CASSANDRA 

Episode 11

Later in the night as we settled for a good night sleep. My heart pounded quickly out of excitement. I really was dying to make love to Cassandra. I so badly wanted to take the kiss she gave me earlier in the day which was still fresh in my memo ry to the next level. My excitement knew no bounds.

‘’Cassandra’’ I breathed, grabbing her waist as my heart pounded faster..

‘’I so much love you. I so much want to be with you for the rest of my life. Please make me a happy man.’’ I pleaded. She smiled and breathed deeply.

‘’I’m here with you my dear. I have no plans of going anywhere’’ she replied sweetly. I drew closer, kissing her forehead. She kept quiet and closed her eyes, an action which I saw as a green light to continue with what I planned doing.

I so much wanted to make love to her. I so much wanted to relieve the tension in my waist. I so much wanted to be inside her. I so badly wanted to hear her scream and moan underneath me. I so much wanted to taste my Cassandra. I so much wanted to have a taste of her juicy body.

Slowly reaching down, I touched her b----t as the second step in tuning her up, slowly fondly the right side but she quickly held my hand, stopping me.

‘’oh Dave what do you want?’’ she asked like a child. I swallowed hard, and kissed her lips.

‘’I badly want to make you mine. I love you so much Cassandra. I want you’’ I breathed. She quickly drew back and sat up.

‘’we need to talk’’ she said, looking very serious.

‘’what do you want us to talk tonight?’’ I asked, sitting up and quickly controlling my raging hormones which were in the process of blowing out of proportion. I switched on the electric table lamp beside me in order to see her face clearly.

‘’yes I know you have been doing a lot for me lately. You have a very good and noble heart. All that i appreciate but I’m still yet to make a big decision concerning our relationship. Things between us are speeding much more than can be imagined. Yes It’s a good thing but nevertheless we should respect each other . A relationship is all about knowing each other, building up trust and setting up a harmonious future. Sex is never a priority and should be something done when the relationship has reached maturity. And what I mean by maturity, is after the relationship has been legalized by marriage. In other words, I’m among the few ladies who believe in *no sex before marriage*’’ she preached, leaving me totally demoralized with her words.

Sensing my mood, She drew closer and caressed my chest, smiling reassuringly.

‘’listen my dear, sex isn’t something unmarried couples should engage in. it’s a very big sin, moreover I made a vow to God that I will keep my body and heart pure till marriage only if he will get me a good man. God answered my prayers by bringing you to me and I have to keep my vow’’ she added solemnly, throwing herself on me in an embrace. I held her tightly, sad but comforted with her words.

‘’so when are we meeting your parents. I’m so much in a hurry to meet them. I’m so much in a hurry to take our relationship to the next level’’ I pushed on, surprising her with my words. She quickly broke free from me and stared into my eyes. It was very obvious she wasn’t expecting such words from me.

‘’valentine’s day is about two weeks away. How about we visit your family and celebrate the festive day with them?’’ I offered seriously,pushing her back with my words. This time her face colored up with astonishment. Her hands shook for no reason.

‘’I’m very serious about you. I now leave the yam and knife with you. Everything is in your hands. Just tell me how it’s going to be like. Will you take me to your family on Valentine’s day?’’ I pushed on, drawing close to kiss her.

‘’do you really love me that much?’’ she asked with a slow whisper, surprising me with the question.

‘’oh yes I love you so much my dear. I will do anything to prove it’’ I replied quickly but the next thing I saw was tears in her eyes. Cassandra started crying for no reason. Perhaps it was tears of joy..

‘’no it cant be’’ she cried and backed me.

Episode 12

‘’what can’t be my dear?’’i asked , holding her with concern. She shook her head and stared into my eyes.

‘’such strong love. So powerful and pure. I cant believe you feel so much for me’’ she poured out, melting my heart with her words. I smiled with satisfaction.

‘’but please let’s just sleep. I want to sleep now’’ she begged, leaving me with no choice than to shrug with resignation even though deep down I still badly felt like exploring her to my satisfaction. I never believed in holding sex till marriage. It was one of the things I hated to even imagine, nevertheless I was ready to let her be for the night.

‘’there isn’t any need rushing things’’ I reasoned.

Nothing eventful happened early the next day. However Just like the last time she visited, she cleaned my house and cooked for me. By 4pm we visited chinedu who hosted us at a plush eatery close to his apartment. It really was an opportunity I used in letting my friend check out Cassandra who as usual behaved her best. She so totally impressed Chinedu that he ended up smiling and nodding to all she did..

But as we returned to my apartment hours later, we ran into Nora at the corridor, something i so much wished not to happen and It equally was my first time of seeing her after the passionate evening we shared a week a ago. Nora froze on seeing us while I quickly regained my composure and greeted her jovially.

‘’wow Nora, it’s been a while ooo. How have you been doing?’’ I greeted quickly. She forced out a smile , throwing a quick look at Cassandra.

‘’oh yes I have been busy. Good evening’’ she greeted.

‘’meet my friend Cassandra. the girl I told you about sometime back’’ I introduced, Cassandra blushed and greeted .

‘’you are welcome my dear. Please make my neighbor very happy. The poor guy wont let me rest with your story’’ she politely said to Cassandra who blushed once again. I stared at her with disbelief. I couldn’t believe she could act so cool and friendly before Cassandra. My guilty conscience instantly began hurting me.

‘’okay now. Good night’’ She greeted and walked past us while I slowly went into my apartment with Cassandra who never noticed how miserable and shaken up I was.

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As we settled for down for a good night sleep. I hungrily stared at Cassandra once again, overly tempted to pounce and make love to the beautiful girl. I really was so h---y and desperate. I just couldn’t continue staring at the food before me, unable to do a thing.

‘’Cassandra dear’’ I breathed, placing my hand on her body.

‘’what is it again? ‘’ she asked sleepily .

‘’you didn’t say anything concrete when I brought up the proposal of seeing your parents on valentine’s day’’ I asked, gently caressing her body as I slowly made my way to her b----t.

‘’I think you are just rushing things between us. Something as delicate as a relationship shouldn’t be rushed. We still have a lot of time to know each other. I’m really not in support of you seeing my family so soon’’ she replied, removing my hand from her body and getting me very angrily for the first time. Perhaps it was the sex I knew I wont get that night or the way she removed my hand from her body that got me very upset.

I sprang up with great energy, breathing furiously with annoyance.

‘’what’s with you eh?. I help you out in everything. I’m even ready to do more, yet you still treat me like an acquaintance. I’m not even qualified to see your family talk more of touching you.’’ I fired angrily. She instantly sat up with fear, totally surprised that i could raise my voice on her.

‘’calm down please. You simply misunderstood me’’ she murmured, holding my hand softly and calming me with her words.

‘’’I’m so sorry dear. Fine we will go together to see my parents on valentine’s day’’ she suddenly accepted, leaving my heaving a sigh of relief. I realized that moment that acting manly sometimes is needed to make things happen.

‘’are you happy now?’’ she asked while i shrugged with resignation. She smiled and fell back on the bed.

‘’just hold me tightly , lets sleep’’ she added and backed while I slowly fell back on the bed and did as she requested.

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Cassandra left on Sunday evening with eighteen thousand Naira, promising to show up early on valentine’s day. I really was so happy that finally I wasn’t only getting her love, but equally having a control over her life.

I shared my experience and feelings with Chinedu the next day at his shop.

‘’well Cassandra is quite a charming lady. I have nothing else to say about her. So my dear friend, all I will do is just to sit and watch as things unfold between you guys’’ he said with a shrug.

I was left with no choice than to nervously wait for valentine’s day to arrive. I literally counted the days as I anxiously waited.

But Unfortunately for me, Cassandra never picked my calls nor showed up on valentine’s day.

Episode 13

I just cant describe how I felt that early Valentine’s day when I dialed Cassandra’s number and found it was switched off. At first I had hope that she would soon switch on the phone since it was still early and probably was switched off as she slept the previous night. But as 12noon approached and the phone was yet to be switched on, I became extremely worried, scared and suspicious. I painfully realized that her phone was most likely switched off to avoid my calls. A realization that clouded my entire being. I felt so terrible, so humiliated, so deceived. I felt like smashing my head on the wall.

A day that was supposed to be one of my most memorable days slowly turned into a painful nightmare. I couldn’t believe Cassandra could play me in such manner. I couldn’t help but think of what she could be doing that very moment.

‘’she’s most probably with a guy or about seeing someone else’’ I reasoned with great pain. All the plans and hopes I had for that day slowly dashed.

I couldn’t eat. I couldn’t think properly. I couldn’t even do anything.

To make matters worse my friend Chinedu called to know if Cassandra and I had finally gotten to Portharcourt. Something he did so innocently as a friend but his question left me feeling more bitter. I couldn’t even tell him that Cassandra was yet to show up. I couldn’t tell him that Cassandra was disappointing me.

‘’please bro, I will call you later’’ was all I managed to say before ending his call.

Slowly the clock struck 2pm with Cassandra’s phone still switched off, nevertheless I still had some faint hopes that she would show up. .

‘’dear lord, don’t let her disappoint me’’ I prayed fearfully.

My heart really was more than shattered and broken. I had that painful feeling we guys get when we catch the person we love so much cheating on us. Mine was even more painful because i trusted the d--n girl with all my heart.

I was close to tears as the clock struck 7pm without Cassandra showing up nor her phone switched on. I hopelessly went to bed with an empty stomach and a broken heart.

I couldn’t believe it was all happening. My life just came to a standstill . I felt terribly bad and sick. I couldn’t help but come to the conclusion that the woman I loved so much was playing me like a leather ball. Oh it was such a painful feeling of hopelessness. But the unfortunate and surprising thing of it all was that my heart was ready to forgive Cassandra.

I was still ready to do everything for her.

Finally early the next day, my phone woke me up with its loud ringing tone. I grabbed my phone to see that it was Cassandra who was calling. My heart froze as I nervously answered.

‘’I’m so sorry for disappointing you dear. My phone was down yesterday and there wasn’t any electricity in my hostel to charge the phone. Moreover I also woke up with a terrible stomach upset. I vomited all through yesterday. I was even unable to leave my bed. Please I’m so sorry for disappointing you’’ she apologized effortlessly, leaving me breathing deeply.

To be sincere with myself, I knew she was lying but I closed my heart to it and chose to believe all she said. I just was badly in love with her, moreover hearing her voice very early in the day changed my feelings. I suddenly became happy once again.

‘’please I’m ready to do anything to relieve the pain I probably caused you yesterday’’ she added.

‘’the only way you can compensate me is by coming over as soon as possible’’ I muttered seriously.

‘’’fine, I’m on my way then’’ she accepted quickly and hung up, leaving me with the strangest feeling I ever had.

I was so much in love with Cassandra but for the first time I was scared of my future with her.

Episode 14

..

Minutes after the phone call, Chinedu showed up at my apartment to check up on me. He really was worried by the cold manner I answered his call the previous day and quite knew that something wasn’t alright.

‘’I knew it. I knew something was wrong yesterday. Your voice was so strange and different. i sensed it’’ he said seriously after I told him all that happened the previous day plus Cassandra’s phone call minutes ago.

‘’so what do you think bro?’’ I asked while he shrugged.

‘’it’s very obvious Cassandra spend Valentine’s day with her school boyfriend or someone she met before you. It’s very common among students but by her calling you early today, it shows she still wants to keep you by her side. Everything is in your hands. It’s left for you to continue or not but as for me you know I do prefer Nora over the pretty girl’’ he said seriously. I rubbed my face with my palms with worry, very uncertain of which part to follow. The love i had for Cassandra was so real and pure. it wasn’t something that could be waved away so effortlessly.

Marrying the pretty girl was an accomplishment I so badly wanted to achieve but with the situation of things, I just wasn’t sure of myself anymore. Moreover cutting my relationship with her at that early stage also meant abandoning the money I already had invested on her.

My phone rang that moment and it was Cassandra calling again. I stared at my phone for some seconds before answering.

‘’hi dear, are we still going to see my family today?’’ she asked,

‘’yes we are’’ I answered, leaving her silent for some seconds as she probably pondered over my answer and how to reply me.

‘’it’s just as if you are rushing things for no reason, but it’s alright I’m already on my way to your house’’ she muttered and hung up.

Chinedu took his leave soon after, but he equally dropped another advice, begging me to be careful and think things through.

———————————–

By 10am that fateful morning, Cassandra arrived at my apartment looking very sharp and beautiful in a green gown. Seeing her looking so hot and mature removed all the doubts and bad feelings i was having before she arrived. I swallowed hard as i admired her beauty while she graciously threw herself on me, apologizing once again for disappointing me the previous day. I smiled with great joy.

Minutes later, we left my apartment and headed to Porthacourt, stopping on the way to buy some things for her family.

It really was an uneventful drive from Owerri to Portharcourt. We said nothing much to each other, instead concentrated on our thoughts. In no time we arrived at her family house, which surprisingly was located in a plush neighbourhood.

No one was at the house when we arrived but after waiting for some minutes Cassandra’s mother showed up, looking very surprised.

‘’my dear you never told us you were coming home, nor coming with a friend.’’ Her mother queried, hugging her daughter and expertly seizing me up.

‘’yes mum, it was a sudden decision. Actually I planned coming yesterday’’ she replied softly before introducing me to her mother.

———————————————–

I spend close to three hours in Cassandra’s house. Her mother was very friendly and kind. She welcomed me as if I was part of the family and equally served me a wonderful meal of pounded yam and vegetable soup. Cassandra’s father who showed up later in the day was more reserved and a bit cold. He asked very prying and unnecessary questions which I answered easily. However I made no mention that I was interested in marrying their daughter because it was my first visit and traditionally not acceptable to do so in the first visit.

By 4:30pm, I got up to leave, very satisfied and happy. Cassandra told that she was staying to spend some days with her family , something I never expected but quickly accepted.

‘’so you see, I have nothing to hide. My ways are plan and simple. You have seen my family, haven’t you?’’’ she asked with her usual killing smile as she escorted me to my car. I smiled back with great happiness.

”i’m a very plain girl. you should learn to trust me” she added very innocently, leaving me with no cause to worry about anything. I stared deep into her eyes and held her hands.

‘’I will take you to my family during the coming Easter celebration. I can’t wait to introduce you to my whole family’’ I muttered, stunning her with my words. She froze and stared at me with disbelief while I nodded like a happy lizard.

‘’you are going to be mine sooner than you expect dear’’ I said in my mind, very sure of myself.

Marrying the beautiful damsel was the only thing in my mind that moment. I hoped for the best. I prayed for a wonderful life with her..

Oh Cassandra.

Episode 15

‘’one more thing my dear’’ Cassandra prayed, drawing closer to me. I stared at her curiously, wondering what else she wanted to say.

‘’we wont be seeing each other again till after my exams. I will be very busy with school stuff once I get back to school in two days time, moreover our exams are very tough, and….’’ She tried to explain, but I instantly stopped her, placing a finger on her lips.

‘’I understand dear, no need to explain. Just study hard , your education matters a lot to me. I believe before the last week of march your exams will be over’’ I said softly while she nodded happily.

‘’yes, thanks for understanding and have a safe journey’’ she added sweetly…..

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I returned to my apartment a very happy man. All the pains and bad feelings I had the previous day all disappeared. I hoped for best. I prayed for the best. I prayed for a happy ending.

I just couldn’t wait to start up the necessary marriage talks with Cassandra’s family. Easter was even too far to wait for.

Chinedu was extremely surprised when I told him about the trip the next day, of course he never believed Cassandra was going to take me to her home and never hid his surprise and feelings after i narrated everything to him.

‘’hmmmm my guy, I just don’t know what to say anymore. With the way things are, I think she sincerely likes you’’ he ended up saying.

‘’I plan taking Cassandra to see my family this coming Easter. By November , I will start up marriage talks and by December our wedding plans and ceremony will be fixed and ready. I just have to work more hard and make more money bro’’ I opened up to my friend.

‘’hmmm you are really serious brother. I guess it’s time I start making my own plans’’ he joked.

‘’no bro don’t start making plans for the future, continue playing around. By the time you finally get ready to get married my first daughter will be your bridesmaid’’ I joked back, leaving him laughing hard.

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The rest of the month was totally uneventful. I concentrated on my business and worked extra hard to make something more out of it. Cassandra never visited like she said , but we spoke on phone every day. I really had nothing against the girl nor did she act in any way to make me doubtful nor suspicious of her movements, though we really were far from each other which made it impossible to watch her like I would have wanted .

Nora on her own part stayed away from me, she never checked up on me neither did I ask of her, however as neighbors we ran into each other occasionally.

March slowly sped by, leaving me more excited and hopeful with each passing day. I just couldn’t wait for Easter to arrive. I just couldn’t wait to introduce Cassandra to my family. I even had to tell all siblings and parents to get ready to meet the lady I was bringing home for them on Easter. I had to ask my siblings, including my sister who got married the previous year to come home for the major event. Of course it was to be a very big occasion in my family, the first time I was bringing home a lady.

———————————————-

Slowly the month of march wrapped up , leaving me high with excitement and expectation. Cassandra surprised me with a visit on Monday afternoon, just six days before Easter Sunday. I really wasn’t expecting to see her and due to that wasn’t at home when she called. I had to direct her to my shop.

She showed up with her travel bag and a big nylon bag she held with her left hand, breathing heavily.

At first glance, I thought she was coming to stay with me till the D day which made me more happy and excited but after welcoming her, she told me she was on her way home for the holiday but just stopped by to surprise me, dashing my hopes with the explanation.

At the end of the day, she ended up leaving with ten thousand naira, which was the amount she needed in fixing her hair, sewing a new cloth and for her transportation to my home town on Easter Sunday…

———————————————

I returned to my village on Saturday evening to be with my family and wait for Cassandra’s appearance. My sister tried to force me into describing how the person they were all expecting looked like but I had to keep everyone in suspense till Sunday afternoon when Cassandra arrived leaving everyone breathless.

My sister was completely dumbstruck and overwhelmed as she

saw my beauty Queen who equally was her friend walk into the house with a graceful smile.