~Wishes and regret~
Aku didn’t hesitate to drive straight to Gabriela’s home upon discovering the revelation behind her pregnancy. She needed Gabriela’s validation of Steve’s claim. Perhaps she could know something about it.
She was yet to believe the revelation Steve made in the letter. Although she had conducted the DNA test as suggested by Steve, she was yet to believe the twins in her womb were his. Steve tested positive to paternity of the twins. She couldn’t believe that.
When she barged into the serene sitting room, she was stunned to see Gabriela sluggishly seated to bottles of strong drink, packets of cigar and some documents. A closer glance at Gabriela waded her off with her horrible, exudates of alcohol. She had never seen Gabriela smoke or drank strong drink.
“Oh my God!”Aku exclaimed upon reading the documents.
“That is my fucking divorce papers,” Gabriela said uneasily before forcing the bottles of rum into her mouth.
“Why would Lucas divorce you? Where is Duncan? What happened?” she asked anxiously, glared around, took a seat and listened attentively.
“The game is up for me boss. I have lost everything,” she broke down in tears and drank heavily, “Hell held a feast on my behalf. Azuaka came demanding for his son. My destabilize husband couldn’t believe my infidelity and secrecy. He was hurt…” she sobbed and snuffed repeatedly. “I just got divorced, boss. I have lost my fucking home, my happiness my fulfillment. I have lost everything…” she broke down in tears.
Aku hugged and stamped a consolation kiss on her brow, “You don’t need to feel bad. You did what you thought was best. You are not alone in this. I am also faced with a battle…
Gabriela grinned and stared deadly at her. “What could that be?”
She brought out the letter and gave to her, “Steve has been the man responsible for my pregnancy all along.”
“Oh my Jupiter’s cock!” she exclaimed and quickly glanced through the letter, which left her in wow and bewilderment. “Where is he now?”
“I don’t really know, Gabriela. I feel hurt too…I …” she broke down in tears. I may never find him again. I looked down on that man. I was quick to write him off. He has disappeared into obscurity. I will never forgive myself. What will I tell the twins in my womb when they demand for their father? Isn’t that shameful?”
Gabriela took her in her embrace as she petted her on her greasily-pressed hair.
“You need to perk up, boss. It is not the end for us. We will finish strong. Times and season might be telling on us now but I know we won’t end in misery and pain…yes,” she also broke down in tears and could barely speak fluently without stuttering.
“How do I find Steve? I want to look him in the face and appreciate how much he loves me. Will I ever set my eyes on him again? I thought true love was all about class and lifestyle. I gave up on his admiration and what can I boast of after Mr. President dated me? What has become of me today?”
Gabriela gulped down a flute of beer and coughed before smiling in frustration. “What about me? Didn’t I blew hot at Lucas? He feels pained and disappointed. Lucas would never forgive me. I withdrew my fingers when he needed a hold, a shelter when he drenched in the rain. He had been sacrificing his life for me and when it got to my turn what did I do? I cheated on him and made him father a boy that belongs to Azuaka…no I will never forgive myself…”
They consoled each other in tears and encouraging words even though it wasn’t easy. Soon Aku joined Gabriela to gulp down bottles of alcohol until they became too drunk to recall their misery and shame.
They both passed the night in the sitting room and dawn broke on them with shattered joints and aching body. Whereas Gabriela spent hours staring at their wedding pictures on the desk by the corner, Aku took out her wallet and brought out Steve’s sizeable passport photo.
“If only Steve would come into my world again, I would shower him with love like none other,” Aku said to the passport photo with the intention of talking to Steve.
“Most times love doesn’t give us second chance because first chance was an underrated golden prize. I don’t think I would love again after Lucas. I may never marry again.” She smiled at their wedding picture and pulled it out to stamp a kiss on Luca’s stilled lips.
“I wish I had loved Steve the way he loved me,” Aku said and about to break down in tears again, she felt a spiking pain shoot through her baby bump and then her contraction started,
“Ah! Ah! My babies! I think they are coming out! Ah!” she yelled at the tops of her voice and held her waist.
Gabriela flinched in fear and several of the bottles clicked and dashed on the floor. She started running helter-skelter, confused about what to do.
“Ok! Ok!! Hold on while I get my car keys and drive you to the hospital!”
“Be fast about it! Gees! My twins! Ah! My babies! My waist! Oh my gush! It hurts! Gabriela! Where are you?” she yelled through grinned face and clenched teeth. She had never experienced pregnancy and contraction. She kept yelling at the tops of her voice until Gabriela drove her to the hospital…