EPISODE 16: DAMNING THE CONSEQUENCES

The last time I dropped a post, just a little over two weeks ago (post came pretty early this time, right? You bet!), aside from doing Episode 15 of Geebee's Trip, I said some stuff about celebration(s) - My birthday, my daughter's birthay and my grandmum's birthday. True, we ha a party on 19th July and mehn, it was banging! It was one whole great reunion. Talk of cousins, aunties, uncles, in-laws, friends and what have you. My grandmum was particularly happy to be celebrating her 70th birthday, after being blessed with 7 children, 23 grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild who happens to be my daughter. Hey, ain't I the bomb! lol. That said, let's do Episode 16: Damning the Consequences.

What were the consequences in question here? Was it actually worth it damning the consequences of resigning from being a yuppie, a 'sugar-son'? Was it easy damning the consequences of leaving a sugar-mummy? You bet it was, especially when the act itself became too close for comfort. That was exactly how it felt for me in January 2005. I had travelled for the 2004 Christmas break and I returned feeling somewhat refreshed, renewed and determined to put a final stop to the affair with Madam Lovina (or Madam L). I seriously doubted if I would be successful in getting her off my back but I resolved to take the action nonetheless and I did. How did I? Funny enough, I did not right away actually tell this mother-of-five off face to face. Truth was, I had no balls to. I rehearsed a million and one times on how I would face her and tell her it was over but when the real test came, I failed like hell. Finally I took the coward's way out - UNAVAILABILITY. I began to avoid her like a plague and this time, I allowed it go as far as it could. I deliberately avoided her calls and refused to go see her. Much to my chagrin, she finally checked on me in my workplace (I had gotten a job as an Office Assistant at a Computer Center before the Christmas break to ease the boredom of staying idle during the daytime).
"Geebee, I knew I would find you here at least." the woman had begun on sighting me as she stepped out of her car. I was outside the office as I had just returned from lunch break and seeing her was the last thing I had expected.
"Lovina, what are you doing here?" I began, surprised at the anger in my tone. "You know I don't appreciate you coming to my workplace."
"Why have you been avoiding me, Geebee?" she lashed at me angrily.
"I haven't been avoiding you." I defended. "Please, let's discuss this later. My boss is around and . . ."
"And what?" she barked. "How much does he pay you? Eight thousand naira? I give you much more than that in a week. Let him come out and let me talk sense into his head."
I was beginning to get very uncomfortable and I looked around repeatedly to make sure no one was watching. This woman was becoming hysterical and I knew I needed to get her out of that vicinity or risk her embarassing my boss. She was the kind of woman who could easily do that. She was right. I was being paid N8000 but I was not working because of the money. I had to do something to occupy my self during the day since I had lectures only in the evenings and I had taken the job three months before despite Lovina's pleas for me not to work.
"Okay, I promise we would see and talk this evening." I said finally, praying she would see that as a reasonable offer and leave. I looked at her pleadingly.
"It's a lie." she snapped. "You have been avoiding me and . . ."
She ranted on but I was finally able to convince her to leave after repeatedly promising her that I would see her after closing from work by 4pm. My school was yet to resume for the new session so we had the time to talk. That evening, we met at our usual hangout and I summoned the courage to tell Lovina that we had to quit the relationship.
"Why?" she asked stubbornly. "We have been over this before Geebee and I told you there was no problem."
"We can't," I pleaded. "This is wrong. You have a husband and children and I am beginning to feel guilty about all this."
"Did you just start feeling guilty?" she asked mockingly.
"No. I have been feeling guilty from day one." I said pointedly. I was determined to end the whole thing once and for all.
She sighed. "You would have to give me some time to think about this." she said finally. "We can't just stop like that."
"No Lovina. We have to stop. I'm sorry."
To my greatest surprise, she began to cry and I was moved to tears as well. It was so odd to imagine that this woman loved me that much, enough to cry because I was leaving her. It hurt me to end it all as well but I knew I had to end it before things got too crazy. In fact, it was already crazy enough as it was. Over the course of time we had an affair, Lovina proved to be more than a friend and a lover. She lavished me with gifts, time, money and just so much. I could not begin to estimate how much she had given me but it was sure worth a fortune. The goodwill did not end with me alone. It extended to my friends, Simon, Sam, Bayla and all who associated with me at the time. She even met my younger brother when he came home for the break. It was so easy for people to know there was something going on between me and this woman, but I continually denied it. We were indeed very close. I drove her cars, I visited her home. Her kids loved me like an elder brother and the older ones saw me as a close friend not just to their mum but as their own friend. Her husband liked me a lot as well, often calling me his wife's son. In fact, I settled a quarrel between him and his wife on about two occassions. I had so many reasons why I could not continue to sleep with this woman. The guilt was bound to kill me sooner or later and I could not understand why Lovina did not feel thesame way. Weighing both sides, the losses to me sure outweighed the gains and so I took the plunge and damned the consequences.
"Please, just understand." I said still comforting her. "We would still be friends."
She did not say anything further. She simply got up, picked up her bag and left. As I heard her car zoom off, I silently prayed she would leave things the way I said. However, I decided it would hurt more if I totally ignored this woman. It was best if I kept the friendship alive, especially for the sake of her family members, people I had come to be very close to. I resolved to keep the friendship going, howbeit as careful as possible. This time, there was no doubt in my mind that it would work.

SEE YOU IN THE NEXT EPISODE OF GEEBEE'S TRIP.