LIFE OF US

EPISODE 12

MARS’S POV…
The whole place was silent as everyone stopped shouting to Steve’s proposal and concentrated on the scene I just created. Even the music was paused. I ran out of the hotel quickly crying really hard. I couldn’t believe that this is happening to me. I couldn’t believe that I got betrayed again in my life. The people I called family has betrayed me again. I kept on running without destination. I am sure I didn’t want to get back to the hostel because I am currently despised by the thought of them.
I felt my little world crumbling with me right in my presence. “Why does it have to be me? Why ai I also the victim? Why am I always being betrayed by my loved ones?” I kept on asking myself those mysterious questions as I cried out my heart. I walked a distance, my legs were numb and my whole boy was aching. I was still walking on the quite street of Lagos when I bumped into a woman. She was also walking nonchalantly on the road. “I am sorry.” I quickly said stammering as I knelt down to grab her stick. She stood looking at me as I tremble while handing her the stick. My face was still stoked in tears when I face her. She stared at me with her weird eyes.
I was shocked seeing how she looked at me. Her face looks so scary and familiar as well. She giggled with an awkward laughter. “I AM YOUR FUTURE MARS.” She said with a loud voice. Her scary voice pierced all over my body. I suddenly let out a loud scream as I faint instantly…
KATE’S POV…
I stood with my eyes wide opened looking at Steve who was still kneeling in front of me. Everyone in the hall was shocked at Mar’s word. They all concentrated at the door as if they were waiting for her return. Tears started rolling down on my face. I know fully that I am the biggest betrayer among my friends. I shouldn’t have get involved with Steve in the first place. At least, we all knew Yesmin was engaged right from the start and Jenny was just getting to know Greg.
But as for me, I knew all these were coming. I knew it will lead to this. I knew I was going astray but despite all those, I decided to follow my selfish heart. But what can I do, I can’t deny what I was feeling. I can’t change it or hide the fact that I was in love with Steve.
I let out a deep sigh that brought their attention back to me. Steve slowly stood up and hugged me tightly as I broke into tears. It is even more painful when I saw people slowly leaving the hall. I felt shattered and devastated because of how I caused the party to end. He slowly grabbed my hands and walked me to a couch. He sat me down and held my hands tightly. He sighed deeply and looked into my face.
“Kate.” He called with a soft voice. “I don’t know how to start apologizing for what I just did. Believe me, I don’t have the intention of ruining your day, I just thought that this would make you even happier. I never knew you were still hiding our relationship to your friends, but whatever it is, I want you to know that I am truly sorry.” He pleaded with a sorrowful voice.
He holds my hands again and moved closer to me. “I know the damage has been done already Kate, and I can’t possibly bring back time, but please, let me take the responsibilities of my actions. I know you might hate me right now and I am ready to take any decision you made. I just want you to know that I didn’t do that to ruin your friendship, I did it because I love you and want to have you for the rest of my life Kate.” He added with tears rolling down his face.
Seriously, at this point, I am not blaming anyone for this happening, not even Steve. I only blame myself for hiding everything from everyone. I should have been more open, I should have told Steve about my past and my friends, I should have told him about the effect of what we were doing. But I was too selfish because I was wallowing in love. I was too selfish to hide it from my friends. I sighed deeply as I adjusted myself on the couch and face him.
“Its fine Steve. The damage has already been done. Don’t blame yourself Steve. It is actually my fault, I should have told you about the situation instead of hiding it.” I said looking at him. “And about my friends, I know it would be hard for them to trust me again, but I will open up to them even if that will cost our friendship. Let’s talk about us when I am more relaxed, okay?” I said with tears on my face as I stood up to leave.
He quickly grabbed my hands and hugged me tightly. “I don’t know what happened in your past Kate, I don’t know what is between you and your friends and I don’t know what this will yield. I just hope that you will consider me and give me a chance. Let me fix this. When you are more relaxed and when you talk it out with your friends, I will be here waiting for you. I will propose again and I will give you a better party than this and I promise to change your life forever Kate.” He said still hugging me.
I slowly removed myself from his arms and stared at the empty hall for a while. I turned back and smiled at him as I walked away. “I will wait for you Kate.” He shouted as I walk out. Tears started rolling on my face. I hated myself for being such a bad person. How could I be so selfish? I have been using everyone around me all these while. I must have been a terrible person. I don’t even know how to answer Steve or how to face my friends.
All I know is that, I can’t be selfish ending up with him while I made my friends broken. So I promised myself that if I didn’t earn my friends forgiveness, then Steve is forbidden to me. I wiped my tears as I walked on the streets without knowing where to go. I don’t have the courage to get back to the hostel so I head straight to a hotel. I lay on the bed and closed my eyes. “I must fix all these mess. Just wait for me Steve.” I said to myself as tears keeps oozing from my eyes.
YESMIN’S POV…
I quickly ordered a ride and head to Jide’s house. I know things are already a mess, but I must SSSSSSsettle what I could before Jide reports me to the family. I don’t even know how to start explaining myself to Jide. My legs were trembling when I stepped in. he was sitting comfortably with a glass of wine in his hands. I stood numb staring at him trying to figure out what to say. “You should at least have some tears on your face.”  An inner voice from my mind said. I struggled to gather up some tears but everything seems hard.
“Aren’t you here to build up more lies? Why are you standing like a statue?” He asked looking at me. I sluggishly walked to him and kneel in front of him. Words were not coming out of my mouth, it went totally dry and I was sweating seriously. After a while of struggling, I gathered up courage and opened my paralyzed mouth. “I am sorry Jide, I don’t know what went through me. But…” I was still trying to build up a lie when Jide interrupts me.
“It would be better if you explain everything to me than bringing up another lie Yesmin. Aren’t you tired? Aren’t you tired of living a fake life? Aren’t you tired of lying to yourself? How many more lies do you need to cover up the ones you have already told?” He asked staring at me. At this point, I realized that I was actually living a lie, I was actually desperate, I was actually trying to build an invisible bridge for myself. “Do you think anyone will understand you when you never speak up?” He asked again staring at me.
He slowly stood up and head to the window. “I have always known the kind of life you leave in school Yesmin. I have always known how terrible you were, I knew about all your lies these years, you changing your course of study, pretending to be a loyal girl and many more lies. I knew about them. I am just curious why you do all these. Can you tell me why?” he asks with his eyes fixed on me.
I sighed deeply as I slowly walked behind him. “I want freedom Jide, I want to live a life I can be proud of. I want to be an independent woman. I don’t want to live a life which my mother and sisters live; I don’t want to be a slave to a man. I want to be a voice. I am doing all these for freedom Jide. I don’t want to be a tool to any man. I want to be loved not to be ordered around. I want to be free in my house not to be caged. I want to live my life not someone else’s. I want a free world. ” I said with a straight voice.
He giggled a bit and turned to me. He smiled and looked at me. “Open your eyes and look at me Yesmin. I am the man you are engaged to. In case you forgot Yesmin, I studied abroad. I have piles of qualifications. You shouldn’t expect me to be ignorant. I also want all those you have listed. I want to marry a wife not a slave. I want a home not a prison Yesmin. Not all men in this world have the same mentality. All it takes is a conversation and we are good. This is our life Yesmin, you shouldn’t compare it to a past experience. It is our future and we have all right to design it.” He said with his eyes on me.
This is the point where I noticed I was a fool all my life. I spent my whole life hating this gender and refused to see that not all individuals have the same mind. I refused to believe that there are also good men and bad women as well. Jide grabbed my hands again as he moved closer. “Can we start this from the beginning Yesmin, no secrets and no lies. Let’s build up a strong relationship, let’s gets to know each other and I promise to change your ideology about men.” He asked looking at me.
I don’t know what my mind wants at this time but I really think his idea is worth giving a try. I nodded my head in acceptance with a smile on my face. “Let’s start this from the beginning then.” I said smiling. He moved closer to my ears. “Then, allow me to take you to a tour in to a world you have never been into.” He whispered in my ears as he placed a kiss on lips…