The following morning, am woken from my sleep by the sound of my doorbell. I wonder which kind of person disrupts my beautiful Sunday morning sleep. I get out of my divan and when I pull the curtains, the effulgent sun rays remind me of how long I have slept. I hurriedly go downstairs and before the bell rings again, I open the door. My eyes fall on my sister. I wonder what she is doing here at this particular hour but I mask my displeased surprise with courtesy.
" Michelle!" I say, feigning surprise as I hug her. " How are you? This is really a surprise."
" I think I have just disrupted my big brother's morning slumber,"she says.
" Sleeping? Who was still sleeping at this hour?" I reply guiltily.
" Don't even try to deny it, Carloy. It is evident in your eyes."
I don't even try to argue with Mitchelle because it is the truth and in any way she never fails in an argument. Once inside the house, I ask her what brings her without notice and very early in the morning. She says she will tell me soon.
" It feels like you are the only one here," she notices.
" But am here with you," I reply.
" Not in that way. Like I expected to meet Rose again," Mitchelle says keenly.
Her statement about Rose slices my heart like a blade but I try as much as I can to conceal my feelings. Am not yet ready to reveal the sad situation of my relationship with anyone. I still have hope that I will mend it and more so, I don't want to accept that she left me.
" Ah!" I say, figuring a very believable lie to tell my inquisitive sister. " Rose is on a vacation with some friends."
" Oh, you should get changed as I prepare a quick breakfast for us," she says, already moving to the kitchen.
I sigh when she falls for my lie. I quickly make a shower and dress. All time thinking about what might have brought Mitchelle at my home. It is not that I don't like her visit, but it is very rare for her to come to my home with no notice. I find her already seated at the dining and she invites me to join her.
For the first time since Rose left, I get to eat homemade breakfast. And for a matter of fact, Mitchelle is just too good at cooking. We have a good conversation about nothing in particular until she tells me that she'll be going to Asia to further her studies in catering.
" That's good, Mitchelle. When are you planning to leave?" I ask curiously excited.
" Am leaving next weekend," she replies.
" What?" I say impulsively, surprised by her response. " Why in a rush?"
Mitchelle informs me that she got a scholarship and it was sudden and she couldn't give up the opportunity. Mitchelle quickly changes the subject of our conversation and knowing what kind of person she is, I don't talk about her studies again. It is a subject that has always been controversial to her and it is a a very big surprise that she agreed to go for further studies.
" By the way, you seem to have been very busy the past week," she tells me, cleaning the table.
" Why? Don't tell me you've been stalking me! I say jokingly, surprised by her words.
" Of course not!" She exclaims. " I tried reaching you via your office line but you were not available."
" Oh, I have been up and down lately. Just know am working on some big project."
" Big project? Do you have a new book you're writing?"
Mitchelle asks many questions that I fail to choose which to start with. I inform her that whatever I am working on is very huge, but I restrain from telling her the real thing. I am willing to keep this as confidential as possible as per my employer's request. It still disturbs my mind whether Elsa Miles is my employer or she's a client .
Later, I drive my sister to a friend's place where they always have meetings of their Rotary Club. I don't make a long stay and I drive off into the city. I don't have a clear destination in my mind as I wander and drive through different streets. Actually, I was planning on staying at home for the whole day if not for Mitchelle. I get stuck in traffic and decide to turn on my music player and JB's 'Anyone' plays.
Since Rose left, I got accustomed to listening to such music that is in line with my situation. A florist comes to my driver's window and the first thing that catches my sight are the fresh roses with their sweet fragrance. They remind me of my dear Rose and a thought crosses me. I decide to go to her home in the hope of talking to her or in the least have a glimpse of her. I know am making a fool out of myself but and breaking a promise I made to her sister. The last time went to her home, her sister requested me to give Rose some time and I promised to do that. But here I am in a real need to talk to her that I can't deny myself because I just control the thought of her being far from me.
Mother Nature makes a sudden wash on earth as I drive on the street leading to Rose's house. The rain is so unexpected but it does not make me change my mind. I don't have any new words to explain to Rose for what happened as I have said everything to her already. I am ready to repeat myself as long as I can bring Rose back in my life. I can't tell how much more convincing she wants from me.
Rose allegedly believed that I was cheating on her with my former secretary which was not the case. All this started happening on the Publishing House's anniversary. As anyone else I attended with my girlfriend. All was going on well until I went to the bathroom. Unfortunately, Losna, my former secretary had followed me there.
Losna was my secretary at work. She was good at her job but I had one problem with her. She liked me and despite my continued requests to her to give up on me, she never did. She always made me feel uncomfortable especially in public where she got too clingy. On many occasions, I was rude to her but that never made her stop on her quest. I had requested for a change of secretary but none has been found yet.
So unluckily on that fateful day, I had to collide with her in the corridors of the restroom. Unfortunately,. Rose appeared at a critical moment. I think Rose has observed Losna's weird behavior around me during the party and that's why she followed after seeing her coming to the direction I had taken.
As I was planning to go back to the hall after using the restroom, I found Losna standing in the corridor. She stopped me and inquired about Rose whom I genuinely introduced as my girlfriend. She couldn't believe my words or just that she never wanted to believe it. She pulled the sleeves of my suit, telling me of how much she loved me and that it was her who deserved my love. To her, I was being stupid choosing porridge over milk.
" You are the crazy one here," I hissed at her, trying to push her off my arms.
Out of the blue, she took a stolen and quick kiss from me . It was so unexpected and she did it in such an adroit manner that made me think that she always did it to me. In a disgusted state, I pushed her off me and pinned her on her on wall. I wanted to strangle her to death at the moment because I lacked any words for her. She had crossed the line and I could not just let this slide away.
But before I could do anything, my eyes caught Rose staring at us at the end of the corridor. She was looking at us unbelievingly, I could tell from where I was that Rose was jolted to her innermost bone. It appeared like she had observed everything that had transpired between me and Losna. She turned around and left, at the moment I felt everything crumbling down on me. My fear for the worst happening flooded my entire being. Without saying a word to Losna, I marched quickly in search for my dear Rose.
To my shock or should I say that unlike what I anticipated, Rose was seated on the same table that I left her. The greatest shock of my life was that when I approached her, she seemed to be in good state. She even told me not to talk about what happened earlier. For the rest of the evening, she acted like nothing has happened. The same thing happened when we were at home, she said she didn't want to discuss anything.
" I saw everything and you don't need to explain anything . Besides am very exhausted from the happenings of the day. It has been a long day, you know," she told me in a relaxed voice which I found vague and every disturbing.
You know when you know very well that you need to give an explanation and you are not given any chance.