AMINU

Could one's heart break a million times over and over again, because if this is not heartbreak, I don't know what it is.

"Who are you?" Her question continuously repeats in my head. I stare at her without saying a word. My hand automatically reaches for the alert system which I press to ring in medical assistance.

While waiting, I hastily get her the water she requested. I watch her drink up with the assistance of the Nurse, while the Doctor examines her.

They ask her a few question before leaving. I just keep staring at her, shocked that she coukd not remember me.

"Were you not told that staring is creepy? Stop staring at me, Aminu." She says in a tired tone as a lopsided smile graces her lips. I let out a sigh of relief I didn't know I was holding in.

"You scared me. Please never do that to me again." I take fast strides to the hospital bed before carefully giving her a peck on the forehead.

"I am glad you are awake. I have missed you so much." Tears glimmer in my eyes.

"Let me inform everyone that you're awake." She nods and I leave to get clearance from the Doctor. When he approves, I let everyone in on the news and they were all elated.

Her dad was the first to go see her. One by one, they kept taking their turns till we were told to have a pause. According to him, it is not allowed for too many people to comd visit her. Something about some weird hospital policy. The only reason I did not oppose him is for a selfish purpose; I want to be alone with my wife. I also called Jide to inform him of the news since he is in school; he was elated.

Later in the evening, she fell asleep, no doubt still exhausted. At first, I was scared that she had gone back to not waking up. However, the Nurse assured me that it's just sleep and not what I fear it to be. I slept with one eye open, like I have been managing to do every other day. One part of me feared that her waking up might have been a dream and as such, completely giving in to sleep was difficult.

"Good morning." I greet her and she smiles, nodding her head. Madam Christie had arrived earlier with some food for the both of us. She was asleep, so I had breakfast. Now that she is awake, I'm pouring some custard into a cup so I can feed her.

"It feels so refreshing to see you awake, wifey." Her eyes follow my movement when I put the cup inside a bowl with ice cubes. The custard is too hot to start feeding her; and instead of the conventional bowl of water practiced here, I think the ice will speed up the cooling process.

A smile dances on my lips when she raises her eye brows. I just shrug and pull the chair by the bedside to sit.

A week passed and she was finally discharged. In this period of time, her dad divorced her mom. She did not know that yet and I was not in the place to inform her. Right now, we are driving back home. I let her rest her head on my laps while I stroke her hair like it's only natural to do so.

We finally arrived at the house and my driver is busy packing out stuff from the boot while I help her out if the car. A slight frown graces her face when she looks at the building in front of her.

"Aminu, this is not our house." She states, looking back and forth between me and the house.

"It is. It's our new house now." I state.

"Why did..?" I cut her off immediately. I really don't want us having this conversation in the presence of my staff.

"Let's just go in, hmm?" Leaning in, I steal a quick peck on her lips. She shivers before sighing.

"Okay." She finally says, slightly nodding her head. I use one hand to support her waist, and use the other to hold her fingers as we walk towards the house.

"Surprise!" Several voices say when we walk in. I am equally surprised too.

"Did you plan this?" She questions me with narrowed eyes. Jeez, this woman.

"No." I answer, still smiling.

Her friends and their husbands, her dad, her son, her son's best friend Sammy and his girlfriend, Lolu and his fiancee; they were all here. When everyone came to hug her, taking turns, I could see Tee holding back. She was rooted to the spot; no doubt still holding on to the guilt.

"Why are you standing there? Come here, jare." Wifey says. She reluctantly walks to her, muttering 'I'm sorry' repeatedly. Wifey rolls her eyes before pulling her in for a hug. Sigh. Women and their plenty drama.

"Let's have an early dinner, guys." Farida's bubbly voice sounds from the dinning area. This one does not have problem at all.

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BUKUNMI

Despite everyone being here, I still could not help but wonder where my mom is. My eyes kept scanning through the room, hoping she would make her presence known soon, but that wasn't the case.

"Let me have a quick word with my daughter while you all prepare for dinner." This was dad's subtle way of asking everyone to excuse us and they got the message clear. Once we are both alone, he clears his throat and began talking.

"I know you have been looking for her." He states casually.

"Yes, dad. Where is mum?" I ask him.

"You see, I did what I should have done years ago." He lets out a small smile. I still don't understand.

"Don't worry your pretty head trying to figure it out. I'll help you. I divorced your mother." He shrugs. I would be lying if I say I am not shocked.

"You divorced her? Why?" I ask him.

"There are so many reasons, dear. Like I said, don't worry your pretty head over it." He states with finality. I know better than to push more on the subject so I just nod and allow him lead me to the dining room.

"Here she comes." Of course, Farida is the announcer.

"You would have carried microphone to announce it." The smile on my face did nothing to conceal my sarcasm.

"You know I can do it." Dad sat at the head of the table, Aminu sat just beside him after standing up to help me sit.

I narrowed my eyes at Jide as I watch him converse with his best friend; the Shodeinde girl. These two; I doubt that being best friends is all that there is to their friendship. Nevertheless, I have decided to be a little laid back on this since they are both adults and Jide is a good child. The girl seems well-bred too.

I noticed Emmy is not here too; Farida  told me of his encounter with Aminu in the hospital hallways. I am so annoyed with him right now and super glad he is not here. How dare he blurt out the secret I confided in both of them?

On the bright side, I am glad it is out in the open now. I can't even imagine coming out of this whole twin saga and still holding on to something as huge as that. In a way, he helped reduce the guilt. It does not mean what he did was right, though. I can never trust him again.

"Do you need help with that?" Aminu asks me as I struggle to cut the chicken.

"Yes, please." I sigh and he chuckles.

"Alright." He picks up a fresh plate and scoops my large chicken piece off my plate. After shifting his plate, he proceeds to chop mine into tiny bits, making sure to discard the bones. Once he is done, he places the plate in front of me and smiles.

"There you go, wifey." Everyone present here, they matter to me, one way or the other. They were my own very close family circle. I am grateful to have them in my corner.

When my eyes locked with that of Jide, I just knew we still had to settle some scores between us. The best friend slapped him behind his head and he turns to her. She looks at him accusingly and he mutters 'what' to her. She rolls her eyes and replies with 'nothing'. He slouches his shoulders and apologizes to her.

"They are cute, you know." Aminu whispers in my ears.

"They are just best friends." I respond to him, also whispering.

"You more than anyone should know that there is no thing such as best friends between a male and a female." He has a slightly mischievous glint on his eyes and I just roll mine, not willing to admit my denial.

"Eat, wifey and stop boring holes into both of them. I know you find them adorable too. We all do." If anybody fails to annoy me, Aminu would never. For as long as I have known him, there has not been a day when he does not vex me.

After dinner, everyone stayed back. Aminu had more than enough spare rooms for them to occupy. I wonder why so many rooms in the house, though.

When they are finally retired to the rooms prepared for them, Aminu and I sit by the fireplace, on a fluffy sofa.

"Thank you for everything." I finally state.

"You're welcome, wifey."

"I still can't believe you knew about it all this while and even got Lolu to be my bodyguard." I shake my head, chuckling. Elizabeth; Lolu's fiancee got introduced to me in the hospital.

"I should be apologizing for allowing everything get that far." He states and I shake my head in disagreement.

"No, you don't have to." I state and he sighs, pulling me closer to him.

"I love you, wifey." He states and I swiftly turn my head to look at him.

"Aminu." I call out.

"Shh...you don't have to say it back." He states and I scowl.

"Why?" I ask him.

"Because you might not feel the same way." He shrugs and I just chuckle.

"Idiot, I love you too." He carefully pulls me up and kisses me on the lips.

"So, why did you buy another house?" I ask the question that I have been dying to ask since we arrived here.

"For one, that house holds some bad memories and I want us to start on a clean slate. Secondly, it is too small for the kind of family I want to have." He ends with a smile, stealing another kiss from my lips. The last part made me worry.

"Aminu, there is something I should tell you."

"What is it, wifey?"

"I cannot have children." I blurt out and I feel him freeze against my body.