#TENDER_BEAUTY
EPISODE 16
Even though Tony thought it would be risky for Richa-rd to drive the car by himself, his warnings fell on deaf ears and he quic-kly threw himself at the pas-s£ngers seat beside Richa-rd . He drove like a mad man cursing all the witches behind him, home and abroad and also prayed that nothing serious had happened.
They got there safely much to Tony’s relief and ran into the hospital in t©p speed. They saw Prisca first and while tony stayed behind to find out what happened, Richa-rd proceeded into the room belina was taken to and found her on the be-d alre-ady being attended to by the third doctor in the hospital. He noticed the cut on her head and knew that though the cut looked de-ep, it could not do any damage to her br@in and he heaved a sigh of relief. He t©uçhed her n£¢k and discovered that it was very h0t and was taken aback. He knew that she definitely could not have developed that degree of temperature by just hitting her head so he thought it best to find out what really happened to her. When Doctor Deolu discovered that he was a little bit inti-mate with the new psychologist in his actions, he did not allow him to treat her despite all that Richa-rd said. Richa-rd waited and monito-red the doctor until he was sure that the doctor had done all that nee-ds to be done so he k!$$£d Belina’s forehead and left the room.
He got to where Tony, Prisca and Prisca’s parents were in the waiting room and started seeking explanation. Tony, after calming him down, led him towards his office in order to give him the explanation he nee-ds but they hadn’t taken three steps when Richa-rd ’s gaze fell on someone and he st©pped immediately. “Is that not Belina’s father?” he asked.
“Yes… No… I mean, you don’t un-derstanding” Tony was saying but Richa-rd was beyond hearing as he matched towards Mr Badmus and would have b!own the life out of him if Mr Jeg@s and Tony hadn’t held him back and the hospital workers around the scene were wi-de eyed but Richa-rd did not give a damn. Tony dragged Richa-rd to his office and after they both calmed down, he explained everything that Belina had encountered to Richa-rd and Richa-rd bec@m£ bitter. He thought about what Belina had pas-sed throu-gh and his heart ached to k!ssher ha-rd until all the hurt she felt had seeped out of her.
They both sat down silently for some minutes and was joined by Prisca who was very tired. Tony saw the strain in her eyes and begged her to sleep but she refused. Richa-rd also supported Tony and with two formidable f0rç£s like they were, she had to suc¢v-mb. She sle-pt on the long couch in the office while tony stayed there watching at her sleep like a baby.
Richa-rd left the office for Belina’s room to check on her and stood there looking upon her beauty as she sle-pt. He sat beside her and buried his hands in her rich black hair; the hair he had so wished to feel against his f!ngersfor close to two weeks now. He had tactfully warded off the people in the waiting room in order to be alone with her and also for her to have enough time to herself before seeing those people heart breaking people. He k!$$£d her forehead again and so hungrily wanted to k!sssomething more but he held himself back. His eyes started closing after some minutes and he opened them reluctantly but when it bec@m£ evident that he nee-ded a good sleep, he made for his office where he sle-pt with one eye closed.
**********
Prisca opened her eyes after a very enjoyable sleep and she stretched lazily. Working as a banker had made her wake up early, no matter the time she sle-pt. It took her a while to remember where she was and why she was there and when she did, she j£rked up to leave the office but a text message which entered Belina’s phone distracted her. She picked up the phone and since Belina does not hide anything from her, she scrolled throu-gh the phone. She left the messages unre-ad for belina to do justice to them herself and saw 43 missed calls. The missed calls c@m£ from Tony, Richa-rd , Wole and Brenda. She knew them all; wole being one of Belina’s friends who had invited her to the concert she went for and Brenda was the girl that Belina would be mentoring. She saw the amount of times that Richa-rd and tony had called and smiled to herself. She remembered the day that Tony had proposed to her and her smile grew wi-der, it was such a glorious day.
She had been coming back from work after a very long day and was very tired. Luckily for her, she had taken her dad’s small car (baby boy) to work so the trouble of entering public buses was eliminated.
She got home and instead of her opening the gate, the gate opened just as she got there and she was so surprised. She packed the car and turned to look at the new gate man which her dad had hired after years of pleading but did not see anyone. She got to the house puzzled but did not get to open the door when the door opened of its own accord. The alarm started sounding in her head and she was beginning to think she had turned to a ghost when suddenly, the lights were turned on and she saw so many people in the hall like sitting room. Her sitting room now looked like a p@rty hall and she stared at the faces in extreme surprise. It was not her birthday or any special day but she saw both her friends and Tony’s friends and she knew he was behind this. She started searching for him but was whisked away by her friends who dressed her up and didn’t allow her to lift a pin though they refused to answer her numerous questions.
She felt like the queen of England when she got back to the hall-like p@rty ground and was being ushered by well dressed friends of Tony. She walked on the red carpet while ph0togra-phers chimed their c@m£ras and she felt on t©p of the world. She walked to the multicolored curtain ahead of her not knowing what she was going there to do but just as she got there, the curtain lifted and there stood Tony beside a table for two. He looked so handsome and her mind was fully b!own away when Tony walked up to her and gave her a mind scattering k!sswhile the audience cl@pped and shouted merrily taking pictures. He broke off the k!ssleaving her breathless and looked into her eyes. “You must be hungry”, he said softly and unable to utter a word, she nodded and he took her to her seat, pu-lling it back for her. They ate and chatted all the way, she was truly famished and the food seemed to be made in heaven. A phone call distracted her very special d@t£ and she bec@m£ angry that she hadn’t re-moved the phone, or did she? She was searching for the phone when suddenly, all the lights went off leaving a searchlight focused on them. She looked at Tony and found him on his knees with that shinning little thing in his hand. She could not hold back the tears as she stared at him.
Prisca stared at the sparkling gold ring on her f!ngersand her heart pounded with love. She had been afraid that she would be kidnapped because of the ring but thank God for giving her joy and adding no sorrow. She stood up and went out of the office, moving towards Belina’s room but as she went, she saw her mother and father sitting separately so she decided to pl@yher card as the peace maker.
**********
Richa-rd jumped up from the couch with a start and discovered it was alre-ady 6:30am. He never knew he could sleep that long without the usual nightmare especially after his encounter the previous day and he said a prayer of thanks to God. He hurried off to the bathroom in his office there to wash his face before going to check on Belina. Immediately he stepped out of the bathroom, he heard a knock and was startled because Tony does not knock before entering. He asked whoever it was to come in and in c@m£ Tonia. He stood rock still but instead of being afraid, he was prepared to bind her with the Holy Ghost fire if she would not leave him alone. His talk with Tony made him realize that he would be losing the love of his life if he did not get over Tonia.
“Tonia, plea-se leave me alone. My life has been miserable enough with you enveloping my s-en-ses. plea-se go back to the land of the dead “, he pleaded Tonia moved closer,
“Richa-rd , I am not dead. I did not die then, plea-se un-derstand. Feel my hands, my legs, everything so that you would know that I am real”, she said. Richa-rd said a silent prayer in his heart and reached out to t©uçh her and was very surprised that his hands held real flesh and not just air.
“what… where…” he was saying confused when Tonia threw her arms around him and enveloped him in a hvg he knew too well. Just then, the door opened and Tony entered. He stood poised at the door when he saw the person standing with Richa-rd and looked like he was about to pee in his trou-sers. “Ghost” he yelled
Tonia smiled, “no, I am not a ghost Tony”, she said and after a few minutes of trying to convince Tony, he finally entered and shut the door. They all sat down and Tonia opened a chapter of talk about how she had opened her eyes to a new hospital in another country. Her father, who had never supported her relationsh!pwith Richa-rd was the one who flew her abroad, orche-strating the story that she was dead.
Richa-rd sighed in total relief and said, “I have not had a day of sleep without nightmares ever since you dep@rted. I never got over the fact that I had called you over to my place when you got involved in that accident”.
“I told you then that it was not your fault. Now, I am back; my dad saw that he could not hold me any longer cos my heart is here with you so he let me go”, she said. The only problem was that Richa-rd no longer had feelings for her; his entire heart was with the beauty on the sick be-d.
Richa-rd found it ha-rd to say anything as he watched Tonia talk endlessly. Tony, like the good friend he was and talked with her and it was not so obvious that he was silent. Richa-rd remembered his promise to her and his lifestyle of always keeping his promises but did not give a damn anymore so he decided to take the bull by the horn.
“Tonia, plea-se listen to me. Sitting here beside you after years of thinking that you are dead is still so strange to me. I cherish you so much because you know that I loved you so much but I can’t deceive you or myself anymore. I am in love with someone else. I know you would think that I am not a man of my words but when you think about our time together, you would see that I always keep my promises. I have kept your promises thus far but now, I have come across a lady that refused to leave my head and she does not even know it. I am sorry”, Richa-rd said.
He had recited everything not looking directly into her eyes but when he finished, he saw her smiling slightly. He saw the pain behind the smile but the smile was still a surprise, he had expected something far worse. “You are smiling?” he asked puzzled and uncomfortable.
“Yes I am Richa-rd . I won’t deny that I am very sad you are gone but I have expected it when I was coming back but I still had to try it first. You are the best person that anyone can ever have Richa-rd but I un-derstand. Is this woman of yours a certain young Psychologist?” she asked taking Richa-rd and Tony by surprise.
“How did you know that?”
She smiled slightly, “I heard you talking to Tony last night. After you locked me out, I could not just leave like that so I decided to pas-s the night at your door step but when I heard someone coming, I hid myself and Tony went in. I went back to your door and was intent on hearing what you were saying because I was worried that you were a little over the edge, maybe my visit was more bad than I had imagined but instead, I heard a whole chapter of confession of love from your mouth, only that it was not love for me”, she said. Richa-rd was speechless and could not say anything so Tonia continued, “I know that I still love you but it is so obvious that you don’t love me anymore and it is alright, fine, erm *coughs* can I see the girl you love?” she asked. Richa-rd was elated and since he had been looking for a way to escape to Belina’s room, they all stood up and went there together.
**********
I woke up and the first thing I perceived was the strong smell of medicine washing over my face. My eyes popped open and I scanned the beautiful room I was in and after seeing some gadgets, I knew that I was in a hospital. Why? I thought and just then, a doctor walked in and I recognized him instantly as Doctor Deolu. He smiled when he found me awake.
“How are you feeling miss?” he asked.
I opened my stiff mouth to talk but was immediately interrupted by the door and when I looked in that direction, I saw Richa-rd , Tony and a lady. Who is this lady, I wondered and when I saw her hold Richa-rd ’s hand tenderly as they moved closer, jealousy sprang up in me and I scolded myself immediately. Richa-rd got to me and a happy smile replaced his earlier on worrisome gaze. I looked around for Doctor Deolu but he was nowhere to be found.
“What am I dong here?” I asked in a faint voice looking up at Richa-rd ’s face.
“You just had a minor fall; you hit your head and was brou-ght here. You just nee-d to rest dear”, he said.
The word ‘dear’ stuck in my head and I didn’t know why. I nee-d to get a hold of myself, I thought. Everything that happened to me some hours ago c@m£ back to me like a mighty river and I bec@m£ edgy. Richa-rd must have seen it because he placed his hands on my shoulders soothingly. I tried to sit up but I was pushed back by Richa-rd gently. I noticed the jealousy in the eyes of the lady with the side of my eyes and smiled internally.
Richa-rd apologized for his manner after some minutes and said, “Tonia, meet Belina the psychologist and Belina meet Tonia, my friend” I noticed the little wince from Tonia before she said ‘hi’ and I knew that there was more to this than the eye meets. Richa-rd looked at Tony in conspiracy which did not escape my notice and within seconds, I was alone with this disturbing guy. Richa-rd pu-ll-ed a chair close to me and he sat on it, increasing my tension.
“You should go with them. I am fine here but your girl friend nee-ds you”, I said trying to make him leave even though I wanted otherwise.
He brou-ght his mouth close to my ears and whispered, “Are you jealous?” My head moved immediately he talked with his breath seeping into me and I said,
“Me… Jealous? Of course not. Why should I be? I only feel that it is not proper for-”
“Shhhh”, he said, “you only nee-d to relax”.
“I should be at work now”, I said trying to sit up and he helped me up after I refused to l@yback. As he helped me to sit comfortably, I bec@m£ tenser because he was alarmingly close and for a few split of seconds, we both froze as we gazed into each other’s eyes. His blue eyes were so captivating that I threw caution into the wind and satisfied the hunger of my eyes. Before I knew what was happening, we were inches away from each other and my eyes were not on his eyes but on hisl-ips which was one thing that was a constant distraction whenever he was close. The alarm went off in my head and even though I terribly wanted to explore, I shifted slightly and he got the message.
“I am sorry”, he said
My breath was resto-red back and I was furious about what had almost happened and opened my mouth without thinking.
“What exactly do you want from me? I now know that you are the owner of this hospital. Is this how you go about s£dûç!ng your workers because you are handsome?” I asked
He was stung and I knew it instantly but words once spoken can’t be gathered back. He was on his feet instantly. “I am sorry” I said immediately.
“No, you are right; I don’t have any right whatsoever to try to k!ssyou but I don’t go around k!ss!ngpeople if that is what you think I do. I just can’t control myself with you and it is best for you to start knowing the type of effects you have on men, though I am not just physically attra-cted to you. I have not been able to get you out of my head ever since I saw you in the concert but it is obvious that you don’t like me. Take care of you” he said and marched out before I could say anything.
I sat down there too stunned to speak. I wanted to cry but water just did not come out of my eyes. I wished I had not opened my big mouth and I didn’t even think about the hurt in his face cos it was just too much for me to bear. Prisca entered immediately and we talked the way we usually did intentionally leaving our parents and yesterday’s issue out of it. After some minutes, she asked, “what did you do to Richa-rd ?” I sighed de-eply and narrated the whole episode to her. “Oh my God Lina, why did you say that now? The poor guy loves you to perdition and you made him feel like trash” Pric said. Prisca’s words made my misery worse and I sighed again,
“I know but the words were out of my mouth before I knew it. I was angry at myself for falling in love with him and I took it out on him”. I said without thinking again. She g@sped,
“I knew it; you are in love. Wow… just perfect”, she said grinning wi-dely. I eyed her annoyingly but kept quiet, so she later said, “you have to apologize to him but give him some time”.
I relaxed fully in the be-d with my br@in filled with one person.
WATCH OUT FOR EPISODE 17 (Final)