A GAME
OF LOVE
AND OBSESSION
Chapter 3
To proof how much you mean to me. To proof you mean the world to me. Why are all these going unnoticed. Is it that your are still putting my loyalty to test? I know within that, you are doing exactly that. I will wait for you my sweetheart. I will prove my loyalty to you, “ Desmond said fantasizing about the picture. He placed the picture back into his wallet, smiled at it for the last time went to his room.
Jesse got up the next day to realize that he crushed on the floor. He still had the portrait of Theodora in his bosom. When he looked at the time, it was 5:00 am in the morning. He had to prepare for work. “Oh gosh!! So I have been sleeping on the ba-re floor all this time? I have to prepare for work.“
Meanwhile, Sandra couldn’t wait to see her mystery man. She wanted to know why he behaved the way he does. “I have been trying to decipher what could be the problem with this guy all night, but I couldn’t come up with any tangible answer. I guess I have to get closer to him. I can sense he is hurting inside. What might have caused this? He seemed to be a nice person just that he is too introvert. There is only one way of finding out,” she said as she picked her bag to go to work.
She checked the bag to see if she didn’t forget the money this time around. She didn’t want a repeat of the incident that occurred the previous day with the bus driver.
When Sandra got to the stop, she was expecting to see Jesse. But, to her disappointment, he wasn’t around. She stood in the queue hoping he would show up, but he didn’t. The bus came and she boarded it along with the other pas-sengers.
She looked throu-ghthe windshield to see if Jesse would approach the bus, but he didn’t. The bus drove off and still Jesse was not in sight. She was really disappointed.
Unknown to Sandra, Jesse had been to the bus stop earlier. He didn’t want to be delayed like the previous day, so he just picked a taxi to work.
Sandra alighted from the bus and walked to her office. Her phone rang and as usual , it was Desmond. She received it this time. “Hello Sandra,” greeted Desmond. “Hello, Desmond,” she responded. “I hope you are fine?” He asked.
“Yea, I am doing great,” she replied sharply. “I tried all night to reach you on phone, but I couldn’t get throu-ghto you,” said Desmond. “Oh yea, my phone was on low battery. Sorry for that. I slept while charging it. I planned to call you this morning, but had to get to work,” Sandra explained. “It is okay, Sandra. Can we go for lunch this afternoon? I have booked a reservation at a very nice restaurant,” Desmond asked.
There was a long pause on Sandra’s side. “Hello… Hello.. Sandra… Hello..”
“Yes, Desmond. I am here,” Sandra responded finally.
“Thank God. I thought your line went off. Will you go with me?” He asked again.
“I am sorry, Desmond, I don’t think I can make it. I have a lot of work to finish today. I have a deadline to meet. Please let us make it another time,” said Sandra.
“Hmmm.. If you say so. Anyway, I would like to see you after work. I could come pick you up and give you a ride to the house,” Desmond said trying to convince Sandra.
He wanted to do everything possible to have fellowship with Sandra. “Ermm… That wouldn’t be necessary Desmond. I don’t know the time I would be closing. Don’t worry, we will catch up some other time. Please I have to go. My boss is coming,” Sandra hung the call before Desmond could even say goodbye.
“Ah! This guy can really be a bother. I don’t enjoy doing this to him. I have tried to explain things to him, but he wouldn’t listen. Now, he has left me with no option. Maybe if I do this, he might get fed up and find another girl. A girl who will love him. I can’t be that girl. I don’t want to mess up our friendship by entering into a relationship with him. What if it doesn’t work? Which I know it won’t. Then I lose Desmond as a friend. I can’t let that happen. Desmond is too good for me. I pray he gets another girl that will suit him better,” Sandra said un-dertone as she approached her working desk. She sighed and placed her bag on the table and begun to work.
“Jesse, come over to my office,” said his boss over the telephone. Jesse quickly got up from his desk and headed for his boss’ office. He knocked and entered.
“Jesse, I would like you to take these letters to a friend for me,” the boss handed the letters to him. “I believe you are aware of the meager between our company and Silicon International?” Jesse nodded. “Very good! I want you to take these letters to the CEO of Silicon International. He will give you some drafts in return.
I want you to work on those drafts. Go over the accounts so that we can proceed with the deal,” said the boss. “Yes Sir, consider it done,” Jesse said and took his leave.
He called the company’s driver and headed for Silicon International which was few blocks away from his office.
He quickly went into the company’s building when he got to Silicon International. He was in a hurry because he knew the kind of work that followed after taking the draft from the CEO.
“Hello, please I am Jesse from Xilic Company Limited. I am here to see the CEO,” Jesse said. “Please wait for me to verify your appointment,” the receptionist said, while making a call. “Mr. Jesse, the CEO is expecting you in his office,” said the receptionist finally. “Thank you,” Jesse thanked her and headed for the CEO’s office.
He came out of the office with a bunch of files in his hands. He tried to pick his phone from his pocket to call the driver to come help him with the loads, the phone fell from his hand in the process. He left the files on the ground and begun to pick the separated pieces of his phone. While picking the shattered pieces, Sandra walked in his direction.
Sandra was so perplexed to see Jesse at her workplace. ”What a coincidence!!” She thought. She hurried walked down to where Jesse was. Upon reaching, she realized what had happened to Jesse’s phone. She bent down to help Jesse pick up the pieces.
Meanwhile, Jesse didn’t notice Sandra. He was so worried about his seemingly spoilt phone that he didn’t see Sandra walking up to him. All he could see was a hand going to pick a piece of his shattered phone.
He was actually going to pick that piece himself. He looked up to see who it was and lo and behold, Sandra. He was quite surprised to see her in the building as well.
”Please don’t bother. I will pick them up myself,” Jesse said trying to restrain Sandra from helping him. ‘Don’t worry, I got this. You helped me yesterday. Today is my turn to help you. After all, you are in my company’s building. So I insist,” Sandra insisted. ”Okay, if you say so!” Jesse replied sharply.
Sandra was happy within that she had finally gotten throu-ghto Jesse. This is the first time she had had a complete conversation with him.
“Jesse, I want to take this opportunity to thank you for what you did for me in the bus the other day. I really appreciate it,” Sandra said as she got on her feet. ”Sandra right?” Jesse asked. ”Yes,” she responded.
”I heard you when you thanked me at the bus stop. It is kind of embarras-sing if you keep repeating it,” Jesse said and began to walk away.
”I am sorry, Sandra, but I have to get going. My boss is expecting me and I am running out of time,” Jesse said.
”Yes please. I guess we will see again some other time?” Sandra asked.
”Sure! But, it is not a promise,” Jesse said as he walked briskly out of the building.
Sandra stood and watched him enter the car. She stared until she could no longer see the tail light of the car.
A GAME
OF LOVE
AND OBSESSION
Chapter 4
Sandra was happy within that she had finally gotten throu-ghto Jesse. This is the first time she had had a complete conversation with him. “Jesse, I want to take this opportunity to thank you for what you did for me in the bus the other day. I really appreciate it,” Sandra said as she got on her feet.
”Sandra right?” Jesse asked.
”Yes,” she responded.
”I heard you when you thanked me at the bus stop. It is kind of embarras-sing if you keep repeating it,” Jesse said and began to walk away. ”I am sorry, Sandra, but I have to get going. My boss is expecting me and I am running out of time,” Je
”Yes please. I guess we will see again some other time?” Sandra asked.
”Sure! But, it is not a promise,” Jesse said as he walked briskly out of the building. Sandra stood and watched him enter the car. She stared until she could no longer see the tail light of the car.
Back at Jesse’s house, he was going throu-ghhis things and realized he was running out of groceries. “I nee-d to go to the supermarket to get a few groceries. Today is Saturday, and I think I have the time. Next week is going to be busy because of the meager,” he said and took his wallet. Jesse went out of his house to the supermarket.
When Jesse got the supermarket, the place was packed with people. He quickly got his shopping cart to shop.
“Hey, Jesse!! Is that you!? Oh my God, I can’t believe this!! I thought I wouldn’t see you again!!” Said a lady in the supermarket, shouting at the top of her voice.
“Jasmine!! What are you doing here!!? I thought you have traveled overseas. Wow!! Really nice to see you!” said Jesse still surprised. “Me too, Jesse. I am also happy to see you! I wasn’t able to go to Germany. I couldn’t get the scholarship I applied for. I am doing my masters degree here. Anyway, how is Theodora? I am sure by now you guys are married,” Jasmine asked teasingly.
Jesse’s countenance fell on hearing the name of Theodora. He was almost at the brink of shedding tears right in front of Jasmine. He had to control himself not to, least he disgraced himself. “Jesse, why are you sad all of a sudden? What is it? Hey, you know you can tell me anything. Hey, Jesse, come on,” Jasmine said trying to convince Jesse to open up to her.
Jesse looked up into the eyes of Jasmine. She took the items he was holding in his hands, and led him out of the supermarket. “Dear, let’s sit in my car and talk,” she said and opened the door of the car for Jesse to enter. She used the door on the other side.
“Now, no one is here. Can you tell me what is wrong with you? I never knew you to be like this! You were the most free-spirited and happy person I knew back in school. You always had smiles on your face. Please tell me what is bothering you. Who knows? I might be of help,” Jasmine said still trying to convince Jesse. Finally, Jesse sighed and started to speak.
“Jasmine, I have been throu-gha lot of bad experiences in these past months. Something I never thought or dreamt could happen to me happened. You were aware of my relationship with Theodora. You know how we came together. That was after you bounced me for that sugar daddy. I was so brokenhearted that I couldn’t even concentrate on my studies. I couldn’t even eat. Theodora came throu-ghfor me. She came as a divine compensation to the pain you caused me.
Although, “Dor” was ahead of me two years in school, she was always humble and respected my decision as a man. She was all I could’ve ever ask for in a future wife. Her sense of humor, kindness and her caring tendencies made me love her the more. I completely forgot about the pain. I always thanked my stars that you didn’t accept my proposal at the time. She was always patient with me. She always said she would wait for me to finish school and get a job so we could together prepare for our marriage.
Our nice relationship began to deteriorate when her boss started making advances towards her. Initially, she talked to me about it and we could laugh over it sometimes. We could tease the boss together when the issue came up.
But, it got to a time she stopped talking about him. I thought that meant he had stopped making those advances towards her. I didn’t make an issue out of it. In fact, I forgot about it entirely since it wasn’t necessary and was a trivial issue..
Theodora’s attitude towards me changed completely as the days went by. I suddenly became an enemy to her. She stopped calling me and even stopped sending me night messages. The sad aspect of the whole issue was that, she stopped picking my calls.
I even remember an incident she threw me out of her house. In fact, i was devastated. I was very confused and sad. I didn’t know what had caused this change of attitude overnight.
I heard rumors of her always moving around with her boss. I didn’t take them serious because i hadn’t seen them with my eyes. I was in the house one day when Theodora came to visit. I was so happy to see her around because i hadn’t set my eyes on her for almost two months.
But, my happiness was shattered into pieces when she handed her wedding invitation card to me. I was so shocked and terrified at the same time. I became speechless as I looked into her eyes. Tears welled up in my eyes and began to stream down my cheeks on their own accord.
There was no remorsefulness in her countenance. She rather looked excited. “I will be expecting you at the wedding, Jesse. Please, don’t disappoint me by not coming. I will be hurt if you do that,” she said that and joyfully stormed out of my house, Jasmine! I have not been the same again. I always think about her and her betrayal. I have lost interest in love, Jasmine,” Jesse explained and started to cry.
“Jesse… Jesse… It is okay! There is no nee-d in killing yourself over this issue. Please calm down,” she said as she took out a handkerchief from her bag and began to wipe the tears off his face.
“I am here for you now, Jesse. I caused all these troubles in your life and I am back to fix them if you will give me another chance. I regret ever bouncing you for that old fool! He destroyed me! I have been looking for you everywhere to make amends and I am glad I have found you today. Don’t cry over Theodora again!! I will do everything in my power to make you forget her, I promise you that!!” Jasmine said with confidence.
“Let me drive you to your house, dear. We could catch up on old times, watch an interesting movie together or maybe I can cook for you,” said Jasmine.
“I would have loved the cooking aspect, but my groceries are finished. That was why i came to the supermarket to get some. I am really famished,”Jesse lamented.
“That is not a problem at all. Stay in the car and let me get them. I will be back soon,” Jasmine said and left the car with her handbag. She came back in ten minutes with the groceries, entered the car and left with Jesse to his house.
Jesse was snobbish outwardly, but nee-ded fellowship inwardly. To him, the re-appearance of Jasmine was a miracle. Perhaps, that was God’s solution to heal his broken emotions. He had loved Jasmine in the past. Jasmine was way hotter than Theodora although Theodora had more character than her.
She was known for her promiscuity back in their school days. Maybe she had changed and become a better person due to life’s experience. The lingering affection for Jasmine began to resurface in Jesse’s heart. Upon this as-sumption, he decided to give Jasmine another chance.
Jasmine could be the chosen one for him. Maybe, it was divinely calculated that Jasmine was the chosen one. If not so, then why had their paths intersected again in his greatest moment of despair.
…to be continued