Forever and For always 16 PT 1

Eleven years ago

 

Ezinne was in her room taking a look at her project work when one of the maids knocked her door.

 

“Ezinne.” She called

 

“Yeah, Helen…What’s it?” Ezinne asked.

 

“Your coursemate, Mofe is here to see you.” She said and Ezinne sat up immediately. She hadn’t expected him at her place. She’d assumed he would be with his aunt at the hospital for a while and she had planned on joining him later but he was here instead.

 

“Let him come up.” She told her knowing the girl probably disapproved but it was none of her business. Her boyfriend was here, she thought with a slight smile.

 

By now the staff would have guessed she and Mofe had something going on and that Ekene had been dumped. She knew they gossiped about her affairs but didn’t care. As far as she never heard whatever they said, she was fine.

 

Setting her laptop aside, she quickly took off her hairnet and shoved it in a drawer, running her hand through her weave to straighten it. She was in a satin camisole and shorts, probably a little too casual and exposed to be receiving a guy in but she didn’t care.

 

This was Mofe and the plan was to entice his eyes anytime she could. She loved when his beautiful almond eyes glazed over as he stared at her when they made out. She wanted his touch, she’d missed it and if seeing her in her semi sultry negligee turned him on, so be it.

 

He was probably too upset about his aunt to be turned on anyway, she thought.

 

She sat down on the bed awaiting his arrival, then deciding against it, she lied down. No, that was a horrible idea, so she got up instead and walked to the door.

 

When he knocked, she opened the door to see his broad, tall form. A hint of a smile on his face. She doubted she would ever get enough of his good looks.

 

“Mofe what are you doing here? I thought you would be with your aunt.”

 

His gaze roamed over her casually, stopping at the exposed tops of her breasts as he replied. “I came back to pick some things,I’ll be staying with her overnight, and of course I brought your phone. I found it in the apartment, on the desk.” He handed her the phone and she took it from him, our fingers brushed and he caught her hand, holding on to her.

 

“Ezinne….I…I’m not sure how to thank you for…” He began hesitating a little, but she stopped him by pulling him to herself.

 

“You don’t have to thank me for anything, Mofe..” She told him.

 

“Zinny, you saved her life. Had it not been for you, she might have…..”

 

“No, you don’t know that…” Ezinne stopped him, but he continued.

 

“I do Ezinne! The doctors said it was close….You should have called me…You almost missed your defence.. you got me quite scared. What if you had missed it? .”

 

She smiled. “You stalled for me…Somehow I knew you would. The guys told me how you waited till you were last and spent almost an hour stalling.”

 

He smiled, “I would have stalled for the whole day if you hadn’t shown up.”

 

She laughed, “and what would you have been talking about?”

 

“I don’t know…The history of computers if I had to.” He replied and they both chuckled.

 

He wrapped his arms around her pulling her to him, his expression turning serious. “I owe you so much Ezinne…..”

 

“No you don’t, Mofe…. Don’t be silly, It’s a family friend’s hospital, I will settle the bills…. I,.”

 

He shook his head, “I cleared them already.”

 

“You did what!” She exclaimed shocked. “But… I thought you were saving up for your studies. Won’t this affect it.”

 

He nodded still looking at her amusedly. “It will set me back but I’ll be fine…” he slipped a warm hand behind her neck caressing her nape which felt so good. “If I don’t make it up, I could always defer for a year. Spend some more time with you….”

 

She shook herself from his hold and stepped back into the room, telling him, “No, you will not defer, Mofe! You can’t do that.”

 

“I can’t?” He asked following her into the room and closing the door behind him.

 

“No you can’t. Why won’t you just let me help? You never accept my help…. Even the laptop I got for you after your last one was destroyed, you’ve never used it. Don’t think I don’t see it in  your wardrobe untouched…. I hope you don’t plan on giving it back to me because I won’t accept it….. instead of using it,you still borrow people’s computers. I’ve never said anything but I think it’s about time I did. Mofe! This stops now… you have to accept my help from now on.”

 

He stood all the while staring at her, arms crossed over his chest and wearing a serious expression.

 

“Aren’t you going to say something?” She asked.

 

“I’m supposed to say something? I thought you just gave a decree and I wasn’t sure if I was to argue.”

 

She rolled her eyes and he chuckled. “I’m serious Mofe. You need to let me help.”

 

He sighed dropping to his knees and squatting down in front of her, he took her hands into his. “Ezinne, you do too much already. I’m a typical African man who believes in taking care of his lady…. Call me proud but I can’t sit back and allow you take care of me… you are my girl Zinny and I owe you so much already…. My aunt owes her life to you….”

 

“Don’t say that Mofe …. You owe me nothing, I only did what anyone else would have done.”

 

“You almost missed your defence, Ezinne. You don’t even know what you did…You could have had to repeat the year. You did it for my aunt…For me Ezinne.”

 

She shrugged seeing the emotions cross his face, this meant so much to him.

 

“I’d not been thinking about my project at the time… I’d just done what needed to be done. I….” She began but he cut her off when he suddenly took her lips with his in a searing kiss.

 

She wrapped her hands around his neck pulling him to herself. He put his arms on her waist, lifting her onto the bed.

 

“I hadn’t planned on this. I’d only meant to drop your phone and leave…” He whispered as he nuzzled her neck, kissing her along its nape. “What you do to me Ezinne…. I think I might be in love with you.”

 

Ezinne froze on hearing his last statement.

 

Just then there was a quick knock on her door. She would know that knock anywhere,it was her dad’s.

 

Quickly, she got up, pushing Mofe off her she whispered. “That’s my dad.”

 

“Ezinne?” Her father called.

 

“Yes dad, gimme a minute Pls.” She called at the door before turning to Mofe who was comfortably lying on the bed. “Get into the bathroom.”

 

“What..Why?”

 

“Heyyy!……Keep your voice down. Why? That’s my dad. You think he would be elated seeing his daughter making out with a guy?”

 

She saw his face fall and didn’t know what she’d said but she didn’t have the time to contemplate his feelings.

 

Without a word he got up and made his way to her bathroom and she got up also and made for the door.

 

Opening it she said, “hello dad… I didn’t know you were back.”

 

He was in uniform so he was coming from the office.

 

“I just came in briefly to take something, I’m returning now but I wanted to talk about last night. I know I might have come out a little harsh but you do know I want the best for you, right?”

 

Ezinne didn’t want to get into it with her dad here with Mofe so close. She knew he was a stubborn man and liked to get his way all the time so she decided to let him believe she was okay with his plans.

 

“Yes, I know dad.” She said quietly and his features brightens thinking he’d finally gotten through to her.

 

“Ekene loves you so much, Ezinne. He called asking about you today and I had a conversation about how he treated you the last time and he swore it would never happen again.”

 

Ezinne resisted the urge to roll her eyes.

 

“I told him you would give him another chance. We are all human and we all make mistakes.”

 

She just stared at him wordlessly, really holding herself back from speaking. Did he seriously expect her to give Ekene a chance? That would only happen when hell froze over and even if it did, she doubted she would still give him half a chance.

 

“I have to run now. I’ll see you in the evening.” He said and Ezinne closed the door, resting her back on its smooth wooden surface.

 

It was wiser not to fight with her father over anything concerning Kene. In the end he couldn’t forcefully marry her off so she wouldn’t waste her energy getting into a fight with him over something that would never happen.

 

She walked to the bathroom, pushing the door open.

 

“Mofe.” she called.

 

He stood at the wash basin looking at his reflection in the mirror that hung above it. She got a strong vibe that something was wrong.

 

“Mofe… is something wrong?”

 

He shrugged. “I don’t know… you tell me.”

 

“What?” She asked wondering what he was talking about.

 

“Are we going to pretend I didn’t hear what you and your dad were talking about?”

 

“Mofe, that was nothing. We both know Ekene and I are over.”

 

“It’s obvious your dad doesn’t.” He pointed out.

 

“Mofe, I didn’t want to get into a heated argument with him over nothing, let him think what he wants. We both know you have me.” She stepped closer to him, taking his hand in hers. “You have me…And I have you.”

 

He pulled her closer to him but she could tell something still bothered him.

 

“I felt you go still when I said I might be in love with you…Why did you do that?” He asked quietly staring her in the eyes.

 

She had almost forgotten his passionate declaration a few minutes back. It had taken her by surprise.

 

“I…I didn’t expect it, that’s all.” She stammered.

 

“I’ve had feelings for you for a really long time Ezinne…And now having you to myself finally, it’s unbelievable. You still don’t know the depth of what I feel…. If I had the means now, I would get married to you and just start a family with you already.”

 

She laughed. “Surely you don’t mean that. Mofe, you’re only in your mid twenties.”

 

“Yes, but I think I’m old enough to know what I want….. and of course I want you for the rest of my life. Right now and always.”

 

His words melted her. They were so good to hear, she knew he meant every word of it and she wanted that too. She wanted him. “Forever and For always.” She told him and he nodded.

 

He smiled placing his forehead to her’s. “Ezinne for Mofe, forever and for always. That’s what we’ll put on the wedding invitations.” He said with a small smile and as he brushed his lips over her’s, he added, “let’s kiss on it, seal the deal.”

 

“Mofe Johnson, Did you just propose?” She murmured against his lips.

 

“I don’t even know…I was just looking for an excuse to kiss you.” He said drily and she giggled, playfully hitting him on the chest.

 

“You know you don’t need one. My lips are all yours MJ….just place yours on mine and we are good to go.”

 

“Like this?” He asked placing his lips gently upon hers. She moved her’s in accordance to his slow rhythm wrapping her arms around his shoulders and as she enjoyed the sensual feelings his kiss invoked upon her body, they sealed the deal.

 

“And no I did not just propose, but when I do, I’ll have a beautiful ring for you. I do hope it would be one with a huge rock on it.”

 

She smiled, “Even if you gave me a plastic ring today, I would accept it.”

 

He smiled, staring at her with admiration, “Ezinne Onu, just when I think I know you, you surprise me even more.”

 

“Maybe you don’t know me as well as you think you do, Mofe.”

 

“Maybe I don’t.” He agreed “But so far I like what I know…. Ezinne, as much as I’d like to remain here with you, kissing and all, I really need to get back to the hospital. I’ll be staying the night, relieving Eric for a while.”

 

He stepped away from her and she instantly missed his touch but managed to hide it. “Sure, it’s okay. I might join you later. Is your aunt awake now?” She asked.

 

“Yes, she is.” He said as he walked over to her room door. “She would really love it if you showed up. She was asking after you.”

 

“I’ll be there.” She promised.

 

He smiled at her, raising his hand to caress the side of her face lightly. “Thankyou.”

 

“There’s nothing to thank. I know you would do the same and more for me. Now go already.” She said placing her hands on his rock hard chest and pushing him out side her door as he chuckled. “Do I cover up and walk you downstairs?”

 

“No please, don’t bother…. I’ll see myself out.” He said leaning forward to place one last kiss on her lips before straightening up.

 

“Later…Babe.” He said finally, turning to walk down the hallway that would lead him to the stairs.

 

She was sorry to see him leave and wanted him to be with her for a while longer. She knew he would stay if she asked but she knew when to pull back and let him do what he needed to do.

 

How would she cope for the next two years? She wondered.

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