Mummy, Hi

Kunle and I met in my first and his second year of college. He was the president of one of the campus organizations that came to welcome the freshmen. His organization was one of those helping the freshmen move in, and Kunle and his friends were the ones helping me move in.

During the move-in process, he found out that I was Nigerian and I guess that was how we became friends. In the several weeks that followed Kunle was on hand to help me with my course registration, procuring textbooks and even helping me shop for other items I needed for the school year.

At first, I thought he had ulterior motives, but he never made a pass at me- at least throughout that academic year. We had become fast friends, and I saw him at least five times a week in the school library.

In my sophomore year, I noticed that Kunle’s attitude towards me changed. He stopped calling me as much, and his library visits became few and far between. I knew he was a voiding me. I confronted him about this, and he later confessed that he had started developing feelings for me. He felt guilty because he felt it was inappropriate since I had taken him as an elder brother.
We started dating that year.

We were the ultimate campus couple. A lot of Nigerian girls on campus became cold towards me, but I brushed them off. Our love was perfect, nothing could go wrong. Even when Kunle graduated, we were still going on strong. He got a job with a top software company in a neighboring state, but he still visited me in school every week.

On my graduation day, Kunle proposed to me. I was ecstatic! I had been waiting for this day for a long time now. As a symbol of his undying love for me, Kunle gave me an eighteen carat yellow gold band with a huge centerpiece diamond.

As it was customary, Kunle took me to visit his parents a few weeks later. His parents lived in a different state, so we had to fly out to go see them.
His dad was a very pleasant man. As I had been taught, I knelt down to greet him, midway into the greeting, he came over and pulled me up “No, No, No, my child, get up, its ok” he gushed
He embraced me in a hug, and led the way in.

“Good afternoon ma” I greeted Kunle’s mom as we entered their living room
“bawo ni, oko mi”1 she replied, not getting up from her chair.
Seeing Kunle’s mom, it was obvious she grew up in the lap of luxury. She was sprawled in a baby blue lace brocade gown. The gold earrings and accessories on her could easily add up to a few thousand dollars.

For the next twenty or so minutes, she grilled me about my parents, my upbringing, and even my extended family
“ki lo ma je, my dear” 2 she asked Kunle after she was done.
“se ki won ba e ro amala3?” 4

With that she disappeared into the kitchen. I made as if to follow her, but she gently hushed me back telling me that a new soap was on tv and I should make myself comfortable.
In a couple of mins, she came back and announced, “Food is ready”.

We ate in the formal dinning room, and I made sure to compliment her cooking. After we were done eating, she came round to clear the table. I reached out to help her, but she hushed me aside, “you are our guest today, I don’t want you stressing yourself”, so I sat down and engaged Kunle’s dad in conversation.

We spent another thirty minutes talking with Kunle’s parents, before Kunle announced that we were taking our leave. We gave his parents hugs and left.

Two weeks later, Kunle called off the engagement.





1. How are you my dear?
2. What do you want to eat, my dear
3. Should they make amala for you?
4. amala – that black horrible food! I kid, yam flour made into thick brownish paste

DISCLAIMER: THIS IS NOT MY LIFE'S STORY- IT IS THE RESULT OF TOO MUCH TIME WORKING A JOB I HATE DOING. Writing in first person just flows for me!