THE WOMAN I HAVE BECOME! 2

I spent the whole night pondering on Simon's attitude towards me the last couple of months. I had never in all our sweet 8years relationship ever thought it would get to this. I felt like I was paying him a few Naira to be my fiance and his actions were like a protest to the poor "relationship allowance". I have dated a few men....had my heart broken, but non of those relationships were this hurtful.

I got up from the bed to do a few chores without a word to him as I walked past him trying to make himself a cup of tea. He said goodmorning to me...I looked at him over my shoulders and smiled. After the chores, I had my bath, took my time to wear a full make-up (something I hadn't done in like forever), I picked out a nice dress, sandals and my bag....all the while I was dressing, I wasn't sure I was going anywhere. As I got to the door....I said to him..."I'll be out with friends....see you later"! He was about to say something when I shut the door and walked to my car. I started the engine, did a second check on my make-up through the rear-mirror....smiled and drove off!

I parked about three streets away to call Salim.....my very good friend....we actually had been naughty a few times but still remained good friends. When we were friends with benefits, there were no jealousy or fights or anything like that....it was the best relationship i had ever been in. I drove to his house, quite close to my office and spent the entire afternoon telling him about Simon's new attitude and how it made me feel. What he did the previous night was the height of it all.....I could only believe that he made everything up just to have an excuse to hang-out with whoever that girl on the phone was. Salim thought I had to catch him red-handed before concluding on that! We took a drive in his car to the cinema.....had ice-cream and a few shots of Vodka and Coke. I needed to shop for a few things, so he took me to a super-store where I picked three bottles of different alcoholic wines....including Absolut Vodka......lol!

Back at Salim's house, it was close to 8pm and we had been drinking. He got up to receive a call in the kitchen.....it was definitely a lady. When he got back, I told him I was leaving..."I didn't mean to bore you with my relationship problems". I held my sandals in my hand and dragged my bag on the floor. Getting to the door, he held my hand and said he wanted me to stay.....I pulled the door open and just there infront of me, was the pretty Samira! She and Salim were dating when I had stuff with him....she hated me and still did...she stared the living soul out of me. At that moment, I found my way around her and walked away. I got to my car and couldn't find my keys.....I leaned over the trunk of  my car and cried....I felt unwanted and hopeless. I could not go back into the house, I was crying for so many reasons....the man I called my fiance hadn't called to check on me...he was probably having a swell time in the house without missing me. I called Nike to spend the night at her house....she didn't pick, at that point, I felt like my life was over! I decided to damn whatever was going to happen and went to get my keys....just before I got to the door, Samira stormed out of the house...she looked me dead in the eyes and said "I hope you are happy now!"

Salim came out to meet me by the door and gave me a warm hug....that made me pour out all the emotions that burdened me. It was about 10.30pm and I had slept-off.....there were no missed calls from Simon....no chats...nothing! I turned to the other side of the bed and found Salim asleep. I moved over to him and cuddled up on his chest. He put his arms around me and kissed my fore-head....I told him Simon didn't call me and he said "your mouth stinks"....we both laughed and he said something to me that made my heart melt. He said to me..."you were never meant to be with him....but I'm glad I have you back!"

I slept in Salim's arms without any feel of guilt. By morning, he brought out an old gown I left at his place back in the days. I got dressed and went home. Simon was home....he greeted me with a hug and said we needed to talk. I was expecting a break-up from him....I didn't care anymore! He went down on his knees and begged me not to leave him....he said he had been really nasty to me and had realised that I would be forced into the arms of another man. Forced?...."I volunteered to have a man's arms around me"....I thought to myself. I felt no guilt.....but I could not tell him this! I pulled him up and told him it was fine, told him I was out with friends and we had alot to drink....I went up to sleep but spent well over 45mins chatting with Salim. I got up around 4pm....Simon had prepared lunch and ironed the clothes I brought out for work for the week ahead.

Monday morning at work.......I kept checking the clock in anticipation for luch time. I had a date with Salim at Dunes and I planned to call in sick after that so we could spend the whole day together before I had to return home. When Simon didn't see me at 8pm, he called and I told him we had one of those long meetings at Sheraton..."I'll sleep over at Nike's if we stay too long!"....told him I would call all the same. I always found it difficult to lie to Simon, but somehow I felt like being with Salim was a good-enough reason to. I spent the night at Salim's.....and I realised how much I had missed him with just the feel of his lips on mine. We were all over each other.....and this was all I wanted...to be with Salim.

Getting to work the next day......Simon was there at my office, discussing with my boss....I went to meet them and Simon just said "hello" and walked out. My boss looked at me with judging eyes and I knew shit was about to go down! He said to me, "Miss Farida...sit down please, we have to talk"!