"Daddy, so you've been in love with
mommy since your university days? And mommy keeps telling Aunty Tofunmi not to have a boyfriend
whereas she is already in the university." Kehinde said roguishly. He was
just a boy of ten but his brain always seemed too smart for his age. Tofunmi
was his older cousin who had just gained admission into the University of
Lagos.
His twin sister, Taiwo, was completely
fed up with her brother's constant interruption. She wished something could
silence him till their dad concluded the love story. To her, Kehinde was a momental pest!
Demilade laughed. "Don't mind
your mother. She knows perfectly well that love can attack you anytime. She is
just being protective of Tofunmi because the university is a place where one
can either get lost or move forward. That is why she told your cousin to beware
of boys. Not every man is gentle like your father." He gave a naughty wink
at his twins.
Taiwo rolled her eyes lazily and
sighed. Her father was boring her with all these talk. She needed him to get
back to the main story. "Yes, we know all that Daddy, you are the gentlest
man in the whole world." Taiwo said rather sarcastically. "Now, can we
please
get back to the story. How did you win mummy over?"
* * *
Demilade could take it no more. He
decided to damn his evening lectures by lurking around Ofada kitchen. He would
wait for Sewa till she was through, come fire or rain. He was ready to get his
girl back.
As Sewa, on the other hand cleaned
the counter, where she served food, she noticed Demi’s unusual prolonged
presence. But she tried to seem apathetic to his existence. She had missed him
terribly. That was an undeniable fact. But she wasn't going to let that show.
He should have been completely honest with her in the first place before it all
came to this. She wasn't completely sure if he had been honest with her about the
sudden Annabel tale, but somewhere in her heart felt Demi’s genuineness. But
she was still in a dilemma of heeding her perceived premonitions or following
her heart. She was new at these things.
It was soon seven in the evening
when Sewa was to retire from the day’s work. And Demi was still in Ofada
kitchen. Sewa still appeared unconcerned
even though it took every ounce of her strength to restrain herself from
running into the yearning arms of Demi who
was patiently seated, awaiting her, and to inhale that baby powder scented
perfume of his.
Sewa had already changed into her
simple red gown and making out of the canteen when Demi suddenly crossed her
halfway out. She had expected something like this to happen. She remained unruffled
and tried to excuse herself sideways but Demi kept on standing in her way.
"If you really ever had any
feelings for me," Demi started in a voice that tugged at the depths of
Sewa's heart. "no matter how little,...please come with me."
Sewa knew there was no way she
wouldn't grant this favour. No matter how little? My feelings for you? Sewa
thought. Demi had no idea. Sewa didn't think her feelings for Demi could be
quantified. She eventually followed Demi and they were now seated on their
favorite spot under the tree in Balewa park. Sewa sometimes wondered why they
never met anyone or any couple occupying
that space. Maybe it meant something, she thought, as memories of their moments
shared together in that spot, rushed through her head like the waves of a stormy
sea.
"Your dress, it's pretty."
Demi said.
Sewa was slightly startled as she
had been lost in her own thoughts. "Huh? Oh, the dress. Thank you."
Her voice quavered as she spoke. It had been a while since she sat this close
to Demi.
Demi smiled now as her dress made
him reminisce the first time he saw her. "Remember? It's the same dress
you wore the very first night I escorted you to the gate"
Sewa couldn't believe this. She
couldn't believe Demi still remembered the dress she wore that night. It had
been so long since she last wore the dress. All of a sudden, Sewa felt the urge
to cry. Her Demi was too sweet. In that moment, Demi stood up and before she
knew what was going on, Demi was on a knee before her, tenderly grabbing her
hands in his.
"Adesewa Omolabake Adebayo,"
Demi started. The crescent shaped moon shone light on the eyes that mirrored
nothing but deep affection. "I'm so sorry if I ever offended you. I tell
you honestly that I've never looked at any other girl since I met you. And I promise
it’d be no other girl but you. I promise. “With that, he brought out his pocket
a beautiful sparkly silver necklace, which had a little love shaped pendant
hanging from it. Sewa was speechless. He stood up and gently lifted her hair
extension, to wrap the necklace around her neck. Sewa trembled at the brief
caress of his hands on her neck.
Demi went back to his kneeling
position and stared at Sewa as if she soley possessed the power to make him
breath. "I love you, Adesewa."
Sewa could not tame the tear that
escaped her watery eyes down her dimpled cheek. It was the first time ever,
Demi said he loved her. They had never said it to each other before. "I
love you too, my Demilade." And for the time time ever too, they locked
lips, exploring the warmth of each other’s mouths.
* * *
"Oh my God," Taiwo felt like
crying. How emotional. "Daddy, you're sweet."
Kehinde nodded in agreement. "You
handled the matter like a man, Dad." He was sincerely moved too.
Demilade smiled and said a proud
'thank you' to his kids. Just then, Sewa came out of the kitchen, with a
conspicuous silver necklace that had a love shaped pendant hanging from her
neck. She was drying her hands with a napkin as she snuggled under the crook of
her husband's arm. "Baba ibeji, you're done telling your love story to
your children um?"
"Oh, yeah baby." Demilade
said naughtily.
"Now I finally understand why we
keep hearing Ofada kitchen in this house." Sewa smiled as she listened to
her handsome son.
"That's right," Taiwo
added, slowly nodding her head in realization.
Sewa smiled again at her cute
twins and faced her smiling husband. "Yes, that's why. It was the place I met
your Daddy...Ofada kitchen staged most of the stages of our love."
With that, Demilade curved his
head in and kissed his wife passionately. "Oh, gross!" Their children
exclaimed almost unanimously, with disgusted faces and ran to their rooms. Demi
and Sewa broke their kiss, laughing at their God given brats.
THE END
Click this link to comment on Ofada kitchen so far...
Yetunde Oyelude, an indigene of Ogbomoso, Oyo
State, loves watching movies, singing and reading novels. She studies in the
department of Communication and Language Arts, University of Ibadan.
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