LOVE WITH BITTER TEARS
EPISODE 5
After work hours, he called
Ophelia and after a long chit chat
about his marriage and Sammy,
they decided to meet one on one
to talk about it further. They met
at DeChills Hind which was a bar, restaurant and night club located
at the heart of Surulere. It was a
very beautiful rendezvous for
lovers who enjoy having fun. As he sat at the bar waiting for
her arrival, his mind drifted to his
wife. He wondered if he was
doing the right thing, if he had
punished her enough and should
let it go but then he sighted Ophelia and his heart skipped
beats. He had never seen a lady
as beautiful and elegant as she
was in his life or so he thought.
She was attired in a yellow
stripped turtle necked armless gown which was way above her
knees. Slung across her shoulder
was a black Chanel back and a
black gladiator sandals to match
the hand bag. Heads turned as
she made her way to where he sat, he was slightly flushed to see
people were staring at him too
probably because she was
headed his way beaming with
smiles and eyes sparkling like a
well refined gold. Ophelia: “Hello…hope I did not
keep you waiting for too long?”
she smiled, revealing her white
well set teeth. Richard: “Not at all, I just got here
myself, have your seat” he said
drawing out a seat for her
opposite his. “How are you
today?” Ophelia: “I am fine and you?” Richard: “I am surviving…What
will you like to take?” he asked as
a waitress came to take their
orders. Ophelia: “A bottle of chardonnay
will do for now” she said looking
up at the waitress who was
beaming with fake smiles. Richard: “Okay get one bottle of
chardonnay and with two
glasses” he said, the waitress
nodded and retreated. Ophelia: “So you were saying
something on phone?” Richard: “I was thinking whether
to just let go of my beef with
Rebecca. I think she has suffered
enough and it’s already taking its
toll on her. What do you think?” Ophelia: “I think it’s a good idea
but She really did disgrace you
and in public for that matter. She
does not have any respect for
you and if you forgive her so
easily, she will take it for granted even more. I think you should
not forgive her just yet” Richard: “Are you sure? I guess
you are right though. You are a
woman and you know women
better” Ophelia: “Yeah that’s right! I
know women better” she said
eyeing him from behind the glass
of wine she was sipping. ….. He went back home that day
feeling more resolute than ever.
He wished he was married to
someone else and not her. It’s a
heart wrenching how you think
you know someone so well and all of a sudden realise you’ve
been mistaken all along. He saw
her sitting on the settee sleeping
and his stomach churned with
disgust. “Why on earth is she not
sleeping in the room? She is not probably waiting for me cos I
don’t have time to exchange
words tonight” he turned to enter
his room but the creaking of the
door woke her up. Rebecca: “Hey Richie! You are
back? I have been waiting for
you. Welcome” she said rising up
to her feet drowsily. Richard: “Just go and sleep in
your room and don’t meddle in
what is none of your business
okay?” Rebecca: “Okay I will be going to
bed soon but the doctor asked
me to tell you something, I
thought about not telling you but
I think it’s your right to know. At
least we are still married” Richard: “I told you I am not
interested in hearing anything
from you except it has to do with
Sammy. Please do not provoke
me tonight and just go to bed.
There is a reason I left that room for you or do you want me to
leave the house for you?” Rebecca: “Not at all. You won’t
have to do that and for the
records, I resigned at work. I will
be staying at home now to take
care of Sammy and the home
myself” Richard: “Good for you but hope
you have yourself planned out
well? You will not be getting a
penny from me for anything
other than my son’s upkeep. You
will be on your own” Rebecca: “Don’t worry, I will not
bother you at all… I have it all
planned out. Thanks for taking
your time to listen to me,
goodnight! “She said calmly and
left him standing at the doorway to his room. Her calm demeanour
only succeeded in getting him
more peeved than he already
was. He expected her to flare up
like she used to but the reverse
was the case. He shook his head and went into his room at last. === During break time at Princeton
Schools, Sammy and a pack of his
friends were at the school’s
football field practising relay race
for their upcoming inter house
sport. Sammy was very athletic and was the best athlete in his
house. The house master had
gone to use the restroom when a
confrontation broke out between
Sammy and one of the known
bullies in the school. Emeka: “So you don’t know that
you are a bastard? Your mum had
you for another man” he said
with a scowl on his face. Sammy: “Don’t call me a bastard
again you dumb ass boy. Do you
think I don’t know you bully
others to feel good about
yourself?” Emeka: “Look at you. You think
you are that good just because
people say so? Don’t you know
your mum is a husband basher?
Your dad is a weakling, you think
I was not there that day at Mr. Biggs when those soldiers were
beating him up? He was just
saying please! Please!! Please!!!
Whimpering like a dog on heat”
he said and the rest of the boys
laughed out loud. Some covering their mouths so Sammy would
not know they laughed. Sammy: “You bastard!” he lashed
out and plunged for him. They
both rolled on the floor throwing
punches at each other while the
other boys cheered them on. Mr
Sam the housemaster arrived and separated them, surprised at
what big damage could be done
at such little time. Mr Sam: “What on earth is
happening here?” he said fuming. Emeka: “He is the one sir, I did not
do anything to him” he said
bursting into tears. Sammy: “Sir! He called me a
bastard and my dad a weakling in
front of everybody here” Mr Sam: “The two of you should
come with me now!” he turned
and walked away while the two
boys trailed after him on wobbly
feet. … Rebecca: “Sammy why did you
beat that boy up in school? How
can you disgrace me like that?”
she said when they got back
home. she had gotten a notice
from the school authority to come by the school that day where they
had narrated to her what
transpired between her son and
the boy. Sammy: “It was not my fault mum.
Why is no one believing me?” Rebecca: “But you threw the first
punch at him didn’t you?” Sammy: “Yes I did but he called
you husband basher. He said my
dad was a weakling… all these is
your fault mum! You made my
dad into a weakling that day and
now he is not even talking to you” Rebecca: “Yeah it’s all my fault
and that is why I am trying to
make amends. I am trying to put
things right and just so you
know, your dad is not a
weakling, he is a strong and good man” Sammy: “Do you still love my
dad?” Rebecca: “Of course I still love him
very very much” Sammy: “Then why did you keep
fighting him? I used to feel sorry
for my dad but not anymore
though” Rebecca: “Well I am a changed
person now and so is your dad.
Do you know I am pregnant? You
will have a baby sister very soon”
she said drawing him closer to
her bosom. Sammy: “Is that true mummy?”he
said with eyes glistening with joy
and excitement. “When will you
give birth to her? I want to see my
sister fast fast” Rebecca: “Very soon my dear,
and promise me one more thing?
You will take care of your sister
right? In no ways will you allow
anyone hurt her when i am not
here” Sammy: “Are you going
somewhere?” Rebecca: “I am not sure yet but I
might be going somewhere. So I
might have to leave your sister to
your care” she said fighting back
tears. Sammy: “Okay I will take care of
her but promise me you will come
back soon? You will not stay too
long where you are going to?” Rebecca: “Let’s wait till then” she
said and embraced him tighter
while he struggled to disengage
from her. Sammy: “Mummy I am now a big
boy o, I will even be a big brother
soon but you keep treating me as
if I am one small boy” Rebecca: “Sorry dear big boy. I
am already envying your sister.
Wish I have a big brother like
you. Your sister is lucky, I know
I’d be leaving her in good hands”
Just as she said this, they heard shuffling of feet outside on the
floor. Richard and a very beautiful
lady entered the house looking
all cordial and comfortable in
each other’s company. They
probably didn’t expect to meet Rebecca in the sitting room. Sammy: “Aunty… I was not the
one who looked for trouble first.
It really wasn’t my fault ma” he
said feeling jittery with fear. Ophelia: “Hey Sammy! I am not
here to punish or reprimand you.
I am here to see your dad so no
worries at all. I know you are not
a troublesome boy, Emeka is. So I
believe you” she said stooping down to hold his to shoulder.
This gesture melted Richards
heart and he smile fondly down
at the two of them while his wife
watched him in sheer disbelief. Rebecca: “Thank you Miss Ophelia
for believing our Sammy but what
exactly brought you here?” Richard: “Go inside your room
now Sammy” Sammy: “Okay dad” he said and
ran off. Ophelia: “Well I am here for Richie
not you” Rebecca: “Excuse me? What
business do you two have
together? The last time I checked
you were only my son’s class
teacher” Richard: “And how is that any of
your business? I told you not to
infringe on my space. Please lets
go to my room dear” he said and
drew Ophelia along with him..
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