story by Deborah Paul
Ever been in love
episodes 49
Clarissa dropped at clarissa’s apartment and knocked, she opened the door and came out…… immediately she did, he ki-ssed her on her both cheeks making Clarissa to blus-h again.
CLARISSA
hey, I didn’t hear you drive in
MARCEL
yeah you are right, my car is parked outside
CLARISSA
why?
MARCEL
(He checked his wrist watch)
it’s almost time for our party, here I got this for you, I hope it suits.
He said handling her a bag of clothes, she collected it and looked inside.
CLARISSA
this is much Marcel, all I nee-ded was just a dress.
MARCEL
it’s not bad if you have more, you deserve more than that.
CLARISSA
thank you….you won’t come inside?
MARCEL
eeh, no let me go and do some work stuff before time.
He looked at her and noticed her face was glowing, then he noticed it was her hair, she made a new hair style that fitted the shape of her face.
CLARISSA
what? Why are you staring this ha-rd?
MARCEL
I swe you made a new hair, looks good on you.
CLARISSA
I had to go to a salon on my way back.
MARCEL
you look beautiful
CLARISSA
thank you, so see you in how many hours?
MARCEL
by 7:30 I will come get you.
CLARISSA
O-KAY
She said and went back inside while Marcel went to his flat.
since morning Kim had not had anything to eat, even the gate man was worried, it was on like his boss to be at home and not cook, cooking is one of her hobbies, if not because he has money he would have starved all day.
but food wasn’t his main problem, his problem was if his madam was okay, he waited for Derrick to come so he can go check up on her but Derrick didn’t show up, and when it was 7pm he got so worried that he had to call Derrick who gave him his number the previous day to always call him if Kim brou-ght a man home.
immediately Derrick saw Kim’s gate man call, he ended it and called him back.
USMAN
hello sir, good evening
DERRICK
Usman right?
(he asked to confirm his name)
USMAN
yes sir, it’s me
DERRICK
So what’s up? did Kim bring in another man today?
USMAN
oga, since morning madam never come outside, she no even call me to come carry food and I know my madam to be person wey like to cook, I go living room but she no dey there and fear no let me go her bedroom, oga I dey worried say something the do my madam ooh.
DERRICK
maybe she didn’t feel like cooking, beside why not enter to check if she’s okay or not, after all you are the security of that house.
USMAN
I no fit, madam warn me say my job end for living room, make I no ever do mistake enter her bedroom.
DERRICK
I don’t know what you want me to do usman, why are you calling me? I mean she has a lot of boyfriend, why not call one of them? or better still her sister?
USMAN
(He switch to English)
I called you because in many years that I have worked with miss kimberly I have never seen her with anyone twice except her sister, I don’t know how you did it but it worked, my madam has become soft, better than she use to…her life style might be crazy, but she’s the sweetest anyone could ever ask for….she’s a better woman than she was….I don’t know what is wrong but I know right now she wouldn’t want to see any of those men she fli-rt with, or her sister that you mentioned….she will be glad to see you.
Derrick was silent, he didn’t know what to say, and he never knew Usman has so much wisdom in him.
USMAN
hello sir, are you still there?
DERRICK
(Clears throat)
I will be right there.
(He said and hung up)
Marcel knocked at Clarissa’s door softly and came out nervously, she didn’t want to ruin the night or embarras-s Marcel with her weird kind of make-upping, she know Kim these days tells her she has become a pro and she sees it too, but tonight she feels nervous and scared.
Marcel was lost in her beautiful, the beautiful gown fitted so perfectly like it was made specially for her body.
CLARISSA
How do I look?
(she said holding her breathe)
MARCEL
you look….you look elegant and beautiful Rissa
CLARISSA
(She blus-hed)
is my make up okay? if it’s too much I can quickly wipe it off.
MARCEL
(He giggles)
look at my Clarissa all nervous because of just a makeup, she wouldn’t care before….I love this.
CLARISSA
(She blus-hed more)
stop teasing me please
MARCEL
you look perfect baby, let’s go, we gonna be late for the party.
He gave her his hand and she took it, he walked her to where he parked his car outside and drove away.
Senator Godwin was already giving up hope, he thought his long time friend has decieved him and has refuse to show up for his party, he called Marcel countless of time but the number didn’t go throu-gh,
he had no idea Marcel had change his lines because of Mirabelle and his over nagging mother.
soon Marcel arrived the location, he came down from his car and went to the other side to open the door for clarissa.
it wasn’t the first time he was doing that for her, but tonight felt special, in fact anything Marcel did these days makes her feel loved and special.
Marcel gave her his hand again and she took it elegantly, her beautiful smile never left her face.
As they headed for the party room, Marcel met senator Godwin on the way, they hu-gged each other.
SENATOR GODWIN
I thought you weren’t going to come again
MARCEL
you should know me by now, I’m a man of my word
SENATOR GODWIN
How can I forget, our righteous prin…
MARCEL
(Cuts in knowing what he was going to say)
meet my friend clarissa, Clarissa meet senator Godwin my former clas-s mate and the person we are here to honour.
CLARISSA
Hi, nice to meet you sir
SENATOR GODWIN
She is such a beauty my friend, nice to meet you too darling and I must confess you look absolutely stunning.
CLARISSA
what can I say? thank you sir.
SENATOR GODWIN
so Marcel, welcome to my party and enjoy yourself….i will see you around.
He said and departed from them, Marcel held Clarissa’s arm again and they walked into the party room.
the moment Clarissa entered, it was as if the world stopped just to admire the beauty that just walked in.
clarissa felt awkward with the way people stare at her.
CLARISSA
why are they staring at me like I’m the celebr@nt?
(she whispered)
MARCEL
(He smiled)
look around, did you see anyone as beautiful as you are? common girl, let them feed their eyes on the beautiful gift God brou-ght to earth.
clarissa giggled, Marcel always have a way of making her to laugh, but that laugh was cut shut when Jude appeared from nowhere
JUDE
Clarissa? i thought my eyes were playing tricks on me….wow you look eeh
CLARISSA
Mr Jude it’s been a long time….marcel can we leave this place
she said politely and her face still fixed on her face, Marcel took her to the other side of the room, greeting other guests and some of his old clas-s mate that he hasn’t seen for a while.
story by Deborah Paul
Ever been in love
episode 50
Derrick arrive at Kim’s place an hour later, he horn at the gate and usman opened the gate for him.
He locked the gate and ran to meet Derrick where he parked
USMAN
welcome sir
DERRICK
thank you, where is Kim?
USMAN
she’s in her room
DERRICK
alright thanks, I will just go check up on her before heading home.
immediately he said that Usman looked at his phone, the time was already 8pm, he wondered how long Derrick intend to stay with his madam.
Derrick turn to go but Usman stopped sir.
USMAN
excuse me sir
DERRICK
(He turn to face him)
yes Usman, what is it?
USMAN
I know this is non of my business but, I just feel as man to man I should tell you this.
DERRICK
(He relaxed on his car)
okay, I’m listening
USMAN
It’s only a blind man that would say he doesn’t know that you love miss kimberly, I know you love my madam, and you might think it’s a lie but even she has fallen for you without realizing it.
DERRICK
(He chuckled)
love? your madam only loves herself, she doesn’t care about any man’s feelings….you don’t know what I’m saying
USMAN
(He laughs)
sorry to say this sir, but it seems to me you haven’t been in a relationship before, or fallen in love before…..or should I say you haven’t been close to ladies before…it seems my madam is your first
DERRICK
(Surprised)
why did you say that?
USMAN
because it’s obvious you don’t even know when a woman likes you….okay, I know my Madam, I have never seen her with any man twice so I’m guessing relationship is not her thing, but since you have been visiting her she stopped going to club, she stopped bringing men home.
DERRICK
but she brou-ght a man home two night ago and allowed him to stay till yesterday evening
USMAN
would she have done that if you were around? kimberly is a very tender lady that nee-ds her emotions refilled all the time, she’s the type that attention means a lot to, you were not around for days, she wanted attention, to be happy and that drove her back to her life style…I’m not defending her, because I don’t even know the heat going on between you two….i’m just telling you my observation.
DERRICK
(He was quiet for a while)
thanks Usman….I really appreciate this.
Usman smiled at him and returned back to his duty post.
As Derrick walked towards Kim’s door, he thought of all the things Usman said, he saw a lot of sense in it but then he can’t just smile at her character as if it’s okay when it’s not…what they get serious and he had to travel? will she go back to her life style because he wasn’t there to give her attention”? “no, I’m not going to over look what she has done, I love Kim so much, oh! even the twenty four elders in heaven can testify to that, and that’s why I’m going to be like this, I’m going to be distant until she realized what she has lost, only then will she decide on her own to either stop or continue sleeping around”
immediately he entered the living room, the scene of the previous day came to him like a flash and the pain he felt yesterday came rushing back.
He felt like turning back but the love he has for her wouldn’t let him do that.
He decided to go check her upstairs, as he took one step at a time, he remembered all that transpired between Kim and her one night guy.
He shook his head trying to get all those memory out of his head but he just couldn’t.
Kim got up from her bed, she has been in bed all day, one look at her and you will know she’s running a temperature, she felt thirsty and decided to go downstairs to get it, she felt dizzy immediately she got down from the bed, she almost felt down but quickly sat back on her bed.
she was about to get up again when the door flew open.
she lifted up her face and saw Derrick, she was surprise, he was the last person she expected to see after what happened the previous day.
Then she remembered how she has been in pain because of his harsh words towards her and her anger rekindled.
He got up and walked pas-s him going downstairs with her dizziness.
KIMBERLY
what are you doing here?
(she asked going out and Derrick followed her)
DERRICK
I came to see you of course
KIMBERLY
Get out of my house, I no not ever want to see your face ever again
(she said descending the stairs)
DERRICK
you think I want to here? hell no, I only came because your gate man was worried, he said he hasn’t seen you today….that’s why I’m here.
Kim was pained to the bone, she felt angry and jealous that Derrick came just because Usman asked him to, not because he misses her or wanted them to settle…..it was because Usman called him.
KIMBERLY
good, you can as well leave now, as you can see I’m okay.
(she said heading to the kitchen)
DERRICK
My plea-sure, it’s better you give him permission to come check up you anytime he feels worried, he should stop calling me because you feel like stay off men for a day.
(he said harshly and walked out)
Kim couldn’t control the herself anymore, she has been trying to act tough so Derrick would not see her as weak, but the dizziness over powered her and she pas-sed out on the door.
Derrick heard the heavy sound in the kitchen, he wanted to open the exit door and leave but he couldn’t so he went back to check up on her.
“oh my God Kim, hey wake up”
(he said slapping her softly on the cheeks)
“Derrick, Derrick, you should have seen beyond that toughness that she isn’t alright, Kim I’m so sorry he said carrying her from the floor.
He took her to the living room and returned back to the kitchen to get ice and a towel, taking her to the hospital will take almost an hour to get there, since he is a doctor he decided to calm the temperature before taking her to the hospital.
He came back with the bowl of ice and a towel, he knelt beside her on the couch he laid her, he opened the towel wilder and poured some ice inside before placing it on her forehead.
He continued like that till her temperature started to reduce, he took the bowl inside and came back, he picked Kim from the couch and she opened her eyes.
DERRICK
you are awake, thank God
KIMBERLY
what happened?
DERRICK
you pas-sed out in the kitchen, why did you tell me you ain’t feeling well?
Kim closed her eyes back, she only opened them when she noticed Derrick was moving.
KIMBERLY
Where are you taking me to?
DERRICK
hospital of course, I only cool off your temperature, you are still sick.
KIMBERLY
(She struggled to come down)
drop me down, I’m not following you to any where
she said and for-cefully came down from Derrick’s hands.
DERRICKS
Kim this is not the time to act stubborn okay, let me take you to the hospital.
Kimberly walked back to the couch, as she walked she missed few steps, you could tell she wasn’t okay yet.
KIMBERLY
leave me alone, you already predicted I’m going to die a loner, so if I’m going to I think this is a petft time.
DERRICK
this is crazy, you are capitalizing on what I said out of anger?
KIMBERLY
damn you Derrick, who do you think you are to judge me? who?
(she screamed)
Derrick was so tempted to scream back to, to tell her how much he loves her ame how much it hurt him to see her in the arms of another man. but no he held himself, this isn’t the time for all that.
DERRICK
Can we do this later? let’s take care of your health first please.
(he said calmly)
kimberly saw how calm he is and how gentle he spoke to her, she found herself calming down too.
KIMBERLY
my head hurts badly
DERRICK
That’s because you still have fever burning inside of you…..let’s go to the hospital.
KIMBERLY
I’m not going, I just want to sleep, I will be okay by morning.
DERRICK
You can’t be okay without drugs okay, you nee-d to take….
KIMBERLY
I have some drugs upstairs, we can go check it if its useable.
DERRICK
so, you are still insisting on staying at home?
KIMBERLY
I hate hospitals, it makes me sick
DERRICK
but you are sick
KIMBERLY
I’m not going
she yelled and he lifted up his hands in defeat.
He helped her got up from the couch and held her hand and her wai-st helping her to calm the stairs because she was still feeling very dizzy.
to be continued