[Story] Too late – S01 E35

Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 35

Elena was the only one at home when Charles visited. He knew who he was going to spend the rest of his life with and that person was definitely not Karen.

He went shopping for her. Charles knew the things that she loves, so he bought them. He also bought a nice t – shirt for himself. Two nylon bags were filled.

After opening the gate for him, the gateman assisted him to carry the nylons inside. Elena was watching television when he entered. She had heard the gate being opened and closed and she thought it was her aunt. When she saw it was Charles, she was surprised. Elena quickly turned of the television. She held on to the remote as if her life depended on it. Her eyes shifted to the nylons on the table and then to Charles.

“I decided to come personally to see you” He said sitting down.

“After how many months?” She asked frowning.

“But I came and…”

“You never came. At least no one told me you came here” She said shrugging her shoulder.

“I hope your wife won’t come and fight me because of your presence here. I didn’t invite you and I don’t want problems. I would prefer you go now”

The way she talks made Charles to laugh.

“I am also worried that your fiancee won’t meet me here”

Surprised, Elena looked at him with sparkling eyes.

“I have never told you I have a fiancee”

“And I never told you I am married. I am not married Elena”

She rolled her eyes at him.

“Really?”

“Then who is she?. Why would she say you are her husband?. What was the threat all about?” She asked.

“That is why I am here Elena. I came the other time to explain to you but I saw you entered a car with a guy”

Elena laughed hilariously

“Ooh I see. Charles is jealous oo. That guy is my cousin Erikson. He is my aunt’s only son”

“Well..I.. thought, he had something to do with you”

“Erikson is my cousin” She said with finality.

There was silence at a time before Charles broke it. He narrated how he met Karen, how she left him and returned. Elena sighed deeply. In her heart she was relieved that Charles was not married after all. How she was heart broken after Karen warned her. She had returned to God in prayers. During her prayer one day, she heard Numbers 23:19. She opened her bible and read: God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? Or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?

“Patience my child” God had told her a week ago.

She had been patient, looking up to God to fulfill all He had said. Now it seems that exactly is what God is doing.

“God is not a man that he should lie” Elena said

Charles studied her smiling face. He noticed that she was a bit lean.

“Why did you say that?”

“Nothing. I only know that God’s word does not return empty without accomplishing that which it was sent for.”

Charles and Elena became friends again. They chatted away till it was time for him to leave.

“Don’t come to the house Elena, I will visit you at home or at work” He told her.

“It’s alright by me”

Charles went home full of smiles. He was glad that he has settled with her. With time everything will fall into place.

———————————–

“When are you going to see my parents?” Karen asked Charles one day after dinner.

“See your parents? For what reason?”

“I…I..mean to talk about marriage”

Charles smiled.

“I never said I will marry you Karen. Before you broke up with me I agreed to marry you, but when you walked out of the relationship…”

“But I have been told you are my husband Charles. You know how much I love you. I want to settle down. Please fix a date to see my parents” She said.

He refused to say anything. He picked his phone from the table and walked out of the house. When he returned, she was already asleep. Karen did not bring up the topic again and he was glad.

Two weeks later, he informed her that he had completed his house.

“Hey!, Are you serious?. So you now have your own land” She said.

Karen danced and danced. That evening she told Charles to take her out.

“Let’s celebrate this good news”

Charles obliged her and when they returned to the house, they had enough to chew and drink.

Charles also told Elena and she requested to see the house. They fixed a date and went. Elena prayed round the compound and every room in the house. For an hour she was still praying. When they were to leave, he suggested they go somewhere to eat but she declined.

“Why?”

She looked at the driver and then whispered in Charles ear.

“I am not hungry.”

“Alright”

“You go on and eat”

“Don’t worry about me” she said.

Every weekend, Charles and Elena would enter the market and buy needed items for the house. Charles equipped the house to his taste. He spent lavishly on the house. He allowed Elena to pick the colour of paint for the rooms and what the kitchen requires. Satisfied that all was in order, he told her he was going to have a house warming.

“I will invite my family and well wishers”

“That is great” She said applauding him.

“Please help me plan for the event. Do your planning and let me know the cost implication”

“Alright”

“Three Saturdays from now” He told her.

Elena swung into action.

———————————–

“I will need money for new clothes” Karen told Charles

“I need to look good tomorrow and if you give me money for hair, I will appreciate”

“Alright” He said taking his glance off his phone

“How much?”

She told him.

“I don’t have cash with me. Take my ATM card and withdraw the money”

He called out the pin and she wrote it. She had not gone for twenty minutes when he received a notification. Karen had withdrawn twice the amount she had requested for. She returned few hours later after showing him his new hairstyle and clothes she bought. She didn’t mention the extra money she withdrew. Charles waited for her to mention it, but she didn’t.

“How much did you withdraw?”

“40k”

“You withdrew 80k Karen, why?”

“Aah!, I withdrew 40k” She insisted.

Charles showed her the notification.

“Well I needed money for some other things” She stated nonchalantly.

Karen was not sorry. She was not remorseful about her action.

“Alright”

Karen returned his ATM to him and entered the room. Charles was angry but controlled himself. Rather than dwell on Karen, he started dialling phone numbers, reminding people of the house warming of the following day. He had since sent address to the invitee.

The day arrived. While Karen was bathing, Charles has carried his bags to the car booth. Before now he had since arranged his stuff into the bags and it was only right to move into his house immediately. Karen served breakfast of fried yam and egg sauce. It was one of his favourite meal and she knows it. She wore the beautiful gown she bought and he didn’t fail to notice how beautiful she looked. He complimented her. The drive to his house was more than an hour. He looked forward to seeing his friends. Charles was surprised to see that a lot of people were already there to grace the occasion. As he stepped down, he was hailed by family and friends. His parents and siblings were there. Brian hugged him. A lot of people congratulated him on the gigantic structure he erected. His parents were proud of him. His Pastor took care of the prayers. Charles ensured that there was enough to eat and drink.

Where he sat, his eyes searched for Elena and found her. She wore a simple yet sophisticated gown that complimented her complexion. She sat with others in the crowd. He tried to lock eyes with her but didn’t succeed.

“Let’s dance” Karen nudged him.

“Not now, I have an announcement to make”

He stood up to address the people.

“Today is a special day for me. It is special because the one who makes my heart flutter is here” He looked around to ensure his words sank in their hearts

“I have come a long way with her. When my world was dark, she was the one that brought her light to illuminate my life. I have thought about it and decided that my world is not complete without her. This house I built is empty without her. Before you all, I want to propose to my heartbeat”

Charles handed the microphone to the MC them walked towards the direction of Elena. Those who wanted to see his heartbeat left their seats and followed him. He stopped before Elena who was already standing and smiling.

“Will you be my wife?” He asked.

“Yes!, Yes!” She screamed.

Charles fixed the ring on her finger then hugged her so tight. Everyone except Karen congratulated them.

“Nooooooo!” Karen screamed.

All heads turned towards her direction as she cried. The Dj who wanted the fun to continue played a music and increased the volume. Charles and Elena danced and people applauded them. Karen’s scream was drowned in the loud music.

As everyone dispersed, Karen also left in tears. As soon as everyone had gone, the driver carried the boxes in the boot to the house, then proceeded to drop Elena at home. The moment Elena stepped into the house she showed her finger to her aunt.

“Oh dear!, This is beautiful” She exclaimed.

“Charles proposed” She giggled

“I knew that young man loves you.” She said.

She hugged her aunty.

———————————–

Karen wept till she got home. Her life did not turn out the way she planned it. For days, she locked herself in and cried. She thought by lying that Charles was her husband it would be easy. She was the loser, for Charles did not marry her, she has no job and the house she was staying would soon expire. That means if she doesn’t renew the rent, the landlord will send her packing.

After going out to search for work without success, she decided to return to her parents in Akwa-Ibom. Few months later, she opened her Facebook and saw Charles posted the pictures of their wedding and she took the time to go through all the congratulatory messages.

For Karen, it was too much a pain to bear. It was late to turn back the hands of time.

T H E E N D…..