I woke up the next morning at 4:00AM folding my clothes carefully into a brown travelling bag, now it's 5:00AM, i lay on my back as my mind drifts back to yesterday and tears slowly rolled down my face, wetting my lips.
FLASHBACK
When i saw Lola my best friend walk in through the door, i panicked, the whole excuse thingy she gave me whenever i invited her to hang out with us began to make sense.
I decided not to display my emotions, even though deep down, i was dying to murder her. She looked somewhat confident and nervous at the same time, i don't even know if that makes any sense.
I mean, what is that supposed to mean?
I pushed my butt to the edge of the couch, then turned to look at my husband when i heard another familiar voice say in a cherry voice, good afternoon.
I instantly got up from where i was seating, unable to contain my emotions anymore, my head snaps to the side and Adunni my mother in-law eyes meet mine before she looked away to acknowledge the intruder.
I turned back around to see my friend Lola gazing at me with an apologetic look questioningly. I try to understand why she'll do that after getting pregnant for my husband.
Then it hits me.
I gave her a blank stare, refusing to believe this is real, this wasn't how i expected our wedding anniversary to be.
Aunt kemi chuckles and smacks the open space directly close to her, iyawo mi (my wife), "Kikelomo mi" (my kikelomo) come and have your seat, this house is your house now.
Uncle dele love the sound of that and grinned, tilting his head to look at me in mockery while placing his hand on his stomach and rubbing it in circles.
Just like that, i zoned them out while the conversation went on. All this while i hang out with my other friends, Lola made us believe she was too busy with a project the company she works for assigned to her, i never doubted that, none of us did either, only now did i understand why she was avoiding me in particular.
Naimah, i hear my name been called. Adunni narrows her eyes, sternly waiting for an answer to a conversation i wasn't paying attention to.
The disrespect my husband's family has given to me is enough to make me smack her on the face, i suddenly feel like throwing up.
Well, we will take her silence for a yes, and, even if she declines, kike will still move in fully regardless aunt kemi said.
Really, why ask me then? I wanted to say that, i wish i could but, my mouth felt too heavy to move until, i saw my husband Ayodeji trying to hide the genuine smile resting at the corner of his lips.
Is this what they call betrayal?
I could hear the faint beat of my heart decreasing by the seconds, i curl my hands in tight fist, waiting for my husband eyes to meet mine and, when it eventually did, his eyes widen as a hurtful smirk spread across my face.
My parents warnings after the introduction between both families replayed back in my head, " i hope you won't regret marrying him my mom said, that is if she's alive to tell the story my dad painfully whispered but i heard it still, my mom didn't, if she did, she will be on her knees rebuking it with prayers, or better still attack him verbally". He wasn't like that before, it all started when my dads baby sister, who got married to a man from ibadan state, met her untimely death as a result of the beatings/ill treatment from her husband and his family and, ever since then my parents only wanted my older siblings and i to marry from Edo state where we came from. My brother and sis did, i on the other hand fell in love and took it as an opportunity to prove them wrong.
I'm embarrassed to admit that they were right about the regrets, scratching my palms together in nervousness, i gave everyone of them one last look and settled my eyes frantically on my so called best friend, no words were spoken between us.
The living room was loud with discussions, you could feel the happiness fleeting in the air, my in-laws ignored me and circled themselves around kikelomo, pampering her with love and attention.
Except a certain someone, who probably suddenly realized i existed, Ayodeji grabbed my left hand roughly, let's talk in the room Naimah, he commands.
I look at him through the tears swimming in my eyes and scoff loudly, not appreciating his tone and attempt to lure me away so he could spill whatever cooked up stories he has.
We are a team Remember, we can sort this out between us, he said, on a normal day, i will get spooned and butterflies will be dancing in my stomach at the simple utterance of us been a team but now, all i see is a foolish man lying with confidence, playing games with my heart.
What exactly attracted me to him again, can someone please tell me?
Sure, i said.
While you are at it, you can also un-impregnate her i said through gritted teeth, slapping his hands away from mine, he sighs and rubs his temple in frustration.
We are only a team, when its just you and i evolving around each other i say softly using air quote, my eyes shooting daggers at him.
Ayodeji Jamil i called, he grimaced, shaking his head in distaste at the mention of his full name before he finally looks up at me, do i care about that? Of cause not.
I point at him as i walk up close to him, he raised a confused brow pointing at himself questioningly but before i could continue, laughter erupted behind me and, i couldn't help but overhear their conversation about the gender of the baby.
Its going to be a baby boy kikelomo said.
And if its a baby boy she dragged, he'll be the head of this family aunt kemi said with emphasis on its been a boy, followed by a chorused yes.
My eyes subconsciously trained on my husband's finger, i snarled harshly, am not surprised he took our wedding ring off.
He noticed the snarl on my face, figuring out the cause of it before, he ridiculously rushed to hide his hand in his pocket. I interrupted his nervous leg dance by saying, this team has not only crashed but ended.
I didn't wait for him to argue with me and began to walk past him but got stopped again by a hand latching itself to my wrist, i took a deep breath and turned to shout at him to let go of me only to find Lola whispering please hear me out, i can explain.
END OF FLASHBACK.
I seat upright and before i know it, i was already scrolling and dialing Rachel number. My head is telling me to RUN for my life but my heart is confusing me to give him a second chance to make it up to me.
I don't know what to do, i need someone to tell me facts regardless of how i will feel, and the only person who'll speak the truth before pampering me with apologies is Racheal. Either that or i ignore amd stay back to welcome the future heart breaking torture.
I can't help but think to myself when thi...... Hello babe, Racheal said, cutting my train of thoughts off.
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