I quickly got up from Solange and put on my boxers while she quickly got under the sheets.

“Solange!!!” Flore shouted. “How can you do a thing like this?

Solange could not say anything. There was guilt written all over her face. She bowed her head low in shame. Flore turned to me.

“John, what is the meaning of this? You couldn’t even respect the fact that I was just in the other room? She asked, sadly.

“I am sorry, babe. She made me do it. It was the alcohol and all. You know, I actually thought it was you. Please, I am sorry.”

“You actually thought it was me? What a cheap lie. I am so disappointed at you.”

“You see, babe, alcohol is a bad thing. It is a vile drink that turns even the most responsible of men into scoundrels.” I was trying to put the blame on alcohol.

“I am so disappointed in you John, very disappointed.” She spoke.

“But come to think of this, so, these are the kind of friends you keep? How did you come by such a friend. She is such a bad friend. You see why I had always told you to keep away from friends?”

“Who is a bad friend?” Solange asked angrily.

“If you open your mouth there, I will pounce on you. That’s why I am so disappointed at thunder these days. It is supposed to have fired you by now.” I was threatening Solange.

Florence could no longer stay in that room, she stomped away and started calling her elder Sister on phone. I turned angrily to Solange.

“Are you still lying there? My friend, get up and leave this place.”

She put on her dresses, and I drove both of them to their various houses, since it was already early morning. No one spoke to each other while I drove. To avoid further suspicions, I dropped Solange first before dropping Flore, though Solange’s house was farther. As soon as I got back home, my phone rang. It was Flore’s sister, Belinda, calling.

“Hi Bibi” 

“John, my sister has explained to me what happened at your place.”

“I understand she has. What about it?”

“Are you not ashamed of yourself? Sleeping with two friends.” She asked in anger.

“Let’s assume that I am ashamed, what would it change? It was that Solange girl who caused it. You should blame your sister for bringing her along.” I told her.

“Which Solange? Did she force herself on you? Did she force you to have an erection? Accept your faults and stop blaming someone else. You are a very wicked guy, and I will make sure my sister leaves you. You have caused her too much trouble and brought her too many pains. I have been silent because I didn’t want to interfere in her relationship. But this time, you will hear from me.” Belinda was very angry.

“Wait, let me get this straight. Are you threatening me?” I asked.

“Even if I am, what are you going to do about it?” She asked.

“I will let this pass because you are Flore’s sister. Next time, I will teach you why the bat flies at night.”

“You can’t do anything, you are just a fool, a big fool. That’s what you are.” She shouted and ended the call.

I was very angry at Belinda. She had insulted me without any respect; something no lady has ever tried before. I decided that I would visit their house in the evening and give her a piece of my anger.

It was evening now, around 8:00 PM and I had just parked in front of their house. I rang the doorbell and Flore opened the door. Their parents were not at home.

“Good evening.” She said.

“Go inside and get me that idiot you call your sister.” I shouted at her.

“Who are you talking about? Which of my sisters?”

“Bibi, of course, Belinda. Tell her I am here. Let her come and run her mouth the same way she was doing earlier in the day.”

“Unfortunately for you, she isn’t home.” Flore spoke.

“Good thing too because I would have taught her a lesson this evening. And you, must you turn our issues into a family affair? You can’t keep your mouth shut for once?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Quit pretending, Florence. Who told Belinda about me and Solange and what happened last night?”

“Of course, it was me. I needed someone to talk to.”

“You, see? Look at what you have caused. Anyway, you guys enjoy the rest of the evening. I am going.” I said angrily and got back into the car.”

Belinda ran after me, asking me to calm down. She didn’t want me to go just yet. I told her my quarry was her sister and not her. She pleaded with me to calm down, but I refused. I however got out of the car and went to a nearby off license and bought a cold drink to calm down my nerves.

 I was happy with myself. I had completely turned the tables. Instead of me to be guilty, I had made Flore guilty, and she had to do the apologizing instead. Soon she joined me at the off license, and we drank until around midnight. This time, we both avoided alcohol.

“I want to spend the night at your place.” She proposed.

“That’s okay by me.”

We got into the car and as we were driving home, Flore brought the Solange issue again. I was very angry. Just when I thought she had forgotten about it and forgiven me, just when I thought I had succeeded to turn the tables, there she was, still talking about it. I got very angry and told her to stop but she kept on and even started crying. Her crying got me angry, and I stopped the car, pulled her out of the car and drove away. I didn’t even bother that it was after midnight and dangerous. 

I arrived home, angry. In fact, anger was my constant condition. I horned madly and the night watchman opened the gate for me.

“Rogers!” I shouted, for that was his name. “Do not open this gate to anybody. If you do, kiss your job goodbye. Have you heard?”

“Yes, Sir”

I got into the house, had my bath and went to bed. Early in the morning, I went to check if the night watch had been replaced by the day watch. The exchange was supposed to happen at 5:30 AM. When I got there, I was surprised to see Flore sitting by the security post, she was asleep. Before I could say anything, the night watch, afraid for his job spoke first. 

“Sir, I am sorry. I thought your orders didn’t extend to her.” He said, mildly.

“It’s alright, Rogers. You did well. Go back to your post.” I said, calmly.

 I carried her into my appointment, put her in bed, called her job to say she was sick and would be taking the day off and then joined her in bed. I also took the day off. I wanted us to spend the day together. I wanted to make up for my bad attitude the other night. She was a good woman who just happened to meet the wrong guy. I decided that from that day onwards, I would try as much as possible to treat her right. However, that was not to be. My fiancée called me the very next day and told me she was coming to town. She said she wanted us to start making preparations for our wedding.

Hmm! That would have been great news, but I knew Flore would be very heart broken. Not that she didn’t know that a day like that would finally come, she knew. But she had somehow been hoping against all odds that she might be able to graduate from side chick to main chick and get my fiancée out of the way. Sadly, she was finally going to lose the battle. 

I don’t need to bother you with the details, but the wedding went well. On that day of the wedding, I lied to Florence that it was my elder brother getting married. She wanted to attend the wedding, but I lied again that my brother was a prophet and only the members of his church were invited. Because she was afraid of getting me angry, she didn’t push the matter further. My brother was my best man, but I insisted that we dress the same. He didn’t understand why but he didn’t argue because he didn’t want to spoil my day.

We had just left the church and were parading in town in a convoy of about six cars when the car carrying me, and my new wife broke down. The rest of the convoy had to stop until the car was repaired. In anger, I stepped off the car and at that same moment, I saw Florence passing. She saw me too and waved. She still believed it was my brother’s wedding. She didn’t have the slightest idea that the love of her life had just been taken.  

It had been two weeks now. I was just back from honeymoon. I was out of town and had lied to Flore that I had work to do out of town. My wife was still leaving away from me, but she was making plans to permanently join me soon. Everything was going fine when one of my friends called Eric, whose number Flore had, posted my wedding photos on his status. Flore saw it and called me immediately.