Episode 5

Unfortunately for Chinedu, he had finally met his match, he had planned to use Ebun for personal gains but she ended up beating him to it. "Are you crazy?" Chinedu asked getting up from his bed, "what do you mean 200k? Is that one upfront payment for one year or what?" he hissed, "well that is why it is good to ask questions, If you had asked, you would have known that you cannot afford me" she snapped, "I didn't know I was picking up an olosho, when it's not like I met you on Allen Avenue" he hissed, "that's your business, just pay up. You've enjoyed the meal, now it's time to pay" Ebun insisted.

"I can't pay you 200k, even 50k is out of it. It's not like I even enjoyed the meal that you are asking me to pay for, you were just screaming like a hyena and disturbing my neighbours" he scoffed, "And you were just there shaking like a jellyfish, in fact you are a 60 second man, there is no difference between you and one of my old clients that is suffering from premature ejaculation" Ebun retorted. For those who don't know, premature ejaculation is when a man has an orgasm and ejaculates sooner than he intends to ejaculate or sooner than his partner would want him to ejaculate. It is a common problem with many men. And most men who are experiencing this problem are usually too ashamed to seek help.

Premature ejaculation can occur due to physical causes like the p€ni$ being extra sensitive to stimulation and hormonal problems or psychological causes like stress, depression, relationship problems or performance anxiety (being nervous about being able to satisfy your partner in bed). The good news is that it can be treated with behavioural therapy, counselling and certain medications.

"If I'm suffering from premature ejaculation, then you're suffering from premature orgasms because you came at least 3 times" Chinedu replied , "please get your clothes and leave, we both enjoyed it so if you charge me 200k, my own charge is 600k because you came 3 times. Deduct your 200k from my fees and keep the change" he said picking her clothes from the floor and shoving it to her. "You want to play smart right?" Ebun replied putting on her clothes, "I know how to deal with your type" she added as Chinedu walked away to use the shower. She picked up her bag, looking around the room, she spotted his iPhone and wristwatch on the table and immediately stuffed them into her bag as she put on her shoes and left.

About five minutes later, Chinedu came out from the shower to meet her absence. He was very relieved to find that his "bad market" had left but his relief did not last long. He was about to pick his phone to call Michael, when he realised that his phone was no longer on the table where he left it. He searched under the table, the bed and under the sheets for it but could not find it. Suddenly, it dawned on him that Ebun had stolen it. "That b*tch" he swore under his breath.

***

Sugar was having an all-weekend sale event at her hair and makeup shop which had turned out to be a success. She had made at least 50% more profit on sales than she usually did before the sales event. What was more exciting for her was hithat she had just received an Invitation to Apply for permanent residency from Canada and she had been on this process for a while. All the profit that she got from her business had been channelled towards her relocation plans, so she was over the moon when she finally received her ITA.

She really wanted to share the news with her boyfriend Michael but she didn't want to do it over the phone, she wanted to be with him in-person so she could see his excitement and expressions when she broke the news, unfortunately, Michael had not been able to meet with her all week as he said he had been busy but promised to make it for the last day of her sale. It was close to 4pm and he hadn't shown up.

Sometimes she wondered why she was even still dating him when he never sacrificed enough time to be with her. The night before, he had told her that he had to stay back at work because he had a deadline to meet but somehow he ended up at a barbecue party with his randy friend, Chinedu. The only reason she found out was because one of her friends had spotted Michael at the party and had called to find out why she wasn't with him, only to discover that he had told her that he would be at work and never bothered to update her when plans changed.

If not for the 3 years of her life she had invested in him, she would have considered dating other guys because truthfully, she had been receiving many advances from different men but she was not one to cheat, she was loyal to the core. It was getting frustrating for her that Michael had not proposed to her even after 3 years of dating, she met him a few months before she turned 30 and now she was only a few months away from 33. Every time the topic came up either from her or other concerned family members, it was one excuse or the other from Michael.

"Hey sweets" an all too familiar voice spoke, interrupting her thoughts, "hey boo" she said getting up to hug Michael, "sorry I'm late, I got caught in traffic" he said handing her a plastic bag, "I got you Chinese, I figured you would be hungry" he added, "Thanks boo, that's so thoughtful of you" she said giving him a kiss as they walked to her office at the back of the shop.

"So" she began, when they were seated in her office eating lunch together, "it's finally here!" She announced excitedly, "what is finally here?" He looked at her like she was insane, "the ITA" she screamed excitedly, "ITA?" he asked looking confused, "my invitation to apply to Canada for permanent residency" she explained, tapping his shoulders, "Oh! Oh! Oh! So you finally received it?" He responded with a smile on his face, "you've been on it for so long that I honestly didn't think it was going to happen" he replied, "common babe, why would you say that?" Sugar asked looking disappointed , "it's the truth" Michael replied shrugging, "Congratulations anyways" he added. "So what's next?" He asked.

"Well, now I have to submit my documents" she began, "but I did some research and I found out that if I add you at this stage of my application, then I won't have to worry about filing for you in future because we can just get our permanent residency at the same time you see" she explained, "ok" Michael replied pondering on what she said, "so how do you intend to go about this?" He asked, "well…" Sugar began thinking about the best way to present her idea without sounding desperate, "we can apply as a couple" she finally blurted out, "oh ok, so they accept dating couples now" Michael asked with his face beaming in excitement, "erm! No" Sugar replied, "we kind of have to get married to be able to apply as a couple" Sugar explained. "I see" Michael said sitting back in his chair, the excitement had suddenly disappeared from his face. "I'm not sure that is going to work," he concluded.

"Why not?" Sugar asked looking surprised "we can't get married now" Michael replied looking away, "why not?" Sugar asked, "I thought you'd always wanted to go to Canada, this was your idea in the first place remember?" She added, "I know," Michael replied, "but there's still a lot of things that I need to put in place before getting married" he continued, "you've been saying that for over a year now Michael. You have a good job, I have a good business and now we have the opportunity to go to Canada to live a better life and you're saying you need to put things in place. What things are you referring to, if I may ask?" Sugar questioned, "I just need more time" Michael said, "how much more time?" Sugar asked, beginning to sound frustrated, "maybe just 2 more years" Michael responded, "2 more years?" Sugar asked, looking baffled, "wow! Just wow!" She exclaimed, still struggling to come to terms with what her boyfriend of 3 years was asking of her.