POISON
Part Two
Arinola’s pulse raced as she faced her boyfriend and best friend, the two people who were at the centre of her world. Her sense of insecurity had been bothering her for years and she felt betrayed and angry.
In an attempt to clarify things, Bola said, “Arinola, please, let us explain. This is not what you think.”
Arinola’s eyes welled up with tears, and her voice trembled as she responded, “I can’t believe you, Adunni. I thought we were sisters. How could you do this to me? And Bola, how could you betray my trust like this? Anyways, I always knew you preferred Adunni to me.”
“I’m sorry you feel that way Arinola,” Bola responded.
Feeling resentful, Arinola faced Adunni and continued, “Why is it that every guy I was interested in or who showed interest in me ended up leaving me when they met you.”
“You talk as if it’s my fault,” Adunni said.
Arinola, her resentment palpable, replied, “Yes, I hold you responsible for my unhappiness, and you know what, I hate you, and you too, Bola, I hate you. You two deserve each other. I never want to set my eyes on either of you again, traitors.” Arinola stormed out.
“Arinola, please let me explain,” Bola tried to stop her, but she stormed off.
Adunni whispered, “I told you this is a bad idea.”
Bola sighed and replied, “I have no regret, Adunni. I’m following my heart.”
The two of them stared at each other, perplexed.
Heartbroken and crying uncontrollably, Bola arrived home and packed her belongings. She moved in with a work colleague. She had believed that keeping Bola at arm’s length would keep her from falling in love with him, but she now knew that she was deeply in love with him. She missed him and missed Adunni even more. She couldn’t go to work and had to take a week off. Adunni and Bola made several attempts to contact her, but they were unable to locate her.
By the second week, Arinola was still not herself and was unable to return to work. Her birthday was just a week away.
Her colleague asked, “So, how are you going to celebrate your birthday?”
“What’s the point? I was betrayed by the two people who would have made the birthday special. I’m going to make them pay. I promise they won’t see me coming.”
“Don’t do anything you will regret; life is too short to mortgage on people who don’t care about you. I have an important office function this weekend, and I need you to accompany me.”
Arinola wasn’t interested. “I’m not in the mood to party.”
“But that’s exactly what you need to party and forget your pain. I can’t leave you alone here, and I also need a plus one. If you don’t agree, then you leave me no choice but to reveal your whereabouts to Adunni and Bola.”
Arinola reluctantly said, “You won’t do that?”
Adunni replied, “Well, I’m desperate.”
“Fine.”
“Great, we are going shopping.”
Arinola let out a sigh.
On the day of the party, they were dressed gorgeously. Arinola complained, “I really don’t know why you made me wear this dress; it’s so alluring. It’s not my style.” Arinola grumbled.
Her colleague explained, “But it’s your birthday.”
Arinola agreed, “Yes, but it’s not my party.”
“Never mind, let’s go.”
When they arrived at the hotel, they were led to the hall. As they entered the room, there was a shout: “Happy birthday, Arinola!”
Surprised, Arinola saw that it was her birthday party. As she tried to understand what was going on, Bola appeared from within the crowd.
“Arinola, my love, you captured my heart from the day we met and I’m forever grateful for that fateful day. The reason Adunni and I were meeting secretly was because we were planning a surprise for your birthday. I wanted to make it special for you. Adunni warned that you dislike people going behind you, but I told her my heart was focused on doing something really special for you.”
Adunni interjected, “We wanted to keep you in the dark until the big day. Bola thought it would be a great way to express how much he loves you. I assure you; nothing is going on between Bola and me.”
Arinola’s eyes filled with tears, and she was deeply ashamed of herself for jumping to conclusions without giving them a chance to explain. She had nearly lost the two people who meant so much to her because she had let her jealousy get the better of her.
“I’m so sorry,” Arinola whispered. “I should have trusted you both. I let my fear interfere with my judgment.”
Bola reached out and took Arinola’s hand. “We understand, Arinola. It’s not easy to deal with insecurity. But I assure you, I care about you, and no one can replace you in my heart. I love you very much, Arinola, and I’m happy and content with you.”
“I love you too, Bola, and I miss you so much.”
“I miss you too, babe. Happy birthday.” They embraced.
Bola continued, “Arinola, I have known you for a while, and ever since we first met, I’ve known you are the one for me. So, I have a question for you.” He dropped on one knee and produced a ring. Arinola gasped in shock.
“Arinola Badmus, will you be my wife?”
The crowd encouraged her, chanting, “Say yes, say yes!” Overwhelmed by the gesture, tears streamed down Arinola’s face.
“Yes, Bolatito Ajani, I will marry you.” Bola slipped the ring onto her finger, and they hugged.
“I love you,” Bola whispered.
“I love you too.” Everyone gathered around and congratulated them.
After a while, Arin found Adunni “I’m sorry, Adunni,” Arinola murmured.
Adunni nodded, her eyes filled with empathy. “You’re my best friend, Arin. I would never do anything to hurt you intentionally. But I have been insensitive. Can we sit down and talk?”
They both sat down, and Arinola spoke first. “You have no idea how hard it’s been living in your shadow. You are incredibly beautiful, smart, and perfect. I couldn’t help being jealous of you.”
“Me? Perfect? I have always admired you, Arinola. You are intelligent and very focused. You are the kindest person I know, and you care about people genuinely. Also, you have a boyfriend who genuinely cares for you, unlike me, whom men are only attracted by my beauty. Do you know how many times I have wished to be like you?”
“Like me? You actually wanted to be like me?”
“Yes. I wanted people to respect me and take me seriously.”
“This world is a strange place. Here I am wishing to be like you, and here you are wishing to be like me. I guess the saying “Nobody is perfect” is true. We should all be happy and contented with what we have.”
“You are right, Arin. I’m sorry.”
“And I am sorry too.” filled with a mixture of relief and gratitude, Arinola embraced her friend.
Bola found them hugging. “I’m glad you both resolved your issues.”
“Yes, indeed. I wish we had this talk a long time ago,” Arinola admitted.
“Me too, but I’m happy we did. Well, I better leave you two lovebirds. Let me go find myself a potential husband.”
“In that dress, you will definitely get more than one proposal tonight?” Arinola chuckled.
“Thanks, and by the way, you look amazing in that dress.”
“Thank you.”
“I’ll see you guys later.” Adunni departed.
Bola held Arinola tightly “The ring is beautiful and it fits well,” Arinola admired her ring.
“I have Adunni to thank for that.”
“Really?”
“Yes. That’s the other thing we haven’t told you. And she is also the one who figured out where you might be hiding and approached your colleague with our plan.”
“Oh, Bola, I love you, and I will never doubt you again.”
“Come here,” Bola said, and they hugged, sealing their love and trust.
The end!
Jealousy and envy are like poison if not managed can be catastrophic. We are all wonderfully and fearfully made irrespective of our flaws.
Thank you for reading.
Jumie Naths
