*EPISODE 7*
(THE GIRLS CLUB)
That same night, Joshua returned home to his girlfriend cynthy who was also waiting for him.
“Babe you’re still awake?.” Joshua asked locking the door.
“I was just having different thoughts. So why are you back this late?.” Cynthy asked looking at the wall clock.
“I had an interview with Philomena.” Joshua replied walking up to the couch that was beside cynthy.
“Philomena? What’s the interview all about?.” Cynthy asked curioused.
“Nothing much. It’s just about my girl child’s project. I just needed her opinions and contributions but I noticed something was off about her relationship.” He said finally sitting down.
“Something was off? I don’t think anything is off in her relationship. Lawrence publicly showcases her to the entire world. That guy is good in public display of affection. There can’t be anything wrong with their relationship if you ask me.” Cynthy said
“Cynthy, I have told you repeatedly that not all that glitters is gold. Sometimes what you don’t know might be bigger than you. In every public display of affection, there is a private display of one’s true self. Happiness in a relationship is not measured by how much your partner post or showcase you online and in public places. It’s how much he respects and treats you right behind the camera and behind closed doors. You don’t just conclude that people are happy in their relationship until you live with them. Besides, something triggered Philomena the very moment I brought up her relationship. I just have this hunch that she’s living in fear of something. Has she said anything about her relationship to you?.” Joshua asked curioused.
“Not really. I was complaining to her about us then she said something weird like, she wouldn’t wish a man like Lawrence for her enemy. She also asked me weird stuffs like does my guy beats me up? does he inflicts me with pains whenever we have sex? does he tie me up and make me have marathon sex with him and his friends? And when I asked her who does such a thing, I could remember she made mention of Lawrence.” Cynthy said
“This is it! I knew something was definitely off about that guy. He is not who he claims he is.” Joshua said.
“But wait a minute. Why are you so interested in her case? Why are you so determined to prove that something is going wrong in her relationship?.” Cynthy asked.
“Cause her truth will help save lots of lives out there. Her truth will be of help to lots of girls. But why do you ask? Don’t tell me you feel jealous.” Joshua said smiling.
“Don’t get your hopes high. I’m just trying to satisfy my curiosity.” Cynthy replied.
“But what exactly were you complaining to Philomena about? I can’t remember wronging you in any way.” Joshua said
“You see your life? You are so good in identifying the cause of other people’s relationship problems. But identifying yours is a big problem. Incase you don’t know, I’m planning on leaving this boring relationship for good. I’m tired of your reserved and no drama lifestyle. You don’t club, you don’t go out to drink, you hardly know how to dress hot, You are always in your office wears moving from one case to another. You are not just vibrant. Forget whatever assumptions you have about Lawrence. Just compare him to yourself. You will realize that he is the man of the moment and you are a man of the past. Your lifestyle is just like that of an old man. You are too family oriented for my liking. You don’t just have the vibes I want.” Cynthy lamented.
“Really? Cynthy at your age you still want to live a crazy life? You complain about everything I do to make you happy. You complain about me being too family oriented. Don’t you want a man that has your best interest at heart? Don’t you want to marry a man that is devoted to his family and in everything? I’m hardworking, I spend on you in every little way I can. I have been faithful to you. I hardly have time for other girls except you. Some days I even skip work to be with you. Why can’t you appreciate my efforts for once? Must you compare me with different guys every time? Am I not good enough for you? Why are you doing this cynthy. You know very well how much I love and adore you. The fact that I’m not good in public display of affection does not mean that I don’t love and treat you right. I have never failed in my duties as your boyfriend. When will all this castigation and comparison end?.” Joshua asked broken heartedly.
“It will never end until you be like other men. It will never end Joshua. Until you learn to showcase me to the entire world. Until you learn how to dress charming and hot. Until I can be proud to call you my man before my friends. Having this conversation with you just makes me sick. Gosh. I’m tired.” Cynthy said.
Joshua stood up. With pains in his heart he said,
“Fine. If you are tired, you are free to go elsewhere. Henceforth, we seize to be partners. Go and find that perfect man that will love you the way you have always desired to be loved. Thank you.” He said with pains then he turned and walked away straight into his room slamming the door behind him.
“What’s my business? Whether you give your permission or not, I’m definitely finding myself a better man. Rubbish.” She said hissing.
*. *. * *. *
When it was 10am in the morning, Philomena managed to get up from where she laid. She picked her underwears, bag, wig, shoes, and her dress from different corners of the room where Lawrence had flung them to the previous night.
With pains and marks on her body, she managed to walk naked into her room where she dropped her bag and other of her belongings which she was carrying. She sluggishly walked naked into her bathroom where she turned on the shower and cried to her heart content as she took her shower.
When she was done taking her bath, she managed to walk out of the bathroom. As soon as she entered her room, she met Lawrence carrying a fancy bag which he later threw at her.
“Inside it are some pain relieving drugs as well as the latest designer dresses. I have deposited some cash into your account. Make sure to spoil yourself. Meanwhile, don’t forget we have a couple photo shoot this afternoon. As for the marks on your face, I have told the make up artist to do her job as usual. All you need to do is rest till evening. I’m off to work.” He said without any atom of remorsefulness.
As soon as he left, Philomena broke into tears as she angrily scattered everything he bought on the floor. If only tears could heal her heart. If only tears could deliver get from this eternal slavery. She just sat on her bed and continued crying till she could cry no more.
Later in the day, she got dressed and wore a sunshade. Starting her car engine, she drove off to madam Flora’s mansion. As soon as she got there, she alighted from her car and walked straight into madam Flora’s sitting room.
“Who do we have here?.” Madam Flora said as soon as Philomena badged into her sitting room.
“Madam Flora. My God will judge you for using my innocence against me. For putting me in this condition and for not having genuine intentions towards me. What exactly did I do to you? I came to you for help as a child without parent. As a child without helper but what did you do? You sold me off to a total stranger who treats me like a whore. Who spends everyday taking advantage of me. You are so wicked and heartless. My God will surely judge you. Evil woman.” Philomena yelled losing her mind.
“Shut up. For Christ sake can you even hear yourself? Did I force you into this business? Yes, it’s true I introduced you into my business but I never for once forced you into it. You had the opportunity to decline the job and return to your miserable and nonprofitable farm and laundry job. But you chose to stay because you thought you owe your sisters a lot. Never for once did you think about yourself. It has always been about your sisters. You made yourself the sacrificial lamb so they could enjoy. So tell me, what did I do wrong? I helped changed your life. Thanks to my efforts, you now appear on televisions, you are now famous and lack nothing financially.” Madam Flora bragged.
“No you are wrong. I lack peace of mind. I lack happiness. I lack true love. I lack so many things that money can’t buy. Just take a look at my face and my skin. Lawrence has turned me into a punching bag. He has no respect or regards for me. I don’t do anything without his approval. I’m living in hell. I just want to quit out of all these but he won’t let me off easily. I’m sinking everyday. Please ma’am. Help me out of this mess. If there is anything I can do to end this horrible relationship with Lawrence please let me know. I’m tired of faking a smile and wasting my life away. I’m tired of being drugged on different occasions. I’m tired of doing so many disgusting stuffs all in the name of love making. Please madam Flora help me out.” Philomena pleaded kneeling before madam Flora who was speechless.
“I’m sorry Philomena. There’s nothing I can do about it. We signed an agreement the day he paid me millions to take you. And I can’t go against our agreement. You are forever bound to him. He hired you to be his sex slave. So all what has happened so far, are part of your duties to him. You don’t expect him to have pity for a whore do you? Or have you forgotten already that you are a hired prostitute because of the wealth and luxury that you have been enjoying?. Wake up Philomena. And face reality.” Madam Flora said. Hitting off her hands from her dress madam Flora walked away.
Philomena remained on the ground and cried her eyes out. She was still crying when her phone rang. It was her youngest sister Luisa calling.
“Hello Luisa. How are you?.” Philomena managed to voice out.
“Sister can you please come over to our school? Vera fainted a while ago and was rushed to the school clinic.” Luisa said crying.
“What?.” Philomena shouted out in disbelief and shock.
