The Bet - Episode 13

 

Jessica stood up from the bed and wore her robe,  looking back at Raymond she tied the sash and made her way to the bathroom,  he had returned nights ago looking distraught and totally  not himself but when she had asked he  waved it off as nothing although she did notice his constant stares at her. 

After she finished in the bathroom,  she began to dress up
"Where are you going?" he suddenly  asked ,  she looked at the bed and discovered he was awake and looking at her,  she smiled 
"Gina and I  have last minute shopping for her wedding on saturday" she said 
"On a weekend?" he  asked then sat up and winced at his hangover,  he d been drinking often these days 
"I thought I told you about this" she said with a laugh
"No you didn't "
"I did" she insisted and wore her shoes,  he got silent  then
"you can't possibly be leaving". he said 
She rolled her eyes as she took up her purse
 "I ll be back before you know it"
"When". 
"Evening time"
He paused "So I ll be here all day" he said 
"You acting all needy Raymond"
"As I should" he swung his legs off the bed and  stood up,  he leaned on the dressing table and taking her hand,  pulled her to him,  they stared at each other for long then he said as he pulled  back her hair
"You know I love you right? "he asked
"No," she said "I have to go" she said trying to pull away
"Baby I'm serious.. " She saw he was as he caressed her cheek "I want you to promise me you won't ever leave me"
"Raymond.. " she laughed but saw he was waiting for her reply, sighing she said, with an eyeroll
"I promise"
"You promise that what? "
"That I would never leave you.... No matter what "she added "I'm running late,  can I go now" he tried to move out of his arms but he didn't let her go as pulling up her hair he leaned down and kissed her.... . and soon they were making out intensely ,  she pulled back but he continued on her neck
"Raymond.. I have to go,  Gina would be mad"
"She can wait "
She pulled away" no, I'm serious "she said wondering why he was all touchy feely like he was scared he would loose her,  he looked  forlorn  as she walked to the door,  she turned back to look at him 
"Don't worry I ll get you sweets"
"Can't replace what I want" he said,  chuckling she went out  and shut the door. 
Raymond checked his phone for messages,  he wasn't on call that weekend so he knew there would be no message summoning him to the hospital,  he decided to hit the gym to get his mind off the situation at hand,  when his cell rang...
 Seeing it was his father he didn't want to pick up but decided to anyway, he  wondered why his father was calling,  they didn't have a relationship after he decided to read medicine,  yeah most parents would be thrilled but his father wasn't 
"Hey pops.. "
"Son.. How you" a pause "how's work? "
"Dad , did you want something?" he asked
"Just called to check up on you,  I returned from the states yesterday ". 
"Oh, that's Amazing..?" Raymond said,  but still wondered what he wanted  
"Your mother and I wanted to have a meeting with you as soon as possible".. his father finally said 
Raymond squinted "what about?!". 
"Its better discussed in person, how soon can you get home?" he asked
"Dad.. I m working" he deadpanned
"You have to look for time, it is very important" his father said
"Is Rich gonna be there? "
"Yes,  its a family meeting.. Kinda"
Raymond paused, what could be so urgent, and involving him,  they usually did whatever they liked while he lived his life the way he pleased, shrugging he decided to go find out anyway
"Uh maybe next weekend,  would that be okay,  my week is packed". 
"Hmm ok"
"Hope mom and Trace are fine". 
"They fine" he paused "you should call often" he said and cut,  Raymond paused looking at his phone then smiled,  it was obvious his father had missed him,  thinking back at how they used to be best buddies he discovered he had missed him too,  he had missed his family and decided to go home that weekend. 
****

Jessica walked with Gina around the lingerie shop
"What exactly are you looking for?" She asked They had walked around the shops and Gina didn't seem to have found the perfect lingerie for her wedding night
"Something hot, but sophisticated" she replied,  Jess looked at her
"Those two words together" they laughed "I just want something very simple for my wedding night?" She said
"Hmm has he proposed? "
"What no,  we just three months into dating" She kept back a lingerie she d pulled out to check
"I had to ask because you already dreaming of weddings and flowers "
Jessica blushed.
 "You really do love him" Gina said
"I do,  its saddening how easily I fell"
"No its cool,  you deserve to be happy" a pause between them
"Back to lingerie,  I think this d be perfect for ya" Jessica took out a red and black lingerie, Gina took one look at it and shook her head
"He doesn't like red, maybe I ll get another color"
"What,  that's Raymond favorite"
"Then maybe you should get it for yourself "
"Nope its your day,  your shopping"
"You can get whatever you want,  besides I think it d be real  hot on you"
Jessica placed it on her body and assessed it again 
"Raymond would just probably tear it off"
Gina chuckled as she looked in the rack for another one when Jessica got a message and was silent after she read it,  Gina looked at her, saw she had gone pale and wondered 
"What's wrong?" She asked 
Jessica sat on the nearest seat, so she knew it was serious. 
"You okay? ". 
Jessica shook her head.. shut her eyes then stretched out her phone,  she bowed her head as Gina took it to read
" _You've_ _been_ _played_ ,  _ask_ _Raymond_ _how_ _much_ _he_ _took_ _to_ _sleep_ _with_ _you_ "
"Thi.. This isn't real rii,  must be a prank" Gina said
Jessica shook her head,  tried to speak but couldn't 
"Oh dear" Gina sat with her "who sent it? "
"I don't know"
"But why would someone decide to play such prank"
Jessica bowed her head as tears flowed "I can't" she said. 
Gina took her in her arms, and  they were there for a while before Gina decided to call the shopping quits. 

When they got home,  Mariam wanted to know what was wrong,  Gina passed her the phone with a look,  Mariam read it
"Well have you asked him?" She said, they looked at her "this might as well be a prank"
"No its not" Jessica said and paused "there's a voice message where he says why he has to break up when he's  getting it good"
There was a silence between them after Mariam played it out
"You serious? " Mariam asked and sat down "guys still play this game? " She paused
 "This must be a joke I could never.. " she was saying
Jessica stood up and went into the room while the girls looked at each other
"This is all your fault " Gina said. "He's gonna pay for hurting my friend ". 
*****
Raymond tried Jessica's number several times at the gym because he was missing her and wanted to talk but she didn't pick,  when he got home,  she wasn't there,  he suddenly had a feeling of foreboding as he felt empty,  he tried her number again and again but she didn't pick up,   after he had his bath he looked at the time then decided to call Gina who also didn't pick up,  he dialed Mariam as he paced,   there was an incoming call and it was Gina,  he decided to pick hers and find out what was wrong
"Raymond for what you did to my friend your gonna pay" she said
"What did I .. "
"You f-cking bastard... " She cut,  he stared at the  phone before he figured it out,  taking up his car keys he made his way to the house but when he got there he was told she was at her mother's ,  Gina wasn't  there thankfully but Mariam looked at him painfully 
"How could you  do this,  she trusted you with her heart" she said 
"Maybe if she even gives me a chance to explain "
Mariam glared at him
"was Chris in on this? " she asked
Raymond got in his car and didn't reply while Mariam went inside to call Chris. 
***
"Mom I  do not want to see him" Jessica blurted from the bed
"I know dear but its been three days,  he's been begging outside, just hear him out" Christy said,  her daughter had been happy and that had been snatched in the twinkle of an eye by the same young man who had brought the joy in the first place,  she wanted to hate him but there's  so much hate one could carry for one person, after her husband she didn't feel there was anybody else she couldn't forgive,  plus he looked really remorseful

"There's nothing he's  going to say to me," Jessica said " it had all been a lie,  our love,  everything,  he hurt me and I would never forgive him or any other man again,  oh god I can't believe this happened to me again,  why me god"she cried
Raymond heard her crying inside  and felt bad within himself,  how could he be so heartless,  he d tried to talk to her even explained via text on how he had returned the money and was really sorry he didnt tell her about it because he was scared of how she would react,  he was distraught now as she wouldn't even talk to  him
"Baby I'm so sorry " he texted again. 
Jessica saw the message and ignored it like she had done so many of his other messages, she didn't need him or many other man, she would be on her own,  she had decided she would be strong. 
Her mother had since left her to cry on her own,  she guessed Raymond  had left too because all was now silent. 
She woke up suddenly and ran to the bathroom,  she vomited the contents of her stomach,  wincing,  she poured out again,  she looked up at the window as streams of morning light came in, she had fallen asleep without knowing and  had fallen sick from the emotional and psychological trauma of it all,  as she hugged herself she felt dizzy as she leaned back on the wall
Christy  came in and saw her 
"Are you okay? ". she asked,  Jessica  shook her head slightly,  Christy stared long at her 
"When last did you see your period? "
Jessica turned to look at her mother 
"Yes dear,  you could be pregnant ". 

*long awaited episode,  sorry all it had to be retyped after it deleted 

*comments and predictions on what would happen next episode... 
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