When he came back from work the next day, Julius decided to visit Okey in his house. He first called him on the phone to inform him that he wanted him. Okey obliged him.

Okey was in his living room, watching television when he heard a knock on the door. He went to check and it was Julius.

“J my man, Okey hailed him while offering his hand for a hand shake. Julius quickly  grabbed the hand 

“Please come in and sit down,”

“Do I need your permission? I’m already in” Julius joked.

“I can still ask you to go out,” Okey responded with a smile.

“So you have not seen where they beat the owner of the house and chase him away? ” Julius asked.

“And you have not seen where they break a bottle on someone’s head.

“I trust you. There are some things you cannot do. “

“Never say never. If you bring violence, I will give you violence. Even if I don’t have, I will go and borrow”

Both of them busted out in laughter.

“Are you serious? So, someone can borrow violence”

“Of Course. My neighbour borrowed violence yesterday. I can’t stop laughing when I remember the incident,”

“Really? What happened?”

“His step mother visited from the village. She did tell him before coming. Her children are living in this city. Instead of going to their  house, she prefered to stay in her step son’s house. The guy decided to accommodate her thinking that it was a short visit but he didn’t know that the woman has decided to relocate to the city.”

” I don’t understand. What do you mean by ” She relocated to the city?”

“When she didn’t show any sign of leaving after she had  stayed for 4 months, my neighbour decided to ask her when she would be going. He told him that she has not started planning about going home. She told him to search for a place she could be frying and selling akara so that she could assist in providing for their needs.”

Julius could no longer restrict himself from laughing.

“Are you serious?” Julius asked.

“I’m telling you the truth. My neighbour called his children on the phone to come and carry their mother but they did not mind him. He even told the woman that his mother wanted to visit but she told him that the house is large enough to accommodate all of them. My neighbour had no choice than to involve the police. They came and evicted her by force,” 

“Ha! He really borrowed violence and unleashed it on the woman,”

“That is just it. Enough of long talk. What do you care for? I have jollof rice”

“Who cooked it?”

“I of course. ,” Okey responded 

“You are searching for who you will feed with poisoned food. You will not see me.”Julius joked.

“I don’t blame you. I am offering you a food that I suffered to cook. You are there insulting me. In Fact I am not giving you again,”

“I never begged you for food. Eat and be satisfied. Bros, something very important made me visit you. I am thinking seriously about settling down”

“Wow! J boy is taken. “Okey shouted in excitement.

“Who took you,”

“The lucky lady ofcourse. Now tell me. Who is she?”

“Her name is Dera. She is a new member in the church”

“Did you say Dera?”

“Yes. Do you know her?”

“Of course! I do. Meanwhile, congratulations!”

“Thanks so much,” 

“Wow! My man you are so fast. When some of us were still trying to get close, you already had your possession” Okay jokes.

“You are trying to get close to who? If you few meters close to Dera, you are gone”

After the encounter with Julius, Okey decided to forget about Dera and moved on with his life.

Dera also noticed that Okey tried his best not to get so  close to her. Though he still talks and laughs with her, he tried to avoid closeness with her. Dera didn’t understand what happened but she had move on too.

She officially became a close friend to Julius. He has visited a couple of times to her place of business. Dera has visited too. 

On a Sunday evening, Julius told Dera that he was going to an eatery with some of his friends. He requested that he should join too. Dera obliged him.

He was surprised that  she got there. Okey and some church members were present.

“Madam, why did you keep us waiting,” Okey asked immediately she entered.

“I’m sorry. Did my absence cause any obstruction”

“Yes. You made our food to get cold. Julius said you must come before we eat.”

“Awwn! I didn’t know that I am so important,” Dera joked.

“Shut up my friend,” Nneka, one of the church members interrupted her and they started laughing.

“Nneka, what is your problem? Why is it that the problem of a woman is always her fellow woman. Can’t you just allow me to enjoy my celebrity status.” 

“Well done! Mrs. Celebrity. They said that you are the one buying food for us. That is why we have been waiting for you,” Nneka informed her.

Dera smiled and apologized to them for  coming late.

“Since our madam has arrived let’s eat our food,” Okey suggested.

At that point Julius opened one of the closed plates to reveal a diamond 💍 ring. He bent one of his knees and proposed marriage to Dera.

As Dera tried to look at the faces of Okey and other people that were around, they were urging her to say yes to Julius’s proposal.

“Yes, I will marry you,” Dera announced.

They all clapped and hailed both of them in admiration.

More food and non alcoholic wines were ordered. They all ate to their satisfaction before leaving for their various homes.

The next day, Julius decided to visit the pastor to inform him that he had seen the person he wanted to marry.

“Is She a member of our church?” Pastor asked.

“Yes sir, she is. I’m talking of Dera, our new member,”

“Have you informed her of your intention?”

“Yes sir, I have informed her. She has agreed to marry me”

“Did you pray before approaching her?”

“Yes sir. I really prayed and was convinced that she is meant for me.

“I don’t really know much about her. I wish I was informed before you spoke to her. But since you said you were convinced that she is your life partner and have already informed her, I wish you the best.”