Judytex_Stories
*EPISODE 1*
(MY SOULMATE)
The sound of loud claps of thunder, the sight of great flashes of lightning and huge trees bending in the wind, made the rain awesome.
At that very moment, poor Gloria was in labour and It seemed like the world was ready to welcome her baby.
The more the rain poured down heavily, the severe her pains became. And then came the flickering memories of her forbidden romance with Chris Ogbuefi which led to her current pregnancy. The memories of his failed love promises and the pains of disappointment, came replaying in her memory.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
12 months ago.
One evening, Gloria was cooking inside her mother’s local kitchen which was made with Zinc and palm fronds. The kitchen was situated at the backyard of her father’s house.
She was still preparing a local soup for her poor parents, when her best friend, and gossip partner Comfort, walked into her compound clapping with excitement written all over her face.
“Kpam! kpam!! kpam!!!.” Comfort shouted clapping her hands which signified knocks.
Hearing her voice, Gloria ran to the door of the passage that led to both the front and back side of the building. There she stood and waved at comfort.
“Comfort! Over here.” She said waving at her.
“What is she doing at the backyard?.” Comfort asked smiling as she walked through the passage that finally led her to the backyard. Immediately she got there, she tightly embraced Gloria.
“I’m cooking.” Gloria said trying to free herself from Comfort’s embrace.
“Wife material. No wonder you reek of smoke.” Comfort said playfully hitting Gloria on her back. They both laughed out loud.
Gloria freed herself from Comfort’s embrace and quickly, she brought out a wooden bench from the corner and gave it to comfort. Then she went back into the kitchen to check on what was on fire.
“Is there anything I can help you with?.” Comfort asked sitting on the wooden bench.
“Oh yes!. I’m yet to slice my Vegetables.” Gloria said reaching for the tray that contained unsliced fresh pumpkin leafs.
She handed the tray to Comfort who placed it on her laps and began slicing them. While she went back to stir the soup that was boiling on the fire inside the kitchen.
“Where are your parents?.” Comfort asked looking around.
“They aren’t back from the farm yet.” Gloria responded pouring few drops of the soup she was preparing into her left palm for tasting. After blowing air into it, she gently licked the soup in her palm and nodded saying,
“It’s good to go.”
Covering the pot and reducing the firewoods, Gloria stepped out of the kitchen and washed her hands. After that, she walked up to Comfort and stood before her with her hands well balanced on her waist.
“I hope you know you haven’t told me why you are here.” Gloria said to comfort who then remembered her main purpose of coming to Gloria’s house.
“Ehen…….!. That reminds me.” Comfort said pulling Gloria’s hand. “I brought the latest gist to your doorstep.” She said smiling profusely at Gloria who quickly sat beside her to hear the latest gist.
“Really?. What’s this latest gist all about?.” Gloria asked quickly sitting beside Comfort.
“I heard that the Ogbuefi family would be throwing a welcome party at their mansion this weekend. To welcome their only son who will be returning home after being away for years studying in abroad. Girl, I honestly can not wait to be there.” Comfort said with excitement.
Gloria who was expecting something different, hissed at Comforts gist.
“I thought you had a better gist.” Gloria said hissing.
“How is this not a good gist?. See. This is an opportunity for us to get to see the inside of Ogbuefi’s mansion. And aswell, eat their food for free. Trust me Gloria. It would be fun and memorable. I’ve always wondered what it feels like being inside the Ogbuefi’s mansion since I was a kid. And now that they are throwing an open party such as this, I wouldn’t want to miss it for anything.” Comfort said slicing the Vegetables.
“Hmmmm…..” Gloria sighed and said. “As for me, I don’t think I will be going there. I was taught to cut my coat according to my size. What could a poor girl like me be doing inside Ogbuefi’s mansion?. What if I mistakenly break any expensive cup or plate over there?. Who would be held responsible for it?. Please I can’t afford to attract problems to my poor parents.” Gloria said in disapproval.
“Poverty mentality has eaten deep into your brain that you can no longer think of anything positive. Gloria are you the poorest person in Umudike village?. Why are you fond of dulling my spirit?. See. Whether you like it or not, you are going with me to the welcome party at least to Shame the devil for once.” Comfort said.
“And what dress wilI I wear to that place?. Is it all these my bend down boutiques (thrift wears) or have you made any arrangements for that?.” Gloria asked.
“Trust me friend. I got you covered. There is this beautiful gown that I got from mama ify the other day. I only wore it once but trust me, it’s still as good as new. And it would suit you perfectly.” Comfort said.
“Hmmmm. So what about my parents?. What excuse will I give to them?.” Gloria asked.
“Just tell them you will be sleeping over at my place. Infact, don’t worry I will sort things out for you.” Comfort assured.
“Can you please hurry up with the vegetables?. At this rate, my soup might get burnt.” Gloria said.
“Yes ma…..” Comfort said hurrying up with the vegetables.
Chief Cosmas Ogbuefi was a business minded man that was known as the most opulent, influential and wealthy man in Umudike village. He invested into series of money fetching businesses all over the country. But he was popularly known for owning a multi-million dollars firm called O.G Enterprise.
O.G Enterprise was a family oriented business that specialized in the production, importation, exportation and distribution of beauty cosmetics. And apart from that, Cosmas ogbuefi was also known as one of the largest share holders in different big companies and influential banks. He had just a son (Chris Ogbuefi) and a beautiful wife (madam Agnes Ogbuefi). And he had been awarded several chieftaincy titles in umudike village.
When weekend finally came. Gloria and Comfort came up with a good and convincing lie that enabled them to attend the welcoming party at Ogbuefi’s mansion without their parents knowing.
Entering into the mansion, Gloria couldn’t help but kept screaming,
“Wow….wow….wow….” at the sight of the beautiful and elegant building standing before her. Its design and its exterior decorations, made her speechless.
“Easy with the wow wow wow. You might turn into an ambulance at this rate.” Comfort said holding Gloria’s hand.
They found their way into the midst of the crowds that were outside dancing and jubilating to the sound of the music that was playing at the compound.
Comfort quickly reached for a drink and gulped it down her throat.
“Ah….!. This is life.” She said belching.
“What about mine?.” Gloria asked when she saw Comfort with a drink.
“It’s alcoholic o.” Comfort shouted cause the entire place was noisy and the music was too loud.
“Oh okay. So where do I get soft drinks?.” Gloria asked Comfort who shrugged and said.
“Do I know?. Just ask one of the servants.” She said pointing out one to Gloria.
“Never mind.” Gloria said waving her off.
After a little while, Gloria started feeling pressed and needed to use the restroom. She approached Comfort who was busy dancing to the loud music.
“Do you know where I can ease myself?. I’m really pressed.” Gloria said tapping Comfort who was not in need of any disturbance at that moment.
“Just go outside.” Comfort said. But due to the loud sound of the music, Gloria heard, “just go inside.” So she went ahead and followed one of the servants to the backyard. When she got there, they thought she was one of those contracted to share foods and drinks in the party as they were the only ones granted access to the backyard. So they quickly handed a tray containing food and bottled water to her.
“What’s this for?.” She asked totally confused.
“Why aren’t you on your uniform?. Anyways, Since everyone is currently occupied, you can take this food to Chris Ogbuefi’s room. I was told he hasn’t had anything to eat since he returned this afternoon. So hurry up and take this to his room.” The woman who was in charge of dishing out the food said placing the tray into Gloria’s hand.
“But….but…I’m….” Gloria tried to explain but the woman pushed her forward.
“Hurry up….!.” She shouted.
Out of confussion, Gloria went ahead taking the food to Chris’s room.
“Well, there’s no big deal in serving somebody food. I will just go there, drop the food, and rush out. But seriously, I still need to ease myself. I’m so pressed.” She said holding her urine.
From the back door, she entered into the building where she saw one of the servants and asked,
“Where is Chris’s room?.”
“Upstairs.” The lady responded walking away.
“Where exactly?.” Gloria turned to ask but the lady was gone.
She then had no choice but to climb the staircase. While she was about climbing, she met two hefty bodied men safeguarding the way to the staircase.
“And what’s inside?.” One of them asked.
“I brought food for Chris.” Gloria managed to voice out almost peeing on herself.
“Open it let’s see.” They instructed. And Gloria opened the food.
“Alright. Go ahead.” One of them said paving way for her.
She quickly covered the plate and walked upstairs shivering as that was her first time climbing a stair case. Finally, she was standing at a passage that had different doors to different rooms in it.
“Which is Chris’s room?.” Gloria wondered totally confused.
But luckily, Madam Agnes Ogbuefi stepped out of one of the rooms and saw her standing.
“And you are….?.” She asked giving her a questionable look.
“I’m Gloria ma’am. Good evening. I was asked to bring this food to Chris.” Gloria responded staring helplessly at the floor.
“Then what are you still doing standing over there?. Come on, will you hurry up and get inside this instant?. My son has been starving and here you were standing with his food.” She yelled.
“I’m sorry ma’am.” Gloria apologized walking into the room where madam Agnes just came out from.
“And where do you think you are going?.” Madam Agnes asked.
“Ma’am. Is this not his room?.” Gloria asked totally confused.
“My goodness. Where in God’s name did you come from?. Please get out of my room. Chris room is over there at the extreme end.” She yelled gesticulating.
“Oh!. I’m sorry ma’am.” Gloria apologized stepping out of the room.
“Nonsense.” Madam Agnes said clicking her tongue as she shut her door and walked downstairs.
Gloria was finally standing in front of Chris’s door. She knocked and then realized that the door was unlocked.
Slowly and gently, Gloria pushed the door open and stepped into Chris’s room.
“Wow….!.” Was the only word she could come up with as soon as she saw the beautiful room before her. “He do have a great taste.” She said to herself placing the tray on the table.
“Hello….” She called out hoping to hear somone’s voice but she got no response in return.
“It seems like he stepped out. Then I have to quickly make use of his toilet before he comes back or else, I might end up peeing on myself.” Gloria said.
And slowly, she found her way into the toilet where she relieved herself. As soon as she was done, she took a deep sigh of great relief and stepped out of the toilet.
Walking back into the room, Lo and behold, she found Chris standing before her.
“And who are you?.” Chris asked giving her a look filled with suspicion, curiosity and confusion.
Gloria couldn’t help but shouted.
“I’m finished.” With her hands on her head.
