Silent Seduction (22)

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Mr. Right
Could be nice
For one night
Then he wanna take control
But I would rather fly solo
That snow white
She did right
In her life
Had seven men to do the chores
Cos that’s not what a lady’s for
Daya (Sit still, look pretty)
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Janice didn’t object to her staying with her but Tori felt like a burden and she could barely look at her ex-course mate in the face. They had only talked that day they met on the road and Tori had also called to ask which department she was posted to a few days after their meeting. Janice had told her she was posted to the pediatrics department and they have talked about they arranged how they would meet in the hospital which didn’t really come to pass anyway and ever since then, they hadn’t talked again and now, it feels awkward and desperate that Tori had to ask for her help. She hated herself for always leaning on someone whenever she was in a fix. Ever since she got to Lagos, she had always been someone’s cross. It was James first, then Tobi, now Janice. Only God knows when she’d get kicked out of Janice’s too but she knows she won’t let it get to that before she finds her way. She is rather determined to get her own place as soon as possible. Weirdly, getting her place seems like a dream after…..
Oh Gosh!
She doesn’t want to think about him. She felt like erasing every memory of him she had.
Remembering his name even hurts so bad she felt sick.
She was disappointed and mad at the rather rash and harsh decision he made but was too weak to even show all that. The only emotion her weak body could display is ‘how pathetic her life is’. She knew she messed up by not showing up for his uncle’s place but shouldn’t he have asked her to explain? She tried calling him to tell him what came up but his line was busy and when she finally got through to him, he refused to pick up.
Did he really have to use her condition against her knowing so well he was the only person who knows how her situation really is?
Janice was considerate and Tori was actually grateful to her for not pushing her to talk about how she got to be like this. Tori called her and asked if she could stay with her for a while, telling her on the phone that she had been thrown out with her things and she was surprised Janice agreed and she had told her to come, giving her a detailed description of where she stays. And here is she’s now.
At Janice’s two-bedroom flat.
Janice was busy helping her with arranging her things inside a room. Janice was all dressed like she was off for an outing and it looked like got delayed because of Tori's unexpected call.
‘This is a friend’s room actually. She stays with her boyfriend now though and only comes here once in a while. You can have it for now since she seldom stays here. I’ll call her and let her know about you and I’m very sure she’d be fine with it.’
Tori nodded her comprehension while she still had her head bowed.
‘I was actually going somewhere when you called. When I get back, we’ll talk. Now, snap out of whatever that thing on your face is and cheer up. Make yourself feel at home Okay?’ Janice said smiling up at her.
Tori never knew it was this hard to force a smile and when she finally got to display what seemed like it, Janice frowned at her.
‘You should work on that.’ She said, the frown still on her face while she made for the door.
‘I’ll be going to work too. I am already late and I won’t be coming back tonight.’ Tori said in an almost inaudible voice.
‘Oh. Right then, we’d talk tomorrow The key to the house is on the centre table in the living room.’ Janice started.‘When you are leaving, lock the door and put the key under the foot mat outside.’ Janice said hurrying out of the house after saying a few words to cheer her up.
When she was gone, Tori got dressed for work. She thought about why she really had to go through all this humiliation while she was at it.
Tori only wished she could just get a hold of herself and stand on her own feet without anybody’s help.
Her pride had been trampled upon too much that she felt she was a complete failure. She had only wanted to have a peaceful life and she really doesn’t know if that’s too much to ask as everything seemed to be going wrong for her.
When is that time when she’d have to rely on nobody coming?
Her phone started ringing and she hurriedly picked it up. It’s weird she could be expecting a call in her condition.
‘Marcus, how’s he now?’ She asked and waited patiently for Marcus' reply.
‘He is still unconscious but the Doctors said he’d be fine.’ Tori wasn’t exactly relieved with his reply but she couldn’t really do anything about it.
‘ Are you on your way already?’ Marcus asked breaking the silence on the line.
‘Yeah, I’m on my way.’ She hurriedly said before hanging up.
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Even though he really didn’t want to admit he had been a jerk, a part of him screamed JERK and he could barely think straight.
Maybe he had been rather overhasty in his decision and should have handled it with maturity.
He couldn’t even convince himself he had reacted that way because she didn’t keep her promise of coming with him to his uncle’s place and not because she was with Marcus.
He wasn’t going to agree anyway that the latter was the reason for his reaction.
He couldn’t help tossing and turning on his bed because he was losing the argument he was having with the voices in his head and even at that, he wasn’t going to admit he was wrong.
‘You did what was right. She ditched you for that guy and you have to show her you are nobody’s toy and she really doesn’t mean anything to you. Telling her to leave was the only right decision to make. Besides, she said she has some money now, she probably got herself a place.’ He said aloud to himself then he abruptly picked the pillow beside him and slammed it across his face in frustration.
‘You were such an i.diot!’ He said in a muffled voice as held the pillow to his face,
‘Are you talking to yourself?’ It was Tife’s voice and Tobi hurriedly took the pillow off his face and sat up to look at Tife who was still holding the closed door handle, a weird look on her face. She was in her pajamas and his mum was just right before her.
‘What are you doing here?’ He asked not looking at them.
‘Do you know if Tori is on Call tonight? I haven’t seen her since I got back.’ His mum asked.
‘Me neither. And she isn’t picking her calls.’ Tife added.
‘I don’t know.’ Tobi replied in a low voice still not looking at them.
‘Why wouldn’t you know? You…’ His mum tried to say but Tobi Just flared up.
‘I don’t know because I already asked her to leave! She’s not a family so don’t treat her like one. She’s gone so just she forget ever stays here!’ He screamed at them.
‘You did what!’ His mum exclaimed not believing her ears. The look of surprise on her face and Tife’s actually surprised him.
‘You can’t act like you own this house! You can’t just do anything you like because….’ He didn’t let his mum finished her yelling before he yelled back.
‘I actually have the right to tell her to leave! I asked her to stay here in the first place and I have the right to ask her to leave! You wouldn’t know her if it weren’t for me and now that she’s gone, let’s never talk about her again!’ He said with a tone of finality before finally bumping his way out of the house.
He was at war with himself and the last thing he needs now is someone making him feel more guilty than he presently is.
He was going to go for a ride.
He'd probably drive all night.
If that would make him feel less guilty, then so be it.



©Fiyah