What Happened To Helen

The Revelation

Helen woke up the following morning to Fireboy DML's Like I do booming softly from the subwoofer and a killer headache. She reached out for her wristwatch to see that it was almost noon. Turning to the other side, she saw Adedamola lying next to her almost unclad safe for the shorts he had on. She had almost forgotten what happened the night before as it was the first time in a very long while that she'd felt loved by someone other than her readers and fans. Adedamola had treated her like a lady the previous night, he was so gentle and passionate and he reminded her of Michael when they newly started as a couple at the University of Lagos.
      Michael. I just cheated on him.
     She quickly shook the thought out of her head…she refused to feel guilty about what happened between her and Adedamola.
     Adedamola. Now that’s a man!
     She rolled over on her side and tapped him lightly on the shoulder, then watched him slowly open his eyes and, at that moment, she felt happy.
     “Wakey wakey…Damola the sleepyhead,” Helen cajoled.
     She got out of bed and grabbed her clothes that were scattered all over the floor, then went into the bathroom to freshen up and take her bath.
     Adedamola sat up to realize how long he had slept for. He got out of bed and got dressed, trying to remember the last time he had slept in and had felt that much rested. The previous night was amazing, and he made sure to remember every sweet and tender moment he spent with Helen.
By the time Helen was done in the shower, he had finished dressing up and was ready for breakfast.
     “Good morning, darling. What would you like for breakfast?” he asked, smiling at her.
     “Uhm… Rice and chicken is fine.”
     “Okay, I'll go get it for you,” he said, as he picked up his credit card from the bedside drawer.
     “Awwnn,” she blushed, “that's so kind of you,” she said.
     “It's nothing, really. It's the least I can do after you paid for the drinks at the bar last night, and I'm sure those bottles of the Hennessey and the White and Blue reserve whiskeys would have cost a fortune,” he smiled.
     “I'd like to go check my car, just give me some minutes to get dressed and I'll meet you downstairs.” She walked up to him and planted a kiss on his cheek before leaving for her room.
     After getting dressed, she grabbed her bag and made her way to her car at the parking lot. There, she saw her phone still in the safe and was tempted to let it be, but she knew editors and publishers would have been trying to reach her. Resignedly, she took the phone to see tens of text messages and calls from Michael. She shook her head and slipped the phone into her pocket, trying to push him to the back of her mind. She made to return to the hotel, looking around for Adedamola and saw him leaning next to a pillar. As she made to walk towards him, her phone vibrated and without looking to see who the caller was, she pressed the green button.
     “Can I get some peace, for Christ’s sake?!” She shouted into the phone.
     “Helen, darling?” a female voice said on the other end, with a falter.
     “Nonso...? I'm so sorry, sweetheart.” Helen apologized on realising who had just called. It was Nonso, her best friend and national president of the Book Aficionado Book Club.
     “Helen, how are you? Are you alright?”
     “I'm fine, Nonso…I'm okay.” Helen answered unassuredly.
     “Michael called to say he’d been trying to reach you since yesterday, he sounded so worried over the phone.”
     “I'm sorry darling, I just needed a break to think things over. Did he tell you what happened?”
     “No, he only asked if you were with me.”
     “You’re aware Michael threatens me with divorce at every opportunity he gets, right? He did the same thing yesterday and I realized what needed to be done, so I left home.”
     “Yeah, I know. We can still talk it out, don't you think? Can you take the next flight to Jos?”
     “Take a flight to Jos? Today? I don't think so, Nonso.
     “I need to see you as soon as possible to try and make things work between you two again. Please, Helen darling, do this for me. I promise you everything will be fine again,” Nonso assured.
     “Okay. I’ll show up, but I'm not promising that it'll be today.”
     She let out a frustrated sigh and hung up, switched off the phone immediately and slipped it into her pocket before walking into the restaurant to their table. There, she discovered Adedamola was gone. Confused, she scanned the restaurant in search of him and nearly screamed when she felt a tap on her shoulder. It was Adedamola.
     “Hey. I got us ice cream and chicken pie to have while we order and wait for the main meal.”
     For a moment, she just stood there staring, blankly.
     “I thought you left, sorry. My best friend called…she was worried that my husband couldn't get through to me but I told her I needed the getaway to think things over. So, Adedamola, I just want to enjoy every time I spend with you.” She smiled sheepishly.
     Adedamola gave her a wide grin as he sat down. He took a bite of his pie and watched her take a spoonful of her vanilla-flavoured ice-cream. He couldn’t help but chuckle when she grabbed her head due to the resulting brain freeze. Helen skimmed the menu several times, placed it down, and picked it up again. She was indecisive. When the waitress eventually came over to their table, Adedamola ordered a plate of pounded yam, egusi soup and assorted meats and fish; while Helen, on the other hand, ordered same thing but with okra instead of egusi. The waitress stood there, paying attention as they gave their orders and ensuring she got them all written down in her notepad.
     “Am I still going to see you after today?” Helen asked, breaking the silence the settled upon them after the waitress left.
     “Do you want us to?” Adedamola asked in return. “Maybe it’s just a one-time thing…a good one,” he added with a grin.
     “You know, it doesn't have to be. I mean… Oh my god, what am I saying!” She covered her face, embarrassed. “Do you remember what happened last night?” she asked when she had overcome her embarrassment.
     “Of course! I remember everything,” he grinned.
     He looked over to see a couple take the table beside theirs.
     “Maybe when our little secret blows over, we’ll run into each other again,” he whispered, leaning across the table like he was telling a secret no one else must hear.
     “No…no…no…we don't have to keep going.” Helen said.
     Adedamola straightened up and, “I love you, Helen Coker,” he blurted out.
     “How did you know my last name? Wait a minute…” Helen hurdled closer to Adedamola who had his dreads in a ponytail, making every part of his face visible. “Adedamola Johnson!  Forcados high school, 1994 set!” she screamed as the realization hit her. “You?!” she asked in disbelief, throwing what was left of her ice-cream at him. “You made my life a living hell, you and your friends – James Potter, Abdul Damilola, Jolly Stephens, Olivia Williams and Dante,” she continued. “I felt so miserable I thought of committing suicide as a way out of my misery after you all gang-raped me. I got too much of unwanted attention that the school management advised me to withdraw.”
     By then, all attention was on their table as other patrons in the restaurant at that moment had stopped their meals to watch them.
     “Helen, wait…” Adedamola started.
     “I hate you, Adedamola, and don't you ever show your face in front of me again. Do you understand?” she asked with tears in her eyes as she made to get up from their table.
     “Helen, please wait…” He tried again, standing up to grab her arms. “We are not teenagers anymore, Helen. Can we at least have lunch together and discuss?” he asked.
     “I don't want to have lunch with you, Damola. It turns out you’re just like the rest of them,” Helen said, disgusted. “For once, I was happy; only for you to ruin it with the hurting memories of you and your friends’ selfish desires.”
     “I came to apologize for all that happened back then.”
     “Apologize?” she asked in a mocking tone. “No amount of apologies can make up for the therapy and emotional trauma you made me go through at that young age. Do you even know how hard it was to lock it away and act like all that never happened? You and your gang didn’t even stop at the rape, you also went ahead to take unclad pictures of me after you got me drunk and shared them! Wait, are you about to ruin my life again?” she asked, her eyes wide with shock and disbelief.
     “Helen, please allow me explain myself,” Adedamola begged.
     “No way. Just leave me alone, please...leave me alone.” She stood up and angrily stomped up to her room where she packed her belongings and drove straight to the airport to board a flight to Jos.