Clara’s side of the story continues from the
last scene of the previous episode
‘’mum I have nothing else to say to you. I’m
returning to my room. I’m tired’’ I said a bit
rudely, surprising my mother with my outburst. I
didn’t wait for her to say anything else and
headed to my room to breathe in fresh air.
Meeting Val and equally getting queried by my
old lady in the space of few minutes were just
too much to handle. I felt like taking alcohol and
sleeping off but I knew it wouldn’t do me any
good. Instead I grabbed one of Coolval’s novels
and stared reading.
I barely had read for few minutes when Charles
knocked and walked in with a smile. I instantly
grew tense on seeing him while he smiled
confidently.
‘’how are you doing my dear?. You look good
today’’ he greeted pleasantly as he drew close
and touched my shoulder. I couldn’t help but
wonder what was going through his mind as the
report Val made against him slowly flowed back
to my head.
‘’you look good as well’’ I muttered politely,
noticing his well matched suit for the first time.
He was so well responsibly dressed like someone
who wouldn’t dare hurt a fly.
‘’I talked with Val early this morning. You know I
promised to get in touch with him’’ he added
softly as he sat beside me. I breathed deeply,
dropped my book and faced him seriously.
‘’mum told me you are very much eager to fix
our wedding date. But you know marriage is a
very serious engagement. Yes we are already
cool with each other but I want to know the
truth. What will be your gain, my family’s gain
and that of your family in the union?. Please
don’t bring up the love thing again. I’m not a
kid. I had a talk with my mother few minutes ago
and she couldn’t hide her desperation. If I’m
going to marry you, I need to know everything
playing down behind my back’’ I demanded
seriously. He instantly looked worried, stood up
and took few steps backwards. I equally stood
up and faced him. His expression confirmed my
fears that there were other things at stake.
‘’come on, I want to be your husband because
you are the only lady I fancy, I adore, I honor. I
have virtually known you more than any of your
friends. Your parents trust me more than any
other person out there. What sort of interest or
benefits are you thinking about?’’ he stammered
defensively.
‘’alright since you are not going to open up to
me, I have something else to ask. I spoke with
Val today and he tried to convince me that you
were the person who stabbed him and Vivian at
his house. Is it true?’’ I asked seriously,
studying his reaction. He quickly turjpg), headed
towards my balcony and stopped at the door.
‘’I can’t believe you believed such a silly
accusation. The evening your cousin Vivian was
stabbed I was at the police station trying to help
out my friends who were arrested when you
were rescued from my house. I headed to the
DSS office with some police officers later that
same evening and I spent almost all night there.
Moreover do you think I’m capable of attacking a
guy like him on my own?’’ he breathed and
turned to face me again. I shrugged.
‘’I really don’t know what to believe but I guess I
will have to wait for Vivian to return and tell her
side of the story. Thank God she survived’’ I
added with a smile but my words only got him
angrier.
‘’why are you acting as if you are doing me one
huge favor by marrying me?. Our marriage will
benefit both of us and not only me. Moreover
the only way your dad is going to win his next
election, the only way he is going to remain
relevant in politics is if you marry me. If not
he’s going down with a whole lot of corruption
cases on his a.ss. He needs the support of my
family. And if you don’t know, my family controls
a big part of the state resources and equally has
the financial power to influence the party
delegates in every election. Your dad knows
that, and even before becoming the state
governor he signed an agreement that he had no
way of fulfilling before the end of this current
tenure. The only sure solution he has right now
in order to kick and fight back the opposition
building up against him is by forming a stronger
alliance with my family through marriage. All the
apology show i pulled off before him in your
presence was all a charade to impress you and
your mother. You have to start seeing me as
your husband and not as an option. Moreover
I’m very much in love with you and that’s why
I’m letting myself to be used and ridiculed. I
have already done a whole lot of regrettable
things just to win your heart.
Sometimes happiness is just a choice. We have
to take it or give it up. I’m the only man that
can give you stability’’ he breathed, drew close
and held me by the waist as I stared into his
eyes, unable to say a word.
Deep in my heart I still felt he was lying even
though his outburst sounded very truthful.
————————————————-
Val’s side of the story continues
Seeing Clara that fateful morning brought in a
whole lot of old memories but with the way our
conversation ended, I knew I had to push away
old memories and move on with my life since
she already made her choice. Jennifer was right
all along and somehow I regretted backing away
from her all because of Clara.
All day long, I thought of what next to do with
my life and couldn’t really come up with
anything. I equally thought about Vivian and
really wished I could see the future.
Early the next day, I took my mother back to the
village with a whole lot of gratitude in my heart.
There is nothing as pure and wonderful as the
love of a mother. No matter how ugly, bad and
poor you are, her love would still be
unshakeable. Mothers are unique.
‘’my son, I really don’t know what’s going on
with your love life but try and fix up yourself. No
woman is perfect. You are not getting any
younger and I wish I could force you into
marrying Jennifer. That girl made sure you were
alright when you were down at the hospital’’ she
breathed when we got to the village. I smiled,
hugged her and kissed her goodbye before
heading back to the city.
—————————–
5:34pm, same day
I was in the process of opening my apartment
entrance door, when someone closed in from
behind and covered my eyes. I smiled as the
familiar perfume of the stranger hit my nostrils.
Of course the person was no other person than
Jenifer.
‘’I never knew I would see you again’’ I smiled as
I brought down her hands.
‘’I came to say good bye for the last time. I’m
leaving tomorrow’’ she replied as she followed
me into my apartment.
‘’I equally was asked to inform you that a
decision has been reached over your conduct in
the department. You have been placed on three
months suspension without pay and you equally
stand the chance of being transferred to another
state at the end of the suspension. You can go
to the department to get your suspension letter
whenever you are free’’ she informed me with a
frown while my heart froze. I couldn’t believe it.
‘’this is so unfair’’ I screamed. She drew close
and held my hands.
‘’just leave the issue as it is. You can do a lot
with your three months break. You can go stay
with your mum. You can travel out of the
country. You can equally stay with me at the
federal capital city’’ she breathed with a smile. I
dropped my eyes.
‘’Life has taken everything away from me, my
job, my Clara’’ I muttered.
‘’no you still have your family. You still have me,
though I’m leaving right now’’ she added and
hugged me tightly. I felt like begging her to stay
for a while but just couldn’t
To be continued