“I LOVE YOU, BUT...” Opeyemi Ojerinde Akintunde

 

PART 4

Pamilerin was fully awake on the bed while Freeman dressed up for work, however She pretended to be asleep as she couldn’t stand looking him in the eye that morning. Her heart was still hurt by his betrayal...

“ See you later!” Freeman said as he moved closer to give Pamilerin the usual kiss on the forehead. Pamilerin didn’t move an inch. She laid down like a log of wood. Freeman withdrew from her. He watched how she was pretending to be asleep. This was the first time in a long while he wasn't going to get the usual "God's Presence goes with you!".

Pamilerin made it a duty to always say that to him everyday before going to work.

Freeman knew it was going to take a while before Pamilerin returned to her usual self. He couldn’t blame her. He had messed up real big and he was going to fix it.

*******

Beauty was a mess, she called in sick at the office. She wasn’t in the right frame of mind to be at work. All night she had been eating anything and everything. This was her way of coping with depression. She could smell depression and suicide coming close. She had been very unfortunate with relationships. She couldn’t count the heartbreaks she had suffered in her 29 years. First, her parents deserted her at the age of three and relocated to the United States leaving her paternal grandmother to care for her. According to her parents, they thought they would send for her later but unfortunately on getting there, things did not go as planned. They could not file for her to join them. Hence, she remained in Nigeria while they sent her money from time to time for her academics and welfare. However, her welfare money was managed by her grandmother who used it for everyone at home. Beauty faced a lot of emotional abuse growing up, she was also raped on several occasions. All the emotional scars made relationship a war zone for her. She was always very defensive, bitter and angry in her relationships.

Freeman was different; Freeman was the only one she felt safe with. She had met Freeman at a pharmaceutical store. She had gone to buy some anti depressant drugs which the pharmacist refused selling to her, if she did not provide a doctor’s prescription. Beauty had gone bunkers screaming at the pharmacist.

*****

Freeman drove towards Beauty's house to end things with her. He knew Beauty so well to know that she wasn’t going to go to Work that morning. As he drove, he casted his mind back to how they had met...

TWO YEARS EARLIER...

Freeman was at the pharmacy to buy some pain relievers... Freeman saw how Beauty was hell bent on buying some anti depressant drugs which unfortunately for her, the pharmacist needed a prescription before selling to her. He saw how jittery she was, he could understand what Beauty was going through. He had been a victim of depression in the past. After graduating from school at the young age of 21, he couldn’t secure a Job for five years. He knew he was very smart but yet he was wasting away.

Good luck came his way when he met Pamilerin at her guardians’ company. She was the HR who was hiring. After his interview, Pamilerin had said with a smile....

“ Mr. Freeman, you are smart but you have a loser’s demeanor. I could read fear, defeat, uncertainty in your eyes ... in your hand movements and in your voice. Put in mind that whenever you go into the interview room, go with the mind that you are going in for a conversation, not an interview. Be bold, be relaxed and be friendly. That way you would get the job.

Judging from your interview today, I ought not to consider you for the Job, but the Lord said I should employ you! You got the job!” Pamilerin had said

Freeman sat for another few seconds before what Pamilerin said made sense to him...

Freeman remembered Pamilerin helping him out of depression and on seeing Beauty that evening, he felt he could pass on the good to her.

He had approached Beauty and asked her to come with him...

“ Hello ma’am... Can you come with me. I can be of help!” Freeman had told her.

Beauty didn’t pay him any attention. After his failed persuasion, Freeman left her and went into the car after paying for his medicine.

Freeman waited for another 15 minutes in the car, observing Beauty. Eventually, he watched Beauty leaving the pharmacy with nothing in her hands. As she walked towards where his car was parked,Freeman jumped out of his car and approached her...

“ What do you want ? I am not a sex worker if that is what you are thinking of.” Beauty said

“ I am happily married.” Freeman said showing off his ring.

“ So what do you want?”

“ I want to help you, I have faced depression before and I know where that leads to, it doesn’t lead to a good place, but a friend who is now my wife was the one who helped me overcome my depression. Today, I have the best life I never thought I could have. I am grateful I didn’t throw this beautiful future away out of depression.”

Beauty looked at him intently....

“ How did she help you? What did you have to do? I want out of depression.”

“ Friendship. She became my friend. Can I be your friend?” Freeman had asked innocently

******

Beauty remembered how their friendship had started innocently, but as months went by it became deep friendship and one day when she was a bit under the weather, he came over to her house. They both lost control and threw caution in the air.

“ I can’t lose him! I can’t! I was fine with being the second wife, I was not selfish, so why do I get to lose him? No way...” Beauty said to herself before hearing the familiar knock.

“ He is here!” Beauty gasped

To be continued

 

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DEEP THOTS NOVELS

INSPIRED BY THE HOLY ONE

Written by Opeyemi O.Akintunde

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