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THE SOON THAT NEVER CAME

 

THE SOON THAT NEVER CAME 





A Sad smile played on Ilori's face as he looked towards his young children, Ilerioluwa and Tiaraoluwanimi, laughing and giggling as they play in the children's section of the restaurant.


His heart constricted at the wholesome sight before him - his children all happy. His gaze locked with that of a smiling 6 year old Tiara. Tiara blew her father a sweet kiss, which Ilori caught and placed on his heart, causing Ileri and Tiara to giggle some more before turning on their Merry Go Round.


Then Asake’s voice shattered the moment:

"What do you mean you're going back tomorrow? You just arrived last week, the children are just getting settled in your presence, and you're talking of going back already?" Asake shrieked, a little too loudly, causing some of the patrons to look their way.


"Keep your voice down... Please." he replied softly, trying to hold her hands.


Asake wards off his hands, glaring at him angrily, her eyes begining to water.


Ilori sighed.


He ran his fingers through his hair.


"Is it the American woman?" Asake’s eyes flared with accusation. "Is she asking you to return when you are yet to even bond with us?"


Ilori looked away, avoiding her gaze and the tears that has began to drop from her eyes.


"Don't be like this...." 


"I shouldn't be like what exactly, ehn Ilori?" Asake uttered weakly, her voice breaking. "You think it's all about money? These children barely know their Father! You fly into the country once in three years and you think this is how to be a family?"


"Asake, you knew the arrangements before now. Why are you acting like I kept you in the dark? You know that I had to marry Katherine, the White Woman, so I could travel abroad and make a good life for us...." Ilori rambled, looking everywhere but at Asake.


"For you,” Asake interrupted, sorrow and rage colliding. "Ilori, you are doing this for you and not for the children and I. I don't care whatever you tell yourself to sleep well at night, but there is more to this and you know it. Don't think I am a fool!" 


"I will send more money when I get to America. You can buy yourself that new human hair you talked about."


Asaka paused, Her face went still, mouth agape as she stared in shock at this stranger in her husband's body. She wiped tears off her face.


"Tiara!!! Ileri!!! Shoes on... now!” she ordered, voice flat, her red eyes distant. 


The children, puzzled, scurrying back to where their parents are.


"If you go back tomorrow, when are we seeing you again?" She asked in a whisper no louder than grief itself.


"Soon..." 


The sound of that single word hit Asake hard. She looked at her husband, and in that moment she knew what that word meant, she was never going to see him again.


Asake stood quietly, avoiding looking at Ilori. She had just slammed the door of her heart shut to him.


She picked the takeaway nylons and held her children as they head towards the car parked outside the restaurant, Ilori walking behind them.


The trip back home was uneventful and quiet, except for the cheeriness of the kids.


At dawn, Ilori slipped from their Ikoyi duplex, suitcase in hand. The Uber driver greeted him cheerfully; 


"Good morning, Sir, can I start the ride now?" His jolly fresh faced smiled at him.


Ilori nodded, he stared at the silent house until the car pulled away and disappeared down the street.


___________________________________


"Can I have you one more time? I just can't get enough of you?" Ilori groaned, holding Moseleri's petite waist and placing sweet kisses on her lips.


"I know, but we are now husband and wife, so we have a lifetime to have ourselves in America. We need to head out now to the airport before Lagos traffic begins to build up. We don't want to miss our flight, you know?" Moseleri laughed flirtatiously, leaving his embrace to zip a travelling bag on the bed.


Ilori grunted like a kid whose candy has been snatched, but he stood from the bed to carry the two luggages from the bed.


The lovebirds held hands as they walked out of the apartment to a waiting Uber ride.


___________________________________

Asake woke to a empty bed. She screamed angrily and burst into tears. 


Her scream tore through the room; tears came unbidden. The stark silence offered its verdict: it was over.


Something about the empty bed had hit the proverbial nail on her head.


She knew it was over between Ilori and her. She also knew it wasn't about Katherine. 


She knew something or someone else was involved. She knew she had just been betrayed.

Just call it a woman's intuition.


Grabbing the wedding frame resting on the dresser beside the bed, she walked to the kitchen and dropped it in the bin.


Good riddance to bad rubbish.


The End.


ADERONKE ADEYEYE 2025

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