Episode 10
"What? You mean that's Michael proposing to another woman?" Joycelyn asked, with her mouth dropping wide open, "I said it!" She exclaimed, "no wonder he looked so familiar" she said as Sugar dropped down to the floor in tears, "please tell me I'm dreaming" she said, "please pinch me so I can wake up from this bad dream" she wept.
"You need to put yourself together," Joycelyn said, pulling her from the ground to sit on the chair. By this time, they were already getting awkward stares from other guests sitting closeby, "Is she ok?" One of them asked Joycelyn. "She's fine" she responded, "she's just having a panic attack. She's been having them for a couple of weeks now." "Oh ok. Do you need help? Does she need some fresh air?" the guest asked, looking concerned, "not at all" Joycelyn responded, "Anytime she gets them, we simply just let her lie or sit for a few minutes and she'll be all good" Joycelyn lied. "Ok then, let me know if you need any help." "Sure, will do" Joycelyn replied with a forced smile.
A panic attack is a sudden episode of serious fear that results in severe physical reactions when there is no real danger or obvious reason for those reactions. Panic attacks can strike at any time, they can happen occasionally or frequently. Some symptoms of panic attack can include feeling a sense of impending danger, trembling, sweating, pounding heart rate, chest pain, dizziness and much more. The cause of panic attacks is unknown, however, major life stress, such as death of a loved one, a serious accident, a divorce etc can increase risk for panic attacks. It can be treated with psychotherapy and medications.
Few minutes later, Joycelyn had finally managed to get Sugar to sit down. The MC had taken over the stage and was now anchoring the event and cracking jokes to make everyone laugh. Michael and his new fiancé had now settled down in their seats in front of the restaurant.
Food and drinks were being served, guests were coming out one by one to make lovely speeches about the celebrant. All the while Sugar remained seated in her seat at the back of the restaurant, she had tried dialling Michael's number to see what he would do and watched him reject her calls with each attempt. He sent a text message saying "busy at work, will call you back later." Eventually, he switched off his phone and put it in his pocket.
"Would anyone else like to give a speech or birthday message to the celebrant before we move on to the next item on our program?" The MC announced as according to the program, it was time for the cutting of the cake. Suddenly, Sugar raised her hand and waved it in the air, "what are you doing?" Joycelyn whispered, trying to pull her hand down, "I want to give my birthday message to the celebrant" Sugar replied, keeping her hand up. "Oh! We have a lady at the back" the MC said with a smile on his face when he noticed that Sugar's hand was up, "please come forward" he said motioning for Sugar to come forward as she stood up. Joycelyn tried to hold her back but she yanked her hand out of Joycelyn's grip and began to walk majestically towards the front of the restaurant.
"Welcome beautiful lady" the MC said as she approached the front of the restaurant, "please introduce yourself and tell us something special about the celebrant or give her a birthday message" he said. Michael, who had been engrossed in a discussion with his friend Chinedu who was seated beside him suddenly looked up and noticed Sugar standing in front of the restaurant.
"Are you ok sweety?" His fiancée asked noticing the look of horror on his face, "I'm fi-fine" Michael stammered still staring at Sugar in shock wondering what she was doing there, he looked like he had seen a ghost. "Do you know her?" his fiancée asked, "wh-who?" He stammered, "the lady standing in front, she doesn't look familiar so I'm guessing you invited her" she replied looking curiously at Michael, "her? I d-don't know her" Michael said, "I'm wondering who she is myself" he shrugged.
"Omo no be Sugar be this? Abi my eyes dey deceive me?" Chinedu whispered pulling Michael closer, "my own don finish today" Michael replied, "my guy you better disappear while you still have the chance" Chinedu whispered, "I think you're right" Michael replied turning to face his fiancée. "Baby I'll be right back, I need to use the bathroom" he said getting up, "ok" she replied wondering why he was acting so strange.
"Ahem" Sugar said, clearing her throat as she began her speech. She noticed Michael getting up from his seat and realised he was going to make an escape, "Ladies and gentlemen, before I begin my birthday message, I'd like to request that the celebrant's fiancé gives me a few minutes before stepping out as I also have some marriage advice to share" Sugar announced looking at Michael who was standing at his table now looking embarrassed as the MC motioned for him to sit and grabbed the microphone from Sugar.
"My brother, advice no dey too much, please sit down for a few minutes and listen" the MC announced with a smile, handing Sugar back the microphone as his fiancée pulled him back to his seat.
"Thank you for honouring my request" Sugar said with a smile on her face, "you see" she began, "it's not everyday you get randomly invited to an event only to stumble on your boyfriend of over 3 years proposing to another lady in front of a large crowd" she began saying to the bewilderment of the audience. "I wasted over 3 years of my life with this scumbag" she said pointing at Michael, "only for him to repay my love with a surprise proposal, not to me, but to someone else" she said,
"I just wanted to wish the celebrant a very happy birthday and to wish her good luck on the journey ahead because she's definitely going to need it." She concluded, dropping the microphone on Michael's table and giving him a scornful look before walking out leaving his fiancée staring with her jaw almost reaching the ground and Michael hiding his face in his palms in embarrassment.