HIRED WIFE

” Okay.. now the third and last question; what happens to your wife Sophie or are you planning to keep me as a side chick?”

” Mmm.. I don’t know about that but I believe time and future will sort itself out!”

” That’s not an assurance Ton.. that’s only a probability!” Tessy resonated with a firm face

” Okay Tess, I don’t know if this is enough assurance but I can boldly tell you that I am not a man who double dates… if we happen to be in a relationship that progresses smoothly, I will love to spend the rest of my life with you as my wife hence Sophie and I will likely go our separate ways because my heart is no longer with her” I slowly said and watched as her eyes gradually softened

” It’s okay, I have heard you!”

” So Tess.. what do you have to say? Do you feel the same way for me? I need to know if I should just forget about my feelings for you and move on” I said but got no response from Tessy

“… Tess please say something!” I begged but still yet, Tessy just kept staring at me without uttering a word

I heaved and concluded that she is silence because we did not share mutual feelings for each other

I made up my mind to let go of whatever I felt for her and move on with Sophie, although I knew my heart is no longer with her but with Tessy.

” .. it’s okay Tess, I understand the silence.. not to worry I will work towards eliminating my feelings for you, so like you once told me, lets just behave like nothing was said and move pass this phrase.. but we can at least pretend to be cool in Angie’s presence. Thank you!” I concluded and stood up to walk out but her next words stopped me from going any further

” Wait Ton.. please don’t go” Tessy said with pleading eyes which made me reconsider

I sat down again and watched as she heaved as one who is fighting inner emotional battles with herself.

I kept watching her quietly as I stayed silently and decided not to interfere on her inner issues.

Tessy finally decided to break the silence by confessing;

” I was silent because I didn’t want to admit this but I do know that with time I will have to come to terms with it amidst my fear and insecurities… Yes, at first I know I was confused too but then everyday I see and stay close to you, I have every reason to believe that I have fallen in love with you too Ton”

I looked at Tessy with mouth agape, I kept asking myself

‘ am I dreaming? did those words truly come from Tessy or my mental imagination of her?’

To save myself from every agent of confusion, I had to ask

” Tessy you love me or you are just playing jokes on me?” I asked and Tessy nodded in the affirmative

” Wow! I’m so happy and I think this is the best news I’ve heard this month… Tessy feels the same way towards me. Wow!” I shouted jumping up from where I sat on the bed

” Calm down Ton.. see the way you are behaving as a child would” Tessy teased laughing at my performance

” No Tess, you can’t imagine how I feel knowing you love me too… Can I ask you a question” I said seriously as I sat down on the bed staring intensely at Tessy

” Sure Ton.. what’s the question you want to ask me?”

” It’s actually a very big question, should I still ask?”

” It’s okay Ton.. ask me whatever you want to ask me, nothing can be too big for me to answer!” Tessy said staring at meContent property of NôvelDra/ma.Org.

I sighed before gathering the courage I needed to ask her the question that is on my mind

” Tessy Ikenna Ugo… Please will you be my girlfriend?” I asked expectantly but instead of getting an answer, Tessy bursted out in tears so much that I became worried, wondering if there’s anything hurtful in what I had asked earlier.

” Tess why are you crying? did I say something wrong?” I asked touching her on the shoulder but she continued crying without saying a word to me

” Is it that you don’t love me enough to be my girlfriend?” I asked getting confused

Tessy sniffed as she slowly wiped her tears and uttered in low tunes, such that I was barely hearing her

” Ton I love you and it hurts because I know that it is morally wrong to be in love with a married man, it’s something I know I won’t feel happy if I am in Sophie’s shoe… moreso what if you are still in love with your wife and probably just attracted to me but confusing it with love?”

“… I won’t want to be painted as this desperate woman who was hired as a wife only to end up falling in love with her married employer, and now wants to snatch him away from his wife!” Tessy explained and I understood from her perspective

I heaved and using my palm, I held her face lovingly

” Tess I am not a confused man, I make sure of things before pursuing it.. as for people, there will always talk no matter what so I don’t see that as a reason to cry. I love you and you love me, that’s all that matters here or don’t you love me like I do?”

” Ton I love you.. but then I am scared that I am not your type of girl because of my indigent background.. I am insecure because I feel that if we decide to take a tour on the relationship path, Sophie who has been married to you for eight years has a greater chance of winning you back to herself when she comes back… I am also scared that you might not accept everything about me… I am scared of so many things Ton” Tessy confessed with all sincerity and I sighed

” Tess, I love you and I am willing to accept all of you… As for Sophie, I will tell her everything and sort it out with her when she comes back.. for now lets take it a step at a time”

“… so I am going to ask again.. Tessy Ikenna Ugo are you going to be my girlfriend?”

” Are you sure about this Ton?”

” Very sure, just the way I am sure about my love for you!.. so for the umpteenth time will you be my girlfriend?” I asked already exhausted and anxious

Tessy nodded and slowly backed it up with a loud ‘YES’

I smiled widely, feeling so elated. Finally!

Out of the excitement I hugged Tessy whilst plastering kisses all over her face while she kept blushing in excitement

I eventually stopped and we sat there staring at each other such that I can’t remember for how long we did before I spoke out

” I am so happy!” I exclaimed in excitement as we continued staring at each other