đThe Curse Of Cainđ
©Tobi
Episode 25
***** *****
“I can’t believe that this wedding will take place today, this morning, infact right now.” Mandy said, pacing while Pacuto helped my nÂŁÂąklace
“Look, you nee-d to calm down, you are ma-king Sonia sweat, she is as nervous as hell.” Pacuto replied.
‘What exactly did he was he was handling Sonia, thought he was going to cancel the wedding!”
I sighed as Mandy bombarded me with lots of questions to which I had no reply.
“Look, Ben told me, to trust him, he said he forgave me okay?” I replied.
“Forgave you for what exactly? For falling for another man? For slee-ping with another man or for still being in love with another man or what, I don’t get it!.”
Someone opened the door, it was one of the clergy men-
“The priest is around, do hurry up.” He said quic-kly before leaving.
We were in one of the rooms of the chapel and well, believe it or not Sonia, it is your wedding day.
My friends were confused, I was confused but Ben said to trust him, he said he forgave me and that he hopes I would forgive him too, I had no clue what that meant and everything had gone as it was supposed to, he had travelled again but c@mÂŁ back on time for the wedding….my friends thought it would be cancelled, first I was lost, the wedding was cancelled, and now, I am here, would I still cancel? Ben said marriage was for better and for worse and that we would figure it out later, he wanted me to trust him and that means no more talk of Calvin. well, he was right, after all, Calvin could be anywhere in the world right now besides, he was free of the curse, I wouldn’t want to be responsible for anything ….the whole idea of me coming home was so that I could live a happy life with Ben, a happy life that I have not actually un-derstood, what does it mean actually? Could it be, being in my wedding go-wn and wondering what happiness actually means? Well, right now, I had no clue and my friends were not helpful.
“Here.” Mandy said, trying to fake a smile as she handed me my bouquet.
. I knew this was wrong and I had no idea why I was going ahead with it, maybe because I thought Ben had actually done so much and I didn’t want to break his heart…yes….that was true actually, he said he didn’t tell me about Michael because he thought it was best left behind us….he wanted us to have a chances, he has been so supportive, I wish I could share my feelings instead with him…but I couldn’t, hopefully, after the marriage, I would finally get rid of Calvin, maybe this was the solace I nee-ded, to get over Calvin. Again, was I trying to get over Calvin….? Well, maybe because we can’t really be together as the Triad or whoever they were had said….
“Baby are you okay, you nee-d to get rid of that doubtful look, we are almost entering the chapel.” Pacuto said as we got to the front of the chapel.
“Maybe she is having a second thought and that is actually a good thing, you can still opt out!” Mandy said to me.
I looked at them both as they started arguing again and I walked past them to enter the chapel, it was my life…and I was okay with it.
***** *****
Pacuto and Mandy walked down the aisle, spre-ading flower petals behind them. Sonia walked behind them, her face hidden behind the veil and she moved to the rhythm of the music. The chapel was filled, she had no idea where all the people had come from and she doubted if she actually knew a good number of them, however, she sighted some of her students, the news of her arrival had spre-ad like wildfire and many people were here to welcome her back and to show her support, her hands were sweaty.
Ben was standing at the front, all suited up in a purple-black tuxedo. He looked so cute. It reminded Sonia of why she had had a crush on him for many years, he was really cute and he had been her closest friends, since childhood before she met her other two friends when he had left for Georgia to study.
He was looking at her with so much pride and she had to do the same….she smiled….she had to..she had to be proud of him…
She handed Mandy her flowers as they got to the front while she walked to wards her fiancé when the music st©pped.
“Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today (or this evening) to witness this man and woman join together in holy matrimony….”
Meanwhile, the two bride maids were whispering non-st©p in the corner they stood in their beautiful go-wn and beautiful hair do.
“This is a bad idea Pacuto, I swear if you don’t do something I will go to the front and pee infront of everyone, maybe that would put this on hold.” S
“Don’t you even dare, we nee-d today to go smoothly for our friend.”
“For our friend, what the hell are you talking about? We nee-d to st©p this for her.”
“And then what? Where do you think Calvin will be, she doesn’t even know how to find the mansion again. Do you want her to be alone and heart broken?”
“This is so wrong, we nee-d to st©p this. I hate that guy, Ben.” Mandy said again.
“Shhh!!” One of the clergy men standing close to them shushed them up.
“Shh! You too!” Mandy retorted.
“I, Benjamin Jackson take you Sonia Johnson to be my wife, my constant friend, my faithful p@rtner and my love from this day forward. In the presÂŁnce of our family and friends, I offer you my solemn vow to be your faithful p@rtner in sickness and in health, in good times and in bad, and in joy as well as in sorrow. I promise to love you unconditionally, to support you in your goals, to honor and respect you, to laugh with you and cry with you, and to cherish you for as long as we both shall live.” Ben said as Sonia took her vows as well…
Shortly, the ring bearer c@mÂŁ forward.
“Anyone who objects this wedding should speak now or forever hold their piece.”
At this juncture, everywhere was as silent s a grave yard…
“I swear I will raise my hand…”Mandy said.
“Do not …”Pacuto replied and then there was a loud “AH” from everyone.
“Oh dear. I see Ben has actually beaten me to it.”
Mandy to who with everyone was surprised at the groom whose hand was raised up.
“I take it back, I love Ben.” Mandy whispered to Pacuto.
*****
When I saw Ben’s hand raised up and everyone shouted, I was surprised and confused…later we went to a pri-vate room as the Priest gave us a break to talk.
This wasn’t happening…
“Ben….i don’t un-derstand, what are you doing?” I stuttered.
Instead, he took my hand, his hand on my cheek, warmly.
“Baby, I know you very well, maybe not as your friends do but remember we grew up together and we were good friends.
. I know you could what will be your happiness to do the right thing
. You always want to do right thing to make the other happy, you don’t care how you will feel afterwards…”
I was confused as people looked at us…
“You did all that while we grew up together but you nee-d to st©p doing that.”
“Ben what is this?”
“Forever is too long to be unhappy. You see, we were friends, it was normal for us to like each other, but the truth is, when I heard all the things you said with your friends as regards the Calvin guy, I knew what we had wasn’t love, it was affection and not genuine love. I saw the way you spoke about him, I saw the look in your eyes then and now, you know you are ma-king a grave mistake and….”
“Ben, st©p, this isn’t true…”
“It is true!” Mandy and Pacuto shouted from behind us…
“I think you both nee-d to excuse us…” Ben said to them…
“Oh no Ben, we are so behind you in this, plea-se carry on, we will be out, I promise
. Dude, you did well.” Mandy said as she led Pacuto out but I knew they were eavesdropping, I could see their shadows.
“So what are you saying Ben, are you dumping me on our wedding day?”
Ben smiled and k!$$ÂŁd my cheek. “I am doing you a favour darling, affection alone cannot get us throu-gh forever. You see, while we grew up, we spent time together a lot, this developed into affection which we mistook for love, when I left for Georgia and c@mÂŁ back, the crush and affection made me ask you out , I thought we were meant to be but with what you said about Calvin, I knew not all friendsh!ps should end up in a relationsh!p, like ours. Besides, do you remember you once told me the dreams you had about him?”
I didn’t know why the tears were coming but they were as I remembered I had first told him about my dreams.
“Yes I remember.”
He smiled and used his thumb to wipe the tears…”And what did I tell you?”
“You…you said maybe he was my true love…”
“Well, I guess I was right.” He said with a smile. “I care about your happiness a lot darling but I don’t think I can give you the joy you deserve. Let’s face it, I am a mobile doctor, I am mostly required across borders, I can’t stay in one place and you nee-d someone stable, within a little time you had such a great love with this guy, imagine what you both could share for a lifetime…it will be selfish of me to promise you a future that I am not sure of, for the sake of your happiness, I am opting out of this relationsh!p. I will give you time to think about it…”
“But why today of all days Ben? Why didn’t you st©p the wedding sooner, why make me go throu-gh all these stress and thoughts and confusion….”
“Because there is going to be a wedding today….i am just the wrong groom.”
“What?”
“Hello Sonia.”
My heart melted as I heard that voice, I ceased my breath as I turned around, Calvin was standing at the entrance in his blue-black suit and looking directly at me with those devilish blue eyes of his.
đThe Curse Of Cainđ
©Tobi
Episode 26(Final Episode)
I could ha-rd ly move as I looked at him before he drew closer. I didnât un-derstand. How did he get here and why was Ben leaving the room for the both of us?
Now that we were finally alone, no one spoke, we were just looking at each other.
âYou look so beautiful SoniaâŠâ
I said nothing, this was definitely a dream and for Godâs sake, plea-se I donât want to cry.
He stepped closer but I stepped back.
Later he st©pped.
âI know you hate me, I hate me too for saying all those mean words but I found no better way. I nee-ded you to be safe.â
âThen why are you here? did you have a change of mind or what? Or is this another drama for you?â
He looked surprised
. âNo baby, everything I said to you that day was true except for the end p@rt. That was just so that you could finally leave me so you could be safe.â
âSo, are you saying that my life is in danger right now, for you being here cos I donât know why you should be here .â
He sighed. âIâŠâ
âSonia plea-se go easy on him, he is so cute!â Mandy shouted from outside but I ignored her.
âI..urm, Sody showed up and found an easy way out. I couldnât be with you with the curse still on me. I had to break your heart to shift it but there was nothing against trying to get you back after the curse has been shifted.â
My ra-pid heartbeat was beginning to slow down as I heard him say that. Finally, he un-hooked his cufflinks and rolled his sleeve so he could show me the armâŠ.there was no scar there again, just like there was none on my back.
Could this be it? Could this be happening?
âI am glad to see that Calvin, really.â I replied as he wore his shi-ts properlyâŠ.i had missed him so much and I had so many things to say to himâŠ
âI nee-d you to forgive me Sonia, I love you with everything in me and every strength in me. I cannot imagine spending the rest of how many lives I have left without you. I will be a fool to let you go again. plea-se forgive me Sonia, you know I never meant those words, you know.â
âI know Calvin, I love you so much and I forgive you , I forgive you okay?â
Just then he went on his knees and brou-ght a small diamond box.
â Will you marry me?â
I smiled as I saw the ring glittering right at me. I knew I wanted this, oh God I have waited like forever for this and it was finally happening. I felt like hvgging him and k!ss!nghim andâŠ.
âBaby, are you going to marry me or not before you start undressing me with your eyes.â
I laughed aloud as the tears clouded my eyes.
âYes, yes, I will.â I replied as he slid the ring in, just as we were about to k!ss, the door opened instantly and Ben and a lady c@mÂŁ inâŠ
She was tall, willowy and really beautiful. Her hair was let loose and they fell gracefully around her shoulders. She was in a red ground-sweeping go-wn which accentuated her curves. She looked like all these black American Stars, I recognized herâŠ
âHello Sonia.â
âHello Sody.â I replied.
âCalvin, how did you meet Ben, how did you do all these?â I asked.
âWell, Sody did everything, not me.â He said, pointing to the lady.
âBen, should I tell her or would you?â the lady asked, I was confused.
âBen, what is she saying? Do you know her?â
Ben sighed and nodded. âYea, we met in Georgia when I went to study those years back and she has been my thera-pist since then, we sometimes work together and I had earlier invited her to my wedding, I sÂŁnt her our picture.
Sody nodded. âWhen I saw your picture, I knew you were the same girl Calvin wanted to die for and that was how I c@mÂŁ up with a plan.â
âWhat about theâŠ?â I started.
âOh! The triad, no problem, I quitted working with them.â
âOh, okay. So im listeningâŠâ
Ben continued-âWhen I heard about you and Calvin from your discussion with your friends, I was confused. I wanted to make you happy and I didnât know how, so I spoke to her to do a re-ading for us, meanwhile I never knew she knew you.â
âI am a thera-pist and Psychic and Ben here have been friends for many years, just that for the first time he wanted me to perform a re-ading for the future of you both , all I saw was grief and regret and I finally had to tell him everything about you and Calvin and everything just cli-ckedâŠ.â
They kept nodding and kept finish each otherâs sÂŁntences, they were not telling me something, later I looked at CalvinâŠ
âWait, were they ever in a relationsh!ptogether?â
Ben and Sody exchanged glances…
âYes.â Calvin replied.
âYou remember I once said you were going to forgive me for something?â Ben put inâŠ
Oh!Oh! So all those times in GerogiaâŠ.hmmmmmâŠ..no wonder he was not angry when he heard about myself and Calvin….
Wait was I supposed to be angry because the lady that saved my relationsh!pwith Calvin had a thing with my EX? Hell no! instead I just laughed at the whole ridiculousness of it all and sincerely, I couldnât st©p laughing.
The rest were looking at me as if I was crazyâŠ
âBabe, are you okay?â Calvin asked as he drew closer to me and putting his arms around my w@!st.
âYes. Guys plea-se, there is no problem okay, Ben, thank you so much for this but you donât nee-d to be awkward about it cos you had S-x with Sody some years back or whatsoever, so this was why you thought we were even and that we could forgive each other?â
He nodded.
I smiled and instead, hvgged him.
âThank you so much, we both deserve to be happy okay, I hope she makes you as happy as you want to be.â
âAmen! Thanks everyone, plea-se quic-kly k!ssand make up or donât you have a wedding to get to?â Mandy screamed at us as she opened the doorâŠ
âYes we do.â We all shouted, rushing out of the room.
***** *****
âCalvin Nate, I love you unconditionally and without hesitation. I vow to love you, encourage you, trust you, and respect you.
. As a family, we will create a home filled with learning, laughter, and compas-sion. I promise to work with you to foster and cherish a relationsh!pof equality knowing that together we will build a life far better than either of us could imagine alone. Today, I choose y to be my husband. I accept you as you are, and I offer myself in return. I will care for you, stand beside you, and share with you all of lifeâs adversities and all of its joys from this day forward, and all the days of my life.â
âSonia Johnson, You are my teacher and my model, my lover and my accomplice, you are my true counterp@rt, my salvation and my deliverance, you are my medicine and my true love. I will forever honor you, love you, shield you, protect you unconditionally that even death will not have a chance to do us ap@rt.â
After this we both exchanged our rings and then the k!ssâŠoh my God! It was even better than the first and other times. Maybe it was because it was real and no more pretense and we were officially a couple and maybe because I had missed him so much.
âLadies and gentlemen, I presÂŁnt to you the latest couple in town, Mr and Mrs Calvin Nate.â
The whole congregation kept cheering at us, then my husband turned to me.
âSO, Mrs Nate, where do you wanna go?â
âYour home is my home Mr NateâŠâ
âOkay, I guess we could go back to South Africa, I bought it back from Sody, long story actuallyâŠâ
âHmm, I will be happy with that, I have lots of things to say to Madam Koffi, she will be so happy for me.â
âYour accomplice. â Calvin replied before k!ss!ngmeâŠ
***** ****
Minutes later, I was in the car with Calvin as we rode to the airport, my head rested on his che-st as one of guards drove us to the airportâŠ
I still didnât un-derstand how everything happened the way it did but I didnât care as I was finally married to âthe man of my dreams.â Such happiness could never truly be quantified, when you have this kind of happiness, you donât nee-d to doubt it or compare itâŠyou just enjoy itâŠ
THE END