Chapter Seventy-Two

Chapter Seventy-Two
Nelson had grown cold and the love we once shared was beginning to feel one-sided. 

His remarks whenever we hung out or saw each other became passive; whenever I would ask him a question, he would reply to me with monosyllabic words like ‘yes,’ ‘no,’ ‘why,’ ‘of course,’ ‘okay,’ and the list goes on.

Every conversation felt like a bother and his presence was beginning to send shivers down my spine. 

In the midst of this behavior, it only dawned on me that I might have been dating a ghost. I’d been previously concerned about his family and personal affairs as well as his business but the oblivion kicked in properly of recent. 

Everyone who ran a business had a specialization except for my boyfriend. Today he would agree that he dealt with home appliances, the next time, he would talk about importing factory materials, and the next time I caught him on one of his numerous secret phone calls, he would confess to co-running a firm with a partner who had just taken a short trip to Singapore, but he never gave me any more details. 

I would sound crazy if I told anyone that all the information I had about him was his First name and his address. He was that hideous, but while he succeeded at concealing his personality and identity, he pried into my affairs like a detective, randomly snatching my phone to see who I was texting or calling. 

During work hours, he would hang around the pastry shop like a police officer searching for a criminal. My male clients were not allowed any discussions with me and the cordial relationship that I once shared with everyone of them was long gone into the abyss. 

The lies, the concealed identity, the falsehood, the poor and unfair treatment, they were all getting to me and I could not take one more of it. 

I loved this man dearly and as much as I knew that I deserved none of the ill treatment, I badly wanted things to work out between the two of us. I was not prepared to lose him and so I couldn’t let him slip off my fingers just like that, so I came up with a plan.

His birthday was coming up in a week and I’d planned to bake him a huge cake but I decided that was not good enough. I wanted to give him a grand gesture that would appeal to him and maybe then I would get a way to appease his heart for a change.

On the morning of November 25th, as early as 6:30 am, I was already at the door of his home with my crew who were to pull the surprise with me. 

We didn’t talk much the days preceding his birthday but we spoke at least, so I wasn’t expecting any crazy reaction. But despite that, I was scared. Scared that he might see my gesture as a disturbance or exposure of his hideout because he genuinely looked like he was hiding something.

He was an introvert to the core and had only about two good friends but I encouraged myself in the hope that he would see it for what it was- a genuine surprise from his lover.

With me I had Marvin who played the violin, Kel who blew the trumpet, Marilyn who bore the large box of gifts and goodies, and myself who held the gigantic cream cake which was well covered in a transparent box.

I called him thrice before he could pick up and when he did, he was silent.

“Baby, happy birthday!” I screamed, smiling like he could see me already. 

“Girl, it’s my birthday, why are you more excited than I am?” He teased, chuckling a bit.

“I’m the assisting celebrant. Did that elude you?”

“Hahaha! Okay, okay, you win. What do you have for the old man?” 

“Old man? Come on, you’re not even forty yet.”

“May, anything older than twenty-five is already considered old age by me. Oh, I forgot, I’m the old one here. As for you, you’re still basking in the joy of youthfulness.”

The conversation was getting longer than planned and Marilyn was already shooting me a funny look, but that only made me let out a loud laugh.

“Hmmmm, what’s making you laugh? Oh my little girl, Hayley. She must be doing something hilarious, as usual.”

“No baby, she’s not here. Can you come to the door please?” I asked him, finally finding a way to get him to come out. 

“You little brat. You’re at my place and you couldn’t say it all this time?”

“Arrrrrghhhh, babe!”

“Ok, that was incorrect. You sent a package and it’s already delivered at my doorstep?” He asked again, his tone now exciting and inquisitive.

“None. Hahaha! Nelson, please quit asking the many questions and come out already. See ya!” And with that, I ended the call and erupted into silent laughter.

“That was really long, May,” Marvin said, placing his chin on the chin rest of the violin, ready to play sweet melodies. 

“You better not come between two love birds,” Kel quickly chipped in, her face bearing a smug look. 

I rolled my eyes, shrugging my shoulders like a shy little girl who was about to accept a bribe of chocolate candy. 

“Guyyyyssss… okay, I’m sorry. I didn’t intend to speak with him that long but… Wait! He's here.”