Episode 6
Expulsion by oneself is unheard of. That did not only drive Danny crazy when he heard it from his friend but also rendered him speechless. Already, Stanley had gathered his luggage and left the room scattered just like a teenage room.
“This is crazy” Danny ran after him and met him at the staircase. “Bro, you can’t leave! This is your final grade in school!”
Stanley said nothing until both came out from the hostel. “Bye Danny” he said moving forward while Danny stood at a spot with hands on the waist looking at him until he left the school compound. How can a man abandon his academic life because of a girl? He couldn’t believe it. Before he came out from that thought, Tercy arrived like a spy standing beside him. She wore a bomshort over a pinky top.
“Where is he going?”
“He’s leaving”
“Why?”
“Because Rita has left too”
“I guess I shouldn’t have done it”
“Done what?” Danny looked at her.
“I was the one who reported both of them to Mr Ruben”
“What!” he shrieked surprisingly.
“I’m sorry, I never knew it is this serious to the extent Stanley would leave school because of her. I mean, I love him too, right? I couldn’t just stand both of them while I die in silence” Tercy explained sincerely.
“Well, you’ve ruined their lives. Thanks to you” Danny walked out from her. Truly, she was sorry for her actions, jealousy took the best part of her. But the deed had been done.
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Rita arrived home with her bag. She had a sad expression on her face which suddenly began to generate tears from her eyes. Already, Eastwood had called to tell the parents about her expulsion. Therefore the mother stood at the door waiting for her daughter. She understood the emotional torture the young girl was passing through that’s why she waited for her wearing a red loose gown. When Rita approached closer, she embraced her in tears too.
“Mother, does it mean I won’t have a normal relationship like normal human beings? Isn’t it better I die?”
“No, my child,” the mother began to cares her cheek as the tears rolled from both eyes. “Dying is not an option. Come inside”
They embraced each other again before entering inside to meet Mr Hocain himself. He faced the wall with two hands behind him in a way he backed both the wife and the daughter. The sitting room suddenly turned dark and candle light appeared on the walls. Thunder stroke the roof of the building, Rita fell down on the floor and became unconscious before the father turned.
“What have you done to her?” the wife asked him.
“I did what should be done. Take her to her room. Never will any man come close to her again” he replied.
“You banned her again?”
“Yes, even this house. I don’t want to see Latisha here too” he concluded then looked through the window while the wife carried Rita into her room.
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On the other hand, Stanley arrived home just to meet her parents eating lunch in the dinning room where classic and breakable plates could be seen on the table. They were surprise to see him entering the house with his full luggage. Mrs Jessica, the mothe,r looked at the husband, Mr Winston, in a way that shows: ARE YOU SEEING THIS?
Before Stanley made it to his room, the father stood up with the wife. He had an eyeglasses on his eyes and dressed in a brown suit. The wife was on a milky gown.
“Stanley, are you on holiday?” the father asked.
“No, dad” he replied without even a gesture at them as he struggled with his luggage at the door of his room.
“Then why are you back, son?”
“I have been expelled”
“Expelled?” Mrs Jessica amazingly looked at the husband again then turned to her son. “Who expelled you and why? We have not received such information from the school”
“I never said the school expelled me, mum. I expelled myself by myself” he finally dragged the luggage inside and locked the door before his parents approached.
“Have you heard of that? How can someone expel himself from a school?”
“Stanley, open this door!” the father banged on the door.
How would they had known that their only son was swimming in the pools of love? Instantly, Mr Winston called Eastwood Academy to know what was going on. They narrated the story to him in a nutshell then he hung up the call.
For five good days, Stanley neither came out from his room nor ate something. That got the parents worried then they summoned Latisha, the grandmother. All stood in the sitting room gazing at one another. Only Latisha appeared different: she was always on a robe. This time around she had a staff in her hand. Already, they have told her about Stanley refusal to eat or come out from the room.
“I guess the Hocains has charmed my son” Mrs Jessica added.
“Nobody charmed him” Latisha began. “The young boy is in love. He’s only trying to be with the one he loves. He came to my house with his girlfriend after which I made a research and found out she’s the woman meant for him. Nothing nobody can do about that”
“Then why can’t he be allowed to be with the girl?” Mrs Jessica asked.
“Because the girl is cursed and must not be with a man otherwise she’ll turn dark and kill him”
“Oh my God!” she rushed to Stanley’s door and began to bang on it for him to open.
“Allow me” Latisha approached with her staff, hit
it on the doorknob and it opened. To their greatest surprise, Stanley was nowhere to be found, so all gaze at one another again.
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Meanwhile, Rita had also been inside her room walking tro and fro in a bumshort. She was at the peak of committing another murder if care is not taken. She remembered the ones she killed on her final year in secondary school then began to shed tears. That was a memory she’ll never forget, so she began to scatter the room breaking mirrors and appliances until she got satisfied and laid on the floor crying .
Suddenly, Stanley appeared from the hallow gate through which one can enter into the house of the Hocain. He started runing but since the house had been banned by Mr Hocain, he never reached the doorstep of the building. Though he could see it as he ran but never reached there. Suddenly, a strong wind activated a tornado which struck him down, engulfed his throat to strangle him. “Rita!!” he exclaimed in a high voice.
Hearing that, Rita stood up from the floor coz the voice sounded familiar. “Stanley?” she called gently.
“Rita!!” the voice came again.
“Stanley!” she rushed out downstairs, opened the door to see him struggling for his life then rubbed her two palms together. When she opened them, the tornado disappeared, thus, setting him free. That did not only break the banned to the house but also to her body. “Stanley!” she began to run to him.
“Rita!” he also stood up running to her until they met and hugged each other.
“Sorry, my father banned the house that’s why you.. ”
“Forget it, I’m happy that I’m with you now” he interrupted trying to kiss her but Mr Hocain and wife appeared at the doorstep thereby causing another wind and darkness of the sky.
“Don’t you dare get your filthy lips on my daughter’s otherwise face your death sooner than you expect it” Mr Hocain barked angrily then the lovers turned to them.
“You will do no such thing to my grandson!” Latisha’s voice came from the gate then the lovers also turned to see her standing with Mr and Mrs Winston, Stanley’s parents.
“Granny?” Stanley murmured.
Silence took over the arena as the two families glared at each other with their children in between them. The wind stopped and the sky brightened again. Weathered leaves continued falling from trees as Latisha unabashedly walked to the Hocains with Mr and Mrs Winston without saying anything to the two lovers who looked at each other romantically.
“Have you seen how they are looking at each other? So the earlier we look for a solution, the better for us” Latisha broke the silence before they all went inside the house except the two lovers.
Inside the house, no one agreed to sit down. The two families folded their hands looking at one another. Stanley’s parents could see strange images on the walls and other magical symbols. That alone convinced them the type of family they have come in contact with.
“Alright, I have had enough of this tranquility” Mr Winston broke the silence. “Obviously, our children are inseparable due to some destiny, curse or whatsoever! All I need now is a solution coz my son is losing his mind over this young girl , and I can’t watch him die by the same girl”
“There is nothing that can be done about it” Mrs Lena said.
“Are you saying the curse cannot be broken?” Mrs Jessica asked.
“Yes, it has been in existence right from time. The last time we tried to break it using any magical book, we would have ended up losing her life” Mr Hocain explained.
“So, there is nothing that can be done, right?” Mr Winston turned angrily .
“The only way is to separate them before the next six days”
Silence took over again in the very sanctum. All expected Latisha to say something but she never did.
“I have a suggestion” Mrs Lena said. “What if we erase the memory of the boy so that he won’t know who Rita is or have any feelings for her again?”
The suggestion sounded interesting in the ears of all, so they walked to the door, opened it to call on the two lovers but there were nowhere to be found again..
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TO BE CONTINUED
Episode 7
Mrs Jessica and Lena had to go outside totally to see if their children would be found but the result proved negative. Just as they were returning to others at the door, Latisha said, “Can I have a word with you Mr Hocain?” she moved inside. The black eyeglasses never departed from her eyes and the Hocains never knew she was blind. Others also drew closer to know what the old woman had to say.
“Mr and Mrs Hocain” she began. “Explain to me why both of you were able to get married. Or wasn’t the curse applicable to you too?”
That was a very interesting topic which attracted the attention of all in the room.
“I can explain” Mr Hocain began. “Right from the time of my ancestors, it only attack the female children. That’s why I was able to get married out of love”
“That’s to say your wife doesn’t have powers like you do”
“Exactly, I am the only descendant of Hocain” He clarified.
“So, how are we gonna erase Stanley’s memories without him knowing?” Mrs Lena changed the topic.
“I guess Rita will do it herself. I will make sure of that. No one should tell him about this” the husband replied while others agreed except Latisha who walked out without a word.
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Stanley and Rita rested at the base of a tall tree inside the woods (forest) in a way she laid her head on his thighs looking into his eyes. Trees of different species could be seen dropping weathered leaves. Many fresh canopy leaves partially prevented the ray of sunlight to the ground but one could be seen shining directly to the two lovers. Though the intensity of the light sometimes reduced due to shaky leaves that covers the source of the radiation.
“I can’t believe you left school because of me” Rita said. “Don’t you think people might say I charmed you?” she added.
“What people say doesn’t matter. What matters is that I love you” he replied sliding her hair sideways.
“You are so amazing”
“You are much more amazing” they smiled at each other while Stanley lowered his head and gave her a quick kiss, thus generating silence. They heard nothing but the sound of wind. Stanley placed a hand on her stomach then rubbed it gently. She placed her own hand on the hand in a way their fingers crossed in between each one. She kissed and placed them on her chest.
“I have six days left to turn dark”
“I don’t care”
“Stanley, I don’t want anything to happen to you. I will rather kill myself than to watch you die” she paused and took a deep breath. “If I turn dark and have you killed, I’ll kill myself afterward. Do you want me to die?”
“No, nothing gonna happen to you” he replied.
“We need to depart from each other”
“But it’s so difficult!” he looked up in the sky blinking his eyes . “You don’t get it, I can’t stay away from you more than I am now”
Rita gently brought down his head, placed his hand on her breast then kissed him. She knew it was difficult, she knew it was impossible, but she made up her mind never to see him again after that day. Though she never told him.
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A day passed, Mr and Mrs Winston opened Stanley’s door to see him drawing Rita’s image as he laid face down on the bed wearing a short and a singlet. The room was small but filled with lovely and classic stuffes like a Golden boot which he won from high school days. It was a moment he will never forget coz it made his parents proud. He was very skillful in football game which won him the golden boot. He was not only loved by students but tutors too. He wanted to be an actor, that was why he didn’t pursue the dream of becoming a footballer rather enrolled in a movie academy.
Nevertheless, he looked up to see his parents staring at him then concentrated on the drawing.
“Son, who’s that you’re drawing?” the mother asked.
“It’s Rita, mum. Isn’t she beautiful?” he smiled showing her the image vividly while the father exhaled heavily, shook his head and went out. Mrs Jessica, having the motherly love in her totally entered inside, closed the door and sat down opposite the bed.
“She’s very beautiful, son” she smiled back.
Stanley sat up in a way he faced his mother. “I love her so much mum” he began with dropping tears. “What I don’t understand is why we can’t be together. She mean the whole world to me, I mean.. ” he sniffed in then raised his head up. “I mean, why must I die in the quest of loving her. It’s so painful, mum. Please, help us in any way you can and break the curse. Please, I beg you, mum”
The mother didn’t know when tears fell off from her eyes. She could feel the gravity of the emotional situation and understood very well how much the son loves Rita. What could she do? Nothing, therefore, she hugged him tightly rubbing her hand on his back. That was the only thing she could do at the moment. As time went on, she began to have a change of mind of not erasing her son’s memory because that’s the worst thing that can ever happen to anybody in that situation seeing how in love he was. Sonner did the husband also understand, yet, they couldn’t do anything.
Meanwhile, Rita had been told to erase the memory of the one she loves in order to save him. She concord with the idea not because her parents wanted to but because she wanted Stanley to live.
Just a day before she would turn dark, she took Stanley back to the woods playing loves happily with him as if it would forever remain like that. She suddenly held his two hands looking into his eyes.
“Why are you staring at me like that?” Stanley asked smiling.
“Nothing, I just wonna ask you few questions” she factitiously smiled back.
“Okay, shoot it?”
She drew closer to him in a way her body touched his. “When is your birthday?”
“17th December”
“And what would you wish for when blowing off your candle-light?”
He smiled. “I have always wanted a falling snow with melody music when I’m with the girl I love”
Rita kissed him. “I love you, Stanley, and let your wish be granted” she soliloquised with closed eyes. Instantly, snow began to fall alongside with melody music from nowhere.
He became surprised feeling the moment like no other. “What would I have done without you” he embraced her.
Magically, Rita used that opportunity to erase part of his memory that has to do with her.
*******
Stanley woke up the next day feeling a slight headache. He looked at himself on the mirror, dressed up then went out to the dinning room where his parents waited for him. He greeted them and opened a big refrigerator to pick up some juice.
“I guess you are ready to go back to school, son” the father said.
“Sure, I don’t even know why I came back at the first place” he replied taking a seat beside the mother.
The parents looked at each other then kept quiet. The mother wanted to become emotional feeling the pains of forgetting everything about someone you love unconditionally. When Stanley noticed it, he asked, “What? Why are you both mute ?”
“Nothing, we’re just happy you came back to see us?” the father replied.
“That’s no big deal” he smiled at them. “I’m happy to see you guys too” he added and bit a slice of bread. “I’ll see grandma on my way back to school”
“Good idea” the mother concluded.
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At the resident of Latisha, Rita could be seen coming out of it wearing a jean trouser and a black voluminous jacket. She had gone to tell Latisha about how she had planned to travel out of the state. As she walked through the lonely road leading to the exit, he sighted Stanley coming. He wore a shortleeves shirt which he tucked in-in a plain trouser. On his face was a pere of transparent eyeglasses that reflected any ray of sunlight. They drew closer.
“Hi” Stanley said looking at her and at the same time passing without any interest on her.
“Hi” she replied walking without looking back too, but when Stanley entered into the house, she looked back with tears in her eyes. That was the last time she would set her eyes on him coz she was traveling out of the state.
Stanley met the grandmother on the dinning table then greeted her happily.
“How are you feeling my boy?” she asked handling a cup of tea to him.
“I’m fine, granny, and I don’t wonna drink your tea”
“And you think I gonna beg you? In your dreams” she said jokingly and they laughed before tranquility took over. Latisha read his mind at that moment, she noticed that he must have seen Rita on his way coming and would ask about her, so she got ready for the question.
“Granny,” Stanley began. “I saw a girl coming out from here. Who’s she?”
“Oh, she’s just a girl that came to tell me she’s travelling” Latisha replied then drank her tea.
“Okay, and I have come to tell you too that I’m going back to school” he stood up and pegged her. “Bye granny!” he walked out.
“Bye my son” she replied sadly and silently.
Danny was the first to see Stanley coming through the gate of Eastwood, so he ran to him immediately looking excited. “I’m so happy to see you bro!”
“Me too, dude” they shook hands.
“So, what about Rita?”
“Who is Rita? Is like you’ve smoked weed this morning, right?” he ignored him walking towards the male hostel while Danny became dumbfounded staring at him.
Tercy also met Stanley on the way and said, “Stanley, please, can I talk to you?”
“Sure, how are you, Tercy?” he smiled.
“Fine, I just want you to forgive me”
“About what?”
“About reporting you and Rita”
“Rita again? Who’s she?” he smiled. “What’s wrong with you and Danny?” he left her dumbfounded too….
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TO BE CONTINUED