HELEN

Helen intentionally did not kill Eddy. It had been a week now since she confronted Eddy with his side chick. She was hurt and knew Eddy deserved more than a broken head, but the highest she could do was the scar she gave to him. She heard Eddy had ran off with her car she bought for him. She refused going out since then and ate only when her friends came around.

Her friends now took duty in checking up on her. If Robbin came today, the next day was Laycon visiting. They kept on reminding her about their planned picnic the next month to ease her pains. She was relaxed each moment she thought of her private picnic with her friends. Helen though reduced drastically in weight, her friends remained her tonic and drive towards life. Her parents had tried making her happy but their plans never worked on her. She could hear Charles voice from downstairs, she wondered what he was doing in her house so early.

"Hello from the other side", Charles teased Helen as he walked into her room. "How are you feeling ", he asked. " Not bad, am i safe this one you came this early, it's just 7a.m, did you have a fight with your babe", she asked him faking worried face.

"Fight? No, why should we fight? ", seeing her mood was changing at the sound of why he and his girlfriend should fight, he changed the conversation. " Anyways, I came to borrow money from you, and its okay if you say no, just have some debts on my neck to pay for ", Charles admiringly eyed her.

"How much are we talking about here Charles? " she asked.

" One million, I promise to pay back month end", he defensively answered.

"No, don't worry, no refunds, I will give you 1.5million, let me give you now ",she replied as she got her cheque book from her side stool.

"Wow, thank you so much Helen, what can I do without you", he excitedly replied her. He stayed for an extra hour with Helen before leaving.

***

"Have you set up another plan", a deep voice from the call asked.

"Yes", Charles soft voice replied, "She should be having a new date sooner than she thinks ", he immediately asked.

" She wont know what's coming at her, she should not know what hit her, if she feels she can buy everything with her wealth, let's see what becomes of her without a man in her life", the deep voice confidently replied.

"Not to be worried", everything is handled, just do your part, be at the picnic",immediately,Charles switched off the phone and drove off.

***

Helen sat at the bed figuring out her next move her two brothers were out as usual playing golf, parents had gone out on a date for two days now, she was not worried for she knew they could handle themselves. She was 23, she definitely needed a house on her own, though she knew she could occupy the one given to Eddy, but memories were what she was running from.

She could remember the surprise look on Eddy's face when she had caught them both, she remembered that defiance look, like he was right to cheat. Helen wished everything could be different for her, her friends were married and she was the one left out. She didn't want any guy after her money, she wanted a guy who can woo her even without money. She did not even want a handsome person, even if he was ugly, she still would not mind. While having this contemplations, the sound of her phone brought her back to the present. It was her alarm for her gyming class, she immediately got up and went in to shower. Thirty minutes she was all set, rushed for her car keys, but on a second thought dropped it back, she would race to the place and if tired she would take a cab, she thought and left for her class.

She started jogging from the gate, not minding the noise for she was on earpiece. Helen's family stayed at Lagos, one of the most busy states in Nigeria and a place where she would never want to reside. Her father had two houses in Lagos, one at lekki phase1 and the other at Allen Avenue, Ikeja. They stayed at the house in Ikeja while the other was rented out. Helen noticing she was in a crowded environment decided to increase her pace not noticing the crawling child at her front, trying to avoid hitting the child she used her shoulder to hit another, she was so scared for the child and hoped he was alright, thank God moving vehicles were not around.

That moment she remembered she had hit someone instead, looking up she saw a figure that made her heart skip, she could not tell how hearts skip but this time, she was so sure her heart had skipped and for a second she tried catching her breath for she noticed his left hand was on her shoulder and his right hand on her waist, like he was trying to prevent a fall. He was fair in complexion with the body of an athlete,he was handsome and had the smile of sailor. She felt his wet hands behind her which shook her into reality.

"Sorry,watch your step young lady before you hurt yourself"he immediately said

"Am so sorry I guess it's due to stress",she tried smiling though found herself alittle shaky.

"Stress? This morning? Well,I will advice you quit jogging out till you get yourself back together Mrs.....?"

"Helen, thanks for your kind gesture,I should be on my way now", She stated as she avoided letting him know she was single.

Seeing,he was looking through her for an evidence of marriage,she immediately walked passed him.

"Ummmm....Helen? Sorry if my words offended,I am Michael,pleased to meet you",he smiled

"Same here," she ran off without looking back.

***

She just started the gymning class with full expectations her wild thoughts about Eddy would die. She noticed she was thirty mins early for the class,seeing about five people sitting inside she decided to relax but avoided any form of interactions with them. She still felt his hands behind her,his scent still hovered around her,the picture of his smile showed clearly in her head. She wondered why a mere stranger who she mistakenly bumped into her should have her thinking about him.

Just as she was about picking a song on her to change her thoughts, she saw him,still on his work tracks,he was standing just at the door. Just immediately he faced Helen's direction,Helen looked down hoping she was not caught staring at him or seen at all.

All through the classes she made sure she stayed hidden as a spirit. She didn't like the feeling and felt unsecured. She saw herself admiring his body,he looked like an athlete and didn't look like a student in the gymning class,he looked like....ohh God pls let it not be. Thoughts suddenly rumbled into her head.

"Today, we going to be learn thrusting forward and backward with your knee while you use your two hands on the floor to support it". The voice which disturbed her thoughts sounded familiar and was forced to look up to see and just immediately their eyes met,seeing he was smiling at her with apologetic eyes she immediately turned her face away shyly. She could not believe she really had to cope with this smiling guy till the class was over,she had forgotten her instructor had stated in the last class that he would be travelling and so would have a replacement to take over.

Helen found herself blushing every minute she turned to look at his direction. The last thing she wanted was a feeling for this guy when she had not even gotten over her last breakup.

"Okay guys,we got to do this like push ups but not entirely,but your two hands should both be as standby on the ground,your left leg should be stretched outward while you try to stand with it,bringing your right leg forward and backward. Now can we try it out."

Helen was trying to compose herself,she was trying to act at her best,she wasn't going to show how weak she was, attitude was all she was going to give him,both outside the gymning class and inside. She could see he was an excellent instructor but was not going to fall for that.

Today's exercise was not as difficult as her old instructor was,maybe it was because it was his first day. She thought.

"Helen,I can see you are doing yours excellently,can you come and show the rest of us",he stretched his hand at her. She was taken aback upon hearing her name called and more shocked as to how he got to know her name. "No,thank you," she immediately replied trying to hide her blush. "It was not a request Helen". Immediately she knew she could not argue anymore and reluctantly got up.

She felt embarrassed coming out,but had no choice,she would prove him wrong. For the next thirty minutes she saw herself instructing the women and even some new moves and didn't take note that the new instructor was watching her admiringly.

****

"Damn,she is beautiful and too bold",he said to himself. He had intentionally hit her while she was doing work out earlier,he wanted her attention. She always took that route and planned that one day she would notice him,but she didn't,he had to bring in a plan which worked luckily.

Now here she was doing exercises at his front. He knew she had a boyfriend but needed to be sure before telling her his intentions. He could no longer concerntrate in his class and he could not stop stealing a glimpse at her. Just immediately he rounded up the class he was already behind her,while she was greeting her friends. The minute she turned he could see how shocked she was and taken aback.

***

She could see him at the front of the class. It had already ended and so was relieved she could escape. After greeting her colleagues she made way to escape,but was startled he was just behind her and got nowhere to escape.

"Ughhhh....you are blocking my way",she stated immediately, "Oh yeah I know that,I am Jason,and you are...?" " Mind your business" she said as she tried walking past but was blocked by him again. "Sorry,but I cannot let you go,till I got your name." "So we sleep here then she immediately went back to chat up with her friends.