Too Late

Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 16

Karen could not help but admire Otumba as he gave safety tips to the staff of the company. She looked round and observed all attention was focused on him as he delivered the lecture effortlessly.

Hands were raised to ask questions and he responded well. Immediately Otumba was done, he was given a standing ovation and his infectious smile spread over his handsome face. He picked a handbook from a desk and walked to his office. He hadn’t sat down when Karen strolled in smiling seducingly.

“I never knew you could lecture so well” she said.

Otumba only smiled and thanked her. Karen left the door and stood face to face with him.

“I have eyes for you only Otumba” She said touching his lips with her finger.

He pushed her gently away from her then moved to his seat. Karen took her seat on his desk.

“The feelings I have for you is strong and I am not in control of my emotions. I know we will be great together. I love you Otumba. I can get you more promotions in this company. Don’t you want money. I can talk to Kam. I can recommend you for promotion. Please…”

Otumba studied her then turned his face.

“Sit, let’s talk Miss Karen”

She left the desk and sat on the seat opposite him.

“Look I admire your courage expressing your feelings for me Miss Karen. But the truth will always remain the truth. I am a married man. What will be my benefit if I cheat on my wife”

Karen frowned. She didn’t like Otumba’s tone.

“I gain nothing. I will never risk my soul for the pleasure of this world. God’s word says, that a friend to the world is an enemy to God. I can never make myself am enemy to my creator. God forbid!

He paused to study the effect of his words on Karen.

“Was he making sense” He wondered.

“No doubt you are beautiful. If you are patient enough, you will get married to the bone of your bone”

“Don’t preach to me Otumba. I am a. Christian. I know what the bible says.

“You’re not a Christian Miss Karen. No true child of God will do what you are doing. You’re living with a married man. He is having a carnal knowledge of you. You’re asking me to date you. Common Miss Karen, you need to meet Jesus. You haven’t met Christ. You need Jesus Karen. You need him to transform your life. You need salvation. It doesn’t matter your sin, He is…”

Karen was offended . She felt humiliated. How can she be talking about love and he is preaching to her.

“If I need preaching, I will go to the church” She said.

There was silence for a moment, then she stood up to go

“Just know that I love you. We will talk about it later”

“The only thing I want to talk to you about is the salvation of your soul. Repent Karen. Surrender to Jesus and you will be glad you did. Kam is married…”

Not wanting to hear more, she cat walked out of his office

“I ask for your mercy upon this one Jesus” Otumba prayed in the office.

Throughout the day, Karen was sad. She got home feeling sad.

Kam had left the office even before closing hour. He had told her he would visit a friend who was having a naming ceremony. Karen who had loads of work, refused to go with him. She feared that after the day’s work coupled with the ceremony, they may arrive home very late. She declined the offer to go with him.

She drove home angry. After she left Otumba’s office, she was so sad that she lost appetite. All she wanted to do was go home and cry out her frustration but the files on her desk needed her attention, so she worked on them.

When she got home, the sight that greeted her shook her to the marrow. Kam had promised her never to eat Lily’s food again. He had complained about her cooking.

“She is a bad cook. I don’t know why I married her” He had complained “Her mother failed to train her properly in that area” He said.

Here was he, in the dinning room, licking his fingers as Karen entered the house. He didn’t even acknowledge Karen’s greeting as his focus was on the food. As she walked to her room, her eyes locked with Lily who smiled victoriously. Karen dropped her bag on the bed.

“Lily is not giving up on her husband” She murmured “Didn’t he say he was attending a naming ceremony. What was he doing at home?”

“He will meet me in this room” she fumed.

She showered then returned to the bedroom to wait for him. While waiting for him, she munch the snacks she bought on her way home. She had eaten the snacks yet he hadn’t come. She decided to go see what he is up to.

In the living room, both Kam and Lily sat enjoying a TV programme. Kam still on his work cloth, lay on the long settee with his head on Lily’s lap. Karen retreated to her room as she saw them. Tears didn’t fail to drop. She even heard them laugh hilariously together.

“Are they laughing at me?” She asked rhetorically as she entered her room hugging herself.

She wept and slept off. Later in the night, she felt Kam’s hands roaming over her body. A smile played on her lips. Lily had not totally won after all, she said in her heart.

———————————–

Brian fulfilled all he promised. Charles, now wore artificial limp and managing a company. He was doing well and Brian was impressed with the new shape of the company. Brian gave him an official car with a driver. Charles became a new person.

He never failed to thank God for where he is and he never failed to preach the gospel to people he came in contact with. For he knew that without God he is nothing.

In the church he attended, he made himself active and available. Everyone knew how diligent Bro Charles is to the things of God.

Since Elena left, he kept in touch with her. He would call or leave a message on her Whatsapp and Elena too kept in touch with him. Charles misses her laughter and how she teased him. He had tried not to dwell his thoughts on her.

Few times in his office, he had found himself laughing softly whenever he remembers the things she says and the way she teases him.

“I think I have fallen in love with Elena. But she would never accept a one legged man for a husband”

He frowned. This thought made him to be so depressed and sad.

One day, he got an sms from Elena that she was coming home for a few weeks break. Charles was so excited. There was this joy in his heart words could not express. He went to the barbing salon and cut his hair. He bought few clothes. All these were to impress Elena. Charles stocked his house with snacks and even bought some clothes and shoes for her.

Charles waited patiently for this young woman who makes his heart flutter. The day arrived, Charles couldn’t concentrate at work. He kept looking at his wristwatch.

“Wasn’t the time supposed to be faster today” He asked no one in particular.

Before closing hour, he had left the office to his house. Charles arranged the table beautifully with different dishes. He looked at the time again. It was past the time she said she would visit. He picked his phone and dialled her number. The phone rang and rang but no one answered the call. He became worried

“What has happened to Elena?”

He sent her an sms, still no response. He stood up and began to return everything to the fridge. Charles had never been to Elena’s house even though she had described it. Worried, he picked his phone and left the house to Elena’s house. It was just a stone throw, a big house too. Charles knocked on the gate and surprisingly it was Elena’s younger brother that opened it. Charles was relieved. They exchanged pleasantries and then asked after Elena.

“She is sick” he said “Aunty wants her to rest”

Relief flooded through him.

“By tomorrow she will be strong enough to move”

“Alright!, I was worried. She wasn’t answering her call. Just tell her I came” He said.

Charles left the house with sadness that Elena was sick but relieved that she was home with her family.