THE HEART OF A WOMAN
EPISODE 5
“i’m okay, just a little headache” i replied, closing my eyes as i tried to calm down my failing nerves.
“hey you have to take it easy on yourself. Let me get some pills” Lydia said with concern, left the room and returned with a glass of water and some pills which i took from her…..
“you know you really have to take it easy on yourself. What happened to you some moments back is a clear sign of stress. It’s obvious you labour yourself too much. I advise you make your stay in this city to at least a month. A month of rest without anything to bother you” she seriously advised after i regained composure.
“i think you are right. I’ll follow your advice, but then I will need a new favour from you” i said with a weak smile. She drew closer and stared at me curiously.
“i need a house. A good bungalow. Just find me one i can buy or rent. You know my taste. I think i’ll not only be staying a month in this town, but will be staying forever” i said calmly. She nodded and laughed with happiness, without leaving her eyes off me.
“I hope you won’t mind me asking what made you make such a sudden unexpected decision?” she asked suspiciously.
“i do mind Lydia, but don’t worry in due time you will get to know” i smiled at her. She shrugged with resignation and smiled back.
“i’ll get a nice place for you within a week” she promised.
I dropped my eyes and thought over my decision. It probably was going to cost me a fortune, but yea it was a sacrifice i had to make.
“Kelvin is mine and no sharp-eyed girl is going to reap where she didn’t sow” i promised myself, before standing to leave.
“one more favour” i said to my pretty friend, who nodded with full attention.
“i need all the information you can get about the mystery girl. I mean the girl Kelvin always hangs out with” i said,
“arhhh, i see. Consider it done” she accepted with a provoking smile, which gave the impression that she was slowly discovering what i was holding back from her.
I ignored her smile and quickly changed the topic to another thing.
______
Kelvin dutifully took me for a little walk later in the evening. He equally used the opportunity to apologize for being away most part of the day.
We strolled down the street discussing like dedicated lovers. I pretended as if all was fine while deep down i was dying to ask him many questions.
I wasn’t a dumb little girl and so had to hold back my questions. There wasn’t any need asking him of the unknown girl since i knew he would definitely lie about her. I had to investigate and get every information by myself.
“I’m no longer leaving in a week. I think I’ll be staying permanently” i informed him after a little thought. He stumbled and almost fell with shock.
“What???” he gasped.
“Really?, seriously that’s wonderful but i’m curious to know what prompted the decision?” he asked, trying his best to conceal his feelings. I shrugged and breathed deeply.
“i’m doing it because i want to be very close to you. I can’t bear staying away anymore” i answered calmly. He stared at me unable to know what to make of my revelation.
“i have talked to Lydia, she will be setting up a new place for me” i added, watching him keenly. He drew me to the side of the road and stared at me searchingly.
“i hope you know what you are doing?” he asked, surprising me with the question,
“of course my dear, c’mon don’t you think it’s a great idea?” i asked with a smile,
“but you should have consulted me first. I’m your man you know, moreover you shouldn’t have asked your friend to set up another house for you. My place is spacious enough for us” he complained. I shook my head and rolled my eyes.
“i know my darling and I’m sorry” i apologized. He shrugged and never mentioned the topic again.
Unfortunately he never slept that fateful night. He kept tossing on the bed without knowing that i was fully awake.
I kept still and pretended as if i was sleeping. I couldn’t imagine what was going on in his mind.
Whatever it was, I cared not. I was very determined to keep him from going astray. I had to do anything necessary to protect my interest.
Early the next day he left for his office, while i went out to visit a couple of old friends and equally do a little shopping. It was a very busy day for me, and it truly helped by keeping my mind off Kelvin.
But later in the day i got a very shocking surprise of my life. Kelvin returned from work, accompanied by a very attractive slim, well-shaped young girl (who was in her mid-twenties)}. I was shocked beyond words.
“My darling, i brought my colleague and a good friend home for you to see. Since you will be staying for a while, i thought it best to introduce her to you. I know Abuja is a small town and i wouldn’t want any gossips to fly to your ears. Her name is Lilian Isaac” he said to me before facing the girl who stood respectably a distance away.
“Lilian meet my wife Stella” he introduced softly. I couldn’t believe myself. I was so dumbfounded. It all looked so innocent to be real.
It was just like a movie. Of course she was no other person than the same girl Lydia mentioned to me the previous day.
I simply stared at her without knowing what to make of her presence…
“it’s really quite a pleasure meeting you. Seriously” Lilian said with a quick smile, drawing closer to me. I returned her smile and offered my hand to her, which she shook softly.
“it’s an honour my dear and i hope we can be great friends. How about we have dinner at my place tomorrow” she offered politely, surprising me a great deal with her superb acting skill.
She was perfect with it. Her smiles and gestures very innocent and harmless, but i wasn’t a little girl who could be fooled by such a show.
“of course I’ll be more than glad to know your house” i answered and threw at glance at Kelvin whose jaw slightly tightened with worry. .
I kept smiling and laughing to all she said even though i was dead with worry and jealousy. If not for my money, i knew i was no match for the bright eyed girl. It got me very worried and insecure. She left after spending close to thirty minutes with us.
I tried very hard to conceal my feelings, but Kelvin soon noticed that i wasn’t looking alright. As we were about sleeping later in the night, he asked if anything was bothering me.
“Nothing my dear” i lied, but he wasn’t convinced. He slowly brought down his lips on me and kissed my right ear softly.
“i know you don’t like Lilian. I apologize for bringing her over. I really thought i was doing the right” he said softly, his hand slowly going for my right bosom. I closed my eyes and breathed deeply.
“yea there is something in her i don’t trust. Well let’s just watch out” i said quietly, which kind of shocked him that he slowly withdrew his hand, saying nothing else to me…..
The next evening, i honoured Lilian’s invitation and landed at her house with Kelvin who had no choice than to accompany me. It really was a great moment and an opportunity for me to study the young girl who was bent on playing games with me. I took my time taking mental notes of everything.
I slowly studied everything about her with the little time the dinner accorded me. I equally felt the young girl was up to something, but couldn’t place my hand on anything.
Unfortunately, i fell ill the following day. A simple running stomach slowly degenerated into a fever, keeping me indoors and bedridden for the rest of the week.
I couldn’t understand what was happening to me.
I slowly slipped into a shadow of myself….
Kelvin tried his best to make sure i was alright. He took me to a lab test and equally paid a nurse to stay at the apartment and see to my needs.
If not for the little doubts that had already found their way into my heart. I would have been very satisfied with the level of care he showed.
Even though he was hardly present to keep me company, he always made sure he brought something nice each time he returned home.
On Friday (three days later), Lydia came visiting and was shocked to see me very sick.
“oh goodness me!. Stella what’s happening. You never told me you were sick” she cried with concern.
“i’m almost better dear” i smiled weakly. She shook her head, studying me seriously.
“i came to tell you how far i have gotten with the house you requested, without expecting to see you this sick and pale” she said slowly,
“how about the other mission. The information i asked you to get concerning kelvin’s mystery girl” i asked curiously. She breathed deeply and stared at me with disbelief.
“you see?. You worry too much for Kelvin which is quite bad. Anyway i did the job. I had to befriend an old annoying gossip who worked in the same office with your guy. Just get better my dear, I have lots of stories to tell you” she said with a smile.
“The girl’s name is Lilian Isaac. Can you believe Kelvin actually brought her here?” i informed my friend who gasped with surprise.
“That’s exactly how surprised i was when he brought her to me my dear” i concluded.
“Hope he also told you she is the daughter of his boss. Her father is a director in the Ministry” she added slowly, nodding seriously.
It was my turn to gasp with shock and worry. I instantly pictured the girl in my head.
No doubt she has it all. Beauty, money and youth. I was far from being a match to her.
“damn” i breathed.
“we have lots of things to discuss sweetheart, but it will be when you get better. I think it’s better you stay at my place which you know will be more fun. Moreover Chika and her twin just arrived the country, so my place is very lively with people you care about. You shouldn’t be here suffering” She said seriously.
“Fine you can come pick me up tomorrow” i agreed weakly.
____
Kelvin came home at exactly 7:39pm that fateful day. As usual he brought a beautiful flower which he told me was a healing flower he got from an Indian spiritualist..
“i’ll be moving over to Lydia’s house tomorrow. I’ll finalize the arrangements i’m making for the new house she arranging for me from there after which i’ll head back to Imo state” i instantly informed him.
Unfortunately my words had a very terrible effect on him. He frowned and stood up with anger.
“You always like making decisions on your own. I wonder how we will live as husband and wife. Who will be the husband and who will be the wife? You always act as you wish, with no consideration to my feelings. Gosh I’m fed up” he screamed, shocking me with his outburst.
It was the first time he was raising his voice on me and it really hurt.
“You said you are fed up with me?” i asked with shock.
“Yes I’m, what do you expect huh. You are free to leave and never come back” he fired defiantly.
An alarm instantly rang in my head. I almost fainted with shock.
© Coolvalstories
