TIDES OF LUST (Episode 50)

 

“You weren’t just a girl to me Evelyn. I valued our friendship, I treasured it with all my life. It’s just that….........”

I didn’t want to voice out something that will make her feel worse than she was already so I withdrew my words before it came out but she picked it up from there.

“Just that what? Say it Pascal, You couldn’t see yourself dating me right? I mean why would you date me? What is there to gain again? You have seen and had everything on a platter of gold so what more?”.......she said, her voice filled with scorn.

“Evelyn just stop”........I said out loud.

Her words were piercing through my heart. I know she would never stop saying those things till I tell her something that will give her a guilty conscience too.

“Why are you saying all these to me? Do you know how deep I was in love with you in the first year? Do you know what your rejection did to me? Do you know what damage it did to my esteem? Do you think all I wanted from you is just Sêx and money? I wanted you, someone to call my own after Mirabel, but what did you want? You wanted me for just Sêx”

 “You saw in me that guy you could just spend on and use to satisfy your urges. All these while I have loved you but I had told myself that hiding it is the best I could do. When you came out with your feelings, I was afraid”

 “How sure am I that it wasn’t still a plan to keep me around for your satisfaction and when you are done you will get me discarded? I was so drawn to you that I feared what would happen after graduation. I was afraid of being lonely when mirabel's issue came, I decided to end things for good with the both of you and move on”.........I explained everything to her, from the depth of my heart.

She was left speechless after my final remark, and I knew I had struck a chord. The silence that followed was palpable until she finally spoke, her words catching me off guard.

“Pascal I’m sorry I never understood your feelings then. I was only playing by my parent’s wishes and didn’t want to drag you into it. If I could turn back the hands of time, I’ll make things better”........she said remorsefully.

“It’s okay, it’s in the past now. We have to move on to the future”........I muttered, staring at her intently.

“Okay, but can I ask you something? I know it might sound a little weird”.........she demanded.

“Sure, go on”.........I urge her.

“Do you still have any feelings for me?”........she asked with a sly smile on her face.

“Yeah, I still do, but you know I have a girlfriend now, so it doesn’t matter anymore”.........I said bluntly.

“So do you think we can still get down?”.........she asked again, still with the smile.

“I have a girlfriend”.......I replied.

“That is not a yes or a no?”........she retorted.

“I refuse to answer that question, but I will do well to avoid you as much as I can because I HAVE A GIRLFRIEND”..........I sneered.

“Before the girlfriend came around, I was there so I don’t need your answer anymore......I already have the answer I want, thank you”.......she replied, and chuckled.

We decided to go and chill out a bit in Mami market while I collect one of my phone from the phone charging spot. As we walked down, she slipped her fingers into mine and locked them together. When we got the phone charging section, I paid and collected my phone and we left to a café.

We placed our orders and waited for our food to arrive. I was engrossed in my phone when Evelyn gently nudged me to get my attention.

“Is that not your girlfriend?”........she asked, nodding to a girl sitting with a guy in another café opposite ours.

Glancing over in the direction Evelyn indicated, I spotted Sandra sitting with a companion. While he conversed, Sandra was distracted, intently typing on her phone.

Sandra would periodically look up, offer the guy a warm smile, and then refocus on her phone. Her behavior was so characteristic, and I found myself smiling knowingly.

Over time, I've noticed that Sandra has a tendency to be aloof and guarded around other guys, but when we're together, she lets her guard down and is her carefree self.

“Yes that’s her, any problems?”........I asked Evelyn.

“That guy is my platoon leader”........she replied.

“Which platoon you dey self?”........I asked.

“Platoon 9”........She replied, still staring at Sandra and the guy.

“Please leave them to enjoy, being in camp is for only three weeks”........I said playfully to Evelyn.

She swiveled around, her eyes widening in surprise at my comment. I met her gaze with a smile, pocketing my phone as the waiter arrived with our snacks.

“Do you really trust her that much that seeing her with another guy doesn’t make you feel somehow?”..........she asked with disbelief.

“I trust her so much. I have seen things that made me to really trust her”........I replied.

Our conversation was interrupted by the beep of my phone, signaling an incoming WhatsApp message. I glanced down to read the text.

I burst out laughing and turned my phone to show Evelyn the message. Her expression changed instantly, and she swatted at my hand, clearly annoyed.

The WhatsApp message was from Sandra, and it read.

“Baby please where are you? there is someone talking trash into my ears please come and save me”........she added many crying smiley to the message which made it more funny.

“See I told you that my babe can be trusted......she isn't promiscuous”........I boasted to Evelyn, but she hissed loudly.

I brought out my phone from my pocket to send a reply to Sandra, so she can know I am around her.

“My cupcake, please take a look at the shop opposite and you will see your knight in shining armor”.......I typed and sent it to Sandra.

She turned around, caught our eye, and flashed a smile. Then, she stood up, gestured towards us, and the guy followed her gaze before she walked away from him.

As Sandra approached us, her expression shifted, and she became subdued. She sat down beside me, swiftly pulling out her phone and immersing herself in it, her attention diverted.

After a while, Evelyn stood up and left, giving me a flimsy excuse of going to meet her platoon commandant.

After Evelyn departed, Sandra remained eerily silent, not saying a word to me until we exited the café.

To be continued........