When Love Dies

Episode 9

ANDREW

• The atmosphere was fair enough. It looked like it was going to pour down heavily.

I set out with my car. Then it started to shower…sudden and unexpected.

My meeting with Charlie wont be cancelled,so amendments should take place. I dialed a number.

‘Hello ,Becky?’ re-schedule my appointments …yes, the one with Mr. Tamuno…yes, expecially that one… Ok. Thank you Becky”

My day had not been so well. I couldnt help but wonder : can anything amazing happen today?
minutes later

A lady on the roadside. She looked like she needed help. Her car broke down and she is holding an umbrella :clueless.
I pulled over. ” Hello. You need help?
‘no mister. I’ll be fine. Dont worry about me.
‘Actually, I think you need a lot of it’ I said and came closer to her.

She had this aura or energy. Something like a spark and it was indeed beautiful.

‘You see, my bus broke down and I’ve been trying to fix it’ . She replied.

I rushed under her umbrella for safety from the rain. ‘let me take a look at that’

‘It just stopped’ she continued ‘and I dont kn…’

‘I’ll fix it. Ok? I cut in. She gave me an affirmative look then shrugged.

‘ok’
‘The caburator is heated, got a can of water? I asked .

‘yea sure. Here ,take it’
After a while I was done. ‘Now turn on the ignition’

• She entered the driver’s seat and the car started ,after two attempts.

Shutting the burnett, I came closer and she thanked me.

‘No problem’ I continued’ it just need an expert ‘

‘I’m really grateful. Mr….?’
‘Its Andrew Esele. Call me Andy’
‘Andy thank you so much, I dont know how am ever going to pay you back’

‘You can have coffee with me.’

She bit her lower lip. ‘ uhm , I will try but I’m not certain about that’

Just then I noticed her ring. ‘You are married?
‘yes..’ she replied
‘oh! So what happened? Where is your husband. He was not here to help you. Hmmm, I bet he is lucky to have a pretty lady like you as a wife’

‘Actually, I called him. He is in a meeting now’
She smiled.

She was too young to be in a marriage relationship.

The rain drenched me and my whole body was completely ,or almost saturated with the water. I stood there, hoping she would have a little pity on me. Perhaps, just feel guilty; perhaps, feel remoarseful; or rather still, perhaps feel something-anything.

”I was hoping. Maybe you could still take coffee with me…later?

She smiled once again.’ ok. Andy, maybe Later’

‘ give me your number’
‘uhm…0805468****’ she said, ‘all good?
I dialed the number without her knowledge.
‘Hello?

An assurance briskly touched my face. ‘ Just making sure’ I said ‘ I never got your name?
‘ Katherine, Egedege’
‘You’re a local here in Port-Harcourt? I asked.
‘Nope, I’m Ibo. Enugu to be prescise. My husband is Ikwere’ she replied.

‘Oh! ‘ I exclamed’ that explains it all.
She gave another beautiful smile.

”Ok Kate. See you…later’
She left me there in the rain and I wondered why she was driving a school bus ” hmmm, probably, she owned the school’.

---

DAMILOLA
At my home. In my office.

Kemi was giving me a prolonged stare. Not very long before she shot at me. ” Damilola? What exactly are you planning towards Gabriel?

I became puzzled. ‘ Huh? Nothing. Just…nothing’
‘What do you mean nothing?
‘Nothing!

‘Dami, you are 25. I’m probably younger than you or the same age. Gabriel is 30’ She shouted ‘ Look at me!

Oh my! Kemi is always like that. Always admonishing me, like she was my mother.
I managed to gaze at her.

‘Good.’ she continued ‘ I know you more than you do yourself. I am not dumb, that I cant notice when my friend is in love. Oh! Damiii, have you forgotten your ordeal with Richard.
*’ Damilola let me go’ that was Richard’s voice, the night he broke up with me. ‘Leave me, I have to get my life together’ he shouted at me ‘ let go off my shirt’

• I was virtually bleeding with tears, begging and crawling on the floor . ‘Please Richie, dont leave me. If you do I will die. ‘ I cried ‘ Remember, you said you love me’

Richard pulled his shirt from my hands before entering his car, looked at me and said ‘ Well . I lied’ *

Kemi jolted me back to the present. ‘ Miss Damilola Akehinde. Hello? I’m talking here’
‘I really dont know’
‘What’s that supposed to mean? She said.
‘I promised Kemi…’
‘Promised her what?

I looked like a fool, but I had to say it. ‘ That I would get her daddy back’

Kemi furrowed her eyebrow . ‘ so? How does Gabriel enter the picture?

I feigned non-challancy. Kemi became furious.
‘Answer me! ‘

‘Take it easy Kemi Joe, I’m still your boss’ I reminded her.

She didnt care. ‘and I’m still your best friend’

WHAT A BUMMER

‘To be honest, I dont know’
‘I hope its not what I’m thinking? Because….
I could not take it anymore. ‘ ofcourse not. Please let me breathe’ I shot back at her ‘ mom!! It is not what you think’

She stared at me liked she would pounce on me.