Chapter Four

Felix wipes the tears from his eyes. He could not believe that Gift could do such a thing as this to him. Where had he gone wrong? He had given her all the love she could possibly ask for. And this was how she paid him back?

Felix recalled how his life had been before he met Gift.

He had been introduced to sex at a very early age in life. He had always been handsome and tall. So tall that he was thought to be older then his age.

His charisma, fun loving attitude and goodlooks endeared him to everyone young and old, men and women alike. But it specially got older women interested in him such that most times, he would be invited to spend the weekends with them.

So he ended up spending each weekend, not at home, the home of his parents that is, but in the homes and beds of different women friends of his.

His studies suffered because, the women would not let him be and dividing his attention between his books and his women was a not so easy a task. Furthermore, having tasted the forbidden fruit, he got a taste for it that he then found it impossible resisting any girl he came across. Any girl he met just had to be his except if he didn't take a fancy to her.

In college, he had numerous girlfriends and lovers of different ages.

In church, the story was not far different as majority of the female choresters were his.except those who are truely moral.

The girls and women often fought themselves over his attention and time and he often watched on smiling. It could be seen that he enjoyed all the attention.

Whenever he would go on such weekend trips, he would tell his parents that his school father Pascal, who they knew very well as a responsible man had sent for him so they could study together. Though his studies suffered, the ladies, his women friends ensured that he lacked nothing financially and materially.

From these women who were older than he, he learnt alot in the act of lovemaking. He became very skilled at satisfying a woman. He learnt of all the erotic zones of women and how to manipulate these zones to heighten the pleasure of his partners.

That was before Gift had come into his life. Gift had seemed like a very good level headed and faithful kind of girl. If there had been any one who was unfaithful, he- Felix- was the one. Though he had not been faithful to Gift when the story of their love began, he had made sure that he kept the promise he made her by making her, THE girlfriend and not just one of his numerous girlfriends.

He remembered the first time he saw her he had been smitten and could not help himself. He did not know it then but that meeting was to mark a turning point in his life. He was to learn the difference between love and plain desire. But it would seem that that dream of having Gift by his side for keeps was not going to be fulfilled going by the pain in his heart and the tears in his eyes.

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Felix was heartbroken. Gift had actually asked him what he would do after owing up to being unfaithful to him in his hour of need. A time she was supposed to support him, she had deserted him. He could not believe it. He would have felt it was all a nightmare except that he could feel his heart shatter into a million pieces over and over again as he remembered how Gift had entered her compound without a backward glance. The pain had been to much.

Admittedly he had not been the most faithful of fiancee to her but he had made sure other girls knew their place in his life so there wouldn't be any misunderstandings. He had in a sense been faithful to her, made her the queen of his life, tolerated alot of things from her, fulfilled his promise to make her THE girlfriend and even went further than that to not just propose but to begin the proceedings for their wedding. Where had he got it wrong then? ' What exactly did she see in Samuel?'he asked himself.'What does he have that I don't?, Could money be the cause?

Sam may own a drug store but he was not very rich and he was an ugly, illiterate man who could not compare to him yet he had succeeded in winning Gift over. There must be something special about him then that people may not know about. Felix considered. The next day, Felix tried to get Gift to speak to him. He decided that if Gift would apologize to him he would forgive her without another thought but Gift did not want to give him the time of day. ' I knew you could do nothing,' she said,' I have told you the rumours are true and that I am doing exactly what you heard of me and I have no regrets.

Don't you have exams to study for?' she asked.'We were engaged to be married Gift. Why did you do this?What would you have me do?' Do whatever you deem fit but leave me to live my life as I see fit. Thank you! If you still come tomorrow, my answer will still be the same so don't bother. It will just be a waste of your precious time'. With that she turned on her heels and left Felix still standing there. The pain became unbearable that Felix felt that if he did not get a hold on himself, he could collapse. Tears rolled down his eyes. He looked up to the heavens and asked God for help. ' Oh God, tear this girl away from my heart. From this instance she no longer exist for me'. He felt lighter as he went home. Alot of people mocked him his loss but the humiliation of his inability to keep the girl he wanted to marry was nothing compared to the pain and hurt Gift had caused him. He buried himself in his book and read like a mad man. He ignored all the other girls. He lost interest in them all. He felt he could not trust women anymore. He was determined to make it and tried, though it wasn't easy ,to take life challenges-iin this case, his heart break--in his stride.