Trapped within the chapters!

As he takes off his shoes and neatly arranges them in his closet, he retires to his bed, taking in the comfort feeling the incredibly beautiful duvet massaging his aching back. His eyes look up at the fan hanging from the ceiling, making him remember the popular riddle from when he was a kid, “What 3 brothers have been running for ever but can never catch each other”

It’s time for his shower, lazily stretching his hands across the room to grab his towel……

It’s been a lonely day without her, not being able to talk to her yet he feels close to her still……

All he can think about is their moments under the shower – now she feels so far away yet close, the only thing reminding him of her is the incredibly beautiful he wraps around his body every time he takes a shower….

It’s been 2 weeks and 6 days since the break up…..

As the water rushes through his body, washing every sweat he blend from the gym he remembers her last words to him, “Ayomide, I can’t do this anymore”…..

“What do you mean”, he asks…..

“I mean this, us, I can’t….. I came here tonight to wish you a happy birthday and also call everything off. Take this, I got you a birthday gift”….Tife replied

As she turns to leave, he grabs her by the wrist, looking deeply in her eyes. She doesn’t break eye contact, but rather pulls herself closer to him and kisses him….her lips telling the message, “Ayo, this will be our last kiss”…

He stands there in the middle of his room, on his birthday, conflicted, fighting the demon tears in his eyes from lauching into battle but it’s too late – the tears roll freely

As she turns to leave, he grabs her by the wrist, looking deeply in her eyes. She doesn’t break eye contact, but rather pulls herself closer to him and kisses him….her lips telling the message, “Ayo, this will be our last kiss”…

He stands there in the middle of his room, on his birthday, conflicted, fighting the demon tears in his eyes from lauching into battle but it’s too late – the tears roll freely

Tife was breaking up with him…..

He unboxes the gift she gave him and it’s a beautiful towel, so carefully embroidered with the face of his favourite Anime character, Naruto….the anime character which shares the same birthday with him, October 10….

“So she breaks up with me, on my birthday with a kiss and a Naruto towel”…..he mumbles to himself

As he steps out of the shower, he reaches for his phone, and places a food order…..

“I’m grabbing Jollof rice, chicken laps and fried dodo tonight, I’ll be over at your place 30 minutes tops from now”….he sends the WhatsApp message to Tola, the local food vendor

“Okay now, no wahala”…..he taps the WhatsApp notification and marks it read

Grabbing his keys and locking his doors….

He says hello to Babatunde, his neighbour who’s a banker

He jumps into his red Venza 2010 model, puts on his AC and slowly drives out the automatic gate……

The music playing from his radio “Flood My Silence” by Raster Dust….

The roads of Ikorodu are less busy tonight, so he gets to Tola’s place in 20 minutes…

“Atletico get match tonight?” Tola asks..

“No jare, why u dey ask?” He replies

“You dey wear your Jersey”…She says

“Ohhh, abeg no mind me..nh wetin I dey feel tonight jare” he bursts a little laugh

“So how Tife now…..una still dey talk?”…..she asks looking at him as she packages his dish

“No…no we no dey talk”, he replies bluntly

Her eyes meet his and she smiles, “I add extra dodo and pomo for you, I no want make you lean”…..

Tola was that one female companion that seemed to understand him….

“Thank you” he says

She however notices the sadness in his voice…

“Ayomide, wo ju mi, obinrin mi ma wa” she says in Yoruba….. which translates to “Ayomide, look into my eyes, another woman will come”…

He smiles gratefully, “Thank you jare” he says And picks up his food, turn around to leave

Tife had always been a cautious easy going woman who never did something without a reason…..

That was the thought that kept him awake all night…..she must’ve had a reason – she must have had one….

the thoughts ran in his head till he got tired and dozed off on his couch while there was a replay of the previous day match between Arsenal and Manchester United….

“Tomorrow will be better”, he mumbled to himself and slept off on the couch, being too lazy to drag his body to the cozy bed awaiting him inside……