CASSANDRA 

Episode 16

The look on everyone’s face as I led Cassandra into our old sitting room was quite revealing . The smile on my parents face made me proud and happy, my brothers equally nodded in admiration but my little sister simply stared at us as if she couldn’t believe what she was seeing, leaving me a bit worried with her shocked expression. I instantly regretted not carrying her along and letting her know on time about my relationship with Cassandra. Moreover the girl in question was no other person than her school mate and friend.

However my failure in telling my sister anything concerning my relationship with Cassandra was firstly because she was my junior in every aspect and I couldn’t bring myself to discuss such issue with her even though as a married woman I wasn’t supposed to be seeing her as a kid anymore but i still did.

‘’Cassandra!’’ my shocked sister finally exclaimed, leaving my parents more surprised and curious.

‘’you know her?’’ my mother quickly asked. She nodded quietly.

‘’yea she is my school mate and friend but I’m just surprised because I never suspected nor excepted to see her with my brother’’ she quickly answered.

‘’well I wanted it to be a surprise to everyone’’ I intelligently cut In, smiling as i tightened my grip on Cassandra who looked a bit nervous…

”wow such a beautiful girl. welcome to the family” my dad smartly added, killing the little tension in the room.

We all relaxed as everyone finally accepted and treated Cassandra as a member of the family, apart from my sister who still behaved strangely.

———————–

Cassandra spent close to four hours with us, charming everyone with her behavior and manners. My parents quickly fell in love with her, same as my brothers who congratulated me in securing the heart of a very educated and sophisticated girl.

My sister was the only person whose cold attitude disturbed me. She simply kept to herself and only spoke when spoken to. I really couldn’t pick out what made her so cold and gloomy, a behavior she wasn’t used to. I equally was more disturbed due to the fact that Cassandra was her friend. A girl who equally attended her marriage ceremony the previous year.

My sister’s behavior really disappointed me and it was with utmost restraint that I held myself from pouring out my frustration on her.

Cassandra on the other hand, pretended not to notice my Sister’s behavior, instead acted so cool and mature like a very good actress, impressing me a great deal.

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‘’ I hope you will visit us as often as possible. I cant believe I have gotten fond of you in such a short time” mum begged as Cassandra got ready to leave. She smiled gracefully,

‘’yes of course, I will always visit to see you. I feel so happy being here with you’’ she answered sweetly. My mother hugged her happily.

‘’such a wonderful lady she is. Hmmmm she’s lovely’’ I overheard dad say as I escorted Cassandra out of the house.

I was a happy man. So fulfilled and contented.

———————————–

‘’thank you for making me a happy man. I just cant describe how I feel right now. Listen, from this moment you will be my responsibility, my sole responsibility. You made me happy and proud. You will never lack a thing. You deserve all the good things in the world’’ I promised my beauty queen as soon as we were all alone in my car. She beamed with joy, smiling deeply as she reached out with her hand to touch my cheek.

‘’come on why are you being overly nice?. It’s not as if I did something extra ordinary. Your family were very nice to me and that made my visit so memorable’’ she replied like an innocent little girl. I stared deep into her eyes with so much love.

To me Cassandra was everything. Pure, beautiful, awesome, sophisticated and polished. My love for her kind of increased with every passing minute.

‘’but your sister. She’s my friend but there is no doubt she isn’t happy seeing me with you. The reason for such behavior, Is what i don’t know’’ she added, looking down like someone who just received a terrible punch on the face. I slowly held her hand.

‘’I will talk to my sister. She’s a small girl’’ I murmured nervously with a fast pounding heart. She breathed deeply and raised up her face.

‘’well it’s very common. Most girls don’t like seeing their friends hanging out with their brothers. It’s quite understandable’’ she breathed.

‘Please say nothing more” i begged, clasping her hands.

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I finally dropped Cassandra off at the village motor park where she took a bus heading back to Owerri. I returned to meet my sister waiting for me in front of our house. But before I could even say a word, she surprisingly confronted me, leaving me extremely shocked and stunned.

‘’come on big bro, what the the hell are you doing with Cassandra?, of all the girls in the world, you picked Cassandra. Are you so blind?, cant you see she is so fake?. What did she do to you?’’ she asked, grabbing my right hand strongly.

‘’you know, I don’t just get you. If there is anything you need me to know about Cassandra better spit it out now?’’ I barked, drawing the attention of everyone in the house as I stared down on my sister, expecting an answer…

Ep 17

‘’yes my dear, if there is anything you know about the young lady, better spit it out’’ my mother urged my sister who shrugged and shook her head, saying nothing. It was as if she was battling with herself to say something or not. I just couldn’t understand her behavior.

‘’it’s not as if I’m trying to spoil your mind or something, but come on brother, why Cassandra?, what did you see in her?’’ she finally blurted, getting me more angry with her comment. It was very obvious she had nothing against Cassandra, but was only kicking against the relationship merely because her spirit wasn’t in support of it.

‘’you are still making no sense. What’s wrong in me choosing Cassandra?’’ I asked vehemently.

‘’do you know her lifestyle?. Do you know where she lives?, have you studied her well?. How much do you know about her?” she quickly pushed on, getting on my nerves with each word she uttered. My mother quickly sensed my mood, drew close and held me.

‘’even though your sister is making no sense at the moment, I still believe you shouldn’t wave aside her feelings. Just like everyone of us here, what we want is the best for you because you are the pillar of this family and so owe us nothing short of a good respectable wife. You know there are somethings we women see that men no matter how enlightened they are fail to see. Moreover there are so things we women equally find hard to say before a man. I believe your sister have genuine reasons for her ranting besides she knows the girl better than you do’’ my mother appealed, calming me with her words. I breathed deeply and shrugged.

‘’you are very right mother. Thanks for making things easier for me to understand’’ I muttered.

‘’I’m sorry bro for shouting at you but the truth is that I was extremely surprised to see that girl called Cassandra, walk into our house. She never even breathed a word that you guys were dating to me, even though we ran into each other numerous times last month. Cassandra isn’t who you think she is. She is very materialistic and ambitious. She is an expert when it comes in dealing with men. I have know her for three years and never for once did she introduce any guy to me as her boyfriend, yet tons of men flock around her like vultures. So tell me brother, is that the type of woman you want to marry?. A girl whose life is very much unreadable and confusing. A girl who knows how to get what she wants without much effort. A girl who attracts everything that is of interest to her. Have you been to her apartment before?, have you studied her lifestyle and engagements?. How much time have you spent with her?. You don’t need to answer, if you don’t want you’’ my dear sister pushed on, shaking me with her words which were so soft but yet powerful and truthful.

Yes she was right, I haven’t been opportune to visit Cassandra. I didn’t even know the name of her hostel, room number nor anything substantiate about her. I equally haven’t been able to monitor her more appropriately nor spent enough time with her. The only thing I could boast of was knowing her family

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Later in the night my sister came into my room, looking very apologetic and serious. She sat beside me on the bed and stared at me for some seconds.

”I’m very sorry for the way i behaved earlier in the day but please promise me you will think things through concerning your relationship with Cassandra” she begged solemnly, touching my heart with her words. For the very first time i had serious doubts concerning Cassandra. It was obvious my sister was strongly kicking against her due to something she probably was keeping to herself. I felt the things she revealed earlier concerning Cassandra was just a fraction of what she knew, nevertheless i was still strongly in love with Cassandra. My feelings still remained the same but as a human i was very curious to learn from her if there was something else about Cassandra she wasn’t telling me.

”please dear. I’m your brother. i need to know all you know about Cassandra” i begged, holding her hands in a serious gesture of appeal.

Episode 18

‘’hmmm fine but I don’t know if you will believe this’’ my sister finally muttered after a brief hesitation. I curiously stared at her with a fast pounding heart.

‘’you see there was this rumour years back that Cassandra got pregnant for an older man who denied her pregnancy, leaving the poor girl demoralized and troubled. It was the period I first met her, but I really don’t know what happened to the pregnancy because she soon left school for about a month and returned, looking fresh and changed. She returned a different person . The change in her was so obvious that even her close friends couldn’t make anything out of it. Her lifestyle completely changed to that of a snake. She now wears different look and character as she deems fit’’ she slowly narrated, leaving me quiet for some seconds.

‘’so you really want me to believe this story?. How am I sure you didn’t cook it all up?’’ I asked with disbelief.

‘’I have no reason to lie to you brother, but please if you still want to carry on with her, do take out time to study everything about her’’ she added, stood up and left.

I feel back on my bed, greatly troubled and confused.

‘’dear lord, help me’’ I prayed…

———————————————–

The month of April ( that fateful year) turned out to be a very difficult one for me. One of my shops in Onitsha almost got burnt and business wasn’t really booming like the previous months. I was left with no choice than to leave everything and concentrate on my business. I shuttled from Owerri to Onitsha almost every week, and really had no time for myself nor even time to focus my attention on Cassandra.

Luckily for me, by mid May, God slowly rewarded my efforts and things started picking up fine for me again. I soon had the much needed time to think and plan ahead concerning my relationship with Cassandra.

I planned doing as my sister requested. I planned asking Cassandra to come visit and at least spend a week with me, to enable me watch her more closely. I equally planned paying a visit to where she lived. I felt it was the real thing to do and equally the only way to be sure of everything.

However the month of May slowly wrapped up without me doing even a single thing in my list of plans concerning Cassandra, but I wasn’t worried about it because I still had many months to go on with it.

On last Sunday of the month, Chinedu paid me an unexpected early morning visit. The look on his face clearly told me that all wasn’t fine. My skipped a beat as I stared at him, uncertain of the grave news he came with.

‘’did someone die?. Did his shop burn or what?’’ I wondered as we shared a bottle of alcoholic wine.

‘’I was with Nora’s friend yesterday’’ he slowly opened up, leaving me more curious than ever.

‘’you know the Enugu girl that runs a restaurant down the second street?’’ he explained while I nodded.

‘’well I was with her yesterday and she confided in me that Nora is pregnant’’ he added, throwing me off balance with his words.

‘’what!!!!’’ I exclaimed with great shock.

‘’yes she is pregnant and apparently the baby is yours’’ he affirmed strongly, leaving me very shaken and speechless as a thousand and one thoughts ran through my head.

Episode 19

‘’this is unbelievable. D--n’’ I breathed, standing up with great frustration. Chinedu silently watched me for some seconds, breathed deeply and shrugged.

‘’by the look of things, it seems all of Nora’s friends are already aware of this. I heard she isn’t hiding her condition nor ashamed of it. I just had to let you know about it because I know you wont be happy with me if I should keep such news away from you and you later discover it’’ he summarized while I shook my head with great wonder. The news was just too odd to be true. I only slept with Nora once moreover supposing I was the person responsible for her pregnancy she would have told me first before any other person.

‘’no this isn’t real’’ I stammered nervously.

‘’well I have done my part, believing it or not is your own cup of tea’’ Chinedu added, standing up to leave. I quickly sensed that my reaction was annoying him.

‘’come on bro, where are you going?, don’t tell me you have started going to Church’’ I joked, leaving a smile on his face.

‘’i’m not doubting the credibility of the news. It’s just that i’m shocked. Why hasn’t she breathed a word about it to me?’’ I asked my friend who simply shrugged.

‘’what do I do now?. Do I have to sit and wait or should I confront her?’’ I asked curiously.

‘’well if i’m in your position, I will definitely confront her, to know the truth. Though I will have to be very diplomatic with it. You know women are very sensitive, moreover your relationship with Nora is a strange one’’he answered. I rubbed my face with frustration. I instantly regretted sleeping with Nora.

‘’what will be the fate of my relationship with Cassandra if this news turns out to be true?’’ I wondered with great fear. I just was totally confused and scared.

‘’but supposing this is true, why will Nora keep it away from me?’’ I asked Chinedu once again.

‘’well it could be that she is scared of telling you about it or maybe she doesn’t want you to have anything to do with her baby since you don’t want her in your life. Besides you know she is is very comfortable and independent.’’ He answered intelligently.

‘’I will take your advise of confronting her. I need to know the truth’’ I stammered anxiously.

‘’so what if the baby is truly yours. What will you do?’’ he asked curiously.

‘’I don’t know brother. I don’t just know. The lady I want to be with is Cassandra. I’m so scared and confused right now’’ I confessed.

‘’I think you should do the right thing and confirm the truth from Nora first, afterwards we can figure out something’’ he advised, leaving me with a little hope.

———————————-

Chinedu left my apartment after staying with me for about an hour. I was left all alone to struggle with my thoughts. My head was just filled with lots of strange thoughts, yet I couldn’t figure out a d--n solution or way to how handle the situation if eventually the pregnancy story turns out to be true. I was in this state of mind till 2pm when I summoned up the courage to head to Nora’s apartment.

I walked to Nora’s apartment with prayers on my lips.Of course there was no way to know what to expect from the poor girl. I very much knew i did her wrong but then it wasn’t entirely my fault and it was good things ended the way it did between us.

I nervously knocked on the door, uncertain of what to expect. So scared and shaken i was. The door soon opened to reveal Nora who froze with surprise on seeing me. I quickly forced out a smile, trying me best to appear calm.

”hmmm what a surprise” Nora breathed curiously, searching me with her eyes.

”please can i come in?” i asked politely. She drew back and let me in.

Walking into the apartment, i turned and faced her, carefully taking me time to study her appearance. There wasn’t any doubt she added a little weight. she appeared bigger than she used to be, even though i couldn’t make out her real shape because she was putting on a native gown.

”now cut the suspense and tell me what brought you here?” she asked seriously, taking a step towards me. I breathed deeply and hesitated for a second.

”come on what brought you here?”‘ she demanded again.

”i really don’t know how to say this. I apologize if it sounds offensive but i have been hearing rumors that you are pregnant and i just want to know if it is true?” i nervously asked, leaving the girl before me extremely furious. My question sent a great wave of anger over her. She instantly pounced on me, pushing me out of her apartment with great force.

”what an insult. I cant believe my ears. So you just came to my apartment after four months of avoiding me to ask if I’m pregnant. Are you blind or dumb?.. What an attitude. Get out” She screamed at me like she had never done in her life.

I really felt so bad over her reaction but unbelievably i kind of felt a strange sensation as she laid her hands on me that very afternoon. The feeling was something i just can’t describe but i had no doubt she was actually carrying my baby.

Episode 20

‘’come on Nora, you shouldn’t be worked up over my question’’ I pleaded as she pushed me out of her apartment. On a very good day I would have stood me ground and stopped her from pushing me violently but I knew better than to act In such way.

‘’don’t ever disturb my peace again. I beg of you’’ she screamed at me as she shut her apartment entrance door on my face. I stood outside for a moment, clueless on what next to do.

‘’Nora please be civil. Let us talk’’ I pleaded as I knocked on the door once again.

‘’leave me David. Go away. I don’t want to see you ever again’’ she screamed from inside.

—————-

After knocking for some minutes , I picked up myself and returned to my apartment to continue my thinking session from where i stopped earlier. Supposing she had at least answered my question I would have known the direction to focus my thoughts on.

‘’dear Lord. I need a way.please open my eyes. Lead me to the right path’’ I prayed miserably.

————————————–

I had a very sleepless night. I couldn’t even sleep for an hour and the next day I headed to my shop with a very weak body. Chinedu was the first to check up on me the moment he noticed I was around.

‘’so what’s up?’’ he asked, expecting a story. I shrugged and breathed deeply..

‘’my brother Nora threw me out of her house the moment I popped the question. She couldn’t even tell me if she is pregnant or not, talk more of discussing anything with me. I’m so totally confused. What if this is a ploy to get me confused and make me lose focus in my relationship with Cassandra?. What if this is part of her revenge?. Tell me is there any reason why a sane lady wont tell the guy who got her pregnant about her pregnancy before spreading the news outside. I just feel so empty’’ I poured out my frustration and feelings to my friend who nodded with great understanding.

‘’I do understand how you feel right now brother. Of course she has every right to tell you the truth unless maybe she isn’t pregnant after all or perhaps you aren’t responsible for the pregnancy. You know at first I thought maybe she was scared of telling you about it but now it seems to me that she has something up her sleeves. Though I’m really surprised because Nora looks like a level-headed girl to me. I think I should talk to her. I believe she will talk to me’’ he suddenly offered while I shook my head.

‘’no no no. this is my problem and I will handle it myself’’ I breathed strongly..

————————————————————–

By 8pm that Monday evening, I once again made my way to Nora’s apartment. Yes I looked brave on the outside but deep within, I was nervous.

Nora soon opened the door to see me standing at her doorpost. She drew back with surprise. She just couldn’t believe her eyes.

‘’I thought I told you not to disturb me again?’’ she fired instantly while I nodded pleadingly.

‘’yes I know but please listen to me. Two wrongs cant make a right. Don’t be like me. Don’t be clouded or let your feelings speak for you. I beg of you’’ I pleaded with all my heart, melting her mind with my plea which touched her a great deal. Her face changed as she stared at me with sympathy.

‘’okay yes I’m pregnant and the baby is yours. The baby is the result of our first time together and that night still means a lot to me. I’m keeping the baby and I will raise him all alone. I will never disturb nor ask you for anything. Just see him as a parting gift you left me.So don’t be scared about anything. Enjoy your life with Cassandra. I’m not a woman who will force a man on myself. So you are free just like you have always been. Good night. I just pray Cassandra makes you happy, just like God is making me happy’’ she poured out and shut the door on my face, not giving me a chance to say a word.

Oh dear and I would have told her a lot of things that very evening supposing she gave me the chance. Yes I’m a very strong guy but I headed to my room after her speech with tears in my eyes.

There wasn’t any doubt Nora was a wondrous and virtuous lady. She plainly was sacrificing her own happiness and dreams just for me to be free and happy, something I never expected from a lady like her and that probably was the reason she failed telling me about her pregnancy .