CAUGHT IN THE MOMENT
Written by Onyeneka Abel
***EPISODE 17***
Vodka stood up to face me, with that smile again..oh God she hit me so hard..she didn’t even realise what she has done..
“Vodka if you would excuse me”
She made a gesture pecked Madam Clara before she followed me out..
“Vodka you have no idea..you are so ignorant..how could you…
She didn’t even let me finish
”Bukky just accept the fact that you’re out of the competition ”
“What?”
No she didn’t just say that..
“Yeah, Madam Clara said that herself judging for the fact that Jeremy has been hospitalize because he fought with his brother over you”
“What? Hospitalized?”
What is this girl saying. I was still trying to re-think if she was bluffing. I am out of the competition, Jeremy was hospitalized? How?..how could she?.and she couldn’t tell Madam Clara was sick?..
“Bukky..
I didn’t need to hear more..I landed a slap on her face that her wig fell off..she staggered back and almost fell..
”If anything happens to Madam Clara..I will hunt you..you bastard”
She charged back at me, but then that saviour showed up..Jeremy.
David came next, I left them both with her when I explained all she did..if they tear her apart, that wasn’t my headache
“Mum?!..Madam Clara?!”
She was on the floor, oh my God she wasn’t breathing..I meant to call Jeremy but David was the first that came to my mind..
“Daviddddd!!!”
They both rushed in
“Mum??..Mum??”
They rushed to her..
“No no no”
It was David now, lamenting in pain
Jeremy picked her up and turned to me.
“Get my car keys quickly”
Unfortunately Vodka was still outside, trying to peep and see what was going on when David charged at her and grabbed her by her neck, held her against the wall with that muscular force..his eyes was filled with rage
“If anything happens to my mother, you are dead..you hear me?..dead!!”
I rushed to him, at this rate he could kill this girl
“David, David..let her go, we have to go”
I held his hand..he let her go as soon as my hands touch him..
Vodka coughed repeatedly and gasped for air..I could see fear in her eyes..I think she now realised the gravity of what she really did..
I didn’t know who to be with, they were both restless..but it had to be Jeremy since David was out of reach..he starred at me as I comforted Jeremy.. I felt the longing in his soul..I felt like running to him, but all I could do was steal glances ..and pray so hard that Madam Clara didn’t really say that I was out of the competition.. That would break me..that would end my career..
********************
“David?”
I approached David when Jeremy was already asleep, safe on a couch in the hospital..David was still wide awake, he couldn’t sleep, neither could I..I kept stealing glances to see if he would eventually fall asleep but he didn’t..so I muster the courage and walked up to him..
“Sit with me, please”
I stood starring at him for a while, should I really sit with him?..Though I wanted to sit with him, so I did..
“David its gonna be okay”
He drew me close, my breathe went unstable..he gently laid on my thigh..I waited for another five minutes before I caressed his hair and made him sleep..
I rested my head backwards and tried hard to sleep to but I couldn’t get that thought of my mind..Madam Clara wants me out?..God it shouldn’t be true
“Bukky?”
Although I didn’t mean to let Jeremy find us like that but he did..
“So you came to David behind my back?”
He raged further
“Jeremy when will you ever behave mature?”
David fired back
“Why can’t you accept the fact that she can never be yours”
Jeremy grabbed David by his neck immediately and made him stand up.
“You bastard”
..he said through is clenched teeth”
No this wasn’t happening.. Not now for Christ sake
“David?! Jeremy?! Stop this?!”
I tried to fight my way in and push Jeremy aside..but Jeremy was quick to try and slap David..just that he slapped me instead..
“Oh my God, Bukky am sorry”
He rushed to me
“Bukky are you OK?”
David tried to reach me too
“Back off!”
Jeremy barked at him
“Would you both stop this! What is wrong with both of you?! With mummy’s present situation you both can still fight? Why are you behaving like kids?!”
I touched my lips and discovered I was bleeding where Jeremy had slapped me
“Bukky am sorry”
He tried to touch me
“Don’t touch me”
I was getting angry now
“Bukky…”
David tried to reach me as well
“You too..neither of you!!”
What kind of situation is this oluwa..
Fortunately the doctor came out..we all rushed to him
“I thought I warned that on no occasion must she be subjected to any form of emotional trauma?”
The doctor asked..no one could answer him..that was not what we wanted to hear..
“She will be fine, just let her rest”
I was the first to rush in to see her. I had gotten to the door before I remembered what Vodka had said..well there is only one way to confirm..I gently counted my steps and sat with her. She was still asleep but I couldn’t conserve my curiosity so I touched her a little..
“Bukky, what are you still doing here, please leave”
******************
Oh God maybe I didnt hear well..
“Mum…
She didn’t even let me finish
“Please go..you want to ruin my sons?..go!”
I had to get up..hot tears dropped from my eyes
“Mum you mean I should leave the fashion house?”
It took her another minute to answer..a tear dropped from her eyes.. As much as it pained her, she nodded to it
“Yes”
I gasped, but I held my mouth with my hands..I couldn’t fight the tears..what? Was this the end of the road for me? My career? Everything? So Vodka won afterall?
I gently walked out.
“Bukky! Bukky!! Bukky!!!”
I didn’t just respond to both David and Jeremy as they called after me..I drove to the house and entered the flat..it took me another one full hour to get myself together and began to park my stuffs..where do I go now? Foolish me, I didn’t even get an apartment for myself all this while..or do I go back to Ibadan..maybe just for a week or two..then I would come back to Lagos and try and look for another fashion house..if I can’t find any I might just go into any business that I can handle..I broke down in tears again..the though alone scared me..
Well, its not like I got any choice left.
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