Shadow of love episode 13

I quickly rushed out of my room to meet the two of them in a serious fight. Franca had hit him or so and he ended up puking on her. If it was on a normal day, I would have laughed my intestines out but not today. He saw me and quickly ran to my room and I followed suit. He took time to wash up while I sat on the bed, waiting and expecting answers to my questions.
He finally came out and sat down beside me. I couldn't look at him. He suddenly became too disgusting for me to look at.

Tobe: Queen....

Me: Don't call me that. You lost the right to do so. I mean, how could you be....

A knock on my door interrupted me and I stood up quickly. I knew it was for her to laugh at me so I braced myself for whatever she's got.

Me: What do you want?

She was tying a towel and smiling sheepishly. She held Tobe's clothes in her hands.

Franca: Just came to return this clothes and to also thank Tobe for such a wonderful time. I enjoyed every bit of what he gave me.

I took the clothes from her without a word.

Franca: And again, you really should hold him tight to avoid such trips to my room ever again.

Me: The advice is not necessary because you'll be leaving here before seven. And, you should be ashamed that you took advantage of his drunkenness to achieve your evil goals. No man in his right senses would look at you twice.

My words seem to get to her so I continued.

Me: Because he didn't look at you with all your useless seductions, you decided to get him while he's drunk. How shameless. What did he do afterwards, he ran away from you right? Because you're so disgusting. You'll have only tonight's memory in your head forever. I promise you that.

I locked my door and went to Tobe, throwing his clothes at him.

Me: Dress up and get out.

He looked up at me and I saw tears in his eyes. He blinked and they came rushing down.

Tobe: Baby I'm sorry. I..

To my surprise, I joined him and we cried together, with me doing most of the sobbing.

Tobe: After I spoke with you, a friend of mine called to say that he bought a car, we all went to celebrate with him. I was drunk but I needed to see you, that's why I picked a rickshaw to bring me down here. I met her downstairs and she helped me up. Next thing I know, we were....

Me: Please don't say it. Please don't.

Tobe: I'm sorry. You know I can never hurt you. I love you so much that I'll rather die than hurt you. I'm so sorry baby. Forgive me please.

I went into his arms and cried myself to sleep.



There was silence in the room. Tobe left early that morning so I had called my friends and told them what had happened the previous night. Now, we were in my room and I'm dreading this silence. They should at least say something before.......

Lois: It's all your fault Pamela. It's all your fault.

Me: But how? I mean, I didn't push him to get drunk or.....

Lois: Stop being childish. Why is Franca still here? Everything I told you, instead of you to take actions immediately, you resorted to using your tongue which so far, ended up making things worse. If you had done something about this, Franca won't have tried doing what she did last night.

Me: What would I have done?

Cynthia: Send her packing

Lois: Exactly. You have a thousand and one reason to send her out of your house for good.

I bent my head as their words kept on repeating itself in my head.

Vanessa: Babe, in this life, you can't trust anybody. We understand that it's difficult for you because she's a childhood friend but look around you, think back of the pains she's brought you this past weeks. The choice is yours. Just do the right thing.

I heaved a sigh and gave them a smile. I know what to do now. Last night, it was a mere threat but this morning, I'm going to see to it that she leaves my house. I excused myself and went out, stopping in front of Franca's room. I knocked and opened the door without waiting for a response. She was applying make up on her face. She looked at me with a smile and said a greeting.

Me: Let's do this thing without much drama.

She watched me walk inside fully and she stood up.

Franca: What thing?

Me: Leaving my house. Just pick what's yours and get out, now.

The smile on her face quickly disappeared.

Franca: You're not serious, are you?

Me: I'm very serious. Hand me my keys first.

She looked around and pointed at the keys which were hanging on a nail.

Me: Thank you. So, start packing. I'm going to give you that honour and not throw you out. I've got some crazy girls in my room and they're just waiting for me to ask them and they'll embarrass you to the fullest. So, hurry up.

She didn't say a word. She started doing the packing and I left for the sitting room. Goodness knows that I'll give anything to have my best friend back. I'll give anything to turn back the hands of time and have that Franca who acted like my elder sister. Now, I regretted being an only child. I clutched my head in my hands and let my tears fall. Minutes later, she came out with her boxes and stood in front of me.

Franca: I'm leaving but get one thing straight......

Me: Get out. Out now.

I was shouting, the best way to shut her up so I wouldn't listen to any rubbish that she would say.

Me: Get out of here. Cheat, I don't ever want to see you around this apartment. Just get out.

She was surprised at my outburst and my friends came out from the room to see what's happening.
Franca struggled with her boxes before she decided to carry them out one at a time. We watched her carry the last one before Cynthia closed my door.

Cynthia: Good riddance

Lois/Vanessa: To bad rubbish.

I sat down again but this time, I didn't cry. I knew I had war coming to me very soon. The new Franca would do anything that would hurt me so I had to get myself ready.



*****************************

We were through with exams and I was also done learning how to drive. I decided to travel home and see my parents.
I drove down to housing estate Onitsha where my dad built his house. I honked and the gateman opened the gate. I drove into the familiar compound and packed at an empty space. My mum's personal assistant came out immediately and walked towards me.

Happiness: Good afternoon Pamela. How's school?

Me: School was as it should be.

She helped me carry my bag inside while I locked the car and waved at the gateman who kept staring at me like I was a ghost. I got into the largely furnished sitting room and sat down. It was obvious mum and dad weren't around. A lot had changed in this house because the furnishings looked different. I carried myself upstairs and went to my room. I undressed and started work immediately, dusting and changing the bed spread.

I was done and about coming downstairs when I heard the gate open. I knew immediately that it was my parents because aunty Happiness had told me they went out together.

I opened the door for them and we went into long hugs before they remembered to come in.

Dad: You look lean and bony. Do you eat at all in school?

Me: Of course I do dad. Why....

Mum: Like you don't know young girls of today, they love to starve themselves a in the name of getting the shape of a model.

Me: Mummy. I don't even have that in my plans. Model for who kwanu?

Dad: Ehe! So you now have a car? We saw it outside. You drove yourself?

Me: Yes daddy.

Dad: This your boyfriend, what does he do to be able to get you such an expensive car?

I dare not tell them it was a gift from his future in-laws.

Me: Uhm. He's still a student actually but....

Dad: Chikaima. A student bought you such an expensive car?

Mum: You didn't let her finish honey. He's the son of their vice chancellor.

Dad: Hmmm. I don't understand the both of you. We wanted to give you a car on your birthday but now that you have one,....

Me: Noo. Daddy you'll get me the car o. Besides, this one is not from you.

We argued playfully for a while before I calmly explained to them the issues I was having with Franca. That was the kind of relationship I had with my parents. Being the only child, I hid nothing from them because I had no sibling to talk to. They in turn, provided me with a lot of advise which kept me going. I wasn't raised to show off or be proud because as at the time I was born, we were poor. It was destiny who changed our story. We lived among the rich but we also love to mingle with the lower class because according to my father, we don't always know the hand that is writing our destiny.