Chapter 4: All men are scum!

Omotayo 

  "Tayo wait!" Tobi's familiar voice calls out and I pick up my pace as quickly as I could to avoid talking to him. I know you're wondering why I'm upset since he and I were never an item and we just met two days ago but the fact that he had lied to me the first day we met and couldn't even tell me he was getting married was beyond upsetting and embarrassing. 

  "I said wait!" His hands pull me back and I unconsciously raise my free hand and slap him tightly across his face. 

"Don't you ever in your miserable life touch me again!" I warn him sternly and at first he looked shocked but he composed himself and stepped back a little. 

   Why the hell did I hit him? I ask myself feeling guilty for overreacting. 

"I know nothing I say will be reasonable but I still need to explain myself to you. You have every right to be mad at me, hit me or even forget I exist and I'll be fine with that but I want you to know I had no intentions of playing you or lying to you. Everything I told you that night was partly true, it wasn't a complete lie but it also wasn't the full story. Do you mind if we talk somewhere more private?" He asks and my pride wanted to get inside my car, drive off and delete the idiot's number but my curiosity wanted to hear what he has to say. Pride or Curiosity? I mentally weigh my options and decided I had nothing to lose if I listened to him. 

  "You have five minutes!" I reply sharply and he nods in understanding before escorting me to his office. 

"Start talking!" I demand as soon as my butt hits the comfortable sofa in his freakishly large office. 

  "Deborah, the girl I spoke to you about and I have been going out for last four years and three months ago I asked her to marry me because I was sure she was the right woman for me and fortunately she said yes." He says with a smile on his face and I almost hissed at how foolish he looked. It's not jealousy. 

"We had everything planned and were to get married by the end of this month but a few days ago, she called me and told me she was having doubts about everything and told me to give her time because she's confused and her words really broke me because I had no doubt in my heart that I wanted to be with her. To cut the long story short, my friends said I should go on this blind date to test myself and how I felt so I'd be sure I was really ready to stay with one woman. If I had felt any attraction beyond friendship towards my date, it would mean I wasn't ready for marriage." He's explaining and his words immediately puncture my pride.

  "You mean to say I was nothing but a test to you right? You just wanted to use me to be sure of yourself." I chime in quickly with a dry and bitter laughter that reminded me of why I avoided men all this while. 

"No you weren't just a test Tayo. I really liked the fact that I met you cause you are a very beautiful and intelligent woman and I really appreciated the words of advice you gave me, I was honestly attracted to that night but later I realised it wouldn't be fair to you if I lied about my feelings. I'm really sorry if I hurt your pride in any way, it was honestly not my intention." He apologises and I scoff. 

   "Where you ever going to tell me you two got back together and moreover you told me you were stranded at the altar when you haven't even gotten there yet. Am I suppose to just delete the lies and say I forgive you? Just like that? Well I'm sorry Tobi but that's not happening. I really enjoyed your company and thought we could become really good friends but I doubt that's happening after this. I wish you had just been honest from the start, I wouldn't have held it against you in any way." I vent out half yelling. 

"I would have told you because I planned on asking you out to dinner this Friday but that's no excuse and I'm really sorry. I really hope one day you'll over look my lies and we can start over as friends." He says a short reply and my heart almost forgave him but the experiences of my past came rushing and I couldn't bring myself to forgive him immediately. 

  "Have a good life Tobi." I reply sharply and walk out of his office not before giving it one more glance. I really need to redecorate my office. 'And also your life' my inner voice whispers and I smirk at that thought. Does my life really need to be decorated? I wonder to myself for a while before pushing the thoughts away and driving straight to my house. 

******

  "You don't mean it!" Ini says dramatically and I could tell that was her way of holding back her laughter. 

  "I'm upset Ini, so please don't fuel my anger!" I snap back her. 

"Abeg, Abeg, Abeg! Na me do you ni? Don't take it out on me o." She warns and I ignore, chugging down the rest of my orange juice. 

"I still don't understand your anger Tayo. You and this guy did not have any agreement and yet here you are acting like he dumped you and you're even still strongly denying the fact that you liked him. Is that one not madness?" She asks. 

  "Ini, do you really not get it? The reason I'm upset is because I almost got played again! Imagine I had not found out and he had kept up with his lies and continued playing me while he was bust getting married on the other hand, what would have become of me again? The same embarrassment I faced with Daniel, I'll have to walk through that shame again and you know how difficult it was for me to come out of it the last time. So don't judge me for getting upset." 

"I'm not mad at him but I'm mad at myself for once again trying to try my luck but not anymore Ini!" I tell her through gritted teeth. She stares blankly at me for a while as if trying to come up with what to say. 

  "I understand you but let me tell you this again for the umpteenth time. Don't conclude all men are bad cause they're not and stop thinking there's not love for you out there cause there is but it is not ready to show itself yet. If you keep believing you are no man's missing rib then you'll never find him and another prayerful woman will take your place so I beseech you to please and please, keep negative thoughts away from you. You need love in your life." She advises and I sniffling a bit, still trying to hold back my tears. 

  "Ini, why can't I just find one good guy and be at peace ehn! Why do I have to merry-go-round through the negative ones before I finally find the right one? It's not fair and I honestly give up. I'll go on the dates as per my parents deal but I'm sure nothing will come out of it and if by the end of the day I'll have to settle for an arranged marriage then so be it! I don't care as long as people stop calling me lonely and bitter and I'll finally get my parents off my back."I reply her, holding back my angry. 

  "Come here child, tomorrow will be a good day." She whispers gently offering me a hug and patting my hair   when I rested my head of her shoulder. 

"Are you going home today?" I ask her. 

  "Go home and leave you here by yourself? Not happening!" She replies quickly almost sounding like my mother. 

  "Thank you." I mutter quietly before drifting off to wonderland.