OPEN UP 2

Lola looks at him and noticed he was already looking so down and unhappy, but she decides not to comfort him so as not to switch the topic. It would be better if she tells him everything at once. "After all, I managed to finish college and graduate with a very good grade. My mom made sure that happened."

"She would have been the happiest woman on earth that day."

"You could tell." Lola smiles. "I met my husband one day when I went for a job interview."

The word husband made Malik very annoyed. "Why are you cheating on your so called husband?"

"When I met Judin, he talked to me about love. I never had any sort of feelings for him but, I chose to go out with him because he is rich and i thought of it as an opportunity to get me and my family from the debts we are owing."

"So you married him because of his money?"

"Yes I did." Lola answers.

"I guess that is the reason you cheat on h then."

"No!" She retorts.

"Then why else did you have those extra marital affairs?"

"When I met husband, I changed my family lives for the better just as I had aimed. As a matter of fact I was able to own some assets under my name. I have been married to him for 16 years and we have been only intimate five times."

"What?" Malik scoffs and looks at her. "I hope you are not expecting me to believe that lie you just made up."

Lola looks at him too and they lock eyes. "I swear on my mother's name, I am telling you nothing but the truth."

"So, you are telling me that your husband has only touch you five times in sixteen years?"

"Yes." Lola nods. "After all, I am human too, I have feelings too. Anytime I try to raise the topic with him, he turns it too a big quarrel. So I had no choice than to engage myself in those acts."

"How many kids do you have?" Malik asks with his eyes still locked with hers.

"I have two of them."

"Are you sure they are his?"

"Of course, I am a hundred and one percent sure of that. I got involved in the extra marital affairs after I had birthed the both of them." She sighs. "I never want my children to find out about this."

"They will never find out." Malik says and finally smiles at her again.

That smile means a lot to her, after all the frowns and cold attitude, he is finally smiling at her. "Today, I found out something very bad that almost killed me but I survived. I don't know how, but I just survived."

"What is that? What happened?"

"I found out that my husband married me because of something too."

"I don't understand you." Malik says confused.

"I have a political ambition, that I have always try to work towards. My current job as a school principal is all for that political spot. This morning I had a minor argument with him and I said 'I pray our daughter never meets a man like him.' He retorts back and says he never prays our son get involves with a woman like me too, he furthers and said he is aware that i married him because of money."

"Seriously?" He said that?"

"Yes." Lola nods. "The damaging thing he said was that, he didn't marry me because of love too, he is only with me because of my political ambition. As soon as I get the position, he would use my influence on his businesses and investments."

"Your husband married you for your political ambition? he really settled with a woman because of something that would take place in like after 20 years?" Malik asks again.

"When I asked for a divorce, he asked me who was going to sponsor my political campaign?"

"Was that a threat sort of?" Malik ask and scoffs. "Your husband is an animal."

"I left the house trying to avoid any more conversation, but I forgot my cell phone. Immediately I realized that, I drove back to pick it up and on my matrimonial bed was my husband and the maid making out."

"Your husband is so unbelievable, so he means he loves the maid or what?" Malik asks with a tone of disappointment.

"What made me feel so bad was that the maid didn't even feel remorseful or sorry, she just lay on the bed looking at me and acting so unconcerned about my presence."

"Don't expect any form of respect from her, you both are sharing the same man. What sort of the respect do you expect from someone like that?" He asks again.

"I wonder how I would face my husband and the maid when I get home." She says sounding very sad.

"Which home are you referring to? You call they jungle a home?"

"But where else would I go to?" Lola asks.

"You can stay here."

Lola couldn't believe what she just heard, Malik did really considered her and never tried to judge her. According to what he was portraying, he really cares deeply for her. "Will you be comfortable?"

"It would make me feel better if you stay here." Malik whispers.

"Thank you." Lola moves closer to him and embraces him tightly. "I really appreciate everything you've done for me."

"I am always here for you." Malik replies and draws apart from her. "Promise me one thing."

"What is that?"

"I will be glad if you can do it for me."

"What is that?" Lola asks again. "Tell me anything you want, if it's what I can do, I will do it."

"Cut all ties with those boys you are going out with."

"Is that what you want?"

"Yes." Malik nods. "Can you do that for me?"

"Sure, I will stay away from all those shameful acts, I promise you that." Lola promises.

"Thank you." Malik says with a smile. "We have two issues at hand, which one do you want us to attend to first?"