In The Midst Of Foes

" Henry! Henry!! Henry!!!" May called angrily as she stormed into Henry's room.

" What is it? May, are you ok?" Henry asked, looking scared.

" How dare you!" May said aggressively and slapped him.

She slapped him hard, Henry was shocked because he didn't know what the problem was, he stuttered;

" What... what... did ... ...I.....do? "

" You son of a gun, so you've been playing with my feelings all this while," May said angrily.

" May, what are you talking about? What did I do?" Henry asked, looking confused.

" I thought you loved me. Henry, you told me you love me, so you've been deceiving me all this while." May said, hitting him.

" Stop! Stop! What are you saying? I meant it when I said I love you, I'm not lying or deceiving you." Henry said, holding his face.

" You bastard! Toby just left your place, right?" May asked, looking into his eyes.

" Yes, I told you on the phone earlier that he was here with me. May, what's the problem? You're getting me scared." Henry said.

" I overheard all your conversations, I didn't hang up the call before you dropped your phone. I heard everything, Henry!" May yelled.

" Fuck! May, it's not what you think, I can explain. Please hear me out." Henry pleaded, trying to hold her but she pushed him.

" Explain what? What explanation do you have to make? Tell me!" May yelled and she burst into tears.

" May, I swear it's not what you think. I meant it when I said I love you. Just calm down and hear me out please." Henry said calmly.

" Hear you out? Ok, I'm listening. Tell me how you and Toby had a bet on me. So, all this while that I thought I'd found true love, I was only a bet? Really?" May asked tearfully.

" Yes, sorry, I mean no; please let me explain. May just calm down and I'll explain everything to you." Henry said.

" Ok, fine! I'm calm, explain." May said and sat on the bed.

" Ok, here is the thing, you know we both started on the wrong foot; we never liked each other, and you hated my guts so much.

So, one night during one of the guy's hangouts, Toby was the only one who knew about you amongst my friends then, so he dared me to have a fling with you, trying to get on my nerves, knowing I would get irritated at the mention of your name. When the other guys also realized that it would be a difficult task for me, they decided to make it a bet, and I was given just two months maximum to carry out the bet." Henry explained calmly.

" And you decided to go a step forward by making me fall in love with you so that you can leave me heartbroken in the end, right?" May asked at the top of her voice.

" No, a fling was what I planned initially but I fell helplessly in love with you in the process. May, I didn't lie when I said I love you; I genuinely love you, May. You're the best thing that has ever happened to me; you made me a better man, and I don't take that for granted." Henry said, almost tearing up.

" You liar! I can never believe what comes out of that gutter you call a mouth anymore. If you could deceive me into falling in love with you because of a bet, what else can't you do to me then?" May said, holding her head.

" May, I'm sorry. I didn't know I was going to fall in love with you in the process. I should have told you; I'm so sorry you found out this way; I'm sorry, May.", Henry pleaded.

" You lying bastard! I'm done with you. I'm calling off the wedding, there's no more wedding. I can't be with a liar; I don't even know the man I'm about to walk down the aisle with; I thought I knew you so well; I guess I was so wrong all along. I never knew it was just a bet all this while, I'm done!" May yelled, and she removed the engagement ring from her finger, and she threw it at him.

" No, May, you can't call off the wedding like that. What are we going to tell our families? My parents will be heartbroken, your uncle and his wife will be happy, you know they never like to see you happy. Please don't do this to us, May; I love you, I love you so much; I didn't lie when I said I love you, believe me." Henry said tearfully.

" I don't care! Maybe my uncle and his wife have been right about you all this while but I refused to listen to them because I know I don't like me. But it's fine now, I've made the decision myself to let you go. Henry, I don't want you in my life anymore." May said tearfully as she hit him.

Henry held her hands and pulled her towards him to calm her nerves, he held her tight to himself as she continued crying;

" May, you know within your heart that you don't want to call off the wedding. I know, you know I genuinely love you, but you're mad at me because I didn't open up to you, and I'm so sorry about that. May, I won't watch you call off our wedding, you know we're about to have our dream wedding, right? Please don't jeopardize it, I beg you." He said softly in her eyes.

" You should have told me," May said tearfully.

" I know and I'm sorry for not telling you," Henry said and kissed her on the forehead.

There was silence in the room for some minutes, May was still sobbing;

" Promise me you won't hide anything from me henceforth." She said looking into his eyes.

" I promise, I will never hide anything from you anymore. I love you so much, May." Henry said and kissed her on the lips.

" I love you too," May said as she wiped away her tears.

" That's my baby; please put your ring back; let me help you," Henry said with a smile as he put the ring back on her finger.

" Can't believe it, I almost called off my wedding," May said and burst into laughter.

" I know, right? You almost called off our dream wedding." Henry said and they both laughed.

" I have a question," May said softly.

" Ok, go on. I'm listening." Henry said.

" Did you record a tape of us on our first night?" May asked calmly.

" No, why would I do such a thing? It wasn't part of the bet, and even if it was, I wouldn't have obliged to it." Henry said, looking into her eyes.

" Ok, that's just what I wanted to confirm," May said smiling.

" I will never hurt you May," Henry said.

" I know and I trust you," May said with a broad smile.

" Yeah, so concerning the wedding, May, there's a problem." He said, scratching his hair.

" Problem? What is it?" May asked, looking scared.

" The problem is that... ... ... ... ... ..."

Toby entered the room, he forgot his wristwatch earlier when he came visiting.

" Oh! Sorry guys, May, I didn't know you were here. Why are your eyes swollen? Have you been crying? Dude, don't tell me you've told her?" Toby asked, looking disappointed.

" Told me what? What's going on here? What's the problem?" May asked, looking worried.

" Oh shit! You didn't tell her? Sorry guys, I have to get going, I forgot my wristwatch earlier." Toby said and left the room hurriedly. He knew he had messed up.

May and Henry kept staring at each other, she was eager to know what the problem was.

" Let's postpone the wedding," Henry said softly.

" What! What do you mean by "let's postpone the wedding?" May asked, looking shocked.

" It's for our good, May. If we don't postpone this wedding now, the wedding might never take place." Henry explained.

" What do you mean by the wedding might never take place? You're the one begging some minutes ago not to call off the wedding, so what are you saying now? Is there something you're not telling me?" May asked, almost tearing up.

" May, there's more to this situation on the ground, but I can't tell you because it will break you so much. So, please let's just postpone the wedding till I figure a way out of this mess that I've found myself in." Henry said, pacing up and down in his room.

" What's going on? We have just two weeks until our wedding and you're saying we should postpone? What mess are you talking about? Henry, talk to me; I'm your woman; we shouldn't be keeping secrets. Tell me what the problem is; remember, two heads are better than one." May said as tears dropped down her cheeks.

" Not in this situation, May. Please bear with me, let's just postpone this wedding to save ourselves from embarrassment." Henry said, holding her hands.

" Embarrassment? What is going on?" May yelled.

" Calm down, May. It hasn't gotten to this." Henry said, trying to pull her towards himself but she pushed him away.

" Take your hands off me! If you're not going to tell me what the problem is then we're not postponing any wedding!" May yelled and turned to walk away but Henry grabbed her arm.

" Leave me alone! Leave me alone!! You're hurting me!" May yelled, dragging with Henry.

" Just calm down!" Henry yelled.

" Don't tell me to calm down if you're not going to tell me what the problem is, get your hands off me!" May yelled and pushed him away. She stormed out of the room, slamming the door so hard that the sound could deafen ears.

" Gosh! What have I gotten myself into? I love May so much, how can I put myself together to tell her this? No, I can't tell her; it will break her; she'll hate me for life." Henry said to himself aloud.

May arrived home, she was looking so devastated, her eyes were swollen due to tears. Her uncle, Jason, and his family were in the living room watching TV when May stormed into the house angrily;

" Hey, come back here. Why did you slam the door like that?" Janet( her uncle's wife) asked.

" I'm sorry, Aunty." May apologized tearfully.

" And why are you crying?" Jason asked.

" Uncle Henry said we should postpone the wedding," May replied to him, sobbing.

" And is that why you're crying? He's only postponing the wedding, he hasn't called off the wedding yet because I know that guy won't marry you." Katie (May's cousin) said, rolling her eyes.

" I wasn't talking to you, Katie. I know you've never been happy for me from the onset, but saying shits about my man is what I won't tolerate from you." May said angrily.

" See who is talking, do you have a man? A man that's indirectly calling off your wedding, is who you still call your man? Did he even give you a good reason why he's postponing the wedding?" Katie asked rudely as she walked towards May.

" It's none of your business; I know you've always hated him because he chose me over you, your low self-esteem and jealous bitch!" May yelled.

Katie slapped her; Jason and Janet sat there and did nothing. Instead, they laughed as Katie slapped May. May retaliated, and it turned into a heated altercation. Jason and Janet stepped in to separate them, Janet slapped May;

" How dare you raise your filthy hands on my child? Are you mad? What makes you think that a girl who has everything intact and going well in her life, will be envious of a wretched orphan like you? Henry is the only person you have in your life; that's why you're so insecure about him. Don't you ever try such nonsense again?" Janet said angrily.

" What gives you the right to touch my girl, have you lost it?" Jason yelled and slapped her too.

" Uncle, you were here when she slapped me." May say tearfully.

" And so? Must you retaliate? Have you forgotten that this is her house, so you're expected to accord her some respect?" Jason said aggressively.

" Uncle!" May exclaimed.

" Shut the fuck up! Now, go inside there, pack your things, and leave my house at this moment!" Jason yelled.

" Mum, if she leaves, who will be doing the chores? You know I'm not supposed to be stressing myself; we all know the great event that is ahead of me; I shouldn't be looking all worn out in my dress on that day, so please let her stay for the little period I have left in this house." Katie said, flipping her hair.

" That's true, honey; Katie is right. Let her stay." Jason said to Janet.

" Fine! Now get out of here! Go into the kitchen and do the dishes, you wretched being." Janet.

" Uncle, what event is Katie talking about? Is there an upcoming event?" May asked as she wiped away her tears.

" Get out!" They yelled.

She left their presence hurriedly into the kitchen. She wept as she washed the dishes, Janet and Katie left the kitchen messy. She had to wash the dishes, tidy up everywhere, and mop the floor.

Katie's father, Jason, was May's uncle. May lost her parents some years back, and since then, she has been living with her uncle and his family. Jason and his wife, Janet, had just Katie; she was their only child. Jason and his family turned May to their house help; she did all the house chores; Katie did nothing in the house; all she did was sleep, watch movies, and go to parties with her friends. May did everything for her; she was more like a nanny to Katie even though they were age mates; she cleaned after her and also ran errands for her.

Despite that May was just a poor orphan, Katie was still envious of her; she was envious of her beauty, and she made sure her mum, Janet, forced May to cut her long hair just because she had short hair; she wanted what May had even though the poor girl had nothing.

Katie hated May so much because Henry chose May over her. She liked Henry first, but Henry chose May because of the bet he had on her, and he fell in love with her along the line.

The fact that Henry and May's first encounter was chaotic made Katie wonder why he still chose her.

FLASHBACK

Eleven months ago, May and Katie went for a walk in the estate. Katie forced May to go with her so that she could help run errands if she needed anything during her walk.

As they were walking, a car almost ran May over, the driver pulled on the break, came out of the car, and asked angrily;

" What is wrong with you? Why didn't you look well? I almost ran you over, you know? Watch where you're going next time." That was Henry, this was their first encounter.

" Are you dumb? You almost ran me over and this is all you have to say? Who gave you a car to drive in the first place because you don't deserve to own a driving license at all, fool!" May replied at the top of her voice.

" He's so cute," Katie said to herself quietly.

" Hi, My name is Katie, and I apologize on her behalf; I've always told her to watch where she's going whenever she's walking beside the road, but I guess she's too dumb to take heed to instructions. I'm sorry once again." Katie, who has been admiring Henry all through the argument, said, stretching her hand for a handshake.

" Is that what you have to say, Katie? Must you tell the whole world that you detest me so much? I never wanted to come for this walk, but you forced me to come with you because, according to you, you might need me to run errands for you." May asked Katie angrily.

" Will you shut up!" Katie yelled at her, still stretching her hand for a handshake with Henry.

" Nice meeting you, Katie; who is she to you because you both look like sisters? Please tell your... ... ... ... ... ..."

" No, she's not my sister; I'm the only child of my parents; she's our maid." Katie interrupted Henry, acting all sexy.

" What! Did you just call me a maid?" May asked, almost tearing up.

" I should have known from her dress, she looks like a maid. Hey maid, next time, watch where you're going, I don't know why you peasants like putting rich people in a tight corner." Henry said rudely.

" Dude, you didn't have to say that to her, you know? You are the one at fault, you almost ran her over. She wasn't walking beside the road and you know it, you were the one who wasn't concentrating on the road. She deserves some apologies from you." Toby said as he came out of the car. He was with Henry on his first encounter with May.

" He'll do no such thing, she was the one who wasn't watching, not him." Katie objected.

" I wasn't talking to you, learn how to mind your business next time, miss," Toby said firmly to Katie.

She felt embarrassed, she rolled her eyes and looked away.

" Dude, whose side are you on? You're my best friend; you should be on my side, not her; she wasn't watching, and that's it." Henry said.

" I'm on the side of truth, you were the one who almost ran her over because you weren't concentrating on the road. Since you don't want to do the right thing, I'll help you. Miss, I'm so sorry; I apologize on behalf of my friend; he wasn't watching the road; I'm sorry for the hurtful words they both said to you; I'm so sorry." Toby said calmly, stretching his hand for a handshake.

" It's... ... ... ... ..."

" Toby, I didn't ask you to apologize to her; she should be the one apologizing to me, not the other way round; I hate you for this, you know? Why do you keep acting like a saint everywhere we go? You always make people think I'm the bad one, even when they're at fault. You still make me apologize, or you do it on my behalf just as you are doing now. What is it nigga? You are not a saint, ok?" Henry said angrily.

" I never said I'm a saint, I'm only trying to clean up your mess like a good friend will do ... .So sorry about that...... What's your name?" Toby said to Henry and turned towards May.

" My name is May. It's fine; I have nothing against him anymore; if my cousin can call me a maid, then a stranger can do worse to me, right?" May said with a faded smile.

" Wow! So she's your cousin?" Toby asked, looking surprised.

" Yes, she is, but I'm their maid, I guess," May replied firmly, looking at Katie with contempt.

" So bad, anyways Henry, I can see that she has an interest in you already; you both deserve each other because you both have stinky behaviors. I'm out of here. Nice meeting you, May." Toby said and went back into the car.

" Same here," May said with a smile.

" You have no right to say that to me, you dumb head!" Katie yelled.

" Hey, you don't talk to my friend like that." Henry cautioned her.

" Really? Were you deaf when he called our behaviors stinky?" Katie asked, looking confused.

" Yes, that's the point, he was referring to both of us, not just you alone, ok? So chill." Henry said softly.

" I'm out of here, Katie we'll see at home," May said and turned to leave their presence.

" And where do you think you're going? Who's going to run my errands? You don't expect me to do everything by myself, right?" Katie said arrogantly.

" Then stop me," May said firmly and left their presence.

" What!" Katie reacted.

" She's your cousin, right? Why treat her like a maid?" Henry asked, looking concerned.

" Because she's our maid," Katie said firmly.

" Henry, are you just going to stand there and keep talking? We're running late for the party, remember?" Toby said at the top of his voice from the car.

" I'm coming," Henry replied reluctantly.

" Oh, you guys are going to a party; I love partying so much," Katie said with a broad smile.

" Oh, you do? That's good, see you next time, Katie. I have to go now, my guys are waiting for me over there." Henry said.

They hugged and bid each other goodbye; Henry got into the car, fumbled the keys, and drove off. Katie kept admiring the car till it was out of sight;

" That's an expensive machine. Gosh! That guy is so cute... ... ... ... Fuck! We forgot to exchange contacts, how am I going to meet him again? That stupid friend of his caused all this; if he hadn't hastened him, we would have talked at length and would have exchanged contacts. I want to meet this guy again; he's my type of man, and he looks rich too." Katie said to herself aloud.

She began to walk back home, and as she was going, a car kept honking at her, but she didn't hear it because she was wearing a headphone. Suddenly, the car packed beside her, it was then she noticed that a car had been behind her back all that while and she didn't know.

The driver came out of the car and she was surprised at who she saw.