Episode 17 I was furious. Oscar had not said anything about ending the relationship. “Please…just…ta lk to him.” Abbey was saying. “I don’t know what to do. I love him so much…I know I was wrong but…” She was sobbing again. My heart went out to her. “It’s okay… I’ll talk to him, Abbey.” I said. She thanked me profusely and hung up. Femi and Flores immediately sensed that something was wrong. “Is everything alright?” Flores asked. I nodded. “Lemme see what’s keeping Oscar.” “Yea…ask him if he’s turned to a woman who takes hours to bath.” Flores said jokingly. I entered the bedroom without knocking, I was livid with rage. Oscar was sitting on the bed, looking pretty much the same way I left him. “Are you insane?” I asked angrily. “It’s barely two hours she told you… and you end a relationship you’ve invested so much in. Do you know you are supposed to marry that woman?” He didn’t say a word, didn’t move a muscle. “Do you hear me, Oscar?!” I was shouting now, it would only be a while before Flores and Femi realized that something was amiss. He raised his head, his eyes were red. He had been crying. “I love that woman more than life itself…but, what am I supposed to do now? Stand around and watch her die?!” he spoke. “Shut up! Who told you she’s gonna die? She has cancer, not aids! Did you even care to listen to her? To know whether she’s getting treatment? Are you that selfish?” Oscar stood now, towering a few inches above me. We were both shouting and we didn’t care. “Treatment?” He snorted. “She needs to be flown to India for treatment. The cost for that is over two million naira. Where is she going to get that kinda money? Her health keeps deteriorating everyday! She’s dying slowly inside…and I can’t bear to watch it. So, I did the only logical thing!” “Dump her? A woman who needs your support at a time like this! You waste no time in cutting her loose just because she is sick… Oscar, I’m disappointed in you.” I spat the words out, frankly, I was surprised at Oscar’s behavior. He had never done something so rash before and knowing how much he loved Abbey, I knew that he wouldn’t recover from losing her for a long time. “You…you’re disappointed? Ha! When last did you keep a serious relationship? You know what? Mind your business and stop meddling in mine!” I practically reeled back from the insult. I wanted to hit him but I knew he was looking for an opportunity to lash out. “Shut up, both of you!” Flores shrill voice halted us. Without saying another word, I walked out of the bedroom and subsequently, out of the house. I didn’t want to go home so I drove around to clear my head. A part of me was angry with Oscar and the words he had said, but the more rational side of me knew that he didn’t mean what he said. The guy was just venting, and I was the closest person available. As I drove, I put on the radio to distract me from the murderous thoughts I was having. My Iphone rang. It was Flores. I didn’t pick it. I really didn’t want to talk to anyone. A couple of minutes later, Femi called. I still didn’t pick. I kept driving before finally deciding to stop at a fast food joint. Whenever I was angry, I almost immediately got hungry. I couldn’t explain it but that was how my metabolism worked. I ordered some food and sat down in a booth to eat. I needed time to think, not just about Oscar but about my life in general. Somewhere in the back of my mind I knew Oscar was right. I hadn’t been able to keep a serious relationship since God- knows-when. All my past relationships had never lasted more than eight months. The last one I had a few years back had only lasted two months. Was something wrong with me? I wondered. Was it some psychological problem or what? I pondered as I ate. No answers came. I wasn’t a womaniser; that I knew. I liked the ladies, alright…but I didn’t thrive on them like Femi did. I had never even dated more than one girl at a time. I was lost in thought that I didn’t see her until she tapped me gently on the shoulder. I looked up. It was Barbara. I groaned. “Hi.” She said with a small smile. “Get lost and get a life.” I said in a grouchy tone. She laughed. “Seems I caught you in a bad mood.” “Yea. So leave me in peace.” “May I sit? I wanna talk to you.” she was deliberately ignoring my attempts to get rid of her. “I don’t want to talk to you, Barbara. Isn’t that obvious?” She sat opposite me. “Get off your high horse, Jake. We need to talk.” “About what? Last time I checked you kept a million secrets, I don’t even know who you really are.” I said, irritation evident in my voice. “What if I told you I had answers?” She asked. “I don’t believe you.” “I think it’s time I told you exactly what’s going on. You deserve answers.” “Spill it.” I said.
Posted on: Sun, 02 Feb 2014 13:09:41 +0000