*EPISODE 15*
{MY SOULMATE}
Chris sat on the floor of his room and gulped more alcoholic wine down his throat. He placed his head on his bed and flashed back to 25 years ago.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
On the very day Chris got married to Vanessa, Hilary returned from dropping Gloria off at her house. He walked up to Chris who couldn’t help but questioned.
“Who was the lady that was here earlier covered in a veil?.” Chris asked suspecting it was Gloria cause of the bracelet he saw on her wrist.
“Chris, that was Gloria. Man that girl was really devastated and heart broken.” Hilary said shaking his head.
“Can I have your car keys?.” Chris asked stretching out his hand.
“And, where are you going to?.” Hilary asked reluctantly putting his car key into Chris’s hand.
“I’m off to see Gloria. I need to tell her the whole truth. She has the right to know that this whole marriage stuff was against my wish.” Chris said collecting the key from Hilary.
“And what difference will that make?. Your pre-marriage pictures are all over the village. And she has come here to verify things herself. What truth is left to say again?. The truth remains that, you weren’t man enough to protect and defend what you both shared. I warned you didn’t I?. Now you ended up hurting and breaking her innocent heart to pieces. Before you approach her, you will need to have a convincing evidence to show to her. Not your regular stories and excuses.” Hilary said.
But Chris wasn’t ready to hear any of those words. He quickly got into Hilary’s car and drove out of the marriage ground straight to Gloria’s house. But unfortunately, Gloria and her parents were all gone. He was busy calling on Gloria when he saw Comfort who was returning from seeing Gloria and her family off.
“Comfort. Please have you seen Gloria?.” Chris asked grabbing Comfort by her shoulder.
“Get your filthy, cheating and disgusting hands off my shoulder this instant before I lose my temper.” Comfort warned hitting his hands off her shoulder.
“Please I need to speak to Gloria. I have something I would like to tell her.” Chris pleaded with tears in his eyes.
“Why?. So you can finish her off completely?. Haven’t you done enough already to my poor and innocent friend, whose only crime was falling in love with you?. I honestly feel bad. Because it was I who convinced her into following me to your house on the day of your welcome party. You should be ashamed of yourself Chris. You couldn’t protect what you both shared. You lied to Gloria. You deceived her. You played her for a fool.” Comfort rained heavily on Chris who broke into tears.
“Comfort please believe me. I truly love Gloria. I’m not who you think I am. Everything that has happened so far, is a misunderstanding. I swear with my life Comfort. I can’t imagine hurting Gloria. Cause I truly love her.” Chris said shedding tears.
“Oh please…..spare me the cheap crocodile tears of yours. I hope you honestly do not think that I, comfort, will stand here, and listen to your gibberish and lies?. Cause I’m not buying any of it. You claim you love my friend yet you are dressed in your traditional marriage attire after you’ve just gotten married to another woman. You claim to love my friend yet you took pictures with another woman laying n***d beside you on the bed. You claim to love my friend yet you watched those touts beat and inflict pains on her poor parents.” Comfort rained.
“What touts are you talking about?.” Chris asked totally confused and lost.
“There he goes again playing the pretence card on me. Come off it Chris. I know your type so I won’t fall for your acts. And Incase you do not know, you s**k in acting. Gosh. What do you even take us for?. So because we are poor you now think that you can override us right?. Well I’m sorry Chris you have failed.” Comfort said spitting beside him.
“Comfort, can’t you see that I’m clueless about all these?. If you can say these words to me, how much more Gloria?. I guess she has literally killed me in her heart. I should have come sooner. I guess you and Hilary were right. I have failed in protecting what we shared. And I will forever live with that guilt.” Chris said with his eyes completely red with tears.
“And one more thing, I don’t think there is any need for you to come here any further. Cause as I speak to you, Gloria and her parents, are off to another village to find peace. Since you and your family have decided to erase her out of the face of the Earth simply because she fell in love with a big man’s son. Rubbish.” Comfort said. After which, she hissed and walked away leaving Chris in total heartbreak.
He quickly went back into Hilary’s car and drove to all the motor parks in the village. But unfortunately, he drove passed the vehicle that carried Gloria and her parents on his way to the park.
He got into the park acting like a mad man because his head was literally spinning at that time. But unfortunately, he couldn’t get hold of Gloria or her shadow.
Everyone was worried Wondering where the groom had gone off to back at the marriage ground.
“Have you seen Chris?.” Madam Agnes asked Hilary who shaked his head claiming he had no idea of where Chris had gone too. The whole place became filled with murmurs. Vanessa became ashamed and hurt. She had to find a quiet place and cried her eyes out.
While she was crying, Ken approached her and handed a handkerchief to her.
“Thanks.” Vanessa said collecting the handkerchief from Ken who kept tapping her at her back to calm her down.
“You know, you still have the opportunity to walk away from here. Cause from what I’m seeing, this marriage might cause you more damages that you can ever imagine.” Ken said.
“I’ve come too far to quit Ken. I don’t care what it is that will happen in the future. Cause today, i just want to get married to Chris.” Vanessa asked.
The next thing everyone saw, was Chris looking completely tartared as he stepped out of the car. He staggered as he walked and without saying a word to anyone, he walked up to his father and grabbed him by the collar.
“Dad why?……. Why didn’t you allow me to meet with Gloria when I had the chance to do so?. You’ve finally succeeded in ruining my life dad. Now Gloria is gone. I can’t even find her. I’ve lost her dad. Are you all happy now?. Have all your wishes come to realization?.” Chris shouted in anger with tears rolling down his cheeks.
“Chris what are you doing?. There are guests watching you for Christ sake.” Chris’s mother said.
Then with anger, Chris turned to his mother and asked,
“Why mom?. Why did you do it?. Why did you set me up just so you can have your way?. Don’t you care about my happiness?. What kind of a mother are you for Christ sake.” Chris yelled at her like a mad man.
Then his father angrily slapped him. The slap sounded so loud that all the wedding guests’ jaws dropped in shock.
“Dad you dared slapped me in this situation?.” Chris asked totally hurt and disappointed.
“I will do that again if you don’t compose yourself right now. What’s wrong with you?.” Chris’s father shouted back.
“You know what?. This whole marriage stuff is ending here.” Chris shouted stepping backwards.
He quickly reached for the high tables and flipped it over scattering everything like a mad man that has lost his senses. All attempts to pacify his anger at that time, proved abortive. When he was done scattering and destroying almost everything, he walked up to Vanessa and said.
“Congratulations. Are you happy now?. You may have succeeded in marrying me. But just so you know, you will never have a place in my heart for the rest of your live. And I will do whatever it takes, to uncover the truth and get reconnected with my soulmate.”
After these words, he sluggishly walked to where his car was parked. With his heart heavy in pains, he entered into his car and drove back home.
When Chris got back home, he packed enough alcoholic wine from his father’s wine rack and went into his room. He shut the door behind him and sat on the floor drinking himself to sleep. He stayed 2 days drinking non-stop inside his room. On the third day, his father had to call someone who broke the door where they found him laying unconscious on the floor with his entire body reeking of alcohol.
Chris was quickly rushed to the hospital where he received emergency treatment. Meanwhile, Vanessa’s parents insisted that their daughter must go home with them as they were no longer interested in the marriage. Because of the attitude Chris displayed at the wedding ground.
But after much pleas from Chris’s mom, they had to let Vanessa stay back since she wasn’t also interested in leaving either.
Back at the hospital when Chris regained his consciousness, his father sat beside his hospital bed and spoke to him.
“I know you are mad at me. I know you want to blame me for everything. But the truth is, I did everything I did for your safety and that of Gloria. I’m not a fool Chris. I know very well that your mother and Vanessa worked hand in hand to get you into snapping that picture with Vanessa. Cause I overheard them celebrating how their plans were beginning to fall through. I was going to let you return and defend yourself before Gloria. But after I discovered that your mother sent men to attack Gloria’s poor parents in their farmland, I then realized how deadly their desperation had become. So in other to keep you and Gloria safe, I had to play along and made you marry Vanessa. I know you might be Wondering why I didn’t confront your mother. But the truth is, she could have resulted into more dangerous acts just to make sure you don’t end up marrying Gloria. So son, grow up. Make more money. Build your self and become a man of your own. Only then, can you be able to protect those you love. Cause right now, it’s obvious you can’t even protect your own self let alone, protecting someone else. The deed has been done already. But I believe that one day, someday, fate will reconnect you back to your love.” Chris father said.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Presently,
Chris kept crying that night till he dozed off on the floor.
The next day, Chris went to work and sent an email to Collins telling him he had gotten the job.
“If I want to get closer to Gloria, then I must go through her son. I don’t care who his father is. I just want to clear my name and make things right again. That is if I still have a place in Gloria’s heart though.” Chris said to himself.
Just then, he heard a knock at his office door.
“Yes, come in.” Chris said staring at the door with curiosity. Then he saw Eric.
“Good morning Dad. You sent for me.” Eric said shutting the door behind him.
“Yes Eric. Do you mind explaining why you delayed having an interview with Collins yesterday?.” Chris asked folding his arms.
“Who is Collins?.” Eric asked totally confused.
“Collins Oguike. The young man you invited over for a job interview. I heard you stood him up for hours. And at the end, you didn’t hold any interview with him.” Chris said.
“Dad about that, I was….” Eric tried to defend himself.
“…… enough Eric. I’m not really in the mood for any long talks this morning. Just make sure such a thing does not repeat itself again. Meanwhile, go tell the marketing team to prepare a space for him. Cause he will be resuming work by tomorrow morning. And I wouldn’t take it lightly with you if I end up getting any negative reports about you from him or any of my staffs. Have I made myself clear?.” Chris asked.
“Y..e..s dad.” Eric reluctantly replied.
“Good. You may leave my office.” Chris said waving him off.
Eric stepped out and shut the door behind him. Leaning his back against the door, he clenched his fist saying,
“How dare you report me to my father?. I swear to God Collins, you are a dead man. I will surely make this place a living hell for you.” He said with anger and hatred in his heart.
Collins was with Janice in his house watching a movie while sitting on a sofa when a notification popped up on his phone.
He reluctantly peeped at his phone and the heading caught his attention. Quickly, he unlocked his phone and opened his email only to see that he had been offered the job.
Collins couldn’t help but jumped up in excitement.
“What’s going on?.” Janice asked smiling with curiosity written all over her face.
“Janice you won’t believe this. I have been offered a job to work in O.G firm.” Collins said jubilating for joy.
“Oh my God……..!.” Janice screamed out in excitement embracing Collins who became frozen. He was shocked and didn’t know if he was supposed to wrap his arms around Janice waist or remain standing like an electric pole. In order not create any misconceptions, he stood still without wrapping his hands around her waist. But Janice noticed his shyness. She then used her hand to position his two hands around her waist.
“I’m so happy for you.” Janice said jumping for joy.
The thought of her b***s jingling on his chest, made Collins froze again. He wasn’t liking the reaction of his body system towards Janice’s touch and all that. He was still trying to recover from that, when Janice stretched forth her neck to peck his cheek but he turned his face not knowing what she was trying to do. And before he knew it, her lips accidentally met with his. This time around, Collins was almost dead. His eyes widened in shock as he let go of his phone which fell on the floor.
