The Runaway Bride Episode 19

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The couple remained cordial to each other.
On Wednesday before she woke up, he
already made some fresh juice for her, he
knocked when she did not come out on time
and when she asked what he wanted, he said
he was just checking on her to see if she was
okay.
On Thursday, she decided to pick out the
attire for the Friday event especially when
she got a call from the lawyer, who said she
would soon be called for an interview.
However, she would love if they could have it
the following week.
She also called to inform Clara that she would
be traveling on Saturday and a return flight
would be booked for Sunday. She made a
mental note to book the flight for her and
Henry later in the day and send the code to
him on time too.
The tension in the house has reduced and
they moved about their daily chores with
knowledge and respect for each other. She
even received her brother in the house and
Tokunbo played a good host. They played a
couple of games, ate and watched a movie
together before he returned home later in the
day and to their respective rooms.
Chris also stopped by but did not stay long.
Davis’ call has also reduced as they have less
to talk about now; all these within just a few
days?
********************************************************
FRIDAY
Tokunbo woke up and imagined how the day
would go, the message they got from the
lawyer said they should be ready to be picked
up abound 11:30. He took a look at his phone
to check the time and saw that it was some
minutes past 6:00 am.
He stood up to have his bath because he
knew he would not be getting anymore sleep,
after his bath, he checked the clothes he
picked for the 2 events they would be having.
The interview and the dinner. The fear in his
stomach is actually because of the guest they
would be having the day after.
When the driver from her father- in-law
arrived to pick them up, Tokunbo was ready
but needed to check with Chinwe if she was,
so he could ask the driver to come in or not.
When he knocked on the door…
“I will be out soon!”
When she finally came out of the room, he
almost fell off his seat; she was clad in a
glimmering black dress, stopping some inches
above her knees. The gown fitted her
perfectly and he wondered if he could keep
his hands off her, especially her neck with
her hair packed high up on her head in a soft
bun.
Chinwe almost dropped her bag when she saw
Tokunbo staring at her with a look that she
cannot describe. He looked immaculate in the
white plaid tuxedo and black t-shirt he has on
with a pair blue jeans, he has another suit
resting on the back of the chair he sat on and
when he finally stood up, she almost told him
he is handsome and if she said it, she would
have meant it.
They went outside together and took the back
seat as the driver drove them off to the venue.
Tokunbo took out the list of question and
answer they got from the lawyer and he read
through them, but he could swear he was not
getting anything to his brain. The beauty
queen seated beside him is taking all his
concentration.
When they arrived at the hotel and were led
to the room where subjected to some experts
patting on their faces, they did some magic
with Chinwe’s hair and the result was simply
splendid. The interview they were told would
start about an hour later, Chinwe was not
surprised to see her mother and brother
there. They told them her father would be
arriving late, some minutes later after he
arrived, Tokunbo’s parents also arrived and
the interview started.
The first session of the interviewed were just
for Tokunbo and Chinwe and most of the
questions were what they were prepared for,
after that, the 4 parents were included and
most of the questions were directed to her
father, who answered them like an expert and
almost believably.
Nkem was also asked some questions as the
brother of the kidnapped, after which pictures
were taken; when the reporters finally left,
night had come and they were led to a room
where they could change and retire to when
the party is over.
Tokunbo watched Chinwe excuse herself to
the bathroom to change into the dress for the
night and he waited patiently as she did,
when she came out it was in a long wine
dress with some stoned adorning the
neckline. She took his breath away and could
not pretend not to be looking, which she
caught him in
“You look pretty amazing” he said softly
“Thanks” she said shyly as she moved to the
dressing table to change her neck piece and
earrings, Tokunbo’s eyes went to the back of
her dress and noticed the zipper was not fully
up, so he walked to her and did the final
touch on the zipper and they both froze in the
process; their eyes locked in the mirror.
A knock on the door shook them out of their
reverie and Tokunbo quickly walked away
from her as if he had been caught doing
something wrong. He opened the door gently
and allowed Nkem into the room, who was
grinning slyly as if he wanted to crack a joke
on his sister and he expected her to open the
door.
“Sorry, I thought Chinwe would open the
door”
“Come on in”
“Babe, you look wow” Nkem said dramatically
“Thanks, what am I seeing, you are looking
good too” Chinwe stood up and took a good
look at her brother who was grinning like a
don.
“Excuse me you two, I need to change too
before we all go downstairs” Tokunbo excused
himself from the room and returned later to
find them laughing as Nkem was taking her
pictures.
“I like this suit too, it must be from the same
designer as the one you wore earlier” Nkem
said to Tokunbo
“Thanks and yeah, the same designer”
“Why not stand beside her let me take a
picture of you 2 before we go downstairs”
“Don’t worry, we will get …”
“Bro, move!” Nkem commanded and was
surprised to see Tokunbo standing beside his
sister and he took several shots of them. A
thought occurred to him and the smile on his
face alerted his sister who asked
“What evil are you planning?”
“Just oblige me, you hear, Bro. Toks, can you
just hold her on the waist and rest your head
on her head, yeah…, just like that, perfect”
“Wait” Chinwe was about to protest
“Just stand still, it’s just a picture, Chinwe”
Tokunbo whispered into her ear as she tried
to fidget away from his gently hold on her
waist. Nkem took several pictures of them and
when he finally told them to sit down, he
showed them the pictures and Tokunbo was
blown away by the beauty he captured.
“Nkem, these pictures are good, you should do
this for money abeg”
“ahh, and let Senator disown me?”
“What do you mean?”
“He would not hear any of it when I told him
I wanted to do industrial Design and major in
photography; he told me he would buy me a
professional camera if I graduate with at least
a second class upper in Geophysics. Look
through, you would see some from your
wedding before the reception when this
Dundee ran away” that earned him a poke
from his sister and a chuckle from Tokunbo,
who looked through the pictures and saw the
sadness in her eyes for the first time.
After going through the pictures, he passed
the phone to Nkem
“I need all those photos”
“You’ve got to pay for them, I was not your
official photographer”
“We will discuss price later, send them first”
“Nah, I know better, do you know who my
father is?, I learnt from him”
“So how much are you getting for them?”
“you are not really thinking of paying him,
are you?” Chinwe asked in disbelief as she
watched both of them.
“They are his and I must confess, he did a
good job, so dude, how much for them all”
“I could get everything from him without a
dime entering his pocket believe me” Chinwe
said
“there are about 48 shots in all, that would be
like 1k for each” he said with a smirk o his
face and chinwe rolled her eyes in a playful
disgust as they bargained and agreed on a
price; which Tokunbo transferred to him
before he started transferring the pictures to
his phone.
“You need to brush up this photography thing,
they are so nice”
“thanks, and as my first client, your nest
photo shoot would be on the house” they all
burst into laughter and the phone ring
interrupted them
“hello, ok, right away” Tokunbo answered the
phone
“let’s go, that was your mum, they are
downstairs already for the party”
They all went down to the hall and when the
door was opened for them, Tokunbo was
shocked at the crowd. He turned to Chinwe
and took her hands gingerly in his, expecting
her to withdraw but was surprised when she
held him back. They both walked into the
room, with Nkem right behind them.
The MC was hilarious and kept directing
questions to the couple, the guest artists were
there on the stage when her father introduced
them to some of his cabinet members, who
were happy at her safe return and blessed her
marriage and said they would be around in
the next 9 months to name another Ajayi-
Babalola.
Chinwe spotted her Parents-in-law and
walked to them to say hello, her father in law
was quite chatty and when he left her with
her mother in law Chinwe wanted to escape
“I am glad you both are getting over your
differences, but if there’s any way I can be of
help, don’t hesitate to call me, you hear?” She
said before another socialite claimed her
attention again, Chinwe found Tokunbo
staring at her from the corner of the room
and she tried to quickly walk away, but she
saw him walking towards her instead.
“Are you enjoying yourself?”
But before she could answer, Nkem took a
picture of them, and Chinwe could imagine
what they would look like in the picture, with
Tokunbo leaning close to her to ask her the
question.
“You moron, get out of here”
“Leave the man, he is just doing his work,
remember chap, it would be free this time, so
take as much as you like”
“Thanks jare, it’s a relief to finally get
someone who finally believes in my dream”
“Oh God” Chinwe shook her head at them as
she took another glass of wine from the waiter
walking past them.
“I don’t want to believe you are a heavy
drinker, I lost count of the number of glasses
I’ve seen you take since we joined the party”
“Are you scared I might embarrass us here,
don’t worry, I am a pro”
“Just be careful”
“I always am”
“Now ladies and gentle men, I would like to
invite to the dance floor, the most important
people of tonight’s gathering, they are the
reason we are having this gathering tonight.
Call it another reception, after the almighty
God orchestrated the return of our dear sister
from the hands of the fools that interrupted
her wedding reception, give it up to Mr. and
Mrs. Ajayi” the Mc got the attention of
everyone and before long the whole guests in
attendance made way for them as the cool
music took the room and she found herself
dancing to the beautiful rendition from the
band.
Everything felt so perfect as Tokunbo swirled
her gently on the ground floor and they
moved as one, camera flashes could be seen
from different angles of the room and
Tokunbo couldn’t care less if the whole world
was watching them now, all that matters most
to him is in his arms now, and everything is
perfect. Tomorrow would surely bring the fear
again, but he would cherish this moment
forever.
Chinwe could not believe she felt so at home
in his arms and it felt as if the whole
problems of the world could go to hell. This
man holding her is doing it so right and
tomorrow will just have to wait, it has to,
tonight is for them.
Nkem watched both of them on the dance
floor through the screen of the phone he is
using to cover the whole dance and he could
not but smile and conclude, they look like love
birds.
********************************************************
After saying their thanks and shaking hands,
they went back to their room and Tokunbo
decided what he has to do, if he has to beg
her to forgive him for whatever it is she
believed he had done, then he had to, he was
definitely not going to lose her.
He walked back to the bed where she sat,
trying to get her earring out of her ear but
instead of saying what he wanted to say, he
bent down and helped her to free the ring
from her ear lobe and that was where they
lost it.
Not knowing who made the first move, they
both got into it. They were in each other arms
doing what married couples do and what
should have been done weeks ago.