Palm lines - Episode 20

Palm lines

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Erika's POV
I stayed indoor after my fall out with Feso. I cried my eyes out while memories of how I had knelt down and how Feso had driven off heartlessly streamed through my  mind.
 I called Feso once more, his phone was still switched off. I guess he was intentionally avoiding calls.
 Dorcas knocked on the door severally but I ignored her. 
"Erika!" She called out again.
"Kechi has gone out," she paused, "Tolu called me up, he said we should go out for the new year celebration but I declined you know why? Cause I care about you and I just couldn't leave you in this state. I've been out here for hours and all you've done is ignore me . Is that even fair?" She asked and I opened the door. 
I felt bad. 
"I'm sorry" I apologised and she hugged me. 
We walked into the room where I laid back in bed. "I'm sorry about all this.... It was long overdue" she opined and I agreed. 
"Just give Feso time, and give all this time, things would sort themselves out"
"To think a guy proposed to me for the first time, it's annoying that the moment had to get ruined by this baby" I completed and she held my hands.
"It's not your fault, none of this is your fault and none of this is the baby's fault, don't start putting blames. You haven't eaten all morning"
"I don't have any appetite"
"Don't even try me, as minister in charge of pregnancy matters, what would you like to eat ? I bought two kilos of chicken"
"I would really like Chicken pepper soup" I chose, then i gave it a second thought

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. "No, how about fried chicken, really fried and crispy chicken"
"You wish is my command" 
"Let me join you and cook now" I requested and she smiled. My phone rang and I rushed to pick it, I thought it was Feso but I was disappointed to find out it was Ada. 
"Good morning big sis" I muttered, "Look at your time, it's past twelve already and we're waiting for you." I totally forgot about Mom's new year party.
"I don't think I'll be coming" I answered and she laughed nonsensically.
"If you don't want Mom's anger on your head, my dear you had better beat traffic to be here in the next one hour" she demanded and I rolled my eyes. 
Maybe it would be a good avenue to let them know the truth. "Okay fine, I'll be there" I ended the call. 
"What's that?"
"There's this new year thing we always have, I think I'll just go there and let them know" I suggested and she gave a half smile. 
"Sounds like a plan. I better call Tolu to let him know I'm free for the day."

I went over to Mom's house, loud igbo highlife music was banging. The atmosphere was a cheerful one, my maternal cousins were around, even my uncle. 
"Your mom's heart will dance on seeing you" he exaggerated and I scoffed. 
"Which heart?" I raised my nose in unbelief. 
"Someone that doesn't like seeing my face" I added and we spoke for a while. I had second thoughts on revealing the truth to them.
Mom requested everyone's attention, "First of all, i want to thank God for his faithfulness upon this family. Most family don't have this privilege but we do. I have my siblings, four beautiful girls with me, and their spouses. I don't know why Erika refused bringing her boyfriend." she paused and all eyes turned towards me, "Before we'll continue our merriment, we'll first of all pray to God. Erika, lead us in one or two choruses, then pray for us" she requested closing her eyes. 
"All eyes closed" she added and i cleared my throat.
I opened my eyes looking at everyone in the room and I imagined how disappointed they'll feel after I break the news.
Tears trickled down my eyes, "I'm pregnant" i annouced and all eyes opened in shock.
"Are you drunk?" Mom asked and i scoffed, that was what brought me into this mess at first. "I'm serious mom, i'm pregnant" i repeated and she dragged me into her room, Ada, Ugo and Ego followed.
"Where is Feso? We should be having this discussion with him and his family"
"He left" i answered blandly, "What do you mean by he left? He cannot impregnate you and leave, tufia! (God forbid!)."
"He left because he didn't want to take care of another man's child" i answered and Mom held on tightly to the top i wore. "You say?" She asked, "It's not his" I answered.
"Erika just kill me already!" mom yelled shaking my body violently. "Who's the father?"
"I don't know!" i replied and mom slapped me on my cheek. 
Just as she raised her hands to hit me again, Ada pulled her back.
"Leave me" she struggled to get off her grip but Ada kept on holding her back.
"Mommy stop all this!" Ada yelled. 
"Why must it be only Erika?" Mom yelled, "For once in your life Erika, can't you just make me proud?" she fell on the ground. 
"Before I open and close my eyes Erika, disappear!" She demanded and I knelt down in tears. "I'm sorry" I apologized and Ada signalled me to leave. 
"Out!" She yelled and I ran out of the house. "Erika!" Uncle followed me out, "I have to go" 
"We have to talk"
"Bye Uncle" I rushed back home. 

***
My belly slowly protruded, i barely went out until resumption day. I wore a free gown that should conceal my belly but on second thought, I decided to wear something tighter.
I wore a navy blue gown and I stared into the mirror touching my belly. "Are you ready?" I looked down at my belly. "Mommy's showing you to the whole world" I muttered.
When I went out, neighbors stared at me but I didn't care. I held my heads high inrespective of my shame. I acted like I cared less about their damn opinions.
I had some teachers stare at me too in school. I walked into the principal's office in order to met him know the situation on ground. 
"Ah miss Erika" he called out laughing. "Miss Erika Miss Erika!" He hailed and I wondered if he was blind to my belly bump or he didn't care about it.
"Happy new year, so where's my new year package?" He asked, " Abi I should be the one asking" I answered and I noticed his eyes linger  on my belly.
"What's this?" He asked and I look at my belly. 
"I'm pregnant Sir"
"Is this a joke?" He asked and i shrugged. "Sir I'm pregnant" 
"I'm not deaf, I heard you quite alright Miss Erika, but I don't remember you being engaged or married"
"Sir it doesn't matter"
"What doesn't matter?" He asked, "This is highly unacceptable! It stands against all the standard that this school holds" he added and I blinked my tears in. 
"Sir"
"Or what do you want to teach the students, that it is right to get pregnant before marriage?" "Sir" 
"Is the father willing to take responsibility?" 
"It's complicated"
"This is against the ethics and moral of the school" he answered firmly, "What are you insinuating?" "Go home and rest Miss Erika, we'll get back to you" 
"Is this an indirect way of firing me?" I asked and he scoffed. "Wo Miss Erika, don't make this more harder for me. Go home we'll get back to you" 
He answered and I shut my eyes, then I walked out of the office. I saw Ade by the door, "Miss Erika?" He looked at my belly in surprise then looked up at me.
"I didn't mean to stare. Good morning Ma" he greeted and I walked away witholding my tears. 
I went over to Vera's office, "You'll cry yourself to sickness!" She warned but it didn't stop the tears from pouring.
I received a call from church, sister Faith called to remind me of rehearsals that day. I promised her I'll come, that I had a news to break to the choir members. 
I heard some choir members running notes as I approached the church. I walked in and all eyes fell on me. "Jesus! Sister Erika!" One of the choir members yelled.

 

Sharon's POV
Cynthia's mom came for the holidays, I knew the holiday would be horrible for me so I convinced dad to let me spend it in Benue with Grandma. 
I came back just in time for resumption. Any lazy Nigerian student would refuse resuming school on the first day but I couldn't wait to for three reasons, I wanted to be away from Cynthia and her mom who still hasn't left the house yet!
Two, I couldn't wait to see Miss Erika, and finally i couldn't wait to see Ade.  
The first thing I did when I got to school was to go Miss Erika's staff room. I saw teachers gossiping there, I noticed Miss Oloche was there too so I waved at her to get her attention and she walked towards me.
"Good morning Ma" I greeted as politely as possible. "Hey... What are you doing here?" She asked and I looked into the room again. 
"Where's Miss Erika?" I asked, "Um...." she paused and I noticed her clean some tears off her face. I grew worried, "Did.. did something bad happen?" I asked and she paused. 
"Miss Erika has been fired" she answered, "Why?" I asked,  "Excuse me" she answered walking away. 
The bell rang almost immediately. I became anxious, I didn't know who to ask, I tried calling her number but she didn't pick up.

During short break, Tuni walked into my class. "I heard Miss Erika's pregnant" she announced and I scoffed. "That's a big lie" 
"It's not" Ade answered then moved close to us. 
"It's a lie" 
"I saw her this morning on my way to the principal's office, the pregnancy was this big" he demonstrated and I had no choice but to believe. 
"Why didn't you tell me"
"I'm not a fan of gossips, this one that I'm even following you guys to do now is reducing my integrity. Well...that was why she was fired" he added. 
"That's crazy, it's her life"
"Well the principal told me he had to do it because it goes against the Morals of the school"
"Oh please let him shut his fucking mouth there, what moral?" Tuni scoffed. "That man doesn't not even know the meaning of that word" 
"Calm down oh, why your blood dey hot?" Ade asked.  
"That man is married and still cheating on his wife with a woman who lives in our estate" "Seriously?" I asked and She nodded.
"We've seen him more times than we can count"
"We?" Ade and I asked, "Mom and I" she answered. "I also heard he's having sex with Corper Chioma" she whispered and I opened my mouth in shock. 
"What right does he have to speak about morality? Morally, that man is depraved!" 
"Now Miss Erika's gone, school is going to suck now" 
"Ouch" Ade and Tuni answered at the same time. 
I walked away to cry in the bathroom. 
I had IK drop me off at Miss Erika's house but she wasn't at home so I went back home. I skipped lunch, I wasn't in a good mood. 
Dad walked into the room later in the evening. "Dinner is ready!" He announced and I shook my head. I didn't have the appetite. 
"Why?"
"I don't have the appetite" I answered, "Are you pregnant?" He asked and I glared at him. "And she gives me the Medusa glare" he answered and I laughed.
Dad placed his palm on my neck. "You temperature is so not normal, dress up, we're going to the hospital"
"I'm okay" I sat up.
"You don't look okay" 
"I don't look okay because Miss Erika was fired, the principal fired her"
"Could she have done anything wrong?" He asked, "Don't worry I'll talk to the principal, put in a good word for her" he added.
"Miss Erika is pregnant" I added quietly and he raised his brow in surprise. "What did you just say?"
"Miss Erika is pregnant, that was why she was fired" 
I watched Dad rise up from the bed, "Maybe it's her boyfriend's, they'll get married" "It hasn't been long since she started dating him, unless she lied, Ade said it's this big" I demonstrated the size just as Ade did.
Dad staggered back then brushed his hands through his grey hair. 
 "Dad" I called out, "Excuse me Sharon" he went out feeling disappointed, probably because he likes her.

 

David's POV
"I was this close to having sex with the bride last year" Lawrence said to me and I laughed. "Thank God you didn't" 
"It would have been really awkward" I added then a lady dressed in a red jumpsuit passed by and Lawrence followed her. 

Suddenly I heard a little girl ask,   "Aunty are you crying?"  I turned back to see who was assumed to be crying. There I first saw her, with an lace knee length gown. 
"Crying?" She asked now gently patting her face with an handkerchief. She was definitely crying.
"Why would I cry?" She added and I raised my brow unbelievably at her. Who was she fooling?
"But you're cleaning your tears" the little girl insisted and I chuckled quietly, just my kind of girl! Smart and consistent. 
"It's the make up" she blamed and I scoffed. 
Make up kor! Perhaps she's crying over a break up.
"So now you're admitting to the fact that you were crying" she added and I smiled. This girl deserves some accolades! 
"Are you crying because aunty Ugo is married and you're not married?" She added. This was where I got turned off. There should always be an extent to which every child should speak. I denoted she was part of the family, I didn't see her with the family during the church wedding.
"What? Mommy talks about it everytime, even Grandma does. Who doesn't talk about you. Everyone is worried and waiting for you to get married. I'm also waiting for you to kiss a man in church"
 It took an intervention from a lady to shut the girl up and send her running to her mother.  I realized she was the crying lady's niece.
"Mr Savage" a man walked towards me, I didn't know him, but apparently he did and I got distracted with business talk.

After the wedding ended, I sat on one of the chairs lost in thought.
I should have left since, but bfir some unknown reasons, i was still there. There was a R& B song playing in the background and I suddenly felt nostalgic. I remembered my wedding with Juliet and how happy I was. 
Then I remembered my second wedding with Cynthia, it was so disappointing and contrasting. I started to think of what new complain Cynthia might have about Sharon that day.
I watched the workers of Karen's event clear and pack up all props used for the wedding. A fair guy walked by carrying a flower pot then met a dark complexioned guy close to me.  
"One woman dey back there" he informed, "E be like say the woman don drink something very well" he added and the guy hissed.
"Na so them dey do. No be me send her"
"I don leave her with Nosa, him don see free food chop this night" he laughed and I scoffed at the manner they carelessly talked about it.
"Bad guy!" The dark one hailed and they both laughed. "So you guys are not going to do anything concerning it?" I asked and they both turned their gaze at me.
"Who be this?" The fair one asked, "So you're both going to be a party to rape"
"Abeg who be this guy? You no go mind your business? Party don finish, do and go" the dark one yelled and I scoffed. 
"Mo gbo mo branch people (uninvited people), Maybe na transport him no get so, see as him take wear agbada fine" the fair one dipped his hands in his pocket removing two hundred naira then stretched it at me. 
I walked close to him taking a picture of them, "Why you take our picture?" The dark one got angry and I grinned. 
"So I can show it to Karen so she can fire you guys. You better start looking for new jobs" 
"Wait..." He paused, "You Sabi our oga?" He asked and I sniggered.
"Does the name David Savage ring a bell to you?" I asked and they both immediately fell on their knees. 
"Boss man" the fair one postrated. "Abeg, I take God beg you" I wasn't ready to listen to their cries. 
 "Where's the lady and the Nosa you guys were talking about." I asked and the fair one pointed.
I followed his direction but there was no one there. I noticed a toilet so I walked in. There was a lady on the floor, she happened to be no one other than Erika.
The coincidence made me scoff. The guy was already taking off his belt getting ready to have carnal knowledge of her. 
"You have ten seconds to stop whatever you're thinking of doing" I began and he raised his brow rudely at me. 
"Oga what's your business here?" He snapped and I brought out my phone. "You have five seconds before I call the police and I promise you, I'll make sure you spend a good time in jail" I threatened and he rushed off. 
The smell of urine fouled the air, I carried her in my arms out of the toilet then i laid her on a chair. I called Richard to let him know about the current circumstance but he didn't pick up his phone. 
An idea occurred to me to use her phone. I removed the phone from her bag but I had one stupid barrier, her password.
I made a decision to take her to an hotel, leave her to pass the night there. I carried her in my hands and she mumbled something inaudible. I drove to the hotel then I carried her once again. 
Damn was she heavy!
"Good evening Mr. Savage" the receptionist greeted with a smile and I smiled back at her since she was familiar with me. 
"Who's she?" She asked, "A friend" I lied.  
"What can i do for you Sir" She asked, "Well can you carry her for me?" I asked and she laughed. 

I carried Erika then I carefully placed her on the bed. 
"Geez! What have you been eating?" I asked then I rose up from the bed. 
Suddenly I heard a loud fart escape from her ass and I raised my brow at how I expected that was. "Seriously? After they'll be forming slay Queens in parties as though they don't fart" I answered. 
Suddenly I heard her sob. The sobs suddenly got louder and I quickly mounted on the bed closing her mouth. "Shhhh" I begged, "Before people think I'm doing something bad to you"
"My life is pathetic, I'm pathetic" 
She cried and I sighed then she held on tightly to my agbada. "Why are guys so blind, am I not pretty enough?" She asked, now shaking me violently, "You mean are heartless" she began strangling my neck.
I coughed rising from the bed, "Seriously woman, I'm not the one who broke your heart, don't put the anger on my poor, innocent neck" I rubbed my neck.
Suddenly I saw her lay on the bed as though she was already sleeping and I sighed getting ready to leave the room. 
"Why are you guys so blind? I think God hates me too" she complained and I rolled my eyes.
"Is there anytime you don't complain?" I asked and she sat up again. "I'm tired" she cried and I sat down on the bed feeling sorry for her. 
"You might not be married now, but it doesn't mean you won't be married some day. Very soon, you'll meet the right guy, at the right time" i advise and she moved close to me.
"You think so?" She asked and I nodded. 
"I'm I not pretty?" She asked and I looked into her eyes. "You are" I paused, "You're really pretty" I added. "You really think so?" She asked and I nodded. 
Suddenly she moved her lips close to mine and she kissed me. I had a tiny still voice in my head telling me, "No David, don't do it, don't do it" but I did anyways; I kissed her too. 
"Wrong move David, wrong move" the voice said again but I continued. 
There was something about the kiss that reminded me of Juliet's kiss. It  sucked in a perfect way. It was unexplainable, she had those lips, you can't have enough of.  
 I had to withdrew. I remembered I was married and I had a rebellious daughter waiting at home for me. 
"I have to go" I said to her and she cried once more, "Because I'm ugly right?" She asked and I scoffed sitting down on the bed. 
"This is called emotional blackmail and it's so not fair" I answered and she moved close to me again, "You're not even in your right sense" I answered and she kissed me again.
"You're drunk" I complained but I kissed her back.  I couldn't help it, I lost all defenses. My hand slipped around her waist and she mounted on me.
Her hands roamed through my chest then my agbada came off along with her clothes and we had sex.  
My first time ever playing the cheating game. It felt wrong but at the same time, it felt so damn right! I couldn't sleep after it, all I could do was watch her sleep. 
She looked really pretty; so peaceful. She had the aura of a woman I would like to wake close to, a woman I want to wake up and see, every day of my life. 
For a moment, I wished I had met her before Cynthia, I wished I wasn't married.
 She muttered some complains then quivered.

Read " Hotel Palava " by the same author ( Essien Eno )

. "She even complains in her sleep" I chuckled softly, "Cute"

I didn't sleep a wink, I stood up by past four in the morning; I intended leaving before she woke up. I didn't want to leave that way so i went out to my car, I got all the cash from my suitcase, slotted it into an envelope then I tore a jotter. 
I didn't want to leave without dropping a note, the cash seemed unnecessary but I felt the need to, I wish there was more cash in hand , i could have given more. I picked up a pen and I started writing;  "Good morning to you, I didn't take advantage of you, you consented to it" I paused, "This just makes me look like a jerk" i squeezed the note. 
Who am I kidding? I took advantage of her.
I bit the cover of my pen thinking of the right word to use. "I'm sorry, I didn't intend having sex with you" I wrote and i squeezed the note again. 
I've never been a good poet!
Time was running , I didn't want her to see me so I walked back into the hotel then i ordered the receptionist to bring in coffee later for the lady for her hangover.
I went back in, dropped the envelope on the dresser table then I thought of something to write. "Good morning. I already ordered for strong coffee for the hangover. I'm sorry" I paused, I didn't know whether to squeeze it and write another.
Suddenly I heard her groan. My heart raced in fear, I stood motionless, what if she wakes up screaming rape?
I watched her sleep back then I walked out of the room with a loud sigh of relief. 
That settled and I went back to the office where I finally had some sleep. 
When I met Erika for the second time, it was too much of a coincidence, I couldn't help but stare at her. I never thought for a second that I would ever meet her again. 
She obviously didn't remember me or what happened so I had to let it slide and just act normal and cool. That was my forte and I played it so well.
After Sharon broke the news about Miss Erika's pregnancy, my legs literally became weak. 
I never thought for a moment, that one night stand would lead to her being pregnant. I locked the door and tears flowed uncontrollably down my cheeks. 
I knew I already screwed up big time.

 

 

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