All Chapters of A Naija Christmas : Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

FEHINTOLA8:00pm I stood a little away from the whole festival going on. Right now, the children were dressed beautifully in traditional attires, dancing happily to an amapiano music. And every other person laughing heartily and cheering them up. I had to beg Anu and Ayo to take pictures and videos for me.My gaze fell on Dami, he had a wide smile beautifully carved on his face, he looked like he had not a worry in this world, when infact he might be the one with the biggest worry. I wonder how he was able to do it. I wasn’t really able to enjoy today’s activities, I was constantly zoning out and at some point I began to feel very hot and uncomfortable, majorly because of the conversation I had with my dad before coming here. I had to leave the place, because I couldn’t take Dami asking me if I was okay every one second, and I didn’t want to ruin his fun. I couldn’t even join Dami to complete the cookies earlier, I just sat back in my apartment staring over and over again at the

FEHINTOLA.NEXT DAYFriday 6th December. 9:00am.I let out a deep breath as I slid the duvet off my body and sat up in bed. My gaze drifted to the folder on my bed beside me —the offer from my father for D&A’s. I’d decided to literally sleep on it, hoping rest would give me the clarity and strength on how to face the situation. Today, I had to come clean to Dami. There was no more running from it. With another sigh, I swung my legs off the bed, slipped into my flip-flops, and tightened the scarf on my head before heading to the bathroom. In front of the mirror, I stared at my reflection, no matter how hard I tried to take my mind, the thought of it still weighed me down, Omo Fehintola, you really messed up. If I could rewind time, I wouldn’t have lied about coming for a job. I should have been upfront from the start and tried to win him over with honesty. The loud ringtone of my phone snapped me out of my thoughts. Abandoning the toothbrush in my hand, I rushed back to the bed

FEHINTOLA.12:00pm.Dami’s arms wrapped snugly around my shoulders, as we made our way out of the town square. My fingers instinctively found his, intertwining as if they belonged there. “You didn’t have to do that in public,” I murmured, casting a side glance at him. We had just finished setting down and packing up everything we used and were now heading home. “I wanted to,” he replied without hesitation. “And I’d do it every time I get the chance.” He added, I couldn’t help but glance up at him, a small smile tugging at my lips. “Aww, stop,” I muttered, heat rising to my cheeks. His soft chuckle made my stomach flutter, but I quickly sobered, lowering my gaze.“Dami, there’s something I need to—” “Ah-ah, ahn-ahn! This one don do!” Ayo’s voice boomed from behind, startling us both. Before we could react, he wedged himself between us, shoving us apart with zero remorse. Wrapping his arms around our shoulders, then he pulled us close to himself.“Hold me instead,” he declared, hi

FEHINTOLA.Few hours later. 3:30pmI sat on the edge of my bed, my fingers nervously drumming on my thighs. I stared down at the proposal beside me, “God, what is this?” I muttered to myself, frustration curling through my words. I felt like I was being pulled apart—caught between two impossible choices. My father and the man I actually love.Saying no to my father felt like stepping into a battlefield unarmed. But facing Dami with this? That was an entirely different war—one I wasn’t ready for, especially after the things he’d said to me today. I sighed deeply, rubbing my temples in an attempt to clear my thoughts. If I were to choose, the answer is kind of obvious, though. My father would have to wait. I’d deal with him later. Right now, my priority was Dami. He’d poured everything he had into the grand Christmas sales, and the Christmas festival, without considering himself. How could I sit back and do nothing when I had the power to help him? I immediately placed the proposal

DAMILARE*“You can’t keep judging everyone by the wounds of your past. I’m not your mother Damilare, and I’d appreciate it if you’d stop looking at me as though I’ll hurt you the same way she did.”**“You can’t tie me down to stay with you, Dami. You’re just going to have to trust me. And if you don’t trust me, then there’s no point in us being together.”**“You’re smart, Dami. You’re learned and I expected better from you. But this perfectionism you cling to? It’s going to destroy you”*I sat quietly on the sofa staring into space as the words Fehintola said to her earlier circled around me, they felt so tangible that I could touch them. I felt bad that I hurt her with my words, I never wanted to see her cry but the fact that she cried because of me tugged painfully at my chest. Thinking about it now, I had let my ego ruin things for me. The memory of her tearful expression gnawed at me, more painful than I could ever admit. I had taken out my frustration, my insecurities, and my