The President’s Wife Episode 4

TITLE: THE PRESIDENT’S WIFE

WRITTEN BY: OGECHI ALABI

CHAPTER 4

Adanna couldn’t wait for Zara to spill the beans. She was in front of the back street when Zara arrived with Lere. Zara introduced Adanna to him. Adanna told her they had to hurry before their parents left the house for the church; they had been waiting for Zara.

Adanna asked Zara in their bedroom, “Spill the beans. The guy is fine sha. Light brown guys are cute. And he smells very nice. If two fine people marry, you are doing injustice to the world. Who will marry the ugly ones?” They both laughed. “This one you are laughing, I hope you guys have settled.”

“We talked. He said we were not in a relationsh¡p but if I agree to be, I will never see a girl in his house again. He said it with so much sincerity that I believed him. Maybe I should give him a chance. I told him no s-×.”

Adanna couldn’t hold her laughter, “No wetin? You are a joker. Visit him three times and see if he wouldn’t want to get in between your legs. That fine guy I saw will have many girls chasing him, offering him their bodies. Better behave. He will be hiding and doing. It will hurt more when you find out.”

Their conversation created confusion in Zara’s mind. She suspended her visit to Lere’s until she was convinced in her mind of their relationsh¡p status.

The next Sunday, Lere sat beside her for Mass. She couldn’t believe he was there with her. Adanna smiled when she saw him. After Mass, Adanna said hello to Lere and excused herself for her meeting reminding Zara not to get back home late.

Zara walked to his car with him. Once in,side she asked him, “What are you doing here?”

“I came to see you. If the mountain wouldn’t come to Mohammed, Mohammed will go to the mountain. I am here now.”

“You have to stop coming to my church. It is embarrassing.”

“For me to worsh¡p with you is embarrassing?”

‘You know what I mean.”

“If you want me to stop, come to my house today.”

“What do you mean? How can I come today?”

“I will drop you off at home. You will tell your parents you want to visit a friend in Ikeja, give them a name. Then come through the back gate, I will be waiting for you.”

“I have to make lunch. Besides that, they might not agree.”

“You have to sound convincing. Tell them you will be back before 6 pm. I will bring you home myself. I will wait for you to make lunch.”

Zara didn’t know what to say. She had to formulate a convincing story to tell her parents so she could hang out with a guy. She quickly came up with one.

“Mum, Dad, I will be going to see a former coursemate of mine in Ikeja. I was told she has been ill by her cousin I saw in the church today. I should be back before 6 pm.”

Her mother didn’t bother with any further questions. She asked her to make lunch before she leaves. Her father gave her money for transportation. She knew she got away easy this time but might not be lucky next time.

As she was preparing the food, Adanna came back. She saw her rushing to cook and asked her what was happening.

“Lere is at the back gate waiting for me. He asked me to go home with him. I told mum and dad I was going to visit a sick friend. They allowed me to go but mum insisted I make lunch before I leave. I will not be through before they come back.”

“Four hands are better than two. I will help you; you must buy something for me. I will watch the meat, you, blend the tomatoes and peppers and boil. Measure out the rice, wash and parboil on that burner. You were in such a hurry you didn’t put the rice on fire.”

While the meat was still boiling, the stew for the rice was almost ready. The rice was boiled. Zara dashed into the room, took a quick bath, dressed up and then came out to join Adanna. Adanna asked her to go, she could handle the rest alone. It was almost done.

Lere waited for her patiently. He couldn’t stop smiling when he saw her walking towards him in her jeans trousers and satin top. She looked as beautiful as ever. He never believed she would pull this off but she did. He had fallen for this girl. He liked her. He more than liked her.

When they got to his house, his next-door neighbour and his friends were standing outside when they drove in. They had stopped on the way to buy some food and drinks from an eatery. Zara stepped down from the vehicle, opened the back door and brought out the bags. Lere went to her, took them from her and told her in almost a whisper, “You are my guest”. He allowed her to walk in front of him. He wasn’t comfortable with the way the guys stared at her. She greeted them and walked past as they responded. He stopped to greet them by shaking their hands. His neighbour said to him, “This one is different, she is well mannered and very beautiful. How did you deceive this girl to ‘friend’ you? My ears will be close to your door to hear the action.”

“Don’t do that. There won’t be any action. She is a good girl and I am treating her as one.”

They laughed at Lere’s response while the other two guys continued to look at Zara with lust in their eyes. Lere got their attention by shouting, “Hey! Hey! No, go area, did you hear me? If I catch any of you around her, blood will flow. Stay away from her and stop looking at her like that.”

in,side the flat, they sat down to eat. Lere sat very close to her on the double seater. He couldn’t hide his excitement. He couldn’t believe she was there with him. He turned on the television and video cassette player for them to watch a movie. They spent most of the day watching movies together and talking. Lere was tempted to make an attempt on Zara. He wanted a k!$s so bad but he stopped himself. He was scared to will offend her and she wouldn’t visit again. He tried to control himself.

They talked about themselves. Lere was the first child of his mother. He had three elder brothers and an elder sister. His mother has three of them, he had a younger sister and brother. His father is a Muslim while his mother is a Christian. He graduated in Mass Communication from Obafemi Awolowo University. He worked for a radio station only on night shows; he was quite popular. He also did freelance jobs which were his main source of income. He had acquired an MBA.

Zara also shared with him. She mentioned she was twenty-two years old. Lere was shocked. He knew Tiwa was twenty-five; how were they such close friends when she was merely twenty-two. She was too mature for her age.

“Do you know my age?” Lere asked Zara.

“No. How old are you?”

“I am cradle snatching right now. I am thirty-two.’

“You don’t look thirty-two at all. Are you sure?”

“Positive. Are you sure you want to still be with this old guy?”

“Let’s see where this leads.”

After her stay, he drove her back home. They left for her home at 4 pm. They stopped to buy suya for Adanna as an appreciation for cooking. She was close to home at 5 pm. Lere asked her to go home, change and then come out to see him. She agreed. Her parents saw her come home as they were leaving to visit a family friend three streets away from theirs.

Zara dropped the suya for Adanna and her other siblings, changed into shorts and a top, and then left to meet Lere at the back gate. They were alone at the back gate. Lere had come out of the car and was leaning against the passenger’s door. Zara joined him there. She told him she could only stay for twenty minutes.

“Zara, what next?”

“How?”

“What next? Where is this going? I want to know so I prepare my mind for the future. I like you and I don’t want to force things but, you are beautiful and many guys can see it. You are smart and well brought up. If I snooze, I might just lose you. This was our first official date; I want to have others with you. How can you make it possible? Tell me how you truly feel. I want to know if this is what you want too. Or if my age has scared you off.”

“Let’s sit in the car first in case someone decides to walk past here.” They both entered the car. Then she said, “I enjoyed your company today, you were a gentleman. I was expecting you to make moves that will make me threaten to leave your house. If you keep it, then I will be a regular. I like mature guys and you don’t look your age. We will try this some more times before we can say if it is heading where we want it to go.”

“I like your response. That is fair.”

“I have to leave. My folks will soon be back. Once it gets a bit dark, they will be home.”

“This was our first date. Shouldn’t we consummate it?”

“How?”

“With a k!$s. I have been dying to k!$s you all day but I can’t without your permission. Reward me tonight with a k!$s that will make me sleep very well.”

Zara smiled. She turned to him and k!$sed him lightly on the l-ips. Then she said goodnight and left him. Lere couldn’t believe she k!$sed him so easily. He didn’t need to talk too much or cajole her to do it. Her l-ips were so soft that he wanted to nibble on them. He watched her walk to the gate, she turned, wove to him and entered. On the drive home, his thoughts were of Zara and no one else.

Zara couldn’t believe she k!$sed Lere. She truly enjoyed his company and his l-ips were tempting but she was afraid she was losing her self control. Adanna laughed when she refused to eat but wouldn’t stop talking about Lere. “You have fallen in love,” Adanna announced to her. “It shouldn’t be serious o, you know he is Yoruba and your parents will not be happy.”

Adanna was right. Zara knew her parents. Even though they were enlightened, they might not allow her to marry a Yoruba guy. She was close to her father more than she was to her mother (all the girls were) but she knew she couldn’t discuss anything about the opposite s-× with her parents. She refused to allow it to bother her yet. She said to Adanna, “Let us know where this leads first before we plan the wedding.”

Tbc