Chapter three
Obinna placed a call and while waiting for it to connect, he heard a voice welcoming him to the season of “love”. He thought it was an error. He cut the call in order to re-dial again but alas! The error was not that of the network but his. He did not know that the world had moved on to another level in its pursuit of the transient, the ephemeral. He tried to connect again, he heard the voice which sounded like that of the female among the genies and the massage it sought to pass across was meant to remind him of the fact that valentine’s day was around the corner; that he was now in the season of “love”. Immediately the voice on the phone network invited him to partake of its offers to mark the day, he realized he needed to write a letter and buy some “valentines” for his girl.
Tony was invited over to write a letter. “Please give me the best of all letters; it is meant for Angela, the only one I love, the most beautiful girl on earth”.
“There’s too much love in your eyes these days my guy, this new girl in your life is getting you crazy. You got to take it easy! Lagos girls are no good. They are vampires of sort, you got to shine your eyes before you fall mugo.”
“Just don’t disturb me… Please…Please…” pleaded Obinna. “I need it very badly; just put down all the ideas I have given you! There is no time for the preaching, if I need it, I will simply go to your church.”
Tony, sensing the inconvenience he was causing him started writing while Obinna kept coming back to peep at the long letter as he was busy “facebooking”.
Tony wrote with an overflowing smile:
Dearest Angela,
Since I met you at Empire, my life has changed! It astounds me! I’ve never seen a lady so beautiful. Your love for me is working like alcohol in my senses. Ever since I saw you, I haven’t slept. I thought I must have gone mad with love. I am full of admiration for you. My parents and friends thought I must be sick or something. But I knew I wasn’t sick. I knew it’s your love that overwhelmed me. I’ve heard about love at first sight. Yes! I’ve heard it. I never knew such could happen to me. But now I know it’s real! The day you will confess your love for me will be the happiest day of my life. Whenever, I think of your beauty and the joy of being my wife, sweet tears of joy rolls down my face.
Your being an angel and trustworthy is rare among the ladies I’ve met. The general notion is that beauty comes with bad character. But Angela, you’re different. Angela, the light of my life, the fire of my loins, my sin, my soul; Angela, a name sweeter than honey, softer than butter, lovelier than Juliet. No man will see you Angela and pass by without stopping to turn his head thrice or four times or more.
I shall feel your warmth and tender lips forever, even up to heaven. Just remain by my side Angela. With your presence I’m “belly-full”, with your presence I’m my true self. Angela! Your name itself is soft; it’s musical and soothing to the ears…its honey, I confess. Let’s love and love till we exhaust the large portion of love Romeo and Juliet forgot to give. Angela, my heart! Without you I’m dead. I shall come to your place tomorrow as I told you on phone. I give you one thousand deep kisses through this letter; Angela, the living Angel.
Yours sincerely,
Obinna.
“Ah!” This is too much! You’re mad with love; don’t give yourself a heart attack because of “common Lagos love”! Tony exclaimed, while reading out the letter.
“Just help me deliver the letter and that’s all, no comments. That’s how I feel about Angela,” Obinna replied and collected it.
He folded the letter, tucked it in a brown envelope and handed it to Tony. Tony took it and left immediately. He had a first semester examination to catch up with. Tony was a slender young man, easy-going and understanding by nature. He was an undergraduate at the Lagos state university. It happened that Angela, his newfound love, lived beside Tony’s house. That afternoon after the examination, he made it his first duty to deliver the letter.
On reaching the house, he was fortunate to see her. He gave her the letter. She was extremely glad to see the letter. Truly, she was a beauty, a rare gem. She had all it takes to make a man wag his tongue and go up in flames of desire. Words alone are not enough to describe her seraphic beauty. She was fairly tall. Her skin was dazzlingly light. Her eyeballs were seductive and sparkling white. Her breasts were full and round. Her glittering white teeth were something no man could resist.
Everything about her was graceful and enchanting. Angela opened the letter delicately with smiles. She unfolded it and began to read. Every now and then she smiled. Then she laughed softly. She had never seen someone so full of desire for her and who could express it confidently on paper. She thought she must not disappoint him. Yes! She vowed to be loyal but must make things a bit difficult so that she doesn’t appear cheap.
She read it with rapt attention and her spirit was instantly elated. After finishing the last lines, she stood up with a rather sensuous smile. She was indeed very happy and she took her siesta thinking of him.
Ever since he sent the highly emotional letter, he had been thinking that she will gladly accept his love proposal. He never imagined that there will be any hitch. So, he called her on phone to know whether she had received it. Instead of a positive reply, she gave the impression that she was irritated and infuriated by the letter. She replied that she wasn’t interested, with a capital ‘No’. Her reply was a great shock as he became frustrated and vowed to commit suicide by plunging himself into the bar beach to end his life!
That rainy and thundery Saturday, Obinna could visualize the Angel of God telling him not to take the wrong step; the Angel was advising him not to kill himself by drowning in a beach. He refused to listen and vehemently fought back the tears as he sobbed quietly on his way to the Ocean; the Lagos Bar Beach to drown himself and end it all. “Don’t beg me please…” he soliloquized, I’ll kill myself and die because of love. What more do l want in life other than the love of my darling Angela? I love her. I adore her. But sadly enough, she doesn’t love me…Please don’t beg me. I’m on my way to the Ocean to get drowned and kill myself. My flesh and bones will become food for sharks and other wild and hungry predators in the Ocean. I beg you in God’s name, let me kill myself. O my…Love. I love you Angela with every fiber of my being.”
The rain was getting heavier by the minute and fearful thunderclap could be heard throughout the length and breadth of Lagos metropolis but despite this inclement weather, he chose this very odd time to commit suicide at the Lagos Bar Beach. Wonders shall never end!
He was now heading towards the Ocean to drown himself. He was really drenched and wet in the heavy downpour but he had made up his mind to die a violent death in the Ocean. It was even more tragic because he wasn’t actually a good swimmer. The rain increased in intensity as the young man walked the streets of Lagos Island like a Zombie. The frightful peals of thunderclap continued unabated and lightning flashed through the sky at a heart-rending pace.
About twenty minutes later, he was at the Ocean in tears as he saw the tidal waves of the Ocean. He knew he was doing this for love’s sake. He just couldn’t help it. He cried like a baby. Picnickers and other people around didn’t know his intention as he approached the great waters with slow, steady and sad steps. In a minute, his short lifespan flashed across his mind. He could recall nothing in his memory now but suicide and death.
He begged God to forgive his sin because he knew that his action was totally ungodly. He continued to weep gently as he moved towards the giant waves of the Ocean. He had now made up his mind to plunge into the Ocean and was about jumping inside when he heard a soft voice behind him calling: “Obinna, don’t do this please…I beg you in God’s name. I sincerely love you…I sincerely love you…” Instantly, he turned, but lo and behold, Angela was behind him in affectionate tears. She touched him tenderly and hugged him.
“I can’t believe my eyes…is this real?” Obinna asked for the umpteenth time.
“Yes, it’s real my darling. You are my sweetheart and everything,” Angela replied softly. I just wanted to give you a test. I love you sincerely from the bottom of my heart. I followed you carefully immediately you left the house for this beach. You’re my heart and soul…”
It’s hard to believe this but now I know it’s real. My Angel is back and willing to love me…” he said with unmistakable joy vibrating and hovering over the love duo. Then he continued, “When you are beside me, my Angel, it’s like I’m in paradise. It feels so heavenly that I don’t want to let go off your arms. I love you so much.”
“I love you too; no one can take your place in my heart. I’ve found a true love. Let’s go darling. From the depth of my heart and soul, I want to say I love you, I can’t live without you.” she replied with adoration between a blissful and passionate kiss.
“We are inseparable like the fishes and the Ocean and the sky and the birds;” he replied and drew her tender hand as they left the beach.