TOXIC ATTRACTION

TOXIC ATTRACTION EPISODE SEVEN

Julia brought me some tea but after my announcement, I felt like something had changed. She sat there quietly watching me have my breakfast and from where I was seated, I could not tell what was going on in her mind. She would steal a glance at me and then pretend to be busy on her phone. I hared the situation I had found myself in but what was I to do about my situation, had she been in my place what would she have done?..

As I was having breakfast, I got a text on my phone and it was Davis. My guess is that he had gotten a notification that my phone was in and now he was trying to reach out after 2 years of a crappy relationship. Davis like I said, never valued what we had. To him, I was just a trophy that was there to be seen by his friends and the few family members he had introduced me to and that was pretty much it. He never spoke of a future with me and even though I never caught him cheating, I heard rumors that he had a record in breaking girls' hearts and paying them off. He was crowned the king of playboys but to his friends, I was the one. Those bastards!.. they would tell me stories of how they would mess around with girls but when I asked if Davis did the same they told me how I had found myself a husband material. A man who only had eyes for me despite being busy with work and stuff and the stupid part is that I believed the idiots who made me confident in what Davis and I had. See as a girl, when you meet the man you think is the one, we already see a future with them and we start working towards that future. We try to shape and build the man into someone we would live the rest of our lives with and please note I said shape and build but not change. I loved Davis with all his flaws and I was ready to do life with him while on the other hand, he treated me like crap.

Julia: aren't you going to answer that?

I was startled by Julia's voice which brought me back into the present and on checking the screen, it was my mother calling.

I ended the call and then continued having my breakfast.

Julia: Richard?..

Me: no. That's my mother. I don't want to talk to her.

Julia: why not?..

Me: she is part of the complications in my life right now.

Julia: but she is still your mother...

I didn't respond to that. A lot of people sometimes think they know what is best for you and they give you advice thinking they are wiser and better but should they walk a mile in your shoes, they probably would not endure half the things you have had to put up with. Julia was right, but I expected her to respect my decision of not wanting to speak to my mother.

I responded to Davis who asked if he could see me but I declined his request. I had nothing to say to him because I knew he would not have anything to do with me in my condition. He knew about the wedding and he was aware that I was now someone's wife so why was he still trying to reach out?..

Julia: I invited Susan over before I knew you were coming. Now, I know you are not the best of friends but you two will have to play nice. I don't want to take sides.

During my wedding, I saw Julia and Susan whisper in each other's ears and then giggle and laugh when Richard rolled out of his wheelchair as I walked beside him. I knew Julia and Susan did not approve but I hated them for a second when I saw them laugh and especially Susan who made it too obvious by even pointing at Richard.

Me: you won't have to take sides. I have nothing against Susan and so I don't think we will be fighting over anything. I will only be here for a few weeks as I look for a job.

Julia: what has that got to do with Susan coming over?

Me: so that you won't have to pick sides should Susan visit and we end up in a fight.

She gave me an eye that suggested that she did not like my comment but I ignored her.. there was some sort of tension that had started brewing between me and Julia and it was only day one, I had no idea how the rest of the weeks were going to turn out. Had I not told her about my pregnancy would things be different?..

I told Davis off and told him to move on with his life like I had done with mine because I had nothing more to offer to a relationship. I cleared the table and then asked Julia if I could rest on her bed a bit before Susan came by and she nodded. I picked up my phone from the table and headed to the bedroom. Julia's bedroom wasn't new to me as we had gibe there for sleepovers countless times. Julia and I went way back but as for Susan, I met her through Julia. They worked in the same company.

A few minutes into my rest, I felt a tap on my foot and when I opened my eyes, I saw Susan seated on the edge of the bed like she had been watching me sleep. Before we could even exchange greetings, Julia walked in and announced that she was stepping out shortly and she would be back in half an hour or so. I was worried about having to chill with Susan because we never had much to say to each other and it already felt awkward waking up to her watching me sleep. We saw Julia put on her shoes and watched her leave the room quite excited. She must have been called for a date or something.

Susan: lucky her huh?

Me: yeah. Lucky her. Did you need something from me?

Susan: no. Julia told me you were here so I had to come to say hi. Maybe we can do something fun, you know how bored I get when I'm alone.

I looked at her blank for a second then she must have realized I was not feeling her goody goody act.

Susan: okay, I know we are not best of friends but at least I'm trying. Julia filled me in on why you came here.

Me: do you talk about me?

Susan: not in a bad way. I'm not your enemy, I just want to help you because knowing Julia, it won't be long before she kicks you out.

Me: you don't know that, or did you discuss that too... should I carry my bags and go?..

I asked getting out of bed but Susan took my hand and pulled me back to the bed I sat and she adjusted herself to be facing me then she took a deep breath.

Susan: that will be acting rational. Julia and I did not talk about you in that context but the truth is, she is not the best friend you think she is and especially after the things she said about you on your wedding day. She laughed so hard when you fainted and she laughed even hard when she saw the man you were marrying.

Me: I saw you laughing too. why are you leaving the role you played out? It's not like you are a saint.

Susan: I know I'm not a saint but I want to help. You told Julia that you are pregnant?

I nodded then tried to cover my stomach feeling embarrassed about the whole situation.

Susan: what are you going to do to feed that baby cause she also mentioned that you ran away from the father.

Me: I really don't feel like having this conversation, especially with you.

Susan: well that's okay. I was just trying to find out if there is a way I can help but since you seem to be fine, I will leave it at that. What are we preparing for dinner?..

Me: I don't know, I'm also a guest here.

Susan: let's go and check what's there then.

We both got up and headed to the kitchen. Susan was trying to be friendly but I didn't know what she was playing at. From where I was standing, she was not a good friend even to Julia whom she felt comfortable gossiping with me.

We got to the kitchen and started checking what was there...

Susan: rice, spaghetti, noodles.. what do you think?

Me: rice maybe.

Susan opened the fridge and pulled out a container with some beef in it and handed it to me. I put the container on the kitchen counter and turned to her.

Me: why do you think it won't be long before Julia kicks me out?..

Susan: because she did the same to me. I'm not being malicious but I think you ate a good person and I'm just preparing you. Don't intend to stay here long enough to have yourself kicked out.

Me: okay.. I'll have that in mind.

That evening Richard was seated in his living room watching TV but he was also deep in thoughts, especially after he decided to let Robina go. A decision he later thought was stupid but it helped to know that someone was not with him out of sympathy. He knew what he wanted and a sympathetic relationship wasn't it. He was a man like any other. A man who fought hard to have things he wanted in life..maybe it didn't turn out great just yet but he had hoped. His last thoughts were on Robina telling him she was going to abort their child and that was one thing she would never forgive her for. Mark had advised him to call Robina and perch things up before it was too late.. he grabbed his phone and started to dial her number but he stopped halfway and put the phone away. If Robina wanted to come back, she would come back...

Susan and I started preparing dinner as she told me the story of her life. How her father was killed by his rival in politics, slashed by a machete right at the back of their house after a political rally they had attended. Susan's father was a man of the people and whenever he got on stage to talk to the people they would cheer and celebrate, unlike his opponents. That popularity made his rivals see him as a threat and that very night they killed him.

I stopped chopping the carrots for a second and looked at her. She was rinsing off the rice and I watched her switch from this Jovial girl to sad in a second...

She had sadness on her face but it was obvious that she had not been over what happened to her father just yet.

Me: hey... I'm sorry about your father.

Susan: he was just lying there, blood oozing from his body and he was crying in pain. My mother cried until she fainted and as for me and my brother, we were not even allowed to see him for long. We cried.. seeing my father in that helpless situation was like the worst day of my life. I couldn't save him, no one could save him and he died on my watch.

She paused for a while and put the rice in the boiling water then took the meat and washed it again and put it in a pan. I had gotten back to my chopping but was feeling bad for judging Susan before getting to know her so well. The rest of the times we spent together the three of us, she always seemed like a snob, talked a lot, and had this bad girl attitude that I disliked so much but after spending the evening with the two of us, it felt different.

Susan: what your father did was wrong by all means. He should not have sold you off to that guy like some piece of furniture but he should have talked to you about the situation he was in... maybe you would have found a way around it.

Me: is it so bad that I hate him?..

Susan: if something was to happen to him today, would you feel the same way you are feeling about him right now?..

Me: I honestly don't know...

Susan: the answer is with you... You know, only that you are still angry and battling but once the mind settles you will know whether to hate him or cut him some slack.

Maybe Susan was right, I didn't know but the truth is I was mad beyond reasoning out. If I was to forgive my father, maybe I would have to search within me and see just one reason why I needed to. My father was like a lion that when he roared, all the other animals went into hiding, I never had any good memories of him and so yeah, him selling me off was the last straw...

Me: I'm glad you came...

Susan: didn't seem like that from the start.

Me: I know... I judged you and especially when you told me about the conversation with Julia.

Susan: I'm just looking out for you. As I said, you are a nice girl you and I have a lot in common...more than you know it. I'm just too talkative because I use that as a cover-up for all the silent tears I cry when I'm alone...

Me: you need a hug?..

She nodded and I went and hugged her. She embraced me tightly and when we broke free from the hug, she wiped her tears away. Susan was one emotional human being and I had been fooled by her tough girl act. At least one thing was for sure, my evening didn't turn out as bad as I had thought it would. I was still set on the abortion only that I did not tell Susan about it because seeing how reasonable she was she would have stopped me...