PART 14
“NWALA: THE BITTERSWEET STORY”
©️ Opeyemi Akintunde.
As Inspired by the LIVING WORD.
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 afterwards” 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 nice trousers, with a Mcafeee 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 laid, 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 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 will locate me. The truth is though my mother is no more 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 emotion I was feeling; was it 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 a 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 the call. I was thinking it was Daniel. I had not been picking 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 won’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 sirrr” I stuttered
“The Bishop would like to see you after service tomorrow”
Life paused at that moment, 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 angry… I couldn’t be angry with him…
” Hello Nwala! Are you there?” He said
To be continued
