“I would like to see your father take care of that before things get out of control. Things have really deteriorated since my dear husband passed,” she added in a deeply emotional tone. “He and the other chiefs had a way of handling our Ntebe youths to prevent them from going haywire. I don’t know what our village head is doing to curtail this problem.”
“It will require a joint effort between Ide and Ntebe. We’ll form a task force to resolve this, and if that doesn’t work, we may have to involve the federal government.”
My grandmother nodded her head in agreement. “Come inside. I thank God for bringing my children back safely,” she said, flinging her hands in the air.
As Albert opened the trunk to bring out my luggage, Okem stepped inside the compound.
“Okem, you’re home,” I said excitedly, tears welling up in my eyes.
He greeted Albert cordially with no trace of jealousy or resentment. Ifedi and Okem took my bags inside, and I gestured to Albert to come in.
“No,” he said, shaking his head. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“You won’t even try the goat meat pepper soup I prepared for you?” my grandmother asked, sounding sorely disappointed.
“No. I have to get home and let Mother know I’m alright. I’m sure she’s worried right about now.”
“Oh. I understand,” my grandmother responded. “Please send my regards to her.”
“I will.”
My grandmother walked into the house, and I waited behind to wish Albert goodnight. Just before he got in his car, he lowered his head and kissed me lightly on the lips. My heartbeat increased, and a warm feeling swept through my entire frame, leaving me breathless.
“I’ll see you tomorrow,” he said, as I struggled to avoid his gaze.
“Okay,” I whispered.
“Have a good night.”
“You too.”
I waited until he drove past the gate before I slowly walked into the house, struggling to drag my mind back from the countless thoughts passing through it. I didn’t know what to make of the kiss, but I was happy to be home safely with the people I loved. There was no better feeling in the world than that.
* * *
I headed straight for my room, arriving as Okem and Ifedi were just dropping my bags.
“Can you excuse us for a moment?” Okem said to Ifedi.
Ifedi did not immediately oblige his request. At first, she hissed, and with a grimace, she lugged one of my bags on the bed and slowly started taking out one item after another, pulling a chuckle from me.
“Just a moment please,” Okem repeated.
“Don’t stay too long,” she said, when she finally responded. “I also need to spend time with Ona. I haven’t seen her in so long. Besides, dinner is ready. Five minutes max!”
I continued to watch the spectacle with amusement. It was unlike Ifedi to be so authoritative, but I guessed she felt it was her right to make sure I wasn’t left alone in a room with a man, even if that man was Okem. Who could blame her? She had been with me for so long that at times she forgot I wasn’t a small child anymore and didn’t need her to protect me.
As soon as she left, Okem pulled me to a corner and looked at me with steely eyes. His Adam’s apple bounced up and down as he swallowed a few times.
“What is it?” I asked.
“Are you going to marry that guy?”
“Albert?” I asked, surprised. “I’m not sure. Why do you ask? He hasn’t even asked me.”
“He hasn’t?”
“Well, he has once alluded to that. Something about wanting me by his side. But no. He hasn’t asked me.”
Okem heaved a sigh of relief.
“Well then. If Albert asks you, will you say yes?” He was staring into my eyes, waiting eagerly for an answer.
I didn’t want to deal with the barrage of questions Okem was throwing at me—I was yet to recover from my trip. One part of me wanted to assuage his fears, and another wanted to ask him to leave me alone. He was wearing me out with his questioning, but I chose to take the high road and remain calm.
“Will you say yes?” he repeated, sounding a little defeated this time.
“I don’t know,” I whined. “I’m not sure. I’ll wait till he asks.”
“I thought you loved me. Why would you even consider him?”
I had never heard Okem use that word to describe my feelings for him. I know we admired each other very much, and that admiration had changed dramatically over the years. But love? Did he really say that? Out loud? I stared at him as a combination of rational and irrational thoughts floated through my head. I had loved Okem like a friend. Indeed, our love had since grown to become so much more. It had grown to something I couldn’t explain, and until now, I had never felt pressured to attach a label to it. What did he expect me to say? I knew for sure he was trying to force me to decide between him and Albert. I couldn’t even decide what dress to wear for a party, or what to eat for dinner—how could I choose between two men?
I looked up a few seconds later, and he was still standing there, willing me to answer. Starting to feel weak in the knees, my heart blurted, I love you Okem, though my lips remained shut. I loved him from the bottom of my heart, but I had to be sensible. We were classes apart, and I never imagined that the love I had for him could truly turn into something romantic. He had kissed me once when I was feeling a bit naughty. And I must admit that I felt a little something then. Actually, what I felt was more significant than I described. It was amazing. This happened right before the last semester of
