We met in August 23rd 2001

Jude’s Story

On August 23^rd 2001, I went with a friend/schoolmate (Uduak) to visit his girlfriend (Nnenne) at LSDPC Estate, Ogba, Lagos, Nigeria.

I knew Nnenne as Uduak’s girlfriend and was quite friendly with her. We had been told that a friend of hers was visiting.  We got in the house and I sat down in the living room. Uduak went into the room to meet with Nnenne. Nnenne came to the living room to say hi and went into the kitchen. Suddenly, an Angel walked into the room and said hi.

My heart stopped.

It stopped again.

I thought, if this isn’t a heart attack, then I was going to have a fit.

I murmured something that was meant to be a reply.

She sat on a chair opposite me and crossed her legs, took a short but piercing glance at me with the loveliest eyes I have seen till date (and probably till I die) and faced the television screen.

I have never had to describe an Angel before but I’ll try.

She was slim in a very elegant way, tall and had a shape that would make you know that there is a God and appreciate him for his wonderful creations. She had a face that could only be described as Angelic and would make any Miss Universe know that her office is a fraud. Her legs were slim, long and sexy. Talking sexy, she had the cutest butt you could ever imagine. Her breasts were just perfect, the kind that you could never achieve with a million dollars worth of silicon implant (the right size, shape and firmness). Her hair was a perm; it had a golden tint that reminds you of precious gold. She was the epitome of beauty, a true Queen and an Angel.

A few minutes went by and I hadn’t gotten my composure yet. I thought in my head “Oh common J, the pretty ones are always dull, so get yourself together and start a conversation”.  I said “I see you are Nnenne’s friend, my name is Jude, Uduak’s friend” trying to muster the sexiest voice that I could get out of my voice box and with a reassuring smile. She replied “Yes I am, my name is Kim” with an Angelic voice. I went “sorry, Nkem?” she replied “no Kim” I said “Oh Clem” she says “no! K-i-m-b-e-r-l-y” so we started a conversation. To my shock, she was so very intelligent. I fell for her instantly and said to myself that this is surely the one that I would like to make my Queen. We talked for a little while before Uduak and Nnenne joined us. We watched a Nigerian movie together. When it was time to leave, I knew I would come back so I set a date with Nnenne.

A week later, I was back at Nnenne’s place all set to take the girls out to the Beach. There was a third girl (Sholi) in the union. We made a brief stop at Mr biggs eatery to get snacks for the outing. We hit Alfa beach. Got there, settled down in a tent, set up my apparatus which included my kite, rugby, freesbie and ludo.  We had fun playing the different games, riding horses and talking. I knew that it would be a great shame if I didn’t tell her how I felt even though it seemed too early and sudden. I cautiously timed my moment and when it was right, I asked that she joined me for a stroll. She agreed and off we went.

As we strolled along the water front I asked her what she thought about Love at first site. She said she thought it exists. I told her that I had been struck by her and that it was just that. She just smiled. I asked what it would take to go out with her and what a guy should posses. She said these things

He must be tall (I am average at 5ft 11”).

He should be well built (I wasn't).

He should be very, very caring. (that I am).

He should be honest and truthful (that I am).

He should be a Christian; preferably Catholic (I am a Christian but wasn’t Catholic).

He shouldn’t be a village going person (I am not).

He should be strong willed, intelligent and friendly (that I am).

Before I finished sulking from not meeting certain important specifications, she dropped the bomb, she said in a polite but firm voice “I am in a relationship right now and I don’t double date” I said “is there no chance that you could put me on the waiting list because I am dead serious about falling in love with you” she said “absolutely no way, we could just be friends” I said “I wont give up on you because this is true love that I feel”. We went back to the tent and joined in the crew. We had lots of laughs and fun and I dropped them off at Nnenne’s place later that day..

I had had fun that day but wasn’t happy because I had asked the woman of my life out and was turned down. I must say that I admired and respected her decision to turn me down because I liked the fact that she wouldn’t date two people at the same time. That was my kind of woman. I went on my knees and prayed to God. I asked Him to make this Angel see that I was for real. But in my selfish prayers, I refused to acknowledge that someone else had already been blessed with her by God. She was in a serious relationship and that was that. I must be truthful; there was no giving up on this woman because she would make the better half of me if I was just giving a chance. Anyway, I told God that If she dated me, I’ll be all the man that I could be and will show her true love.

Kim left for Benin City with Nnenne and we were cut off for a while. I called up Nnenne (in school) after a while, communication between Kim and I was re-established. We communicated through telephone for a long time and became good friends. We saw each other from time to time, maybe when she would come into town for one thing or the other. I made sure that she was very aware of my feelings. This went on for one year and four months. I mean, for one year four solid months, I was asking the prettiest woman in the World out.

She finally agreed to go out with me on the 26^th of December 2002. God, how happy I was on that day. Mind you, I had stopped dating women as soon as I met Kim. There was a great sense of contentment when I received the call from her. She told me that she had broken up with her ex boyfriend and could go out with me. We were apart, she was in Benin City and I was in Lagos. I wished we were together but our time would come.

We actually had a distant relationship (sounds strange, doesn’t it?). We were actually dating on the phone. We would call each other almost every day and talk about every thing. We actually met about three months later. She came to Lagos with her closest friend, Ann. We kissed for the first time and God, was it wonderful. I was truly touched by an Angel. She probably was the only 24 year old virgin in the whole country Nigeria. That humbled me beyond comprehension. I new that things had to remain the way they were because if she had been that way for that long, she deserved to stay that way (for the mean time that is). She was such an interesting person to be with. The trio of us had fun, going out and talking. I was in for another shocker when she made meals that tasted so good that I began to question my Mums cooking. By the time Kim was ready to go back to Benin, I honestly asked her to tell me what her faults were as a person. She laughed and said “don’t worry, there’s plenty of time, you’ll find out soon enough”. By the time she left, I was miserable and understandably so. We kept dating over the phone and I must say that I became a transformed person from that association.

It was June, my birthday month. I told Kim that I wanted to throw a birthday dinner in a good restaurant. We got down to making arrangements for the outing. The dinner was set for the 19^th of June 2004 at the prestigious Golden Gates Chinese Restaurant. We settled down in the restaurant after all the guest had arrived. After having the meal, I waited for a little while, got up to give a birthday speech and it went like this.

“I’ll like to thank you all for attending this party. I must first apologise for telling a lie about what this gathering is about. Growing up as a young man, I had thought that on this day, there would be Kings, Presidents and International dignitaries on this table today, but you see, you have superseded my expectations. The people I see on this table today are better than Kings, Presidents and dignitaries, they are the closest people to me, that is why I have decided to do this in front of you”.

I turned to Kim, went down on one knee and brought out an engagement ring. Then I asked her the most important question that I will ever ask any person in my life.

“Kim will you marry me”

She was surprised because she hadn’t a clue. She screamed and said

“Yes I will”

I slipped the ring on her finger, hugged and tried to kiss her but she was shy (You still owe me that kiss). We were engaged.

On the 9^th of October 2004, I arrived Kim’s parent’s house in Benin City. I was accompanied by my father, Tony (my brother), Ndidi Edewor (my grand Aunt), Mrs Alegbe (my family friend & my Mothers representative) and some friends. We got into the house and sat down. Kim’s Dad welcomed us according to tradition. An M.C was introduced and he took over. Kim was no where to be found. We were offered kola nuts according to tradition. Then the M.C introduced the family of the Enabulele’s (Kim’s family). My grand Aunt introduced the Chuka’s (my Family). We were asked why we had come and we answered that we came to officially inform the family of our intention to marry their daughter. We were told that they would like to hear from the horse’s mouth. Kim was called into the room. She came in looking every bit the Angel she is. She wore a beautiful African attire that brought out her curves and showed what beautiful really means. I looked at her and was proud to be her suitor. She was so beautiful that everybody gave her complements. She was asked if she knew me and she answered in the affirmative she was then told to sit next to me. The elders of the families said prayers and we gave a proposed date for the native law (traditional wedding). Just then food was served. I must say that my people were so impressed with the hospitality that we received that they were full of praises for a long time.

Kim left for the United States on the 5^th of December 2005. It is with great pain that I write this paragraph because it saddens me to remember how it happened. Please, pardon me if I don’t write much on this topic as it isn’t a good one for me.

Tope a friend of ours drove us to the Airport. We waited for her as she checked in her luggage. I was so unusually calm and collected just like she was. It was time for her to say goodbye. She hugged us in a casual manner and went in through the departure gates.

As I got into Tope’s car, tears started streaming down my chicks. Oh, I thought I was being a chicken little did I know that it would degenerate into a full weeping fest when I got back home. Did I say home? There isn’t one without Kim. It was just a house and not a home. I wept uncontrollably with my friends consoling me. Even though I knew we would still be in contact, the best part of me was living on a plane to a far away land.

I miss her so much, words can not describe how empty I feel. My prayer is that God brings us together in the soonest possible time.

My Baby, if you have read this story of mine, I want you to know that I still love you like I did when we started courting and as the days goes by, I even love you more.

Jude

KJFOREVER