Incompatible…
AARON ANSAH-AGYEMAN
INCOMPATIBLE
A ChrisEffe Thriller
CHAPTER 12
Through the driving-mirror, Effe saw that Chris was dressed in one of his favourite combinations of dark trousers, navy blue shirt and dark knotted tie. He was running hard toward the van, looking very agitated and flustered, shouting and waving his arms widly.
Effe looked at him with sad eyes, and for a moment she felt a painful stab in her heart. She knew Chris was highly unpredictable and could go to the extreme, and she knew what he was capable of, but this time it seemed just a bit too extreme to see him chasing after the speeding van, and for a brief moment she almost told Steve to stop.
Effe turned and looked through the back windshield.
She saw Eyram and Baaba looking out and screaming with laughter.
“Effe, come and see your Chris-Love chasing the van!” Eyram said as she clapped her hands, and Baaba fell back with uncontrollable laughter choking her.
“Oh, dearest Lord, jealousy will kill this boy one of these days!” Baaba said.
Wachipa stood up and watched Chris Bawa still chasing the van, shouting and waving his arms. He shook his head as he chuckled softly and sat down, glancing at Jonathan Afful, who was the only one still sitting in his seat with his eyes shut, the expression on his face almost pained.
“What’s wrong with your friend?” Wachipa asked softly. “His obsessive bullshit is now close to madness. Jeez, man, how could he possibly chase a speeding van simply because a man wants a date with his girlfriend?”
“Shut up, Chipa,” Jonathan Afful said softly without opening his eyes.
Effe turned around, leaned back in her seat and closed her eyes tightly.
“Hey,” Steve said, reaching across to squeeze her hand. “Are you okay?”
She nodded without speaking, and then she leaned forward and peered through her side of the driving mirror.
She saw Chris in the middle of the street breathing hard, sweat pouring off his face as he watched the luxurious car taking his Effe away.
“Chris,” Effe whispered tremulously. “You’re driving me insane! I can’t stand this behaviour of yours anymore!”
Thankfully, Steve turned a bend in the street, and she couldn’t see Chris’ dejected figure anymore.
Suddenly, the image of Chris standing all alone in the street panting for breath as he stared after the speeding van slammed into Effe’s heart, giving her a sudden feeling of guilt and misery. She sighed heavily and rummaged her phone out of her bag.
“I don’t think you should do that,” Steve Hollison said, and when she looked at him, she saw that his face was calm and serious. “From the little I have seen of your boyfriend, and from the descriptive image you gave me, he appears to be a highly insecure guy. Basically, he does not want you to have your personal space, and that kills more relationships than infidelity.”
“What are you driving at, Steve?? Effe asked sadly.
“You need to make him respect your privacy, Effe, as painful as it may be,” he said quietly. “If you really want to be happy, then you have to teach him to accept that part of you. You don’t have to cut corners and make accommodations for his extremities. It should be non-negotiable otherwise he would stifle the life out of you with his obsessiveness and silly jealousies.”
She nodded, but it was evident that she was in pain.
“I haven’t really seen him like this,” she said unhappily. “Chasing after a car? That’s so pathetic and I hate myself for doing that to him.”
“Painful, yes, but at least it will teach him to accept you as you are, my dear,” Steve said with a reassuring smile, and then reached over to squeeze her hand.
Effe sighed again and then deactivated her phone from flight mode.
Immediately text and social media messages came flooding in. And then, predictably, Chris’ call came through. She chuckled and showed the screen to Steve, who smiled and shook his head once.
“Wanna pick it?” he asked.
“Yes,” Effe responded. “He must be hurting, you know, and desperate. I want to cool him down a bit,” she replied.
“Effe Kedem, do not answer that call!” Baaba Brookes shouted. “If you let that boyfriend of yours ruin this night for us, I’ll never forgive you!”
“Don’t pick it, Ef!” Eyram shouted. “He’ll be fine! These jealous pangs are becoming too horrific, and you mustn’t let him blackmail you like this!”
The call ended, and then Effe slid her settings panel downward and put her phone on flight mode again, but her expression was still pained, and it was evident that she was still undecided about speaking to Chris.
Her melancholic mood persisted until they got to the harbour, and even through the speedboat ride to the cruiser ship. However, as soon as she climbed up to the deck of the ship, she soon forgot temporarily about Chris’ absurd behaviour.
***
The ship was a thing of beauty, from the luxurious game tables, eateries, dining and dancing halls, entertaining sections and the lounging areas. She moved from one place to the next with a beaming and charming Steve by her side.
Steve was a constant fun element, anticipating her needs and merging them with his such that it seemed they had the same thoughts and feelings. It was uncanny, this mutual affinity of theirs that made it seem like they had known each other for years.
He made her laugh, and he made her happy.
Their hosts were charming, and the interracial mingling of European, American, Asian and African was an experience to savour, and Effe enjoyed every bit of it.
The hours flew in a blur. The highlight of the evening was probably a bow and arrow competition where the victor stood to win a beautiful diamond necklace for his partner. Effe was amazed by Steve’s incredible skill with a bow and arrow. She shouted and clapped as he breezed through to the final, and won the competition with an unbelievable bull’s eye shot to beat his opponent.
There was great applause when he was called to the podium and he took Effe’s arm and walked with her. He was presented with the necklace which he promptly tried to put around Effe’s neck. Her eyes opened with shock as she stepped back, shaking her head slightly.
“Steve!” she whispered, aghast. “That is a very valuable necklace! Surely, you should give it to someone more deserving. A mother, sister, special girlfriend!”
“Mother is dead, and I’m an only child,” he said with a smile. “As for the girlfriend category, I told you I closed that department a year ago. And you’re my partner tonight. You’re so beautiful, and this necklace fits your eyes perfectly.”
She was still a bit sceptical.
“Steve, I –” she began uncertainly.
He stepped close and took her in his arms, and then he slipped the necklace around her neck, turned her around, and snapped the clasp close.
There was more applause as she turned again and hugged him, and he planted a fond peck on her right cheek.
There was dinner and then dancing afterward.
She danced with Steve for a long time.
Effe loved dancing, but Chris had never been a fan of dancing. Steve, however, was an adept dancer, and she loved every bit of their time on the dance floor.
“Your archery was magnificent!” Effe said dreamily. “Didn’t expect you to be that good.”
“My grandfather was the best archer I ever had the privilege to meet,” he said with a beautiful reflective smile. “I won a gold medal in the Olympics for Ghana, junior category. Incidentally, it is the only Olympic gold medal Ghana has in archery.”
She put her hands together in silent applause for him, and they both laughed happily.
Later, relaxing on the deck with glasses of wine and looking at the stars and watching the waves lapping gently against the ships, casting beautiful frothy tops on the sea, Effe told herself that she had never had such a wonderful time.
“Thanks for tonight, Steve,” she said with a demure smile. “It has been a magical night.”
“To be sealed with a kiss?” he asked softly, and he wasn’t smiling.
His handsome face held a serious expression, and Effe laughed nervously.
“No, so sorry,” she said gently. “I haven’t kissed any other man except my guy, Chris. I see it as cheating, in a way.”
He sighed, and it was evident that he was not quite thrilled with her answer. He took a sip of his drink, and then he smiled down at her with a strange expression on his face.
“Effe Kedem,” he said quietly. “If I had known you were such a unique creation, the most beautiful woman God ever created, the most charming angel and so much fun to be with, I wouldn’t have waited so long responding to my father’s call to meet you. You’re affecting this heart, Effe, and I’m not ashamed to admit that.”
She smiled up at him and touched his arm.
“I’m glad your heart is beginning to beat again, Steve,” she said gently. “I’m sure you’ll find somebody worthy of your heart. You’re indeed a charming person, and I love every minute I spend with you. Unfortunately, my heart beats for somebody else.”
“Really?” he said softly. “But you chose my company over this evening instead of him, Effe, and that tells me that maybe, by some miracle I quite can’t see now, the two of us could be sailing a serene ocean together.”
She scowled slightly, looking troubled, but she didn’t say anything again for a long time.
Much later, when they were driving back home, Baaba poked her head between them and spoke in an awed voice.
“This has been a most wonderful experience for me, Stevie!” she said, exhilarated. “This is the guy you must love and marry, Effe! You’ll never have such happiness with Chris!”
“And I concur to that!” Eyram said in an excited voice from the back. “He’s the man, Ef, my dearest sister! This is the perfect man to complete our circle and not that morose Chris Bawa!”
Steve laughed in his rich, wonderful voice.
“Thanks, girls,” he said happily. “I do believe that this wonderful lady has indeed touched a wonderful spot in my heart! I’ll need all the help to win her love!”
“Count us in, pal,” Wachipa said, sounding a little drunk. “We want you rolling with us, man. Fuck Chris.”
[insert-comment-form] Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2019 Aaron Ansah-Agyeman
Hmmm Effe u are going to regret this…I tell u Eyeram n Baaba I reserve my comment for now….Wachipa u see ur life I don’t blame u…as soon as u got the chance u are drank chaii
Can someone tell Effe that life is not all about fun?
She’s giving me headache
Wachipa antorbro…..( Wachipa talking from the product of drinking alcohol he didnt buy with his own cash)
Hmmmmm…
If Steve fit ur world then plss go for him and stop hurting my Chris …
Is it a crime to love?
Effe wob3gye w’eni so oooo
I’m really really really really really really really sad
Madam be decisive, if u don’t love the guy let him go cos ure killing him emotionally.
Hmmmm, Chris abr3 wai
Kw333, Effe got guts
Why is it that when she finished maltreating the guy then she pretends to regret her actions????
After all her superiority pomposity, Effe is so indecisive that others had to dictate to her as to whether she shd pick CB’s call or not?. The only positive thing Effe did that whole night was her refusal to accept Steve’s kiss, ba me thinks it’s just a matter of time, now that I know she’s that indecisive!.
Can she overcome the pressure within her circles to accept Steve’s love overtures?. Smdh!.