The issue was getting tougher for him.
Desmond and Bayo had already said they wouldn’t come for such a wedding. He didn’t know what else to tell them apart from the fact that it was already too late for him to pull out now. Kike’s father would ruthlessly deal with him, he had informed his own family already, and it was simply too late to start pulling out of the mess he had gotten himself into.
He picked up his laptop and began typing a mail to explain how far everything had gone and how difficult it was for him to pull out of the wedding. Maybe his friends would change their minds because it would be weird going to his in-laws’ place without any friend present.
He hoped they would respond positively and just help him cover his shame for that day. Maybe afterwards, he would mail Feire too and explain everything because he wasn’t sure he would be able to stand before her physically and explain himself.
13 Days to Marriage
Feire dropped her make-up kit and turned towards Mosun.
“Is it okay like this?” she asked.
Mosun nodded.
They had just returned from church about two hours earlier and Feire was now preparing to go out with Fola and his fiancée as they had informed her since Saturday evening.
They seemed heaven-sent, arriving at the exact time she needed people around her so she wouldn’t completely break down emotionally or slip into depression.
She didn’t hesitate before agreeing to follow them out. At least she would catch some fun and still keep reassuring herself that not all men were the same.
“What will you buy for me when coming back?” Mosun asked.
Feire stared at her.
“When exactly are you going back to your house sef? I am not depressed. At least you can see that.”
“It is because I am around you. Be forming strong woman there as if you won’t miss me.”
Feire chuckled.
“Keep raising your hopes, baby girl.”
“But I still wonder why these two are getting so close to you, Feire. Don’t you think there is something attached?”
Feire shrugged.
“Like what?”
“I don’t know. At the same time, I don’t feel it is entirely normal.”
She sniggered.
“I don’t want to attach anything to our relationship. I am off.” She waved as she walked towards the door.
“Take care, dear.”
Feire stepped into the eatery and spotted Fola and Stella at a corner, talking and laughing together.
If Desmond’s issue wasn’t disturbing her mind, that was exactly the kind of place she should naturally be mentally, she thought before walking towards them.
“Good afternoon, Feire.” Stella hurried to her feet and hugged her immediately.
Feire smiled.
“Good afternoon.”
“Did you go to church today?” Stella asked.
Feire nodded.
“Yes. Good afternoon, Fola.”
“That sounds better than your fake respect of all these days, Feire.”
“Sit down,” Stella told her as she sat down too.
“Thanks, Stella.” She sat down and turned to Fola. “Fake respect? Me?”
“I was just joking. I guess my fiancée’s presence has made it easier for you to relate with me now, right?”
She shrugged.
“Maybe. At least it has proven that you have no ulterior motive.”
They all laughed.
“So what would you like to eat?” Stella asked her.
“I don’t know. Whatever you guys are okay with, I’ll go with it too.”
Stella grinned.
“No problem, dear. There is gist for you, Feire.”
“Really?” Feire turned fully towards her. “What gist?”
“It is between us. We will talk when we are alone.” She winked.
Fola hissed.
“You ladies have started with all these lame talks already?”
“Is it paining you because there is no male friend here you can form guy with? Abeg, shift.”
Feire laughed.
“Pidgin still seems to flow naturally from your mouth, Stella.”
“I have always loved speaking it. I have never been good at it though, but I just push everything together and make it sound nice.” She winked again and they laughed.
“Let me order something.” Fola stood up and left the two of them.
“Better. Ladies want to talk.”
Fola chuckled.
“You should explain whether it is Feire you want to talk to or me, Stella.”
Stella stuck out her tongue and laughed at him as he walked away to place their order.
“So what is the gist about?” Feire asked, eager to know what Stella wanted to tell her.
“It is very long, so I can’t discuss it here. Can I come and sleep at your place?”
Feire was shocked.
She wasn’t expecting that at all.
Stella was so friendly and free around her. She barely knew Feire well and was already ready to come over and sleep at her place just to gist and play around.
She honestly didn’t know what to say. Whether to turn her down or agree. Especially now that Mosun was also around.
“What did you say, Feire?” Stella grinned excitedly as if Feire had already agreed.
“Erh… no problem. Anytime.”
“Sure. It is tonight.”
“But I am going to work tomorrow, Stella.”
Stella chuckled.
“Forget that. Is your show tomorrow?”
Feire shook her head.
“No.”
“So you are free.”
Feire didn’t even know what to feel anymore.
She didn’t know what Fola would say when he returned or where exactly this sudden friendship was heading. She liked it so much already, but she still wondered if it wouldn’t affect the boss-and-employee relationship between herself and Fola.
“What if Fola says—”
Stella held her hand immediately.
“He won’t try that, dear. He told me I must become friends with you, so he will pay the price to make it happen.”
“Huh?”
She nodded.
“Yes dear. Tonight we are going to have some serious talks and you are going to enjoy this outspoken talkative.”
They laughed.
Feire didn’t know what to call everything happening around her anymore.
It felt as though she was a specimen every good and bad thing in life was being tested on.
Why would her boss’s fiancée like her so much to the extent of wanting friendship and even wanting to sleep over at her place?
She was shocked when Fola agreed that Stella should sleep over and even granted her absence from work. He must have really loved her deeply to easily agree to everything she requested.
Feire didn’t even know how she would survive handling this extreme extrovert alongside Mosun.
At least Mosun would leave for work the next morning, but she would still remain with Stella discussing God-knows-what.
She still didn’t know the gist Stella had been eager to share with her.
She drove home while Fola’s car followed closely behind hers.
He only came to drop Stella off before heading back to his own place.
Feire honked twice at the gate and suddenly realized that Desmond hadn’t crossed her mind in almost three hours.
She was right after all.
Getting closer to these two was helping her emotionally.
She drove into the compound while Fola parked outside and came down with Stella so they could enter together.
“Welcome to my small abode.” Feire smiled as she stepped out of the car.
“This place is so beautiful, Feire.” Stella looked around, genuinely impressed.
“Thanks. Please meet my friend.”
She introduced Mosun who had come out to open the gate for them.
They all entered the living room together.
Feire signaled to Mosun immediately so she could explain everything properly to her.
The two stepped aside while Fola and Stella sat in the living room laughing and talking.
Soon, Feire returned to meet them.
“I should be leaving now, Feire. At least I finally know where you stay.”
“I wasn’t hiding the place before.”
He laughed.
“This place is really nice.”
“Thank you.”
“You will come to our place very soon too.” Stella added happily.
Feire didn’t know what to say to that, so she just smiled.
The three of them escorted Fola outside and watched him drive away before returning into the compound.
“Can we just sit outside here for fresh air before going in?” Stella asked.
Feire nodded.
“Sure.”
Stella brought out her phone, pressed a few buttons and handed it over to Feire.
“Take.”
Feire collected it, looked at the screen and froze.
Feire turned her head and looked at Stella for a few seconds.
She knew what she saw and it could only mean one thing.
“You are more intelligent than I thought, Feire. Very intelligent.”
“Tell me it is what I am thinking.”
Stella nodded.
“Yes, it is. Like I said, I have a lot to tell you tonight and I would be very glad if you listened to me, Feire. Please.” She begged softly.
Feire returned the phone and smiled faintly.
“I think I am interested.”
“We are siblings.” Stella said and paused briefly. “I thought you would notice the resemblance at first sight, but you didn’t seem to notice anything, so I was happy our plan worked.”
“Why the hiding? Why did you guys do this?”
“I actually told him to let us do it since I was planning to return to Nigeria. For all the years I spent abroad, Feire, I never heard my brother talk to me about any lady. He locked up emotionally and kept saying he would never give love another chance until he called me one day and started talking about you.”
Feire remained silent and waited for Stella to continue.
“Firstly, I am sorry, Feire. Secondly, I was the one who ensured all this happened, not Fola.”
She smiled faintly.
“He talked about me? What exactly did he say?”
“You should know what I mean, Feire. He doesn’t know I am doing this tonight and I just felt you should know some things before the day he finally decides to approach you. Trust me, as a lady, I wouldn’t want it to take too long before you found out we are siblings.”
“I am in a relationship.” Feire dropped quietly.
“Really?” Stella’s eyes widened. “You are?”
Feire nodded slowly.
“Yes, I am.”
Stella looked away briefly.
“Then the story I wanted to share would become meaningless. He told me you weren’t in any relationship and he sounded very sure.”
“I didn’t make it obvious. Maybe he asked and I said no because I wouldn’t want anyone knowing the guy.”
Stella shrugged.
“Why?”
“We don’t want to make it public.”
“But telling other men would save them the stress of developing feelings for you, Feire. It would also save you from different men disturbing you every now and then. I think it’s best to make it clear from the start whenever you are in a relationship.”
“She isn’t in any relationship.” Mosun’s voice suddenly interrupted them.
“Mosun!” Feire exclaimed immediately.
“Please.” Mosun shut her up. “Don’t behave like an ode, Feire. Sit down there and don’t just break up with this guy mentally, break every connection linking him to your spirit, soul and body. Stella, like I said, she is not in any relationship.”
“Is there something going on that I should know?”
“Never mind.” Feire stood up immediately.
“You are not leaving here. We might as well discuss everything tonight and settle a lot of issues. You are not walking out.” Mosun blocked her way.
It was another sunny afternoon.
Desmond was already moving his things to the new apartment he had gotten. The D-day was fast approaching and he had gradually started accepting the reality he had gotten himself into.
He drove ahead of the huge truck carrying his properties, leading the driver to the new place where everything would be dropped.
His friends still hadn’t replied his mail and he hadn’t gathered enough courage to call any of them directly yet.
“Should I just withdraw myself from all this drama?” he muttered as he drove.
His phone buzzed and he answered through the handsfree.
“Hey Kike.”
“My love, how are you?”
“I am good, dear.”
“We need to see.” She informed him.
“Okay then, should I—”
He wanted to ask if he should come over before she interrupted him.
“Let me do the coming over today.”
“No. I am presently on the move and I feel I should come see you when I am done. I can’t let you stress the baby too.”
She laughed softly.
“Okay then. When will you come?”
He shrugged unconsciously.
“I shouldn’t take more than two hours.”
“Just come to my office.”
“Okay.”
Desmond had forgotten he would likely meet Mosun at the office. He probably wouldn’t have agreed to go there if he remembered.
He didn’t know whether his presence would make Mosun suspicious or if she would simply believe he still worked for Kike.
He greeted her with a fake smile as he walked towards Kike’s office.
It felt as though a heavy burden lifted from him immediately he entered the office and Mosun’s eyes were no longer on him.
“Baby.” Kike stood up immediately he entered and hugged him.
“Hey dear.” He hugged her back and sat down.
“Where were you?” she frowned playfully.
“It is private. I will let you know when the time is right.”
She chuckled.
“Really? You don’t want to tell me, right?”
“Yeah. So what is on ground? Why did you want to see me?”
“I feel we should get a house now, Desmond. We haven’t really made many plans yet.”
He grinned.
“Is that all?”
“Yes. I just feel we need to put a lot of things in place before we get carried away with the wedding preparations.”
“That one is small. I will sort it out. But can’t you stay at my place?”
“Exactly. I want us to change that place before the wedding.”
He placed both hands on the table.
“Furnish it?”
She shook her head.
“Probably buy another house and move there.”
Desmond laughed.
“That is still what I am saying. What is wrong with the place I stay presently?”
“I don’t want that place. Can’t we just have a fresh start?”
“Okay, don’t worry. It will all be a big surprise after the wedding.”
She smiled.
“I am grateful for everything you have done so far.”
He shrugged.
“I have not done anything, dear.”
“So what about your friends? Have you told them already?”
He hesitated briefly.
“Yes. That one is settled.”
Feire dropped her spoon and pulled at her hair as she stared at Stella across the dining table.
She insisted on walking away the previous night and they never had the opportunity to properly address everything that had happened.
She had been locked inside her room since morning, completely lost in thought and without any idea what to do next.
She didn’t even know if it was wise exposing her wounds to the sister of the new man beginning to show interest in her.
She truly felt foolish.
“I am sorry.” She apologized to Stella.
“I am a very patient person, Feire. I don’t get tired easily, especially concerning this issue.”
“I thought you would have left by the time I came out.”
Stella chuckled.
“Even if you stayed inside there for one whole week, I would still wait for you. Eat the food I cooked and don’t let it waste.”
“I honestly don’t know what to say anymore. I feel lost in the middle of everything. It feels as though the weight of the whole world is resting on my head. I feel like I am going to die. I am tired of everything, Stella. Truly tired.”
Stella smiled faintly.
“Let me tell you about Fola.”
STELLA
The best brother any lady could ever ask for is Fola.
He is loving, caring and very gentle with women. Many times, I prayed to marry someone like him because he is everything I could ever want in a man.
I don’t want to bore you with unnecessary details, so I will go straight to the point.
He got into a relationship with a lady named Kike about three years ago. She came from a very wealthy home and honestly seemed to genuinely love my brother too.
I was his partner in crime, so he carried me along on many of the issues in their relationship as things progressed.
I am not sure Fola has ever loved anyone the way he loved Kike. Not even me. Everybody around him knew he truly loved her.
Anyway, it was mostly Mum and I who knew because he never disclosed anything to Dad.
Along the line, something terrible happened.
It broke Fola completely.
And honestly, the first time I started seeing him pick himself back together again was when he met Feire.
Kike was cheating on him with another man — one Igbo guy like that — and she hid it from my brother.
I had always heard stories about people cheating in relationships, but I never knew how real and painful it could be until Fola experienced it.
How could she remain in a relationship with him while secretly dating another man and Fola never suspected anything?
Honestly, it would have been better if she had simply broken up with him honorably instead of cheating on him.
After everything happened, Fola shut down emotionally.
He became withdrawn and depressed, and around that same period I was preparing to travel abroad for my Master’s degree.
He surrounded himself mostly with male workers because it was as though he wanted to completely avoid women.
Then one day, he called me and said he wanted to arrange a meeting with a lady whose voice he had been listening to on radio.
He said he wanted to know her more and become friends with her.
By then, female staff had already started working at Roxy FM where he is presently, but he kept emphasizing that he wanted this particular lady to work there and also become his friend.
So I advised him to set up a meeting with her and probably offer her good pay since she was the only woman who had touched his heart ever since he locked himself away emotionally.
He gave it a try.
And he did everything possible to ensure Feire wouldn’t reject the offer to work at Roxy FM simply because he wanted to see her often and become close to her gradually.
You have no idea how many times Fola recorded Feire’s programs and sent them to me abroad just so I could listen too.
I was happy seeing him excited again.
Happy seeing him send cheerful messages again.
So we decided to approach things this way so Feire wouldn’t feel he had ulterior motives, especially after she already made it clear at the eatery that she didn’t want anything beyond friendship.
That should be all.
Desmond had barely left Kike’s office when Uche drove into the compound.
He sat briefly at the reception before heading into her office.
“Hey.” He shut the door behind him and walked towards her.
“Uche, what are you doing here?”
“It would have been polite to at least offer me a seat first.”
“You have no seat in this office, Uche. What are you doing here?”
“I heard you are getting married, so I thought it would be nice to come wish you well.”
“Thank you for the well wishes, Uche. If that is all—”
“Please!” He cut her off and sat down.
“It wouldn’t have pained me if you hid your marriage from me, Kike. It honestly wouldn’t have affected me.”
He hit the table angrily.
“But why have you decided to hide what belongs to me?”
She frowned.
“I don’t understand what you are talking about, Uche. What exactly is the meaning of this? I am about to call security.”
“I am not asking questions because I already know there is no sensible reason you would suddenly rush into marriage immediately after our breakup except pregnancy.”
He laughed dryly.
“You are not good at hiding things, Kike.”
“I know nothing about what you are saying, Uche. I am not pregnant and whoever told you that must be mistaken.”
He laughed again.
“Like I said, I am not asking you. The baby is mine and doesn’t belong to another man. Understand?”
She laughed too.
“Even if I were pregnant, wouldn’t I know the father of my child? See, I do not have your child with me and I have none of your properties with me, Uche. You are the greatest mistake I have ever made in my life. I wish I never decided to be with you.”
He rubbed his forehead slowly.
“I already apologized for everything that happened back then, Kike. But I will not apologize for causing problems over this child. That baby is mine and you have no right to hide my child from me!” He hit the table again.
“Uche, I am not pregnant. I repeat, I am not pregnant, so please get lost!” She hit the table too. “How do you think my husband-to-be would feel if he met you here ranting about pregnancy? I know nothing about it, so please leave!”
He sprang to his feet.
“So if you are not pregnant, why have you suddenly decided to marry another person?”
She shrugged.
“Whatever my reasons are, they are none of your business, Uche. Please leave.”
He smirked.
“Whether or not you are pregnant, I will keep my eyes on you. And if I eventually find out you are truly carrying my baby, I will fight for that child with the last drop of my blood.”
Then he turned and walked out.