Half a Dozen Part 2

 

(See Half a dozen Part 1 in link below) http://asorhoyoma.blogspot.com/2018/03/half-dozen.html

As Bolaji was driving them back to Houston, he suddenly pulled over on the side of the road and turned to his wife. "I have something to tell you," he said, his voice unsteady. "I know this may be difficult for you to hear, but I have to be honest with you." His wife's heart sank as she prepared for the worst.

"I cheated on you," Bolaji admitted, his eyes downcast. "It happened a few months ago, when I was on a business trip to Atlanta. I was feeling lonely and vulnerable, and I made a terrible mistake. I'm so sorry."

His wife was stunned. She had never suspected Bolaji of being unfaithful. She felt angry, hurt, and betrayed, but she also realized that she could not be too judgmental, considering her own past transgressions.

As they sat in silence on the side of the road, Bolaji's phone rang. It was Lakunle. "I need to talk to you," he said urgently. "Can we meet up?"

Bolaji hesitated for a moment, then made a decision. "I’m not sure about that," he said. 

As Bolaji hung up the phone, his wife stared at him in disbelief. "What's going on?" she asked. She could recognize Lakunle’s voice from the phone.

Bolaji took a deep breath. "There's something else I need to tell you," he said. "Lakunle is not who I said he was."

His wife looked confused. "What do you mean?" she asked.

Bolaji explained that Lakunle was not actually his brother, but a con artist he had hired to investigate his wife's past. 

He had been suspicious ever since he found out about her affair with Lakunle during NYSC, and he wanted to make sure that there was nothing else she was hiding.

As Bolaji finished his story, his wife was speechless. She felt violated and betrayed, and wondered how she could ever trust her husband again. But then, she remembered something her father used to say: "The truth will set you free." 

Bolaji told the whole story about Lakunle, and how it had haunted him ever since. He also told her how he had felt guilty and ashamed, and how he had promised himself that he would never lie to her again.

I listened quietly as he spoke, my face expressionless. When he finished, I looked at him with a mix of sadness and understanding.

"I'm not going to pretend that this isn't painful," I said. "But I also know that we can get through this. We both made mistakes, but we can learn from them and move forward. We can choose to forgive each other, and choose to love each other."

And with that, we embraced, both of us feeling the weight of our past lifted off our shoulders. We knew that their relationship would never be the same, but they also knew that it could still be strong and meaningful, as long as they were honest with each other and committed to their marriage.

The next day, Lakunle showed up at our home to apologize for causing any trouble. He explained that he had no idea I was married, and that he would never have come to the wedding if he had known. He also told me that he had found religion and that he was no longer the same person he was during our NYSC days. He had found redemption and was trying to make amends for his past mistakes.

Although I appreciated Lakunle's apology, I knew that I had to focus on my marriage and my commitment to Bolaji. Bolaji and I returned to the United States, and we started working on our relationship. It was not easy, and we had to have some tough conversations about trust and forgiveness. But, over time, we were able to rebuild our relationship and grow stronger as a couple.

Looking back, I realized that my affair with Lakunle was a wake-up call. It made me realize the importance of honesty and integrity in a relationship. It also made me appreciate the kind of man that Bolaji was, and how lucky I was to have him in my life. Bolaji had shown me that love is not just about finding the perfect person, but about finding someone who is willing to forgive and work through the tough times.

Today, Bolaji and I have been married for 10 years, and we have two beautiful children together. We still face challenges, but we face them together, with honesty and integrity. I often think about Lakunle and wonder what kind of person he has become. I hope he has found the same kind of redemption and forgiveness that I have found in my life.