SEE FINISH BY TREASURE EZURUIKE EPISODE 13

SEE FINISH BY TREASURE EZURUIKE EPISODE 13

(KEISHA’S POV)

There is no out of the game here I said. We are not in a relationship, our only relationship is strictly professional. I have never gone on a date with him, he has been to my house just once when he came to ask me why I was not showing up at work.

Your brother slapped me with his girlfriend because I refused to make their mess go away. I am sorry about my brother’s behavior. Please forgive him, he was hit by my mum’s death.

He has not recovered ever since then. I’m not making excuses for him but I just want you to know where it’s coming from. Let me ask you a question. I said again if I marry your father you all be my stepchildren including you?

She laughed and said I know how it sounds but you can forget about the idea of stepchildren and focus on making my father happy. I have heard you, I said.

She thanked me for my calm reception and said she will be in touch. When she hung up I went off on Jake and I asked him if asking me to take that job was not because of the job? 

Good afternoon to you too, he said. Calm down please Keisha he said I wanted you to take that job because that was what you needed. Another point: you just concluded your M.Sc. and you needed to scale.

He told me he was going to wait and I asked him how long? Are you saying if I get married to you and I give birth to your children you won’t kick my children to the curb?

You won’t start asking me to return my children to their father’s family or send them away to my mother? 

You won’t start sexually harassing my daughter and I will have to find a place to send her to keep her safe?

You won’t ask me to choose between my children and marriage? 

You needed a large organization well-established to work with. I have known this family since childhood. 

When my friend saw your photo on my timeline on your birthday and made inquiries about you. I told her we were not dating but we are friends. She told me she would love for you to marry her father.

I told her to forget about that because it will never happen because you told me the age range of the man who would love to marry.

She told me to contact you for the job when I told her about your qualifications. 

She said you were perfect for the job and from there you will get to meet her father. I reached out to you and you got the job. 

Richard has reached out to me and told me you’ve been rejecting his calls which is unlike you and unfair.

You never run away from your problems, you face them head-on but I wouldn’t know why you are running now and I wouldn’t ask you either. 

One thing you should know is that Richard is a widower; his wife died 15 years ago and he refused to remarry.

His oldest child was 15 when his wife died and that child is that friend of mine who saw your photograph on my timeline. The other child was 13, another was 11 and Michael was 9.

Michael was the worst hit and we can’t blame him for losing your mother at 9. It’s not something anyone should ever experience.

Richard loved the children and he didn’t want them to suffer in another woman’s hands so he opted not to marry. 

Now I’m not going to ask you why you don’t want to marry Richard because I already know the age gap is just too much.

What happened between your parents is playing out but you cannot expect your parents’ life to play out everywhere. 

Richard is a very nice man. I have known him all through childhood growing up. I went to his home to play with his children and I could see how down-to-earth he was.

I know he’ll be nothing like your father but don’t let me convince you. You need to convince yourself. The thing is that in life we learn and unlearn. 

We propose but God disposes. I think you deserve a man like Richard even though his age might discourage you.

You deserve someone to pamper you and take care of you and the pressure of childbearing won’t be there.

I’m not saying you’re barren and won’t have children but at least the usual pressure won’t be there and besides his children are very understanding including his son even though he may be acting like he is crazy.

I’ve told you why I don’t think you should get upset, you need to think rationally. listen to all facts on the table and analyze them and reach the best possible conclusion you can reach.

Just talk to Richard instead of rejecting his calls, even if you don’t want him tell him you don’t want him.

I already did that and he jumped the gun and went to meet my parents, I said. 

That led to my parents contacting me for the first time in a long time and then it led to a heated exchange of words between me and my mother.

Obviously telling him I don’t want him won’t work, he just wouldn’t go away, I said. Pick the call of Richard Jake said to me. I know him and he is nice. 

You can attest that your father is not as nice as Richard. Even if you don’t want him, you can work with him, you need that job.

I’m not saying you are broke but your relationship was professional before you can still keep it at that. 

Don’t tell me you are going to work out of your job because he asked you to marry him. It makes no sense and it’s not like you, the smart woman that I know. 

I just have one question. I said why have you never asked me out throughout our relationship?

You’re always recommending me to other men but I’m not good enough for you. 

Come on he said don’t just start, you know my relationship with you is not like that. I didn’t decide to make the relationship the way it is.

It just happened and I think I love the way I relate to you, as a brother not as a boyfriend. I did not want to date you.

Did it ever occur to you if I wanted you I said? It didn’t occur to me and I’m glad it didn’t.

There is no way I’m going to date you, just get that into your head and I’m not trying to upset you. 

I was so furious that I hung up on him and switched on my other phone not long after Richard called me.

I answered my phone with a harsh tone and he said you are wicked.

After confessing how I felt about you, you felt the best thing to do to me was to shut me out.

Well, that’s what you get for jumping the gun are going to my parents to plan a coup d’etat behind my back.

I already apologized. Well, it’s not good enough you don’t get to do that. 

(NNENNA’S POV)

 I said yes he has. It’s not just him but his parents I said. What do they want Dubem queried?.

To get back with their son I said. I went on a rant asking what they take me for after abandoning me with Chiemerie.

Dubem said calm down. You should expect it. You cleaned up nicely. You look smashing if no one has told you.

After all, you’ve been through you came out smoking hot so don’t blame anyone, especially Ikenna.

He has seen what he is missing out on. Where has he been I asked?

Dubem said he has been there. This is why I didn’t want you to go back to that city. I felt you were not ready.

The thing is that I now believe Ikenna was not ready for marriage. I believe these past two years have opened his eyes to reality.

The fact that you left and raised a baby without him. It has made him feel vulnerable.

I don’t trust him, I said. I don’t blame you, Dubem said. Just do what makes you comfortable but remember Chiemerie is in the equation.

What is that supposed to mean I asked? What it means is to consider Chiemerie while making any decision.

Ikenna is still his father. Why are you suddenly talking like this? A few weeks ago you didn’t want me to go, now this?

Yes, I was worried but there’s also a little boy in-between. I’m just thinking about him. And I don’t matter, I asked.

Of course, you matter sweetheart. You know what, let’s continue this discussion later, your son is here.

Chiemerie sat in front of his uncle and screamed, mummy! Sugarpie, how are you doing? I’m fine mummy but I miss you, he muttered as he was still learning to talk.

Is uncle taking care of you? He nodded in affirmation. I’ll soon be back to you okay. He nodded again. I said goodbye to Dubem and Chiemerie.

As I looked at Chiemerie I could see Ikenna, it reminded me of the first time we met.

He swept me off my feet without saying a word. Just looking at me gave me away to him.

He smiled from where he sat and waved at me. I blushed and waved back.

I was so embarrassed that I left the restaurant. He came after me and said, “Are you going somewhere? So soon?

Is that how you behave? Leaving without saying goodbye?

He had his eyes fixed on me. He stretched forth his hand and said my name is Ikenna. What’s yours? I’ve been watching you all evening.

I managed to take his hand without looking at him and said my name is Nnenna. He said a nice name, he refused to let go of my hand until I looked up at him.

I looked up embarrassingly and he was staring at me. All I could say to myself was he is so fine and he had blue eyes.

I imagined all the ladies falling over him and I knew I couldn’t compete for him. I’m not that kind of woman.

I summoned the courage to pull out my hand from his. I told him it was nice meeting him and I had to take my leave.

As I was leaving he pulled me back and asked can I have your number, please? I asked for his phone and typed it in and walked away.

He screamed have a great night and dream of me tonight.

He was right because all I did was dream of him. I felt so helpless. My heart would skip a beat if I thought of him.

I had never had such an experience before. I had no idea what to do. I didn’t have his number so I couldn’t call. I kicked myself for that.

Two days later on a Saturday morning, I got a call and it was Ikenna. His voice was so suiting. He wanted me to be his plus one at an event.

I agreed because I just needed to see him. He used that as a ploy to know where I lived. He dropped me off after the event and showed up again in the evening without warning.

He was dressed so simply with his hands in his pocket. He wore a gray t-shirt and jeans trousers with red sneakers to complete his look.

He smelled so good. Just looking at him I lost control. I was just staring at him like someone that was lost. He brought me back to reality by asking, “Can I come in?

I let him in, praying to God not to make a mistake. I offered him a seat and asked what I could do for him. He asked are you okay? I said I’m fine.

He said you don’t look okay. I said really? He walked over to where I sat and took my hand looking straight into my eyes and I said to myself I’m finished.

He surprised me by saying relax, I know what you’re thinking but it’s okay. What was I thinking? Was he a mind reader?

I’m not going to pretend anymore. I like you and I’m attracted to you. That makes two of us, I said to myself.

If you don’t mind I would love to ask you out if you are not seeing anyone.

All I could say was I’m single. He said so what’s your answer?’

I decided to respect myself and say I like you too. My answer is yes. I wished he would just plant a kiss on my lips but he didn’t.

That’s when I knew I had lost my mind. He asked me to get dressed and took me shopping.

No one understood why I fell for Ikenna so easily but he was everything I wanted in one package. 

(CHIKANMA’S POV)

I have come to love Ijeoma and treat her like a daughter, Gerald’s mum said.

When she told me my son was kicking her to the curb because of a single mother with two children she had out of wedlock it annoyed me that my son will sink so low after how I raised him. 

I am not a baby mama but rather a widow. There was a great difference between the both of them.

Our relationship wasn’t very cordial but she bonded so well with my children that they now call her grandma. I assisted her in the kitchen, most times I made all the meals.

Gerald’s mum was going for an outing, as she got dressed her clothes tore. She burst out in tears.

Her son was helpless looking at me to do something. I remembered I had needles and black thread in my bag. 

I had tailoring skills. I made my clothes and that of my children so I sewed back her clothes and she was so happy.

I made her up and gave her one of the short wigs. She looked so different and beautiful. She reminded me of my mother.

She saw herself in the mirror, looked at me and Gerald and wiped a tear and walked up to me and hugged me, and said thank you for this transformation.

I told her she was welcome and could keep the wig and make-up. She giggled like a 5-year-old and said don’t mind this one who won’t buy me a wig and make-up.

Gerald said mum so everything I’ve been buying for you is no longer important because it’s not a wig or make-up?

No problem, that’s all I’ll be buying for you from now going forward. 

His mum took off her shoes and threw them at him, he dodged. She chased him around while my children laughed.

Gerald offered to take me and my children out on a ride but I didn’t seem comfortable with it.

He managed to persuade me and we went out to show me around. He bought a few things for my children and I was still wary of his intentions. 

I decided to ask him on that outing what his intentions were because I was no longer comfortable with the way he was going about everything. 

He told me he will be honest with me that he was drawn to me the first day he saw me. But since he was in a relationship he decided to relate to me on a platonic level. 

After I began to work for him he got more attracted to me but couldn’t tell me because I seemed so uninterested and was bent on just doing my job so he respected my wishes. 

He fell for me the day he met my children. He was going to shoot his shot but when he found out I was a widow he took a step back but his feelings still didn’t change. 

I asked him about his girlfriend. He told me their relationship had ended a long time ago even before we met but he did not know how to let go of her because his mother had become so fond of her. I already told you that, he said.

There was no way I could marry a woman like her because she was not willing to do anything.

He didn’t believe women should be used as servants but it didn’t mean that they shouldn’t do anything. 

She told him how she would only do chores when she was married to him but he couldn’t take such a gamble because he had never seen her do her chores.

He didn’t want to start a problem he couldn’t finish, he said. She lacked empathy and was selfish and did not add any value to his life.

I asked him why they were still together then, and he told me it was because of his mother and he had not met anyone else.

We were just living life as strangers, there was no bond between us and if you’re honest with yourself you will not say that I’m not being untruthful. 

I said to myself and it was right because the way he discharged her the first day I resumed, didn’t look to me like a couple who were in love with each other.

But I decided to mind my business because I came to work. I didn’t come to be a marriage or relationship counselor. 

He told me he had become so fond of my children and he couldn’t see himself anywhere else.

I stopped him and told him I didn’t like the way he was going because I was still grieving and I just wasn’t ready to see anyone or be in any relationship, especially one of a romantic nature. 

He told me he was going to wait and I asked him how long? Are you saying if I get married to you and I give birth to your children you won’t kick my children to the curb?

You won’t start asking me to return my children to their father’s family or send them away to my mother? 

You won’t start sexually harassing my daughter and I will have to find a place to send her to keep her safe?

You won’t ask me to choose between my children and marriage? 

I’m asking all these questions because these are the issues that arise usually when a woman already has children and has been married before and I don’t want to go through that. 

Some things are just not for me and anyone asking me to choose between my children and themselves or any other thing is not for me. 

He let me finish and said can you honestly say that I don’t love your children? I told him I didn’t know and he said oh come on how can you say such a thing? 

To be continued

© Treasure Ezuruike.

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