(HECTOR)
I am in
pain, in sorrow. How could I walk away?
If only
I had stayed a little, now I have gone astray.
Your
love and faith in me had kept me sane
But now,
all I can think of is go insane.
Why? Oh
why.
My heart
has turned dry
I will
never have another father to call mine
If I could
rewind the day back to that time
I will never
have sleepless nights
And you
would not have left this world a sad man.
*********
“What
are we going to do now?” Hope asked Hector in his room the next day.
He laid
flat on the bed. Grief concealed his face. “What do you mean?”
“Dad has
been taken to the mortuary…”
“Please
Hope, let’s not talk about dad. I can never forgive myself for deserting him
when he needed me the most.”
“I know
how you feel but you must forgive yourself.”
“How can
I forgive myself for what I did?”
“It was
not your fault,” she pleaded with him. “Please don’t take it upon yourself.”
“You are
saying this because you want me to feel good.”
Of
course not!” Hope said. “Dad understood, he did not blame you for walking away,
he knew you won't have forgiven him instantly but later. The sad thing is death took that moment. He was happy
to have told you about the past, his secret he kept away from his children.”
“How
could father had known I would have forgiven him?”
"Renee.” she said.
“Holy
shit!”
“What
happened?” she asked in a startled voice.
“He rose
up from his bed bluntly and grabbed one of his phones on his table. “I switched
off my phones since yesterday and up till now it had escaped my mind to call her. She
must have been so worried.”
“It’s
not your fault.” Hope said. “She will understand.”
He
dialed her number and it didn’t ring for long before she answered him.
“Hector
what happened?” she asked in a bothered tone. “I have been trying your number
since yesterday night. I have been so worried."
“I’m so
sorry.”
“I am in
front of your house, the gateman would not let me in and I don’t blame him
because it might be because of your mother.”
“Oh no”
he said sadly. “I am so sorry. Wait for me I am coming to meet you.”
“You
don’t need to,” she said. “I am very happy to hear from you.”
He
closed his eyes.
“Hello?”
“Renee
my father is dead.”
“What!!
Oh my God! I am so sorry, I..I am speechless..I don’t even know what to say.”
She began to cry.
“Please
Renee don’t, please wait for me.” He cut the call and rushed to his door and
turned his back to look at his sister.
“Why did
you call Renee’s name?” he asked.
Hope sighed.
“Dad knew Renee would persuade you to forgive him. Did she?”
“Yes and
I regret not calling him immediately.”
She
walked close to touch him on his shoulder. “Dad died a fulfilled man. He was
able to spill out his secret and burden to you and father knew you would have
forgiven him but you needed time.”
He
nodded solemnly. “Thank you sis, we will discuss later.” He opened the door and
left the room. Hector walked past his grieving mother in the sitting room to
open the entrance door.
“Where
do you think you are going to?” Mrs. Harriet asked him.
He
turned to her. “I want to go check something outside.”
She
sprung up on her feet. “Do you think I’m a dunce?”
“What do
you mean by that?”
“You
think I don’t know that your slut is outside the compound?”
Hector
maintained a calm composure. “How did you know?”
His
mother hissed at him. “I have locked all the entrance doors leading outside.”
He
widened his eyes and hiked to open the door but it was locked and the key was
not there.
“Why are
you doing this mother?” he asked her in a sad facial expression. “Father is no
more and you cannot grant his wish to allow me be with the one I love? Why do
you want to make me an unhappy man for the rest of my life?”
“When
you engaged Melissa, why didn’t you feel like this? You were happy.”
“I was
not!”
“Don’t
shout at mother,” Hillary said. “I do not understand why we should be talking
about Renee but be talking and preparing father’s burial. Our relatives will soon
arrive and we need to act has a family and not quarrel and argue.”
“You
said well for the first time in your life,” Hope said as she entered the living
room. “I hope you will do something meaningful in your life one day.”
Hillary
frowned. “I don’t like what you are saying.” she said. “I am only respecting
you because you are my elder sister.”
“You can
insult her if you want,” Mrs. Harriet said in an angry tone.
“Mother!" Hector said.
"You will not cause a rift between two sisters.”
“Oh shut
up your stinking mouth Hector.” she said and pointed a finger at her son. “I will
not be insulted because of Hope, a man who pretends to be a woman.”
“I have
had enough!” Hope uttered and turned to Hector. “First of all, why are you
still here? You should be outside.”
“Mom has
locked everywhere.” he replied her. “No one can go outside.”
Hope
sauntered to her mother and stretched out her palm. “Give me the keys to the
house, I want to leave.”
Mrs.
Harriet looked at her irritably.
“I will
not repeat myself again.”
“What
will you do?”
Her eyes
were inflamed with fire. “I will strip you off and collect the
key.”
Hillary shocked
at her sister words. “But…”
“Shut
up!” Hector interrupted her. “I will be delighted to assist Hope.”
Their
mother folded her hands and glared at her children. “So you two have planned and
ganged up against me? You have planned to kill me abi?”
“I don’t
have to kill you to get the key to the entrance door from you.” Hope replied her.
She
directed Hillary to check under one of the sofas in the living room. Hillary
bent down to search for the key. She saw it and gave the key to Hope.”
Hope
gave it to Hector. “You will never deprive my brother of seeing the woman he
loves. No one will be able to stop them from being together and I will fight
any enemy of progress that long for the destruction of their relationship.”
Mrs.
Harriet laughed. “You have no idea what Melissa has planned for Hector. He will
marry her.”
“What
has she planned?” Hector asked. His heartbeat raced faster.
“Ask her
yourself.”
Hope
asked her mother. “Even with dad demise you still want to go ahead with the
wedding?”
“Melissa
and I talked this morning and we are thinking of postponing the wedding.”
“How can
you postpone a wedding that can never happen?”
“It will
happen.” His mother said and sat down. “You better go and meet Renee, maybe
this is the last time you will see her.”
“Is that
a threat?” he asked.
“Call it
whatever you like, Melissa will be here in few days’ time because she travelled
and I know you don’t care to call her about her whereabouts.”
He
motioned towards his mother in a fierce attitude and pointed at her. “If
anything happens to Renee considered yourself…”
“Close
your mouth!” she barked at him. “What do you think I will do to her? Harm her?
Never! I am not a bad person and a killer. I will never do anything to hurt
Renee but there will be a time the both of you will never see each other again. I
want the burial over before taking action. You can get out of my sight and go
see your dirty scrap.”
Hector
shook his head and pressed his lips together. “I have nothing to say to you for
now but if anything happens to Renee I will commit murder!”
Mrs.
Harriet only stared at her son with her perky eyes. He unlocked the door and
went outside.
“You
need to ask God for forgiveness,” Hope said to her mother and walked away.
Hillary
sat near her mom. “I want you to promise me that whatever you and Melissa are
planning to do, there will be no blood shed.”
“I promise
you that nothing bad will happen to Renee and what we are planning is for them
to separate.”
She sighed.
“Better.”
“There
is something I want you to do for me after the funeral of your father and I
know you are capable of doing it.”
“What is
it?”
“When
that time comes, I will let you know.”
******
Hector
warned the James the gateman never to repeat what he did by telling his mother Renee was
around. He explained that his mom threatened to sack him whenever Renee entered
their house. Hector understood and he opened the gate. He sighted Renee resting
her back on the wall and still crying, she saw Hector and ran to hug him.
“You
need to stop crying,” he said and wiped her tears with his hand. Her bodyguard
Sammy greeted Hector.
She
sniffed her nose. “I can’t help myself,” she said. “Your father was a good man
and I will never forget him.
“Me
too.”
He
explained the reason for coming out late to see her.
“She
gave a weak smile. “I understand and you should not have explained.”
“How is
your mother?” he asked.
“She is
fine and I will tell her about what happened. She would have loved to pay her
condolence but you know…”
“Renee I
understand,” he said. “I will not be around for some time because of the
funeral arrangements. I do not know the details yet but my family and I will bury him in
his village.”
She
swallowed and nodded. “I can’t follow you and it saddens my heart but I and my
mother will continue to pray for you and your family.”
“The
money I told you about will be sent to your account first thing tomorrow. Your
mother should start work too and she should not worry because of the situation.
I will be fine.”
“Please
if you need my assistance in anything, don’t hesitate to let me know, please.”
“I don’t
want my mother to insult you.”
“I am
ready to take your mother’s insult because of you but give her time, she will
get tired.”
Hector
sighed. “My mother will never get tired unless I get married to Melissa.”
“Will you?”
He
glanced at her surprised. “Never! Do not ever believe I will be with any woman
apart from you. I admit I have been with many women in the past but this is
present, my future and you are the only one that matters to me. I will never
leave and betray you.”
Renee
smiled and hugged him again. Hector farsighted some cars driving in convoy down his
street.
“I have
to go inside and I believe those cars coming are heading to my house. I will
call you later.”
“No
problem.” They kissed deeply.
“I will
miss you.” he said.
“I will
miss you too.”
Hector informed the bodyguard to always protect Renee and nothing bad must happen to her. He
went inside.
*********
A week
later, Hector and his family made arrangements for the funeral and they planned to travel to the village after some days. Hector and Renee spoke on the
phone every day and whenever he was less busy he would send her “I love you and
I miss you” text messages. Hope left her home to stay with her family and her
husband came every day to check up on her. Hillary was filled with jealousy because of that.
Melissa
arrived at the Henshaw’s mansion to pay her condolence to the family. She cried
with Mrs. Harriet and hugged Hillary. When she saw Hope she ignored her.
Melissa walked to Hector’s room and knocked on his door.
“Come
in.” Hector said. He thought it was one of his sisters.
His
facial expression changed radically when he saw her. He sat down on his sofa
drinking a glass of vodka. He did not say anything to her.
Melissa
stood in front of him. “I understand that you are still upset,” she said. “I am
sorry for the loss of your father.”
He
looked into her eyes. “Thank you.”
“The
wedding has been postponed and I have contacted most of the people I invited. They understood and they are sorry about what happened to your dad.”
“You are
wasting your time about this wedding.”
“I am
not wasting my time,” she said. “We will have a white wedding with family and
close friends in two months’ time.
He
laughed at her and shook his head. “Two months?”
“I want
you to mourn your father.”
“You
don’t have the right to give me the period of time to mourn my father. What if I decide to
mourn him for forever?”
“That
means you will neither have me or Renee.”
Hector
frowned. “Don’t you ever mention her name with your mouth!”
“And
what will you do?” she asked angrily. “Does she know the kind of person she is
getting herself with? You are a chronic womanizer and a notorious cheat. You
sleep around like a dog.”
“Enough!”
he shouted and rose. “I will not allow you disrespect me in my own house and I
never slept like a dog. I admit I was a cheat but I have never cheated on Renee and I feel so
good about it.”
“Liar!”
“It’s
the truth!” he uttered. “You can go to anywhere I club, hang out and ask when
last they saw me.”
“You can
never change.”
“Love
and Renee changed me. My past
was filled with nothing but sadness but now, I am so happy to have Renee in my
life.”
Melissa was
breathing profusely. “You made me a laughing stock when you asked for an open
relationship.”
“But you
agreed to it.”
“Because
I was scared and insecure but I am strong now and you won’t be able to break
me. We will get married and no one will stop us.”
“Get out
from my room.” he said. “You have overstayed and your presence disgusts me.”
She
raised her hand to slap him but Hector quickly held it. “Next time you
try this nonsense, you will regret your existence on earth.” He dropped her
hand and walked to his door to open it. “Goodbye Melissa.
Melissa
tightened her face. She was hurt and downgraded. “Go to hell.”
“I
prefer hell to you.”
********
“I don’t
think I will be able to follow you to the village,” Peter said to his wife in his office.
She briefly went to see him. “I have a case to defend in the court that day.
“That
won’t be a problem.”
“I will
travel to the village after the case.”
Hope
smiled faintly. “Okay.” Her facial expression was gloomy.
“How
have you been coping with your mother?”
“She’s a
pain in the ass I swear.”
“I know
but have you discussed with her?”
“I will
do that after the funeral.”
“And
Hector?”
“He
wants the funeral over before he can do something to stop our mother and
Melissa. That woman did not greet me when she saw me.”
“Are you
serious?” he asked surprised.
“Yes.”
“And did
you report your mother to her?”
“I only
told Hector,” she said. “My mother will only say I am lying but still insult me.
I am tired of her rants, I just want everything to be over and come home to
you.”
“You
will dear.”
*******
Renee
sat down with some of neighbors outside in the evening receiving fresh air and
waiting for her mother to come back from work. She had gone for a job interview with an
oil company in the morning. A woman dressed neatly and rich walked into their
compound and visualized everyone before she walked up to Renee.
“I will
like to talk to you.” the young woman said.
“And you
are?”
She
smiled. “Very soon I am going to be Mrs. Melissa Henshaw.”
Renee
widened her eyes in fear.
“Don’t
be frightened, I am not here to hurt you.”
She
stood up. “What do you want?”
“You are
bold enough to ask me what I want.” she smiled arrogantly. Let’s us move away
from your neighbor’s."
They
walked away from there and stood directly opposite her apartment.
“Will
you not invite me in?” Melissa asked.
“No.”
“Clever
girl.”
“Why are
you here?”
“Relax
Renee.” she said and smiled. “Do you know you are wasting your precious time
with Hector?”
“What?”
“I want
you to leave Hector alone for me.”
“That is
not impossible.”
“It will
be possible if you don’t want to get hurt.”
“Hurt?”
Renee asked confused. “What do you mean?”
“I mean
it is better for you to walk away from his life now. Hector will break your
heart and that is what he always does.”
“Hector
is a good man.”
Melissa
laughed noticeably and Renee’s nosy neighbors viewed their way. “Don’t be
deceived.”
“He
loves me.”
“He does
not! Hector knows how to manipulate people and he has done that to you.”
“He will
never do such a thing to me and there is nothing you will say that will
make me believe you.”
“Don’t say
I did not warn you about this,” Melissa said. “Hector and I will get married.”
“But you
will never be happy because he will not show you love.”
Melissa
stared at her in an unreadable face. “Is that what Hector told you?” she asked
in a serious tone. “Don’t be a fool.”
“Please
leave.”
She gave
a one sided smile. “I will leave the pothole you live in. Hector is mine and remember
after he comes back from the burial, the wedding plans will continue.” She
turned and walked away.
Renee
appeared bold and brave but deep down in her heart she was scared to the bone.
She
refused to tell her mother anything about Melissa, she did not want to give her
mother an early heart attack. She was going to tell Hector about it the next day."
********
“What!”
Hector exclaimed in shock. “Where was your incompetent bodyguard?”
“It is
not his fault, I gave him a day off.”
“How
could you?”
“Don’t panic
please, she only told me you were deceiving me.”
“I am
not deceiving you Renee,” Hector said and sighed over the phone. “I love you
very much.”
“And I love
you very much.
"I will talk to Melissa.”
“Okay.”
“How did
your interview go?” he asked.
“Well,
they will surely get back to me later but I don’t know when.”
“What is
the name of the company?”
“I will
not tell you until I get the job.”
He chuckled.
“You will get the job my love.”
“When
are you coming back from the village?”
“Next
week my love.”
“I
really miss you.”
“I miss
you too, I will see you when I get back. Talk to you later okay?”
“Okay
love.” Hector hanged up and called Weyinmi immediately.
“What am
I paying you for?” he asked with anger in his voice.
“I don’t
understand chairman.”
“Don’t chairman
me please,” he said. “Melissa went to see Renee yesterday."
“I know
about that and I didn’t think it was a problem because she went there alone.”
“Mr. I too
know, that is an unwise talk. I don’t want her close to Renee again.”
“I am
sorry, it will not happen again.”
“It
should not! I also want to thank you for calling me all the time.”
“I
really wanted to come to the village with you but Renee safety is important.”
“I know
bro, Hector said. “Michael and Felix are here with me in the village. Take care.”
“See you
soon.”
********
Five days later, after
waiting patiently for some days from the company she had an interview, an
unknown number called her in the evening at 5:45pm at home.
“Hello.”
Renee said after answering her phone.
“Is this
Renee Kemi Kayode?”
“Yes.” she
replied. “Who am I speaking with?”
“This is
doctor Nelson of living faith hospital.”
She froze.
“I don’t understand you, why are you calling me?”
“Your
attention is needed at the hospital,” he said. “Your mother was shot and she
was brought here by a good Samaritan.”
Renee
died and resurrected. Her phone slipped from her hand as she panicked. She
fell to the floor.
Renee screamed.
“NO!!!!!!”
To be
continued….on Sunday by 10am. pls oo
Nawa o for ije love
ReplyDeleteHow about the illegitimate child
Interesting..
ReplyDeleteAm sure Melissa is at work....i just pray nothing happens to Renee's mum...
Oh no! This Melissa is the devil herself.
ReplyDeletemy bestie in this post is melissa shes got action...... very intruging
ReplyDeleteHmmmm, hope everything turns out fine. Wish them luck.
ReplyDeletepamscrib.blogspot.com
Hmmmmm Carina, this your stories are taking longer days to come. Today is still Thursday just so you know. Please shift it forward a little. Nice episode though.
ReplyDeleteSay wah!!? Mrs kayode... Shot!? Plz sunday is frigging too far... haba na
ReplyDeleteU want sm1 to die of suspence ni
Ewww...please oh they should allow the woman to live and see her daughter get married
ReplyDeleteNma's Blog
Heyy...Sunday is too far ooooo!!!!!! OK pls make it very very very long on Sunday..
ReplyDeleteGood job,carina...this story done turn to Indian movie....
ReplyDelete@Gloria.... hahahaha.. e go soon finish
ReplyDelete