MY FATHER'S WIFE PART 2 (WRATH OF LUST)

I can’t believe it’s actually 5years now, 5 solid years gone in a whim.
5 years of not seeing papa and my skybeauty, and 5 years of not seeing Nigeria.
After my stay in the hospital, we were discharged when i was deemed strong enough by the doctor.
I spent a month without walking, using a wheel chair all that while.
That was the most tormenting period of my life, confined to just seat on a wheel chair, pushed around by people whenever i wanted to step out, made worse by the haunting images of Amanda.
After many therapies and home check ups by doctors i finally stood on my feet again, it felt like heaven to be able to use my legs again. Little wonder those little beads of crystal tears that fell from my face.
Few months after my full recovery, I was sent to London to finish my studies, away from any thing that can bring memories of Amanda back.
The first few months in London were filled with such tormenting images that always made my heart skip beats.
The day papa caught me with Amanda, her pregnancy, what would happen to her?
All these questions haunted me even in London.
After a year in London, my memories of Amanda began to wane and fade, i even forgot she was ever pregnant.
My life pulled together again and i graduated from Sheffield University with 2nd class honour in Micro-biology.
It was time to go home after all these years.
The plane touched down in Mutala Muhammed airport in Lagos, it taxied through the run way de-accelerating with each passing second until it came to a full halt.
Tele-like voice of the pilot flickered out through the speakers as he made some announcements and uttered out some welcome back words. **am sure he must be really proud of himself now**
I was not even interested in whatever he was yapping, whatever it was sounded like an unclear radio broadcast to me being among the first to rise from my seat, i was eager to see home.
Stepping out of the huge white flying shark, i drew a deep breath filling my lungs with as much air as possible perceiving a mixture of freshness and a familiar soothing warmth.
“This definitely is Nigeria” i smiled to myself assuring myself that i wasn’t taken to the wrong country.
“Sky!” that ever familiar silky voice rang into my ears as i stepped into the airport lounge. It was strangely slimmer now.
My face tilted itself to the direction the voice came and their she was, tearing through the mazes of people littering the airport lounge, a broad smile was glued to her face, eyes glued on me.
I almost lost my balance and fell as Jessy dumped her whole weight on me with a scream, wrapping her hands tightly around me. I could notice people’s watching eyes fixed on us. **People no deh like mind their business shaa** But this is skybeauty; my twin or you can say my other half, i don’t mind staying like that forever.
Jessy had changed remarkably, she was a bit taller and slimmer now, her face seeming a bit more oval and an aura of pride and womanliness oozed around her in every sense.
She was a medical doctor now, i remember sending her a silvery stethoscope when she told me she finished her final M.B.B.S exams and is now a graduate, that was last year.
Couldn’t be more proud of my Skybeauty who have grown into a fine young woman.
“Nnam nnoo (Welcome) ” I heard papa intone making me shift my gaze from Jessy to papa as he walked up to me, Jessy must have left him behind when she ran to meet me..
As i last remembered, papa was as neatly and smartly dressed as always; adorning an ash coloured jumper with senator collar.
He seemed a little older to me and his pregnant-like protruding stomach looked smaller now.
“Papa” I blurted out a smile sweeping across my face.
Papa took my right hands into his in a handshake, tapping my other shoulder with his left hand “My little boy is now a full grown man” his voice filtered into my ears inducing a sense of pride and self consciousness in me.
I still remember as a kid, how i used to complain he didn’t shake me too after he shakes his visitors that always poured in.
he would always say “You are still a boy nnam, when you grow into a man you get handshakes”.
“Clearly i am now a man” my mind rang making me widen my already wide grin.
“Papa, you look strong” I said taking him in for a slight hug. 5years is not that near.
Papa and Jessy led me out of the lounge certainly to the car outside so we can start the journey back to Enugu. Papa never liked travelling by air.
Jessy kept asking questions, giving me little exciting punches and nudges; This girl probably still thinks we were still teenagers or even kids..**lol**
anyway it’s good to be back home..
Welcome Back Johnysky.

“Welcome back sir” A young robust guy wearing a white crisp shirt tucked into a navy blue trouser addressed me grabbing my luggage and loading them into the car trunk.
He was average heighted, deep black complexion with 2 little pairs of tribal marks running at each side of his eyes in a little vertical manner.
“Sky this is Philip, Papa’s driver” Jessy announced grabbing the door handle to pull it open while Philip already flew the other back door of the silvery white Nissan highlander open for papa to climb in.
So papa now have a driver, he definitely is growing old.
I pulled the front door open and sat on the passengers seat alongside Philip who was now fidgeting with the key to call the car to life.
“How do you do bro?” i addressed Philip offering my hands for a handshake.
“Am fine sir” He replied shaking my hands with a smile.
“Please just call me sky” i intoned almost immediately getting a smile as a reply.
The engine roared as the car shuddered to a start and we taxied off from the airport heading home down to Enugu.
Jessy wasted no time to relay to me everything that has been happening in the last few years that i was gone starting from her fiancée; A medical doctor too, Wilson. and owner of the of one of the biggest hospitals in Enugu.
They had met at a medical seminar just before she finished her final exams. An air of pride and fulfillment oozed out from her as she sang and sang out many of his virtues, features and other things. How gentle and kind and caring he is, his humble nature even though he is a young millionaire.
Papa just had a mild smile on his face, his face was looking out probably looking as the trees ran behind us uniformly with the almost 100km/h speed Philip maintained. He just left us to do our discussion as the young ones.
My papa looked a bit frail and quieter than his old carefree, laughter filled self.
Jessy went on to tell me Chioma is now a graduate too, and is now working for a very rich private firm in Abuja.
She now have her own car and a house there in Abuja. . .and bla bla bla stuffs flying out of Jessy’s mouth.
“Hhmmm she is really doing good for herself” I said finally after Jessy was through with her CNN chioma documentary broadcast.
“Is she married yet?” i heard myself say.
I noticed papa raised and eyebrow, smiled a little but still seemed more engrossed with whatever it is he was looking at through the window.
Jessy gave out a cracking resounding laughter clutching her stomach in her hands.
“Why are you asking” she blurted out amidst her laughter throwing a strong wink at me.
She just succeeded in making me blush from from embarrassment.
“Answer something jooor” I pulled a sharp defence to hide the embarrassment.
“Ok ok she is not married yet” She stressed the ‘yet’ eyeing me intensely as if to see what i was thinking.
“But i thought you used to call her when you travelled, how come you don’t know she is married or not” She added almost immediately casting a suspicious look at me.
“I had her number but it suddenly stop going through” i replied this time peeping at papa a little.
“Yes i remember now, she lost that number some time ago” Jessy couldn’t even let me finish.
“But why are you asking if she is married” she said again bearing that kind silly smile touching papa a bit.
“None of your business, Onye asiri (Gossip)” i retorted facing my front immediately hearing as she and papa burst into laughter..
**Good, she just pulled papa into her mischief** even Philip gave out a mild chuckle.
We arrive Enugu a little after 5pm having left lagos by 8am. The car tore through the roads as it swerved into Independence layout road.
The whole place was still very familiar except for some slight changes and developments and the road was much better now.
Our gate roared open, watched as a dark smallish man wrestling as he pushed it open for our car to move into the compound.
“Where is Ahmed?” i asked to no one in particular still looking back at the smallish man still wrestling to close the gigantic gate back.
“Ahmed went back to the north 3years ago, and he never came back. That one over there is Effiong we just hired him 6months ago after Musa” Papa explained.
Walking into the house from the parking lot, the house still looked same to me except the paint now shone bright white, papa must have repainted it.
That sense of belonging and relaxation which i haven’t felt for 5years now, sieved into me.
Jessy was the first to swoop into the house with only her purse leaving the whole luggage for me and Philip to handle.
I followed Philip clutching my personal travelling bag that contained my very personal effects mostly those papers that had queen Elizabeth’s face on it if you understand..-**winks**
Pushing the door open i was faced with an unexpected figure, clutching a little very beautiful fair complexioned baby who gazed with blank smileful eyes.
My eyes popped and jaws dropped immediately intensifying my look on the figure before me to be sure this wasn’t the wrong house…
“Welcome back home, sky” Amanda intoned.

Crashing on my bed, i sighed hard raging storms of hard fear, rippled confusion surged through me. I was lost in more than one way.
I stared blankly at my room, the whole set was changed and different this time. My disney bedspread was now been replaced by a plain white sheet, the mattress was harder papa probably changed that too pending my arrival.
The curtains were all different, the paint now wearing a crisp blue look with cream edgings and an immaculate white ceiling with a loosely hung ceiling fan.
“What dah heck is Amanda doing here?”
“And is that child the baby she was pregnant with?”
“what exactly is going on, papa and Jessy never mentioned this to me?”
I wouldn’t deny the fact that i was afraid and lost, i had thought Amanda was my past that i have escaped, my life was finally in order and now here it is, the past glaring at me.
My mind raced back to dinner, a stale, bleak and alien dinner to me.
Amanda had actually been the one that came to call me for dinner, the way her eyes ran all of me from head to toe wearing a smirk as she announced i should come to the dinning for dinner.
She haven’t changed a bit, seemed to me she even improved her looks. Her face only wore 5percent difference from what i remembered but still maintained the beauty and appeal.
Her boobs was remarkably still as firm as it was before seeing that she was only wearing a tank top which made it obvious that she had no bra on.
Her waist region were a bit broader than before been flowed into a relatively sized thigh she wrapped in a white leggings.
In all Amanda was still the goddess i remember.
Going down to the dinning. Amanda, jessy and papa ate and talked like everything was normal. raising topics and jokes mingled in resounding laughter that seemed to make me even more lost, tensed and confused than i was.
I stole glances at both jessy and papa with my facial expression wearing a lot of questions, don’t even know if they noticed i was even there with them on the dinning.
It felt like a whole new planet to me, before my eyes a nollywood movie is being played out and i cant help but watch in utter confusion.
I left the dinning room after eating as much as i could endure as the food hardly went down my throat. I eyed Jessy then thanked papa and Amanda before going up to my room.
“Sky are you here?” Jessy’s voice sipped into my ears snapping me out of my blankness.
Jolting up i pulled jessy to my side like we were quarrelling.
“What is she doing here?”
“why is she here?”
“what brought her here?”
“How did she come back here?”
I poured out on Jessy sounding more like i was pleading than questions.
“Hey calm down” Jessy said letting out a wild chuckle..
“Jessy just tell me already” i retorted betraying a lot of fear and confusion that swayed around me, looking into Jessy’s eyes almost asking why they all betrayed me like this.
“Sky its a long story” she began “After you left, papa have been taking care of Amanda through out the period she was pregnant.
After Amanda was delivered of a baby boy, papa said no blood son of his will have to grow up not knowing him so he had to ask Amanda for the baby.” She stopped and took a quick glance at me, she could see how blank my face was and how impatience made me wince because of her pause.
“Amanda refused and said her baby will never live in a home without her.
That she intends to marry again and move on with her life but her baby is going with her anywhere she goes”
I nodded slightly and could almost hear myself say “Good, that’s better so why didn’t she, what then is she doing here?”
Jessy seeming to have read my mind smiled weakly and continued.
“Papa had given it a thought for many weeks, judging from the fact that they had a court marriage before he brought her home. Amanda had threatened to file a divorce suit.
Papa couldn’t bear such scandal or relinquish his claim to the child so he had to bring her back again as his wife but its sorely for the sake of that little baby” She tried to sound as much encouraging as possible to snap me out of any feeling of insecurity i might be having.
“Jessy i have a really bad feeling about this” I finally said after minutes of silence mopping at Jessy.
Right there, my past is back to haunt me for real this time and my nemesis is staring at me.

To say i slept well through out the night would be a big lie, from my constant change of positions on the bed to scary meaningless dreams that rocked my sleep through out.
The morning was cold and humid it had rained heavily the night before.
A fresh scent of dust mixed with rain filled my nostrils, that smell you have when ever the rain comes for the first time in months after the dry season.
Chime-like sounds in slow succession filled my ears, little beads of dews forming a crystal rain tear dropping into buckets of water, the air was wet-cold and a chilly air swayed around.
I lazily rose from bed rubbing my fore-head furiously. My head was throbbing having stayed awake all night, even when i succeeded in getting some sleep it was from one stupid dream to another, the most scary of them was the last one i just had before jolting out from sleep. “What type of nonsense sleep is this na?” i cursed under my breathe.
It was a bright sunny Saturday,The house was filled to the brim and buzzing activities swayed everywhere.
People were excitedly chattering and doing one thing or the other.
I was clad in the in a black Italian suite, a white shirt and a black tie knotted round my neck. It was a wedding day.
In the church, the chimming songs that tolled out from the gigantic metal bell that hung on tower filtered in resounding sounds.
Jessy was seating beside Papa and Mama sat their too beaming with smiles and a look of pride on their eyes, Looking around the church i was happy for the crowd that came to this wedding which happened to be my wedding.
Standing right on the altar, the priest beaming down a holy smile on me with his flowing white chasuble dancing slightly from a little sway of air.
The whole congregation stood up and i could see all eyes fixed at the entrance of the church as a girl clad in white shimmering gown with large flowing flay riddled into precious stones that seemed to throw off unusual sparks. Her face was covered in a white semi- transparent veil that let out tiny shimmers under the bright golden rays of the church light.
“You many now Kiss the bride” i heard the slowly holy-like voice of the priest address to me.
With a smile and quick reflex i reached for the veil pulling it up to reveal a pair of eyes, perky nose and a smiling mouth in front of me.. “Amanda???” I yelled in surprise.
The whole scenario changed. The huge white painted interior of the church gave way to a small bluish room.. I opened my eyes surprised at the type of dream i just had.
An alien surge of scare engulfed me giving me wavy goose bumps, my head threatening to rip open.
A slight knock on my door gave way to the door sliding open slowly with a groan and Amanda sipped in to my room.
Her slow strides dragged her closer, her legs moving in very slow motion like a model showcasing her assets in slow motioned catwalks.
She was clad in a very tight flimsy turquoise spaghetti top, her boobs resting heavily on the top protruding the poor dress with n----e tips fiercely showing through the flimsy material.
Her waist was adorning a white bum short with red dots stopping before half way to her thighs.
I sprang up fully from the bed kneeling straight on the mattress now facing her with a snare and surprised question riddled look.
“What dah f--k is she doing in my room”
“Good morning my sky” She slowly said her eyes blinking at fast paces and her iris working its way down to junior sky’s vicinity and up to my face again. I kept mute but the look in my eyes didn’t hide my raging contempt.
“My sky is now a full grown man, looking more handsome in those bushy beards and these your broad shoulders and thick muscles are killing” She sang on slowly running her hand from my beards taking it down to my shoulder and sliding down to my hands eyes still fixed on me.
“What do you want here” I found my voice fixing my face to look angered trying hard to sell my disgust mood to her, i don’t even know what that question mean exactly. Was it about what she is doing in my room or in this house in general?
A mild chuckle sipped out from her and her right hand travelled upwards to my chest region now.
“I know you must be surprised to see me here when you came back, it clearly showed on your face yesterday and is still showing” She continued seeming not to hear my question or maybe ignored it.
“But i want to let you know that i didn’t come to this house for your father anymore, i came back here for you because i knew you would surely come back one day and you will understand what i mean soon. I have a lot of surprises waiting for you my dear”
Her hands grazed my lips, then a wet snappy kiss on my numb lips followed by a sinister low chuckle and she turned round to leave, swaying her a-s far more than normal.
I stood there transfixed on my position, not knowing or even have the ability to move. The cold morning suddenly turned stale and hot cus i could feel beads of sweat running down the crack of my back.
“What exactly i am into”

It has been 2weeks since i returned from the U.K, since after Amanda’s visit to my room she has been acting normal and the visit never repeated again.
She goes about her daily activities normally without initiating eye contact with me or winks though she always wears a dirty smirk when ever am around.
“I have a surprise waiting for you” Those words rang in my mind over and over again. what ever she might possibly mean by that, i had no idea but it still scares the be-jesus out of me just remembering those words. Her calm yet serious tone she addressed me with sent goose bumbs surging through my body.
After several begging and bribes Jessy finally obliged to give me Chioma’s number and i have managed to get her to agree to visit, as a matter of fact she is flying in from Abuja this weekend.
The Saturday was rainy and boring, having poured cat and dog all night long. The morning maintained a very lazy humid atmosphere with bone penetrating colds.
Papa have gone to his party meeting having been elevated to the post of Party Chairman in the state.
Jessy have rushed off to University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital where she now works, and from the news she kept announcing to my ears about Wilson coming to pick her up for a lunch date, I knew she wasn’t coming home anytime soon.
I on my own part was dying of anxiety, Chioma’s flight will be arriving anytime soon. I did a quick scan of the whole house mopping up dirt here and there, arranging seats in order.
Shifting this and shifting that, all that Amanda sat in the sitting room, legs crossed with an amused look on her face and most part of her thighs exposed in a very short knicker with a slim flimsy pink top to match.
I hurried over a cold shower, trimming my beards and a long spree of teeth brushing running my hand in front of my mouth to make sure i had the freshest breathe possible.
11:45am my phone buzzed and hummed and the name Chioma buzzing out from the installed call announcer making my heart skip a beat.
“What if Chioma have lost that enchanted teenage emotion” my mind mulled over as i hurriedly literally jumped into a blue jean and white T-shirt.
Rushing off after checking myself for the one thousand and one time on the mirror.
Chioma’s call was now becoming frequent and she was sounding impatient.
I got to the airport 12:30 hitting the airport lounge with full speed. I stood there tilting my face left and right with my phone in my hand displaying Chioma’s number in the dial screen.
Felt a slight touch on my back startling me a bit making me turn swiftly in an involuntary fluid movement.
Chioma was standing in front of me, my mouth dropped open and i can swear my eyes widened a bit.
She was clad in a white gown that stopped just before her knees, running all the way to her shoulders hugging it tight in a graceful short sleeve.
Beautifully long braided hair flowing to the back, her hips and boobs were somewhat fuller than i recall. All in all a full grown angel was in front of me, Chioma was a full description of what you can call beautiful woman.
“Hey chioma” I blurted out opening my arms and closing it again in a moronic manner not knowing whether i am supposed to hug or handshake..
Like she read my mind, she chuckled a bit and retired her body into mine crushing heavily into mine sending slight tingles into junior sky.
“I missed you sky” I heard the words flow into my ears like music causing my heart to race faster than usual.
“I missed you too chi” i uttered rubbing her head.
We drove home on papa’s lexus jeep i came with, it was like the chemistry between i and chioma was automatic.
Who can imagine we have been apart for more 5years now but the affection and love i detect in this girl was still as strong as it was during our teenage age.
We got home after some minutes, i still can’t help always laughing anytime i see how effiong’s smallish body made it seem like the gate pushed him instead of him pushing the gate.
Amanda was still seated in the sitting room when i walked in with Chioma.
The look on Amanda’s face was priceless, that exact look she wore the day Joy visited me.
“Good afternoon Ma” Chioma greeted with a smile.
“Good afternoon dear. welcome” she uttered back flashing a smile at chioma.
**That type that only shows teeth**
I took chioma’s luggage to my room with her trailing behind.
leaving her to freshen up and change her clothes i strolled downstairs to check what we have in the fridge
“Sky!!” that definitely was Amanda’s voice my mind announced and my body making a U-turn.
Amanda stood with both her hands on her waist and her face looking like a tilled ground.
“I promised you a surprise, and you will get that surprise soon” She retorted letting out a mild scoff as she pushed pass me.
This time her words sounded more like a threat than a mild promise like she initially used the first time.
My confusion was intensified greatly, but whatever this is, wherever Amanda is going with this; I will be right here to see.

“Sky, this your father’s wife seems not to like me” Chioma whispered into my ears.
I grunted reluctantly dragged myself up from bed.
It has been an intense night of sexual bliss with chioma. we had a whole lot of catching up to do and before the day ended we ended up finding our connection again and it culminated into one of the best nights i’ve had in years.
“How do you mean she doesn’t like you” I queried peering into her face which wore a long expression.
“I don’t know, but i can notice she don’t seem happy when she sees me” she shrugged.
“Yesterday during dinner, i could swear she was glaring at me. Is anything the matter sky?” She sounded curious and a worried look smeared all over her face.
“Don’t worry baby, am sure it’s nothing” I tried sounding convincing giving her a soft kiss and an assuring smile.
But deep down me i knew it wasn’t nothing, the last time a girl said that to me it was Joy and Amanda later slapped her, who knows what she will do this time.
A little tap on the door sounded into my ears.
“Come in” i addressed at the door expecting Jessy to come in. she hadn’t come home since yesterday.
Amanda walked in gently popping her face in first then her body filled into the room with the door opening with a slight groan.
“Good morning” She intoned beaming with a broad smile eyeing Chioma who already went stiff immediately Amanda entered.
“Good morning Ma” I voiced out emphasizing on the ‘Ma’.
“Breakfast is ready dear, you guys should come down before it gets cold” she announced throwing a wink at me before turning around exaggerating the sway of her bumz to the contempt of chioma who just watched on with a blank face.
I could tell she felt threatened and unwelcome more so from the fact that Jessy was not back yet.
We went down to the dinning room coming face to face with what could pass as a feast and not a breakfast.
A shrieking sound was heard outside after a car honk.
In a little while the front door flew open with a bang.
“Chi baby!!!” Jessy’s voice shrieked as she sped to the dinning table crashing into chioma who also let out a resounding shriek ladled in a cracking laughter, their arms clasping around each other.
I left the girls on the table as they kept on yapping and talking and hugging, strolling to the kitchen to get more water.
My eyes popped as i was faced with a picture of Amanda cleaning the sink, her a-s all shouty hugged tight in a deep blue flimsy leggings revealing every contour.
A slight shocked surged from my eyes to junior sky who gave a gentle nod.
This mermaid is still one of the most sexiest creatures i know.
Trying hard enough to maintain my sanity i walked into the kitchen moving straight to the fridge.
Grabbing a bottle of Eva water i turned round and there was Amanda standing right in front of me making me startle a bit before recovering my composure.
“Sky, I have missed you” Amanda intoned taking her hand up to my face.
My mouth dropped, heart racing hard and my hands trembled.
Amanda still have some kind of effect on me and i can’t help myself.
I could feel Amanda’s hand on the back of my neck pulling my head down, A slight cold but soft sensation filled my lips as i felt her lips grasp mine pushing deeper with every passing mili-second.
Junior sky now throbbed and pressed hard beneath my boxer, i could feel myself slipping down the drains of my past mistakes.
“Please Amanda its ok” I blurted out pushing her out gently out of the way and casting off from the kitchen almost immediately hearing the sound of a faint chuckle from Amanda as i walked the hall way back to the dinning.
“Will i ever be free of her” My heart sighed.
Walking back to the dinning, Jessy and Chioma were still lost in their own world, gisting, laughing and probably gossiping about what happened last night between i and chioma or what played out between Jessy and her fiancee.
Seemed they didn’t even notice i was gone. resuming my initial position on the table i watched them do their thing with a worried mind.
“Eheeee sky you had 5missed calls when you were gone” Jessy threw at me and delve back to their gist.
I picked my phone, it was an unsaved number which seemed strange cus nobody had this new number yet.
I dialed the number back which was picked almost before it rang.
“Hello” i said into the phone mouth piece.
“Is this Mr Johnysky, the son of Chief Williams?” The alien like voice of a man sounded from the other side of the phone.
“Yes i am” i replied trying to use my new found British accent.
“Jesus!!!” i shouted dropping the glass of water i held with the other hand.
“What is it sky?” Jessy and Chioma asked having being startled by my shout and the crashing sound of the broken cup.
“Whats the matter, whats going on here” Amanda added as she rushed out of the kitchen, soapy water dripping from her hands.
I could see the curiosity buttered into surprising fear and confusion.
“Papa was involved in a terrible motor accident” I announced.

“I was born and brought up in the remote ghetto of this enugu.
I was the the first child in a family of two kids”.
My head was resting in my hands, eyes transfixed on Amanda as she relayed her story to me.
Her eyes had lost it’s usual spark and now wore a blank look but still bore a dim glow and she continued.
“the second child was okechukwu. My father was a retired civil servant and he took to carpentry after he retired to help meet ends need.
My mother was a petty trader who had a small stall in front of our yard.
I was in senior secondary school one (S.S.1) while okechukwu was in Junior secondary two(J.S.S.2).
my father slipped into a very severe drinking habbit, always spending the greater percent of the day in a local gin bar, coming home each night dead drunk.
I had no hope of entering into the university if i happen to finish my secondary education due to my father’s inability to meet up even money for food talk more of paying my tuition for university.
A year later, okechukwu fell sick and was rushed to the hospital.
the doctor refused to operate on him unless we come up with an initial deposit of a #100,000.
My mother desperately ran around, selling everything that could fetch even the least triple figured digit.
All her wrappers, jewelries and anything she could spare.
My father also borrowed from his friends and relations but okechukwu died a week later after the surgery due to unknown complications.
It was a devastating blow to our family, my father’s drunk habit intensified.
He now spent over time drinking and chasing after women.
My mother and i tried kept doing all we could to sustain the family. i took work anywhere i could find it, even serving mason.
My father died 2years after okechukwu due to heart failure. then i was through with my secondary education. Life became a hidden hell for i and my mother.
Being the only two survivors of our family, mother was traumatized by the death of both okechukwu and my father.
Being a very beautiful girl, men trooped to our house to ask for my hands in marriage. “Mother always maintained i was too young for marriage” but i on the other hand had vowed within me to change the situation of my family and none of those men, met up with what i had in mind.
I started making moi-moi, taking them to I.M.T to sell, which coincidentally was the same school you started your tertiary education” She forced out a light chuckle.
I smiled hard with a loud sigh.
“Yes go on” I said looking blankly into her face.
and she continued.
“That was where i met sharon, She was a student in the school.
She saw me when she came to the spot i stayed while i sold my moi-moi, she came with a friend who wanted to buy moi-moi.
She started up a discussion with me, established a friendly bond between us and i told her my story.
She said she would help me.
Sharon’s aura oozed of money and comfortability.
she told me she was the one seeing herself through her tertiary education.
I envied her achievements, a girl of not up to 21 comfortably shouldering the responsibility for her education. i resolved within me to do all i can to finish my education.
With Sharon’s help i got admission into I.M.T, and sharon introduced me to the world of runs.
She got deals for me all around the nation, and we often went together.
The pay was good and i was able to pay for my school fees without a hitch, upgraded my mother’s standard of living.
But within me i wasn’t comfortable with the job, i just did what i thought i had to do to survive.
I met your dad during my final year, sharon too got me the deal. he was very good to me and he was the one that stopped me from being a runs girl, he placed me on an allowance and took care of my school bills.
He had told me about his late wife and his about you and Jessy. It somehow reminded me of my own family.
A year later after i finished with my National Youth service. He proposed to me and i accepted.
I convinced my mother and she too consented, and that was how i came to your family”.
My face blanked out, my throat locked that no words could escape.
Amanda became noticeably very quiet, her face tilted to the floor mopping at nothing i could really place.
“Mr Johny, Your father has regained consciousness” I had a strong baritone voice ring out jolting me out of the chasm the story created in my mind.
Turning my gaze to the direction of the voice, the doctor stood with an oversized lab coat.
He was a short stout man probably in his late 50’s.
The situation registered back in my mind. Papa have been unconscious for 3days now, but he’s finally awake.

Papa was discharged 2weeks later leaving him with bandages on both his ankles and knees having severed his limbs in the accident with little patches here and there on his face and hands.
The doctor have given us a ton of medicines for papa’s daily use and will be coming from time to time to check on his progress.
Getting home i helped papa into a chair. papa look more feeble now, his skin looked somewhat darker and his face seemed like it was getting older.
Their is nothing i hate more than seeing my papa this way. Jessy on her own part nearly died the day of the accident. * * *
“Sky what did you say happened to papa” she shrieked immediately i dropped the call.
Her eyes glowed with tearful sparkle, Her hands dropped stiff betraying the frightening horror that surged within.
Chioma’s mouth fell agape her gazes focusing towards me and Jessy at interval.
“What did you say happened”? Amanda questioned like she didn’t hear me the first time, her face wearing a look of uncertainty.
“The number that just called now said papa was involved in a motor accident” the words was saying me more than i was saying it. cold tears already formed at the back of my head.
Jessy’s shrieking scream startled everyone in the room as she came crashing down with a loud thud breaking into a resounding loud cry with the words
“my papa is dead” Flying out of her mouth.
Which sent a piercing scare into me.
We rushed down to the scene of the accident met only with the view of what could be called Papa’s car. The black chases of black toyota avalon were reduced to a crumbled piece of metal.
The white hilux it crashed into was also in a bad shape. Wonder how anyone could possibly survive that.
Amanda was the first to break down in tears as we were shown a visual of papa through a transparent glass window demarcating the emergency casualty unit.
All we could make out was a team of doctors surrounded by a stream nurses as they worked and tried to revive two unconscious bodies covered in blood and wounds.
Nurses running aimlessly around in their annoying habit, some would come out of the unit and zoom past us paying deaf ears to our desperate questions we riddled her with, only to zoom back again with nothing tangible in hand. *keep wondering what she went to bring*
Identifying papa was almost impossible from the two unconscious figures being worked on, their faces being covered in blood and bruises.
Jessy already rushed into the changing room, jumped into a light green theater coat and other kits gaining access into the casualty room with her Identity card.
Watched as Jessy joined the doctors on their work, turning back every now and then to cast a gloomy look at me through the glass.
If ever their was a time i was proudest of Jessy being a doctor, it was today.
And am sure papa will be too, this was the kind of situation you’d be thankful you have a doctor in the family.
* * *
“Am still wondering how a brake my mechanic fixed, failed one week after” Papa addressed me raising an eye brow as i guided him to a cushion in the sitting room on getting home after his discharge.
“Papa these things happen, besides your driver is on leave” I countered, “just be thankful you survived”.
“Am sure what am saying Nnam, that brake was in perfect shape, something must have tampered with it” Papa aired out wincing while he raised himself a bit to seat up.
“Eheee Nnam, this accident made me think about many things, one of them being that i have not seen your child so am not supposed to die now” Papa blurted out with a funny but yet serious face.
“Haaa papa, you should concentrate on getting better, my marriage is not relevant now” I chuckled out trying to discard the topic and my surprise.
“Nnam i know what am saying, you are my only son and i need to see your grand children soon” it wasn’t so surprising he insisted being a very strong willed man as i can recall.
Amanda walked pass the sitting room clutching papa’s hospital provisions in a black polythene, she had been just right on the door when papa raised the topic of my marriage.
Throwing a slight wink at me with a smile that pushed her lips to the right side of her mouth, she swayed pass us disappearing up stairs.
“Ok papa i will look into it” I said partly to close the topic but part of me was serious about it.
But deep within me, Papa’s suspicion that someone might have tampered the brakes haunted me.

“Sky!. Sky!! sky!!!” I heard my name being thundered on the hall way, the sound of Jessy’s voice getting closer and bolder.
“Am here Jessy” I threw rather weakly hoping she heard me.
In a jiffy my door barged open and Jessy walked in briskly, unannounced anger written all over her face.
It was Chioma’s supposed last day of her visit to Enugu, she had called her office to request for leave so she could be able to stay through the duration of papa’s stay in the hospital, she will be leaving for Abuja today.
The night that gave birth to this day was a wondrous unforgettable night in the historical antiquity of Johnysky.
Junior sky was subjected to a beautiful treat. Her energy and passion, the deep sense of attraction and affectionate emotion made it a remarkable night of e----c bliss.
It all felt very perfect with her. My world and everything in it.
“Sky you have to do something about this” Jessy blurted out slumping her weight heavily into the bed which gave out a protesting creak.
“What is wrong Jessy” I couldn’t figure out exactly what to think, Jessy’s words got me lost.
“Sky i don’t know what is wrong with Aunty” Jessy intoned more in a desperate hush peering into my face.
“What about her” I said more coldly this time, seems it was about Amanda and i don’t care what ever is wrong with her.
“Chioma was packing her clothes she washed in the backyard in readiness for her trip, Amanda confronted her and told her to stay clear from you that the relationship will lead her no where, that she wouldn’t guess whats coming for her”
This time Jessy’s tune was more of a narration.
“What?!!!” I thundered, washing myself off the bed and zoomed pass Jessy as i galloped down the stairs. My anger could cut a rope yet a slight iota of fear surged through that anger.
I don’t know why Amanda’s personality and guts gives me ghost scare, like an adage papa always used back then when mama was still alive and he wants to pick on her “A desperate woman is more dangerous than a snake” and right now i fear Amanda’s desperation.
Chioma sat in the sitting room, hands on face placed on her thighs.
I swooped pass her making my way out into the vast yard riddled with graceful interlocks.
Amanda was seating at one of the outdoor drinking tables, sipping a from a bold glass cup and a bottle of brandy beside it.
“How dare you confront an innocent girl” i barked on getting to the spot.
I could make out effiong fingering the tip of his silly-looking uniform cap as he sprang up from his chair and directed his gaze at my direction, looking on with keen interest.
“I asked a question” I yelled banging my hand furiously on the table. A part of me wanted that to be on her face.
The calm chuckle she gave out intensified my anger boiling down like a red hot volcanic magma. she took a slight sip from the cup, the golden brown liquid throwing off unsure sparks.
She dropped it and look up at me for the first time.
“Sky, stop yapping like a kid, i told the girl the truth stop being paranoid” she sang dragging the left side of her lips up in a smirk and then another sip from the cup.
“I honestly do not know the game you are playing, but mind you Amanda you will not like the sky you will see when this thing starts. for crying out loud you are my father’s wife” my finger pointing furiously at her trying to sound more threatening.
Amanda let out a cracking laughter which caught me off guard and surprised. “Have i said anything funny?”.
“Your father’s wife?.. Oh please!!!” She scoffed rolling her eyes.
“You think your father is married to me? That’s a big joke sky. I am only living in this house, and marrying him in words of mouth because your father literally don’t marry me in anyway” Her eyes widens and she downs a serious gulp of whiskey.
“I am just like a living ghost to him, i am just a ghost in this house and this will not be so for very long because i cannot loose”.
My threatening finger went numb and frail. suddenly it was not anger i felt but pity.
I turned to leave still working my face hard to maintain the angered look.
Effiong still watched on from his office **the gate** now had his hands resting on his head and eyes wearing a peeled look.
“Sky, things are just warming up, remember i still have a surprise for you” she threw after my resigning figure retreating back into the house.
Maybe i should consider moving to abuja for the meantime, but my papa’s health was dragging a slow improvement, leaving him in that condition poses a problem to me.
I sipped into the sitting room, cheered chioma up, assuring her Amanda’s words meant nothing.
Jessy was already cursing and bashing, raising her fist up swearing. Her anger was unhidden.
Time slipped by, the day turned stale with contempt, tensing up the environment.
Chioma went back to abuja an hour later..

The afternoon was unbearably humid and cold. drizzling showers were dropping down, whistling winds sent bone chilling cold sipping in.
It’s has been one week after Chioma’s departure to abuja, have tipped off plans of moving to my own house but Papa’s health was not encouraging enough to do that.
“Sky are you there?” Amanda’s voice intoned from the other side of my door.
My eyes widened and i slowly yanked myself up from the bed and my gaze glued to the door.
A thumping knock on the door followed and then the door banged open.
“So sky you are in here and didn’t want to talk” Amanda sang bringing her whole self with her.
Her long Brazilian hair flowed down the back shimmering from the amber glow cast by the electric bulb.
My eyes ran through her whole physical nomenclature, visualizing all the hyped details..
The dark mascara that bordered her exaggerated eye lash that stood out.
A colourless lip gloss that am sure was applied more than normal.
A white flimsy top with sagging short sleeves, the right sleeve was resting almost on her elbow giving out a lot of unbralized boobs(New word from johnysky 🙂 **no bra**).
Her twin paradise stretching the innocent white fabrics to their limits and a lot of n----e peeping out.
She was wearing a very short jean skirt that had most of her thighs out, glowing like polished bronze.
“Amanda what are you doing in my room” I let out, peering left and right as if to check if someone was somehow hiding in my room.
Amanda’s chuckle engulfed the room, each step she took as silent as it was due to her cat walk still thumped and banged in my mind.
“Sky i miss your touch, i miss you” her fingers were grazing my shoulders now travelling up to my face.
Her body closed in on mine, a good part of her weight resting heavily, her almost unclad boobs crushed hard against my chest sending goose bumbs all over me.
My whole frame turned stiff and head felt heavier than normal and eyes turned stale.
I could feel her breathe grazing the side of my ears inducing a warm strawberry-like sensation.
“I know you must have missed me baby” Her whispers filtered into my ears hands now rubbing the back of my hands.
My mind turned blank, My hands wanted to push her out but in reality they were just numb and immobile.
I felt Amanda’s lips make contact with the side of my neck, giving perky nibbling kisses on my neck her hands rubbing gently on my chest.
Her lips journeyed from my neck up wards to the corners of my mouth leaving a long trail of wet spots on the way.
An electrifying frictional shock surged through me as Amanda’s lips delve into mine, tucking my lower lip in between hers giving it a slight twirl and bite.
The kiss was deep and strangely outstanding. My brain shut down and my lips sub-consciously reacted to the kiss taking my lips hard into hers my hand roughly grabbing the back of her head neck pushing her deeper into me.
Could see Amanda’s lips form a smile in between the kisses, her hands now thrown behind me pushing me down into the bed while i grabbed her huge a-s giving them a severe squeeze that produced a slight moan buttered into a chuckle from her.
I fell back on the bed with amanda crashing down on top of me making the bed let out a loud squeak.
Her lips delve into mine again her hands now grazing jnr-sky through my trouser which already formed a bulging tent from the assault junior sky gave it trying to break free.
Amanda kept taking her lips down from my neck to my collar bones, a tearing sound sips out making me raise my head a bit seeing Amanda tear my singlet off from my chest yanking it off like it was an intruding leech.
Could feel her teeth grazing through my chest trailing down to my stomach, still furiously applying a smooching assault on Junior sky.
I turned her roughly, now taking the position above while she lay below me wearing a very obvious flirty smile and deep glowing eyes.
I dove directly into her neck, twirling and nibbling at it. kissing and slurping as roughly as i could muster.
Taking those out of the world boobs in my hands, i pinched the nips slightly giving the boob a rough but yet gentle squeeze interchanging between the two boobs.
Tracks after tracks of meaningless yarns in moans and groans escaped her mouth filtering into my ears.
Faint baritone groan sounded like someone was clearing his throat dropped some sanity into my brains already shut down by jnr sky.
Papa was at home, my mind registered again making me jolt up from the bed dashing for a shirt.
“Please, i can’t do this anymore. I advice you move on Amanda, nothing can ever happen between us again” I announced trying hard to flatten junior sky who clearly didn’t get the memo.
“Hey sky, stop being so childish” Amanda weakly retorted dragging her self up from the bed, taking hold of me by the new shirt i was now wearing, smeared her body into mine again and introduced her lips back into mine..
“Oh stop it amanda” i almost said out loud pushing her a bit hard watching as she paced back and fell into the bed. Yanking the door open i went out of the room with a dizzy head.
“Nnam, whats wrong you are looking pale and wearing a long face” I heard papa ask on entering the sitting room.
Papa sat on the lone cushion which he normally sat, he was looking very frail and lean, his skin turning pale even though the doctor have said his injuries were healing but his whole body spoke a different language.
Am starting to doubt if only the injuries is responsible for papa’s strange diminishing physique.
“Nothing papa, am ok” i intoned trying to sound convincing and at the same time wear a fake smile.
“Papa, i want to tell you something” i took my seat on a long cushion just beside papa’s.
“What is it Nnam” His words sounded weak, like he forced it out from his vocal cords.
“I have decided to Marry” More like the words saying me than the reverse.
Papa’s face lit up with a smile, all of a sudden he looked livelier.
“I have established a business partnership with Roban business conglomerate here in Enugu, i will move to my own apartment soon in G.R.A and am sure you already met the girl i want to marry” It felt like i was more in charge this time.
“Ooh wonderful, Nnam now you come” Papa sang offering his hand for a handshake which i took with both of my hands.
An air of pride swayed around, papa was proud of me and for once i felt my decision was the right one.
Amanda walked by the sitting room casting a blank look at me, its certain she heard my discussion with my papa. she looked disappointed, angry and at the same time strangely depressed from my own judgement.
I am moving on..

A tear escaped my eyes as i watched Papa open his arms and Chioma slumped into it, Papa’s hands clasping around her warmly with a priceless smiled on both their faces.
“Welcome to my family, my daughter” He said.
I had brought Chioma to introduce her to papa officially as my fiancee.
I have resumed work as a partner of Roban business conglomerate, moved most of my stuffs to my new apartment in G.R.A.
It was a simple 5room and a sitting room miniature duplex with a relatively small but elegant compound.
A touch of blossoming red hibiscus gave it a nice touch, a mini half court basketball court.
It was not as much as Papa’s huge mansion but it was efficient and beautiful and can be called a home.
I still spend most of the week days with papa and stayed in my house only during the weekends, owing to the fact that papa still was strangely weak and was loosing weight rapidly. He could only manage to walk with the aid of a walking stick.
Having invited Chioma to the small house warming party i was throwing at my house, She was choked up with office work but promised she would fly in from Abuja on the day of the party.
With the help of Jessy, the house warming party preparation was smooth and easy. Jessy took charge of all the preparations and also invited some of her young female friends to heat up the party.
I had reached out to some old close friends, new business partners for the party. Everything was set.
The day of the party, the house oozed of many delicious indistinguishable aroma, ranging from fried rice to fried chicken, variety of soups.
Jessy and her friends were in the kitchen, not knowing if their giggles and laughs did the cooking for them.
The party started a little after 6pm, the number of girls that were present scared me, Jessy’s friends tripled by another double digit.
Chioma flew in from Abuja 7pm and arrived when the party was already lively.
The look on her face was priceless when she entered and was welcomed by a vision of host of girls many of them in skimpy shorts and revealing clothes.
Her long light pink dinner gown she wore buttered in gold shimmering sparkling strings.
Her hair which she left natural was long and dark, parked to one pony tail at the back.
Her beauty was unmatched, her womanliness, graceful.
9pm; The party was at its peak, roaring music from the stereo, cracking laughter, soft and loud discussions. Popping sounds of champagne and clanging sounds of spoons meeting Chinese ceramic plates.
Girls were already on the dance floor twerking like their lives depended on it, and i can notice some guys trying hard to hide the hard on the sensual assault the twerkings induced on them.
“Attention everyone, its time for our host Johnysky to give a speech”. Olumide’s voice thundered through the sitting room drawing everyone’s attention and bringing down the volume of the stereo.
Olumide was a friend i met in U.K, he was in the same university with me and we bonded well and easily. He went back to Nigeria many weeks before me and we have kept in touch.
Cheers and ovations gave the floor to me, olumide inciting off three “hip hip hip hurray” as i stepped up with a blushing smile. He stood a foot away with a clownish smile on his face, beads of sweat falling from his very dark complexioned face coupled with his ever funny short slim body.
I cleared my throat and stylishly took another look at myself as everyone’s eyes were fixed on me; The black body fitted white shirt and black pencil jean i wore seeming to smile and say “We’ve got your back”
“I thank everyone, who have honoured my humble invitation and wasted their time to honour my invitation” I started. Calling many of the names i knew and acknowledging the ones i didn’t.
Turning round, i faced Chioma who clutched a champagne flute in her hand looking on with satisfying smile.
I went down on my knees, Chioma’s eyes popped and mouth went stiff, Jessy’s perky mouth dropped open and the air tensed up as a huge silence engulfed everywhere.
Olumide handed me over the ring, a slim white-gold ring with a tiny pink diamond tear.
Chioma’s face was a mixture of surprise and utmost oblivion.
“Miss Chioma Ugwu” My voice was tense and shaky, my right hand holding out the ring in an unsure posture.
“Will you do me the honour of becoming my Life partner” I sang out.
The silence intensified, Chioma’s gaze were fixed on me her eyes throwing out tearful sparks.
The guys just looked on with blanks eyes, the girls with smiles and wishful eyes. Jessy was almost nodding out her hands clamped together like she was saying a prayer.
“Yes, yes i will” Chioma blurted out inciting a round of roar, clapping and howling. I slipped the ring into her hands and our lips locked into an out of the world kiss. I don’t know why but this felt like it was the first time i was kissing her.
Hand shakes, hugs and congratulatory remarks took over with Jessy’s fiance; A fair complexioned tall young man with an innocent face and a calm voice, gave me a gentle nudge wrapped in a smile.
Chioma and I went on to see her parents. she was the only child of a business tycoon and an evangelist mother.
“Welcome my daughter” Papa’s voice rang out as i looked on and Chioma was in papa’s arms. Amanda sat on a lone cushion beside papa seemed more interested in Ryan, her son who was eating some cornflakes.
Chioma came back to my seat after her hug with papa, the smile on papa’s face glued on it and i feeling proud of myself for giving papa something to smile about.
“Welcome into our family my dear” Amanda threw at chioma, a wide grin on her face.
“Thank you Aunty” Chioma sang back forcing out a smile.
“Congratulations sky” She threw at me casting a cold look at me that i was sure even chioma noticed too.

Their is always a point in ones life when everything looks up and you can see everything finally falling into place.
My life was finally falling into place; I have a good job and a smiling bank account, My marriage plans are on the way and i feel she is the right one, and most of all Amanda haven’t being active since my marriage plans was revealed.
It seems marriage was really the solution to all this lustful shenanigans.
My marriage plans with Chioma are finally taking shape, the preparations were flawless and expectations were very high.
The date for the wine carrying has already being set.
Jessy as usual was on the fore-front of everything.
This was one of those times i wish Mama was here to see the man i have grown into, though i can still make out a little reflection of mama in Jessy and somehow it bridged the chasm.
Twilight approached slowly, a dim orange sun dazzled the sky with an orange coloured sky spectacle.
I sat on plastic beach chair having returned from the office an hour ago. the weather was just perfect and the whole scenario was serene.
I was reading through the pages of Coolval Magazine, which had a page about my impending wedding.
I have read that particular page countless times yet i still don’t seem to have enough of it already. The picture of I and Chioma used on it was really superb.
A glass of blood shot red wine stood lazily on a little side stool beside me with the bottle towering over it. It was a very peaceful evening made better by the reality of my marriage coming up in a couple of days.
My phone rang out with a shuddering shriek, from the ringtone playing “From this moment by shania twain” it was certainly my fiancee calling.
Picking up my phone, i sweeping smile rushed across my face looking at her a picture of her on the screen; those sparkling eyes, perky foreign-like nose and pouted mouth. Truly she was a blessing.
“Hello my love” I sang into the mouth piece working my lips into a grin.
“You b-----d!” A voice yelled from the other side of the phone.
My head fell blank, who was this and what is going on.
“Devil, you deceived me” The voice came again now it was becoming clear and louder.
Chioma was crying and at the same time hurling insults at me and for what exactly i have no idea.
“Baby what is…….” The line went dead before i could roll out my sentence throwing me into a state of universal confusion, panic and shock.
“What exactly was happening” I cursed under my breathe, my whole body trembled even my breathe was shaky.
I dialed Chioma’s number many times and she kept rejecting the calls and finally switched off her phone, which tripled my fear and confusion.
A beep on my phone flew my heart a mile away and back. A message icon clearly showed on my notification feed but my heart trembled too much to touch it, my heart already melted into my stomach.
Mustering up some emergency courage, i opened the notification feed and the name ‘Amanda’ registered into my brain.
I opened the message hastily, this was the a first since i came back from U.K.
A sudden rush of warm sweat rushed down my face, washing down down by bare chest. Only 9 words were visible on the message body and just a look of those words sent a wave-like rush of fear surged through my body as the words sipped in.
“I told you i had a surprise for you” My fingers cramped as my gaze fixed on the message that displayed on my phone.
My phone gave out another resounding ring, this time it was Chioma’s mum calling. Even the ring of my phone spell trouble.
I mopped at my phone, watching the rings play out.
The confusion i felt was unlike anything i have ever felt in this world.
“Hello Ma! Good evening!” I uttered weakly on picking the call. A mixture of curiosity to know what exactly is going on and fear at the thought of what it might be.
“Hey hey hey, Hold your greetings!” Chioma’s mother yelled from the other side of the phone, am sure as an evangelist she must use such tones a lot to cast out demons.
“What is going on ma?” I intoned, the fear in my shaky tone have gave away what my mind read.
“I said hold you smelly trap there” she yelled again, this time more aggressive.
“So you have a son and you have kept it secret from my daughter all this while?!!” I didnt know if she meant this to be question or just a remark.
“What?” I blurted out, not so sure how it escaped my mouth.
“Shut up, the lady you had a child with came herself to this house and she and chioma even knows each other, and to say the child is already up to 5years old is worse, Johny you are a monster”
“What?, I dont understand you ma. What are you talking about?” My fear and confusion now was out of the world, little beads of tears already surged at the back of my head.
“You deceived my daughter but you had another son all this while, and the lady is even living in your house as….”
“Ok dear its ok give me the phone” A strong baritone voice interrupted her still from the other part of the phone, i am sure it was Chioma’s father.
“Hello” His voice rang out from the ear piece of my phone, my thumping heart skipped 2 beats. Could still make out faint yelling voice of Chioma’s mum in the background.
“Good evening sir” I said weakly stressing the sir.
The line went silent for a little more than 10 seconds, i looked at my screen and the call was still on, i knew he just kept silent purposely and each passing second the silence lasted pieced through my heart like a sharp blade.
“Young Man, I’m highly disappointed in you”
The line went dead.

My brains shut dead, my hands trembled and whole body quaked.
A very cold hot wave surged through me, the whole scenario was spinning around me. I rushed off into my room, slipped into a black body hug shirt and jean trousers.
I tore into Papa’s compound in full speed immediately effiong opened the gate watching him through the side mirror carry his hand on his head, his gazed fixed on the shimmering chases of my silver lexus jeep.
Yanked myself out of the car, walking briskly into the house, face straight and fingers clenched.
My whole face was already dripping with sweat, my eyes shot red.
I literally kicked the door open peering into the sitting room to be met with empty cushions and the t.v showing some very annoying music on channel O.
The house was silent and strangely cold chilly air filled it.
I rushed into Papa’s room, his room was empty.
Getting to Amanda’s room i pushed and it was locked, my fist furiously unleashed series of bangs on it in the form of knocking.
Ryan’s voice shrieked as he jolted into a sudden cry.
“Who dah hell is that” Amanda’s voice barked “You just woke my son from sleep”.
“Open the door now” I couldn’t mask my voice into a wrap of gentility, every iota of sanity has jumped off the window.
The door cracked open, Amanda wedged herself into the little space it made stopping me from seeing the full view of the room.
“Yes what is it” She retorted looking me squarely in the face with a scoffing smirk.
“How could you be so wicked? How could you lie against me to my fiancee’s parents that i am Ryan’s father!!!” I yelled, my voice shook as i stressed the word ‘father’.
Amanda gave out a loud giggle. “Did i hear you say lie?, Oh sweetheart it wasn’t a lie. Ryan is your son” She said smiling.
I lost my vocal cord, i tried to speak but the words stuck at the back of my throat choking me, my eyes widened as i looked on at amanda.
“Sky listen to me, you are the father of my child, and you won’t throw me off to the trash like that, you messed with the wrong girl” Her pointed fore- finger was touching my chest as she spoke with every iota of impetus one can imagine.
“You are a devil Amanda” I finally found my voice which still was shaky.
“Oh, now you know yet this devil has a son for you, we are only starting sky”
I landed a slap across her face before she could finish those words making her fall back into the room with a clash.
I thundered the door open, Ryan already was back to sleep, he lay peacefully on the bed oblivious of what he was causing me.
Amanda sprang to her feet, her face turned red and eyes tight blank.
“How dare you sky, you slapped me because of one cheap thing you picked up from God knows where?” She yelled with her hands covered the slapped cheek.
Grabbing her by the throat with one of my hands i pushed her against the wall, her hands clenched into tiny blows were landing on mine in a bid to free herself.
I tightened my grip on her neck, i’ve already lost total control of my senses which was now been piloted by rage.
Fear and tears engulfed her eyes, i watched as a tiny lone tear dropped from her eyes which were fixed on me.
“Leave my mummy alone” A tiny silky voice whispered, i looked to the bed Ryan was not there.
Felt some tiny hands clasped around my legs holding it tightly. “Leave my mummy alone” Tears already flowed down his face.
His innocent face and pleading eyes reminded me of an incident that happened when i was his age. I went to the main market with mama, the rush and squeezes of bodies against each other as everyone hurried on their different businesses.
I was in my mama’s arms as she tried to waddle her way past the river of people and accidentally ran into a man carrying a bucket of paint which crashed on the ground and poured away.
Those two resounding slaps he landed on mama’s face even as she was apologizing still tore my heart into pieces but i was helpless then. and up till now i still haven’t forgotten his mean chubby fat face.
I wouldn’t know what i would do if i happen to see him again, though it would be better for him that i dont.
My grip on Amanda’s neck loosened as i watched Ryan whose eyes were fixed on my face and Amanda’s which now ran freely with tears.
“If you spoil my marriage Amanda” I sang to her now fixing my gaze into her face sounding as mean as i never have been.
“I will make life miserable for you i promise you that”
“Sky stop it!!!” That was Jessy’s voice. I turned sharply and saw Jessy standing with Wilson on the door.
I loosed my grip on her and released her. Wilson took hold of me and led me out of the room down to the sitting room, while jessy went over to console Ryan who still had tears in his eyes.
“Where is papa?” I asked Wilson almost as i crashed into a sofa in the sitting room.
“He insisted on honouring the state governors invitation to his house today, he left with Philip”
He said tapping my back a bit.
Wilson had taken the position of a brother to me, and from the lost look of pity and concern in his face buttered into a little smear of confusion, it was obvious he already knew what was going on.
“Sky!!!” Jessy called out making me tilt my head to the direction of her voice seeing her descend from the staircase with Ryan in her arms.
She sat close to me looking at me with, pity looking all over her face.
“Chioma called me, she told me everything” Jessy said casting a sharp look at wilson.
“And sky their is something else” Jessy sang..
“What is it Jessy” I intoned trying to gather my wits.
“Chioma is pregnant” Jessy announced ..

Jessy and Wilson drove me to my house an hour later, Jessy insisting she drive owing to the fact my state of mind was unstable.
The whole ride to my house felt like i was being dragged on a road of gravel tied to a horse.
papa was not home yet before i was taken home by Jessy and Wilson. My head was heavy ad at the same light and i felt woozy.
It felt like a dream yet it was hurting like it was real. kept on dialing Chioma’s number on my way but it was still switched off.
“Leave my mummy alone” those tiny sounds kept ringing in my head.
Ryans teary face kept flashing in my mind.
That look he gave me, that mixture of anger spread into a chunk of helplessness. It was familiar to me and bearing in my mind my contempt for the man i bore this feelings for, i couldn’t imagine my own son having such feelings for me.
My night was a live hell for me. Chioma’s bleeding words pieced my soul, my wedding that is almost as probable as an impossible event, what papa would do when he finds out Ryan was my child and not his.
Old wounds would definitely be reopened. My baby chioma was carrying; How could my child enter into the world with the way things are.
Surprisingly Amanda’s teary helpless look as i had my gripped round her neck made worse by the crisp crystalline tears i made Ryan shed.
I woke up in the morning with a throbbing headache, my mouth was dry and my body felt very fragile, i had being awake all through the night.
I heavily picked myself up and headed for the bathroom for some clean ups.
Picking my keys up i headed towards chioma’s house.
Dialing her number as i drove. It rang the first time then went into number busy, the second time it was not available.
I blared my car horn with so much impatience. Watched as the little hatch in the gate opened and two pair of eyes popped out then closed again.
Hassan stepped out stretching, his flowing white robe still touched the ground.
“Whats going on” i cursed under my breathe yanking my car door open.
Hassan never come after seeing my car from the hatch, he knows most of the cars i drive due to my frequent visit the last couple of weeks and he always looks forward to hailing my name with his hands thrown to the air, it always earned him some few naira notes.
“Hassan what is it, open the gate for me!” I intoned walking toward him, his hands were still thrown up in the air but i doubt if he was still stretching.
“Oga gudu afun” He said throwing his face out through the other flank trying to avoid my gaze and his mouth in a sulking position.
“Ok ok Hassan good afternoon, can you open the gate now” Impatience was riddled in my tone and my hands demonstrated my point.
Hassan shook is head slightly still bearing his his face the opposite direction.
“What do you mean by that” I retorted, a pinch of anger flying out.
“Oga, oga and madam say make i no allow me cross gate egen (again) walahi oga i is not my fot”
Hassan sounded pleading.
I didn’t speak any word again, i turned and re-entered my car and zoomed off with a neck breaking speed.
I drove into papa’s compound in shimmering atmosphere of the evening sun.
Ryan was running around the compound with his ball.
“My son” I murmured looking at Ryan play still inside my car.
He was handsome, he had Amanda’s skin colour, a smallish nose and a relatively small eyes which sparkled with a lot of promise.
My lips formed into a smile watching him play, his slim cracking laughs as he chased the ball around.
I got down from the car and walk to him.
“Hello Ryan” I smiled to him jolting him out of his football cast spell.
He looked at me and his face changed, the happy laughing facing slowly began to wear a frown before me.
I knelt before him to bring our height a little closer, took his smallish small hands in mine still trying to force out a smile.
“Am sorry for what happened yesterday, i was only playing with mummy” i intoned peering into his face searching for a smile getting a reciprocating stare in return.
“Now give uncle a hug” i sang now wearing a grin, the word ‘uncle’ thumped my heart hard.
Taking his little frame into my arms i hugged him tight, felt his little arms go round my back after staying numb for a minute.
My face forced out a real smile now tightening my arms around him.
Standing up still bearing him in my arms, i met Amanda’s full stare. she was standing a few yards away looking at i and Ryan.
“Good evening” I said walking up to her, i could make out a black eye and a swollen cheek, remnants of yesterday’s event.
“Good evening sky” she muttered focusing her gaze more on the child in my arms.
“I will like to take Ryan out this evening, he may stay with me in my house today” i said looking more into her face.
“Alright” . . . that was the greatest surprise of the century. Never expected Amanda to agree so easily, something really is different in her.
She prepared Ryan’s little back pack and i left with him. taking him round the city and most of the children’s park i could locate.
I was happy seeing his innocent beautiful self happy, and creating a connection between us.
Just a little after twilight, i went home after my tiresome playing session with Ryan round the city
Pushing my door open “Welcome to our house Ryan”
..Chioma was seating in one of the sofas waiting for me..

“Good evening sky” Chioma greeted getting up from the seat, her face was wearing anything but a smile.
“Good evening baby, i never expected to see you here” i intoned taking a couple of steps towards her, Ryan still clutched in my arms.
Her eyes were glued to the little mould of flesh and lips in my arms as i walked towards her.
“Aunty see, i have ice-cream!!!” Ryan blurted out to her raising his king sized cup of ice-cream, Chioma forced out a fake smile then fixed her gaze on me.
“I can see you are having fun with your son” She addressed, the ‘son’ much louder than the rest of the words.
My eyes was blank, i looked on at chioma then to Ryan who was happily scooping some ice-cream into his mouth still hanging on my arms very oblivious of the stale atmosphere around.
I dropped him nudging him to go seat down and finish his treat.
“Sky why didn’t you tell me, i cant believe you wanted to hide this from me all my life” the tempo of her voice intensified with every word.
“No, baby you won’t understand. I never kne……”
“Oh cut that crap sky, don’t even baby me or concoct another lie and add salt to the injury” she retorted cutting my words short, her face squeezing into a hard gesture.
“Chioma please listen to me” I intoned trying to sound as pleading as possible.
“Please try and listen to me before judging me”
“What is there to listen sky, you hid your son from me until the mother of your child revealed it to both i and my parents. can you imagine the heartbreak, the embarrassment i felt in front of my parents that my fiancee already had a son with another woman and i didn’t know. the betrayal getting to know from someone else”. The tears were dropping freely from her face.
“Chioma please it’s not what you think, i never knew he was my son until…..”
“Just shut up sky don’t even utter another lie, you never knew and i just saw you now bringing him here and telling him this is his house? what do you take me for sky.. you think am a fool?”
Every word from her mouth slapped my heart hard. to say i was confused would be an understatement. their were many explanations to do and i didn’t even know where to start, Chioma is not even giving me the chance to.
“Baby please listen to…”
“Sky i said don’t call me that again” she cut in again. “I only came here to give you these” She slipped the engagement ring out from her fingers and dropped it on the floor, the spare keys to my house followed with a resounding jingling sound.
“Please don’t do this” a drop of tears escaped my eye. Hers were already running freely as she slowly walked pass me, dragging each step like she was tied to a wall.
The door closed behind her with a hard bang, thumping hard on my heart inducing a piercing pain.
More tears now ran freely down my cheek defying my attempt to hold them back.
“Uncle are you alright?” Ryan’s voice sipped into my ears dragging me back to consciousness after i had being standing there like a statue for minutes.
I took my gaze down, he was looking up at me ice-cream smeared all over the corners of his mouth.
“Am ok Ryan” I hid my throaty voice in whispers wiping the tears with the back of my hands forcing out a smile for Ryan.
The rest of the night i tried to be appear fine because of Ryan, gave him a bath and a change of clothes. luckily he slept very early and it was deep, i watched him sleep cus i on my own part found it was more possible for an elephant to climb than for me to achieve sleep.
The morning was very slow in coming and annoyingly very cold when it finally came.
Ryan’s innocent funny remarks always managed to hold me on, his high spiritedness and jovial personality. it was impossible not to love this innocent little boy.
A little before noon i heard a knock on my door. it was a familiar soft knock and i couldn’t imagine my guess to be true.
“Yes who is that” I yelled at the door still not getting up from my sofa where i sat with Ryan who was munching in a plate of chips and chicken i ordered from a restaurant.
“Sky open the door, its me”
“Mummy!!!” Ryan yelled on hearing the voice exposing his immaculate white milk teeth.
“What is she doing here, how did she even know where i live” i cursed under my breathe heading towards the door.
“Mummy!!!” Ryan sang up again rushing to hug Amanda immediately her figure registered into the room.
“what is my baby eating” She teased him playfully nibbling her teeth on his stomach inducing some wild laugh from him.
Ryan ran back to his plate of food immediately Amanda dropped him, laughing as he ran.
“Wooow he’s really happy here with you” She commented smiling at me, the black eye was barely visible now.
“What are you doing here Amanda and how did you get to know my house?” i threw at her getting a chuckle as a reply.
“Never mind how i got to know, anyway i need to take Ryan to the hospital for some immunization shots”. She moved more into my house, tilting her head right and left nodding while she assessed my interior decoration.
“Hmmm your place is beautiful” she threw at me working out a smile.
“Ok thank you let me go and get his things” i offered moving towards the stairs.
“Oh relax sky, don’t be in a hurry we are not leaving right away” she replied heading more into the sitting room.
“You have to because i need to go somewhere, i was even about to bring him home before you came” i intoned with all seriousness.
“Oh my God!!!. . . what is this” Amanda blurted out bending down and picked up two jingling trinkets lying on the floor.
“Sky what’s are these?” she asked showing me the engagement and my spare key which Chioma dropped last night. i have not even touched or tried to pick them up.
“Nothing, just give me that” I collected the key and ring from her. i could see a one sided smirk on her face.
“Sky are you ok?” she asked getting hold of my arms.
I could feel her breathe on my cheek as i her face gain inch by inch into mine.
“Sky look at me” her hands now ran up to the crack of my back..
I felt her lips take hold mine and her breathing intensifying. A shocking wave hit my brains hard.
I could feel myself slipping, i tried but i was slipping hard. her hands now rubbed almost on top of my pubic bones nudging junior sky.
“Ok ok its ok Amanda” i blurted out untangling myself.
“Sky please stop this” she sang bringing herself up to me again.
“Amanda leave my house”
“what did you say sky” She said peering into my face.
“I said leave my house now” i went up stairs grabbed Ryan’s back pack and handed it over to her.
“Ok sky anything you say” she was strangely calm and bright.
She left with Ryan minutes later. i crashed into the sofa letting out a huge heavy sigh.
My life was like a broken plate now with all it’s pieces missing.

“Sky why are you doing this to yourself” Jessy’s voice thundered into my ears with a bang coming in a shrieking pitch.
I cast a long stare at the bold sparkling transparent glass cup in my hand, the golden brown liquor sparkled and shimmered inside the cup.
It has been 4 days since Chioma dropped our engagement ring. I have tried going to her house only to be stopped short by Hassan the second time under the directives of Chioma’s father.
“You must open this gate today” I barked at Hassan charging towards him with clenched fist and tightened face.
He was visibly shaking being intimidated by my towering 6’9height standing at 5’8ft himself with a tiny physique.
“Oga abeg, na oga say make i no allow you” He sounded pleading, the sparkle in his eyes betraying his fear.
“I don’t care Hassan, i can’t take it anymore” I barked banging both my hands and feet on the gate, hot dripping sweats covering my face dripping down to the crack my back smearing my ash coloured t-shirt.
My bangs on the gate became louder with each passing minute, the sweats stepping out in a more bolder manner as the sun battered my face.
Sitting down in front of the gate for a little more than two hours, i could make out people casting a suspicious look at me, some where pointing at shaking their heads.
i over heard one remark “Oh who did this to this young man” betraying the fact that they were under the impression i was going nuts.
Hassan’s eyes were popped out through the hatch, a remarkable look of pity written all over. * *
“Sky i don’t like this thing you are doing one bit” Jessy thundered banging her hands on the long sitting room bar table.
I had lost any reason to talk, i deemed it unnecessary, taking another long gulp of the liquor, i felt as a hot sensation travelled from the base of my tongue down to my abdomen.
“Give me this cup” Jessy blurted out making for the glass cup in my hand, within seconds she had wrestled the extra-large glass cup from me and i heard it crashing on the floor in a shattering song.
My head felt light and view blurred. i made for the almost finished bottle of henesy sitting a few inches from me only to get another shattering sound of breaking bottles as Jessy quickly pushed it out of the bar with quick reflex.
“Sky you want to kill yourself right? . . Look at what you are doing to yourself trying to drink yourself to death because of Chioma. is this the end of your life?” She was barking at the top of her voice.
her eyes wet and was almost ready to drop, depression was written all over her face and a sense of utmost concern and pity.
I dragged myself up, couldn’t maintain my balance as my legs kept wobbling under me threatening to give way, the surrounding appearing to be in a uniformed spin.
I staggered to the sitting room and slumped into a sofa. “Jessy just leave me alone for Christ sake” i groaned.
I watched as Jessy paced around a bit, dipped her hand into her silvery sleek hand bag and brought out her phone, caressing the keypads as she dialed a number.
“Hello Chioma” she sang into the ear phone still maintaining a depressed look smeared in a blank composure.
“Oh please stop the pet names, see listen to me very carefully. If anything happens to my twin brother, I will never forgive you. Mark my words” She yelled into the phone then cut the call with a hard punch of the finger flinging the phone carelessly which luckily landed on a lone sofa beside me.
Her depressed pitying look now turned red with anger with a little pinch of frustration.
“Sky we have to go and see papa, he must be told of the latest developments”
I threw a long stare at Jessy, it really might be a good idea, i shouldn’t carry this cross alone papa should know.
Jessy made lunch for me with a cup of hot coffee after which i took a cold shower and slept off for the first time in days.
The evening was gloomy and twilight appeared darker than normal. The compound looked deserted and cold as Jessy taxied the car inside with me seating on the passengers side watching Effiong struggle and wrestle while closing the gigantic gate.
His small frame wrestling the gate was a kind of unadulterated amusement to me anytime i see it.
Papa sat on his usual sofa in the sitting room, the t.v remote control on his hands as he toggled between A.I.T and it’s equally annoying counter part N.T.A.
He has gotten leaner and paler than the last time i saw him and his whole physique appeared weak and feeble even though his wounds were almost healed.
Good evening Papa” I greeted and Jessy’s almost immediately after mine.
“Ooh Ejimam!!!” Papa intoned flashing the front part of his dental formula.
His words sounded like he forced them out of his throat and exhibited a lot of weakness.
“Nnam, You dont look well, what is the matter?” Papa asked almost immediately i sat on a sofa beside his, his eyes peered into my face both of them appeared to have gone deeper into his face due to his clearly visible cheek bones.
“Papa, am fine” I said with a forced smile tilting my face out from the range of his face.
“Nnam remember you are my son and i have watched you grow, i know when you are fine and when you are not. You cant lie to me”
Papa’s gaze on me intensified, his breathe sounding loud as someone who just finished a marathon race.
“Papa dont mind him, i brought him here because their is something we wanted to discuss with you” Jessy chipped in nodding at papa.
Papa gave a consenting nod, leaning back unto the sofa his chest rose and fell hard and his mouth dropped a little open.
“Papa are you alright?” Jessy asked standing from her seat placing her hands on papa’s head and chest.
“Yes am fine Nne, please go to that drawer in my room, open that your mother’s old drawer, You will find a bag containing my medications” His words were even more forced out now.
Jessy disappeared into the stair case, i kept on looking at papa who now closed his eyes relaxing into the sofa.
I can’t believe papa turned this weak and lean like that but right here before my face he was slipping.
“Sky! Sky!! Come up here!!!” I heard Jessy’s voice from the direction of Papa’s room.
“What is it!!” i Yelled after her maintaining my seating position.
“Just come up here this imbecile!!!” Her voice appeared even angrier and pissed.
I sprang up from the seat and reluctantly made it up the stairs. Papa only peeked open his eyes, let out a weak smile and closed it again.
“What is it eeehn??” i let out on getting into papa’s room, Jessy sat beside mama’s old desk holding up a little transparent plastic cup of medicine with little yellow tablets inside, her whole gaze were fixed on it.
“What is it naaa??” I asked again getting closer.
“Sky, look at this medicine, if this is what i think it is…” she was handing me the little plastic container.
I looked at it for a little more than 2seconds, all i could see was just a bunch of little yellow tablets.
“It’s just papa’s medicine jessy, what do you think it is” i asked handing her back the little container.
“Sky if my guess is right these are Haimdal’s pills” She was sounding anxious and visibly sweating when the air was chilly to me.
“Ok Jessy what’s Haimdal’s pills, do you think am also a doctor or what?”
“Sky just shut up, Haimdal’s pills are very toxic pills, it slowly shrinks and kills the human organs which will inevitably result to the death of patient if administering is persisted” Her eyes were popped as she was still casting a cold look at the container.
“How did it get into papa’s medicine then?” I asked a little pinch of fear sipping in.
“I don’t know, it smells like it and looks like it, i will have to take this to the hospital tomorrow to check and be sure” She announced slipping it down her pocket.
We went down to papa who still sat calmly with his eyes closed. All of a sudden appeared like he was dying to me.
“Papa who brought those medicines for you?” Jessy asked going to seat beside papa while i sat opposite them looking on.
“Nne it was Amanda, doctor called and she went and picked them up for me and she gives it to me as prescribed by the doctor on daily basis but she’s not home now” He said peering at Jessy.
My heart skipped a beat immediately the name Amanda was mentioned.
“Here papa, take this medicine tonight” Jessy said handing papa a satchet containing white tablets.
“what about my medications nne” papa asked with confusion written on his look.
“Don’t worry papa, dont touch them again i will go and see doctor and make a little adjustments in your medications and bring them to you myself tomorrow” she smiled at him throwing a blind wink at me.
“Ok nne” papa smiled back.
“Now nnam tell me what is it you wanted to” papa asked still smiling.
I was reluctant not knowing if it was a good idea feeding papa such bad news at this moment. i looked at Jessy who gestured me to.
I took time to narrate everything to papa, from Amanda’s sabotage to my supposed parents-inlaws, to her claim of Ryan being my son and lastly i and Chioma’s shaky and fizzling relationship culminating into a foggy wedding possibility.
Papa slumped back into the seat again, he was strangely very calm.
“I knew this may happen someday” He muttered to himself yet it was audible to i and Jessy.
“I should have done this a long time ago before now” He sighed again.
“Nnam do not despair, everything will be fine. i need to do what i should have done before, we are going for a DNA test”. He announced a lot of calmness and confidence written in his words.
I just hope he is right that “everything will be fine”

“Oh sky, Jessy you are here” Amanda sang in with a chuckle emanating from her as she stepped into the house, Ryan hanging on her arms like he was tied there.
My heart flew out and back again, Jessy’s face changed immediately. That former masked face that hides her contempt when she uses it.
That was the same look she wore the day Papa first brought Amanda to us.
“Welcome” We replied trying to appear all smiley from the way we exposed our teeth in something that can serve as a smile.
“How is your father doing?” She asked making straight to papa who was just looking on with a smile.
“Darling how are you” She addressed papa seating beside him on the edge of the sofa. Her hands placed warmly on his fore head and right hand rubbing his thighs.
“Am fine my dear” Papa replied appreciating her with a smile.
“I hope you have eaten and what about your medications have you taken that yet?” she asked again with a concern and care oozing out from her words.
Jessy looked at me intently as we both looked on watching Amanda pet papa.
“Yes Jessy made soup and i have taken my medicine. thank you very much dear” Papa said patting her back gently.
“Uncle!!!” Ryan yelled slipping down from Amanda’s grasp and ran to me jumping into my body with reckless abandon.
My stare skipped from Jessy to papa and then Amanda. The atmosphere was tense and a cloud loomed seeming to unleash a talkless rain.
Papa let out a loud sigh buttered into a pinch of groan as he sat up.
“Amanda please have a seat, their is something we need to discuss” Papa addressed her adjusting himself a little.
I watched on as Amanda look intensely as papa then me, shrugs and heads towards a vacant sofa beside papa’s. * *
“Williams family please come into my office!!” The doctor announced on the intercom as we all sat with other patients in the hospital waiting lounge.
It was a day after our DNA test and the result was to be announced.
The indifference in Amanda’s face when papa rebuked her about passing such news to Chioma’s parents was scary.
Her aloofness as she just hung her face in her palms looking blankly as papa spoke out, though his voice sounded weak but the tone was nothing but serious.
Still recall the way her eyes popped immediately papa mentioned that a DNA test was to be carried out to confirm Ryan’s paternity.
Her eyes turned dim and look blunt. Papa’s stern warning still made me realize he still was the man he used to be deep down.
“Listen to me carefully, If you destroys my son’s marriage with this your unfounded malarkey, you will see the other side of me”
The unchanging smell of the hospital filled my nostrils as we entered into the hospital on the day we were to collect the result of the DNA test done the previous day.
Papa walked on his on without using his usual walking stick, Jessy have changed all his medications and made sure she was always around to administer them.
Amanda walked along Ryan who always tried to run ahead of the group.
I stood behind saying silent prayers for the result to turn out negative. it may be a way to save my marriage and salvage the little shattered pieces of my life.
Amanda was strangely very jovial and cheerful since the day began. she wore a smile from the very first minute she woke up.
I had stayed in papa’s house from the day we came on Jessy’s request so that way one of us will always be available and watch papa’s health.
She gently tapped a knock on my pushing it open almost immediately like she always does.
“Good morning sky” She greeted with a smile the lip gloss she wore shimmering under the light *I wonder if she just wakes up and makes up immediately**
Her exaggerated bumz made the mini flimsy gown she wore find it difficult to cover pass her a-s region even though she allowed one of the two tiny sleeves slip down her elbow.
“Good morning” I replied feigning indifference but avoided any eye contact.
“Sweety your breakfast is ready” she intoned giggling out forming a flirty smirk.
The cold stern i shot at her without uttering a word was enough to show her words held no water even though it was obvious a lot of sarcasm was buried within it.
The way she swayed her bumz in a very intense manner as she bundled herself out of the room taking each steps as slow as she could entertain still chuckling.
Now that we are in the hospital, her hearty laughs and cheerful mood sold out a transparent confidence and it scared me to imagine what is according her such disheartening confidence.
Jessy walked in into the hospital waiting lounge, her brisk hard strides were complimented by knocking sound her high heeled shoes made on the ceramic floor.
“Sky, come here” She blurted out on getting to where i sat in the lounge dragging the edge of my shirt in a bid to drag me up. not even a hello to papa and amanda.
“What is it Jessy” I asked on getting to a tight secluded corner where she dragged me to.
Away from the hearing range of anybody in the lounge.
“I gave those pills to Wilson, he confirmed that those pills are actually Haimdal’s pills just like i suspected” Her eyes blinked at more interval than normal.
I was dumbfounded. my tongue went numb and throat felt like it was tied, only my face betrayed my look being subconsciously fixed at Jessy mopping on like a moron.
“Sky it is either the doctor mistook those drugs for some other drugs or Amanda added those drugs to medications because Wilson doubts if any doctor would make such mistake” Her voice was shaky and cracked obvious fear emanating from it.
I really hope their is a rational explanation this but the second possibility scared the be-jesus out of me.
I and Jessy walked back to the lounge after agreeing to commence a close watch on Amanda. The doctor’s voice rang from the intercom just after i settled down with Jessy.
The professional smart look on the doctor’s look with a set of exposed teeth same in colour with his flowing lab coat.
He gestured us to seat down seeming like he was referring only to papa who sat down after a handshake with him.
A brown envelope peeped out from the broad side pocket of his lab coat which he brought showing it to us closely.
“This is the result to the DNA test we carried out on you people” He said while his hands worked on retrieving a slim folded white paper from the brown pack.
“According to the result, the child’s deoxyribonucleic acid strand matches yours more” He intoned casting a look at me making it clear he was referring to me.
My heart sank immediately, papa’s face maintained the smile it wore when we entered, Jessy sighed out and Amanda’s lips formed a one sided crooked smile.
The doctor handed the white paper to me which i passed to Jessy after mopping at it for more than 60seconds without understanding anything else but the names written in a scattered alien-like handwriting typical of most doctors.
Jessy looked at it, gave me a confirmative nod and folded it back.
It is canon that Ryan is my child.

Her body glowed, under the dim deep blue light that hung hidden in the little square champaign room of the club.
Faint music are heard mixed with shouts and howls of party-ers outside hitting the dance floor hard, the multi coloured rainbow beams casted by the disco lights around sipped in, struggling hard to find its way into the little champaign room.
The liquid sitting lazily on my long slim glass sparkled with the dim blue lights, a sense of familiarity between i and the wine.
I watched as her hands picked up the bottle of moet buried in a bucket of ice standing at a little table before me.
“Let me fill your glass” she whispered into my ears making sure the warm breathe from her caressed my face.
She gulped down another glass of the now bluish gold liquor, her shimmering body clad only in a yellow bikini now glowing neon due to the blue beams.
A straight smooth legs with a high heeled shoe, hairless and shimmering ran straight up to a flawless thigh with only the bikini covering her mould.
A flat stomach complimented a well deserved round bum in a descent hip. Relatively large boobs that rested heavily on a matching bikini top which barely covered 30 percent of her boobs letting out a lot of cleavage.
Her hands ran from the base of my stomach up towards the capital of my chest, a tingling sensation surged through me, Was it the alcohol or the magic her fingers played on my chest.
I could feel her tongue running up towards my neck, her hands now grazing the upper region of Junior sky giving it passive nudges to which strangely it responded weakly.
My heart raced back to the events of a few hours rewind back in time.
Amanda’s smile into my face as she walked pass heading out of the hospital lounge into the car park. She wore a smirk while taking slow comfortable triumphant strides. A copy of the DNA result was in her hand still in a brown enveloped which she didn’t bother to open owing to the fact the first copy already said it all.
“Nnam, all will be well” Papa sang out on his way trailing behind Amanda, His eyes spoke exactly the opposite of his words.
Philip was waiting beside the car to take them home.
My hope of getting Chioma back was shattered and my chances with her was now slimmer than an indomie strand.
Jessy showed total indifference about the whole thing, she was more concerned about the Haimdal’s pills found in papa’s medication.
MY legs wobbled under me, eyes dim and wet, heart blank.
I yanked the door of my car open, climbed into the bold seat of a heavy balanced TUNDRA. My head hurts but my heart hurt more.
Banging a clenched fist into the center of the steering wheel, which just gave out corresponding beep of horns as my fist landed on it meting out my frustration on the innocent wheel which still didn’t seem to care.
I dialed Chioma’s number severally to which she busied and ignored some without picking any. Jessy had gone home with papa and Amanda.
I could make out curious eyes from the hospital surroundings fixed on my car, who wouldn’t check if you see a parked car letting out uncalled horns and bangs with the driver having a boxing bout with the steering wheel.
Driving off with a death calling speed, i zoomed down to a Capitol bar just beside shoprite. Ordered for a few bottle of beers.
Spent hours there, gulping down glass after glass of crispy beers which gave a lot of soothing warmth to my already troubled mind, white stick of cigarette with glowing red ends and flying out smokes tucked between my fingers. I have never taken one before but i could try anything that had a possibility of blanking out my mind from everything.
Somehow i wish none of this ever happened, i wish i could just pinch myself and realized it was all a dream, that papa never married any girl called Amanda.
“Hey you don’t look interested” A slim milky voice jolted me out of my obvious oblivious thoughts. Part of her hands were boldly resting on Junior sky and from the minty sensation on my mouth she must have been kissing me.
The dim blue lights registered into my mind again, the curvely creature before me bathed in sandwiched beams from the blue bulb holes.
She peered into my face, holding the side of my cheek with her hands. “Sir what is wrong?” She asked, curiosity buttered in a spread of concern masking her look.
I have never seen such basic sense of responsibility from a call girl c-m stripper in a club before.
I entered the club after my long hours of staying alone in capitol bar with only bottles of liquor and sticks of cigarette and borrowed strange look from the attendants as companions.
A heavily expensive club that plays host to expensive people hoping to catch expensive fun. It had an enormous supply of call girls on bikinis serving drinks and other things the customer might be interested in.
Olumide was the one that introduced me to the club the very first time we met after i returned from london and this was my second time of being at the club.
“Hey can i talk to you” I intoned at a curvy bootilicious girl clad in a yellow bikini.
I was seated on the long bar seats as the bar tender mixed a shot of cocktail for me.
The look he gave me with a wink and smile as he pushed the drink to me while my gaze watched the creature in a yellow bikini draw near.
She wore a flirty look, and a mildly applied make-up unlike others in the club whose over exaggerated make-ups gave them a ridiculous look instead of adding a chunk of beauty.
“How are you beautiful, Am sky whats your name?” I sang at her rubbing my hand through her shoulder.
“Am licia” She said trying to achieve a flirty smile.
“Hhmm beautiful name licia, and fits a beautiful girl like you” I flirted throwing down a large portion of the drink before me watching her blush.
“Can i get a private service in a champaign lounge?” I shot at her casting a dirty look from the top of her body to her toes clad in high heeled shoes.
“Alright” She intoned after almost a minute of silence which is really weird owing to the fact that she’s a call girl.
“Sir you have seem very absent minded since you brought me into this champaign room, what exactly is wrong with you?” Licia’s voice was growing bolder.
I slipped my hands into my pocket and displayed a ring before her, the little diamond tear on top of it glowing deep blue complimenting the light in the room.
Could notice her eyes popped as she cast a long confused look at me and the ring.
“She left me!” I blurted out bursting out in a sudden moan of intense emotion.
“My life is a mess now” i groaned
She watched keenly, then took her hands around my shoulder repeating papa’s exact words “All will be well sir. . tell me what happened?”
I poured out every vital detail to her from the problem with Chioma to Amanda and my papa.
She was a wonderful listener and just pouring what i tried to water down with alcohol gave me a more soothing sensation than all the alcohol’s i have taken.
“Sir….”
“Please call me sky” I interrupted her, my gazed still fixed at the ring in my hand.
“Sorry, Sky. In life challenges must come, the waves of our past will haunt us and the tides may weigh us down but what makes a successful life is riding with the tides and letting the effect the waves of your pasts bring to be a bedrock to shape your future. What is yours is yours”
I could hear Mama’s voice in her words and i trusted my mama’s voice and words more than anything.
“Thank you licia, i really appreciate” I whispered dropping a huge wad of 50 thousand naira on the table, dragged myself up, a sharp thud on my head sent me crashing back down into the bed in the room.
She jolted up asking what the matter was, the room was spinning round in a furious zig zag manner.
“You are drunk sky, you cant go like this” she intoned looking down on me.
I slipped my hand into my pocket again, fetched out my car keys, my head throbbed hard, furious headache engulfed me.
“Please drive me home licia” i groaned out handing her the car keys in my hand.
Licia went back to the back room where the call girls change, appeared back within a few minutes now clad in a jean trouser and top, took the key from me and guided me back to the car park.
The alcohols i had taken were taking a wild toll on me.
Watching my gate slide open immediately a figure of my newly hired gate man saw the headlights of my car approaching, a few drops of peace were dropped in me.
Licia parked the car just before the house, hurried over to the other side to guide me into the house as i staggered down from the seat.
“SKy!!!” A very familiar voice shrieked just in front of my door.
The white florescent light in the front door showed the figure brightly.
Chioma was standing in front of my door, it was obvious she had been seating there since she didn’t have the keys anymore.
I watched as her face turned from the look of surprise she wore when she yelled my name to a tearful one. she walked briskly past me the groaning cries from her now audible, Licia just stood beside the car looking on with a blank eyes.
“Chioma!!” I yelled after her looking on with shock as Chioma sped out of my compound crying

The alcohol in my system vanished like a fast volatile substance living nothing but a strangely sobber and bemused man.
I fixed my gaze on Chioma’s figure as she ran through the thick twilight grey that covered the atmosphere now heading towards my gate.
My head was totally damp and to think was impossible, My legs felt like it was nailed to the spot making it impossible to shift.
I wanted to run after her but somehow i couldn’t, my wits and reflexes were as if they were shut down temporarily.
Someone zoomed pass me, the high heel shoes she was wearing giving the ground a musical pounding as she ran after Chioma’s resigning figure.
Licia’s yelling voice kept resounding into my mind, as she kept calling after chioma who didn’t even turn back.
I managed to drag my frame the much i can towards the gate, my woozy head threatening to rip open, wobbling legs on the verge of giving in under me.
Chioma sped on without looking back, every step she takes left a matching thump effect on me.
“Madam!!!”
“Aunty!!”
“Chioma!!!”
Escaped from licia’s mouth buttered into a bag full of hissing sounds as she kept chasing chioma down gaining more ground.
Okon my newly hired gate man, a small stout very black man, with a funny facial look and an off coloured goatee stood beside the gate. I had hired him from the recommendation of Effiong, papa’s gate man and i clearly see the similarities between both.
Their smallish body hogging a whole lot of humour in one small package.
“Maram rem deh call you” he said as Chioma got to the gate.
“Open this gate” She yelled pulling him by his shirt collar, yanking his smallish frame like Big show would yank at a smallish figure like Ray mysterio in a WWE wrestling bout.
“Maram, mbok uka rem deh kol u” His thick calabar assent showing him off to be a fresh fish out of the river.
“Chioma please listen to me” Licia intoned on getting to the spot, holding Chioma by the shoulder.
I don’t why it didn’t come as a surprise, A slapping sound thundered through the air.
“Get your hands off of me!!!” Chioma yelled sending Licia backwards with a thunderous slap.
Licia clutched her cheek in her hands gazing at Chioma with a widened eyes.
“What is wrong with you?” I yelled at Chioma, my body was quaking, nerves were restless and my eyes threatened to shut and blank out any moment.
“Are you out of your mind!!!” my voiced wreaked sending okon on a task of hugging the wall tightly even when i was not referring to him.
“Sky, you are asking me what is wrong with me, what sort of a man are you!!!”
I have never heard Chioma talk in this pitch before and the free flowing streams of tears running down her face made her all the more fierce.
“You come back here clutching another woman God knows were you picked her up from, probably a prostitute and you are asking what’s wrong with me?”
I noticed Licia’s face twitched and her eyes went dim while Chioma’s voice rented the air in an uncontrollable tempo.
“I should have known you were still the same, this was exactly the same thing you did with Cynthia. You are a cheat sky, a big cheat and a he- goat”
My mind was taken aback to the Cynthia’s saga 5years ago.
Cynthia as i am told got pregnant a year after i was sent to U.k.
She was denied by the young engineering student that got her pregnant.
She now stays in the united states as a single mom.
“Chioma would you at least listen to me?” My voice was strangely calm and hands making to get hold of her.
“Leave me alone you cheat, don’t touch me” She blurted out pushing me as hard as she could muster.
“You are the worst mist…………”
“Hey hey hold it there” Licia’s voice barged in without announcement cutting Chioma’s long rebuking sermon half way.
Chioma’s eyes widened a bit and her mouth fell open as she fixed a surprised gaze at licia whose dimmed eyes now sparkled in an untold fury.
“You don’t even know what you have until you loose it, you can’t even give your man a chance to explain himself” Her hands were waving at Chioma as she spilled an unheard yarn.
“Yes i am a prostitute and i don’t deny that” I could see Chioma’s intense look as the word ‘prostitute’ registered into her mind coming out from Licia’s mouth.
“He could not even bring himself to cheat on you even when he is drunk, what you have here is a broken man. Broken by your inability to show restraint when it is needed, broken by the fact that you made his already troubled life even more troubled than it should have been”
“You were supposed to be there for him, to know your man but you compounded his problems”
Chioma’s face now wore a relatively calm and quiet look and licia’s face got all the more twisted and mean.
She took a couple of steps towards Chioma, looking into her face.
“If anything happens to him, Just know that you caused it”. The seriousness in her voice was unmatched, the contempt out of the world.
Everything was spinning faster before me, my wits have dissolved in an instant and my legs could give in any moment.
Chioma was transfixed in her position, interchangeably looking at me and Licia, a strange calmness was at work but yet traces of anger could still be noticed.
The voices were banging hard into my ears.
Amanda’s chuckle and giggling taunts echoed in.
“Young man, i am highly disappointed in you” In Chioma’s father’s voice.
“Sky this is haimdal’s pills” Jessy’s voice was next to echo in my head.
“I only came here to give you these” this was Chioma’s voice accompanied by a resounding jingling sound of a ring and key crashing down into the ground.
“I have been waiting for you, and i have a surprise for you” Amanda’s clear tone voiced in smeared with a cracking bout of chuckle.
Ryan’s innocent and hearty laugh,
” the child’s deoxyribonucleic acid strand is matches yours more” the doctor’s voice crept in inducing a piercing sharp pain in my head.
My head was numb and i could feel sweat rushing down my face in quick successions, the flashes were constant and over whelming.
“Uka!!!” Okon’s voice yelled.
Complimented by a shrieking yell of my name from Chioma and licia.
“Sky!!!”
Nothing else happened, everything was suddenly blank and dark.

“Sky who is this?” That was the very first hello i got from Jessy on drifting back to consciousness.
She nudged her head towards licia’s direction to make me understand who she was talking about without her noticing.
Chioma was seating beside me at the right flank clutching my right hand in both her hands. the sagging eye bags and swollen face clearly showed she had being crying.
“Oh Jessy, she’s just a very good friend of mine i met somewhere” Jessy’s face twitched betraying the suspicion that she still harbored but she masked it with a smile, of course that was meant for chioma she could never mask her emotion from me even with a smile.
Jessy did some medical magics as usual, restoring my full consciousness, my blurry vision, the throbbing headache and severe wooziness all vanished.
“Sky you had a severe case of stress coupled with depression and taking alcohol didn’t help at all. your body couldn’t take it anymore and it gave way, please sky don’t take alcohol again in such situation” it ranged like a warning and a command at the same time. but the little pinch of fear made it clear she was serious.
“Baby please am very sorry, forgive me” Chioma sang out bursting into another round of uncontrollable tears.
From the sign licia gave me from the opposite sofa where she sat, it was clear she had talked to chioma and told her everything while i was out.
“Please sky am so sorry forgive me” She made to kneel down, i held her in my arms and dragged her up in one fluid movement.
Here before me i could see my future, the ground from whence my little seed germinated waiting to say “hello” to a crazy world with a crazy short time.
My gaze moved from Jessy who was almost crying too, to licia who stood with a pouty smile on.
I gave licia a hard wink, and she handed me over the ring she took while taking the car keys from me.
The curtains around the house lay still as if they understood the anxiety that hugged the atmosphere.
Only the buzzing sound of the air conditioner defiled all bid for quietness as it went on singing its own cold buzzing song.
I went down on both my knees again, my gaze fixed on the ring in my hand, it tilted up to Chioma who was mopped on tears still streaming down her face in fast successions.
“Life they say is full of raging tides” I began, “but a wise lady once told me” my face tilted to give Licia an appreciative smile.
“That what makes a successful life is riding with the tides” Chioma’s face grew reddish pale, her hands covered her mouth but they tears persisted.
“I humbly and sincerely ask again, Miss Chioma Ugwu, will you marry me?”
My voice was shaky and a gulp of throaty air made it sound croaky.
Chioma’s face went from weeping to a mixture of crying and laughing.
She looks at Jessy and Licia this time, falls down on her knees too and threw her hands around me with a hard quick reflex.
“Yes sky, yes i will marry you” she blurted out the tears now streaming down harder than before but yet she was laughing hard.
**Na like so them deh take confuse us finish, which one you deh do abeg??**
I slipped the ring into her finger for the second time, this time i have a feeling it will never slip out.
Our lips met in a very explosive kiss, it was a combination of all the kisses we didnt have through out the troubling times. A huge chunk of passion smeared in a rush of intense affection.
Chioma got up and rushed into Licia’s arms, clasping her tight in embrace.
Their are times when people you least expects comes into your life and makes it better, mine was fixed not by papa or Jessy, but a call girl who would imagine that.
“Thank you and am sorry” Chioma whispered to licia but yet it was audible enough for Jessy and i to hear.
“Who is there? Jessy yelled at the door as a knock sipped in.
The whole scenario was changed again as a figure of Amanda walked into the sitting room with Jessy.
She had Ryan in her arms and his back pack in another.
The way she walked in, one would not help to think her steps were intentionally gentle and slow.
She was clad in a pink flowery tight leggings and a white top to go with complimented by a pink high heeled shows.
Her face was dragged to an expression of surprise and contempt immediately she stepped in and Chioma was standing there.
Chioma even clasped her hands around me immediately she entered. She shrugged and rolled her eyes slightly.
The atmosphere went stale all of sudden, it was like everyone held their breathe except Jessy’s whose heavy breathing could be mistaken for a raging waterfall.
“What is it Amanda” I asked, the black mascara line bordering her eyes gave her a sinister look before me.
“Is that a way to address the mother of your child, your son?” She returned looking at me squarely on the face then Chioma, she widened her eyes as she took her gaze down to Chioma’s stomach which still seemed as flat as a concrete wall to me.
“Please i am not in the mood for this, say what you want and get out as you can see am busy”.
The little chuckle she gave out made licia turn in her current seating position as she watched on possibly trying to add the pieces together the much she could.
“Your son have been disturbing to visit you” She intoned giving Ryan a gentle nudge as she stressed the word ‘son’ a little exaggeratedly.
“I can see you have a full house” she was now looking at licia who returned her gaze squarely.
“So i have to leave him here, cus i need to go somewhere now”
She nudged Ryan gently and he gently ran to me clasping his tiny small hands around my legs.
“Be a good boy” She intoned, not so sure if that was meant for me or Ryan, she dropped his back park and then cat walked out in a rehearsed manner.
Jessy carried Ryan off to play with him immediately the door closed behind Amanda.
I slumped back on my chair, my hands on my face and a loud sigh.
“Baby don’t worry, everything will be well” Chioma said throwing her hands around me, but i could see an unsaid worry written all over her face.

It was a stale day having chioma and Ryan in my house at the same time, no matter how hard she tried the masked look of insecurity in her eyes could hardly be hidden.
Her eyes which perched like a blacked out jewel always seemed to dim in a twitched face when ever Ryan was there.
She had officially announced to me that she was pregnant and was 2months gone already.
The news sounded fresh and new to me even though i have known before.
It still felt like it was the first time i was hearing it, maybe it was because of the smile and pride in her eyes or the explosive kiss that followed.
In the morning Jessy had gone home with Ryan back to papa’s house, Licia have retired to her own home leaving the house only for chioma and i.
“Baby i think i will have to go and see your parents now” i presented checking to see any strange reaction.
“I think its a good idea” she intoned from the kitchen as jangling sounds of dishes sipped out from there.
The afternoon sun hung lazily across, but the rays it gave off was weak and gold. Dusty air swayed around as we drove towards chioma’s house.
The very view of the gate sent an alien scare in me, i haven’t seen Chioma’s parent since this issue arose and i fear what might come out from this visit.
Chioma’s mother was hot tempered, fast to conclude, opinionated, strong willed and stubborn. Her father was more rational, cool tampered, a mild talker but always seemed to be on his wife’s side.
The look on Hassan’s face as i walked past the gate with chioma was an impossible mixture of fear and sense of obligation.
He had been charged to hold the gate from me by his oga but here was i moving straight without opposition just that scared look in his eyes.
A look from chioma had done the trick, hassan needed no more persuasion. He knew his oga could sack him but disobeying small madam could make his oga sack him three times faster than normal.
The house was cold and a looming cloud of an untold rain threatened to fall right there inside.
I was tensed and scared but chioma’s hand holding my tight was a little soothing.
“what is he doing here” that shrieking voice sang out just before the stair case, i looked up and chioma’s mother was speeding down the stair case, her hands clutching the rails tight and long flowing gown flying behind her in all her thickness.
“What is he doing here” she barked again peering her gaze from Chioma to me, her widened eyes glowed with fury and contempt.
A loud silence engulfed me, i could see her lips moving but heard nothing, her fingers pointing at Chioma who stood still without shaking.
“what are you doing here?” Am sure that question was meant for me this time and the stronger the look of contempt she wore.
“Good afternoon ma” i spilled looking beside me to be sure Chioma still was there, her face was blank and from the watery sparkle it was obvious tears were forming in her eyes.
“Sky my parents are really mad especially my mum, i don’t know if they will listen to anything we say” she had intoned as we drove to her house.
“Don’t worry, am sure they will still come around” i had assured her with an unsure tone.
“Didn’t you hear me, what are you doing in my house. Have you not done enough already”
Chioma’s mum stood in front of me squarely facing me directly with a hard accusing finger.
“Oh God, please let this hot temper and stubbornness not be hereditary” i muttered a quick prayer under my breathe looking at chioma.
“Mummy please listen to him” her voice was shaky castigating the tears that choked her throat.
“You shut up” She turned her attention towards chioma. “Despite everything, you still had the impetus to bring this boy here!!!”
Thumping foot steps could be heard descending from the stairs, a crisp green jumper of shimmering material marked his presence as he filled into the room.
Heavy and thick black with a sort of thicker personality and obviously an ego bigger than both.
My voice was lost, how could i even start explaining myself to Chioma’s mother who wouldn’t even have me say anything from the way she interrupts me anytime i wanted to utter a word.
Mr Ugwu’s presence in the scenario was even more frightening, with his full support nobody could be sure what his wife could do.
“what’s going on here” he intoned rather calmly but it had more audacity than all the shrieks and shouts i have been bathed with since i came in.
“Daddy please listen to him” chioma’s eyes freely washed down clear tears now.
“listen to him for what chioma, so he could cook up more lies and feed us? How he had a son of almost 5years and you never knew? His face was growing pale and hard.
A neat copy of  tweet savages magazine lay proudly on the glass table, it was the magazine that aired my wedding with chioma. The bold picture of i and chioma smiled back at me as i mopped at them.
The date boldly written in white Gothic form said 25th day of march which is three days away if my head is correct enough about the dates.
“But he didn’t know!!! ” Chioma yelled out maybe to her father but i think it was meant for her mother who haven’t stopped with her finger pointing and singing the lead song while her husband’s sounded like a back up.
Mrs ugwu gave out a shrieking chuckle which was easy to to tell wasn’t a genuine chuckle.
“he didn’t know?” she asked chioma but had her gaze on me and a lot of mischief surging within.
“Chioma you are a fool for believing this boy”
“Darling i think you have to call her now” Chioma’s father addressed his wife with that calm tone that always wreaked of untold doom.
“Yes yes i think its time i did”
“call who?”
“for what?”
“and what has that person got to do with this issue? ”
These questions surged through my mind, inducing a sense of scary curiosity but i knew what ever it was it wouldn’t be good on my part.
Chioma had a look of surprise and curiosity watching as he mother disappeared into the stairs. Her handkerchief was already soaked with tears but she wiped out more with it anyway.
The bold grin on chioma’s dad face as he relaxed on a sofa was very an ear to ear to type.
My breathe was held, hands numb and sweat tickled down my face. Chioma’s hands were clasped together like she was begging.
Screeching sounds emanated from the stairs,it was obvious two people were descending down the stairs. You can even make our laughters and chuckles
Every thing slowed down, every tiny sounded heavy and loud. I could even hear my own heartbeat ladened in wild heavy breathes.
“No it can’t be!!!” my mind shouted not quite sure if anyone else heard it.
Chioma took a couple of steps forward.
“How possible is this?”
Chioma’s mother entered the sitting room with Amanda walking beside her wearing a shouty smirk.

I slumped hard on the sofa on getting home sighing heavily with a weak composure, chioma wore a gloomy look as she sat next to me, the way things ended had been worse than we both anticipated.
“Sky what happened between you and my aunty Nancy ” she asked peering into my face with question ladened eyes and her face still smeared with that gloomy look she had.
My mouth fell open and words tried coming out but always failed, all i did was look just like i did in Chioma’s house not to long ago.
I couldn’t believe my eyes when i watched as Amanda matched majestically side by side with Chioma’s mother who had a shouty snear on.
I had to blink several times to make sure it wasn’t an optical illusion or maybe i was going crazy.
Chioma couldn’t hold back her surprise and confusion.
“what is she doing here?” her eyes moving from her father to her mother with an impossible look.
“You remember your Aunty Nancy?” Chioma’s mother intoned.
Amanda winked slightly at me at the mention of the name Nancy.
My escapade with Nancy Amanda’s friend 5years ago flashed through my memory which has been one of the numerous actions i regret in my life. I can give anything not to remember.
If i ever was to make a list of the things i regret in life, Nancy would be second to Amanda’s in the list for sure.
“this lady here, Amanda was your aunty’s bossom friend, i have known her for more than 5years now and as you already know happens to be the mother of your fiance’s son”
My mouth felt dry like i have been on a desert far too long, the house closed in all around me threatening to crush me in.
“But mum she was the one that seduced him, this woman is a devil!!! ” chioma shrieked pointing at Amanda who did nothing but smile, her gaze fixed on me showing little interest to what transpired between chioma and her parents.
“Sweety, i am a senior pastor/evangelist in church, a nationwide renowned christian leader and preacher. I wouldn’t go down the pot of scandal by having my daughter marry a man who already have a child by another, what would the world think, what would God think, what would the church think of me- that i am a leader that doesn’t lead by example? -Chioma i won’t allow that”
I fidgeted where i stood while chioma’s mother recounted her reasons for objecting. Church, God and the people.
“And am sure he didn’t tell you he was the one that broke your aunty Nancy’s marriage” Chioma’s mum cursed on loudly, her husband doing occasional adjustment of both his bold medicated crystal eye glass to his whole frame resting on the sofa looking on at his wife, but never failed to nod as she spoke on.
“What happened to Nancy’s marriage?
And what has it got to do with me? ”
My mind snapped but i wouldn’t dare ask, seems everything i say or do made matters worse than they were in the first place.
Like the police always asserts; “whatever you say will be used against you in the court of law.
That was exactly the position i found my self in.
I could notice chioma’s gazed shifted from her mum to me, it wasn’t the look of anger and frustration she had anymore but an innate curiosity and confused eyes ladened in swirling questions.
Little did she know that even i was even more confused than her as things stood.
“Excuse me ma, but i have no idea what you are talking about here” i tried mustering up some defence, its obvious Amanda have fed them some glaring lies they find too hard to deny.
“I said shut up and don’t bring that lying tongue up here again” she countered almost immediately inducing another wicked sneer from Amanda.
“I am tired of all this” Chioma yelled out stamping her feet many times of the ground, her face turned almost as red as the rose designs on her top.
“common lets get out of here sky” she intoned dragging me by the hand making for the door.
“And where do you think you are going young lady” her father said standing up taking a couple of steps towards us.
“Don’t you dare step out of this house with him” her mum chipped in pointing furiously at Chioma.
“I am going with him and nothing you say can stop me, i won’t stand here i watch you ruin my happiness”
She sang back to her mother, the teary mark on her face showing a pale track through her make-up but none dropped again.
“If you leave this house, don’t come back here again ” her mum chipped in throwing a stern look at me instead of her, could see chioma’s dad take a sharp look at his wife who seemed more interested in her threat than any other thing that went on around.
“For your information mum, since you haven’t noticed – i am carrying his child”
I watched as chioma’s mother’s face grew pale, her father’s mouth dropped open and Amanda’s eyes widened hard.
“what? – is that why you have been avoiding me all in this house all this while” she asked in surprise, her pointing fingers already dropped and was now open like the congregation saying ‘our lord’s prayer’ during mass.
Chioma scoffed hard, rolled her eyes and turned towards me again.
“Common baby lets get out of here”
I followed her glancing back just in time to see her mum slumping her weight down into a sofa with her hands on her head.
Chioma’s breathe grazed my cheek, my face was buried deep in my palms and her hands across my shoulder.
“Sky please tell me, what happened with aunty nancy, what is mum talking about?
“Honestly i have no idea what they are talking about”
i sounded throaty and confused. “It’s true i had some runnings with a friend of Amanda’s named nancy but i was young and foolish then. Cant believe how much my past naive mistakes is destroying my life” I moaned to almost to myself.
“Don’t worry my love, i know God will see us through” she muttered coldly.
“Where are you going sky? ” she blurted out as sprang up from the seat picking my car keys immediately.
“sky, what is it?” she asked again jolting up herself to grab my arms.
“Going to do what i should have done a long time ago” i retorted before she even finished. “i will be right back”
I strode out of the house with speedy long thumping strides, literally jumping into my car driving off immediately heading to papa’s house.
Papa sat outside seating on a lone back chair, a plate of groundnuts and holandia yoghurt was on a little side stool beside him as he flipped through the pages of a news paper, his glasses hanging loosely on his nose making him look something near a 1940 professor.
He was gaining more weight by the day and his pale skin looking more better than before.
“Nnam how are you” he called after me as i greeted him and made my way into the house.
“My am fine” i sang back not stopping a bit.
“what is wrong” he called after me dropping the newspaper to follow me with his gaze.
“Nothing papa i just need to get something from my room” i yelled behind me disappearing into the house.
Making my way through the stairs, a picture of mama and papa hung on a far side of the wall, the sharp smile on mama’s face cut through me..
“This wouldn’t have been happening if you were here” i cursed under my breath sustained a lone drop of a teary crystal.
The house was empty, just like i have presumed. Heading towards Amanda’s room, a pale reddish wooden door stood clearly in front refusing to bulge open after i yanked the handle many times trying to get it open.
With a sharp t----t of my body weight under a kicking foot, the door barged open with a huge bang bringing the room into view.
Clothes lay carelessly on the bed, mostly Ryan’s.. I flung the drawers on the bed open, tearing through piles of primary school Rhymes, little shoes.
The second drawer joined, it was a pile of magazine’s neatly arranged even the tweetsavages magazine.
I singled out every magazine in the drawer, what i was looking for i had no idea but am sure they must be something, anything, anything at all.
The third drawer house a large collection of toys in it, i moved to the other side which only had one drawer on it. Yanked it open it had a huge pile of medicines most of them with pictures of women and children on them. I hissed heavily but what is this?
My hand delve into the pile of medicines and retrieved a small round container, identical with the one jessy took from papa’s medications. Those yellowish little tablets lay still inside.
I looked at it for some minutes, smelt it a bit but am sure i really have no idea which smell i should be expecting.
I slid the small container at the back of my trouser, closed the drawer again and resumed search now more intently.
The ward rope was just a pile of clothes, and so was the space above it. Only a few shoes could be seen under the bed. I was not sure anything was there anymore, she was cleaner than i anticipated or always had her tracks covered.
Their was one more place i need to search, yes yes i think their is. I lifted the mattress up in one full swing taking it clearly out from the bed.
It was blank and empty except for one little brown envelop, neat and crisp lay lazily.
I picked it, could swear it was the second copy of the DNA test the doctor gave to Amanda.
Opening it amidst scrambling groans made by the envelop as i retrieved the neatly folded white sheet in it.
The name Ryan Williams was all i could make out from the jibberish that passed as the doctor’s handwriting. I have never understood any doctor’s writing before, i dont know if they are given special classes in school on how to have bad handwritings, only jessy’s.
I don’t understand what was written on it but i could swear it is not the same thing written on the one the doctor gave us in the hospital.
“This was supposed to be the same result.. ” I muttered to myself, my heart pounding faster than usual.
I slipped the paper into my pocket, dropped the envelope to its previous position and placed the mattress back to it’s place.
Jessy really need to see these result and pills to check what they really are
I left the room closing the door behind me, locked or not, its not my problem..

“sky, how dare you barge into my room this afternoon” Amanda barked Immediately i opened the door to my house after her long loud knocks.
Her eyes were a mixture of anger and confusion, and the seriousness in her face was enough to scare a child.
“I was looking for you” I said in a calm way trying to sound as flirty as possible beaming with an untold evil smile.
Her facial expression changed in a second, she turned sharply and looked at me. “For me?”
her eyes didn’t blink with her gaze fixed on my face.
“Yes for you” i answered going closer to her. my hands running upwards to her shoulders dragging myself towards her.
“Sky what are you doing” She moaned out as my lips were already touching the side of her neck, giving her soft bites and nibbles.
“Am tired of running Amanda, the truth is i have missed you, i thought i could stop myself but my whole body have been yearning for you for the past five years and i cant help it anymore” i breathed out still kissing her neck and pulling her body deeper into mine.
She let out a mild giggle, throwing her hands around neck.” But what about your fiancee”
“Leave that one, her parents words have gotten to her and she said she needs to be left alone now” i continued talking in small whisper tone biting her ears and slurping my tongue around. Her eyes blinked heavily.
“But she is pregnant for you” She moaned out with her eyes slightly closed.
“Yes and you already have a son for me” i countered intensifying the work of my hands on her back.
I felt her hands drag my neck pulling my face into hers as our lips met in an explosive kiss.
My mind raced back to the events that bore out my actions; I had called Jessy immediately i left Amanda’s room.
“Hello, Jessy please where are you” I sang into the phone immediately she picked the call in the usual joking tone she always picks my calls with.
“Am in Wilson’s house with Ryan” She blurted out “Is anything the matter sky?”
“No please am coming there right away their are some things i need you to see” I ended the call in a whim and jumped into the car and off to Jessy’s house.
Sometimes in life you have to take the offensive and fight for yourself.
Amanda have complicated my life enough, she has destroyed my wedding which was supposed to be in 2days time now its impossible. who can muster up a wedding preparation within 48hours.
Wilson’s house; An ultra modern bungalow with designs and styles that would make any duplex jealous. the compound was equally elegant and enviable.
Jessy said Wilson was not a fan of Big upstairs; who would be a fan of upstairs if you have a bungalow that beats an upstair hands down with a wide margin.
“Sky what is the matter?” The always impatient Jessy asked immediately i stepped into the house.
Ryan was in her arms throwing a quick grin at me as a greeting of which is replied with a smile and perk on his soft cheeks.
“Sky talk na” Her impatience was getting the more of her like always, within her eyes lay that ever undying question and curiosity.
“J, not in front of him” i said in a kind of audible whisper casting a wink on Ryan’s side.
“Ryan, go and watch t.v” she said dropping him and we watched him run to seat in front of the television with the usual glee shouting “Spongebob!!!”
“Jessy i will like you to take a look at this” I still maintained my whispering tone. Bringing out the little container of medicine.
Her eyes popped as she took the little transparent container from my hand, peered intensely at it, open it and took a whiff of a smell from it.
“Sky this is haimdal’s pills” She intoned casting a surprise and yet questioning look at me.
“Where did you get this?”
“I searched Amanda’s room and found it” i said checking to see Ryan still glued to the television set.
“And i found this too” I handed her the white folded piece of paper.
She hurriedly yanked it open, blinking faster than usual with the usual curiosity that is innate in her controlling her.
“Jesus Christ! ” she let out, her gaze still glued to the paper and her lips moving without words coming out.
“what is it, what did it say Jessy” I was now the curious one.
“Sky this result shows that your DNA and Ryan’s doesn’t match unlike the one we had. This one shows you are not Ryan’s father” Her voiced quaked and hands trembled along with the paper in them.
Her words sunk into my mind like an arrow, i didnt know how to react to it. Is Ryan not being my son supposed to be good or bad news.
I took another look at Ryan who was obliviously of the happenings.
“And both results bears Doctor’s signature, sky do you know what this means?”
“Both came from the same doctor” I said.
“Yes exactly and the same doctor was responsible for papa’s medication which some haimdal’s pills were found, same pills are found in Amanda’s possession, they are both working together sky” The excitement in her voice was uncanny.
“Their is enough evidence here to put both Amanda and the doctor behind bars for long, i am taking these results and pills to the National Doctors Association of which Wilson’s uncle is the chairman. play along with Amanda the association will handle it from here.” She sounded very confident and excited at the new development.
Having that this was both a criminal case of medical forgery and also a case of attempted murder, i knew it was a matter of time.
“Sky i need you to play along with Amanda, deceive her so she wouldn’t suspect a thing” Jessy winked at me knowing fully well i understood the context of her words.
Getting home, i relayed the newest development to Chioma, who was not only excited but also enthusiastic about it. I could notice how much she brightened up.
I told her Jessy’s plans, she first twitched at the thought after few seconds smiled “that’s really a brilliant plan, that your sister is a crook, i wonder how she got all the brains” She laughed out.
A sudden knock on the door pulled our attention.
“Who is that?”
“Its me, sky open this door now” Amanda’s voics shrieked from the other side of the door.
Jolting Chioma up immediately as she ran up to hide.
“Play your game well” she whispered. * *
Amanda’s hands travelling down towards sky jnr snapped me back with an electrifying surge of shock.
Her breathes were becoming heavier and heavier.
“Amanda, i need to rush to the office now to pick up an important file” i snapped breaking away from the kiss.
“Sky please not now” she made to resume the kiss again.
“I really need to do that now or i will loose a contract of 10million” i could see both disappointment and happiness written all over her face.
“Ok when should i come back” she asked wrapping her hands around me.
I gave her a kiss on the forehead still maintaining my smile.
“Just give me a call whenever you are alone in papa’s house, i will be there” i winked untangling myself pretending i was searching for my car keys.
The smile she wore as she left was superb, turning like thrice to look at me again before disappearing through the door and i watched through the window when she slid into her car and drove off honking excitedly at the gate.
Chioma rushed downstairs immediately laughing dumping her whole weight into me.
“Bad boy” she laughed out throwing a tiny blow on my chest.
“Lets show that your Father’s wife that two can play that game” she grinned.

Like papa always say “be careful when your enemy suddenly starts smiling at you”.
He had a little fall out with mama in the morning and mama got angry, he had refused her some money that she demanded for.
In the afternoon he came back and mama had made a sumptuous meal; onugbo soup and pounded yam with a lot of fish which happened to be papa’s favourite.
Papa was busy eating and nodding while moulds of yam fufu coated greedily with large amount of soup and fish took turns to go down his throat.
I, barely 8, was seated beside him enjoying my own share of the delicacy mimicking papa by nodding my head when i swallow a miniature version of the moulds he ate.
We didn’t know mama had snuck in and took twice of the money she asked for and went on her way, papa only found out later in the night when she came back with a large shopping bag full of goodies not just for herself, both jessy and i including papa.
Papa knowing he was duped with a good delicious delicacy, turned to me with a teary eyes from the long minutes of laughing and said. “Nnam, be careful when your enemy starts smiling at you, it may yet be his greatest weapon”
This was my position with Amanda now, but in this case i was the enemy that suddenly started smiling and she already fell for it, turns out it was my greatest weapon.
The days following the on set of my game with Amanda was very eventful and interesting. My wedding date had already passed and i used it to assure her that getting married was no longer on my mind.
I had made out real time to always take both her and Ryan out, always ensuring i wore a silly smile while at it. Giving Jessy enough time and room to sort things out with the National Doctors Association (NDA) and our family doctor, Dr Odili.
It has been a week of constant turn of emotional build up and break down for her.
I had Jessy barge in on us on Tuesday she came to my house, Chioma hid as usual and while things were turning up Jessy barged in and all hell let loose.
At one time it was licia, the disappointing looks she wears each time she thinks things were already turning up only to get an unexpected visitor was priceless to me.
“Sky abeg come to state command police station” Jessy announced just immediately i picked her call. Picking my car keys, i drove towards the police station wondering what exactly took Jessy to the police station, hope she hasn’t gotten into trouble with the police.
I got to the police station and met jessy just on the police lounge flickering with her phone with full attention.
“Jessy whats wrong?” i blurted out jolting her out of the phonetical spell.
“ehee sky Thank God you are here” her face brightened up.
“so what happened” i enquired curiously peering into her face.
“Just follow me” she waved leading me deeper into the station which was remarkably neat and serene unlike an average police station except for occasional shouts of complaints from people in the cells, only to get the barking voice of a police man as a reply “heeei sharap dia, criminal!!”.
A neat smartly dressed police man sat inside the office Jessy took me to, he was too young and fine to be a police man and seems to be way up there in ranks, none the less his uniform of light blue shirt and black trouser fitted him perfectly.
“Mr sky right?” he uttered immediately jessy stepped in with me. I gave a light nod.
“i am Detective David” he said exposing a set of white teeth and extended hand for a handshake.
Turns out she was Jessy’s friend in the university and had joined the police force after school and his university degree took him way up there. Jessy had contacted him to help with the investigation alongside NDA.
He took us to another room, partially lit but mostly very dark and seemed soundproof from the outside. two hefty police men were flanking a figure seated weakly on small chair with dangling handcuffs.
The battered figure that served as doctor Odili was enough to show you that the slogan “Police is your friend” is just a metaphor.
“He was invited by NDA and confronted with the charges, he denied and we were charged to search his home and office. We found a large store of haimdal’s pills which is an illegal merchandise in the country except for authorized dealers” Detective David explained with Jessy nodding occasionally.
“We arrested him and after interrogating him our own way” he winced and smiled. “he confessed of manipulating the DNA test result and his involvement in an illegal deal of haimdal pills and helped your father’s wife get some”
I jerked as he spoke, disappointed and scared of what things would have been if we didn’t find out.
Can’t believe i trusted papa’s health with this man..
Getting home, i regaled the tales to Chioma who kept hooting and shouting as i talked with an endless flow of “Jesus!!!”. Told her our plan with the police about Amanda.
I set a date with Amanda for the evening after she had complained severally of people interrupting us each time.
“Dont worry, i promise this evening i will take you to the promise land, no interruptions” i had sang to her on the phone making her giggle.
I picked my phone and dialed licia’s number, have let her in on the latest game days earlier and she had concurred.
I employed her as my personal assistant/secretary in the office and a huge salary to go with, chioma gave her a 3bedroom flat apartment so she could move out of the canaan quarters, a part of the city known as a haven for runs girls. They may be up to 5 in one small room.
She was not just a best friend but a sister to i and chioma and lived up to it.
“Hello sky, good evening” her voice flickered out from the ear piece of my phone.
“lici, abeg where you deh?” i asked employing pidgin english, after all this was not the office.
“I deh house oo, wetin happen?” she chuckled in.
“abeg eeehn the maga deh show house today, i wan make you come watch show!!” my voice was a mixture of seriousness and laugh. A mischievous grin filled my face.
Her wild resounding laugh nearly blew my ear drum. “badt pikin so na like so u be ba- dont worry i deh show” it was a sandwich of laughs and words.
A faint car honk from the gate announced Amanda’s presence and chioma ran up stairs immediately to do her own part of the show.
I reshuffled my clothes and watched from the window as her 2013 camry taxied in letting out little shimmer due to the evening sun.
“Baby how are you” she sang out on entering the house. Am sure she spent long extra hours on that make-up.
Her eye lashes were long and smeared richly with mascara.
A flawlessly carved eye brow, pink lips stick and a white flimsy top with a lot of space for too many cleavages to peep out.
“Am very fine, just couldn’t wait to see you” i laughed out picking her from the ground in one swift swing making her chuckle and kiss me.
“Where is Ryan? ” i asked as we settled in my sitting room.
“He is with your father” she wink still beaming with a smile.
“Good very good, that means we have the whole time to ourselves” i took my lips deep into her getting an ever waiting reciprocal.
Her hands were straying fast as she was already yanking on my shirt to take it out. I took my lips down to her neck getting a soft soundtrack singing immediately from her.
Was allowing my hands stray down to her boobs giving them soft squeezes, her hands were grabbing the skin of my back and eyes shut tight.
“Everybody freeze, if you move i blow your brains out!!” a very loud barking voice thundered from no where. I jolted up immediately. Amanda followed, her eyes popped and mouth open. A chunk of surprised buttered into a larger amount of fear and confusion was all over her.
Detective David stood there, 5 hefty police men with skins as black as the black the uniform they wore, evidence of long hours in the sun communing with bus drivers.
They stood round the sitting room with the muzzles of the large rifles they were carrying pointing at us, i just hope none of them is drunk to avoid stories that touch.
Jessy was standing right next to David and licia was right on the other flank with her hands akimbo.
“Are you Mrs Amanda Ugwu?” David said calmly taking a couple of steps towards Amanda.
“Yes” she whimpered taking hold of my hands letting out shaky nods at the same time.
“Am detective David, from the state police command” he flashed his I.D card for what seemed like 3seconds then replaced it back on his b----t pocket.
“you are under arrest for attempted murder, tampering of medical report and usage of illegal drugs”
One of the huge black police men already yanking her off from my body, she was trembling as a rusty handcuff made clinging sounds as it hooks into her wrists.
“Sky!!” she cried out looking at me with a teary face. Chioma walked down slowly from the stairs, threw her hands around me and kissed me winking at Amanda.
She was the one that was in charge of alerting the police if Amanda arrives.
“sky you set me up!!” Amanda blurted out. Was that, tears were already freely flowing down as the cuffs were already in place on her wrists.
“You have the right to remain silent because everything you say will be used against you in the court of law” David chipped in.
“Oya move, idiot you deh yeye anyhow, you wan kill person papa ba!!!” the policeman who handcuffed her barked, Yanking her recklessly along with him.
Chioma threw her hands round my neck immediately the police dragged Amanda out and their car zooming off, Jessy joined the hug her arms going round my neck and Chioma’s.
“Licia come over here” jessy called out to licia who was standing looking at us. She came over and joined the hug.
“It’s over” I muttered to myself with a large sigh, my hands holding them tightly.

“You are a shame to womanhood and the institution of marriage, and a shame to motherhood” the voice of the chief judge rang out through the court room.
She was a middle aged woman, probably in her early 60’s but looked fresher. Fair complexioned with an aura of blatant authority.
Her voice portrayed a lot of pride and a sense of responsibility.
Amanda stood face down as the whole court listened to the chief judge let out her scolds before passing her judgement.
The NDA have charged Dr Odili to court for his involvement in illegal dealings of haimdal pills, falsifying medical reports and an accomplice in Amanda’s attempted murder on papa.
Amanda on her own part was charged with basically same charges with Dr odili only difference being she was the first hand suspect of the attempted murder while Dr odili was an accomplice.
I sat across the the courtroom, papa sat at my left flank with a blank misty look in his eyes, he was getting better and robust, with a little difference from his old laugh-filled self.
Wilson and Jessy sat at the other seat behind ours in the row, Ryan was already asleep in Jessy’s arms after hours of boring court activities, little did he know his mother was the bone of contention in this matter.
Amanda’s mother sat beside Jessy, a wet eyes and swollen face. A dim look of self pity and disappointment in her eyes as she watched on at her daughter.
After the DNA test result was found out, it was redone for confirmation and it turned out Ryan was neither my son nor papa’s. She had confessed it belonged to her boy Friend, who she was seeing in school as a student and way after papa married her she was still seeing him.
Her mother have taken Ryan to live with her hence forth, papa promised to see him through school till he completes his university education. “after all, he is still my son” he had muttered to Amanda’s mother who was thanking him for his kindness with tears freely flowing down her face. Somehow his face wore a sad look a father would wear if he lost a son, Ryan was part of the family. Blood or not.
Chioma had been absent from the court room, she had gone back to Abuja to put her things in order.
Her parents had tendered an apology to both of us, with the usual “God said that and this in the bible” reeling out from Mrs Ugwu’s lips. I wondered if it was supposed to be an apology or she was preaching to us.
“After much considerations and scrutinization of evidences presented, this court finds the accused guilty as charged” the chief judge intoned adjusting her perky glasses in a little pause.
A bout of murmur and hisses followed her pause, with the clerk banging his fist hard on the desk shouting “Order in court” i’d thought his washed out ties needs some order too.
“The accused have been sentenced to 20years imprisonment” she finishes up banging her wooden hammer crisply on the desk. And the court clerk following up with a shout of “Court……….!!!” his tie dancing to the wind.
Their was a wild shout from the people in the court room, many smiled and nodded while some wore a rather gloomy look.
Tears rolled down Amanda’s cheeks in quick racing succession, Dr Odili had gotten 25years in his own sentence, the NDA had followed the case to the last making sure justice was served right in a hot platter.
We watched as the policemen dutifully guided Amanda into a police van waiting outside the court, being very professional like a receptionist receiving someone into a hotel.
She looked at me, her handcuffs shimmered in the sun that filtered into the open van, her face seemed a little darker than usual and flesh around the cuffs beaming red and swollen.
Could see her lips moving while her eyes was fixed on me. Her hands clasped together like she was in a fervent prayer, could make out the words “I am sorry” from her lip movement.
I nodded slightly and rewarded her with a smile, she let out a little smile at Jessy who still had Ryan on her arms, then her face tilted low facing the floor of the van this time.
* * *
“Nnam, words cannot explain how proud of you i am today. today my son becomes a man” Papa’s voice rang into my head.
I was in my room, a tight black Italian suit and with a gold tie knotted over a shimmering white shirt, a smart shiny black Italian shoe i had imported directly from italy.
I looked at papa’s face it was a mixture of both pride and fulfillment. Happy and tearful as well ladened in a mild grin.
“Your mother asked me to give you this on your
wedding day” papa said stretching a gold necklace with a little gold plate on it, and engraved writing, though tiny was still readable.
it read “Happy married life to you my baby” papa’s eyes were becoming misty and it sparkled under the light. “she bought that days before she died, said nothing can ever make her miss giving you a wedding gift on your wedding day, not even death could” I could swear a tear escaped his eye.
I looked at the tiny gold necklace on my hand, it threw off some spontaneous gold sparkles responding to the lights when hit at the right angle. This was the best wedding gift i ever hoped for and somehow it was like mama was present at my wedding.
Yes, my wedding. it has been 2 months after Amanda was jailed.
Our wedding have being replanned and things had already taken shape. it was now a reality.
The church bells tolled as we stepped in. I was wearing an identical suit and shoes with Wilson.
The church was filled to the brim with people, echoing sound of a slow solemn song oozed from the choir stand.
I and Wilson stood before the priest, who was wearing a white flowing chasuble, papa was in the front row pew, chioma’s parents too and wilson’s. beaming flashes of grinning teeth were visible with tiny whispers amplified by the ever cool environment of a church.
Olumide stood behind us wearing an identical suit too, wiping of imaginary sweats from my face every now and then, the way he stretched his hands to its limit to reach my face was particularly funny.
The church organ changed its tune into a slow steady version of “Here comes the bride” everyone stood up performing a reflex tilt of the heads to face the aisle.
I looked on, my eyes glued to the aisle and so was Wilson’s and the priest who was standing just a foot away from i and Wilson wearing a holy smile and a book clutched in his arms.
Their was a high bout of appreciative awe sound as Ryan, smartly dressed in a miniature version of black suit with gold tie, walked in through the aisle door with Chioma’s little niece who wore a small version of wedding gown clutching a flower.
A tear dropped from my eyes as Chioma appeared in the aisle, a long flowing immaculate wedding gown with tiny sparkling white jewels in some desired places. she sparkled and the smile on her face was dazzling.
Olumide at least got a real job, felt his handkerchief wiping the lone tear from my face almost immediately.
Licia was behind Chioma holding up her veil, she herself wore a beautifully slender pink long gown.
Jessy came almost immediately after Chioma, in her own wedding gown too, an exaggerated big gown. she had never looked more beautiful, could see Wilson’s face light up.
People beamed on with smiles following them with their eyes as they walked down the long aisle with slow graceful steps that seemed to have been counted.
“Do you, Wilson take Miss Jessica as your lawfully wedded wife, promise to love her in sickness and in health, in riches and in poverty, for better for worse till death do you part” The voice of the priest sang out looking at Wilson, this was one of the questions everybody already know the answer to before it was asked.
“Do you miss Jessica take Wilson to be your lawfully wedded wife……………….” her face was glued to his with an unending smile. a gold sparkle escaping from her neck and i could see a similar necklace like the one papa gave me from mama around her neck.
Mama really didn’t miss our wedding.
“Sky” i could hear a whisper and a gentle nudge on my back, its definitely Olumide. “Guy answer the priest na” He whispered “e don reach 10years he asked you your question and you are still mopping at Chioma, come deh shed tears like woman”
That was when the tears in my eyes became noticeable to me, i had spent more than a minute lost in my own world looking at the heavenly creature before me. Some months ago it seemed impossible now its a reality, it really is over.
“I do” I muttered out wiping the tears off my face with the handkerchief olumide slipped into my hand.
“I do” Chioma’s voice rang out filtering into me. My heart jumped, her beauty was unmatched.
“I now pronounce you Man and wife, you may kiss your bride” The priest announced again, i wonder why they are allowed to watch the kisses.
Wilson wasted no time in delving his lips into Jessy’s.
Chioma’s lips on mine was unlike any i have ever felt in my life, somehow their was a special ‘feel’ that comes with wedding.
Could see Chioma’s father hugging papa warmly as they watched on with big grins. Mrs Ugwu clapping hard, her crisp golden head tie towering above others beautifully matched with a similar gold lace blouse and wrapper, flashed a thumb up to i and Chioma her grin was an ear to ear brand.
The reception ceremony lasted till the wee hours of twilight, it is impossible not to notice the way detective David and Licia utilized every little opportunity to talk which always got licia laughing out loud.
I looked around, people were dancing, howling and shouting with flutes of champagne in their hands raised in the air, bottles of beers as a blaring hit song from the speakers got people on the tip of their feet.
David and licia were also dancing, my eyes moved to papa who was laughing out loudly being in the midst of pot bellied politicians, his friends. His usual self was coming back and so was his protruding stomach.
The wedding hall was massive and no expense was spared in decorating it. Jessy and Chioma worked on the plans together. Clicks of photo cameras from media house firms was heavy and the flashes, blinding.
Jessy winked at me and touched mama necklace on her neck, i smiled and touched mine, clutched Chioma’s hands tightly. everything was perfect for me now and hopefully soon the real Johnysky junior will join us.
It really happened just like papa said “All will be well”

The End

ALSO READ MY FATHER'S WIFE PART 1