Meliana scoffed when Jerry finally walked out of jail wearing his shirt. When he saw her, a thin smile spread across his face. Well, she was indeed glad that her stepfather's friend, Jack came to the rescue.
She had called her stepfather when she received the news about Jerry being taken in by the police. Her stepfather had in turn reached out to Jack who was luckily a barrister.
Jerry had lasted almost a week in jail due to the refusal of the girl's parents who felt infuriated and insulted that a tutor would take advantage of their daughter.
When Jack had stepped into the picture, Meliana was surprised to see that that Jack was a young man, just older than her with some few years.
Jack on the other hand seemed interested in Meliana, he tried as much to make Meliana smile. And when he had succeeded in bailing Jerry, he gave Meliana his card to reach out to him whenever she was free.
"I can't thank you enough, Meliana," Jerry was thank ing her when they both arrived home.
When Louis saw him, he ran into his embrace, hugging him tight.
"You need to be careful, Jerry. And you need to stop being a pedophile. There are other girls you can do that with. Next time I might not be here to save you." Meliana warned him.
Jerry paused, pushing his younger brother aside, turning to face his girlfriend, "are you leaving already but you've only just got here."
"Jerry," she sighed, unable to contain her burning emotions, "I can't be with you anymore. I told you before, we are done. There is no us. Gather yourself and look after her brother," she turned to leave.
Jerry grabbed her hand, "you have someone new right?" He asked.
Meliana watched his face intently, then pushed down his hand. "You need a bathe, Jerry. We can't begin to go over that again."
"I saw the way he was making you smile, the lawyer or what's his name again?"
Louis watched them, wondering what was suddenly happening. He stood rooted, watching the scene played before him.
Meliana scoffed, "Jack was only there to help you. Stop insinuating nonsense," she rolled her eyes.
"But I believe he must have ticked your boxes. You were always laughing while with him."
She snarled, "And what's that supposed to mean? He was trying to make me feel better, should you have rather that he made me cry after all you have done to me? I am done with all of your trashy attitude and there is no "us" in the future," she said then turned to go.
Jerry's eyes lit up in fear, he swiled her around with both of his hands, "No, Meliana. Please, we can't end like this," he pleaded.
"That girl tricked me, she wanted it so I had to give her what she wanted. Please, don't go," he begged.
"Can you hear yourself, Jerry? I can't believe you are my boyfriend, the man I first fell in love with. My father warned me about you but I never cared to listen. Let go of my arms, you're hurting me," she shrugged his hands off, turning as she opened the door.
"You're going to Jack, right? I saw him giving you his card, you're going to him, right?" Jerry persisted.
Meliana said nothing, paused only for a while then shut the door behind her. Jerry stood pacing the room, after some minutes of fidgeting, he opened the door and raced after her.
******
Lola was dressed casually. She didn't want to over dress since it was a night house party. Joseph on the other hand was really good looking, he had taken a new a hair cut. He took Lola's hand, bringing it close to his hand as he kissed it.
"I can't believe I'm your man," he said as he kissed her hand.
Lola tried a smile, eyeing the little crowd ahead of them. Chad was in their midst, drinking and toasting to their wish.
She and Joseph walked closer to Chad, congratulating him. Chad couldn't stop grinning from ear to ear as Joseph gave him a parcel of gift.
Then Chad directed them to the counter where they could have whatever drink they wanted. While they drank, Joseph had to excuse himself for a while.
Lola's eyes skated across the room. She knew why she'd agreed to come drink at the counter instead of dancing on the dance floor with her new boyfriend. She wanted to study and faces of the people around her. And she saw herself laughing at a girl who was throwing up due to excessive drinks.
Her smile suddenly vanished when she saw Matthewn, her heart skipping a beat. She coughed lightly, trying to get a hold of herself.
Matthew was dressed in a black jacket on black trousers, his shoes this time were red in colour. She could see a chestnutted haired girl beside him, she was fair skinned, pretty and slender.
Who was this new girl?
She tried desperately to fight the wave of jealousy that was overwhelming her, why on Earth would she be jealous of a mere girl who could pass as anyone else.....
Out of the blue, the girl was kissing Matthewn while Chad was howling at such an act. Matthew grinned pleasantly like a little boy, his eyes glancing around the room until her found Lola's.
Lola's heart lurched out frantically out of her. She looked away, acting like she hadn't seen him. A hand circled her, she looked up to see Joseph. She faked a smile.
"I see Matthew is here, with a girl. Why is he looking over here?" Joseph asked.
Lola shrugged, "I don't know," she intoned, trying to take a peek.
"She must be his girlfriend, seeing as they tangle themselves in braces and kisses," Joseph smirked, noticing.
Lola felt bruised by that, she pulled Joseph around to face her, "stop looking at them and let's focus on us," she said.
Even as Lola danced with her boyfriend, she couldn't stop herself from watching Matthew and his new girlfriend. She felt heartbroken that Matthew had suddenly moved on quite easily from her.
Didn't he say he wanted her first? Why was he kissing a new girl even throwing glances her way while he kissed his girl?
Lola kept on drinking until she didn't realize she was drunk.
Joseph grabbed the drink from Lola's hand, "you can't keep doing this to yourself. Why are you drinking so much?" Joseph asked.
She laughed, trying to grab her smirfoff drink from his hand, "isn't this a party? She slurred.
"One needs to feel alive!" She giggled.
"Tell me why you are drinking so much, I don't understand," Joseph whined, then he caught sight of Matthew watching Lola while he played dovey love with his girl.
"Don't tell me you are drinking because of him?" Joseph asked, clearly puzzled as well as pissed.
Lola scoffed, pulling Joseph's face close to her then kissed him on the mouth, "why would I? I've never felt alive," she swirled round in around then slumped.
Joseph picked her up, regretting in that instant why he had brought her to the party. She was still into Matthew.
Suddenly, she jolted up up, pushing Joseph away from her. "I'm going to the wash room," she slurred, smiling then started walking to the restroom which was up the stairs.
Joseph watched her sadly as she walked, he didn't make plans to follow her. When he turned to watch Matthew and his girlfriend, Matthew wasn't there and he shrugged it off.
*****
Lola rested her back to the door, she rubbed her face with the back of her hand. What was she doing here? Why was she making a fool of herself? She should leave while she was still sane enough to?
She looked down at her hand, counting her fingers.. atleast she could still decipher where she was. She needed to leave. Coming to the party with Joseph had been a terrible idea, she should leave while she still can.
She pushed the toilet door opened and walked herself in, turned on the tap and dipped her hands under its running waters.
She didn't turned to look at the person who just entered but when she heard the lock, her head swirled round quickly.
Matthew stood there, his back to the door watching here.
She looked around, maybe this was a dream. Matthew was here with her. He would soon vanish, she told herself. She splashed some water on her face, shaking off her hands then turned to leave.
Matthew was still there.
"Why are you in the ladie's restroom? Shouldn't you be with your girlfriend?" She asked him, trying to push him off from the door.
"Don't tell me, you drank too much because of me," he said.
His voice sunk into her like music, she winced, pushing his face away from her. Her body was reacting to his voice, touch and face. He was real, not a dream but damn well real.
He pulled her in.
"It aches me to see you with another guy," his hand reached up to touch her face.
She pushed his hand off, "I don't want you."
"That's not true, you visibly want me," he whispered to her ears.
Her body trembled in his arms, slowly he caressed her naked arms, then looked down at her luscious lips. When he leaned in, she shut her eyes anticipating his kiss.
He scoffed, watching as she closed her eyes, "see how badly you crave for me, and you lie?" He said.
She pushed him off, opening up the door. Why make a fool out of her? Why was she even inlove with a bad boy? why did he take delight in torturing her?
Joseph stood outside the door, looking surprised when he saw her. "I've been looking for you, babe. What took you so long?
Lola blinked her eyes, stammering, "I...I...I was washing my face."
"Come, let's get you home," Joseph took her hand.
Lola tried a tired smile, grateful that Joseph hadn't realized that she had been alone in the toilet with Matthew and he almost wanted to kiss her.
*******
Ella stood up slowly hugging herself, then smiled as Johnson allowed her entrance into his house. Then he gave her a clean towel to clean herself with. While this was going on, she kept smiling at him.
"Don't give me that smile, Ella. What are you doing here?" Johnson asked her.
"I was thinking about you. I missed you so much. So I'd thought I should see you," she explained to him.
Johnson laughed, "You can't just hopped on the bus after six months. You broke up with me staying why you didn't like my plans. Now, you show put of the blue...," he shrugged.
"I.....,"
"I will allow you to spend the night. I want you gone when the dawn is come," he interrupted her.
Tears blurred Ella's vision, she tried to reach out to touch him. He pushed her hands off, "Don't, Ella. You made my girlfriend run off without an explanation of you to her."
"Your girlfriend?" Ella gasped, "do you move on that quickly?"
"Do I have to wait further than I had?"
Tears fell from her eyes, she threw his towel to his face, he took it and watched her turning to leave.
"I shouldn't have come here, my bad." and with that she stalked off into the darkness, leaving Johnson feeling suddenly numb.
Johnson sat down on the nearest chair, the towel in his hand, his thoughts swayed by what had just happened.
Two women, two women who he knew he was very much interested in.
One was his ex.
And the other was his the girl he was beginning to grow fond of.
Yes, he still misses Ella. Seeing her brought so much of painful and beautiful memories. He fought the urge of running after her. He still wanted her in a way.
He was confused, what does he really want?
He picked up his phone trying to call Lola.