BEAUTY BEHIND THE MADNESS
T A D E — Episode 5
As hurt as I was, I tried to put up a show. I didn’t want to be an enemy of progress.
“You should be ecstatic Vee” I was trying so hard not to be hysterical and start weeping. The envelope suffered as I squeezed it hard. I definitely couldn’t show her the pictures
“I know. The thing is I don’t feel happy as I should but the wedding plans have begun and everyone else around me is overjoyed, only I don’t share the same energy. Still trying to figure out why. What are we celebrating again?” She glanced up, looking at me. God! She is so beautiful
“oh..ermm, I got a photography gig in South Africa. I travel at the end of the month” I managed to explain.
“That’s great news! O my God Tade! I am so happy for you!” she said excited for the first time that evening.
“My boss wanted me to go for a training in cape town. I turned him down because my wedding is at the end of the month and I want us to have a proper honeymoon after. I am so happy we both finally got what we wanted.” She was eating now.
I was motionless. How will I tell her she was the only girl I want to come home to, tell all my secrets and be in bed all day just talking and laughing at ugly people and funny videos on Instagram. How do I tell her I could leave everything behind and go anywhere with her?
“Tade! Are you ok? You haven’t touched your food since it got here” She said softly.. she reached out and touched my hands. I was melting.
“Vee…” I was stuttering, I held her hand, I was going to pour out my heart to.
“I…” Then I froze. I felt like I couldn’t breathe. The tears gathered and in other to prevent behaving like a desperate bitch ass, I laughed.
“I am so happy for you Vanessa. Finally, I am glad this all worked out.” I squeezed her hand and kissed it.
It was as though the pestilence that befell the Egyptians was upon my life in the next two weeks that followed. I felt cursed, betrayed and helpless. I mean it was over, I have lost it all. All I needed to do was move to South Africa and start a new life.
As I started thinking of how miserable I was going to be in southy without the love of my life, I did all the documentation I needed to do for my trip. I wasn’t taking any more jobs. She was posting her very booed up life on Instagram in the form of “pre-wedding photoshoots”.
It was as if my life was a constant horror. Wale would joke about how miserable I was and would try to hook me up but he knew I didn’t find it funny and I wasn’t ready to be over Vee.
It was 3 weeks and the evidence burned in the envelope beneath my office drawers, Italian wood, overpriced shit from Imagia furniture in VI. To or not to tell Vanessa that her husband to be is a rich and pompous, cheating demon.
The image was stuck in my head. It was all I thought about.
Him with against her- low budget Kim Kardashian, pants down, shamelessly suckling on fairly firm ‘boobs… a lot of make out before going to the table where I could no longer see. Who has sex on the 9th-floor balcony of a skyscraper adjacent to another office balcony- A rich and pompous cheating demon. Not fit for my queen.
I have to tell Vanessa the truth.
It was a very sunny Wednesday. “3 days to becoming Mrs. Adetoun”. That was her post on Instagram that day.
I didn’t know she wanted this marriage this bad or was this the work of that her shabby looking PA. insulting her wasn’t called for but I was upset. I jumped in my car, determined to ruin the longest relationship I have ever come to know about and the most anticipated wedding, maybe in the universe.
I got to Vanessa gate. I squeezed the evidence envelope in my hand. It was rumbled with all the squeezing it has endured like an old hag. I am sorry, these were painful times.
I called; “Are you home?” I sounded as casual as possible.
“Tade of life! I almost thought you went to the south without saying goodbye. Where have you been? She sounded genuinely excited to speak to me.
“I am at your gate…we need to talk” I didn’t sound so casual anymore. My heart was racing and I was trying to process the various possible reactions I will get from her.
She hugged me by the door…she smelt so good…looked better in her joggers and tank up… she just received a visitor- Her wedding planner, she mentioned later.
“Something to drink? I know it’s just 2 pm but you look like you need it and I definitely need it too” she was walking to the Bar.
Vee drinking in the afternoon? Something is wrong.
“Don’t judge me ok? Weddings are super stressful… I have a lot to think about and pay for and all that. It’s all annoying and sometimes exciting but definitely overwhelming and I am trying to keep up the upbeat energy.” She was talking too fast… I just watched her.
“I love everything about you except the fact that you aren't mine. Bode doesn’t deserve you, Vee, he’s a cheating bastard” I blurted out.
I almost regretted it as soon as I said it. I tried to redeem myself
“I have evidence” I put the rumbled envelope on the table “I found out after our conversation at dinner the other day. It’s so disgusting Vee, it’s his secretary” I couldn’t control myself, my anger. I wanted her to feel it too…towards him of course…I felt the air in the room go hot. I could hear her breathing, it was so quiet.
I felt like she was going to explode as she picked up the envelope and opened it. One by one, she dropped the pictures like she was making a statement in a card game. Tears were rolling.
1 glass, 2 glasses. Her eyes were red. I didn’t know how to say the words.
“With you Vee, it wasn’t just another job. I care about and love you. Please don’t marry Bode. Please Vee say something” I was moving close to touch her then she recoiled and moved away seats away. She looked up at me with the opposite emotion I may have imagined in my head.
Uh-oh… this can’t be good!
To Be Continued….
JUST STAY POSITIVE
