay for the party. He met Teniola and it was love at first sight. If James hadn't dressed Dayo up that that day, Teniola wouldn't have seen it. Like most love stories starts with a 'Hi', theirs wasn't an exception, it started with a 'hi'.

"Hey, want a drink?" Dayo asked showing her a cooler of cold drinks. "Are you new in this school?" Teniola asked. "No" Dayo answered smiling, before he could continue his roommate James cut in "He is a student of this school, Teniola. He is good guy, top of his department, same set with us, my closest neighbor and my gist partner. Hope you guys have met?" They both shook their heads in disapproval. James continued "Teniola meet Dayo, Dayo meet Teniola, my departmental mate" Teniola and Dayo shook hands. "You guys should make most of the night" James said and continued mischievously "You both are top of two departments in the faculty" Teniola and Dayo started talking from that night.

Dayo changed drastically, his sense of dressing changed. He improved in the way he talked and James really helped him. At the end of his second year, he asked Teniola out and she agreed to be his girlfriend. Dayo changed and most of the girls saw it and started falling for him. The girls hanged around him asking for tutorials and coming to his room for hand-outs. Teniola doesn't want this and kept chasing them away with her always making sure she was present at his side always. Dayo loved Teniola so much and Teniola loved him too. They kept topping their class till their last year in school, very close to their final paper, the Academic Staff Union of University embarked on a nationwide strike.

It went on for months, Dayo stays in Lagos and Teniola stays in Ibadan. Dayo communicated with Teniola for the first two months of the break. Then his mother suggested he travels to Benue to visit his elder brother Adewale and family. During the course of his trip, Dayo misplaced his phone and lost all contacts. Due to his nonchalant attitude, he made futile efforts to getting Teniola's and other friends’ contacts. And when he couldn't get them, he never made any other effort to get the contacts. Adewale bought him a better phone and he returned home after the seven months strike has been called off. But things were never the same.

During the time Dayo lost contacts, Teniola met Lieutenant Oladipo Albert a soldier who just concluded his training from the Nigeria Defence Academy a year earlier. He was a friend to Teniola's elder brother and during one of the visits to Teniola's brother during the strike he met Teniola and fell in love with her. She couldn't get to Dayo and Oladipo was all over her. He took her out on several dates and went to cinemas with her. Teniola became free with him, fell in love with him and said yes to his proposal. She thought about having someone matured and someone who has steady job and someone who take good care of herself. She thought about the connections he talked about. She thought of everything sweet coated mouth Oladipo told her and made up her mind. "It's Oladipo or no one else" she thought aloud "Only God knows what happened with Dayo and why he is avoiding me". Teniola called James several times to get in touch with Dayo, but all efforts were unsuccessful. She knew she tried she thought Dayo has left her for one of those beautiful Lagos girls.

James knew what happened during the break and on sighting Dayo; he made sure he gave him a punch and some words. "Dayo, what on earth happened to you? You didn't call Teniola for good four months." James shouted at the top of his voice. Dayo answered calmly "James believe me, it wasn't my fault. I lost my phone when i traveled to my brother's place in Benue. I didn't go to Benue with my diary where i have all your phone numbers. I got to Benue had to buy a new phone and tried doing a welcome back sim and it was rejected because it was registered by my sister Dolapo and there were errors in the information i offered for the welcome sim. It was rejected ". Still annoyed James continued "why can't you call your aunt?"
"She is out of the country for research and couldn't get to her, so i got a new sim card"
"And there was nobody at home to send you the numbers in the diary"
"She wasn't home, she went to Sister Adebola's place she just had a baby"
"What about your Facebook account? And what about your Email?"
"The service of where I was then wasn’t good enough for browsing, it's worst"
"Your excuses are irrelevant, and i am sure Teniola wouldn't believe you either"
"She would, she is a darling"
"Forget it, Dayo! Teniola belongs to another man"
Dayo was scared, looked at James surprisingly and unable to find the words to say, James continued "She cried several nights because couldn't get to you. She met with a Young Soldier who is responsible and available at the time you were irresponsible and unavailable". Dayo was astonished and stammered the first two words that came out of his mouth "Yoooouuunnnng Soooldiiiieeer". James stood up and mockingly saluted "Attention, sir" he sits down and laughs sarcastically "The soldier would beat you up if you do any stupid thing around his babe. He has spies here in the school watching his babe!” Dayo was out of words, he remembered how his sister Dolapo and Mother use to tell him how much his nonchalant attitude would cost him. He couldn't believe what he was hearing and stood up to pick his shirt and go to Teniola's hostel; James stood in his way and pushed him to the bed. "Guy where you dey go?" "I want to go to see her".
James smiled mischievously and replied "Bro, the young soldier is around, he brought her to school in his uniform and in his CAR" shouting the car louder and laughing sarcastically. Dayo was hurt, he felt like giving James a punch on the face. James stopped laughing and continued "We will see in the school tomorrow, bro. But you need to chill and forget her quickly; she's not in a league of yours anymore. She has moved on from you". Dayo was quiet, he thought James was lying. He got her number from James and called her.
"Hello"
"Hey dear, this is Adedayo."
"Dayo, all this while, where have you been?"
"Teni, it's a long story. I am so sorry i couldn't get to you"
"Dayo, it's late.. It's just too late. There is no reason to apologize, i have moved on"
"So what i heard is true about the young soldier?"
"Teni, i thought you love me"
"Dayo, you are my past. Let's behave matured here. It's difficult i know"
"Are you serious? Are you really leaving me??"
"I am not only leaving you, i am done with you."
“Teniola i beg you to reconsider please! Don't do this to me!"
"Dayo, you have done worst to me during the break!"
"I am sorry, it wasn't my fault"
"Dayo, you still remain my friend. If i see you in campus"
"Teniola…"
She hung the call and couldn't cry for him, she had cried enough for him. Dayo wept that night. He couldn't help it. He had hopes of marrying her, now they are shattered. He imagined how it would be like seeing her on campus. James encouraged him, told him he could move on if he wanted to. He told him he would find someone lots better. Dayo met Teniola in school and she looked more beautiful to him. He couldn't imagine losing such lady. His good C.As helped him in his results because he didn't do well in his exams, but still graduated as the department best graduating student. His family came for his convocation, he kept looking at Teniola and new lover as they hug and kiss each other, he felt like standing up to give Oladipo a punch and kneel before Teniola and apologize but he realized there were more than two uniformed soldiers with them. So he kept his cool and cried in his heart!

Dayo moved back to Lagos after his NYSC service in Akwa Ibom, his father surprised him with a job he got for him in a friend's big oil firm in Port Harcourt to work in the marketing section of the firm. Dayo was happy; at least he would forget about the Teniola's issue and take on a new challenge in life. He bought the best of suits and clothes and moved to Port Harcourt where he was given a three bedroom flat and an official car. He worked for four months in the company, unknown to him; his father and friend Chief Anozie Coker owner of the oil firm were planning his master’s program in the United Kingdom. Dayo traveled out of the country for his Master’s program.
He met Angela in UK and they became close friends, Angela was from Kenya and was doing her degree in Mass communication. She fell in love with Dayo who hasn't moved on from his past with Teniola. He likes Angela but believed he will meet Teniola again and she will marry him. Angela tried all her best to make Dayo fall in love but Dayo wasn't willing to. Moreover his mom told him not to bring a stranger home. Dayo thought about it all and faced Angela to tell her the truth. Angela was hurt but she moved on.
A month to finish his Masters and present his thesis, Elder Adefemi Falekan, Dayo's father died at the age of 75. Dayo received the news in the midnight and he couldn't sleep over the night. He thought of his father, how supportive he has been and the fact that he wouldn't see his own children made him cry more. He remembered the day his father gave him the appointment letter and the way he spoke to him. His elder brother called him a week later and told him about the burial plans. It was in a month time and it happens to be on the day Dayo would be presenting his thesis. Adewale told him it couldn't be postponed because it's the best time for his siblings to be around, a time in December and a time to have time with their mother after the burial. Dayo told his brother bluntly that he wouldn't be coming for the burial, Adewale hung the call annoyed. Several calls were made to Dayo to change his mind, he gave them reasons and the calls stopped. Chief Coke called to express his condolences and Dayo used the opportunity to present his next plan, his PhD plans. He wants to have his PhD program in Beijing, China. Chief Coker asked if he would be coming for his father's burial so they could talk. Dayo insisted he wasn't coming, Coker agreed to his proposal.
While Dayo was presenting his thesis, his father was being buried. He saw pictures on social media and regretted never going for his father's burial. He called his mother and apologized to her. She told him to promise he was never going to miss her 75th birthday which will be in two years. Dayo had to promise so he won't look like an ungrateful child and the Mother forgave him for not coming for his father’s burial. He traveled to China for his PhD program. He avoided all the ladies that came his way; he had a sport car and a small apartment in China. Had male friends and ignored the female friends. He had high hopes for Teniola who he hasn't seen for three years. Dayo finished his PhD and moved down to Lagos. He learnt that his mother was out of Lagos, she is in Abuja with her second son Adeleye. He lodged in a hotel and reported to Chief Coker at the Firm headquarters in Lagos. Chief Coker told him to resume in two weeks at the Port Harcourt branch as the head of Marketing department, Dayo was glad. Before he left for Port Harcourt, his mother arrived in Lagos and he went to visit her. His mother was happy to meet him, with joy in her heart; she rose to give him a hug. Adedolapo was also around and she also gave him a hug, holding his hands she exclaimed "You look bigger and taller; no one would take you for my junior brother, our last born". Dayo giggled "I am no more a small boy. I took care of myself in two different countries" His mother was happy to see him again and Dayo also was happy to see his mother. She talked to him about getting married and Dayo smartly changed the topic and brought his promotion topic. Mrs Falekan was happy, but Dolapo pressed on the marriage issue and Dayo told his mother he just wanted to settle a bit, he would bring mama a very beautiful wife.
A week later, Dayo returned to Port Harcourt; he resumed work as the head of the marketing department; he was given an official car, A Toyota Camry with a three bedroom flat. Dayo had a secretary named Aminat Abubakar, a short beautiful lady. Dayo loved her at first sight, she looked like Teniola and Aminat also loved Dayo because of his quiet nature. They both hid their feelings and kept it away from each other. Seven months later, Mrs Falekan died after a brief illness. Dayo was at work when the news reached him. He was destabilized throughout the day. Aminat offered to help. She drove him home. On getting home, Aminat decided to boil rice for Dayo so he could eat. While she was preparing the food, Dayo came in, surprised thanked her and told her to cancel all his appointment for the week and fix for another time as he has fixed a flight to take him back to Lagos the next day. Aminat agreed, while she was cooking, rain started. She finished cooking, Dayo reluctantly ate and the rain didn't stop. Dayo looked at how beautiful Aminat was and how caring she was so he decided to tell her his mind "Aminat thanks for today! I wouldn't know what i could have done without you today" Aminat forced a smile and replied "You are welcome, boss!"
"Has anyone ever told you how beautiful you are?"
Aminat smiled answered “Yes, sir. My father tells me every morning when i was growing up that i am a beautiful woman, as beautiful as my late mother and any man who would have me as a wife would be jealous if they see me around any other man" Dayo laughed "The old man wasn't lying. You are beautiful. And i am glad you are my secretary" Dayo said. Aminat was surprised, she didn't know her boss had been looking at her, so she wanted to know more and kept talking "So if you're my husband and you see me with another man, would you be jealous?" Dayo looked at her and took a sip of water, he answered. "I wish i could". Aminat was astonished "You wish you could?" she stopped and looked at his face suspiciously; she continued "I don't understand" "Aminat, the truth is I have feelings for you!" Aminat's heart skipped a beat, what was she was heard real? Dayo has feelings for her? Dayo breaks the silence with “But i love another woman!". Aminat wanted to cry. Dayo was unhappy as well, he moved closer to Aminat, he kept seeing the same thing he saw in her the first time. He moved his heads towards her and they kissed. Aminat held her mouth and looked at Dayo. Dayo moved closer and whispered "I fell for you the first time i saw you" The kissing continued, the rain continued until midnight. Aminat slept on the same bed with Dayo with Dayo's arms wrapped around her. She couldn't imagine what happened, she has found her man, finally!
The next day, she was up so early, cleaned the house and made breakfast for Dayo. She woke him early and he rose to his feet and planted a kiss on her forehead. "Don't miss your flight, boss!" "Did you just call me boss?" they both laughed, Dayo continued "Call me something sweet, darling" "Okay, sweetheart” she smiled and continued “Don't miss your flight” Dayo laughed and planted another kiss on her lips. He got to the bathroom and thanked God he was getting over Teniola. He is in love with someone who is just like Teniola and his mother. He took his bath, ate breakfast and Aminat drove him to the airport. He begged her to follow him to Lagos; at least he could introduce her to his family. Aminat told him this isn't the right time. So Dayo got on the plane to Lagos. When he got home, he met his family members, friends and well-wishers at home. The third day he arrived in Lagos, Adewale organised a meeting with his siblings to fix a date for their mother's burial and make preparation. The date was fixed in two months. Dolapo had a word with her brother over the last words he had with their mother, MARRIAGE! Dayo told his sister about Aminat and she talked to Aminat on phone. She collected her phone number and promised to keep calling. Dayo was glad but unhappy his mother couldn't meet this beautiful queen he was bringing home. Dayo returned to Port Harcourt the following week and he started a new affair with Aminat, they both know one of them would have to leave work and Aminat was willing to. Workers in the department knew something was up. Dayo invited lots of friends for his mother's burial including James who he has been in contact with. Three weeks to his mother's burial, Aminat asked him if he had made preparation for where his guests would stay, at first Dayo said they should find their way but Aminat insist they find a suitable hotel and means of transportation for their guests during the three days they will be spending in Lagos. So they both agreed to go a week before the burial and find a better hotel for their guests.
A week to the burial, Aminat and Dayo moved to Lagos, they were welcomed to Dayo parent's house by Adebola and Adedolapo who were already around. Dayo introduced Aminat and his sisters were glad to finally meet someone who their brother loves. Dayo and Aminat booked a very good caterer in Lagos and next made a list of hotels they could book. After going to several hotels and they don't like the standard, they saw a better one not far from the venue of the burial and they loved the atmosphere and their services. They told the receptionist they want to see the manager; the receptionist told them it's a manageress. They got to the room and saw her woman with dark glasses on. Dayo recognized her instantly, "Teniola Odemuyiwa" Dayo exclaimed, throwing a handshake to her. "Mrs Teniola Albert" Teniola corrected smiling and shaking Dayo. "Please remove the shades and let me see your face well" Teniola removed the shades slowly and reluctantly. Dayo was surprised when he saw bruises on her face. "What happened to you?" "It was a small little home accident" They discussed what they have come for, it was agreed and Aminat implored Dayo to invite her to the burial which Dayo did. In the car, Dayo explained to Aminat who Teniola is and everything that has come between them.

Watch out for the final episode soon!!!
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