[Story] Empty promises – S01 E13

Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 13

That Saturday evening Tony was not back from wherever he went to. I decided to call Israel.

It took me time to be sure of the call.

When I finally did I held my fist hoping the conversation will go down well.

“Hellooo Israel…

I said calmly and with a sweet voice.

“Hello…who is this please?

He asked. I breathed in and try to find a perfect way to introduce myself.

I needed to be fast so that he won’t end the call again like he did the last time.

“Is quiet sad that you can’t recognize the voice of your sweetheart. very surprising that you can’t tell who I am through my voic…

Before I will complete my statement he interrupted me with.

“Ava….??

He mentioned my name even before I could introduce myself. I was happy to hear that. He called me Ava which used to be his normal way of addressing me.

His voice was so sweet with the way he called me. I did not want to sound so exciting, I acted cool.

“Oh my goodness. Israel, i thought you won’t recognize my voice. Is a good thing you did because I was already feeling disappointed. Is been ages…

“Yes, is really been a while Ava. How are you and your family?

He asked me, I wanted to tell him how life has been treating me. I want to break down and tell him how Tony cheated on me, took a maid to our matrimonial bed. How he usually beat me at any slightest provocation and I could have been a mother now but Tony’s beating caused me to have miscarriage.

I heard a lot of thing I wanted to say to him so that he will feel pity for me and blame himself for not caring for me the way he should.

But I ended up saying.

“Everything is fine and you?

“Very well…I’m good. I believe Jalingo is treating you well…?

He said and I can sense him smiling.

I smile too before saying.

“Jalingo’s weather can be a little harsh sometimes but I’m used to it now.

“Alright, glad to hear that. Thanks for checking up Ava…

I knew he was about to end the call but I don’t want the phone call to end. I wanted to hear him say that he miss me but he didn’t. I had thousand and one question to ask him about his relationship with Diane and I wish he can update me on what is going on ever since we broke up.

Israel didn’t talk much, nothing about himself, nothing about the past and nothing about the present.

It ended with like a normal conversation and the line went dead.

I had a lot of expectations before the call but it did not go as I planned.

I had it in mind to call him again but not so soon. I will send him a lovely text message first before calling.

Tony was still giving me different excuse for my car.

It was time for him to start paying for his car loan but he has not said anything about it.

I remind him concerning the loan and he said he was going to start paying back soon.

I was still concerned about my car before going to the mechanic where he told me the car was but my car was not there and even the man that used to work on my car told me that is almost a year he set his eyes on my car.

After two months, I told tony I was going to the police to report about my missing car. I can’t fold my hands and do nothing and my car will disappear into thin air.

After telling him about my next move, that was when Tony decided to speak up.

“How can you think of going to police because of a minor issue as this?

Tony asked trying to sound angry.

“This is not a minor issue please. My car went missing all of a sudden and you are calling it a minor issue, the papers and everything pertaining to the car is also gone. Is not even at the mechanic workshop. I can’t take all this everyday stories you keep feeding me with anymore. I’m going to do something. That car was given to me by my company, I gradually paid the debt all off few years ago until it became officially mine. I don’t have money for another car luxury and my car is still very new and okay. I will not allow it to go missing just like that…

Tony asked me to relax first. And when I did he sat beside me and started acting like something was wrong.

“Baby, you need to calm down. You know I love you right and everything I’m doing is for our betterment. To have a glorious future together. I needed money to add to my business, it was going to crumble and I didn’t know what to do. Is over a year now and I need to start paying back the loan and I don’t want to come up with any excuse. I know you have been trying with your supports and I didn’t want to bother you any more with my trouble…so…so I have to sell your car. Yes, I sold it actually and did not know how to say it to you. But we can always use mine. Please baby…don’t be mad at me. I did not have an option at all…

I began to laugh sarcastically. Did Tony just say that he sold my car, my own car?

I was not going to have it

“How dare you Tony? Why will you do such without my knowledge? Tony have you ever asked for anything and I deny you when I have it? Why will you carry my car and sell off. You…

I was raging, I was boiling. I wasn’t going to take anything as an excuse.

How could Tony do such ungodly thing with my own car?

I was so angry and keep raging like fire. I insulted and wasn’t going to hear it was enough.

It ended in a fight as usual and I fought like a tigress. I was so angry and did not feel any of the blows which he was throwing at me. I kicked, bite and scratched and threw my heel shoe at him which landed on his head.

I was not sorry or felt pity for him when I saw blood because I was also bleeding on my mouth. Watching Tony scream out in pain as he held his head gives me satisfaction.

I ran inside and hide his own car key. He was searching for it but couldn’t find it.

I was done being the victim. Whatever Tony wants in this house I’m ready.

He was down on the ground in pain and seeing the blood coming out from the wound I decided to do something.

I drove him to the hospital. After he was being attended to, I left him and drove back home with his car. He thought I was waiting for him at the reception but I was gone.

The same thing he did to me. Now is payback time.

I picked few of my things into a bag and drove out to a hotel. I’m done being the fool, the victim and his punching bag. Now I’m out and ready for whatever may come.

He was calling that evening and till the following morning and I did not pick up.

I called my office to inform them I will be away for few days. Just in case Tony decided to look for me in at work.

He sent many text messages, some were threats while the others was pleads.

I did not reply or answer his calls.

Tony was draining me. Ever since we got married the whole expenses has being only me. it was few times he will bought things. But I’m the bread winner and all I get is for him to sell off my car without my knowledge and kept lying to me about it.

The only hope Tony ever gave me was empty promises, unqualified words and his so called business which I haven’t seen any benefits from.

I’m done so done with his business or future sweet talk. He has to take me to the said business which he has been investing so much on.

I can’t be his fool any more. He also has to start paying the loan because my job will be on the line if he doesn’t.

I’m out for Tony and is time to show him the real Lagos girl in me.

Right in the hotel, it was a good time to send sweet text messages to Israel.

I composed several messages and sent to him.

I waited but no reply. I composed another and sent and I’m still waiting for his reply before I call again.

Tony thought he is the only one with madness, mine is double and I just started unleashing it out.