Secret Betrayal

Episode 18

The bride and chief were set
before half past nine o’clock.
We waited patiently for the
car to arrive, the one that
would take us to church, just
a fifteen minute drive from
the hotel. We hadn’t spoken
much since the last
conversation. I didn’t know
what to feel towards Vera or
what Vera was feeling towards
me. I didn’t care so much
either, I was in the middle of
nowhere and Vera was part of
the solution even though she
had no idea.

Just as we were about to
leave after the car had
arrived, I asked everyone else
to excuse us for a little
friendly chat which they
obliged. Vera gave me that
knowing stare, wondering
what else I’d come up with.
“Of course you know I didn’t
buy that sex maniac lunatic
thing. I really want to know
and feel I have the right to
know. So are you now ready
to speak or not?” I was dead
serious.

Vera shook her head in total
disbelief. “Not again. I refuse
to be drawn into this again.
We must leave now.” She
looked pleadingly.

“If you don’t tell me right now
I’ll call Desmond and tell him
anything that comes to mind
and I swear I’ll make it d–n
bloody.” I warned sternly.

She retreated from the door
and came close to me, close
enough I could feel her
breath. She wasn’t​ derided at
all as her breath was steady.
But then she spoke in a cold,
still voice.
“So tell me girlfriend, why are
you doing this? What is it you
have refused to tell me? You
were supposed to be my
chief bride’s maid, but here
you are playing the witch of
Oz. What exactly do you
want?” She looked scared this
time.

“The truth.” I replied coldly.
She nodded slowly and pulsed
her lips. She then opened her
purse and took out her phone
which she forced into my
hand and ordered. “Make the
d–n call. I saved him as D.”

I was shocked by her action.
With the phone still in my
hand, she turned towards the
door and slammed it hard
behind her. Frozen at that
spot, I knew it was game
over. She’d never get to talk
to me, ever.
…

The grand piano hummed
from a distance as we arrived
the decorated premises of
the Anglican Church. Beautiful
gowns and suits, foreign and
local, littered the whole place
with everyone feeling
important. Desmond’s SUV
arrived accompanied by some
other SUVs that formed a
convoy, with both indicator
lights of each vehicle blinking.
I felt like we were receiving
the president. I knew what I
was expecting to see but not
how classy it would come.

The oil men had arrived with
oil palms and wheels.

The bridal train was a crop of
charming beauties, most of
which were regular campus
girls hired for the day and
hoping to make a catch or two
from the oil guys. Their long
baby pink gowns with slight
touches of reddish pink and
white showels to cover their
shoulders until the reception
time. To say these ladies
were beautiful was to say the
least about them. But then, I
had my focus on the
gentlemen alighting from the
convoy of SUVs.

“So you never told me
d!ckson was the Best Man,
how could you not?” I leaned
forward and whispered into
Vera’s ear.

“I think something went
wrong. He wasn’t​ supposed to
be. You saw Dan, he was
supposed to be the Best
Man.”

I swore under my breath and
maintained a cordial
expression, somewhat
deadpan. From then on, the
wedding was more of a
torment, a day of torture, just
emotional dilemma. I felt so
ashamed of myself. I had
enjoyed the kiss initially and
even dreamt about it but now,
I hated​ d!ckson for trying to
take the place of my Collins.

He was far cuter and better
than all the oil boys put
together, I mean my Collins.

That thought gave me all the
strength and energy required
to scale this stream full of
hungry crocodiles in my own
mind.

We processed and I found
myself sitting side by side
with my now arch enemy. He
kept making eye contact with
me as he never ceased to
turn my way. In return, I’d
look away to avoid his
incessant glances.

Immediately after the
wedding we headed for the
reception. Thankfully, the
wedding was intended not to
consume too much time.

When it was time to dance, I
disappeared through the back
as I noticed d!ckson was
looking for me. How could I
have known I’d never escape
him?