I see things others don't (1) episode 7&8

Episode 7

Her head was still rested firmly on my shoulder. She hadn’t
moved a muscle and for a moment I thought she hadn’t heard.
I loved the way she scented, her perfume was sweet and soft
just like her skin which was right now rubbing against mine.
Her body was warm against mine, just as it had been on the
day we kissed. I cherished these moments, all the more so as
I risked losing it all in a few moments…
“What did you say?” She asked, her head still on my shoulder.
I wished I could see the look on her face, so I could gauge
what her reaction was going to be like. I raised her up and
held her by the shoulders so that she was looking straight at
me. Her features were, well, blank.
“I said, I see things that others do not see. Things that nobody,
actually, should be allowed to see.”
“You mean, you hallucinate?”
“No I don’t hallucinate,” I paused. This was going to be difficult
to explain. “I kind of see into the spirit realm, or third
dimention, or whatever you want to call it. Everyone has that
ability, only, not on this side of the veil.”
“The veil? What are you talking about?” She was beginning to
get alarmed.
“The spirit world is divided from this one by a veil. Look, forget
the intricate details, what you need to know is that I see things
that make me able to read people, know their problems or
gifts, and sometimes help them out when I can.”
“Like the pastor the other day?” She asked
“Like the pastor the other day.” I affirmed. “He was doing fetish
things with the oil he was using on the people he was praying
for, only that I could see he really didn’t want to do it but
rather his wife pushed him into it. You know, a miracle here, a
manifestation there, and his congregation would swell. But I
saw into him and realised he didn’t want anything to do with it.
So I pretended to go for prayers and instead advised him to
stop. He was grateful. Hence the thank you. ”
She listened on in silence. She had this look on her face like,
ooooooh, so that was what that was all about. I watched her
for a while longer wondering what she would say next. When
she said it I wasn’t too surprised.
“So what do you see when you look at me?” She asked.
“You have beautiful wings.”
She looked at me a while and then registered shock and
surprise as realization dawned on her. “That’s what you said
the day we met! You weren’t looking at my boobs!”
I laughed and she laughed as well. It was amazing! If it had
been a white chick she would have probably told me to go and
see a psychiatrist. But I guess Africans and especially
Nigerians were a little more accommodating when it came to
supernatural issues. Or maybe it was just her personality. I
was relieved though that she seemed to be taking this
revelation rather well. however I still had something I needed
to tell her.
“There’s something else,” I said. I had since let go of her
shoulder and she had relaxed into the chair. But now she sat
up curiously.
“Your wings. They are tied pretty tight with golden chains. I
have honestly not seen that before and was wondering what it
meant.”
Her eyes widened and she impulsively looked at her shoulders
as if to see if she could spot anything.
“I honestly don’t know o, this is the first time someone is
telling me that I have wings talkless of chained wings. Can’t
you find out for me? Do they look heavy? Maybe they are my
sins?”
I shook my head. I had thought of that before but it didn’t male
sense somehow and besides I would have seen it on someone
else by now. Unforgiven sins usually appeared like dull grey
rusting chains tied around a heavy ball of steel and attached
to the ankles of the ones who carried them. They weren’t
beautiful or shiny in any way. This golden chain however
seemed tobe both a blessing and a curse to her. A thought
came to mind and I voiced it out.
“What if it has to do with the relationship you are in? Maybe
your decision, being a selfless one, is what makes the chains
golden. Its a good decision but self limiting. What do you
think.”
As I explained, her countenance became sad. She said nothing
but tears came to her eyes. I can’t stand seeing ladies cry, it
does something to me, makes me feel helpless somewhat. So
I brought her close to me and hugged her, offering as much
emotional support as I could. She stayed in my arms for a
while but then suddenly pushed me away.
“No! That can’t be it! You don’t understand, you’re just using
the information I gave you to make things up so you’ll score
points with me. Well I’m not falling for it!”
Seriously?
She got up and started to gather her things. I watched her, my
mouth open in surprise. Weren’t we just laughing a while ago?
What had I said to warrant this? why was she hot one moment
and extremely cold the next? The chains around her wings
appeared even more tight today than it had been yesterday and
i wondered why i hadnt noticed it before. I suddenly
remembered something.
“What happened last night?” I asked.
“Huh? None of your business!” She retorted.
“You called him, didn’t you? You are going to meet him soon,
maybe even agree to go ahead with the pact even though
there seems no logical reason for it!” I had raised my voice a
little. “You are about making a huge mistake!”
“Its none of your business!” She repeated hotly.
I threw my hands up in exasperation. In a way she was right, it
wasn’t any of my business. I was letting the feelings I had for
her cloud my judgement.
She saw that I had become quiet and stopped fidgeting.
“I’m sorry. Maybe I over reacted there a little. Its just, its
complicated. His father has been very good to me and my
family.”
I closed my eyes and said nothing.
“His father has agreed to come and see my guardians.” She
said suddenly. ” He is coming with his dad to my place
tomorrow so we can discuss a few things.”
“I see,” I said, “well, far be it from me to play the devil’s
advocate in this scenario. The truth of the matter is I’ve fallen
in love with you. I wake up in the morning everyday with the
hope that I’ll see you smile, or laugh or just talk. Everything
about you is beautiful to me”
“Chuks…” She said.
“Please dear, let me finish. I’m not really one for putting my
feelings out there but I have to let you know this. Its becoming
obvious to me that you may not feel the same way. Still I can’t
let you go knowing that you’re getting yourself into a situation
that will hurt you. That’s why I’m trying to make it my
business. If you don’t want me fine, but don’t sign off the rest
of your life to a guy you don’t love just because you made a kid
promise some years ago.”
She sighed and sat down again. We were quiet for a while and
I could hear the gentle rumble of thunder.
“It seems like it’s going to rain.” She said. I nodded absent
mindedly. This was definitely not how I intended spending my
Saturday. The atmosphere in my room was tense and glum
and I suddenly felt sick of the whole thing.
“Screw this, I’m taking you out.” I said.
“What? When?” She asked, taken aback. I got up and yanked
her to her feet. I felt her exhale as I drew her close to me.
Those lips, those lovely eyes…perfect gentleman, perfect
gentleman….
“There’s a nice spot a few yards away called ‘Sadi’s place.’ I
said. ‘They sell the best barbacued fish this side of Lagos. We
are going there now.”
“But, the rain,” she said hesitantly.
“It’s an indoor place and they have taxi for charter in case we
want to go anywhere from there. Come on, it beats sitting
around here moping, abi?”
She laughed then and agreed. I wore my shoes and we went
out the door
“You know, maybe you should come along to my place, maybe
tomorrow,” She said as we were going. “You’ll get to know my
house and you’ll meet Obi. You’ll see his not a bad guy at all.
A bit glum, but not bad.”
“Let’s see how today goes first”, I said. I wasn’t particularly
thrilled about meeting my competition but it was an
opportunity to know her place so why not? And besides,
maybe I could read him, and see if there was anything that
required me worrying more about Nina.




Episode 8

It’s a wonderful Sunday morning.
It should be a wonderful Sunday morning. The sun is out,
shining bright in the sky, the birds are singing, there is a cool
morning breeze pervading the entire place, an aftermath no
doubt of the rains that fell last night. I have just seen Nina off
(she spent the night) and we even shared a little kiss, before
the okada man, grinning from ear to ear, zoomed off with her
on the passenger seat. She had given me the address of her
place but had to leave early so as to go to church and also
prepare the place for her visitors when they arrived. We had a
lovely time yesterday…so it should be a beautiful morning.
So why do I feel so sad?
Yesterday had been wonderful, we made it to Sadi’s place
without any incident and there was already a live band playing.
We ordered some drinks and a large barbecued catfish
garnished with shrimps, tomatoes and onion rings. The fish
had been roasted in foil paper at just the right temperature
such that it had a crispy thin outer layer which had somehow
trapped the essence of the various spices and fruit recipe Sadi
herself had formulated to give a unique and heavenly taste. I
never got tired of it and Nina, this being her first time of tasting
it, absolutely enjoyed it. I had ordered a chilled cucumber and
pineapple cocktail for Nina and a bottle of Smirnoff ice for
myself. The atmosphere had been relaxing and entertaining
and before we knew it we had forgotten our issues. We
ordered more drinks, Nina taking a Smirnoff this time and a
bottle of cold Star beer for me. We talked about the office, our
families, our schools, our friends; we talked about a lot. And I
saw then that Nina was even more vivacious, even more full of
life than I had previously imagined.
We were halfway in the middle of a conversation and I had
suggested we finish it in my place. I know, I know, it was a
flimsy excuse but she didn’t complain. We got to my place
about six o’clock, just as the rain had started to fall. We
watched a movie, found out that we shared the same
fondness for songs and played a few tracks as we talked. By
ten o’clock she became sleepy and asked what she could use
as a Nightie. I went into the cupboard and found a large Pooh
Bear T-shirt. It fit her perfectly. I left her to have her bath in
the bathroom and went to see about the sleeping
arrangements. I pulled out the couch in the parlour (the chair
that could become a sofa) and set it up, and then I went to
change the bed sheets in the room. She had gone into the
bathroom with her dress, one of my towels and the T-shirt I
gave her. I was still fixing up the bed when I heard a noise, on
turning around there she was, looking lovely and smelling
heavenly. I wanted to have her there and then, to make her
mine, but I remembered my promise…
She came towards me, smiling that her intoxicating
smile.
“Still being the perfect gentleman?” she asked coyly.
“For as long as you want me to be…” I replied with a low growl.
She giggled and pushed me out of the room. I feigned
resistance a bit then went to have my own bath. By the time I
had gotten dressed she had put out the bedroom lights and
apparently gone to sleep. I sighed and went to the couch.
I had slept in that couch many a time when watching movies in
my parlour. Never had it felt as uncomfortable as it did last
night. I tossed and turned, put on the Air conditioning and put
it off again. Sleep became as elusive as the real Santa Claus
on a cold Christmas night. My mind kept going back to that
warm body lying on the bed, the curves of those hips, the
loveliness of that b---m. My throat for some reason was very
dry. I decided to visit the kitchen to get a drink and in so doing
passed across the bedroom door. It was slightly ajar and dark
inside, the only source of light coming from the bedside lamp.
I was on my way back from the kitchen when I heard her
voice:
“Is that you, chuks? Please come in… I can’t go to sleep.”
I came in and, without a word, snuggled up behind her. She
sighed and nodded approvingly and then closed her eyes. I did
too, for a few seconds, and then opened them again. I mean,
her neck was just there, so I gave it a brush with my lips. She
shivered and I caressed her neck with my lips a little more,
starting from the top of the neck muscle and going all the way
down to its base. She sighed again and I dared to raise my
hands in a caress of her supple neck and shoulders and then
down the curves of her hips and back. I felt her warm body
curve against mine as I continued my sensual assault but just
as I was about to feel the weight of her b---m, I heard a
gentle sob. I paused a bit and soon, I heard it again. She was
crying.
“What’s the matter?” I asked.
“Nothing.” She said. “Okay, maybe something. I’m sorry
chuks, I want you, I really do, but…but…”
“You made a promise.” I said simply.
“Yes,”
“And you keep your promises,” I said.
“Yes.”
“Well so do I,” I said good naturedly. “I’m switching back to
perfect gentleman mode.”
She laughed a little.
“I’m really sorry chuks” She said quietly. “Can we just…”
“Say no more.” I said. I cuddled her and she went to sleep.
I had awakened this morning to the sounds of movement and
when I looked at the time it was a few minutes to seven. I had
eventually slept off more than an hour later last night despite
numerous protests from every cell in my body. I rubbed my
eyes and looked around the room. She had already gotten
dressed and when she saw I was awake she pulled me out of
the bed to escort her to the junction. She explained that she
had to be in church by nine and her room was a mess and she
had to go fix the place up for her visitors…
It was supposed to be a wonderful Sunday morning.
But I kept getting this feeling that today would mark the end of
my relationship with Nina.