Assistance

Chapter 5

"Thanks for the food ma'am. It's luscious, I enjoyed every bit of it." Bella commended as she picked up the wiper to tidy her mouth.

"I'm glad you did."

"Let me help you with that." Bella offered as she watched Richard packing the already used plates.

"Oh! Don't bother." He said with a smile.

"Woah, you must be hardworking," Stella uttered as they moved to the living room.

"You think so?" Bella asked with a mischievous grin.

"Yeah."

"Well, I guess your assumptions are wrong. Bella is a lazy Ass." Bella said chuckling.

"Ha, I doubt that. Are you trying to say this gesture you've been showing is just a facade?"Stella asked menacingly with a lopsided grin.

"may-be." Bella shrugged with an impish smile.

 After Richard was done washing, he walked out of the kitchen to join them in the living room.

 "Hey ladies, it seems I'm missing out on something. I can hear your laughter in the kitchen." He said as he slumped onto the closest armchair.

 

 "It's nothing, we're just trying to bring up a conversation." Stella Replied.

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"To be honest, that woman is an embodiment of beauty. She is damn pretty, tall, slender, fair-skinned, with portable breasts, huge hips, and well-to-do butts. She might be into modeling because that woman is "hot" Bella effused as she was giving Maria a sneak peek of how her day went with Jacob's family. 

 

"Wow!" 

 "That woman is lucky. To be sincere, I'm jealous of her, the kind of life she lives is the best definition of a perfect life. 

   You should have seen the way she and her husband were displaying all sorts of romantic stuff. Their Public Display of Affection is top-notch, I'm pretty sure she's not even up to 30. Yet, her life is perfect as that." She said with a smug on her face.

"Come on, there's nothing to be jealous about. Nobody's life is perfect," she said making emphasis on the word Perfect twisting her index and middle fingers together dramatically.

 "At times, most people you think their life is perfect or you think they don't have a problem are going through the hard mill.  it might not just be obvious. You know what is tagged as coverted problem?"

"Yeah, I know. But this is making me think otherwise, I mean what else is tagged perfect if not this? She is beautiful, she has a rich loving husband with two adorable kids. Isn't that perfect?"

"Of course, it is," Maria replied sarcastically.

"Whatever, I wish to have a happy family just like Jacob's family. Sweet, peaceful, and happy family. In fact, I want a husband like Richard." She said grinning from ear to ear. 

 Maria gave her a pensive look and said, "You're going nuts my dear."

Bella gasped in awe and then chuckled softly, "No I'm not going crazy. I'm just going through some phases that are bent on driving me crazy." She said followed by a peal of loud laughter. 

"So what's the difference?" Maria questioned.

"There is. There is a difference between that two statements".

"Whatever!"

"Arrgh, I'm done with this conversation." She said in a tone of weary cynicism and got up from the chair. 

 Maria stared at her retreating figure and shook her head ruefully.

 

"This is not the Bella I once know, the one I know is contented with what she has, she's not filled with rancorous thought." Maria maundered. 

 It seems the incident unleashed the dark side of Bella. She exhibits different kinds of poignant attitudes, most of her thoughts are vicious, malefic, and loony.

 

  "Well, Pain changes people."

"Lord, Bella needs your help," Maria muttered a short prayer.

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"A penny for your thoughts?" Richard snapped as he climbed up the bed.

"Huh?" She asked with a raised brow.

"You seem to be lost in thought. Anything boggling your mind?"

 "No, not really. I'm just worried about Bella."

 

 "Bella?" He queried.

 

 "Yeah, I think she needs help."

 

 "Oh! About that? Yeah, she needs help."

 

 "You have the same feeling too?"

 

 "Yes, she's not fine, she's going through a lot. She is depressed, she's just using those smiles to cover everything up. That smile is a facade."

 

 "I noticed that too. Her smile and laugh look unreal. Even when we were discussing, it was  obvious."

 

 "She has not gotten over the incident and I guess it's normal, because who will go through that kind of trauma without almost going insane?

 

 "Yeah, but she needs to snap out of it and get back on her feet. She can't continue like this, she might just end her life."

 "What?" He gawked.

"Yes, she might just commit suicide if she feels everything is turning against her."

"This is serious. In what way did you think we can be of help?

"To be candid, I don't know because she needs help; Financially, psychologically even spiritually."

"Woah! This is serious," Richard exhaled.

"So which aspect did you think we start with?" He questioned.

"Honestly, I don't know."

 There was total silence in the room for a while.

 "How about starting with the spiritual aspect?" Stella suggested.

 

 Richard gave her a long pensive look.

 

 "Yes, we can start by inviting her to our church. It's only God that can help her. She's a Christian right?"

 

 "Yes, she is or should I say she was?

 "She used to be a devoted Christian back then in our University days."

 

 "Oh! Then what happens now? She's no longer devoted? Has she backslid?

 

"I can't answer that question," he said with a nervous laugh.

"Oh! This is the perfect time for her to draw nearer to GOD because he's the only one that can help her out."

  "Backsliding will not help the matter it can only worsen it if care is not taken. She could have just put everything in God's hands and let his will be done.

 

 "When you're heavily laden, you tend to be frustrated or make you do absurd things. It might even make you doubt the existence of God and it does not matter if you're devoted, righteous, or whatever position you hold in the house of God. We are humans, we have feelings and emotions, and blood runs through our veins, so it's normal to feel sad or downcasted because the Bible told us in John 16: 33; "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulations, but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."

 

 So it's certain that we shall face trials.

 " Yeah, that's true."

 

"We can also help her to move closer to him. You know?"

 "True, maybe I should invite her to our Sunday service program and if she doesn't mind, we can take her to our pastor for prayer and counseling."

 

 "Good. After that, we can now help her financially. Or what did you think?" she asked.

 "Yeah, it's fine. We will help her in the little way we can. We want to see her get back to her feet."

 

"Yeah, that's the spirit," she said with a smirk.

Richard stared at her weirdly.

"What? Why are you staring at me that way? She was forced to ask.

Richard smiled and pulled her closer to him. "You know I'm so lucky to have you right?"

Stella giggled; "yes, I'm lucky to have you too."

"You're quick-witted, Beautiful, and Doting and your good personality is just beyond imagination. The way you care about people is outstanding."

"Aww, all this compliment for me? 

I'm flattered." She chortled using her hands to fan her face dramatically.

"I'm serious, you're just like an angel.  I promise to love the whole of you till my last breath." He said as he placed a light kiss on her forehead.

"I promise to love every inch of you." She replied as he placed a short kiss on her lips.

"Huh, time to sleep. Work begins tomorrow."

"Yeah. Monday, Money day." Stella said yawning lightly.