*EPISODE 13*
(CLICKED)
“How can you all stand watching her drown Without anyone of you coming to her rescue?.” Jeff shouted at the people who were watching with disappointment in his heart.
Turning to Tricia who was still laying unconscious, a feeling of guilt came upon Jeff who blamed himself for Tricia’s current condition.
“Tricia. Tricia please wake up. This is all my fault. All of this happened because I brought you here. And I won’t be able to forgive myself if anything bad should happen to you. Cause I will live with its guilt for the rest of my life. So please wakeup Tricia. I beg of you.” He kept pleading in his heart.
He anxiously kept performing a CPR and mouth-to-mouth resuscitation on Tricia until finally, she regained consciousness and coughed out water from her mouth.
“Tricia?.” Jeff called smiling excitedly.
He quickly raised her head from the floor and helped her to sit upright. Placing his two palms on her shoulder, he said,
“Thank goodness you are back. I honestly wouldn’t have forgiven myself if anything bad had happened to you. Thank you so much for waking up Tricia.” Jeff said. And without hesitation, he pulled Tricia into a warm embrace.
Tricia who thought she was going to die from drowning inside the swimming pool, couldn’t help but broke into tears.
“It’s okay Tricia. Everything is fine now.” Jeff said slowly patting her on her back.
Mr. Akin quickly sent for his doctor who hurried over to his resort and carried out a proper check up on Tricia. When he was done, he ensured them that Tricia was alright and that they had nothing to worry about.
After that, Mr. Akin rendered an apology to Jeff and Tricia. He also made sure that the woman who had pushed Tricia into the swimming pool, rendered an apology to her as well. And in order to make up for all that had happened, Mr. Akin promised to invest in Jeff’s business.
Without further hesitation, Jeff led Tricia to where his car was parked with the intention of driving her home.
Looking at tricia whose dress was soaked with water, Jeff came to notice that she was cold and that she was slightly shivering. He quickly opened the front door of his car, and grabbed his suit jacket from the front seat. Then he wore it on Tricia’s body to keep her warm.
His sudden change of attitude towards Tricia, got her confused and surprised as she kept wondering,
“Why the sudden show of care and concern towards me?.” She thought to herself staring confusedly at him.
When they got home, Jeff’s mom couldn’t believe her eyes. Seeing how Tricia was looking all tartared and different from how she looked when she was leaving the house, got her curioused and worried.
“Tricia?. What happened to you?.” She asked walking up to them. As soon as she touched Tricia’s dress, she noticed how wet it was.
“Why is your clothe wet?. Look at your hair. It’s all messed up. What actually happened to you?.โ She asked looking worried.
This act of care from Jeff’s mom, made Tricia emotional. Never for once has her step mom cared about her wellbeing. Never has she paid attention to her the way Jeff’s mom was doing at that moment. And the thought of it, made tears dropped from her eyes.
“Why are you crying?.” Jeff’s mom asked placing her palms on Tricia’s cheeks.
Tricia who couldn’t say a word, leaned forward and laid her head on her shoulder embracing her warmly.
“Mom, thank you so much for looking out for me. And for caring so much about me the way you do. I love you.” Tricia said in her heart with tears rolling down her cheeks.
โSon?. What happened to Tricia? Why is she crying and acting all emotional?.” Jeff’s mom asked looking at Jeff.
“She fell into a swimming pool.” Jeff responded.
“What?. How?. Why?.” Jeff’s mom asked all at once.
“She was pushed by a woman who thought she was hitting on her husband.” Jeff revealed.
“You say what?. Who dares to push my daughter in-law inside a swimming pool?. Is that woman actually okay?. Or has she gone nuts?.” Jeff’s mom raged angrily.
Her change of mood made Tricia to quickly free herself from her embrace.
“Mom it was a misunderstanding. And it was settled amicably.” Tricia said trying to calm her down.
“What amicably are you talking about when your whole body is soaked with water?. If I may ask, how exactly did you guys settle it?. I hope the woman went home with her whole body soaked in water as well?. Cause that’s the only amicable way to settle issues like this.” She raged.
“Mom please. No need of getting all worked up over this issue. The deed has been done already. And thankfully, nothing happened to Tricia as you can see.” Jeff said trying to pacify his mother’s anger.
“I believe in giving to ceaser what belongs to ceaser. If that woman thinks she’s mad enough to push my daughter in-law inside a swimming pool, then I will have to show her that I’m mad enough to drown her entire generation inside the Atlantic ocean. Who the hell does she thinks she is?.” She raged.
Jeff and Tricia had to hold her back from going to confront the woman. And after much pleas, her anger subsided.
When Tricia and Jeff entered their room, Jeff noticed how Tricia had been smiling endlessly.
“What’s the smile all about?. And why do you look happy?.” Jeff asked taking off his wrist watch.
“It’s strange how I find it satisfying to have finally found a mother who is ready to fight for me. A mother who has my back in everything. Jeff your mom is a good woman. She has shown me nothing but true love. And with her by my side, I have no reason to feel less of myself like I used to. She has made me realize that I too can be loved. Honestly, I will really miss her warmth personality when this contract is over.” She said smiling profusely.
“What about me?.” Jeff asked feeling jealous.
“I don’t understand.” Tricia said.
“Does it mean, you won’t miss me?. Is that why you didn’t thank me for saving you from drowning in that swimming pool?.” Jeff asked totally jealous.
“Well about that, there is something i’ve been meaning to do for a while now. I guess this is the right time to do it.” Tricia said smiling at Jeff who was trying so hard to hide his jealousy.
“And what is that?.” Jeff asked totally curioused.
Then without saying a word, Tricia walked up to Jeff and wrapped her arms behind his back pulling him into a warm embrace.
It was just an embrace but Jeff didn’t understand why his heart beat raced fast because of it.
“Thank you so much for saving my life Jeff. I will forever be indebted to you.” She said with her head resting on his shoulder.
Jeff was completely speechless. He stood still like someone who was struck with lightening.
Surprisingly, that night, Jeff didn’t hesitate to let Tricia share his bed with him.
And for the first time, they both slept without using pillows to create a demarcation between them.
And as usual, while Jeff was sleeping, he received a kick on his stomach and without hesitating, he sat upright not wanting to get slapped cause he knows the next thing that would follow after the kick.
Slowly, he pushed Tricia’s leg off his body. He was still trying to stylishly push her backwards when his hands felt her body temperature.
“Why is her body burning?.” He asked feeling her temperature by placing his palm on her forehead.
He took a quick look at Tricia then he discovered that she was shivering.
“Oh no. She must have caught a cold from falling inside the swimming pool.” He said to himself.
He quickly searched for some of the cold and fever relieving tablets he had in his room. And when he found them, he quickly woke Tricia up and made her take the tablets.
After that, he quickly went into the kitchen and returned with a bowl of cold water. He dipped a towel inside the water, and pressed out the water. Afterwhich, he diligently, pressed the towel on Tricia’s forehead in order to reduce the hotness of her body.
He did this till Tricia fell back asleep. When he noticed that she had fallen back asleep, he helped adjusted the duvet making sure Tricia’s body was properly covered.
At exactly 5 am, Tricia woke up from her sleep. She slowly opened her eyes, looking at her side, she found Jeff sitting on the wooden chair that was beside the bed. He was battling with sleep cause he stayed up all night trying to restore her body temperature back to normal.
Looking at him as he fought back sleep from where he sat beside her, made Tricia realize how caring and sweet Jeff can be. And at thesame time, she found her heart fluttering for him.
She then went ahead and tapped him so he can lay down on the bed and catch some sleep. But surprisingly, Immediately she woke Jeff from his sleep, the first thing that came out from his mouth was,
“How are you feeling now?.” He asked looking worried. Trying to feel her body temperature.
“Why are you doing this?.” Tricia asked gazing into his eyes.
“Huh?. What do you mean?.” Jeff asked.
“Why the sudden change of attitude towards me?. Why did you save me from drowning?. Why did you stay up all night taking care of me?. I thought all the care and attention was supposed to happen before your mom. In order to convince her that we are a real couple. But it’s surprising that mom is not here, and you have no reason to show affection towards me, yet here you are doing all these for me. So do you mind telling me the reason?.” Tricia asked.
“I think it’s because I feel bad. Like what happened to you was all because of me. And I couldn’t help but feel the need to make it up to you.” Jeff said.
“Was that how you felt about Kemi too?.” Tricia asked staring steadily into his eyes.
“How did you…..?.” Jeff asked totally surprised.
“……how did I find out?.” Tricia interrupted.
“Yeah. I can’t remember telling you anything about Kemi.” Jeff said.
“I heard everything from mom. I know I don’t have the right to say anything about your relationship with Kemi. Cause I wasn’t there when everything happened, and I wasn’t there when you both started. But one thing I’ve always wanted to tell you, is that, whatever happened in the past, was not your fault. Take for instance, what happened to me at Mr. Akin’s resort. I was pushed by a different person but you ended up taking the blame and guilt. I believe you did same when Kemi suddenly disappeared. So Jeff, I want you to forgive yourself. Free yourself from the guilt that has been killing you all these years. It’s not your fault. And I’m sure Kemi would want to say thesame thing to you. I know that she would also want you to find peace within yourself. And that begins with you accepting the fact that everything that happened wasn’t your fault.” Tricia said looking into Jeff’s eyes.
Tricia could see tears gathering in Jeff’s eyes after she said those words. Then she stood up and walked up to Jeff who was sitting on the wooden chair that was beside the bed with tears in his eyes.
Standing before him, she bent over and wrapped her arms around him slowly patting him on his back.
“Feel free to let your tears out Jeff. Only then will you be alright.” She said patting him gently.
Jeff who had been suppressing his pains, did not know when he let them out freely. He felt relieved letting his tears flow down his cheeks as he rested his head on Tricia’s shoulder.
Sad moment