SEE FINISH BY TREASURE EZURUIKE EPISODE 18

SEE FINISH BY TREASURE EZURUIKE EPISODE 18

CHIKANMA’S POV

Since Nkem died I see him every night mum when I fall asleep. He talks to me every night. 

I saw him a few days ago. He said goodbye to me, asked me to move on, and disappeared.

In your dream, my mum asked. I said yes mum, since that day he disappeared mum he has not talked to me again. 

He talks to the children too. He said goodbye to them too. Mum, I’m alone in this world now.

Oh, Nnem you are not alone in this world. You have me, your brother, your children and you’ve got Gerald. 

Please give him points for trying. I’m not ready mum, please I’m not. It’s okay she said as she patted me on the back.

She made me tea and hot water to have a bath. I had never felt so miserable in my life. 

I felt worse than I felt when Nkem passed. My children were sad too. I guess I was rubbing off on them.

 

I’ve done so many horrible things I’m not proud of. I don’t know how to get out of them. 

I need to get them off my chest, Ikenna said. My heartbeat increased. Could a woman be pregnant with his child? 

Ikenna said there’s no easy way to do this, I cheated on you. Immediately I began to feel so hot even though the AC was on.

I suddenly lost my voice. Ikenna said I’m sorry I needed to get it off my chest. I didn’t want you to hear it from anyone else. I asked him to leave my bedroom. 

Later at night, Gerald called me. He wanted to know how I was. I said I was fine. He said he was sorry. 

I told him to stop annoying me with his apologies. He told me he felt so bad like he took advantage of me. 

I told him I didn’t. He told me he regretted the way the trip ended. I told him it was okay and I needed to rest.

I tried to sleep hoping to see Nkem but I never saw him and I was sure he had left me and wasn’t returning. 

READ ALSO THE CONCEPT OF GOD’S WILL

I cried the following morning and felt lighter like I had never felt in three years. I seemed happier too, I just couldn’t understand it all.

I made breakfast and headed to Gerald’s home. I could see my mum smiling at me as I left. I knocked on the door. I heard him say I wonder who it is. 

He opened the door and found me standing right there. He was so confused. He scratched his head and smiled and offered me his hand.

I took it and he pulled me into his sitting-room. Are you okay he asked? I’m fine. Are you sure? You even wore makeup. 

You’ve never worn makeup since I’ve known you. There’s a first time for everything. I made you breakfast. I said, handing him a breakfast basket.

He took it from me, still looking at me to be sure he was safe. Just yesterday I was sobbing. 

Today I was wearing makeup. I could as well be going mad and he just wanted to be sure.

He unwrapped the contents of the basket, fried rice, and chicken this morning. 

This is serious. You mean business. He was going to get a spoon when I said there’s a spoon in there.

Oh! He said searching for it. I’m not going mad, don’t worry I said. I can see how you are looking at me. 

My mum won’t let me out of her sight if I was acting mad. 

I’m just surprised to see you in a different mood today. I’m surprised as well, I told him.

He ate the food he devoured it saying I’ve not had anything to eat since last night. I was so worried about you. 

Why didn’t you go to work today? Is that a question? I was so worried about you. I was about to head to your house. 

Well, I’m here now. How are the children? They were fine while I left. I guess they are okay.

They are about to resume school right? I said yes. I’ll have to send you their school fees and other needs. Is that necessary I asked? 

Am not sure you’re talking to me. The money is not for you, it’s for Jared and Jane. You don’t need money, I understand.

Please pay their fees and get them other new stuff they need. It’s a new term and they have to level up. 

So where’s mine? Excuse me? Where’s mine you can’t send me on an errand with no transport money.

Transport what? He burst out laughing. That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve heard. Better get used to it and do the needful. I don’t have any money left, he said. 

Excuse me! Calm down, I’ll think about your request and take action. 

I’ll set up a 9-man committee to deliberate on it. After their findings, I’ll act on their recommendations.

No problem, I’ll wait till the committee sits to return to this house. I stood up to leave. 

Can’t someone play with you again? Leave me alone. Inaugurate your committee. I’ll be waiting. 

You must be kidding, he pulled me close and said you look beautiful, you look so different.

I’m so happy to see a genuine smile on your face. It’s been a tough rough road but you’ll be okay. 

Your house looks dusty and needs to be cleaned. I said. Gerald pulled me back and said leave it. You’ve cleaned my house enough. I’ll get someone to do it. 

You are joking, I said. It’s just cleaning, not something so complicated. I don’t mind doing it.

READ ALSO SEE FINISH EPISODE 8

KEISHA’S POV

I thought that if I activate the master-servant relationship I will instill fear in your mother and she will respect me, Dad said.

Now I realize that she doesn’t respect me, she only fears me which hurts my feelings. 

I can’t go back and turn back the hands of time and repair the damage, but at least I can apologize to you so you can forgive me. 

I also want to apologize to you on your brother’s behalf for the way he has treated you.

He has not treated you as a sister or like someone he knows but as a total stranger.

I am sorry, I wish I could see you but I can’t do anything about it.

Please if you love Richard say yes to him, I’m sure he’s nothing like me. He will treat you better than I treated your mother.

Do not miss out on a man like that because of me. How did he know he is a good man?

I did not know which was more shocking, the fact that my father was admitting to being wrong or the fact he was apologizing to me, or the fact he was apologizing to me on behalf of my brother. I thanked him and the call ended. 

Richard immediately asked why didn’t you tell me why you said no so I would have tried to win you over?. 

I thought you hated me. I just rolled my eyes at him and asked for a moment and stepped outside.

I went outside to soak it all in. While outside my elder brother called. He went off in his usual way. 

Abusing me after my mum complained to him about the things I said to her.

Who do you think you are he roared. I’m nothing, I responded. I’m nothing to you too. 

I’ve not forgotten how you abandoned me at that park and paid another woman’s transport fare instead.

You left me at the mercy of my attackers if not that God had other plans for me. He told me I deserved it. I said, “I don’t have a relationship with you.

You have never supported me. You’ve always preferred other women. You’ve got nothing to say to me. 

You’ve no right to call me. You’re dead to me. Don’t you ever call me again to tell me this rubbish?

I ended the call and hissed a long hiss. I was so upset that my brother could call me just to abuse me.

Since I left for school, he had never contacted me. He tried to call me back but I rejected the call.

I calmed myself down and headed back into the hospital room where Richard was. 

He asked me again why didn’t you tell me why you said no so I could have proved myself to you?

READ ALSO SEE FINISH EPISODE 9 

I said nothing to him because I did not want to respond rudely and create problems where there should be none. 

My elder sister called me and honestly, I became tired of the calls. Why couldn’t they just leave me alone? 

She asked me how I was doing and went straight to the point. 

She advised me not to be so quick to discharge Richard because of the age difference between us and how the relationship between our parents was. 

She told me to listen to my heart and keep an open mind. I thanked her for her call and Richard just stared at me all through the call. 

He must have wondered why my gesticulations and facial expression looked the way they did but I was really upset.

I was just pretending to be okay when I was not. I talked a little with Richard and he was discharged and headed home. 

I barely went to his home but since he was asked to rest I had to stop by his home throughout the period he was resting at home. 

While there I met his children. They didn’t stay in that city but they came in because their father was unwell. 

I loved the relationship between him and his daughters. It was so loving and cordial. They look out for each other. I wished I had that but I didn’t. 

They left the city to where they resided and their father returned to work. My first assignment when he returned was to book him a work lunch. 

He had a meeting to attend for something he was working on and he needed to go out for lunch with one of the main stakeholders. He asked me to organize it. 

I asked him where he would love to go and he told me you know where I love to go so please make it happen. 

Okay, I said I won’t be there by the way I said. Excuse me, I want you there during that lunch. You are my PA and I want you in that restaurant.

Okay, sir, I’ll set it up. I went along with Richard while he sat across the table with another woman. I start somewhere else going through social media just to kill time. 

Each time I looked in his direction I caught him staring at me. I began to wonder if he was concentrating on the lunch he came for. 

When he had finished the work lunch he beckoned on me to come over. He stood up and got out a seat for me to sit down before taking his seat. 

I was a little uncomfortable. He asked me what I would like to have, a little jollof rice won’t be bad, I said. 

He made the order and asked them to include some goat meat. She loves goat meat. He said. 

I had no option but to smile. He ordered his meal and we had lunch. When we were done eating he took me shopping. 

When we were through with shopping we got to the car and he opened the door for me to get in. 

Why are you doing all these? I asked him. Don’t ask me any questions he responded.

NNENNA’S POV

I felt helpless and hated Ikenna for putting me through that. I hugged Chiemerie telling him mummy is here but you need to talk to daddy. 

He took a look at me wondering what I was saying. He just couldn’t understand and I didn’t blame him.

Ikenna was in the sitting room and I imagined how he felt. 

Dubem broke the silence by saying you didn’t expect it to be smooth sailing, did you?

Chiemerie refused to return to the sitting room. He fell asleep from there. 

I went back to the seating room and Ikenna had freshened up. He was having dinner.

Dubem was seated with him watching a champions league match. 

I admired how my brother Dubem could just switch up if the need arose. 

He was mad at Ikenna but here he was keeping him company. I didn’t want to interrupt their analysis so I headed to bed.

The following morning I was up to drop Chiemerie at school. Ikenna requested to tag along.

I didn’t like the idea. Dubem said it was fine. He signaled to me to relax. I was concerned he could kidnap Chiemerie from school.

I told Dubem he told me it was impossible because our father had made sure of that. He told me to relax but not let my guard down. 

I dropped Chiemerie off and headed back home because I had the week off.

Dubem headed to work not before whispering to make sure things don’t get heated before I return. 

I stared at him but he said I’m serious. He told me to take care. I was home alone with Ikenna. It was so awkward. 

Ikenna finally broke the silence. He came into my bedroom and I was terrified. I imagined him having his way with me. 

I knew it wouldn’t be wrong but I didn’t want that. He could read me and said relax just like the first time he visited me when we just met. 

He said I’ll want nothing more than to hold you and kiss you and take it all the way but I don’t deserve it.

Excuse me, I interrupted. You don’t deserve it? What do you mean?

He said can I sit down?” I gesture to him to sit down. I’ve done so many horrible things I’m not proud of. I don’t know how to get out of them. 

I need to get them off my chest, Ikenna said. My heartbeat increased. Could a woman be pregnant with his child? 

Ikenna said there’s no easy way to do this, I cheated on you. Immediately I began to feel so hot even though the AC was on.

I suddenly lost my voice. Ikenna said I’m sorry I needed to get it off my chest. I didn’t want you to hear it from anyone else. I asked him to leave my bedroom. 

He kept saying I’m sorry as he left. I went into my bathroom and cried. I knew I was mad at him but I didn’t expect him to be involved with many women. 

READ ALSO SEE FINISH EPISODE 10

Here I was alone raising our child and he was out with other women.

I extended arms of friendship and reconciliation when I had Chiemerie but he didn’t take it. 

I called Dubem and told him about it. I told him I couldn’t be under the same roof as Ikenna. He pleaded with me to let him return first. 

He told me Ikenna confessed to him while I was away on a business trip. Why didn’t you tell me I asked?

If I had told you, your trip would have been ruined, Ikenna wouldn’t be in my apartment now, and you wouldn’t have made the progress you have made Dubem said. 

What progress I angrily asked. Don’t be silly sweetheart, came Dubem’s response. You have been away from Ikenna for over two years. A lot has happened, at least you know the truth. 

How does this help me, I asked? It’ll help with your healing. I was so angry that I put a few belongings together, took some of Chiemerie and headed to pick him up from school, and headed to a hotel.

Chiemerie could not understand why we didn’t go home. I got him some food, switched on the TV, and headed to the bathroom to cry. 

I thought I closed the door. I thought I had locked the bathroom door but I didn’t lock it. 

As I sobbed I felt a gentle hand touch me and ask why are you crying? Is it daddy? I didn’t know how to respond. I just hugged him. 

He freed himself and wiped my tears with his hands before reaching for a tissue paper in the bathroom and handing it to me.

I blew my nose and wiped my tears. I was so hurt but my son attempted to pull me up even though he couldn’t. I stood up and followed him. 

He hadn’t touched his food, instead, he dragged me to the closest where our bags were, pointing and saying uncle Dubem. 

It surprised me because he had never called him that. I always refer to my brother as Uncle Dubem, but he’ll always welcome him home screaming daddy. 

I didn’t want to stop him because I didn’t know if his father would be in his life.

I asked him what he wanted and he managed to say I want to see uncle Dubem. 

He brought me my phone to call him. When I took my phone I noticed I had missed calls. I checked and it was Dubem. 

He had called 10 times and sent a message. I read the message and it said “Please where are you? 

I came home as soon as I could. Ikenna told me you left with a bag. Please tell me where you are, let’s sort this out “.

READ ALSO SEE FINISH EPISODE 12

To be continued

© Treasure Ezuruike.

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