Chapter 3

The holidays were approaching and everyone was getting ready to switch to festive mode. It was particularly a happy time for Hannah. Chike had travelled to the States and would be back in two weeks. He had promised her that on his return, he would take her with him back to the United States with or without her father's consent. Hannah was overjoyed. Her biggest dream was about to come true. She didn't care whether her father objected or not. She would soon leave him, Jonas and the rest of them behind and live happily forever after with Chike in America. She was busy daydreaming and imagining the luxury awaiting her when Tinuke's voice broke into her thoughts.

"Hannah!" She shouted.

"Ohhh God," Hannah grumbled. "What is it that you are disturbing my peace this afternoon, eh Tinuke? And when did you come back from your aunty's place?"

"Yesterday, my sister," Tinuke sighed.

"What did you bring for us?" Hannah asked disinterestedly.

"Abeg," hissed Tinuke, angrily. "You did not ask me what did I go and not come back with. That woman is as tight handed as a bronze statue."

"Naa wa," laughed Hannah. "You went without telling me, your so-called friend, and you're coming to complain. Good for you. Ntoiiin."

"Sorry na, but I did not see you. Your house was locked. Anyway, guess what?"

"What?" Asked Hannah, amused.

"Just guess," Tinuke grumbled impatiently.

"Abeg, I'm not interested in your games. Just tell me. Abi you don carry belle?"

"Hmmm," Tinuke sighed, smiling satisfactorily. "Jonas has come!"

"Ehen?" Hannah hissed. "And so? Is that why you're shouting?"

"Ah," Tinuke blurted, looking genuinely astonished. "I mean Jonas, your Jonas!"

"I said, And so?" Hannah shouted and hissed again. "Look, if you have nothing better to say, leave me alone let me rest abeg. Didn't you hear that we've broken up?"

"Eh?" Tinuke asked, her mouth hanging open in shock. "How? Why?"

"Abeg abeg abeg. Tinuke, come and be going if you know you want to ask me JAMB questions." "Sorry," Tinuke apologized, still thinking it was a joke. "I was just surprised."

"Then keep your surprise to yourself."

Tinuke obeyed and sat down quietly, racking her brain in an effort to process this latest information.

Jonas had not yet come to look for Hannah and she thought it a good sign. Her letter had done its work and Jonas had fallen in line. Problem solved. She was glad to be rid of him, but she was a little surprised when she heard rumors of him asking about her welfare. She simply put it to his having made peace with the status quo enough to want to be friends with her or was he trying to win his way back into her life? She would soon find out.

It was a cheery, sunny afternoon and Hannah was walking leisurely and singing sweetly as she traversed the tiny dirt road when she heard a male voice from among the bushes. She quickly turned around and was shocked to see a sick-looking but smiling Jonas limping toward her, a walking stick in one hand and a red rose in the other.

"I missed you so much, love," he croaked, in a voice that she could hardly recognize as his.

"Jonas," she blurted, eyeing him up and down with more surprise and pity than affection.

"I'm happier than ever to see you, my love. You look ravishing as usual. Forget about all this. I had a little accident while I was hurrying home to you, but for your love, I can go through much much worse. You see, I just got a very lucrative job and I can take care of you like I want to when we finally get married. In a few weeks, when I'm fully..."

"Excuse me, Jonas," she cut him off, plastering a superficial smile on her face. "I am very sorry for what happened to you... I truly am. But didn't you read my letter or did the accident also affect your eyes?"

"What letter?" Jonas asked, in total surprise.

"Oh. So you didn't get it? Or maybe you're pretending, thinking that I have changed my mind. Sorry, but I have not. Anyway, whether you saw it or not, let me tell you again what the letter was supposed to tell you... just to be very clear... ahem... as you can see, I look ravishing and that is because I have moved on. We both know our relationship was just a boy-girl affair, but now, I'm a woman. I have eyes and I have made my choice. You are free to make yours. I won't judge... so far you don't judge me. If you are fair to yourself, you will know that we don't fit each other and it is long past time that we move on, separately. I mean, that is if you can still move anyway. Good day. Greet your family for me. Bye Bye."

With that, she turned on her heels and continued her singing, putting a lot of extra swagger in her step. Jonas was dumbstruck. He stood stock still, his mouth hanging open and the beautiful rose lying dejectedly on the ground. With nothing left to do, he slowly turned around and headed home, drying the few tears that had escaped his firm resolve not to cry. He took solace in his late father's words: 'People will fail you, but don't fail yourself by letting it get to you'.