Must Read: As Deep As The Sea

Episode 7 years ago

Must Read: As Deep As The Sea

“Are you okay?” the masculine voice came from right behind her.


She turned and noticed Boma a few feet away from her. Her creamy brown skinned friend was clad in a cream suit with marching brown tie. Why would anyone come to work in a cream suit especially on a day like this? Promise kept the thought to herself and smiled instead.
“I am good, just a little bit tired.”
He had noticed her disturbed state of mind for over a week. He doesn’t understand why she had refused to open up to him. He would continue to pray for her, that was the only thing he could do.



Every three months, the management of the company held a general meeting. Over the years, the meeting became an opportunity for people to lash out at one another rather than solve or resolve pending issues. At the time she was employed, the general meeting had turned into a battle ground. Staff members who couldn’t defend themselves were used as weapons of warfare. If anyone had told her that these were the things she would experience while working at TL Communications, she would never have accepted their appointment letter.
“What are you thinking about?”
She returned his stare, “Nothing, Mr. Nosy Parker.”
“I am just concerned about you. You have been sort of distracted these past few days.”
He was right, she had not been herself lately.




Her concentration at work was suffering and her jovial self had diminished to a zombie-like state that was very unlike her.
“You worry too much. I am fine,” she punched him on the shoulder.
“Ouch!”
She stuck out her tongue at him and halted outside the conference room.
“Ready for war?”
She took in a deep breath and nodded. He opened the door and they both walked in.




Three hours later, all the staff members of TL Communications streamed out of the conference room. Promise sq££zed her way out and headed straight for her office. The phone in her hand kept ringing, but the rhythm was lost to the noise in the hall. She met Boma and her colleagues discussing the outcome of the meeting in the office. She was in no mood to joina them and remained at her desk, staring at her phone. She could discern who the caller was.





She tapped her short finger nails on the thick desk. What should she do? She had to put an end to it. But how? It had stolen her sleep, rendered her peace of mind irreparable, slowly it was creeping into her work-life. She ran a hand through her braids and gave a shake of head.
“Are you okay?” He approached her.




She looked up to meet Boma’s questioning gaze, “I am fine. You have asked me before, please stop asking,” she cut the call and opened one of her drawers.
“I will stop asking when I am satisfied with your answer,” he sat at the edge of her table.



She closed the drawer, “Back off Boma, I am fine,” she picked up a pen and a sheet of plain A4 paper, “Boma, stop acting like my shadow.”
“All right, all right. I will leave you alone for now. I am here if you need anyone to talk to,” he walked away.




The phone started ringing again.
‘Oh God! What sort of nonsense is this?’
She dropped the paper and pen on her desk and picked the call. It was high time she took the bull by the horns, but the moment she heard his voice, she knew she had made a very big mistake.

“Hello…”


She held her breath, ‘Why did I pick the call? I should have allowed it to ring till he got tired of calling’, these thoughts ran through her mind.
“Promise are you there? Darling, I have been trying to reach you for over a week, I want…”
“And I have been trying to sleep all week long!” Her voice cut across his.



She had the feeling that she was being watched. One glance upwards, eight pairs of eyes stared back at her. Her colleagues must have been alerted by the way she reacted to the call. They must be wondering who she was speaking to, especially Boma. He might try to cajole her into spilling the beans afterwards, but she was in no mood to talk things over with anyone, not yet anyway. She turned her chair around and faced the wall.
“Stop calling me Keshinro. You are making this harder than it is already. Please Keshinro, let me go,” her voice softened.
“Promise, you know I can’t let you go. I am drunk in the waters of what we shared.”
She closed her eyes, trying to block the images that assaulted her. What does he think he was doing? Why can’t he accept defeat and return to his family?
“Sweet heart, can we meet today?”
“No…” the whisper came from deep within her.



She had to be strong for both of them. She had to stand firm, “No Keshinro…” Her voice hardened, “I told you it is best that we remain incommunicable. Stop being a nuisance and get hold of yourself.”


She ran her fingers through her braids. It was high time she changed her hairstyle. Her scalp was beginning to itch like hell.
“I can’t do without you, I… I can’t.”
“Keshinro Phillips you have to stop this.”
“I have gone loco already, don’t you understand?! There is no turning back for me; you are all I have got, you are all I need.”
“Stop it! Stop it! Stop it Keshinro!” A tear drop slided down her smooth brown face, “I can’t do this anymore. I… I just can’t,” She cut the call and placed a hand over her mouth in order to block the sound of her sobs.
She staggered to her feet, pushed her chair aside and dashed out of the office. She didn’t stop running until she got to the restroom. She locked herself up in one of the toilets and released the torrent of tears that had gathered.
‘Oh God! Oh God! When will this end? This man is driving me nuts. Get him out of my life Lord. Get him out… ’ she prayed within her.
********
“Is that girl okay?” Kemisola asked no one in particular.




Adaeze shrugged, “She probably had an argument with whoever called her.”
Oyetunde returned his attention to his system. He wasn’t interested in whatever was wrong with Promise. She could sort herself out. It was none of his business.
Boma felt greatly disturbed. Something was going on. He could feel it in his bones. Whatever it was, it had unsettled Promise. She had become distant over the last few days and her daily to-do at work was unsatisfactory. It was only a matter of time before their boss pounced on her. He hoped it won’t earn her a suspension. He wished she would open up to him. Why did she withdrew from him?