" I LOVE YOU, BUT..." Opeyemi Ojerinde Akintunde

 

PART 2

"Dad is back.” Juanita screamed from the living room.

Juanita was the loud one amongst the trio and she was her father's gisting partner. She ensured she and her sisters stayed up late till their father returned everyday. Pamilerin had to move their bedtime to 10pm because Juanita was always flouting the 9:15pm bed time...

Pamilerin dropped the knife in her hand. She and Remi were slicing the vegetables for the spaghetti the girls would have for the next day.

" Remi continue” Pamilerin said as she dried her wet hand with the kitchen towel.

" So Henry poked Funsho with a sharp pencil, because Funsho called him a fat ugly elephant" Juanita was obviously recounting what must have happened in her class. Pamilerin shook her head in admiration at her daughter. The two other girls were her replica especially her first daughter. They spoke less. Juanita was a copy of her father. They loved conversations.

" You don't mean it!" Freeman replied

" I am serious Daddy!"

" So what punishment did the teacher give him?"

" He was told to go to the Naughty corner!"

" Oh nice! That means he would have time to reflect on his bad behaviour"

" Reflect?" Theresa said. Theresa was only 5 years Old, but she was walking Dictionary in the making. Pamilerin saw herself in Theresa. Theresa never allowed new words pass by.

" Yes Theresa! Reflect means to think deeply!" Freeman answered knowing what Theresa wanted

" Ok!" Theresa said satisfactorily but as Juanita was about to continue with her story, Theresa cut in...

" Is it only at the Naughty corner people can reflect?" Theresa asked

" Well, not necessarily, but in some cases, some people need to be pushed into a quiet space without friends before they can deeply reflect!" Freeman replied

" But, it's not a good thing to be pushed before one can reflect. One should develop the personal responsibility to reflect on one's actions constantly" The teacher in Pamilerin spoke up.

" Yes... mummy is absolutely right!"

Pamilerin deliberately said those words, She wanted Freeman to reflect on his wrong ways. She knew he had been cheating on her recently, but she didn't want to bring it up. Pamilerin felt everyone should be responsible for their actions and inactions.

" Even adults sometimes needs to reflect on their lives, that way they see where they are going wrong and this will lead them to correcting their wrongs!" Pamilerin said to the girls but her gaze was on Freeman.

Venita was very smart and a complete replica of Pamilerin. Though she was 10 years old, she acted 30. She could tell from her mother's words, it was time they excused their parents.

" Juanita!Theresa! it's time to go to bed. Tomorrow is here already" Venita pushed her sisters up the stairs.

" Its not yet 10..." Juanita rebelled

" Juanita, Venita is right!" Freeman said. He had also sensed the hidden words laced in Pamilerin's words.

" Babe... What is wrong?" Freeman asked after ensuring the girls were no more in sight

" Remi is in the kitchen!" Pamilerin replied

" Remi!" Freeman called

" Yes sir! Welcome sir!" Remi rushed out of the kitchen

" To your room!" Freeman said

" Em ...sir... I..." Remi said wanting to explain that she had something frying...

" To your room!" Freeman repeated

Remi ran towards her room. Remi had been living with the couple for 11 years, she came when Pamilerin was pregnant of Venita and though she came in as a maid, she had become more a younger sister to Pamilerin.

As she walked towards her room, she wondered what was wrong. Instead of entering her room, she stood by the passage to her room hoping to eavesdrop.

" Babe... I ask again, What do I need to reflect on? I know when you are speaking to me indirectly!" Freeman asked. His heart was beating fast, he didn't know what to expect.

" Who is she?" Pamilerin asked firmly without perambulating.

" Who?" Freeman was caught off guard

" The girl you are cheating on me with?"

" Beauty!" Freeman replied. He knew there was no point lying. Pamilerin was highly calculating and she wasn't someone who assumed things. Her life quote was "Assumption is the lowest level of understanding". Therefore, Freeman knew that before his wife could accuse him directly, she most definitely had her facts.

" I am sorry!"

" Are you?"

" Yes... Babe... I am !"

" How long?"

" Two years!"

Pamilerin was shocked and pained. The pain was not because he was cheating but because of how long he had been double faced with her...

" Ok...thank you!" Pamilerin said as she walked away.

" Babe, I am sorry!"

" For what? Exactly what are you sorry for? For cheating on me? Or for being caught"

" Both! I am sorry...You don't deserve this. I guess I just got carried away by her beauty!" Freeman explained "Babe I am sorry I promise to end it now!"

Freeman brought out his phone. He dailed Beauty's number. He didn't save her contact. He already knew it by heart. Pamilerin noticed and that tore her heart more. Pamilerin could deduce the girl in question must have found a place in her husband's heart for him to have her phone number at the tip of his fingers...

" Hello Beauty!"

" Hey Babe... Strange! You are calling me from home. Something wrong with wifey?" Beauty said

" She knows about us and that means this has to end! Babe... I mean Beauty. It's over!" Freeman struggled to say

Beauty went silent for a long time, Freeman waited to hear from her. He wanted to hear even it was a word...

" You are joking...You know that right!" Beauty said laughing before ending the call...

" What did she say?" Pamilerin asked

" She said it's okay!" Freeman lied...

To be continued 

 

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INSPIRED BY THE HOLY ONE Written by Opeyemi O.Akintunde +234-8151103646