Christmas Love on Air (II)

Part 2

Bela watched her carefully, searching for signs of the warm, witty co-host he used to know, but her face remained guarded. The tension between them felt out of place, considering how comfortable they once were around each other.

He couldn't help but recall the day they were first introduced.

“Bela, right? Like Bella Naija™?” she quipped.

“So, funny story? My dad’s name is Benjamin. When he was much younger, he told God that if he would have sons, he desired to name them after Benjamin’s lineage in the Bible. Somehow, God humored him. There's me, Bela, and my two brothers Bechel and Jediael.”

“Oh, interesting! For a second, I thought you were ‘Bala Mohammed’ trying to sound cool or something.”

The memory brought a faint smile to his face, but as he looked at her now, he saw only anger, irritation. She was livid.

“What is this, Bela? A prank? First, you left without a word. Now, you’re back, gate-crashing the office Christmas party, luring me here under false pretenses, and bolting the door? Are you being serious?”

She folded her arms. “What, you ran out of maple syrup in Canada? Or got deported?” Her sarcasm had always enthralled him, but now it stung.

Bela stepped closer. “I’m sorry. I just wanted us to talk, you know, alone?”

“You see, that’s the problem!” Her voice rose. “Always wanting things done on your terms. You leave when you want, come back when you want, talk when you want! Well, guess what, Bela? Life doesn’t revolve around you.”

He winced. “Duly acknowledged. Anything else you want to say to me? Or do to me?”

She snapped. “Oh, trust me, you don't want to know!”

“No.” Bela’s expression sobered. “I think this is overdue.”

“You don’t get to decide that. You think you can waltz back in and act like I owe you this conversation?” she snapped.

Bela looked at her, his voice remorseful. “I don’t deserve it,” he admitted. “But I’m asking for it anyway. Because I didn’t just come back for closure. I came back because I still care about you. I still…” His voice broke. “I still love you.”

Jadesola blinked, clearly caught off guard, but her walls didn’t come down so easily. “Oh…”

She deflected. “So, you’re sorry? For what exactly? Ghosting? Making me feel unimportant even though you claimed to…” she put airquotes “love me?”

“All of it.” He exhaled sharply. “I was a coward, okay? I was even more of a jerk. When the offer came, it wasn't something I had considered even though it was a good one. I wanted to be here, with you, but I realised that I needed to also be the man you deserved.”

Bela continued, “I overheard something you said to your sister. You were right. I wasn’t there yet. Spiritually.”

Bela sighed. “I thought I needed to fix myself first. And I wanted to spare you the whole explanation and drama. But when I got to Canada, days turned into weeks, and weeks into months. Each day made it harder to call or text you because I was wrong from the jump.”

Her brows furrowed.

“The conversation with my sister wasn’t even about you being unworthy. I was wrestling as well. I told Jolami God said to give you time and let you grow. If you’d stayed long enough, you’d have heard the part where I chose you anyway.”

Bela froze. “I didn’t know.”

“No, you didn’t.”

“I’ve unlearned so much since then. It’s not about having it all figured out. God didn’t wait until we were ready or worthy before sending Jesus. He met us where we were—messy, broken, unprepared.”

“That’s right! Come to think of it, that's the whole heart of Christmas,” her voice was softer now, she smiled at a memory, “Earlier, I nearly peed my pants hearing all sorts of things about Christmas.”

Bela chuckled. “I was listening, too. The caller who talked about people adding chicken head inside food for their neighbours nearly took me out. What?!”

“That was hilarious! Or the one who said, ‘Jesus is the reason for the seasoning. As per thyme or rosemary?”

They both laughed, despite themselves.

“I’m so proud of you, Jadesola. You’ve always been the star of that show. My ears and eyes in Lagos tell me you've been carrying on so well. Welldone, my pato.”

Jadesola rolled her eyes, fighting back a smile. “Don’t call me that if you don't have plans on returning to the station. Our listeners been hounding for the past six months. You need to start making it up to everyone.”

“Oh, baby, I've got plans. I just don't want to hit you with everything at once. Us, that's what's important. Everything else will follow. I’ll show workings.”

Jadesola gave a fake smile. “Oshey, mathematician. Can we go now? My head’s beginning to hurt from this back and forth.”

“But you enjoyed it, didn't you? By the way,” Bela said, handing her the gift box. “This is actually from the Christmas treasure hunt, not me. I just... hijacked the plan.”

She took the box, muttering under her breath, “Opportunist.”

Bela reached for his phone to text Kamal to get the door.

“Would you like me to drive you home? We could play your playlist.”

She shook her head. “No longer tempting. I drive now.”

He smiled, remembering how she used to have a phobia for driving. “You do? Okay! What's more? You eat bread and noodles now?”

“Never happening.”

Just then, Kamal burst in, grinning. “Please tell me I interrupted the kiss—that was the whole point.”

“Kamal? You were in on this?” Jadesola shot him a look. “What did he promise you? Candy?”

“Actually,” Kamal said, “I made Bela promise to play Santa Claus tomorrow. Remember the Christmas charity event for the children with special needs? That was my criteria before I agreed to help him out. He fooled us all, Jadesola.”

She gave Kamal a high five, then turning to Bela, she said, “There goes your steeze! Good luck looking the part.”

“I might need help getting into it,” Bela confessed.

Jadesola gave a vengeful smirk. “Oh, sure! By the time I’m done with you, you’re going to make it into the Guinness Book of Records for being the most iconic Santa Claus ever. The kids will love you!”

“I’ll take my chances.”

Their banter flowed naturally again, but as they stepped into the hallway, Bela gently took her hand.

“I’m grateful for our conversation tonight. It’s a start. I know I still have a lot to prove, but this–being here with you–it’s more than the Christmas miracle I hoped for.”

She gave his hand a gentle squeeze and smiled. Then their eyes lingered.

Bela cleared his throat. “I better contain myself. Or I might wind up giving you that kiss Kamal thought he’d walk in on.”

Jadesola scoffed, and pulled away playfully, “Excuse you! You’re not off the hook yet. Don’t flatter yourself, BB-on-Air.”

“Touché. So much for a Merry Christmas, my radio sweetheart.”

The End.

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💌. HO, HO, HO. Hey, everyone. Did you enjoy the latter part of this story? I'm guessing now you understand why I had to split it into two parts (for those who were ‘threatening me’–I enjoyed it though haha).

Thank you so much for sticking with me. Tell a friend to tell a friend! Enjoy Christ, enjoy Christmas—He’s the reason for the season.

Looking forward to your heartwarming feedbacks. 💛

Yours in Quality Time,
Adebola. 🦋