DEMOLA
Damilola mi owon walked out on me.
Amara my sweetheart didnât look back.
After all the wonderful times we spent together and the relationship we had, she didnât even want to let me explain. Heartbreak is the most indescribable pain. I was falling to pieces, but putting a brave face on each day.
Day one to day seven I was so angry that she didnât even bother to let me explain. By day eight, I woke up with a massive headache and a heart so broken I had to force myself to get out of bed.
My responsibilities in running Regal Tech Corporation and my other various business ventures could not permit me to allow the pain to surface. So, I suppressed the pain with work. I took on even more responsibilities and refused to designate any duties I could handle on my own. Within short intervals, I shuttled between Lagos, Port Harcourt and Abuja. The major commercial hubs and the capital city. Returning to my toxic cycle of strain and stress.
Before I met my sweetheart, I didnât have specific off days. I worked day and night on various computer software, developing applications, telecommunications and real estate projects. Meeting her had been a turning point.
My father admitted that he thought that she was perfect for me, so he frequently went to the hospital to try and get to know her better. Hoping one day, he could be the bridge to make us meet.
He knew I was always busy and wouldnât be able to come over without a good reason, so he asked Amara to call me. The rest, they say, is history.
I did all I could to keep my private life out of the spotlight, so there wasnât much drama with the media, but some lying bloggers tried to spread fake news about us. We passed that test.
When a jealous admin staff, Ellen, tried to frame me for cheating. Amara put her in her place, sharply and ordered for her dismissal. That was so hot. We passed that test.
My parents, sister and brother in law, absolutely adored her and her parents, brother and sister in law, absolutely adored me. We passed that test.
I only had two close friends, Harry Badmus and Jola Osagie, the former based in US, the latter based in UK. We hardly ever had any time for each other, but we met at MIT. When they came to Lagos and met my sweetheart, they BOTH said she should call them if I 'misbehaved'. She passed that test.
When that spongebob, Dr Emeka, kept trying to flirt with my woman at work. I called him to order, and told him to stay away from her if he knew what was good for him. She said he was harmless and I overreacted. But she thought it was hot. We passed that test.
She was effortlessly beautiful and hardly ever wore make-up, often wearing very conservative clothes. She understood that being with me she would have to âstep up' her look. Amara was beautiful before, after she was breathtaking. She passed that test.
My parents did not find out about our break up until the tenth day. They blamed me immediately. Dad said that when our relationship hit the six month mark, I should have told her about what happened.
He said that when he and mum were dating, they had a fight that could have ended their relationship, because of some things that they didnât open up about. Dad told me that I should sort this matter out myself and win her back.
I tried to reach out to her but she didnât respond.
Amara had trust and anxiety issues. I could see in her eyes and her actions that she cared so much for me. I never felt so respected and cherished by a woman. Most were after the fame and fortune. Amara didn't care for money or gifts, she valued quality time so much more, but something was holding her back.
It couldnât have been a former boyfriend, she said she was a virgin and had not dated before me. She had a good relationship with both sides of her family, so I did not think it could have been a relative. I kept believing in her because for me it was love at first sight.
I love her.
I did not tell her what happened because I was afraid that I would lose her.
The thing which I feared most had happened to me.
*****
Seven years ago, it was just like yesterday that the event that would change my life forever occurred.
âDemola, I have gone through your proposal and I am impressed. I will send the details and venue of our meeting via e-mail.â
âThank you so much sir, I appreciate this opportunity.â
âIts not a problem. You are welcome. Call me Mr Konpo or AB.â
âUm, okay sir. Goodbye.â
âBye.â
I was the best graduating student in computer science and engineering, and had recently developed a mobile app for a private firm.
Mr Konpo was a Brungarian financier that I got in touch with after several calls and e-mails to source for funds for the vision I had.
I went to his private residence in Brungaria in a suit and tie, along with my mini laptop and PowerPoint slides. Fully prepared to convince him to invest in the app so I could diversify and advance the project.
A housekeeper welcomed me and instructed me to go to the board room, upstairs, down the corridor, last room on the left.
I rushed up the stairs, excited that I was about to seal a record breaking deal, and accidentally went down the corridor and entered the room on the right.
Imagine my horror, when I saw many young men, most of them looked my age. Some of them a little younger. All of them were sitting on the bare floor. Silent and scantily clad, with their hands tied and mouths covered.
Before I could turn and flee, a man in a red mask attacked me. I had a rush of adrenaline as I fought him with all my strength.
He tried to choke me and I broke free and punched him hard. As he stumbled, I fell backwards but knew I had to act fast or it might cost me my life.
The man got back up and tried to drag my legs. I kicked him hard in the head and he rolled towards the stairs. He got up and pulled out a dagger and walked towards me. Step by step.
I was curled up on the floor not so far away. My whole life flashed before my eyes. Just as he was about to strike me, I rose up with a savage surge of energy and speared him towards the stairs. He felt backwards, tumbled down the stairs and broke his neck. Falling on his own dagger in the process. I panicked but fortunately, I had learnt a lot from my father, an excellent lawyer.
Evidence is very important.
I snapped photos of the men in the room and had uploaded an audio recording of my fight with the strange man, thinking I would not survive.
Before I fled the scene, I removed the mask of the man, in order to snap his photo.
It was AB Konpo.
Notable philanthropist and co-ordinator of non governmental organizations that had raised millions for the underprivileged and educational institutions.
When the police stormed his residence later. The room upstairs was empty and everywhere had been cleaned. Thoroughly.
His family and associates would have destroyed me in court, but I had unshakable evidence. My family stood by my side, and I was heavily compensated. The matter was settled out of court.
People mourned for him and celebrated âa life well spent' after his death was announced as a âdomestic accident'.
My family spent days and nights praying and fighting for my name to be fully cleared and sent me to MIT shortly afterwards.
I am not a murderer. It was self-defense. Anyone who would not do the same should come forward.
*****
I looked out of the window of my Abuja residence as I leaned back on a chair, swishing my drink in my glass cup. The details of what happened were far to delicate to reveal without thinking twice. Leaving Lagos was the best option for me after seeing Damilola everywhere and in everything.
Whenever I went out, Iâd see her type of car, her type of hairstyle or clothes. A new film release would remind me of the times we went to the cinema together. Her favourite one was at Ikeja Mall. Sometimes we would cross Third Mainland Bridge in my jeep to Victoria Island. To watch a movie at Filmhouse cinema. My favourite.
Seeing a hospital or hearing her kind of music was worse. Which was a nightmare because my sweetheart listened to Naija and foreign music. Fast beats and slow ones. There was no escaping it.
I punished myself looking at the photos we snapped together all day and night. I missed her smile, her voice, her touch, her kind but firm attitude. I was not happy about how everything played out, but with tears in my eyes, I sighed.
Perhaps it was for the best.
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