By Nightengale Ben-Onyeukwu
‘I was about to eat and leave for work,’ Andrew said in the morning as he began heading for the dining table. He was dressed in a mulberry blazer with black dress trousers. His attire might not be from a luxury designer brand, but he looked elegant and handsome in it.
Chioma wore a set of brown sportswear, her wet hair sitting loosely on her shoulders. Her outfits made her looks much younger, almost like a secondary school student.
‘I will be heading to the police station after breakfast. Jessica wants to meet me.’ Chioma held up the soybean milk and took a sip.
Andrew nodded as he took bite of his sandwich. ‘Do it for Nathan. He’s a good man.’
Louisa who was wearing a pink apron brought a plate of fried eggs and placed it on the table before joining them to eat.
After the breakfast, Andrew grabbed his briefcase and left for George Enterprise, Louisa stayed at home to do laundry while Chioma headed for the police station to meet Jessica after drying her hair.
When Chioma arrived at Nigeria Police Force, she was brought to a high-security interrogation room, and soon after Jessica was led in by a female constable. Chioma looked up to see as Jessica slowly walked in, looking very weak.
Jessica leaned against the chair as she weakly looked at Chioma with unreadable gaze. She didn’t know what to say to Chioma except to stare at her. Perhaps, she had lost all that she wanted to say to this slummy girl, who today had the decision to set her free from this hell hole. Previously, she was the tormentor but now that the table had turned she was the tormented. Jessica couldn’t expect that the woman she had slapped around whenever she wanted could be here looking fresh and adorable while she who had the world in her palm looked smelly and messy.
Even though there was a partition that separated them, Chioma could still see that this slim, graceful and beautiful woman who wanted the world to bow to her every need would be looking like an abandoned princess. ‘Chioma, You’re here to mock me?’ Jessica lowered her head and said after a moment of silence.
‘I don’t waste my time doing foolish things,’ Chioma said unblinkingly. ‘If I wanted to mock you, I would have done it without coming here. I am here because you asked to see me. But if you don’t want to really see me, then I shall take my leave,’ Chioma said and pretended to leave.
‘Stop! Chioma please come back I really didn’t mean it,’ Jessica begged. ‘I don’t know what came over me…I am really sorry. Please, don’t go, please!’
This was the first time Jessica had begged Chioma. Even Jessica didn’t know that this day would eventually come. Life was funny sometimes; those neglected might only be the last hope for you to get back up. Chioma turned back, satisfied with what she heard. Then, she sat back down and said slowly,
‘I have a few questions for you, if you answer them truthfully then I will ask Michael to withdraw all the charges against you…Don’t ever think of lying to me because no matter how much of an actress you’re, I will be able to figure out whether you are telling the truth or not.’
‘What question?’ Jessica asked hastily like a servant trying to please her master. ‘I promise to speak only the truth.’
Chioma curled her lips into a smile. ‘But your forgiveness and letting go depends on your truth and nothing but the truth.’
‘I promise to tell you the truth one hundred percent. I will answer every single question you ask.’ Jessica wanted her freedom. She didn’t want to spend the rest of her life in gaol. She just wants the fresh air from outside and not here where she was treated like a piece of meat. Anyone would want their freedom because freedom was everything. But then again she wondered what Chioma wanted to know. This woman she had once treated as garbage was the key to her freedom. She was even loved so much by Michael that he was willing to do anything for her.
Chioma didn’t have time to look at her. She asked directly, ‘Do you love Nathan?’
Jessica stared at her in utter shock. She had expected a question that wasn’t related to Nathan, but this woman named Chioma was asking her that so as to weigh her love for Nathan and know whether she would want to fight her again because of Michael.
‘Tell me the truth,’ Chioma demanded in a voice that brooked no objection.
Jessica took a deep breath and said, ‘I had loved Michael all these years without realising how much Nathan had loved me. Yes, I never loved Nathan, but I would be lying to myself if I say that I don’t have feelings for Nathan.’
‘Will you marry him?’ Chioma asked calmly.
‘If he asks me again, then yes.’
‘Do you still hate me?’ Chioma asked softly.
There was a short pause before Jessica answered, ‘Yes.’
Chioma smiled. ‘Thank you for telling me the truth, I shall ask Michael to get you out of here. Honestly, we do still hate each other but I would never wish for a place like this for you. I’d prefer we argue every time and you still maintain you elegance than staying here and being treated like a piece of meat. I promise to help you get out of this place,’ Chioma promised with confidence.
Jessica managed to smile. She could see that Chioma was a good girl and had only wasted her time hating her.
Truth was, Chioma didn’t intend to let Jessica get away after all she did to her. She had wanted to inform the police to give Jessica a separate cell, but no, she was a woman that kept her word and as a woman that had read papers about prisoners being tortured, Chioma wouldn’t want anyone to experience it. So she was going to ask Michael to release her. Besides, her parents are already in detention. It was enough punishment for the Nnaji family.
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