“Hello, babe?”

“Yeah, babe. Are you in now?”

“Yeah. I’ve parked at our favourite corner. Near the police depot.”

“Okay.  I got your shawarma. Beef shawarma, right?”

“Yes, yes, that’s perfect! Thanks, babe! I love you, okay?”

“I love you too, honey.”

“And hurry up and come, because that black dress of yours makes me wanna do something to ya.”

“Hm! You African husbands, eh…”

“Yes, I know, we’re very romantic. You just can’t imagine life without us, can you? I mean, how meaningful would life be without us around? To love and to hold…”

“Bye-bye. I’m coming.”

Abrefa laughed as she ended the call. Her typical reaction whenever he started making and venturing into naughty territory. Because she knew somewhere in there, a dirty reference would pop up.

He sure loved going down the R-18 path with her.

As he took a gulp of the yogurt he had bought on the way, he looked back at the other side of the Accra Mall. The parking space where the Uber cars parked.

A memory suddenly came into his head, and he smiled.

“Ei, so it’s been years since I was parked there and Adobea came around and said no to me. Hehe, how things change!”

He looked at the gold ring on his left finger and shook his head. “Things really change, don’t they?”

Seven months had passed since he and Mezi had officially become one before God and man in a beautiful and unforgettable wedding ceremony. It had been one and a half years of dating this awesome girl, and now, they were bound together for life.

A dream come true.

Mezi was undoubtedly a gift for him from God. Each day he woke up, he had no doubt whatsoever that this woman loved him. Every moment spent with her made him feel like this was where he ought to be: with her. And that was why he waxed lyrical about her as often as he could. If there was one thing he’d unashamedly do, it was let the world that this wife of his was the best thing to ever happen to him.

Now as he looked back at the parking space and remembered that fateful day Adobea told him she saw him as just a friend, the other memories came rushing in.

From the first disappointment to Angel’s disappointment.

Reminders of the time he was so sure that experiencing this kind of love would be nothing more than an unattainable dream.

Now they all looked so inconsequential in the light of his current position.

All those failed talking stages and relationship attempts were just phases. The one who would truly love me and desire to be with me would eventually come. Indeed, Mezi did come by and my love story has changed forever.

Just then, his phone rang.

It was Abilene.

He pressed the receive button. “Hey, Abi!”

“Abrefa, good afternoon ooo! What’s up?”

“Chale, nothing much oo. Just a normal Saturday. I’m actually at the mall to pick up Mezi; she went for an aunt’s funeral this morning.”

“Oh okay, okay. Eii, Abrefa. See how you dey enjoy married life! This thing really dey sweet you!”

Abrefa laughed. “Can you blame me? See all the wahala I had to endure before this. As I’m sitting here mpo, I just remembered Adobea. The time I proposed to her and we met at the car park where the Uber and Bolt cars park these days. She bounced me yayaaya. It wasn’t long before I heard about her and that Steve guy. Are they even together now?”

“Oh, nahhh. They broke up a long time ago ooo. Longest time.”

“Oh, I see. Yeah, so see that one I had to endure. Then there was Rose. She di33, if I said I’m waiting for her answer to my proposal, I’ll still be single by now…”

“Ah, really? She never got back to you?”

“Never ooo. Never. Me naaa, I took the hint and forgot about her. She’s never hit me up since then. Then there was Baaba, who said we’re from different backgrounds, so we can’t date, and started ignoring me. Later, I discovered she married some soldier she had been with for a long time and relocated to the UK. Gloria too, she said no outright, so that was simple. Then your favourite girl…”

Abrefa snickered as Abilene responded with a scornful ‘mtcheww’. “As for that Joelah girl, no shame whatsoever. So you said she came back two years later to say what?”

“That she bears no hard feelings, and I can holla at her if I want to. Kai! I just asked her if she was fine, and answered when she asked me. That’s it. I didn’t want her around me. Especially while Mezi was now in the picture…”

“Simple kraaa. That girl would have been nothing but toxicity and bad vibes. Tweakai!”

“I promise! Anyway, from her, I went on to Angel. The one who said she’s not ready, but let’s see what God says. That one too, man thought she’s worth the wait and all. Me naa, I learnt my lesson at the end. The fact that she changed her number and never told me about it showed me a lot. I still see her every now and then. Just some brief greeting, then I move. So chale, man has suffered with relationship things. As I’ve got my sweet love story now, I no dey take play kraaa!”

“That’s all! And you see, those times you bashed yourself and said no girl will ever like you. See how silly those comments sound now?”

Abrefa grinned sheepishly. He remembered too well. There was one time when he had declared himself a ‘loser in need of deliverance’ to Abilene and Joey, who had quickly shot down his self-deprecating comments. “Yeah, I remember. And indeed, they look so ridiculous now. But hey, that was a phase in my life. I was reading too negatively into these phases and thinking they defined me. And I’m sure I went through all this just to be able to encourage someone else. Coz when I think about it, people see me fawning over my wife and think I’ve never had heartbreak before. But chale, I’ve lived in heartbreak for years! So I guess that’s what it is.”

“Yeah, possibly. God always crafts our stories in certain ways that help us to reach out to others in similar situations. So you’ve got a point there.”

Just then, Abrefa saw her.

In her black off-shoulder dress, carrying two small bags with her. Glowing as usual with her visibly big forehead and light-skinned complexion.

His beautiful wife, Mezi.

As he and Abilene continued to reminisce on the past, she entered the car. “Hey babe!”

“Hey love!” he responded enthusiastically. “Guess who I’m on the line with? Harry Maguire’s biggest fan!”

“Abrefa Bonsu, you are warned, okay?”

The couple laughed.

“Anyways, there’s a major announcement for you. But since you guys are in town, you get home first. Lemme know when you’re home, alright?”

“Sure, sure. Alright, talk to you later.”

As he ended the call and put on his seat belt, he looked across at Mezi, who was also putting her seat belt on.

“Babe?”

She looked up. “Yes, honey?”

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. Although you owe me GH¢40 now.”

“No, it’s not about the shawarma. Thank you for… changing my story. For opening my eyes and making me realize that God had the best in store for me when I met you. Thank you, babe.”

“Awwww!”

She reached over and kissed him on the lips. “And what did I do to deserve this sudden outpouring of gratitude?” 

“Oh, nothing in particular. I just wanted you to know that. That’s all.”

She smiled, displaying the diastema he loved so much on display, as he took her left hand in his and kissed the ring he had placed on that finger. “I love you, Mrs. Mezi Afefa Bonsu.”

“I love you too, Mr. Bonsu.”

“And when we get home, I can’t wait to do something to ya, coz Lord, that off-shoulder dress is the weakness in me.”

She immediately yanked her hand away and gave him a look of mock disgust. “Young man! Keep those your overly excited hormones away from me, you hear!”

Abrefa laughed out loud. “I love you even more, okay?”

“Gerrout!”

He continued laughing as he started the engine, moved out of the parking space, and drove them out of the mall.

THE END

So Abrefa’s story ended on a happy note! Well, all’s well that ends well. After all that disappointment and stuff, he eventually found the woman who he was to spend his forever with. Such is life for so many, isn’t it?

Thanks for reading, and continue to enjoy yourself around the State!