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EPISODE 21(B): LOVE AND PAIN
The Next Morning
After a long while, Olamide’s eyes opened.
He felt a severe headache and struggled to sit up. As he glanced around he noticed Tunde, who had fallen asleep sitting by his side. Olamide sat there lost in thought for a long time, realizing what he needed to do. But the courage to leave Rita was still absent.
He remembered their childhood when Rita, Tunde and he would play together. Olamide and Tunde never liked playing “house-house” but Olamide would always give in to Rita’s insistence, forcing Tunde to join as well.
In that game, Olamide and Rita always played the roles of husband and wife.
Rita would constantly ask him, “Hey, will you marry me when we grow up?”
And Olamide would always tease her saying, “Well… if you make me tasty food, then sure.”
Rita – “What if you find a girl prettier than me?”
Tunde – “That’s all fine, but who told you you’re pretty?”
Tunde would always tease Rita and Olamide would mediate between the two, saying, “Stop it, Tunde. Don’t trouble her. Rita, you’re the cutest and for me, no one will ever be cuter than you.”
Tunde – “And I’ll dance at your wedding! That’ll be so much fun.”
The three of them would laugh and joke in their innocent way.
Olamide and Rita had liked each other since childhood. Remembering those moments brought a smile to Olamide’s face, but his eyes were filled with tears.
By then, Tunde woke up and seeing Olamide sitting like that, he went and sat next to him. Olamide quietly asked, “When did we come here?”
Tunde – “Last night.”
Olamide – “Did anyone at home…?”
Tunde – “No one knows. I told them we’re at a party and that we’d be back in the morning.”
Hearing this, Olamide didn’t say anything, so Tunde added, “Olamide, talk to Rita once. She needs to know all this. It’s important.”
Olamide – “No. Rita shouldn’t know anything. I’ve never ever told her how I feel but she always understands everything without me saying a word. How will I live without her, Tunde?”
Suddenly, Olamide hugged Tunde and started crying. Tunde tried his best to console him. Once Olamide calmed down he told Tunde about his decision.
Tunde – “What are you saying? Think about Rita. You know how much she loves you.”
Olamide – “Maybe this is our fate.”
Tunde – “But try to understand! There’s no need to do all this. I’ll talk to Dad and he’ll convince Rita’s father. Everything will be fine.”
Olamide – “No. No one at home will discuss this. Everything will continue as it was. I don’t want to bring any trouble into your lives because of me. Promise me, Tunde. You won’t interfere in this.”
Tunde – “Why are you being so stubborn? What will you tell Rita? It’s her birthday, and you were planning to surprise her. Now this…”
Olamide – “I’ll explain to her.”
Tunde – “Explain what? Without telling her the truth? Do you think she’ll understand?”
Olamide – “She’ll have to understand. This is our life now. Nothing can be done. I’m going to talk to her and you won’t stop me. Please.”
That day, Olamide called Rita to meet him and told her that he didn’t love her and that their lives were now separate.
Rita never expected such words from Olamide. She thought he was going to propose to her. But Olamide left her there, devastated.
Rita tried to reach out to him even questioned Tunde but it was useless. Her condition became miserable from crying.
Tunde eventually told her that Olamide had gone back to Lagos and this crushed Rita’s last hope. Her dreams were shattered. Tunde tried to console her but she left without saying anything.
That day, Olamide was completely broken. He had lost the most precious part of his life.
Rita’s tearful face haunted him, remembering how she had begged him not to leave. But he couldn’t do anything.
A few days later, Rita left everything and moved to Lisbon.
Since that day, Olamide has suffered in silence longing for Rita every day. But even if he wanted to he couldn’t do anything.
He never let his family know about his pain and always acted normal in front of them. Only Tunde knew the truth.