The Secret Tunnel Of Life And Love episode 1
The Secret Tunnel Of Life & Love (episode 1)
A secret is usually concealed with no intention of being shared or revealed to a second or third party. Secrets can be disruptive because the holder might be willing to go to any length just to ensure that it remains concealed or hidden; even at the expenses of causing harm to another. Have you ever been in a certain place and felt a strange feeling but could not just explain why you felt that way? Most times, the universe might be trying to warn you against an impending danger but you might not be too sensitive or alert to detect what your inner man is telling you. This was the fate of an aspiring beautician named Claire.
Right from the beginning of Claire’s adolescent age, she had always pictured herself to be a beautician that formulates the best skincare remedies and beauty treatments known to mankind. She was obsessed with this career path and started very early in life to nurture herself through that path. Being supportive of Claire’s dreams, her parents made sure to enroll her into a private after-school program for beauty. This was their best way to equip her with little wisdom about her craft at an early stage, without affecting her usual academics as a teen.
Years passed by till Claire’s university days. She studied cosmetology in school and graduated on top of her class in flying colours. Due to her outstanding performance in school, her parents had no choice than to fly her abroad to further her studies in one of the best cosmetics schools that has been around for over a century. Excited for the next phase of her life, she made the decision to make the best of her stay in school and open up her own beauty school or business after the Masters Program. Classes began immediately after a week break and as usual, she was present and focused.
On the first day of class, an extremely beautiful and elegant lady that seemed ageless walked into the class and introduced herself as Mrs Eva; she was a beauty guru. While everyone drooled over the lecturer’s beauty, she dropped a shocker revelation that sent them into even more deeper shock. “Hello class, it’s nice meeting you all for the first time. My name is Eva and I have been teaching in this school for over 40 years now. I will be 65 years by next week and I don’t plan on retiring anytime soon” she said with a warm smile on her face. The students were dazzled and dumbfounded as they wondered how a woman that could pass as a 26 years old was in actual sense 65 years of age. It was unbelievable and too much for their unprepared minds to fathom at the moment. That simple information put the wh0le class in disarray and somehow gave the students some kind of confidence that they were in the right school.
If only these students had the slightest clue of what lied beyond the surface of all that ageless beauty, they would had taken the next available flight back to their various homes and never come back to that school. If only these students knew that Mrs Eva didn’t even spill her real age to them because it might cause serious suspicion that something was truly wrong somewhere. Matter of fact, Mrs Eva was actually 80 years of age and have worked in that school for about 55 years. She usually lied about her age just so it won’t raise eyebrows and suspicion to investigate why she looked so young, fresh and beautiful for someone that should be on some sort of life support or a walking stick.
What people didn’t know was beyond that ageless beauty and beautiful face was a secret that had been with ‘Mrs Eva’ for decades. Their was something she knew that had cost people their lives and freedom. There was something she knew that had never seen the surface of broad daylight. Their was something she knew that no one had ever known and what was this secret? An ancient beauty ingredient that was hidden in a secret tunnel in that school that no one knew about; not even the current administration or president of the school.
In that secret tunnel was a mushroom-like plant that grew on the walls. It usually took up to a month before another plant grows so in essence, it meant that in a wh0le year, only 12 new plants can germinate from the old ones. Now you see why Eva did her very best to keep that tunnel hidden forever with no intention of ever sharing the secret with anyone. There was barely enough for her to use, talk more of sharing. Those plants are usually infused in an oil she uses on her body on a daily basis. An oil which she hides in a password enabled safe-box in her apartment that was situated in the lectures quarters of the school. She lived in that school so it made it easier to hide her big secret.
I know you might be wondering how Mrs Eva was able to find that secret tunnel? Well, here’s how. At age 25, she was newly employed as a junior lecturer in that school. While walking through the hallways one day, she overheard the founder of the school (who was a woman in her fifties as at then) arguing with one of her senior colleagues about making that accident beauty ingredient public so that the wh0le world would know about the mysterious anti-aging plant that was found in a hidden tunnel when they bought that school building from the initial owners. It was said that the school building used to be owned by a farmer and his wife. The building was sold when the farmer and his wife got involved in a ghastly moto accident that claimed their lives on the s₱0t. It was while they were renovating the school that the secret tunnel was found by just two people which were the founder of the school and her male colleague. The tunnel was sealed after an intense research revealed the secret of those mushrooms. Only one door led in and out of the tunnel and no one would ever know that it was a door because it had a plain look and was situated undergound at the backyard of school.
When Eva found out about the tunnel, she went it search for it and it took over three months of intense investigation and spying before she found the secret gateway to the tunnel. A year later, the founder was assassinated by her colleague who tried to prevent her from making the mushrooms public and two months later, that same colleague fell from the bathtub and hit his head very hærd on the hærd tiles which also lead to his instant death. With the two people who knew about the tunnel being dead, that secret was now alive in the mind of only one person and it was ‘Eva’. As an upcoming beautician, she began to research on what best ways to use the plants and found out that it was best infused in an oil. That very day began the journey of her ageless beauty. Since then, the tunnel had remained a secret. However, what she didn’t know was that every secret has an expiry date and hers was close.
Up until that time in Claire’s life, she hadn’t had a boyfriend not for once all her lifetime. Her focus for her craft had totally taken her mind off anything that had to do with ‘Love’ even though she secretly craved for it. Being in a foreign land, the last thing on her mind was to fall in love but God had alternative plans for her.
It happened one fateful afternoon after lectures that Claire was in a hurry to get to her apartment not too far from the school campus. As she walked in haste, she had no idea that a sheet of paper had slipped off from the pile of books she was holding on her hands. Few steps further and she heard a soothing voice from behind.
“Hello, please wait; this fell from your hands” a calm voice said from behind. Claire turned back only to see one of the most handsome creation she had ever seen in her life. Her breath ceased as she stared into his shiny eyes that scre-med “gentleman”. Still dumbfounded, she stretched forth her hands and collected the sheet of paper from his hand. “Thank you” she managed to voice out and he replied “you are welcome”.
Just as Claire was about to leave, the mysterious gentleman volunteered to help her carry few of her books. She resisted at first but agreed sharply after he asked for the second time. Deep down, she was very happy that he didn’t walk away after handing the sheet of paper to her because she fancied him. They started a casual conversation as they walked towards her apartment not too far from where they had met. Claire was shy all through and didn’t say much till they arrived at her house. “Thanks for the kind gestures, I truly appreciate” she said, “you are welcome” he replied, “I can see you are into aromatherapy, I took the course last year and can help if you need my help on anything you don’t understand. See you around school some other time” he added and turned to leave.
It was when the mysterious gentleman was about to leave that Claire realized she didn’t even know his name, let alone have any means to contact him. Without hesitating, she stopped him; “please wait, I don’t even know your name or have your number so how am I supposed to contact you if I need any help?” She said, “Oh my bad, I didn’t want to be too pushy hence the reason I didn’t ask for your number. Ladies first, can I know your name?” He asked and she replied “Claire and you?”.
With the warmest smile ever, he said; “My name is Derrick, it’s nice meeting you”.
End of episode 1 😉
Stay tuned tomorrow to see what happened next.
✍🏼 Written by Sonia Okehie