Chapter 29

Despite all the warnings by Jeff, I got closer and closer to Dave. I was surprised to hear from him that he was interested in dating me. For God's sake, I'm not up to 18 yet and Dave is already more than 25yrs. I grew numb for some seconds before I responded to his proposal. How could he leave all the curvy women he trains, all those mature ladies that can offer him something? People that can even defend themselves before anyone, and come for a young and tender girl like me? Dave is a master planner. He couldn't uncover his plans until we were closer to each other. To make the whole thing worse, he took it as a duty upon himself to be stopping me at home after every training. Sometimes, he even leaves the people he trains and comes to my side whenever he sees that I'm not getting it right. It's been more than two weeks since we started chatting on WhatsApp. He does call on Fridays to check if I'll make it to the training center. He's been more of a friend than a master. He even made Jeff see him as a different person whose picture he already had in his memory.

Now he asked me and my brothers, Jeff and Derrick, out after training just to call me to a corner and ask me to date him. I don't see anything bad about him. Since he's been my master, I've recorded nothing against him. But isn't this a setup? Why now? I only have a few weeks or even days to travel back to Enugu.

... Dave, you're a good man. You've been so good to me, but u need some quiet moments to consider my moves. I have no response to your request for now.

You have all the time to make your choice but remember someone is waiting to hear from you. Please don't keep me waiting for a lifetime.....

Dave said with a romantic look on his face.

After eating the meal he paid for, we entered his car and he took us home.

All those while I've been talking to Sarah via phone calls but just for a limited time. Now I have to relax and make the call because I may end up befriending a beast. I showered as we got home and picked my phone up then went to the garden where I know I'll be alone.

Hi, babe What's up? I asked since I could hear some noise from her end

Darling Jay, how are things, babe?

Seems you've forgotten your babe. This Abuja is a place that even myself suppose to visit ooo!!

Calm down babe, stop that joke there's an issue on the ground!!

Ah! What's a wrong babe? Do you don go carry belle?

Sarah mind your tongue, please.

Okay ooo. Tell me what happened.

Babe..... I narrated from the beginning to the end that I knew about Dave since we came in contact and also told Sarah about Dave's proposal.

Babe, you know you have it all, why won't they come after you? You're tall, you're beautiful your brown skin is shiny. Tell me who won't fall for you if not that you don't have sense. She made her words sound more like jokes

Sarah is serious please, I need candid advice from you. I only have boys in this house. No one to talk to.

Ah! Don't you think the boys fueled everything?

What do you mean by that?

They may be behind Dave. You said all of you went to the eatery where he told you his mind??

Yes...

And none of them questioned you about what happened there since then?

Yes? Why are you asking these questions?

The guys planned everything. If you like the boy, give him a trial of just a week too. Though not with your whole heart

Babe you're still paying for some weeks, how many weeks remain and I'll travel back to Enugu?

What if they insist you stay longer in Abuja?

That's not the case. So you support me to give him a trial?

You're the one that may wear the shoe and you know how it may fit your legs. Though I don't advise you to eat the forbidden fruit now...

I do hear you. Na person wey I never know I go give that chance. My precious gift of nature. It won't happen with anyone now

I trust you, Jay. But don't lose guard ooo

Thanks, Sarah. So how's your family

Darling Jay leaves my family for today and concentrates on Dave. You didn't call to ask about them.

Ah, Sarah.... we continued chitchatting for a long and I got to know that she already has a boyfriend.

I got back to the house excited. I can't explain how I felt. Many things came to my mind. What if what Jeff earlier said about him is true? what if he's even deadlier than Jeff knows? But there's something hidden in Sarah's words. She suggested that the boys know what was happening. I needed to confirm.

I went into Jeff's room but was deep asleep. Because I was disturbed, I had to wake him up. He claimed not to know anything about Dave but from his facial expressions, I understood he knows. I then made him know Dave's proposal. He didn't see it as anything strange.. and that was another reason for me to confirm what I had in my mind. At a point he got angry. His words were like

.... Why can't he ask another person to date him, but my sister? You only have a few days to stay here and everything will be over. Follow your heart. That's no e of my business.

Everyone pointed toward the number of days I have to spend in Abuja. What if I wish to give him a trial and end up loving him? I pleaded with Jeff not to make anything known to any other member of the family.

That same day, In the evening, Dave who only calls on Fridays called just to check on me. He's just getting more serious with his proposal. What else do I have to do? No other person to discuss this with. Besides, I've never done this before. How do I start? Why must I start with someone who already has questionable character? Things kept resounding in my mind. I know not the best choice to make. I spent my days trying to figure out the choice that may be the best. I may say no and it may lead to something else. Even saying yes doesn't guarantee peace because I do know not what he's looking for.

The days have been passing so fast. I do know not how aunty Sandra planned her moves. She just arrived at Jimmy's house on Wednesday evening. She planned it with Uncle Jimmy I guess Because They entered the house at the same time. Truly she took me unaware.

Because I have my room in Jimmy's house, I took Sandra's belongings to my room. She gave me some cosmetics and clothes she bought for me.

After dinner, as we were in our room, she started narrating to me how she and Ken wants to get married in one-month intervals. She even said that her main reason for visiting Jimmy is just to invite him about the marriage.

... I'm happy for you aunty. Ken is a good man and will take good care of you. Congratulations in advance. I continued with my goodwill message.

But Jessy, can you cope alone? I'm worried about you. Will you stay with us at Ken's house or stay with Jimmy here? You're too young to live alone. And I'll miss you if you choose to stay here at Jimmy's house. Sandra said as she got emotional and hugged me while her eyes were already red and about to drop tears.

Aunty doesn't worry about me. I can stay anywhere you want me to stay. Just make yourself happy. Our happiness is what matters... I needed to make her feel better

... Finally, the tears dropped from her eyes.

That's my baby. Everything will be okay. I pray you even gain admission into the university and further your education. I'll be glad to see you living the life of your dream

It's well aunty. God will do it for us. We concluded the conversation and everyone lay on the bed. I turned on my phone's data set and it was like Dave has been waiting for me. Too many questions at a time just to know whether I'd accepted his proposal or not.

Uncle Dave, truly it's not just easy for me to accept or reject your proposal

Jessy, please stop adding uncle to my name, address me with Dave. I'm more comfortable with that.

Hmm, okay, sir. Why have you chosen me amongst all the multitude of people that trains at your training center? You have curvy people, mature people, and even wealthy people but you still leave them and come for a small girl like me. Or have you dated all of them and now is my turn?

Jessy, I fell for you at the first sight. Which has never happened to me since birth. I do know not how it happened, but I'll be the happiest someone if you give me the chance to prove my love to you.

You're yet to answer my question. Is it that you've dated all of them and now is my turn or there's something you're hiding from me?

You are just unique. And you're making me think that you're calling me a womanizer.

No no no. I see myself as the youngest. And even as a girl, I admire some of the curvy ladies in your training center. Most of them are very beautiful and wealthy. What else do you want in a woman that they don't have?

You're just unique to me. They may be beautiful in their way but I choose you over them. Choice-making is individual something. And I chose you.

Dave, now you're using my head. What makes me unique?

Because of who you are

Who am I, Dave?

Jessy, the beautiful girl

Hmm. continue using my head. Anyway, let's give it a trial

That must be yes I guess?

Yes, Dave but...

Reserve that 'But' for next time. Whichever way, I must scrape that BUT in between us. This calls for celebration

Funny you. I don't want any of my family members to know anything about us.

Your wish remains my command.

Better??? Am I free to go offline? I'm feeling sleepy already

You can sleep now I've achieved a whole lot tonight

Good night Dave

Good night My Angel.

That's how we ended the conversation and I dropped my phone and turned off my data. "But could this be true that I've agreed to date, Dave? Anyway, as a woman, anyhow you run, one must still disturb just like Dave"