TO HAVE AND TO HATE

CHAPTER 22

Unedited

I push through the doors of the classroom at a little past ten, a good thirty minutes late, thanks to the argument that Darius and I had this morning. The argument we had is as a result of Nico’s stupid behavior. Since I blocked him a week ago, he has made it his mission to mess with me and bring problems in my home; he’s been sending flowers and gifts to my house, Darius has been pretending not to see the gifts but this morning, he received the flowers and a pair of lingerie meant for me, that got him angry and now he wants to know where they came from.

I honestly don’t know what to do with Nico. He is obviously just trying to get my attention and he knows if he keeps sending gifts to my house I will bend. I have never seen Darius as angry as he was this morning, he actually grabbed my arm and roughly twisted it before Tessa intervened. I feigned ignorance when he constantly demanded to know who was sending me these things to the house.

I have to put this boy in his place. Does he even know what is at stake for me? I honestly regret sleeping with him in the first place. I am to blame for this mess and I must clean it before it’s too late.

I walk into class and the first person I see is Nico. He is sitting in the front row today, just directly to where my table is. I walk up to my table and notice flowers on it. I don’t even bother touching them because I already know they are from him; I didn’t expect him to bring his stupid games to the classroom.

I place my bag on my desk and turn on my laptop before connecting it to the projector. After apologizing for being late for class, I start with the day’s lesson. Throughout class, I try as much as possible to avoid Nico, I don’t even bother pointing at him to answer questions when he raises his hand. I have to find a way to make him drop my class. I don’t want to do this with him for the rest of the semester.

When the bell rings and everyone else rushes out. I start packing my bags, it takes a moment to actually notice that Nico is still in class. He walks up to me with a smile on his lips.

‘Penny my love.’

‘Stop it.’

‘Did you receive the gifts I sent today?’

‘Stop it Nico.’

‘And I put these flowers here. Don’t worry, no one saw me, I did it before anyone walked into the classroom. They are all your favorite; it breaks my heart that you didn’t even touch them.’

I sling my bag over my shoulder, ‘I am not doing this with you. And stop sending things to my house, I am a married woman and I love my husband. Please don’t destroy what we have worked so hard to build.’

‘And you didn’t know you were married before you started sleeping with me?’

‘I told you it was a mistake that’s never going to happen again. You have Gabby, she is good for you. You had your moment and I had mine, let this thing go please.’

‘I can’t.’

The classroom door opens and one of my co-workers walks in.

‘Penny?’

‘Hey, Rose, are you having class here?’

‘Yes, in the next ten minutes.’

‘Okay, I am done. I was just responding to some of his queries from the lesson we just had.’

‘Thank you, Mrs., I will see you later,’ Nico says and leaves.

‘Okay.’

‘He is such a bright child. I love how dedicated he is to school work. His mother is so proud of him.’

‘You know his mother?’

‘Yeah, we attend the same church.’

‘Oh, that’s nice. Let me leave you to it, I will see you later.’

‘Sure.’

***

A few hours later;

‘You think she will come,’ Leon asks.

‘I think she will.’

‘You still think this is a good idea Nico? Why don’t you just let her be?’

‘You should focus on getting Tessa and not questioning me about my decision. I know what I am doing.’

‘Dude that girl is hard to get. I am slowly getting tired.’

‘You cannot get tired. You must get her.’

‘So, what will you do to make her come and see you?’

I smile, ‘I used a different number and I sent her some photos. I actually told her I will be sending them to her house if doesn’t show up. I am more than certain Mrs. K will be here in a few minutes. She wouldn’t want her photos to go viral. Imagine the headlines? She is the adult I can even say she enticed and raped me.’

‘I guess you have everything planned out well.’

‘She is good in bed you know?’

He laughs, ‘You are a naughty boy.’

‘I know.’

When a knock sounds at the door a couple of minutes later, Leon and I exchange knowing glances.

‘She is here.’

‘You are sure it’s her and not Gabby?’

‘I am sure.’

I rise to my feet and walk to the door, the minute I open it. She slaps me so hard across my face, I see stars. I didn’t expect that from her. I guess she is really upset this time around but not even this slap is going to stop me.

‘You got photos of us? What was this about? To extort money from me? How much do you want? Let me give you the money so we can get over this. I am too old to be playing games with a boy young enough to be my child.’

‘A child that you have been sleeping with? You think this is about money? I have more than enough.’

‘So, what do you want?’

‘I want you. I want you all to myself. I want you to leave your husband for me.’

She laughs, ‘You are joking if you think I will leave my husband for you.’

She opens her bag, pulls out a bunch of money and throws it at me, ‘this is enough for you to delete those stupid photos of us that you have and t0 get over your stupid obsession.’

With that she turns and leaves.

If she thinks this is the end of us then she has something else coming her way.

*

EllaB

ForeveryourAugust

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