CHAPTER 14 –
© OPEYEMI OJERINDE AKINTUNDE
I woke up to about 10 text messages from Daniel and
one from Reuben…
Daniel’s messages were filled with threats like: “If I don’t marry you, You know no one can”
“If I don’t marry you, I will kill myself and kill you”
“If I don’t marry you, I will kill the man that even
dares to propose to you”
“If I don’t marry you, I will kill your entire family”
On the other hand, Reuben texted… “Hello, my friend, hope you had a good night? I had
the best night. I can’t believe I have become a legit
friend to Queen Nwala… I will treasure this
friendship forever. Good morning. I Can’t wait to see
you in a bit…”
I laughed and soon forgot Daniel’s threat…
“Where are you going dressed like this?” Amara asked
“The hospital” I whispered
“Are you going on a date afterward” Amara teased
“Amara, go and sit somewhere”
“Before nko? I will sit and wait for the good news. In
other news, no one else can be your chief’s bridesmaid, if you marry Reuben”
“And if I marry Daniel?” I asked
“I won’t be around for that duty, I will help you serve
drinks” Amara said laughing
“Ok… I see you are now on Mum’s side”
‘Always… Queen Mother never fails to get good
husbands for her princesses. I am patiently waiting
for mine”
I opened my mouth wide… Amara wanted Mum to
choose for her…Tufiakwa ( God Forbid)
“You look beautiful as always” Reuben complimented
as we walked to the ward…
“Thank you… You are looking good as well”
“I know you didn’t look at me, you just said it as a
courtesy reply” Reuben said smiling
“You are putting on a J.T. Rulox T-shirt, and a nice
trousers, with Mcafee trainers and your perfume is
either Jordan Boss or Deluxe”
“Queen Nwala… Beauty plus Brain, and Yes, I am
wearing Deluxe perfume”
“I am good with perfumes,” I said Proudly
I could see thirst and hunger in Reuben’s eyes, you
could see how much, he wanted me to be his, but I
was not giving it a thought, I still had a lot on my
mind. I had a year more in the university and I still
needed to work on Daniel… We walked into the ward where the boy lay, he was
looking even better than the picture Reuben sent. “Hello…”
“Good morning” he replied
“I am so sorry, I was the one who hit you, I was so
angry at someone, I lost my mind. Please forgive me”
“No problem ma” There was a brief silence, but I felt I could do better for
the boy…
“Where do your parents live? I asked
“I no get father or mother, they haf die” ( I am an
Orphan)
“So sorry to hear that, but when you leave here, is
there no place you can go apart from the street…”
“No… the only family I haf, before my moda die, she
say I should run for them, say God go send helper for
me, and me even though my moda haf die, I still trust
anything she tell me, and I will follow everything she
tell me till I die… I know like she talk, somebody go
still help me one day”
( Before my mother died, she
told me to run away from my family members, she
told me that someday a helper would locate me. The
truth is though my mother is no longer alive, I trust the
instructions she gave me before she passed on. I will
follow her instructions till I die) ” Silence permeated the room, the boy had just
preached a sermon to me…
“Our church can help you,” Reuben said to the boy, then he faced me.
” Nwala… we can include him in the church’s outreach
to the lost…” Reuben said and I didn’t know which
the emotion I was feeling; was it a growing likeness for him?
or Gratitude for the fact that he was about to change
the life of the boy… Without thinking, I hugged him tightly in
appreciation…
“Thank you,” I said hugging him and yet again the
warm feeling. He was a standing duvet in cold weather. He felt
like a comforter against the cold and harsh world…
The hug lasted some long seconds…
I caught the boy smiling…
* Five days later, I was packing my stuff for school when
an unknown number called in…
I was skeptical about picking up the call. I thought it
was Daniel. I had not been picking up his calls since his
threats.
I had two reasons; firstly, I was enjoying my new
found friendship and secondly, I wanted to punish
Daniel for a while. I wanted to get back to school
before dealing with any Daniel Drama. I knew we
were going to settle it. Daniel knew how to make me
forgive him…
I picked up hoping it wouldn’t be Daniel and thankfully it
wasn’t, but frankly speaking in a million years I would
not have expected a call from that particular caller. Guess who?
“Hello Sister Nwala”
“Good afternoon”
“This is Pastor Ben Nwafor, Bishop Acme’s P.A.”
“Yes sir” I stuttered
“The Bishop would like to see you after service
tomorrow” Life paused then, and my heart sank. My
stomach started aching
“Okay sir” I managed to reply
“Alright sis Nwala, see you tomorrow after service”
I dropped the phone far away from me out of fear. Why?
Bishop Acme?
Because of Reuben?
Oh, my good lord!
I could guess that Reuben had told his father about
his interest in me… Now there was no escaping, my
mother and Bishop Acme will force me to marry
Reuben…
I dialed Reuben’s number, our friendship in the past
five days had been sweet but this was about to bring
out the angry Nwala…
“Hello Queen Nwala,” he said with the warmest voice
ever
Not again! What kind of manipulative power did
Reuben possess? His few words had watered down the
fire of my anger… I couldn’t be angry with him…
” Hello, Nwala! Are you there?” He said
To be continued