The sacred bride episode 16

The Sacred Bride
Written by Bunmi B. Gabriel.
Segment 16
Leila
I stroke Bloom’s hair as she slept peacefully, she cried herself to sleep after narrating what happened back at his mother’s house. It’s difficult believing such a s€×y man like Alisdair is g-y. I tried to invade his dream but something was blocking me and when I tried accessing his memories while he slept, all I saw was him working and working; the guy have spent almost all his life working his ass out. I wish Dark was awake, he would have been able to access his dreams better but Dark was in a somewhat coma.
I sighed and tapped her arm gently, it was morning already and she needs to get ready for work. ‘Bloom, it’s morning, wake up.’ On a normal day, I would scre-m her to her feet but she don’t need that right now.
‘Five more minutes,’
‘Wake up or I’ll scre-m,’ I threatened. She sighed and raised herself up like a zombie. She eventually did look like a zombie with puffy eyes and swollen face….okay, not zombie but you know what I mean. ‘Get ready for work,’
‘Yeah,’ she smiled skeptically. ‘Work.’
‘Don’t be like that, get up and move it, okay?’
‘Yeah yeah,’ she murmured. I stood up and walked out of her room, my phone was ringing on my bed. I picked up the phone and answered the call with a sigh.
‘Hello, good morning Eric,’
‘Uh oh,’
‘What?’ I asked walking into my bathroom.
‘What happened this time?’
‘Why do you think anything happened?’
‘Anytime Leila Wellington speaks softly or tiredly, something is definitely up.’
‘I am guessing you are aware that your friend just tricked my sister into accepting to marry him, he is g-y.’
‘G-y? Alisdair is g-y?’ He asked puzzledly.
‘Don’t lie to me, Alisdair told her yesterday and that made her accept, why is he so selfish….’
‘Oh! Alis is g-y, seriously,’ he said almost incredulously and with a very awkward tone. ‘I never believed he would tell anyone, we are the only one who knows. I’m sorry Leila, I didn’t think it was wise to involve myself in his plans…’
‘I told you about it! Asked you if you had any idea but you denied it!’ I yelled angrily. This is my sister we are talking about here!’
‘Leila, calm down,’ he said worriedly. ‘Look, if you were in my shoes, would you have betrayed your own friend?’ Why does he have to make sense. I scoffed and hung up, boys and their protecting one another’s secret. I sighed and dropped the phone on the bathroom counter, just hope dad won’t agree to this.
★★★★★★★ Alisdair ★★★★★★★
I stared back at Mr and Mrs. Wellington quietly as they stared back at me in confusion. I came to see them and haven’t said a word since I got there, it was confusing them. ‘Young man,’ Mrs. Wellington said frowningly. ‘Are you gonna talk or are you still gonna be staring at us like a brainless idiot,’ she spat, she’s just like my biological mother, abusive. I believe she’s better though, she cares about her children.
‘Doretta,’ Mr. Wellington whispered, nudging her gently.
‘What? He left his state only to come here and stare at us. I had places to be you know, places.’
‘What will happen if I say I’m interested in marrying your daughter?’ I finally spoke, she frowned.
‘That depends on which of them you want to marry, if it’s Bloom, forget about it.’ Mr. Wellington said seriously.
‘She told me you all will find it difficult to let her go and that’s why I’m here myself,’ I leaned forward and rest my elbows on my knees. ‘It can be under a contract,’
‘Why is that? What do you want her for?’
‘My foster mother is sick and her last wish is that I get married, Bloom seems to be the only one I can marry right now.’
‘And later you divorce or force her to have a child, no. You see Alis, one is that divorce has never been recorded in our lineage and my daughter won’t be the first to change that record. Two, Bloom is the most valuable daughter in our family, the entire Wellington family as large as we are. Taking her under a contract won’t work for reasons best known to us.’
‘Is it about us having a child? I don’t plan….’
‘Bloom cannot be touched, believe it or not, she’s sacred and that’s all I can tell you.’ Since I knew him, he have never been so serious, he’s usually humble and well, polite, jovial.
‘I’m g-y, I won’t touch your daughter,’
‘You are what?!’ His wife yelled. ‘No way! Hell way! There is no way a none straight man is going to enter my family…. So the rumour are true! Get out of my house you gender confuse nitwit!’
‘Can you be quiet,’ I snapped. ‘I’m talking to your husband, not you.’ She pinned her l-ips immediately, didn’t plan to be harsh to my future in-law but she talks too much.
‘And I’m supposing I will gain from this deal, my entire family will, right?’
‘Seriously, you are buying his lies?’ His wife asked with disbelief. ‘Why Bloom of all people? Why not Leila?’
‘One, she’s my best friend’s girlfriend and two, Bloom is the only woman I’m comfortable with, the one who knows my secret and accept me the way I am, she’s my friend.’
‘And she agreed to this?’ I nodded. ‘Who is your foster mother?’
‘You know her, Mrs. Hailey Snapper….’
‘What!!!’ Mrs. Wellington roared, rising to her feet. ‘That husband….’
‘Doretta!’ He yelled angrily. ‘Be quiet!’ She bite down at her lower lip and glared at me. ‘Hailey is sick?’ I nodded. ‘How sick?’
‘One or two years left,’
‘Damn, Bloom knows?’
‘She recently found out, didn’t even know they knew each other.’
He wiped his face with his palm. ‘This is too much money to reject, a good offer….’
‘We are not poor, why can’t you remove your eyes….’
‘I will have to speak to Leila about this, she is the only one that can convince me to accept,’ he said briskly. Why her sister? Hmmm, I need Eric to help then.
‘Alright, I’ll be waiting for your reply.’
Leila
Bloom returned from work glumly because according to her, Alis didn’t show up at work. She was in the living room with me filing her nails. It hurts to see her in so much depression and not be able to do anything. Dark was still sleeping, I could feel he was trying to reach out to me but the link was wavering. As for what I was doing now, I was walking to the door to answer who was there since I ordered for pizza and Bloom wasn’t making a move. I opened the door lazily, it was a guy wearing a hood but no pizza.
‘Where’s the pizza I ordered?’
‘The car broke down and I ate all the pizza because I was bored,’ I slammed the door shut, Eric. I walked back in,side, he opened the door and came in muttering under his breath. ‘Things I do for friendsh¡p,’ was the only thing I heard. ‘Hey Bloom,’ she averted her eyes to him and rolled it back to her nails. ‘Nice apartment you have got here.’
I stopped walking and folded my hands under my br-asts. ‘What are you doing here?’
‘I came to apologize,’ he smiled, leaning on the headrest of the chair Bloom sat; right behind her. ‘We haven’t really met well Bloom, I’m Eric.’
‘Waou,’ she said unenthusiastically.
‘Look, I know Leila did ask me if Alis had any motive behind inviting you over, I said no because I couldn’t tell on my friend, I’m sorry.’
‘Why are you apologizing? I don’t even know you,’
‘It’s affecting my relationsh¡p with Leila, she won’t talk to me again,’ I rolled my eyes.
‘It shouldn’t matter if I talk to you, all that matters is that I help you clear your scandal and that’s it. Why should you care….’
‘You’re my friend Leila,’ she said softly. ‘I care about all my friends, you have to forgive me, please. Alis was sad, confuse, desperate and depress. He was starting to drink, ate less and increased his workaholism which was bad. He never had Bloom in mind until the day Sebastiano came to the office and saw her, the way they vibe was cool and okay. Alisdair was scared, he knew Bloom won’t agree so he resolved to tricking her by Seb’s advice….’ Who the f-ck is this Seb? ‘Bloom, you know his mother, she was once someone who cared for you according to her, don’t you think it’s right to help her?’
I admit I owe Hailey for all she did for Bloom, encouraging her to live happily. She does deserve this and since Alis is g-y, no big deal, right? If only Dark could confirm this for me. ‘Since when have Alis been g-y? Who’s Sebastiano?’ Wait, isn’t that his cousin? I’ve forgotten how he looks like.
‘My cousin, he’s Alisdair’s boyfriend,’ Eric said not looking at my eyes. ‘Sebastiano is handsome and all but he’s a bis€×ual, Alisdair’s lover.’ Wow, that’s deep. Bloom scoffed and threw her file away.
‘I already agreed to help, what else does he want from me?’ She asked rhetorically.
‘Leila, he spoke to your parents and they said only you can make them accept,’ by me, they mean Dark; they want him to confirm if they won’t get in trouble.
‘And then he sent you here to persuade me, whoopee,’ I said ironically. ‘Just leave Eric, I’ll think about it, this is too much.’
‘Okay, I’m sorry.’
‘Get out of my house,’ he looked at Bloom who didn’t spare him a glance.
‘Goodnight girls,’ he ruffled her hair, earning a pout from her before he left. I sighed and sat at the arm of the chair Dark was sleeping on.
‘He’s cute,’ Bloom chuckled.
‘Yeah,’ we remained silent, at least not until my phone rang. I sighed and brought it to me with my telekinesis. I scrunched my nose at the caller, dad. I put the call in loudspeaker and answered it. ‘Good evening dad,’
‘Evening Leila, where’s Bloom?’
‘Sleeping, is this about the marriage thing with Alisdair Kendrick?’
‘Yes, what do Dark say about it? The money might be interesting but I know better. What is his take on this?’ I looked at sleeping Dark and car-ssed his head gently. ‘Leila, you there?’
‘Yeah,’ I looked at Bloom who was staring at me pleadingly. ‘He said she can marry him. The divorce won’t hold because before them, Bloom will die. It will look like a normal death, everything will be fine.’
‘In that case,’ he said shrilly. ‘Let’s get the wedding ceremony started, no time to waste. I will inform the entire family about this, tell them the gain and see what they would all say. Get Dark ready to speak to them….oh, I’ve forgotten only us can see him. Get ready to confirm my claims. A merge with Kendrick empire will be a greater step to more power, I’ll call you back. Bloom have made us even more prouder, tell her that.’ With that he hung up, typical.
‘You better know what you are doing Bloom,’ I said almost inaudibly. Another bell rang. ‘Come in….’ Astra ran in waving her phone. ‘What do you want?’
‘Leila, you seriously broke up with Heartcode! You are dating him!’ She shrieked. I rolled my eyes with disgust. She sat down close to Bloom. ‘You are the first daughter of the Wellingtons, the main center Wellingtons and you have been double dating. You were dating Christian, how come Heartcode got involved in this case?’
‘If I’m a Wellington, won’t I have access,’ I scoffed. ‘Christian and I broke up weeks ago.’
‘What would happen if I post you and Christian’s pictures?’
‘Nothing. It wouldn’t bother me because I don’t give a shit about men and I don’t pretend like you do. Get out of my house Astra, I’m not in the mood for nonsense.’
‘We’ll see,’ she stood up and walked out. I sighed and slouched down from the chair, why is all this happening? I checked the message from Christian, the one he sent earlier. He congratulated me for being Leila, the girl who always get the good things. I would have ben happier if only I could spend a night with Eric and not die thinking about him every night. This arrangement isn’t going like I planned, things always go my way but I don’t understand why it won’t go my way and why I’m so stuck thinking about him and him alone.
I sighed again and went online to check if there was any new tweet that can lift my mood, I saw Eric’s new tweet. I sat down well and read the content. “I keep making mistakes, crazy and stupid mistake that pushes you away all the time. It seems I am bad luck, stealing your heart and continuously breaking em unknowingly. I wish you can forgive and take me back just this once again, let me correct the mistake I made 48 hours ago; I wish you can give me one more chance to prove that I can be the man your crazy heart will forever love.”
Why is Eric so unpredictable? He does weird things sometimes and leaves me speechless. This is the exact reason why I said things aren’t going my way, he isn’t sticking to the plan!
‘And she’s giggling like the love of her life sent her a text,’ I looked at Bloom who was smiling. ‘What did Eric do this time to make you blush so much?’
‘I’m not blushing,’ I said sheepishly, touching my flushed cheeks. ‘He is just unpredictable, very. See what he uploaded immediately he left here,’ I stretched the phone over to her. She took it and smiled more.
‘You meet your match Leila, he knows what to do to melt you like butter.’
‘No he don’t,’ I disagreed.
‘Ye….shit!’
‘What?’
‘Astra commented on the post with an upload of a picture of you and Christian, k-ssing.’
‘That bitch,’ I whimpered.
‘The gurl you are trying to apologize to is a bloody cheat. She have been dating this guy for three months now and I know that because I live right next door to her. Stop wasting your time dear, she’s the worst bitch on earth.’ I clenched my fists, how dare her.
‘I’m going to kill her!’ I hollered angrily.
‘Before you retaliate, Eric replied.’ I calmed down and stared at her curiously.
‘What did he say?’
‘Looks like Astra commented before she came here and he tweeted this hours ago, you didn’t check. He replied with this…. “My mother and hers have been friends for years, we have known each other for long even if we weren’t public about it. I broke up with her after we dated two years ago and later dated someone else. I’ve tried different girls and now I know no one is or can ever be like her, she’s special, the only woman who truly understands and loves me the way I am; flaws and all. You claim she dated that guy for three months, right? Christian by name, I know. Dated is past tense, me dating her now and trying to fix the mistake I made again is present. Don’t add to my problems, please.” That’s what he commented. 29 people already replied to that comment. In conclusion, Astra will never comment on any post for the rest of her life.’ I took the phone and read the replies, my co savage replier were dealing with her. I laughed when I saw one lady that lives down the street’s reply, she hates Astra with passion. She always knew Astra was fake and that was enough insult for her.
‘Take that Astra! My fake boyfriend loves me,’ I squealed delightedly. I happily commented with a crying emoji and “you talk too much Eric, must you make everything public?! Why not settle things quietly?!”
‘Happy you,’ Bloom sighed. I ignored her lamenting and deleted the comment, that’s too much. I logged out and called him instead. He picked in a heartbeat.
‘You are increasing the scandal you wish to clear,’ I said feigning nonchalance.
‘I’m actually playing the guy who is madly in love with a girl he dated before and then returned to her after realising no one is better than she is. One, it will make you outstanding, the very woman who is the best. Two, me accepting my fault is a good thing and apologising is another. Three, our love story will make sense. After departing for two years, we still came back together because loving each other is the best.’
‘And when we later end the agreement?’
‘That time will solve itself, forgive me now?’
‘Whatever,’ I hung up and smiled at my phone like I would k-ss it soon. I winced when I suddenly felt a sharp pain in my head, accompanied by a loud bell. ‘Aaaah, what’s this?’ My eyes zoned out, I found myself in a claret cloud. I know this cloud anywhere. ‘What do you want?’
‘You are not doing your job Leila, not one bit,’ his deep voice came from everywhere. ‘Bloom is not allowed to near a man, especially him. What do you think you are doing, accepting to marry her off when you should be against it?’ He asked calmly.
‘Dark is not complaining so I know nothing will happen, he’s g-y afterwards.’
‘I cannot see him!’ He yelled. ‘When I look at him, all I see is nothing, a man and that’s it. I can’t see his past or future, see what is life is like and such men are dangerous. She must not marry him or the consequences will be dear.’
‘Whatever, she’s gonna marry him and you know you have no right to make decisions for us, your only right is given when the time comes and that’s not now. For the little time she has left, she’s doing this. Don’t summon me again.’ I clapped my hands, a pump explosive like sound deafened my ears before I found myself back in the living room, Bloom trying to shake me back to reality.
‘Megan Blues,’ a voice whispered in my ear before the ringing sound stopped.
‘Are you alright Leila?’ Bloom asked shakily.
‘I’m fine,’
‘That was him, right?’ She asked frightfully.
‘Dark, he wanted to speak to me.’ I lied, she heaved a sigh of relief. Now, who the hell is Megan Blues?