In my first year in the university, I came home one Saturday afternoon and decided to see Cletus where he sells fruits before heading home to rest. I didn’t meet him there. Surprised, I went home and met him sleeping at the corridor.
I quietly walked into the house and decided to prepare something for us to eat before he woke up. As I was cooking, he woke up and asked, “Tonia, when did you come?” “Brother Cletus, I came in about 30 minutes ago,” I replied. “I must have slept very deep since I was very tired,” he said. “On my way home, I decided to check on you first at your fruit shop. As I could not see you, I came home and met you sleeping at the corridor. I hope there is no problem?” I asked. “There is no problem, I only decided to rest today,” Cletus explained. Although, he assured me that there was no problem, deep down in my heart, I knew that he was troubled. From the way he was eating when I gave him his food, it was obvious that he was forcing himself to eat.
Later that evening, he informed me that he had something important to tell me. He disclosed that his fruit business was no longer doing well and as such he had stopped selling fruits. “Tonia, my fruit business is no longer doing well and I spend a lot of money on it. I have decided to look for another business to do,” he revealed. “Which business do you want to do now?” I asked. “I don’t know yet but I will think of one and start as soon as possible. Don’t worry you will not stop going to school,” he assured.
The next time I visited home, Cletus was a truck driver. He worked for a construction company and he was so excited about it. “Tonia, I am now a truck driver for a construction company and they pay me well. It is just that sometimes I have to travel to other nearby states to deliver building materials,” he disclosed. “That is good. I can see that you are very happy with this your new job,” I said. “I am not ashamed to drive a truck as long as I can pay your way through the university. I know you are like a sister to me but I love you very much,” he said. “Cletus, I love you too. You have done so much for me,” I emphasised. For the first time, he kissed me. That was how we started an affair in my second year. No doubt, Cletus loves me so much. He was willing to do anything just to make me happy and also ensure that I completed my university degree.
Sometimes he comes to visit me in school with lots of foodstuff, beverages, gifts and money. On my birthdays, he makes sure I don’t feel alone. He ensures we celebrate it together no matter how small. He warned me to stay away from boys so that I don’t get distracted. I knew however that he was speaking because of his own interest.
In my third year, I had become older and wiser and came to the realisation that Cletus was not the kind of man I should even have a relationship with. I was so sure he was waiting for me to complete my university degree so that he would ask me marriage. The truth is that he is not the kind of man I want to spend the rest of my life with because he is illiterate. I still had to play along because of my education. At this point, a couple of young men had started asking me for a relationship. However, I was not ready to lose focus as I wanted to graduate with good grades so that I could get a good job after graduation.
As I had anticipated, I went home one weekend in my final year and Cletus spoke his mind. “Tonia, there is something I have been wanting to tell you and I guess now is the right time,” he started. “I hope there is no problem,” I asked. “No my dear, I just want to tell you that now that you are almost through with your university degree, it is time we started talking about our wedding plan,” he stressed. I didn’t know whether to smile or frown but I had to put on a fake smile. “Are you serious? Well, yes, I am in my final year but remember I still have a year to serve my country. Whatever plans you have must still have to wait,” I said. Although, he was not too satisfied with my answer, nevertheless, he had to drop the topic. Already my mind was made up, I cannot marry him.
Three months after graduation, he brought up the issue of marriage again. I stylishly told him I was not ready and he promised to wait until I wam ready. Deep down in my heart, I cannot marry him because he is not my type of man. About two months after I completed my National Youth Service Corps programme, I got a job with a bank and Cletus would not stay a day without bringing up the issue of marriage. I threatened to move out of the house if he continued to bug me about marriage. He temporarily stopped until some weeks later.
It was a Saturday morning, after breakfast he asked me if I was still not ready to get married to him and I said, “Cletus do you really think I am going to marry you? No way. I appreciate all you have done for me but the truth is that I am sorry I cannot marry illiterate.” He was shocked. A few seconds later he said, “Tonia, you call me illiterate? I worked so hard just to see you through school and you pay me by calling me illiterate? Thank you and God bless you.” “Cletus if you had told me from the beginning that you were going to marry me in exchange of training me through both secondary school and the university, I would not have agreed because you are not and will never be my kind of man,” I retorted. He angrily stormed out of the room while I gathered my things together. I knew that the rate he was going he might do something nasty to me because I rejected him outright.
A few days later, I moved out of the house. I now stay with Freda, one of my colleagues at work in Ikeja. Aside from staying miles away from Cletus, it is much closer to my place of work. Some weeks back, I ran into a young boy who lived in the same street with Cletus who informed me that Cletus was almost running mad because of me. “All he does is talk to himself while walking in the street. The only thing he says is, ‘Tonia does not want to marry me because I am illiterate’, and then he will smile,” the young man said.
I am grateful that he sponsored my education but I want someone in my own class and not a truck driver. The difference is very clear. Have I done any wrong by telling him the truth? If you were in my shoes, won’t you do the same?
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