Hi dear reader; check my profile on Amakastudios for the other parts of the story. 

Hold up, how did I end up in Ovie's room with his hand on my back and his lips intertwined with mine? 

I pulled back from his embrace and staggered a little before landing on the cushion softly. 

“What is going on?” I asked him and he seemed confused. “Why were you holding me?”

“You kissed me. As a matter of fact, you were the one that came knocking on my door and you kissed me.”

“This can't be true. You're wrong. How did I even get here?”

“Magdalene, there is a door, you came through that door of your own accord.”

Ovie reached into his pocket and removed his phone which he placed on the table. 

“Ovie, let me in!” I heard my slurred voice and I looked from the phone to him. 

“Knock, knock, knock… open the damn door Ovie.”

I couldn't believe it but I sobered up quickly and picked up my purse which was lying on the floor. “Goodnight,” I said and he nodded. 

I hurried over to my flat. As I struggled with my keys, Nkechi whistled as she walked past, an empty bucket in hand.

I was still struggling when she walked past again with a full bucket of water. 

“Palava she dey find, palava she go see!”

I heard the door click and I rushed in and locked the door behind me. 

As I plumbed into the grey sofa adjacent from the television, I began to wonder how I had ended up in his flat. My phone interrupted my thoughts with Falz and Simi's voice belting out Chemistry. I checked the caller ID and I was not surprised to see Haruna's name.

“Hey,” her throaty voice greeted. 

“Hi,” I replied.

“Someone's in a bad mood. Did you not enjoy clubbing?” 

“Haruna, how many bottles of Heineken did I have?”

“Four. Did the Uber not take you home? Where are you right now?”

I could hear Adrian in the background and rolled my eyes. “Haruna, can you speak privately?”

“Sure,” I heard her footsteps and when she said “what's up?” I knew she was in the bathroom.

“I kissed Ovie.”

“What now?” Haruna gasped.

“I'm serious. I don’t even know how I ended up in his flat instead of mine. He played a voice recording. I guess he was trying to play it safe so I don't go on social media and say he raped me. Girl, what did you give me?”

“Just alcohol. I guess your celibate legs took you to his place. It's been a while, cobwebs must have covered that region. Plus, you can't blame him. Once a woman shouts rape on social media, she's automatically the victim. He just wanted to be safe.”

“Whose side are you even on?” I hissed.

“Yours babe. So, did anything other than the kiss happen? I need details.”

“You're one of the most corrupt humans I have ever met in my life. Had it been I didn't know you now, I would have just ended this call.”

“Try but you can't. I'm that girl boo!”

“Haruna,” I said and my voice quivered, “I think I have embarrassed myself. How will he see me now? What if he starts seeing me as desperate?”

“Relax. It's just a kiss. It's not that deep. Just be cool about it.”

“Haruna–”

“My friend, stop whining like a baby. I'm even happy you have someone that lives close by. Do you even know that it's been a year since you've been neighbours but you only just found out two months ago because you don't associate with your neighbours? Maybe the reason love has not found you is because you keep shutting people out. Try to live a little.”

“Haruna, I don't have that time. I'm running my shoe business and I am mostly occupied with my data analyst job that I barely have time to look at or for love.”

“Create the time. When you're busy, go out. Talk to people, position yourself like Ruth did in the Bible and who knows, you just might meet your Boaz. In essence, come outside, put yourself out there and share your contentment with someone.”

“I-”

I heard a knock at the door and peeped through the window. Ovie was standing outside with a bottle of wine and a box. I looked at the wall clock and it was past eleven. 

“Who is at the door at this time of the night?” Haruna asked.

“Ovie. He's holding a bottle of wine and a box. Should I be worried?”

“That's romantic. Remember say this guy don dey drop green light for you since but you dey flag am? Just let him in but dey update me. You can't trust men.”

I heard Adrian enter the bathroom and the sound of their lips meeting. “Fear men,” I heard Haruna say and Adrian chuckled. “I'll call you back later babe. Bye for now.”

I stood up from the sofa and opened the door. “Hi,” I greeted and Ovie raised the bottle of wine. 

“Can I come in?” He asked and I moved away from the door. When he had entered, he closed the door with his leg and I settled into my grey sofa. 

“Welcome. I know it's not much but it's my space.”

“You don't need to explain. I came here to know how you're feeling. You literally wobbled out of my flat.”

“And you brought more wine?” I asked.

“Well, you sobered up quickly.”

“What's in the box?” 

“Chocolates.”

“That's thoughtful of you but Valentine has passed.”

“Everyday ought to be Valentine if you love someone.”

“Whatever.” 

There was an awkward silence and I had no words to break it. 

“I like you and I also enjoyed that kiss. I want more of those kisses, moments with you when your guard is not up and you're laughing like when you're with your girls.” Ovie looked at me but I was taken aback. 

“What do you want me to say? Is this why you're at my house at this ungodly hour?”

“I could have waited till morning but I couldn't. I can't seem to get you off my mind. The more you pull away the more I want to chase after you. Although I understand you don't want an Urhobo man, my mom is Delta Igbo from Ukwuani, if that counts.”

I chuckled and he smiled. 

“I’ve been waiting for a day when I would kiss you but you came my way and I'm glad. How about you be my girl? I don't see any other competitors and we can get to know ourselves better. You can think it over.”

I didn't bother looking at him. I just fiddled with my palm.

“I'll drop these here. See you tomorrow, that is if you'd like to see me.” He dropped his gifts on the center table and walked out while I just sat there, fiddling with my palm. 

I wanted to run after him but high value women don't do that. But who was I kidding? I liked this guy too. Anytime I saw him, I just felt like my person was already in the picture but I was too scared to be vulnerable. What ifs keep flooding my mind and I know deep down that I have yet to heal from my childhood traumas, the rape and Kpesiri's betrayal. 

When I initially found out Ovie was my neighbor, it didn't sit well with me but I could not move him out of the compound so I decided to avoid him. The more I avoided him, the more we met coincidentally and anytime I was in his space, I felt some type of reassurance. I didn't have to pretend, it was like he got me but I was still terrified. 

A notification jolted me from my thoughts and it was a message from Ovie.

I'll be here but I need to know what you want. I'm never going to pressure you, I want my woman to have her freedom and individuality, so take your time. It's about when she says so. If you want me like I want you, let me know as soon as possible. 

I didn't even when I started smiling at the end of the text. I stretched towards the center table and collected the bottle of wine. I opened it and gulped it down. I connected my phone to bluetooth and Chris Brown's Influence filled me with longing. 

I replied Ovie's text and it read:

I'm not where I want to be emotionally. I still have a lot I'm dealing with but I'm willing to give this a shot. How about you be patient with me for a while? I need to heal properly so I don't bleed on you who didn't cut me. Can you wait?

Immediately I got his notification.

I'll be here waiting. I know you'll overcome it like the children of God overcame with the blood of the lamb and the confessions of their testimonies. 

I smiled. Maybe I found my soulmate. 

Love is never complete when you are not ready. It takes a lot of intentionality and to achieve that, you ought to love yourself and heal from past traumas.

I hope you enjoyed this story. If you think you know what self-love is but you struggle with accepting yourself, please take a look at this self-love manual and read it. In it lies some nuggets of wisdom that can help in your journey for healing. 

Thank you for sticking around till the finish of “when she says so” dear reader. 

Happy valentine's day in advance! See here for your gift.