Roses and Thorns – Episode 20 – 21

Roses and Thorns – Episode 20
By Jennifer Godwin
They got to the mall, Joel got down from the car and rushed to the other side to open the door for Melody, she got down and gave him a smile, his heart fluttered, They walked into the mall with Melody in front while Joel walked behind, he seized that minute to stare at her, he had been admiring how his Jean trouser hugged her body especially her butt, he shook his head and took his gaze somewhere else. She had worn the jean trouser and the white round neck polo he gave to her earlier that day with a red Fila slippers, her natural hair parked up in a ponytail.
“I think we should get clothes and other things first, phone will be the last” Joel said trying hærd not to look at her, she had flesh at the right places.
“No problem sir” Melody said with a shrug. They walked towards the clothing store and he told her to pick as many as she wanted. She shrugged and picked the ones she could. She was confused because the store was full of beautiful clothes, she didn’t know the ones to pick, she decided to pick one from each rows as there were ten rows of clothes in the store.
“The clothes are enough sir, let us go” Melody said holding the bags up for him to see.
“Are you sure you are okay?” he asked.
“Yes sir, am fine, the clothes are enough” she replied with a smile.
“I don’t mean the clothes, am talking about your health, do you want me to take you to the hospital?” he asked looking at her with concern.
“Hospital ke? for just cramps? am fine jooore, instead give me that money let me add it to my savings” she chuckled.
“Okay then, let’s go get the phone” Joel said walking away, they passed through the clothing store and when they got to the supermarket, that was when his eyes caught hold of the exact product he bought for her in the morning, he went closer and picked five of it, Melody scre-med tugging at his shirt.
“What do i need five virony sanitary pads for?” she asked looking around to know if anyone heard her.
“You will use them of course, or should i bring more?” Joel asked trying to pick another one.
“What? nooo, do you want to open up a sanitary pad business for me? ejo sir, keep them back, one is enough” she said still tugging at his shirt.
“Let’s just go with the five, am not keeping any of them” he said turning to go away but then Melody held tightly unto his shirt, he turned to look at her, she had fear written all over her.
“What is it Melody?” Joel asked leaning close to her.
“The stalker, he is here, I can perceive his cologne again and that eerie feeling is back” she whispered.
“Then let him come close to you, i will punch the life out of him” Joel said looking around with his palm balled in a fist.
“I don’t think he would be stupid enough to come close when you are with me” she shrugged.
Joel stared at her in silence and then said “I promise to protect you with the last strength left in me, i won’t let any harm come to you”
he looked down at her hand and held it tightly as they walked away towards the phone section, they bought the phone and headed out to the car. Joel chuckled as he saw his punctured tyre.
“Coward, he punctured my tyre, he should have come to face me as a man” he muttered.
“Am tired of all these drama, since the stalker wants me, then he should come and get me” Melody sighed.
“What are you saying? I won’t even let him get close to you trust me” Joel assured holding her shoulder.
“Am just tired of staying in hiding, my customers might think i have died and they will contact another person for their jobs” she said letting out a breathe.
“Listen to me, even after everything is settled? Am not going to let you go back to that ghetto for any reason, you are not meant to be there, so your customers can contact whosever they want, you have passed that level now” he said car-ssing her face.
“aaahh aaahh just like that?” she pouted her l-ips.
“Yes, just like that, you will have to hold on let me contact my mechanic.” Joel said dipping his hand in his trouser pocket.
Episode 21
The stalker got home after trailing his new victim from her new house down to the shopping mall, he had watched in anger how the soldier man played with her, when he couldn’t take it, he decided to resort to puncturing their tyre. “Seems like i have a rival” he muttered going into his bedroom. He lived alone in the six bedroom duplex owned by his father. But after he had killed his father and sent his brother to the asylum, the house became his. He pulled off his clothes and memories from the past started hitting him.
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Ezenwa walked into the living room fuming with anger, his father looked up from what he was doing and eyed him.
“What is it?” he asked.
“Daddy, have you seen Okenwa? he told lies to Ego and now she has left me to be with him” he complained bitterly.
“Who is Ego”? the old man asked.
“My girlfriend, the only one that i managed to get, the only girl that agreed to talk to me in school, now Okenwa spoilt everything, he told her that am useless and good for nothing”
“What was your CGPA last year if i may ask” the old man sneered.
“But Dad, what has my CGPA got to do with what my younger brother did”? Ezenwa asked still fuming with anger.
“Everything dullard, you are meant to read your books and not to have any girlfriend, i wonder when you will ever be useful to yourself, you are just useless, you are not intelligent, you can’t handle the family business, of what use are you to this family?” The man barked.
“What did i ever do to you? no matter how hærd i try, you will always complain but whatever Okenwa does in this house is the best, did i wish to be a dullard? did i create myself this way, stop degrading me Dad, you are hurting me” he weeped.
“Now tell me, did your brother lie? are you not useless and good for nothing? will you leave here this minute before i descend on you?, illiterate” the old man shouted.
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The stalker flinched, he went to the adjoining room and went straight to the picture of his very first victim, he smirked while car-ssing the picture.
“I loved you dearly Ego, but you let my brother deceive you and now you are paying dearly for your stupidity” he said laughing in a horrifying manner.
“No one hurts me and goes free, i am the beast” he beat his chest vigorously. “And as for you soldier man, your days are numbered, enjoy my new victim while it lasts because am coming for your head and by that time? it won’t just be a punctured tyre” he added with a wicked grin.