LOVE AND DIAMOND(EPISODE FOUR)

KAINENE

Three weeks later as I drove into the hospital to resume work, I saw Naeto approach me in the parking lot. I smiled and spread my arms out to him. He came running into them. “Hey Naeto, how are you today?” I asked gently ruffling his hair and pulling his chubby cheeks. He chuckled and said “I am very fine thank you doctor.” He handed me a bouquet of flowers. The wonderful scent of the flowers wafted to my nose, 'Oh this is so lovely, thank you honey.' I said hugging him tightly then tickling him. He was chuckling and wriggling under my arms. Naeto had been discharged a week ago with a clean bill of health. I usually came to work early so I would be able to spend at least one hour talking to him. We had become good friends during those visits. I don't know what made me do that but I felt I had a deep connection with him. I may not be a psychologist but I was aware that he was lacking something emotionally. I later found out that it was the lack of a mother in his life. Pulling me to bend towards him, he whispered to me, 'my daddy is over there' he pointed to his father. I turned and saw Raymond at the door of a sleek Nissan Pajero. He waved at me and I waved back and mouthed 'thank you'. He smiled and came to meet us. 'How are you Nene?' He had shortened my name to 'Nene', arguing that, 'Kainenechukwu was too long but Nene was sweeter on the lips. After a short argument where I tried to convince him that the full name makes it meaningful, he still didn't concede and I had left it at that.
'I am fine, thank you.' I replied.

'Hey buddy, why don't you go to the car and wait for me while I discuss with the beautiful lady.' Raymond said to his son. I hugged Naeto again before he pulled away to make his way to his father's car. We watched him go until he entered the car then Ray turned to me and said,

'My boy really likes you. He couldn't stop talking about you since we came back from the hospital. He actually threw tantrums, insisting that he wanted to see you and I had to bribe him with chocolates and a promise to see you today so here we are.'

“I really like him too. I missed him and his funny stories. But thank God he is well now. It is better staying out of the hospital than in it.”


'Why don't we go out later tonight for a thank you dinner? '

'Are you asking me out on a date?' I asked.

He grinned and replied, 'well think of it as one.'

'That will be lovely, thank you.'

'I will come and pick you up by 7:00 p.m .What's your address?'


'It’s 179 Jibolastreet, Wuse Zone 2 behind Ministry of Tourism.' I replied.

'I think I know the place. Thank you for accepting my invitation.'

'It's my pleasure. I have to head in now.'


'Yes, let me not keep you waiting. See you later tonight.'

 I smiled, picked my bag from the passenger seat then closed the door. I saw Naeto wave at me from the back of his father's car. I waved back and blew him a kiss. I watched them drive away from the parking lot then I turned and made my way into the hospital.

         Later that evening, I had  showered and was sitting in front of the dressing table applying my make-up when Preye entered my room.
‘Going out?’
‘Yes’
‘Where to?’
‘Dinner’
‘With who?’
‘A friend’
‘He doesn’t have a name’
‘Of course he does. I will tell you, but first I need help. I can’t find the right dress to wear.’
‘Amina, Amina, please come!’, Preye shouted outside my room. Amina came rushing into my room. ‘Preye what is it?’ she asked sitting down on my bed. ‘Looks like you are going out this evening Kaine.’
‘Yes I am.’ I replied. Preye who was in my closet turned around and said, ‘This our friend here likes keeping things from us. Tapping my shoulders from behind, she came and stood infront of me and continued, ‘You remember what I said on the morning of Eedris’ birthday about ....’
‘Dates, dresses and tips right?’
‘Yes, thank god you can remember things Amina. It has happened. She is now asking me which dress to wear for a dinner date with Mr No name.’
‘It’s not really a dinner date Preye, it is just a thank you dinner. The man I told you about who was involved in an accident with his son three weeks ago came to the hospital this morning with his son and invited me for a thank you dinner and I accepted that’s all.’
‘So he is not married?’ Amina asked.
‘He was, not until five years ago when he lost his wife during childbirth.’
‘Aww, that’s so sad, so that little boy is motherless?’
‘Yes, he is.’
‘So what do you want to wear?’
‘Just something simple and nice.’ I replied. Amina stood up from the bed and went to my closet. A few  minutes later, she came out with a navy blue cap sleeve peplum dress that stopped just above the knees. ‘I think this will do.’ She said. I collected the dress from her and wore it. I went to the mirror in front of the bathroom door and I liked what I saw. “I love it, thanks guys. I didn’t even know I owned this beautiful gown.” I put on my silver sandals and put finishing touches to my make-up before we headed downstairs. Before we could make it to the sitting room the doorbell rang and Preye answered it. ‘Just on time.’ I thought.
‘Good evening ma’am. I am looking for Nene. Is she here?’ I heard Raymond ask Preye outside the door. ‘If you mean Kainenechukwu, then yes, she lives here, you may come in.’ she said opening the door widely for him to enter. I looked at her face and I couldn’t help but laugh because she looked like someone who had just won a visa lottery to Nicaragua. I stepped forward to make the introductions. ‘Hi Raymond, this is Amina and Preye my friends and housemates; guys, this is Raymond.
‘Nice meeting such beautiful ladies, he said shaking Amina and Preye simultaneously.
‘It’s our pleasure, they both replied. ‘What can we offer you?’
‘Don’t worry, we are going out now if Nene is ready.’
‘Yes, I am.’ I said picking my purse from the sofa. I hugged the girls and wished them goodnight then left with Ray. I knew the girls would still be checking Ray out from the windows as we made our way to his car. He looked quite debonair in a brown chinos pants, white vest and black blazers which perfectly matched his black Nissan Rogue. He opened the door to the passenger’s seat for me, ‘thank you.’ I said as he made his way to the driver’s side and drove out of the compound.

‘We are going to a Chinese restaurant. Hope you like Chinese food?’ Raymond asked looking at me for a while before focusing on the road. ‘Well I don’t hate any food. I eat practically anything once it is good for my body.’ I replied.
‘Nice.’ After some minutes he said, ‘Did I tell you you look dazzling tonight?’
‘No’
‘Well you do. You really look elegant. I like the colour. You look very different from what I have been used to.’ He said smirking.
‘And what have you been used to? Don’t tell me that you have been checking me out at the hospital, I di egwu Raymond.’ I said pretending to be upset. He laughed and I joined too in laughing.
We had dinner in an upscale and exclusive Chinese restaurant in Maitama. I didn’t even know I could eat so much in a day. We practically tried everything that was brought to our table from the Chow mein to the Kung pao chicken to jiangchai to suancai. The funniest part was using the chopsticks. I had eaten Chinese foods before but I wasn’t used to it. Raymond was a perfect gentleman throughout the dinner; he taught me how to use the chopsticks properly. We talked about different things from childhood to hobbies to work. He was the owner of a popular daily newspaper though not many people knew that. He preferred his identity hidden. He also ran a consultancy firm. We talked about Naeto and how he had wanted to follow his daddy to dinner but his grandma convinced him to stay by volunteering to play x-box with him. I laughed at his description. After the dinner, we moved to the karaoke section and thrilled ourselves singing some oldies. It was already some minutes to midnight when we finally made our way out of the restaurant. The drive back to the house was quiet but satisfying. When we reached the house, he turned off the ignition. I turned to look at him and said, ‘thank you Ray, I really had fun tonight. It’s been a long time I enjoyed myself this much.’
‘It is my pleasure to have been responsible for that. I had fun too. I am also looking forward to more of these if you will accept.’ He said. We spent some minutes in silence lost in our separate thoughts. The silence was broken when Ray said, ‘Goodnight Nene’ then kissed me lightly on the cheeks. I felt a tingling sensation in my stomach. ‘Goodnight Ray.’ I said as I opened the door and slowly made my way into the house thinking about the future.


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