(HECTOR)
I drove
away from the supermarket flabbergasted by the little cute angel. At first when I approached the shop, I sighted her walking very fast inside. I wondered what
could be the reason for that. I entered to check for my chocolate first before
approaching her. I saw her dashed to get the only remaining Kitty creamy but I had
no other choice than to grab it first. I
had to walk away to pay for it when someone tapped me lightly on my back and I
turned to look and saw the most beautiful girl I have ever seen but I could not
give her a smile. I was certain she might use that opportunity to ask for it
back but she shocked me with her words. No woman has ever question or talk to
me like that especially when I have nothing intimate with her. How could she say
people like me can never make the country progress? I had to give her the chocolate
to escape the lousy eyes peering at us.
I
purposely waited outside for her, it was not because of the chocolate but to
start a conversation and hear her voice one more time. The most infuriating
thing was her confidence to talk back at me with no hint of fear despite my big
frame and her small stature. The girl’s eyes sparkled and she had a full kissable
lips.
If we
meet again, it was destiny for me to have a moment with her and I was not
going to teach her a lesson as I said to her. I was going to use that moment
just to know her a little, just to hear her talk again. I was a bit harsh when
I told her to get out of my sight, I only wanted to spite her and see her
reaction.
A smile flashed
on my lips as I recalled her face one more time. I was an ass for not asking her name. She was smart enough to get mine but why did she? She could not
have required for it if she did not have her own motive. Could she have found
me attractive?
What was
I thinking?! I needed to turn back and check for her again even if it was for a
quick glimpse. My heartbeat raced faster. If I could see her again, I will be
very happy.
I
thoroughly checked around the vicinity where the super market was located. I
searched… the beautiful one was nowhere in sight! Maybe we were never destined
to see each other again. I drove away and diverted to the road leading to Felix’s
house. I had questions to ask him about the word 'love'. I was
not all right at all, I felt sick to the stomach.
Felix is
the only one I could talk to about this. He is the only one that can keep a secret
and never break a friend’s trust. I cannot swallow away these feelings. I have
to talk to someone to let it out from my system.
********
(RENEE)
I saw
his face has he looked into mine and for the first time in my life an
overcoming sensation penetrated through me. I have never felt like that for no
man, not even my ex-boyfriend. I felt relaxed when I checked his hand and saw
no ring. He was not a married man. What I could not take was his beast of an
attitude, indirectly calling me a short person. He did not only frown at me but
had the boldness of waiting for me outside just because he wanted the chocolate
back. I would have kindly given it to him but I was also scared of being eaten
alive by my employer’s son. Not only did Miss Hilary warn me about her brother,
Mrs. Henshaw did too. I have never met him before and I did not want to him to
have a wrong impression about me, this was my second day at work.
I admit
I was a bit rude but I said the truth to him. He could not even ask me for my
name, maybe he thought I was disrespectful or maybe I was ugly. I had to go
back to see if I could see him and apologize and explained why I said those
things.
I told
the taxi man taking me home to turn back to the location of the supermarket. I
promised him I would add to his money he billed me. We went back but I did not
see him again. Maybe I was right, maybe we will never see again.
I
arrived home to see Miss Hillary back and she and her mother sat at the balcony
talking. I greeted them and gave the items to Mrs. Henshaw.
“Did you
get the chocolate?” Miss Hillary asked.
“Yes ma.
It’s inside the bag with the other items.”
“Very
good, my brother will be grateful. How many did you buy?”
“I
bought the last one remaining.” i gave my boss her change.
“God
saved you and I will let my brother know when he comes back. I ate from the
garden egg sauce you helped your mother cook. It was delicious and my bro would
love it.”
“Thank
you ma.”
“You can
go inside and check on my father, your mother helped you give him his drugs.”
“Okay
ma.” I left there to check on Mr. Henshaw, he sat on his bed reading newspaper.
“Good
evening sir.”
“Good
evening my daughter. How are you?”
“I am
fine sir. Please don’t be angry I did not give your drugs to you this evening.”
He
smiled. “I am not angry with you, Hillary explained to me the reason you left.
You can go home and resume tomorrow morning.”
I
thanked him and left to meet my mother in the kitchen, she rose and informed me
she was through for the day and we should go home.
We
boarded a bus home and we reached after twenty minutes. My mother did not allow
me to sit and rest when began asking questions.
“Why
were you quiet all through we came home?”
“Nothing
mum.” I sat on the chair in our small sitting room.
She sat
beside me. “I will not take that. What happened?”
“Nothing.”
“That is
unacceptable. Renee what is it? Don’t you want to work there anymore?”
“Mom
this is not about working for the Henshaw’s, I am happy there.”
“Please
tell me what is it?” she asked in a worried tone.
I sighed
and looked at her. “I saw someone today.”
“Someone?”
she asked.
I
explained to her.
“Is that
why you are sober?”
“I like
him mom.”
She
widened her eyes. “You liked him and yet you sharpened your tongue to say all
those things to him?”
“What
did you expect me to say? He was also rude to me.”
“Then
why are you complaining.”
“I am
not complaining is just that I might have fallen in love with him.”
She
boomed into laughter. “Fallen in love ke? Maybe you are infatuated and not
fallen in love with a stranger."
“This is
not infatuation mami, I know what I felt. The most annoying thing is that he did
not ask for my name.”
“Did you
ask for his name?” she asked.
“Yes.”
“Then go
to all radio stations to report. They can help you announce that you are
looking for him.”
“Mum I
am serious about this, I really do love him.”
She looked
into my eyes and saw them misty. “Renee, do you want to cry?”
“No.”
She drew
me closer and held me tight. “I never knew you were serious about this man.”
I
sniffed my nose. “What if I don’t see him again?”
“Then
you two were never meant to be together. If really he was not interested in
you, then destiny will not bring you two together.”
“What if
we meet again and he has no feelings for me? What will I do?”
She
sighed and thought for a while. “I really do not know but love can happen
between you too. You might be lucky he falls for you.”
I smiled
at her. “I will be the happiest girl on earth mom and if he falls for me, I will do anything for him."
“That’s
my girl,” she said. “You will fight for the one you love.”
********
(HECTOR)
I sat on
Felix's long sofa in his living room when I arrived.
“Are you
okay?” he asked and gave me a glass of whisky mixed with coke.
I took
it from him and took a sip. “I’m tensed up.”
He sat down
opposite my direction. “I have never seen you tensed up.”
“That’s
the problem. Do you believe in love at first sight?”
“My
parents fell in love at first sight. I told you their story few years ago.”
“I have
forgotten but how did they know they were in love for the first time with each
other?”
“I don’t
really know what to say but it has to do with feelings, how they felt towards
each other. Why are you asking?”
“I
closed my eyes and took a deep breath down my lungs. I opened them to look at
Felix. “I think am in love.”
“What!
Hector Ebuka Henshaw in love?” he asked shocked. “Is this a dream?” He tapped
his left hand.
“Stop it
Felix, I am serious.”
He rose
to stand in front of me with his hands on his waist. “Are you sure of what you
are saying? Who is the unlucky girl?”
I
laughed. “You are not alright at all.”
Felix
dropped his hands down. “You won’t take her serious nah. You are getting
married soon”
I got up
on my feet. “This is not about getting married soon, I don’t know the
whereabouts of this particular girl!”
He gave
a questionable face. “How?’
I gave
him the details.
“Why
didn’t you ask her for her name or phone number?”
“I wasn’t
thinking straight and the most bizarre thing is, she’s not my type.”
“Did you
fall in love with someone like Ndidi?”
“If I
had falling in love with a buffalo like that, I would have killed myself.” We
laughed at my joke. “But seriously she’s not my type.”
“Not
fair enough?”
“Chocolate
in color.” I replied.
“Wow! Remember you love chocolate.”
“Be
serious for once. She also not a tall person and I could use only one hand to carry
her.”
“You are
a rib-tickling character.” Felix said. “You have ways with words and I respect
you for that. My chairman, you have fucked up for the first time in your life.
What do you do now to find this girl?”
”I don’t
know.”
“Maybe
you should go back to the supermarket and ask if they knew her.”
“That is
the first time seeing her there. I will look like a fool for doing that.”
“That
means you don’t love her but lustfully trying to get into her pants.”
“Do you
know I have not thought about sex with her? I just want to see her again.”
“And do
what?" he asked.
“Talk to
her!” I growled. He was pissing me off with his questions.
“Relax
Hector,” he said. “I understand how you feel but you made a mistake for not
collecting her contact. The next thing to do is what should be on your
mind.”
I sat
down. “I need to find that girl.”
“But how?”
he asked.
“I don’t
know.” I said glumly.
Felix
sat beside me. “I don’t know what you will do to find her but if she is the one
for you, destiny will bring the both of you together.”
I went
into deep thoughts and I remembered her conversation with me. I gave a wide
grin.
“What is
that smile on your face?” he asked.
I looked
to him. “Nothing to worry about.”
“Okay.”
“I don’t
want you to tell anyone about this.” I said to him.
“You
don’t have to be ashamed of her and being in love.”
“I need
to find her first before I can tell the world how I feel about her. If I see
her again, I will never let her go.”
******
I
arrived home at 8:30pm in the evening and I was ready to pounce on Hillary when I see her. I entered into the living room and Ebube ran to
collect my office's bag from me. She greeted me and left to keep it in my room.
“Hey
bro.” Hillary said coming out from the kitchen with a glass of orange juice. She looked at my angry eyes. “I can explain.”
“Why did you switch off all your phones?” I said walking towards her.
“My
phones were down and I quickly charged one of them to call mum.”
“What
does that have to do with what I sent you to buy?”
“But I
bought it.”
I came
very close to her. “You bought my chocolate?”
“Yes but
I wasn’t the one. I called mom to speak with Renee to help meet me buy it for
you.”
“And she
was able to buy one?”
“Yes,
you can check inside your fridge in your room.”
“God
bless Renee.” I said softly. “Where is she?”
“She has
gone home.” My mother said. I turned my back to face her.
“Good
evening mom.”
“Evening.”
she answered me. “You need to stop licking this chocolate. Can you not use your
common sense to stop? Your father has diabetics yet you don’t want to learn
from it.”
“That
cannot make me have diabetics and remember it’s not hereditary.”
She shook
her head and walked away.
“What am I eating for dinner?” I asked Hillary.
“Semovita
and Oha soup but I kept garden egg sauce for you. Renee prepared it and it was
delicious.”
I
ordered Ebube to boil yam and plantain to eat the sauce. I went to the
bathroom to have my bath and dressed simple. I went to the dinning to eat and
truthfully, the sauce was appetizing and tasty.
“Inform
me when Renee comes tomorrow morning. She did well today.”
“Ok bro
but what if you leave very early before she comes?”
“You are
right.” I said to her. “I will be leaving very early for a quick meeting. If I
don’t see her, tell her to wait for me until I return.”
“If you
say so,” she rose up from the dining chair. “Good night Hector.”
“Sweet
dreams.”
She went
and left me all alone and I thought about the girl I might never see again.
********
“Good
morning ma.” Ebube greeted Mrs. Alice after she opened the door for her and
Renee the following day at 6am.
“Good
morning Ebube.” Renee said.
“Good
morning Renee,” she said and turned to the cook. “Madam says you should prepare
fried plantain and scrambled egg with sausage roll.”
“No
problem.” She left to the kitchen. Renee waited in the kitchen for the Henshaw’s
to wake and come out from their room.
At 6:45am,
Hector was dressed in a stylish suit, ready to leave when Hillary knocked on
his door and entered.
“Good
morning Hector, mom says I should ask if you will eat breakfast.”
“No. I
am in a hurry. I schedule a meeting by seven and I am almost late.”
“You are
their boss, they will wait for you.” she told him.
“The
meeting is more important than the food.”
“Okay.
Renee is around but she’s in dad’s room.”
“I’m in
no mood to see her.” he said and carried his bag and walked out of his room hastily.
He boycotted his parents’ room and dashed outside the house. He walked up to his
car and opened the door.
“Shit.” he
muttered. Hector placed his bag on top of his car to check for a particular
file he might have forgotten inside his room. He alerted the gate man to help him tell
Hillary to check on top of his bed if a file was there. He ran and informed her
and came back.
Hillary went
to his bedroom and saw the file on the floor.
“Renee!”
she called her name.
“Ma.”
“Please
give this file to my brother outside.”
“Okay
ma.” Renee said and took the file outside. She saw him facing his car and walked
closer to him.
“Good morning sir.”
Hector
was reading a document. “Put the file on the bonnet.” he instructed without
looking at her.
His
voice sounded very familiar to her. Renee looked closer to see his face and she froze.
She was entirely taken aback by him. She widened her eyes. “Oh my God!!”
He heard
her voice clearly and gaze at her in total amazement. “What are you doing… wait
a minute, are you Renee?”
Tremor
seized the both of them as they stared at each other!
He stared
at her dumbstruck!!!
The
shock robbed her of speaking. She was at loss for words. Her heartbeat ran
faster! Renee swiftly turned and raced towards the house without looking back!
It came
as a complete surprise to see the girl he thought about throughout the night. It
was because of her he woke up late. He stood speechless and at the same time
excited!
He
walked inside the house and met Hillary in the living room.
“Where
is Renee?” he asked.
“She’s
in the kitchen. What are you still doing at home?”
“I want
Renee to bring my breakfast to my room.”
“What
about your meeting?”
“Cancelled.”
he said walking away.
“When
did you start eating in your room?”
He
refused to answer.
Hillary
went to the kitchen and spoke to the cook. “Serve my brother his breakfast and
put it on the tray and give it to your daughter to take to his room.”
“Okay ma.” Mrs.
Alice turned to dish out the food.
“Where
is Renee?" Hillary asked. "I thought she was in the kitchen.”
“No ma, I
think she went to the visitor’s toilet.”
Renee
entered the kitchen. Her eyes were red and puffy. She had been crying, afraid that
her mother might lose her job.
“Are you
okay?” Mrs. Alice asked her daughter after she gave her the tray.
“No mum.”
she said fidgeting. Her hands were shaking as panic engulfed her.
“Do you
want to fall the food down?! Hillary asked angrily.
“No ma.”
“What’s your
problem? Why are you shaking?”
“I am
not shaking ma.” Renee said with her hands trembling but she managed to walk
out of the kitchen.
Mrs.
Alice was surprised and confused of her daughter’s behavior.
Hillary
directed her to Hector’s room.
Renee knocked
on his door three times without getting a reply. Frightening thoughts jogged
through her mind.
Hector
sat comfortably on his chair. He had removed his jacket and laid it on the bed.
“If you like come inside, if you don’t like stay behind. I don’t have respect
for women.”
Renee
took a deep breath and opened the door. She entered with her hands still
trembling. Her eyes were on the floor, avoiding Hector’s examining eyes. She
dropped the tray on top of the small stool in front of him. The feeling and
emotions he felt for her gripped him hard. He could not take his eyes off her
and a smile caressed his lips.
Renee
turned towards the door to open it.
“If you
open that door,” he said. “In fact don’t you dare put your shaky hands on my
door!”
She quickly turned to his direction and fell on her knees. A wave of fear rushed inside
her.
“I am
sorry for yesterday. I never knew you were the one. Please forgive me, don’t
sack my mother and I. I will do…”
“Hold it!” he halted her. “Calm down with your pleas. Why is your head down? Why can't you look at me?”
“Nothing
sir.”
“Don’t
sir me.”
“Okay
sir.”
Hector
gave a low, soft laugh. “You must be stubborn,” he said. “Why won’t you look at
me?”
She
scratched her fore head. “Nothing sir.”
“Then
look at me.” he said gently.
Renee
could not. The look in his sensual eyes could make her melt.
“Renee look
at me.” he said in a commanding tone.
She swallowed
and raised her head to look into his eyes.
“Stand
up.” Hector said. “I am not going to sack you or your mother. I want you to sit
by my side and eat with me.
Renee
stared at him tongue-tied and a sudden chill ran down her spine. Tremendous
shock engulfed her. Staring at him once again, made Renee knew Hector was truly her
prince charming.
To be
continued….on Monday.
Now this is interesting...
ReplyDeleteHmmmmmmm... thanks Ck dearie. you are a well doer. Please try to post the next episode early... Happy sunday
ReplyDeleteI read this episode in less than 3 minutes (crying for more).....lol.
ReplyDeleteSooooo Loving this story.
Am so in love with Hector now
ReplyDeleteWish I could meet my prince charming right now
**smiles**
Ghen Ghen moment about to start.
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Awwwwwesome!
ReplyDeleteYou need to see how I was sheepishly smiling as I read this.
Nma's Blog
like seriously the moment we've all been waiting for,, so loved this episode,, well done!!!!
ReplyDeleteGhen ghen.... Intermediate!!! Where is my own hector ooo#lol# well done darl Carina!!
ReplyDeleteYou and football, hope your boo likes it too
ReplyDeleteYou are good writer, why not plan to have them in a permanent form?
Me love football. Single ooo. Dating Liverpool and my blog.
DeleteWell written! I really enjoyed this
ReplyDeleteinterestingly interesting...loool
ReplyDeletetoday is Monday o and u promise to post next episode o.
punctuality is the soul of business nah.
www.wlcwisdom.blogspot.com
Refreshing since 12am for my monday tonic.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry dear.. i have posted it.
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Hmmmmm. Hope this Google ID works. I haven't been able to comment.
ReplyDeleteIt worked. *jumpingjumpingjumping* Hmmmmm, where did i stop.
ReplyDeleteI saw your mail. I am happy it worked! Thank you so much for your love.
Deletenext episode please ,,,have refreshed this page like a million times between yesterday and today, am hooked
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ReplyDeleteCarina, what's up? Monday is almost over or did u forget you promised to post the next episode today? Please keep your promise. Before you make me lose interest. No be do or die affair...
ReplyDeleteOn the otherhand, if you have challenges, you could keep us updated rather than being mute.
Still, I noticed your timing ain't same with Nigerian time? Any explanations?
I need you to reply my comment ASAP,please
Hmmmmm, @Awesome. I tire for this your comment. Is not a do or die affair like you know and stop acting like you can actually threatened her. Patience is the word. If you don't have it, I can lend you.
Delete@ Miss cute, Threaten keh! But how na. How can I threaten the owner of the blog. You obviously lack understanding. Because if you did you wouldn't have posted such comments. Madam Patience lender...Lol. Side eyes*
Delete@Awesome.. Relax. Your blood dey hot ooo. Should I pour cold water on your body? I am sorry for posting this late, biko no vex
DeleteSmh to some people.
ReplyDelete