CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
My relation with John developed naturally and steadily that I could not imagine. I was caught by surprise that the man who was remotely in my mind had become significantly closer to me and suddenly edged out Sammy. It was the kind friendship that came with a bang, and I could not tell how it came about. At this moment, I was hurrying up to meet him at Yasia town. We had proposed to meet several times, but due to unavoidable circumstances, the date kept on failing to materialize. But today, I found that I was longing for it more than anything in my life.
It was running to 10.am, and yet I had not received any call from John. But since we had spoken last night, it was enough to prepare for the journey. I took a cold bath quickly and put my right clothes in readiness for the excitement of my life. Once my clothes were on, I went to view myself through the mirror.
I looked at myself in the mirror, and I realized that my tummy had kicked my cloth a bit. But I assumed it as I cut my way out of my door to catch a bus. At the bus station, I was lucky to get a ready vehicle moving to the town. But when I was getting into the car, a man whispered.
“Madam, you are so charming.”
I turned my neck to stare at him and shook my head as I clamped the vehicle. I jumped into it, and moments later, the car sped off. When the car had picked up speed, breaking the road with great hope, my heart started to throb very fast. Suddenly, fear began to explode into my mind. I did not know that I would be very fearful like this, but I found myself shaking up. My mind was flooded with thoughts that came one after the other. “What are we going to discuss? How about if Sammy or any board member found me with John?”
I tried my best to soothe my thoughts, but I found my lungs chocked with lack of breath. But then I realized that we were going to meet at a public place which usually was crowded with people crushing for food. That alone had cooled my burning mind that whoever met see me there might not read much out of it.
The vehicle breathed its last breath at the bus station in Yasia town within no time, and everyone slipped out. I leaped out with my black handbag and walked along a street to the hotel. I made sure that I had put on my best clothes. I wore a black skirt and a white blouse with a weaved hair that hanged at my back, whipping my back with bliss. When I was on the way, my phone rang, and it was John calling.
“Hello”
“Morning, madam, how is your journey?”
“I am about to reach. Are you there at the location?”
“Yes,”
“Fine, just a few minutes, and I would be there.”
About five minutes later, I reached the hotel. People were not many as I had expected. Nevertheless, sizable numbers were eating and laughing among themselves. I swept across the open shades, and abruptly my eyes caught John sitting under one of the tree shades drinking something. I went straight to his table with my heart still full of doubts and throbbing with anxiety.
“Welcome, madam, have a seat.”
I sat down while I let my eyes roam about to be sure that I was safe. “How are you, John,” I said with a smile. His sight alone had cured my doubts. I found myself pushing my eyes to penetrate his body.
“I am wonderful, and it’s good you have made it at last. We have been planning, but our plans had been falling apart.”
“Even me, I am thrilled to meet you.”
“Thank you,” He said as he grinned and his white teeth spread out.
Soon a waiter came and took our orders as we continued without our conversation.
“You said you live around?” I asked with a smile.
“Yes, it is just near this place.”
“Do you stay with your family here?” I regretted having to ask the question.
“No, my family is at home.”
“I now remembered that you had told me about it.”
“Now that you are in town, and if you are not in a hurry, you can pass by to see the place.”
I hesitated. I did not know that John could say such a thing. I always viewed him as a gentleman, but now I am a bit nervous. Should I refuse the offer, or should I accept it? I secretly question my soul within an interlude of silence.
“I am afraid I may be shy from the prying eyes of your neighbors,’ John laughed as he picked my hand as if to greet me.
“Your fear is justified, but my Place is well secured. I have a few neighbors’ who are always out of the Place. At this time, it is hard to find anybody at the Place.”
“After a pause of doubt, I said, “it is okay,” I saw the man smiled while my heart leaped as if to jump out of my body.
Soon the food was brought, and we talk as we attacked our food. Once we were through with food, John suggested that we move to his Place. We stood up and strolled towards the gate to take means to drop us there. Soon we took two motorbikes, and I mounted one, and John mounted another. Our eyes met before we set off, and I smiled, and John also returned my smile, and the bikes started to move out with steady speed. Within no time, we were rolling down a steep to his house.
It was a lonely compound that the bikes stopped at. In front of us was a big black gate that was made entirely by a fine artist. At the door of the gate were beautiful flowers, well-kept, which made the Place a pleasant place to watch. Soon the bikes left us, and I heard John saying that we used another door apart from the main gate. I remained behind as we slid down a bit to the small gate that had appealed to my eyes instantly.
He quickly opened the padlock, and we walked along a narrow corridor within the compound, and soon I saw another gate. Here again, John pulled his keys and opened them. What brought my rapt attention was the fact that a small compound with three secured gates! What I quickly learned was that it was not possible to access the compound without an appointment.
In the compound, three houses stood, one at the entrance while a small and a big one gazed lovingly opposite each other. From the gate, the two loving buildings stood a few meters ahead while the lonely building graced the entrance with beautiful flowers on the left side of the gate.
We walked in silence until we reached the small house opposite the big building and John opened his door. Cold shivers settled on my heart once more. The compound was silent and heartbreaking. “How about if this man is not who I thought he was? What will I tell my people to suppose anything happens to me.” It was idiotic to have moved this far, but I must prepare for the worst.”
Finally, John opened the door of his house, and I was surprised to step into the Place immediately. It was a three-roomed house, and the sitting room was big and spacious. But they lacked good chairs. I realized that the man had few possessions in the house, a plastic chair, three old weaved wooden chairs, a table, and a TV stand. The table was packed with books, a small radio, and some CDS and flash disc. I was dismayed immediately. But I held my thoughts within my heart.
“Please feel free, and this is my house. Don’t worry, and it’s just depressed the way you see it.”
I sat on the plastic chair, and the man took the wooden chair. We started to talk as he offered me a soft drink, which seemed to have been bought earlier. While we are discussing happily, I saw John passed his unyielding eyes on my stomach. I knew at once that he might have detected my condition. But I would not bother to discuss it with him at this stage. Moreover, he was just a mere friend, which I found myself paling around with.
Inside the house, my fear vanished, and I found John a pleasant man to deal with. At the heart of our conversation, John stood up and held my hand as if to lift me. I rose instantly, and he kissed my cheeks, and I paid back the kiss immediately. We stood still and just staring at each other admiringly. Then we sat down once more to continue with our conversation where we had left.
After our conversation, which lasted about one hour, the time of my visit had waned. I stood up from my seat, and John also stood. I hugged him a little and then said, “My time is up, up.” He shocked his head in agreement and escorted me a little, holding my hand towards the gate. I felt good to feel the palm of John warming mine. We reached the gate, and we stood still and not saying anything. But John held on to me continued as we stared at each other as if we were lovers. Eventually, he let loose his grip, and I bade him goodbye promising to see him again.
I moved away from him with my heart still longing for that brilliant moment that I was leaving behind. As I moved away from the gate, I gazed back and saw the man even glued his glance at me. I waved again to him, but I did not wait for him to reciprocate; I walked fast way. However, my body became light, and my mind was at peace. I just wished that the image of the man would not torment me.
I soon took a motorbike to a bus stop. I got a vehicle which was about full and boarded, waiting to be ferried to my house. I felt good as the picture of our brief encounter flashed in my mind every second. I smiled as I started to see the ghost of John playing into my mind. It was the best dating that I had enjoyed with a relaxed mood, and the image John was permanently imprinted into my soul.
Just before the vehicle could take off, I got a phone call. I removed my phone from my bag and received it. It was Jim calling.
‘Hello, sweetheart,”
“Hello darling,” I smiled with guilt.
‘My sweetheart, I am on my way home; please reserve for me a good thing tomorrow morning.”
“Welcome home, my dear,” I replied with a rambling mind.
My heart leaped with a mixture of joy and confusion. The thought of my drama with Sammy rang in my mind. Would the matter leak to the ears of my husband? Cold shivers ran through my nerves as the seed of fear took control of my body. I waited for the bus to take me home with an aching heart.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
At last, I found a bus heading in my direction and climbed in. Passengers were many, and the bus just took a few minutes before leaving towards my town. I sat in my seat as I waited for the vehicle to start. I got absorbed with my phone that I did not notice a woman who came and sat next to me. I was astonished to hear a voice calling my name. By that, the vehicle had started our journey.
“Madam Saoja, how are you.” I jerked my heart quickly to look at my side. I was stunned by a happy face that greeted my eyes. I became tight-lipped and only stared at the woman with piercing eyes.
“Are you surprised to meet me?” She whispered.
“No, not at all,” I regained my voice though the shockwave had affected my strength.
“Where are you going, Brenda?”
“I am going to be your visitor today.” I giggled as her message seemed to prick my body. The hair on my head started to swell, and my nerves hardened. I swept a glance across the corners of the bus to be sure that nobody was listening to our conversation.
“You can’t be serious! What are you coming to do in my Place?”
She chuckled before she lifted her voice. “I have been trailing you for some time now. I did not want to surprise you with anything before I talked to you. Which why I followed you up to this Place.”
“Trailing me? You mean you are just waiting for such a stupid thing.” I asked with a suppressed anger.
“Call it with whatever name you will like, but it means a lot to me.”
“So what do you want now that you have found me.”
She grinned, and her teeth shown out. “Yes,” she laughed. “Let me warn you now to keep off from my boyfriend, Sammy. Sammy and I love each other very much, and you are a spoiler.”
“Please stop provoking me,” she stared at me with anger.
“You have been seducing my boyfriend, and I once found you red-handed. But now you have gone ahead to spoil his job.” Brenda said with a raised voice, which prompted a man who sat next to me to turn his head towards us. I felt ashamed by the exchange, but there was nothing I could do now. I clenched my fist in case it was going to be needed. Tears started to roll from my eyes. But Brenda was just laughing. The other passengers were busy talking in their seats as the vehicle maneuvered corners.
“Is he the one who had to send you?” I said while wiping a shred of tears with a white handkerchief.
“That is none of your business. Just spare your breath and keep off my boyfriend. If you don’t get satisfied with your husband, you may introduce me to your husband so that I can take him officially and be off the hook to hunt more men as you like. It seemed that you have insatiable lust.” I was choked with anger, and I was almost hitting her with my stiff fist, but the man who sat next to me spoiled everything. His eyes refused to leave me alone to deal with this intruder.
“Place gives me a break and go and air your frustrations away from me. But if you are still up to your offensive language, let us alight from the vehicle to square it physically. I will deform your broad nose and ugly face. Mark you, I am not whore like you.
She smiled and hardened her gaze. A moment of silence ensued as what I had just said tore her brain.
“Don’t dare my me that way and never call me a whore again. You are an idiot and husband snatcher. If you can’t control your lust, I will follow you up to your grave. Sammy is mine till death. I will wade of Intruders like you who are ill-bend to grab him. My simple advice is kindly to leave your husband and come and fight with me over Sammy. Let us see who will win the battle, useless.”
I was incredibly struck with anger and was almost rising to give my fist some work when they abruptly made a sharp halt. Before I could accomplish my intention, Brenda jumped out of the vehicle, waving her hands at me as she moved out. When her legs had touched the ground, she shouted,
“Take my advice seriously before more surprises haunt you.” and she disappeared as the vehicle started to roar again with speed.
I remained on my seat, speechless and ashamed at the same time. My heart skipped as if I was about to vomit, and my head started to ache. I looked around me, and I was startled to see the eyes of the same man staring at me. I knew that he had heard everything, but I bowed my head down to rub tears from my face. The vehicle quickly stopped. I descended to walk to my house, but my legs were too heavy. Nonetheless, I persevered and trudged sluggishly to the house.
Immediately I stepped into my house, and I found Mary seated in the living room. I waved to her and enquired about Peter. After getting a satisfactory answer, I went straight to my bedroom to cool my burning heart. At this moment, my head was saturated with relaying thoughts. What should I do to this idiot called Brenda? The question kept playing in my head now and then. I found out that I was not helping myself. Instead of my head cooling down, it was exploding with weird thoughts. I now believed that I have an enemy trailing me, and I ought to be careful. When I was still contemplating what to Sammy and Brenda, a catnap stole my eyes. I deeply slept.
When I finally woke up, dusk was settling in, and from my bedroom, I could hear Peter laughing, and a deep voice was echoing within. I knew that there was a visitor at my house, but I had no clue who he was. Peter was saying something while Mary was laughing in the background. I became very keen with my ears to be sure that another ugly surprise did not meet me once. My body temperature was at a peak. A stranger in my house just hours when I had had a terrible exchange with Brenda. I found myself trembling from head to toe.
I rose from my bed and walked over to the living room with great heat in my heart. But to my surprise, my eyes met a joyful face of a man seated in the sitting and playing with Peter. A mixture of joy and guilt spread across my face. But I was at least a happy woman. The presence of Jim, my husband, in the room resurrected the greatest joy that had escaped my imagination for a long time. I leaped forward for a handshake, and Jim extended his warm palms to greet me too. He hugged me and kissed my cheeks as he said.
“I am back, honey; the journey was long, but my happiness is your sight.”
“Welcome, my sweetheart; I have been missing you with all the breath.” Peter and Mary stood watching. But Jim was a bit diplomatic. He went to kiss Peter, and he did the same to Mary.
I held Jim’s hands softly, and for the first time, my rambling head was restored. But my confused mind was inwardly wailing in despair. The word betrayal was visible in my inner imagination as I pull Jim’s hands closer to my chest to embrace.