*EPISODE 6*
(LOVE AND DECEPTION)
Benjamin was shocked and angry with Beatrice’s actions as he quickly pulled his lips away from
hers.
“What’s the meaning of what you just did?.” Benjamin asked feeling irritated.
“I’m sorry Benjamin. I didn’t mean it that way. And it’s not what you think. It’s just that, I’ve been feeling dizzy for a while now.” She said pretending to be dizzy and worn out.
“So what? Why would you place your lips against mine? Talk to me Beatrice.” Benjamin asked filled with anger.
Not knowing how to defend her actions, Beatrice fell down pretending to have collapsed. Benjamin had to call out to her mom who quickly called on their family doctor. She was taken to one of the rooms in the building where they waited for the doctor’s arrival.
When Belinda ran out of the building, Felix followed her from behind. When he finally caught up with her, he quickly grabbed her by her wrist and pulled her to himself.
“Where are you running off to when the party has not yet ended?.” He asked.
“Let me go please. I want to go home” Belinda pleaded struggling to free her hand from his grip.
“Alright. Then I will have to drop you off. Wait while I go get my car. It’s packed at that end. I will be back in a jiffy.” He said.
Felix finally brought his car and drove Belinda home. On their way home, Felix noticed how sad Belinda’s face was.
“Are you really sad because you caught those two in a close up embrace?. Don’t tell me you don’t know what’s going on.” Felix said.
“What’s going on?.” Belinda asked in curiosity.
“Yeah. Everyone knows how close the Johnson’s family are with the Gideon’s family. And it would only be fair if they became in-laws since Johnson and Gideon has been friends and business partners for a long time.” Felix said.
“I don’t understand. What are you driving at?.” Belinda asked confused.
“What I mean is that, there is more to what you saw at the balcony. And you shouldn’t be sad about it. Cause this was bound to happen eventually. Those two might not be close in school, but a lot has been going down at home. So if you have any feelings for Benjamin which I trust you don’t, then it’s best you kill it now. To avoid being thrown aside later In the future.” Felix said.
These words got to Belinda so much that she felt disappointed and cheated.
“Then why did he invite me there?.” Belinda asked.
“Because I asked him to. That was why I was outside waiting for your arrival instead of him.” Felix said smiling at her.
“What? So, I was invited not because he wanted me to come but because you asked him to invite me? Wow. This is unbelievable. It’s his guts for me.” Belinda said not believing her ears.
“Hey….come on…relax. There’s nothing there to fuss about. I just wanted to use this opportunity to open up to you.” Felix said.
“Open up to me about what?.” Belinda asked.
“About how I feel about you. I know this is coming at the wrong time cause I believe we are still young for all of these. But I just wanted you to know that, I will willingly wait for you to be ready. I couldn’t bring myself to tell you these all these while that’s why I pleaded with Benjamin to invite you to the party.” Felix said.
“But….” Belinda said trying to process everything.
You don’t have to give me a reply now. You are free to think over it and come to a conclusion. And if you wish, you can verify from Benjamin about whose idea it was to invite you to the party.” Felix said.
Just then, Belinda’s phone started ringing. Looking at her phone’s screen, she saw Benjamin’s name.
“Go ahead. Talk to him.” Felix said with a smile.
Belinda then reluctantly and curiously picked the call.
“Hello.. Belinda where are you? I’ve been waiting for your arrival the entire night. Where are you?.” Benjamin asked seriously worried.
“You don’t have to. I’m not coming.” Belinda replied.
“Why? I thought you promised to honour my invitation. You kept me waiting all night for your arrival and now this?.” Benjamin asked feeling disappointed.
“Can I ask you a question?.” Belinda asked.
“Sure.” Benjamin said.
“Was inviting me to the party your idea or that of Felix?.” She asked curioused.
“Why are you suddenly interested in that?.” Benjamin asked confused.
“Answer me Benjamin.” Belinda raged.
“Okay. It was Felix’s idea but……”
He was still trying to explain himself when Belinda ended the call. And all his attempts to reach out to her again failed as she kept ignoring his calls.
When they finally arrived to her gate, she alighted from Felix’s car and said,
“Thank you Felix. For the truth. I would have remained in the dark if not for you.” Belinda said trying to fight back tears.
“It’s nothing. Just make sure you put my proposal into deep thoughts and consideration. Have a good night.” He said smiling at her.
“You too. Have a good night.” She said forcing a smile.
When he finally drove away, Belinda squatted outside the gate and broke into tears.
Back at the Gideon’s mansion, Beatrice mom was seated on the bed beside Beatrice. Who was getting checked up by their doctor.
“Doctor. How is she?.” She asked.
“She’s fine madam. She medically okay. I guess her problems might be more of emotional or psychological problem. So I would advise you talk things out with her and let her tell you what is actually bothering her.” The doctor said.
“Alright doctor. I will. Thanks for your time.” She said holding her daughter’s hand.
As soon as the doctor left the room, Beatrice opened her eyes and her mother was shocked.
“Are you okay now?.” She asked feeling Beatrice’s temperature.
“Mom I’m fine. I wasn’t sick. It was all acting.” Beatrice revealed.
“Acting? For who?.” She asked curioused.
“Mom you will definitely be proud of me when you hear what I did.” Beatrice said smiling at her mom.
“I can’t wait to hear it already. What have you done this time?.” She asked smiling.
“I’ve succeeded in sowing a seed of hatred in Belinda and Benjamin’s heart.” She said.
“Really? You are such a fast learner. Now you are beginning to impress me. So tell me child, how did you do it?.” She asked curioused.
“Mom, I approached Felix and made a deal with him.” She said.
“A deal?.” Her mother asked.
“Yes Mom. I know how much he admires Belinda. So it wasn’t difficult to use him. I made him jealous and aroused his desire to have her. So, basically, he helped me in getting Benjamin while I helped him in getting Belinda.” She said.
“Wow! Tell me more about it.” Her mother urged.
“Okay. The thing is, I told Felix to go talk to Benjamin and convince him to invite Belinda to the party. So according to Felix, he said he approached Benjamin and asked him of what his relationship with Belinda was. So after confirming that Benjamin likes Belinda, he advised him to invite her to the party and confess his true feelings to her before Belinda gets taken by another guy. So that was it. And Benjamin invited Belinda after giving her high hopes and expectations. So when she arrived at the Party, Felix signalled me and then I walked up to Benjamin who led me to the balcony of the building to hear my touching and emotional stories. And I made sure Felix led Belinda to where we were. Then boom. She caught us in an emotional embrace. And when it felt like she was still in doubts, I practically put my lips against that of Benjamin and made it looked like we were kissing. You needed to have seen how she ran off. So Benjamin asked for my reasons for locking lips with him. Since I couldn’t make up any excuse, then I decided to faint. And that was how I ended up here.” Beatrice narrated.
“Hahahaha….you are so brilliant and full of wisdom my child. Who would have thought that a girl like you could perfectly execute such plans? I’m so proud of you my child. You’ve done well. Just make sure you keep Felix glued to Belinda. Now you just have one more thing to do. And that is, making sure to prevent her from writing the scholarship examinations. So you can finally travel out with Benjamin and have him all to yourself. You need to make your father proud by getting into the Gideon’s family. Let’s show them how blessed and powerful we can be.” Her mother said with a mischievous smile.
From that day, Belinda started ignoring Benjamin and started paying attention to Felix who pretended not to have known what the reason for their fight was. Benjamin was trying to know what his offence was by trying to talk things out with her.
But Belinda was not saying a word or giving him a chance to explain himself. Meanwhile, he didn’t even know that she was present at the party. He thought she didn’t even make it. Not knowing that she saw him embracing Beatrice.
Belinda kept giving him cold attitude in school. And at home, she practically ignored his calls. Not knowing that she has fallen for their deceptions.
The day for their scholarship examination finally came. The computer based examination was fixed to commence at exactly 8:am and end by 10am. So students were expected be in school as early as 7am. Cause the invigilators were mostly American men and some high ranked school officials.
Belinda got up at exactly 4am to get ready for school so as to meet up with time amidst the usual traffic hold ups on the road. While she was getting dressed, her mother heard a knock at the door. She was surprised as to who was knocking at their door at that early hour of the day. Then on a second thought, she assumed it was one of their neighbors who might be in need of something.
But unfortunately, as she opened her door, she saw three hefty bodied men standing before her. One of them showed her a gun and she screamed out of fear.
Hearing her scream, Belinda rushed to the sitting room only to see the young men in masks. Fear gripped her immediately.
“Just respect yourselves by sitting quietly. We will be leaving this house at exactly 10:30 am. We are not here to kill, steal or harm any of you. So just cooperate with us for the sake of your lives.” Their leader said.
Meanwhile back in school, the examination kicked off at exactly 8 am. While they were writing, the vice principal, Benjamin and Felix were all curioused as to why Belinda was not in the exam Hall with her mates.
The vice principal tried calling her mother but her line was switched off. Neighbors didn’t notice anything unusual as they’ve known Belinda and her mom to be early birds. They were always the first to leave the compound. So they thought that they must have gone out already as usual.
Belinda was restless thinking of her scholarship examination that was already going on. But she dare not utter a word.
At exactly, 10:30 am, they men left without touching them or stealing from them. That was when Belinda finally broke into tears. She quickly rushed off to the school of which she arrived by 11:30 am. And by then, students were already back to their classes and the examiners had left the school.
She cried and pleaded with the vice principal to help her but unfortunately, there was nothing she could do about the whole situation. She only advised her to forget about the scholarship and read hard for her senior school certificate examinations.
No one belived her when she said three men came to their house and left without touching them or stealing from them. It sounded so unreal.
When Felix heard her reasons for missing her examinations, he knew instantly that it was Beatrice’s hand work. So he approached her.
“I hope this is not one of your deeds Beatrice. What exactly do you want from Belinda? I thought you were only interested in having Benjamin. Why then did you go as far as stopping her from partaking in the scholarship examinations?. You of all people know how much this scholarship program would be of help to Belinda. You know very well that her mother is not financially bouyant enough to sponsor her through higher institution if she missed this opportunity. But you still went ahead to deprive her of this opportunity. Why are you so heartless?.” Felix raged at Beatrice at home.
“Hey shut your stinking mouth. Don’t you ever in your miserable life raise your voice at my daughter again. Look at this pot calling kettle black. Are you in any way better than my child? You of all people should not judge her after stabbing your best friend at his back. My daughter only did what was right. And no one is allowed to question her.” Beatrice mother said walking up to Beatrice and Felix.
“Wow. So you knew about these? You were actually the one pushing her into all these?. This is unbelievable. What kind of a mother pushes her daughter to destruction?.” Felix asked .
“If you dare question the way I have chosen to raise my child, then you will have me to Contend with.” Beatrice’s mom threatened.
“Fine. I will go and mind my business. But just know that this path you are threading will surely consume you both.” Felix said. After which he angrily walked away slamming the door behind him.
“Mom…am I really doing the right thing by hurting my friends? I remember how much Belinda had waited and anticipated for this scholarship examination. Are we really doing the right thing?.” Beatrice asked feeling remorseful.
“My child. They are not your friends but your competitors. And competitors are not shown mercy but brutality. You did well my child. You are just laying the foundation of what you will be enjoying tomorrow. Remember no one loves you more than your mother. And no one wants the best for you more than I do. So trust me my child. You are on the right track.” She said embracing her.
After their senior school certificate examinations, those who passed the scholarship examinations were ready to fly out.
Benjamin reached out to Belinda one last time by sending her a text.
“I will be waiting for you at my house. If you do not show up before my departure, then I will accept the fact that you never liked me and move on with my life as soon as I arrive at the states. But if you should come before i leave for the states, then I will tell you everything that I have always wanted to tell you.” The text said.
They were supposed to leave by 10 am. Benjamin kept waiting for her arrival but she was no where to be found. He then smiled and left accepting his fate.
As soon as he left, Belinda arrived at his house but it was too late cause he had already left for the airport.
“It was nice knowing you Benjamin.” She said in her heart.
“It was nice knowing you Belinda.” Benjamin said in his heart on his way to the airport.
