Story : Like A Dream… Part 2

The shock written all over Giorgio's face soon gave way;
gradually metamorphosing into heavy grief electric with anger
and indignation. Monica was the last person he expected to see
at his door; she had never been to his house and he didn't
remember seeing her in the last two years after she thoroughly
embarrassed him and warned him to stay away from her best
friend.
Monica was Shade's best friend while they were all in school,
though Giorgio severally warned Shade to sever the friendship
as Monica only cared about the next gig or the newest club in
town, and everybody on campus knew her as a material girl;
Shade did not listen, but she promised Giorgio never to be
influenced by Monica's attitude to material things, and that he
was making his conclusion from what people were saying and
not based on the real Monica who was the most loyal friend
anyone could ever pray to have. She told Giorgio of how
Monica had been standing by her and had bent backwards
every time to ensure her happiness since they became friends
from their 100 level days. Giorgio soon left them alone but he
was never really into Monica and he tried to stay away from her
throughout their days on campus.
Giorgio still could not say a word as waves of anger coursed
through his body; turning from passive to aggressive, as her last
words to him replayed in his brain.
Shade and Monica were posted to Ibadan for their national
Youth Service and were living together in a tastefully furnished
2-bedroom apartment in Agodi GRA. Shade had refused to tell
Giorgio how they were able to afford such an apartment within
two months into their service year, and when he started
showing concern about her lifestyle and her sudden flow of
money, she started avoiding his calls; and whenever she picked,
she would start a quarrel, snap at him or just let him do all the
talking while she gave one-liner answers. That continued for
about three months until her line stopped connecting, and a
clearly worried Giorgio decided to visit on her birthday to beg
her, try to save their already failing relationship and possibly
celebrate her 25th year birthday with her. He met Monica at the
door of their apartment….
"…. As you can see, Shade is not around; she has travelled to
Dubai with her fiancé. And in case you haven't noticed, she is no
longer interested in a broke ass like you, she managed to stay
with you in school because of your influence on campus while
hoping your influence will affect your life positively after
school, and now that you have been out of school for two years
and you have refused to make money and step up, my girl has
to move on; and I will advise you to move on too, maybe to
some chewing gum secondary school girls, that is if you will
find one, because an empty pocket really does not deserve an
erection" Monica spat with contempt and disdain.
"But please, could you give me a number I can reach her on in
Dubai, I just want to wish her a happy birthday" Giorgio
managed to say through the shock and obvious
disappointment.
"Guy, you are not listening to me, my friend is no more
interested in you, and she's not looking forward to any phone
call from you, she actually changed her line thanks to your
incessant disturbances. So, you can leave this place respectfully
and never come back, or I scream at the top of my voice,
accusing you of being a thief and a rapist; and trust me, you'd
be mobbed in a twinkling of an eye"
He remembered his mood when he left Ibadan that day, how
he contemplated flinging himself in the path of the next
oncoming vehicle but he couldn't just do it, how he wished
something bad would accidentally happen to him like a stray
bullet from some over-excited policeman hitting him, or some
mad driver would run him over as he dragged himself to
Challenge to board a bus back to Lagos, but none of that
happened. Instead, after two years of pain and heartbreak, the
person who he believed was solely responsible for his grief was
standing at his door, looking like a lost puppy; at the point when
he was about deciding to love someone else again.
"Sweetheart, is there any problem? Who is at the door?"
Giorgio seemed to regain his consciousness as Joan called out
from the bedroom again. He took one final look at Monica,
smiled wryly and said to her. "I don't know why you are here,
and seriously I do not care, I am about taking your advice of
more than two years ago; I am moving on. But, not to some
chewing gum secondary school girls as you suggested or
expected, but to someone bigger and better – literally"
"Giorgio, please, listen to me I beg you, I can explain every…."
Giorgio slammed the door in her face before she could finish
her sentence. He was visibly upset, shocked and confused at the
same time, he loved Shade and probably still loved her, but he
hated Monica, he was not a violent person but seeing Monica
that morning almost made him do something regrettable. He
was sure she was the cause of everything that went wrong in his
love-life and nothing would ever make him forgive her. Ball of
tears welled up in his eyes as he remembered all the good times
he shared with Shade when they were lovebirds.
"Sweetheart, what is it? Who was at the door?" Joan asked as she
walked out of the bedroom wearing one of Giorgio's white t-
shirt, with nothing underneath; the mounds on her chest
bounced seductively as she moved towards him. Giorgio looked
at her, images of Shade in his mind faded away; replaced by a
prettier, sexier and more humane woman standing in front of
him. He grabbed her as a lion would his prey, almost crushing
her, kissing her hungrily with all his strength like it was his last
kiss on earth and at the same time, whimpering like a baby.
Joan couldn't keep up with the kiss, she tried to break free to
catch her breath, but he wouldn't let her go, she tried to scream
but her voice was muffled by Giorgio's tongue filling her mouth.
"You are hurting me" she managed to say as she used all her
strength to push him away. Giorgio collapsed on the sofa,
cupping his face in his hands; mumbling "I am sorry, I am so
sorry. Please forgive me…."
She moved close to him and knelt between his legs "Sweetheart,
there is nothing to be sorry about, I know the sudden surge in
your emotion has everything to do with the person at the door,
but since you are hiding the person's identity from me; maybe I
should just go and find out myself" she said as she made to
stand up.
Giorgio dragged her back "No! Please, the person at the door
has nothing to do with you, and I just want you stay here with
me; be my woman and wipe away my tears. Would you …?
Please" he said with teary eyes. Joan stared at him for a while
"I am not in doubt about what I feel for you, but seeing the
mood you are in right now; I am not so sure if you really want
to start a relationship with me or you just want to use me as a
rebound from whatever it is you are going through or having
with that woman at the door"
"I told you the woman at the door has nothing to do with you;
she was just someone who knew the person I was dating back
in school"
"So you are sure she is not your girlfriend, your ex or
something like that?"
"I swear to you, she is not my girlfriend. I don't know what she
wants or what she wants to say but I am not interested" he said
with much seriousness.
"Ok, so …." the doorbell rang again cutting her short, Giorgio
reacted first, getting up from his seat; strode over to the door,
his face livid with rage as he turned the doorknob.
"Monica, I told you…." The sight of the slim, beautiful and tall
woman at the door cut short his intended tirade, he could no
longer gather his thoughts; instead he let out a short, soft moan
"Shade, why…."
"I am so sorry Giorgio" she said as she went on her knees.

WATCH OUT FOR PART 3