MY JOURNEY IN LIFE
EPISODE 26
The girl refused to say anything. The cops threatened thun-der and brimstone, yet, she said nothing. She kept looking at everyone angrily and spitting out angry words and threats. She was arrested and taken to the station for further questioning and investigation. This Mariana of a girl was tall, skinny and beautiful. I didn’t un-derstand why she stooped so low to do such a thing because of man. Or was it because he was a star?
I quic-kly demanded that the video be deleted, but the cops insisted for it to be kept in case the whole thing bec@m£ a matter for the court to handle. It would serve as evidence. I agreed but insisted on keeping the video myself to prevent it from spre-ading, and so was it. The cops left with the girl to the station and got I and Ck’s contacts in case they nee-ded our attention, and also to keep us posted on the situation of things. It was just I and Ck left afterwards. We took convenient sitting positions opposite each other, looking firmly into each other’s eyes.
“You know Mariana is going to say something sooner or later, don’t you?” I asked Ck.
“So?” Isn’t that what we all want?”
“St©p fooling around Ck. We all know you recorded that video. Maybe she stole it from your computer or something, but you recorded it, and the cops will come for you as soon as she talks.”
“I thought we’ve been throu-gh this before?” Ck flared up. I didn’t do anything. I didn’t take any video! Can’t you un-derstand?”
“Hey st©p screaming at me?” I retorted. If you didn’t do it, then how the hell did she get a video of me on the day you called me huh?” its better you tell me everything, and I might just decide not to press charges against your sorry a-s.”
“I’ve had enough of this madness! Since you don’t want to believe me, then suit yourself!”
Ck walked out on me and I followed behind him nagging. I just wanted him to tell me the truth. Was that too much to ask? I wasn’t even going to sue him for it if he told me the truth and why he did it, but he wouldn’t. He kept telling me he’s innocent. Because of his actions towards me, I despised him and prayed that Mariana tells the cops the truth so they could arrest Ck for committing such a blonder.
I paid Mariana a visit to try and persuade her to talk to the police. As far as I was concerned, Ck recorded the video. She was just a victim of circu-mtance. I didn’t nee-d any further prove. All I wanted was for Mariana to let the cops in on the truth so that Ck would face the consequences of his actions. Instead, Mariana kept cursing me and telling me how my pres£nce in the US ruined her life. According to her, she had worked so ha-rd to gain Ck’s love over the years, even before I c@m£ to America for the first time. But my coming to America distracted Ck’s attention from her. And the only way she thought she could get back Ck’s attention was eliminating me, but she wouldn’t shed the blood of another, so she resorted to blackmail.
I kept persuading her to say more. I wish she could just skip to the p@rt that linked Ck to the video. I had my phone recorder on, recording our conversation in case she told me anything she wouldn’t tell the police. “You ruined my life”, she continued. I curse the day you c@m£ to America. I hate myself so much for having not put that video online. At least by doing that, neither you nor I would have Ck, because I don’t think he would want anything to do with a girl whose nûd£ video trended on the internet. Now here I am. No Ck, no video, and I gonna go to jail. She started crying as she was lamenting and I took great pity on her. I un-derstood her position. I too am a woman. I knew exactly how she felt. It was then that I got emotional and started telling her I wasn’t in love with Ck. I told her everything about my Prince and made her un-derstand I was only freely hanging out with Ck because my Prince was nowhere to be found.
I succeeded in getting her to believe the truth about everything, and I could see relieve in her eyes. All the while she thought I was the devil, but now she knew better. She apologized for her actions, explaining to me that she was acting out of frustration. I accepted her apology and consoled her with encouraging words. But then I told her Ck doesn’t deserve a lady like her. “If he had the nerve to record such video of me, who knows what he might do to you if you guys get together?” I asked. She paused and was speechless for a while, and I asked; why are you like that?
“Ck didn’t record the video” said Mariana.
“What?” I exclaimed with a confusing look. “What do you mean Ck didn’t record the video? C’mon, he called me. I saw his face stuck to the screen. Why would you say that? Are you that crazy for him? Even with the situation you are in because of him?”
“I’m crazy for him, YES. But that’s not the point. I know what I’m saying. He didn’t record the video.
“You expect me to believe that? If he didn’t, who did?”
“I did”
“What?”
I was with Ck the day he called you. He and his friends were out swimming in his pool when I c@m£ visiting him in the company of my friends as well. We all jumped into the pool and started pla-ying volleyball. It was almost like each of his friends had each of mine to hook up with. I had Ck to hook up with as well. Of course I wouldn’t do so with any other but him. The fun was blazing h0t when Ck hopped out of the pool and went inside. I thought he went in to get a drink or something, but when he stayed longer than usual, I decided to check on him only to find him all dressed and re-ady to leave for a destination unknown to me. He didn’t notice my pres£nce behind him in his sitting room when he rang you to probably have a word or two. After several ignored rings, he left his PC and entered inside to get his car keys. I stood there frustrated and angry that the guy I was yearning for, left me to call another girl. That was when I thought of calling you to warn you to stay away from him. But when you picked up the call, I saw you bathing without even saying a word. My heart was filled with rage and jealousy at that point because I thought he called to watch you displ@yyour beautiful b©dy to him. I thought he called to flir-t with you, and seeing you n-ked made me think you were all re-ady and waiting for his call. It really seemed like you two had been doing that all along, judging from the way you picked the call and left it running without even checking to see who the caller was. It appeared as though you knew it was no one else but Ck.
That was when I decided to record the call and use it against Ck. I programmed the call to show his picture instead of video to prevent you from seeing who was really on this other end. I then transferred the video from Ck’s computer to my phone. Like I said, my original intention was to use the video against Ck if he continued to treat me like he wasn’t noticing the feelings I made apparent to him. It was when you landed at the US again that I thought otherwise. My friends advise me to put the video online. They said that would make Ck see you as a s–t and get rid of you. But I thought it wise to warn you first before doing that. That was why I called you. It was back at Ck’s house the day I got arrested that I knew you and Ck weren’t doing what I thought you were doing. Now I hate myself for everything.
I was stunned to hear that from Mariana. So Ck wasn’t guilty after all. It was Mariana all the while. As much as I wanted the perpetrator of that act to be brou-ght to justice, I couldn’t bear to see Mariana suffer because of something she did out of jealousy for the one she loved. I told Mariana I was going to withdraw my charges against her. She didn’t believe me when I said that. “The cops won’t let it slide just like that.” she said. “Don’t worry, I’m going to tell them it was just a misun-derstanding and that there was no video.” “That won’t work, not when they have the video” she replied.
I gave a cool smile and Mariana asked what was funny. “They don’t have the video, I do.”
Mariana was glad about the whole thing. But she asked why I was doing all that for her after all she did and intended to do to me. I replied telling her that a woman would go to any length to keep the man she loves. Mariana broke down in tears and thanked me profusely for un-derstanding the reason behind her actions. I consoled her again, and we began scheming on what to tell the police and make them withdraw the case. “Where’s the video” Mariana asked. “In my phone” I answered. “Why do you ask?” I asked. “Delete it” Mariana said sharply. “Good idea” I replied and brou-ght out my phone and deleted the video. Finally, there was no such video again in the planet.
I called to the cops and demanded the re-lease of Mariana. They questioned me and I told them she hadn’t done anything wrong to me and doesn’t deserve to be in custody without any prove of the crime she committed. “What about the video?” the cops asked. “What video?” I replied. It was clear to the cops that I had withdrawn my charges against Mariana and gotten rid of the evidence that proved her guilty. What they didn’t un-derstand was why. So they concluded we had discovered ourselves to be lesbians during the course of our conversation and couldn’t afford to be ap@rt from each other. D–N LESBIANS! They called us.
We went straight to Ck’s place from the police station. Luckily for us, he was around. His eyes were filled with amazement on seeing I and Mariana together. He was short of words, while I and Mariana where just discussing and laughing like childhood friends. he waited for an explanation without asking for it, but we continued our little chit chat right in front of him like he wasn’t there. Then suddenly he broke his silence;
“I’m kind of lost here. Can someone be kind enough to tell me what’s going on?”
“I was almost beginning to think you weren’t gonna ask” I replied.
“Alright, I have, now start talking.
Everything was explained to Ck’s un-derstanding, and I seized that opportunity to finally declare to Ck that I wasn’t in love with him and couldn’t be no matter how ha-rd I tried. I brou-ght the issue of my prince to the table again, and this time, Ck saw how inseparable I and my prince really were. Right there he apologized to Mariana and professed love to her. What? Was I really the one standing between them? I thanked God for the turnout of things. At least everyone was happy at the end. Everyone but me. My prince was still miles and miles away from me. I prayed that I find him soon. I’m still hoping to receive the answer to that prayer.
After Ck professed love to Mariana, he held her by the hand and led her away to some other p@rt of the building. I stood there watching them as they walked ro-mantically away. Mariana turned at intervals to smile at me. She then whispered the words “I OWE YOU” to me. I gave her a buzz, and before I knew it, they were lost from my eyes. Where in the world was he taking her to? Well, good luck to them.
Hope I did the right thing?
MY JOURNEY IN LIFE.
EPISODE 27
That was just about it with Ck. Watching Ck and Mariana walk away together in that manner made me want to locate my prince as soon as possible. Where was he? I had prayed that he and I get together again soon. And when we do this time, I won’t let anything separate us again. I believe I’ve said enough alre-ady to you guys. I was supposed to tell you about my r0m@nç£with my prince charming but I ended up telling you a whole lot more. I have to st©p here before I tell you about my entire life. Thank you very much for listening, and I hope there isn’t anyone here from the press? Haha, just kidding. Now you’ve heard all you wanted to hear, can we now continue with the p@rty?
Yaaayyyy, the listeners responded
Hmm, well, that was all Ogechi had to say for the night. I was impressed with the kind of life she had lived all throu-gh the years. There wasn’t any bad record, at least none that she spoke of except the very personal details which she refused to be discrete about. I had waited long enough to reunite with her and the opportunity finally pres£nted itself. How do I go about it now with this disguised look? I asked myself. As everyone in the VIP section left to continue p@rtying with the others, I stayed behind and sought for an opportunity to be alone with her when all the guests left so that I could reveal myself to her. But she left with the last of them. I followed behind her closely, seeking for an opportune time to talk to her, possibly in a secluded area of the house. But there were about five people with her and were heading outside where the p@rty really booming. They all chanted her name the moment they set eyes on her and it seemed I was never going to get that opportune time I was waiting for. So I decided I was going to call on her in the pres£nce of everyone and reveal myself in it got to that.
I was set to do it on three counts, so I started counting down from three, two, one, and then moved towards her. I had to squee-ze myself to pas-s between the guests because their number was like that of the sand on the sea shore. I got very close to Ogechi and was like twelve feet away from her. Finally, I was going to reunite with my love and end this entire trauma. When I walked a little more close to her and was like five steps away, a man walked to her and greeted her, after which they started talking. I wasn’t re-ady to wait anymore for anyone to finish his or her speech with her before I approached her. If I wait, I might never get to her, so I walked all the way to her and joined those who surrounded her. They all turned to see who I was and none of them knew me. Ogechi looked at me and I said “hi” to her. “Hello” she responded “What can I do for you?” she asked. “I’d like to have a word with you in pri-vate” I said. “I’m sorry you can’t get that. As you can see, I have a lot of people to attend to, so I’ll let you have a word with me, but it’s going to be right here” she said. I agreed, and then she told me to give her a minute to be done with the man who walked in and started talking to her before I interrupted.
“I’m sorry for that” Ogechi said to the man. “I’m sure he’s one of my fans who wants to have a word with me and probably get an autogra-ph.”
“That’s alright” the man replied her. “That’s what you get for being a star”
They all laughed, after which the man started talking about a music video Ogechi was about to shoot. I heard him tell her that the models were re-ady but that the pay for them was so high. From their discussion, I found out that Ogechi wanted to shoot a music video and nee-ded very pretty models to feature in the video to boost the standard of the video. The models were re-ady according to the man, who I found was Ogechi’s manager, the very one she had been talking about all the while.
“You said the models are re-ady?” Ogechi asked her manager.
“Yes there are” he replied.
“Are they here?”
“No they aren’t. But their mistress is here. She’s here to negotiate the price for them. Are you re-ady for her now?”
“C’mon, you are my manager. That’s your job not mine. Go settle everything with her. We’ll do the rest the way we’ve been doing it all along.”
“She’s a t©p rated model, and demands to negotiate with the star singer herself. You know how you celebrities are sometimes, especially the ladies. I’ll just bring her in now.”
“Alright then.”
Ogechi’s manager left to bring in the t©p rated model in question and Ogechi seized that opportunity to attend to me, hoping to be done with me before the model c@m£ in. She took me to a table that hadn’t been taken by any guests and offered me a sit there, while she sat opposite me. That made me remember our first time out together, that was exactly the position we took on the table.
“So Mister, It’s nice to have you in my p@rty. So what do you want to say to me? Ogechi asked me.
“Can we speak in pri-vate?” I asked again. “There’s something I want to show you”
I told you before Mr., you can’t speak to me in pri-vate. Say all you want to here. And make it fast because I’m seeing someone else right away. I wouldn’t want you to leave without having a word with me as you have requested to. So can you plea-se get on with it now?”
I saw that Ogechi wasn’t going to give me the kind of audience I required, so I just proceeded to take off the afro hair I had on my head and the rest of the things I disguised myself with. But just after took off the black shades I covered my eyes with, Ogechi’s manager located us at the table with the so called t©p rated model. She was dressed in pink and was glowing as though she fell from heaven. Some people would have mistaken her for a heavenly being but I knew she was nothing more than a mere mortal. In fact, she was a lady, born of another lady. She was cute, adorable, light skinned and very attrac-tive. To my utmost amazement, the t©p rated model was Cynthia. What???
“Oge, meet Cynthia, one of Regina’s t©p models. Cynthia, this is Oge the star singer from Nigeria.” Oge’s manager introduced.
“Wow! What a coincidence” said Cynthia with a big smile. I’m from Nigeria too.
“Really?”
“Yeah, really”
“What p@rt of Nigeria?” Oge asked.
“The Eastern p@rt. Imo State to be precise.
Oh my goodness! You are my sister! I’m from the Eastern p@rt of Nigeria too. Enugu State.
“Wow! Nice to meet you.
“Nice to meet you too”
They both exchanged plea-santries, after which Cynthia and Oge’s manager took their seats on that same table. I felt like disappearing. I was so shocked on seeing Cynthia there that I couldn’t move any p@rt of my b©dy again. It would have been better if it ended at just seeing her there. The fact that she and Ogechi had business to do with each other almost drove me nuts. And having gotten to know about their origin, their meeting certainly grew from a business meeting to a friendly visit. I couldn’t say a word again. My heart was pounding seriously and all I wanted to do at that moment was to leave their pres£nce immediately. But I remembered again that I was disguised and couldn’t be recognized by either of them, so I kept my cool and hoped that Ogechi would dismiss me soon enough and focus on Cynthia, whose pres£nce was of greater importance than mine. But she didn’t. Instead she started discussing with her without bothering about my pres£nce on that table. After all, it was a p@rty. I just sat there listening to them talk money and fame.
She and Cynthia got engaged in their talk about the music video that was to be sh0t and the models Cynthia was to make available for the video. It was about to 2am as at the time. Cynthia explained to Ogechi how she had to embark on a journey to Oklahoma without hesitation in such a short notice from Ogechi’s manager despite her ti-ght schedule, stating to her that she did that because of the fat sum of money she was hoping to make from the business. But now that she had found out they were more like sisters, she was going to give her 20% discount. They soon concluded on business talk and proceeded to other personal talks like that. You know women nah.
Cynthia soon told Oge that she knew someone who can sing very well but is yet to come to limelight. She started talking to Ogechi about getting her and the person in question to work together. That was when Ogechi’s manager jumped in and started telling Cynthia how much it costs to feature Ogechi in a song. The talk continued until they all c@m£ to a term of agreement, after which Ogechi enquired to know a little about the supposed skilled singer. “His name is JB” Cynthia said. But I call him J for short. He’s my b©yfri£nd. We’ve been together for two years now. I would have come along with him if he was around but he travelled to……………. That was when Cynthia suddenly remembered I told her I was travelling to Oklahoma. “You’re not gonna believe this.” Cynthia said somewhat surprise. “He’s here in Oklahoma.” He had a situation back at Regina where we live and decided to change environment for a little bit to try and get himself together. ba-rely 24 hours after he left, I got a call from your manager and here I am. What a coincidence. I bet he’ll be so surprise if he finds out I’m in Oklahoma too.
“From the way you’re sounding, seems like you guys are really into each other” Ogechi said.
“You can’t imagine how much” Cynthia replied. We ba-rely stay ap@rt from each other. As a matter of fact, this is about the only time we’ve been ap@rt since we met. I think I better call him up and get him to meet you. You’ll be so impressed by his skills that you won’t want to do a single song with his voice in it.”
“Is he that good” Ogechi asked curiously.
“Yes he is” it’s almost like he’s obsessed about the whole thing. Besides just loving music and singers, he also goes ahead to follow every detail of them like he was a p@rt of their lives. Sometimes I wish I was a singer too, that way I wouldn’t have to worry about contending for his attention with some female singers.”
“C’mon, don’t sound like that. From what you’re saying, he wouldn’t trade time with you for anything in the world, let alone a mere singer who he only gets to see on TV. For crying out loud you are a t©p rated model every man wants to be with according to what I’ve heard about you. I’d say he’s lucky to have you” Ogechi said.
“I really wish he wouldn’t trade time with me for anything in the world. Not quite long ago he left me when we were just about to spend quality time together to watch a TV interview featuring one singer the pres£nter called Oge.”
Cynthia’s countenance changed when she made that statement and it seemed as though she was trying to remember something.
“Wait a minute, you are Oge right? It was you!” It was you he left me to watch. Yes it was you that night. GRACIOUS HEAVENS!”
“Wait a minute. Are you sure?” Ogechi asked. “Think carefully. It could be someone else who looks like me”
“I’m sure.” It was you. He’s your fan I believe, though he’s never told me about you. But I believe he is, judging from the way he was so bent on watching your interview that night. Maybe he just discovered you and wants to get to know you better. Wow! Everything is just turning out so well. You and I coming together to do business only to discover we’re both from Eastern Nigeria, and now, my b©yfri£ndwho’s also a Nigerian happens to be your fan. Now you won’t have to charge me so much to do a song with him. He’s your brother as well.”
“Honestly, this whole thing is becoming like a drama to me. Your b©yfri£ndis my fan and is from Nigeria? I bet he’s from the east as well, probably my village.” Ogechi said.
“Haha. That’s funny. Well he’s from the Niger Delta region. So what’s it gonna be? Are you doing a song with him or not.” Cynthia asked.
“I will, but on one condition. Slash your price for the models to be featured in my music video by another 20%, ma-king the total discount 40%”
“Deal?” Ogechi asked
“Deal” Cynthia replied.
Cynthia brou-ght out her phone with excitement and dialed a number. I didn’t know it was my number she dialed to break what she thought was good news to me. After she dialed the number, she said to Ogechi; Shhh, I wanna break the good news to him. And immediately, my phone rang. I trembled out of fright and immediately reached for trou-ser pocket, brou-ght out my phone and rejected the call. Cynthia got the busy tone on her phone the moment it seemed to them like I brou-ght out my phone and did something with it. They heard my phone ring. Ogechi and her manager didn’t notice anything unusual but Cynthia did. She noticed my sudden frightful reaction when my phone rang, and also got a busy tone the moment I brou-ght out my phone and did whatever I did to it. She wasn’t sure what I did. Cynthia had her eyes fixed on me though she couldn’t recognize me, then she dialed the number again to see if my phone will ring again. I noticed and immediately stood up to leave, but the phone rang before I could do that, and I reached for it and rejected her call the second time. Again, she got the busy tone at that same moment. Cynthia suspected that something was not right. Immediately, Cynthia confronted me. “Hey mister, who are you?” she asked me.
WATCHOUT FOR EPISODE 28