Chapter 2 Two

Beyond shocked, agitated, surprised and maybe offended were the terms I can use to classify how I felt when I saw the woman my mother chose for me. She was not fair skinned neither was she dark, she just had this "I'm not sure where I stand" complexion, i thought maybe she had tried different products. she was slim-slim and slender, I perceived she didn't like food or maybe she was too lazy to ever cook for herself.

She walked in bits, i wondered if she was scared or if it was the method of walking for the occasion or maybe the breeze from the fans in the church were threatening to push her away and she was earnestly waging war with them. She had some ladies following her from behind but my attention was on her. I had accessed her bodily features from afar but it was a struggle to tell what her face looked like since it was behind the veil. She stopped just in front of me and I knew she was looking at me and had been.

"Are you the bride or should I keep waiting for another?" I asked and she laughed childishly like I was offering a joke, maybe she had given me her own views too in her mind, maybe she was delighted to meet me, maybe it was the best day of her life and the best thing that had ever happened to her. The pastor started talking while I watched her in a frown. Once, I turned to the congregation for my mother; She was whispering something to someone, I wanted her to see me and how disgusted I was with her choice. After much talk and a little response, i was asked to remove her veil but still, I could not see her face because she was short and she faced downwards or was it my chest she was looking at? The pastor asked us to walk down the aisle together, it was strange and annoying for me. I was walking side by side with a strange lady, a lady that I did not know. I wondered how she sounded, she had only said "I do". I thought she was very emotional because after she laughed at my joke, I didn't see a dash of smile on her face again. During the reception I sat beside her and watched the people that had attended. Most of my employees were present and many other people I did not know, Richard and his family were having a good time, and Desmond my best man was nowhere to be found. Who could I talk to? I just busied myself with my phone and started making calls I did not plan to make. I stood up from my seat when the noise was too much and found a noiseless corner to proceed my call. I heard the M.C saying a lot of things, including calling me to the dance floor with the woman but I ignored them. I knew they were looking for me but I stood firm and continued my call. The M.C was finally wise enough to invite everyone to the dance floor. When I entered back inside the wedding hall, most people were on the dance floor but the bride wasn't. She had a woman beside her, maybe the woman was consoling her. I paid my attention on them and could hear their conversation.

"I don't know if I can do this" my supposed bride said. "I'm freaking out! I thought I'd be okay but I don't think so. This is like the biggest strangest thing of my life" she looked so scared and her little voice was shaking.

"Don't sound like that" the other woman consoled.

"Don't sound like what? I'm in for big trouble"

"It could be better than you think"

Their words were somewhat confusing, but I let them speak anyway. My bride put her face in her hand and shook her head continuously. She said nothing more so I moved to them to register my presence.

"I'm sorry" the lady with her said when she noticed me but I only nodded in response like a gentle man and waited for her to stand and leave before I sat down. With the way things were, I knew I could be nice, I knew I could show a little kindness to the depressed woman by telling the M.C to round up with all the fun he was catching, after all it was a Christian reception, it should be brief and solemn. I called one of the ladies that was sharing drinks around and I could partially see the bride looking at me in enthusiasm. I ignored whatever I noticed she was doing and spoke to the lady.

"Tell the M.C to round up" I said then I thought that I should back up my statement with a reason. "Tell him my wife is not feeling too well" I added and smiled at my self for the job well done. I didn't lie did I? I mean she was holding her head a while ago and what could that mean? It meant that she was tired and had headache, well even if I lied, I did the both of us a huge favour. When the lady left obediently I settled on my seat and watched the girl do what I ask her through my glasses but just then I noticed the bride-my bride was still looking at me, I turned and for the first time, I saw her face properly.

"I am not feeling too well?" She asked in a slight frown.

"Really?" I said like I didn't know it was a question. That was our conversation. I knew she would've replied me but then the M.C distracted her.

"We give God the glory for everything" he said "and we declare this reception closed. Make sure you don't leave without dropping your gifts and taking a drink and food along with you"

I saw many surprised faces in the crowd but many people seemed like there was nothing wrong. I know deep down people wondered what was wrong, I knew the wise ones could sense something off but I was not concerned, I wanted to be out of everything I had started my day with. I couldn't really be out though, I didn't realise the real deal until my supposed bride sat inside my car with the escort of her friends and well wishers and maybe her family.

"Your things are in my car" the same lady that was consoling her said through the window. "Should I transfer them to the boot or should I follow your car?" I realised the question was to me.

"Please follow the car" she rather answered and I couldn't say a word. "Sorry I'm stressing you"

"It's okay" the other woman said with a smile and soon I started driving carefully in order not to loose the car following my car.

I couldn't believe that the whole thing had not ended, that the occasion was just the beginning, that the woman was going to live with me -it all skipped my mind. I was boiling inside but I kept still, I was restless as I continuously thought of stopping the car and telling her to come down but I couldn't just do it, it was an impossible thought. When I stopped the car, she didn't move even after I opened my door. I wondered if she wanted me to be stupidly gentle to open the door and maybe carry her out. Well for me, it was a good thing that she would not move, at least if she made my car her room, I didn't mind buying another one no matter what it'd cost me or rather I could use a taxi in joy for all I could care.

I came down from the car and so did her helper come out of her own car. They were not my business, I wanted to bath and rest from all the stress of the day.

"Loveth" I heard someone say as I walked to close the gate. I turned and noticed that It was the new attachment in my life. She had come out of the car and was beckoning on her assistant who was Loveth. "Thank you. Just help me, let's bring down the things then you can go. I'm sorry for stressing you" she said.

"You're not stressing me" Loveth assured in a smiley way. "If I had my way, I would stay here with you till we are done arranging your things"

"That won't be necessary, you know you're travelling tomorrow, you need to rest" my attachment quickly said. I sense she knew that I was listening. I hesitated at the gate on purpose, I wanted to hear all but they stopped talking and just silently brought the things down. Her things were many, I didn't know if I should help or if I shouldn't, I just made myself busy with the gate, idly doing nothing and when I was tired of being a fool, I left the gate and walked to my car. I opened the door and took out my drink from the car, Loveth was done helping her by that time then I took my house key out of the car to open the entrance to the house. As I opened it, I noticed someone walking towards me, I turned and saw Loveth smiling and looking up at me.

"Can I get the keys for the gate?" Loveth asked me and then I realised that I shouldn't have locked the gate.

"Oh!" I exclaimed foolishly. "I'd just help you open it"

"Thank you" she said with a smile. As I opened the gate, she said few words to the woman she was leaving behind then she bade her goodbye and started the ignition. I noticed how sad the other woman became as loveth drove out but she tried to cover it with a smile. While I closed the gate, she gradually and dependently packed all her boxes inside my house. I couldn't help but wonder how the rest of my life would be. It was like I was acting a suspense movie that I didn't know about, as if I was acting a movie without a script, like I had not read the story line. As I approached my house I made up my mind to not let my new life bother me. I could cut the presence of the woman out and just live my normal life. Yes I knew there will be consequences but I couldn't care less, it was my life, and no matter how much trouble I got into for the choices I made, I knew I could always come out.

She was in my room, how did she find my room? She had tied her wedding dress somehow that it looked a little shorter. When she saw me she scratched her head and turned her attention back to the things.

"I didn't find any space in the wardrobe to keep my things" she said with her eyes now on me. "I was wondering if you could create space for me" it was polite but i didn't notice. She waited patiently for a response from me while I analysed her words in my head. Were her things supposed to be in my wardrobe? What made her think I would share my wardrobe with her?

"I don't understand" I told her plainly but in a frown. "What makes you think the wardrobe is for us?"

Her mouth fell open then I noticed how she struggled to bring out words from her mouth but she failed, she closed her mouth and turned her eyes to her things.

"So where will I keep them?" She asked with her eyes still on the things. I walked past her and started taking off the tie I had been wearing

"I'd manage if You keep them beside my wardrobe" I said and waited for a reply but I got none. She became quiet and started doing things i didn't know but i didn't care, i liked the silence. I wondered if it was okay to take off my shirt with her in the room. After much contemplation, I took my towel and moved to my bathroom. As I bathed I thought of the room, the bed, where would she sleep? I only had a room. I couldn't come up with an idea and I couldn't imagine sleeping in the living room- being a sacrificial lamb-no way. After bathing I realised I would come out with only my towel on-i had forgotten to take in clothes with me. I was angry with myself for such stupid mistake. I started wishing I could sneak inside my room to get my clothes and run back inside the bathroom but it was a silly imagination, I ended up coming out with my towel around my waist and my coat of boldness around my shoulder, I was walking proudly like I didn't feel a tinge of shame in being partially naked in front of a strange woman until I realised she was not in the room. She had arranged her things neatly and had laid the bed that was not laid. I normally laid my bed-well sometimes-but I didn't lay it that morning because of the wedding. My room looked new and strangely neat, it scared me, it announced the presence of someone else that was not me, someone with a different perspective that was forcing herself into my life. I quickly wore my night ware shorts and was about wearing the shirt when she came in, she passed me like I was not there and picked a piece of clothing she had kept on her box. As I buttoned my shirt I watched her as she disappeared into the bathroom and closed the door-my bathroom. I sighed. I couldn't believe it, my plan was to ignore her but with what? My eyes could see her, my ears could hear her sounds, there was no way out. I laid at the end of the right side of the bed and faced the wall, my eyes were closed and I was near sleep when the bathroom door hit the wall noisily and She stormed out like she was purposely offending me, I wanted to ignore her but then she tapped my feet and watched me until I sat up and watched her in quieted rage.

"You left your trouser and belt and boxer on the toilet seat" she told me sternly and I immediately felt ashamed. For the first time in my own house, I felt ashamed. She was with my things in her hand and stretched them out to me. I hesitated before I took it. "You're welcome" she said and walked to where her boxes were. I watched her towel her hair and hang her towel on one hanger. I didn't watch her for long, I stood up and put the things in my dirty clothes basket. As I did, she passed me to the bed and laid far away from the edge of the other side of the bed. She was partially in the middle and was backing the wall. She opened a book I couldn't really see well and started reading it. I was amazed at her boldness, how she approached my bed like it was hers, feeling so comfortable, I wondered if she had been married before, she seemed like she had done all these things before. I walked in bits to the bed and sat at the edge then I turned to her and watched her as she read the book, I realised it was the Bible.

"Can you move to the edge?" I told her. Her response was a raised brow and a stare at me. I guess she needed a repetition so I repeated myself. "Like, you're too close to me" I said in disgust. I wanted her to know I was not shy.

"What if I fall?" She said with her small, sing like, womanly strange voice. The question was funny but I didn't laugh. I only shrugged and patiently waited for her to do as I said. "You don't care if I fall?"

"Please just turn" I told her impatiently. "Turn around and shift. It won't be hard for me to push you if you don't comply". It vexed me that she searched my eyes strangely before she turned. The act left me confused, i felt awkward, her attitude did something to me. Were there words in the attitude that I knew nothing about? It left me bothered, I couldn't get over it, I switched off the light and closed my eyes but then she switched them on back.

" I'm sorry, I'm reading" she quickly apologised and I bore with her. After all I had slept many times with the light on, it was not worth a fight. She made continuous uncomfortable moves on the bed that didn't and couldn't let me sleep. I was frustrated but I couldn't get myself to complain. The woman had seen my underwear earlier and she had given me a strange look I couldn't understand, I wanted the two to digest before I got anymore from her. That night, I slept in a struggle, I just knew I needed coffee to move the next morning.