Must Read: As Deep As The Sea

Episode 7 years ago

Must Read: As Deep As The Sea

It was New Year’s Eve. The festivities in the air was so thick, one could cut it with a knife.



Boma and Charles sat on the rug in the sitting room, eating from a bowl of freshly made pop corn and playing a game of Ludo.
The door bell rang.

Charles raised his head.
“Are you expecting anyone?”
Boma looked up at him and shook his head, “No, are you?”
“No,” he got up and went to see who was at the door. He looked into the hole drilled on the door.
“Who is it?”
“The landlord.”
“Gbenga?”
“Yes.”
Charles unlocked the door and opened it.
“Compliments of the season.”
“Wish you the same,” he stepped back, giving him room to come in.
Gbenga walked into the sitting room and settled on one of the leather chairs.
“Morning Boma.”
“Morning, thought you travelled or something.”
He shook his head, “I wanted to, but changed my mind at the last minute.”
“Really?” Charles sat beside him.
“What do you have in the house? Hope you cooked.”
Boma started to laugh.
“We are bachelors like you. I don’t know about Boma, but, I am not cut out for fiesta shopping and cooking.”
Gbenga eyed both of them. He didn’t cook either. Who else could he visit? If he was still dating Promise, he would be at her place eating her mother’s sumptous delicacies. It was high time he started looking out for a wife.




Boma’s phone started to ring. The moment he saw the caller’s ID, he leapt to his feet and hurried out of the room.
Gbenga glanced at Charles and he shrugged.
Boma marched into his bedroom and closed the door.
“Hello.”
“Hi, are you home?”
“Yes, bored already?” He teased her.
She chuckled. The sound of her laughter filled him with warmth. He leaned on the door and held the phone closer to his ear.
“Yes, I am bored. Are you still in Dolphin Estate?”
“Yes, I am at your service madam,” he bowed, even though she couldn’t see him.


She laughed softly. “Okay, I am coming over.



We could watch a movie at Silverbird Galleria, grab lunch and maybe later you could join my family for dinner before we head for church tonight.”
“I like your plans. I accept.”
“All right. See you in a bit,” she hang up.
He continued smiling while he prepared to take a bath.


Promise alighted from a cab in front of the duplex. The driver drove away while she walked into the large compound. She wondered if Gbenga was home. What if she saw him? Does it matter? She had gotten over him.



She found her way to the Boys’ quarters. She knocked at the door the same moment she sighted a doorbell nailed to the wall. Should she press the bell or keep knocking? She decided to do both.
Charles opened the door and was surprised to see her.
“Wow! Hi… ”
“Hi. Compliments of the season,” she smiled back at him.
“I wish you the same. Please come in,” he stepped back and she followed him into the sitting room. Her heart missed several beats when she saw Gbenga seated on one of the leather chairs with a ludo board on his laps. She wasn’t expecting to see him there.



Boma walked in that same moment.
“You look beautiful.”
She turned towards him and smiled. He looked quite handsome in the brown tee-shirt and blue jeans.
“Thanks, are you ready?”
“Yes madam,” he bowed comically.
She started to laugh.



Gbenga sized her up. She was clad in a pink short sleeve blouse and the black pants she wore graced her curves. He wondered if she had added weight.
“Gentlemen, I am off. Don’t wait up for me,” he took her by the hand and led her out of the house.
“Are they dating?”
“I have no idea. They work in the same office, so… I don’t know,” Charles locked the front door.
Gbenga sighed. Why was he feeling distressed? He knew he would eventually see Promise with another man. But, he never expected to feel bad about it. He had gotten over her, hadn’t he?


*********


Boma and Promise had lunch at one of the restaurant in the galleria. On their way out, they debated on what movie they would watch.
Promise noticed a tall fair pretty lady standing a few feet away and smiling at Boma. She poked him on the shoulder.
“Do you know her?”
“Who?” He looked around. Who was she talking about? His smiles disappeared the moment he saw her.
“Boma Etuk, it is so good to see you,” her smile widened.
“Cecilia, how are you?”
“I am good, and you?”
“Good, didn’t know you were back in the country.”
“A lot of people do not know,” she brushed away a stray strand of hair from her face.
Promise stood in the background. Who could the lady be? Boma doesn’t really look happy to see her.



“My husband and I decided to spend the holidays here in Nigeria. We will be leaving next week.”
“I see.”
Her curious gaze drifted to Promise.
“Who is your friend?”
“Oh! Pardon me,” he drew her closer, “Promise meet my ex-girlfriend Cecilia. Cecilia, this is Promise, a very good and special friend of mine.”
Both women shook hands and locked gazes.
“Hi.”
“Hi.”
Cecilia turned to Boma, “My husband is waiting for me downstairs. I have to run.”
“Oh okay. Take care.”
She waved at them and walked away.



“Your ex-girlfriend is a pretty woman.”
“Hmmm… She left me when I lost my former job.”
“What?!” She placed a hand over her mouth.
He took her by the hand and led her back into the restaurant. They found an empty table and settled down.
“We were planning to get married early this year. The company I was working for went bankrupt and when I lost my job, she deserted me. She said she wasn’t sure how soon I would get another job. She was dead sure that she would end up being the bread winner.”
She shook her head in amazement. Some women never ceased to surprise her.



“I thought she loved me enough to wait, excercise patience and pray along with me for a miracle, but, she left and jumped into the arms of the next available wealthy guy.”
“Wow!” She sensed his sadness. She reached out for one of his hands and sq££zed it.



“I am over her now, but, it took God to heal me and help me to start trusting again.”
“I had no idea.”
He met her concerned intent gaze.
“It’s over eight months. I hope she is happy.”
“She looked happy.”
“Hmmm… It is well.”
Silenced enveloped them. She pondered whether to open up to him or not.
“Gbenga and I… ”
“What happened?” He had been wondering why they broke up.
“We were planning to get married too, but, he couldn’t deal with some of my past issues.”
He sq££zed her hand, “It is not everybody that can deal or live with your past.”
She nodded, “That doesn’t make it less painful.”
“True. Let us be consoled with the fact that God has our best interest at heart. He is ever in control.”



She smiled back at him.
“Okay, enough gist. It is movie time,” he pulled her up and led her out. She followed him laughing all the way.
Boma drove her home after the movie and had dinner with her family that same night.