Clicked episode 16

*EPISODE 16*
(CLICKED)

“Kemi? How?. Where?. My goodness.” Jeff said completely lost of words.

“Please Jeff. I know you are mad at me, I know you have lots of questions to ask. And I’m here to tell you everything. But please, can we go inside?.” Kemi said with tears gathering in her eyes.

Jeff was completely speechless. He didn’t know what to say or do in such situation. He simply left the door and sluggishly walked back to the couch where he sat completely confused and curioused.

Tricia had no choice but to Leave the door as well. She quietly went and sat in the dining eavesdropping on their conversation.

Kemi walked up to Jeff dragging her traveling bag with her.

“And what’s with the bag?.” Jeff asked pointing at her bag.

“Jeff, the truth is, I’m stranded. And I need a place to stay for few days.” Kemi said kneeling before him with tears in her eyes.

Tricia saw this and almost called her an actress. Cause she felt everything about her was fake even though they were just meeting for the first time.

“Wait a minute. Kemi, don’t tell me that the only reason why you came looking for me after you left me for five whole years, was simply because you are currently stranded and in need of a place to rest your head for few days.” Jeff raged standing to his feet in disbelief.

“I’m sorry Jeff. I’m truly sorry. I, I feel so ashamed of myself.” Kemi said sobbing.

“Look. Kemi. Just go straight to the point. Cause I need you to tell me why. Kemi why did you leave me?. Why did you abandoned us?. Why did you suddenly disappeared throwing away everything we shared?.” He raged completely heartbroken.

“I’m sorry Jeff…..” Kemi cried still on her knees.

“Kemi you made me mourned and grieved for five whole years. Your absence practically wrecked my entire life. Your sudden disappearance made me became a shadow of myself. Kemi I lived my life blaming myself for everything. Cause I believed I was the cause of your disappearance. Kemi people mocked me. My parents lost hope in me. I lost my believe and hope in love. I was damned for complete five years. But here you are looking all good and healthy. Like nothing happened.” Jeff yelled with tears rolling down his cheeks.

“I’m sorry Jeff. I’m truly sorry.” Kemi broke into more tears.

“No you are not sorry Kemi. Cause if you were truly sorry, then you wouldn’t have showed up here now after running away from me for five whole years.” Jeff yelled almost losing his mind.

“It wasn’t entirely my fault Jeff. I was kidnapped. And forced to live with someone else for the past five years. Do you think it was easy on me too?. For the past five years, I have never found joy and peace within myself. Happiness was far from me all these years. I kept longing to get back to you. But all my efforts yield no positive results.” Kemi said.

“What do you mean by you were kidnapped?. And by whom exactly?.” Jeff asked totally amazed.

“There’s this guy my parents wanted me to marry. He lives abroad and is doing exceedingly well for himself. But I chose you over him Jeff. I opposed the marriage because I loved you and wanted to spend the rest of my life with you and not him. But my parents kept accepting gifts from him. They kept collecting money and other expensive things from him. With the assurance that he would definitely get married to me. Then on the day I informed my parents that you were coming to perform my Marital rites, my parents set up a plan with that monster and he forcefully kidnapped me.” Kemi cried.

“What?. Kemi is this story actually true?.” Jeff asked totally dumbfounded.

“I swear on my life Jeff. What I just told you, is nothing but the truth.” Kemi sobbed.

“Then how come you didn’t call me?. You had my number offhand. What stopped you from reaching out to me all these years?.” Jeff asked totally confused.

“Because I was not permitted to make use of any communication device. And the night I tried escaping, I was caught and finally taken to the states. Jeff I have been living in the states all these years.” Kemi cried.

“Then how exactly did you get here?.” Jeff asked.

“That’s because they thought I wouldn’t make any further attempt to escape. So immediately I came back into the country, I ran away from home. And right now, I heard he is still looking for me and he now knows where I used to stay. That was why I had to come here to hide for the meantime.” Kemi said.

“But why didn’t you report him to the police?. Why running away like you killed someone?.” Jeff asked totally confused.

“That’s because it’s pointless reporting him to the police. Cause he has connections all over the country.” Kemi said.

“Hmmmm. So where are you planning to go from here?.” Jeff asked.

“I’m working on traveling to a far country. At least to start my life afresh. Look Jeff, I’ve never for once stopped loving and cherishing you. The main reason why I didn’t come to you sooner, was because I feared that you might hate me. Or that you’ve already moved on and I wouldn’t want to come in between you and your new found joy.” Kemi said staring at Tricia who quickly stood up and walked away. Straight into her room.

After much consideration, Jeff had to give out one of the rooms in his house to Kemi, who promised to be gone after few days.

Few moments later, Tricia who was restlessly sitting on the bed inside her room, heard a knock at her door. She sluggishly walked up to the door and grabbed it open. Then she saw Jeff standing before her.

“I’m truly sorry for what happened earlier. I wasn’t expecting her to show up the way she did.” Jeff apologized.

“It’s fine. I understand. I guess we won’t be going out like we earlier planned.” Tricia said.

“I’m sorry.” Jeff apologized with his head bowed.

“It’s fine. I totally understand that you will be needing time to process everything you just heard. And I hope you don’t think too much about it.” Tricia said trying so hard to hide her hurt.

“Thank you so much for understanding me Tricia. I promise to make it up to you soon. Okay?.” Jeff said placing his right palm on her left cheek.

“Okay Jeff.” Tricia replied smiling sadly at him.

“Alright then, good night.” Jeff said taking a step backwards.

“Good night.” Tricia said slowly shutting the door.

As soon as Jeff left, Tricia sat on the floor with her back placed against her door. She couldn’t explain where the pains were coming from. But she found herself experiencing severe pains. And before she knew it, tears came rolling down her cheeks.

Same happened to Jeff who couldn’t sleep as he returned to his room. He laid his back on his bed staring steadily at the ceiling with tears rolling down his cheeks.

Few moments later, a call from Leo came in.

“Hello man. I and precious have been here waiting for you guys. What’s actually keeping you guys from coming all these while?.” Leo asked with excitement in his voice.

“Leo. I don’t think I can carry on with the plan today. I’m truly sorry for the inconveniences.” Jeff said with sadness in his tone.

“What are you talking about?. We are all here waiting for you. Or did something happened between you and Tricia?.” Leo asked totally confused.

“No Leo. I and Tricia are perfectly fine. It’s just that we received an unexpected guest today.” Jeff muttered in cold and sad voice.

“What unexpected guest are you talking about?.” Leo asked totally confused.

“It’s Kemi. Leo Kemi has returned. And she’s right here in my house.” Jeff revealed.

“Holy Moses!. You said what?. Kemi returned from where?. From the land of the dead or that of the living?. Are you sure it wasn’t a ghost you saw?.” Leo questioned in outermost confussion and disbelief.

“No Leo. She’s back and healthy in her full flesh and blood.” Jeff said.

“What?. So, what will now happen to your proposal to Tricia?. And what do you plan to do with Kemi?. Infact, what exactly are your plans?.” Leo questioned totally losing his mind.

“I don’t know Leo. I’m as Confused as anything right now. I don’t know why she chose to show up now that my life is starting to take a new turn. But after hearing her story, I felt pity for her. And honestly, I just couldn’t hate her.” Jeff said.

“No this is not happening. Kemi has to go for you to enjoy your peace and sanity. Besides, Kemi is now a thing of the past. And you shouldn’t let her ruin your present happiness. If possible, tell her to crawl back to which ever hole she crawled out from cause I’m not going to take this lightly with her. Have you forgotten all what she made you go through for the past five years?.” Leo queried in anger.

“I know but…..she had her own share of the pain.” Jeff said.

“Are you taking her side now?. Really?. Don’t tell me you are still in love with that she devil.” Leo raked.

“Leo please calm down. My head is literally spinning right now. And what you are doing right now, is not helping me in anyway.” Jeff said.

“Fine. Do whatever you please. But keep this in mind. Never you try to hurt those who stood by you all through the darkest days of your life. Don’t leave them for people who always find a reason to run away from your life and return with flimsy excuses. A word is enough for the wise.” Leo said then he ended the call.

Precious who had been eavesdropping on his conversation with Jeff, quickly walked up to him to ask,

“What did he say was keeping them from coming?.” She asked.

“It’s Jeff. He wants to postpone the engagement.” Leo said totally infuriated.

“But why?. Did something happen between him and Tricia?.” She asked.

“Actually, Jeff’s ex suddenly showed up at his house.” Leo said.

“What?. You mean Kemi is back?.” Precious questioned in disbelief.

“Yeah she is. But how did you get to know her name?.” Leo asked completely surprised.

“Tricia already told me of how Jeff always cried over her picture. And based on what she told me, I think Jeff and Kemi had come a long way.” Precious said.

“That’s nothing but the truth. We all thought she was dead. But now she’s suddenly back.” Leo said.

“If Jeff loved her so much before her unexplainable disappearance, then what now happens to Tricia?. Oh my poor Tricia. She was getting all excited from finding true love. And now this?.” Precious lamented.

“I have always wanted the best for my friend. Cause that guy has suffered a lot in the hands of love. I wonder why he is so unfortunate when it comes to love.” Leo said.

“My Tricia has been through a lot as well. You needed to have seen how excited she was when she found love in the sight of Jeff’s mom. I’ve never seen Tricia that happy. And now I am beginning to wonder how she will be able to take this whole thing.” Precious said.

“You know what?. Since we were the ones who brought them together, why don’t we team up and help them safeguard their new found happiness?.” Leo suggested.

“And how do we do that?.” Precious asked staring confusedly at leo.

“It’s simple. We have to find out the main reason why Kemi showed up again after disappearing for five whole years. We have to dig out her dirty secrets that is, if there’s anything she’s hiding. Cause I don’t just trust that girl.” Leo said.

“I think you have a point there. Let’s find out why she left Jeff five years ago. And why she’s just returning to him after all these years. Only then can we be able to remove her from the picture.” Precious said.

“Exactly. Let’s do this for our friends.” Leo said.

“They both deserve a happy ending. And not some complicated and heart wrecking ending.” Precious said.

“Speaking of endings, When do you intend to accept my proposal?.” Leo asked facing Precious.

“When I’m sure your feelings towards me are genuine.” Precious said walking away.

“Really?.” Leo asked following her from behind.

Later that night, Precious called Tricia.

“Hi Babe. I heard what happened from Leo. I’m truly sorry.” Precious said feeling sad for Tricia who fought back tears.

“It’s nothing to feel sorry about. Maybe we weren’t meant to be together in the first place.” Tricia said.

“Don’t say a thing like that Tricia. Jeff loves you and you know it.” Precious said.

“Same way he loves Kemi. And I won’t let this get to a point where he will be left to choose between I and Kemi. Cause I will be long gone before then. After all, i don’t belong here in the first place.” Tricia said fighting back tears.

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