The b©dyguard Reloaded – Episode 15
© Tisa Phiri
Ackim……
I woke up that morning and turned to look at Paula who was just dressing up.
“hey love” l called her out. she turned and c@m£ closer giving me a k!sson myl-ips.
“Morning babe” she said still holding my face.
” Morning my love , going somewhere this morning? ” I asked.
“It’s a Monday l nee-d to go and work, it’s been a while ” she added going back to the dressing mirror. “there`s a lot of work pending for the past weeks l stayed home.”
“Yeah it’s true.. I also nee-d to move around and see what is going on at the lodges. I nee-d to organise some meetings with the managers.” l told her ,
” but not today l still have an errand to complete.”
She frowned looking back at me. “What errand babe?, come on what are you hiding from me. I thought we don`t keep things from each other.” she complained..
“All in due time my love. I will definitely let you know everything” l told her standing up.
” I just hope this won’t jeopardize our lives babe. I really wish you had let go of your anger and just let those two go back to their country alre-ady. l called the h0tel to ask for them but they told me they saw them book out with a male , tell me the truth now plea-se Ackim?” she asked turning to look at me as her hand stayed in her hair.
“What? you went to check on those two? what is wrong with you my love, you went back to the place to see people who plotted against you and almost R@p£d you ba-rely a day after ?” I asked her sadly.
” I can’t believe this.” l said sitting back down.
“Ackim you have to un-derstand, l didn’t go there. I just wanted to find out if they left, last night after you c@m£ back. am worried with this your reaction love. plea-se un-derstand. I don’t want us to land in any sort of trouble” she said coming to stand near me.
“You know what , l cant stand those two. It’s like they have so much influence on you and this is really getting to me. why would you care so much about that man and a friend who is jealousy of you? Now that it’s getting to this am really getting mad and l don’t know what l will do when l get to where they are.” l snapped standing up and going to the bathroom.
“No babe, come on don`t do this plea-se l beg you, for my love and the kid`s sake plea-se let them go alre-ady.” she cried coming to the bathroom as l took the tooth brush to clean my teeth.
“Don’t worry am not doing anything rather than make sure they never bother us again. I just don’t like that you are so much concerned about them when they are set on harming us” l told her spitting the form from my mouth.
“I trust you my love but l don’t trust those two , promise you won’t do that again” l said looking at her standing behind my back.
“I won’t ” she answered.
” I really wish this whole thing never happened , it has really bothered us this past two days” she sighed..
We later on had our breakfast and l took her for work after she told me her car was going to the garage for servicing promising to pick her up after work. I headed to the compound l left Jay and Serah.
“Good morning guys” l called out from the entrance after l listened to the recording. They looked tired and probably hungry. I could see how weak they both were. I didn`t leave any food for them the previous night and l could bet the torture my boy had subjected to them before he recorded their confessions got the best of both of them.
“plea-se let us go Ackim , we won’t bother you guys anymore the message was clear” Jay started.
“I know l was wrong and l had no right whatsoever to meddle in your affair with Paula , honestly l know you two are in love and l was so foolish to have listened to Serah who talked me into coming here. I was a fool to think Paula would fall for me and then l would end up with her and her inheritance” he added looking down his redl-ips dry. He looked pale and really desperate l could tell he was in de-ep agony , the torture and hunger was working its cause in his b©dy l thought to myself as l listened.
“Am so sorry man , plea-se let me go l won’t come back here plea-se” he begged weakly.
“Oh Jay, I feel for you man, you c@m£ all the way because you wanted money , the wealthy that another man labored for, you wanted to have it for free.
Let me ask you this man . If you were me , imagine you love a woman and have started a family with two kids then someone comes to try take away your wife. what would you do?” I asked calmly..
He stayed quite for a while and sighed weakly ,
“am sorry man, I know you are a good man and de-ep down my heart l know Paula deserves a man like you. I was always a j£rk and mistreated her by cheating on her.. I have no right to destroy her life.”
“That`s not answering my question ” l said , ru-bbing his knee as l bend forward..
“I would react badly” he nodded looking at me his desperate eyes almost showing tears.
“Mmmh , l have heard your p@rt Jay, what about you Serah ?” I asked calmly looking at the crying Serah , her tied hands showing a small str!p of red where the rope was tied. All her make up was gone and her hair extension was ruffled all over her head , she was a black woman but her behavior and manner of speech showed that she had probably grown up in America or was a black American.
“Tell me p@rt of the confession you gave last night l want to hear it direct ” l added seriously de-ep down my heart l felt for them.
Paula was right, l nee-ded to let them go. I even regretted somehow getting them a ticket for the following day. I could have bought for that very Monday. I had subjected them to a torture not only physical but an emotional torture , where a man can start apologizing and has time to reflect on his mistakes. But l still had to go throu-gh with the plan of ensuring that history never repeats itself..
If l got Serah and Jay to un-derstand we were not to be t©uçhed and ensure they don`t do anything else against us no matter what kind of influence they had ,that would be great for me and my family. I c@m£ to learn from the confession that Jay c@m£ from a wealthy back ground , his father had some large businesses in Australia and that he was the only child but spoiled and was always messing with women spending his father`s money. Meanwhile he had contributed less to that wealthy and that the father was not wiling to give him any inheritance for him to be independent yet , so he decided to go with Serah`s idea of milking from Paula`s wealth.
In his recorded confession he and Serah had planned to plot against Paula and after her marriage with me was over, they intended to swindle her of everything and escaped back to Australia leaving her without a thing.
“Am sorry too , you were right, ” Serah started.
“My jealousy led me here, I wanted so much to have what Paula has had always , she had good parents, attended good schools and always found good men while l ended up with cheats and those guys who just c@m£ for my b©dy and nothing more. I wanted to take p@rt of the money too and get away.
I accept l was wrong and was being selfish. Paula has always been good to me, she treated me good like a sister” she added crying ,
” am sorry Ackim forgive me. I have learnt my lesson and am scared , what you told me about yourself was really scaring plea-se don`t kill us” she cried.
“Well Serah, you are really something but not to worry l heard your recording and am sure by the time Paula finishes hearing it, she will be very disappointed , even the issue of you wanting to s£dûç£Mr Benson just for money. You really are a disappointment.” l told her.
“I think between you and this man here” l said pausing ,
“you are the worst kind of person. Now that l know everything and l have the record of the details of your confessions, I want to make this clear. Should any of you attempt to come back here to bother Paula in any way, l promise you will not live to tell the story. I don’t care where you will be , just know l will find you and that won’t end well for you both. Stay away from my family , the hunger and the pain that you are feeling in your b©dy right now must be a reminder of your selfish mistakes . Go to South Africa tomorrow, from there you will find your way to your homes. Hope you will become better people there. I added standing up..
“I have booked you tickets for your flight tomorrow.” I announced st©pping by the door..
“Ackim plea-se we are dying with hunger , that your man won’t give us any food or water since yesterday , plea-se give us something to eat” Serah cried her face bulging.
“We won’t survive to travel if you leave us this way ” she begged desperately. I didn’t answer l just walked out pretending not to have heard and l could hear her cry loudly from outside.
“Give her that bag from the car and re-move the plastic with food and water” l told my boy ,
” their punishment is over but am not taking them to the airport let them find their way to the lodge or something” l added as l scrolled on my phone checking the details on the copys of the tickets l had taken from the originals l had received that morning for them.
I went back inside and handed them the tickets as they opened the food like hungry dogs. I threw them on the be-d ,
” you are free to go. If you do anything as silly as reporting to the Police. Am sure l don’t nee-d to spell out what l will do, plus you confessed to your intended crimes remember that” l told then with a serious face ,
” you and me we end here. You don’t know me and l have no idea who you are. Just do me a favour , tomorrow when you get on a flight to your country , call my wife and let her know you are both safe. From then it’s never to look back , am l clear enough ?” I asked..
“It’s clear man” Jay responded , l turned to look at Serah who was now eating her food hungrily.
” Yes Ackim it’s clear ” she nodded l!çk!ng herl-ips..
“Well then, your bags are here. Find your way to the station and tomorrow morning, the airport in Ndola. I would suggest you leave this town today , remember am watching” l said as l left the room with a smile..
“Thank you” l heard Jay scream at my back ,
“you are a strange and unique man. I will never forget this” he added as l got into the car.
My mind was wild with thinking about my life and things that had happened. I sighed as l c@m£ to st©p at a T junction waiting for the cars in the main road to pas-s. I hoped so much all will be okey from then.
I really nee-ded to live peacefully and without so much drama. I silently wished my trip to Lusaka will turn out well and my plea to resign will be considered.
I looked at the recordings in the back seat and sighed. I had to let Paula hear them before the end of the day , she deserved to know what evil her so-called friends had against her.
The b©dyguard Reloaded – Episode 16
© Tisa Phiri
Paula…
Oh my God.. what kind of people was I hanging out with I complained after hearing the recordings Ackim pla-yed for me.. He had told me the whole story about JAy and Serah and how he got them to go back to Australia..
I can’t believe those two could want to go that far..I mourned holding my forehead.. I felt betrayed.. Sarah was almost like my sister.. I told her about everything about my life , every single detail even about Ackim.. I trusted her..
Don’t worry love.. Am so sure by now they must be at the airport he told me holding my hands.. I told you and am telling you now.. I will never let anyone harm you , for me your life and that of our boys will always come first he added with a smile..
I know babe , you are always looking out for me and I love you .. I just pray and hope nothing of such will come to happen to us again..
Well now I gues, have to arrange for our honeymoon I said smiling and turning to look at him as we sat on the couch..
Do we really nee-d to? Ackim asked with a rather sad face..
Don’t tell me we will posponed our honey moon indefinitely I complained..
Come here love , he said pu-lling me to put my head on his che-st.. He stro-ked my hair and for some few minutes he stayed quite.. I could feel his strong heart beat.. I leaned on him and patiently waited for him to say something.. Him being close to me was something I always looked forward to.. I felt guity with how much I was possessed being with him , it was like he was carrying this big p@rt of me and like my very breath depended on his.. It felt more than home just being with my wonderful husband..
I smiled to myself at the thought , wondering how posible it was that l would love someone so much.. I had at some point thought love was just a myth in some movie stories and was never real and tangible but from the time I fell in love with Ackim , I really c@m£ to un-derstand what real love was.. Am a blessed woman I thought to myself as the beat of his heart continued getting to my ear drum connecting with my own self..
My love, he started almost in a whisper.. I have something else to tell you , he said with a sigh.. I turned to look at his face , he was serious almost sad ..
What is it Babe? I asked worry in my voice.. I don’t like it when you sound like that my love plea-se tell me it’s not bad news, I quic-kly added…
He pu-ll-ed me back so I put my head on his che-st and I knew it wasn’t good.. He didn’t want to look into my eyes..
I felt my eyes bulging with tears.. No God plea-se , I whispered within myself.. Let it not be sad news again , plea-se..
Paula, he begun , taking his time to finish calling my name.. Am sorry but I have to go away for a week , he said in a low tone…
What ? A week , what is that now ? Babe plea-se come on , we have not had time to settle down after the wedding you can’t go away for a week again.. I said almost with tears.. I sniffed trying so ha-rd not to cry..
Where are you going? I finally asked ,hoping de-ep within myself he changed his mind…
Um , I have to go to Lusaka then maybe later on go to some other place , there’s an operation we nee-d to carry out required by the f0rç£..
The f0rç£ babe ? I answered sitting up again… What kind of job is that one ? Where will you go for the whole week like you are full time operational ?
I know it’s ha-rd love , but plea-se un-derstand . lt’s p@rt of my Job and I can’t just refuse.. I was supposed to be gone today but I had to put a st©p to Jay and Serah..
Am afraid it’s complicated , our lives might be in danger as well he added sadly..
Oh and you tell me that like it’s nothing Ackim . I snapped now crying.. You promised nothing bad will come out of this your work now you tell me this like you are not even sure you are coming back.. I cried..
He raised his hand and wiped my tears , don’t do this to me my love.. You know I can’t stand seeing your tears. Be strong and let’s pray God saves my life..
No don’t tell me about that now , just tell me you won’t go and leave me all worried here with our babies Ackim.. I answered. Looking at the large TV in front of us.. The picture flame on t©p high displying us in our wedding attires as Ackim stood behind me.. My smile was so wi-de and I felt sad I couldn’t smile like that at that moment.. It had been problem after another and all caused by some people rather than us.. I really hoped the world would give us a break and let us just get to enjoy the love we had for each other , how cruel I wondered for those people that have no such issues .. Love wasn’t pres£nt in their lives , I heard of couples wishing to have that we had with Ackim , a connection and pas-sion that went beyond words but ours was the challange of having obstacles from outside.. We had our money, our kids and indeed great love but no freedom to enjoy them freeely..
Paula.. Am sorry we have to endure this one more obstacle , I heard him say holding my shoulder as my eyes kept on the picture frame..
There are mecenaries s£nt from outside this country by some unmentioned di-plomats. These guys want to go for the head of state before the elections , we received Intel they landed in the country a few days ago.. We have some reason to believe they are launching an attack at the state house , so now it’s our duty to make sure that doesn’t happen he explained as I turned to look at him..
It’s bad that these people have advanced technology and for us here , we have less resources to fight such highly trained mecenaries , so it’s quite risky to go against them.. No wonder they selected the best trained from all the military f0rç£s so that we prevent the demise from happening..
Oh my God , I whispered holding my mouth , mecenaries ? No plea-se tell me such things are not going on in this country.. Those people l hear are deadly and don’t pl@yaround ? I asked him , my eyes popped out..
I know it sounds awkward love but it’s happening here in our country.. plea-se promise you won’t repeat what I have told you to anyone , no one should know about this or the country will go in chaos if people where to know what is really happening with their President and the government..
I won’t say a thing babe but I still insist you won’t go , I pleaded holding his hands..
I have to my love he said ru-bbing my chicks with his gentle t©uçh , the only thing I can do is try and sign out for good when this is all over so that l won’t have to leave again..
Come back Ackim plea-se , no matter how tough and ha-rd it will be promise you will come back to us here..
He sighed sadly his che-st raising and dropping again showing his muscles in his muscle t shi-t..
Let’s forget about that trip now my love , come on let me enjoy being with you before I travel tonight , he said hvgging me from my back leaning his chin on my shoulders..
He said it without answering to my request for him to promise me about his coming back.. I felt a big lamp on my throat and I swolled ha-rd ..
He turned my head to look at me ,pushing aside some little strands of hair from my face.. Give me that beautiful smile , he said.. I want you to know that no matter what happens to me , always know that I love you with my life , he said and that I would do anything for you..
St©p telling me that Ackim , all I want is to hear you will come back no matter what , I said standing up as I felt tears coming down my face.. To make matters worse you are going this evening , it’s not fair I cried..
I walked to the be-droom and threw myself in the be-d putting down my face..
I heard the door open and close back again.. He c@m£ besides me quitely..
My love, look at me he said tou-ching my back softly , plea-se he added when I stayed put ..
I turned my face we-t. .
Don’t make this any ha-rder than it is my woman l beg you , listen if you get like this.. You will make my work ha-rder.. I will not have my whole mind fighting because I will have to worry about you and that will reduce my chances of surviving , he said patting myl-ips..
plea-se let me have that good smile and blessings so that l can go with a clear mind , he added with a f0rç£d smile..
Come on , show me that wild p@rt of you and give me more reminders of this love so I stay sane for both of us out there..
He was right , there was less I could do but wish he had God’s protec-tion.. I nee-ded God more than I had ever done for him and us.. I wasn’t strong enough but he helped me to cope with the pain I was feeling..
After having some inti-mate time I whispered.. I love you babe , always remember that.. Your sons nee-d a father and am not re-ady to let you go yet..Just go save the president and our country and come back in one piece , l said as I saw him off outside.. There was a black Jeep parked outside the gate waiting for him..
Take care and remember what we have discussed he said , k!ss!ngme.. I nodded quitely and he k!$$£d the twins I was pushing on the plaim each on the forehead..
Holding his small pack he climbe-d the jeep with tinted Windows and threw me a k!ssbefore rolling the window up..
I sighed wipping the tear almost falling and pushed the twins back to the house….. It was going to be the longest week of my life..
To be continued