POLLEN “Wait a minute, he paid for therapy and also hired a critique to go through every single thing you’ve written?” Mia sat up from her beach chair. “Yea” I nodded with a coy smile. “And that was after he took you shopping?” “Yea” “This guy likes you” Mia fell back in her chair, “I’m very sure he does” “Come on. He is just being nice” “This is beyond being nice, Pollen. I’ve been with a lot of men, so trust me when I tell you he likes you” I suddenly went quiet as I tried to let her words sink in. At that point I was battling the urge to tell her we kissed. He has a girlfriend, saying I kissed a man who has a girlfriend makes me feel pathetic. Especially after the chaos I had caused their relationship when I popped up with a pregnancy. “Is there something you aren’t telling me?” Mia adjusted her sunglasses to peek at me. “Nothing at all” I responded abruptly. “You are hiding something from me, aren’t you?” “No” I stressed. “Okay” She reached for her glass of champagne
NATASHA“You think Susan can pull this off?” I asked my mum who was at the dining table having fruits.“Why not? Your cousin is a very smart girl, just like my sister. I told you my sister…”“Your sister helped you with tricks that got you that abuser you call a husband” I rolled my eyes, leaving my mother speechless.“Your father wasn’t like that from the beginning” My mother said in a low tone that made me think she was missing the evil man I was unfortunate to have as a father.“Are you trying to make excuses for him?” My eyebrows furrowed in shock and disgust.“No.I just…”“Look, mother. I have paid those guys a huge sum of money to ensure that man rots in there. I won’t have you let some flimsy emotion ruin our new chance at having a respectable life”“I never said I missed him or still have feelings of any sort towards him. If there is anything anyone should worry about, it’s your increasing likeness for Raymond”“What’s wrong in liking Raymond? He is good looking, rich and ev
RAYMONDThe air was heavy with the scent of good bourbon, as we, myself, Alex, Damien and Lamar reunited. Our banter and laughter, rich and warm, echoed through the house.“I can’t believe I’ve been out of The States for half a year” Lamar started, “Men, I thought I was going to run back here as soon as I stepped foot in Nigeria”“Why?” I asked.“The stories being circulated” Alex who had joined them a month after they had left chipped in.“Yeah. The stories. Bro, they painted that place in a bad light and made it look like some place only people with supernatural abilities can survive”“I know right” Alex chuckled. “To be honest, I was scared when you asked me to go check what they were doing” Alex confessed and we all laughed.“What a coward,” I teased.“But it was fun, not going to lie. I’ll miss their savory foods” Alex stated.“Yea, and beautiful women” Lamar addsd.“What beautiful women? The ones throwing themselves on my crotch for a 100 bucks?” Damien threw back his head
POLLENAs the tires rolled into the mansion, my heartbeat accelerated. I didn’t understand the gravity of the crime I had committed until Mia and Laura left and Ken brought me home.“We are home already, Miss Pollen” Ken announced when I didn’t budge moments after the car engine became quiet.“Oh! I didn’t even realize” I lied.I opened the door and got out. I walked unwillingly to the door, hoping and praying I wouldn’t bump into him.“Why did I even agree to move upstairs?” I stumped my feet like a child.Then I remembered that Ken was still in the car just behind me. I spun to find him standing outside, with a little smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. I turned to face my front instantly, my embarrassment already heightened at this point.If I hadn’t listened to Raymond and moved to a room upstairs, even though I had no reason to do that. Sneaking into my old room which was down stairs wouldn’t have been a problem. But now the chances of being seen by him before making it to
RAYMOND“The meals are still as bomb as ever. Don’t ever fire Pamela, bro” Alex warned.He and the others trailed behind me as we walked out of the dining room after filling our stomachs. I stepped foot in the living room first,then quickly turned to my friends with a finger on my lips.“Who is that?” Lamar whispered as we all watched her try to shut the door in the most silent way.“Shhhh” I placed a finger on my lips, asking them to be quiet.“What is wrong with him?” Lamar asked, still in whispers.I was looking forward to the look of shock on her face as she quietly spun. Pollen looked like she had seen a ghost the moment she turned to find my friends and I in the living room.“Hi” She made a little hand wave,but put it down immediately.“Hi” I answered with a smile I didn’t even realize was obvious. It was meant to be a mental expression.I watched as she hurried up the stairs.“Hey. What’s wrong with you?” Lamar punched me lightly in the chest, but I didn't bother as my eyes we
NATASHAMy mother adjusted herself and checked her lips for a thousandth time in the little mirror she brought out of her purse when the chauffeur pulled into the venue for the sorority party. Seeing that everything was okay, she waited for the chauffeur to get the door.Still seated in the car beside my mother, I peeked at the tall building where the meeting is scheduled to hold. It will be their first time holding one in such a luxurious space.“Aren’t you coming?” My mother paused on her way out of the car.“Patricia has seen me before. Do you want her to recognize me and ruin our plan?” I said and brought out a pair of glasses to put on.“Who is Patricia?”“The Pauper’s mum. How can you not know the name of someone who is likely to ruin your chances of being sorority Chairperson?”“You know I don’t care about those women, so keeping their names in my head is hard”“Well, you have to keep this one. She is not someone to play with, unless you want to lose to her like I did to her
POLLENMy hands trembled with excitement as I grabbed the ornate door handle.I have been looking forward to this moment since I moved in, but thought it was never going to happen because of the contract agreement that stated ‘No friends or family allowed’,but finally,my friend Mia and sister Laura were about to experience the grandeur of Raymond’s beautiful home. With a deep breath,I swung open the door, revealing Mia and Laura looking around the yard with their feet planted at the front door.“You guys are here!” I smiled broadly.“Finally!” Mia squealed when she saw me.Laura was too engrossed with the environment to say a word to me.We hugged briefly before entering the mansion.Mia's eyes widened, her mouth agape. "Wow...Pollen, this…this is incredibly beautiful!”Laura's gaze darted around the living room, taking in the crystal chandelier, the sweeping staircase, and the exquisite furnishings. "Pollen, this is heaven!" Laura gasped.I beamed with smiles, thrilled to share my
POLLEN “Why did you lie to me?” Mia’s face was right in front of mine as she outlined my eyes with a brown eye pencil. “What do you mean?” “You said Raymond has no friends when I asked you to introduce me to one of his friends” “That’s because I never saw him with any friends. I got back from the beach last Sunday to find tons of them in the living room, I was too shocked to utter a word myself ” “Am I supposed to believe this?” Mia paused with the eyeliner trapped between her fingers. “Believe whatever you want” I joked. “You know you are under my mercy, right?” “Talking like I can’t decide to go to the book launch with a bare face. I have a great skin you know” I winked at her. “Keep that ugly of face of yours let me finish what I’m doing” She placed one hand on my head while the other carefully drew a line on my eyelid. “Why do you want a man when you have one already?” “I have told you countless times that Jeff and I aren’t dating” “What are you doing then?” “Using eac