Poisoned love episode 22 – 24

Poisoned Love

(The Break-up)

Episode 22

Writer: Faith Lucky

Sophia walked around the vicinity, feeding her

eyes. Her mom had gone in with the rest of her

colleagues.

The venue was very big and was also very pretty

– radiant – looking.

The day had already gone dark, but the bright

fashionable lights around overcame the darkness.

Sophia continued walking around and at a

particular point, she ran into someone.

It was a boy, standing with his back turned

against her and he definitely looked familiar.

It was Steven.

Sophia was surprised. What was he doing there?”

she thought.

“Steven?” she called and he turned around,

patently surprised at seeing her.

“Wh… What’re you doing here?” she asked.

“I… Uh… accompanied my mom to the meeting”,

he stuttered, still trying to comprehend the

moment.

“uhm… How about you? What’re you doing here?”

he asked.
“I also came with my mom”, Sophia replied,

starring directly into his eyes.

Somehow, he couldn’t stare back at her.

They both stood still, probably searching for the

right thing to say. But they couldn’t search

deeper. Their hearts were too heavy.

Then Steven finally turned around to leave but

Sophia called him back.

“you don’t even show up at the hospital” she

said to his back as he halted. “I mean, we might

not be together again, but couldn’t you see it as

a friendly act?”

Steven remained silent. He didn’t want to turn

around to look at her. It was better she didn’t

see the look in his eyes – the look of what? The

look of penitence.

“what happened, Steven?” her voice was

beginning to waver. “I thought I meant something

to you?”

“I’m sorry, Sophia”. He replied. “it’s complicated

and I don’t expect you to understand.”

“well then, make me understand!” he said

ruefully. “what better explanation do you have for

using and dumping me? Tell me, Steven, what?”

At that point, Michelle came into the scene. She

had called Steven a while ago and he had told

her where he was with his mom.

“what’s going on, Steven?” she asked, looking

surprised. She couldn’t understand why Sophia

was there as well.

“you little bitch! What’re you doing with him

again?” she snapped and tried hitting Sophia but

was held back by Steven.

“Michelle, please. Let’s get out of here”, he said

as he forcefully took Michelle away.

Sophia remained there, weeping.

She watched them walking away, his hands

around her. And she couldn’t help but weep more

bitterly.

*

The car drove at a dizzying speed and pulled up

in front of Sophia’s apartment.

Oliver turned off the ignition and pressed the

unlock button for Sophia to get down. He had

been very quiet throughout the drive and Sophia

couldn’t help but ponder over his strange silence.

“thank for the ride”, she said as she alighted the

car with him.

Oliver didn’t say anything immediately as he

leaned on his car.

What was wrong with him?

“Michelle told me you were with Steven last

night”, he finally spoke out. “what were you

doing with him?”

Sophia was surprised knowing that was his

problem.

“I… It was just a coincidence. I accompanied my

mom to a conference meeting and met him

there”. She replied.

Oliver bent his head for a while.

“you’re still in love with him,, aren’t you?” he

asked, his voice sounding bittered.

“Oliver, I…”

“just give me an answer,, Sophia. You still love

Steven,, don’t you?”

There was a pause as Sophia became tearful

again.

“I… I guess you’re right”, she sniffles. “maybe I

still love him”.

“after everything he’s done? Are you this weak?”

Oliver said angrily and realized he had been a bit

raucous.

A tear had dripped down Sophia’s cheek.

He moved closer to her and held her hands.

“Sophia, I’m… I’m sorry. But, knowing you still

think about Steven hurts me a lot. Haven’t I been

a better friend to you? Sophia, I just want you to

know I’m always here for you and I can be

everything you want me to be, okay?”

He cleaned the years from her eyes with his

palm and embraced her.

Episode 23

Treasure was in the school eatery. She wasn’t

really eating, but she was reading and only kept

herself busy with a bottle of water.

Then, shortly, Lily walked up to her table and sat

with her.

“hello, Treasure. Mind if I joined you?” she asked

exurbantly.

“what do you want, Lily? I don’t need any

company”, replied Treasure.

“come on, Treasure. I’m not here for trouble. I

just want to spend some time with a friend”.

“a friend? I don’t seem to remember when we

became friends”.

Lily smiled and brought out two canned drinks

from her bag.

“here. Have a drink”, she said as she kept the

drink in front of Treasure.

“I don’t need it. Thanks.”

“Treasure, please. I don’t have any issues with

you or your friend, Sophia. The only person I

detest so much is Michelle and you know it”.
Treasure stared at the drink and starred at Lilly.

Well, she needed something cold and tasty.

She opened it and drank from it.

“by the way, Treasure”, Lily continued, also

sipping from her drink. “how’s your friend doing?

I heard she was ill”.

“yes. But she’s feeling better now. Soon, she’ll

be back in school.”

“hm. Poor Sophia. I really feel bad for her. You

know, I tried warning you guys. But at that time,

you had seen me as an enemy”.

Treasure sighed pathetically.

“I wish I had the slightest idea he was going to

act this stupid. It pains me a lot to know my

friend is one of his victims.”

“but, you know, I’m still curious. What really

transpired between both of them? Was there an

argument or something?”

“no, there wasn’t. He just showed up in school

and told her it was over between them”.

“hm. But that’s Strange. I can’t believe Steven

would use and dump Sophia the same way he

did to me. He… He did use her, right?”

Treasure starred keenly at her. Where was she

headed?

“uhm… Sorry, I have to go. I’m running late for a

lecture”, Treasure said and left in a brisk.

Lily looked at her with beady eyes.

It seemed she was running away from her

question.

“he did use her, right?” she spoke silently, to

herself. “of course, he did”.

**

Lily knocked on the gate of Steven’s apartment

and the gateman opened up.

The gateman, being dressed in his usual uniform

was holding a slice of bread. But immediately he

saw Lilly, he gulped down the last piece of it.

“hi, Timothy”, Lily said as she passed through the

gate, looking spiffy in her short high wa-ist skirt,,

tucked in with a blue shirt.

“welcome, ma’am Lily. Long time”, he replied,

starring at her from head to toe.

“you’re right, Timothy. It’s really been long. Well,

you should know it wasn’t my fault. Uhm… By

the way, is Steven at home?”

“yes, he’s in. But he warned me strictly not to be

disturbed by anyone, whomsoever.”

Lily moved further with him to stand properly

under a shade.

“hm”, she sighed. “I really wanted to talk to him.

He’s been acting strange lately in school”.

“not just in school, ma’am Lily, but also here at

home. He’s no longer cheerful, barely goes out

and even his mom has been complaining a lot

about it”.

“wow. Could you… Maybe, have any clue

regarding his changes in attitude?”

“well, I don’t really know much. But the much I

can say is that, it all started the day one of his

friends came over to the house…

Episode 24

Lily flinched. She was beginning to get

somewhere.

“his friend? Was it a lady?” she asked.

“yes. Her name is Sophia.”

“hm. So, could you recall what happened that

day?”

Timothy showed a sign of hesitation. He didn’t

want to talk any further.

“Timothy, come on. I’m not a stranger to you, am

I?” Lilly asked and dipped her hand into her bag.

She brought out some hærd currencies and fixed

it into his trouser pocket.

“I just want to know the truth”.

Timothy sighed as he felt the currencies in his

pocket.

“well,” he continued with more enthusiasm. “I

think that was the first time she was paying him

a visit. Seven’s parents were off to work and so,

they were the only ones at home. They spent

some time alone in the house until Steven took

her home later in the evening. Even the next

morning as he left for school, he was still looking

bright. But, it was when he returned that

everything changed.

First, he had asked me who came into the house

while Sophia was with him, but I told him no one.

And I told him there was a time I had left to buy

something and maybe, that could be when

someone had gone in. Believe me, when I had

told him all these, he had nearly punched me in

the face. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him that

angry before”, he concluded.

Lily was lost in thoughts. She was in a

ruminative mood.

“So… Steven suspects someone came into the

house while he was with Sophia? And then, the

next day, he uncannily broke up with her. I think

there’s a twist here.

And the Steven I know will never stay all alone in

a house with a lady without something

# extra_ordinary happening. So… What if

someone had seen them in the act and… and…

Oh, my God! What if Steven’s being

blackmailed?”

Timothy winked at her.

“yes! This must be it! I mean, this is the best

explanation to the wh0le twisted story. What if

Steven was forced and threatened into breaking

up with Sophia? Else, why would he suspect

someone came into the house? And why would

he become so sad after breaking up with her?

It’s all because he was framed into it!”

Timothy remained silent. He didn’t even know

what else to say.

“thank you so much, Timothy. I think I’ve gotten

what I want.” she said excitedly and hurried out

of the house.

*

Michele heard a knock on the door. She hurried

to open it, thinking it would be Patricia. But to

her surprise, it was Lily.

What was Lily doing at her apartment? That was

the first time she was paying her a visit.

“Lily, what’re you… ”

“cut it out, Michelle”, Lily snapped in. She was

still standing outside the door while Michelle was

standing in between.

“I should’ve suspected Steven was only being

forced back to you. I should’ve had the slightest

clue. How stupid of me”.

“and what’re you talking about?”

“come on, Michelle. You think I have no idea

you’re blackmailing Steven? I know perfectly well

that Steven would never dump Sophia and come

back to you in such a hurry. I carried out my

investigations and discovered the skeleton

hidden in your cupboard.”

Michelle finally released a gust of laughter –

although, a nervous one.

“I never knew you’ve gone crazy, Lily.” Michelle

said. “I think you’ve been having too much to

eat.”

“oh, really? Well, I guess we’ll find out about that

soon. I promise you, Michelle, you’ll never end up

with Steven. I’ll unveil your dirty secret and

shatter your plans”, Lily replied and turned

around to leave.

“and what makes you think you can ever find

out?” Michelle said to her back, making her

pause.

Lily turned around slightly to look at her.

“it took me less than a week to find out you

were blackmailing Steven. How long do you think

it’s going to take me to find out just what it is?”

she asked and finally walked away, Michelle

fuming with anger.

*

Michelle walked tho and fro, restlessly, almost

getting herself drunk.

Patricia who was sitting in front of her, was also

lost in thoughts. They had both been silent for a

while, trying to build up a reasonable solution.

“but, I’m still curious.” Patricia broke the silence.

“how did that bitch find out about your plans?”

“that’s because she’ll always be a fool!” Michelle

replied, angrily.

“calm down, Michelle. You don’t need to rack

your head over this. I doubt Lilly can find out the

means you’re using to blackmail Steven”

“are you kidding me, Pat?” Michelle asked and

scoffed. “it took her less than a week to find out

about my plans. How long do you think it’s going

to take her to unveil it?

What if… What if she finds out about everything

and… and exposes it? Then, I won’t have a hold

over Steven and he’d be gone again!

No, Patricia. This isn’t right. I’ve come a long

way already and I won’t let that crazy animal

ruin everything I’ve worked so hærd for!”

“wow, Michelle. So, what do you plan on doing,

then?”

Michelle emptied the last content in the

alcoholic bottle and sighed.

“I’m going to do what’s necessary to shut her

up.”

# To_be_continued .