Chapter 42: Is love always enough?

Ruthless

Is love enough to always make us stay?

Nathan took a few steps forward to meet Tacha who kept running backward even more. He was shocked because he wasn't expecting her to confess so quickly. Many girls would have pretended, making sure they never go to the deep side. He had seen that many times. Nathan reached for her hand eventually, holding it extremely tight. She wouldn't be able to wiggle out this time. She refused him, telling him she would stay behind and watch him, but he disagreed. "Let's go to the shallow part then. I will be around you so stay calm. You don't have to swim. It's just four feet tall."

"You can just leave me here Nathan."

"Babe that's not done. I can't be in a particular place having fun or doing something and I just leave you somewhere all alone because you can't do it. You don't even have to do it if you don't want to. All you need to do is show up in your space and watch. Learn if you want to. It will become a habit if you keep doing that and I might never carry you along with anything I do, so come over here."

Tacha laughed. "As it reach up to that now." She understood him and ended up obeying him.

A sharp cry escaped from Tacha's mouth when Nathan received her into the pool. He grabbed her, shaking her body with so much excitement, all his strength inside the pool for her to feel comfortable with the water. Tacha threw her head back squealing like a teenager inside the water as Nathan tickled her nonstop. She had managed to get lots of attention to herself with her black swimsuit, showing off her curvy body and fair skin to a few hungry eyes around them. Her braids were tied in a top bun, giving her room to have nothing distracting her. She ended up getting a cut-out one-shoulder, high-waisted swimsuit. One of the reasons Nathan didn't want her to be on her own. The swimsuit wouldn't have gotten so much attention on a slim body with dark skin, but unlike Tacha, heads swayed when she appeared, walking next to Nathan.

To say Tacha thought these eyes were on her because she was with Nathan was a wrong thought. When she dipped herself into the water and came out, she hugged Nathan, trying her best not to shout. "It's so cold Baby. Please don't do that again." She whispered, throwing her head back again, laughing because Nathan wouldn't stop teasing her inside the water. She hugged him tightly to feel a little bit of warmness if possible, and she got it. It was better than when there was a large space in between them.

"Oh my God, you are here!" The excitement in the voice got Tacha's attention. "It's T for turn around baby, cause girl, what are you rocking inside that pool! This man is the only Nathan I know who came into this world to just enjoy all the beautiful things around him."

Tacha turned at the sound of the familiar voice. Her face lit up in no time with a huge smile that spread so quickly over her complete face. The person who stood before her was the virus her face caught in a flash and she became happier, feeling settled. "Natasha! I didn't know you were here too. Why didn't you tell me, Nathan?" Tacha wanted to leave Nathan's embrace but he held her still.

Natasha laughed. "Don't mind him, we are obsessed with big things in this family. I understand him perfectly well. You," she pointed to Nathan. "Bring her inside cause the fun would soon start inside."

"You are stupid." Nathan splashed water at Natasha. She left before Tacha could thank her for the dress she had made for her.

••••••

"So this game is called, you must have a number to pick a number. It simply means that since everyone has their own number,  anyone who picks the correct side of the coin gets to pick any number to ask their questions and have them answer it. If one person, two or more pick the correct side of the coin, they are allowed to pick numbers to ask their questions and get replies. You can also pick from people who got the correct side of the coin." The hairy dark guy faced Tacha in particular, his eyes pinned on her as he explained to Tacha what the game was all about. It seemed she was the only one with another girl next to her that doesn't know how the game worked. If she thought he was too serious, Tacha wanted to know his profession for being so focused and took his time to explain to her even when others wanted to start without explaining the game to those who weren't familiar with the game.

"So, can we start with you?"

Tacha turned to look at Nathan who was sitting very close to her on her left-hand side. Her eyes shot up very quickly at him to ask if she had nothing to worry about. Nathan smiled in response to her gesture. He took her hand with his. "Number one." He reclaimed, allowing himself to be the first person to pick a number instead of Tacha.

The guys laughed, teasing him quite seriously. And when Tacha turned to look at Natasha, she smiled from afar telling her not to worry. Next to her was Anthony, whose lips only curved into a light smile without a trace of his teeth like the rest.

"Whoa!" The guy who explained the game to Tacha had a very big smile, directing it at Tacha. "It's just a game, Tacha. Are you comfortable?" He quickly turned to the other girl so as not to be questioned for facing Tacha alone. "We want you to feel relaxed. Are you as well comfortable? I should have asked you both before scaring you with my explanation."

Tacha smiled at his calmness. His choice of words and how well he took his time for her and the other girl couldn't make Tacha disagree at all. He successfully made her eager to start the game already even though she didn't understand anything about the game. It sounded like it was going to be fun but she was clueless and didn't want to take the lead yet. She was about to reply when someone beat her to it.

"James can we quit all these and just start this game already. Anyone who isn't comfortable can take a trip back to the pool. Shit about to get real so let's not act like it's fun when some of us are about to get our dirty linens washed."

Everywhere in one second after his statement went from a hundred percent happy mood and an exciting atmosphere to zero. The smiles on people's faces were gone, but they didn't seem bothered unlike how Tacha felt uneasy all because of one person, out of the nine people in the room. If others kept mute, for Tacha, it came out rude, but since no one said anything, she looked away from the dark guy whom he heard his name multiple times from Nathan in all of his conversations about his friends. The moment Tacha saw him, she knew he was Jamal, and he was the opposite of how Nathan described his perfect friendship to her.

"Tail."

"Tail."

"Head."

They all guessed around, the tension sitting on their faces while some laughed it off to stop others from hearing their heartbeats. When James opened his hand, the ones who chose tail... laughed and smiled in victory. James turned to Jamal out of the four. "Will you go first?"

"Number six," Jamal said, picking whom will answer his question, without having to mention names. He turned his attention towards Natasha whose eyes watched him with pain and victory. She seemed ready and not a bit intimidated by Jamal's confidence. Tacha couldn't deny that apart from his proud looks, he looked just great as Nathan physically even more so than in photos. Jamal crossed his arms fixing his gaze on her. "I believe you must have found the right one which is the reason you came after so many months."

A sly smile appeared on Natasha's face. "Well, I found a man who has passed his sex cravings. If at twenty-nine, I still don't know what I want, my life is gonna remain messy, still stuck in pain for what I call loyalty to a man who didn't make me realise I deserve effort. I Natasha Brown, deserve an effort...and if any man isn't showing that, I will have to slam it into his face that love is never enough, and doesn't deserve any royalty. I'm done!"

Wawoooo!

Tacha felt the strong atmosphere. It was as if she were the only one who didn't know what was going on. She could feel the pain that lingered in the air as Natasha was speaking till she was done. When she finally turned away from Jamal, her expression said she didn't give a damn!

"Favour right?" James asked the girl next to Tacha. She nodded and understood she was next.

"Okay, number four," Favour said, picking the one she wanted an answer from. Her voice was a bit tiny like that of a kid, turning to the man beside her. "I know I shouldn't ask you here, but I have a feeling you might never give me an honest answer except from here," she said, looking up at Jamal. "Why is it so satisfying for you to live like this? Like, why would you choose to have me be with you for three months when you clearly know I like you so much? I know I'm not expected to say this out, but I just realised this is bullshit cause I deserve better."

Jamal rolled his eyes at Favour and scoffed. "This is indeed a shit of a conversation. After all the trips, all the monetary gifts, all you've benefited through me. Now you realise you have some dignity." His tone was laced with disdain for her. He wasn't even looking at her. "Didn't you stay because of money. Or should I say, you want to stay for a long time because of it." He paused, turning with a look of regret in his eyes as he stared down at Favour like she was a piece of shit. He blinked his eyes. "I would have found another fuck body if you had said no. Your gender fuck dogs just for a whip of money. Don't play the victim. This is my fucking life." He came closer to Favour's face. "You brought this on yourself. Drop my car key and get the hell out of here. I'm J Kasil, and you knew I was a fucked boy before you approached me."

Tacha's heart slammed into her chest repeatedly. She realised how long she had held her breath, letting herself swallow her saliva gently. She could feel every word Jamal said hitting every wall of the room to escape them, but it was as if those words were directed to her. She saw Favour's eyes completely soaked with tears. Humiliated. Her eyes were red and her shoulders slumped. Her sin was thinking she could change a fucked boy or could love him enough to make him love her back.

Tacha looked around these men. They needed to help her but until Jamal was done, none of them moved. Even if they were used to him being rude and cocky, this was too much and could cause emotional damage to Favour. He didn't need to go that far. He didn't need to disgrace her this much. Tacha tried to snatch her hand away from Nathan, but he gripped it even more, telling her not to interfere. Tacha saw Nathan direct his looks at Eric who went ahead and helped Favour up before falling off her seat. But not leaving the room with Favour until he could hit Jamal in the jaw, kicking his seat away to make him hit the hard tiles hard. He sat there not defensive, instead, grabbed his chair back without a single remorse. Like, he doesn't give a fuck.

"Rossie." James disrupted the long and disturbing atmosphere, calling on the next person. "Your turn." He smiled at the lady next to her who returned with a big sigh before chuckling.

"You know I love you." James publicly announced his affection for her, kissing her cheek. Rossie blinked at him, letting her smile spread wider even more as she crossed her arms under her breasts pushing them up. Tacha thought Rossie was beautiful. Very fair and doesn't look like a total Nigerian with the colour of her skin. Tacha was able to notice her gap tooth when she laughed at herself before speaking up. "I don't even know what to say," she said. "What exactly happened? How do people become toxic? Why do some men feel they are right for you because they don't cheat or assault you, when you are so hell-bent on leaving the relationship for reasons known to you? Like, I don't cheat on you, I never hit you in the face, then why are you so ungrateful to think I'm not enough, cause I think this is what happened to..." She paused. "I don't wanna mention names, but I really want Anthony to help with that. You've been in a relationship for the longest here. So, Number five." She picked Anthony to answer her question.

Tacha's eyes found Anthony immediately. She was enjoying the game, and at the same time angry at some responses she had heard so far. This wasn't a game, and what she had been listening to wasn't fun at all.

"Can I allow Natasha to say something?" Anthony requested and it was granted.

Natasha chuckled. "Why me? But anyway, we are all learning. We hear relationship is all about forgiveness, and because of that, you did it every time. You give every part of you away in pain waiting for this so-called person to realise he could do better. But then, have we sometimes realised in a relationship we get to a point and we are not willing to go through or tolerate the same thing we forgave him for over and over again. No, he doesn't cheat! No, he doesn't assault you, but he's doing more than that."

"He's inconsiderate, he's selfish, he's unappreciative, he's insecure, he harbours whatever you say to him and throw them back at you when he's angry at you, telling you, you are at fault, an excuse that you do more than he does. That you are the wrong one and he's just reacting to your ungrateful complaints, therefore no one should blame him. He's always defensive, wanting everything he says to be what you do and listen to. He manipulates you with his words, including his world, showing you his perfect brother, sister, and parents as an example, and all the benefits you will get from him. Also how he's gonna become like them too, and you picture him in a place of different personalities. No, he doesn't cheat. No, he doesn't assault you, but that's emotional damage, and all your life you will think you are always the wrong one. No one is perfect, and he shouldn't think he is because he never does those two when he does more than that as a whole. Women walk away because of these. Not until you ball your hand into a fist."

Everyone maintained total silence as Natasha spoke deep down from her heart without any thought of whether these people would agree with her or not. Whao! Tacha couldn't agree less. How can they call this a game, it should be called relationship therapy, or relationship class. People coming together to share their knowledge, share their experiences can make each gender understand relationship is more than building memories and sharing love. Relationship is a life-changing course.

At the end, you pass or you fail, but most importantly you learn.

"You've said it all, Natasha. Life is too short waiting for any man or woman to act right." Anthony said "You can lose your senses, lose your worth, lose your hopes, lose your dignity, and lose your self-esteem while waiting for him to find his right senses. I think toxic people make good people toxic Rossie." He faced her. "They forget their own values along the way to fit in this toxic lifestyle. Telling her you are not ready for a relationship but expecting relationship benefits is hurtful. It's confusing to make people think everyone in the world does it. The lie we make people believe."

When Tacha thought the whole thing was going on well, the men turned everything upside down with their argument. It was fun watching them and getting to know them all. Tacha couldn't help laughing at some point thanks to Eric. At a point, the disturbing atmosphere was choking and everyone just seemed too serious like they had a lot on their minds. It was definitely fun, but... It was more fun watching Nathan. Tacha noticed he was still very poised, maintaining composure among his friends. He barely said much, and never released her hand whenever he had the chance to hold her, until they had to get up and leave when the guys were done chatting.

When they got into the car, Nathan was the first person to talk. He knew Tacha had heard a lot from his friends today, and he really wondered what could be in her heart after all she must have heard from them all. His choice of words to her showed he was so bothered by her silent thoughts. His voice came out slowly next to her. "Babe, I don't want you to think we are the same because of what you've seen today." He looked into her eyes. Tacha smiled at him. She understood who he was talking about and allowed him.

"I want you to know we don't think alike to that extent and I know we are friends, but I know better and I really hope he finds help. I love you, Tacha. These few weeks have been the best days of my life. I've smiled more, learned a lot, shown compassion, told myself several times I'm still a work in progress and I can do better, get better, love better, choose better, fight for the one I love, be happy, choose myself, and never let people's opinion get into my head when I know what's best for me. And baby, you deserve an effort because I know you want this and that's why you chose this path. Nothing will ever pull us apart. Not fake pregnancy, not families, and not the society we live in." Nathan brought Tacha's hand to his mouth and kissed it softly.

"Oh my God who is cutting onions?" Tacha held back her tears and laughed it off. The two made fun of each other but enjoyed the moment together. "So Tacha, I brought you here because I really want you to--"

"Shushhhhh" Tacha placed her index finger on his lips. She smiled at him. "Thank you for making me part of this. You've said so much already for tonight. Please save it till tomorrow." She removed her finger from Nathan's lips, resting back on the seat. She stared at Nathan even more and bit her lower lip slowly. "Don't you miss me? Well I do, and the goal is your mansion. So..." Tacha pointed to the stirring, eyeing Nathan with no hint of shame. "Permission to set my body ablaze."

Nathan's lips curved into a huge grin. He was unable to hide it and then he chuckled. "You've really made me sin a lot this month. Holy spirit have mercy on me, your daughter that you gave me needs you more." He closed his eyes touching his forehead, chest, and both shoulders, then he laughed. "You are learning really fast though. Anyways, my goal is for you tonight. I will teach you more words when the show begins. Let's take this flight first." Nathan said in a very low tone, getting a quick laugh from Tacha. He threw Tacha a wink, and immediately, he started the car.