10/11
TELL ME LIES🤷🏼♂️
-Chapter Ten-
Unedited
For Lenganji, even though you didn’t s£nd lunch, here’s a bonus.
A couple of minutes later, Cedrick and I are sitting at the table eating breakfast. I managed to take a bath and I found something to wear that fitted me perfectly- a mint-green coloured, polka dot dress with puffy sleeves and a belt around the w@!st.
‘’The beautiful girl on the wall, who is she?’’ I ask, trying to ease the tension between us, like we have been so quiet I can’t stand the silence.
He takes a bite of his muffin and sips his coffee before responding, ‘’that’s my granddaughter, Eloise-Ann.’’
‘’She is very beautiful.’’
‘’She takes after my daughter Gracie.’’
‘’Your daughter lives here with you?’’
‘’Gracie is late, she died a couple of years ago’’ he says looking at nothing in p@rticular with a sad expression in his eyes.
‘’My condolences, I am so sorry.’’
‘’It’s okay,’’ he manages a smile. ‘’My Gracie is resting in the lord now and someday I will get to see her again. I am just glad that when God took her, he didn’t leave me empty handed, Eloise has been my sanity over the last couple of years.’’
‘’So where is Eloise now?’’
‘’She is in South Africa for a school trip, the house is never this quiet when she is around,’’ he laughs. ‘’That girl keeps this old man up and about.’’
‘’You don’t look old.’’
‘’Child, 41 is old.’’
‘’How old is Eloise?’’
‘’She is eight and doing grade two.’’
‘’I see.’’
‘’What’s your story?’’
‘’What do you mean?’’
‘’I was in the club when you walked in and I watched you from afar for some time before coming to your rescue. I am no magician but I could tell you are troubled.’’
I take a sip of my coffee, ‘’It’s a long story.’’
‘’I have all the time.’’
‘’I don’t have all the time, in fact I nee-d to leave my b©yfri£ndand my parents must be worried about me, my phone has been off since yesterday.’’
‘’Okay,’’ he responds. We eat in silence and when we are done, I help him clear the table and clean the dishes.
‘’Thank you so much for breakfast.’’
‘’And thank you for saving me last night, I owe you one.’’
‘’You take care of yourself, child,’’ he says, walking me out of the house.
‘’Can I have your number so I can call when I want to drop off the clothes?’’
‘’Sure,’’ he pu-lls out a card from his pocket and hands it to me.
‘’Thank you once more, may God bless you.’’
‘’You are welcome.’’
With that, I get into my car and drive off, Cedrick seems to be a nice man, I am grateful for what he did for me, I don’t know what would have happened to me if he had not saved me. I was so drun!klast night, I could ha-rd ly think properly.
pu-lling up in front of the house a couple of hours later, I park the car but instead of stepping out, I gr-ab my phone and turn it on. Messages and missed call notifications begin to pop up, my parents were trying to call me, Gabriel too.
Gabriel: Babe! Where are you? I am worried. Your phone is off, plea-se call me back when you re-ad these messages. Rissa? What’s going on?
Mum: Child I am worried, my Blood pressure is high. Where are you?
Dad: Clarissa Hadebe, you are about to get me upset, turn on your phone and call us.
I laugh at the many messages from my father before I step out of the car and walk into the house to find my mum pacing back and forth while Gabriel is sitting on the floor.
‘’Mummy!’’
She turns and stares at me for a moment before rushing towards me, pu-lling me into her arms, she hvgs me so ti-ght as if her life depends on it.
‘’Where have you been?’’ she asks when she pu-lls away from me. ‘’Are you okay? Did they hurt you? Were you kidnapped?’’ she worriedly asks. I can tell she was crying.
‘’I am fine mummy, no one hurt me.’’
‘’But where have you been?’’
‘’it’s a long story but I am fine.’’
‘’Your father has gone to the police station to report you missing, we couldn’t do it yesterday because we were told to wait for twenty four hours.’’
I laugh, ‘’he is so dramatic, call him and tell him I am home now.’’
‘’This is not even funny Rissa, where have you been?’’
‘’I will tell you about it later.’’
‘’Your father will kill you.’’
I stare at Gabriel, ‘’hey you.’’
‘’I was worried sick about you.’’
‘’I should have called but my phone was off and my battery was low.’’
‘’I see.’’
Since my mother won’t st©p pestering me, I cook up a story about where I went last night and she sort of believes it. When my father finally arrives, he blasts me about disappearing without informing anyone about my whereabouts.
‘’I am sorry daddy, I will not this again.’’
Apparently Gabriel called mum to ask if I was at her place after falling to reach me on the phone. ‘’I was almost getting this boy of yours arrested, I thought he did something to you, you know I don’t trust him.’’
I laugh, ‘’daddy!’’
‘’I am just glad you are home and safe baby.’’
‘’Thank you daddy and I am sorry for ma-king you worry.’’
‘’I think we should be going now, you get some rest.’’
‘’I will.’’
‘’And come home for dinner tomorrow, I will cook your favorite,’’ says mum.
‘’I will do so.’’
‘’Come alone,’’ she adds. I almost laugh but I compose myself.
When they leave I head straight to the be-droom and Gabriel follows me.
I throw myself on the be-d and he sits on the couch.
‘’What’s the meaning of this stunt you just pu-ll-ed up?’’
‘’What are you talking about?’’
‘’You think it’s funny that your parents almost tried to get me arrested?’’
‘’If you have scores to settle with my parents go and do it with them, leave me out of it, I am tired and I want to rest.’’
‘’And whose clothes are you wearing?’’
‘’Gabriel plea-se, allow me to rest.’’
‘’I don’t know what’s happening to you but I don’t like this attitude of yours. You nee-d to start acting right or else…,’’
‘’Or else what? You will leave? The door is wi-de open you are free to do that.’’
‘’Risaa!’’
‘’Gabriel?’’
‘’I think I nee-d some air.’’
‘’Okay.’’
He walks out of the room and I close my eyes, I am trying so ha-rd not to pounce on him and kill him. Gabriel deserves worse than death, he nee-ds to feel every ounce of pain he made me feel.
~TELL ME LIES~
-Chapter Eleven-
Unedited
A week later,
‘’How busy are you today?’’ Gabriel asks, we are sitting at the table having breakfast that morning. It’s been a week since I discovered the truth about his cheating ways but I haven’t confronted him yet. The last couple of days have been tough but I have tried as much as possible to compose myself and act like everything is fine between us. Today is a Saturday and I have told Gabriel that I am heading to Kabwe but in actual s-en-se I am meeting up with Iris. I contacted her a couple of days ago and asked her to meet up with me, I didn’t give her any details, just told her it is urgent we meet. I also told her not to tell Gabriel about this meeting.
‘’I just want to inspect the work done then I will be back. Why?’’
‘’I was hoping we could have lunch or something. You know just the two of us.’’
‘’Lunch won’t be possible, maybe dinner.’’
He shrugs, ‘’Gina and I have plans for the evening.’’
‘’Then maybe next time.’’
‘’Sure,’’ I stand up and carry my plates to the kitchen.
‘’And that money I asked you about?’’ He asks following me.
‘’I told you to submit the business plan to the office, let the accounts office at it and see if we are able to give you the loan at the moment.’’
‘’Loan? Where is this coming from? You don’t trust me anymore?’’
‘’I do trust you but the money you want is a lot and I will be getting it from one of my businesses, I have to be as-sured that you will pay it back and with interest.’’
‘’With interest?’’ His eyes wi-den in shock and I almost laugh but I compose myself and intently stare at him, ‘’Yes babe, this is a loan.’’
‘’Oh fv¢k that $h!t, I am your husband to be?’’
‘’And so? Does that mean I should throw money around to plea-se you.’’
‘’But you know this money is for my business?’’
‘’I know.’’
‘’And you don’t want to help me?’’
‘’I will help you just make it come as a loan request.’’
‘’Fine!’’ he responds and I can see from the tone of his voice that he is frustrated.
Walking out of the kitchen, I gr-ab my bag.
‘’I will see you later babe.’’
‘’Drive safely.’’
‘’Sure.’’
‘’I love you,’’ he says and I respond with, ‘’Same.’’
With that I walk out and shut the door behind my back, he must be fuming with anger, he hates it when I respond with ‘’same’’ instead of saying it back.
IRIS
I am sitting at some fancy restaurant staring at my phone and waiting up for Rissa. I don’t even know if I made the right decision coming here, I think my mother is right, I am too trusting. Hi Sophia on+2189 to be added to Story headquarters room. This woman called me a few days ago and asked if she could see me, she didn’t exactly say what she wanted but she mentioned it was something to do with Gabriel, I know I shouldn’t be here right now because I trust my man but I am curious, I want to know what she has to say besides, she sounded like a nice person.
I haven’t told Gabriel about this because she asked me not to, I will be meeting Gabriel later in the evening and depending on what information this woman has, I might decide to tell him or not to.
CLARISSA
Upon arrival, I am led throu-gh the bar area, past the dining room then throu-gh the pri-vate room that I told them to reserve for us.
The moment I see Iris, my stomach clenches and I exhale. She actually looks more beautiful in person and I still think she looks like a slightly older version of me- I guess it’s true what they say, there’s always an exact duplicate of you somewhere out there. Her hair is combe-d back and tied into a loose knot, forming into a loop. She is wearing a pair of str!ped shorts and a yellow blouse.
And she is peering at the menu in front of her.
I clear my throat, ‘’hey!’’
She looks up, ‘’hey! Rissa right?’’
I smile, ‘’yes.’’
‘’Wow!’’ she intently looks at me. ‘’Are you sure we are not related? Because the resemblance is uncanny, you look so much like me.’’
‘’That’s the first thing I said the first time I saw you.’’
‘’plea-se take a seat, I am just like in shock.’’
‘’Thank you,’’ I slid into the chair across from her.
‘’I didn’t order anything, I was waiting for you to come.’’
She hands me the menu and I stare at it before ma-king a decision of what I want to eat then we signal for the waitress and make our order, add a bottle of Champagne to it.
‘’So,’’ we both say at the same time.
‘’You go first,’’ I say.
‘’You can go first.’’
‘’Firstly I am thankful that you agreed to meet up with me. I don’t know if you will want to talk to me again after what I will tell you this morning.’’
“Um-hmm …let’s get to hear what you have say first, we will cross that bridge when we get there.’’
I close my eyes and take a de-ep breath, ‘’Oh, where to start from.’’
Before I can say anything more, the waitress walks up to our table with our food.
‘’Enjoy your meal.’’
‘’Thank you.’’
‘’I am starving, maybe we should eat first before we get into it.’’
‘’Great idea.’’
‘’Tell me about yourself,’’ she says as we eat.
‘’I am Rissa Hadebe, 25, teacher by profession and I run my own school.’’
‘’Amazing, I work as an auditor for an international audit and consultancy firm. My fiancé and I also some run some businesses together.’’
My heart races, ‘’that fool!’’ I mumble un-der my breath.
‘’What?’’
‘’Nothing, so do you have any siblings?’’
‘’Nah, I am an only child, I was raised by a single mother, my father is late.’’
‘’My condolences, I am an only child too but both my parents are alive.’’
‘’Lucky you,’’ she says, we eat quietly until we are done. And then after that there’s a brief silence before I take a long drink of my champagne.
‘’Talk to me.’’
‘’I am Gabriel’s girlfriend,’’ the words rush out of my mouth before I can st©p them. I didn’t know a better way to break the news to her.
‘’Excuse me!’’ she exclaims, her voice is filled with surprise.
‘’We have been d@t!ngfor four years and living together for one.’’
‘’You are joking right?’’
I swallow ha-rd before I say, ‘’I just found out about you guys a week ago,’’ I respond before I go ahead revea-ling everything. The job loss, the job interviews, the money. How I found out about her including the time I followed them to Tiffany’s.
She looks me in the eyes, ‘’So Gabriel has been living with you all along? Is that the reason why I couldn’t come to his house? We always meet at my place or Gina’s.’’
‘’Yes.’’
‘’I nee-d a moment to process all this.’’
‘’Can I pour you a drink?’’
She closes her eyes and it isn’t long before she is breathing heavily. I am staring at her intensely when she clings onto me as if she cannot breathe, it looks like she is g@sping for air.
*
Tbc