Must Read: As Deep As The Sea

Episode 7 years ago

Must Read: As Deep As The Sea

Promise drove into her father’s compound and marched into the house without closing the gate. She ran into her bedroom and locked the door. She broke down and cried for several minutes. She had almost wept in Boma’s presence, but her strong will prevailed.



Why did it still hurt so much? When would the pain finally stop? She doubted if she would be ready to go into another relationship in the next twelve months.
‘God where are you? You said in your word that you are close to the broken hearted. Heal me and mend my heart. I am hurting so bad,’ she groaned and wept.



Twenty minutes later, she heard a knock on her door. She had no desire to leave the cold tiled floor. She was comfortable where she lay, but the knocks turned to heavy bangs.



Maybe it was her mum. She had warned her several times not to leave the gate open whenever she drove in. Or it was probably her dad. His package was where she dumped it. It was on her bed. He must have noticed that she had returned. She wished she could be left alone for a while.
“Promise, are you in there?” Her father’s voice echoed through the walls, “You have a visitor.”
‘A visitor?’ She mused and sat up.



Who could that be? She straightened her rough cotton blouse and pulled herself up. She checked her face in the mirror and gasped. Her eyes were bloodshot and her make-up had turned her into a witch. Dark masscara paste ran all over her face, mixed with creamy patches of her pancake. She ran into the bathroom and washed it all off. She dried her dark chocolate face with a towel and stared at her reflection in the mirror once again.




She looked better and presentable. She left the bathroom and went to unlock her door, but she saw no one. Her father must have left. She heard voices coming from the sitting room.


Who was her parents chatting with?
Boma stopped talking the second Promise walked in.
“How in the world did you find me? Did you follow me home? Have you lost your mind or something?” She could barely believe her eyes.
“Promise… ” He stood up.
Osagie and Blessing exchanged glances. The young man had introduced himself as their daughter’s colleague at work. While they waited for her, he conversed with them.



They found him to be a very pleasant person.
Why was she angry with him?
“What part of ‘I don’t need your friendship’ did you not understand?” She was upset that he dared to follow her home.
“I had to follow you. I wanted to make sure that you were all right.”
“Can you believe this guy?” She looked at her parents and glared at him.
“I can see that you are safe and sound. I will take my leave. See you at work on Monday,” he turned to her parents, “It was an honour meeting you, I hope to visit soon…” He cast a quick look at her, “If I am invited,” he located the front door and walked out.
She slumped on the nearest chair and sighed.
Osagie and his wife kept looking at their daughter. They were glad that one of her colleagues cared enough to look out for her, although she didn’t appreciate it.
“Can you believe that the friend he is staying with is Gbenga’s tenant?” She faced her parents.
“Seriously?” Blessing leaned forward.
“Did you run into Gbenga at the plaza?” Her dad asked.
“Yes.”
He realized that her encounter with her ex-fiance had gotten her into the foul mood she was displaying.
“Please bring my package to my room when you are done gossiping with your mother,” he rose and strode out of the sitting room.




Blessing vacated her seat and joined Promise on the settee.
“Tell me exactly what happened,” her eagerness was contagious.
Promise felt encouraged by her mother’s undivided attention. She poured out her heart and narrated what transpired at the plaza.


**********

Boma sat outside the boys’ quarters pondering over the events that took place earlier that day. He returned home after leaving Promise’s place instead of joining Charles, Gbenga and Oyetunde at the restaurant they had planned to have lunch.



Despite her resistance, he wasn’t going to give up on her. She was still hurting. He could tell. Break-ups could be very painful. He had experienced it when his ex-girlfriend left him because he lost his job. It had taken him a while before he started trusting people again. He was ready to wait till Promise got over her heart break and hopefully accept his hand of friendship.



He noticed a movement and raised his head. He dropped his jaw in shock when he saw Kemisola walking towards him, dressed to slaughter. What was she doing in his place? How did she find him? Who gave her his address?
“Glad to see me?” She winked at him.




He closed his mouth and continued staring at her, hardly able to find words to express his astonishment and dissatisfaction.



Kemisola smiled widely. She liked the way he was staring at her. She was glad she wore the red sleeve-less blouse which fitted her like a second skin. The matching red shorts which exposed her dark plump thighs clinged to her heavy backside like a shield.

“What are you doing out here sitting by yourself? Let’s go inside,” she pulled him up to his feet.
“How… How… How did you locate this place? I don’t remember giving you my address or inviting you over.”
“Someone in the Human Resources Department is a close friend of mine. I got your addresses from your C.V,” she battered her eyelashes.
“What?!” He couldn’t believe his ears. If his addresses could be easily passed around, what else?
“Chill. I wanted to surprise you with a visit. I have been to Ilupeju, your neighbour told me that it was likely you weren’t coming home this weekend. So, here I am.”
He scratched his scalp with his fingers. Why was she looking for him all over the place? What was her purpose of visit? He searched his mind. Their relationship at the office was cordial and plain. Nothing more. Why did she decide to visit him?
“I am sorry that you came all the way. I would appreciate if you wait for an invite before a future visit.”
She chuckled and hit him on the shoulder playfully.
“Let’s go inside and relax. I am prepared to spend the weekend here. Hope your friend won’t mind,” she winked at him again. She had made up her mind to discover what lay beneath his firm exterior. He was a good looking guy with an admirable physique. She had been lusting after him for over a month and she wanted to satisfy her desires that day.




His brows came together in a frown. Why would she decide to spend the weekend with him just like that? They were not dating and he had never mentioned to her that he was interested in her. Even if he was, he wouldn’t agree to a sleeping-over routine. What sort of a woman was she?
“Kemisola, I don’t get you. Why would you want to spend the weekend here? We are just colleagues and nothing more.”
She closed the gap between them and encircled her hands around his neck.
“Well my handsome prince charming, that is going to change today,” she devoured his lips.
Boma pulled away and wiped his lips with the back of his hand. She wasn’t the first woman who had thrown herself at him. He had encountered dozens of her type during his university days and at his former place of work.



His faith in Christ had always helped him to avoid compromising situations and flee whenever necessary.
“I like you a lot Boma. I want you, all of you. I want you to be mine,” she drew closer.
He backed away and raised a hand.
“I… I understand the fact that you… that you probably find me attractive.”
“I do,” she threw her weight at him.



He pulled away again, “Please stop. I have not finished.”
She chuckled and blew him a kiss, “I am all ears,” she was confident and sure that when he was done talking, he would tear her apart and eat her all up. She could hardly wait. No man had ever said no to her.
“Look, I am a born again Christian and I believe in certain things that has helped me till this very day.”
She rolled her eyes. She had, had her way with several men who called themselves born-again Christians. Boma was not different.
“I don’t engage in pre-marital s*x,” he sensed her doubts.
She hissed, “That is what you all say,” she eyed him. What was he feeling like? Jesus Christ?
Boma took a deep breath and exhaled. He was finding it hard to resist the urge to bundle her up and throw her out of the compound. He needed strength to react in love and not out of spite.


“Regardless of what you may believe, I don’t go about sleeping with everything in skirts. I apologize for messing up your weekend, but, you visited the wrong guy.”
She laughed out loud and eyed him. Was he serious? Was he really turning her down? It was unbelievable.
“What is wrong with you? Don’t be such a wet blanket. Do you know how many men out there who would kill to spend just an hour with me?”
“I am not one of them.”
She tried to hug him, but he slapped her hands away.
“Ouch! What was that for?” She glared at him.
“Kemisola, I am not interested in you. It is obvious that we believe in different things. I cannot date someone who cannot walk the same path I tread on. I hope you understand.”
She shook her head and eyed him. She had wasted her time and money. She had not anticipated his resistance. She thought he was going to fall at her feet like a pack of cards. She had assumed a lot of things. Maybe all Christians weren’t the same after all.




She raised her shoulders, turned around and cat-walked out of the compound.



Boma hurried into the apartment and locked the door. He used the back of his hand to wipe the beads of sweat that had gathered on his forehead.
‘Thank you Jesus for strengthening me’, he whispered to himself.


*********