Destiny Flat (Episode 2).
(CurtainsOpen)
Orator: Love is painful. To experience a burning desire for a person is to sharpen a knife then place the knife into the hands of another person. But however hard we try to avoid love, it always finds us. The feeling of loving a person you may never have is terrible. It drives you insane and turns your insides out. I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy, but instead, I wish it upon myself in the hopes that I may get over all the unrequited love I have obtained from all those who I've ever loved.
“I have to admit, an unrequited love is so much better than a real one. I mean, it's perfect... As long as something is never even started, you never have to worry about it ending. It has endless potential.”
Sarah Dessen, The Truth About Forever
(Scene one)
(Lana and Shady are seated on the same mattress. Lana is busy on his laptop, typing absentmindedly, while Shady is taking him some pictures on her phone, without him noticing.)
Shady: (Rolls her eyes) Lana, wait, are you trying to tell me to leave your home?
Lana: I'm not saying that; I only asked for a bit of privacy; that's all.
Shady: What privacy are you talking about? We've known each other since we were kids, is there any part of you I've not seen?
Lana: What are you talking about, babe? Just imagine that I want to dress up. Will you still be here?
Shady: Well, it depends; I’d love to tho (smiles).
Lana: Depends on? You’re joking. See this clown; I don’t do incestuous relationships. You’re like a kid sister to me.
Shady: I’m not your sister, Lana. We both know our siblings don’t zone me.
Lana: I’m not. I was saying, in context.
Shady: You know, you’re smart and all that, but you can be very ignorant and foolish. I am leaving, (Throws him a lunch bag) I packed some extra food for you, eat and refrigerate the rest.
Lana: Wait, why are you leaving? Are you angry about something?
Shady: (Stands up, starts walking away) No, I’m not. I’ll talk to you later (leaves the room).
Lana: (Looks up, ponders a bit, shrugs it all off, and continues on his laptop).
(Scene Two)
(Opens up with Benson, Clay and Cabo barging into Lana’s room.)
Lana: (Rolls his eyes, ad hisses) Don't you guys ever think to knock, for once? Where can someone even get a bit of privacy in this world?
Clay: You don begin? Professor, everything na English.
Lana: (Shakes his head) Such people, how I’m still friends with you guys, I wonder?
Cabo: All those ones na poem, where the chaw shady bring come?
Lana: What food? Why are you a glutton? Plus, how do you know she brought any food?
Cabo: See this one? Time don ever come way Shady come this house way she no bring chaw come?
Clay: Na true, facts alone.
Cabo: Bro, there’s love in sharing
Benson: That’s true, she left in haste, and it seemed like she was angry about something?
Clay: How you take know that one, psychologist, werey (laughs)
Benson: It's because I’m the most observant among the four of us.
Clay: Oshey observatory
(All the boys burst into laughter)
Benson: Yen yen yen. But, Lana, I think that babe likes you because she wouldn’t be doing all of this if she didn’t.
Lana: Brother, I doubt it. Shady is just so lovely. She has always been like that since we were kids. Besides, she’s like a sister to me. We’re way past that.
Benson: She also knows?
Cabo: Where is the food?
Clay: (Hisses) See this life no balance, babe like that way be spec, way boys dey die for, na she you dey zone like that?
Lana: At all, I care for her, deeply. But as a family. I’ve never even seen her as a woman.
Clay: Naso, I don hear you.
Benson: Well, I do have a crush on her. She’s so sweet.
Cabo: Werey, see how your penis dey stand because you dey talk another woman?
(All the guys laugh)
Benson: (Holds his crotch, looks around) Laugh well, all of you are silly.
Clay: Why you never come follow am talk all these while? If you been dey feel am, you suppose follow am reason. Abi fear dey catch you?
Benson: No man, I no dey fear. I’m just being patient. You know girls like her shouldn’t be rushed.
Clay: Better rush am, dey there dey do gentleman, another guy dey hang her legs.
Benson: She’s not that type of babe, man.
Clay and Cabo: You know that how?
Benson: (Stammers) Errrmmm….
Lana: He’s right. She’s not. Don’t worry, bro, I’ll hook you both together, if you want?
Benson: Absolutely, I’d be delighted.
Clay: Omo, me I no dey trust any babe sha.
Cabo: I second that, where the chaw na bro.
(Lana hangs the food bag to Benson)
Lana: You guys should leave a little for me.
Benson, Clay and Cabo: (In unison)Yes!
(Scene Three)
(Shady is home with her two friends. She's curled up on the bed, in tears, flanked by her two best friends and housemates.)
Caro: (Snorts) Don’t tell me you've gone to that nonsense Lana’s house again?
Shady: (Mutters a few incorrigible words)
Caro: (Long hiss) I knew it, don't you ever learn? You've been professing your love to him since you were kids, and he still hasn't gotten a clue? Isn't he dumb?
Shady: (Looks up at Caro, cleans her eyes) Caro, Lana isn't dumb. He doesn't know it yet; I'm sure he also likes me.
Jessica: Abeggi, you're sure? If he so much liked you, how come you're the only one that visits him and takes care of him?
Caro: Help me ask her? How long will you continue to live in denial and delusion that this crush you have is one-sided?
(Jessica nods in agreement)
Shady: I told him not to come visit me here. I don't want to give anyone any motives.
Jessica: You've come again, started making excuses for him.
Shady: (Bursts into tears) I'm not, I promise I'm not. I just love him very much. I don't want him making any mistakes with you guys.
Caro: Us? You really do look down on us?
Shady: No, I don’t. You know I don’t want the past repeating itself. That’s why I didn’t want him coming here. The last time he knew where I lived, you know what happened?
Jessica: This is different. However, we’re aware that your precious “Lana” is handsome and sexy. There’s nothing myself and Caro have for him or will do with him, today or in the future.
Caro: Exactly, let her know.
Shady: Babes, you guys shouldn’t take it the wrong way. You know how girls behave around Lana. They influence him.
Jessica: Babes, you’re a full spec. So many guys out there would die to have you, as theirs. I promise you all this stuff you’re doing with this Lana boy. It’s not worth it. He’s not worth it.
Shady: (Stammers) He’s worth it - - - -you guys are just being dishonest and disrespectful.
Caro: Okay, you’re right, we don’t like him, you know why? Not every girl is like your stupid sister who “seduced” Lana in your parents' house and slept with him for months without your knowledge. You may like shit, guys, but I promise you, myself, and Jessica doesn’t. That’s the point we’re trying to pass across to you. So stop the bullshit and be a big girl.
Shady: (Bursts into uncontrollable tears) It's drowning, I'm drowning, by these feelings.
End.
(To be continued.)