Epic 4

"I want you to marry me," Benjamin said.

I was dumbfounded. Why must people demand something, before helping others?

“I will have to think about it,” I said while bending my head slowly.

“It is fine, you can take all the time you desire, I hope for a positive response though,” he said.

I smiled and immediately stood up.

“It was nice talking to you,” I said while trying to go before he brought out his hands for a handshake, which I wanted to ignore but had to play along with.

“Same beauty”, he said while pecking me on my hands.

I felt disgusted. I wouldn't have ever believed that Benjamin could be this way. Why was he acting all caring and kind, like he wanted to help?

I walked home so down, I felt rejected and empty and didn't know what to do. Should I just go by my biological mother's deal, or should I marry Benjamin?

I got home, so tired, I tried hiding my emotions from mama, I didn't want her to be bothered.

“Welcome, you came back rather too late,” mama said immediately after I got home.

“Yeah! I am so sorry, I went to see a friend, apart from Leo”, I apologized and sluggishly went inside the house.

“It is fine, welcome, your food is at the dining,” she said while continuing with her sewing.

“Thanks, mama, what about papa?'' I asked while heading to the dining room.

“He is sleeping,” she said.

While I was still eating, I got a call from Benjamin. I wanted to ignore him, but it was suspicious and may be considered rude.

“Hello Benjamin, good evening,” I said while picking up the call.

“Good evening my Princess, I called to make sure you got home safe,” he replied.

“Yeah! I did, if you don't mind, I am very much exhausted and would like to sleep”, I said in a tiring tone.

“Ow! I am so sorry, please have a peaceful rest”. He said and ended the call.

I don't just know why every one of his actions irritates me now.

After a tiresome day, and a mouthwatering dish, I slept like a damsel, I doubt not snoring

«»«»

I woke up very early, did my house chores, and did every necessary thing, before going to the hospital to see Dinma.

On getting to the hospital, Dinma was still sleeping, while her foster mother stayed close to her while watching her sleep.

“Good morning ma'am, hope you slept well?'' I asked while referring to Dinma's foster mum.

“Good morning Angel, my night was blissful, you are early today, your sister is still sleeping,” she said.

“It is fine, I will watch her sleep then,” I said while letting out a little smile.

Just immediately, Dinma woke up.

“Good morning mum, good morning sister,” she said while greeting her mum, and rolling her eyes towards me.

“Good morning my darling, hope you slept well?” Her Foster mum said while pecking her on the forehead and shuffling her head softly.

“Of course I did mum,” Dinma replied.

I watched them display their mother-to-daughter love.

“I will be back,” Mrs. Claire said while leaving us both.

“Okay, Mrs. Claire”, I said smiling.

“That is such a weird act big sis, you have never called my mum Mrs. Claire before,” Dinma said, smiling.

“yeah! That is a new development” I said smiling.

Just immediately Mrs. Claire came back.

“Here you go”, Mrs. Claire said, while giving Dinma her toothbrush and a bowl where she can spit in the stuff she will brush out.

“Thanks, mum,” Dinma said.

I kept watching the drama unfold between Dinma and her mother, Mrs. Claire watched Dinma brush her teeth before she removed them when she was done brushing.

"Wow! I think I am getting jealous of your mother's love towards you I said and Dinma started laughing.

“you shouldn't be,” she said.

“Dinma, I want to tell you something,” I said in a low tone.

“What could that be? I am always here, and my ears are ever open for gossip”. She said and I started laughing, Dinma so much, adores gossip.

“Silly girl! Well, what I want to tell you is something very powerful”. I said while dragging my chair towards her.

“Wow, Powerful indeed!” she exclaimed.

“Yeah, powerful! You remember the day, I came here all drained, the day we were asked to stay at home” I said while trying to make her recall.

“yeah! Of course, I remember” she said.

“yeah! That very day, when I was coming, I bumped into a guy called Benjamin, he gave me his call card...”

“Have you called him yet?” Dinma asked, interrupting me.

“Calm down let me finish my gist”. I said while rolling my eyes at her.

“Okay ma". She said smiling.

”So, that very day, while I was going back, I met Leo, so we decided to go to Pine valley...“

”Oh my goodness! Sister you went to pine valley without me, it is not fair. How beautiful is the place? Did you take pictures, let me see?“, she said while dragging my phone from my hand.

”It seems you are not interested in my story“. I said annoyed.

”Ow! I  am so sorry sister, I am interested“ she said and handed my phone over to me.

”Don't worry about the pine valley, I promise to take you there once you recover fully okay!'' I said while rubbing her hands softly.

”Okay sis, “ she said while letting out a weary smile.

”So, while Leo and I were at the pine valley, taking pictures, Someone approached me, and it happened to be the same man I met in the morning, that is the Benjamin guy, I found out he works there, I was so excited, I prayed to God for him to be the helper he sent for me, did I ever tell you that I got fired at work that very morning I came to see you?“. I asked her.

”No! I can not remember you ever telling me such, your boss fired you! Why?“ Dinma asked, annoyed.

”Because I came to see you, she was on my neck that very morning to come to work or get fired, and I can't just leave you and go to work“. I said.

” I am so sorry sis, you didn't even let me know, I am so sorry“ Dinma apologized as she bent her head slowly.

”It is fine, it isn't your fault, I choose to do so“. I replied while looking at my sister who was all emotional. I wish I could get a little of her soft heart.

”So, I got to relate with the man, we fixed an appointment, I met with him, we talked, I shared a little of my problem with him, based on the fact of me being fired from work. Before that, mum had called me earlier with her same silly demand" I said while continuing with my talk.

”You mean mum is still disturbing you?“ Dinma asked, annoyed.

”Of course, she is, do you think she can ever stop bugging me? '' I asked Dinma, whose face looked so disgusted.

”I don't think so, guess you are the only one stalked in her forces, “ she said and we started laughing.

”So, I was excited when Benjamin offered to help me, but do you know the condition he placed on it?“ I asked Dinma who is yet to come out from her laughter.

”To sleep with him!“ Dinma screamed out loud.

”Shh! Calm down okay ``I said, trying to make her reduce her voice.

”I am calm, I just hope it is not what I am thinking, “ she said, still sounding sad.

”Yeah! Something like that, but he wants me to marry him ``I said while wearing a sad look.

”Well, I didn't expect him to help you without a demand, who doesn't know that men are scum, they will always demand one thing or the other before they help out, so what is your response about that?“. Dinma asked after letting out a big relief.

”Well, I haven't given him any response yet, I told him, I will think about it, but I am really confused, “ I said so down.

”It is fine, I know it is going to be a hard decision for you but, even at that, do what you feel is right '' Dinma said while rubbing my hand softly.

”Hmm! It is really difficult. Maybe I should talk to my foster mum about this. Dinma, we are suffering, we need a savior. You need to recover fast ``I said as little tears started dripping down my eyes.

”It is funny seeing my tough sister crying like Dinma,“ Dinma said and I quickly dried my eyes.

”It is going to be fine, okay! Just pray to God, remember he said we should seek for we shall find, talk to him, he is the father to the fatherless, I believe everything will be fine“. Dinma said and immediately Mrs. Claire came inside the room.

”Sure,“ I managed to mutter before letting out a little smile. I am becoming proud of my little sister every passing day. It seems the sickbay is giving her wisdom.

”I will be going now, let me go and help my mum with some of the clothes she is sewing“. I said while standing up to leave.

”That is fine, make sure you don't spoil a customer's dress, and send my regards to her,“ Dinma said, which made Mrs. Claire laugh.

”I will try my best ma'am, “ I said while saluting Dinma. 

She immediately started laughing at seeing me do that.

I hugged her before finally bidding goodbye to Mrs. Claire.

I was really happy as I walked home.

”Good day mama, good day papa, “ I said as I got home from seeing my both foster parents outside the house.

”Welcome Angel, how is Dinma? Hope she is getting better?“. Papa asked.

I was really happy, papa did change drastically, he stopped drinking, and he helps with most house chores.

”Yes papa, she is, and she extended her regards“. I replied while hugging him. That was my first time hugging him. I felt the surprise on his face, as much as he returned the hug.

I entered my room while still thinking about Benjamin's proposal.

"Yeah! She is inside” I heard mama's voice saying.

who could that be?

Just immediately I heard a knock on my door, I went ahead to open it while being worried about who it would be.

“wow! Leo, what's up?” I asked Leo who stood like a drained rat in front of my door.

“Come in,” I added while dragging him inside.

“So, what did you guys discuss? What did Benjamin say?” Leo asked anxiously.

“calm down okay? Is that why you came?" I said surprised.

”Not really, but it is among the reasons why I am here, so what did you guys discuss? Did he agree to help you find a job there?“. he said while being more persuasive.

I did not know if it would be nice to open up to him, Leo has always known a way to proffer solutions to a situation like this.

”Well, what we discussed wasn't that much,“ I said while trying to close the topic.

”Well, I don't mind knowing the little you both discussed,“ he said, still very anxious over knowing what I will say.

”Okay! I...think...he...likes...me“ I stammered.

”I knew it, his moves were very suspicious, so did he promise to give you the job?“. He asked.

”Well, he agreed to help“. I said while pausing as Leo screamed in excitement.

”yeah!!!“

”hope everything is okay?“ Mama shouted from outside on hearing Leo's scream.

”Everything is okay, ma,“ Leo replied.

”So, when are you starting work?“ Leo asked, still very much happy.

”wow! I never knew you can be this excited“. I replied laughing.

”Well, now you have seen me in another dimension, can you please tell me the good news now?“ he replied, still very much eager.

”Well, he placed a deal on it,“ I replied slowly.

”Well, well, well, interesting! What silly deal did he place now? I just don't know why people keep demanding something from others before they can help“ he said, sounding angry.

”Yeah! That is life for you, he said I should marry him“ I said, and immediately, Leo's face turned reddish. I was even scared.

”What did you just say?“ he asked.

I was too scared to answer.

”Um! I believe you heard me the first time ", I stammered.

”I am sorry to stress you, but I think I didn't hear you clearly,“ he replied.

”Well, I said he asked me to marry him,“ I said again, but a bit louder to avoid him asking me to repeat it.

”What was your reply? Do you like him?“ he asked.

”Well, I can't tell,“ I said in a low tone.

”What do you mean by you can't tell you are a woman Angel I believe you know what it feels like to love or like someone. So, tell me now do you love him?“ Leo asked, being a bit harsh.

”No, I don't,“ I replied.

”So, that is to say, that you won't go with his plans right?“ Leo asked happily.

”I don't know Leo, I can't tell, I need to help my sister out of that hospital, she is already recovering. Within a short period now, the doctors will start being on my neck“. I cried out.

”wow! So you want to marry him for money? Like you don't even care about your feelings“ he said in a low tone.

”No! Not like that, do you want me to join my mum in her prostitution work? How will I survive, can't you see I got fired at my workplace, and he is the only option left? I am totally confused. '' I said, crying.

”Oh my goodness! Really! Like do you mean what you are saying right now? I can't believe this is coming from you, what if you didn't meet him?“ he asked angrily. 

I could feel the anger in him, he is not proud and happy about my decision.

”Well, I can not tell what I would have done if he didn't appear, but he is here now, I would rather marry him, than sleep around with other men, “I said crying.

”wow! Amazing, I think I will have to take my leave now“ he stood up and left the room very angry. For the first time, Leo was angry with me.

Maybe I wasn't doing the right thing, maybe I should discuss this with mama. Just immediately, mama walked in.

"What is wrong with Leo, he doesn't seem happy, and why didn't you see him off, hope you both are not beefing?". Mama asked while seated near me.

I was shocked at her question, mama can be very observant.

Slowly, I looked up at her, my eyes were already cloudy, I seemed to be very emotional recently.

"I don't know how to say this". I muttered.

" take a deep breath, then you can start somewhere," she said while folding her hands around me.

"I met a young man, while I was going to visit Dinma. He volunteered to help me because I told him a little of our story, but he said he will only help me out of a condition". I said sobbing.

" What condition is that?" Mama asked anxiously.

"He asked me to marry him," I said.

"Wow! That is a huge offer, coming from someone that wants to help a friend. Why will he ask you to marry him, have you both known for too long?". She asked interestingly.

" Well, not too long mama". I answered while shaking my head gently.

"Okay! That is good to hear, but before I proceed with my suggestion, I want you to answer this simple question, ``Do you love him?". Mama asked and my heart immediately started beating fast, what could be the possible cause of such a fast heartbeat? Do I love Benjamin or am I going for his money? I was still pondering over mama's question before she called to my attention.

" Are you okay! Did you get my question?". She asked.

"Yes mama, I got your question, I can't conclude if I love him or not". I said.

" Well, that is nothing to panic about. I just want to tell you to be careful. Men can be very clumsy most times. Marriage comes with a lot of responsibility, which I don't believe you are ready for. Don't ever marry because of money or poor family conditions. That is one of the biggest mistakes we all make in marriage, most of us marry because of money. If you love him, do what is right ''. She replied.

I wish mum could see the inside of me right now, the amount of happiness in me now, I doubt anyone on earth has ever had such amazing happiness.

"Thank you so much mama and I think I know what is right, I will do what is right". I said immediately and hugged her. I felt a bit relieved.

I slept peacefully, as I waited for morning to arrive so that I could sort things out with Leo.

«»«»

Just immediately it was 8:00 am, I ran out of the house to meet Leo, I got to his house to find him still sweeping the compound, and I offered to help, to which he agreed.

”I am so sorry for yesterday". I apologized while sweeping the compound together with him.

“I suppose, I am the one to say that, I was a big jerk, I wouldn't have acted the way I did, I'm sure your parents did notice that I acted completely selfish” he apologized as he kept his broom and gave me a warm hug.

“Thank you so much, Thank you for making this much easier for me, I wanted to come to see you, before going to sort things out with Benjamin”, I said while returning his hug.

“it is fine, so, what is your final decision?". Leo asked.