24 CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR THE COUNSEL OF A GOOD OBSERVANT MOTHER

When they left, Tolu's mother called Tolu inside to have a mother and daughter friendly chat with her over what she observed while she was with Richie and Bianca.

She started by asking Tolu if she has any boyfriend? Tolu told her that that there is no way she would have a boyfriend without letting her know and be guided by her.

Hearing this from her the mother was glad, she said, "I know you will not do it, but I just asked just in case" She continued, "I have raised you well and you are following the path that I set before you, if you follow this path to the end you will not regret in any way"

Tolu asked, "Mom why are you saying this to me tonight, did you noticed anything in me?" The mother said, " No I did not notice any wrong thing in you, rather I noticed that you were irritated by your friend tonight"

Tolu asked, "How did you noticed that?" The mother answered and said, "A good mother notices what is going on around her hisband daughter, i don't want you to follow the way of Bianca, that is not the right way to be properly married. When a lady flirt with a man like that the man will see her as a person of easy virtue that he can use and dump, such ladies always get more than they bargain for and may be terribly hurt at the end."

Tolu said, "You have always been drumming this to my hearing since I entered into my teenage years, why are you repeating it tonight?

The mother said, " I am repeating it because I don't want you to be hurt, you are very young or should I say you are younger than the world that you are currently walking with, and I will not want you to be taken advantaged of by any smart devil, all I am saying is please be careful, there are more wolves among men than humans!

when most of them comes to an innocent lady like you, they won't confess the lust that is in there minds, they will talk about love that is not in their soul, so please be on the look out for the whims and caprices of men!"

Tolu said, "Thank you mom for your good advises all the time, and please rest assured that I will be very careful and by the grace of God I won't be a meal to wolves!"

"Can I ask you a question" The mother asked, Tolu answered and said, "Ask mom I'm all hears"

"Do you love that Richie?"The mother asked. Tolu laughed and said, "In love with whom, in love with my boss? Must I not know my league? He is older than me, he has seen the world, he can't even come lower to befriend a barely legal like me!"

Her mother cut her short and said, "Tolu you did not answer my question, you only highlight why you think relationship will not work between you, and I disagree with you, love knows no league my dear"

Tolu said, "But mom Mr Richie cannot fall in love with me now" My question is not about him falling in love with you, but about you been in love with him, be sincere with me Tolu, I am your mom, do you love that guy?"

Tolu exhaled out loudly and said, "Well, mom I don't know if what I feel is love, but sincerely I feel something for him, why are you asking this question?

Her mom answered and said, "Richie is in love with you Tolu" Tolu did not allowed her to finish her explanation, she burst into laughter and said, "mooommyyy, how can you even think that, he cannot be in love with me I am not his kind of woman, am I like Monica? His kind will only marry her kind!"

"You are wrong my dear, men may walk with empty headed lady when they are not ready to marry, but when they are thinking about marriage they think about your kind, so once they meet your kind they know their time of aimless wandering is up, mark my word Richie is in love with you !" She assured her.

"How can you be so sure of this mom, he doesn't show any emotion towards me? Tolu asked

Her mom answered and said, " Dear, what elders sees sitting down on the floor, the young ones may not see it even if they climb a mountain. But mark my word he will soon come and propose to you." Tolu looked at herself all over and said, "Will that be?"

Let us leave that to the future my dear, let me prepare you for the unexpected...." Tolu cut into her word with a question, "What do you mean by the unexpected?"

The mother replied, I know he would surely come and you will say to me mom you said so, but once he comes to you and if you love him and agree to his proposal, please make sure he do not see your nakedness till the wedding night, do you hear me?"

Tolu answered, "We have talked about this many times before now mom, trust me, I will keep to your word." Her mom said, "Tolu it is easy to promise that than to do it, once this relationship starts, he will throw many things to you, he will even throw some tantrums over you denying him that which he seeks from you, but always remember that your virginity is your biggest bargaining power and the key to keep him till the wedding night.

Men are hunters, once they tasted a lady the hunter in them want to toss her behind them and reach out for the others beyond their reach"

Tolu said, "Your words are branded on my soul and the force of your words will keep me, but I still doubt that my boss will approach me for love, more so I cannot even agree to friendship with him since we are working in the same company"

Leave that alone my dear, love always find it's way like flood finding paths for itself in the jungle full of mountains!" The mother replied and said, "Your dad will soon come home let us go and finish this discussion in the kitchen."