Simple Happiness

By Mercy Namusia

He threw her away like trash when he graduated from college and disappeared from her life.

He reappeared a year later on her graduation day.
"Liz, I regret breaking up with you," he said. "Please give me another chance."

After her first heartbreak, Liz was afraid of putting her heart on the line again. Her main goal after graduation was finding a job and living well. She thought she would never fall in love again until she met Ethan, the hot IT guy, who made her heart race again.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Mercy Namusia
• Release date: Jan 22, 2019
• ISBN: 9780463488553

Mercy Namusia

Mercy Namusia was born and raised in Bungoma County in Kenya. She loves reading and writing.

Book preview

Chapter One

Let’s break-up.

Liz was shocked. It was sudden. Her mind went blank for a moment. She didn’t know what to say.

Hello, are you still there? Oscar asked, bringing her back to reality.

You want to break-up with me?

Yeah, let’s break-up, he said.

She was hurt, but she was not going to beg for love. If he didn’t want her, she also didn’t want him.

Okay, goodbye, she said, then hung up.

She wiped off a tear from her right eye and made up her mind to move on with her life. She believed she had given her best in that relationship and was not going to blame herself for its failure.

And now, this ghost from her past was trying to crawl back into her life. He came directly to her when she was waiting for her graduation photos together with her parents after the photo shoot.

Hi, Liz, he said with a wide grin. Behind him was his best friend, Davis.

Liz was embarrassed. She had never introduced any male friend to her parents before. Hello. What are you doing here? she asked

I came to congratulate you. He made a step forward and handed her a well-wrapped gift. Congratulations, Liz.

Liz reluctantly took the gift because everybody’s attention was now on them. Thanks, she said, then introduced them. Mom, dad, this is Oscar, and that is Davis, she said. They are my friends. Her parents shook hands with them.

The air was filled with tension after pleasantries. There was an awkward silence. To save the situation, Liz had to say something.

Liz smirked. Oscar, Davis, Thank you for coming. She wondered why they were not going away. She had to make them leave.

Oh, it’s nothing, Oscar smiled sheepishly.

That stupid smile made her feel like slapping him. He pissed her off. There was nothing about him that made her heart beat fast anymore. It was like her heart had forgotten about him. All she felt was hatred. She hated him for showing up as he did.

I’ll see them off, she told her parents.

Okay, but don’t take long, her father said. Her mother just looked on. Her younger siblings, Aiden and Imani, were taking selfies. They didn’t notice the departure of the unwanted guests.

Bye-bye, Oscar and Davis waved at Liz’s parents and followed Liz.

When they were a little far away from her parents, Liz stopped and looked at Oscar with annoyance. What’s your game? she asked.

What do you mean? I only came to congratulate you. Is there something wrong with that? Davis silently moved away to give them time to talk.

And what right do you have to come to my family and me unannounced?

I only wanted to surprise you. He went for her hands, but Liz moved a few steps away from him and crossed her arms over her chest. Oscar withdrew his hands. I regret breaking up with you. Please forgive me. I need you back in my life. My life is empty without you by my side. Please come back to me.

Liz stared at him and felt good inside. She had been waiting for this day ever since he broke up with her. She knew that one day he would come back begging for her love. It was payback time. She was going to trample on his heart and make it bleed more than hers did when he left with no explanation.

What makes you think that I would still be in love with you a year after you broke my heart? Her eyes shone as bright as the sun, something that drove him crazy. However, he could see traces of disgust in them, and that made him sad.

Love doesn’t just go away, he said. You loved me so much back then. I know that you still love me now.

Oscar, I won’t argue with you on an important day of my life, she said. I have moved on with my life. Plus, why would I take you back? To give you another chance to hurt me? With a slight bend in the knee, she tutted and waved her index finger in his face. Never! she said and turned away. He caught her hand before she made a step away.

She shot a glare at him over her shoulder. Let go of me!

Liz, please give me another chance, he said. What do you want me to do for you to forgive me? Liz, I know I wronged you in the past, but please give me a chance to show you that I’m not the jerk I was last year. He pulled her closer and hugged her.

Hey, people are watching, Liz said. Let go of me! She tried to pull away from him but her efforts were futile. He was holding her so tight against his torso.

I don’t care, he said. I just want you to forgive me.

Okay, I forgive you.

He let go of her and looked her in the eye. Are you serious? he asked.

She pursed her lips and smiled then nodded. But we can’t be together anymore.

Why?

There’s somebody else in my heart.

What?

Oscar, I have to go. My family is waiting, she said and left.

Wait, Liz!

---

Liz had just sent her family off and was walking to Neema’s apartment. She was staying there together with her friend, Tamara during the graduation week. Neema was their junior in the university.

The thought of Oscar angered her to the core of her bones. How stupid could he be? He thought her life was a playground- that he could just come and go as he pleases. He was mistaken. There was one thing she had promised herself ever since she started dating: never to take back a man who treated her like trash.

She didn’t put up a fight when he broke up with her. Though she loved him so much, she was not ready to be humiliated in the name of love. She just let him go without even asking why he was breaking up with her. That was her first heartbreak. It was very painful in the first few days but the pain dissipated days later, and she went back to her normal life.

She kept the sweet memories they shared and moved forward. So what if there was no closure for that damn relationship? She could provide the closure it needed herself. And that’s exactly what she did. She closed that chapter of her life and wished him all the best in her heart. There was no way she was going to patiently stand under a tree that was not meant for her when there was a whole forest waiting for her out there.

Chapter Two

Oh my God! Victoria Maina did not graduate with us today! Tamara said.

What did you say? Liz, who had just entered asked. Are you talking about Vickie, the campus slay queen?

Of course, Tamara said. I didn’t hear her name being called out during the graduation ceremony. I thought that I didn’t hear right. But going through the graduation list, I can’t find her name among the students who graduated today in our class.

Really? Neema asked and rushed to look through the list. It’s true. She’s not on the list.

Tough choices, huh, Liz said. Looks like most of her time was spent on her sugar daddies. She could not balance both her academic and personal life.

No wonder I didn’t see her at all, Tamara said. At first I thought that she, not attending the graduation ceremony was because she had other commitments. It turns out she could not catch up. I rarely saw her in class. She only appeared when the exams were around the corner. She even missed some exams.

There were also rumors that she is pregnant, Neema said. But I’m not sure.

She got knocked up? Tamara asked. How come I didn’t hear anything like that? I should be the one giving first-hand information about her.

Well, if it’s true that she’s pregnant, then I think it’s a strategy to tie down one of her sugar daddies, Neema said.

Good for her. She won’t have to suffer in the outside world. She won’t have to worry about money or getting a job because she has someone to provide for her and connect her to her dreams, Tamara said.

Don’t worry, Tamara, Liz said. It doesn’t matter if we don’t have connections with people in high places. God will connect us.

Amen! Neema said and tasted the stew then turned off the cooking stove. Dinner is ready, she said.

Oh, I will help you set the table, Liz said.

Okay.

As they were busy eating, Tamara turned to Liz. What did you tell me on the phone this afternoon? That Oscar showed up in front of you and your family?

Who’s Oscar? Neema asked.

Liz’s ex, Tamara said and looked at Liz. Liz, what did he want?

He said that he came to congratulate me. He even brought me a gift. I found it embarrassing because he met my parents just like that.

What! Tamara smiled and rolled her eyes. What if your parents thought that he is your boyfriend?

Liz shrugged. Well, I don’t know, she said. They didn’t ask about him. But if they ask about him in the future, I will say that he is just a friend.

Do you think your parents will fall for that? Tamara asked.

I don’t know, Liz said. It’s their problem if they don’t believe me.

Neema leaned against Liz’s shoulder. Do you still feel something for him? she asked. Did your heart skip a beat? Didn’t what you felt for him in the past rush back when you saw him again?

No, Liz said. I felt nothing at all when I saw him again. I think my heart has forgotten him.

That’s good, Tamara said and put her plate in the sink. Keep moving forward. I guess after going out with other girls; he never found anyone that could match your charm. That’s why he wants you back.

He’s such a loser, Liz said. He thinks I’m a spare wheel.

Liz, how about you show us the gift he gave you, Neema said.

Let me wash the dishes first, Liz said.

No, Neema said. I can’t wait. I want to see it now.

Me too, Tamara said. I’m curious.

Curiosity killed the cat, Liz said as she picked her handbag. I don’t even know what it is. She took a small box out of her handbag. Tamara and Neema came closer and observed the small box in Liz’s hands.

I guess it is jewelry, Neema said.

Tamara nodded. I think so too.

Okay, Liz said. Let’s see what that jerk gave me. She opened the little box, and there it was — a beautiful double butterfly necklace.

Wow! Neema and Tamara said in unison. Tamara took the necklace in her finger and observed it closely. It’s beautiful. Oscar sure has good taste.

Mm...And it looks like he wanted to tell you something with this kind of gift.

Liz looked at Tamara. What do you mean?

The two butterflies on the necklace have a meaning.

Butterflies are symbols of freedom and transformation, Tamara said. That’s not bad, right?

Tamara is right, Neema said. But I think these two butterflies have a different meaning. Two butterflies are also a symbol of love.

Ha-ha…So, the two butterflies represent Liz and Oscar chained together forever, Tamara said.

What? Liz looked at Neema. Do you agree with her?

Mm…Yeah, Neema said.

Then I won’t keep it, Liz said. I don’t want Oscar back in my life. I don’t want any souvenir either.

What’s wrong with keeping such a beautiful necklace, Tamara asked. Oh, it’s very beautiful.

I don’t want it, Liz said. You can keep it if you want.

Are you sure?

Absolutely.

I’m sorry, Oscar, Tamara said, looking at the necklace. Liz’s train already left the station.

Liz smiled. Feeling sorry for the enemy?

Of course not, Tamara said. He is a jerk. She stared at the necklace again then glanced at Neema. "Liz, why don’t we give it to Neema as a