CASSANDRA
Episode 48
Few minutes after Edwin and his gang left, I picked up myself and staggered to my car, not caring to check the level of injury done to my body. All that was in my head that moment was to get out of the place as fast as possible. I really was very humiliated and messed up by the silly boy and of course I was very ashamed of myself.
I really couldn’t stop the horrifying event from playing back in my head over and over. The idiots really paid no respect to my personality or age as they dealt with me as if I was their mate.
‘’’you will pay for this Edwin, I swear. I won’t mind killing you if the police fails to act on this” I swore as I drove furiously back to my apartment.
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On getting to my apartment, I took a quick shower, changed and first headed to a small clinic close to my house to get myself checked up by a doctor. Afterwards, I headed to the state police headquarters to lodge a complaint but I couldn’t make any headway with it because I was asked to first report my case to the divisional police station within the school community where the crime happened and if the police over there should fail to take any serious action that I should report back to them.
After a little argument, I had no choice than to return to my apartment and eagerly wait for Monday to come by. I just couldn’t wait to throw the little rascal and his gang behind bars.
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Sunday dragged by very slowly, offering nothing exciting to me. I spent the day all alone, suffering the great the pain from my injuries and thinking about Cassandra. I spent the day all alone like a man without friends and the painful part of it all was the feeling that Cassandra was probably having a good time that moment with another man. An idea Edwin consciously sold to me and yes I bought it because that could be the only reason why her phones where all switched off.
‘’I pray I’m wrong. I hope she isn’t with another man. God please I hope it isn’t true?’’ I prayed inwardly as my thoughts wandered dangerously towards what she could be doing with another man since the day she left her hostel.
‘’perhaps she’s safe in her house and I’m here thinking rubbish’’ I merely concluded after hours of ceaselessly thinking.
‘’but what if she is really seeing another man, what will you do?, can I bear the pain and torture?, can I stand to look her on the face anymore?. noooooooo’’ I breathed as the questions kept popping out of my mind every second no matter how hard I tried to suppress it and to be sincere I really had no answer for them.
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Early Monday morning, I headed towards Cassandra school to make an entry at the police divisional headquarters located there. All that was in my mind was vengeance. I just couldn’t let the humiliation of the previous week go without taking any action. I badly needed to deal with the little rascal no matter what it takes.
Unfortunately for me, the policemen I met there were really something else. They were just very dull and lazy. The officer I reported my case to bluntly told me that there was nothing they could do about it at the moment.
‘’Mr. David I really understand how you feel right now, but unfortunately there is nothing we could do now than to carry out an investigation. The reason is because you really don’t know where we can get the hoodlums this minute nor know where they live. Supposing the girl in the center of this whole deal is available, perhaps she could easily lead us to them but unfortunately we have nothing’’ he said softly, leaving me extremely furious.
I shouted at him without reservation, without caring that I was in his office. I was very uncontrollable and mad. I refused leaving until the D.P.O in charge of the division showed up and appealed to me to calm down. He had to rally about six of his men and together we all headed to the place where I was beaten up on Saturday.
Unfortunately for me, we couldn’t get Edwin nor any of the guys that joined him to beat me. None of the students around were able to offer any help and Cassandra’s room equally was still locked as it was on Saturday.
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I had no choice than to return to my apartment like a man who lost a battle. I couldn’t think properly. I just couldn’t figure out what else to do. I even found it had to eat. I felt like crying. I thought about my life journey so far. My business wasn’t going as planned. My resources were very low because of the huge investment I made in getting my burnt shop back to its former standard. The year was quickly coming to an end and I really didn’t know what to believe of Cassandra anymore.
‘’Cassandra I pray you are not cheating on me. I’m ready to use my last resources to marry you. Where are you?’’ I lamented as I dialed her phone numbers over and over, getting the same old response.
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Finally later in the evening, my phone rang and it was no other person than Cassandra calling. I quickly answered the call, breathing heavily as lots of questions raced through my head.
‘’what’s up with you Dave?. I just heard you came to my school to make trouble . Why is that?’’ she asked bluntly, not caring to greet or even ask of my welfare. My heart quickly boiled with anger. I hate being disrespected.
‘’seriously I can’t believe you called just to ask these silly questions. Where have you been all these while?. Why are your phones switched off?. I demand explanations right now?” I demanded furiously, but to my dismay Cassandra hissed and ended the call leaving me totally stunned.
Episode 49
I quickly dialed Cassandra’s number once again, not giving her the chance to drop or switch off her phone. I really can’t describe how I felt that moment and seriously I equally was scared over everything. Cassandra answered after some seconds, giving me the chance to speak with her. I quickly cleared my throat while my heart pounded furiously.
‘’Cassandra why are you doing this?’’ I asked softly, trying my best to tone down my voice.
‘’what did I do?. I don’t understand” she asked quickly, pretending not to understand my question. I breathed deeply, uncertain of where to start. I really had lots of things to ask her but deep down I knew I couldn’t get myself to ask all the questions over the phone. I had to get her to my house first before asking the questions that could raise tensions between us.
I really was willing to do a lot for Cassandra. She was the first girl I had genuinely approached with the best intentions in my heart. It wasn’t a crime to wish the best for myself. It wasn’t a crime to wish to marry a graduate. It wasn’t a crime to sacrifice a fortune for a woman i plan spending the rest of my life with.
Oh yes I knew Cassandra wasn’t faultless. I knew she wasn’t hundred percent perfect just like everyone of us. She equally was yet to give me great reason to walk away. She had never given me cause to be angry, jealous or overly suspicious till the present moment.
‘’Cassandra’’ I breathed solemnly.
‘’yes Dave’’ she answered softly.
‘’why has your phones been switched off for the past one week and where are you right now?’’ I asked softly.
‘’I travelled to Lagos to see my cousin. There was power outage in her neighborhood since Wednesday and I hate charging my phones outside. Electricity was just restored an hour ago and when I switched on my phone I saw lots of messages from friends, telling me all you did behind my back. I couldn’t believe my ears. I couldn’t believe you went to my school to cause trouble. Couldn’t you have waited for at least a week or more before doing all the things you did?. I just hate being monitored. If you still have doubts about my whereabouts I can give my cousin the phone right now so that you can speak with her. If you don’t trust me, so be it. No relationship works without trust. I can’t have anything to do with a man who doesn’t trust me’’ she poured quickly, leaving me a bit relieved and speechless at the same time.
I just didn’t know what to say to her for some seconds as the tension in me slowly disappeared.
‘’when are you returning?’’ I asked curiously.
‘’Wednesday’’ she answered.
‘’Stop by at my house on Wednesday. We still have a lot to discuss’’ I said softly, quickly making plans in my head.
‘’yes it’s better we discuss more when she shows up. If she comes out clean, I won’t mind proposing to her?” I reasoned deeply.
‘’okay fine, I will be there on Wednesday evening’’ she accepted quickly.
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Early Tuesday, I travelled to my village to see my parents. It really had been long I last saw them and yes it felt good being home with them.
My mother wasted no time in showing me pictures of my lovely son with the stories of how he was delivered.
‘’yes I was there my son. I witnessed everything with my own eyes. At a point Nora screamed out your name as the boy dropped from her body’’ she narrated as I stared at the pictures one after the other. My eyes melted with tears of joy.
‘’Unfortunately Nora now wants nothing to do with me mother. She hasn’t even allowed me to see my son’’ I Complained while my good old mother softly held my hand.
‘’you have to fight for her love if you really want her back in your life. She’s a good woman and I understand what she’s going through this moment. But are you still serious with Cassandra?’’ she asked , searching me with her eyes. I nodded immediately, her eyes quickly dropped.
‘’I hope you know what you are doing. I really do hope’’ she stammered softly.
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I returned to the city the next day to prepare and wait for my Cassandra who was coming over that very day. I really couldn’t wait for her to show up. At first I planned buying an engagement ring but later kept aside the plan. I decided to wait till she shows up.
‘’No Dave just give her the chance to prove herself before going further’’ I said to myself..
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Cassandra showed up at exactly 6:45 PM looking very hot in her pink top, black jacket and tight fitting trouser. She really looked like a diva queen who just finished a photo shoot and all the reservations I had about her quickly disappeared as soon as I set my eyes on her.
‘’good evening Dave” she greeted as she threw herself on me.
‘’oh Cassandra’’ I breathed as I hugged her dearly. I really was charmed by her appearance and grace.
Episode 50
‘’so why did you travel to Lagos without telling me?’’ I couldn’t help but ask Cassandra immediately we settled down in my sitting room. She breathed and frowned.
‘’I traveled to Lagos because of money issues. I went to see my cousin who promised to help me with money for my practicals. You already know how difficult things are for my family. They hardly send me money and you hardly send more than twenty thousand Naira monthly for me. Moreover you haven’t sent me a dime this month and I didn’t want to disturb you because I know you have lots of problems to take care of. You really have been doing your best for me. It’s just that my department is a very difficult one. We spend a lot in , materials , practicals and text books. As a lady I also have to take care of myself. I’m really finding it hard to survive. Believe me’’ she poured out seriously while I stared at her not knowing what else to say. Her words, her composure , her appearance all looked too innocent. For a minute I couldn’t say a word as I studied her with my eyes.
‘’seriously I’m really in need of help. The year is slowly coming to an end and I still have lots of pending assignments to submit. I badly need all the help I can get’’ she added as tears quickly appeared in her eyes, unsettling me. I swallowed hard, very shaken and completely stunned. She slowly opened her handbag and brought out a wrap of Naira notes.
‘’this is all I got from my cousin. Just fifteen thousand Naira. I just wasted a week for nothing’’ she muttered, looking up at me.
‘’but, but how much exactly do you need and what do you need the money for?’’ I stammered curiously.
‘’we are having practical’s every Wednesday, Thursday and Fridays .They all involve money because we source for materials ourselves. I really have missed some of them and I have a lot of catching up to do which equally involves more money.’’ She added softly.
‘’so you mean my sister spends this much in school?’’ I asked suspiciously, quickly calculating how much I spent on my sister before she got married.
‘’I hope you know your sister is now married. I think her husband is in the best position to tell you how much she spends, moreover you cant compare when we were in our first or second year with now. Mind you your sister equally is under optometry and not pure medicine. I hope you understand the difference?’’ she slowly explained, getting me angry with the question.
‘’are you trying to insult me or what. Yes I didn’t attend any university but I know things. I can defend myself anywhere any time’’ I barked. She slowly touched me, smiling deeply.
‘’I’m very sorry. I never meant to insult or make you angry. I adore you for who you are’’ she apologized softly, calming me with the apology.
‘’but seriously , you really need to help me. I know you can afford helping me. You are a very generous person and God has been blessing you in return. Please don’t let me go back to my school in tears. You are all that I got now. I’m nothing without you. Please Dave I need your help’’ she pushed on and on.
‘’how much exactly do you need. How much will be enough for you to cover your practicals?’’ I finally asked, when her pleas became too much to ignore.
‘’just fifty thousand Naira. I will add it to the one I have and I promise never to bother you again for the rest of the year.’’ She quickly replied as her eyes brightened hopefully.
‘’I’m currently not financially strong like I used to be, but I will try to help you out. Just don’t disappoint me in the end’’ I softly said to her.
‘’oh dear Lord. Thank you Dave. You are one in a million’’ she screamed joyfully, throwing herself on me.
We ended up making great love all through the night and d--n , the girl was really super energetic. She fired me up with great energy, leaving me gasping as I asked for more. And yes she fed me with more.
‘’do you still want more?’’ she asked after the fourth round, caressing my joystick as i tried to catch my breath.
‘’oh Cassandra!, you are just too much’’ I gave up weakly, leaving a smile of satisfaction on her face.
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Cassandra left on Friday morning with my fifty thousand Naira and after she left , I told my friend (Chinedu) all that happened between us. He really was amused as I narrated how we made love all through Wednesday night.
”if that girl doesn’t kill you with her demands, she will definitely kill you with her body” he joked.
‘’there is no doubt Cassandra is a very sumptuous lady. There is also no doubt that medicine is a very expensive course to study but I really think her demands are getting too much. She isn’t in a private university and I don’t believe her school will allow their medical students to spend the way she’s telling you’’ he said intelligently while i nodded in agreement.
‘’I guess I should call my sister and ask for her help. The only problem with it, is that she’s heavily pregnant and I don’t want to put her in harm’s way’’ I breathed as I dialed my sister’s phone number.
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‘’hey big bro, what a surprise. I cant believe you are the one calling’’ my sister greeted happily as she answered my call.
‘’I need help. I need you to get someone to watch Cassandra for me. Preferably someone close to her’’ I said without replying her greetings.
‘’hmmm that can be arranged very fast. I guess your eyes are now opening. Anyway just give me two weeks. I know Cassandra’s close friend who will snitch on her for a little fee. Just hold on for two weeks’’ she promised. I smiled and hung up.
‘’it’s done. We only have to wait for two weeks’’ I said to my friend, who smiled,
‘’so what if it turns out that you are being played. What will you do?’’ he asked seriously.
‘’I will kill her. I can’t live to see a girl like Cassandra dupe me and get away with it. i will die of heartbreak if i don’t take vengeance’’ I breathed strongly, leaving Chinedu gasping with shock.
‘’that’s a strong choice of words brother’’ he breathed.
‘’yes and I will do it’’ I promised, exchanging strong glances with him..
‘‘But did i really mean those words?”
hmmmm
Episode 51
On Tuesday of the following week, my mother showed up on her way to see Nora. I quickly offered to go with her, with the hope of using the opportunity to see my son whom Nora blatantly denied me the privilege of seeing.
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Nora was very happy to see my mother who was all smiles as they hugged strongly. She really was overjoyed to see my mother but her happiness never stopped her from showing her resentment towards me.
‘’mum you know David isn’t allowed in here. Why bring him along?’’ she quickly asked my mother, ignoring me.
‘’my dear, I do understand your position but please you can’t continue denying him the right to see his child. You have to allow him my dear, even if it is for once’’ she said to the angry girl who eyed me, breathed deeply and shrugged in resignation.
She quietly took us to her room where her little sister was playing with my boy.
‘’he was baptized on Saturday and I named him David just like you requested’’ she said to my mother who smiled with satisfaction.
‘’you are a very good and noble woman. I can’t believe you honored my request’’ my mother praised her as she carried my son while I silently watched on like a stranger, so touched but unable to contribute to the conversation.
I really was extremely touched and shaken as I heard my son’s name for the first time. I couldn’t believe Nora could be loyal and submissive even with the strong hatred she now felt for me. I couldn’t even make a move to touch my son. It was just as if I was scared of touching him, scared of staring at his face, scared of everything. My conscience really worked wonders on me that very moment.
‘’you no longer want to carry your son?’’ mum quickly asked with a smile. I composed myself, reached forward and carried little David, smiling foolishly as Nora, her sister and my mother watched me keenly.
Oh I was very, very nervous.
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‘’we have to talk’’ Nora suddenly said to me after some minutes. I nodded in agreement, handed over my child to my mother and followed her to the kitchen.
On getting to the kitchen, she stopped and faced me with a deeply colored face. I swallowed hard as I stared back at her, wondering what she intended to tell me that couldn’t be said before everyone.
‘’listen David, I don’t like the way you always show up here with the slightest opportunity you get. I hate embarrassing anyone but if you continue with the attitude, I won’t mind embarrassing you in front of your own mother. Please stay away from me and my child. I don’t want him to have anything to do with you. Respect yourself and stay away. I beg of you’’ she said seriously while I stared at her, unable to say a word. I just couldn’t say anything to her. She had every right to be arrogant and disrespectful, but I felt she was taking things too far.
My silence however kind of touched her. She breathed deeply, smiled and drew closer to me.
‘’I know I’m not in the best position to advise you but I can’t help it. You have reduced a lot. You are no longer as big as you used to be. I know things are not going well with you. But the worst mistake you made was falling in love with Cassandra. The girl is just something else. You can’t believe my sister has been seeing her all over the place with one doctor that just moved into this neighborhood two weeks ago. I don’t know how she can have the mind to hang out with another man in the same city you live in. Well maybe the guy is her relative I don’t know but you have to be careful. I don’t see Cassandra marrying a guy like you’’ she said softly, throwing me back with the news. I couldn’t believe my ears. I couldn’t believe her for some seconds. My heart simply froze as my head quickly did some calculations.
‘’I shouldn’t have told you this. I would have allowed you to find out things for yourself but I just can’t keep quiet anymore’’’ she added softly as I shook with rage.
‘’Cassandra was in Lagos two weeks ago. Yes she told me she travelled to get money from her cousin. Has Owerri now turned to Lagos?. How come she has the mind to be with another man in this city, knowing full well that this is a small world?. No, something isn’t adding up’’ I breathed furiously.
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I really wasn’t myself all through the rest of my stay at Nora’s house. My head was just full of thoughts and ideas. i badly needed to find out the truth. I badly needed to catch Cassandra red handed.
‘’But after catching her red-handed, what next?’’ I asked myself over and over as I drove to my shop, almost running over an old woman who was crossing the road without looking properly. I narrowly missed running over her because I wasn’t concentrating in my driving and had to stop to shout at her, but just couldn’t because she was too old to be shouted at. Instead I decided to caution her.
‘’please madam you have to mind how you cross the city roads. You almost put you and me in a very big danger’’ I advised. She smiled and looked at me.
‘’my son the danger you should be wary of, lives within you’’ she replied and walked away, leaving me guessing the meaning of her words..
Episode 52
‘’seriously what do you plan doing with Cassandra if your fears turns out to be true?’’ Chinedu asked as we enjoyed each other’s company on Friday evening at his house. Yes it really was three days after my visit to Nora’s house but all she told me were still very fresh in my memory.
‘’I don’t know brother. Is it a crime to love?. Is it a crime for someone like me to wish marrying a graduate?’’ I poured out in frustration. My friend shrugged, saying nothing.
‘’The irony of it all is that I’m still very much in love with Cassandra. She has this way of making me feel special. I just don’t know how to confront her. I equally don’t know what to do if all the stories about her are real. I don’t know what to do with that girl. I have invested a lot in her. My money, my heart, everything. I can’t just walk away and start from where?’’’ I cried.
‘’that’s one thing about relationships that I’m scared of. Finding someone you love is not easy and when you eventually fall in love, you may end up loving the wrong person or being in a relationship with a girl sharing you with two or three guys. Believe me most of the guys out there don’t know that their girlfriends are sharing them with other guys. Sixty percent of girls’ double date nowadays, another twenty percent is just waiting for the right opportunity to double date and just twenty percent of girls can be trusted but then they are very difficult to find. Most times the good girls are the ugly ones. Just five percent of beautiful girls can be hoped on but please don’t quote me’’ he lectured while I swallowed hard.
‘’but I thought it was poverty that makes most girls to cheat?. But in Cassandra’s case, I gave her everything she asked for. You can’t imagine how much I spent on her head, both the accountable and non accountable expenses. How can I just walk away as if nothing happened’’ I breathed.
‘’I don’t see the reason why you should be lamenting. You are yet to catch her red-handed and your sister is yet to give you any news. Just calm down and let’s see how things go’’ Chinedu added intelligently. I swallowed hard and shook my head. Losing Cassandra would leave a terrible blow on my body. All the time and energy I wasted on her would then be a thing of the past and a big waste. Starting a new life would definitely be very difficult. Moreover Nora no longer wants anything to do with me and I equally can’t go down on my knees , crawling and begging for her forgiveness.
‘’dear lord, help me. I’m tired of remaining a bachelor. Don’t let me do something nasty out of desperation’’ I prayed inwardly, hoping for the best. Just that moment, my phone rang and it was my little sister calling.
‘’Good evening Big brother. I have gathered all the information about Cassandra you need’’ she said excitedly. My heart instantly froze.
Even though I was dying to know all of Cassandra’s little secrets, I equally was very scared of what it could do to me.
‘’can you believe that Cassandra introduced one doctor Chris Eneh to her friends as her fiancée. I guess you haven’t met any of Cassandra’s friends talk more of being introduced to them?’’ she quickly poured out, leaving me gasping for breath while chinedu watched on with great concern.
‘’she met the dude some years back when he did his youth service in the school clinic. I think they lost contact or something but according to her friend, the guy appeared around May of this year and since then has been having a good time with her. He always sends a car to pick her up anytime he needs her presence. The guy is working at federal medical center Owerri and I heard they are very serious with each other’’ she summarized and hung up, leaving me so dead with the revelation.
‘’oh God!’’ I gasped as my heart stopped beating for some seconds. The pain was just too much.
I almost fainted.
Episode 48
Few minutes after Edwin and his gang left, I picked up myself and staggered to my car, not caring to check the level of injury done to my body. All that was in my head that moment was to get out of the place as fast as possible. I really was very humiliated and messed up by the silly boy and of course I was very ashamed of myself.
I really couldn’t stop the horrifying event from playing back in my head over and over. The idiots really paid no respect to my personality or age as they dealt with me as if I was their mate.
‘’’you will pay for this Edwin, I swear. I won’t mind killing you if the police fails to act on this” I swore as I drove furiously back to my apartment.
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On getting to my apartment, I took a quick shower, changed and first headed to a small clinic close to my house to get myself checked up by a doctor. Afterwards, I headed to the state police headquarters to lodge a complaint but I couldn’t make any headway with it because I was asked to first report my case to the divisional police station within the school community where the crime happened and if the police over there should fail to take any serious action that I should report back to them.
After a little argument, I had no choice than to return to my apartment and eagerly wait for Monday to come by. I just couldn’t wait to throw the little rascal and his gang behind bars.
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Sunday dragged by very slowly, offering nothing exciting to me. I spent the day all alone, suffering the great the pain from my injuries and thinking about Cassandra. I spent the day all alone like a man without friends and the painful part of it all was the feeling that Cassandra was probably having a good time that moment with another man. An idea Edwin consciously sold to me and yes I bought it because that could be the only reason why her phones where all switched off.
‘’I pray I’m wrong. I hope she isn’t with another man. God please I hope it isn’t true?’’ I prayed inwardly as my thoughts wandered dangerously towards what she could be doing with another man since the day she left her hostel.
‘’perhaps she’s safe in her house and I’m here thinking rubbish’’ I merely concluded after hours of ceaselessly thinking.
‘’but what if she is really seeing another man, what will you do?, can I bear the pain and torture?, can I stand to look her on the face anymore?. noooooooo’’ I breathed as the questions kept popping out of my mind every second no matter how hard I tried to suppress it and to be sincere I really had no answer for them.
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Early Monday morning, I headed towards Cassandra school to make an entry at the police divisional headquarters located there. All that was in my mind was vengeance. I just couldn’t let the humiliation of the previous week go without taking any action. I badly needed to deal with the little rascal no matter what it takes.
Unfortunately for me, the policemen I met there were really something else. They were just very dull and lazy. The officer I reported my case to bluntly told me that there was nothing they could do about it at the moment.
‘’Mr. David I really understand how you feel right now, but unfortunately there is nothing we could do now than to carry out an investigation. The reason is because you really don’t know where we can get the hoodlums this minute nor know where they live. Supposing the girl in the center of this whole deal is available, perhaps she could easily lead us to them but unfortunately we have nothing’’ he said softly, leaving me extremely furious.
I shouted at him without reservation, without caring that I was in his office. I was very uncontrollable and mad. I refused leaving until the D.P.O in charge of the division showed up and appealed to me to calm down. He had to rally about six of his men and together we all headed to the place where I was beaten up on Saturday.
Unfortunately for me, we couldn’t get Edwin nor any of the guys that joined him to beat me. None of the students around were able to offer any help and Cassandra’s room equally was still locked as it was on Saturday.
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I had no choice than to return to my apartment like a man who lost a battle. I couldn’t think properly. I just couldn’t figure out what else to do. I even found it had to eat. I felt like crying. I thought about my life journey so far. My business wasn’t going as planned. My resources were very low because of the huge investment I made in getting my burnt shop back to its former standard. The year was quickly coming to an end and I really didn’t know what to believe of Cassandra anymore.
‘’Cassandra I pray you are not cheating on me. I’m ready to use my last resources to marry you. Where are you?’’ I lamented as I dialed her phone numbers over and over, getting the same old response.
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Finally later in the evening, my phone rang and it was no other person than Cassandra calling. I quickly answered the call, breathing heavily as lots of questions raced through my head.
‘’what’s up with you Dave?. I just heard you came to my school to make trouble . Why is that?’’ she asked bluntly, not caring to greet or even ask of my welfare. My heart quickly boiled with anger. I hate being disrespected.
‘’seriously I can’t believe you called just to ask these silly questions. Where have you been all these while?. Why are your phones switched off?. I demand explanations right now?” I demanded furiously, but to my dismay Cassandra hissed and ended the call leaving me totally stunned.
Episode 49
I quickly dialed Cassandra’s number once again, not giving her the chance to drop or switch off her phone. I really can’t describe how I felt that moment and seriously I equally was scared over everything. Cassandra answered after some seconds, giving me the chance to speak with her. I quickly cleared my throat while my heart pounded furiously.
‘’Cassandra why are you doing this?’’ I asked softly, trying my best to tone down my voice.
‘’what did I do?. I don’t understand” she asked quickly, pretending not to understand my question. I breathed deeply, uncertain of where to start. I really had lots of things to ask her but deep down I knew I couldn’t get myself to ask all the questions over the phone. I had to get her to my house first before asking the questions that could raise tensions between us.
I really was willing to do a lot for Cassandra. She was the first girl I had genuinely approached with the best intentions in my heart. It wasn’t a crime to wish the best for myself. It wasn’t a crime to wish to marry a graduate. It wasn’t a crime to sacrifice a fortune for a woman i plan spending the rest of my life with.
Oh yes I knew Cassandra wasn’t faultless. I knew she wasn’t hundred percent perfect just like everyone of us. She equally was yet to give me great reason to walk away. She had never given me cause to be angry, jealous or overly suspicious till the present moment.
‘’Cassandra’’ I breathed solemnly.
‘’yes Dave’’ she answered softly.
‘’why has your phones been switched off for the past one week and where are you right now?’’ I asked softly.
‘’I travelled to Lagos to see my cousin. There was power outage in her neighborhood since Wednesday and I hate charging my phones outside. Electricity was just restored an hour ago and when I switched on my phone I saw lots of messages from friends, telling me all you did behind my back. I couldn’t believe my ears. I couldn’t believe you went to my school to cause trouble. Couldn’t you have waited for at least a week or more before doing all the things you did?. I just hate being monitored. If you still have doubts about my whereabouts I can give my cousin the phone right now so that you can speak with her. If you don’t trust me, so be it. No relationship works without trust. I can’t have anything to do with a man who doesn’t trust me’’ she poured quickly, leaving me a bit relieved and speechless at the same time.
I just didn’t know what to say to her for some seconds as the tension in me slowly disappeared.
‘’when are you returning?’’ I asked curiously.
‘’Wednesday’’ she answered.
‘’Stop by at my house on Wednesday. We still have a lot to discuss’’ I said softly, quickly making plans in my head.
‘’yes it’s better we discuss more when she shows up. If she comes out clean, I won’t mind proposing to her?” I reasoned deeply.
‘’okay fine, I will be there on Wednesday evening’’ she accepted quickly.
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Early Tuesday, I travelled to my village to see my parents. It really had been long I last saw them and yes it felt good being home with them.
My mother wasted no time in showing me pictures of my lovely son with the stories of how he was delivered.
‘’yes I was there my son. I witnessed everything with my own eyes. At a point Nora screamed out your name as the boy dropped from her body’’ she narrated as I stared at the pictures one after the other. My eyes melted with tears of joy.
‘’Unfortunately Nora now wants nothing to do with me mother. She hasn’t even allowed me to see my son’’ I Complained while my good old mother softly held my hand.
‘’you have to fight for her love if you really want her back in your life. She’s a good woman and I understand what she’s going through this moment. But are you still serious with Cassandra?’’ she asked , searching me with her eyes. I nodded immediately, her eyes quickly dropped.
‘’I hope you know what you are doing. I really do hope’’ she stammered softly.
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I returned to the city the next day to prepare and wait for my Cassandra who was coming over that very day. I really couldn’t wait for her to show up. At first I planned buying an engagement ring but later kept aside the plan. I decided to wait till she shows up.
‘’No Dave just give her the chance to prove herself before going further’’ I said to myself..
**********************
Cassandra showed up at exactly 6:45 PM looking very hot in her pink top, black jacket and tight fitting trouser. She really looked like a diva queen who just finished a photo shoot and all the reservations I had about her quickly disappeared as soon as I set my eyes on her.
‘’good evening Dave” she greeted as she threw herself on me.
‘’oh Cassandra’’ I breathed as I hugged her dearly. I really was charmed by her appearance and grace.
Episode 50
‘’so why did you travel to Lagos without telling me?’’ I couldn’t help but ask Cassandra immediately we settled down in my sitting room. She breathed and frowned.
‘’I traveled to Lagos because of money issues. I went to see my cousin who promised to help me with money for my practicals. You already know how difficult things are for my family. They hardly send me money and you hardly send more than twenty thousand Naira monthly for me. Moreover you haven’t sent me a dime this month and I didn’t want to disturb you because I know you have lots of problems to take care of. You really have been doing your best for me. It’s just that my department is a very difficult one. We spend a lot in , materials , practicals and text books. As a lady I also have to take care of myself. I’m really finding it hard to survive. Believe me’’ she poured out seriously while I stared at her not knowing what else to say. Her words, her composure , her appearance all looked too innocent. For a minute I couldn’t say a word as I studied her with my eyes.
‘’seriously I’m really in need of help. The year is slowly coming to an end and I still have lots of pending assignments to submit. I badly need all the help I can get’’ she added as tears quickly appeared in her eyes, unsettling me. I swallowed hard, very shaken and completely stunned. She slowly opened her handbag and brought out a wrap of Naira notes.
‘’this is all I got from my cousin. Just fifteen thousand Naira. I just wasted a week for nothing’’ she muttered, looking up at me.
‘’but, but how much exactly do you need and what do you need the money for?’’ I stammered curiously.
‘’we are having practical’s every Wednesday, Thursday and Fridays .They all involve money because we source for materials ourselves. I really have missed some of them and I have a lot of catching up to do which equally involves more money.’’ She added softly.
‘’so you mean my sister spends this much in school?’’ I asked suspiciously, quickly calculating how much I spent on my sister before she got married.
‘’I hope you know your sister is now married. I think her husband is in the best position to tell you how much she spends, moreover you cant compare when we were in our first or second year with now. Mind you your sister equally is under optometry and not pure medicine. I hope you understand the difference?’’ she slowly explained, getting me angry with the question.
‘’are you trying to insult me or what. Yes I didn’t attend any university but I know things. I can defend myself anywhere any time’’ I barked. She slowly touched me, smiling deeply.
‘’I’m very sorry. I never meant to insult or make you angry. I adore you for who you are’’ she apologized softly, calming me with the apology.
‘’but seriously , you really need to help me. I know you can afford helping me. You are a very generous person and God has been blessing you in return. Please don’t let me go back to my school in tears. You are all that I got now. I’m nothing without you. Please Dave I need your help’’ she pushed on and on.
‘’how much exactly do you need. How much will be enough for you to cover your practicals?’’ I finally asked, when her pleas became too much to ignore.
‘’just fifty thousand Naira. I will add it to the one I have and I promise never to bother you again for the rest of the year.’’ She quickly replied as her eyes brightened hopefully.
‘’I’m currently not financially strong like I used to be, but I will try to help you out. Just don’t disappoint me in the end’’ I softly said to her.
‘’oh dear Lord. Thank you Dave. You are one in a million’’ she screamed joyfully, throwing herself on me.
We ended up making great love all through the night and d--n , the girl was really super energetic. She fired me up with great energy, leaving me gasping as I asked for more. And yes she fed me with more.
‘’do you still want more?’’ she asked after the fourth round, caressing my joystick as i tried to catch my breath.
‘’oh Cassandra!, you are just too much’’ I gave up weakly, leaving a smile of satisfaction on her face.
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Cassandra left on Friday morning with my fifty thousand Naira and after she left , I told my friend (Chinedu) all that happened between us. He really was amused as I narrated how we made love all through Wednesday night.
”if that girl doesn’t kill you with her demands, she will definitely kill you with her body” he joked.
‘’there is no doubt Cassandra is a very sumptuous lady. There is also no doubt that medicine is a very expensive course to study but I really think her demands are getting too much. She isn’t in a private university and I don’t believe her school will allow their medical students to spend the way she’s telling you’’ he said intelligently while i nodded in agreement.
‘’I guess I should call my sister and ask for her help. The only problem with it, is that she’s heavily pregnant and I don’t want to put her in harm’s way’’ I breathed as I dialed my sister’s phone number.
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‘’hey big bro, what a surprise. I cant believe you are the one calling’’ my sister greeted happily as she answered my call.
‘’I need help. I need you to get someone to watch Cassandra for me. Preferably someone close to her’’ I said without replying her greetings.
‘’hmmm that can be arranged very fast. I guess your eyes are now opening. Anyway just give me two weeks. I know Cassandra’s close friend who will snitch on her for a little fee. Just hold on for two weeks’’ she promised. I smiled and hung up.
‘’it’s done. We only have to wait for two weeks’’ I said to my friend, who smiled,
‘’so what if it turns out that you are being played. What will you do?’’ he asked seriously.
‘’I will kill her. I can’t live to see a girl like Cassandra dupe me and get away with it. i will die of heartbreak if i don’t take vengeance’’ I breathed strongly, leaving Chinedu gasping with shock.
‘’that’s a strong choice of words brother’’ he breathed.
‘’yes and I will do it’’ I promised, exchanging strong glances with him..
‘‘But did i really mean those words?”
hmmmm
Episode 51
On Tuesday of the following week, my mother showed up on her way to see Nora. I quickly offered to go with her, with the hope of using the opportunity to see my son whom Nora blatantly denied me the privilege of seeing.
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Nora was very happy to see my mother who was all smiles as they hugged strongly. She really was overjoyed to see my mother but her happiness never stopped her from showing her resentment towards me.
‘’mum you know David isn’t allowed in here. Why bring him along?’’ she quickly asked my mother, ignoring me.
‘’my dear, I do understand your position but please you can’t continue denying him the right to see his child. You have to allow him my dear, even if it is for once’’ she said to the angry girl who eyed me, breathed deeply and shrugged in resignation.
She quietly took us to her room where her little sister was playing with my boy.
‘’he was baptized on Saturday and I named him David just like you requested’’ she said to my mother who smiled with satisfaction.
‘’you are a very good and noble woman. I can’t believe you honored my request’’ my mother praised her as she carried my son while I silently watched on like a stranger, so touched but unable to contribute to the conversation.
I really was extremely touched and shaken as I heard my son’s name for the first time. I couldn’t believe Nora could be loyal and submissive even with the strong hatred she now felt for me. I couldn’t even make a move to touch my son. It was just as if I was scared of touching him, scared of staring at his face, scared of everything. My conscience really worked wonders on me that very moment.
‘’you no longer want to carry your son?’’ mum quickly asked with a smile. I composed myself, reached forward and carried little David, smiling foolishly as Nora, her sister and my mother watched me keenly.
Oh I was very, very nervous.
———————–
‘’we have to talk’’ Nora suddenly said to me after some minutes. I nodded in agreement, handed over my child to my mother and followed her to the kitchen.
On getting to the kitchen, she stopped and faced me with a deeply colored face. I swallowed hard as I stared back at her, wondering what she intended to tell me that couldn’t be said before everyone.
‘’listen David, I don’t like the way you always show up here with the slightest opportunity you get. I hate embarrassing anyone but if you continue with the attitude, I won’t mind embarrassing you in front of your own mother. Please stay away from me and my child. I don’t want him to have anything to do with you. Respect yourself and stay away. I beg of you’’ she said seriously while I stared at her, unable to say a word. I just couldn’t say anything to her. She had every right to be arrogant and disrespectful, but I felt she was taking things too far.
My silence however kind of touched her. She breathed deeply, smiled and drew closer to me.
‘’I know I’m not in the best position to advise you but I can’t help it. You have reduced a lot. You are no longer as big as you used to be. I know things are not going well with you. But the worst mistake you made was falling in love with Cassandra. The girl is just something else. You can’t believe my sister has been seeing her all over the place with one doctor that just moved into this neighborhood two weeks ago. I don’t know how she can have the mind to hang out with another man in the same city you live in. Well maybe the guy is her relative I don’t know but you have to be careful. I don’t see Cassandra marrying a guy like you’’ she said softly, throwing me back with the news. I couldn’t believe my ears. I couldn’t believe her for some seconds. My heart simply froze as my head quickly did some calculations.
‘’I shouldn’t have told you this. I would have allowed you to find out things for yourself but I just can’t keep quiet anymore’’’ she added softly as I shook with rage.
‘’Cassandra was in Lagos two weeks ago. Yes she told me she travelled to get money from her cousin. Has Owerri now turned to Lagos?. How come she has the mind to be with another man in this city, knowing full well that this is a small world?. No, something isn’t adding up’’ I breathed furiously.
—————————-
I really wasn’t myself all through the rest of my stay at Nora’s house. My head was just full of thoughts and ideas. i badly needed to find out the truth. I badly needed to catch Cassandra red handed.
‘’But after catching her red-handed, what next?’’ I asked myself over and over as I drove to my shop, almost running over an old woman who was crossing the road without looking properly. I narrowly missed running over her because I wasn’t concentrating in my driving and had to stop to shout at her, but just couldn’t because she was too old to be shouted at. Instead I decided to caution her.
‘’please madam you have to mind how you cross the city roads. You almost put you and me in a very big danger’’ I advised. She smiled and looked at me.
‘’my son the danger you should be wary of, lives within you’’ she replied and walked away, leaving me guessing the meaning of her words..
Episode 52
‘’seriously what do you plan doing with Cassandra if your fears turns out to be true?’’ Chinedu asked as we enjoyed each other’s company on Friday evening at his house. Yes it really was three days after my visit to Nora’s house but all she told me were still very fresh in my memory.
‘’I don’t know brother. Is it a crime to love?. Is it a crime for someone like me to wish marrying a graduate?’’ I poured out in frustration. My friend shrugged, saying nothing.
‘’The irony of it all is that I’m still very much in love with Cassandra. She has this way of making me feel special. I just don’t know how to confront her. I equally don’t know what to do if all the stories about her are real. I don’t know what to do with that girl. I have invested a lot in her. My money, my heart, everything. I can’t just walk away and start from where?’’’ I cried.
‘’that’s one thing about relationships that I’m scared of. Finding someone you love is not easy and when you eventually fall in love, you may end up loving the wrong person or being in a relationship with a girl sharing you with two or three guys. Believe me most of the guys out there don’t know that their girlfriends are sharing them with other guys. Sixty percent of girls’ double date nowadays, another twenty percent is just waiting for the right opportunity to double date and just twenty percent of girls can be trusted but then they are very difficult to find. Most times the good girls are the ugly ones. Just five percent of beautiful girls can be hoped on but please don’t quote me’’ he lectured while I swallowed hard.
‘’but I thought it was poverty that makes most girls to cheat?. But in Cassandra’s case, I gave her everything she asked for. You can’t imagine how much I spent on her head, both the accountable and non accountable expenses. How can I just walk away as if nothing happened’’ I breathed.
‘’I don’t see the reason why you should be lamenting. You are yet to catch her red-handed and your sister is yet to give you any news. Just calm down and let’s see how things go’’ Chinedu added intelligently. I swallowed hard and shook my head. Losing Cassandra would leave a terrible blow on my body. All the time and energy I wasted on her would then be a thing of the past and a big waste. Starting a new life would definitely be very difficult. Moreover Nora no longer wants anything to do with me and I equally can’t go down on my knees , crawling and begging for her forgiveness.
‘’dear lord, help me. I’m tired of remaining a bachelor. Don’t let me do something nasty out of desperation’’ I prayed inwardly, hoping for the best. Just that moment, my phone rang and it was my little sister calling.
‘’Good evening Big brother. I have gathered all the information about Cassandra you need’’ she said excitedly. My heart instantly froze.
Even though I was dying to know all of Cassandra’s little secrets, I equally was very scared of what it could do to me.
‘’can you believe that Cassandra introduced one doctor Chris Eneh to her friends as her fiancée. I guess you haven’t met any of Cassandra’s friends talk more of being introduced to them?’’ she quickly poured out, leaving me gasping for breath while chinedu watched on with great concern.
‘’she met the dude some years back when he did his youth service in the school clinic. I think they lost contact or something but according to her friend, the guy appeared around May of this year and since then has been having a good time with her. He always sends a car to pick her up anytime he needs her presence. The guy is working at federal medical center Owerri and I heard they are very serious with each other’’ she summarized and hung up, leaving me so dead with the revelation.
‘’oh God!’’ I gasped as my heart stopped beating for some seconds. The pain was just too much.
I almost fainted.
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