The Bet - Episode 11

 

"I'm the second of three kids, my brother is based in Lagos, married with two kids" he sipped his wine" my Dads a business man, into Real Estate,  my Mom's a retired nurse, I speak two languages, my hobbies are traveling and swimming.. I love books tootoo" he paused.... "guess it's time for you to tell me about yourself" he gestured at her while

she stared at him,  they were seated across from each other at the posh restaurant they dined at,  She wore a red gown while he wore a dark suit
"it didn't seem to me like you had siblings" she said
"Really "
"yeah,  you seemed spoiled"
He chuckled "Guess we all spoiled" he said
"so you're 32?" she asked taking a wild guess, he paused, she seemed interested for someone who acted like she didn't give a tooths-hole about him
"I'm not up to 30" he replied rolling his wine glass
"you serious," she paused "you so successful" she said but 
he leaned back on the chair
"I'm not there yet" he said
"That is.. Amazing" she said and paused, he quirked his eyebrow
"so I end up talking about myself and you tell me nothing about you" he said knowing her usual tricks, he kept his glass as she smiled and traced the rim of her wineglass 
"well I'm an only child, I grew up with just my Mom never knew my Dad.. " she paused and he waited for her to finish but when she said no more he signaled for the waiter to bring more wine
"so you think I'm a player?" he asked
She chuckled "I know you are a player"
"okay miss know all" he paused "you think I'm playing you" he said 
"well ain't you?, you haven't given me any reason to think otherwise "
"I've never had to take a woman out to dinner"
She held his gaze 
"so you saying you serious about me?" she taunted 
"I'm saying you should give us a chance, you hardly know me yet you throwing me to the dogs, I don't think that is fair,  I've never been silent about how I feel about you since day one"
"what's different? "
"what? "
"About me, why do you think you like me more than the other women in your life"
"I don't have other women in my life " he said 
"Really? "
"I've not been with a woman since I came back from the states"
"it's funny how you can look at me and lie to my face"
He laughed out loud, "well one or two,  just when I was tryna get you outta my system"
"Did it work? "
"you know the answer to that Jessica" he said mournfully,  she wanted to believe him,  wanted to throw caution to the wind and hit the rocks but Desmond held her back.. 

"so wanna tell me about him?" he said arms crossed
She looked up"him?"
"The guy who broke your heart" he said 
She looked back down and didn't say anything 
"I think it's time to talk about it, whatever it is ...or was"
She paused "maybe I do not trust you enough" she said  leaning up in dismissal 
"well what can I do, for you to trust me?" He asked and waited, she held his gaze then shook her head
"it's never going to work between us Raymond"
He  reached and took her hand in his 
"why, why do you think so?", she stared at his hand with hers then looked up at him 
"I loved him,  but he hurt me" a tear formed "he was my first love"
He sighed and moved around the table to sit beside her,  there was silence as he caressed her fingers,  while she put herself together, he then took her in his arms
"I can't love any other man" she said
He was silent as he wondered if she was still in love with the so called bastard,  he wanted to find him out and box his brains in
"I think we should go" he suddenly said, knowing she needed the comforts of her home now, she nodded at his thoughtfulness and took her purse.
The ride back home was silent, after he  packed at her gate he turned to look at her
"Just know I'm here if you want to talk about anything" he said
She was silent then opened the door and got out,  he got out too and walked her to her door
"Thanks for the date,  I enjoyed knowing you" she turned to him and said "even though I wasnt much fun later on" she added
"Don't say that,  you're perfect Jessica," his hands roved down her "you're the most beautiful woman I've ever met" he said
She bit her lip then winced as he leaned to kiss her goodnight, he barely touched her lips when she turned away
"I don't wanna start something I can't finish" she said, then opened her door and left him there while he stared at the closed door and roved his face,  hand in pocket,  he walked back to his car, got in then smiled...
He wasn't alone in this....  maybe he'd win the bet afterall. 
***
The friends met up the next day at Chris's crib,  
"I think I'd like to serve in Lagos " Mariam said
"not possible,  your not going far,  besides why does everyone choose Lagos that's why you get thrown into the bushes in the end" Chris said
Mariam rolled her eyes "Because Lagos is lucrative,  you could easily get a job after then"
"That's what you think, unemployment is same everywhere in Nigeria, so stop hoping on instant job after service "
"I think Mariam is right" Jessica decided to chirp in "Lagos is a good place to serve" she said,  so they started an argument about why it was not especially when there were other options like Abuja,  when it finally ended, Raymond stood up
"who wants to watch a movie ?" he asked
"we need to get going, Jessi? " Mariam called standing up, Jessica stood up too
"yeah we have to be at a friends birthday party,  just a lil get-together "she said "not really your thing"s0 she added
"you should have let us decide "Chris said
"shut up man,  we have a Match even"Raymond said. 

After the girls left,  Chris and Raymond relaxed to the football match between Real Madrid and Manchester United,  Chris checked his watch
"I thought you were on-call" he said 
"nah,  I can't go to the hospital today,  Max would cover up for me" he said focusing on the game  
"so..." he paused "how are you and Jessica going, any new development ?" Chris asked
"what new development? "
"Have you taken her to bed? "Chris asked plainly 
"f*ck man, what is your business"
"Because we had a deal and I'm waiting to collect"
Raymond rolled his eyes "your just an idiot,  but no,  not yet,  she's not that easy" he took up the remote to increase volume
"are you serious?, what's happening,  no woman has ever succeeded in rejecting you before now and you have met tougher" Chris looked closely at him "don't tell me you're Catching feelings"
"what no.. " he took up a pillow and stoned him" shut up man,  I'm tryna concentrate here" he said angered,  Chris just stared at him
"fine I ll get it done" he agreed
"just remember you had a month"
"I know man,  just shut up"
****
Raymond shut the door of his car and came  out of it, he and Jessica were going out that day,  they had become closer over the weeks following the date and they always just hung out and talked, she had told him bits about Desmond though hadn't mentioned the rape part,  she hadn't been able to get over that yet, as they sat on the beach now and talked, the wind blew her hair about, she pulled it backwards and looked at him
"if I have to date you,  I have conditions" she said 
He drew on the sand "what conditions? "
"no...s*x" she said
"haha,  you know that's not gonna be possible, I want you very much, it's gonna be very hard" he said
"are you serious?" She paused "fine" she drew on the sand as he watched her  drawings 
"I'm just being sincere Jessica, it's not gonna be possible"
"you have to be willing to compromise when you want something "she said,  he paused 
"why do I have to be the one to compromise?" he asked, she was silent
"you're not gonna hurt me" she said
"you know I wouldn't do that, don't know why you would even think that I would"
"Because I might not be able to survive it Raymond" she said with effect,  he saw her eyes and saw she was baring it out for him to see,
He stared at her in silence
"I've never felt like this for any other woman Jessica,  how do I prove myself to you,  make you know I'm sincere"
She stared at him then shook her head looking down
"it's no use,  I believe you" she paused "we just gonna take it slow", he took her hand and pulled her to him so he held her in his arms 
 "you have gotten to me Raymond, succeeded in destroying all my defences" she admitted, he caressed her fingers in his,  feeling his heart burst in his chest
He rested his forehead on hers
"I promise never to hurt you Jessica, I give you my word on that" he tilted up her head and kissed her and she kissed him right back..... 
Locked in his embrace she knew she was plunging in with everything she had but  it was already too late,  she had given him her heart and loved him more than anything in the world, tired of fighting it,  she had given in....deciding to give love a second chance.
He stopped and trailed on her lower lip
"I love you Jessica "he said
"I love you too Raymond "she said" I love you very much"

*🙄do you think Jessica gave in too soon? 
Is Raymond in love with her? 

*comments please