*EPISODE 7*
(CLICKED)
Tricia was Left with no choice but to open the door. As soon as she pulled the door open, her eyes met with Jeff’s glare.
“Oh my gosh!. Is he that upset with me?.” She said to herself avoiding his glare.
“Good morning Jeff.” She greeted pretending to be weak and sick.
“Good morning Tricia. I’m sure you know what you did last night.” Jeff said.
“Me?. Not at all. Did I do anything wrong last night?.” Tricia asked pretending not to have remembered anything.
“Are you kidding me right now?. Do I look like I’m joking with you?.” Jeff fumed angrily.
“What do I do now?. He seems to be very mad at me. What should I do?. I have to come up with something very fast.” Tricia thought to herself.
At this point, Tricia had no option but to burst into fake tears.
“And why are you crying?.” Jeff asked totally confused and Amazed.
“Jeff why are you doing this to me?. I always knew that you hate me so much. But has it gotten to a point where you now wake me up with questions and quarrel even when I haven’t done anything wrong to you?. Is this how much you hate me?.” Tricia asked amidst crocodile tears.
Jeff was totally dumbfounded, speechless and confused. He lost the right words to say to Tricia. And surprisingly, his anger turned into guilt and remorse. He felt bad for raising his voice at her that morning.
“So, you mean to say you’ve lost memory of everything that happened last night?.” He asked totally amazed.
Tricia didn’t say a word she just nodded her head and pouted her lips with tears in her eyes like an innocent child that had been falsely accused.
“Even the part where you said you were done and wanted to quit this whole marriage stunts?.” He asked again looking at her with much curiosity.
“Did I say something like that?. But why? When?. I really can’t remember saying such a thing to you. Trust me, I have no reason to say that.” She lied innocently.
“Even the part where you used my shirt to…..” He was still trying to complete his sentence when he flashed back to Tricia using his shirt to wipe her tears and clean her running nose. That particular incidence was still fresh in his memory and the thought of it, cringe him the more.
“You know what?. Just help me get rid of this shirt.” Jeff said handing his shirt to Tricia who knew that it was the shirt from last night.
“Why should I get rid of a shirt that is still in good condition?. And It looks new too.” Tricia said pretending not to have any idea of what she did with the shirt.
And at this point, Jeff was completely convinced that she didn’t remember anything from last night.
“Well, last night, you got drunk and did some nasty, unspeakable and disgusting things with my brand new shirt.” He said.
“Jesus Christ!. I did what?.” Tricia shouted looking all lost and confused.
“Yes Tricia. But what’s more hurting is the fact that i can’t even confront you because you can’t remember anything from last night. It’s just like I’m the only sane person here. Cause you easily lose your memory after doing all the nasty and unspeakable things you do. Whereas, I get to live with the memory of it all stuck in my head.” Jeff said trying so hard to suppress his anger.
“I’m truly sorry Jeff. It’s a pity that I can’t remember anything from last night. But I promise to wash your shirt and return it to you in good and perfect condition.” Tricia said.
“No Tricia that would be a bad idea. Just get rid of it and the disgusting memories that is currently attached to it. Cause I don’t want to ever set my eyes on it again. And one more thing. Henceforth, I wouldn’t want to return home to see you taking anything alcohol in my house ever again. And that’s one of my dont’s. Thank you.” Jeff said and walked away.
“I’m sorry Jeff!.” Tricia shouted as Jeff angrily walked away.
Shutting the door behind her, she placed her back on the door and took a deep breath.
“Thank God he fell for that. Now I just have to wash his shirt and restore it back to the way it was.” She said.
Returning from work that day, Jeff walked into his room and found his shirt which had been neatly washed and ironed, on top of his bed with a written note attached to it.
He dropped his suitcase and picked the written note.
“I’m truly sorry Jeff. For all that happened last night. I deeply regret the things I said and the things I did with your shirt. And i’m hoping that you would find a place in your heart to forgive me.” The write up said.
“Hmmmmm.” Jeff took a deep sigh. He reached for the shirt and sniffed it to know if it still stinks of alcohol. But it smelt so nice.
“Well at least, she isn’t completely thoughtless.” He said smiling to himself.
Tricia had locked herself in her room cause she feared bumping into Jeff would only remind him of what happened the previous night.
While she was laying helplessly in her room, Jeff came knocking at her door.
Hearing him knock, Tricia’s heart beat raced.
“What if he has come to start another quarrel with me over the shirt he instructed me to dispose of?.” She thought to herself.
And when the knock persisted, she quickly got up and opened the door.
“Hi.” She waved feeling uneasy.
“Hi Tricia.” Jeff greeted with a calm tone.
“He doesn’t sound angry though.” Tricia said to herself.
“Well, I’m here to apologise for the way I raised my voice at you this morning as well as the other day. And thanks for returning my shirt in good condition.” He said with a smile across his lips.
“I’m glad you liked it. I’m also sorry for all the dramas and headaches I’ve been giving you in this house. I just hope that you will be able to forgive me and aswell, learn to understand and tolerate me.” She said.
“We will see to that. For the meantime, I think it’s time for you to move some of your stuffs into my room. Cause as you already know, mom will be arriving tomorrow evening.” Jeff said.
“Oh yeah……!. That’s true.” Tricia said nodding her head.
“Alright then, I will be waiting for you in my room. So I can arrange and place your stuffs where they are meant to be.” He said.
“Okay. I won’t take long.” Tricia said.
When Jeff left, Tricia was confused on what clothes and other personal stuffs to take to Jeff’s room. She kept testing all her clothes to know which of them was suitable and advisable to pack into his room.
Finally, she made her selections and Jeff helped her in arranging her stuffs inside his room. When they were done, they both retired to their different rooms.
Early the next morning, Jeff woke up and was surprised to find Tricia preparing breakfast in the kitchen.
“Good morning.” He greeted looking at her with curiosity and surprise written all over his face.
“Good morning Jeff. I hope you had a good night rest?.” Tricia asked wearing a bright smile.
“Tricia has always been the last to wake up in this house. Why is she up this early?.” He wondered as he walked close to her.
“My night was awesome. You woke up so early today.” He said curiously staring at her.
“Yes Jeff. That’s because I wanted to put everything we’ve rehearsed so far into practice. So this morning, I would like to start playing the role of a wife to you. And I expect you to play along. At least by so doing, it won’t feel akward doing this when mom finally arrives this evening. Or, what do you think?.” She asked turning to him.
“Uhm.., well, sure. I think I agree with you on that. So is that my breakfast you are preparing?.” He asked pointing at the pot.
“Yes Jeff. I woke up very early to prepare this. It’s been long I did something like this though.” She said smiling while staring at the pot.
“Okay?. So, I’m supposed to go take my bath while you serve the food right?.” Jeff asked feeling akward.
“Yeah of course. Have you suddenly forgotten everything we rehearsed?.” Tricia asked staring at him in surprise.
“Okay then. Let me go and take my shower.” He said turning to go.
“Why is he acting strange this morning?.” Tricia wondered.
When Jeff got into his room, he placed his back on his door Wondering why Tricia had different sides to herself.
“A minute she’s acting weird and doing all the irritating and unspeakable stuffs, then boom, another minute she’s acting thoughtful and considerate. What a weirdo.” He said.
When he was done taking his bath and dressing for work, he walked into the dining room where he met Tricia waiting for him with his breakfast served on the dining table.
“Wow.” He said dropping his suitcase on one of the chairs. He pulled out a seat and sat comfortably facing the dining table.
Tricia then stood up, and dished out his own portion of the food. While she dished out the food, Jeff could already perceive the savouring aroma of the meal making it way through his nose. As soon as he sniffed it into his belly, the hungry worms in his stomach couldn’t help but jumped up in excitement as they too couldn’t wait to have a taste of the meal.
“I can hear you stomach grumbling already.” Tricia said smiling at him.
As soon as Tricia served him his food, he hastily reached for the spoon and fork and was about digging into the food when Tricia held his hand.
“What is it?.” He asked totally confused.
“Aren’t you supposed to say your prayers before eating?.” She asked staring at him.
“What has gotten into her this morning?. She’s really acting strange and weird.” He thought to himself. Then speaking to Tricia, he said. “Oh, my bad.”
He dropped the fork and spoon and Tricia led him in prayers. When she was done praying over the food, Jeff hastily digged into the plate of sumptuous jellof rice. And a taste of it, made his eyes widened in shock and disbelief.
“What’s wrong?. You don’t like it?.” Tricia asked feeling uneasy.
“Did you actually taste this food?.” He asked staring at her.
“Yes I did. What’s wrong?. Why the stare?. Don’t you like it?.” She asked totally worried.
“This is the sweetest meal I’ve ever had in this house. My goodness. So you can cook this well?.” Jeff asked totally amazed.
Hearing these words from Jeff, Tricia took a deep sigh of relief. As she had earlier thought that Jeff was displeased with her cooking.
“I’m glad you like it.” Tricia said smiling helplessly.
“Like is an understatement. I love it. Thank you so much for this healthy meal. Honestly, I can’t remember when last I tasted a food as tasty as this in this house.” He said digging more.
“But that’s strange. You are a good cook.” She said.
“I know right?. But I don’t have the time and strength to prepare such meals. And even if I do, I doubt if it would taste like yours. But how were you able to prepare such a meal?. I thought you didn’t know how to cook?.” He asked.
“Oh, is it because of the other day I came to you for cooking tutorials?.” She asked.
“Yeah.” He replied.
“Well, about that day, I’m sorry I lied to you.” She confessed.
Hearing this, Jeff almost lost his appetite. Cause one thing he hated so much, was someone lying to him.
“But why?.” He asked.
“I did that to help lighten your mood. Cause I saw you crying over a picture in your room that night.” She opened up.
“You did?.” He asked in disbelief.
“Yes I did. I’m sorry for lying to you. I just did what I thought was best for you.” She said.
“So you did it for me?.” Jeff asked totally surprised.
“Yes Jeff. I did for you.” She said.
“But why?. It shouldn’t have bothered you.” He asked totally curioused.
“I know right?. But strangely enough, it actually did bothered me to see you crying all by yourself in your room that night. And I’m glad my lies paid off. It actually helped in lightening your mood.” She said with a bright smile.
Jeff was speechless as he kept staring at Tricia with curiosity and mixed feelings.
“Why are you staring at me like that?. Come on, hurry up and eat your meal before it gets cold.” Tricia said urging him to eat.
Jeff couldn’t help but fight back tears from falling down his eyes. Looking at him, Tricia could see the pains, sadness and grief in his eyes.
