by Boadi, Lilly
SEVEN
In the mini bar in the hall, Mellis sat, dazed. For the past fifteen minutes, he has been staring at the alcoholic beverage he bought on his way home at the resort, wondering if he should take that. It was a tough decision, for that would be the beginning of a new phase in his life; was he ready for that? But did he have a choice? At the moment, that was what he wanted to do; he had no other way to deal with the pain and anger he was feeling inside. Imagining Haida in some other man’s arms was igniting his berserk fury. It has been four hours now since he left the resort, and has not been able to stop thinking about Haida and Osborn together. He didn’t have an iota of feel for a tennis game and he didn’t want to talk to anyone about his problems either – at least, these were the best ways he could use to ease his pain and frustration each time they came. Firm with his decision, he took the bottle to his mouth and chugged it down within ten seconds. He opened the cooler and reached where he had packed the other eleven bottles of the beverage; yes, he actually bought a carton. Within five minutes, he was done with four bottles. All the rage, pain and fury he felt inside came out to the surface of his bosom. It was as though the ethanol in the beverage was unleashing them with a great force that was too painful. Then suddenly, he felt his old self. He felt frisky and yearned for the arms of a woman. He felt as though there was no love inside of him; even if Haida showed up, he might only take advantage of her. He was opening the fifth bottle when he heard a bang on the door. He turned and smiled, looking besotted.
“Hi love!” said Kelly with open arms.
“Kelly! My sweet,” he said drowsily and stood up. “Can’t believe I’m seeing you here. When did you come down?”
Ignoring his question, Kelly hugged him tightly and kissed his lips which tasted of salt and reeked with alcohol. “I’m happy to see you, my love” she whispered.
“Same here,” he put her in his arms roughly and kissed her.
“Are you celebrating something?” she asked.
“Why do you ask?”
“You’re taking alcoholic beverage,” she pointed out.
“Is it only celebration time that people take alcoholic beverages?”
“Not people but you, Mellis! You don’t take alcohol!”
“Well, I do now…” he said hazily once more, smelling her all over, “…thanks to…thanks to a new way of life,” he said freakishly, lifting the bottle in the air.
“What way of life is making you, of all people, take alcohol?” she asked.
“Loneliness! I feel so lonely here. I was missing you, you know,” he whispered into her ears.
‘Liar!’ thought Kelly.
“You know what? I think I could sense your presence in the country, like I knew I was going to see you, and that is why the celebration.”
Mellis could barely keep his balance as he almost fell onto the sofa with Kelly.
“Oh really?” she said catching both their balance.
“Sure. I was thinking of you. I realized what a big mistake I made to have called it quits between us. You will always be mine,” he whispered once more and finally pushed her violently onto the sofa. Then he started blowing kisses all over her. Then he pulled off her skin-tight top.
“No, not so fast” she said, pushing him away slightly. “Don’t you think we should have a good shower first?”
“Can’t wait that long to have you, sweetie.”
“Then let’s go upstairs,” she said.
Feeling drowsy and hungry for her like a tiger, Kelly helped him get upstairs. How content she felt after that lovemaking. Everything was perfect. Nothing else could come in between them. He was all hers now. ‘Oh Mellis, you’re too handsome for me to lose you to another woman,’ she thought, as she stared at his sleeping face.
Just then, she heard Bambi calling out loudly, “Mellis, you have a visitor,” and that woke Mellis from his sleep.
“What did he say?” he asked lazily.
“That you have a visitor,” said Kelly.
“A visitor?” he wondered, getting out of the bed slothfully.
“Should I take care of that?” asked Kelly.
“No, I’ve got it,” he said, putting on a shirt.
He came to the hall and saw Bambi. Kelly followed.
“Who’s it Bambi?”
“Haida. She refused to come inside.”
His forehead crinkling slightly in anger, Mellis sighed and made his way out.
“Why did you let her in?!” hissed Kelly through gritted teeth, soon as Mellis was out of the hall.
“How do you expect me to drive her away? Am I the boss here?!” snapped Bambi.
“For crying out loud! You could have told her ‘Mellis isn’t in!’” Kelly said dramatically. She was furious.”
Bambi scoffed, “Don’t tell me you’re scared! Looks like you were not tough enough to achieve your goal,” he whispered and then giggled loudly.
“We’ll see about that!” she snapped and then made her way out.
“What do you want Haida, and why did you refuse to come inside?!” Mellis almost snapped at Haida, when he caught up with her outside.
She was leaning on her car, looking miffed. “Because there is no need!” she snapped. “I only came to ask you one simple question!” she said rudely.
A bone appeared in his left jaw, and he kept his cool. Then he sighed, “What is it you want to know?” he asked.
Just then, Kelly appeared. She put her arms into Mellis’ and pecked his cheek.
“Kelly…?” whispered Haida in bewilderment, “So, it is true after all?” she said, trying hard to find her voice, as tears filled her eyes.
“You know this one, Kelly?” asked Mellis, surprised.
“No. I’ve never seen her before,” said Kelly innocently.
“So, it’s true that you both are having an affair behind my back?” asked Haida, unable to control her tears as they rolled freely down her cheeks.
“Wait! What is she talking about, darling?” asked Kelly, caressing Mellis’ arm.
“I’ll explain that later. Leave me alone with her, will you?” he said.
Kelly looked Haida over contemptibly. “Sure, darling,” she said, kissed his lips and smiled teasingly into Haida’s eyes. The latter kept staring unbelievably at her as she modeled away.
Haida stood, flabbergasted, and looking quite stupefied. Kelly walked a short distance away, stood and listened.
“What is that statement you just made supposed to mean – that I’m cheating on you?!” asked Mellis. “I thought we were through with each other?!” he shouted.
“Oh, really?! I’m not saying otherwise either!” she retorted.
“So what is your problem? Why are you affected if I am having an affair after that?! After all, you are doing about the same!” he yelled once more. “I caught you red-handed making it out with Osborn at the sea side yesterday…and today in his hotel room! But since I don’t have any right of concern, I dare not question you even if I were affected! Because you have your right as to who to be with or not which I don’t have a say!” he raved.
That shocked not only Kelly, but her too. So he saw everything yesterday? Her case was getting weak. “I wouldn’t care if you were having an affair with that woman after breaking up with me! You know very well that you were with her the same time you were with me, so why are you lying about that?!”
Tears kept rolling down her cheeks, too much that it hurt Mellis. But then, he was also hurt by her unfaithfulness.
“What’s the big deal when you were doing yet about the same – having an affair with that Carlos behind my back?!” he snapped and then tears filled his eyes.
‘Oh, what a sad scene’ thought Kelly and she chuckled.
Bambi stood behind Kelly and whispered, “Are you happy now?”
“Oh, shut up!” she gritted her teeth.
Mellis couldn’t take the pain anymore. He feared he might hit her, “Get out of here, Haida!” he said grimly.
“You’re thr
owing me out of your house?!” she said morosely “You’ll pay for all the pain you’ve caused me, Mellis; you’ll pay!” and she was crying loudly.
“Get out!” he burst, getting too emotional as tears rolled down his cheeks.
Kelly came over quickly. “What’s happening, sweetheart?” she asked, hugging Mellis, and then seeing tears in his eyes, “What’s wrong, darling?”
“You will pay for this!” shouted Haida, opening her car door. “You two will not do this to me with impunity. I swear you’ll pay!” she sat in the car and sped off.
Mellis stood and watched her car disappear, tears rolling down his cheeks.
“Oh babe, come here,” said Kelly, pulling him behind her gently. “Let’s go inside and tell me what all this is about”.
Mellis kept glancing at the vacuum of Haida’s absence. As Kelly bypassed Bambi, she stole a glance at the latter and teased him with a quiet giggle. He smiled wryly and shook his head. He knew that wasn’t the end and that she’d lose everything when her true colours came to light. Was he the one going to see to that? Maybe.But not now. He’d have to confess his sins and make pacification with Mellis before that. Mellis sat on the sofa and kept fuming within. Oh God, he loved that woman. He’d never felt so hurt in his life.
“Darling, who is she?” asked Kelly softly, with her head on his chest and fondling the hair on his chest.
“One of those girls,” he said and she flinched, looking into his eyes.
“You were cheating on me?” she asked, offended.
“No baby,” he put her in his arms. “I just took a liking in her but didn’t have anything serious going with her. I had no idea she had taken things so seriously. You know my problem with women, don’t you?” he teased, fondling her hair.
“How much do you like her?”
“Nothing more than just a friend; she’s amusing you know, and she made me laugh a lot. I only liked her company and nothing more. I never gave her the impression that I was that interested in her,” and he scoffed. “Can you imagine? I never even slept with her and here she is, offended that I have a girlfriend?”
“If she didn’t mean that much to you, then why were you so emotional to the point of tears?” she asked.
“Guess I felt so sorry for her. She’s so innocent. You know how such people get when they get the slightest idea that they are being cheated on by their partners. Anyway, she is a good person, and I might have only felt for her. It made me sad to see her like that – in so much pain, you know,” as he said this, tears rolled down his cheeks once more which Kelly didn’t see.
“Are you sure it’s nothing but pity you feel for her, because I’ve never seen you like this?” Kelly also knew about his extreme heart for other people.
He wiped off his tears and pushed her gently away from his bosom, “Come on, there’s nothing to worry about, ok?” he said staring into her eyes. “I don’t like her for anything more. She’s not even my type, don’t you think?”
She stared into his eyes which were filled with pure sincerity. ‘Men! How well they can lie!’ she thought.
Mellis didn’t understand why he said all that to Kelly; was he really scared of losing her? Maybe for the moment. For now, he needed her beside him to fill the emptiness Haida had created within him and to ease the pain and anger away. But little did he know she couldn’t do much, even if she dedicated her whole being to him, for love knew no substitute. Little did he know that love was complementary to the true one and only, and nothing else could complete that part if lost.
Haida’s eyes were filled with so much tears. She knew it wasn’t because Mellis betrayed her with her own traitor of a friend that caused her so much pain, but moreso, that she had made a fool of herself by trusting those two. That thought was too painful for her to bear. She nearly crashed into an oncoming car when she took the U-turn. Horrified, she drove a mile ahead and pulled the car over, near the beachside. Making a violent break, she got out of the car and ran towards the shore, totally ignoring her shoes that came off her feet. Then she broke down on her knees in tears. She shouted, wailed and wept all her pain and disappointment out. She did this for close to twenty minutes after which she sat slowly in the sand. All her tears seemed to be dried up now, as she sat hypnotized, gazing into the rolling sea. She was awoken by the coolness of the water on her feet, and then she felt calm within. The sea seemed to communicate with her. She found companionship in it as it rolled from afar and reached her feet once more. She took a little into her palm and splashed it on her face. That made her feel better for a moment. She repeated the action and then continuously until she felt much better. There really was life in the sea. Better off, she scrambled on her feet and cleaned off the sand on her skirt. Yet, not far had she driven off from the sea side than she had started sobbing again. Without second thoughts, she drove away to Kiara’s.
***
Kiara was pulling out the baked pie from the oven when she heard the rap on the door, “Coming…” she sang.
She placed the pie on a tray and walked towards the door in a rush. She opened the door and made a befuddled face; there stood Haida, motionless. Haida stared into Kiara’s eyes and tears filled her eyes, and then she cried silently. Kiara grimaced in surprise.
“Haida? Why? What’s wrong?” said Kiara softly. “Come in”.
She pulled Haida gently inside the room by the hand and the latter broke down on the floor just close by the door. Kiara sat beside her on the floor and watched her cry. When she was a bit calm, she took her hand and got closer to her.
“Now, tell it all to me. What happened?” she whispered.
Haida stared at her and cried once more, as she struggled to find her voice. She saw the sadness in Kiara’s eyes as the latter took her in her arms.
“Enough Haida, please don’t cry anymore,” Kiara comforted her. “I’m here to listen. Talk to me,” she said sweetly.
Haida told her everything, pausing intermittently with sobs and sips of water, from the time she met Kelly and all that concerned her. Kiara listened attentively without any interposition.
“I was so stupid to think I was ok for him, and much less that he loved me,” Haida said after what seemed a long relaxed yet thoughtful pause.
“I’m fat! I’m really not his type!” she sobbed pathetically.
“Don’t be silly. You’re very beautiful, both inside and out. You do have a great body!” Kiara said into Haida’s eyes.
“Not like Kelly’s.” Haida pouted
“Will you stop comparing yourself to her? She hasn’t gotten even half of the beauty you have!” said Kiara sincerely and Haida gave her a surprise glance.
“You are saying this to make me feel good, aren’t you? Know that I’ve been in that clap-trap for almost a year now! Be my guest!”
“I’m not your new! Of course not!”
“Just look at her! That small waist befitting those wide hips, her slender figure…she’s so sexy and sophisticated…I’m just nowhere near her…. I can’t compete with her!” said Haida in a choked voice, flaring her nostrils and Kiara chuckled. “What? You’re laughing at me, huh?” she said, and Kiara burst out into laughter. Haida laughed too.
“I didn’t know you were that funny!” said Kiara. “You sound like a child who has kept pace with the others and is whining after them and shouting ‘wait for me, wait for me’. But you’re there, Haida. You are there!” said Kiara emphatically and Haida sighed doubtfully.
Kiara watched her for a second. “Are you really thinking of competing with her?” Haida responded with a worried sigh.
Kiara raised her knees and gazed before her in thin air. “You still love Mellis dearly, don’t you?” she asked and Haida nodded pathetically. Kiara chuckled “Silly love!”
“You can say that again,” whispered Haida. They looked at each other and crackled up with laughter.
Truly, Haida felt relieved. She knew only Kiara would understand how she felt. She knew she needn’t say much to her. It was as though
she had seen all this coming and had warned her but she wouldn’t listen. Yet she knew Kiara wouldn’t be critical towards her. She really was a friend who was more than a real sister. How bad that she traded off their wonderful friendship for that of Kelly’s. She ought to let her know how sincerely sorry she was for her unfaithfulness. She didn’t deserve a second chance, but she knew Kiara too well to think she would refuse her that chance. Ashamedly, she stole glances at Kiara, finding it difficult to say those apologetic words.
“Kiara?” she called quietly eventually, “I’m really sorry for being such a traitor of a friend to you. I didn’t know what I was doing. Please forgive me…”
“Sshhh,” Kiara silenced, “Yes, you didn’t know what you were doing. Let it end here, please?” and she sighed. “I understand you perfectly, and I’m only glad you’ve learned a lesson from this,” she said softly and Haida sighed with relief and satisfaction.
“Thank you Kiara!” said Haida and hugged her. They looked into each other’s eyes and giggled.
“You don’t know how glad I am that I have you back!” said Kiara. “Yes, I was truly jealous that that woman seemed to have taken my place. I was really praying against the success of your friendship with her,” she said confessedly.
“Are you serious?” said Haida.
“Sure,” and they crackled with laughter yet again.
“But Mellis! I can’t believe he did this to me,” said Haida gravely when they were calm. “I didn’t want to be in a relationship, and you didn’t understand me. See the pains and hurts!” she said regretfully.
