Playing The Piper - II

Being with James is everything, but sometimes I feel he has dual personalities or is it all in my head. Am I looking for excuses to sabotage a perfectly normal relationship because I feel he is too good to be true. Staring at him right now, laying there at my balcony, laughing at something Cynthia said, or did.

“Hey Angie, come over here for a minute, you need to see this” Cynthia called out. She has a way of making me get involved in whatever discussion they get engrossed in, sometimes it is difficult picking a side when they argue. Trying so hard to ignore her this time but I know it is a fruitless attempt so I joined them at the balcony.

“So I was thinking…” oh no, not that line again, anytime Cynthia uses that statement, nothing good ever comes out of it. “don’t give me that look yo, this is different”

“can we get to the part where we vote on whatever crazy idea you’ve come up with this time” feeling exasperated with the whatever it was she was up to.

“ignoring that bad energy, on that note, what do you think about, the trio getting a place together,” Cynthia said it so casually, you will think it's been discussed before. She must have noticed my perplexed countenance, then she quickly added: “Angie, I said what do you think, meaning it's up for discussion”. 

I looked at James, but he was looking elsewhere sipping his juice and looking so apathetic. “did you put her up to this” I demanded so loudly my tongue began to hurt. Damn that tongue, I wonder why it happens all the time. “C’mon babe, think about it, I almost live here….” While James spoke he was on his feet and attempting to hug me.

“But you don’t,” I said pulling away. “hear us out first, then you can kick against the idea okay” 

“Okay, you have 30 seconds” showing him the time on my phone as a way of driving home her point. But instead of him speaking, Cynthia took over “So, you recall Mr Abayomi, my colleague who also doubles as a part-time estate agent yeah? 'He just called me to say a house owner is desperately looking to sell his 5-bedroom flat at a very affordable rate. Plus we can negotiate a lower price if we want since the seller is desperate. I was talking to James about putting the funds together to get the place. He doesn’t seem to mind, but what do you think”

“I think you should have discussed this with me first before putting me on a spot” I know Cynthia is the best judge of character but right now, I just feel she is being naïve or I’m being too cautious but whatever it was, this will be another of her bad ideas that start with ‘so I was thinking’. 

I adore James no doubt, I might even say 'love' plus We have been together for 3 months and he makes it so easy, you will think we just met. He has made himself comfortable at my place and to crown it, Cynthia does not to mind, she enjoys his company more than I do these days. 

Thinking about what my poke nosing flatmate said, I can’t help but feel it is actually a good idea. Owning an apartment together is not so bad after all. “but since you both agree, I don’t see why not but next time you discuss anything with my man without first coming to me, the bone I will pick with you that day will be mightier than that of Goliath, capiche?” 

I must have said it so sternly or it sounded so to me but she just laughed and James joined in the laughter. He is just so lucky I adore him plus his smile, those smile can melt queen Elsa’s heart. The hug I rejected at first, I find myself melting into him when he held me. Finally, the soulmate has arrived.

Raising funds to get our new apartment was not a herculean task, James had enough on him to pay for the new place, but we felt it should be a team effort so that no one will feel out of place. Cynthia looked happier than ever, you will think she won a jackpot or got adopted by Warren Buffet. “it was my idea so the king-sized bedroom is mine” she kept saying and I kept replying with “but they are all king-sized bedroom now, you want all of them”. 

Moving our properties was not difficult either, within a month, we were fully settled. My relationship with James was waxing stronger than Mount Everest, what was left was making it official. We both share a single bedroom since we can’t seem to take our hands off each other. 

Even though this is the happiest I have been not being married makes the relationship unrealistic sometimes. Having gone through our usual evening routine, I settled on the bed with a magazine, I looked at him with hopes that maybe he will attempt to bring up the topic of marriage, considering all the hints I have been dropping for the past couple of days, but it seems this night was about to end like every other night. 

So, having given it a thorough thought, I decided to take the bull by the horn “what do you think about us getting married?” I asked still perusing the magazine in my hands, that was the only way to kill the anxiety. “uhmm, when do you have in mind” he asked looking directly at me as I attempt fruitlessly to stare someplace else. 

“Well, I haven’t given that a thought yet but marriage usually comes with a proposal then every other thing follows, don’t you think” he looked at me and gave me that killer smile as usual then asked, “dear Angie, marry me”. It was a weird proposal but to me, it still counts as proposal “yes Jamie, let’s do it”. Cupping my face with his arms, he kissed me and we made love that night like it was our first time.

A buzz on my phone woke me up from sleep, scared that the buzz might disturb my prince charming, I made an attempt to silent the phone, then stretch my hands towards James but his side was empty. Maybe he was pressed so I walked to the bathroom “hey babe, mind if I join you?” but no reply. Wait what, please tell me it can’t be. 

Cynthia can’t do this to me. No not with James, I trusted those two. I was feeling so hurt and betrayed, I picked up the nearest possible thing that can act as a weapon which was an unused curtain rod. Walking towards Cynthia’s room, I can hear struggle and grunting. This two have no shame at all, I will kill both of them, so I help me God I will kill them both, with that in mind, I open the door so suddenly but the scene that presented itself was not what I expected. 

There was a second man, he was holding Cynthia and covering her mouth while James was struggling with her legs in an attempt to rape her “keep her still” I heard James say to the unidentified intruder. 

“She’s stronger than she looks, but I intend to rid you of any fight you have left in you plus this lesbian demon that has made you not to have a man in your life” James kept cursing and spitting. They haven’t noticed my presence amidst all the shuffling and struggling going on. 

I was lost for what to do, I just stood there watching while these nitwits attempt to rape my friend plus Cynthia was losing all her strength, I have to act fast, next possible action was to put to good use the weapon I had on me. 

Aiming the curtain rod at the intruder, I struck his head then moved towards James and did same. It all happened so fast for either one of them to act, I screamed at Cynthia to run while I followed behind. 

I heard James say “get the guns and find them, don’t let those girls leave here alive”. While we ran for our lives, opening and shutting doors Cynthia kept saying “Angie its James, Angie its James” I told her I knew it was James but she said “not that James, the others James” 

To be continued.....