Palm lines - Episode 31

 

Erika's POV

I withdrew after Feso kissed me. I initially kissed him back because of my feelings, I wanted to be sure of what I felt for him. 
I wanted to confirm the shocking revelation about David being my soul mate. I wanted to affirm if I still loved Feso. 
The kiss felt empty. 
I didn't want to continue with it so I stopped. 
"What happened?" He asked and I shook my head, "I don't feel like talking right now"
"Erika" he called out and I scoffed.
"Can you give me a break? I'm really tired and I just want to rest. Please" I begged.
"I'll stop by later" he promised and I almost rolled my eyes. 
I walked in and Dorcas followed too . I didn't even know she was behind me.
"What happened? You took so long to get here" she asked, "I called your mom, she said you left already."
"I went to Tinu place. I needed to talk Mrs Reiner"
"How was it?" She asked and I shrugged.
"The other day when I went to church to complain and you called up your uncle, it was David right?" I sat on a couch.
"Yes it was" she  answered.
"Apparently, in this twisted journey called life, David is my soul mate"
"Funny he just left  a while ago" she answered, "I don't understand"
"He has been waiting for you along with Feso... They even spoke for a while then we both went to get drugs then.." she paused. 
"He had a business call so he had to attend to it"
"So he couldn't wait to see me

All episodes of this story can be found here >> https://www.ebonystory.com/story/palm-lines

. The call was much more important"
"Why are you getting angry all of the sudden? I thought you didn't want to see him"
"I don't! At least, he couldn't waited for me to reject him"
"Are you being serious right now?" She asked. 
"He could have just waited"
I secretly waited for David to come around but he didn't. Not even once did he show up again that week. 

***
On Sunday evening, Feso invited me out to watch movies in his house, it sounded like he had ulterior motive but i didn't care. 
I needed the distraction.
It was an American movie, a romantic comedy. After watching it  Feso and I resumed discussion about the baby and antenatals then he leaned in for a kiss. 
I moved back shaking my head. 
"Why have you been doing that lately, it makes me feel uncomfortable" he asked and I felt bad.
"Can we not to do this now?"
"Why? You accepted the date"
"I never knew it was a date" 
"Seriously?" He asked, "Okay fine, I had my suspects but I needed the distraction."
"So now i'm a distraction" Feso said angrily and I rolled my eyes.
"I can't kiss you because I don't want to"
"Is this because of David?" He asked and I rolled my eyes.
"It's him you want right?"
"I want a lot of things right now" I paused in tears. "After what he did... I can't forgive him."
"So I still have a shot then" He asked and I laughed. 
"Can we just be friends?" I asked I saw him scoff. "I'm sorry" I apologized.
He kept quiet, "It's like Ify all over again" he muttered and I wondered what he meant by that. I got to know any Ifeoma his secretary and the feelings he had for how and how she got married to another man because he was too scare to ask her out.
"David hasn't been  coming to see me again" I complained, "But you don't want to see him"
"Still! He should come and apologize no matter what. I might reject him but it shouldn't stop him from coming" I added and he shook his head.
"Women... I don't understand you. You don't want to see him and you don't want him to stop coming either" he analysed laughing.
"God made you guys in a complicated way" he commented.
"I heard you and David talked the other day, what did you guys talk about?" I asked. I wanted to know if he said anything that must have scared him off.
The next day in school, I walked up to Sharon. I wanted to know why her father has been ignoring me. "Maybe it's because he thinks you don't want to see him" 
"Are you sure?"
"I don't know Ma."
I sighed. "You look worried" "I'm just having bad days, I want this to be over with already." I rolled my eyes. 
I noticed Ade waiting for her. "Let me not keep Ade waiting.. bye dear"

David's POV

After watching Erika kiss Feso, i took a break from pestering her. The rest of the week were set aside to put things in order. 
I finalize my divorce with Cynthia who obviously was still angry at me. 
The following Monday, in the morning, when I was in my office, Lawrence walked in frowning, "What's it?"
"Sunshine! That's my issue"
"The sun is not too hot"
"You know what I mean David" he snapped and I smiled. I've never seen Lawrence so worked up about a girl.  Lawrence has been trialing the young nurse for days now.
They went out on their first date on Saturday. Lawrence was disappointed because it didn't end with a kiss. 
"Just to kiss her after a date na wahala" he hissed and I laughed.
"To sex her nko?" 
"Just forget it" I advised, "I can't, I can't forget it. It's annoying, I've never felt so defeated. I need to kiss her, this is Lawrence nah. When have I ever lost a battle?" He asked and I laughed even more.
"Have you seen Erika yet?"
"Nah... I feel like whenever I go there, I'll see Feso, I think the Feso now lives with her" I joked and Lawrence chuckled.
"Someone sounds defeated" "Dorcas said she went over to his place yesterday, I think they're back together, even  though Dorcas doesn't think so"
"But you said the voodoo woman said"
"She's not a voodoo woman, she's a palmist" 
"Whatever! She said you're her soulmate"
"Yes.. "
"Get her away from that bull" he advised, "I'll see her later"
"Feso is still a suspect on Alhaji's case, if you want him out of the picture, you can have this reported to the police"
"You guys want me to sign up for another dirty game shea? Count me out! If I want to get Erika, I'll get her the right way."
"What would you do about his case then?" He asked and I shrugged, "You promised Mrs Danladi that you'll find who murdered her husband"
"Feso is just a suspect according to Jude"
"I still think you should tell Mrs Danladi" "I'm not telling her anything, I prefer she finds out for herself. I refuse to get my hands dirty. Let's change the topic please" I snapped, "Let's talk about your Sunshine"
"Sunshine kor, moon light ni" he hissed and I laughed.
Dorcas walked in, "Good morning Uncle Lawrence" she kissed Lawrence on the cheek. "Uncle David" she kissed me too on the cheek. 
"What brings you to my work place? Cash?" I asked and she shook her head. 
"Not exactly. I came because of Erika,"
"Has she given birth?" Lawrence joked and I laughed. 
"I shouldn't be saying this, this is against all rules, but she's worried you haven't stopped by" she explained.
"What about her boyfriend Feso?" I asked and Dorcas rolles her eyes. "They're not dating and again, I shouldn't be telling you this but they just became friends last night. I don't know the game you're playing at but it's not working. Erika needs you, she's an emotional wreck, she hasn't laughed in a while too"
"So I'm a clown now?"
"No" Dorcas laughed.
"Just come over and just do your magic to make her happy"
"But I was responsible for making her sad"
"And only you can reverse it"

***
I paid a visit to Erika. It was already past seven. Kechi opened the door smiling at me. "Oga good evening" she began and I wondered why she was smiling. 
"Good evening dear"
"You finally decided to come today" she chipped in, "Yeah" 
"Is everything okay?" I asked, frankly I was scared. I expected to see a  frowny face. 
"Erika will kill you today" she laughed walking back in. "Let me go and call her. Erika he's finally here oh!" I heard her yelled, she left the door open. 
I watched Erika walk slowly towards me. She had a blue gown on.
"What are you doing here?" She asked, she didn't seem thrilled to see me.
"I..." I paused, "I came to see a certain girlfriend of mine" I answered, "Seriously? Do I know her?" She asked, "Maybe, she's very pretty, she has the sweetest personality, she's a badass teacher, she has just the perfect height like yours and she's pregnant too"
"I don't think I know her, I think you're in the wrong house" 
"Her name is Erika, she's the best thing that has ever happened to me, and I did something terrible and she's pretty much angry at me and I'm just here to say I'm sorry" i apologized and she gave it a thought.
"Now It's coming to me, she owes you a slap"
"What?" I asked and she slapped me on the face. It was two slaps packaged in one palm. 
"And she doesn't want to see you"
"But Dorcas said you would like to see me" I blurted out and I saw her gasp in surprise.
"What else did she say to you"
"That I've made you an emotional wreck" I answered and I felt tears building up already. "Erika can we just skip this and have a decent talk"
"You took advantage of me" 
"I didn't! Just hear me out" I begged. "Let talk somewhere private" I requested and we went into her room. 
"I..." I paused, I didn't know where to start. 
"I saw you at the wedding, you looked amazing in that lace, I'm not sure about the color, in between cockroach brown and os blood. Your niece caught you crying and you were trying to deny it"
"You saw that?" She asked and I nodded. 
"If I wasn't married, i would have walked up to you and asked you out"
"Was that why you took advantage of me?"
"No! Listen till the end" 
"After the party, I stayed back, I had no freaking idea why I stayed back that day but it makes a whole lot of sense right now. I overheard some workers saying something about a lady that was wasted and how some guy named Nosa was going to r*pe her or in their words, him don see free food chop"
I caught this guy standing above you, he was undoing his belt. I threatened him and he left. You were so wasted, if I wasn't there he could have r*ped you"
"But you did"
"That's not the point"
"What's the point?"
"I tried calling Richard, i guessed you were part of the family, he didn't pick up. Your phone needed a password, i couldn't leave you there so I took you to the hotel."
"Let me guess the remaining part of the story, you found me attractive and you took off my clothes and you had s*x with me"
"You wish, I would have left but you kept on talking about how pathetic your life was, how God hated you so much" I paused and she folded her hands. 
"That sounds like something I would say"
"Exactly! I couldn't leave you. Besides, you kissed me first"
"That's a lie from the pit of hell!" She denied.
"I couldn't have kissed you" 
"You did and I kissed you back, it was wrong but I liked it. You weren't the best kisser, you sucked by the way" I chuckled in between my tears.
"But I kissed you and I loved it, I decided to leave but you kissed me again and I... You had no idea how good it was, we made love Erika, you might have been a stranger but I've never made love so passionate to anyone in my life, except..." I stalled.
"It was one of the most amazing night of my life" "You're lying" she cried.
"Look into my eyes and tell me if I'm lying" I looked into her eyes and she looked away. 
"Why didn't you stay till morning? Because I gave myself so cheaply to you and you thought I was a sl*t"
"I was scared and guilty, one, I was a married man and two, I didn't want you accusing me of r*pe. That was why I left the cash..."
"As compensation for being a sl*t"
"Not exactly" I countered. "Why didn't you say a word to me the first time we met?"
"What would I have said, hello Miss, I'm David, the man you had the one night stand with. What would you have thought? Wouldn't you have called the police on me, probably report it to a human right feminist organization or so and the next thing we know, I'm wasting millions on law suits"
"I had my reason, I thought maybe I could let it go, that we could both live our lives, I'll be with Cynthia and you'll do whatever you want. Then we kept on crossing paths and I gradually fell in love with you. It wasn't intended, it just happened" I cleaned my tears. 
"I know I was the conscious party In this and I could have easily walked out of that room but I didn't. I'm sorry for that but I'm not sorry for what happened, we made magic, I wish you can remember what happened" 
Erika sat on the bed and I knelt down before her "We made this babies together, I don't regret it one bit. All I ask is your forgiveness, I want my girlfriend back, I've had my best moments with you" 
"All the humiliation I've gone through because of being pregnant" she cried, "The times I pretend as though I don't care about what people say even when I do." She complained. 
"I wanted to tell you before you found out,"
"Was it after we must have had s*x?" She asked and I raised my brow in surprise. 
"So.. that day you came, You were..." I stalled. 
"Shut up!" She rolled her eyes. 
"It took long but I would have told you. I love you Erika"
"And I would love to be alone.. I need to think things through"
"I would really love to be the man for you, to wake up with you by side, to be a mother to our five children, Sharon, our twins and another twins" I joked and she laughed softly and definitely unconsciously.
"I'll leave you alone" i agreed kissing her knuckles then I walked out of the room. 
Dorcas and Kechi were in the sitting room. "How did it go?" She asked and I shrugged, "I've done my best, I just pray to God to help me touch her heart"
"Ehya" Kechi answered.

Erika's POV

I watched David walk out and I resumed crying again. I placed my hands on my belly, "Daddy just came in to apologize, I wanted to see him, you two know how badly I wanted to see him. Now I don't know if he's guilty or not. Should I forgive him?" I asked, suddenly I felt a kick and I gasped. 
It was my first time experiencing it. 
"Oh my God" I gasped, then I rose up walking into the sitting room, Kechi was alone in the sitting room.
"Where is he?" I asked, "He just left, Dorcas escorted him out" she answered and I rushed out.
I walked out of the gate Dorcas was waving at him. The car already drove off.
I felt disappointed. "What are you doing outside?" "I wanted to talk to him"
"But you just did"
"My baby kicked just when I asked  them if I should forgive their Dad " I answered, "I know it sounds stupid but I just...."
"Do you have your phone with you tinat least call him?" "I left it inside"
"I left mine too. We can call him back, he'll definitely come back" "I think I'd rather go over" I answered and Dorcas nodded. 
"Sounds like a great idea"

***
The security allowed me in, I knocked on the door and Sharon opened up. "Good evening Miss Erika" she greeted and I smiled.
"Hey dear, how are you doing?"
"I'm fine, come in Ma" she invited me in and I entered. "Are you here to see me or dad?" She asked, "It's late Ma"
"I know. Where's your dad?"
"In his room, probably taking a shower."
"Can you call him? I'd like to talk to him" I said feeling a bit uncomfortable. "You can go in"
"No, I don't even know his room, I'd rather wait here" i answered and she went in to call him. 
Sharon came out laughing. "He doesn't believe you're here, he thinks I'm lying" she answered and David came out with a towel tied around his waist, he seemed rather surprised to see me.
I was lost for a moment, it was my first time seeing him topless. I was lost in admiration of his body. 
"Erika?" He called out then smiled. This brought me back to Earth. I didn't know if it was me or my hormones messing with my head.
"I'll be in my room. Good night Ma" 
"Goodnight dear" I nodded, "Good night Dad" she added then left us alone. 
"What are you doing here?" 
"I wasn't sure whether to forgive you or not, so I playfully asked my babies, I felt a kick. For the first time, I felt a kick" I announced and he smiled. 
"Seriously?" He asked, "Which of them kicked?" He asked, "How am I supposed to know?" I asked and he laughed.
"Sorry, I'm just excited"
"I think the kick was a sign" I answered and he quietly stared at me for a while.
"Can I touch...." He asked and I nodded. He moved close to me placing his hands on my belly, then he moved closer to me.
I gasped again, "It just moved again" I smiled. "Probably because daddy's here" he muttered and I laughed.
 "I'm sorry" he apologized again and i folded my hands. 
"I just came in to let you know it kicked"
"You could have called me if that was the case" he answered, "You're here and it's not just because of the kick" 
"It's is... I just.."
He stepped closer then moved his lips close to mine then wrapped his arms around my waist. "I didn't come for s*x"
"I didn't say anything about s*x" he answered, "You're about to kiss me"
"You said s*x like you had it in mind, I didn't say it, you did." He answered and I scoffed. 
"You're impossible"
"But I do wanna kiss you" he confessed. "I thought you said I sucked."
 "Big time, you're a fair kisser" he commented and I scoffed again. 
"That's insultive"
"I love it that way" he answered.
I leaned towards him kissing him on the lips, we kissed for a while then I stopped, how about that for sucked" I answered and he chuckled.
"What's funny?"
"I didn't say anything" 
"Your looks tell it all, did I also suck in bed?" I asked and he smiled. "You ... You were perfect" he stammered and I scoffed again. 
"It's late, I'll get dressed and take you home"
"I don't want you dressed" I answered unconsciously, then i shut my eyes on realizing I had just said that out loud. "I meant... I" I stammered.
"I don't want you dressed up too seriously to drop me.." he his lips were so close to mine now. 
"Hmmmmn" he muttered, "Off" I complete and he lightly touched my lips with his and I responded back. He kissed me softly then harder.
I could feel his manhood throbbing through his towel. He reached over and gently unbuttoned the top button of the gown I wore.
 He glanced at me, probably waiting for a reaction. There was none so we continued kissing, then we moved backwards all the way till we entered into a bedroom.
The whole time we didn't break the  kiss.My whole body screamed with pleasure and we made love. 
It was unlike any other encounter I've had. David wrapped his arms around my belly afterwards then he kissed me on the neck. 
"It's just as amazing as the first" he commented, "Only a lot more better now" he added, "I know" I smiled biting my lower lips. 
"Would you be Mrs. Savage?" He asked, "You're making a proposal without a ring" I chuckled, "I'll get it tomorrow"
"Now where's the surprise?" I asked and he chuckled. Then I laugh, "You're supposed to surprise me," 
"What do you think about putting the ring in a wine for you to drink?" He paused, "Too cliche right?"
"Are we actually discussing my proposal here? Surprise me!" I turned towards him and he kissed me, I kissed him too. 
"Am I still a fair kisser?" I asked, "Maybe I can teach you a thing or two" he bragged and I scoffed. 
"I missed you" I confessed, "Why won't you? I'm awesome" he answered and I laughed. 
"Why did you stop coming?" I asked, "Even when I didn't want to see you, I waited but you didn't show up"
"Dorcas and I walked into you and Feso kissing the other day" he answered and I widened my eyes in shock. 
"I didn't even know, she didn't say anything"
"I was discouraged"
"The kiss didn't mean a thing because I realized the only lips I wanted to kiss was yours" I kissed him and he smiled.
 "What eased your choice?" He asked,  "Sharon did, she made me realize you're the grey man in my life, my soul mate, even though I didn't want to believe it at first" I leaned on his chest then I sighed peacefully.
"I can really get used to this" I smiled. 

The following morning, I woke up very early because I intended going to work.

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

. I made breakfast with the available ingredients in the kitchen.
David walked in while I was boiling spaghetti. "You're out of food stuffs" I announced, "I'll get it done" 
"I'll do it"
"Maybe we can go grocery shopping on Saturday" he suggested and I nodded. "Sounds perfect" I answered and he kissed me on the lips.
Sharon walked in, she seemed surprised. "Morning Miss Erika" she greeted, "Are you two back together?" She asked, "What do you think?" David asked holding me by the waist. 
"Yes!" She exclaimed and David walked out leaving us alone.
"Thank you Jesus for answering my prayers" she muttered and I laughed. "So you're no longer angry with Dad?" She asked and I curved my fingers into a tiny circle. 
"A little bit" I answered. 
"This is the best news I've heard all through the month" she answered. "I have a good feeling about today" she clapped her hands happily. 
I haven't seen her this happy in a while, It gave me inner joy to see her smile freely again. "It feels good to see you smile again" I commented. 
"I'm sorry I ruined it with my anger" I apologized and she moved close to me hugging me. "It's okay, it also feels nice to see you smile too Mom" she said and I immediately became emotional. 
"Did you just..." I paused, "If you don't like it"
"I do. Oh my God I do" I cleaned my tears and she hugged me. "I love you Mom" 
"I love you too Sharon" I commented, "I hope you'll love spaghetti and egg sauce, you guys are out of food stuffs" "I'll love anything prepared by you"
"Go take a shower, breakfast would be ready in no long time from now" 
"Yes Mom" she hugged me again and I walked out of the kitchen leaving me emotional. I was touched, I felt goose pimples all over my skin.
I preferred 'Mom' to Miss Erika.