KAZMIR
I looked down at Nyssa who happened to be all dressed for the party. “You look beautiful, my wife.” I added and walked to the corner of the room where the bed we slept in existed.
There, I retrieved a necklace from it. It was one I got on my way from work a few days ago in advance for the welcomin’ party that would be held in the second livin’ room in the penthouse.
“Wh-what is that?” Nyssa’s voice cut short my thoughts. “Show me already, Kazmir.” She turned the chair around and met my gaze directly. “It’s beautiful – its container.”
“You haven’t even seen it,” I walked closer and chuckled. “Turn around, let me wear it on you,” I added and like a lamb, she turned with a smile – a genuine one I have rarely seen. “It will look good on you.”
“Thank you, Kazmir-” she greeted me when our gazes locked from the mirror angle, while I went on hangin’ the treasure on her neck.
“I told you it’s beautiful, didn’t I?”
Without sayin’ much, I gave a nod and walked to the door. When it dawned on me, I rushed to the dressin’ table and wore some perfumes before walkin’ back to the door. “Come on, baby. It’s your party.” I said and she wore her perfumes also, grabbin’ a bag, and walkin’ to the door with a smile on her countenance.
In the livin’ room, many guests were seated. Some were on their feet and some were walkin’ outside the livin’ room. There was nothin’ to be scared of, especially with the men hired to watch over the house while everythin’ was under control with the chefs from my restaurant doin’ a perfect job in the kitchen.
“Hello,” someone greeted me from behind. Myself and Nyssa turned around and met the gaze of my sister, Ophelia. “Good to see you, Kazmir.” She smiled and looked at Nyssa who looked lost. “She must be your wife. How are you, ma’am?”
“Ophelia,” I called and looked at Nyssa. “Did you forget what my wife looked like in the first place? Is this some sarcasm you have come up with as usual?” I didn’t know the right way to react and then looked at Nyssa who now smiled. “This is my sister, baby.”
“Oh, hi,” Nyssa said. “Nice to meet you.”
“Yeah-” I cut short the annoyin’ moment and took my wife with me. “We can’t greet her yet until the party’s over. Come, the guests need to see you. Some people should know ’bout your presence apart from my sister.”
“Good evenin’ everyone!” I shouted, givin’ the love of my life a chair to sit in. “Welcome to the party. I hope we have all been served.”
Everyone nodded, while I did the same.
“As we all know and in case we don’t know, we are here ’cause of my wife, Nyssa,” I began when the place went calm a little. “She was involved in an accident a few weeks ago and has been away for a while due to the coma she was in for a month. But now as you can see, she is back and in our midst once more.”
They clapped. What I wanted and now I looked at Nyssa who looked lost. I knew already deep within me that the woman didn’t know she was in a coma for some time. At the thought of this, I gave her a ‘yes, that happened’ look and with this, hopped down from the small stage set and walked to take a seat next to her as designed by the workers who set up the room.
“Are you okay?”
“I don’t know how to react to bein’ in a coma for a whole month,” she looked at me, sippin’ champagne from her glass. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
Why should I have told her? “You were recoverin’, Nyssa. You still are, in fact. I shouldn’t have even let out that detail.” With a sigh rushin’ out of my mouth, I said and got on my feet, takin’ a seat once more and whisperin’: “It’s time for you to speak to your guests. After this, the party will start.”
“What am I supposed to say?”
“I. Don’t. Know,” I mouthed and said a few things in her ear, lettin’ her be the next moment.
Without hesitation, I walked to a corner of the room where Ophelia was seated, with a glass of champagne in her hand – plus the mysterious smile she was wearin’.
“How come you are here and I don’t know, Ophelia?” I took a seat next to her and our gazes locked for moments. “I didn’t know you’d be here.”
“But you gave the invitation code to me,” she looked away and met my gaze again. “Were you drunk when you did, Kazmir? Why didn’t you tell us she was back? You announce to the public that you’re throwin’ a welcomin’ party for a wife we don’t even-”
“Shhh,” I warned. “Don’t talk ’bout her in that manner,” I warned and got on my feet. “Have you had somethin’ to eat at least?”
She said nothin’ and I started walkin’ away, bracing up myself for the speech my wife would give. “Hello, everyone, it is my pleasure to be with you today.” She started when I took a seat and gave a signal.
“I wouldn’t be here today if you didn’t support me in the littlest way that you can,” she said, lookin’ around at people I was certain she didn’t recognize. “Thank you all for your love and support. After my lovin’ husband, you are the next and I appreciate it all the love so much.”
“We are happy to have you back!”
It was Ophelia who shouted from where she was seated, with a smile. “The house and everyone in it is happy to have you back, Nyssa.” She said again, and I was more relaxed with a smile planted on my face as I got up and snapped my fingers.
“On behalf of my wife and myself,” I began. “The party should begin at this moment,” I said and they all clapped, standin’ on my feet and watchin’ the both of us who stood next to each other this time around. “Cheers to a more happy, fulfilled, and prosperous marriage with my darlin’ wife.”
“Cheers!”
The party began.
With Nyssa seated on the chair specially made for her, I was on my feet and walkin’ around one by one. My legs, now, led me to the kitchen where chefs went ’bout the duty they were employed for. “How’s it goin’?”
“Very well, Mr. Draven,” the head chef said. “Is there somethin’ you need us to do for you? We have served all the guests.”
“Nothin’,” I looked around at the women who went ’bout their washing'” “Everythin’s in order, isn’t it?” Without waitin’ for a response, I walked out and immediately I caught up with the door of the large livin’ room hostin’ the guests, I caught sight of a man speakin’ to Nyssa.
His hands hung in the air, and it looked to me as though he was tryin’ to explain a thing’ or two to her. With this, I rushed to the scene, plantin’ an obvious grimace on my face. “And what is happenin’ here?”
“Oh, hi,” his baritone voice calmed me a little. “I’m Lysander, and a friend to Nyssa.”
“What friend?” I snapped, calmin’ myself and gazin’ at Nyssa who moped at us. “Excuse us, darlin’. I’ll join you shortly.” I watched her leave before facin’ the mysterious man. “Who do you say you are, Mr. Lysander? How do you know my wife? The last time I checked, I knew my wife’s friends.”
“I-”
I cut ‘im short. “My wife doesn’t know you,” I snapped. “Don’t come close to her again. The last time I checked, it was a friend who put her in this condition. Do you understand me, Mr. Lysander?”
“Yes, Mr. Draven.” With a smile, he said these words and walked away, leavin’ me wonderin’ how he sneaked into the party in the first place.