Missing Pieces (Episode 3)

As usual the steady movement of the school’s commercial bus lulled Christabel to a sleepy state of mind, even if it just lasted for a few minutes, like always she was bone tired and still had so much to do, the day’s lecture was gruesome… the sudden lurch of  the bus jolted her fully awake, she sighed, days like this she often wished school never existed… or maybe that her parents were so poor they couldn’t affort it. they soon got to the bus stop where she took her sweet time getting down much to the chagrin of the people she was blocking their way, she didn’t care… she had only taken a few steps when she felt a tap on her shoulder, she was so tired she did not even have the time to be shocked,she turned slowly then wished she hadn’t Eddie... her most recent nemesis…

 They had met about a week earlier at a place she went to photocopy an assignment,she had met a small crowd there and since she couldn’t wait her turn decided to charm some innocent looking guy into allowing her take his turn, that has always worked for her, unfortunately the guy that was second in line looked at her for not up to 5 secs and said a blank NO… though she was slightly embarrassed at the giggles it attracted from  some girls standing there, she was more surprised with the fact that the guy refused to even give her a second look …after standing there awkwardly for a few minutes she quietly offered to pay the guy if only he would allow her take his turn and to her surprise he agreed saying he would take a thousand naira for every page… thinking he was probably just joking she gave him the two pages of her assignments…5 minutes later,she was not only in a shocked state of mind but she was two thousand naira short…

 ‘Eddie are you stalking me now?’…As like the usual times they met she was awed by his rugged looks…though not as polished and refined as her boyfriend, he had this air around him that makes her want to pull off her clothes and hump into bed with him…

‘Maybe…or maybe you are the one stalking me!..’…smilling she turned and kept on walking…Eddie was the kinda guy that makes girls swoon,he had all the necessary charm and a little of rogue character to match with his looks …for the past weeks  after their first encounter,he had hounded her endlessly…he hadn’t given up until he got her BB  pin, then still he didn’t stop…the funny thing was that she was beginning to enjoy the attention.

‘Lectures over?...was thinking we could grab a bite?’…Christabel smilled again…he had offered her a drink after collecting her money on the very first day they met and that had been a routine ever since…

‘sure,if you could afford to pay for my meal then am good…’…Chuckling loudly he draped a hand softly on her shoulders as he led her towards the nearest fast food….

 

Mirabel paced restlessly on the small confines of her room… she was deep in thought, his birthday  was slowly approaching and she had long decided to show him how she really feels about him on that day…she just does not know how…she was even a bit worried that she hadn’t heard from him for about 2 weeks…if only her roommate would show up,it was almost 7pm and she is yet to be back from school…she went to the window and looked out for the up tenth time,stil no sign of her…she sighed and resumed pacing…few minutes later the sound of laughter drew her to the window again,what she saw nearly gave her a reason to faint…there walking down towards their room looking totally wasted was her friend Christabel…she laughed again…this time holding on to her companion for support…Mira’s attention was immediatly drawn to the guy laughing alongside her…her blood ran cold…

 

Christabel felt wozzy and lightheaded but happy, this was exactly what she needed after a long day…she felt much better…staying with Eddie had that effect on her…plus the wine of course…on getting to the door of her room,she smilled up at him and he drew her  into his arms…cupping her face gently,he pressed a kiss on her lips,then he left her standing there,breathless and dazed…she stood there for a few more seconds admiring the way he moved gracefully…smilling stupidly she turned and knocked on the door…she had been so engrossed in her companion that she did not noticed the shocked face staring at them through the window…

 

Mirabel threw open the door immediately after the second knock,she stood there staring at her friend till she brushed past her and went inside,shutting the door silently,she turned and faced her,her hands akimbo…

‘What I just saw…I am going to pretend it never happened…’…She had a stern look on her face but inside she was dying a little…

‘You can go ahead and pretend all you want,infact can you pretend so much so I can at least have a little peace of mind, am quite tipsy and I need to sleep…’ …She was already on the bed,pulling the covers way past her chin…looking so innocent…the bitch!...

Mirabel turned away so her friend wouldn’t see the tears gathering in her eyes,she felt like her world was coming to an end…how can she ever hope to compete with her friend over his attention,he doesn’t even know her name!...

‘You know if you could just try to be a better girlfriend to Christopher for once in your life,the world would be a much better place…’…turning to her friend who was already dozing off,she took few steps towards the bed,she was close enough to hear her muffled ‘Whatever’…before she slept off…leaning over her,and making sure she was asleep she whispered ‘If only you don’t exist,my world would be a much better place’…

Grabbing her purse and phone she left the room…

 

Eddie was frustrated,He paced the length of his room and then back again,the ringing of his phone stopped him in the middle of his pacing,running his hands through his face he sighed…staring at the phone he let it ring out and continued pacing…For two weeks he has pursued her and for two weeks she had teased him…just a kiss,that’s all he got…He needed an outlet…He was so lost in his thoughts that he jumped when he had a knock on his door,he waited for some time then opened the door,he couldn’t help but feel disappointed when he saw who it was,but he wasted no time dwelling on that,this was exactly what he needed…Pulling her inside,he shut the door with his leg....with nothing on his mind except satitsfing the raging desire in him,he totally forgot who the hell she was…the only thing on his mind was sex,weed and alchohol…he was like an animal in heat…with one swipe of his hand,he cleared everything from his reading table…not that he did much reading there  anyway,he had the crash of his laptop but he was too pissed off with himself to give a damn…he lifted her to the table and hiked her skirt up cursing at the barrier of her panties,not to be deterred he tore it off and made to enter her,he then remembered he had no protection on,and had none left in the room also…He had been so into gaining his new conquest that he let himself go for a while …decideding to risk it,he carried her from the table to the bed stripping her along the way…he was far from gentle as he let her fall freely down,ignoring her soft gasp of pain when her head hit the wall,he went to the window and covered the blinds,grabbing the TV  remote  he put on some loud music while pulling at his belt hook…damn!...

 

It lasted about 30minutes,30 minutes of torture and pain,not that she minded…it was him,it was her Eddie…she endured the pain and gave him more…Her body was already weak from the pain and bruises but she pretended she felt nothing….urging him on,allowing herself to be an outlet…an outlet for his anger…at whomever…even at that moment she forgave him…and when it was all over,for the first time he kissed her…rolling to the side he said something,something she feared would scar her forever….He whispered her name…’Christabel’…He whispered her name and slept off…

Rolling to the side and facing him,she let herself go…sobbing uncontrollably yet still gently stroking his face she whispered…’My name is Mirabel…and God knows I wish you would know that’…

Missing pieces 

By Nnagoziem The Vyrus Udensi 

and Ekene Mgbechikwelu 

...to be continued