WHAT LIES BENEATH.
Episode 23
By AMAH’S HEART
“Sir, do you need anything… you want me to get something for you… maybe lunc….
I quickly interrupted annoyingly.
“This is the third time you will be asking me this same question today and my answer remains No. I don’t want anything Angela, I’m fine… please don’t come asking the same thing again. Thank you…
She nooded and left.
I understand she meant well, but her constant asking was getting on my nerves.
Everyone and everything is becoming more annoying.
“Eziaku has a boyfriend… hahaha. She threw it to my face like that. “I have a boyfriend sir… you can go and die…”.
That’s how I read the tone in her voice.
I breathed deeply, held my head in my hands.
I stood and move to my window blind, rolled it up and stood there looking out to the main road.
I saw the car park filled with cars and my exact parking space where my car was parked.
If I’m able to get more reliable clients from now till next year, I will change the car to something better.
I’m craving for a different ride.
Stella called yesterday that she was coming to Abuja by weekend.
Is been a while I saw my sister, I looked forward to having her.
She can either stay in the same room with Eziaku or come to mine if she isn’t comfortable staying with Eziaku in the guest room.
“Eziaku has a boyfriend…wow! She already has a man just within months of going to her work place…
I can not understand how I did never thought she will fall for another man.
When did she enter a relationship and took me unaware?
Yes, I love the fact that she told me but I wish she never did.
I can’t even reason straight over that realization. I see her differently from the way I used to see her before.
How can she have a boyfriend, I mean she can but I’m angry because of the whole thing.
When I think I have already seen a lady to give my heart to,
To love wholeheartedly, Cherish and transform into my perfect spec then boom she surprised me by having a boyfriend.
I believe the same man she speaks over the phone with and laugh loudly with most nights while I sucked up like a child.
I wish I understand everything she was telling the man or he was telling her.
She uses her dialect and it makes it a bit difficult to grab
And also I don’t want to mingle in her private life.
Going home and seeing her after the whole revelation is no more enjoyable.
I used to be happy going home to meet her smiling face but she has a boyfriend and that alone turns me off.
Women keep surprising me.
Maybe I’m just unlucky with them.
She closes from work 5:30pm and gets home before me.
She uses 30minutes to get home.
I wondered when and where she met her “boyfriend”
I close 5pm too and gets home by 7pm or 7:30pm.
Since the “I have a boyfriend” saga started, I deliberately stay late in the office and gets home by 8 to 9pm.
I don’t want to have anything to discuss with her.
Just greetings and we are cool that way.
Why did she allowed me kiss her before telling me of her boyfriend.
Almost two weeks later and I still can’t get her off my mind.
Why, why is she driving me crazy.
She has a boyfriend for crying out loud.
She obviously can’t cheat on her man which was the only logic reasons she put me in my place so that I don’t cross boundary.
She was faithful, obviously. But Oby couldn’t turn down a common school boyfriend. She couldn’t say no, “I have a man” she allowed herself to be laid, got pregnant, did abortion which resulted to other complicated health issue that I had to clean.
I managed her bedwetting part before i summoned courage to take her for treatment. I gave another chance to her after forgiving her and spending so much on her surgery.
what did she do instead, she threw me off the bridge with the little chance she got.
She did so without any iota of regrets.
Women! I should not have think of going for another village girl, definitely not one from Oby’s village because nothing good comes from that place.
I hate myself for being unfortunate to love. I blame myself for stooping low to love an ordinary girl with no good educational background or exposure.
I hate myself for trying to give another chance to love. Anytime I did, it ends in disaster.
I shouldn’t have fallen. I made a huge mistake that I wish I can undo.
There was a knock, Angela came in.
I turned and asked her what she wanted angrily. She interrupted my thought.
“Mr Gwasi called, he wants to know if we have placed his property at JoJo estate for sale. He has a bungalow in the same estate and will want us to put it on lease…
“Alright, I will call him. Thanks.
She didn’t leave, I raised an eyebrow to ask her if there’s another thing.
“No Sir, is almost 6pm. You’re not leaving yet… again today?
I told her she can go, I will leave anytime I feel like.
She bid me goodnight and left.
I waited in the office until 7pm before leaving.
I got home around 9pm. And Eziaku was rounding up with dinner
She greeted me and I replied coldly which I have been doing for the past one week.
I went into my room, showered and came out for dinner.
She brought my food, I tasted it and do not like it.
I looked up at her with a frown
“You’re just making dinner…and it taste so bad?
She breathed deeply.
“I closed late today, we have been having so many customers visiting. My madam asked me to wait and assist a little before going. I’m sorry…I Came back by 8pm and try to hurry up with the food before you come back. Maybe I…
I moved the food back and stood.
” You’re lying, I don’t believe you Eziaku. You probably went visiting your boyfriend…
Her face turned pale that I almost regretted my word
“I’m not lying, I can’t lie to you sir….
I waved a hand to the air and stopped her from talking.
“Do you want to tell me you have never visited your boyfriend in his house… ever since you started dating him? Answer me…
She bent her head and replied.
“I have sir but that…
I interrupted her angrily after realizing she has gone visiting the so called boyfriend.
” How many times and what did you both do while you were at his place…
She was quiet and didn’t say anything
“,…Cat got your tongue or you have suddenly gone deaf and dumb.
She frowned and I can see she was struggling with tears.
She finally let the tears out but quickly wiped it off.
She said with a calm voice
“If you don’t want me around here anymore, I will totally understand. And that doesn’t change the fact that you’re still a nice man. I will go and stay with my friend…
I clasp my hand together more angry than before.
I was angry at her calmness and she wanting to leave my place maybe to her boyfriend’s house.
“You want to go and stay with your boyfriend? Wow.. Eziaku wow. And I thought you’re different, I thought you were different from other girls. This is a shocking discovery that you are just the same like bunch of other girls.
I try to catch my breath before I continued
“… maybe is better you go because anything that happens now I will be held responsible. Your boyfriend may get you pregnant and you will tell those that cares to listen that am the one responsible for the pregnancy. He may ask you to go for an abortion and if anything goes wrong you will say is me. I don’t trust you or any lady… you people are capable of killing. Go and live with your boyfriend, you should have thought of that since… rather than trying to get me all worked up.
She kept looking at me with a surprised face. she was wondering If i was the same man she used to know or something has taking over me.
I walked away from her to the fridge to take some chilled water.
She was still standing there when I walked past.
I was heading to my room when she said something that made me pause.
“You made it all looked like you were helping me for a reason and when you couldn’t achieve your aim you started throwing tantrum. Hating me for no good reason…
Her word angered me the more.
I turned and replied.
“You’re very stupid for saying that I was helping you for a selfish reason…
She was not moved by my insult. She continued
“You maybe right about me being stupid, but your whole action says it all. Ever since the day you kissed me and I told you that I have a boyfriend you changed unrecognizable. It seems that I don’t know you again. You changed from the sweet man you used to be sir. But deep down you’re still the same man that rushed down to pick me up from the lonely street of Abuja. You’re kind and has loving soul. I’m sorry that my single word got you all worked up, maybe if I knew things will turn out this way I shouldn’t have said anything at all…
I turned again to leave and then she continued.
“….Yes, I have a boyfriend but he is not in Abuja. He is in the village and is the second guy that helped you that day at the pothole. Is not Nonso as you may think… his name is Uche. We were two years in our relationship when I came to Abuja and I have stayed a year plus here making us three years. So sir is not what you think. I will be going to stay with a colleague… who happens to be my friend too. Her name is Kamsi. She is a lady and not a man. Thanks for everything…I will forever be grateful and wouldn’t mind coming around to visit if that’s okay with you. I’m saving money to get a mini flat like Kamsi. Later, I may think of getting a form to enrol in college of education… like Kamsi. But I will have to save up first for that… aside having a skill I also want to have a small degree too. If I have NCE I will be able to teach. I have plans and I’m gradually working towards that…all thanks to you for making something good out of me. Believing in me when no one does and caring for me like you will do to your own. I will leave by morning…
She breathed again, looked at me for a long time before walking away.
I stood transfixed at that spot.
I don’t even know what to do or think.
I’m still pained, still sad.
I managed to walk to my room, sat hard on the bed and kept thinking.
Why did I allow myself to fall so much deeply for her.
The emotional trauma I’m going through is unquestionable.
I never knew how much effect she had on me until she told me to my face that she belongs to another and now knowing who the man is makes me powerless.
I can still remember the taste of her lips, the way she felt in my arm.
I crave for another chance to hold her, to kiss her again.
She belongs to Uche, Uche her village boyfriend who helped me with his friend Nonso when I desperately needed help.
Eziaku was slipping off from my hands and I just can’t do anything.
What do I do now.
Why did I allow her thought to mess up my emotions.
I can’t think of anything except her
both at the office and home.
How did I get into this kind of triangle.
What can I do, oh God.
I feel so broken right now.
