Not as it semeed

Paradox

In his mansion he already has made simple arrangement. No balloons. No roses. Just candles. I imagine his world and my world, two distinct, delicate bubbles, floating towards each other, wandering like confused spirits. The illumination of the candle light on his face even makes him more handsome. The spark between me had enlightened my heart. No words could express the feelings. The chemistry was enquisite. The bonding was superstrong and unshakeable.

I try to avoid getting close to him. But Romeo in him and Juliet in me decided to purely and defiantly express themselves without our permission. Two grownups reeling in shared obsession, an obsession which speaks for everyone who has ever felt that dawning and unforgettable surge of intense delight and anticipation, the raw, incapacitating, and isolating terror that catches up a poor person in a rich person's house.

As we entered his mansion, the air was filled with a sense of quiet elegance. The flickering candlelight cast a warm glow over the room, accentuating Mike's features and adding to his already striking appearance. In that moment, it felt like our two worlds, so different yet somehow connected, were converging in a delicate dance.

Despite my attempts to maintain a safe distance, the magnetic pull between us was undeniable. It was as if our souls recognized each other, drawn together by an invisible force that transcended logic or reason. The chemistry between us crackled in the air, sparking a fire within my heart that I couldn't ignore.

As we stood there, two grown adults caught in a whirlwind of shared passion and desire, it was as if Romeo and Juliet themselves were guiding our movements. Our connection was intense, almost overwhelming in its power, leaving us both breathless and exhilarated.

In that moment, I realized that the boundaries I had tried to set were crumbling before my eyes. The rich tapestry of emotions that enveloped us spoke volumes, expressing a depth of feeling that words could never capture. It was a moment of pure, unadulterated connection, a meeting of souls that defied all reason and expectation.

And as we stood there, two lost souls finding solace in each other's presence, I knew that this night would be etched in my memory forever. The rich man's house may have been a world apart from my own, but in that moment, we were just two people caught up in the intoxicating dance of love and desire.

After eating, after talking, after the day, it's time to go to the bed upstairs. But before we went to the bedroom we hear the door bell ringing. I am left stunned,we look at each other confusedly. 'Mike, it's 11 PM, who could visit you in the middle of the night,?' I asked curiously. The organs of the body that were in a position to shake shook, the ones that could not shake just acted normal but in real sense there was fire burning inside. 'Could a tragedy be on the kitchen,?' I monologue silently. 'Could this be recipe for high drama.?'

Love is a powerful emotion. It has started wars and created controversies. It has made presidents of countries, kings of territories and princes of kingdoms. Everyone deserves a lover who supports you when you feel shameful, when you feel low and when you feel like you are in your darkest hour. Who flies with you and isn't afraid to fall. Who brings you hope, not lies.

'Relax Anjela, maybe it's my brother, I don't know, let's go and check,' Mike says while smiling. We all know the smile of a cheating man, the empty wry smile. I don't know what to do, I am just confused. My mind stops thinking, my hairs stand still, my heart is doing 10 beats per second, my fore limps are no longer hands but they are suffering from rigor mortis, am a dead woman breathing, I stand still not knowing what to do, rooted in the ground like a bending sunflower, my beauty has undergone tremendous radioactivity to the face of an old and ugly woman camouflaged in fake smile. Surely, stress is growing to depression. Love at first sight is growing to be sins of second thought.

'Could it be his wife? Is this guy married? Who is this person ringing the doorbell? What does he or she want? Is Mike real or just faux? Is this a coup d'etat? What is going on,?' I try to figure out. Many questions, few answers. 'But it's okay,' a feeling of deja vu comforts you for a while.

Being from a family of conservative Kenyans, I try to collect myself to keep myself cool and calm.

'I will wait here as you check who was ringing,' you tell Mike. Mike walks slowly towards the main entrance which is a stone throw distance.

Few seconds later, I hear Mike laughing uncontrollably outside the house. 'Wait, who is he laughing with,?' I ask myself. The feeling is heartbreaking, horrifying and hilarious in equal measure. In a fraction of a moment, while am still thinking about how disastrous all my romantic relationships have been, Mike comes in the sitting room with another man, holding each others' hand. 'Waaw,' I tell myself. 'Probably it is his brother, thank God it is not his wife.'

The other man is handsome, equally well build, just slightly over six feet tall, he looks rich based on the number of rings he is wearing, he looks more serious though. He is wearing expensive clothes. 'Aaw, so this is the lady you've brought today,' the other man says. 'Today? So he brings different ladies here daily,?' I ask myself.

So Mike does the introductions, he introduces me to the other man and vice versa. He tells me that the other man is called Jay. 'Jay is my brother, even though we love each other more than just brothers, we have been through alot,' Mike exclaims. As Mike speaks I seem to find something awkward between him and Jay. Jay seems to be touching Mike's behinds as he passes by to pick some food from the refrigerator. 'What is that? Why would a man touch another man's behind,?' I ask yourself.

So Mike tells me that he doesn't cohabit with Jay. He says that Jay stays at a different estate with his wife. But today he would lay his head here because curfew time got him as he was driving home. 'He's a law-abiding citizen, he doesn't like problems with the police,' Mike explains.

After Jay finishes to eat, he says good night as Mike escorts him upstairs to one of the rooms to sleep. Mike then comes back to pick me so that I can go to sleep. All this time am still shaking. I wish the whole world could swallow me alive. I am in between two strangers, one whom I fell in love with just because he paid my air ticket and the other looks like a person I can't trust.

As I climb the stairs I start thinking about my career, the job, the child back at home, my mom, my life. 'Who was that? His brother? Which room is he,?' I ask yourself.

Mike directs me to his bedroom. The bedroom is clean, the six by six bed is kingly, the bedding is fantastic, the sheets are well placed, the duvets are rossy, the arrangement is fantastic, everything is at its place. Not like the bedsitters of men am are used to visiting in Komarock and Donholm where the cooking stick is on the three by six bed. This is a different setup. 'Welcome to my bedroom angela, mi casa es su casa,' Mike says. I did not understand what he said but I naively answer, 'Thank you Mike'. Mike offers me a drink. 'I always drink before I sleep, it's a ritual here.' 'Sorry Mike, I don't drink, but thanks,' you say shyly.

'Aah, then today we will not follow the house rules, will you need something, pyjama maybe or we can do Adam and Eve,?' Mike asks as we both bust into echoic laughter. 'Ooh, you know Adam and Eve, will you pray for Adam and his family-to-be before we sleep,' you ask Mike smilingly. Mike says, 'I would rather be the snake to seduce Eve.' You again both laugh uncontrollably in a celebratory mood . 'I guess snakes don't know how to pray, do they,?' you ask cheekily. 'But they know how to speak to Eve,' you again laugh as you get to the bed.