I lay on the bed beside him as he snored and whispered gibberish in his sleep. His hands were wrapped around me for a while then he turned on his side and released flatulence, the smell was appalling.

I stood up and went to the bathroom to wash myself. The night sky out the window was starless and heavy wind blew, trapping the small bathroom window to it's frame. There was no electricity but I could see where I was going. I took a dump and walked back to the room where he still lay snoring.

The sound of my phone broke the silence. It was quite unnerving for me because I did not want to wake him up so I quickly silenced the phone and tiptoed out of the room to the kitchen. The house was quiet but generators blared outside the house that it was impossible to hear myself.

I walked into the guest room which was empty and dialled the number.

A sweet masculine voice said hello and I could feel butterflies in my stomach. I was literally smiling.

"How are you? You called?" I said, whispering in a babyish voice. He chuckled heartily.

"I missed you. Is it a crime to want to hear from my babe?" He said playfully. I really loved his voice and how he made me feel.

"It's not a crime o-jare. I have just been so engrossed with life and everything in between. I hardly have time for myself these days too. I just want to take a day or week off from my schedule and relax. It's all I want babe," I said because if truth be told, that was really what I wanted, to be away from the snoring log and my exhausting work schedule.

"We can make that happen baby. You should probably tell your parents you are having a girls' trip or something. Expenses on me. We'd go to Dubai and have a great time." He sounded so firm, like a leader and he was one to never build castles in the air. I felt bad for deceiving him though but he always gave me babygirl treatment which Nosa knew nothing about.

"Okay then. I'll say that's fine. When will we go on the trip?" I asked as I absent mindedly dusted off my nipple from an invisible dust.

"The ball is in your court. Give me the time and I'll give you the place," He said coyly. This was why I loved him, he knew how to use words unlike the others.

"Okay, I'll check my schedule and let you know. How's your mom? Is she out of the hospital yet?" I asked, trying to maintain conversation.

"Yeah, she's fine now. She just needs to be taken care of and spoiled silly. She's at my sister's place in Amen Estate, Lagos. I bet they are having fun," he paused as he reflected on the next words he wanted to say, "Babe, when are we going to see your parents?"

It felt like someone had dropped a bombshell on my legs. Why was he asking this now? What could be the problem? I thought. I breathed in before mustering the courage to answer. "We can see them when you are ready."

"I am ready. It's been four years now since we started dating and I think it's hightime we settle. Don't you love me enough to want to live with me for the rest of your life?" He asked seriously. There was no amusement in his voice.

A lump sat in my throat. I hadn't realized my mouth had been open. The clock was ticking on the yellow walls of the dark room. The cold tiles under my feet felt like ice.

"Are you there?" He asked, wondering why I was silent.

"I love you so much and I would love to spend the rest of my life with you. Forgive my shock, I'm just surprised you finally asked. My parents traveled to Ibadan last three weeks for a conference and after that, they decided to enjoy the beauty of Mokola so they'll return in two months time. We could go see them when they return. My mother said she wants her husband to herself," I could hear myself but the words weren't mine. I was giving him the answer he wanted but marriage was not one of the things on my list.

I mean, I still want to enjoy life. I'm barely twenty-four and there's a lot of fun out there. How was I going to cope with one dick for the rest of my life?

I have three boyfriends excluding Nosa who is the fourth one with no brains but where he couldn't make up for brains, his pim-pim made up for it. That's why I visit him and spend weekends. Timothy, a Yahoo boy who lives in Amsterdam, always spoils me with money and invites me over a lot. With Timothy, I don't even need to ask for money before he sends it. His money helps me run my nails and eyelash extension business. I'm not lazy, I work too because men are fickle. Jaden, my sweet Jaden works in Port-Harcourt; he runs a solar business and a big poultry farm while he is gainfully employed in NNPC. Layefa is a construction contractor and he makes good money but he's ugly and I don't want my children looking like monkeys.

I have been dating Timothy for seven years, three years before he travelled. He was pretty good to me but a sex addict, he was a womanizer and he was my first. Jaden and I have known each other for six years and dated for four. He is really nice to me. If a woman needed an Isaac in this generation, it was probably him. Layefa, the ugly buffoon, just knew how to spend money but we have no connection. He speaks the language I like; money and I give him what he wants, sex.

"Morenike, you make me happy. My mother already approves of you and my family is eager to meet you. I want you baby and I know we will be fine", he sniffled, "I should let you sleep then. We'd talk better tomorrow."

I nodded, "Sure. Good night babe."

Then like an after thought, he added, "Why not come to Port-Harcourt this weekend? We could visit fun places cause I know you love things like this?"

I squirmed in the bed. It would be a nice get away. "Sure."

I heard footsteps from the other room. Nosa must have awoken. I needed to get back to him for another round. "Good night boo," I whispered and ended the call.

I walked out of the guest room and found Nosa coming out of the kitchen with a bottle of cold water. He looked tired but when he saw my naked body, his eyes licked every inch before he strolled over and kissed me passionately. He carried me bridal style into the lilac room and flung the water aside. He bent his head between my thighs and I felt my snail dripping. I was going to miss this. Jaden lacked this skill.

A low moan escaped my lips as pleasure ricocheted in my brain. The night breeze blew and the walls bore witness to my shamelessness. My phone screen came alive with a message but I was too immersed in the moment.

I knew I would have to give Nosa and the others up. Jaden was for keeps.

A dog barked outside the compound and generator noises swallowed the sound of the creaking bed.