The Puzzle Episode 13 – 14
The Puzzle
Episode 13
LOVE BIRDS*
***Still at the eatery***
“Let them watch, I don’t care. I am here for just only one person and to me, none of those people exist okay? Waiting for your order dear,” Michael replied Rose.
“Hmmm, a plate of rice and water will be okay,” Rose said.
“No soft drinks?” Michael asked.
“No please, I don’t take much sugar. I have taken ice cream already . I thought you doctors say it’s not good for one’s health.”
“Well, it’s okay, I do take soft drinks once in a while though…
Michael went over to the service point to take their order while Rose waited at the table.
Her phone rang, you can guess who the caller was. Yes, David.
For the first time during the outing, she felt guilty, she glanced round as if to check if her husband wasn’t watching. If it was a platonic friendsh¡p she had with Michael, why feeling guilty? But of course, there was more to it than ordinary likeness, they had both grown feelings for each other and here is her own husband calling her. She decided not to pick the call. She quietly switched off her phone before Michael came back to the table.
They both ate their meal and talked about all sort of issues. Michael did most of the talking and they both really got along with each other like they’ve been friends for years…
“I feel so lonely these days,” Michael said suddenly after they were done eating.
“I have missed Eliz a lot, I feel like having her and Daniella, my daughter around me, I have missed them both.” He looked sober for some minutes. Rose felt for him, she knew what it means for someone to be lonely. She felt like gathering him into her arms that minute and cuddle him like a baby.
“What woman in her right senses would abandon a man like this, such a nice, caring and rom-ntic man? And I am here suffering from being abandoned by my own husband. What a dizzy world!” She thought.
She held out her hands and took hold of Michael’s hands and said, I am sorry Michael, I understand how you feel…”
“You do?” Michael interrupted her. You can’t Rose, you have your husband and daughter with you but I stay alone. That house is gradually becoming like a prison. I spend most of my time at work just to reduce the loneliness but it’s all the same. I love Eliz a lot, if not I would have given my heart to someone else.
If you weren’t married Rose, I would have married you right away. You are the first woman my heart has ever melted for since Eliz left me. The very first day I set my eyes on you at that party, my heart cleaved to you…”
“Party? What party?” Rose cut in confused. She had met him on the roadside on her way to work but now he’s talking about a party…”
“Don’t mind me Rose, I am beginning to lose my mind.” Michael replied still wearing a sober look.
Rose thought of a way to bring him out of the mood, she felt so much pain seeing him in this state.
“Do you mind if I keep your company like this once in a while, probably on weekends, just to get you out of the loneliness for the time being?”
“Of course, I will love it. I feel like seeing you everyday of my life Roseline. You have stolen my heart, I can’t say how or why but I like you a lot and I wish you are mine.”
Rose began to feel uncomfortable, “but Michael, I can’t be yours you know. I am married, I can only pray that your wife comes back to you on time. I wish I wasn’t married too, I would have given my heart to you…”
“Really?” Michael said opening his eyes wide.
Rose immediately regretted the last statement she made.
“That had gone too far,” she thought. She sighed and said
“Yes Michael, but as it is now, I am married, my heart belongs to another. Even though she wasn’t really sure if her heart was still with her husband anymore, she is just loving this new man with each passing minute.
She checked her wristwatch. “I have to go now Michael, it’s 8:35pm already. It’s getting late, I need to pick my daughter before going home.”
“Please don’t,” Michael pleaded. “Stay with me some more.”
“I can’t Michael, we both know I can’t,” Rose replied, not able to look into his eyes.
She picked up her bag. “Shall we go now please Michael? I promise to chat you up on WhatsApp tonight till you are ready to go to bed,” she added smiling, knowing the effect that would have on him.
“Okay darling,” Michael said, as he rose to his feet. His countenance brightened up…
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Meanwhile, David had become restless, he had lost his peace. The fact that Rose ignored his calls troubled him a lot. He decided to leave Benin that Saturday morning against his former decision to leave on Sunday morning. He doesn’t like his schedules being interrupted but he doesn’t seem to care this time around. He was eager to know what had gone wrong with his dear wife.
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Michael dropped Roseline at the entrance of the estate because she insisted. She thought it not safe for Michael to drive her into the Estate, one can never tell, anybody could see her. She said goodbye to Michael and just as she was about to alight from the car, He grabbed her left wrist, and said
“Roseline, not even a goodnight k-ss?”
Episode 14
TROUBLES*
Rose wasn’t sure she heard him clearly.
“W-w-hat?” She stammered
“Just a k-ss, Rose. I will really appreciate it,” he asked sed-ctively.
Rose went dumb that very second. She suddenly imagined her l-ips buried in Michael’s, then it immediately dawned on her that she can’t! She couldn’t just imagine herself k-ssing another man while her husband is alive, “what happened to my marital vows?” She thought.
“Never!” She blurted out and jumped out of the car as if she just escaped from kidnappers.
“Wait Rose,” Michael called.
“Don’t!” Rose barked. She walked away without looking back. She realised all she only wanted was a quality and nice time with someone, preferably her own husband, not this type of ungodly relationsh¡p . She can only prefer to be friends with Michael but going unclad for any other man apart from her husband will only happen if she was dead!
She walked down the streets of the quiet estate thinking about what just happened.
“I still love David, how I wish he can adjust a little to my wishes and expectations…
I don’t desire any other man. No! Michael can never be the solution.
No! Why must he ask for a k-ss on the first outing? The next one, he would ask for s€×! No, I must determine to go back to my marriage and make it work.
This can’t be love, I lusted after him just because I found in him some of the things that were lacking in my husband. I wasn’t thinking straight…”
Just as she was about to walk past her home, to go pick Debbie where she had earlier dropped her, she noticed that the lights were on.
“What’s happening? I didn’t switch on any light before I left home, who could be in there, David? No it can’t be.”
She walked swiftly to the entrance and just as she was about to knock, the door opened. She gasped. It was Evelyn, the lady she left Debbie with.
“Rose? You are welcome. I just brought Debbie and I met only her Dad. What kept you so long? I tried your line several times, it was switched off. I was on my way to get some ‘Suya’ on the main road when I noticed your lights were on so I came around only to discover that it was your husband…”
“My husband? He’s not suppose to be back until tomorrow…?”
“And here I am today, I changed my mind,” said David as he showed up at the door.
“I need to go Rose, I must catch up with the ‘Suya man’ before he would leave. Goodnight guys.”
“Thanks so much Evelyn goodnight,” Rose said calmly still surprised by her husband’s early return. It really caught her unawares.
“So, Rose what exactly is the matter with you? You ignored my calls since yesterday, what happened?” David asked after they had both entered.
“Where is Debbie?” She asked
“Is that the answer to my question? She’s asleep already. Now, I demand an explanation right now Rose. What on earth did I do wrong to deserve that treatment?”
Rose walked to the fridge at the dining area, a bit relieved that Debbie had gone to bed. She hates arguing with her husband in the presence of their daughter. She poured herself some cold water, drank and took a seat at the dining table.
She couldn’t look at her husband directly. David noticed the guilt written all over her face and questioned her further. “Where are you coming from Rose?”
Silence…
“Answer me, or have you suddenly gone dumb?”
“Must I explain every of my movements to you? Ha-ha, what is it? You have left home for days, did I ask for details of all your movements? Don’t disturb me please.”
“Roseline, are you out of your mind? Am I the one you were addressing in that manner?”
“Yes of course, husband. You abandon me here almost every other day of the week. I can’t suffer forever, I need to go out and mingle once in a while.”
“I hope you haven’t started having an affair Rose…”
“And what if I do?” Rose confronted him boldly, not knowing she just made the greatest mistake in her marriage. She only said that hoping it would make her husband jealous and maybe he will be forced to adjust to her demands.
“You dare not.” David thundered.
“I have and I will again!” Rose confirmed fearlessly.
David moved to where she was seated and before she knew it, he gave her a resounding slap for the first time in their marriage. David had never gone physical with any woman in his life but tonight, he just did.
Rose was shocked. “You slapped me?”
“Oh yes, I did! How dare you Rose?” He continued fuming with anger. “After all my toiling day and night to give you a quality life and make us comfortable? Do you know the number of ladies I meet everyday away from home and I avoid them like plagues all because of you? Do you know the number of temptations God had helped me to overcome? You are wicked Roseline, for you to pay me back this way.” He sat tiredly on one of the chairs in the living room and looked at Rose where she was seated, he imagined her having s€× with another man, it was too hærd for him to take in. Tears ran down his cheeks.”
Rose stood up from where she sat, still holding her cheek in horror, she picked her bag and said, “You slapped me David?”
“Yes, what guts do you have to cheat on me? I thought you were a Christian? Shameless pr-stitute.”
“You are wicked David, how dare you slap me? You think you have no faults in this matter? In fact, I can’t stay in this house with you tonight, wicked man.” She cried and ran out of the house.
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So Roseline left her home that night, where do you think she went to?
Well, your guess is as good as mine. Let us just hope she won’t regret it, for her own sake.