He said no episode 9 – 11

~HE SAID NO~

EPISODE 9

“Welcome, my son,” Mrs. Robert smiled, as soon as she opened the metal door, George was exquisitely dressed, he was putting on a black tuxedo suit on a white shirt, his feet was graced with a pair of dark brown Italian shoes and his left wrist was adorned with a Rolex wristwatch.

“Good evening mummy,” George greeted bending slightly,

“How are you, my dear?”

“I’m fine ma,”

“How are your mum and dad?” she smiled,

“They are doing very well ma,”

“I am happy to hear that, sit down my son. Why are you standing like a visitor?”

“I would have loved to ma, but I’m actually here to take Amifel out and it’s getting late ma,”

“Oh oh, no wonder, I have been asking her that ‘where are you going oh?’ but she did not answer me, “she chuckled, “That’s great, let me get her for you,” she said, as went to get Amifel,

Amifel was standing in front of the mirror, adjusting her makeup when her mum entered,

“Your husband is here oh,” Mrs. Robert announced excitedly, before her generous bu.tt0cks hit the bed with a thud, “So you and your husband are actually going out and you did not tell me?”

“Mummy, I am not a kid, and I don’t have to tell you about everything,” she replied bluntly,

“You are my kid as long as you live under my roof, “she said as Amifel ignored her, “Anyway, don’t keep him waiting. “Mrs. Robert stood up to leave when she noticed her shoes,

“Don’t tell me you are planning to wear that flat shoe,” she said, pointing to the clean black suede flat shoe that was placed close to the door,

“That is what I am wearing,”

“No way, what happened to your heels? My friend, change that shoe before I change it for you there!” she ordered,

“That is what…” she paused as she watched her mum walk briskly to her neatly arranged shoe rack, she proceeded to remove her pair of n.ude heels which she dropped directly in front of her,

“The heel of this one is just moderate. A man of class needs a woman of class, if you don’t want my trouble, just wear this one,” she said with authority as she left for the sitting room, without waiting for Amifel’s response.

“She will soon be here my son, are you sure you don’t want to sit?” She asked George who was still standing while glancing at his wristwatch at regular intervals,

“No ma, I am fine. I’d just prefer to stand,” he barely got to complete his statement when Amifel walked in on them, she looked stunning in her straight wine gown, her hair, nails, and light make up all complemented her beautiful features. She clutched a black purse underneath her arm alongside a small paper bag and of course, she was putting on her n.ude shoes, just as her mum ordered to avoid drama,

“Hello George, sorry for keeping you waiting,” she apologized,

“Its fine dear, you look amazing!”

“Thank you, you look great too,”

‘Thanks, dear, shall we?” Amifel nodded as they turned to leave,

“So, you have seen Amifel now, you won’t even say bye to your in-law,” Mrs. Robert teased, she was seated on one of the dining chairs and they had completely forgotten all about her, Amifel was obviously tired of her mum as she just walked out without saying a word,

“It’s not like that ma,” George chuckled,

“Don’t mind me, I was only pulling your legs. You guys should enjoy yourselves oh,”

“Yes ma,” he giggled as he made his way out,

Amifel was waiting for George in front of his red Lexus jeep, it was the only vehicle in the compound as Amifel’s dad had gone on a trip.

George promptly opened the door for her to enter before settling in the driver’s seat, Amifel was looking lost as she waited for George to start the car when he didn’t start the car immediately, she looked up,

“What’s wrong?” she asked, looking up at him,

“Is anything the matter?” George asked ignoring her question,

“I’m fine, why do you ask?”

“You don’t look happy or don’t you want to go out with me?” he asked,

“Of course, I want to, George please stop all these questionings and let’s go, it’s getting late,” she said impatiently,

“I am not moving an inch until you tell me what the matter is, Amifel, you have not even as much as smiled since…”

“See, I’m smiling now, “She interrupted, giving him a really wide grin,

“I am not convinced,” George said stubbornly, as Amifel gave a tired sigh,

“I don’t know how else to convince you, George, my mum just tries to get on my nerves every time, and you know that can be a mood spoiler, but I’m fine George, I mean it,” she said in a bid to convince him,

He seemed to be convinced because he turned on the ignition almost immediately, Amifel gave him a genuine smile before removing her black flat cover shoes from her paper bag, she swiftly pulled off her n.ude heels before slipping into her black shoes,

“Don’t mind me, I had to wear the nude shoe to avoid my mum’s drama, but I am more comfortable in this one, hope you don’t mind?” she asked,

“Your mum is such a vibe,” he chuckled, “It’s fine, you are beautiful in either of the shoes my dear,”

“Thank you, George,” she smiled as he zoomed out of their compound.

“Do you mind if I play a song?” he asked,

“Sure, please go ahead,” she faked a smile, she didn’t really care if he played a song or not. He played ‘I found love’ by Major, she gave him a weak smile as the song played solemnly. She was lost in thought as they headed to George’s surprise location. He refused to tell her where they were going as he claimed it was a surprise.

“God please save me from this mess I have found myself in,” she prayed silently,

Amifel hoped that he wasn’t planning to propose again,

“If he does, then I would have to decline it outrightly, my heart is so unsettled. I need my peace back,” she thought to herself,

Of a truth, living outside of God’s will robs you of your peace, is it really worth it?

HE SAID NO.

Episode 10 – 11

Amifel tried to feign excitement when they entered Li Wuan Chinese restaurant, it was one of the best in Naijel state where they lived, it looked as exotic as its name portends. She was supposed to be excited, as she loved outings, especially surprise outings like the one she was in. But her mind was too crowded to think straight.

George must have spent a fortune to secure a s₱0t for them at Li Wuan Chinese Restaurant, George held her hands as they walked on, occasionally looking at her face, he wanted to see the excitement in her eyes, he wanted to know that she was impressed.

Amifel noticed and she tried not to disappoint him, she cat-walked through the beautiful hallway with smiles on her face and questions on her mind, she took a quick glance at the handsome young man who held her fragile hands tenderly, she could tell that he loved her and she loved him too, and that was what made everything h-rder.

He led her to a table for two, sited directly in front of a window, and there stood before her, the most beautiful garden she had ever seen in reality.

“Wow, this is beautiful,” she commended, he must have felt like a fulfilled man because his face shone like someone who just hit a jackpot,

“I’m glad you like it, babe,” he said, pulling out one of the chairs for her to sit, the glass table was beautifully decorated with a bunch of roses in a cute flower vase which was placed at the center of the table.

“Like? I love it, Thank you George! “she said in a shrill voice,

“I’m really happy to hear that sweetheart, I’ve been planning this date for about 2 weeks now” he replied as she sat down still wowed by the sight in front of her.

“Wow, wow! I’m amazed, ”

“Anything for you my love,” he said as she smiled, they both picked up the brown hærdcover menu placed on the table in front of them. The menu contained a list of various Chinese recipes including Fried shrimps with cashew nuts, Kung Pao chicken, Yangchow fried rice, Braised pork balls in gravy, Sichuan pork, and more,

They were glancing through the hærdcover menu when a Chinese waitress interrupted them, she had the regular round-shaped face of a Chinese, she was putting on a well-ironed navy blue straight gown on black stiletto shoes and her long lustrous hair was packed into a ponytail.

“Hello ‘sirrr’ end ‘marrr’” she greeted, obviously trying to sound Nigerian but was given away by her Chinese accent, “May I harve your ordies?” she continued.

“Yeah, sure.” George answered, “I’d have Fried shrimps with cashew nuts and fresh fruit juice, how about you babe?”

“The dishes on this menu sounds funny, I hope they don’t taste as funny as they sound,” she said, as her eye ran through the menu. She was yet to try any and was quite in a fix.

“They ‘arrr oll’ nice,” the Chinese waitress ch¡pped in,

“I’m not sure what the recipes would taste like, maybe I’ll just have the fried shrimps he ordered too”

“Fried shrimps and cashew ‘nats’?” the Chinese waitress asked,

“Yes please,” they answered almost at once.

“Would you love to have fresh fruit juice too?” George asked,

“I’d have preferred coke; or do you have coke?” Amifel asked the Chinese waitress who looked confused, she meant it to be a sarcastic question.

“Do you have ‘Kele’?” George asked, leaving Amifel to wonder what he was up to,

“Oh ‘Kele’! yeah, is that ‘oll’?” She asked,

“Yeah, for now. Thank you.” George concluded as the waitress walked away, Amifel shot George a puzzled look,

“Get ready to have two drinks because I am not taking your ‘kele’ or whatever you call it, ”

George laughed lightly before responding to her,

“Didn’t you say you wanted coke?” he asked, to which she nodded, “’kewe’ is the Chinese word for coke,” he announced, still laughing,

“Oh, I didn’t know that,”

“Now you know babe,”

They had a light chat till the Chinese waitress brought their orders in less than 20 minutes, just as they were about to dig into their meal, they heard a sound of people clapping and chattering close by, as they looked ~behind them, they saw a fine white young man on his knees proposing to a lady assumed to be his woman, with a glistering diamond ring as people cheered ~them on. The beautiful dark-skinned lady nodded in response, obviously mesmerized as she looked to amazed to say a word, her eyes were w-t with tears of joy. George smiled, joining in the clapping as the man slipped the diamond ring into her slender finger before lifting her up in a Hollywood fashion and planting a k-ss on her forehead. At this point, George was already on his feet, clapping, making funny sounds, and nodding all at once

Amifel was glued to her seat as she suddenly felt cold shivers run down her spines, she imagined George trying to propose to her, right there in the public, and she felt terrified,

“Dear father, please give me this last chance, please don’t allow George to propose here. I beg you, George doesn’t deserve this right here, right now, please father,” she prayed with desperation.

The couple had created quite a scene as people were seen chatting excitedly, it was obviously a lovely beginning for the beautiful duo.

“That was a boss move right there,” George commended, stealing occasional glances at the couples who were still mushy,

“Yeah,” Amifel said coldly, trying to fake a smile while digging her cutlery into the food on her plate, she couldn’t tell whether the food was delicious or tasteless as the crispy nuts dropped on her tongue. George chewed on his food hurriedly, he seemed to be enjoying the meal.

“Hope you like it, babe?” He asked, still focused on his food, Amifel nodded as she gulped the coke in her glass cup. The evening crept in swiftly and the couples were still around when they were leaving the restaurant.

“Congratulations once again,” George greeted stretching out his hands as they passed by their table,

“Thank you, man,” the man greeted, his almost white skin made him look like a non-Nigerian,

Amifel gave them an awkward smile as she seemed in a hurry to leave the premises. The journey back to her house was a rather quiet one, she wondered what was going through George’s mind, he was not the type to keep quiet especially after a date, thankfully there was no traffic and as George stopped at the front of their gate, she felt like she just escaped a fiery furnace as she felt the evening cool breeze on her soft skin.

“Thank you, George, I had a great time,” she said, looking exhausted, she obviously had the opposite,

“You didn’t seem to happy with the engaged couples, do you know any of them?” George asked instead,

“What, no! I don’t know either of them, I was just feeling a little dizzy,” Amifel said, taken aback by his question, she already carried her bag and was about getting down from the car,

“Okay,” he said, but he wasn’t looking okay, “Have a pleasant night rest,” he said,

“Alright babe, drive safely and call me when you get home,” she said as she banged the car door,

George was definitely bothered about her reaction to the newly engaged couples but it wasn’t what he thought it was,

Hope he isn’t going to take this too far?

*************

HE SAID NO

EPISODE 11

Amifel was so thankful that her mum was away. Even though she didn’t know where she went to, she cared less as she just wanted to be left alone. She used her spare house keys to gain access into their house, Mrs. Robert was definitely close-by as the television set was on. Just as she made her way into her room, there was a power outage that plunged her room into stark darkness and that was just perfect for her. She crashed into bed, after removing her shoes, she had dumped everything else she came back with on the sofa.

She heaved a weary sigh as she had just come to realize that she had been running in circles and she felt so exhausted,

“Father, I am tired.” She sobbed, “I am so tired,” the room was as quiet as a graveyard, no sound could be heard outside either, she wept for a fairly long time. She felt like someone who had been running a marathon race and had become frustrated because the finishing line was not anywhere in sight,

“Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest,” she heard that familiar voice in her heart, it has been so long since she last heard it. Ever since he told her to let go of George and she had refused, she had judged herself as a disobedient child and felt too condemned to pray. It even seemed like she could no longer hear his voice,

“Yes, I need rest, my soul needs rest,” she cried, “I am sorry, father. Please don’t be angry with me, I have been such a coward and I have been living in disobedience. I was too ashamed to pray, ”

“But I am not angry with you daughter, I have been waiting patiently for you, ” she stifled a sob as she felt God’s love and forgiveness wash over her, then a passage of the scripture dropped on her heart and she stretched towards her drawer and picked up her bible while using one hand to wipe the tears off her face.

For some weeks, she only got to use it whenever she went to church, she just felt like it would be hypocritical of her to look for new instructions when she had not paid heed to God’s last order.

She opened to the book of Hebrews chapter 4 and she started reading it with teary eyes, she paused when she got to verses 15 and 16, it struck with the high intensity. She looked over the verses again and her eyes lit up with hope, then she read it aloud amidst sobs,

“For we have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us, therefore, come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need,”

She had read that verse countless times before then and it had not as much as struck a chord in her. She was meditating on that verse when she heard her mum’s voice, she was back. Quickly she stood still, lying face down on her bed so that her mum would assume that she was sleeping.

Barely 5 minutes later, her mum came to check up on her, she must have smelt her perfume and seen her purse on the sofa. She left almost immediately she entered, seeing that she had ‘slept’.

Amifel stayed still in that position, she had stopped crying and was just meditating on what she had read.

“I love George, I think he loves me too, moreover I am getting older every day and if I forget, my mum is always there to remind me. This is one of the hærdest situations I have found myself in. I’m hurt father, telling him would hurt too and I don’t want him to be, ” she prayed in a low tone,

“I know how you feel Amifel, and I totally understand. Trust me, I do. I also want you to understand that I care about you and I want the best for you. You have to realize that your emotions are not reliable, they are temporal and you should not let them take the lead.” The room was as silent as a graveyard but she could clearly hear his voice, ” Amifel, do it know why you are finding this difficult?” He asked,

“Why?”

“It is because you feel you can over-ride your emotions by your will power, and you have proven that by refusing to talk to me. Amifel, it is not bad to admit your weakness before me, in fact, that is the most courageous thing you can do, Allow me to help you, ” he said,

“How, father?”

“Start by admitting that you need help, believe that my arm of help is always stretched towards you, and then finally receive my help, ”

“Okay Father, I am sorry for trying to figure it out on my own. I felt that it was not a big deal, I mean it does not sound hærd to tell George that ‘we cannot get married’, but I have realized that it is much more than a big deal, and I have come now, father. I admit that I have put myself in a mess, I believe that you are always willing to help me out and I receive your well-timed help in this time of need, ” she prayed,

“That’s my dear daughter, I am always here to help you. My Grace is sufficient for you and my strength is made perfect in your weakness. I’ll have it sorted out,” he continued,

“Thank you, father, thank you,” she sobbed,

“Always remember that you can approach me freely in the name of Jesus, to receive well-timed help and mercy for your weakness, I will always be here for you Amifel, I love you, dear daughter,” he continued, she had heard that same phrase from quite a lot of people, Bolaji told her that he would always be there for her, but he left all the same. George had also told her that countless times but hearing it from her father sounded different every time, it sounded genuine.

“Thank you, Father, thank you for not giving up on me,” she kept muttering and chanting songs of Thanksgiving, power was restored and the rolling standing fan made her drift off into the night faster.

***********************

Amifel’s tattered and dirty clothing was soaked in sweat, as she sat down on her buttocks in,side a dark cell, there was just enough light (probably powered by a candle), for her to see that she was in a rather hopeless condition. At first, she thought she was the only one in the cell until someone coughed beside her. She looked closely, it was George,

“When are we going to get out of here? We have been here for so long and I am tired, I need to be free!” She said to him, she must have been talking to the wind because George paid no heed not gave any response to her words.

Amifel gave up and sat there not too far from him, wondering if she was going to spend the rest of her life in the dark closet, it seemed not to be so,

“Amifel!” A young man in uniform called, clinging to the iron barricades of the cell. Amifel stood up quickly, wondering what the matter was,

“You have been granted bail, we picked the wrong person.” He said as he fiddled with the locks of the cell in a bid to open it.

As Amifel walked out of the cell, led by the uniformed man, she saw two other different uniformed men, dragging another lady into the cell, she had a long hair which covered her face but her stature and physique looked familiar.

She tried to squint her eyes to see who it was but the darkness wouldn’t grant her the permission, the young lady was taken, to the cell that she was just released from, and in a twinkle of an eye, she found herself outside, the rays of the sun shone graciously on her,

“I’m free! I’m free, ” she chanted, and then she woke up. It was a dream!

To be continued