From the moment I got out of bed, to taking my shower, to getting dressed that Tuesday morning, there was one lady on my mind, and it wasn’t the five-foot-three babe in a sexy black dress on my phone screen who had my ring on her finger.

Nope. It was the five-foot-five slender young lady with the sweetest smile and a demeanour that radiated innocence.

Miss Marilyn Aboaku.

It was only around 11:23 pm the previous night that I got back to Eleanor and I apologized and claimed that Sebastian and I had had a long day, and that I fell asleep early before waking up and realizing I had not returned her call. She sounded understanding and said she was just checking on me.

Still high on the thrill of spending time with the sweet Marilyn, I went through that call a little too eager to hang up and keep her on my mind. And throughout that morning, every thought about her was relegated as quickly as Derby County was in the 07/08 Premier League season.

She didn’t know about it, but that morning, she was nowhere near the most important woman in my life.

***

You know that giddy, light-hearted feeling that comes with the thrill of experiencing someone new you fancy?

Yeah, that was the feeling that sat in my chest throughout the day. I dunno what it was, but at that moment, I was absolutely loving the thrill of knowing Marilyn.

While we were on our way to Aboadze, I was busily conversing with my Fante brothers when my phone, which I had put on silent, vibrated inside my pocket.

I reached for my pocket and pulled it out excitedly. I sure hope it’s Marilyn.

I checked.

It was a message from Eleanor.

Oh.

The excitement dissuaded in no time flat. I checked the message, a dry expression on my face. She was informing me that Ghana Water Company had sent our monthly bill.

Alright, babe. Thanks.

I’m so glad she received that response in text form. Because if she had heard it come from my mouth… she’d be heartbroken. It felt like her message had somehow knocked the excitement out of me, and I wasn’t pleased at all. And make no mistake about it, my tone of voice would’ve made it clear.

I placed my phone on my lap and continued to talk to my guys. Five minutes later, it vibrated again.

I picked it up and checked.

Hey, Richie. On your way to the farm site?

That giddy feeling I mentioned earlier swooped back in with a vengeance upon seeing that message. Indifference suddenly gave way to glee.

I wasted no time in responding to Marilyn’s message. Yeah, we’re on our way now.

Oh okay, cool. You’ve got a busy day ahead.

I responded: Yeah, pretty much. What about you?

Oh, just gonna go swimming later on.

I grinned as I typed my response. Ei, you really are just about the enjoyment life!

She sent laughing emojis in response.

And that was pretty much how it went. In between our trip and our tasks at the farm, I was busily, and joyfully, chatting with Marilyn.

***

Even when we returned to the hotel, had some quick meetings with Sebastian, and had our dinner, I was still chatting with Marilyn on WhatsApp.

The giddiness was on another level. The same kind of giddiness I felt when Eleanor and I started chatting for the first time. I could literally feel the dopamine rushing through my bloodstream whenever she replied to my message, it was that intense.

That evening, as I made my way back to my room after enjoying my dinner, we switched to calls, and the topic between us was on YouTube channels we like.

Or particularly, Kwadwo Sheldon’s channel. For someone who watches his videos regularly, I wasn’t very pleased to hear Marilyn bashing him for ‘thriving on negative news’.

“But Marilyn, he doesn’t thrive on spreading negativity!” I protested. “He reports things as they are. Whether positive or negative. Besides, his channel is now bigger than just ‘Yawa of the Day’. The guy’s got a lot going on!”

“Really? Coz all I see is him reporting negativity, and it gets so annoying. Like, can’t you be positive for once?”

“Ah, he is ooo. Hwɛ, the guy has these shows where he’s giving platforms to upcoming rappers. I beg, don’t follow those who are always saying those things about him. Na the breakdown sef, do you know how he made me fall in love with that Ekorso song?”

“Breakdown?”

“Yeah, he’s got one channel where he reviews songs, and the only time you’ll get a negative reaction is if the song is trash. If the song is dope, he’ll say it. Chale, the guy is more than just about negative news ooo! Way more!”

“Mmmm, I see. If you say so. I’ll look for what you’re saying and see for myself.”

“That’s a good girl! Trust me, your mind go change. Anyways, still at the Mall?”

“Yeah. I’ll be back in the hotel soon.”

“Alright, alright. I’m just about crashing onto my bed. So we’ll talk later, alright?”

“Sure, Richie. Byee!”

As I hung up, feeling pleased with myself for hopefully turning a Kwadwo Sheldon doubter into a believer, I looked at the phone screen.

Eleanor in her black dress.

I had been seeing that picture all day with the way I had been using my phone, but at that point, I just felt pulled to actually focus on it.

As I did, my mind drifted to one time we went out together. The way I scanned my wife’s curvy little figure in that dress. The way I gave her those naughty little stares, and she ‘eyed’ me in response with a shy little smirk on her face. The mischievous way I passed my hand over the slightly exposed thighs, and her subsequent playful scolding, with that glint in her eye that told me she liked it.

The way I grabbed her by the waist when we got home. Enjoyed hearing her giddy little giggles as I lifted her off her feet. Sat her on our dining table and kissed her deeply as I played out my naughty intentions on her…

Richie, what are you doing?

The inner voice of Wolf number 1 suddenly slapped me back to my senses.

I looked at the phone screen again, a pang of grief grabbing my heart.

How in the world was I suddenly ignoring and casting my beloved Ellie aside?

How in God’s name did my wife send me a message earlier that day, and I treated it with the enthusiasm of a hardcore gangster at a worship service?

How at all did I keep the most beautiful woman in the world at the very back of my mind from the moment I woke up?

I was asking myself questions at that point, and the answers were simply unconvincing. Now I was really feeling like crap. She may have had no idea I had just spent the last forty or so hours acting like she didn’t have a place on my priority list, but I did, and I felt awful.

Because Richard Kobena Kumi Acquah’s priority list without his sweet Ellie at the top is not a valid priority list at all. It’s as null and void as can be.

I was still querying myself when my phone buzzed. I picked it up, looked at the screen, and sighed.

Coming over when I get back?

Marilyn, of course.

I shook my head. The way I felt at that stage, there was no way I’d be going to her room.

I immediately opened the chat and typed: Nah. Got a bit of a headache from today. I’ll just go to sleep early.

Less than a minute later, she responded. Awwww, that’s unfortunate. Want me to come straight over and take care of you?  😉😉

I sucked my breath in. No way could I let her do that!

I quickly replied. Oh, don’t worry. I just need to sleep, that’s all. No need to come over.

I waited as she typed a response. I silently prayed, Please don’t let her insist, please don’t let her insist, please don’t her ins…

Alright, alright. Get well quickly. Talk to you tomorrow.

What a relief!

Throwing myself onto the bed, I shook my head. That was a close shave, but that didn’t change the fact that something was absolutely wrong.

“Hmmm. I’m heading down the wrong path,” I murmured to myself, “and I need to get back on track.”

Well, he’s seen the path he’s on. Is he truly gonna get back on track, though?