My sister’s happiness is hanging in the balance because of a one night stand

It was the evening of our Passing out Parade (POP) in Kaduna, so in excitement, some of my friends and I decided to go and celebrate the end of our compulsory one year National Youth Service in one of the popular night clubs in Barnawa.

We danced and drank until the early hours of the day. When I got tired, I decided to sit at the bar and have a quiet drink alone when I heard this bass male voice behind me “Hey pretty lady why are you drinking all by yourself? By the way, my name is Charles, what is yours?” I turned around to see who the man was and I saw a dark, tall, handsome gentleman.

 I didn’t want to tell him my real name so I said, “My name is Joyce and I drink alone because I feel like it,” I answered. “I am sure you are one of the corps members who passed out today. Isn’t it?” he asked. “Yes, I am and I am so happy that it is all over,” I affirmed.

We chatted for a while before hitting the dance floor and I must confess, he was a good dancer. He told me that he lived in Lagos but was only in Kaduna for his friends wedding and would be returning to Lagos in three days. I also told him I lived in Delta State with my parents but will be relocating to Lagos to start living with my elder sister. Anyway, one thing led to the other and before we knew it, we ended up in his hotel room. However, before leaving, he gave me his complimentary card but I informed him that I will have no need for it since it was just a one night stand.

He revealed that although he had known me for just a few hours, he had come to like my kind of person and wished that we could see in Lagos and spend quality time together again before he finally ties the knot. I told him I was not interested because I was in a serious relationship. He gave me N10,000 and we bid each other goodbye. In order not to contact each other again, I refused to give him my phone number when he asked for it.

I left Kaduna the next day for Lagos and when I arrived, I was so excited to see my elder sister, Sheila, because we had not seen in almost a year. Although we usually talked on the phone and she informed me that she will soon be getting married to this handsome dude, I was so curious to meet him. “Sister Sheila, so when can I meet my brother-in-law-to-be?” I asked. “You have to be patient Immaculate. He travelled out of Lagos, he should be back in the next two or three days,” Sheila emphasised. “I can’t wait to meet the man who finally won your heart, sis,” I stressed. Everything was going on well until Charles showed up at Sheila’s doorstep four days later.

Sheila and I were having dinner when we heard the doorbell ring. I wanted to get to the door but she asked me not to worry. The next thing I heard was, “Hello sweetheart, welcome back from your trip. I missed you. Come in and join us for dinner,” Sheila said. “Join us for dinner? Who is here with you?” the man asked. She told him not to worry or try guessing until he gets to the dining table.

“Sweetheart, meet my younger sister, Immaculate. Immaculate meet Gomez, my fiancée,” she introduced. Of course, we were both surprised to meet again. My reaction almost gave me out but I had to control myself. “Gomez, it is finally a pleasure to meet the man who stole the heart of my sister,” I stuttered. “Same here, your sister had told me a lot about you,” Gomez said. While we all ate dinner together, what kept playing in my head was how I and ‘Charles’ or is it Gomez met in Kaduna and how we lied to each other about our names. Immediately Sheila left for the kitchen, he told me we needed to sit down and talk. He quickly slipped his complimentary card into my hands and pleaded with me to give me a call.

I gave him a call two days later and we agreed to meet in a hotel. On getting there, I thought Gomez wanted to plead with me not to mention a word to Sheila about what happened between us in Kaduna but instead, he told me he had not been able to take me off his mind no matter how hard he tried and prayed that we should meet someday. “God brought you back to me my darling. I have fallen in love with you. Yes, I know it was just a one night stand but I have not been able to take you off my mind. Immaculate, you are the woman of my dreams,” he stressed. “I’m sorry but I made it clear that I don’t want to have anything to do with you. So, please forget about me and think about my sister, Sheila, and your forthcoming wedding,” I retorted. “I don’t know if you believe in love at first sight because I fell in love with you right from the time I saw you at the club. Seeing you again has given me a second thought about not going ahead with the wedding,” he stressed. “What did you just say? If it is a joke please stop it. My sister loves you; you must not let her down. What excuse will you give to her?” I questioned. “Well, I don’t know yet but you are the one I want,” Gomez stressed. “The only condition I will marry your sister is if you agree to have an affair with me. I will give you time to think about it,” he said. “You must be out of your senses, Gomez,” I said angrily. Immediately, I left the hotel room in anger.

But as the days went by, I realised that I was falling in love with him too. Gomez’s visit to Sheila’s house became frequent all because he wanted to see me. However, Sheila thought he was coming because of her. She became so blind to notice it because she was madly in love with him.

It is just a few weeks to their wedding and Gomez has reminded me about what he discussed with me about having an affair with him if I still want him to marry my sister, Sheila. The truth is that I am already falling in love with him too but I don’t want to hurt my sister. Do I bulge so that Gomez could marry my sister, Sheila? Do I tell my sister the truth so that she will know the kind of man Gomez really is? Will he even make her happy if he eventually marries her if I give in? I don’t know how to handle this situation.