CHEATED : EPISODE 1 – 20
Episode 2
General POV
“Yes, tell him to come in please.” Mr. Richard, the M. D of Johnson and Co. Companies said to his receptionist over the phone.
“Good day S…..” Kingsley was about greeting but stopped on seeing traces of resemblance on the M.D face, like he knows him from somewhere.
“Wait….Ri…Richard? Richard, is that you?” He asked as he left his mouth agap in shock.
Richard removed his glasses to be sure of who he was seeing.
“Young man, are you not Kingsley Nwankwo?”
“Richard! It’s really you!!” Kingsley said happily as he made attempt to hug his classmate but was stopped.
“Kingsley what are you doing here?”
“I came to look for a job and I’m happy you’re the one in charge so I’d get that easily here. I’m so happy God….”
“Says who?” Richard chipped in.
“Sorry?”
“Who lied to you that you’d get a job easily here?” He asked as Kingsley stared shocked and confused.
“I…I don’t understand Richard.”
“What don’t you understand? Was your God not able to settle you? Why you seeking help from the riff raff of those days, of whom you said nemesis would catch up with? Where’s the God you were keeping yourself and fasting every now and then for? Or He didn’t answer you?” He asked with a mocking smirk on his lips.
“Richard…..I….I…I don’t…. understand what you’re trying to incinuate. You mean you won’t help me, right?” He asked with trembling lips as Richard laughed mockingly.
“Oh c’mon! Don’t put words into my mouth. Okay let’s look at things critically here: you shunned all ev’l, kept away from ladies and practically from enjoying yourself, believing you’d receive a reward, right? And you got NOTHING, absolutely NOTHING. Oh my God!” He said and gave a wild laugh.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to mock you.” He said in between laughs as Kingsley did nothing but stare.
“Okay okay so now me, I enjoyed my life, both in secondary and tertiary institution and still have a good job and family. So while the SU of our secondary school is suffering and obviously poor like a church rat, we who enjoyed ourselves then are still enjoying till now. You see I told you then Kingsley, there was no need suffering yourself! But what did you say? ‘God will reward and settle me at the appointed time.’ Or wait, your time has come yet??” He said as he laughed again.
“You know what Kingsley, I want to see your God do wonders in your life without my help. I mean, you don’t expect an ungodly soul to help a godly one, do you?” He said sternly, as every trace of laughter or smiles disappeared.
“But Richard…..” Kingsley was about to say but was rudely interrupted.
“In simple terms Mr. Kingsley Nwankwo, there is no space for you here. You may leave my office before I call the security.” He said as he focused his eyes back on his laptop.
“Are you still here? Are you trying to dare me to do my worst?” Richard thundered, with Kingsley leaving his office in shame.
“God you’re cheating me. I’m being cheated! How can someone who never gave you an iota of respect be this blessed? Doesn’t it pay to serve you any longer?” Were all on Kingsley’s mind as he recklessly found his way to his seemingly empty self-contain apartment.
“This is to remind you of….. mtcheeewww” he read a note placed at his door and hissed, knowing it was the Landlord that has placed it there.
“My rent is due.” He murmured to himself as he sat down and drank the bottle of water he left beside his bed before heading out.
“Another disappointing day.” He whispered with a sigh as he logged in with the smartphone his aunt bought for him, only to see the most disheartening messages of his life.
? Richard: Guys, today was very interesting like…. y’all can’t believe what happened.
? John: Guy, wetin happen?
? Richard: I saw Kingsley today o.
? Stella: Really?
? Antonia: Are you being serious?
? Rebecca: Really? Where?
? Richard: Lol…..see babes, I know say K na una crush back then in school but now ehn, I sure say una go deny am.
? Stella: Haba Richard. Why will you speak so ill of him.
? Richard: I’m saying the truth nw, he’s poorer than a church rat o.
? Rebecca: Uncle Richard what kind of insult is this? How will you tag him that way? Where’s the mutual respect you should have for your fellow guy?
? Isreal: Rebecca chill na. I just came online and read you guys’ messages. Richard how far na, wetin Kingsley do you? Since sec. school you no like this dude. You no even care say im fi dey read your messages. Okay nw, wetin you see o.
? Richard: Isreal no be say I no like am or something, e dey too religious ni. I see am for my office o, he dey look like pesin wey dem deliver from the valley of poverty. He com dey beg me say make I give am job for my papa company wey I dey run.
? Isreal: So wetin happen? You give am?
? Richard: Give who? Make im God give am the job na.
? Racheal: Haba Richard!
? Antonia: Richard it’s not fair. That’s not nice nw
? John: Guy you no do well na. Me sef no too like the guy buh to show say nothing comot for all the holy holy im dey do back in school, you suppose employ am na. Even as im dey work, e go shame am say im no dey better than the guy im dey preach to then. Haba guy, u no reason am well o.
? Richard: Guy leave that thing. Make im God go provide for am.
As Kingsley couldn’t take it anymore, he logged out and just stared at the ceiling.
“God, why me? I proudly taught your word back in school, led people to Christ and all, so why me? How come Richard is doing well while I wallow in the pit of struggles and poverty? What have I done wrong to deserve this?” Kingsley thought deeply as he couldn’t help the tears that managed to escape his tightly shut eyes.
“There’s no need living. Let me just end it all, at least I’d see God and his angels before my final judgement.” He thought in his heart as he was about stepping out to pay his rent bills when his phone rang.
On checking his caller ID, he discovered it was one of his best friends, Emmanuel.
He heaved a sigh before picking the call.
? Hello
? Hello K, wassup? I saw some messages on our school’s WhatsApp group chat about you. Can you come online, please?
? (Sighs) Guy I no wan come online.
? Guy abeg….I wan video call you ni
? Okay sha, gimme ten minutes, I wan go settle one bill, I dey come.
CHEATED : EPISODE 1 – 20
“Guy what’s up with you? Why didn’t you tell us you were going through all these?” Emmanuel asked in a group video call on WhatsApp with Kingsley.
“Guy you no do well o. Shey you must wait until you’re disgraced publicly like you were on our school group chat before you talk to us, your friends? Haba guy, you should’ve known better!” Chima said.
“That’s not even what’s paining me right now. Now the painful and most humiliating part of it all is that the teachers who had placed high hopes and strong faith in you would be very disappointed by the time the news gets to them. You know you were everyone’s favorite then.” Emma said.
“Wait…..who would tell our Alma Mata?” Kingsley asked, slightly scared.
“You’re talking like you don’t know our classmates, Kingsley. Of course Isreal is there to share the news.” Chima said as Kingsley wore an expressionless face.
“See guys, let’s leave that and talk about the way forward. At least, let’s bring our friend out of this mess.” Emma said and thought for a while.
“I think my dad can help in securing a good job for you, based on the fact that you’re a first class holder. I’ll talk to him and inform you all of the outcome of the discussion- by God’s grace, it should be a positive one.” Emma said as Kingsley heaved a sigh, showing no sign of hope concerning what his best friend had just said.
“Guy c’mon, cheer up. Things will be fine, you know. I mean, we all know Emma’s dad is in charge of offering federal jobs to people whether they merit it or not; yours would be an easy pizzy since you’re coming directly from his son.” Chima said as Emma smirked.
“Guy get over this countenance and let’s celebrate already. Cheers to your new job man.” Emma said as a smile managed to escape out of Kingsley’s lips.
“It’ll all be good nigga. I still don’t understand why you couldn’t confide in us and tell us this earlier. I mean, we do check up on you and you tell us you’re fine and doing well, not knowing you were just pretending.” Chima said.
“I’m sorry guys, I just hadn’t wanted to disturb y’all with my problems…”
“Oh come off it mehn….if you don’t disturb us with what’s bothering you, who else would you disturb? I mean, what exactly are friends for, if not to help one another put off certain critical situation as this?” Chima said as Kingsley let out a sincere smile, happy he had good guys as friends.
“Okay, I have to go now before my wife starts questioning me and demanding why I should stay on phone this long.” Chima said as the trio chuckled.
“Alright bro, we release you.” Emma said
“Wait o, when did he marry?” K asked
“Two weeks back K. We planned telling you when we’d come visiting.”
“Omo, happy married life to you o guy.” K said in sincere happiness.
“Thanks o. Were expecting your invite to us to come eat rice too o.” Chima said as Kingsley chuckled. They talked a little while before Chima hung up.
“Bros, to tell you the truth, I admire you a whole lot. Please don’t give up on your God just because it feels like we’re way ahead of you. I wish I could be like you- all prayerful and all, but I guess I wasn’t cut out that way. I’ll talk to my dad and be sure to expect something positive from me.” Emma said as K smiled.
“Thanks manny. I can hear your wife and child already, so I guess you’ve got to go now.” Kingsley teased.
“Guy abeg, no tease me. I never marry.”
“Wetin you dey wait for na. You get the money, the looks and all. I remember then, babes dey fall for you like anything; so wetin you dey wait for?”
“I dey wait for the right babe na. You no say na marriage, and na life-long something. No be any girl you go pick for this kin matter.”
“Okay o. So no hope at all.”
“Ehmmmm…..I geh one for mind sha; her name na Rose.”
“Confirm! I trust you na.” Kingsley said as they both had a good laugh.
After a little while, Emma said his goodbyes too and Kingsley was left alone in his empty world.
“God, my friends are joining the married geng and…..what am I saying sef? If God provides a wife now, how will I take care of her?” He he hissed at his thoughts as he looked up to the ceiling like it was a television.
“All will be well” he thought conclusively as he hummed himself to sleep with a song.
CHEATED : EPISODE 1 – 20
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