What lies Beneath episode 8

WHAT LIES BENEATH
Episode 8
By AMAH’S HEART

I took a sip of the drink and set it down.

“Relax man, you looked all worked up… I know you can handle this…

Chuka said while sitting opposite me in his living room.
We finished watching a live match and decided to watch wrestling.
His wife, Helen who was pregnant served us food but I told her that I wasn’t hungry.
She and her husband try to force me but i truly do not have appetite for food and didn’t want to waste their food but when they insisted, I decided to take few spoon of the plate of rice.
I dished out a little into a small saucer and ate instead of eating directly from the full plate they placed before me.

I thanked them and decided to stick to the wine that Chuka brought.
We both sat talking and sipping our drinks.

I briefed Chuka about Oby and my decision to opt out of the plan of marrying her.
I made sure I left the bedwetting part out of our conversation.

he wasn’t happy how things turned out as he also tries to calm me down.

“… I’m sorry man. This was the exact thing i was saying initially when you told me and Jerome of your plans to sponsor her through school… I mentioned something, I don’t know if you can still remember Austin…I said you should have gotten married to her first before sending her to school. In that way she will be committed to you and won’t think of misbehaving…

“I doubt if marriage will even stop her from acting foolish in school. She will easily be influenced and start misbehaving even while married. Chuka, I’m not angry because she got carried away in school and lose her V-rginity to another man, I’m just pissed that she pretended and lied to me. Oby has suddenly gone wild, I couldn’t place it at first but I understand now why she feels so exposed. No sign of fear or innocence and she is just twenty years. Mhenn I can’t do this. I couldn’t even talk to my family about it because they are not aware that I was training a girl in school with the intention of marrying her…if my people knew, they will feel indifference about it and I seriously do not want to start giving long explanation over my personal decision. Is only you and Jerome that knows about her. And as for Jerome, he messed up big time. I told him few days ago not to come to my house again. my friendsh¡p with him is just at the edge. But he is not even my major problem right now. I’m planning of traveling to Oby’s village, I need to see her parents and tell them I have changed my mind about their daughter…

Chuka dropped the cup of wine in his hand breathed deeply.

“Austin, I know you felt girls in the village are filled with innocence and are not too exposed… while Abuja ladies are opposite. You forgot that my wife is Abuja babe, filled with exposure yet well coordinated and discipline. Is almost three years of marriage and I can confess that she completes me. Even when she was worried sick when she couldn’t conceive earlier, I kept encouraging her that at the right time it will happen. Finally, God did it in his own time and she is pregnant. There is no woman that is willing to be committed to a man that won’t. Even if she is a harlot, they also make good wives…. the ones that are ready for a change not those struggling with indecisiveness. Oby is beautiful and young, she haven’t experienced much in Life, she became a target to many ill things. Please, don’t make hash decision because of how you feel right now…think it through. It was during my traditional wedding you first saw her and she captured your mind, you wanted her and we even asked around about her parents to know the background she was coming from. She comes from my wife’s village and mine is a neighbouring village to theirs but she is like a sister and I will advise you to think your decision through Austin. We have been friends for far too long, I want the best for you man. If you still can’t proceed with her after much thought then is all good, but try not to make up your mind when you’re still nursing your hurt. I’m solidly behind you in every decision you take and as for Jerome, you already know the kind of guy he was before now, don’t let his dirty lifestyle annoy you because he doesn’t worth the attention. Jerome is not even ready for any sort of commitment, marriage is not on his list. Big boy lifestyle and deceiving women, those who want to be deceived with his sweet tongue and fine looks… things like that are still in his main agenda. I support the fact you warned him not to come to your place…my wife doesn’t like him one bit. Don’t let Jerome’s issue bother you. Let me know whatever you decide concerning Oby.

I stayed a for a longer time watching wrestling match with Chuka and his dear wife.
As night approached, i thanked Chuka and his wife before leaving.
As I was driving home, I kept thinking about the wh0le thing.

My mind was made up and there was nothing to think again.
Is a week and four days since I found out about her crazy lifestyle in school.

Is two weeks already from the day she traveled down to spend sometime with me.

I also found out the reason she was bedwetting.
Another heart wrenching tale.

I try to overlook the bedwetting part since she is using the guest room now but I just couldn’t.
I don’t know what to do about it. Is disheartening and shameful.
I can’t fathom how it started or what went wrong, could it be spiritual attack? Bad nightmare or other illness that one need to take serious.

I asked her twice if it was from childhood and she said no.
How did it start, Oby can’t say. She doesn’t even know how.

That was the only personal conversation I had few days ago with her.
I told her is better she open up if there’s any so that I will know how to help her, if is by spiritual, phycological or medical issue
She refused saying anything. I left her alone.

We have been living like stranger, her school will be resuming next month.

I need to take her back to her parents before the resumption.

Maybe is a good thing that she is not schooling close.
She won’t have reason to come and go as she please because I’m placing embargo on everything concerning us after returning her to her parents.

she tries to please me and make amend after realizing her mistake but the deed is done.

I was a bit relieved after three days she didn’t bedwet
Only for it to happen a night before yesterday.
She came to meet me in the morning while I was on the dining taking breakfast.

“Good morning. I know you hate me and still haven’t forgiven me. I understand is hærd and I’m truly sorry my love. I have been so ashamed and afraid to share something else with you, but since I’m ready to come clean is better I say it all without holding back anything. You were asking about the reason for my bedwetting, it started back in school too. I’m truly sorry…I can’t hide it anymore. I think is medical issue. I…I found out that I was pregnant for Rick after sleeping with him, when I didn’t see my period I told my girlfriends, they bought a pregnancy test kit. I used it and found out I was pregnant. They took me to a place for D and C… that’s to remove it. It was a middle age man, who uses part of his house for such purposes. I paid him and he carried out the act. It was painful, I thought I was going to die. I couldn’t go for lecture for days. I told you I wasn’t feeling well that period, i lied that it was malaria and you sent money that period. It was after then I found out that I can’t no longer hold urine for long. It takes just second and I will either pee on myself… I told my friends and they said with time it will stop but it didn’t really stop. I try to control it during the day but at night before I will get up from sleep and rush to urinate is already late. I don’t know if the abortion affected my bladder or something more. I’m sorry that..

I quickly stood, pushed the breakfast away and left.

I later drove out and came back around 8pm.
I heard her crying in the night before bed.
I was in the sitting room when she sat on the dining taking Pepsi with the biscuits i left in the fridge after crying.

I went to bed only to wake up this morning and she was washing the blankets that she peed on.
I have thought her how to use the washing machine but she still choose to use her hands.

I make sure there is everything in the house, even if I’m very crossed with her she was under my care and I have to take care of her.
I’m done with her baggages and she knew. It scares her because she does not know what I intend to do.

I was fed up and needed somebody to talk to which was why I decided to drive to Chuka’s place.
I feel relief sharing my problem with someone.

I will just sit out at an open joint, close to my estate.
I will while away time before going home.
Ones I get home, it will be straight to the shower then to bed.
Holiday continues tomorrow, after then work starts.
If I can’t stand her presence tomorrow, I will drive out.
I made food yesterday and put in,side fridge. If she is hungry then she can eat.

I parked and went into the open bar, I asked for asun, (goat meat barbecue) with drink.

While I was drinking, I saw a lady sitting alone and sipping her drink not too far from me.
It was very common to see ladies go to bar or some of the hang out joints just to have good time.
It was common both in Lagos and Abuja.

They don’t necessarily need a man for that, they just believe they can take care of their bills without a man

She was looking everywhere, either for someone or for a night catch.

she looked towards my direction and looked away.
She looked up at me again, fixed her eyes on me.
I looked back to my asun which I have just eaten two pieces out of the many in the plate.

I drank deeply from my cup of Heineken, brought out my phone and began to browse.
“Is just 9pm, I will be leaving by 10.

I said to myself as I went back to my phone.

A voice startled me and when I looked up it was the lady.

“Is that an iPhone 11 or 12? Wow… you’re one of the Abuja big boys….”
She exclaimed

“No, this is not an iPhone is Samsung.
I replied as I watch her take a seat beside me and went straight to using toothpick to take my barbecue meat without asking.

She looked up at me with her mouth full and said

“Wow, you’re indeed a big boy. My name is Mimi by the way. I’m very single and ready to mingle. I Came into Abuja a year ago and staying with a friend. I used to reside in plateau state before. This Abuja is wh0le cruise. Like last Friday, we were at the all Star club… that place is a different world. I have been to many club house but visiting this particular one where big politicians and celebrity come to chill is different ball game for me. This barbecue is so delicious, I’m almost finishing it for you. Will you order for another plate?.

I scoffed and took another drink from my cup.
I called the barbecue man and asked him to bring another plate.
I ordered for an extra drink for her. I was okay with my second bottle.
I was feeling a bit tipsy but that was exactly what I wanted to achieve.
Get high and drive home to sleep. forgetting Oby and her problem.

“…Are you married, I know some married men don’t like wearing wedding ring. Although you look young and appear like an eligible bachelor. One of the hottest bachelor in Abuja. By the way before I forget, I must confess that you’re very handsome. What tribe are you…oh, I forget to ask. What is your name…

She has obviously had enough but continue stuffing herself.

I took the last remaining drink from my cup and said

“Mimi, it was nice meeting you too. I suppose to look married… with kids, I wonder why you didn’t see that…”

She smiled and said

“Well, you don’t look it but again is not written on faces. The woman that has you is damn Lucky. Can I be your second wife…

She said like a whisper and suddenly began to laugh.
Her guts in saying that is not surprising.
Some ladies speak their mind and do not care what you think of them.

I chuckled and Checked the time. Without saying a word to her.

“… you aren’t saying anything. I said if I cannot be your woman can I be your side chick… you mustn’t wife me. This Abuja is hustle that pays most. One thing for sure is that I won’t come in between you and your family…. you’re a ladies spec and I’m only shooting my shot. Which if you want to think it through, there’s no problem in it and if you still want to give the answer here I…

I interrupted her.

“Thanks Mimi, your offer is quiet tempting but I’m not interested…

All of a sudden I sighted somebody walking angrily towards our table.

She looks familiar.
As she came closer, I was surprised as Oby walked upto us.

“This is where you are… and this is the lady that has been keeping you company. For days now you have been leaving me, you will abandon me at home and come back late at night. I never complained. This is holiday period and you were atleast supposed to be home but you left since early afternoon and there was power outage after you left, I called you but you refused to pick up. I don’t know how to t-rn on the generator or invater, I decided to come out this night to any nearby hangout joint, I was just sitting alone at the table over there watching people go and come in when I sighted you. I was in doubt at first until I came closer and saw you. This is how you treat me, as if I have a disease. This your lady is obviously better than me, I agree but you pretend like you were faithful and royal to one woman… you are a liar and pretender Austin and you have no right to judge or treat me like a plague but I totally understand since my sin is the greatest and unforgivable one at that. But because you sin differently does not make you better than me…I..I..

She started crying, turned and ran away.
The lady with me was not bothered, she continued eating and drinking.

“Was that your wife…? Oh my gosh. She is quiet young and beautiful but her out burst is too predictable and childish. I mean no offense but I seriously don’t know how to pretend. But I’m glad she isn’t toxic or saucy housewife who will scatter this table and threaten to break my head with a bottle. But, no woman tries such shit with me… when I’m not under her roof or on top of her man. You belong to her back at home but ones you’re out…any body can claim you as hers and what I’m saying in general is that…

I stood, dropped money for her extra bottle incase she still wants more drinks.
I left without another word to the lady whom I have even forgotten her name.
She was asking for my number and calling out her own but l ignored.

Went into my car and drove off.
When I got home, Oby was in the sitting room crying. There was light but the television was off.
I was too tired and a bit tipsy. All I want is to go to bed.
She was talking, saying all kinds of things as I went to the fridge to take chilled water.
I just don’t know how to pretend or act like everything was alright.
Flexing in school and joining bad gangs wasn’t enough, she started keeping boyfriend and having unprotected s€×.
That wasn’t enough she became pregnant and had to go for abortion which has affected her urinary track.

I seriously don’t know how to deal with all of that.
I just want to forget it even if is just for a while.
I’m going crazy with each realization about her.
She was denying at first over the issue with bedwetting.
And now before I send her back to her parents I have to get a medical help for her.

I never bargained for any of this, no… never did I see all of this baggages coming.
Now I’m thrown in between, I have to help her clean up her mess.

I took a bottle of water, ignored her nagging as I went straight to my room to refresh and sleep.

Tbc