“Don't tell a lie on me and I won't tell the truth about you.”
                                 —Anonymous
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C H A P T E R 24:

The knock came to the door again. She wondered who would be disturbing her peace by this time of the morning when she was watching her favorite drama TV show on wap TV but on second thought, maybe they wanted to see Edric who wasn't around.

She was the only one at home so she would just tell the visitor that Edric had gone to work. The person should come later in the day to see him.

She reluctantly got to the door to unlock it. She opened it, and was face to face with a tall lady who was weirdly dressed. She looked quite unwell with bags under her lazy eyes.

She furrowed her brows, taking in the woman's appearance from her head to her toe slowly as she stepped outside properly and closed the door behind her. "Good morning. Can I help you? Is there someone you are looking for?" she asked the stranger all at once with a nice voice.

The strange lady stared at her for a while without uttering a word. She thought it rude but unknown to her, the lady was silently trying to nurse her anger, frustration, guilt and sadness—all mixed together— and not vent it on her.

"Hello? Excuse me? Can you hear me?" She asked the lady again with a confused expression.

The lady exhaled a sharp breath. "Get out of the way please. I want to go in."

It took her sometime to understand what the lady had said. She looked at the door then back at the lady who was clad on an obvious oversized trouser held tightly with a belt.

"Sorry. You can't go in. I don't permit strangers into my house." she said firmly.

"Already claiming what's not yours?" asked the stranger with a clipped voice.

"Please I don't know who you are but you have no right to say that to me," She said with a pinch of annoyance in her voice as she flung her braids over her shoulder.

"How sure are you?" the lady who had knocked earlier, eyed her. Her eyes moving from her braided ponytail hair to her make up face, her off shoulder top, her flare short, slightly washed jean skirt and to her lanky barefooted legs then back to her face. "My name is May and this is my husband's house" she admitted as much as she hated to. "and I should be the one asking you all these questions. Who are you? What are you doing in my house? Don't you have any shame young lady?"

May husband's second mistress —the exact one she had seen the night before— who had come to unlock the door, tried to process what the lady had said. "Wait. Are you sure you're not in the wrong apartment? Cause the owner of this house isn't married yet."

"If you're talking about one Mr. Edric David then yes and as I've already said, I'm his wife." She waved the ring, she hadn't had the guts to remove all these years of unhappy marriage, infront of her husband's mistress face. "Can I go in now?"

Unexpectedly but thankfully the younger lady who happens to be her husband's mistress, let her in without another word said between them and with a little hesitation at the door, followed behind her into the living room to continue watching the movie.

May entered her room to change her clothes. She really needed to remove them before guilty conscience killed her. Even after changing the clothes, his sweet body scent still clung on her. It was like he was every where. It didn't help that she could smell him.

She sat on her bed and reminisced on his last words.  She knew Iby liked her. He had told her sometime around the first time they had met. She knew He meant what he had said but only as friends. Their ever fast growing friendship. She couldn't think more than that.

Iby knew she was married with a kid and until Edric and her situation doesn't get resolved and she eventually gets a divorce, then they could think of a future together but if it does get solved, then they were, 'future impossible tense.'

The sound of her phone ringtone managed to pull her out of her thoughts. The dialer was surprisingly Timothy, Edric's immediate younger brother.

He hasn't called her for ages. Why calling her now?

"Hello," She spoke through the phone when she picked the dialer.

"Hello. It's Timothy your husbands brother..."

"I know."

"So you still got my number? After all this years?" He asked with surprise.

"Yes and long time no see or call.. How is everybody?"

"They are all fine. How is Maryam?"

"She is at grandma's. But thank you, she is fine." she said then waited for his reply.

"Okay. So here's the reason why I called. We, my siblings and I, are hosting a get together. You know, like the last time."

She remembered the last time of cause. It was the day Elena died but she wasn't going to say so in order not to bring back sad memories.

She only responded, "Yes".

"But this time around." His deep voice came through again. "We are having it with our wives. You know, like a 'couples get together thing'. Our kids would be away so as not to disturb our peace as of the time we are suppose to be having the best out of that time. It's going to last a month or so. We aren't really sure yet. I already told Edric to come with you to calabar where we are going to have the fun but he didn't give me an expected response which is quite sad. I just wanted to tell you. If you could remind and persuade him when he comes home from work, it'll be nice. My wife really wants to meet you."

"Okay, I'll try. My regards to your family." She said and then hanged the call up before his talkative self had more to say. It was expected that Edric didn't want her attending his family's get together because maybe he was ashamed of her, but she didn't want to think about him at the moment.

Her head was still aching. Her body, still as hot. She searched for paracetamol inside her cupboard while chastising herself for not collecting the bag of things Iby had bought for her. She had seen malaria drugs inside yet she had exploded just like that without thinking. Allowing her ego or mood swing —which ever— to suddenly take control of her mind and mouth.

Geez.. What was she even thinking? She felt like slamming her head on the wall continuously. It's not like she was even thinking straight these days.  Edric had turned her into something else. Into a hopeless being and now she was going to lose her friendship too?

She took two pill from the pack of paracetamol and went to take a glass of water from the kitchen when she found Edric's mistress pacing restlessly in the living room.

The young girl seem nice and pretty unlike Bella. She was dark in complexion. May noticed they were of same height but she was confused if between she and the girl (whose name she was yet to know) who was slimmer? Was she slimmer or was the girl? She wasn't sure.

All this while, she had being thinking Edric's taste were the fleshy ones.

She wanted to ask what was wrong but decided against it as she went to the kitchen and took her pill.

When she turned around, she was startled by another presence in the kitchen.

"You scared me." She touched her beating chest. "I didn't hear you come in. I think my heart just flied out. Help me catch it."

"I'm sorry." the young lady apologized in between chuckling at May's little joke. "I didn't mean to startle you like that."

May composed herself. "Do you want anything?"

"Can we discuss in the living room?"

............

Tina allowed the tears to flow freely out of her eyes after May finished explaining her history with Edric to her. She was beyond surprised.

"I'm so sorry. If I knew he had a wife that he treated this way, then why would I agree to have an affair with him?" She asked. A question May wouldn't want to give a reply to. "He is not a good husband for you, May. He is a liar, a cheater, a deceiver. He is a scam."

May's lips pressed into a small smile. "I know. I am used to it."

"Why? Why get used to it when you can just leave? See if I were you, I cannot bare this o."

"And stay where?" May asked. "His mother made it clear that she wasn't going to accept me under her roof. What about my daughter? Do you know how much it affects a kid when their parents gets a divorce? I don't want my Maryam to go through that kind of pain. She's too young for that. No matter what I do, I have to put her first."

She knew May was right on that part. She drew in a deep breathe and wiped the tears off her face.

They were silent for a minute or two until she broke it.

"To be sincere with you May, you are a strong lady—"

"I'm not—"

"At least you've tried to be. If you're not doing it for you, you have been doing so for your child."

May gulped. It hasn't been easy.

"But I think you've been strong for too long, May. As women, we are to stand up for each other. If it's possible that we can put an end to this, I'll be here to give you my full support. I might be just nineteen years old and still in the University but I understand your pain. I do. So many women has been there before. Like, how can we put an end to domestic abuse in this country? It's a serious matter. Men like Edric shouldn't go scot free. They should be taught a lesson." she concluded.

May admired her. She wished there were more understanding women like this in the country. Women that are willing to stand for you and not go against you. Women who wouldn't make you feel like you're competing with them.

"Thank you so much. I'll call you whenever I need you." May said and pulled her into a tight hug.

"I can't believe I just shared you my story and I don't even know your name talk more of knowing anything about you." May said when they pulled away.

They both chuckled.

"My name is Tina Benjamin. I'm from Benin." She finally introduced.

"Oh! Nice name." May complimented. "How did you meet Edric?" the question she was dying to ask.

"Yeah, thanks." Tina smiled lovingly at her. "We met online. Through instagram. We later moved our online dating to facebook where we chatted for four months without seeing each other. He would send me money from time to time to take care of my pressing needs. I know how this sounds for you, but I thought I was in love with him and he was with me. It's funny how I was already planning the future with him and how our marriage ceremony would look like."

May felt pity for her and squeezed her hand while Tina struggled not to let the sparkle of  tears left in her eyes to fall.

"I came all the way here to spend a week or two with him only to get my bubbles busted. I never knew I was fooled all along. So this is how it feels like to get played?"

May cleared her throat. "Uh Uh. Enough of Edric. Let me get to know you more." She tried to lighten the mood with a smile. "What school do you attend?"

Tina wiped a tear before it could drop. May could swear she hadn't seen someone more emotional than her until she met Tina.

"I attend the University of Nsukka. I am a level two student studying management science and I'm nineteen years old." Tina told her.

"Awwwn. You're lucky. Some of us didn't get to go to school."

"Owwwn, that's bad. I grew up with both parents. My mother is a nurse. My dad is a general in the Nigerian army. We are eight in my family and I happen to be the seventh child. My family they don't joke with us o..... "

It was working. Tina's mood changed. May got to know alot of things about her new friend who is suppose to be her husband's mistress. She got to know that the teenager talks alot and she enjoys talking about her family more.

She wished, she too could say so much about her family. No? It was only going to sadden her heart.

"Are you listening?" Tina's voice snapped her out of her thought.

Her eyes directed back to Tina's face. "Uh?"

"I was saying, I have a aunt who lives here. I'll stay with her when I leave. But I'm only going to leave when he comes back from work. Hope you understand?"

"No problem at all." May said.

Tina exhaled heavily. "I think I should get your number so I would contact you from time to time and we would discuss about a lot of things...."

............

Their laughter could be heard even from the gate. He wondered as he held his brief case tightly, who was Tina laughing with?

Let it better not be what he was thinking.

He pushed his door open and was greeted with the shock of his life.

Tina and his wife, May, were watching TV together. Laughing as they watched. Their minds were so occupied that they didn't even notice he was at home.

"Tina!" He roared with fury.

What was she doing with May? She wasn't suppose to be with her.

Tina jerked up at first on hearing her name. When she saw it was him, she calmed down, hissed, eyed him from his head to his toe like he meant nothing to her and then, walked to his room.

His mouth opened out of shock as he looked from his room door to May.

May tried to pretend she didn't know what that was for. She walked towards him with a smile plastered on her face.

She took the briefcase from him. "Welcome home darling."

He shot her a look. Sensing she had done something.

When he didn't reply, she continued. "Your brother called. He said—"

"I know what he said." He cuts her shut. "I already told him, I would take a leave at work and I was going to go with someone else. He should stop trying."

"Okay." She simply said.

He grabbed her hand as she was about walking away. He stared angrily into her eyes.

"What did you say to her?" He asked in an hushed tone.

"Who?" She knew he was referring to Tina but she wanted him to say it himself.

"Tina."

"Well, I told her the truth."

"What truth?"

"The truth about us." She said, preventing herself from smiling seeing the terror in his eyes.

He freed her arm almost immediately. "Listen, if any thing happens between Tina and I. I'll show you."

He pushed her away and walked to his room. He couldn't think of something wrong happening between him and Tina. At least not now that he was sexually aroused.

For months, He'd fantasied about having her on his bed. Yesterday night, when she had arrived, she refused to sleep with him with the excuse that her journey was a long tiring one.

He'd let her be but tonight was the night. He had swallowed tramadol in his office and had even worn a condom there.

He meant business.

He wasn't going to let today slid.

"I'm leaving." was the first words that hit him once he entered the bedroom. She was seated on the bed, looking at the floor with a frown on her face.

"What? But that's not what we agreed.." he protested.

"We agreed two weeks. Yes. I know. But I can't, I can't stay knowing fully well that you have a wife."

He sighed. Removing his suit jacket, he dropped it on his bed.

"Well.. Then you can leave."

She shot him a look immediately. "like that?"

He shrugged. "If not like that then like how?"

She stood up and faced him. "You promised to pay for my transport fare if I agreed to come. And now I'm here and I want to go back."

He removed his long sleeve shirt, his shoes, his trouser and was left with only his boxer. Tina noticed the bulge inbetween his legs.

"Well.. There's no money for you since you haven't fulfilled what you are here for?" He said with no shame at all.

She furrowed her brows. "W—hat?" She was going to ask but then it clicked. He wanted sex. All he'd ever wanted from her was sex.

"How dare you. Do you think I am a prostitute?" she clapped her hands together and laughed. "I can see that you are not only a monster to your wife but a bastard as well."

He tried to control his temper so he wouldn't hit her not knowing that his silence was infuriating her the more. She continued to howl insults at him and when he couldn't take it no more, he slapped her.

He expected the shock in her eyes but what he didn't expect was her hand hitting him back across his cheeks even harder. He felt the stinging sensation and his hand immediately went to his cheeks.

The thought that ran to his mind first was his wife. She would never hit him back no matter the amount of time he does.

May could hear everything from the living room. A satisfied smile graced her lips. It felt good that he was having a taste of his own medicine.

"Not every woman is like your wife, Edric. Not every woman would take all your nonsense!" She yelled, trying to hold her eyes from swelling with tears. "Not every woman would endure your torture, Edric. Not all women would let you hit her for no reason like you do. You are lucky you have a wife like May who you can hit like a punching bag whenever you like. If na me eh. You for don hear word. If you ever try raising your hand on me again, i am going to show you the real stuff I am made of. I would make sure you spend your entire life in jail."

She sucked her teeth the way it made an hissing sound and then carried her handbag. As she walked to the door, she added, "You can keep your smelling money. I am not that hungry for it. Ode."

May squealed when Tina walked out of her husband's room. They hugged.

"You are the real shit, girl." May praised.

"I know right?" Tina proudly said. "I'm sure he is surprised that a little girl like me challenged him."

"Hell sure he is." May concurred, nodding her head.

"I'll be leaving now. Take care of yourself and whenever you want to kick that bastard's ass, be sure to call me."

"I will." May smiled.

Meanwhile in his room, Edric was trying to get over the shock that a nineteen year old girl didn't only deny him of sex but also slapped him and got away with it.

Who's fault was it? May.

His good for nothing wife. She was certainly going to pay.

*****

New character. Aside from me, Who else likes Tina?

What do you think would happen next?

This chapter is dedicated to my new found love. Lol. ComfortableShows She makes amazing graphics. When I say amazing, I mean amazzzzziinng. Request your covers from her. I haven't uploaded her cover yet because I would like to use it permanently when I complete this book.

Keep the votes and comments rolling in. I love y'all.

See ya, next time.

With love, Richie. 💛