Jerry's Back
1748 Words
She hastened her footsteps as she walked along the lit up passage where she could see a few people in front of the restrooms. Some waved at her and she waved back with a forced smile on her face.
With her heart pounding so fast, she scanned her eyes all through the passage in search of Rita. Jerry’s presence is no good, she thought as she increased her steps.
“Mommy May,” she heard a voice behind her and she turned to see Rita standing in the middle of the passage, staring at her.
“Oh, thank God I found you,” she cried in relief as she walked back towards her.
“Are you okay?” Rita asked as she saw the anxious look on her face.
“Rita, I’m in soup!” She cried hysterically.
“Meaning?” She asked, looking puzzled.
“Jerry is back!” She exclaimed in whispers and Rita shrieked backwards immediately.
Melisa began to pace in front of her with her hand cupped on her chin.
“And..Is he here?” Rita asked in confusion.
“Yes! He came to Daren and I. And gosh, that psycho almost put me into trouble!” She stressed out.
“No, this..this is no good,” Rita said, shaking her head.
“I thought he wasn’t supposed to know about the pregnancy? What is he doing here? How did he find out about the baby?” She asked in panic.
“I don’t know!” Rita voiced loudly.
“You don’t know?” She asked with trembling lips.
“I don’t know, I seriously don’t know. Right now, we should be thinking of what to do, not trying to place blame,” Rita said anxiously.
“Oh, God. What do we do right now? I can’t be seen around him here at the party. It’s going to arouse suspicions,” she cried.
“Yes, but we can lure him out. I will make the call. We need to know what he wants,” she said.
Melisa heaved a sigh and placed both palms on her face.
“I need to take this off, it’s discomforting me,” she cried as she loosen her headtie.
“Come on, let’s do it,” Rita said exuberantly.
Diana peeped from the corner of the passage where she stood and she could see the women engage in a heated discussion. She knew something was wrong and it surely had to do with that young man at the party. She smiled sinisterly as she saw Melisa loosen her headtie. She seemed so anxious and disheveled right now.
She could see the women turning to her direction and she ran away from her spot. She hid behind a restroom door and watched as they walked past her.
“Lisa, I’m gonna uncover all your mysteries today,” she said with a smirk as she walked out of the restroom.
She was about to follow them when a strong hand pulled her back. She turned and saw an average heightened dark skinned man standing in front of her, with a neatly shaved haircut. He was handsomely dressed in a black denim jeans jacket and shorts and a sheepish smile flashed across his face as she shot him an angry look.
“What..what are you doing here?!” She barked in his face.
He chuckled as he rubbed his palm on his chin.
“Here for the party, Diana,” he said, freely.
“And who invited you?” She asked angrily.
“Daren Invited me, okay? How’s the boy faring?” He asked with a smirk.
She looked around anxiously and pulled away from him.
“You need to leave. You shouldn’t be seen around here,” she whispered.
“Come on, I was just here for the party and nothing else, okay?” He said as he pulled closer to her.
“Don’t take a step further,” she cautioned with her hand raised to his face.
“Diana,” she heard Dotun’s voice behind them and she turned abruptly.
“Um,Babe,” she called anxiously as she tucked her hair behind her ears.
He stood for a moment with his eyes fixed on the young man behind her.
“Hi, Dotun,” he called as a smile flashed across his lips.
“Eric. I never knew you were at the party,” Dotun said grumpily.
“Oh, yes. I was Invited by Daren. You know, he invited all the guys back then at campus,” he related with a smile.
“Hmm,” Dotun mumbled and turned to his wife.
“Oh, I bumped into him when I was stepping out of the restroom, and we were just talking when you walked in,” she explained immediately.
He nodded and looked at the man again.
“You can enjoy the party,” he said.
“Thank you,” Eric said with a smile.
“Um, Dele is crying. He needs your attention,” Dotun said to his wife.
“Right now? Babe?” She asked anxiously.
“Now!” He commanded and she shrugged and walked away with him while the young man watched with a smile on his face.
*
Out in the dark night, they both stood beside the building and Rita could be seen making a phone call.
“Where are you, Bastard? Step out please and don’t waste our time,” she ranted into the phone.
“I’m out of the party and I guess we will be seeing each other soon, right?” Jerry’s voice sounded from the phone.
“What do you want? Why did you have to show your face?” She asked angrily.
“Because, your beautiful friend still owes me,” he said.
She kept silent and turned to Melisa who was pacing slowly behind her.
“Owe..owe you what?” She asked.
“We need to meet and talk. My presence at the party is only a warning of what I will do if she doesn’t fulfill her own part of the deal,” he threatened.
“You bastard! You broke the deal in the first place!” Melisa cried into the phone.
He chuckled and she began to pant heavily with tears streaming down her face.
“Really? You were the one who nearly broke the deal in the first place. But I made the deal stay intact. And now, you’re not gonna pay me for a good job? Or you thought I wouldn’t find out about the baby?” He asked.
Her lips quivered and her whole body began to tremble.
“You are sick in the head. My child doesn’t belong to you!” She cried and Rita’s eyes bulged.
“Really? Wait till we tell that to your eunuch of a husband,” he mocked.
“No!” She cried and Rita took the phone from her.
“Jerry, what do you want? Spill it,” she urged.
“I need Melisa to come with my money. 3 million naira only,” he stated.
“She paid you half of the f*****g money! Your balance is 1 million naira and nothing more,” Rita voiced angrily.
“Really? For trying to break the deal? And concealing my own baby from me? Oh, you ladies are so daft , aren’t you? You think I’m joking?” He asked with a scoff.
“Text me your location,” she said.
“I need Melisa to come in person,” he said and her eyes bulged.
“Text me the damn location!” Rita yelled and he laughed.
“I will, hold on, baby,” he said with a chuckle.
“What are you doing? I can’t be seen with that psycho?” Melisa whispered into her face as soon as the call ended.
“I know. But you will disguise as usual and I will accompany you,” she offered.
Melisa sighed heavily and looked away from her face.
“This is blackmail, isn’t it?” She asked slowly.
“No, it’s not. We never paid him in full, remember?” Rita asked.
Melisa raised her eyes and shot her a death stare.
“That beast r***d me, remember? How..how am I even sure the baby is his?” She asked in a rather high tone.
“Seriously, Lisa? You’re saying this?” Rita asked in disbelief and she kept silent.
“Okay, the baby is not his. Then let’s get a DNA test conducted,” Rita urged with a mocking smile on her lips.
Melisa hissed and eyed her mercilessly before walking away.
“Slow down, Lisa,” she called as she walked after her.
*
“Where is Lisa?!” She heard Mrs. Selina’s anxious voice as she walked back into the hall which was now getting empty.
“Grandmother, I’m..I’m here,” she stammered as she looked at Mrs. Selina who was cuddling the crying baby in her arms.
“Where have you been? The baby has been crying,” she said anxiously as she handed the baby over to her.
“I’m..I’m so sorry, Grandmother,” she muttered as she placed the baby in her arms.
“Come on, it’s time to go home,” Mrs. Selina said and she nodded.
“Love,” she heard Daren’s voice behind her and she turned immediately.
He paused for a moment as he saw her disheveled face. Her eyes were red and her makeup was quite washed.
“What..are..are you okay?” He asked immediately.
“Yes,I’m..I’m fine,” she said at once.
“Where have you been?” He asked as he licked his lips.
“I’ve been out with Rita,” she replied.
“Have you been crying?” He asked as he touched her face.
“No..no,'' she said, shaking her head frantically.
“Then why are your eyes red?” He asked curiously.
“Um..oh, my eyes..something..I mean, an insect fell into it and Rita and I were trying to take it out,” she lied.
He heaved a sigh as he looked into her eyes deeply.
“It’s late, we need to catch some sleep,” he said and she nodded.
He walked past her and she heaved a sigh of relief. Looking ahead of her, she could see Diana standing a few distances away with her eyes fixed on her. They both stared at each other for a while and then she hissed and walked out after Daren.
- Writer
