Unfufiled Promises Episode 12 “Something’s wrong with my sunshine.” Eric commented as he walked home with Dave and Eddy a week later. “What do you mean?” Eddy asked as he spat his chewing gum out of his mouth. “Didn’t you notice her moodiness as we walked her home just now?” Eric enquired. “I did but I thought she was just her normal quiet self.” Eddy delivered bluntly. “She’s too quiet. I know her. Something’s wrong. What do you think Dave?” Dave looked uneasily at his friend. He knew it was his letting the cat out of the bag a week ago to Oleng that had made her moody for a week now. He regretted telling her. “Ah…..” he stammered. “I think she’s moody. Maybe its one of those her moody spells. She’ll soon snap out of it,” he assured smiling. “Better still, why don’t you go and find out what’s wrong with her?” he helpfully suggested. “I have asked her a number of times but she keeps telling me nothing and with our exams fast approaching, I haven’t found time to go over to her house.” “Maybe that’s why she is moody,” Eddy put in. “You’ve abandoned her because of your exams.” “Really?” Eric wondered in disbelief. “I don’t think so. Oleng isn’t selfish or self centered. Just find time to go to her house.” Dave countered quietly. “I will.” Eric said as they said good bye to Eddy when they got to his house. When Eric had taken a shower and eaten, the thought of Oleng’s moodiness was still on his mind. He decided to postpone siesta and studying. He would study throughout the night but for now, he had to see his sunshine or he wouldn’t be able to study. He thanked God his mum wasn’t at home as he dressed up in blue jeans and an Armani shirt. Besides Oleng’s house was only a stone throw from his. He hoped Tessy and her mum were not at home. That was unlikely anyway. He got to the house and rang the door bell after giving the usual tip to the gate man. “What are you doing here, Ricky? You didn’t tell me you were coming.” She was surprised to see him when she opened the door. Eric smiled brightly and with a small shrug said, “I got tired of reading and decided to come and see you since I haven’t been here in a while.” “It doesn’t matter. I understand that your exams are coming up soon. You should be reading.” “Is that a polite way of telling me to go back home?” he teased. She laughed. “Of course not. Come in.” she stepped aside for him to enter before shutting the door. She followed him to the living room from the lobby. “Alone as usual?” he remarked as he sat down on the leather sofa. “As usual.” she replied and sat facing him on her mum’s wicker chair. “Did you make the fruit salad?” “Yeah. Want some?” “Yeah, that’s if I won’t spend the rest of the day in your toilet.” he teased. She laughed. “You’re not serious.” She went to get the fruit salad from the fridge in the kitchen and served a helping in two glass bowls. She took them back to the living room where Eric was already surfing through the channels of the DSTV for sports. “Don’t tell me you intend watching TV, Ricky.” “Not you too, sunshine. My parents allow me to watch only the news. I need a break. I’m tired of reading. God! I’m not the first person to write WAEC and NECO for crying out loud!” he lamented. Oleng laughed. “So Mr. Civil Engineer can get tired of reading? Book worms like you are not supposed to get tired of reading.” “Me? A book worm? So it’s only market women like you who are supposed to get tired of reading?” “Me, market woman? I’ll kill you. Mechanic!” she fired back with humour and threw part of the fruit salad at him. He ducked and it hit the plasma television. “Oh! Look what you made me do.” she complained as she went to get a hand towel from the kitchen. He laughed joyously but helped her scoop the mess from the floor while she cleaned the TV. They later sat down to watch a movie while eating their fruit salad. When the movie was over, Eric felt it was time for him to broach the topic that had brought him there. He held her hand, not minding the tingling sensations that ran through his body. She looked down at their hands and looked away. “Sunshine, you’ve been very moody this past week and I’ve continuously asked you why but you refused to tell me anything. Truth be told, I wasn’t tired of reading. I just wasn’t able to concentrate. How can I concentrate when there’s something wrong with my best friend and she refuse to talk to me? I thought maybe I was neglecting you. Is that it? Have I been paying less attention to you because of my studies?” Oleng shook her head vigorously. “Of course not, Ricky. You’ve never neglected me before. Even when you go abroad, you still always make me feel your presence.” “Then what’s the problem? And don’t tell me nothing because you and I know something is bothering you.” he pressed. For an answer, Oleng got up, wrapped her hands around her and walked towards the TV with her back to him. She thought for a while before saying, “Nothing is wrong. I mean what could be wrong when my best friend, someone I trust so much is no longer going to school here in Nigeria as I thought but in America yet he refused to tell me? What could be wrong?” she threw at him still with her back to him. Eric became tense. He was shocked. He sat ram rod stiff. He could only shake his head before anger took over. He stood up in anger. “Who told you?”
Posted on: Fri, 02 Jan 2015 17:58:41 +0000