BELIEVE – Episode 4

BELIEVE – Episode 4

 

A story by Miriam Edem

 

“Are you sure we are doing the right thing? Rachel dad asked seeing her reaction.

 

“Will the right thing be Rachel staying with failure? No way I won’t let that happen not until Peter becomes a man. I won’t let my daughter suffer, Her mom said and stormed into her room too.

 

Hilda dropped by later to ask if Rachel is home.

 

“What happened to her over there? Rachel mom asked and Hilda narrated everything to her.

 

“That’s Better, with time She’ll understand we want the best for her, her mom replied.

 

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The next day Rachel was already set for Abuja, “are you sure about this? We didn’t inform your aunt of your coming, her mom said.

 

“She won’t say no to me mom, take care, Rachel said taking her bag while her dad offered to drop her at the park.

 

Few minutes after she left Peter arrived.

 

Rachel mom seeing him was so mad at him and blamed him for everything, “you failure! You wasted my daughter time for years whole she kept enduring with your nonsense.

 

She’s gone! And don’t dare trace or go near her else I’ll get you arrested, thats a promise! Her mom shouted pushing him away.

 

Peter got home frustrated as he poured cold water on his head and sat on the floor.

 

His worst fear came through and he felt his heart burning as he begged for tears to flow out but it wasn’t coming.

 

“I must survive this and I think its time I believe in myself, was all he could mutter in pains.

 

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Days passed and he began to receive text messages of interviews where he applied for.

 

He attended them one by one and settled for the one that got the higher pay.

 

It was one of the biggest secondary schools in Port where he taught Geography.

 

1 month of his teaching there he was going back home when a nice jeep stopped, “hello Sir Peter heading back home? Dad thats my geography master, the one I told you about, the boy said to his dad and he shook hands with Peter.

 

“My son said you’re good with what you teach, the man said.

 

“What will I do sir? I have to put my best in what I see, Peter replied.

 

“Graduate? The man asked and he nodded.

 

“Job in Nigeria is a hot cake and waiting for it is like waiting for Christ return, Peter replied.

 

“Uhmmm where did I keep it, the man muttered looking for something in his car. He found it and gave it to Peter,

 

“send your CV to the email address there, when you’re done give a call to the number there and tell him you have sent a CV to the email and Mr Charles says he should do something about it. Good luck, the man said winding his glass and drove off while Peter still stood looking at the card not believing his eyes.

 

He rushed to a computer center, got his CV done and sent it to the Email. When he got home he prayed all kinds of prayer first before calling the number.

 

After 3 rings, a man voice was heard, “erm he..hello hello.. Mr Charles said I should tell you there’s a CV in your mail and you should do something about it, Peter stammered with his lips shaking.

 

“Okay I’ll check it out, the man said and dropped the call.

 

Peter fell on his knees sweating profusely as he smelt something good was coming his way, but he prayed it should not be diverted.

 

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Rachel was not planing of returning back to Port despite her parents pleadings.

 

Her aunt knowing about what happened wasn’t happy with her parents either and accepted Rachel should settle in Abuja with her.

 

“Have you heard from Peter? Her aunt asked one evening.

 

“Aunt please I don’t even want to try it, Peter can accept anything that comes to him but you see what I told him was unforgivable. He will never forgive me for breaking him that way, calling him is not a good idea at all, Rachel replied.

 

“But you should try, he may want to talk with you too, her aunt said.

 

“Aunt, I will hurt him more. Its 1 month already and I think he should be healing by now. Aunt please I need to sleep now, good night, Rachel said going to her room….

 

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Days has passed already and Peter was busy checking his phone expecting a call that will change his life but it wasn’t coming.

 

The school was about to embark on a mid term break and he was so excited about it.

 

One cool evening he dozed off on the sofa when a message got into his phone, he got up immediately and checked it out, behold it was an interview scheduled for him tomorrow.

 

He threw the phone screaming his head off and a knock came on the door disrupting him.

 

“Who’s there? He asked.

 

“Its me, a lady’s voice was heard and he rolled his eyes.

 

He opened up and she walked in, “it’s late, he said.

 

“Late? Its just past 8, but why were you shouting? She asked and he sat on the sofa smiling looking at his phone.

 

“Nothing, I just got a sweet message don’t worry, peter said and she nodded.

 

“I just retuned from work, Mary said.

 

“Now? He asked.

 

“Yea there was an accident on the road and that gave a terrible hold up, she said stretching tiredly.

 

“Oh sorry, you’ve not eaten then? He asked.

 

“No, I just bought erm a little fried yam on the road, but I gave it out to the children with me in the taxi, she said.

 

“Oh thats bad and you can’t cook anything now, Peter said.

 

“I’ll just soak cassava for the night, good night, she said and turned to leave.

 

“Mary wait, I prepared something to eat but I eventually slept off. Will you join me? Peter asked stopping her.

 

“Oh alright I’ll go change up then. I’ll be back, Mary said and left and he heaved pacing around.

 

2 weeks after the breakup, Mary packed into the compound.

 

With all the neighbors there, she choose to be close to Peter which he didn’t like at all but he couldn’t push her away.

 

She got to know about Peter breakup and she somehow began making him smile again, still Peter was afraid of falling for her because of the closeness.

 

Minutes later she knocked and walked in to see Peter setting the table.

 

“I should be the one to do that, she said and rushed to get the plate from him but he stopped her.

 

“What’s that for? I can do this okay just start eating, Peter said going to get water from the refrigerator.

 

“Uhmm smells delicious, Mary said inhaling the food.

 

“You need to hurry and eat fast, its late already, Peter said bringing the water and her countenance changed.

 

“What is it? Peter noticed it.

 

“Tell me something Peter? I’m I bothering you? Why does it look like you’re pushing me away? Mary asked.

 

“Why are you saying this? Look, Rachel is the only lady that has been with me in this house, people are watching and that will give a wrong impression about us, Peter said.

 

“What wrong are we doing here and what wrong impression are you talking about? Mary asked.

 

“Oh please don’t start, Whatever happened between i and Rachel, no one knows about it and I told them she traveled. This closeness between you and I is not got at all because I can’t tell what they think of me now, Peter said and she scoffed.

 

“You lied Peter admit it. Rachel left your life why can’t you just accept that? How long will you live in this lie? Mary asked.

 

“Mary left me yes she did, but I can’t replace her thats just it. She was the only lady who loved me for who I am, Peter said.

 

“Now where is she? She got tired loving you for who you are right? Peter she’s gone and life must go on, Mary said.

 

“With who? You? Peter asked in a tone that got Mary embarrassed.

 

“Excuse me, did you just say that to me? Oh I get it, because I liked you and became close to you as a friend, you’re already thinking I am throwing myself on you right? Wow! that was so thoughtful of you, have a good night, Mary said and turned to leave.

 

“No no wait that was not what I meant, you got it wrong there, Peter said and tried to stop her but she slammed the door behind her.

 

Peter heaved and leaned the wall, looked at the food waiting for him and shook his head, “I think I need to eat that so I’ll have enough strength for my interview tomorrow. Thats what matters now to me, Peter said..

 

To be continued

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