“where’s your wife?” Ife found herself asking
“she has become a thorn in my flesh" Biodun shook his head "She isn’t what I thought she was”
“hmm…I guess some people change, don't they?" she cocked her head to the side regarding him lazily "the number of years doesn’t really matter”
“I know you're referring to me and I deserve it. I deserve worse. I just hope you can forgive what I did to you. I will surely understand if you don't”
“I have. Did that a long time ago" Ife said to him, her expression unreadable
"Actually, I forgave you that day in court when you told everyone that I was a bad wife and mother. A disgrace to womanhood…and my personal favourite..." she paused for effect
"...a living, breathing contradiction of competence and maturity…?”
Biodun went on his knees “I was blinded by lust, I was willing to say anything to-“
“You know, I should thank you for what you did because if not for what had happened between us, I wouldn’t have been able to see myself the way I see myself now."
She smiled "It has made me a better person”
“as to your coming back? I don't think that will be possible. I wouldn't want you to disgrace yourself and come back to your vomit" she said "or wasn't that what you said to my family when they came begging on my behalf during the whole drama? we wouldn’t want you to do that now, would we?"
she rose from where she was seated
“Ife please” Biodun rose with her “for the sake of the kids we have together. For the sake of the Ogunleye name that you still bear, think about it, please”
Ife laughed loudly
“haven’t your heard? I dropped your name the same day you married your precious wife. Exactly 7 weeks after we finalized the divorce you wanted. The name was no longer of value to me” she said with a shrug
“and the kids? They are no longer kids. Don't worry, I’m sure they will understand. Have a blessed day, Biodun.”
She turned and walked away from him.
* * *
“are you not ashamed of yourself?”
Biodun asked his wife, Annette, 4 days later still reeling from the rejection he’d gotten from Ife. It was a flabbergasting slap in the face that he wouldn't recover from in a very long time.
“for the past week or so , you have barely stayed in your matrimonial home. Now you are going out again?” he said in annoyance.
“and so what?” Annette said as she continued to apply her make up in front of her dressing mirror.
She did not need Biodun's nagging today, she had an important engagement to attend. She had initially ignored him but he could be persistent.
“what exactly do you want me to do?" she asked him "Stay here with you and watch CNN? or talk about those ancient topics you always try to shove down my throat?”
“oh I see, those ancient topics that attracted you to me, like you once said, no longer interest you so you spend everyday and night out, right? doing what exactly? ”
Annette laughed “oh please, I only said that to make you feel good about yourself! who in their right mind in this day and age wants to dwell on those times? And even if they did, why would they want to talk about those same things and compare them to the present day Nigeria over and over again, It's just tiring”
she snorted “if you are so tired of life biko why don’t you just kill yourself ehn? then you can go back in time to when the Naira was equal to the Pound and leave me be, I need to focus on the future abeg”
“My God!” he gasped “so that’s what you wish for me? It will not come to pass. Your mates are saying prayers for their husbands, you are wishing me death? You haven't worked a day since I met you, all you do is go out with pals and spend money that I spent my youth working for. If I die, who pays for this your lavish lifestyle that you love so much?"
"oh please, get over yourself. Do you think you carry all this?" Annette stood and spun around sweeping a hand up and down her body "you can't handle this hun"
Biodun shook his head in disgust "I’m sorry for you“
“sorry for yourself old man! And which husband are you talking about? Are you a husband? In your mind? Let me tell you…”
she walked to where he was standing by the door and pointed a finger in his face “…your mates are out there working and making billions every day. You’re here, living off your measly pension and investment returns and you want me to stay here and rot with you? God forbid!”
“Annette!”
She paused halfway down the corridor and turned back to him “and you know what else? My mates are married to men whose wives don’t have to secretly slip them Viagra just to give them the illusion that they are actually doing something when they are just pathetic.”
* * *
“you just have to put your feet down” Jude said to Biodun “I can’t believe this has been going on for this long and you allowed it”
Jude was Biodun’s long time friend. They had met during their NYSC days and had remained friends till date. He was also a very busy man. While Biodun preferred to cash in on his investments and live a leisurely life, Jude, on the other hand, loved to work
“what else would I do? You don’t know Annette very well” Biodun took a sip of his beer “she’s crazy. The last time I tried to do something about it by telling her I would call her parents; she drugged me, tied me to the bed and left me there for two days.”
“Jesus!" Jude exclaimed as he lit a cigarette "Didn't your gateman hear you calling for help? I’m sure you must have called”
“fired him”
“The old woman who came to clean in the mornings?”
Annette had specifically requested for someone old, she didn’t trust young girls around him, she’d said
“why?”
“to make sure no one heard my screams if I decided to cry for help, why else?”
“this is serious! You should have reported her to the police immediately after
she set you lose”
“and make matters worse abi?” Biodun gave a dry laugh “Have you seen Annette angry? Hmm…you don’t want to. She destroys things. It's like a switch goes off in her head and she loses it. I’ve had to replace our 50 inch Samsung TV twice since we got married, do you know how much those things cost?” He took another swig of beer
“She rammed the first car I bought her into our gate simply because I told our gateman not to let her out of the house after we had a mild disagreement and you know what else? She demanded for another car afterwards. She refused to speak to me, cook or do anything around the house until I did. There was another time...”
By the time he was through with his rant. He had finished both bottles of beer in front of him.
She’s turning me to a drunk, he thought to himself as he signaled the waiter.
“how come you never saw any of these traits before?”
“I don't know” Biodun put his head in his hands “I feel like I’ve lost everything. If I upset her, she costs me money. I can't do right by her in any way.”
Jude looked at his friend, he could almost feel sorry for him but he didn’t.
He had told him to let the girlfriend remain what she was, a girlfriend but he hadn't listened. He had chosen to marry her.
His phone beeped. He picked it up and opened his message. A smile came to his lips
“Babe, almost at the place. Meet me up. Got a surprise for you, can’t wait to show you. Kisses. Annette”
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