BETRAYED PART 3 episode 1 11am, Benjamin’s family house “I think coming here is a bad idea, we should go back” i nervously muttered when we got to the gate. Amara scoffed and shook her head. “no no no madam, we ain’t going back, we are already here and we have to go ahead with what brought us to this place, moreover it’s hundred percent your idea” she said to me as she firmly held my left hand. Without another word, we walked into the compound, cautiously with prayers in our lips. We soon got to the entrance door, stopped and stared at each other nervously. “what are you waiting for? C’mon knock on the door nau!” she urged as if it was a very simply thing to do. I swallowed hard, shrugged and knocked gently. Two minutes later the entrance door was flung open by Benjamin’s mother, who stared at us with a serious but not mean look, breathed deeply and admitted us into the house polietly, even though her smile was heavily cloaked with sharp coldness. I searched for Benjamin with my eyes as we walked into the sitting room, but unfortunately couldn’t locate him, which made me more uncomfortable, while his mum’s pointed gaze unsettled me greatly. I nervously settled on a couch with Amara dutifully beside me. “my son told me you wanted to speak with me?” the old woman asked after some minutes had gone by. I breathed deeply, rubbed my knees nervously, nodded and smiled, “please where is Benjamin?” i asked calmly, “i sent him on an errand, i thought you only wanted to speak with me, don’t you?” she asked curiously with a burning gaze, “yes ma, his presence is really not needed” i murmured with a coloured face, “actually i came to render an apology” i stammered, while she drew forward on her chair, feigning surprise and pretending as if she wasn’t aware of what i came to do. Her action truly unsettled me further, i was so /so/ nervous. I was doing something i havn’t seen any girl do and the old woman was making it more difficult for me with her intense behaviour. I tried to continue with my speech {apology} but was unable to, all i was able to do was just to throw a nervous glance at Amara who gave me an encouraging smile. I never knew rendering a sincere apology could be so difficult. My phone however rang that moment breaking the tension and silence in the room. It was my mother calling. “your dad was involved in a motor accident an hour ago, where are you?” i heard my dear mum say over the phone, leaving me dead with fright. “oh no God why?” i cried, shocking everyone with my outburst.. I instantly dropped my phone in shock and held my head. Amara dutifully shook me, concerned and anxious to know the reason for my outburst. “hope all is well my dear?” Benjamin’s mum calmly asked. I breathed deeply and shook my head. “my dad” i cried, “yes, what happened?” Amara asked, but before i could answer, my phone rang again. “hello mum” i murmured as i answered her call for the second time, “we are at St James hospital, very close to your school, where are you?” she asked again, “i’m, i’m” i stammered, “please be here quick, i need to rush home and get some things” she added without waiting for my reply, while i breathed deeply. All eyes were on me as i dropped my phone and stared back at Benjamin’s mum whose eyes were seriously scanning my face in deep awe. I stood up uneasily, bit my lips and shrugged. “i’m sorry ma, but i have to start leaving, i just got a terrible call from my mother informing me that my dad was involved in a motor accident this morning” i explained with tears. The old woman gasped, covering her mouth with her hands, “oh dear lord” she screamed, made the sign of the cross, drew forward and held me with concern. Her expression forced more tears out of my eyes, making me sob uncontrollably. I broke free from her and ran outside while Amara eagerly followed me. I felt bad, broken and down, very scared and lost. Not only was i crying for dad’s accident, i equally was crying for my life. I was extremely scared of my future, scared of tomorrow and scared of my family’s fate. I never believed in superstition but yet i had a very strange feeling about everything, i feared that the evil wind of misfortune had not only befallen me but has engulfed my innocent family as well. I felt very responsible for everything, i saw my life turning upside down. “save your tears dear, things may not be as bad as you fear” I heard Amara say as she held me reassuringly, i stared at her with prayers in my lips. “i hope so dear, i do pray so, because if Dad dies, i’m finished” i murmured sadly, a very painful but truthful sentence it was. We finally got to St James hospital an hour later. My heart pounding furiously as we eagerly searched for my parents. “Kpoom kpooom kpoooom” my heart pounded. episode 2 We soon found dad in the male ward, lying helplessly on a bed, mum by his side watching over him keenly. My heart skipped as my face coloured. “dad” i cried, rushing forward to hold him, while Amara dutifully held my left hand softly. More tears fell from my eyes as i stared at his legs which were heavily bandaged. “stop crying dear, they are just flesh wounds, they will heal within days” dad assured me, forcing out a dry smile, but i wasn’t convinced even though i never argued about it. “what took you so long? Isn’t your lodge just a stone throw away from here?” mum asked searchingly. I shrugged and stared at her, “i’m very sorry mum, Amara and i really were out of town, attending a friend’s wedding” i lied effortlessly, “hmmm, alright i don’t have your time for now, take my position and watch over your dad while i rush home to get more money and other things” she replied, standing up with a nervous smile. I hugged her, “alright mum, please do be careful” i whispered into her ear. She nodded, held dad’s hand for some seconds before leaving me to watch over him. I offered Amara mum’s chair while i sat at the edge of dad’s bed. Amara really was a wonderful friend, she stayed with me without complaining or leaving till mum showed up later in the evening with food and some other stuffs. “i brought enough food for everyone” mum smiled as she dropped the huge food flask she brought on the floor. I smiled, while Amara shook her head. “oh no don’t tell me you girls are not hungry?” she asked with a drawn face, “oh dear, leave the girls alone, you don’t expect them to eat in this environment, do you?” dad murmured weakly, coming to our defence, and making mum to shrug in resignation. “alright i think it’s time you girls return to your lodge and rest. I can handle him alone” she said with a smile, while i yawned. It really isn’t an easy thing watching over a loved one in hospital. However my mind calmed after discovering that dad wasn’t in any grave danger, just a little fracture, and more of flesh wound. {An accident which occured when a speeding vehicle brushed the motorcycle conveying him to the bus park, sending him and the bike man to a nearby gutter} Amara and i returned to our lodge by 6:15pm very tired and weak. She quickly went over to her room while i rushed to mine, freezing in shock as i ran into Mike who was standing on my door-way, with hands in his trouser pocket. “where are you coming from?, i have been here all day?” he asked with a suspicious look, annoying me with his question. I swallowed and rolled my eyes. “oh please” i sighed, provoking him further. He bit his lips and stared at me angrily. He seemed ready for a fight which i equally was willing to give him. Mike followed me into my room, sat on my bed and crossed his legs. “isn’t it time you start leaving, it’s past six already?” i asked coldly, while he shrugged and yawned. “i see you are all out to provoke me today, but why cyndii, why?” he asked with a mild tone, “because you have been provoking me lately and i’m equally not in the right frame of mind this moment. Dad had an accident and he is helplessly lying at st Mary’s hospital, so please let me be” i lamented and robbed my eyes. He gasped, jumped up and held me, lines of shock and surprise appeared on his face as he stared down at me. He appeared genuinely touched. “why didn’t you call to inform me earlier, i’m now part of your family you know?” he murmured as he held me. I broke free from him, and stared at him with a coloured face. “how do you expect me to call you, when it’s obvious you are still having a good time with your baby mama?” i accused. He swallowed hard and frowned slightly, “i know you aren’t thinking properly right now, i better leave so that you can freshen up, sleep and get yourself back. Good night dearie” he said to me, planted a kiss on my forehead and left without another word. I really was unable to sleep that night, i kept tossing on my bed as i thought of my life, my family and my relationship with Mike, everything seemed to be in disarray, i couldn’t believe my life was crumbling, “GOD why why why?” i kept asking. Early the next day, i headed back to the hospital with a flask of hot water and porridge yam which i specially prepared on mum’s request. My heart flew, when i got to the ward and saw Mike seriously chatting with mum and dad. He never told me he was coming, which really caused the shock and surprise i felt as i saw him. However dad was in lively spirit, so was mum, leaving me with no choice than to relax. I walked up to them, greeting polietly as i dropped my load on the floor. “how was your night?” my parents asked. I shrugged and smiled, “i couldn’t sleep because i was worried” i replied as i gave Mike a strange glance, which made him shift uncomfortably. My phone rang soon after, breaking my attention as i reached for it. “hello Benjamin” i greeted as i answered the call. A slight frown appeared on Mike’s face as soon as he heard me call Benjamin’s name. “mum told me your dad was involved in an accident, i tried calling you last night but couldn’t get you. How is he?” he asked, “oh he’s getting better, though we are still at the hospital. St Mary’s along the school road” i replied, “my mum and i are coming over right away” he replied, surprising me, “oh no you guys shouldn’t bother” i murmured, “we are coming ooo” he replied and hung up while Mike silently stared at me. We said nothing to each other even though we had alot to say. My parents however never noticed the tension between us and i was glad they didn’t. 11:30am, Amara walked into the ward with Chike by her side, i was extremely surprised to see both of them, especially Chike because i knew he came for my sake. I was nervous as i watched them draw closer, while Mike and my mother exchanged glances. My heart pounded furiously as i equally remembered that Benjamin and his mum were also on their way to the hospital. “oh no!” i gasped. episode 3 Amara sensing the tensed atmosphere in the room didn’t allow Chike to spend nothing but few minutes with us before polietly dragging him away, but the few minutes he spent with us however didn’t stop him from giving his feelings away by the manner he stared at me, which Mike noticed. He however never made any silly remark, nor tried to flirt with me, probably because of my parents presence and the environment we were in, but it never stopped me nor any curious person nearby from guessing what was going on in his mind. His behaviour and restlessness revealed everything. Mike really was extremely overwhelmed by Chike’s boldness or should i say alarmed over all he witnessed, but his surprise and fury further heightened when he saw Benjamin and his mum walk in few minutes after Chike and Amara had left. However he was very poliet and diplomatic as he exchanged pleasantries with them, of course he had no choice than to be, even though his coloured face almost gave his feelings away. Sincerely, i saw no reason for his tensed look. As my parents chatted with Benjamin and his mum, i felt like shedding tears. I never imagined nor dreamt that my dad would ever be an object of pity, lying in such a poor helpless position. Yea i wore a smiling face, but i was dead inside. I couldn’t help but wonder what was going through in Benjamin’s mind, his mother’s mind and even in Mike’s mind. Oh how terrible and devastated i was as the whole event unfolded. Benjamin and his mum left after spending close to twenty five minutes with us. “be strong dear, most times challenges come to test our faith and courage, how we withstand it, is what truly matters in the end, there isn’t any need crying over split milk. Your dad is a strong Man” Benjamin’s mum had advised me as they got ready to leave. The good old lady was nothing but kindness. She also gave me three thousand Naira before leaving. Mike’s cold gaze rested on me as soon as they left, “please can we talk outside?” he said to me, forcing out a dry smile with which he confused my parents with. But i wasn’t decieved by it, i knew he was dying of jealousy. “Why do Men always feel threatened over a minor issue?” i wondered. episode 4 Without another word, i stood up and followed him. We silently left the hospital building and stopped in front of a small kiosk just a stone throw away. “hmmm so why am i here?” i asked softly, folding my hands. He simply smiled, shrugged and stared at me searchingly. “is there anything i need to know?” he asked, provoking me with his annoying question. “don’t tell me you brought me all the way here just to ask if i have anything you need to know?” i fired back, trying hard to keep my feelings in check. He shrugged again, drew forward and held my left hand. “i was very surprised to see Benjamin and his mum today, why didn’t you tell me they were coming, or didn’t i deserve such information?” he asked. I kept quiet, refusing to answer him. “of course i know you won’t answer, i know you are always right in everything, but we are in a relationship, i’m your fiancee for God’s sake, i have privileges my dear, don’t you get it?” he asked, making me scoff with annoyance, “Benjamin’s visit equally came as a surprise to me, i never knew they were coming by that hour, so please stop preaching about privileges to me, because you are guilty as well or have you forgotten your Stella so soon eeh?” i answered with a raised tone. He rubbed his hair and face, turned and backed me nervously. “and how about the guy your friend showed up with earlier today, i couldn’t help but notice that you two do have something going on?” he asked, {still backing me} “what are you insinuating?, i can’t believe my ears” i screamed, “of course you won’t” he murmured. “fine believe whatever you like Mike, i don’t have the strength to argue with you this hot sunday” i shouted and ran back to the {hospital} ward, where mum gave me a curious look. Fortunately she asked no question. 3:15pm sunday I barely had settled in my room after a long strenous day at the hospital, with my mind boiling over Mike’s atitude when Amara came rushing into my room. “oh dear Cyndii, please permit me to give Chike your phone number, i don’t know what else to tell him. He has been insisting and you know he is my cousin please” she begged, throwing me into another state of confusion as i wondered what to tell my dear friend without sounding harsh nor easy. “Alright, okay you can give him my phone number, but please warn him not to bug me with it, moreover i think you should also tell him all about my life so that he won’t start nursing an impossible agenda” i said to Amara whose eyes quickly lit up in happiness. “no problem dear, i will warn him just as you want” she promised, before changing the topic and enquiring about my dad’s health. ____ Monday finally approached, starting like any other work day. I first rushed to school, attended two morning lectures before rushing over to the hospital to be with dad, while Mum travelled home. Watching over my bed-ridden dad really wasn’t as easy as it sounded, not only was it one of the most boring and sickening period of my life, it equally was one of the most terrifying moments of my young life. I suspected that the true nature of his health was being hidden from me. I saw life and death dancing sekelewu before my very eyes as they fought over one patient after another, bed by bed they danced, mr death snapping life out of any patient he so desired, not even those fit for discharge, declared hale and hearty by doctors were spared {if it was the patient’s turn}. You can’t imagine how anxious and scared i was as seconds, minutes, hours and days dragged by. wednesday morning I was on my way to school when my phone rang, i stared at the unknown number for a while before answering, “hello cyndii” i heard a familiar female voice greet, “hi good morning, please who am i speaking with?” i asked curiously, “oh dear, you are speaking with Stella, Mike’s friend” she answered effortlessly, while I recoiled in surprise and anger. I felt like cursing her that moment but i restrained myself because i was anxious to know what prompted the obnoxious girl to call me. To be continued.
Posted on: Tue, 23 Dec 2014 22:34:42 +0000
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