Between June to September in Benin City is usually characterised with no stopping pouring, which make the grounds including the tarred roads wet and swampy. There is hardly sun light during this period, which make everywhere cold and damp. It was in the heat of it all, mid July when rain would usually fall for days or even weeks without stopping, a period which market traders, do not like; that Aduku Martins decided to have a cup of hot tea before bathing that cold afternoon that saw every greeting 'good morning ' not knowing it was 4pm already. Martins has tried his best to make Empress happy and loving, he loved her so much that he wouldn't dare wrong her in anyway not in the slightest. Empress knew, he cared about her. Even when she was the one at fault, Martins would still go on to beg her for forgiveness. The truth is, Martins had been in love before and lost, he cannot afford to lose a love the second time, his first love still hurt him till now, the mistake was his, though they are still in talking terms, they could not just be together again, despite the fact that, Martins so much wanted reunion of their love so badly and had waited for 15 years to see it come through; but she was so hurt by the humiliation melted on her by a man she loved, though she has forgiven him, she couldn't just afford to come back into the relationship. It was with this knowledge that Martins was guiding Empress with great care and protecting like an only egg.
That morning, she had refused to do anything and was picking up on Martins unnecessarily, he didn't react, he went about his usual business, he wouldn't be troublesome now either, when their marriage was in two weeks; he was unable to clean the house because he was already late for work; he left, hoping that, Empress would do it before he returned because she was on leave from work; only to return to the house, a four-bedroom flat, he built by Boundary Junction, G.R.A, the house was as he left it. Empress was in the sitting room playing WWE video game, Shawn Michaels versus The Undertaker; with the look of disappointment on Martins' face as he stepped in and saw the whole place unkempt, Empress at once felt guilty, yet she decided to be firm in her decision. Martins greeted her, and headed towards the dress room, attached to their master's bedroom, the dress room, shares the same door way with the spacious bathroom, whose everything is glassy including the jacuzzi, the bathroom padded and presidential, then the dress room which comprises of two wardrobes, two shoes hangers, wall mirror, makeup table and a steel chair; he got in and quickly undressed, and dressing out casual, going to the balcony and returning with a broom and dust pan. Looking at him, his portable house, one of the best and most admired in GRA, his black Cadillac, Limousine and a power-bike, gracing his garage, the swimming pool, by the West wing of the spacious compound having the four bedroom flat planted at the middle with assorted flowers everywhere in design; the house wasn't fenced round with bricks nor barbs, but with flowers and trees of fruits and shades, the swimming pool is demarcated from the garage with a line of pride of Barbados, looking at all these, his job, one would know that the only thing left in his life was just a wife and that wife was Empress, to be in two weeks.
He swept the house and cleaned up everywhere, then went into the kitchen to make his tea, Empress could not bear it, the sense of guilt, clothed her, she came by to the kitchen whose description could only be akin to that of Buckingham Palace, she met Martin rinsing the mug while waiting for the water to boil; when he was done, he poured in the water, before he could dropped the kettle and turn off the cooker, Empress had done so already; he held the mug and looked at her, the words forced out of her mouth: "I'm sorry ' almost in a whisper. Martins did not answer just immediately, he waited for awhile perhaps letting it sinks in or to be certain he heard her well, then he lifted his gaze and directed it at her, saying: "Thank you." He smiled and continue making the tea, when he was done, he drank it in a gulp and stood there for some moments watching it as it float down in his system, with it trail of warmth from the mouth through the throat.
Years ago, Martins met Empress at the State Library, she recognized him as one she had met at the a book fair a year ago, who completed her money to buy a book she so was hungry to buy - "The Prince" by Nicco Machiavelli; she so appreciated the kind gesture she never expected from anyone let alone the one who doesn't even know her. Both of them recalled the incident and then got acquainted with each other, later becoming close friends. Empress is a beautiful girl, with a glittering dark skin, her breast though not too big, were neither perky, slightly fallen but succulent; she has fleshy and juicy body, which made her irresistible. Her sun-tanned face, shone in the brightly lit library, her oblong face lit with radiant beauty especially when she beamed a smile or laugh which usually display her diastema, and whiter than snow teeth. At a go, Martins was in love, the girl he was dreaming to meet again after that book fair, cursing himself for not approaching her that day; she seemed to have disappeared into thin air and no trace of her anywhere, he didn't know her name, nothing about her. Seeing her in the library after one year of first meeting her, he didn't waste time getting to know her more. It turned out that they loved each other. Which girl could afford not to fall in love with Martins despite slightly Knock-kneed; his voice could do the magic, his physique covers up for the knock-kneed.
Empress loved Martins, she gave all herself to him in the same way, Martins loved her, they were both on each other, never wanted a moment to part or separate from each other, where one is found, the other must be there. There was nothing they don't know about each other. Empress was the best girl any one can pray for, she was remarkably industrious and modestly submissive; in matter of sensuality, she was an expert knowing all the styles and patterns of taking on a man, every bit of it, Martins love the sensations, the heat, the surge of adrenaline, the comfort and the pride to be the one enjoying such a beautiful girl, spotless and flawless, in her intriguing elegant gaiety and vitality, a paragon of virtue and prodigy of modesty yet, in the bedroom, enthusiastic eros. Despite what Martins and Empress shared, their four months together which seemed like four years or four decades, for no reason, for nothing he could explain, to date, it still regrettably baffles him why he took that decision of avoiding Empress without telling her it was over, or he doesn't love her anymore, but simply avoided her, when Empress tried effortlessly to force herself on Martins, and she saw that it wasn't working, Martins who despite his job, his busy schedule never complaint of no time, suddenly become too busy, having no time for their relationship, staying out of reach and ignoring her calls; things he longed for before now. It was heart breaking for Empress, she found Martins, she thought she had found love not know that, beautiful woman is just another man's play thing. Her last visit to his house where he was in but bluntly refused to open the door for her was the height of it all. She had called him about 37 times from morning till that Saturday afternoon, he didn't pick the calls then she decided to come over only for Martins to open at second knock and seeing it was Empress, he shut the door without saying a word. She stood there knocking and begging for offence she was not even aware of for over two hours, then she left, when rain was about to start falling. She was most hurt more than she was humiliated because she loved him. As she walked towards her power-bike, fully kitted, she knew she was walking away forever, she knew she was making a decision; the pain in her heart was severe, she hasn't loved anyone like this before, this heartbreak was too much to bear, she firmly resolved not to ever fall in love again. She was weeping now indeed with tears streaming down her cheeks, her face wet, she climbed the bike, as the rain began to fall, she was crying in the rain, it was a seal. She knew it. Mainly enough, what Martins could get out of his action was the feeling of been oppressed by Empress' beauty and perfection, her superiority to him which was so crushing and intolerable. Her sort of love for him was too pure and exalted and exclusive to be tenable. He realized because he loved Empress and in return, she loved him so freely, sincerely and trustingly, that he could not possibly love anyone else besides her. Was that a crime?
Two years has passed, Martins still has Empress' phone number on his lips, despite the fact that he was very poor with figures and had difficulties in recalling any, Empress's eleven digits phone number, he has been afraid, skeptical in reaching her for fear of what her reaction might be. For months, her thoughts have come to occupy his heart, and the desire to have her back intensified and burning in him. He was in love with her again, and now, even more. He remembered that patting moment, when he turned his back on her, the thunder and lightning, that solidified the breakup, the moment he turned his back and the rain that started to fall a while later, under which, he knew, Empress would be, navigating her way home riding on her power-bike, crying in the rain. She either curse him for calling or hung up the moment she recognized the caller, for he knew she would have long deleted his number from her phone; he dialed the number, waiting for it to ring with uttermost anxiety and fear; the fear of being turn down at once, he was sitting on the bed of his room, nervous and shaking; then she picked up at first ring, far from what he expected, her voice was calm, lively and receptive as she called his name with extreme cheerfulness in her voice: "hello Darling Martins! Long time no see, I missed you so long, where have you been?" Martins took the phone off his ear with remarkable surprise he looked at the screen, first to confirm if he was calling the right person, off course it was the right person, then he was shocked, she hasn't forgotten about him after two years and their was no atom of bitterness in her voice, he was demoralized for a long while when he spoke, at last, his voice was nervous and unsteady "you still have my number Empress?"
"Off course... why would i delete it?"
"I am very sorry Empress... please I need you back... I am still in love with you." He said pleasingly in a rather steady voice. After a brief silence, sighed and said: "You threw me out Martins... you rejected me! I loved you, but you caused my pains... i wept! I wept in the rain... you left me." She said in a pained emotional tone.
"I am very sorry... I don't know what came over me."
"Why... why did you do it Martins?" She asked after a deep breath.
Martins had no explanation, he couldn't say anything but to just say "I am sorry. "
"Sorry about what? Ok... let me ask you a question... can i?" She asked calmly in her usual alluring voice.
"Yes... go on." He said eagerly.
"Do you go back to your vomit?" She asked in the most careful manner. There was dead silence between them for a long while, when Martins was about to say something, perhaps to reply, she hung up. For a long while, she stopped swimming and just remain afloat of her swimming pool with her alluring beautiful body glittering and inviting in her swim suite revealing her cleavages which even eunuchs could not afford to ignore but gaze lustingly and lovingly at with great hunger; thinking over the call which she had picked up at first ring as though expecting it. She remained in water, rigid and motionless thinking what to make out of the whole thing. Martins wanted her back, that was Martins who treated her like a bitch when her love for him was burning intensely even while he ditched her for no reason, she had waited for months hoping he would reconsider and come back to her; all her efforts to reconcile with him, coming through his only one acquaintance, it yielded no result, Martins did not give a reply, he did not say a word to his acquaintance, Geraldine practically had nothing to take back to Empress. Empress was in despair, yet she looked on for his coming back. It would have been easier if Martins had at least had the smallest circle of friends even if just a friend, it would have been better. He had not even a friend, only business partners and colleagues. No one really knew him personally and for what reason, no one knew.
Martins continued to press on, but it was something that wasn't just feasible and they ended up being the best of friends. It was almost one day since Empress heard from Martins, she tried calling him, his number wasn't going through; she discovered he hasn't been online for close to or even more than 24hours, though it was getting late in the evening, she decided to go to his house. It was unusual to see the door to his house open, from all indications, something wasn't right; he entered the beautiful compound, his cars and power bike were at the garage; even at that, she knew, that door was usually lock. She observed the environment, nothing unusual, yet she precautionarilly made her way into the house, there was no singular sound, everything were in order; she called out to Martins, there was no response, she instinctively headed straight to his room, she met the empty room; for a moment, fear gripped her, Martins cannot leave home with his doors open, he can not leave without his car, he hasn't done it before. He must have been kidnapped, she made to go, perhaps to the police station then she heard breathing from the bathroom, there was someone in there; she carefully walked to the door of the bathroom, and opened it, there was Martins standing with his hands resting on the washing hand basin, and bending his head over it, he was lost, out of this world. Empress stood there watching him half naked, for over thirty minutes, he did not realized someone was there. She shook him firmly, he returned to consciousness not startled nor alarmed.
"What is wrong with you?" She asked with great concern. He turned to face her, he was attractive, but it was not time for Empress to look at him with that eyes. She was a married woman now and already, her husband was becoming uncomfortable with their friendship. It made him jealous sometimes, but he trusted Empress she was virtuous.
"Is there any problem Martins? Talk to me... I've been standing here for about 30minutes and you didn't take note... your house was left open... very unusual... what's wrong?" She said stepping down, holding him by hand and looking innocently into his face.
"She has left... she ditched me!" He said. She let go of him.
"Empress?" She asked, he merely nodded in affirmative.
"But why?" She asked.
"She found out I called her Empress, so I can keep your memories... she felt I don't love her but you." He explained.
"Why would she think of such a thing " she said emotionally, instinctively, helping Martins to lean on her breasts, then she breaks away. "Don't worry, I am going to her place now to talk to her; she will reconsider. She will come back to you." On hearing this, Martins exhaled and felt relieved. "Thank you so much." He said.
"Come on, pull yourself together... she will come over to see you once i leave her place." She said as she left shutting the door behind her. Martins brought down Rachael's picture from the wall, held it in his hands, after looking at it in admiration for sometimes, he kissed it passionately and replaced it, he got into his bathroom, turned on the water and had a long bathe in his Jacuzzi.
Empress navigated through GRA roads from Martins boundary junction house, and came out through Power line at Sapele Road; cuting off the traffic from Market Square till Adesuwa junction usually the case almost everyday especially Friday evening. She drove very fast, diverting sharping to Godwin Abbey way, where Rachael's rented duplex lies some few kilometres away.
Back in boundary junction, at Martins' home, he was done bathing and quickly dressed, then set to put the house in order, sweeping and cleaning. He dashed into the kitchen to prepare Rachael's favourite meal - pounded yam with black soup of snails, bush meats and fish; every single ingredient already in stock; the delicious smell of the soup coupled with locust beans aroma went outside the perimeters of his compound, a signature that marked him out as a great cook. He set the table, puts on a background music of Lucky Dube- 'Romeo' his favourite musician; the music filled the wall of the house, it was all efforts to welcome the woman he was so in love with.
At that same instance, Rachael was taken aback as she responded to her door bell and it was Empress standing there face to face with her.
"How did you locate my house?" She demanded coldly.
"Forgotten? I was here on your PhD. thesis defense celebrations, a year ago... I've come to see you... let us go in." Empress said. Rachael didn't say a word, she mere gave way for Empress to pass; then she followed.
"Rachael... he loves you dearly. He calls you Empress because he loves you. He felt the title was befitting a beauty like you. It has nothing to do with me. Please go and see him... he is going mad. He may commit suicide... please we are merely friends from our old days..."
"Yes... Your old day... what you once shared, you aren't tired of it... i have to be the fool."
"Is it possible to ever forget an ex? Not when there was consummation... sex goes with a bond even when there was no more feelings, that bond would be there. Martins loves you... he wouldn't hurt you. He respects you."
"Please leave my house now!" Her tone was most unfriendly and bitter, Empress knew better to leave; she knew something would go wrong, Rachael was not handling the whole issue right, she knew it. Since Empress arrived there, Martins has been calling Rachael but she wasn't picking the calls, Empress saw the calls, and how she would glanced at the screen and ignored still. Empress was driving to her Airport road home apartment behind Samsung Office looking dejected and worn out, about to call Martins when her phone rang, it was Martins calling.
"I'm sorry Martins... her mind is made up." The next she heard was glasses shattering on the floor and phone; the line was dead. Martins let go of everything he was holding, bottle of moet, two glasses and his IPhone 11 promax, shattered to the floor, spilling everywhere. Empress would have driven to his house, but she needed to be home for her husband though she knew her husband would prepare dinner before her arrival, she still needed to get home quickly and early, in the morning before going to work, she would call by his house to check on him.
This was not something Martins could take or live with; what is life without the one you love? It is not a matter of his wedding with Rachael coming up next and what will he tell his people; it was a matter being nothing without her, the feeling of emptiness, frustration and loneliness. He has come a long way with her, they have known each other, studied each other like a book, how can such a relationship he put in his all to build just collapse? How can Rachael allow this to happen with all her efforts so far. Their marriage... their honeymoon... all those plans to have an enjoyable life together will now be history. It was because of their future together that he decided to buy this house and restructured it barely two years ago, who was going to live here with him? The power-bike he bought because Rachael was a lover of power-bike and with the idea of having nice evenings with it, who would that person be now? He rose from the ground where he has created a mess with the broken wine bottle and glasses, and spilled wine, he walked slowly into the room and shut the door behind him.
At Rachael's apartment, she could not eat her dinner, she just sat there on the dinning table looking at the food as if it were poison; her mind was far away. Her mind ruminating all she has been through with Martins, the day they met, the best moment, the only time they have quarrel, how she caused the whole thing yet, it was Martins who came crawling on his knees pleading for forgiveness. She knew Martins loves her, he cares about her, he respects her and he honours her; but why can't he forget about Empress? Its been years they've broken up, their dating was only four months old; what kind of bond could that be that made him still think of her? She has forged ahead, married with three children... it is not possible that both Martins and Empress are still meeting. If they couldn't get together after getting together, it means nothing is happening between them. Rachael knew she cannot lie to herself, she was in love with Martins. She left her food on the table, and went into the room, she doesn't go out at night, she would have just go to Martins' place now; she would do that first thing in the morning; inside her room, she took off her clothes and entered the bathroom to bathe, it was a long warm bathe, then she came back lying on the bed naked, cuddling the pillow, that moment, she wished Martins was by her side, a touch would do, but he was kilometres apart; she fell asleep finally after a long time of lying awake.
If it were possible for Rachael to go to Martins' house that midnight, she would have done it. But in Benin City, daytime is unsecured, marred with robbery and rape, and even occasional murder; if those could happen during the day with no efforts from the security agencies to fight against it, and the State Government turning blind eyes and deaf ears, what would happen during the night? Night that even the security agencies do their armed robbery? She better stayed back and have it done first thing in the morning. She couldn't sleep as her sleeps were only seconds or at most minutes then she wakes again. She tried over time to call him, but Martins number was not going through and that was unlike him because his phone can never go off not for a second. She became really worried. On the other hand, Empress knew bad news when she feels one, she became uncomfortable, restless; she wouldn't know what has happened, but she knew something wasn't just right, to worsen the situation, the night was longer than usual; Martins cell phone number was not reachable.
It was 3am, and finally, Rachael got so dizzy, she decided to take a little nap after all, she hasn't slept soundly for hours, that was how she slept and woke up 8:15am, she was so shocked for she had wanted to be at Martins' at most 5am, she rushed into the bathroom and merely brushed her mouth and washed her face, she puts on a black panties from her bathroom hanger, and a match bra, then she hurriedly puts on an Adidas trainers complete with it fenz cap, she grabbed her power-bike key from her bedside table and hurried out of the house.
At that same moment, Empress and Rachael arrived at the same time at Martins'. Their expressions were friendly.
"He will so be happy you have come back."- Empress said; Rachael merely smiled, they entered the compound, the cars and power-bike were at the garage; it meant he was still at home. There was something about the atmosphere, it was tensed at the same time gloomy; the entrance door was ajar, with faint music playing through, when they entered after knocking without response, they were welcome by the same track Martins have been playing all through the night - Don Williams "You are my best friend" they knew Martins as a man of love, a passionate lover full of affection. They called out to him, there was no response, looking up, they saw the dinning was set, Empress looked at Rachael and smile, "it all good... you are up for a surprise... look at the table" it was the flower that caught Rachael's interest, she went over, there was a card drew out in Martins own handwriting, it reads "I am sorry you misconstrued me... i love and i cannot hurt you." Something caught her attention still, the plates were cold, she swiftly exit into the pantry where Empress was already standing dumbfounded; the flour was messed, with broken glasses, bottle, wine and Martins' Iphone. Instinctively, they rushed their ways into the bedroom, there he was, hanging and dangling, cold and rigid.
The End.
