story by deborah paul
ever been in love
episode 23
A WEEK LATER
Kim returned back from her trip, because of how busy her schedule was and that of Clarissa too they weren’t in touch, so she wasn’t aware her sister has been away for a while.
the taxi man dropped her in front of her sister’s compund, she came down and paid the taxi man before she took out her bag and pushed the gate opened.
she walked to the front door but noticed her sister’ car wasn’t parked in her garage, she waved it aside and went to the door to knock, she knocked till she got tired and decided to blow the surprise party, she wanted to surprise Clarissa that was why she didn’t call her from the airport.
she took her phone and called Clarissa, it rang over and over again but no answer.
she checked her bag if she could see her own spare key, and luckily for her, she found it “I hate surprising people sometimes, where has this girl gone to now” she murmured and opened the door….she was about lifting her bag when she heard a horn at the gate, she drop the bag down and went to the gate thinking it was her sister but to her surprise it was Marcel.
Marcel drove into the compound and parked, while Kim locked the door.
MARCEL
Kimberly?
KIMBERLY
yeah, yeah it’s me life and direct
(she said and they shared a quick hu-g)
MARCEL
it’s been a while, when did you return?
KIMBERLY
I just came back, I haven’t gone inside yet….did you know where my sister is?
MARCEL
Rissa travelled
KIMBERLY
Travelled? to where?
MARCEL
she’s still in this town but work hasn’t allowed her to come home for a week or so now
KIMBERLY
My sister can be too serious with her job sometime, if the job is lagos here, why can’t she work from home.
MARCEL
(he smiled)
you know your sister better….so, hope you brou-ght alot of goodies for me?
KIMBERLY
(she smiled)
you bet….the gate was opened when I came, and i thought you own that car?
she said pointing to a car in front of Marcel’s house.
MARCEL
nah, that’s my younger brother’s car, I went to work so I left him alone at home
KIMBERLY
oh okay….let me allow you go check up on him, I will just go freshen up too.
MARCEL
thanks and it’s nice to see you again
KIMBERLY
Same here….see you later.
she said and walked to her sister’s flat while Marcel went to his….
immediatelymarcel opened the door to his living room, Derrick started throwing question at him.
DERRICK
is that not Clarissa’s cousin? the one you said travelled?
MARCEL
Yes she’s the one, she just got back
DERRICK
I heard the gate open but I didn’t want to go out so I was looking at her from here.
MARCEL
Derrick can I at least seat down in my house before you kill me with questions?
DERRICK
sorry bro, welcome back
MARCEL
thank you….
DERRICK
I was hungry so I ordered some food, do you care for some?
MARCEL
let me guess, you ordered for rice?
DERRICK
yes, you want something else?
MARCEL
(He actually wanted Clarissa’s food)
no, the rice is fine.
DERRICK
that remains me bro, how do you manage to walk in this town without running into princess Mirabelle
MARCEL
it’s a big city bro and this isn’t nollywood, this is real life.
DERRICK
(He smiled)
you know she also work in one of her father’s company as the CEO I’m just wondering.
MARCEL
honestly bro, I’m not scared if she finds me or not…is not like I committed any crime, I only said I do not want to get married to her…..i’m tired, and hungry all I nee-d now is a cold bath, and food then a good sleep would do.
DERRICK
Alright bro, I will microwave the food while you shower.
MARCEL
THank you.
he got up and went into his bedroom, he lossen his ne-ck tie and laid back on the bed, this past week has been so hectic, from one client to another, it was as if they wanted to kill him with work, and it wasn’t easy for him at all.
his mind drafted to Clarissa and he smiled, but that smiled was immediately replace with frowned “since she travelled I have only spoken to her just once and that was the first time she left, she’s not always picking her calls, even her text message she hasn’t replied anyone, I don’t know if she’s okay or not” he paused “maybe I should give her a call again”
he took his phone and dialled her number, it rang but she didn’t pick, he dropped the phone on the bed and hissed “how busy is she that she would starve me with her voice like this”? he said frustratedly
after some time he got up and took off his clothes and walked into the shower for a bath.
Though the contract Mr Samuel gave to Clarissa is indeed a big one, but it wasn’t compare to jobs that Clarissa has done in the past, she knew her workers would really come in handy if she put them in the right direction, the job which was to be done in weeks Clarissa pushed her workers but herself more till they finished the job in seven days, she would have returned the seventh day but Mr Samuel was out of town so she had to wait for him til the ninth day, which is the same day Kim returned from her trip.
she and her worker had finished with the work, everything was in place, the funitures have been arranged, everything was looking perfect…she asked her boys to leave since it was already getting late that she would wait for Mr Samuel to come see his work before she can leave…..one of her employee offered to stay behind but she refused, telling him she would be fine.
about an hour later Mr Samuel drove into his mas-sive compound, he had in mind that he wasn’t going to pay Clarissa her balance if she mess up his job, it came as a surprise to him when she called him few days ago to tell him his work was done, he didn’t want to believe her, in fact he told her not to leave that house until he sees things for himself.
Mr Samuel froze on the sp-ot when he entered his living room, he couldn’t believe his eyes, his mouth was wild opened.
CLARISSA
oh, you are here…..welcome
MR SAMUEL
who the hell are you?
CLARISSA
excuse me?
MR SAMUEL
Are you a human or a god? just one week you did this job?
CLARISSA
(She giggles)
I had helping hands
MR SAMUEL
God, this living room looks so beautiful Miss, you know I had my doubt when you called and said you were done with my job…..but after seeing this, I’m speechless
CLARISSA
I’m glad you like it and I hope your bride to be likes it too
MR SAMUEL
I’m sure she will…..I’m very sure….
CLARISSA
good, come let me show you around
MR SAMUEL
definitely
(he said and followed her)
after taking the tour around the whole house, Mr Samuel was very impressed, in fact at that sp-ot he called some of his rich friends and gave them Clarissa’s phone number….they promised to call her for a meet up so they could talk business……Mr Samuel was so happy with the job Clarissa put up for him in just a week that he paid her extra cash from their initial agreement.
CLARISSA
(Surprised when she saw the alert)
sir, I think you made a mistake with the figures
MRSAMUEL
I gave you an extra one million naira right?
CLARISSA
Yes sir
MR SAMUEL
That’s because you deserve it….you are a very beautiful lady, who could use this beauty to her advantage but instead you decided to use your beauty for something profitable…..how many girls of your age out there would agree to a job like this? a woman decorator? it’s rare….look at the painting of this walls, they are top notch girl …you deserve it.
Clarissa was never more proud of her than the way Mr Samuel made her felt, she thanks him very much.
story by Deborah Paul
ever been in love
episode 24
After Kimberly finished taking her bath, she decided to cook something for herself and probably give Marcel some.
she moved into the kitchen and walked straight to her sister’s fridge, she took out a big bowl of meat, she put it in the sink and on it, allowing water to defroze the meat.
She turn on her gas cooker and brou-ght out her cooking pit, as she was about to fill it with water, she heard her phone ringing so she dropped the pot, off the water sink and went into the living room to pick it up.
KIMBERLY
hello, good evening
(she greeted, not looking happy)
ATONY
I have been expecting your call
KIMBERLY
I’m sorry I was busy
ATONY
So, how was your trip?
KIMBERLY
My trip was okay, Atony can we talk later because I’m kind of busy.
ATONY
busy doing what?
KIMBERLY
(Getting pissed)
look Atony, I don’t think you have any right to be asking me such questione okay?
ATONY
(shocked at her outburst)
did I do something wrong? because I just don’t get this attitude of yours
KIMBERLY
what attitude is that if I may ask?
ATONY
After last night s-×, you totally changed like I did something wrong
KIMBERLY
I have no idea what you are talking about, I’m very tired and hungry so if you will excuse me.
before Atony could say more, she dropped the call and turn to walk back into the kitchen, her phone started to ring again so she turn to go and see who was calling.
she frowned again seeing that it was her over bossy boss that was calling, she hissed before she answer the call.
KIMBERLY
good evening sir
MD MICHAEL
Evening Kim, why didn’t you report back to the office?
KIMBERLY
are you been serious right now? my flight landed around 4pm and you expected me to report back at work?
MD MICHAEL
but you know we will still be at work
KIMBERLY
with all due respect sir, I’m human, a human who also gets tired, I just came back from a trip you sent me too, the lest you can do is give me space to breathe
(she said angrily)
MD MICHAEL
(He couldn’t believe his employee was being rude to him)
Kimberly have you gone bananas?
KIMBERLY
No sir, I think you are the one who is sick, you know
what, I’m tired of the way you boss me around….
Michael was surprise at her outburst, kim has for long been the best employee he has ever had, no matter how difficult that deal is, Kim always has a way of wining the contract for them.. He knows he has been to harsh on her and he wouldn’t blame her if she had enough.
MD MICHAEL
Kim, I can’t believe you just said I’m sick
KIMBERLY
(She suddenly felt remorseful)
I’m sorry sir.
MD MICHAEL
I want to see you first thing tomorrow morning
KIMBERLY
I’m sorry sir, that won’t be possible, I just got back and my sister is missing, I nee-d to go look for her.
MD MICHAEL
look for her as a police officer or what?
KIMBERLY
I won’t be resuming till Monday sir.
MD MICHAEL
(After a while)
fair enough, see you on monday.
KIMBERLY
thank you sir
she said hung up, she hisssd, dropped her phone and went back into the kitchen.
twenty minutes later she heard someone trying to open the front door, she thought it was Marcel so she cleaned her hands and walked to the front door, before she could hold the handle clarissa opened the door with her keys.
the both of them screamed in shock.
CLARISSA
(Found her voice first)
what are you doing here?
KIMBERLY
how did you get in? I didn’t hear your car enter the compound
CLARISSA
(going to hu-g Kim)
because I was trying to surprise marcel, when did you get back?
KIMBERLY
I came back today, decided to come give you a surprise only to found out you travelled
CLARISSA
Marcel told you right?
KIMBERLY
yes, come, come, come tell her how your trip went
CLARISSA
hectic, I’m very tired and hungry
KIMBERLY
lucky for you I’m making rice
CLARISSA
that’s nice….I will just quickly go take a shower.
KIMBERLY
go take a shower and come back, I nee-d to hear the full gist
CLARISSA
(She laughed)
I don’t un-derstand you, I thought Marcel already told you I went for a job? so what gist is there to tell? Talking about gist, you know you owe me a gist…..who is Atony?
KIMBERLY
(She giggles)
that’s not important, his in my past now.
CLARISSA
in your past? just like that? what did he do ?
KIMBERLY
what has any of them ever done? babe, go freshen up while I check what I have on fire.
CLARISSA
You this girl, you better change ooh
KIMBERLY
(She laughed)
I hear you.
Clarissa got up and pulled her bag into her bedroom, she have missed Marcel so much, her busy schedule had made it more difficult to pick or reply all his text messages, she took off her clothes and went into the bathroom.
Mrs Elizabeth sat in her living room, at every minute she looked at her wrist watch, Derrick’s late night is becoming worrisome to her.
she took her phone and Dialled his number, but he didn’t pick, that made her more worried….her husband walked into the living room to join her.
MASON
Here you are, I have been looking everywhere for you
MRS ELIZABETH
it’s almost 8pm and Derrick is not back yet
MASON
it’s high time you realize non of this children are kids anymore, they are now adult and can look out for themselves
MRS ELIZABETH
honey, why are you talking like this….you know how important we are in the society, what if our enemies decided to get us throu-ghour children?
MASON
what enemies woman? I do not have enemies, and I will advice you don’t go about looking for enemies either.
Derick walked into the living room, he greets his father, then his mother.
MASON
Good evening son, welcome back
DERRICK
thanks sir….mum, you don’t look happy
MRS ELIZABETH
where are you coming from?
DERRICK
not a again mom, can’t I go out to see my friends again?
MRS ELIZABETH
and you went out alone?
DERRICK
Who should I have gone out with? the cook?
MRE ELIZABETH
don’t use that tone with me boy, we have gaurds in this house don’t we?
DERRICK
guards? so I should drive around with guards? common mum…..the last time I check I’m not a governor son I’m just the son to…
MASON
enough Derrick, if you want to go see your friends you are free to, just don’t stay out late….it’s not safe out there….let this not repeat itself again….I’m I un-derstood?
DERRICK
perfectly well sir
MRS ELIZABETH
I will ask Anna to serve you your meal.
DERRICK
I will pas-s….goodnight dad, goodnight mum.
he said and hurriedly walked away before the mother could stop him.
Dinner was ready, Kim wanted to dish their food when Clarissa came into the kitchen
CLARISSA
Can I take some of your food to Marcel?
KIMBERLY
(She looked surprise)
tell me girl, what I’m I missing out?
CLARISSA
I’m lost, what do you mean?
KIMBERLY
Are you and Marcel a thing now? because I know you, it’s not difficult for you to fall in love and that’s why men end up breaking your heart.
CLARISSA
Marcel and I ain’t dating okay, we are just friends….beside you ask me to be nice to him.
KIMBERLY
Be nice to him not fall in love with him, it hasn’t been long you came out from a heart break, give yourself time to heal.
CLARISSA
i get your point okay, and I can boldly tell you that I have no feelings for mercel, his just a Friend.
KIMBERLY
If you say so, well I had plans of giving him food before, his brother was around but I saw him driving out, I guess he has gone….so you can take the food to him, but I won’t wait for you ooh, I’m hungry
CLARISSA
I will take food for the both of us, you can eat yours.
Kim looked at Clarissa for a while, maybe trying to be sure her sister hasn’t fall in love again.
CLARISSA
What?
(she said smiling)
KIMBERLY
Did I say anything?
Kimberly carried her food and went to the living room.
to be continued