I watched as she walked in her oversized jacket and curly hair. She was muttering something and looking up at the sky. In that moment it was obvious to me. If I didn't have her, I was surely going to die.

***

In all my nineteen years on this Earth, I had never imagined turning out like this. I had a mapped out plan for my life.

First, I was going to live out all of my sexual fantasies. This goal was for my teen and early twenties. I didn't care if any one called me a slut.

Second, I was going to find a good job (even stripping worked), find a rich ass hunk and we'd play the field before deciding to settle down with each other. This was supposed to be in my mid-twenties.

Third, I was going to have the wedding of the century and have kids. This was going to be in my late twenties or early thirties.

Let me tell you one thing, I'm nineteen now and nothing has gone according to plan. How could I ever imagine that I'd be lying here, naked, in bed with another woman's husband, scared for my life while said woman was pointing a pistol at me and her husband?

You don't understand? Let's rewind. We'll start from the very beginning, roughly a year ago. Brace yourself, cause this is going to be a rollercoaster.

***

I left the apartment angrily as my sister continued to scream at me to stop. We had been living together for one and a half year and there was nothing I did that could satisfy her. I had thought living with her would be perfect since both of us would be together in a country neither of us was familiar with, but I was eating my words. I hated it. I hated everything about living with her.

I sat on a bench next to the apartment, trying to control myself. I was the type of person who cried when they were angry. It wasn't ideal but it was like that. I wiped my tears and bundled myself in my jacket, standing up and deciding to walk to my best friend's house. She was the only one who could calm me.

As I was walking though, I heard a honk behind me. I thought the person wanted to park or something so I moved to the sidewalk, not even bothering to look behind me. But the honking didn't stop. And the car parked right next to me, the window going down.

I looked inside warily, praying it was not some type of agent sent to come and kidnap me and bundle me back to my country. That was the last thing I needed and if it happened, I knew that my mother was going to kill me.

"You should get in," the person in the car said and I gulped. His voice was deep and beautiful even from here, but I wasn't going to risk anything. For all I knew, he could be some sort of serial killer or something.

"No thank you," I called out, and continued walking, hoping to see the corner that I would use to turn and reach Tarmah's house. We had found each other, being the only two Africans in our faculty (she was Nigerian and I was Cameroonian) and we had stuck to each other.

I started walking briskly, looking back to see whether the car was still there. And it was. I frowned and fastened my pace. I loved the thrill but it could wait for a few more years, when I had my bank full and a fat ass.

I finally saw Tarmah's apartment complex and I literally sprinted to it, getting in, removing my key and opening her door. I leaned against the door when I shut it and when I looked towards the living room, she was staring at me with a what the fuck look on her face.

"Was someone chasing you?" she asked, putting down her phone and raising an eyebrow at me.

"Not exactly," I replied, walking towards the couch and dumping all of my weight on it.

"How exactly then?"

"Guy, I was walking. And this car came out of nowhere and was honking at me. Then the car stopped! And then this man with the maddest voice—guy let me tell you, his voice was mad. He called out and he's like get in. Just for that voice, I would have. But today is not the day I die," I rushed to explain.

"Was the car expensive?" Tarmah asked and I looked at her weirdly.

"How am I supposed to know? It looked expensive anyways. That's all you can ask." I rolled my eyes.

"Shut the fuck up, like you wouldn't have asked the same thing," she retorted and I sighed, knowing she was right. "So basically, what you're trying to announce to me Neh, I that, you just dodged our meal ticket like that?"

"Shut up. I can point the car to you so that you will go and get into it with your hoe ass."

"Hoe and proud baby," she responded, sliding her hands over her body.

"Mumu," I laughed, hitting her with the throw pillow that was next to me.

We laughed then it was silent for some time. "So what happened this time?" she asked.

I sighed and put my legs under body so as to get a little more comfortable. "So she found a condom in my stuff—I don't even know what she was looking for in my stuff o— and she started. Premarital sex is wrong blah blah blah. I don't even care at this point. I'm just pissed she was going through my stuff and still had the audacity to scream at me. Like that is honestly the weirdest flex. I just wish I could hold her lips and stop her from talking ever again."

"Move in with me na," Tarmah said, frowning. "I can't even come and see you when she's there."

"I have to talk to my mom first because you know how my sister is," I rolled my eyes. "Even if I told her to keep it hush, that would be the first thing she would open her big mouth and say."

It was silent again for a moment. "I can video call with your mom. That day I will tie my head and wear turtleneck. Be the epitome of Christianity," Tarmah said and I laughed as she wiggled her eyebrows.

"You're mad sha," I said in between the laughter.

"You love me like that."

"Damn right."

***

"The fact that you always have to leave is annoying. And I was hoping you would sleep over," Tarmah said, making some weird look.

"What are you trying to do?" I asked, raising a brow at the idiot.

"Puppy dog eyes na. So that you'll sleep over," she replied.

"Because I resemble those yeye boys that are running after you? See you in class," I laughed, walking out.

"You will beg me!" she exclaimed and I flipped her off, still laughing.

I left the apartment and started walking towards my own apartment. I had the weird feeling that someone was watching me but I chalked it up to being paranoid. I shivered against the chilly air and fastened my pace. All I wanted to do at that moment was fall into my bed and sleep.

I looked towards the street and saw a car that looked exactly like the one that was trailing me. I wasn't scared actually. Just a little weirded out. But also very curious. I walked towards the car and as soon as I reached, the window slid down to reveal the most beautiful human being I had ever seen.

His blue eyes shone as he looked at me. And my gaze drifted to his lips as he asked, "Are you ready to get in now?"

I should have been scared. I mean, I had been at Tarmah's place for almost four hours. And this man was still here? He had waited for over three hours? What did he want?

I nodded mutely and to my surprise, he got down. Then he walked to the other side and opened the door for me. I got into the car and put on my seat belt after removing my bulky jacket, then I proceeded to stare at him as he got into the car and started it.

"You waited all that time?" I asked, frowning a little.

"I did," was all he said. Yup, this man was definitely a weirdo. But he was so attractive, so bonus points for him. I mean, if I was dying, it should at least be someone hot doing the killing.

"What if I had not come out of the apartment?" I asked, raising a brow.

He fixed his blue eyes on me and I shivered. "I was willing to take that risk," the man said and I raised both brows. Oh wow, this was a real nutcase here.

"Why? I mean we don't know each other."

"Oh but we are going to," was all he said. Okay this was getting way too intense.

"Drop me here," I said, wanting to get down all of a sudden. I took back my words about getting killed. I was nineteen. I didn't deserve to die now. No matter how attractive the person killing me was.

He stopped the car and looked at me. "I came off as intense didn't I?" the man asked.

"You're still coming off as intense," I pointed out, watching him warily.

He chuckled. It was a deep sound, even deeper than his actual voice and I melted interiorly.

"I am not going to apologize for that. I am accustomed to taking what I want. And I want you."

I gulped and the only thing I found to say was, "I don't even know your name," in a small squeaky voice.

"I'm Rhys."

After those words, some instinct in me told me to run. I wish I had listened to it, I wish I had not been so enamored by his looks and by his being that I stupidly got sucked into his world. Maybe if I had listened, I wouldn't be huddled in bed with him now, heart beating as his wife pointed a gun at both of us.

***

Word count: 1735

Glossary:

Mumu: idiot
O, na, sha: mostly intonations. Africans rely a lot on them during speech for emphasis
Yeye: stupid

***

Hello people!!! So this is Cheater Cheater revamped, with some elements from the old one. How do you like the first chapter?? Do you prefer this one or the other one??

I honestly prefer this one because I feel the interaction between Rhys and Neh was much more smooth.

Your favorite part of the chapter?

Anywho! I hope you enjoyed it. Don't forget to vote, comment, and follow me. Share the book to your friend as well!

Byeeee.
Love, essie 🌺