In The Dark – Episode 22

A Story By Stanley Oluwatosin

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The ring was so beautiful and classy, almost like the one i gave to Jordan. I removed the ring from the case and said “Jordan? What is this?”. I could see the discomfort in his eyes when he saw the ring, he frown childishly and said “OMG i did not plan for you to see that, how did it get to your hand? You are such an obstacle to my surprise package”.

The word surprise ring a bell in my ear. I remembered how khole’s proposal came as a surprise, i could not help but think about Jordan’s surprise as a proposal. “wait…. Did you just say surprise? Don’t tell me you want to propose right now” I said. Jordan walked up to me with a smile and said “what if i want to propose right now princess?”.

I sniffed unconsciously and said “you can’t propose to me right now. Are you planning on proposing to some other girl?” Jordan laughed for a while before he said “some other girl? No because you are the only girl i know and you are all i ever wanted. So tell me what is wrong with proposing right now?”

I fixed my gaze on him for a minute trying to find out if he was serious or not. I could see the seriousness in his eyes, so i quickly searched my head for an excuse to reject his proposal without hurting him because i was so not ready to get engaged at that particular moment. “Ehm, you can’t propose now, we still have a long way to go. You know am still serving, i need to get a Job and settle down before thinking about marriage” I said. Jordan hummed and said “you and I know that you can’t come across any difficulty in getting a job. But if you feel that you are not ready, its fine”

Jordan’s expression made me feel as if i had hurt him, so i moved closer to him and apologized.

He smiled weakly and said “Honestly, its fine baby. I wanted to propose in the middle of dinner that night, that is why i felt so rejected when you did not show up. But thank God you did not, this is how I would have been rejected. Its all good, i will give you all the time you need”.

I smiled and held Jordan so close to myself, deep inside of me, i felt as if i had hurt someone that loved me.

“Time to leave miss. Stop squeezing the live out of me” Jordan said and i hit him playfully, releasing him from the hug.

I carefully put back the ring and packed other things before we finally left the hospital.

The drive home was quiet, Jordan did not utter a word throughout. Not until i offload his belongings and i told him i was about to leave did he open his mouth. “why do you have to leave now? Thought you will stay with me”. Jordan said.

I kissed him lightly on the lips and told him, i had somewhere to go. He insisted on knowing the place and i told him, i was going to see the Stanleys. He said “Ohh, please send my regard to them” I noded and gave Jordan a quick peck before leaving.

I was just about to leave Jordan’s street when my phone started to ring, the caller I.D was kelvin so i connected my earphone and accepted the call. “Hey dear, where are you? You are not at work” kelvin said. I smiled and said “looks like someone has been monitoring me. I went to see a friend, am on my way back tho”.

” you wish. Just send me your house address, i need to take you somewhere” kelvin said. “But am heading somewhere, maybe next time you can take me there” i said. Kelvin bluntly refused and after much persuasion i agreed to go with him and i sent my house adress.

I turned the car around and went home.

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I had a quick shower and wore a simple dress (a flowing short gown). I applied light makeup and wore a matching shoe and bag. I packed my hair and satisfied with myself, i settled in a couch waiting for kelvin.

Less than five minutes later, i heard a loud horn at the gate. I hurriedly informed my foster parent that kelvin had arrived and i went out to welcome him. Kelvin looked dapper in a simple round neck and a jean trouser, his dimple made him look so cute. He greeted my foster parents politely and we both left in his car with security men following us in another car.

Kelvin took me to a five star shopping complex. Everything at the complex carried a high tag. Kelvin shopped alot of thing for me, even though i told him i would not be needing most of them. He would pull me and put different dresses on me to know if they are my seize while i would try to free myself, telling him i do not like the dress. He would then tell me that he likes it on me and wink before placing it in the shopping basket. After shopping, we got big bowls of ice cream hand in hand and we settled in a chair to lick. Kelvin will sometimes act naughty and stain his lips with the ice cream while cleaning up for him, he would stain my face with it as well. I had lots of fun with kelvin. Adults behaving like a child.

We were still licking from the ice cream bowl when i heard someone scream “Nancy!” from behind.I turned back and the spoon fell off my hand!

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I opened my mouth but it went dry, as i could not utter a word. “what the hell are you doing here?” he asked me. I immediately stood up as if the chair just developed heat suddenly. “ehm…..ehm… He is a friend” i stammered at last. He shook his head and walked toward me aggressively. I took few steps backward and i could see kelvin raise to his feet as well. He came close to me and said “Is this the stanleys? We are suppose to be together for christ sake! Nancy… Am so disappointed in you”. I blinked consecutively and said “Jordan, its not what you think”

trying to explain the situation to him.

I made to touch him and he flung my hand away as he matched out angrily. I had never seen him angry before and this made me so lost on what to do. I made to pick my bag and kelvin held my hand. I raised my head to look at him and he said “Dont worry about the bag, i will take care of it. Just go after him”

I wiped the tears that had form in my eyes and i grabbed my phone before i ran after Jordan. I ran as fast my legs could carry me. Fortunately for me, i met up with him almost at the complex exit. He turned back and looked at me for awhile and i froze, not knowing what to do. I was just hoping he would not create a scene and make me look like a cheating lover. Jordan grabbed my hand and dragged me out of the complex. He opened the door to his car and he made me sit in the front sit, after which he used the sit belt on me.

Jordan then entered from the other side and zoomed off. I felt as if my world was going upside down throughout the drive. The whole car was quiet except for Jordan’s occasional loud breathe. I thought of how to explain things to Jordan in order for him to understand but nothing came to my head apart from telling the truth. I thought about the reason i had for hiding the whole kelvin reappearance issue from him and i realised i had been wrong all through.

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Jordan packed in front of his apartment and he hurried out in a flash, closing the door aggressively behind. I helped myself out of the car as well and slowly followed him. I entered his room and closed the door before taking my sit on a couch, waiting for what would happen next.

“so you lied to me?” Jordan shouted,bringing me out of my thought. “No its not what do you think” I said with a pleading eyes.

“So how is it? How do you explain the fact that you left me some minutes ago not minding that i am sick, claiming that you were going to the stanley’s. Just for me to go out shopping and catch you there with another man. Wait, is that not kelvin? I thought you said he left?” Jordan thundered. “Yes, he came back and the meating is just a coincidence” i said with a shaky voice. Jordan scoffed and said “what coincidence? You do not know that he was back?”

“no i knew he was back” i said. “for how long now?” Jordan asked. “for like a week” i said and Jordan exclaimed “what?! A whole week and you could not even inform me? If i had not went to that shopping complex to exchange the ring, thinking that you rejected my proposal because you did not like the ring. I would not have find out that kelvin is back and you guys have been hanging out? Hun?”

“No its not like that, i just felt as if its not important to tell you. You know i can never cheat on you” i said slowly in tears. I felt as if i did Jordan wrong but i did not know the wrong i did. This made me cry the more. “Dont tell me you can never cheat on me because i caught you red handed, you lied to me nancy! You can never deny that” Jordan shouted. I looked down at my feet and slowly said ” I know it looks like i lied to you, or probably i should say i lied to you. But i only lied about kelvin, you did not even ask me about him so i do not know if you can say i lied. And about me saying i was going to the stanleys, its the truth. They came to check on me the day i was with you at the hospital, so i thought i should pay them a visit today. I was on my way there when Kelvin called me and he insisted so much that i could not turn him down. Thats how we ended up together.”

Jordan paced up and down and turned to me sharply. I froze, he came close to me and said ” you know what? I do not even trust you one bit!” i moved backward and said “jordan…please..” in a low voice. ” Just leave! Before i will do something i will later regret!”. Jordan shouted and i looked into his eyes, they were blood red. He was visibly shaking from anger. I thought of what to do and i realised the best i could do was to take my leave. I slowly wiped my tears and left.

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Not until i got out of Jordan’s house did i realise that i was out of cash and i was not with my car either. The only thing with me was my phone. I thought of who to call and only Kelvin came to my mind. I took my phone and dialed his number. “Hello… Kelvin… Can you please pick me up.. Am stranded….”

“Hello…kelvin… Can you please pick me up, am stranded” i said admist tears immediately kelvin answered my call. “where are you? Where did he take you to?” kelvin asked and i could sense anger in his voice. I called out Jordan’s residential address to him and he said “am coming right away, just stay put and be safe”.

I ended the call and walked toward the fence for support. I bent my head down and leaned on the fence. I thought about the whole scenario and tried to figure out what i did wrong. I realised, the only wrong i did was trying to keep Jordan’s feeling secure. Knowing fully well that he was the jealous type and he would feel insecure if he should know about kelvin’s arrival. “He even called me a liar” I thought as tears rushed down my cheek. I tried to stop my tears but i could not, i wished i had someone to talk to at that moment.

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Thirty minutes later, kelvin was yet to arrive. My legs had started to hurt due to me standing at a point for awhile, so I decided to walk down the street, thinking it would be easier to locate kelvin. I was about moving on when i heard Jordan’s gate been loudly opened. At first i payed less attention to whoever it was, thinking it was the gate man.

“come in, let me take you home” i heard Jordan’s voice from behind. I slowly turned to him and told him not to worry about me. He smirked and said “this is not me worrying about you, its me doing the right thing. I brought you here so i should be responsible for taking you back. Dont waste my time”

If been hurt is what i felt before, i felt heart brooken after Jordan’s statement. A part of me wanted to go in with him, since kelvin was taking so long to arrive but another part of me wanted to tell him to go to hell. I stood rooted at a point for some minutes, thinking of what to do. Later i decided to go with him.

But as i slowly took a step to follow Jordan in, i heard a loud horn behind me. I turned back and so did Jordan. Kelvin came down from a Gwagon and waved at me to hop in. I looked at Jordan and i could see him burning with jealousy. “since one good turn deserve another, a bad one deserve a return as well” i thought and i took few steps toward kelvin. i could see Jordan fold his fist as i ran into Kelvin’s ride. Kelvin gently closed the door after me and got into the car as well. I could feel Jordan’s eyes on me as kelvin zoomed off.

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“Did he hurt you?” kelvin asked, breaking the silence. I replied no with a nod. “then why are you crying?” kelvin asked again and i brooke into fresh tears. Kelvin slowly parked the car before asking me to look at him. He slowly raised my face and said “do you still love him?”

I replied yes with a nod. “Do you still want him?” kelvin asked again and it dawned on me that i could not answer his question. I loved Jordan but wanting him is something i was not sure of. I was not sure if i could cope with his jealousy, over protectiveness and aggressiveness. “He did not even give me a chance to explain myself” I thought.

“Nancy?” Kelvin’s voice brought me out of my thought. I let out and loud breathe and whispered “I don’t know” before bursting into tears again. Kelvin took me into his arms and pat my back gently.

I would not have believe i could cry so much for a guy, until i found myself weeping for Jordan. I thought about how i gave Jordan a second chance even after i caught him in the act but he was not even ready to give me a listening ear. “why am i always unlucky with love?” i asked myself and i cried the more.

In the middle of my tears something occurred to me. “i lied to Kelvin as well, i told him i was not in a relationship and i never said anything about Jordan. Why is he still here with me?” i asked myself without getting an answer.

“Its okay Ma’am, this shirt is super expensive FYI. Do not stain it with your tears” kelvin said as he realised me from his grip. I smiled weakly and looked down at my shoe. “will you be fine Nancy? If you need anything, just know am here” kelvin said with a smile. I looked at him and said “you are not mad at me?” kelvin frown and said “for what?”.

I stared at him and said “for lieing to you about my relationship?”

kelvin held my hand and said “I know you have your reasons, which you will explain later. Am not going to judge you with that.” I smiled, feeling lucky to have Kelvin. I thanked Kelvin and he said “Dont thank me yet, just be fine. After which you will face your query ma’am”. I hitted kelvin playfully and we both laughed. “Take me home” i finally said.

“Are you sure you won’t start your crying session if you are alone?” kelvin said. I fold my fist and show it to kelvin before saying ” Ama strong girl, i can’t cry”. Kelvin hummed and said “Says the lover girl that stained my shirt with tears”. I hit kelvin again and we both laughed. I could not help but take note of his beautiful dimple as he started the engine.

{A friend in need)

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Even in the presence of kelvin, i could not help but think about Jordan. I was lost on what to do about him. All the memories we made together came into my head afresh and all i could wish for was to have him with me, even if we would not be in a relationship together, i wished we were still in good terms.

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“And we are here” kelvin’s voice brought me out of my thought as he parked in front of my compound. Kelvin released my sit belt and i smiled weakly with my hand on the door. “you sure you will be fine?” Kelvin asked again and i noded with a smile. I alighted from the car and waved at kelvin before he zoomed off. After kelvin left i felt completely empty and lost, not having Jordan and not having kelvin’s shoulder to lean on. Again i could not stop the tears forming in my eyes as i slowly walked into the house.

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I met mi mom in the livingroom when i arrived, i greeted her briefly and rushed to my room in a bid to avoid her seeing me cry.

I quickly undressed and went into the bathroom immediately i got into my room, the only thing that could help reduce the pain i felt in my head was a cold shower.

I slowly came out of shower and sat on my bed with my towel. Everything within me felt empty, i never realised i had given a huge part of me to Jordan, until i was at the verge of loosing him. All the memories we had in the past came calling again and i could not help but cry for my youthful love.(my first love)

I tried to sleep, hoping it would make me forget Jordan but i could not, his picture continued to appear before me. I stood up and unlocked my phone to get bussy with social media but the first picture that appeared on my screen was his (my wallpaper) I dropped my phone and sat up, staring at a point like a lost soul.

The ringing of my phone brought me out of my aimless thought. The caller I.D was khole, i was happy to finally have someone to talk to. I quickly accepted the call and whispered “hello”.

” hey girl we are back in Nigeria” khole shouted from the other end. My face brightened up as i asked if she was in kwara state already. “No, we are in Abuja, we should be in kwara in two days time” Khole replied. I happily told khole to bring enough goodies for me and send my regard to Josh. I was about ending the call when khole said “sis are you okay?” i told her i was perfectly fine, trying to hide my problem from her. She concluded to fish out what ever my problem was when she get back and ended the call with her usual wicked laugh. I could not help but wish i was lucky with love just like Khole. I dropped my phone and laid on my bed. I did not have the strength to change into a dress, so i covered myself with my blanket. In less than a minute, i found myself thinking about Jordan again, at a point i wanted to call or text him and apologies though i was not wrong but i kicked against the idea, with the conclusion that he might not give me a listening ear. I slowly turned to the wall and begged for sleep to take me away.

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” Baby are you okay?” i heard mi mom’s voice from the door. I quickly wiped the tears in my eyes and turned to her. She slowly walked to me and sat on my bed. “You are not wearing anything? Are you sick? Have you been crying? Did anything happened?” Mi mom asked as she touched me all over to feel my temperature. With the care and concern she showered me, i could not help but feel loved. I burst into tears and went into Mi mom’s arm, she took me in and slowly patted my back. She allowed me to cry into her arms and released me when i was no longer crying. She lifed my face up and said “What is it my baby?”. I took my time to explain everything that happened to mi mom, she gave me a listening ear and took in every word. When i stopped to talk, mi mom sighed and said ” I see why you’ve been crying but i want you to know he does’nt worth your tears baby. No man does, not to talk of someone that has cheated on you before and treated you like you never existed. I know you love him but do not let the love blindfold you. From what you said kelvin has been there for you. Am not taking sides here but Nancy, I need you to open your eyes and do not let Jordan’s love blindfold you. There is a difference between a soul mate and a partner. Don’t make the mistake of making a switch. No matter how much you try, if you do not belong with your soul mate, yout will never end up with him. Think about it baby, i know you are smart”.

I thought about mi Mom’s statement for a while but i could not phantom what she ment. “who is my soul mate and who is my partner” I asked myself without getting an answer.

The ringing of my phone interupted my chat with mi mom. I check the caller I.D and it was kelvin. My mom asked who it was and i told her it was kelvin. She told me to answer his call as she excused herself. “Hello… You forgot your bag with me, you wanna come get it in my room…?”

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…to be continued