You know that feeling you get when after so many years, you meet someone you had history with but didn't work out.

CHIDI

We turned around and saw no other person but Njideka, Chidi's girlfriend in secondary school. She looked totally different, unlike our secondary school days she had long braids now and she had become darker in complexion.

Out of shock she nearly dropped the tray of food she was holding but she quickly regained composure, smiled and dropped the tray on a small brown table infront of her.

The Landlord then introduced her as Belinda, he's third wife, the moment he said it, Emeka's expression changed instantly. The expression on his face was priceless. The Landlord then went close to her hugged and kissed her ( which honestly was very disturbing from my point of view).

I noticed that he introduced her as Belinda, which was strange because I'm very sure it wasn't her name, her English name is Stella, so why Belinda but I came to the conclusion that it isn't my business.

After that episode in the Landlords house, he took us to the back of the house and showed us the room he had for rent. The outside was the same color with the walls outside which was a grey (unpainted really) and then the interior of the room was painted green ( like Nigerian flag green), the walls were pealing off which of which gave the room a really dirty look. The tiles on the floor had a creamish colour.

I looked and and saw no bathroom in the room so I decided to ask the landlord and he told me it was outside the house.

***

The rest of day went really fast after we had settled down and by settling down I mean cleaning the room, bringing our bags inside the room and borrowing a mat from the Landlord since you didn't have a bed yet.

Every where was quiet, I noticed that there were other rooms but I hadn't seen the people living in them. The landlord had informed us that they went out for the day and will not be back till later on. I was bored, I needed something to do so I decided to take a walk whole Chidi and Chinedu slept.

I was about to open the gate when when a voice called my name from behind. I turned and walked towards Njideka who was standing at the door of the landlords house. "where are you going" she asked. I know I didn't have to answer but I decided to because as you know, are was an old friend. "I just want to walk around the area, so I will know my way around" I answered. She didn't say any thing at first which felt an awkward silence. She bent her head down and was fiddling with the hem of her skirt like she wanted to say something but couldn't.

"Did he say anything about me" she finally said. I looked at her for a moment before asking "who". "Emeka, did Emeka say anything about me after you people went to your room" she said. "No he didn't, why do you ask?" I asked. She didn't answer so I decided to change the topic and ask how she got here, everybody in the village thought thinks she is in Lagos.

She explaining her story started by saying "Emeka hmm, things have not been easy" (I noticed that she called me Emeka but I decided not to interrupt).

"Yes I was in Lagos but I couldn't cope. Things became too expensive for me. Then to make matters worse they increased our school fees, I couldn't face my father because I knew how hard it was for him to raise the one he sent". She sighed heavily, looked up at me and I could see the tears rolling down her face as she spoke. Then she continued " That was when I met Chief who promised to take care of me if I came his third wife". She paused again, I noticed she was still crying but now it seemed that the tears had increased. I felt like she was not telling me the complete story but I decided not to press.

She continued talking again "So Chief brought me here, that's why I'm now in Abuja. I haven't even told my father that I'm married, he thinks I'm still in Lagos schooling. I was so surprised but I managed to ask "So why change your name, I noticed Oga landlord called you Belinda. "Hmm" she sighed, "I had to do it so that he will not know I'm igbo. I could have told him my English name but the person who introduced me to Chief said I should go with Belinda" she said.

Her story sounded very fishy to me but I thought it wise not to force her to say more than she wanted to.

Then to quickly change the mood I asked her to accompany me on my walk, so she can show me around. On our walk she seem very distracted to the point that a car almost hit her and trust Nigerians, the driver poked his head out the window showing five fingers shouting this like "you no dey see road, "you dey craze", "you wan die bag no be me go kill you oo".

I asked her what was bothering even though I suspected it had something to do with Emeka. She said that she was fine but considering the way the ended their relationship back then I knew she wasn't fine at all, at least not after seeing Emeka for the first time in many years. I remember the way it all ended like it was yesterday.

It was after our final exams when Njideka's father told her she would be going to Lagos to study. She broke the news to Emeka and after she did, he refused to eat for days. She promised to call him everyday even though he didn't have a phone ( how wonderful they didn't think of that. Love really does not make you think straight).

She promised to come back to seem him every break and holiday they had ( honestly I was surprised she didn't suggest to come back on weekends). She said when she was done she will come back to him. She said she couldn't love anyone else. We all knew it wouldn't go down like that and I think  Emeka knew that despite her assurances it was over, possibly that's why he was still moody.

The matter even caused a fight between them. She accused him of not trusting her, not loving her any more and he accused her not fighting for their love (believe me it was the full package love drama between them) but it wasn't a long fight, they reconciled almost immediately and after they did they became closer, inseparable was the right word to describe them well that was till she left ofcourse.

When she left Emeka was insufferable, his mother had to beg us to beg him to eat and take showers( Is this really how love is?). It went on for about two months but he finally snapped out it or I think he just concentrated more on playing football to distract himself. Thinking about Chidi and knowing what he went through, I can't imagine what Njideka passed through.

I made sure to end our short excursion around the neighborhood and took her back home, on to the street which we lived I could see Emeka, who quickly entered back inside the compound once he saw us. We entered the compound, we didn't see any sign of him sign of him but I knew he had gone back inside our room.

Once I made sure Njideka was inside her house. I went to our room and was greeted by Emeka at the door. "What were you doing with her" he asked and I told him I went on a walk with her and what happened on the walk and his response was "Did I ask you about that one, guy that one now is her business". I knew he didn't mean what he said what he said because he kept on stuttering and looking down while talking ( I mean I never been in a relationship but come on, do things always have to be like this?)

As soon as we were done talking he went out of the room saying he he needed fresh air, I know he wanted to go and find a way to talk to Njideka. I sat down on the mat we were given, Chinedu beside me snoring. I decided to read the Bible that I saw in my bag which I'm very sure was put there by my mother.

I read till it got dark, to the point I had to strain my eyes. I used a torch light so I could see what I was reading but some little insects kept flying around disturbing me so I stopped reading. Just then I heard people shouting from outside and as the curious human being I am, I decided to go and see what all the commotion was about.

Outside the house I saw two women fighting and shouting "You dey craze, "You dey mad", "e no go better for you". Looking at this two women one was busty, dark in complexion and very down to earth while the other was a fair complexioned petite lady, who was quite on the tall side (the fight was unevenly matched if you ask me). Without even asking I knew the dark lady was one of the landlord's wives because she kept on shouting, I'll make sure you leave my house today ( the way she said "my house" with so much conviction I guessed she is the landlord's first wife). The other lady was obviously a tenant, then trying to separate the fight were Njideka and a tall dark skinned man with biceps the size of my thighs.

The landlord stood at a considerable distance from the fight and was occasionally shouting "Stop shouting oo, fighting is not good oo". "Which kind of man is this" I thought to myself.

After the fight was finished the two women left with their clothes tattered and shouting at each other ( I believe they could pull of a mad woman role in any movie). Njideka waved at me when her husband wasn't looking and went inside. The landlord still stood there shouting " Tommorow we will have a compound meeting oo, tell anybody that's not here oo. If you miss it you will pay fine oo" he said to no one in particular. Like that everyone that was at the scene of the fight retired to their rooms, even Chidi was back from wherever he went to.

Later that night when the noise from the viewing center next compound had settled. The whole compound was quite and dark I decided to go the toilet outside to ease myself but on the way to ease myself I heard a very loud scream. It was coming from on of the rooms. I decided to go and check it out, I opened the door ( which I was surprised was open), looked inside and the only words that escaped my mouth were "Oh My God, what is this".
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