Soul Mate 1

“What I’m saying is that women actually have a point when they say some men can be chauvinistic slaves.” Mike is saying to us.

We all laugh because, who doesn’t laugh when Mike cracks a joke? Who doesn’t smile when Mike walks in? Who doesn’t wait patiently till they get a glimpse of his face? Who doesn’t steal his phone number from their sister’s phone and stalk him on Whatsapp, Facebook and Instagram? Who doesn’t know every single thing there is to know about Mike?

Okay, most of that is me but you catch my drift. I watch him as he sips from his bottle of beer and I watch the liquid pass his throat in a smooth move,  making me wish I could be that drink, sliding down his throat into his body. Gross, I know but I can be gross like that.

Do you know what it means to love somebody so completely, so totally that you feel entwined to their very soul? I have never loved so deeply and so completely before, even I am amazed by the depth of my emotions. I wake up every night, trembling with the ache to hold Mike in my arms, I see him in all my dreams every single night, some so X-rated I can’t even tell you about it.

He has become so wrapped up in my head and my life that I can’t go a day without checking his whatsapp status, just to see if he has put up any new pictures. I have all his pictures in a secret folder in my laptop and I flip through them every night as i listen to sad love songs and cry over him.

Why all this hullaballo over a man you may be asking by now, thinking me a crazy obsessed girl. I am not obsessed my dear, just in love. I believe love has to fill your entire life, turn everything upside down and leave you completely exhausted and breathless. Why Mike you may ask?

Let me tell you something. I have dated and slept with many men in my life, from the moment my cousin took my virginity. I have had very ugly experiences in relationships; I can virtually say I have seen it all. The violent one, the stingy ones, the cheating ones who made me feel like crap by holding me responsible for their philandering ways, the mummy boys, the dumb ones, virtually all of them. I gave up on men, resigned to it. I even began to treat them like shit, the way they treated me.

Till the day I met Mike. I remember it clearly, it was raining and I was getting drenched so I dashed into one Genesis fast food nearby and found no empty seat in the crowded restaurant. I stood by the door, praying for the rain to stop when the door opened and a gust of wind blew the rain directly to my face. I turned and immediately started yelling at the offender who opened the door when I caught a glimpse of his face. Mike! He was wearing a white tee shirt and blue jeans, apologizing profusely. I stopped in midsentence, overwhelmed by that first blast of attraction that I hadn’t felt in a long time.

In that moment, I memorized his face, taking into detail the slight crook in his nose, the thin lips and crinkling eyes that seemed to always be laughing. I stood as close to him as I could get, resenting the rain when it stopped and he left.

But trust me na, I followed him outside to ask for his phone number because yes, I am that girl who does that. I didn’t find him. It was like he disappeared. I never forgot him.

I am not just hyping him. Mike is caring, attentive, sensitive and thoughtful. He is gentle, patient and kind.

Then I met him again two weeks later. It was like the gods knew I was pining for him because they delivered him straight to my house. When I saw him at the door to my parents’ house, I was shocked and instantly became mute. In my mind I kept asking, ‘Did he feel it too? He came for me, he came for me’. He must have somehow tracked me down because he also couldn’t forget me too.

Then he opened his mouth and said the words. “Hi, is Chikerenma around?”

I couldn’t move, only watched his mouth as it formed words, so I turned, said ‘No’ over my shoulders and shut the door.

Can you guess what I went to do inside my old room?

I cried. Yes. You want to know why?

Because he said the thing that would hurt me the most, the only thing in this world that I would pierce the deepest part of my heart. In case you don’t know, Chikerenma is my sister whom I despise greatly.

Don’t be surprised. You should have guessed.

Don’t hate me. No, I am not abnormal, mentally deficient or psychologically unbalanced. You may think that way because even though people may dislike their siblings  which is quite popular by the way, they still love them underneath all that dislike and would come through in needed moments.

Not me. I thought about this long and hard when I was a teenager, when this conflicting emotion started to rise. If there was ever a time I ever loved or even liked my sister, I can’t really recall. As far as I can tell, I have always had these negative feelings about her. When we were child, it was a mild dislike basically due to sibling rivalry and all what not.

But then our relationship began to undertake a darker, deeper perspective and slowly, hate began to creep into my heart and pretty soon, I knew with a certainty that I hated her.

Now don’t get me wrong, I don’t mean that I wish her dead or I want to do her harm. No. My hate is the hate of indifference, lack of empathy, feelings or emotions towards her. I would never wish her dead or ill, or any tragic event. I just would rather see, and not talk to her.

If you still don’t understand, don’t worry about it, I will explain later.

Anyways, this evening I am out with my boyfriend, Richard. Okay, how do I have a boyfriend when I so clearly love Mike? Hint: Richard is just a stand-in for Mike, although he doesn’t know it.

So I stalked Mike online and noticed when he put a picture of him and Chikerenma in a club so I called Richard and rushed down here with him.

I pretended to bump into them and Mike, good guy that he is offered to let us sit with them.

Ha! My sister is glaring daggers at me and I am doing a good job of ignoring her. Whatever! I don’t think we have physically spoken in years except the perfunctory greeting we call out when people are around.

Anyways, we are all sitting and some of Mike’s friends are dancing till it’s just Me and Mike. Oh, with Chikerenma and Richard. Mike is whispering into my sister’s ears and she is giggling like a little girl, looking all innocent. But I am not fooled. Sure enough, she glances at me and smiles prettily, maliciously and I know she knows. She knows and she is enjoying tormenting me.

I ignore the pain in my heart and focus on Richard who by the way, scum that he is, is on his way to being drunk and I take the car keys and put in my pocket just in case. No way is he driving me home tonight. I will drive myself home, then leave him to fend for himself. If he wants to kill himself on the way to his own house, good and fine. Maybe good riddance to bad rubbish.

Anyways, Chikerenma leaves towards the ladies and I see my opportunity. I turn to Richard who by the way, is leering at my breasts. Did I mention that I am in a mini sequined skirt that shimmers and a half cut top that shows much of my boobs and mid-riff? Yeah, I didn’t come here to play. Not tonight.

“I need another drink.” I whisper to Richard.

“You have not finished the one you’re currently drinking.” He pouts like a baby and for a moment, I want to throw-up.

“Well, I am almost done with it and I don’t like the brands on this table.” I point at the unopened bottles of Smirnoff which is my preferred alcohol when I don’t wasn’t to get completely drunk but slightly tipsy.

He’s still sitting and pouting, so I put my hand on his thigh and squeeze suggestively. The dog that he is, he smiles and leaves to the bar.

Good!

I turn and see Mike looking at me with something I can’t understand in his eyes.

I just edge closer till I am sitting next to him.

“I don’t think you should let him drive you home tonight. I believe he is drunk.” Mike cautions, pointing at Richard who is staggering past the sweaty gyrating bodies.

“I have the keys.” I hold it up and he smiles, making my heart skip a bit.

“Smart girl.” he says, then leans back and picks up his phone.

Oh no! He will probably be on that phone till Chikerenma gets back. I have to make my move now.

I sidle closer and smile my come hither smile that makes the boys come running.

He just turns and says “What do you see in him anyways?” he asks.

Wait! Why is he asking, why does he care? Could it be, could it just be….

I pretend ignorance and look at him with innocent eyes. “What do you mean?”

He leans forward. “Oh common, you know what I mean. He is thoughtless, arrogant and you know he has no good intentions towards you.”

I pick up my drink and mull this. “I know that. Maybe I am just using him while I wait for the man I love to notice me.” I look up at him through my lashes, smiling coyly.

He looked at me and for a moment, I could swear there was a glint in his eyes, then Chikenrenma appeared and the moment was lost.

The night kept dragging on and on, leaving me anxious to speak with Mike again. I am sure that we had a moment, you know like that special moment we see in movies where the lovers look at each other and everything slows and fades away. I wasn’t imagining it. Unfortunately, Chikerenma hung all over her man like a drape and I had no opportunity to speak with him again.

I ignored Richard and he kept on sulking like a baby, craving my attention. Honestly, Richard is such a baby, demanding all my time and attention and throwing tantrums if he didn’t get it. Like now, he’s forcing me to stand up and dragging me all the way to a dark corner beside the convenience.

Then he grabs my butt and squeezes painfully, making me yell in pain.

“Leave me, you drunk baby…” I shove at him but he resists, leering at me.

“Common, you know you want me too….I’ve been craving you all night…” He then proceeds to stick his tongue inside my mouth and I instinctively bite his tongue, hard.

Big mistake. I can tell from the way his face squeezes and he shoves me to the wall, swearing and cursing at me.

My head hits the wall hard and I crouch, trying to clamp the pain. “What is wrong with you? Are you just a psycho?” I yell in frustration, as I notice stickiness on the side of my head. Great! Now I’m bleeding.

“Get up.” Richard growls.

I look up and in that moment, I see excitement in his eyes. He’s actually enjoying my pain.

Apparently, I am too slow in standing up because he pulls me up roughly, then proceeds to maul me completely, squeezing and kneading my ass, my boobs, my belly, everywhere, all the while ignoring my struggles.

I could scream but I know nobody would hear me in all this loud music and wild dancing. Damn! Besides, why should I scream? I brought him here, I’m basically his booty call and I have never denied him sex before. Now would be a good time to mention all the money he gives me in return so I take this as my due, knowing that I will never see him again after tonight.

Suddenly, I see Richard hanging in the air like a sack of rice then he is thrown to the floor like a rag doll. Guess who my savior is?

Mike.

Mike kicks him in the groin and I yelp in surprise and, yes pleasure. The idiot jerk. Sometimes I hate it that men have superior upper body strength than women. I mean, shouldn’t we all be equal even in strength? This undue advantage I believe is the reason why men feel so deserving and feel like lord of the rings where women are concerned, because they know they can beat us to pulp easily.

Trust me not to miss an opportunity. I fall to the ground in a heap and Mike leans over me, so much concern written in his eyes. Surely, he wouldn’t be concerned about me if he didn’t have feelings for me.

“Are you okay? Did he hurt you?” he asks with concern, raising his hands as if afraid to touch me.

I squeak innocently and right on cue, tears roll down my cheeks. Like a baby, I hold out my hands to him and he lifts me up in his strong, strong arms and I know I am presently experiencing heaven in all its glory.

The crowd parts like the red sea for us as he takes me to our booth and sits me carefully. Chikerenma is eyeing me, suspiciously. I can see the wheels turning in her head and I have to suppress my glee so she won’t smell a rat.

“What happened to her?” Chikerenma asks, coming up to Mike and holding his arm.

“That douchebag of a boyfriend needs to learn how to treat women. I should go teach him a real lesson…” he practically growls and looks into the crowd with so much anger that I feel it like a hit to my stomach. Mike would be wild in bed.

“Don’t worry about him. Let’s just make sure she’s fine.” Chikerenma holds his arm but he shrugs it off and places his palm on my temple. “You were bleeding. Maybe we should take you to a hospital…”

I shake my head vehemently. “No. It was just a small cut when I hit my head on the wall…”

Mike growls again and I must tell you, he is so hot when he growls. Chikerenma practically forces him to sit, then turns and glares at me with anger. I pretend like I don’t notice and continue to whimper like a baby. Maybe all I need to do is play the damsel in distress card and I can win him over.

Oh, did you know that men can be such gullible fools? Sometimes, all a woman needs to do is pretend to be a helpless, clueless airhead and they will fall over themselves to prove how macho they are. Knowing that has helped me get into and get out of so many dicey situations.

“I want to go home…” I whine and Mike springs up like a hero, scooping me into his arms and taking me out to the parking lot, to the backseat of his car. He straps me into the seatbelt and for a moment, he is so close, his lips so close that only an inch separates us.

Then he clears his throat, stands upright and closes the door.

The drive is silent and from my seat, I can see Chikerenma boiling in rage. She is tapping her foot in agitation, while pretending to be calm.

Bitch. You should be very afraid.

Mike comes down and picks me up to my door, opens it with one arm and lays me down on my bed tenderly. The room is dark, the only light coming from a security light of my neighbor. My hands itch with the need to hold him down, to put my lips on him  and Gosh, it so crazy, this need I feel like I’m burning up.

He stands up and clears his throat. “Take care of yourself.”

Then he turns to go.

Maybe I should have made my move. Maybe tonight was good enough. But Chikerenma, waiting outside would hamper my plans.

“Chikanma…” Mike calls out from the door.

I turn to him. He’s standing there, bathed in the light from outside and he says nothing, just looks at me with hidden messages in his eyes. In that moment, I know he feels it too, this pull that is bigger than attraction.

Mike possibly loves me already or he could learn to love me if only I can find a way to fan the embers in his heart. And so I resolve, that no matter what, Mike will be mine. I am so sure, so certain that I will never love another person the way I love Mike. His love has consumed my soul, he’s my soul mate. I will have him. God help anybody who stands in my way.

Remember when I said I didn’t wish any harm on Chikerenma?

I lied. For Mike, I wish her dead, ill, removed, anywhere apart from Mike.

I’m not a terrible person as you think. The only way you will believe me is if I tell you about Chikerenma and why I hate her so much.

Buckle your seat!