COMMON MISTAKES LADIES MAKE IN A RELATIONSHIP (EPISODE 23 & 24)

I really couldn’t sleep that Sunday, the next day nor the day after, as my body, soul and spirit revolted. They clashed and fought each other for supremacy over the control of my heart. I was terribly lost, dejected and confused. I really couldn’t believe i was thinking over Emmanuel’s request, nor considering seeing him again.

“Am i still in love with him?, why am i having all these confusions in my head??, what of Samuel?? Ain’t i supposed to think only of him, am i mentally sick or what??” i kept asking myself as i searched my mind for hidden answers.

“Am i even in love with Samuel, or am i just using the poor boy to satisfy my lonely self? Chie i don die” i do end up crying with guilt, disbelief and remorse.

I had no one to share my problems with, and Mariam who could have helped, really proved to be on Samuel’s side, so i feared she might report everything to him, if i should open up to her.

The week slowly crept by without Emmanuel showing up nor disturbing me. I tried my best to make good use of my time, concentrated on my studies and returned Samuel’s love. It really helped me get back some of my confidence, but at night it really was a terrible story. Emmanuel’s image kept appearing in my head.

As a girl i carried my secrets without revealing nothing to anyone. If Samuel noticed the change in me, he never showed it nor asked any probing questions. I equally avoided Mariam to the extent i only saw her only thrice that week.

10AM SATURDAY MORNING

I was on my way to my hair dresser’s salon when i ran into Emmanuel at the hostel gate.

“Why are you here?” i asked coldly. He just smiled and stared at me all over.

“I came to see you my dear, good morning” he murmured. I sighed, pushed him out of my way and walked towards my destination. He instantly ran and held my right hand strongly.

“Where are you going? I can drop you” he offered and pointed to an ash -coloured Nissan Primera car.

“You wan show me say you don buy old model car abi??” I scoffed, gave him an askance look and tried to continue with my journey, but he still held me strongly and stared into my eyes pleadingly.

“Please it won’t do you any harm, moreover we can discuss as i drive you to where ever you are going” he pleaded. I breathed deeply, looked around, saw no familar face within the premises, and nodded,

“Alright, but i will never enter your car ever again” i muttered,

“No wahala, thanks dear” he accepted happily, rushed to his car, opened the passenger’s door, helped me in, sat on the driver’s seat, switched on his car engine, backed out the car and stared at me searchingly.

“You can drive to Dora’s salon, i want to re-touch my hair” i commanded. He smiled, floored the accelerator and drove towards Dora’s salon.

“I never knew you still patronize her, i thought you always complained that she cuts your hair each time she touches it??” he asked. I looked away and smiled to myself.

“So he still do remember how i complained about Dora during the days we were together, years ago” i reasoned with disbelief.

We soon arrived at the hair dressing salon. He parked his car on a good spot, killed the engine and stared at me.

“I will wait for you” he murmured,

“No don’t bother, thanks” i replied a bit coldly,

“I insist dear” he strongly added. I breathed deeply, shrugged and got out from his car.

“Why do i always end up playing this dirty game with him, how will all these end?” i wondered as i walked into the salon.

He sat in his car and waited for me, while i sat in the salon and kept praying to Mother Mary to help, guide and protect me from the dangerous path i was walking into…

A woman’s life is very complicated and uncertain, but male folks never seem to understand or notice…

_______________________

“Emmanuel we can never be together again, all i can offer you this moment is only friendship, how many times do you want me to repeat this, please stop wasting your time with me and search for another” i pleaded quietly as we headed back to my lodge after i was done fixing my hair.

He frowned slightly, stared at me for a while and drove on silently.

Thinking over everything as i fixed my hair, i came to the conclusion that perhaps i wasn’t destined to be with him, because i really didn’t see any good reason why he even abandoned me in the first place. Yet i also couldn’t deny that i wasn’t feeling something for him, even though it wasn’t strong enough to make me risk my relationship with Samuel.

Emmanuel drove on silently until we got to my lodge. He killed the car engine and stared at me pointedly,

“Atleast can i have your phone number please” he begged,

“No Emmanuel i can’t, i really do need to forget everything about you and so do you” i confessed. He swallowed hard, drew a bit closer and held my left hand softly.

“Why are you resisting me so strongly?” he asked quietly.

“You are not giving me fair hearing, please allow me to explain why i kept away from you” he begged.

“No explanation can justify what you did, please i beg of you, stop disturbing me” i pleaded, snatched my hand from his grasp and ran out of his car. He quickly followed me, but unluckily for me, i ran into Samuel who was standing beside the hostel gate with an empty galon in his hand.

I panicked and gasped, while Emmanuel equally stopped, stared at us for a while, turned back, entered his car and drove off as if he understood.

Samuel silently stared at me with surprise. I really was at lost on what to say or how to explain myself, because he clearly saw both of us even before we did see him, and i knew there is no way he wouldn’t put the whole scene together.

I quickly ran to my room without saying anything to him, expecting him to run after me, but he didn’t, instead went ahead with his own business.

______

I rushed and prepared beans for lunch as i waited for him to show up, perhaps to demand for an explanation. But he didn’t, which further surprised and alarmed me.

_____

AN HOUR AND HALF LATER

With a fast beating heart, i dutifully carried two plates of beans to Samuel’s room.

Since he failed to show up and have his lunch in mine, i had no choice than to take the food to his room.

He allowed me into his room with a sneer on his face, while i smiled nervously as i dropped the two plates on the rug.

“Can you explain the scene i just witnessed hours ago?” he instantly asked coldly. I swallowed hard and stared at him, clueless on how to explain the scene Emmanuel and i created. I remorsefully looked down and said nothing.

Surprisingly, he advanced and pushed me violently. I fell and somersaulted on his bed, while his fist closed in on me before i could even recover from the shock his violent push gave me. I held my breathe and closed my eyes.

Samuel isn’t a violent person, I guess it was all my fault. Yet i felt very bitter and blamed him for concluding without proper investigation.

I closed my eyes as i nervously waited for his fist to land on me. But after waiting for some seconds, i opened my eyes and saw him staring at me with hatred and rage.

I instantly turned and attempted to run back to my room. He grabbed my hand and violently tossed me back on his bed.

“What has come over you, control yourself jor, things are really not as they seem” i murmured as i struggled with him, trying to defend myself. He just scoffed, shook his head and bit his lips.

“I know what i saw Mary, or were my eyes lying when i saw you alight from that guy’s car, or was i dreaming, abeg tell me?” he shouted angrily,

“I have been a fool to believe your cooked and bull story about ending things with him your own way, i guess you were doing it perfectly this afternoon or do you want to tell me the guy i saw isn’t your ex, eeh??” he barked

“Let me be jor, i see you haven’t learnt to trust me after all i sacrificed in this relationship” i shouted back, sat up and dared him.

“Trust is a silly word you girls use to deceive us, Mary i don’t trust you anymore” he said coldly and bluntly. I felt insulted, dirty and wounded. I never knew a day would come when Samuel will talk back at me more or less insult and humiliate me in such manner.

“What did you just say?” i asked angrily,

“Your recent behaviours aren’t in anyway decent, i don’t trust you my dear, read my lips” he shouted disrespectfully. I drew forward, slapped him and jumped out of his bed.

“Since you no longer trust me, better keep away from me” i barked angrily,

“I guess you have gotten the opportunity you are waiting for huh? You are now free to run into his arms” he taunted. I stared at him with tears in my eyes.

“I have my pride and dignity, i will never be insulted nor humiliated by anyone not even by you, don’t come back begging” i threatened and left his room.

I hated myself as i cried and ran to my room that moment, but it was the only thing i could do,

“How do i redeem myself, why is Samuel behaving this way, how do i atone for my sins, is it my fault that i still feel something for Emmanuel, didn’t i do the right thing by refusing his advances, why am i being punished this way? GOD why??” i cried..

EPISODE 24

8PM

Mariam walked into my room with a calm smile on her face. I really wasn’t happy seeing her that evening but i couldn’t deny her access into my room because she was like a sister to me even though i felt she no longer was watching my back.

“I’m just coming from Samuel’s room” she muttered as she sat on my bed. I carried my teddy bear, played with it and ignored her comment.

“I don’t understand you anymore, you are very obnoxious these days” she added. I scoffed and rolled my eyes,

“Oh please” i murmured, while she stared at me and shook her head,

“I can’t believe you are allowing Emmanuel to spoil the sweet relationship you enjoy with Samuel, think my dear, think! She cautioned as if she was my mother. I dropped my teddy bear and looked up at her seriously.

“Did Samuel tell you how he humiliated and almost hit me hours ago, simply because he saw Emmanuel arguing with me. Would i be arguing with Emmanuel if i was giving him the green light eeh? Abeg leave me jor, infact i’m tired of this relationship, i want to be left alone” i poured out bitterly, while she listened to my outburst attentively with both hands on her jaw. Her face coloured with disbelief and surprise.

“I can’t believe all i’m hearing, Mary i really do think you are under a strong influence, come on get a hold of yourself and put yourself in his shoes, wouldn’t you have assumed the worst?” she asked as she drew near and held my left hand.

“Seriously dear i don’t want to talk about this anymore, i want to forget about everything, only God knows my destiny, nothing i do can change it” i murmured seriously with pain in my heart. She shrugged and stood up in resignation.

“Good night dear friend, let me go and sleep jare” she murmured and left silently.

7AM THE NEXT DAY

I sang God’s praises as i prepared for 8am sunday mass. I woke up that morning very refreshed, bright, happy and in high spirit without actually knowing the reason.

I soon heard gentle knocks on my door as i arranged my hair. I quietly opened my door and held my breathe when i saw Samuel standing on my door-way and staring hopefully at me. I really wasn’t expecting him but i equally wasn’t surprised to see him. I knew he’d come to beg sooner or later.

I forced out a smile and made way for him to enter my room.

“Happy Sunday” i polietly greeted.

“There isn’t anything happy about this Sunday, anyway i came to apologize, i’m sorry for what happened yesterday, please forgive me” he atoned without looking at me, as if he was ashamed of what he was doing, which made me ignore him and continue with ‘my church preparation’.

“Baby please let’s not allow that guy or anything to come between us. I know i over-reacted yesterday and i do apologize for it” he added solemnly.

I turned, faced him, drew closer and held his hands,

“You said many hurtful things yesterday which got me thinking about our relationship, anyway i only have one question” i quietly murmured as i searched his face curiously,

“What is it my love?” he asked quietly. I breathed deeply and continued

“I know you hardly lie to me because i haven’t given you any reason to do such, now look me in the eyes and tell me you do trust me” i prayed. But my request as simple as it was, really drew out a little frown from his face. He instantly looked down and murmured something inaudible.

“Speak up dear and please look at me” i pleaded hopefully.

“Baby i can’t lie over such trifle request, please let’s settle our differences first. We can talk about this subject later” he answered quietly while my face instantly fell.

“There is no relationship without love, no love without trust, i can’t continue with this till you start to trust me again. I suggest you go back and build your trust” i requested calmly with a little confidence and air.

“What!” he exclaimed loudly in disbelief and total shock. The fire in his eyes sparkled like a burning dry bush. I instantly backed away in order not to get burnt by his fury.

“I’m off to church” i said quietly as i backed away from him. He quickly held me strongly, hit his head twice with his left hand and bit his lips as he struggled with himself.

“You brought happiness into my life, now you are taking it away” he accused,

“Is that what lovers do to each other eeh?” “why are you doing this to me, why are you behaving like a fusspot? are you now doubting my love? Please don’t turn me into a bitter person” he prayed sorrowfully.

I instantly felt guilty, terrible and remorseful. I snatched my hand from his grasp and sat on my bed, covering my face with my palms.

“You know sometimes our faith is tested with tempting issues, please don’t let our relationship crumble over this little problem. I could have walked away, cried my heart out and forgotten about you but i didn’t. I easily could have waited for you to apologize, but instead i buried my pride and did the opposite. My dear what more prove do you seek concerning my love” he poured out solemnly while my heart and eyes melted.

He knelt by my side and slowly placed his head on mine, breathing heavily as he waited for me to say something.

“Alright i have heard you. Let’s continue like we used to. We both had a terrible dream yesterday that’s all, let’s forget about it” i murmured and held him tightly.

He said nothing, his happiness overwhelming him. He was a boy so much in love with me, with a kind of passion which could make any guy stupid.

Anyway i was very glad to still have him under my control.

_______

Days passed by without Emmanuel showing up nor disturbing my life. I knew perhaps he kept away because he had a very demanding Job.

Samuel and i used the opportunity to work on our relationship.

He was always by my side as if he was my shadow. I felt he still was very suspicious and doubtful about my loyalty, but i pretended not to notice. But what happened on monday, a week later was something i wouldn’t forget in a hurry. It was the day my past and present met and fought for supremacy.

A day Samuel and Emmanuel confronted each other in my room.

The earth shook, my head ached and my heart bled.

Oh what a terribly day it was!

-To be continued-