"You Feel Me" - Story By Kemi Jinadu

“I cannot stand the sound of those Nigerian movies can you turn off the television,” Kola retorted.

Bimpe reduced the volume as she wondered when the Nollywood movies they’ve both enjoyed watching over the years became abominable videos; she continued watching.

“Are you deaf, I said turn it off don’t just lower the volume, I need to concentrate on this business report I am writing” Kola barked.

Holding on to the remote control for second that seemed like hour was not producing any rapid decisions as Bimpe had expected but it helped control the fume boiling up inside of her.

The rain beats against the double glazed window, the chill of coldness shook through Bimpe’s size UK fourteen clothe physique.

The decision to remain calm and not react seemed to be the best decision at this time but Bimpe’s patience seemed to be running out.

“Something is going to change, it had to stop, this year would be a memorable one,” Bimpe murmured underneath her breath.

Bimpe switched off the television but remained seated at the same spot, could not decide what to do next.

Suddenly Kola’s Samsung S10 started buzzing; the name Tundee spelt with a double “e” at the end of the name appeared on the screen.

“Hello, hello,” Kola grabbed the phone with so much velocity from the side table.

“Babe, babe can you hear me, I was waiting for you babe,” the loud feminine voice continued.

Bimpe felt the usual dagger cut through her heart at the same time, she for one minute enjoyed the thought that her Mr Clever of a husband was not always as cunning as he thought.

A good actor though, did Kola forget to reduce the phone volume or God just wanted to reveal the lady who whisked her husband away at some specific time of the year.

Bimpe tried to push the thoughts away but it kept coming back.

“Hello I cannot hear you, let me call you back,” Kola caught off the phone and placed it next to the laptop he was working on.

The phone buzzed again, the ringtone reverberated louder.

“Tunde knows I’ve got work to do I can’t pick the phone, I am going to switch off this phone,” Kola waved his hand into the air as if he was trying to convince himself more than anyone.

Tunde and Kola have been friends for almost thirty years, his husky voice was far from that of a woman.

An attribute many admired, their son Jimi once mimicked Tunde’s deep voice.

Those every now and then surreptitious glances coming from Bimpe towards Kola was enough for her to notice the vein rising at the side of Kola’s head as he switched off the phone.

Bimpe’s gaze was on her feet as her head was bent downwards towards the floor.

The pattern of deceit and tantrum does not seem to be working for her any more.

Five years ago was the last time they celebrated valentine together last year Kola said he had a Business conference, the year before Kola had a job interview in Amsterdam in the name of career elevation even though he was still at his current job.

                                                           

******2016*******

Three years ago Kola was supposed to be meeting up with some business associates with new initiatives according to him.

Instead after work Kola came home, showered, shaved and dressed up in an outfit Bimpe had never seen on him before.  

Bimpe can’t remember Kola buying any outfit recently at the time, she continued to ponder.

In retrospect, Bimpe perceived the fragrance Kola was wearing, Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille Cologne one of his most expensive perfumes; she recognised a hint of KILIAN Straight to Heaven Eau de Parfum as well.

“Barrack Obama or the queen of England must be attending this business meeting,” the sarcasm in Bimpe’s voice became evident.

“What do you mean, what are you trying to say? Are you crazy?” Kola barked the veins on the side of his throat looked like they were about to rip their way out of his skin.

“Wow temper and anger not a good combination, not a wise defence tactics either,” Bimpe responded.

It’s been a while but Bimpe was familiar with Kola’s style of using mixed perfume to confuse others to get people curious so he could boast about his luxurious taste for quality perfumes.

On these not so frequent special occasions Kola will not hesitate to announce how he hoped to get to a level where he could afford to buy “Shumukh by Nabeel” one day.

“Darling just pray the meeting goes well so we can both enjoy and afford to buy anything we want,” Bimpe ignored Kola.

The smirk on Kola’s face made Bimpe sometimes discreetly questioned if the act of infidelity was out of punishment or just out of his usual grandiose sense of self-importance.

Sense of been a gift to women, the more Bimpe thought of the past years valentine experiences, the angrier she became even though this particular incidence was three years ago.

Bimpe realised that thinking about those hurtful years could provoke not only fury that she was already experiencing but could also trigger confrontation too. 

Confrontation was the last act Bimpe wanted, that Kola’s gait three years ago stuck to her memory and refused to vanish.

Kola walked slowly towards the door in a comportment that seemed as if he throws his long leg forward tilting left, then right in a manner that complement his tall anatomy.

Also in a way that seems like Kola had the whole world in the palm of his hands; he returned home the next day at six in the morning.

Kola woke up at nine in the morning to notify his manager at work at the time of sickness then slept all day until five o clock in the afternoon.

“I cooked some rice and stew, would you like to eat now?” Kola asked as Bimpe walked through the door from work.

Bimpe dropped her bag on the couch and made her way towards the kitchen.

Kola watched as Bimpe silently devoured the rice and spicy beef peppered stew, in another ten minutes they were in each other’s arm acting as if nothing had happened on valentine day.

                                              

  *********2019*************

Bimpe glanced at her husband who was so engrossed Kola’s finger kept typing away on the laptop keyboard.

Finally Kola finished typing and switched off his laptop.

Bimpe's eyes caught the flashing light beneath the Samsung phone cover that was supposed to be switched off.   She fought against interrogating Kola over when the phone was switched on and why the phone was not ringing out loudly as usual.

In the last two weeks Kola had developed a habit of taking his phone with him into the bathroom while bathing or into the toilet when defecating.  The pattern of isolation, sneaky moves, surreptitious whispers and meet-up just pointed to only one direction.

“Oh you bought some interesting food stuff, what are you cooking Bimpe?”

“Tomorrow is valentine day I am going to cook coconut rice and fried prawn stew, your favourite food,” Bimpe seemed to blush.

Kola eyed Bimpe as she continued to unpack and put away the groceries, he walked back into the living room to watch football premiere.

Bimpe dropped two bags of diet Chinese tea into the mug of hot water, cover it and pushed it aside while she cooked.

The coconut milk in the rice dried so quickly Bimpe grabbed the mug with two bags of herbal diet Chinese tea and added some of the content into the coconut rice; then added more salt.

She poured the remaining Chinese tea into the tomato paste, then stir.

Bimpe scoped a spoon of rice into her mouth then she began to nod as if to assure invisible onlookers that the rice was well cooked and the flavour of coconut overwhelmed her taste palate.

“The aroma of that your delicious stew has occupied the house, even our neighbours can perceive,” Kola barged into the kitchen and grabbed a plate.

“No, this is for the special day tomorrow,” Bimpe stood before the Coconut rice acting as if she did not anticipate Kola’s reaction before she decided to cook today.

Kola held Bimpe’s waist and slowly moved her away from the cooker while he helped himself to a heap of Coconut rice.

Within minutes of eating; the coconut rice had disappeared off Kola’s plate. 

Bimpe watched as Kola went back for more food.

About thirty minutes after Kola finished eating the second portion he started rubbing his tummy.

Suddenly, Kola stood up and rushed towards the toilet, Bimpe stood up and followed but he slammed the toilet door in her face.

Please click Part 2 to continue .

Written By Kemi Jinadu

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