6

6-

Tamara studied his words again and again, wondering why it sounded simple to her.

She had expected a bunch of restrictive rules but a love oath was far from her expectations. 

Without giving it too much thought, she made her decision.

YES she typed and hit the send button.

she waited for a response but didn't receive any.

Feeling sleepy, she decided to go to bed. Curiosity hit her again as she remembered her new neighbor. Walking up to the window, she slowly opened it and peeked through the slight opening she found.

She saw nothing. He had shut his window and gone back inside. Ashamed, she pulled back and closed the widow before going to bed.

The following morning, she put on loud music and eagerly waited for Dedan's arrival after having a quick breakfast. 

A knock sounded at her door and she hastily opened it, expecting to see Dedan, but she found herself face to face with her new neighbor. There was a look of displeasure in his face.

Her heart skipped a beat at the sight of him, in a way that had never happened with Dedan before.

She could not understand what it was about him that disorganized her.

"Hi." he greeted. "My name is Richard Benson, your new neighbor."

"What do you want?"

"I can't concentrate with the loud music you're playing. Could you please turn it down?"

"You're not the only one in the neighborhood." She snapped.

"If you don't turn it down, I will be forced to report you for noise pollution."

"You won't dare."

"Watch me. You have one minute."

Tamara gritted her teeth in irritation. "I will turn it down later."

"Now." he insisted.

Tamara narrowed her eyes furiously at him, hating how he stayed focused waiting for her to honor his demand.

"Fine. I will do it. But from henceforth, if you see me, avoid me. Don't talk to me. Don't wave at me. We are now sworn enemies in this neighborhood."

He shrugged offhandedly. "Whatever you say, Sweetheart." came his offhanded response. "Turn the music down."

Tamara slammed the door shut in his face.

"Your one minute is about to run out." He informed her from outside, sounding unfazed by her reaction.

Tamara matched over to her sound system and turned the volume down.

"Thank you." she heard him say and heard his footsteps retreating.

She sighed, leaning against the wall for a few seconds. Her phone rang and it was a call from Dedan.

"Hey love," she greeted. "I've been expecting you."

"I'm on my way, Sweetheart and I just want to mention how happy I have been since I got your response last night."

"My pleasure."

"I will be there soon. I love you."

"Love you too."

After the call, she found herself smiling from ear to ear. She was glad that the problem in her relationship had been fixed.

But then, a realization hit her. It caused her blood to start boiling in anger at Dedan.

Why did he have to test her like that? It was not fair. If he had not tested her, all this would not have happened. Won't he fall if she tested him too? How would he feel if she tested him too?

With that thought in mind, she sat down on the couch and waited for his arrival.

When he finally arrived, she opened the door without greeting him, stepped back inside and just glared at him.

"What is the problem baby?"

"I just realized that you should not have tested me like that."

"Maybe I shouldn't, but like I said, I wanted to be sure about your fidelity to me."

"Still, it is not fair. How would you feel if I did the same thing to you?"

"I would be hurt." he admitted, but I will get over it. And for the sake of our relationship, I really hope you get over it as well. Okay, Sweety?"

he stepped closer to her and enveloped her in his arms. She let herself relax in his arms as he planted a kiss on her forehead. "I'm sorry, okay?"

"It's alright."

"I love you."

"I love you too."

***

The following day, the couple stood before a large mirror  in the office of a spiritualist to exchange their vow of fidelity which they needed to repeat after him.

The man was in his early sixties and was dressed in a black robe. Pagan things hung around haphazardly and the place made Tamara uncomfortable but she was doing it to redeem herself.

"I do take this oath in the name of love. I agree to be bound to you. Where you go, I will go. I will be loyal to no other lover but you. And  out blood will keep us together forever."

After repeating the words, the man pricked their thumbs and had them joint their lightly bloodied thumbs together.

"Now, both of you, say together forever." He urged and they repeated the words with their thumbs joined.

"Together forever."

"It is done." The man told them and the couple hugged.

"I love you so much." Dedan told her.

"I love you too." She responded.

***

Minutes later, they were home and making love solemnly. It was as though, the oath they had taken was plunging them into a serious mode.

When they came down from their high, he pressed his lips to her neck. "Let's get married  next weekend."

"Okay." She responded.

They both smiled after sharing a kiss.

A couple of days later, Tamara tried on a wedding dress at the boutique. Her closest  friend was there to help her out.

"Do you really want to marry Dedan?" She asked?

"You need to stop asking me that?"

"It's because he cages you. You've complained several times, yet you won't leave him. You need to leave him."

"Leave him for what? I know he is controlling. But he takes care of me. He picked me up from the streets. I ran away from the orphanage and decided to be a hooker. He was my first client and first man. When he discovered he was my first, he took me away from that useless life and put me in school. I owe him everything."

"I know all that. But you do you love him?"

"What does it matter? He provides for me."

"Do you love him?"

"I think I do."

"Don't marry him, girl."

"I have no choice."

"We all have choices."

Tamara placed one hand on her friend's shoulder. 

"It's too late for all this talk, Mia. We are tying the knot. Focus on being a supportive maid of honor."

Mia sighed. Then gave up with a shrug. "I wish you everlasting joy."

"Thank you."

"I'm sorry, I'm dulling the mood."

"It's fine. You can make it up by buying me a drink."

A few hours later and both girls were in a bar, drinking tequila.

They spent a lot of time and soon, they were tipsy. 

Tamara's phone began to ring with Dedan's call.

"Hello." She answered, inebriated.

"Are you still catching up with your friend?"

"Yes." She slurred. Her fingers accidentally hit the loudspeaker volume, making their conversation audible for anyone close enough to hear them.

"I told you not to get drunk." He thundered and  Mia rolled her eyes.

"I'm not drunk." Tamara slurred.

"I'm outside. Get your bag."

The call ended and although she was tipsy, she felt sober enough to start preparing to leave. "We need to go." She told Mia. "He is outside."

"See what I mean?" Mia pointed out. "What is he doing here? He is nothing but a control freak."

"We are not getting into that."

Both girls reached outside a minute later and Dedan was waiting outside his car.

Anger marked his face as he glared at them. Without a word, he got into the car and opened the passenger side.

Mia shrugged and hailed a cab, leaving her friend alone.

Tamara got in beside Dedan and shut the door.

"What the hell is the meaning of this?" He snapped. "You're supposed to be home. You've not even made dinner and you're here misbehaving. What is wrong with you?"

"I'm sorry. I just wanted to have some good time."

"You're not serious." He declared and started the car.

It was a quiet but rough drive and when they got home, he stormed out of the car and into the house. 

She left the car, spotting her new neighbor who just got home as well.

They exchanged a few seconds gaze before wordlessly minding their business, she disappearing into the house, him, entering into his home.

Once she was inside, she met Dedan standing by the bar, furious.

"Took you a long time to get in. Perhaps I should have dragged you inside. Is that what you want?"

"I'm sorry."

"You're always sorry. Just go and make dinner. I'm hungry."

"But I'm tired."

"Make dinner. Period. I wasn't the one who sent you out partying with no sense if time. In fact, this ends now, you're not to go out without my permission anymore."

"You can't do that."

"Try repeating what you just did and see what happens." He dared her. Then he walked away, leaving her for the bedroom.

Tamara headed for the kitchen and managed to make dinner even though she was tired. As she cooked, she started to wonder if this was the kind of life she really wanted to live with him. 

Searching herself inwardly, she didn't like it. She knew she didn't love him. At first she thought she did until he began to show his controlling side. She could say she loved him but once his anger and controlling side surfaced, she slowly fell out of love with him.

She had not been able to admit that reality but she was telling herself the truth now. She no longer loved Dedan. The question was, what would she do about it?