Suigeneris93:
Cc: Cornerstone001, this one is ongoing. Happy reading

.............

Oh, thank you dear, I'm here, many thanks

How was your night?

Suigeneris93:
Cc: Cornerstone001, this one is ongoing. Happy reading

.............

Oh, many thanks you dear, I'm here, many thanks

How was your night?

Nice story... Thumbs up ma'am @Suigeneris


Following keenly...

nyc one nd tnx for d update

#following

Still following in ghost mode

Cornerstone001:


Oh, many thanks you dear, I'm here, many thanks

How was your night?

Good evening dear, I didn't see your earlier comment.

My day went well, I hope yours did too

SweetieConstie:
Nice story... Thumbs up ma'am @Suigeneris

Following keenly...

Thanks dear, welcome

Be Killing us with these wtiteups ooo It's tha bomb, #Following!!

iamkingzlee:
Be Killing us with these wtiteups ooo It's tha bomb, #Following!!

Thanks dear

Suigeneris93:


Good evening dear, I didn't see your earlier comment.

My day went well, I hope yours did too

Yeah, Very well.
Thanks

Seye in honest illusion and guilty pleasures, are they d same character? Is the story line of guilty pleasures seye's life b4 he got born again (in honest illusion)? Great work i must say.

Jesusgirl92:
Seye in honest illusion and guilty pleasures, are they d same character? Is the story line of guilty pleasures seye's life b4 he got born again (in honest illusion)? Great work i must say.

Indeed they are, thanks Jesusgirl!

Episode 8

The tense atmosphere that pervaded the house after Seye's revelations was still present two weeks later. Seye and his father had said little to each other but civil greetings whenever they'd run into each other in the house. Seye could no longer put up pretenses of his sexuality before his father and soon he began to bring his 'friends' home.

There were still no talks of whether he would continue his education in another school since he had been rusticated from school as punishment. He had been lucky not to face criminal charges because he was a first-time offender. His father had also pleaded earnestly with the boys parents as he had only made advances at him and not physically indulged in the act with him. However, the school had been adamant about letting him into their doors again.

Seye couldn't care either way. He never had so much interest in school anyways, seeing as he was given to flights of fantasy while classes were going on so he hardly paid any attention. His results in the UK were worse than in Nigeria because Aunty Candy could never condone a nonchalant attitude towards his education. He often felt his father only cared about fulfilling his primary obligations.

One evening, after he had escorted his latest boyfriend, Julius, who preferred to be called 'Jules', to the underground train station and got back home, his father called him to his study for a talk. Seye was disinterested in whatever he had to say but he sat before him in his library for the 'talk'.

"I found your revelations the other day, astounding to say the least," his father began. "I had absolutely no idea of what you'd been through and I know this may sound inadequate by way of an apology, but I'm so sorry for all I put you through...w-what you suffered in the hands of James. I had no idea leaving you in Candy's care would produce such disastrous results because I thought I was doing the right thing__"

"For who? Me or you?" Seye cut in and sucked his teeth.

"I'm sorry Seye, I can never turn back the hands of time to change things. If I could, I would have brought your mother back because s-she was always the better parent. I__"

"I agree with you, your apology not only sounds inadequate but clichéd as well," Seye rose up to go.

"Sit down son," his father said. "I'm not finished."

He waited for Seye's defiant stance to settle and for him to return to his seat before he continued.

"Like I said, I cannot unwind the hands of time and undo all the things that has happened. So all I ask is that we move forward and past all this," he paused and regarded Seye warily. "I am not in support of your gay lifestyle and obvious flagrant disregard for decorum in conducting your affairs so I ask you. No I need you__"

"Go to hell," Seye said coolly rising up to his feet.

"Don't you dare talk to me like that. I'm...I'm..."

"You're what? You can't even say it. You aren't anybody's father. You don't even know what it means to be a father," Seye said and walked away from him. He made it to the library's door before turning to look back at him and add, "You don't need to bother yourself about how I conduct my affairs anymore because I'm leaving your house tomorrow. Have a nice life, old man."




(To be contd)

Episode 9
Every pain has its scars

One year later

Seye had difficulty walking on his own two feet because they felt light and rubbery so he staggered. His latest boyfriend, Doyle was beside him, supporting his full weight with his body as he walked him back home. Seye had had one of his binges today, drinking as much as he could, although, he was knew that by the morrow, he would be worse for the wear. Luckily for him, the pub wasn't far from his home, so his companion wouldn't have to hold him much longer from stumbling.

They got to the front of the tenement building where he stayed and Seye did a double take. Standing before him in doubles was the one person he least expected to see again; even Doyle's strong arms couldn't stop him from falling into unconsciousness.

*****
Sunrise. The image came into focus and it was exactly what Seye's flashes of recollection projected. The concerned face on the chair beside the bed was the familiar features of his aunt, Aunt Candy.

"How are you doing dear?" She asked.

"What are you doing here?" Seye blinked his eyes, trying to adjust to the bright sunlight that streamed through the windows. "Where's Doyle?"

"He has gone home. I told him not to bother staying over that I would take care of you."

Seye snorted and got up but a splitting migraine nearly tripped him on his feet.

"There's some aspirin and water on your bedside drawer," she informed him.

He reached out for it blindly, muttering an almost inaudible thanks and gulped down the tablets with water. He sat back on his bed and regarded his aunt, the only real mother he had ever had. "You didn't answer my question Aunty Candy, what are you doing here?"

If she saw his hostile stance and heard his surly tone, she didn't budge. Instead she stared at him, a small smile tugging her lips. He felt uncomfortable and twitched at her perusing gaze. After a few more seconds he cleared his throat to break the silence and remind her that she was staring.

"I can't believe its been only three years, with your sideburns and body build, if I'd seen you on the streets I'd have passed by you without recognizing you," she said softly.

He had spent a lot of sweat and time in the gym trying to build his muscles and quite a fortune on creams to grow full beards even as a teenager. He wanted to look like a man so no one would take him for a wuss or run roughshod over him. Only problem was, even with all the muscular look and brawn, Seye still felt he was a wuss.

He cleared his throat again, "You don't look bad yourself," he admitted begrudgingly and it was true. His aunt looked a lot younger and happier than he had ever seen her. Well, being the widow of James Richards did have its perks, he thought.

"I-I called your father to tell him I would be coming to London for some small shopping and he told me what happened," she took in a deep breath and exhaled, "I'm so sorry for the silence, for waiting for this long to reach out Seye...I was_"

"Ashamed? Like my father huh?"

"No my dear, I wasn't. I was bitter at myself because it was all my fault."

Seye frowned, confused as he regarded his aunt. "I-I don't understand."

"I-I suspected James was bisexual before we got married and confirmed it one year after we got married. I-I caught him with another man but I was too scared, too ashamed of what everyone would say or think that I kept a blind eye on his activities. I knew he was bi before you came to live with us."



(To be contd)

Suigeneris93!...God is watching u!...so na when the story don sweet lyk this nai u wan take keep us on suspense shey?...#issorite!...

Edezz:
Suigen eris93!...God is watching u!...so na when the story don sweet lyk this nai u wan take keep us on suspense shey?...#issorite!...

Abeg no fes
I'll try to minimize the suspense

Episode 10


He gave a short, mirthless laugh. "I thought so. Years ago, I never could accept that you were totally in the dark concerning James' activities. But you know what Auntie? I could never blame you for any of the things that happened because you did so much for me, much more than anyone else had ever done for me and I saw what James did to you. The hell he put you through with his irresponsibility and physical abuse.

The bruises on your face and body you lied to everyone else was an accident but the three of us knew it was really him. How could I ever blame you for what he did knowing fully well that we were both victims of the same devil's incarnate?"

"But I should have done more to protect you," she cried. "I should have stood up more to him. I regret everything he did to you and I regret keeping quiet when it mattered. I owe you my life, if you hadn't butt into the fight when you did, I would probably be the dead one. I owe you my life yet I failed you as a parent. I was so astounded at my failure as a parent that I'd sent you back to your father. I couldn't stand to be reminded of how much I'd failed my late sister. Suzie wouldn't have wanted this for you, she would have wanted better. A lot more better, yet I failed." She finished and began to sob softly.

Seye was very pale. So this was why she had reacted coldly when he had told her of what James had done. Why she had sent him away, she felt guilty?. He got up slowly from the bed and enfolded her in a warm embrace.

"You didn't fail her aunty," he whispered and cleared his throat. "You did far better than anybody ever did, including my own father. You've always been the only real mother I have and will ever have."

Her body was racking with sobs. "My baby, my poor baby," she drew back from him and looked him over. "If I could change it all I would, when I looked at you when your father handed you to me. I vowed fiercely to be the best mother to you, to take care of you like my own. Yet, eighteen years later, you've known so much pain and suffering. Seen how depraved the human mind can be and I hate that." She drew him into a hug again. "I hate that you went through all you went through."

Seye felt real tears escape his eyes as she held him tightly and he sobbed. For so long he thought everyone hated him even his aunt who used to have his back once upon a time. But now this...he had never felt this loved in a while.

"There baby, let it all out. No one should keep in all of that sadness, its not healthy," she soothed.

****

Seye felt a lot better than he had felt in years when he finally waved his aunt goodbye at the train station. She was going back to her hotel in London and from there would round off her shopping and return to Nigeria.

She had told him about the transformation that had taken place in her life recently. After her husband's death she had been a broken woman haunted by her failures and condemned to a life of guilt over what had happened. Until she became born again. She had encountered the Holy Spirit who had transformed her life.

Seye was happy for her but he didn't feel inclined to become born again when she told him about it. He wasn't ready for such commitment yet and she didn't push. She had prayed for him before she left and Seye couldn't believe the rapid tongue speech she had burst into during the prayers. His aunt was speaking in tongues? When she left, he knew the reason she looked changed, she had encountered Jesus.



(To be contd)

Thanks for the update ma'am... Very nice!




I now understand the story perfectly, having read through "Honest Illusions" today...



You're doing a wonderful job, more ink to your pen! Thumbs up!




CC: Suigeneris

Episode 11

Three years later...

She hurried out to the information desk. The elderly woman volunteer sent her to the fourth floor. When she stepped out, she immediately saw Seye sitting in a small waiting room, his head down, his elbows on his legs, his hands against his forehead. She walked up to him slowly. There was no one else in the waiting room. He seemed to sense her presence and lifted his head. His eyes were bloodshot from spilled tears.

"Aunty Candy," he said standing. "Aunty Candy." He threw his arms around her and held her.

"How is he?" She asked stepping back.

He shook his head.

"He's real bad, auntie. He can't even open his eyes. Its like watching a clock tick down. I'm happy you're here," he said, "and I'm sure he will be too. He'll know you are there. You just hold his hand and talk to him like I've been doing and he'll know."

Her chest constricted as she stared into his anguished eyes, he had already lost his mother, losing his dad, despite their differences, should mean such a terrible loss to him. "And how are you Seye?" She asked softly.

"H-horrible," he managed to choke out. "I can't stop blaming myself auntie, if I hadn't been so angry, moved out and refused to reconcile with him all those times he tried to reach out, I'd have been around to help. I'm probably the cause of his heart attack. I gave him so much pain, he'll probably never forgive me." He couldn't stop the tears from streaming down his face. "I-I feel so g-guilty," he said and buried his face in his hands.

Her chest felt so tight, she could barely get enough air into her lungs. She pulled him into a fierce embrace again. "Don't blame yourself Seye, its not your fault. You weren't the cause of his heart attack, he was probably not taking his meds as prescribed."

"But what was the point of everything?" He muttered. "The hatred, anger and bitterness, what was the point of it all? I didn't get a chance to meet mom and grow up under her care but I met dad and messed everything up. I was so blinded by rage and anger, I wished him dead in my heart sometimes. Oh aunty Candy, I'm such an evil person," he wailed.

"Shhh dear," she muttered. "You're not. This is not your fault, it never was," she whispered fiercely.

"But can't you see it is? I wished him dead in my heart and was so close to killing him like I did Uncle James," he muttered darkly, "I'm nothing but a murderer Aunty Candy, an evil, cold-blooded murderer."

*****
She managed to calm him down sufficiently to take her to Michael's room in the ICU. No matter what she had been told, there was no way to anticipate what she would find when Seye led her to Michael's bedside. He looked gaunt and had a large swat of bandage around his head and a cast on his right leg that was suspended mid-air. His eyes were shut tight and according to Seye, he had been in this state since he was brought to the hospital. He had had a massive heart attack at the top of the stairs and toppled down to the bottom of the stairs, breaking his right leg and suffering a concussion on his head.

A neighbor who had gotten his mail by mistake was the one who discovered his unconscious form at the foot of the stairs, a few hours later. He was the one that called an ambulance that took him to the hospital.

She took Michael's hand in hers and held it tightly, held it as if she was holding him from falling into the grave itself. He didn't stir. The scene looked all too familiar to her now. The last time being her sister's but she didn't want him gone like Suzie, he was Seye's only family and the poor child needed him now more than ever. Just as he'd needed his mother then.

"Michael," she found strength enough to say, "its Candy. I'm here with Seye. Don't die, Michael. Please don't die," she pleaded.

The tears that streaked down her face felt like drops of boiling water.



(To be contd.)

SweetieConstie:
Thanks for the update ma'am... Very nice!

You're welcome dear

I now understand the story perfectly, having read through "Honest Illusions" today...
You're doing a wonderful job, more ink to your pen! Thumbs up!
CC: Suigeneris

Great!
Thanks for the commendation, I really appreciate

Suigeneris93 I Syt U!...

Aww such a beautiful piece,keep it coming. Thumbs up.

Episode 12

Seye stood by her patiently and watched her body shake with sobs. He was aching too, a nagging feeling of dread at the pit of his stomach. When she stopped crying and wiped her eyes on her sleeves, he swallowed and touched her shoulder.

"Maybe we should go down to the cafeteria and get something to eat, Aunt."

"I'm not hungry, but I'll go with you," she told him. She pecked his father's cheek and they left the Intensive Care Unit.

She let him buy her some coffee. He got himself some ham and cheese sandwich and they sat alone at a table near the window. There were mostly hospital employees in the cafeteria, all of them chatting away and looking through or past them as if they were invisible. He suppose the sight of troubled relatives was common enough to them.

"Tell me about what you've been up to," she urged. He knew Aunty Candy wanted to keep him talking about himself because while he was talking, he couldn't dwell on his father or cry.

"I finally passed my A-level last year. I don't think I want to go to college so I've been working and I'm doing pretty great."

Aunty Candy's features seemed dimmer. "Your mother would have wanted you to go to college. Get a good degree like her and maybe even go further like your dad."

A surge of anger welled in him suddenly, "but she's not here, is she? And now dad will join her too," he finished with trembling lips.

She reached across the table to him and held his hand. "But I'm still here for you aren't I?"

He managed to look contrite and nodded. "I did all of it to spite him, I wanted to bring such a huge shame and embarrassment to him. Apparently, I'm the only one who's lost out on everything. I made him hate me and said so many cruel things to him but the joke's on me now, huh?" He said with a bitter laugh. "I still love him even though I was mad at him.

"Oh Seye," she sighed. "It hurts me to see you so hurt like this."

"Maybe I deserve it all, I've been such a horrible and bitter person. I refused to listen to anyone but myself. I refused to forgive and let go like you begged me to three years ago but look at me now. I feel so horrible."

"You don't deserve to feel that way Seye, you're so precious to God that he hurts to see you suffer and if you let him he'd take it all away - the pain, guilt, bitterness and anger."

Seye shook his head at her, "No aunt, not me. I'm past even the redemption of your God."

Before she could reply, she saw a nurse enter the cafeteria, spot them and head for their table.

"Are you the family of Michael Akintunde?" She asked in a piping voice, her accent showing her American roots. Seye turned to look at her.

"Yes," Aunty Candy replied.

"The doctor wants to see you in the ICU."

"Hope nothing is wrong? How is Michael? Is he conscious now?"

"I'm afraid things have got worse, but you should talk to the doctor."

Seye felt his heart sink as his hope died within him. The feeling of dread that had come over him when he had been called about his father's ill health descended on him with a force, stifling every optimistic thought or feeling. He knew then, without a doubt, his father was dead.



TBC

Episode 13

His father's funeral was lavish. He and Aunty Candy decided he should be buried in Nigeria next to his late wife. Members of his extended family had been glad to witness it and called him a true son of his father for bringing home his remains and giving him a befitting burial. Michael Akintunde had not lived an ostentatious lifestyle in the UK even though he could afford it as a senior lecturer in the university. The fortune he left behind was able to pay for the lavish ceremony his family wanted and leave Seye a tidy sum.

He had been touched to find out his father had left the bulk of his wealth to him and apologized for being a negligent father in his will. He didn't care so much for the money as he did the gesture. Apparently his father had not held a grudge against him and he found out he could let bygones be bygones afterall.

He was buried in the backyard of his duplex in his hometown in Ilesan-Remo, Ogun state. He had clocked fifty-five a few months prior to his demise.

After the funeral, Seye went in search of Aunty Candy. She was supposed to return to Port Harcourt three days later. With all the plans and preparations they had to make to transport his father's body home and the funeral, they had not had much time to talk. Finally, he found her standing alone before the graves of his parents.

She turned when she heard his footsteps and looked back at the tombs.

"I can't think of him as dead," she said. "I just can't believe he's gone."

Seye swallowed and nodded. "It takes time to settle in."

A few minutes passed with both of them looking down at the sepulchers side-by-side in companionable silence before he broke it by clearing his throat.

"I was thinking Aunt...there's just two of us now. I mean, I don't really think of members of dad's extended family as really close. I want to come back with you aunt and maybe you can...you could help me become born again."

For the first time in weeks since she got the frantic call from Seye that Michael had been hospitalized, Candy's face lit up with a genuine smile. "Of course Seye, you can come back with me and I will be glad to help. What made you change your mind?"

"I-I want to live aunt, not just exist. I want to actually have a life and get over my past. I've seen you and how your faith seems to have helped you become a changed person. I want to be a changed person too."

A few tears escaped his aunt's eyes as she regarded him with a small smile. "My prayers have finally been answered," she said softly.

Seye was lost, he had expected the joy but definitely not the tears. "But you're crying aunt."

She dabbed at her eyes with the handkerchief in her hand, "Don't mind me dear, they're happy tears."



(To be contd.)

Episode 14

Oprah's sigh of relief was audible. But she remained perfectly still and stared at Seye with the same stunned, unblinking dismay she had had from the beginning of his long winding narrative about his life.

Seye Akintunde's features worked emotionally. "For years I'd felt so much shame about my childhood. It seemed like I was condemned to living a life of guilt over my past. I just couldn't get over myself and live normally like almost everyone else. I was lost, adrift and alone, at least that's how I felt until I met Jesus Christ."

One question throbbed and loomed in Oprah's mind but she was afraid to ask, she felt cowardly for ignoring it so she asked anyway.

"So-so you're...gay?"

Seye smiled wryly and shook his head. "I was, not anymore."

So many other questions assailed her but she kept her mouth firmly shut, trying to assimilate all that Seye said. She would never have thought...could never even believe if it was another person that told her.

No one moved or spoke for a long time. Like strangers in an elevator, they both avoided eye contact and conversation. Anything said now would have sounded banal, but perhaps the silence was even more uncomfortable.

It stretched on interminably until Seye finally spoke after loudly clearing his throat. "After my experience with Uncle James, I felt so confused about my sexuality. I had no other father figure around than Uncle James so I always looked up to him as a man's man. He had been someone who commanded respect and fear in us, even though it was by brutish force. When he did what he did, I didn't know what to think of men anymore. According to Aunty Candy, he was bi but I had difficulties thinking of women in that way. Its something I'm working on though because I know homosexuality is against the laws of God. I hated Uncle James for a long time because of what he did to me until I-I killed him."

"You had no choice that night Seye," Oprah said quietly. "It was an accident."

"Was it?" He asked on a bitter laugh. "I'd like to think so but I'm not so sure. He outweighed me but I was younger and more agile than him. Maybe I could have eventually worn him down by feinting his blows. Or distracting him. Could I have done anything else? Honestly I don't know.

"But I still keep asking myself if it was necessary to kill him. All I know with certainty is that when I head butted him, I wanted him to die."

"So would anybody who wanted to defend himself from a violent and abusive person."

Seye looked at her a moment, then lowered his eyes non-committally. The intrusion of a doctor stopped his retort.

"Can you excuse my patient for today, Mr Seye. She's still on the mend and needs some rest now," he said going over to Oprah's side and checking her IV line.

"All right doctor," Seye replied. He squeezed Oprah's hand a little and left before she could say anything else. Nobody aside family knew of his life and past before he became born again. He'd just told Oprah, that was enough information for the day.

****
He was already out of the hospital and almost at the car park when he stopped to listen.

"Bro Seye!"

He hadn't been mistaken, someone had indeed been calling him. Startled to hear his name, Seye turned and saw someone whose face seemed sort of familiar because he had seen him around fellowship once or twice but he couldn't remember his name. He donned on a light smile as he waited for him to catch up.

"Bro Seye," he said again, extending his hand, "I'm Sotonye George, my friends call me Tonye."

Seye took his hand. "Nice to meet you Tonye."

(To be contd.)

kk

temmiesexy:
kk

tnx 4 d update, stil dey ur back xpectn anoda

bummybummy:
tnx 4 d update, stil dey ur back xpectn anoda

No problem dear, I modified the last post tho

Its being a gud story so far,more wisdom to u

kontinue plz