SEE FINISH BY TREASURE EZURUIKE EPISODE 10

SEE FINISH TREASURE EZURUIKE EPISODE 10

(NNENNA’S POV)

Dubem pulled a seat and sat close to me, took my hand, and said hey how are you feeling? 

I wept and told him I felt horrible. I apologized to him for his injuries. He told me it was okay. 

If you walked in on us you would think he was my husband. I often wished that Ikenna treated me like that but it wasn’t meant to be. 

Dubem told me I’ll be okay because he would support me till the end of time.

Dad arrested Ikenna, Oluchi, my mother-in-law, and my other in-laws. He wasn’t willing to listen to any pleas. 

He asked why they would treat me the way they did and kidnap Dubem for taking me in. 

Dad said it was an insult especially as they knew the kind of family I came from. He felt they wanted to call his bluff.

At that point, Dubem advised me to wash my hands off the matter because I didn’t need that stress. 

I agreed with him because I was feeling so miserable. I felt they all deserved it, especially Ikenna and Oluchi for beating me.

I stepped out with a short wine maternity red gown that complimented my complexion and housed my 8 months old baby bump. I had my braids up in a bun. 

Their attention was immediately shifted to me. I could see the shock on Ikenna’s face. I greeted them all. 

Dubem offered me a seat he had reserved for me and he stood over me like the presidential Chief Personal Security Officer. 

My in-laws were inaccessible in custody, my Dad made sure of that. He pulled all the strings he could. 

After one week mum pleaded with dad to let them go so he wouldn’t kill any chances of a reconciliation. 

Dad screamed what reconciliation? Mum put her two hands up saying it’s just a suggestion.

I was back home and Dad stopped by to ask my opinion. Dubem was home and dad wanted to know if I was still interested in a reconciliation. 

I told him I didn’t know but if ikenna reached out to me it was something I was willing to consider but if he didn’t I’ll just let the sleeping dog lie.

Dad released them after his visit, not before giving them a stern warning. They left angrily. Oluchi was humbled as my brother told me but I didn’t even care. 

I wanted to inform Ikenna about the pregnancy but he called me shortly after his release and cursed my entire generation. 

He told me the marriage was over. Dubem consoled me but at that point, I didn’t care because my emotions were all over the place.

I never heard from Ikenna and his family again. No more threatening calls and texts. Months rolled by and I had moved on. 

My only belongings with Ikenna were clothes so I didn’t bother much. I had my credentials and documents so I could apply for a job. 

I completely forgot about my marriage to Ikenna and focused on birthing my baby.

My pregnancy was without complications but very uncomfortable. Dubem’s ears got full with complaints Ikenna was supposed to hear. 

I had the strangest cravings and food aversions. I sent Dubem out of the house at odd hours of the day. 

How he went with a smile on his face surprised me. He never yelled at me even when I appeared ungrateful.

One evening Dad called me to inform me he will be coming to see me with some visitors. I wondered who. 

By 5 pm they arrived. I was in the bedroom and heard voices. I listened closely and I heard the voices of Ikenna, Oluchi, and my parents’ in-laws. 

I didn’t recognize the other voices but I knew it was my in-laws.

I felt they had come for reconciliation but I canceled that thought when I heard voices raised in the sitting room. 

Dad was telling my in-laws that they insisted on seeing me before making their decision. 

He told them I couldn’t come down to our home in the village so he brought them to where I was. 

I wondered what they wanted with me but soon Dubem came to prepare my mind for the worse and told me my attention was needed.

I stepped out with a short wine maternity red gown that complimented my complexion and housed my 8 months old baby bump. I had my braids up in a bun. 

Their attention was immediately shifted to me. I could see the shock on Ikenna’s face. I greeted them all. 

Dubem offered me a seat he had reserved for me and he stood over me like the presidential Chief Personal Security Officer. 

Dad asked my in-laws to look at me well and quickly before they got to the business of the day.

I wondered what it was until Dad said I don’t have all day. You wanted me to return the bride price in Nnenna’s presence like it was given to me the day she got married to Ikenna. 

Well here is it, Dad offered them my bride price. No one wanted to accept it. Dad dropped it on the table where my in-laws sat.

My father-in-law said they won’t accept it because they had no idea I was pregnant. Oluchi and my mother-in-law asked if they were sure Ikenna was the father. 

I stood up and walked away and I felt Ikenna’s eyes follow me. I looked back and caught him staring. 

He stood up and headed outside and soon my phone rang.

It was Ikenna asking me why I didn’t tell him I was pregnant. He told me Pregnancy looked good on me. He wanted to take me home that day. 

I told him the matter was beyond both of us and I couldn’t follow him home. He barked at me and ended the call. Soon his family left. 

He continued to send me insulting messages until Dubem blocked his number.

(KIRA’S POV)

Kenny pulled me into the room he had been staying in. He told me how he missed me and how he couldn’t stop thinking about me. 

He asked me to turn around. I did as he said he put his hands around me and just held me like that just taking it all in and saying I never thought I will hold you again like this. 

He turned me around and said are you still mad at me? I didn’t say a word. I just let the tears fall from my eyes. He caught it in his hands.

I could see how rough his hands looked showing just what he had gone through. He had been through the valley of the shadow of death. 

He asked me if I still loved him. I just looked away because I didn’t know what to say to him. 

He pulled me closer to him looking into my eyes and his lips met mine and everything just got crazy. 

The truth was that I needed it because I was going crazy. 

When I met Kenny so many women were after him but it was me he wanted. 

While I was giving him a hard time other women were throwing themselves at him but he didn’t give them the green light. 

They felt snubbed and hated me because I had what they wanted and I did not value it. 

I also had so many men “on my case” who wanted me like Kenny but I wasn’t interested in any of them just like I wasn’t interested in Kenny at the time. 

When he went missing and the news of his disappearance went viral. Those people came back to mock me. 

They trolled me on social media, making fun of me asking me how far and where Kenny was now. 

Some of those men taunted me and offered themselves to me in Kenny’s place in his absence. 

They told me they knew he had left me for another woman and that I was sex-starved. They offer to take his place and warm my bed. 

Just before Kenny contacted me I was considering it because I just couldn’t go the rest of my life living that way.

I was married but single and I couldn’t find my husband. 

Kenny knew just what I wanted and he gave it to me just the way I wanted it. 

At the end of the day, I felt like a trailer load of ice had been poured on my body because I had calmed down. 

As I lay beside Kenny I looked at his body just wondering what he would have been through that would have given him those kinds of scars.

He told me he was in counseling with his friends because they were all traumatized. Their lives had been put on hold for four years for a crime they did not commit. 

Kenny asked me how I’ve been and what I was up to and how I’ve been surviving without him financially. I told you my family was looking after me. 

He told me he will make up for his absence and I told him not to say that again because he wasn’t intentionally absent, that was nothing he will make up for. 

I stayed in Doctor Ike’s house for a week with Kenny just catching up on lost time.

Kenny’s family and the family of his friends filed a lawsuit against the police for the wrongful arrest and detention of their children. 

They filed for damages claiming that their children had lost lots of money in their businesses in the four years they were incarcerated for a crime they didn’t commit. 

They were never charged to court to face trial. They were just sent to prison for 4years with hard labor for something they did not do. 

The court case dominated the news headlines and went viral on social media. It was a topic of discussion all over social media. I went home with Kenny. 

He was surprised to learn that I had moved from the house we used to live in.

I had to because it reminded me of him. I had to move to some other place so I could walk into the house without imagining him in one part of the house. 

He was still walking on eggshells around me and scared. I had to tell him to stop because I was not upset with him and I wasn’t going to leave him. 

Within the next few months things picked up and we were glad to ease back into our normal life. 

I was so glad to have Kenny back with me because I thought I’d lost him forever. 

Our families threw us a party. He proposed to me again at a private party of just family members.

It was so emotional. I said Yes. Our families organized a wedding reception just for only family members.

I went shopping with my mum and mother-in-law like I was getting married for the first time.

It was such a loving affair. It was so fun-filled with so many fun events. I had great fun. 

Kenny could not keep his hands off me. He kissed me at every given opportunity our eyes met.

That night was like our wedding night. So full of passion. He was trying to make up for a lost time. 

(CHIKANMA’S POV)

Ijeoma said wait Gerald you ended my call and called your chef. Imagine the insult: this is too much. 

These children and their mother must leave this house today and now. 

Gerald screamed from the phone if you touch those children and their mother my relationship with you is over.

Ijeoma hissed and said you call this a relationship? She started to push my children out of the kitchen. 

I don’t know if Gerald flew but in a few minutes, the next thing I heard was a knock on the door. 

He was banging on the door, he called me on the phone so angry, then said open this door right now.

I opened the door and he walked in angrily. Ijeoma what is the meaning of this he yelled as she dragged my children out, asking them to leave? 

Leave those children alone right now Gerald roared.

Ijeoma refused to listen to him until he dragged my children away from her, asking her are you crazy? Are you high? Are you mad? Ijeoma hissed, grabbed her handbag, and left. 

Gerald hugged my children, appeasing them. He switched on the television for the children to watch cartoons. 

A few minutes later his phone rang and it was his mum.

I could tell from the ringtone because his mother called him a lot. They had a loving relationship. 

It reminded me of my relationship with my mother. They could be on the phone for hours just teasing each other.

She’d ask him when he will get married and he’d ask her the same thing. She’d say I can’t get married again. 

He’d say who said that? Mum, you are still young. His mum will say “young kill you there’ and he’d burst out laughing. 

I could tell she loved his girlfriend. She always asks about her and when they are going to see her family he’d say relax mum. 

This time she called angrily because Gerald’s phone was on speaker. What kind of nonsense is this? Gerald’s mum asked. 

I had never heard her that angry. The meaning of what nonsense mum? Gerald asked. 

How can you get involved with a woman with two children abandoning Ijeoma who is single? 

Gerald excused himself and removed the phone on speaker and left for his bedroom. 

I heard him yell loudly but I didn’t know what he was saying to his mum and what she was saying to him.

He came out an hour later so upset. He left the house and returned about 30 minutes later. He called Ijeoma, put the phone on speaker and they argued. 

He asked her why she painted me black to his mum.  Why would you tell my mother that my chef is a widow with two children and some others she had out of wedlock? 

Ijeoma said you think you can play a fast one on me after I supported you? 

“Supported” me how? Gerald asked. When I met you I was already made. I had my own company and I already built this house. How did you support me? 

You had no money and no job when I met you. I found you a job, got you a place to live and a car. I cleaned you up and brought you up to my standards. 

Just how did you support me? He asked angrily. I provided emotional support, Ijeoma responded.

What kind of emotional support? Do I sleep with you? You said it’s not on the menu. I respected that.  

You don’t cook or clean. I respected that. I respected everything you said so what is this emotional support you are talking about? An angry Gerald asked. 

I don’t care, Ijeoma said. You can’t just discharge me after two years. 

You’ve made a mistake poisoning my mum’s mind towards Chikanma. 

Telling her she’s put something in my food and now I’m taking care of her children she had out of wedlock you must be mad. You are not even consistent with your lies. 

I have never asked Chikanma out. We have no romantic relationship. 

I was drawn to her because she reminds me of my mother when she lost her husband, who happened to be my father.

I see myself in that boy and that girl that I was touched to help but because you’ve no empathy you can’t see it. 

You are so selfish. You are not wise at all. You couldn’t see that each time you attacked Chikanma it affected my relationship with you. 

There’s no problem my mum would marry you since it is now by force to marry you, rubbish he said and ended the call. 

Ijeoma was going to say something before he ended the call.

I stood looking at him as he kept hissing to blow off steam. My children stood far from him.

To be continued

© Treasure Ezuruike.

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