Chapter 51
Anu-Ms K
Nkem and I check in at the hotel. She’s sharing a room with one of her cousins and has said, once the wedding is over the day after tomorrow, she and I can finally settle in and have fun.
I sent a text to Daniel and my dad, letting them know I’m checked into my hotel in Canada. The room phone rings.
“Hello.”
“Anuoluwa,” I hear my dad’s voice.
“Hi, Daddy,” I say.
“Just wanted to make sure you are okay and your trip was fine,” he says as his excuse for calling, but I know it’s his way of making sure I’m really the one that sent the text that I’m okay.
“It was fine, daddy. Nkem and I are going out in a few to visit her cousins.”
“Okay. Greetings to omo ibo (child of ibo tribe) for me.”
I chuckle, knowing that’s what he likes to call Nkem’s dad. I’m sure they’ve spoken but he’s, as always, making sure someone is keeping an eye on me.
“I will, dad. Talk to you later,” I say, hanging up.
I sigh and unzip my suitcase so I can change clothes. My phone rings and it’s Daniel. My heart smiles as I answer the phone.
“Hi, Uncle Dan,” I say.
“Hi, Princess. I see you made it there safe,” he says.
“Yes, I did, and I just confirmed the same thing to my dad,” I say.
“Good. So, any plans for today?”
“Nkem and I will be hanging out with the bride and her friends today.”
“Okay. Have fun and call me if you need me.”
“Bye, Daniel.”
“Bye, Princess.”
I hang up with him and join the bride and her friends. We party and have fun all night before returning to my room.
“Anu.” I hear my name before unlocking my door.
I turn to see Teni jogging towards me. Did he follow me? He gets to me and tries to hug me, my reflex is instant as I swiftly step away from him. I can’t stand him any longer and I need not be polite.
“It’s like that, uh?” I notice the irritation on his face.
“Hi, Teni.” I say in a stern tone.
“How have you been?”
“Good,” I answer. My phone vibrates in my back pocket.
“Good to see you. I’m glad you came. I wasn’t sure if your boyfriend would let you come alone,” he snides but I refuse to engage him.
“Well, I’m here, and I’m turning in for the night.”
“Can I come in?”
My frown is immediate.
“No, and I have to go. Daniel is calling.” I raise my phone for him to see Daniel’s face buzzing.
“Still dating that older guy, I see.” I nod and answer the call on speaker, ignoring Teni and his comments. He takes a step back.
“Hi, Daniel,” I say.
“Hi, Princess.”
Teni frowns and walks away. I unlock my door, making sure it’s locked before moving further into the room. “Missing you.”
“Miss you too. Are you home?”
“Not yet, you are not there. So, I’m going out with my friend Adam; he’s in town.”
“Sounds like fun,” I say.
“Not as much fun as it would be if you were here.”
“I’m only gone for six days, Daniel. This is your opportunity to hang out with Jacob and find out his moves and strategies.”
He laughs.
“Good advice, but I think I got him handled.”
“So, you say, until the next time he eats all your pastries. Seems the buying of his drawings isn’t working.” he laughs.
“Noted. I’ll find out what Jacob’s moves are. I got to go. Just wanted to check on you.”
“I’m back in my room and turning in for the night.” No point mentioning my encounter with Teni. He doesn’t hide the fact he’s jealous of Teni, and I didn’t invite Teni over.
“Have a good night, and call me when you miss me.”
“Good night, Daniel.”
“Good night, Princess.”
I smile, knowing I like it when he calls me Princess.
I shower and change into one of his shirts that I brought with me. Yes, I brought three with me. Never mind that they are expensive shirts that I have turned into my PJs. He doesn’t seem to mind.
I text Nkem that I’m back in the room and going to bed.
Next day is the traditional wedding. Everything is going as planned until Teni sits next to me.
I try to chase him off, but he won’t budge.
A few times, he tries to take my hand, and I knock him off.
He’s irritated that I don’t care about him.
Nkem must have noticed the exchanges between us.
She comes over to pull me away without acknowledging Teni.
Someone had left the wedding party seat, and I take my new seat next to Nkem.
I can feel Teni’s frown on me, but I ignore it, taking pictures and sending them to Daniel.
I’m tired by the time the evening is over. I cling to Nkem’s hand as we walk past Teni’s scorching eyes.
“Ignore him. He’s oozing of jealousy. He thought you would crawl back to him, but you have Daniel,” she says with a wide grin.
“That I do and I love him, and I’m scared to tell him.”
“You will in time. I’m just glad that you have someone that appreciates you, and not one that’s always jealous of everything you do.”
“Thank you, Nkem,” I say.
“Come on, you don’t need to thank me.”
We make it to my room and hug goodnight. I lock the door and take a quick shower. My phone rings as I’m getting in bed.
“Hello.”
“Hi, Princess. Are you okay?”
“Yes, just partied too much and I’m tired.”
“No pain, right?” he asks, concerned.
“No, but I will take some meds just to avoid that.”
“Okay. Go to bed and we will talk tomorrow. And I love the pictures, by the way.”
“Thanks, talk later.” I hang up, take the meds and sleep off.
The wedding ceremony goes off without a hitch, but the reception was a whole different ball altogether.
It seems the invited guests had tripled in size.
I know they had planned for double the invited guests, but triple threw the wedding planner into a frenzy because seating suddenly became a premium.
I’m seated at the same table with Teni and a few friends. I would like to change seats, but I can’t afford to lose mine. He’s soon right next to me, which annoys me. He has traded places to be next to me.
“Can we talk?” he says, whispering too close to me.
My disdain for his proximity is immediate. I scoot my chair a few times to put space between us, and each time I do, he moves closer. I exhale my frustration and turn to face him. His smug smile upsets me, then I realize I’m giving him exactly what he wants, so I smile back.
“I don’t want to talk to you; I just want to enjoy this wedding. So, stop talking to me. Lots of single ladies here; go and charm one or two or three of them.”
“But I want you.” He says.
I hiss in response and keep my focus on the MC. His hands land on my thigh. I knock it off and turn a scowl on him.
“Touch me again and I will break your fucking nose,” I say with a stiff smile.
He knows not to mess with me in that area. He gets up and leaves. I turn to Sola, one of the bride’s friends, asking what the MC said that’s so funny. She tells me and I laugh too. Nkem sends me a text to come over and help. The bride is feeling dizzy. I set my phone down.
“Hey, Sola, can you please watch my purse and drink? Nkem needs my help.”
“Sure, go ahead.” She says.
I leave and go to help Nkem. It turns out the corset was too tight and she just needed some air, water and flat shoes, then she’s back on the dance floor.
“Are you okay over there?” Nkem asks soon as the bride is back to herself again.
“Yes. I just told Teni I would break his nose if he laid a hand on me again.”
She gives me a high five.
“Good for you. Once everyone starts to dance, we should be okay.” I nod and return to my seat.
Sola says she had to leave as well, and I get to watch her stuff.
She leaves, and before I know it, Teni is back next to me, not saying anything, which is fine.
I take a few pictures with the other guests at the table and text them to Daniel.
Finishing my drink, I get another. By half bottle of the wine cooler, I start to feel dizzy. I get up and went to Nkem.
“I’m feeling tired. I need to go and rest,” I say to her.
“Are you sure you’re just tired?” She looks at me, concerned.
“Yes. Check on me in an hour, okay?” I take out my extra room cards and give it to her.
“Okay,” she says and I head to the room.
On the way, Teni stops me.
“Are you okay, Anu? You are sweating.”
“I’m fine, just a little tired.”
“Let me walk you to your room and make sure you are safe.”
“No need,” I say. My eyes are getting blurry.
“Come on. My dad would be pissed if he hears something happened to you and I didn’t help.”
“Fine,” I say, taking his hand.
In the room, someone is helping me out of my clothes.
“Daniel, I don’t feel good,” I say.
He pushes me and squeezes my breast. His hands are all over body, not gentle
“Daniel, I’m tired.” I slur.
I can barely keep my eyes open. I feel like throwing up. I let it all out and lay back down.
When I wake up, I race to the bathroom to throw up again before realizing I’m naked and my dress is on the floor, and the room reeks of foul smell. I pull the sheets and go to shower. I call Nkem.
“Did you check on me last night?”
“I came in and called out to you. You answered, saying you were fine. So, I left. Is something wrong?”
“No. The room smells awful, and I just threw up.”
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah. Can we request a change of room?”
“Okay. Let me know when you are ready.”
I check my phone to see lots of missed calls from Daniel. I immediately call him, and he answers on the first ring.
“Princess, are you okay?” I hear concern in his voice.
“I’m fine. I must have had too much to drink last night that I knocked out.”
I don’t want to tell him I threw up or the fact I can’t find his shirt that I slept in the night before. It’s all weird to me and he wouldn’t like it.
“But you are okay, yeah?”
“I promise I’m fine, just getting dressed and joining Nkem and a few friends for breakfast before we head out.”
“Okay, talk later.”
I hang up, then pack up my suitcase before going to Nkem’s room.
Nkem and I spend the rest of the week enjoying Canada before flying back to Chicago.
To my surprise, Daniel is waiting for me at the airport when I clear customs.
“He’s already in love with you,” Nkem whispers when we see him. I race into his arms. As always, he catches me.