*EPISODE 17*
(CLICKED)
Early the next morning, when Tricia woke up and walked into the kitchen, she was surprised to see Kemi who was already preparing breakfast in the kitchen.
“Good morning.” Kemi greeted as soon as she saw Tricia walking in looking surprised.
“Good morning Kemi. I hope your night was good?.” Tricia asked.
“Yeah. It was. And that is all thanks to Jeff.” Kemi said smiling happily as she stired what she was cooking.
Hearing the name Jeff got Tricia jealous. But She gave out a reluctant smile to hide her jealousy.
“So, what are you preparing?.” Tricia asked.
“I’m making Jeff’s favorite meal. This is my own little way of saying thank you to him.” Kemi said smiling happily.
Tricia wasn’t comfortable with Kemi preparing Jeff’s breakfast in her presence. She wished she could just let her have a piece of her mind. But then, it would only look like she’s been rude to Jeff’s guest. She had no choice but to give out a reluctant smile instead.
She quietly left the kitchen and went into her room to get dressed as she was heading to a filming Location for her ongoing movie project.
When she was done getting dressed, she looked helplessly beautiful as usual. As soon she stepped out of her room, she bombed into Jeff who was heading to her room after getting dressed for work.
“Oh, you are done already?. I was just about coming to say my morning greetings to you.” Jeff said smiling at Tricia who smiled back at him.
“I actually woke up early today.” Tricia said.
“It’s quite obvious.” Jeff said laughing. “Alright then, why don’t I drop you off at your filming Location?.” He asked.
“If I should go without my car, how then I’m i supposed to return home after the shoot?.” Tricia asked.
“Don’t worry about that. I promise to be there to pick you up as soon as you are done. All you have to do, is call me on phone.” Jeff assured.
“Hmmmm.” Tricia sighed. “Alright then, lead the way.” She said.
When she and Jeff got to the sitting room, Kemi who had already served breakfast in the dining, quickly stood up from the couch and grabbed Jeff’s arms.
“Good morning Jeff.” Kemi greeted smiling at him.
Watching her grab Jeff’s arms the way she did, made Tricia jealous. But she had to hide her emotions.
“Good morning Kemi. What are you doing?.” Jeff asked staring at her confusedly.
“I made breakfast for you and guess what?. It’s your favorite meal.” Kemi said with excitement written all over her face.
“Thanks so much for your efforts. I really appreciate the fact that you took your time to prepare me breakfast. But as you can see, I’m off to work.” Jeff said slowly freeing his arm from Kemi’s grip.
But surprisingly, Kemi broke into tears sobbing bitterly.
“Kemi?. What’s wrong?.” Jeff asked totally confused.
“It seems like you are still mad at me. And that explains why you’ve refused to eat my food. Jeff i actually woke up very early this morning just to make you your favorite meal. I practically took my time to make sure it tastes good. But now you are rejecting my food?. This is so unfair.” Kemi sobbed.
“This Kemi girl is indeed a better actress than I am. Cause what the heck?.” Tricia said to herself as she stared at Kemi in outermost confusion and disbelief.
“Alright, alright. Stop crying. I will have a taste of the meal when I get to work okay?. So can you please package it in a flask or something for me?.” Jeff said patting her on her back.
Hearing this, Kemi nodded her head as she wiped off her tears.
When Jeff arrived at his office after dropping Tricia at her filming location, Leo quickly walked in to have a word with him.
“Good morning Jeff.” He greeted shutting the door.
“Good morning Leo.” Jeff responded taking off his suit jacket.
“How is it at home?.” Leo asked sitting right in front of Jeff who hanged his jacket and returned to his seat.
“Everything is fine at home.” Jeff said.
“How is Tricia taking these whole thing?.” Leo asked.
“Hmmmm.” Jeff sighed. “Of a truth Leo, i really do not want to hurt Tricia. Cause meeting her has changed my entire life. With her, I got to experience a healthy kind of love. The type of love that helped me to heal from my pains and my past. The type of love that makes me want to become a better person. The type of love that helps me to rediscover parts of myself. A part that I thought were lost forever. With Tricia, I got to learn how to be patient, tolerant, accomodating, understanding and forgiving. She’s just an angel in disguise. I’ve come to love and cherish her so much that hurting her will only means hurting myself.” Jeff said.
“I’m glad you still have your senses intact. Which brings me to the question, What do you plan to do with Kemi?. You and I knows that she has to leave. And if I may ask, what exactly was her reason for leaving you all these years?.” Leo asked.
Hearing these, Jeff scoffed and said, “She said she was kidnapped and forcefully made to live with one man like that. And that she’s currently on the run from the man.” Jeff said.
“And you believed her story?.” Leo asked.
“What would you have done if you were in my shoes?.” Jeff asked.
“Hmmmm. So, what’s in the fancy bag?. Did you go shopping?.” Leo asked grabbing the bag from the table.
“No. It was Kemi who packaged breakfast for me.” Jeff said.
“Kemi?. In the presence of Tricia?.” Leo asked.
“Yeah.” Jeff replied placing his palm on his forehead.
“So, what’s her plan?. What does she stand to gain from all these?. I’m sure she’s doing all these just to make Tricia jealous.” Leo said putting the food away.
“Exactly my thought. And you know what?. After her sudden reappearance last night, I came to realize that she’s long dead in my heart. I used to think that once I see her, I would feel fulfilled. But reverse was the case. Apart from the shock and pity I felt for her last night, there’s nothing else. She suddenly feels like a total stranger to me. It’s more like she’s now a complete different person.” Jeff said.
“And I hope you’ve told Tricia everything you just said to me?.” Leo said.
“Not really. I just dropped her off at her filming location and promised to go pick her once the shoot is over.” Jeff said.
“Then try to let her know that you have unwavering love for her. And that no matter what happens, you will always choose her over and over again.” Leo said.
“You think so?.” Jeff asked.
“No. I know so. What she needs right now, is you assuring her that Kemi no longer means anything to you. And that she will always be the one for you. Otherwise, she might start feeling insecure.” Leo said.
“Hmmmmm…..” Jeff took a deep sigh leaning back on his seat.
“Well, I’m leaving. And just so you know, I wont be coming to work for two days or more. An emergency came up at home.” Leo said.
“What happened?.” Jeff asked sitting upright.
“Nothing I can’t handle.” Leo responded smiling.
“Okay. Just make sure you take good care of yourself. And becareful.” Jeff said.
“Of course I will. And also, I think you should be very careful around Kemi. We don’t know what exactly is her motive for returning to you now after all these years. And also, avoid eating her meals such as this one here. You never can tell what she has in mind for you.” Leo said.
“With that being said, why don’t you help me get dispose of this food?.” Jeff said handing the food to Leo.
“Sure.” Leo said grabbing the food from Jeff’s table.
When Leo stepped outside, he placed a call to precious.
“Get ready. We are leaving tomorrow morning.” He said.
“Okay.” Precious replied.
Back at the filming location, Tricia was lost in her own thoughts as her memory kept flashing back to how Kemi had grabbed Jeff’s arm before her. And how she had woken up to make breakfast for him.
Just then, she felt a tap on her shoulder which brought her back to reality. She turned around only to realize that it was Actor Williams (her long time crush and the male lead actor in her current movie project).
“Williams?.” She called reluctantly smiling at him
“I’ve been watching you for a while now. And you seem to have been bothered over something. Do you mind sharing it with me?.” He asked sitting next to her.
Williams was a very popular actor who aside his good and charming looks, had a great and warm personality to himself. Being with him on set, was like a dream come true for Tricia who had always praised his acting skills, and had always wanted to be in thesame movie with him.
“Was it that obvious?.” She asked.
“Of course. Anyone could easily tell that something is bothering you.” He said smiling.
“Williams, can I ask you a question?.” Tricia asked
“Yeah go on. I’m all ears.” He said.
“There’s this friend of mine, who met a guy on a dating site. At first, they both didn’t like each other after meeting for the first time on a blind date. But they still went ahead to tie the knot just so they could stop getting pressurized to get married by their parents. They both went into a contract marriage with the intention of divorcing a year after. But along the line, they both fell in love with each other. Then just when they’ve started getting along, her husband’s ex whom they all thought had died long time ago, suddenly resurfaced and returned to his house. This was a girl that abandoned him for good five years to God knows where. Right now, she’s currently staying under thesame roof with that my friend. Although the lady said she will be gone after staying for few days, but her attitude towards my friend’s husband is giving my friend sleepless nights. The way the girl uses every given opportunity to touch my friend’s husband and the way she’s trying so hard to prove that she knows him better than my friend, is making my friend feel insecure. Like she doesn’t have a place in that house. And right now, she’s thinking of walking away from the contract marriage for her own sanity. Which brings me to the question, if you were in my friend shoes, what would you have done?.” Tricia asked.
“Hmmmm…. this is a very tough one. But the truth is that, whether real or fake, your friend has every right to kick against her husband’s ex staying in her home. And she shouldn’t be the one leaving no matter what. Cause if she leaves, then she’s nothing different from the ex who ran away in time past. Brave people do not run away from problems. They fight the problem by seeking for its solution. If that friend truly loves her man, then she shouldn’t leave her home for anyone. It’s her responsibility to protect her home from external forces. Leaving does not signify love. But sticking together till the very end, is what love is all about. As long as the man in question is not verbally, emotionally and physically abusive, as long as he has been good to your friend, then I don’t think your friend should ever consider leaving his life at this point in time. She needs to prove to him just as he also needs to prove to her, that his feelings are true and can withstand the test of time. Every relationship has its own trials. And hers is not an exception.” Williams said.
“Oh my God!. Now I know why people call you Williams the great. You are so full of wisdom. Thank you so much Williams. For these words. I think I really needed to hear them. Now I know the right thing to do inorder to safeguard my marriage and my home.” Tricia said smiling painfully.
“Your home?.” Williams asked.
“I’m sorry. I meant to say, my friend’s home. She will be exceedingly excited when I tell her all that you just told me.” Tricia said smiling.
Later in the evening, when Jeff closed from work, he drove to the filming Location where Tricia had been waiting for him.
“I’m sorry i came a little bit late. I was just trying to settle one or two things in the…….” Jeff tried explaining as he walked closer to Tricia who quickly ran into his arms embracing him tightly.
“…… please don’t leave me Jeff. I don’t want to lose you.” She said crying.
Jeff who was totally dumbfounded, had to ask,
“Who said I was going to leave you?.” He asked totally confused.
But Tricia kept sobbing with her head placed on his chest. Since he didn’t know what to do, he had to slowly pat her on her back comforting her.
After a while, he freed himself from her embrace. He raised her head with his palms on her cheeks. Then staring deeply into her eyes, he asked,
“Was that what you’ve been thinking all these while?.”
Tricia couldn’t say a word. She just nodded affirmatively.
“Then you are wrong Tricia. I’ve come to love you and nothing can change that. I’m truly sorry for letting you get the wrong impression about me and Kemi. And from now onwards, I’m going to make sure I set the record straight. I’m going to create boundaries so I don’t get to see you cry like this anymore.” He said.
“I love you Jeff.” Tricia said with tears rolling down her cheeks.
“I love you more than you can ever imagine Tricia.” Jeff said smiling at him.
“Isn’t this the part where the actors get to kiss in the script?.” Tricia asked smiling at Jeff who scoffed and said.
“Forgive my unprofessionalism.” He replied.
And without further hesitation, he lowered his lips against hers and planted a deep kiss on her lips.
