Star-crossed - Episode 15

 

Comfort:

"Look at you humming like a new bride. I should start calling you ìyawo sef." Joyce comes into the room as I brush the kink off the brand new wig Raymond sent me a night ago. It was totally unexpected but he wouldn't let me refuse his gift.
"Hey is that human hair?!" Joyce exclaims as she comes to my side and her fingers brush through the weave on my head and I cringe.
"It is o! Look at you! I'm so jealous right now, girl. I totally want a Raymond of my own now!" She squeals and I quickly jump off the wooden stool to clamp a hand over her mouth.
"Shhh! Do you want your mother to hear you?!" I whisper yell at her before releasing her mouth.
"Mom already left with Dad for the two days crusade . Ehn, that's not even the issue at hand. Do you know how much that weave on your head costs? I'm not sure you know. I mean feel the texture, babe." She takes a handful of the hair again and gasp in wonder. I just shrug as I look at myself in the small mirror on the wall.
"Do you think I look ridiculous in this?" I ask while tweaking the wig this way and that, self-consciously.
"Of course, you look ridiculous-ly rich!" She giggles at my change from a look of repulsion to embarrassment.
"I don't think I should go with him." I sigh heavily and sit back on the stool.
"Go with him, where?"
"He wants a real date with me now that I've gotten my neck brace off and his hand is better but he says it's not going to be in this town. Nowhere is of standard for this date according to him and we're going to spend the night wherever he's taking me." I blush at the last part as I catch Joyce's brows jump.
"Spend the night huh?"
"Get your mind out of the gutter

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

. He says he just has some news for me that'll require him to bring me somewhere in the city early in the morning so it's better if we sleep overnight so I'm not late for whatever he has in mind."I take the wig off my head and gently place it on the bed beside me.
"Hmmm...news? Wait! Do you think he's going to propose?!" Joyce's eyes bulge out like wide saucers and I quickly wave her off.
"Don't be silly! Propose ni oppose kor! We've known each other a little more than a month. I mean we've been on several outings around the village in the last few weeks since the accident but proposing marriage is just... Just...just"
"Romantic?" Joyce puts in and I shake my head.
"It's just too much, too soon. I'm just twenty two anyways." I point to her.
"And so? Didn't Amaka marry that oil merchant two months ago? She's just eighteen." Joyce says.
"I know but Raymond and I don't know each other that well right?"
"Maybe. But you love him right?" Her question gives me pause and I bite down on my lips in contemplation. I really haven't put a name for what I feel for Raymond until now. But the past few weeks with him has been nothing short of amazing. I mean we haven't done much more than hold hands and a few caresses here and there but the way he pays attention to me and spoils me with anything he thinks I should have is the best thing ever.
"You love him." Joyce interrupts my thoughts and I pull my head up to face her.
"Look at you. Just last year you wouldn't talk to anyone. You just cried and slept every day. But now, you look so much more beautiful than ever and I'm not talking about the new earrings and bracelets he's gifted you. I mean the smile you have on your face every other day. Not every lady gets to have this." A blank expression crosses her face which has me wondering if she's thinking about Stanley right now. I've not seen them together since the accident and she's not talked about him ever since. Raymond said he's out of town for some family stuff but I don't think that's the reason why he's not been to see my cousin for more than a month now.
"About Stanley...."
"You should get ready for this date. I'll suggest you wear one of my dresses." Joyce turns her back to me before I can finish and deftly change the subject.
"Joyce maybe you should talk about it. I can tell something is wrong." I say softly. I don't get a reply from her for a whole minute while she rummages through her box for something. I just keep quiet and watch her rummage too hard for just a dress she can lend me.
"This one is perfect!" She finally turns to me with a bright yellow dress and a smile plastered on her face. Her eyes betray her though. I can see the tears in them and for the first time since I've been living with her family, I see Joyce looking far from her cheerful self which makes me wonder how good she is at hiding her pain.
"You guys broke up didn't you? He cheated." I say softly. She drops the dress on the bed as her eyes blinks furiously.
"It's his loss. Don't let him get to you." I take her hand in mine and squeeze lightly just to somehow inject some of warmth into her. Now that she's let the tears fall, she looks so much more depressed than I expected. I now notice the lines on her forehead and the bags under her eyes. Maybe I've been too busy with Raymond to see something I should have before now.
"I wish it's as simple as you think, Comfort. It's..." She chokes on her tears and wraps her hand around her stomach as she bends over in tears.
"What's going on, Joyce. You're scaring me." My voice breaks with how affected I'm getting at her behavior. I've never seen her shed a tears since I've known her.
"Comfort.." she cries harder and I stand up to pull her into my embrace. Both our body shakes with the intensity of her sobs.

Read " Beautiful Mask " by the same author ( Ameh juliet )

. I rub her back repeatedly and try to hold back my own tears.
"It's going to be okay. It surely is." I assure her.
"No."
"Yes, Joyce! Don't jinx it. You'll get through this. It's not the end of your life!"
"It is!" She suddenly pulls out of my embrace and pulls a fist through her hair. Her eyes look skittish.
"Don't be ridiculous."
"Ridiculous? Ridiculous?! I'm pregnant, Madam ridiculous. I'm pregnant!" She screams at me and my mouth falls open.
"Jesus." I gasp when I get myself together.
"My mother will slit my throat while dad will just throw me out of the house. What do I do, Comfort. I have to take this out."
"What?! Are you really considering abortion?" I whisper the last word with strong contempt.
"I really can't think about killing my own baby but Stanley wouldn't speak to me. My mom and father will lose their mind if they find out and..."
"That isn't what should matter right now. It's your baby and it's your body. What do you want?" I ask her emphatically and she just breaks down in front of me.