Unfulfilled promise 57

Unfulfilled Promises
Season1
Episode 57

Oleng wept anew when her aunt told her that her mother had thrown her out also When she finished weeping she resolved never to waste a tear on the woman again She completely wiped her out of her mind and life She started life afresh without her.

Life was now quite difficult without finances from her mother , The school Aunt Vien taught in hadn’t paid her in months because the proprietress was bankrupt She had no reserved money because she had used it in paying the house rentbaby’s upkeep well that if he found out they were having money trouble he would want to help, after all he was well paid Oleng felt like a burden to her aunt She wanted to look for a place to move in to but that would require money also Her results were not yet out so she couldn’t get a good paying job She however got a job as a receptionist in a small firm The pay wasn’t much which was twenty thousand naira a month but at least it helped put food on the table Her aunt was very grateful for her contributio Oleng tried very hærd not to regret wiping her mum off her life because of their present sition.

When she had enough money, she sold off all the jewelries and clothes her mum had bought her She sold off everything that reminded her of Mrs. Akpan as she now called the woman who used to be her mother The money she realized from the sale was huge and she wondered what she would do with it She wanted to give Aunt Vien but she refused She wanted to give it to her for Emem’s child but her aunt refused again She was bent on not using the money because it was Mrs. Akpan’s When she was thinking of what to do with the money, she went to the bank and opened an account with it. She saved the money there and forgot about it not minding the fact that she was cutting her nose to spite her face She eventually gave it to charity
Life continued even though it wasn’t as rosy as before She now wore second hand clothes otherwise known as bend down select or okrika which she got from Watt market She stayed months before making her hair Her beauty was what made her not to look plain in her new mode of dressing.

When it was time to go for service, she was posted to Cross River; her own state She wondered at the luck she had After orientation camp and everything, she was posted to a bank in Calabar Her aunt was very happy that Oleng wasn’t leaving after all and fortunately for them, the bank was not too far from the house in MCC road. Oleng was more than overjoyed She wondered at the stroke of luck but thanked God nevertheless for the unmeritedfavor She started working in the bank with great zeal and before long she was a favorite there what with her beauty, her industrious nature and all.
She and Dave were still the best of friends and after a while both Zinny and Marvy came for a visit They stayed a wh0le week and had great fun with Oleng and Dave They wished they would be posted there because Calabar was indeed a beauty to behold They visited the famous Obudu cattle ranch and marveled at the beauty and serenity of the place They took a lot of pictures, They also went to Tinapa Dave gave them suya treats at Bogobiri corner and took them to Freddies and Chinese restaurant.

Before they left, they told her they were positive that Dave was madly in love with her She denied it saying he had never given her the impression before They argued about it and told her to tell them the minute he proposes to her She had shoved them to the door laughing and saying they were dreaming as she followed them to the park to take ABC transport back to Port Harcourt.
Nevertheless, she began watching Dave closely yet he treated her like his sister.l She was however amazed when she introduced him to Jenny and ebbie as her ‘big brother’ and he gave her a sharp look They had teased her that he was probably ‘the one’ but she had vehemently denied it, laughing He had been very quiet throughout the encounter and even on their way home She had asked him what the problem was but he had said nothing. She had shrugged it off nonchalantly but continued to watch him closely.

They went out one weekend to Freddies restaurant and as they were eating, Collins her former course mate approached their table.
“Hi Oleng.” he heartily called.
“Hi Collins. My God! It’s been a while.” She was beaming.
“Yes, it’s been a while You still look as beautiful as ever.”
She laughed. “You’re not looking bad yourself.”
Is this your boyfriend?” he asked looking at Dave who was watching both of them.

She laughed again and without thinking said, “Of course not. He’s just a friend”
Dave gave her a stunned look as his jaw dropped.Oleng fell silent She knew she had made a slip.
“Hi. I’m Collins.” Collins quickly said to cover the silence, stretching out his hand

“Dave.” Dave replied, shaking his hand.
“Well, Oleng, I don’t mean to disturb but please can I have your number? I really would like us to get together some time; at least for old time’s sake.”

“Sure.” she quickly said and rattled off the numbers which he saved in his phone.
He flashed her with his and she saved it in her phone too.
“I’ll see you around. Take care” he said and left.
There was a deafening silence when he left Oleng didn’t know what to say She knew she had hurt Dave’s feelings She heard him chuckle and looked up.
“We’ve known each other since when I was in SS1 and you, JSS3. How many years is that? Over eight years and I’m still just a friend to you.” he bitterly told her.

Oleng was lost for words. “Dave, please I’m sorry. I don’t know how those words came out but I didn’t mean them.” she rapidly told him.
“Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaketh.” he calmly told her.
“That’s not true…I mean… I didn’t mean it. It was a slip. Of course you’re more than just a friend to me.” she told him in desperation.
“Really?…and oh! Before I forget, you also said, ‘Of course not’ when he asked if I was your boyfriend. Is the thought so appalling? Is the thought of being your boyfriend so horrifying to you?” he threw at her in fury.

She couldn’t utter a single word. She knew she had badly hurt him,She looked down at her plate.
When he couldn’t bear the silence any longer he stood up. “I’ve lost my appetite. I’m going home.” He paid the bills and left.

To be continued