"She was beautiful from the depth of her eyes to the gentle expressions of her voice. She was beautiful from her generous opinions to the touch of her hand upon my own. I loved the way her voice quickened or laughed when She sparkled with a new idea".
How my relationship with Annabel, the minister's beautiful daughter began was a mystery.
Believe me, James got good eyes and was right with everything he said about her.
She had the kind of face that stopped you in your tracks. I guess she's used to the sudden pause in a person's natural expression when they looked her way, followed by a nonchalant gaze and a weak smile. Of course the blush that accompanied it was a dead give-away. It didn't help that she was so modest with it, it made the guys fall for her all the more. Despite all the opportunity that came her way, she was a one-man-woman who prized genuineness and thoughtful conversation above lipstick, high-heels and cars.
She was beautiful alright, but inside, she was damn handsome.
My relationship with Annabel sat well with my brother, for him it was a way for me.
I thought relationship with rich kids only happened in movies but no, it was happening in real life and to me.
Our relationship spread round like a wild fire; the walls really did have ears.
"I've received a lot of messages from my friends about Nigerians. Honestly, I don't know what you really did but it worked for you." she said to me, with a huge smile in one of her visits.
"Ghanaians are quick to judge Nigerians with movies they watched, where it pains me most is that majority of youths believe this poor edited effect in the 21st century", I replied dusting off the clothes in the shop.
"But darling, what really made you like me?" I asked.
"Your big head and sweet mouth", she joked and we both laughed.
Annabel is every guy's dream woman. A woman who understands, advices, prays, is intelligent, beautiful and smart.
Irrespective of coming from a wealthy family, she started her own business and was doing fine, I was her trusted ally and business ideas were shared with me before being invested.
I've never being in a stable relationship because some don't know their limits. A man hates being bugged with calls no matter how he pretends.
Men experience mood swings too and craves for his private time, that's why men love independent women cause if you're busy you won't disturb him.
To celebrate our anniversary, Annabel offered me a car and asked me to move out to a rented apartment she got but I politely declined.
"Ann, I know you love me so much like I do, but I don't think I can take this offer". I said as I held her hands.
It was embarrassing for me, I can't be on the payroll of a woman.
I know all it takes is love and understanding but they are things as a man who have plans spending the rest of his life with a lady you should never do. If you want to have a say in your home then you have to be the head, your partner is an assistant. When a man gets into a quarrel with his wife, he tries to settle it but a woman will always remind you of how useless you are, if you make her the head.
The offer was juicy, but if we were to be married I won't also move into her house no matter how beautiful it is.
"Babe, I'll appreciate if you sell those items and give me the money as a loan so I can start up a business. I know businesses I can do in Nigeria that will bring a substantial amount of Money, all I need is financing and as a loan", I continued.
"You would have told me. And why will I give you money as loan when I know what you're using it for?" She fired.
"No, I want it as a loan so I'll be able to put my hard work and everything on it, I don't want to relax. I'll also want you to put your interests on it", I replied.
She made a heavy sigh.
"I love you so much TB", she said with sincerity shining in her eyes.
"I love you too", I replied, leaned forward and kissed her.
Everyone defines love according to how they've received and loved. I'd say love is honesty, sacrifice, pain and forgiveness. The other attributes which includes care and understanding falls under.
In movies, the father of Annabel was supposed to be our problem, but in my story he welcomed me, and shared stories of how he left Nigeria as a young man.
Alhaji Kwame traveled to Ghana just like me, he was a young school teacher.
"Nigeria was hell when I left, I was getting on my feet in 1983 before the declaration was made. Ghanaians are still recovering from the trauma, two million west African migrants, half of whom were from Ghana" he paused, looked up at the beautiful chandelier and smiled.
I felt bad listening to his story and I know it would be hard to erase.
He continued:
"It was an overdue payback because Ghana once expelled Nigerians in 1969. Nigeria was rich, Nigeria's oil wells were spitting out some 2.3-million barrels a day in 1974. I can't forget the chants of 'Go home, Go home! What are you still doing here?!'. The bags we all had then was Nicknamed 'Ghana Must Go'.
I remember a young girl I wanted to marry, we were just like you and Annabel, aghh! I miss Amina, she's just the replica of Annabel", he sighed.
I was quiet, this was my first time listening to the history of the famous bag called 'Ghana must go'.
History needs to be taught in Nigerian schools. I got home and googled more, a lot of people died heading back to Ghana. The Ghana government closed its borders because they suspected it as a coup. Ghanaians were stranded, many fell into the sea because of the sheer volume of people scrambling for a place on the ships.
It's sad that Nigeria has never officially apologized to Ghana for 1983 and 1985 and Ghana has never apologized for 1969.