Tiit For Tat - S01 E28

3 years ago

Tiit For Tat - S01 E28

Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 28

The Tip of Love

Would you like to know your future? If your answer is yes, think again. Not knowing is the greatest life motivator. So enjoy, endure, survive each moment as it comes to you in its proper sequence, a surprise.

—Vera Nazarian

[ Mike’s Viewpoint]

Around 5.00 P.m Mr. Toby arrived home. He summoned me into his great parlor . I was quite nervous. He looked quite older than I had initially anticipated. He was in his Mid fifties and bald headed. He was about 6 ft tall and too muscular for a man of his age. In direct contrast to his wife, he was dark skinned. Surprisingly, he had the voice of a woman.

It sounded funny but serious when he said, “You are welcome to my house. I hope you will enjoy your stay with us. Please don’t disappoint me like my former houseboy.

I said, “I will do my best ,Sir.”

He then looked at me more meticu

lously and smiled,” You are a fine boy. I’m sure you are a lady’s man but please don’t woo my daughters.”

“I won’t sir,” I promised.

He said,”Yes,in your own interest don’t do that. You looked like a smart guy so I will skip the sermon. A word to a wise is enough.Have a

good day.”

After that he left for business. I guessed the only religion he knew was business.

I was given an accommodation in the house. It was a hall and chamber self- contained. Being a rich man’s house, the room was well organised with a Plasma TV hanging on the wall and plastic chairs in the sitting room with one couch. There was one big latex foam mattress in the bed

room. The floor was tiled.

Drapes hanged on the windows to keep the UV lights out.

I called Cassandra to inform her about the development. She didn’t pick my call. I was worried. Her attitude was becoming a headache to me. She had not been the same

since her father, Benjamin, scolded her about our relationship.

I passed the night in my new room.

Though I was excited with my new job, my heart was afar; in Lagos with my lover,Cassandra.

When I was deep in thought my phone Beeped. My heart beat. Now I knew whenever my phone beeped, it was likely to be a bad news.

But something told me it could be Casssandra. Who else could be sending me a message by this time of the night? I tapped on my phone to open the message. It was from an unknown number. The message simply read ” LOVE YOU

HANDSOME, YOU ARE CAUSING ME SLEEPLESS NIGHT.”

***

The previous night Sheila took Mike’s number from his application letter. Her mother had put it on her dad’s table in the parlor. That night she sent Mike an anonymous love message but he had not replied her message. She didn’t blame him because he couldn’t response to a message whose sender he didn’t know.

~~The next morning~~

Sheila was going to the gym when she saw him going to trim the hedges. He was holding a hedge trimmer.

“That’s my handsome babe ” she said to herself … she quickened her steps to catch up with him.

Does Mike have a fiancée ?” She secretly wish he wouldn’t . She was getting jealous already.

He was about to start trimming when she said “Hei”

He turned around with a smile and gazed at her as if he was hypnotized.

Mike: Hello. Please who are you?

Sheila : I’m Sheila. Second daughter of Mr. Toby.

Mike: Okay.That’s splendid. It’s

nice meeting you. Ma’am

Sheila : Nice meeting you too.

The Pleasure is all mine. Please drop the title “Ma’am” and call me Sheila just like you will call your girlfriend.

Mike: Ok. Ma’am …er….Sheila.

Sheila : That’s better.

Mike: My name is —-”

Sheila : Mike Ebuka.

She cut in.

Mike was surprised Sheila knew his name. It showed on his face. He wanted to ask her something but decided not to.

Mike: I have to start trimming these hedges now.

Sheila : Can I join you?

Mike: Thank you for the offer but for today,let me do it. Ma’am..Errrrr. Sheila.Your father won’t take it lightly seeing you doing a work I have been employed to do.

Mike’s words saddened her heart as if it has been prinked by a needle. She excuse him and left.

One week had passed and still Mike have not heard from Cassandra. He decided to go to Lagos to see Cassandra. That day he woke up very early and did his household chores.

Around 8.00 a.m. he was ready to go to Lagos. He was waiting for a taxi when a Toyota Land Cruiser stopped by him.

Mike moved towards the rear seat but she opened the front seat for him. “Mike, C’mon get in here.”

Mike looked more dazzling than she thought. He’s simply ‘beautiful.’

Mike had an attractive personality, too polished to be a houseboy. He’s tall, sharp featured, well built, balanced and intelligent. His wavy hair bounced on his scalp. His eyes were highly seductive and could pierce into your very soul.

He’s tall and athletic with beautiful lips and pointed nose. He was fair but tanned. His voice was as deep as a thunder. She gazed at Mike , momentarily forgetting she was on a steering wheel.

” Mike,” she called him.

“Yes ma’am.”

“Call me Sheila, she reminded him.

He responded, ” Alright Ma’am____umm Sheila.

“Where exactly are you going?” She asked.

“To my former place in Lagos, to pack my stuffs,” he answered.

Is that the only reason why you are going there?”

“Yes,”he muttered.

She wasn’t totally convinced with his response but switched to another aspect of him.

“Who are your parents and why did you opt for this? ” she asked him.

He didn’t answer her question. Instead she saw a great sadness descended on him. She regretted asking him that question but how was she supposed to know it would hurt his emotion? She saw little drops of tears in his eyes and her heart ached.

She said, “I’m sorry if I touch a sensitive area of your life.”

Still Mike remained quiet. They were about to reach the Junction where he would alight and take another car.

***

When Sheila asked of Mike’s parents, It sent him

down the memory lane to the horrific graphics of his mother’s murder.

“Mike!,Mike!!,Mike!!!.” We are at the Junction. Sheila interrupted his flashback.

“Yes, Sheila, if you want to know more about my parents,search for “Bill Ebuka and you will find everything you want to know about my parents.”

Sheila was stunned when Mike asked her to search for his parents online because to her , her parents were nonetities. Nevertheless, she decided to say nothing

When Mike reached Cassandra’s Residence, he saw two cars parked outside. One was a Toyota Camry. The other one is a Ferrari. His heart started beating fast when he saw Cassandra father’s Ferrari packed outside, “could she be in danger ?,”

He asked myself.

Cassandra’s apartment was quiet.

He entered the hall. It was empty.

He didn’t want to make any noise so that her father won’t notice his presence. He tiptoed to her room gently and quietly open the door so that he can rescue her in case of danger. Then he met a scene that shock him.

“WHAT”!………. He exclaimed.

***

Why did Mike shout?