CAUGHT IN THE MOMENT
Written by: Onyeneka Abel
***EPISODE 13***
He rushed in as well when he realised I wasn’t ready to answer him..Joanne sat beside me..she was quiet for a while before she asked..
“Why didn’t you answer David?”
See this one o..I looked at her with one evil eye that she had to get up and find another place to sit
“Stupid girl”
I said in my mind..Madam Clara was who I really had in mind..I was beyond scared..when I pictured how I saw her again, my heart missed and beats heavily against my chest..
I couldn’t sit again, I had to stand up and pace round, Joanne joined me..I stopped to look at her
“You are not the only one worried nah”
She said..I had to laugh, hmm she is not that bad after all…so we ended up talking to keep our minds busy..
Hours later Jeremy came out..he stood for a while with his hands on his waist..we both rushed to him..I could see he was trying really hard to fight the tears..
“Jeremy its OK, its ok..you can tell us what happened..”
He opened his mouth..I didn’t know he could actually stammer until now
“M..My Mo..Mother has 3months to live..the. The chemotherapy failed”
My mind went bizarre..I couldn’t believe what I heard. Jeremy couldn’t hold it any longer, he burst out crying..I hugged him and tried to fight my own tears, I should be strong for him now..as I hugged him I saw David come out..Joanne rushed to him..he was equally broken.. He clenched his teeth in pain and anguish..he couldn’t even hold it in for long like Jeremy, he burst out crying like a baby. Joanne was really trying her best to console him..he was unconsolable.. I felt his pain, I remembered back then in Ibadan, when his father had health issues, I would steal out at night to see him because I knew he wouldn’t sleep till dawn..
“You are my peace”
He often tells me then..
“If anything happens to us never forget that..please”..
He would hold me tight and sleep in my arms..
I waved the memory off, as I watched him cry, I didn’t realise I was actually consoling Jeremy, I saw David raise his head to look at me in tears, I felt him call out to me..but I couldn’t go.. I just took Jeremy with me and we left to the house..
Although he had refused to go but I was able to persuade him..as he laid on my thigh at home
“when I was young, my mum allows me lie on her thigh till I sleep off” he said smiling, but then the smile disappeared just as quick as it came..I placed my hand on his forehead..he held it
”Bukky, please don’t ever leave me”
And here is where I made my biggest mistake.
****************
I was quiet for a long time, I have to think about this, no I can’t even promise such a thing, its heavy..
“Bukky, please promise me”
I didn’t mean to but I pecked his lips, maybe to buy more time..
“Jeremy, I can’t promise such..We must all die one day”
I protested a little although I knew another reason was David..
“Is that your reason?..or its David?”
His question was direct, it struck my heart like lightning, I held my breathe and tried to compose my speech first..
He got up to face me..
“So its true, you both have an history..right!”
He was becoming violent now..I bit my lips and breathe down..an idea came to my mind..
“Jeremy, with mummy’s condition, this is the best you can do? Are we dating?..and even if we are, this is what you would result to?..accuse me based on your instincts”
He became calm instantly..oh God thank you..
“I’m sorry, I..I didn’t know what came over me.”
“Come here”
I extended my arms and embraced him..
Thank you Jesus.. I just couldn’t stop thanking God..but for how long can I keep this up?..how long would I lie about my feelings?
**************
David on the other hand had disappeared, for days I didn’t see him..what happened?..To my greatest surprise Joanne still couldnt tell where he ran off too..
Madam Clara was my utmost priority.. She had been discharged to live her last life on earth with her family..The competition was put on hold for the space of 4months..nobody except Madam Clarise, myself, Joanne and both her sons knew the reason why..
I went to see her as soon as she was discharged.. She was extremely pale, she now tied a scarf to cover the hair breakage.. I couldn’t help but cry when I saw her lying helplessly on her bed..
She opened her eyes when she heard my voice.
“Bukky, Bukky my child come here”
She still smiled, how could she even smile? With this predicament? What is she even thinking?..
“Mum?”
Did I just call her mum?..yes! She is, she is my mum.. And I love her, so much..
I hurried to her and sat beside her..
“Come here, come on I can still carry you”
Really? Of course she can’t, but I didn’t want to make her feel infidel, so I laid beside her and relaxed a bit, I was extremely careful and made sure I didn’t put all of my weight.
“Where is David?”
A question that made me think far..where could he be..
“You are my peace..always remember that”
He always says that..
“I am here, where we will always be”
He said on the day of our wedding..
Oh my God..I know where David is..
****************
This was it, I would be facing David all alone, I had to prepare all my defenses..physical, mental, spiritual and most importantly emotional defenses..
I had my driver.. Oh wait! You didn’t know I have a car? Well I do now..big girl things nah..just that I am still learning to drive, so driving while traveling was out of the picture..
I was going to Ibadan.. Although I wasn’t ready to face my family yet..but I couldn’t resist the urge to pass through and at least see the compound.
I saw my dad coming out of the compound, my younger sister tailed him from behind..unfortu
nately I didn’t see my mum..God I have missed them so much but I still had this feeling that my father would still want me to marry David.. So I instructed my driver to drive to the church, where David would be..
And I was right, he was there, his car was parked outside..and for strange reasons, my heart began to beat fast the moment I stepped into the church..nawa o..I thought I had built my defenses already. I had not even seen him and my defenses were falling apart already..
“David?”
I called out when I saw him sitting at front, starring into the unforseen.
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