Cassandra season 1 the end

Episode 51

On Tuesday of the following week, my mother showed up on her way to see Nora. I quickly offered to go with her, with the hope of using the opportunity to see my son whom Nora blatantly denied me the privilege of seeing.

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Nora was very happy to see my mother who was all smiles as they hugged strongly. She really was overjoyed to see my mother but her happiness never stopped her from showing her resentment towards me.
‘’mum you know David isn’t allowed in here. Why bring him along?’’ she quickly asked my mother, ignoring me.

‘’my dear, I do understand your position but please you can’t continue denying him the right to see his child. You have to allow him my dear, even if it is for once’’ she said to the angry girl who eyed me, breathed deeply and shrugged in resignation.
She quietly took us to her room where her little sister was playing with my boy.

‘’he was baptized on Saturday and I named him David just like you requested’’ she said to my mother who smiled with satisfaction.

‘’you are a very good and noble woman. I can’t believe you honored my request’’ my mother praised her as she carried my son while I silently watched on like a stranger, so touched but unable to contribute to the conversation.

I really was extremely touched and shaken as I heard my son’s name for the first time. I couldn’t believe Nora could be loyal and submissive even with the strong hatred she now felt for me. I couldn’t even make a move to touch my son. It was just as if I was scared of touching him, scared of staring at his face, scared of everything. My conscience really worked wonders on me that very moment.

‘’you no longer want to carry your son?’’ mum quickly asked with a smile. I composed myself, reached forward and carried little David, smiling foolishly as Nora, her sister and my mother watched me keenly.
Oh I was very, very nervous.

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‘’we have to talk’’ Nora suddenly said to me after some minutes. I nodded in agreement, handed over my child to my mother and followed her to the kitchen.
On getting to the kitchen, she stopped and faced me with a deeply colored face. I swallowed hard as I stared back at her, wondering what she intended to tell me that couldn’t be said before everyone.
‘’listen David, I don’t like the way you always show up here with the slightest opportunity you get. I hate embarrassing anyone but if you continue with the attitude, I won’t mind embarrassing you in front of your own mother. Please stay away from me and my child. I don’t want him to have anything to do with you. Respect yourself and stay away. I beg of you’’ she said seriously while I stared at her, unable to say a word. I just couldn’t say anything to her. She had every right to be arrogant and disrespectful, but I felt she was taking things too far.

My silence however kind of touched her. She breathed deeply, smiled and drew closer to me.
‘’I know I’m not in the best position to advise you but I can’t help it. You have reduced a lot. You are no longer as big as you used to be. I know things are not going well with you. But the worst mistake you made was falling in love with Cassandra. The girl is just something else. You can’t believe my sister has been seeing her all over the place with one doctor that just moved into this neighborhood two weeks ago. I don’t know how she can have the mind to hang out with another man in the same city you live in. Well maybe the guy is her relative I don’t know but you have to be careful. I don’t see Cassandra marrying a guy like you’’ she said softly, throwing me back with the news. I couldn’t believe my ears. I couldn’t believe her for some seconds. My heart simply froze as my head quickly did some calculations.

‘’I shouldn’t have told you this. I would have allowed you to find out things for yourself but I just can’t keep quiet anymore’’’ she added softly as I shook with rage.

‘’Cassandra was in Lagos two weeks ago. Yes she told me she travelled to get money from her cousin. Has Owerri now turned to Lagos?. How come she has the mind to be with another man in this city, knowing full well that this is a small world?. No, something isn’t adding up’’ I breathed furiously.

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I really wasn’t myself all through the rest of my stay at Nora’s house. My head was just full of thoughts and ideas. i badly needed to find out the truth. I badly needed to catch Cassandra red handed.
‘’But after catching her red-handed, what next?’’ I asked myself over and over as I drove to my shop, almost running over an old woman who was crossing the road without looking properly. I narrowly missed running over her because I wasn’t concentrating in my driving and had to stop to shout at her, but just couldn’t because she was too old to be shouted at. Instead I decided to caution her.

‘’please madam you have to mind how you cross the city roads. You almost put you and me in a very big danger’’ I advised. She smiled and looked at me.

‘’my son the danger you should be wary of, lives within you’’ she replied and walked away, leaving me guessing the meaning of her words..

Episode 52

‘’seriously what do you plan doing with Cassandra if your fears turns out to be true?’’ Chinedu asked as we enjoyed each other’s company on Friday evening at his house. Yes it really was three days after my visit to Nora’s house but all she told me were still very fresh in my memory.

‘’I don’t know brother. Is it a crime to love?. Is it a crime for someone like me to wish marrying a graduate?’’ I poured out in frustration. My friend shrugged, saying nothing.

‘’The irony of it all is that I’m still very much in love with Cassandra. She has this way of making me feel special. I just don’t know how to confront her. I equally don’t know what to do if all the stories about her are real. I don’t know what to do with that girl. I have invested a lot in her. My money, my heart, everything. I can’t just walk away and start from where?’’’ I cried.

‘’that’s one thing about relationships that I’m scared of. Finding someone you love is not easy and when you eventually fall in love, you may end up loving the wrong person or being in a relationship with a girl sharing you with two or three guys. Believe me most of the guys out there don’t know that their girlfriends are sharing them with other guys. Sixty percent of girls’ double date nowadays, another twenty percent is just waiting for the right opportunity to double date and just twenty percent of girls can be trusted but then they are very difficult to find. Most times the good girls are the ugly ones. Just five percent of beautiful girls can be hoped on but please don’t quote me’’ he lectured while I swallowed hard.

‘’but I thought it was poverty that makes most girls to cheat?. But in Cassandra’s case, I gave her everything she asked for. You can’t imagine how much I spent on her head, both the accountable and non accountable expenses. How can I just walk away as if nothing happened’’ I breathed.

‘’I don’t see the reason why you should be lamenting. You are yet to catch her red-handed and your sister is yet to give you any news. Just calm down and let’s see how things go’’ Chinedu added intelligently. I swallowed hard and shook my head. Losing Cassandra would leave a terrible blow on my body. All the time and energy I wasted on her would then be a thing of the past and a big waste. Starting a new life would definitely be very difficult. Moreover Nora no longer wants anything to do with me and I equally can’t go down on my knees , crawling and begging for her forgiveness.

‘’dear lord, help me. I’m tired of remaining a bachelor. Don’t let me do something nasty out of desperation’’ I prayed inwardly, hoping for the best. Just that moment, my phone rang and it was my little sister calling.

‘’Good evening Big brother. I have gathered all the information about Cassandra you need’’ she said excitedly. My heart instantly froze.
Even though I was dying to know all of Cassandra’s little secrets, I equally was very scared of what it could do to me.

‘’can you believe that Cassandra introduced one doctor Chris Eneh to her friends as her fiancée. I guess you haven’t met any of Cassandra’s friends talk more of being introduced to them?’’ she quickly poured out, leaving me gasping for breath while chinedu watched on with great concern.

‘’she met the dude some years back when he did his youth service in the school clinic. I think they lost contact or something but according to her friend, the guy appeared around May of this year and since then has been having a good time with her. He always sends a car to pick her up anytime he needs her presence. The guy is working at federal medical center Owerri and I heard they are very serious with each other’’ she summarized and hung up, leaving me so dead with the revelation.
‘’oh God!’’ I gasped as my heart stopped beating for some seconds. The pain was just too much.

I almost fainted.

Episode 53

‘’just take a deep breath and calm down brother. Don’t get yourself worked up’’ Chinedu calmly advised immediately after I narrated all my sister said over the phone to him.

‘’I do wish I can just close my eyes and forget about Cassandra. I just wish there is something I can do to make all these problems go away. I’m really devastated. You can’t imagine the pain I feel right now, believe me’’ I cried solemnly.

‘’how I wish I can be of more help. Seriously Cassandra is something else’’ my friend breathed with concern. I looked down with great pain.

‘’I will try to forget her. I will try to push her to the back of my memory’’ I promised myself but then it was just mere words. It was just a promise made with a confused mind.

I couldn’t help but think of Cassandra no matter how occupied I was over the days, and as much as I tried hard to get her out of my head, I found myself thinking about her more and more.
A week slowly passed by without me speaking to Cassandra and yes I used all the strength in me to restrain myself from calling her and surprisingly Cassandra on the other hand never bothered to check up on me. However, as the second week slowly wrapped up I couldn’t restrain myself any longer and I found myself calling the girl I swore never to call again.
Yes I was ashamed of myself as I dialed her number but the pressure and urge to hear her voice was stronger than the shame I felt for myself that very moment. It was just as if I was under a spell and of course I was under the spell of love. Cassandra was the girl I invested my heart, my feelings and my entire soul on. I was yet to reclaim myself and it was something that seemed impossible at that moment.

‘’Cassandra’’ I breathed as soon as she picked up my call. I couldn’t help but notice that the voice she answered with was devoid of the usual tone and softness that always followed it. It was as if she already knew that I was aware of her games. Perhaps it was my feelings that made me reason towards that direction. Perhaps I was right with the reasoning.

‘’hey Dave, good morning’’ she greeted.

‘’I’m fine; I’m really very surprised that you failed to check up on me all through the previous week. You never bothered to call my line even for once’’ I slowly complained.

‘’I have been busy with school’’ she answered.

‘’I really want us to see this weekend. How possible will it be?’’ I asked.

‘’I don’t think it will be possible’’ she quickly answered.

‘’how about next week?, Even if it’s just for few hours?’’ I asked but she surprisingly turned me down.

‘’I will be very busy. I don’t think we will be seeing till the end of the year’’ she replied and hung up without giving me the chance to say another word. I quickly dialed back her phone number but couldn’t get across to her because her line was engaged with another call.
I felt extremely bitter as reality slowly closed in on me. There wasn’t any doubt that I was scammed with love. My case was just a hopeless one.

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The month of November unceremoniously ended with Cassandra neither visiting nor showing any atom of care towards me and as December slowly dragged by I became more desperate and erratic. I still found it hard to stop thinking of Cassandra and each passing day left me more emotionally weak and empty.
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‘’I think you should find a way to settle with Nora, since by the look of things Cassandra is already done with you’’ Chinedu was forced to advise when he couldn’t keep quiet any more.

‘’no brother, I’m not yet done with Cassandra. But I really do need your help. I can’t just let the girl go scot free. I must find a way to confront her. If it fails to work , then I will have no choice than to take my case to her parents’’ I poured out in desperation.

‘’and what’s your aim with this plan?. I don’t get you’’ he breathed with eyes wild open.

‘’relax and trust me brother. I’m really not thinking with my head this time around but I have a target’’ I answered while he shrugged, probably wondering if I was going mad or already mad.

‘’but how about Nora cant you just make up with her?. I think you still have a chance with that girl’’ he added softly, searching me with his eyes but my face fell instantly.

‘’Nora will never accept me back, not after knowing that I came back to her just because Cassandra played me. Moreover I haven’t seen Nora since the day I went to her apartment with my mother. Besides She made it very clear that she wants nothing to do with me when my memory was still fresh in her head, talk more of now that her wounds has healed. I’m just a failed man brother’’ I opened up.

‘’well just give it a try. Visit her tomorrow with the intention of seeing your son. Who knows things can still work in your favor’’’ he encouraged me and just like he suggested, very early the next day I headed to Nora’s house like the biblical prodigal son who returned to his father after squandering his wealth but unlike in the bible, I knew Nora wasn’t going to welcome me with happiness.
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One look at me that fateful morning, a scornful smile appeared on Nora’s face. It was just as if she read all my problems with just one look at me.

Episode 54

‘’what on earth are you doing here?. Haven’t I warned you countless times to stop bothering me?. I guess you do need a restraining order from the court after all’’ she fired angrily, blocking the doorway with her body. I stared at her, not knowing what to say to calm her down. There wasn’t any doubt that she still was very angry with me. .

‘’Nora I didn’t come to fight with you. I came in peace. I came to see my son and equally know how you are faring’’ I muttered, forcing out a smile to push my words but Nora was far from being sympathetic or should I say understanding. It was just as if she was waiting to pour out her anger on me over and over.

‘’I’m very much okay, same as my son. Please don’t bother about him. I have told you numerous times that you are not welcomed in my son’s life until he grows up to decide for himself. As for now, I’m deciding for him and my decision is that you stay away from us. Moreover you are the person that needs all the care and attention you can get. Just look at you. Just look at how pathetic you now look. You look so thin, so withdrawn and so unkempt. It’s very unfortunate that you now look like a skeleton while the girl who obviously put you in this condition is currently having fun with another man down the street’’ she poured out furiously, equally sighing rudely. I gasped as her words hit me like dynamite.

‘’Yes I saw Cassandra this morning with her new lover. I went down the street to buy things for my baby minutes ago and ran into them enjoying each other’s company in full view of the whole neighborhood, chatting and laughing shamelessly. She pretended not to see me and I equally ignored her. You have to get your acts together and move on because the Cassandra I saw this morning is definitely done with you and now frolicking with another prey. I guess you have learnt your lessons already’’ she added, leaving me totally devastated as sweat drenched my entire body.

‘’so Cassandra is in town and yet she found it hard to spare an hour to see me??. d--n’’ I cursed as the pain in my chest grew out of proportion. I felt like crying that moment. I felt so terribly bad and humiliated. I just didn’t know what to do with myself.

‘’how do I handle this shame?. This heartbreak?. What do I do?’’ I wondered, while Nora smiled with satisfaction as she saw how worked up I was.

‘’don’t ever show your ugly face here again, unless you are coming to present your wedding invitation with Cassandra to me. By the way, the doctor enjoying your Cassandra lives in the green duplex, two houses away from here. The house by your right when heading out’’ she added with a mockery tone before shutting her door on my face. An action that infuriated me greatly.

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I had no choice than to pick up my miserable self and head back to my car. I was close to tears. My hopes, my dreams all looked shattered. I couldn’t help but wonder the type of story that would soon spread concerning me. I knew just like how the story of how I abandoned Nora spread, the story of how it all ended with Cassandra would soon spread, making me the laughing stock of the whole market community.
I knew Nora would like to get back at me by spreading the story with no holds barred.

Minutes later, I found myself stopping my car in front of the doctor’s house with no clear intention in my head. I just had no plans. I just didn’t know what I was doing. I just was emotionally wrecked.
I parked my car, sat inside and stared at the building for hours, while my head boiled as my heart pounded furiously. I just didn’t know what to do. I equally couldn’t control my feelings. I was just lost and hopeless. I needed to calm down but there was nothing to calm me down. I was nothing but a sore loser.
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I sat in my car for close to two hours when I saw a young girl, walk out of the building. My heart froze as I stared at the girl who was no other person than Cassandra.

‘’cassandraaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa’’’ I screamed with a very loud voice without stopping to think for a second. I jumped out of my car furiously, surprising the girl who froze with disbelief on seeing me.

Episode 55

‘’Cassandraaaaaa!’’ I screamed once again as I closed in on the shocked girl who stared at me as if she was looking at a ghost. Of course she had every reason to be shocked and scared but as a drama queen that she was, she quickly composed herself, weighing me up as I drew closer to her with a very angry look.

‘’my God! Dave!, what the hell are you doing here?. Don’t tell me you are stalking me?”” she asked quickly, taking a step backwards. Her question really got me very angry. She had the nerves to ask if I was stalking her. Such an annoying question it was.
I felt like slapping her that moment. I felt like squeezing life out of her but as a gentleman I controlled myself.

‘’so this is your school huh?. I guess you are heading to lectures huh?. Stupid liar. You are so despicable. I can’t believe I fell in love with someone like you’’ I poured out with great anger while she stared at me with fear in her eyes.

‘’Dave listen, it’s not what you think. How about you wait for me in your house?. I will meet you there in the evening’’ she begged, trying to calm me down. But I wasn’t ready to listen or reason with her. My head was just so filled with anger, with resentment, with fire. I just was like an enraged bull, looking for a fight.

‘’you know this is a very quiet neighborhood. We shouldn’t be drawing attention’’ she added quickly, throwing a quick look at the gate she just emerged from, as if she was scared of something.

‘’tell me, who are you staying with?’’ I asked, breathing heavily. She drew back and made to walk away but I quickly grabbed her hand stopping her. To my surprise she fought me, struggling to break free from my grasp and screaming like a possessed girl. In an instant it quickly looked as if I was trying to kidnap her under broad daylight. I couldn’t help but notice that some curious bystanders were already walking towards us to probably assist her.
I was forced to release my hold, which gave her the opportunity to run back to the doctor’s compound. She quickly locked the gate from inside while I furiously kicked on it like a mad dog.
(coolval stories)
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‘’what’s going on?” I heard a gentle man ask me from behind. I ignored him and continued hitting on the gate until a middle aged gentlemen emerged from the compound, staring at me angrily. I quickly concluded that he was the doctor enjoying my Cassandra.

‘’please can you tell me the meaning of this nonsense you are doing. Why are you chasing after my girl and why are you disturbing the whole neighborhood?’’ he asked with a loud voice as I seized him up.

Cassandra emerged once again from the compound and stood behind the doctor, eyeing me furiously. I swallowed hard as I looked around me. I could count about a dozen eyes staring at me.

‘’is she owing you?, what’s this nonsense all about?”’ the young man asked once again.

‘’I came for Cassandra and not for you. Cassandra is an adult capable of defending herself. My issue is with her and not you. She is my girlfriend and has been my girl since the beginning of this year’’’ I poured out in desperation, shocking the young doctor who stared at me with disbelief. I couldn’t help but notice how his eyes quickly went all over me.

‘’please don’t be offended but I find this extremely intriguing. Can you at least introduce yourself to me? Your name and what you do. We are gentlemen and I believe we can reason and solve the misunderstanding like men’’ he said intelligently, calming me with the matured words. But before I could answer Cassandra quickly interrupted.

‘’my dear don’t waste your time with him. He is just a trader from across the street who is very obsessed with me. You have work to do, don’t you?. Please don’t keep your patients waiting because you want to hear what this guy wants to say. He isn’t worth it or is he your level?’’ she chipped in rudely. The young doctor seized me up once again, probably surprised to know that I was nothing but a trader.

‘’just stay from my Cassandra or I will have you locked up. This is a residential area and not a market place. I can’t believe I wasted my time trying to listen to you. Of course I should have known that it’s only a tout or a mad person that follows a woman to her husband’s house. Just get the hell out of here’’ he said coldly, instantly becoming rude. His words crushed my ego, my feelings and the remaining pride I had left. I took a deep breath before doing the unthinkable.

I took a quick punch at the doctor, throwing him off balance with a knockout blow. Cassandra screamed while I waited for the young man to retaliate.

Episode 56

‘’oh my God!, you see not only is he obsessed with me. He is equally very violent. Please let’s go inside the house. Don’t put your dignity on the line by fighting him’’ Cassandra desperately said to the doctor who was obviously too stunned to react. I really felt bad after hitting him but the young man deserved it. He chose to insult me instead of being reasonable, something that i couldn’t take.

‘’Cassandra I don’t know what your plans are, but trust me, you won’t live long. I will make sure your life becomes a living hell. Trust me this isn’t over’’ I threatened as I backed away with anger.

‘’listen if anything happens to my Cassandra, you will spend the rest of your miserable life in prison. I swear, I will come after you with everything I got. Just get away from here before I call the police’’ the young doctor screamed at me. I scoffed, breathed deeply and left with a boiling heart.
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I really was close to tears as I drove home. The pain of losing Cassandra, All I invested in her. My heart, my fortune, everything were now all lost. I really can’t describe how I felt that very day. I couldn’t do anything other than think about my life. There wasn’t any doubt that Cassandra was gone for good and my heart boiled with vengeance. But no matter how desperate I was to get back at her, I just couldn’t figure out what to do to the d--n girl.

Later in the evening, Chinedu showed up at my apartment to check up on me, because i was unable to go to my shop due to the pain in my heart. I wasted no time in telling my friend what happened and yes he really felt for me.

‘’well that’s life. Simply move on and focus on your business. It’s true you aren’t getting any younger but I believe God will surely provide a way for you’’ he said softly.

‘’’I just can’t let Cassandra go scot free. I have to make her suffer. Girls like her overshadow the good ones out there and if we guys should continue letting them get away with their devilish schemes they will continue getting bolder. Come on don’t you know what she did to me was nothing but a big scam. She scammed me my friend. She made a lot of money from me and who knows how much she has already gotten from that silly doctor’’ I lamented desperately while my friend stared at me with an open mouth. He was very surprised with the words coming from my mouth.
‘’so what are you planning my friend?’’ he asked quickly.

‘’I will make sure she never enjoys a moment of peace. I will spoil any relationship she makes and I equally will spoil her name before her family’’ I said seriously. Chinedu gasped.

‘’you must be mad bro. how on earth are you going to accomplish that?. Don’t tell me you are going to abandon your future to pursue vengeance?’’ he asked curiously.

‘’I will soon be the laughing stock of everyone. I believe Nora and her friends will soon spread my story. I have lost everything already and I can’t go down alone. Cassandra must go down with me’’ I breathed.

‘’I really don’t understand you. You are too old for this. Come on be reasonable’’ he begged.

‘’on Sunday I will go to Portharcourt to see Cassandra’s parents. You are going with me and I don’t need any excuses this time from you’’ I said seriously, leaving him with no choice than to shrug with resignation. He knew well not to reject going with me. He definitely knew that my head wasn’t normal anymore. All thanks to Cassandra.

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The rest of the week went very slowly and badly for me. I recorded very low sales in my business and just like I feared, the new development with Cassandra spread like wildfire. It got so bad that some nosy neighbors had the guts to ask me one on one if the gossips they were hearing were true. I ended up quarrelling with all my neighbors, apart from Chinedu who still stood by me and on Sunday we embarked on a strange journey to Portharcourt city.

Visiting Cassandra’s family was one of the plans I made without clear focus. You have to understand that I was very desperate, angry and visionless. I just wasn’t myself and the pain in my heart just refused to go away.

Cassandra took many things away from me. She took my heart, my future, my feelings, everything I held dearly and tossed them away without any remorse. If not for Cassandra, perhaps by that moment I would have been happily married to Nora. I would have been a happy family man but Cassandra gave me hope. She gave me a very fake picture of love which I fell for because I thought she was the best.

All I had left in my heart was vengeance. I badly wanted to get back at Cassandra, not by taking her life but by destroying all she valued the most and my plan was to first start with her family.

I know this sounds unbelievable. Yes I was just a hopeless man looking for some closure.

Episode 57

You can’t imagine the suspense in the air as Chinedu and I made our way into Cassandra’s family house. Of course my heart pounded furiously while my head did some last minute calculations as we made our way to the quiet house. Chinedu on his part was very loyal but fearful. .

‘’I hope you are not going to shoot anyone. Please don’t do it’’ he begged as we made our way to the living room. I smiled to myself, wondering what was probably going through his mind.
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Cassandra’s mother luckily recognized me, saving me the pain of going through a long introduction. However Cassandra’s father failed to recognize me and I had to introduce myself all over again to him .

‘’so what really brought you here. We weren’t expecting you?” the old man asked, flashing a smile to put me at ease while his wife watched on. I kept quiet for some seconds before shocking them with the words that came out of my mouth.

‘’you see, your daughter Cassandra messed me up. She duped me. She made believe she was in love with me and duped me of my hard earned money. Before I continue, I need to tell you that I don’t believe your daughter is actually a student . Maybe she is using that as a cover to dupe men like me. She derives joy in jumping from one man to another when her mates are in school studying to better their lives. Anyway it isn’t my business anymore. I’m here to collect all your daughter duped me. Since the beginning of the year I have been spending not less than twenty thousand naira on her head every month. I equally paid her hostel rent, plus the large sum of money I gave for her birthday. The list is quite a long one. Here, take a look at this paper, I wrote down everything I spent on her, from day one we met’’ I said calmly, offering a piece of paper in which I wrote down account of every dime I spent on Cassandra’s head to her shocked mother, who took the list, read it and gave to her husband who read it and jumped up with shock. I doubt if they have encountered or heard about the kind of stunt I was pulling that calm afternoon.

‘’four hundred and fifty thousand naira! ‘’ the old man exclaimed with great shock. Chinedu instantly stared at me with disbelief.

‘’yes and I was kind enough to remove some unnecessary expenses from the list. Now listen; I want my money before the end of this year or your daughter won’t be free to celebrate the new year’’ I threatened and stood up.

‘’my phone number is equally on that piece of paper. You have to hurry fast because the year is almost over’’ I added, smiled and walked out with Chinedu, leaving the old couple extremely stunned. They couldn’t even call me back nor did they try to negotiate a settlement with me.

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‘’holy me!, you got balls brother’’ Chinedu screamed as soon as we were in my car. I smiled and breathed deeply.

‘’I pulled it off very well, didn’t i?’’ I asked. He shrugged, unable to find the suitable words to use on me.

‘’but seriously isn’t what you just did a childish behavior?. Do you think Cassandra’s parents will simply run around and send you the money?’’ he finally asked after some seconds..

‘’you can think whatever you feel like. I’m already mad, so anything I do now is out of madness. Let’s just wait and see what happens next’’ I replied softly. He shook his head in disbelief, saying nothing else.
Deep down I felt a little bit of relief. I felt a little surge of happiness. Yes seeing Cassandra’s parents very shocked made me happy and I sure was ready to continue with my stunts.
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I returned to my apartment around 8pm that fateful Sunday very tired and sleepy. I was about taking a shower when my door bell rang. I lazily headed to the door, wondering who could be visiting by that hour. To my surprise I saw Cassandra standing on my doorway with a nervous smile.

For some seconds I couldn’t believe my eyes.

Episode 58

‘’what do you want?, I can’t believe you have the guts to show your face here’’ I breathed angrily, weighing her with my eyes. I was ready for any surprises. I definitely knew she came for something.

‘’I came for us to talk. Please just give me five minutes’’ she begged.

‘’isn’t it late?. Come on what exactly do you want us to talk about?” I asked seriously.

‘’please can you at least let me in?” she begged softly, leaving me with no choice than to oblige.
She gracefully walked into my apartment, stopped at the center of the room, turned and faced me.

‘’I was in my hostel when my parents called to tell me what you did at my house. I left everything I was doing and hurried down here’’ she said softly, stopping to see if I would reply but I kept quiet , leaving her with no choice than to continue with her speech.

‘’listen Dave, I know it’s quite unfortunate that things ended this way between us but you have to understand and calm down. I tried to love you. I did everything to make you happy. I was obedient, dutiful and respectful towards you. I gave you my body; I spend countless nights with you. I did everything possible to love you but unfortunately we can’t tell the heart who to love. I tried so hard to fall in love with you but the connection wasn’t just there. We don’t reason alike, we don’t have anything in common. Our dreams are so different and my heart never for once stopped for you nor did I for a day tremble under your touch and caresses. I’m so sorry you found out the truth this way but you should know that I cared and still care for you. I wouldn’t have introduced you to my parents nor do a lot of silly things with you if I didn’t care for you. Please let’s stop this fighting and remain friends. I beg of you’’ she poured out solemnly, drawing closer to hold my hands. But instead of comforting me, all her speech did was to get me more annoyed. My heart boiled with rage. My soul was simply on fire. I struggled to control myself but just couldn’t.

Sensing the fire in my eyes, she quickly drew back, breathing with fear as she watched me cautiously.

‘’Cassandra, Cassandra, Cassandra!’’ I breathed with fire. She trembled, taking more steps backwards.

‘’you killed me. You murdered my soul. I’m now nothing but a shattered man. Why give hope when you knew quite well that there wasn’t any connection between us. Why lead me through these months with great hope and aspiration. Why make me invest on you, knowing full well that I meant nothing to you. I can’t stand what you just did to me’’ I barked, shaking with rage.

‘’I’m so sorry you feel this way but I equally can’t help it either. Please just forgive and forget everything. I beg of you. I will never forget the help you rendered in my life’’ she begged carefully, tears appearing in her eyes.. Instead of settling my spirit , her words made me more angry and before I knew what I was doing, my hands were already round her neck while she screamed and kicked as she gasped for breathe.

‘’please let me go, let me go please’’ she cried out. I slowly released my hold, biting my lips as I stared into her eyes. I swallowed hard as I gave her one last long look. I couldn’t believe it was all real. My beautiful Cassandra gone for real.

‘’you and your parents have till the end of the year to get me back the money I spent on you or I swear I will kill you. I will kill you with my bare hands, don’t dare me’’ I barked furiously as she ran to the door.

‘’Dave I can’t believe you have gone mad. Madddddddddddd’’ she breathed, shook her head and disappeared into the night.

I threw myself on my sofa and cried uncontrollably. I couldn’t believe I was now behaving like a mad man to the extent that the girl behind my behavior now calls me a mad man.

Unfortunately I never had the time to recover my head nor money. Just a week later, Cassandra was declared missing. All fingers quickly pointed at me.

Episode 59

On December 23rd , just three days to the day I planned travelling home for Christmas; I was in my shop going through my accounts when my phone rang, displaying an unsaved number on its screen. I quickly answered the phone-call thinking it was a business call but to my surprise the caller introduced himself as Cassandra’s father. I instantly became alert and excited, thinking he was calling to make peace with me, but the next words he said clearly left me stunned and speechless.

‘’Mr. Dave, please are you with Cassandra?’’ he asked immediately after introducing himself. I couldn’t believe my ears. I couldn’t believe he asked the question and I only answered after he repeated the question one more time.

‘’Cassandra?, no I haven’t seen her in a week’’ I stammered, wondering the reason for such unexpected question. The old man kept quiet for some seconds, probably pondering over the next words to say.

‘’you mean you are not with my daughter?” he asked once again, leaving me very curious and suspicious over the direction his questions were heading.

‘’no I’m not with your daughter but what made you think that she’s with me after all I complained to you about her?. Have you forgotten what she did to me?” I quickly asked.

‘’I haven’t forgotten my friend, but you see on that very day you came to my house, I was told that she rushed over to see you immediately after I called her to confirm your allegations and according to her friends she hasn’t called nor returned to her lodge till this moment. Knowing how you threatened to deal with her, I’m very much inclined to think that you are probably holding her against her wish in your house’’ he said pointedly, leaving me totally perplexed.

‘’whatttttt!’’ I exclaimed.

‘’please I beg of you, if that’s the case, do release my daughter. I believe we can work something out to settle what she owes you’’ he pushed on as if he was very sure that Cassandra was with me.

‘’please sir, just like I told you the previous week, your daughter derives joy in hanging out with different men. Yes she came to see me that very day. She showed up at my house very late in the evening, we argued and she ran out. I believe she is somewhere having a good time with another man. Don’t get yourself worked up, she will return home or to her school whenever she feels like doing so’’ I assured the old man seriously.

‘’very well then, do have a good day Mr. David’’ he breathed and hung up, but something in his tone made me believe he doubted me and I couldn’t just understand why he was suddenly so worried about his daughter’s safety. Nevertheless I muttered a quick prayer on Cassandra’s behalf, because I knew I could be in danger if something bad happens to her. I equally had no choice than to tell Chinedu about the strange phone call from Cassandra’s father.

‘’you shouldn’t be worried; the girl probably is staying with her doctor friend or with some other guy and switched off her phones to avoid speaking with her parents. I believe she is hiding from her parents out of shame’’ Chinedu assured me, settling my mind.

I soon forget about the strange phone call.

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I travelled home on 26th December like an empty man. Yes I returned home like a man who failed to achieve anything all through the year. I failed marrying my Cassandra and yes it really dealt a devastating blow to me and my pride. I returned home to face my family who were clearly overjoyed over what happened to me even though they never openly showed it. I equally was left with no choice than to make a lot of unnecessary explanations as if they cared to know..
Nora on the other hand visited my family on 31st December to spend the last day of the year with us and as you can imagine, I hid away from her because I couldn’t face the shame of standing before her.

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The New Year soon arrived with great speed and with it came new resolutions and plans. Somehow I was scared of my future. I was scared and clueless on how to start a new relationship. I really needed the love and attention of a woman but I just didn’t know to how to go about it anymore. I equally was doubtful if I could ever love again.
———————–

January 2nd 2015 , Cassandra’s father called once again, this time around threatening to arrest me for kidnapping his daughter, according to him, Cassandra was yet to return home nor contact anyone. I couldn’t believe my ears.

‘’I hope you haven’t killed my daughter?, I’m going to hunt you down where ever you hide. I can’t believe you had the mind to carry out your threats. ’’ The old man barked over the phone, leaving me with the first shock of the New Year.

Episode 60

I returned to the city the very next day with great fear in my heart. I couldn’t imagine what awaited me. I couldn’t help but think of what Cassandra’s father could be planning for me. I kind of felt that Cassandra’s purported disappearance was nothing but a giant conspiracy to get back at me for my actions the previous year, perhaps orchestrated by the silly girl without the knowledge or with the knowledge of her parents. I just couldn’t believe that a girl like her could suddenly disappear without a trace.

All these were in my mind as I made my way to the residence of Cassandra’s new boyfriend immediately I got to the city. It really was with a strong mind that I made my way to the young doctor’s house. Yes I had no choice than to take it upon myself to search for the missing girl. I couldn’t just sit idle without doing a thing, not with her father on my neck.
I had the feeling that Cassandra could probably still be with the doctor, even though it kind of looked strange that a girl like her would simply decide to stay away from her family all through the duration of Christmas and New Year celebrations just because of the visit i paid her parents the previous year. No matter the direction I headed with my thinking, I couldn’t come up with any theory to solve the mystery.

On getting to the doctor’s residence, I met a woman selling bean cakes in front of the compound and on asking about the doctor, she told me that the young man travelled out of the country on 24th December of the previous year, which made me rule out all possibility of Cassandra being with him.

‘’where then could Cassandra be?’’ I wondered over and over as I dialed her number one more time and like in previous occasions, her lines were switched off. I dialed Chinedu’s phone numbers but none of his lines were reachable because he was still in his village, enjoying the New Year.

Tears slowly appeared in my eyes as I headed back to my car. I couldn’t help but wonder all over again if Cassandra and her parents were trying to set me up. I never for a moment believed that Cassandra could either be dead or kidnapped. I strongly believed that somehow she was trying to get back at me with her parents support but then her parents looked quite refined and polished for such deed which really left me clueless on what to think or believe.
I couldn’t imagine myself going to the police to answer for a crime I never committed. I regretted ever threatening the girl, I regretted ever trying to fight her doctor friend, I regretted ever threatening her parents. I definitely knew my actions were enough to pin me down as the main suspect if actually she was indeed missing.

———————-
I switched on my car engine without any direction in mind, but somehow my spirit led me to Nora’s house.
I ended up in Nora’s apartment without knowing how I got there. Perhaps it was because I needed someone to talk to, someone to pour my heart to; someone that would understand.
I found myself in Nora’s apartment, looking so miserable and scared. Luckily she didn’t embarrass nor send me away, instead welcomed me a bit warmly.

‘’I could have asked what you are doing here but I sense you are not fine. You look so bad. What happened?’’ she quickly asked. I quietly settled down and told her all that happened between Cassandra and I towards the end of the previous year. I equally told her all the untold stories between Cassandra and I plus how I threatened her parents only for the girl to end up missing.

‘’if something happens to Cassandra, I could be locked up in jail for a long time and you know I can’t last a week in such a place. You and my son are now what I have left in my life. I’m so scared’’ I cried miserably. For the first time after her childbirth, Nora drew closer to me affectionately and rested her hand on my shoulder.

‘’you shouldn’t be worked up or scared. Yes I know if Cassandra is actually missing, you could be in danger of getting locked up but don’t give up, the truth always comes out in the end’’ she tried to assure me. I looked up at her, shook my head and swallowed hard.

‘’yes in movies the truth always comes out in the end, but this is real life. Do you know how many people that are in prison currently awaiting trial over what they didn’t do?, it’s about happening to me. You know our justice system is very poor and the police don’t joke around with anyone accused of kidnapping or something similar’’ I pushed on with a deep sob. Tears slowly fell from her eyes as she pondered over the gravity of what I just told her.

‘’things really do happen fast. I can’t believe Cassandra is really missing. Can her parents be lying?, have you checked her school?’’ she asked with tears in her eyes.

‘’I don’t know what to think anymore, but seriously I don’t think Cassandra’s father is lying to me. His threat and emotions were very real when he spoke to me. I sensed it in his voice and I equally don’t think a girl like Cassandra will hold on from contacting her parents throughout Christmas. It just crossed my mind that something could have happened to her after she ran out of my apartment that fateful night we argued’’ I muttered quickly.

‘’ how about Edwin; (her school boyfriend)?, he shouldn’t be ruled out in this. You just told me the guy is very dangerous and then her doctor friend, who hurriedly left the country before Christmas, which was equally the timeframe of Cassandra’s disappearance. What if he did something to her and then left town?”’ Nora added intelligently.

‘’yes you are right; moreover she could equally have other guys she deceived in the past who no one knows’’ I breathed with resignation.

“I will have to call up my cousin, the lawyer you met sometime back to help you, in case Cassandra’s father comes to town to make trouble’’ she quickly offered, surprising me.

I stared into her eyes with disbelief. It was just as if for the first time, my eyes cleared before her. I saw real love, genuine care and a wonderful heart before me.

‘’no matter how much I presently hate you, I won’t let anything bad to happen to you for the sake of my son’’ she breathed, wiped tears from her eyes, grabbed her phone and dialed her cousin’s number.