The Chronicles of Two Lovers

Martha and Jibo had been dating since their university days. They had dated for five years now and really wanted to get married except that they hadn’t enough money to support their marriage plans. They decided to give it time and save. They got Jobs in different states so they rarely saw each other even though they spoke often.

Martha would sometimes remind Jibo that time was running out. She was under a lot of pressure from friends and family. She would often run into a lot of “eligible suitors” many of which she wished she could just settle with, if only Jibo wasn’t in the picture. She just wanted to settle the marriage issue and rest! Jibo didn’t seem serious about the whole thing to her. She felt he had excuses for everything. Oh she wished he was more stable minded, focused, hustle inclined, then she won’t have to worry about thinking for him all the time. She hated that he never had an opinion about anything she asked him about…”Whatever you decide is fine” “I trust you” she made a face at the thought of his words. Why couldn’t he just get things right? She was really getting tiered of his excuses and overly laid back attitude. How she wish he was a little bit more like Victor.


Jibo often can’t get his mind of the fact that he wasn’t where he is supposed to be. Martha wouldn’t let him hear the last of it she has made it a point of duty to remind him whenever in whatever way that he was broke. He knows how much she had given up for him and loved him, but he really wished she would get of his back and let him be. He really didn’t want her thinking for him anymore. He always had things in mind he just doesn’t go hitting at ever door and wall. He wanted to take his time to plan things out. If only she would be a little less the over achiever. Yes she was under pressure but so is everyone else. The mere thought of Martha made him feel inadequate, her friends and abilities, the mere thought that he couldn’t do for her the things he wanted to, made him feel stressed. He just wished he hadn’t agreed to this baggage but his pride and love for her wouldn’t let him back out.

Victor was the cute, dark skinned guy Martha had met during one of the many seminars she attended courtesy of her job. He was funny, and ready. He is a Christian, seemed okay didn’t have the tall creamy n handsome look that Jibo had, oh no he wasn’t tall but he was okay, no one is perfect …she thought to herself. He was just right even though she wasn’t sure if he was born again or not. He was a cool serious minded guy that’s what mattered right? And he wanted to settle down, rarely had excuses and had an opinion about stuff. Martha couldn’t stop beaming about her new catch they had just started dating and it was awesome. He made her laugh all the time, and was there whenever she needed him. So tonight she went ahead and told Jibo she needed some time off the relationship. She needed to be sure this was worth it. He tried to talk her out of it but her mind was made up. She dropped the call and couldn’t tell if it was joy or sadness she felt. She would miss him, but couldn’t carry his burden anymore.

Jibo still staring shocked at his phone couldn’t tell if it was joy or pain he was feeling. Did she just break up with him? He was free at last. Should he be happy or sad? He missed her seriously… but he felt strangely relived. He also felt a pang of guilt that he had played the victim when in fact he had been glad to hear the news.

Eight months down the line….

Martha stood staring at herself in the mirror she couldn’t believe her life was real. She had gone from frying pan to fire from gun point to standing on a time bomb. What was she going to do? How did she let people get to her so much that allowed herself to be pressured enough to dump the only man that had ever truly loved her for this being called victor. He was Stingy, overbearing, controlling, pushy, he never gave her a breathing space and had weird beliefs about God. How would she leave this one now? Who will she go to? Victor has been pressing to meet her parents he feels it’s time to settle down, Martha on the other hand felt it was time to cut and RUN! But to where to whom? She had spoken to Jibo once in a while but whenever Victor came up she would cover up. Jibo seemed to be doing better now, although she couldn’t help but notice the longing and emptiness in his voice each time they spoke. There was much to be said but how to say it was the issue.

Jibo stared at the phone he really missed talking to Martha regularly. He had beat himself up severally for letting her go so easily. He missed her so much, he missed her ideas, support, concerns, and her attention. She made him feel backed up. Now felt alone and even though he was doing better it was one of Martha’s many ideas he had refused trying out earlier…he reluctantly decided to try and it was working. He wished he could share his success with her he just didn’t know how to win her back now that she was almost married to that guy.

“Martha are you trying to make fun of me?” Victor was towering over Martha who had just announce she no longer wanted to be married to him. Victor was mad at her. He couldn’t understand why she would treat him like this after all said and done. “So who is it this time he asked who are you leaving me for?” “No one” Martha said. She wasn’t bothered about victor it was how to get Jibo back that bothered her. He had mentioned a certain girl in his church oh God! let it not work out between them or else….



Martha closed the door to her apartment after her. She had been praying and she had found peace with God and was glad she didn’t marry Victor. She had not spoken to Jibo in two months she had decided to let Jibo go and move on with the lessons she learnt. Her peace now came from a higher source- God. She walked into the kitchen and started fixing her dinner then her phone rang….JIBO!

Jibo stood wondering what her response would be to his visit. How would she take? How would he handle her reaction either way he stood on and waited for her to answer…no answer. He wondered if her new man was around and considered leaving…

Martha couldn’t bear to pick up… what is it? Is he getting married? but this was getting childish. So she picked the second time it rang and said a silent prayer. She feared hearing the marriage announcement between Jibo and his new girl, but they both had to move on right…with a shaky voice she said “He-hello?”

“Hello M”, Jibo’s rich voice rang from the other end of the phone “how are you?” “Am fine? you?” “Am fine” he said. Silence...More silence

“Are you home?” Now that was Jibo

“Yes” Martha replied.

“With your fiancé?” Jibo hated the words and the thought of referring to another man as that

“No…we don’t live together” Marther said with disgust on her face a the thought of victor being her fiancé

“I know that.”

“Yea…moreover, we have broken up.”

“You have?” Jibo almost yelled with excitement

“Why? What happened?”

“It didn’t work out?”

“Okay what if I told you I was standing at your door step would you let me in?”

“Of course now…why not?”

“Okay let me in.”

“WHAT? IN where”

“Am at your door.”

Martha raced to the door to check and there he was…looking as dashing as ever. They just stood and stared at each other for a moment that seemed forever. Until Jibo asked if she was cooking? Her dinner was burning Martha raced to the kitchen and Jibo let himself in smiling. He remembered their school days. He followed her into the kitchen and whistled. Martha raised a defensive hand and said “don’t even start!”

Jibo lifted his hand and said “I haven’t said anything…but since your dinner has been offered to the gods as burnt offering…can I at least buy you dinner?” They both looked at the black pot and charred meal and both burst out laughing. Martha agreed to go and went in to change her clothes. She thought of the harsh words victor would have poured on her if it were him. How was she blind not to see how blessed she was with Jibo? Now she has to live with only the privilege of his friendship.

Jibo and Martha strolled through the park near her home. They had just returned from dinner. The evening meal was the best Martha had had in a while she had missed Jibos unique teasing and their usual play. She had almost forgotten all her self-consciousness and was lost in his warm company when Jibo took her hand. Martha looked up at his face and it all of a sudden looked serious. She swallowed and waited for the bombshell. “I love you Martha” he said. She blinked back in surprise and her heart broke. “I still do” he continued. “I can’t explain it. My foolishness, and refusal to grow up. I couldn’t understand all you were trying to say until you left me for someone else. I have come to say I am sorry I let you down the first time. Now I understand…what it means to love a woman like you. I am willing to do almost anything to have you back…this is me Jibo asking you back. Please Martha take me back as your man. Just this last time. And…”

“I take you back…”

“What?”

“I take you back Jibo”. “I was so unsatisfied with everything. I forgot to count my blessings, I was so critical of you I kept on criticizing you so much that I forgot to bless you. I wanted to tell you what to do because I didn’t think you were doing enough or could do anything right and forgot how intelligent and focused your mind was. I took your support and regard for me as weakness and your patience I took for granted. I hope you can forgive me for turning my back on you and our love. I will be the happiest woman in the world if you took me back.” By this time the ocean gates of tears were wide open and tears just poured out. They hugged for what seemed eternity. Hand in hand they both walked back to Martha’s apartment. Martha’s heart soared. She thanked God over and over again each thanks giving prayer came with a promise of good behavior.

Martha and Jibo got married three months later. They both live in Bayelsa State where Jibo works as a civil engineer and Martha works as a Lawyer. Their love thrives and they have learnt to appreciate each other and their strengths and depreciate each other’s weakness. Most of all they have learnt to base their marriage on God.