THE MIRACLE I NEED : Episode 31 – 40
EPISODE 33
“I’m so sorry I didn’t call, I didn’t want to bother you since you were at work. I’m actually driving them to the house right now. We stopped to buy food since I’m not sure you have food at home.” Ella explained as she drove while leaving the call on loudspeaker.
“Thank you so much, like I’m indebted to you for this.” Kathleen said, her tone filled with gratitude as she stood by the passage way that led to her office.
“Is that my daughter Ngozika?” Her mother asked when she heard Kathleen’s voice, making Kathleen roll her eyes.
“Mummy how was your journey? Once I close from work I will come home immediately….” Kathleen said making her mother snort.
“As if you have anywhere else to go to before. Shey assuming you were married your husband would have been the one picking me from the park like my mates?” Her mother dryly asked making Ella and Isioma giggle while Kathleen closed her eyes in embarassment.
“Mummy sef!” Isioma exclaimed.
“But it’s true na. Am I lying? Bia Ella, are you married? Don’t be like your friend o. Everything she is chasing money and pursuing all the suitable men from her life.” Kathleen’s mother said making Kathleen decide she had heard enough.
“I have to get back to work. See you later. Ella thank you, and please don’t mind whatever she says.” Kathleen rushed to say before hanging up.
“See what I was telling you? That is all she does! Always working like it’s her father that owns the company! What did I do to this girl? Why doesn’t she want to get married like all her mates?” Kathleen’s mother asked making Ella stifle the urge to laugh. The woman was a real life drama queen, and she could guess the next couple of days wouldn’t be very easy on Kathleen.
“Mummy abeg don’t disturb her with all this marriage talk when you see her. That is not why we came to Lagos.” Isioma said feeling slightly embarassed by her mother’s attitude.
“Keep quiet! I’m using one stone to kill two birds. I came for your sake and also to talk some sense into your sister. She thinks she can hide from me forever, abi? Whenever I call it’s either she ignores it or hangs up before I say my mind. Well, let me see how she will do that now that I’m here. She must show me her boyfriend before I will return to Delta, if not I will go around Lagos and look for a man for her.” Kathleen’s mother promised making Ella giggle.
“But she has a boyfriend already.” Ella said, remembering what Kathleen had said about being in a relationship.
“A boyfriend? Since when?” The woman asked excitedly.
“I don’t know, but she mentioned him to me on Saturday, so I guess she must be in a relationship.” Ella said with a shrug, not sure it was her place to tell Kathleen’s mother that.
“I don’t trust that girl. I must see him before I leave Lagos.” Kathleen’s mother promised, as Ella’s phone started ringing.
THE MIRACLE I NEED : Episode 31 – 40
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By the time Eric stepped out of the bathroom wearing a freshly washed gray polo shirt, Kimberly had managed to compose herself and her emotions. He had noticed she had kept hanging up a call while he was in the bathroom and he couldn’t help but wonder who was calling. Did she perhaps have a boyfriend? “How are you feeling now?” Eric asked with a blank expression on his face.
“If you’re asking because you’re worried I might ruin your shirt again, don’t worry, I won’t.” Kimberly said with a small smile.
“That’s not why I’m asking, so tell me. How do you really feel now?” Eric asked as he sat on the only available chair in the room, leaving her alone on the bed.
“I’m okay. I just… you know.” She shrugged when she didn’t know what to say, “Things like these often happen, right?” She asked hoping he would just agree with her and let it slide.
“I’m not sure. I don’t just start crying out of the blues… so I’m not sure I totally understand what you’re saying. What’s up with you Kim? Is there something bothering you that I should know about?” Eric asked maintaining his blank expression. The moment she had told him she was in front of the building, he had quickly deduced that the person harrasing her was Ali, but then he had reasoned that it would be very humiliating for her if he was to meet her in that situation, so he had stepped out of the house but had decided to watch them from the side instead, just in case Ali became violent or laid a finger on her. He had deliberately waited until Ali had walked away before coming out. He was going to have to have a talk with Ali and get rid of whatever Ali possibly had against her.
Kimberly looked away from him, and took in a deep breath. He was bound to find out about her immoral lifestyle sooner or later since situations like this might come up again and they might run into one or two guys she had had a fling with. It was best to have him prepare his mind for days like that if they were really going to be doing this.
Eric simply watched her without saying anything. If there was one thing he had been blessed with as he came into the world, it was patience. He was probably the most patient man he knew, and he was going to wait until she told him whatever it was he needed to know about her.
THE MIRACLE I NEED : Episode 31 – 40
After what seemed like an eternity, Kimberly sighed as she raised her head to look into his face, “If you decide not to go on with the arrangement after now, I’ll totally understand.” Kimberly said, but Eric’s expression still did not change.
“Well, I told you my father wanted me to get married because… well, because I tend to…” She paused as she tried to find the right word to describe herself. It wasn’t everyday a lady like herself was faced with the difficult task of telling a man she was planning on getting married to that she was the queen of promiscuity.
“I’m listening. Go on.” Eric urged her on, wanting to see how she would say it. He had to admit he felt sorry for her in a way but he was also glad to see that she was so embarassed to say it. That had to mean it wasn’t something she was proud of, and if that was the case, then there was hope that he could help her change.
“As I already told you, I don’t believe in love or relationships, so I tend to you know, hook up with different guys and…”
“Hook up?” Eric asked, interrupting her.
“Yeah. Hook up” Kimberly said with a sigh.
“By hook up I suppose you mean you have sex with random guys?” Eric asked bluntly, making her wince.
“I wouldn’t exactly put it that way, but yeah. I ran into one of them earlier, so I figured if we are going to be doing this I feel you should know we might eventually run into one or more so….” Kimberly let the remaining words trail off.
“I don’t suppose you know the number of guys you’ve been with? How often do you run into them though?” Eric asked without any iota of judgement or mockery in his tone.
“Not often.” Kimberly said looking at her hand like a kid being chastised. She sighed when her phone started ringing again, and rejected the call without bothering to see who it was, assuming it was Prisca calling again.
“One of your pets?” Eric asked pointing at the phone.
“No. It’s just Prisca.” Kimberly said as she put her phone on airplane mode, “And I don’t have pets.” She added.
THE MIRACLE I NEED : Episode 31 – 40
Eric chose to ignore the later part of her response and focused on the former, “Why are you ignoring her call? You both had a fight?”
“No. I’m just not in the mood to talk to her. How long have you been living here?” Kimberly asked, making it clear she wanted to change the subject.
“Oh! I’m yet to offer you anything!” Eric said as he abruptly stood up.
“You offered me your shoulder.” Kimberly pointed out.
“Well, that doesn’t count. What can I get you?” Eric asked, standing up to pick his wallet.
“I thought you didn’t have airtime? Where are you going to get the money to offer me anything I want?” Kimberly asked, making Eric raise a brow.
“Last time I checked you don’t buy mineral with airtime, or do you?” Eric asked dryly making Kimberly roll her eyes. He was glad to see she was back to her ‘rolling eye’ self.
“So? And don’t even think of asking for anything above five hundred naira.” Eric warned making Kimberly snort with disbelief.
“You’re so cheap.” She murmured.
“Yeah, but definitely not as cheap as the guys you hooked up with.” Eric retorted making Kimberly throw the only pillow on the bed at him.
“That was uncalled for.” Kimberly hissed at him making him chuckle.
“Loosen up. It’s not like I called you cheap, so why are you so protective of them?” Eric asked as he picked up the pillow from the ground and dropped it on her lap.
“Do you joke over everything?” Kimberly asked with a frown. She couldn’t understand how he could laugh over something that embarassed her like that.
He wasn’t smiling anymore, “Tell me something, are you ashamed about your hook ups? If yes, why do you still do it?” Eric asked as he sat down on the bed beside her.
“Let’s not talk about that.” Kimberly said, looking away from him self-consciously.
“We will talk about it eventually. But I won’t rush you.” Eric assured her before standing up.
“So hollandia yoghurt or juice, which do you prefer?” Eric asked wiggling his brow playfully in a way that made Kimberly giggle. Who would have thought he had such a playful side to him?
“Save your money, I’m okay.”
“But it’s your first time here…”
“And hopefully my last too. You’ll move in with me after we get married, so I won’t have to come here again.” Kimberly quickly added.
“I see. So what do you suggest we do since you don’t want to talk about yourself?” Eric asked as he returned his wallet. At least no one would say he didn’t try to offer her anything. He was partially glad that she had been considerate enough to turn down his offer since the money he would have used was all he had left on him for feeding. Getting a job wasn’t as easy as he had thought it would be, since most companies offered so little in terms of salary yet expected so much work to be done.
“You could talk about yourself or we could see a movie on Netflix or we could go out. Anything.” Kimberly suggested with a shrug.
“Let’s see a movie. What’s your favorite genre?” Eric asked curiously.
“Drama, Romantic comedy, Thriller, Horror, but I prefer K-dramas.” Kimberly said making Eric roll his eyes.
“My mom and sister are fans of K-drama too.”
“Awww! I love them already.” Kimberly said excitedly.
“Too bad it’s an arranged marriage then.” Eric said dramatically making Kimberly give him a weird look.
“I hope you know we are streaming the movie from your phone? I don’t have enough data for that.” Eric said making Kimberly giggle again.
“For someone as proud as you, I’m surprised you don’t feel ashamed saying you don’t have money.” Kimberly said with an amused smile.
“Ever heard of that phrase, You can’t shame the shameless? You’ll soon realize I don’t feel ashamed saying anything as long as…” Eric’s phone started ringing before he could finish his sentence.
He raised a brow when he realized the call was from Prisca and excused himself from Kimberly to take the call, “Yeah?”
“I’m sorry, I couldn’t think of anyone else to call, have you seen Kim? Or is there a way you can reach her? She has been rejecting my call, and her father tried to reach her too but she didn’t take his call. He wants to see the both of you.” Prisca explained, the worry evident in her tone.
“Okay.”
THE MIRACLE I NEED : Episode 31 – 40
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