(USA)
I was together with Arnold in his room, on his bed one afternoon. I rested my arm on his shoulder, and held onto them for support, while he was busy chatting on his phone.
"Arnold?" I called out to him.
"Hmm!" He responded, but didn't turn to face me.
"I wanna speak to you, it is very important."
"Okay, I'm all ears."
"I said it's very important." My voice came out louder.
"Go on now, I'm listening."
"What is wrong with you Arnold, you don't even have my time anymore. I said I wanna talk to you, but you're still busy on your phone." I only expected him to look into my eyes, and pay me attention.
"Oh! Come on –Okay, I am sorry, just wanna reply to this particular message –Okay," he dropped his phone and looked into my eyes. "Go on."
"I have nothing to say again, not like I'm important to you anyway."
"Baby, I said I am sorry. Okay? Forgive me, now tell me everything, everything in your mind. I will be glad to listen to you."
"Yah! I am going to tell you everything." I tilted my head downwards. "it is all about my past –"
AMY's
I rested my head on the wall where my bed rested, in deep thought. I didn't even realize when Olivia came into the room, until she voiced out my name in a loud pitched voice.
"You are over thinking right? What is wrong? Is it about Monica?"
I lit up a smile on my lips. "Do you remember the day Arnold proposed to Monica? Do you remember how happy she was? She was filled with joy, burning out in great joy. I couldn't forget the smile on her face even though I had to tease her here and there. I love her, I love her like a sister could love her younger sister, not just as a friend."
"Of course! I do remember, I can't forget that, I've never seen her happier than she was that day."
***
(USA)
We rushed to her house as she called us that evening to reveal the news to us.
"Okay girls, I need you to guess." She grinned, buzzing with happiness.
"Have you guys fucked?" I screwed my face, squeezing my hair.
"Gosh! you are so naughty, what do you mean by that? You just wanna ruin my mood."
"You know how she behaves, so just ignore her and tell us. What is it? I'm curious as fuck."
"I was only kidding so fuck off and tell us." I sat on the chair with my legs crossed.
"Okay, I will just tell you guys – I am engaged!" Her face lit up with so much happy emotions. "He proposed to me." She screamed, giggling, showing off her expensive diamond ring.
I stood back up while we all screamed in joy. "Oh -my-God! Oh my! Such an expensive diamond ring!! My God!" I grasped her hand to look closely.
"Awwn awwn, I'm so happy for you love, let's throw a partyyyy!"
"Yahhhh, treat me. Ohhhh!" Monica howled, floating in happiness.
We played music, danced happily and drank until we fell asleep till the next day.
MONICA'S.
I opened up the small drawer in my dressing table as I sat down on the chair in front of it. I brought out the small cute safe in it, in the form of a box. There are some boxes that are not meant to be opened. There are some memories that are supposed to remain hidden in order not to open up the nearly -healed scars. But still, I opened the safe to bring back the memories, to purposely hurt myself? I don't know. I brought out the diamond ring I kept in it for years. This was the diamond ring Arnold proposed me with. I held it in my hand looking closely at it, like it was my first time seeing this.
My phone beeped. I returned the ring in the safe. Ohh my, it is mum. "Yes mum -I haven't been calling, I am really - What! "
Before I could complete my sentence, mum interrupted and revealed shocking news to me which made me drop my phone unconsciously.
***
I stood up from the chair I sat on and pulled my hair in a raged, gasping. I rushed downstairs and screamed out the ladies name, pacing to and fro, in the living room. I looked around like they were some tiny objects I wasn't able to see clearly. A threatened tears formed my eyelids, as my heart raced faster, tugging my hair to the back. I threw myself on the couch then I felt the pains of years ago in my heart. I squeezed my top onto my chest, like I was plucking out the broken heart. The tears came running down my cheeks, then I called out the ladies once more.
"Argh!" I panted, still in the same state.
"Hey! Monica! Monica! Are you okay?" Ciara rushed to my aid, while the other girls followed suit. "Are you okay?" She asked again and curved her palm on my cheek.
I withheld the tears, looking up to the roof, then I placed my palm on the couch, gasping.
"Tell us what's up Monica. You look disturbed." Amy said, looking straight to my eyes, as if searching for something in it.
"Arrr! He is–he is back, girls," I got up from the couch, then dropped my hand on my waist. "He is here again in this country. Why? What is he looking for?" Tears of sorrow flooded in my eyes.
"Ahh! We don't get you Monica. Who is back?" Lilian puzzled, and glanced at the ladies standing beside her, then glanced back at me.
"Arnold is back, girls, he's on his way to Nigeria." My voice came out weakly.
"What! Really?" Amy turned her gazed at Olivia. They stared into each other's eyes, then Lilian broke in their eye contacts.
"That was your plan right? Right, that was it. You don't need to pretend and just tell us you called Arnold. You called Arnold you both."
"What!"
"Yes, and don't even give me that innocent look, because it's of no use anymore," Lilian moved closer to Olivia and uttered softly. "It is not your fault actually. I'm sure Olivia pushed you to do it," her voice came out loud again. "Why don't you wanna see a friend being happy Olivia? 'Cause I don't even understand you any longer.""What are you saying? Why on earth should we want her to remain this way. Can I even–" Olivia caught her breath, while Lilian wrapped her arms around her rib cage, then rolled her eyes at her."Are you trying to say–we made her like this? I called Arnold? While I don't even have his contact. By the way, why are you always blaming Olivia for everything, all she had wanted until today is her happiness, she only
I stopped walking and turned back my gaze. They stared at each other until Amy came to a conclusion to get the door opened. "Who is there?" She asked, holding the door handle."It is me." A familiar voice came through the door.That is mum.Amy opened up the door, and smiled widely at her. "Oh my! Welcome ma. Pls, come in.""How are you all doing? You all look so stunning." A dark-skin, average, slim woman walked into the house, putting on
Chapter twelve."Years ago while I was in year 3, I– I was forced to party out with my friends on my birthday. Yes, I was happy, I couldn't resist because it was my birthday, and I want the people around me to be happy because of me. This is where this got me, I care about people's happiness without thinking about what I really want. I never like the decision of going clubbing, but I go anyway," I lowered on the ground, and tugged my hair as tears kept flowing down. "I resisted at first, but I was confused by them. My desire was to make them happy, right. They were, I fulfilled their dreams. Their mood lightened up that night. Just this night then never will I go again, I told them that, then they agreed immediately. Of course, that was my first and last night I went clubbing. Neither will I be forced to drink, Nor will I be forced to dance. They had no problem with all my conditions, all they cared about was for me to go with them," I smiled to myself and gasped out. "
Chapter thirteen.~~"How can you be this heartless Loveth!" Ciara said in tears.I smiled and cut in whatever Arnold was about to say, then I sat closed to my mother on the cold tiled floor. I raised up a leg to reach my elbow. "A year later. Even after the whole support mum gave me, I still couldn't help it, but to feel depressed. I can't do without having a nightmare every night. I kept missing my parents' every day. I couldn't help the loneliness, so I called mum and told her I have decided to travel out of the country, to make myself happy, to get my mind straight. I just wanna be happy. I don't wanna give up on life anymore, dad must be proud of his daughter wherever he is. I wanna be the strong girl dad always wanted me to be. She agreed with my decision and supported me with it. I got to the states, I thought of everything possible to be happy. So I decided to keep going out to catch fun. Then I met this beautiful angels," I stretched my ha
Chapter fourteen.***ARNOLD's.I got home, in a dark room, looking paled that night. Loveth ran to me when she saw me in that state."Hey bro! What is wrong? Look at your hands, you are injured. Why do you have blood stains on your shirts?" Loveth asked curiously."We are leaving for USA tomorrow. I will book the ticket early morning tomorrow, so pack your bags." I ignored her questions and walked away from her."What! USA... Ticket.. Money.. Where... I don't understand anything bro. Where did you get the money from?" She came after me."You don't need to understand anything. Where I got the money from is non of your concern. All I know is that – I didn't steal the money. Just pack our bags, I will leave early tomorrow to take care of other things .""This is just too sudden, you didn't even tell me anything about your plans,
Chapter fifteen.***It had been two weeks after Arnold visits to my home, but it felt like the incident had happened for two months now. The revealed secret had caused positive and sudden changes in my life. I had started working as one of the managing director in my dad's company. I have tried my very best to become a happy and interactive person, but it seem I still haven't gotten over Arnold yet. I might be angry at him, but I also felt so attached towards him, just like he never stop chasing me. It is in Arnold's blood to never stop stalking me. Ahh! I gasped out. My hearts want to forgive him, but my head keep telling me I would be making the biggest mistakes of my life. I don't know what do. If I don't want to have him anymore, why do I feel the need of making him jealous? Well, if he can play pranks to get my attention, just like he used to do. I wrapped my arms around my chest. Why can't I? I shrugged and returned the last batched o
Chapter sixteen.••• A cab causing a blaring noise drove across me, and whined down the glass at the passenger's window. A young dark guy in his thirties stretched his head out of the window and told me he was from Arnold. He opened the car's door, then I hopped into the car, resting my head on the car's head rest. We arrived at the restaurant I and the ladies planned to eat. I moved in through the sliding door, then walked pass a couple, which I guess they were, giggling and leering at each other romantically. I sighted the girls at the arranged table, at the centre of the restaurant. To my wonder, I saw victor sat with them, looking around the restaurant, as if searching for someone."Hey! Welcome love." Ciara hollered at me with a large smile on her face."How come you are here victor?" I adjusted the empty sit beside Amy to seat down.
Chapter seventeen.***"Look at this dress Monica. I'm sure it's going to suit you well." Victor Unhanged a long - straight -pattern- gown in a gold form."This? Are you sure? This is not my taste." I glared at him, then to the dress, gazing at it like it is a rag or something."Come on. Just go try it on–" he handed it over to me, but didn't let it go. "Monica, are you okay? You have been feeling way to empty since you spoke to that lady. Though, I don't what you guys talked about, but you look stressed out.""Oh– It is –it nothing like that. I –will go try this on." I faked a smile and walked out of his sight."Miss –Pls show her to the dressing room." Victor called out to the attendant behind me. On getting there, I saw Arnold sat on a sofa closed to the dressing room, with his head crooked as he went through the magazine. The