KISS OF BETRAYAL

CHAPTER-4

Episode 4

"Onyekwa?" Iyke asked, looking up from his video game, as Chris bulldozed his way through the door, carrying a disheveled lady.
Her long hair was falling over her face, hiding her features. Flora was enjoying the lift as she comfortably snuggled into his arms like a baby. He had a solid, muscular torso, very dependable.
"Someone I met," Chris replied succinctly, carefully dropping Flora on the sofa.
Iyke abandoned his video game to see for himself. Since when did Chris start bringing women home?
"I met her in front of Guinea Casino, being given the beating of her life," Chris explained, as if reading his mind.
"Hmm. So you became the knight in shining armour?" Iyke asked with a smirk, peering into the Lady's face.
Chris grinned. "I'm a gentleman."
"I know you're deft at using that old first aid kit and a few ice packs," Chris said, heading for his room to change.
"Flora?" Iyke called in surprise. Chris stopped halfway to the room and Flora's eyes flew open. Iyke stared in bewilderment. For the love of God, this was Flora.
"What...the hell?" Iyke asked nobody in particular.
"You know her?" Chris asked, not getting the whole drama.
"Lily's friend na," Iyke said, turning to give him a quizzical look.
"Huh?" Chris asked in disbelief. Well, he never really had a good look at the Lady, or he had simply forgotten what Lily's friend looked like. Last he saw her was about 2 years ago, when Lily was in 200 level. The Flora girl had followed him around like a lovesick puppy and he only pitied her, never felt anything for the poor girl. He hadn't seen her again after he started dating Lily, who never seemed to show up with her friend anymore.

"Hi, Iyke?" Flora muttered, feigning surprised.
"Yeah, it's me Iyke."
Iyke helped her sit up. He was elated that she still remembered him. They were all silent, staring at her. She was beginning to fidget when Chris finally spoke up.
"So, what business did you have with Flames? Why did he want to kill you?"
Iyke's eyes widened at the mention of Flames. He reclined on the adjacent cushion and listened attentively. He loved real action stories, not like the type in movies. He suppressed a chuckle at his silliness.
Flora's brain was going 360 degrees in quick succession. What to do, what to do. Tell the truth? Hey, are you okay in the head? Want to demolish everything she worked for? Telling the truth is no option at all! Now, wasn't this her perfect chance to finish up the bitch? Flora closed her eyes and said a silent prayer for forgiveness. At least she still had a bit of conscience left, but she wanted Chris desperately and she must have him. Iyke mistook that for pain and took her hand reassuringly.
"Well, it's really not something I want to discuss. I don't want to paint my friend black," Flora began, withdrawing her hand from Iyke's.
"Your friend?" Chris asked, coming to sit beside her on the sofa.
"Yes... Lily," she affirmed, shifting uncomfortably. "Can I get a glass of water?"
Iyke jumped up to do her bidding, even before the words left her mouth. What's with the guy anyway.

"What did she do?" Chris prodded. He wanted to hear every single detail.
"No, really... I know what she means to you, so..." Flora said again, shaking her head in unrehearsed pretence. If she knew Chris at all, he wouldn't stop until he heard it.
"It's okay, trust me," Chris reassured.
Iyke was back with the water, handed it over to her and took his position again. Flora wished the dude would just get lost or something. She gingerly took a sip of water, wrapping her sweaty palms around the cool glass.
"Please, I must first apologize for the breakup on her behalf. I tried talking her out of breaking up with you, but she said she's gotten what she wanted from you and doesn't need you anymore. So you see..." Flora recited as slowly as the deceitful words came.
Chris was now looking murderous. "Go on," he said through his teeth.

Flora looked everywhere, but at Chris. The sitting room was simply gorgeous and large. Everything had a touch of glamour. Even the tiniest piece of furniture was neatly polished. Two padded arm chairs were huddled together near the piano like two people in an intimate conversation. There were 2 sofas and 4 other cushions, all dark blue with matching throw pillows. The floor was tiled, shiny dark blue tiles. The curtains were dark blue, with white ribbons gracing the edges. They had flowers drawn on them; white Lilies, Flora noted with envy. There were flower vases too, arranged in a circle of four at every corner of the room, white lilies too. The petals reached out to fondle one another. There was a large flat screen TV mounted on the wall, two large vases of white lilies were on each side, with a decoder, DVD and video game pads below. Was everything here about Lily? Either she decorated the house by herself or Chris just had too much of Lily in his head to do a decent decoration.
But Lily had sworn she didn't even know where Chris lived and he had promised to bring her over when he had furnished it to his taste. Lies! She mentally added that to the list of Lily's sins. There was a desktop PC on the table at one corner...with a vase of Lily on each side. The door adjacent to it led to the dinning room. There was another stupid vase of Lily at the center of the table and a vase at corners of the room as far as Flora could see. She cringed with fury and hugged a throw pillow to her bosom. No doubt, Lily had been coming here. She decorated the whole house as if she co-owned it with Chris, Flora fumed unreasonably.