BETROTHAL

"I... I am enga...ged to... to be mar...ried soon", Fola stammered.

Ire's grin disappeared and he uttered. "What?"

"Yeah", she replied.

"Wao! That's good news."

"Is it?"

"What is the problem?" Ire peered at her closely before asking "You don't love the man you are engaged to right?"

"Why would you say that?", she questioned. "Whether I do love him or not doesn't matter, the fact is that I am getting married."

"Of course it does matter who you love, and whether you love him or not. It is obvious you don't love that man", he replied but was met with silence.

Ire continued. "We are in the 21st century for crying out loud, why can't you marry the man you love?"

"Because I don't love anyone but myself", she retorted.

"And that is because you have no idea what love is and true love hasn't found you yet", he blurted.

Trying to change the topic, Fola said, "I told them I want the wedding to be next year so I can have time to......"

"Elope?", he interrupted.

Fola gave a short laugh and replied. "Elope to where? I can't run away from my father and not from Mr. Garba. My mum doesn't seem to like the idea but she wants me to respect my father's decision."

"Why are they doing this to you?"

Fola sighed softly. "Long story I guess."

"So what do you intend to do now?", he asked her.

She shrugged and replied. "I will just let fate take its course. I have no power whatsoever over myself or my life."

"Can't you just go against your parent's wishes? I am totally against a loveless marriage. Tell your parents that you don't love him and you are not yet ready for marriage."

Fola smiled and remained silent for a while. "What difference does that make? You said earlier that I don't know what love is, so how sure are we that I don't love him" She uttered with humour.

"Do you know if he loves you?"

Fola scoffed and blurted out of frustration. "Do I look like someone who cares about what he feels?"

Ire sighed and said. "I thought matchmaking is a thing of the past. Now I know better."

"It is not matchmaking."

He looked up sharply and out of curiosity, he questioned. "Then what is it?"

"Betrothal", she answered looking down.

"What the hell!!!"

"Yes, I, Folakemi Obed is betrothed to Olamide Garba."