WEDDING OF MY EX (EPISODE 23)
©Aaron A.A
Chris is driving.
He is obviously distressed. He keeps hearing the voices of Dr. Anaman and Bright Koffie.
Chris runs his hand throu-gh his hair repeatedly. Finally he turns off the road and parks the car. He picks up his mobile phone and calls Steve.
STEVE
Hey, paddy! What the dilly-dilly-dilly-dilly-yoo!! How did it go with the meeting, man? I just arrived to pick up Elaine! We’re meeting you at the church, right?
CHRIS
(voice dangerously soft)
Was Effe really trying to s£dûç£you that night, Steve?
STEVE
And what kind of damn foolish question is that, bro? C’mon, man, don’t tell me her wedding is affecting you that much!
CHRIS
Did Effe really try to s£dûç£you, Steve?
STEVE
Are you mad, man? Of course she bloody did! YOU SAW IT WITH YOUR OWN BLOODY EYES!! C’mon, man, what’s gotten into you?
CHRIS
I saw what I saw or what you wanted me to see Steve. Swear to me, bro. Swear to me that she really tried to s£dûç£you!
STEVE
I swear on the grave of my unknown mother, bro. The truth is Effe is a nut case. You should not waste your precious time feeling sorry for that girl. She is a good actress. What’s going on with you now, man? You’re scaring me, Chris. Damn, man, what’s going on?
CHRIS
I don’t know what to believe anymore Steve. Last night I learnt that Effe never raised a hand against my old lady, but four years ago my mother looked me in the eyeball and lied to me that Effe hit her on the head with a side-table!
STEVE
And because of that you began doubting me, your own soul brother? You disappoint me Chris!
CHRIS
Damn it, Steve, she was my own biological mother! I am her flesh and blood yet she looked into my eyes and lied to me. This few days have been rou-gh. I also just found out that Effe did not t©uçh a penny of my money contrary to what I was made to believe. All she did was deposit it into another high-interest account. She didn’t steal my money, man, she did me a hvge favour by investing that money and thus increa-sed it tenfold!
STEVE
Is it not the same as stealing if she didn’t tell you she was depositing your damn money into another account, huh?
CHRIS
I don’t think that was stealing! The account she put the money into is in my name! You know what that means? I’m the sole signatory to the account, and she couldn’t have taken money out of it without my signature! Can you now un-derstand where I’m coming from?
STEVE
I un-derstand, my brother. But honestly I think you are losing it. You still love that girl and her impending marriage is driving you insane. You should’ve let me know earlier so we decide what to do. Right now, as I speak Elaine is walking to the car. Let’s meet at the church and talk more on this ok?
CHRIS
Sure, sure, man. I’ll meet you two at the church. Bye for now.
EXT. GOLGOTHA HEIGHTS CHAPEL.
The church is packed with hordes of people. On the grounds of the church, parked on one side, are three sleek black cars decorated with gold and white colours.
Chris is walking throu-gh the throng of people. Many recognize him and shake his hand, whilst others just stare.
Soft music is filtering throu-gh hidden speakers.
People are happy, and the whole aura is one of serenity and bliss. Chris takes out his phone and dials.
CHRIS
Elaine? Where’re you guys? Okay, I’ll join you pres£ntly.
He walks hurriedly to the entrance of the church and st©ps.
The same gold and white decorations are everywhere. Chris sees Mr. Rupert Henderson seated with his best man, dressed in excellently-tailored black suits.
Chris’ face suddenly cringes with pain. He cranes his n£¢k, looking for Elaine and Steve.
Finally he notices Steve standing up and waving to him.
Beside him is Elaine, looking beautiful in a white and purple dress.
Chris begins to move towards them, and suddenly he collides with a lady.
Chris reaches out to steady her, and realizes it was Evelyn Boampong. She looks splendid in a cream suit and holding unto the arm of an elderly man in a white suit.
EVELYN
Chris! Glad you could make it! I alre-ady heard you were a bomb at the meeting!
CHRIS
Eve, glad to see you! You seem to be enjoying yourself!
EVELYN
Of course I am! Meet Mr. Joshua Darkwa, an Elder of this church! He’s more than an uncle to me! I used to visit him and his wife a lot when I was a kid! He and my father used to be business p@rtners.
At the mention of the name Chris turns and looks at the elderly man with shock.
He has a lot more greys in his hair, but yes, it is the same Joshua Darkwa!
He is the man that Effe had spent so many hours with locked up in room 209 at the Ocean Front h0tel.
This man is Effe’s dirty old lover! Chris feels dizzy. He sees the scene again and again!
He remembers Darkwa wearing only a white T-shi-t and trou-sers when esc-rting Effe after their encounter at the h0tel.
Chris remembers this old man embr@cing Effe! He remembers the old man ma-king a victorious punch in the air!
From a long way off Chris seems to hear Evelyn calling his name.
Slowly Chris comes back to the pres£nt, and finds himself leaning against the wall with Evelyn and Darkwa holding him with concern.
EVELYN
Chris, are you okay? What happened to you? You scared me!
JOSHUA
Young man! Are you okay? You almost blacked out! Have you checked your sugar levels lately?
Chris snatches his arm free from the grip of the old man and glares at him with venom. He hisses fiercely.
CHRIS
Git your damn f!ngersoff me, you son-of-a-bit-ch!
Evelyn g@sps with horror. Joshua Darkwa looks shocked and scandalized.
JOSHUA
Hey, what’s the matter with you?
CHRIS
Don’t give me that act! Elder of the church, right? I wonder how many young girls you’ve had your way with, you slimy bastard! You hide behind the church and do despicable things with the young and innocent women un-der your watch!
EVELYN
(screaming)
CHRIS!!!
Chris takes menacing steps towards the old man who walks backwards with sudden fear on his face.
JOSHUA
What’s gotten into you, young man? Have you perchance gone mad?
An elderly lady in a superb brown attire joins them. She takes the arm of the old man and glares at Chris.
Chris was reaching out for Darkwa when Steve suddenly appears by his side and holds his arm.
STEVE
Hey, hey, hey, Tiger! Take it slow, man! What the hell is going on here?
CHRIS
That piece of dung is Joshua Darkwa, one of Effe’s lovers. Four years ago he sle-pt with Effe! He is probably still slee-ping with her!
Evelyn’s voice is hoarse with shock.
EVELYN
Chris Bawa!! St©p this atrocity!
The old woman sl@ps Chris across his right cheek.
OLD WOMAN
You crazy young man! Watch your obscene mouth!
JOSHUA
Cool down, dear. That young man is a troubled soul.
Chris struggles against Steve, intent on hitting Darkwa, but Steve holds him back.
STEVE
Hold it, man. You’re causing a bloody scene, goddamn it! Let’s bounce, bro!
CHRIS
St©p lying, old man, or I swear I’ll knock in the rest of your teeth! I saw you with Effe with my own eyes! Four years ago, Room 209, Ocean Front h0tel! Does that ring a bell? You spent three long hours alone with Effe in that h0tel room when she lied to me that she was on an errand for her pastor! Don’t tell me you were praying in a h0tel room!
The old woman is indignant. She tries to sl@p Chris again, but Evelyn holds her back.
OLD WOMAN
Who’s this fool?
JOSHUA
(nodding his head.)
Oh, honey, I think he is the young man our dear Effe was going to marry! The fool that jilted her and caused her so much heartache.
OLD WOMAN
Chris Bawa?
EVELYN
Yes, Auntie. plea-se forgive me. He’s our best designer. I feel so embarras-sed.
JOSHUA
No, it’s okay, my dear. I think the young man is just confused.
CHRIS
Confused? Are you for real?
OLD WOMAN
You fool! That’s my husband you’re talking to! That day you saw him with Effe, if you had bothered to ask, he would’ve told you that our son had left home and settled at the h0tel! He was suicidal because his girlfriend had left him! A friend of his alerted us about his whereabouts and his intentions. I was with him in room 209 too! Later my husband c@m£ with Effe, so we were four in the room all that while.
Chris halts. For a moment he can ba-rely breathe. Joshua speaks in a calm, kind voice.
JOSHUA
If you had your doubts why didn’t you come inside to confront us, young man? That’s what I would do, un-der circu-mtances like that. I would break the door down if I had to just to get to the truth. That day you saw me with Effe she was just trying to help our son who was so suicidal and all our persuasion failed.
He was so burnt on ending his misery that nothing could dissuade him. In my desperation I called the pastor, who told me that Stanley, that’s my son, was great friends with Effe. So the pastor called Effe to meet us at the h0tel and see if she could talk him out of it. Effe did come, bless her, and spent time with Stanley. My son listened to her. She saved his life.
OLD WOMAN
We didn’t want to leave the boy alone. That was why my husband saw Effe off alone. If you are in doubt you can ask Mr. Afful. He was a new member of the church then. We bu-mped into him at the h0tel that day and we told him our plight and the fact that the pastor had s£nt Effe over to see if she could calm the poor boy’s nerves. Effe gave us back our son! Did you honestly think Effe could do something like that? You are a big fool and I thank God she didn’t end up with a fool like you.
Chris could not speak. There was a look of abject misery on his face. He is almost g@sping for breath.
CHRIS
Oh, God! Oh, no! Tell me I just didn’t hear that!
OLD WOMAN
(face showing distress as she takes Chris’ hands.)
Wait a minute. You mean you were spying on Effe? Were you convinced Effe was having an affair with my husband? Why, young man? Why would you even think that? You were her world! You were the reason that girl breathed. She couldn’t st©p talking about you! She adored you! Why did you think she was even capable of such a rotten act? That girl is nothing but an Angel!
Blindly Chris snatches his hands from hers. On his face is a look approaching panic.
CHRIS
No! No she’s not an angel! She’s a bit-ch! She’s a nothing but a bit-ch! Someb©dy tell me she’s a bit-ch!
ELAINE
(At his side, hvgging him ti-ghtly.)
It’s okay, my love! It’s okay. Come with me, dear. Let’s get some fresh air! Let me take you home and pamper you. I’m sure that would do you good!
CHRIS
Oh, God! Oh, dear sweet Lord! What’s happening to me? What’s happening? I’m dying, I’m lost.
People are talking excitedly around them now. Chris is g@sping for breath. Flanked by Steve and Elaine, they move quic-kly outside.
STEVE
We gotta get outta here. You don’t nee-d to be here, Chris!
ELAINE
Yes, Chris. Coming to this wedding was a bad idea. Look at how worked up you are. That’s why I told you to stay away. Let’s go home, my darling! Let’s go home so I can pamper you back to sanity.
When they get to the car park a white Nissan Xterra roars in, executes a dangerous turn that makes people flee with cries of horror.
The car comes to shuddering halt, and the driver’s door is opened almost violently.
Michael Ameyaw jumps out. He is wearing only a pair of black jeans, a singlet and bathroom sli-ppers.
ELAINE
Mike! What’s wrong? Why’re you looking like that? Is everything okay?
CHRIS
Is it my Mother? Is she okay?
MIKE
She’s fine, Chris, Sisi is fine. So sorry, didn’t mean to cause any panic. I got a little problem and I nee-d Chris’ help urgently. Bro, plea-se come inside my car and take a look. We nee-d to make a decision about something right now.
CHRIS
Hell, Mike, you think this is the time to discuss some damn rice deal? Gimme a break, man! Let’s do this at home. C’mon, let’s get outta here!
Michael’s face ha-rd ens. He suddenly grips Chris’ arm as the latter tries to walk away.
CHRIS
Mike, let go! I ain’t gonna discuss no damn Colombian rice with you here, goddamn it! Get your hands off me!
ELAINE
Mike, let’s go home, okay? Chris is not feeling too good!
MIKE
You got to take a look at this thing, Chris, trust me. You got to get into my car right now! It’s a matter of life and death plea-se.
CHRIS
Hey, what’s gotten into you anyway? What the matter with you? What’s so damn important that it can’t wait till we get home? I am at my wits end pres£ntly.
MIKE
Chris. Trust me. This won’t take more than a few minutes! Take a look at the damn thing!
STEVE
(Pushes Mike back.)
l@yoff, bro! The man says he gotta blast outta here, and we’re all heading home, so what’s st©pping you from bringing your as-s back to the house and having it addressed?
CHRIS
(Sighs and speaks calmly.)
Listen, Mike, I’m on edge a bit, okay? Forgive me, alright, let’s have a look at your sheet or whatever the hell it is, man.
ELAINE
Darling? Are you doing it here? Let’s go home and take all the time you nee-d.
CHRIS
Gimme just a few minutes, my love. I’ll be with you shortly.
Elaine and Steve head towards Chris’ car.
Chris moves into step with Michael, who opens the backdoor of his car.
MIKE
Get in, plea-se.
Chris looks at Michael for a moment, and then he gets into the car. Michael clim-bs in beside him and slams the door.
To be continued
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