Episode 4 (Broken Hearts)

Last updated on April 26th, 2024 at 06:59 am

This was the longest Patricia and Kingsley had gone without having any misunderstanding. Patricia closed her calendar app as she smiled. Exactly one month and two days of Kingsley being a good boyfriend as he had promised. This meant that she didn’t need to consider other fish in the sea.

She hadn’t reduced her visits to Sire’s place or her chats with Adelana, but now that things were going fine with Kingsley, she planned to reduce contact with Lana. She had to give her relationship a chance and her frequent contact with Adelana was not going to help plus she didn’t want to lead the poor boy on. She wasn’t a bad person.

—

“I guess they are not coming today,” Adelana said. It was more of a question to Sire but he knew the answer already. He drew the curtain and dropped to the chair in Sire’s sitting room. He was planning to make his moves on Patricia but she had been withdrawing lately. He thought it was all in his head but this was the third weekend that Pat hadn’t showed up. He had told Sire of his plans and as expected, Sire didn’t mind. Sire knew his cousin would be in good hands if she ever dated Lana. But he also knew that she had been with Kingsley long enough that there was almost no chance for his “Mr lover” friend.

“Maybe they are just really busy,” Sire replied. He knew his friend was hurt but this wasn’t exactly a territory to encroach on.

“Hmm.” Adelana nodded. Patricia had actually told Sire that they wouldn’t be coming around for a while because she had to save her relationship and she didn’t want to lead Adelana on. Helen would’ve come but not without making it appear obvious that something was going on. This felt like his two loved ones breaking up. It wasn’t easy for Sire as well. Maybe it was best that they stood no chance, Sire thought.

—

2 Years Ago

It had been three months since Patricia broke up with Kingsley. She was scrolling through her phone when she saw Sire’s WhatsApp status. It was Adelana. Apparently, it was his birthday. She still visited Sire but it wasn’t as often as before since Helen had relocated and Patricia lived farther from Sire’s house. It was effortless for them to stop talking about Lana, who also mysteriously disappeared sometime two years ago. She would’ve asked but to what end? Things were really going well between Kingsley and her. She had even dreamt of Kingsley getting down on one knee to propose to her… although, another woman had doused the both of them with water causing Kingsley to lose the ring. They were still searching for the ring when she woke up.

In retrospect, were things really fine between Kingsley and her? Patricia thought. She never really forgot Lana but she safely pushed him to the back of her mind and focused on her relationship, something about the devil you know. Now, she didn’t even know if she regretted her decision or if it just had to happen. She was not interested in any relationship yet, but seeing Lana’s picture sparked her curiosity. She replied Sire’s status: What’s up with this your friend? Then dropped her phone. After five minutes, she hadn’t gotten any response. Typical Sire, she rolled her eyes.

She got up and went to busy herself with her laundry.

—

It took Patricia two hours to finish her laundry. She sat on her bed and heaved a sigh. She mentally ticked laundry off her to-do list and then opened her WhatsApp where Sire’s reply was waiting. He had only answered three minutes ago. He’s fine o. That’s it? Patricia thought. After almost two hours yet Sire couldn’t come up with a better response. Her fingers hovered on her keyboard as she considered her next question. She wanted to know what was happening with Lana without being too obvious. Actually, she really wanted to know about his love life, not that she wanted anything with him or so she told herself.

I bet he now has a girlfriend. She sent it to Sire hoping she was subtle. She could only hope that Sire didn’t catch on. As expected, Sire took forever to reply. It was a weekend, what could Sire possibly be doing? Patricia thought. She then decided to call him. Thankfully, he picked up on the first ring.

“Yes, how may I help you?” Sire asked. Patricia snorted and decided to be direct. She knew that her cousin had caught on and concluded that there was no reason to be subtle.

“I said I bet Lana now has a girlfriend.”

“Emm, is this a question or information?”

“A question!”

“Take it easy on me.” Sire raised his free hand in mock surrender. Not that Patricia could see him.

“Okay? I’m listening.” Sire knew that Patricia could be very persistent when she wanted something. He considered shielding her or telling the whole truth, after all, he knew Patricia and Lana had something between them two years ago. He also knew that his friend had been hurt when Patricia withdrew from him, it was why he accepted the job offer in Ibadan even though he knew nobody there.

“Well, he’s married.” Sire decided to deliver the blow. There was no point in lying. Patricia felt her heart drop to the bottom of her stomach. Married? She thought. As Sire expected, Patricia was hurt and though she was quiet on the phone now, he could still tell. Now he didn’t know what to do.

“Married? That quick? Weren’t we all playing in your house like yesterday? How old is he?” Patricia fired Sire all these questions in quick succession. He heaved and rubbed his forehead. She was spiralling but trying to contain it. Well, he knew her well enough.

“To be fair, he’s my agemate. That’s old enough.” Sire was about to add more when Patricia interrupted him, “You’re only 29!” Seeming to notice that she was acting irrationally; she laughed. It came out forced though. “It’s not that he’s too young…or old as a matter of fact.” She quickly added the latter part. “I guess if you know you know, right?” She couldn’t stop rambling. Sire understood how she felt, but she was the one that left. There was nothing he could have done. He didn’t know if her last statement was a question she needed an answer to—not like he had anything to say, so he kept quiet.

“When did he get married?” Patricia attempted to lighten the mood. Why was she acting this way? She thought. It wasn’t as if they had an agreement to marry each other or something.

“Two months ago.” Sire knew he should have told her that Lana was getting married. To worsen it, he had spoken to Patricia on the weekend of the wedding yet he said nothing. Patricia felt as if she had been kicked in her stomach, she felt warm and almost sick. Two months ago. Which meant that Adelana had been single three months ago. Technically, not single; engaged, but not married.

…

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