DEAR
JOCELYN
Episode 21
By: Faith Lucky.
Audrey’s Pov:
I woke up the next morning and noticed I was lying on something big and comfy. It felt like a be-d.
I yawned out of sleep and opened my eyes and that was when I confirmed I was really on the be-d.
But how did I end up here? What even happened last night?
I left the be-d and went into the sitting room and there I met Rodney, operating his phone.
He was sitting on the couch and he lifted his eyes to look at me the moment he heard my footsteps.
He sh0t me a stare and took his eyes back to his phone.
“Um…good morning Mr Rodney” I greeted nervously and couldn’t tell why.
“Oh; morning. How’re you feeling?” He replied and asked, still looking into his phone.
“I’m…fine”.
I paused and looked around.
“Um…Mr Rodney” I continued.
“Where did you sleep last night?”.
I knew he wouldn’t sleep on the be-d with me..so I was curious to know where he sle-pt.
He looked at me and chuckled as if I had asked an unbelievable question.
“Really? I sle-pt on the couch” he replied and I flin-ched.
“Huh? B…But why?” I asked.
“Well, what do you expect? You warned me strictly to stay clear of the be-d and even went ahead to tell me I had no respect for ma-king you sleep on the ha-rd chair.”
My eyes dilated in surprise as I held my che-st.
“I…I…I did? B…But how?” I stuttered and Rodney went back to operating his phone
“Um…Mr Rodney, wh…what else did I do last night?” I asked and he scoffed and stood up.
“Can I even list them? They’re uncountable. Just one piece of advice, Audrey, stay away from alcohol” he said vacuously and walked away to take his bath.
I sunk myself in the couch and hit my head. How could I be so careless? Only God knows the crazy things I must have done last night. Why did I even end up drun!k?
I sluggishly stood up and went into the kitchen to tidy it. I tried recalling what happened the previous night but couldn’t. The memories were just blur.
But I really hope I didn’t do anything out of the blues.
I spent a long time in the kitchen, trying to remember the previous night incidence.
I could remember singing in the bar, then I had started dancing crazily in front of Mr Rodney and next…boom! I can’t remember . but I have a feeling I did crazy things.
I placed my hand on the kitchen table and looked throu-gh the window in front of me.
“What are you thinking?” I heard a voice from behind and turned in shock to see Rodney standing by the door.
He leaned on the edge and stared at me with those sparkling eyes of his. I couldn’t st©p staring at his eyes.
He was throu-gh with his bath and had changed into a jeans and red T-shi-t. His hair was still we-t.
“Uh…I was just…thinking of something” I replied and cleared my throat and took my eyes to the floor.
Rodney scoffed and I wondered why.
“Um…Mr Rodney, I nee-d to go home for a…”
“for a what?” He interrupted, still leaning on the doorway.
“Why do you always go home to take your bath?” He asked and I cringed.
“M…Mr Rodney…”
“Do you think I’m a per-vert?” He interrupted me again and I couldn’t hide my nervousness.
“Uhm…Mr Rodney, I…I think you’re getting it all wrong. It’s not that I think you’re a per-vert. Of course, you’re not. I’m just…”
I paused and sighed, realising I was out of words.
He smiled.
“There’s nothing to be scared about, Audrey; feel free around me” he said and moved from the doorway
“Be quic-k with the bath. I’m starving alre-ady. You can make use of my soap” he added and left the kitchen.
I placed my hand on my che-st and tried to control my breath. I couldn’t tell why I was so nervous about it.
What if…
What if…
Kept running throu-gh my mind.
I decided to wave every negative thoughts aside and act like everything was normal.
I went into the bathroom and changed into one of my aunt’s towels and walked into the bathroom afterwards, ma-king doubly sure I jam locked the door.
I took off my towel and turned off the shower. My aunty’s house was small but lovely.
When I was done bathing, I went ahead to find something to wear.
I checked my aunty’s wardrobe and found the only short that could fit me. Then I wore a black T-shi-t on it and parked my hair in ponytail.
I opened the door and walked into the sitting room and there I found Rodney operating his phone again. But the moment he noticed my pres£nce, he lifted his eyes to look at me and he stared at me from head to toe, uncannily. Like, I could tell he was staring at me in a different way.
I looked down at my dress and noticed it was a bit short. Could it be the reason he was staring at me that way?
“So, what are we having for breakfast today?” He finally broke the silence, taking his eyes back to his phone.
“Um…I don’t really know. Maybe pasta” I replied and took my eyes around the room and that was when I realised the room had been tidied up.
Wow! Did Rodney really do this?
“Just pasta?” He asked and tapped the chair for me to sit.
“Are you asking me to entrust my breakfast to you? Remember you ruined my lunch yesterday”.
“Come on Mr Rodney, you know yesterday’s lunch was complicated. Just give me one more chance and I’ll prove to you I’m a good cook.’ I said and he chuckled and turned to face me properly.
“Okay then. Let’s give it a try. Pasta for breakfast” he said and I smiled.
*
I rushed to a nearby sto-re to get all the ingredients I nee-ded for the pasta. Pasta was my favorite. So, I knew I’d be able to impress Rodney with it.
As I walked back home, I thought of Rodney. I wandered why he had been staring at me that way.
But I liked the way we had become…maybe, friends. But thinking of it, are we really friends?
Well, to me, he was alre-ady a friend. But I didn’t know of him and I wanted to know. I wanted to know what I meant to him.
Maybe I’ll ask him when I get home. Yes, that’s what I’ll do.
Approaching the house, I heard someone call my name from behind and I turned to see the worst thing that could happen to me at that moment – my mum!!!
She stood with her hands at akimbo and stared at me with beady eyes.
“Mum; wh…what’re you doing here?” I asked, confused.
I looked back at the house and looked at her. I could feel my heart beating fast.
“I thought you said you were going to work?” She asked as she drew closer.
“So, what are you doing here huh? Why aren’t you at work?”
She s£nt shivers down my spine.
“Mum, wh…what are you saying?” I asked and chuckled nervously; but she wasn’t smiling.
“I…I told you I was staying in aunt Tessy’s house right? And I go to work from here.”
“Yes? So why are you still here? Why aren’t you at work? Have you been lying to me? Huh? tell me, who’s in there with you?”.
And before I could think of something, she walked pas-s me and barged into the house.
Oh, my God!
“Mum!!” I called but it was too late.
DEAR
JOCELYN
Episode 22
By: Faith Lucky.
Audrey’s Pov:
She barged into the house and looked around the sitting room; it was empty. I c@m£ running in immediately.
“Mum! What are you doing? There’s no one here” I said in a pained voice and tried holding her hand but she withdrew it f0rç£fully.
“Get out of my way Audrey; don’t try to st©p me” she said and walked into the be-droom.
I was p@n-ting heavily. I was definitely going to be dead if I get caught.
“Mum…”
She c@m£ out of the be-droom and went into the kitchen.
I suddenly paused. Why hasn’t she found Rodney yet?
she c@m£ out of the kitchen and walked outside the house, looking left and right.
I rushed out as well.
I had also become confused. Where was Rodney?
“You’re really here alone, right?” She asked, turning back to look at me and I tried to act a little upset.
“Mum! What were you even thinking? Who do you think is here with me? The reason I’m still here is because I’m off duty for now. But I’ll be leaving in two hours time. Why do you think I’d lie to you? It seems you don’t trust me anymore” I said in a peeved voice and threw my face away.
She sighed and held my cheeks.
“Audrey baby; I’m so sorry okay? It’s not like I don’t trust you. I…I just had a bad dream last night
“Um…I’m sorry now. Don’t be mad at me anymore, okay?” She said apologetically and I f0rç£d myself to.to . smile.
I just wanted her to leave as soon as possible.
“it’s okay mum. I’m not angry anymore”.
“Awwn. That’s my baby” she said happily and gave me a pe-ck.
“I’ll be leaving now okay? I’m running late for work. So take good care of yourself. Love you” she said.
“Bye mum” I replied and she left.
I heaved a hvge sigh of relief as I watched her leave. But, where was Rodney? Where did he go? How come mum couldn’t find any trace of him?
I hurried back to the house and there I found him smoking in the sitting room. Huh? Was that for real?
“M…Mr Rodney?” I called, startled.
“Were you here when my mum c@m£ in?”
“Of course. Where else could I be? I was hiding” he said and I found it unbelievable.
“Hiding?”:I pondered.
“Yes. I saw when your mum arrived unheralded and with the look on your face, I knew you were in big trouble if she knew I was here. So, I decided to do you a favor and go into hiding”. He replied but I still remained a bit muddled.
“But where were you hiding Mr Rodney? She. ..she searched everywhere” .
He cracked and almost laughed.
“Hiding isn’t a problem for me, Audrey. Back then when I was with Jocelyn, we did crazy things together. There was a day we even got arrested.”
“Arrested?” I skrie-ked.
“Yes. Well, kind of. We had snuck into someone’s house to steal some mangoes. But unfortunately, we got caught”
He paused and laughed, but I could tell it was a feigned laugh.
“By the way,” he continued.
“Where’s the pasta?”
“It’s. ..um…its right here. I’ll get to work immediately” I replied and started walking into the kitchen and noticed Rodney was following me behind.
“No, no, Mr Rodney, I don’t nee-d you in the kitchen” I st©pped to tell him.
“But why? I just want to be of help” he grouse.
“I really appreciate the offer, but I’d want to take the blame for any error that might be available. Don’t worry; I can handle it” I replied and walked into the kitchen.
“Whatever. Fake miss chef” I heard him say from behind and I laughed.
Megan’s Pov:
I pla-yed with my food as I had breakfast with mum and dad. Although, I was seated there, my attention was elsewhere.
I haven’t been able to reach Rodney since he left and it was killing to know he was with a lady. I was greatly bittered with the way he’s been ignoring me for years. I’ve been trying to.to get close to him, but he’s been pushing me aside.
“Megan, are you alright?” Dad broke into my sad thoughts and I lifted my eyes to look at him.
“I’m…I’m fine’ I replied weakly and took my eyes back to my food.
“You’re not eating” he said but I remained silent.
I was scared I might pour out tears if I tried speaking.
“Yesterday was the day Jocelyn went missing” mum said after a while.
“I almost forgot” she added tearfully and bent her head.
“Come on love” dad tried to console, but she only ended up bringing out tears.
I couldn’t take any more of it as I pushed my food away and stood up.
“Ex…Excuse me” I said ruefully and walked away.
“Megan…”
I ignored dad who was calling and walked away into the garden.
I crossed my hands and sniffed and wiped the tear that rolled down my cheek. Why was everything being so unfavorable? And why does her world appear to be crumpling?
I kept staring into space until one of the maids c@m£ upto me and bowed.
“Good morning ma’am Megan” she greeted politely.
“Someone’s here to see you. He’s waiting by the gate”.
I heaved and t©uçhed my forehead. I didn’t feel like talking to anyone at the moment.
“Who’s he?” I asked, sounding disturbe-d.
“He said his name Is Peter”.
Oh! Peter. He was one of the guards I had as-signed to look for Rodney. could there be any news?
I left the maid there in the garden and went over to meet him by the gate.
“good morning ma’am” he greeted as we moved away from the gate.
“Yeah morning. Why’re you here?” I asked immediately, wanting him to go straight to the point.
“Um…actually, I’ve gotten some news on Mr Rodney’s whereabouts. One of my men reported he had seem him in a club last night with a lady”.
My eyes beamed.
“Wh…What lady?” I asked curiously.
“He couldn’t identify her. But they were together and he secretly followed them to where they’re staying and has given the location to me” he replied.
I couldn’t believe my ears. My heart raced fast as I bec@m£ too anxious. I was finally close to.to getting Rodney and the cheap sloth.
“Why’re you just telling me about this?’ I asked, opening my palm.
“I’m sorry ma’am. But the information just got to me this morning” he replied
“Well, take me to them immediately”.
Tbc
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