THE WORLD OF SOLA- CHAPTER 8

""I could not sleep that night because I knew she was trying to avoid me.
"Anyway, Tunde," said Segun. "There is no need to grumble about the past. So far you have got her now, you can be happy together and plan for the
"Anyway, you now know what it means to fall in love, Tunde. All your plans about not being serious with any girl for the next five years have now make me jealous.” Tunde went out with Segun, leaving Sola in the sitting - room.
So, I will leave you two in peace. I will go and meet my wife at home before you
"What of our future together?' he asked. Sola, I'm not in a questioning mood. You know how I feel about you. There's no need to be repeating, I love you. We are not like the Europeans who believe more in words than in deeds.

When a boy and a girl are seen often together in this country, you know what the
She went to the stare and put on the latest record of Shina Peters. She was lying
result should be?” Sola did not answer. She just sat there without raising up her
I was very sad."
"Hm, very sad indeed," mocked Sola,
future.
"You know I didn't bring it up,” said Tunde.
crumbled.
down on the settee when Tunde came back.
"Are you not going to dance?” he asked her.
“Do you want to turn your room to a disco room?”
"I don't mind turning it to a disco room when you are here. Let us dance
to the tune of the Afro-Juju music.” He pulled her from the settee and they started
dancing. They had only danced for a few minutes when the music stopped. Sola
went to sit down on the settee again.
Tunde replaced the record with another one and asked her to dance again
"No, I'm very tired,” she said and did not get up.
“Are you shy?” he asked her smiling.
"If I'm shy, I wouldn't have danced with you in the first place."
“Any way, let's be serious and sit down to talk."
“Talk about what?” Asked Sola in mock surprise
"You should know," he answered. He was wondering whether she had a change of mind So, his heart beat quickened.
“I don't know what we have to talk about"
head.

"Don't you want to say anything?" He put his arms round her and raised her face so that her eyes would meet his. But she still lowered her eyes. She could not look directly at him but her own heart was beating too fast.
"What should be the result of a boy and a girl going out together?” She asked him, smiling
"You should know, it's marriage," he said, searching for her eyes so as to guess what she was thinking. "I want us to get married if you will accept me”
"Let us continue as friends first, then, I will decide what to do.”
"it's all right. I'm not in a hurry. I will wait for your decision.
"Not my decision, but yours," she said.

"What do you mean by that?” he asked, confused“ I have at least told you that I want to marry you, and..."
“Wait and let me explain,” she stopped him before he could continue.
“What I mean by your decision is how you behave towards me. And again, I want both of us to study each other's character well before we know whether we suit each
other or not."
"So, by this time, you have not known my ways or character as you called it, to accept my marriage proposals? What more do you want to know about me?”
Tunde knew his temper was rising and he tried not to show it, but through his
speech, Sola knew he was becoming angry.
'I think it's high time I went home,” she said and stood up from the settee.
'Sola, why are you going when you have not answered the last question I asked you?” He pulled her by the arm and made her sit down.
"You asked me that question in an angry tone. And as I don't want our discussion to result in a quarrel, I think it is wise to go home.”

“But this is your home, Sola," said Tunde, smiling.

“Hm, you are not serious.”
"How else do you want m to be serious? Asked Tunde. "If you will just agree to be mine, you know that the little things I have are yours too."
"You men are all sugar-coated in the mouth.'
"No, this is not a mere talk. You know I have been running after you without success. If I can talk well and deceive you, I would have won you over long before now, but as I can only tell you truthfully what I am and what I'm after...."
'But, Tunde, I don't want you to keep referring to the past. At least, you
did not expect me to jump at your offer without thinking it over."
much?” There's something about you that makes me crazy. Please, let your answer
impatient
"No, but now, even when I thought you are mine as I am yours, you still marry me. So, I don't see any reason why you will not accept me.” Sola did not say you would like to study my character first before you agree to marry me. But, as far as I'm concerned. I know enough of your character already to ask you to
answer immediately, but was in a thoughtful mood, and Tunde was becoming
"Is there no answer for me? Don't torture me for too long please."
'I won't Tunde," she said, looking at him in the face. "but before I agree to marry you, I'll want you to give me a few days to think it over. You know that marriage is for a life time. No couple prays for a divorce and all other unpleasant tussle that follows. So, let me have a good sleep and careful throught over it, then
"I can drive I'm now well, but I will use the one week sick leave that I was
"To me, Sola, it seems as if you should not go at all," he said looking at her face. He looked more serious, 'What have you done to me that I should love you so given by the doctor,” Tunde said smiling. “That does not stop me from coming to take you home from school tomorrow.”
"I will be expecting you by twelve noon then."
"But you teachers are enjoying yourselves imagine you closing from school by 12 noon while I must stay in my office till 3.30pm."
"You can't compare the two,” she said. “ You sit quietly in your office reading the newspapers for a whole day. But in the case of us teachers, we'll talk throughout the five hours in school. Not only that, we can mark the pupils' answer scripts till very late in the night. So, I don't think there's any enjoyment in wasting your saliva and breath."
will give you an answer.
"Can I come and pick you home all the same?”
"You cannot drive yet. Won't you give yourself a rest for a few days?

[Source](https://pixabay.com/photos/girl-beauty-fairytales-fantasy-2436545/

"Anyway, I agree with you, darling," he said, Sola stood up because she was embarrassed by the endearment he used. She was not sure whether Tunde really
loved her or not. But she could not voice out her thought.
"Are you going so soon?' Tunde asked standing up and putting his arms
around her.
"Is this 'soon as you called it? I've spent nearly two hours with you already,” she said looking at her watch.
be yes."

She could not say anything. The next moment, he was kissing her passionately. After sometime, she had to push him away. Her lips were bruised.
Tunde too, was shaking and had to sit in the nearest chair. But he was happy because through that long time kiss, he knew that she loved him too. Sola pulled
bedroom to change his clothes. He then took his ignition key from the table where
him up from the chair.
"Please, stand up. I want to go now." Tunde stood up and went to the Segun had put it, but Sola snatched it from him and put it back on the table.
"I prefer to take a taxi,” She said. "Rest today,” then you can come to my school tomorrow".
"Don't you want me to drive today?” he asked
“Yes I order you to have a good rest today,' she said in mock sterness
“I agreed with you, 'doctor" He opened the door for her and walked with her to the main road where they waved a taxi to stop. She entered the taxi and Tunde waved at her as the taxi moved away. He then went back to his flat.