CHAPTER EIGHT

Rachel POV

It was like I just watched 'living dead' again. My heart was beating frantically in my thoracic cage. It felt like I had tinnitus because I could hear some ringing in my ears. I have been thinking about "how" he would ask me about the nuptial arrangement but I never expected this at all. I had even forgotten that the world cup will commence in a couple of weeks and he will need to travel to Russia for it.

The world cup means getting married within a week and I haven't even told my parents about it. I love the idea of getting married but the fact that lots of people will know gave me more goosebumps on my skin. I didn't even know what they would think. I don't even know if thinking like this will solve anything. I know for a fact that if I go on with this arrangement, I will face a lot but I sincerely hope it will be a pleasant one.

I couldn't but think about his parents too. Even though I have done some findings and researches on the internet myself, you know looks can be deceiving, and not all things you see on the internet is the truth. His mum is an American which makes her white and his dad is dark in complexion since he's a Nigerian.

Aderemi doesn't look like his father at all since he's not dark, he took almost his mum's complexion. I don't know if what I'm trying to do is the right thing or not if I'm selfish or not but since it's just 6 months, I believe we will both have our lives back after that. He will go back to his white girlfriend and I will go back to my single self, have my life back and I just hope I won't be a hurt mess by then.

I didn't even know I was being spoken to until I saw him wave in my face. I had to blink a couple of times before what he said could register in my thinking center.

"Uhm, what did you say?" I asked him.

"I said, when do you think will be good for the wedding- I mean the date" he looked at me as if expecting something from me even though I don't know what.

"Is Mia not coming back anytime soon?" I asked him, not because I wanted her back but because I didn't want him to think I want to get married to him because I want something from him- maybe his money. I want us to have a mutual agreement. Yes! I know selfish but I know of a quote which says 'If you don't go for what you want, then you shouldn't regret what you lose'.

"She has not been picking my calls. I tried contacting the NGO she'd volunteered for before coming here but I was told she left" I know he wasn't too happy about that and I couldn't help but feel his pains.

"She left? Do you mean she went back to America without telling you? Do you think this wedding will even have any effect on her?

"Yes"

"Which part of my question does that yes belong to?" I needed to know.

"Everything. Mia is a jealous lady. She loves me and I know it" he paused and looked at me "I wouldn't have given your proposal a second thought if I hadn't told her best friend about everything and she concurred" I was shocked. Which friend will want her friend's fiance to do something like that to her friend?

"She knows her better" I think this guy is a psyche because he kept on answering questions I asked in my mind.

"We are just 4 that knows about this arrangement except if your friend- I mean Mary, knows about it to make us 5" he continued "She asked if I trust you, I told her yes though, but you know about prenup agreement right?"

"Yes" I felt light-headed. Did he think I was after his money? It's so hard to blame him because trust is a big deal here but I wish he could trust me.

"We can keep the prenup agreement confidential and just let others believe we got married based on love.

I was dumbstruck, I couldn't comprehend anything he was saying. I know he doesn't love me and he was only doing this to make his love come back to him but it still hurt. It was as if my heart was pricked with a needle but I couldn't let him know I'd liked him too much even before meeting him.

''You know, since we are getting married as a form of mutual agreement, it's better if we don't fall in love during our stay together. You are free to do anything during our stay together but they should be things that won't tarnish my image you know...''

I was totally off for a few minutes. I couldn't fathom the rest of his statement. Did he just call our marriage 'staying together'? I almost laughed at myself, What did I expect? I seem to have forgotten that I'm sitting here because he needed my help to bring his lost love back.

''...we should know a lot about each other and I think going on lots of dates will help. When are you going back to school?''

''Next week Monday'' I responded.

''We can have multiple dates before you go back to school and we can both meet our parents''.

Oops, I have forgotten that I haven't told my parents. He must have seen the look on my face.

''You haven't told them? Why?''

''I was looking for a better moment to tell them. I will do that tonight'' I have never been so unsure of things in my life, I wasn't even sure of what they will tell me.

I felt a fire ignite my body and ting in my core when he touched me.

''You should tell them. Maybe we can meet them before the week runs out'' I couldn't let my uncertainty be known to him so it was better to act unaffected.

''What about your parents?'' I asked. Since they know and love Mia, I don't know if they will accept me. He dropped my hands and the warmth I felt disappeared instantly.

''My dad is happy that I'm getting married to a black girl. My mum keeps asking if I'm happy getting married to a girl I met a few months ago- I told them we met a few months ago, and they are dying to meet the girl that makes my heart flutter as I told them. Maybe we can meet them next weekend'' he explained.

''I will be in school by then'' I shrugged.

''I know but it's just for a weekend and we can get married the week after''. It still surprises me how he says things without feeling the way I feel. I know I'm getting myself into a lot because within that 6months we will be married, I have 2 major exams to do.

My hospital final is in 2months and my Council exam is 2months after the hospital finals. Any failure in either of these exams is an automatic carry-over and I don't want that. I know I'm intelligent and brilliant but I have always been stable with no drama in my life to make me that.

If my plans go well, I mean if we eventually win the world cup, then I will be free for a month. He will get a little break before he gets back to London to play for his club. I will have time to study and enjoy beautiful things.

''Can I request something from you?'' I asked because it's as if my life depended on my request.

''What is it? are you okay?'' he frowned. I guess he was thinking maybe I wanted to back out but that's not it.

''I am okay. I want us to have a low-key wedding. I know you are a celebrity but even though I am helping you bring your love back, I wouldn't want anything to disrupt my social life and education, you know?''

He was rubbing his chin with his left palm throughout the time I was letting my worries know and I just hoped he would consider it.

''I think I understand you perfectly. I wouldn't ruin your life because of my selfish interest. It has been on my mind to ask you but since it's out in the open then it's nice. We will have a low-key wedding where we will only invite a few families and friends. Is that okay with you?

''Of course''. I felt relieved after what he said.

''Do you have a boyfriend?'' I guess I should have expected that, I mean how will I have a boyfriend and continue with this. I gave him my simple answer.

''No, I don't''. He seemed to be at ease and happy with this revelation. I saw a hint of a smile on his face but before I could confirm it, it was gone.

I was about to take my wine when a woman with a pink knee-length gown and a fur jacket passed by us and I couldn't stop the sneeze that came through my nose.

''Are you okay?''

''Yes, I am f---'' I continued to sneeze until the woman went to her booth. She was meeting a man with grey hair at the far corner of our table. The man doesn't look old so I guess he dyed his hair. I took my eyes off them when he was about to shake the woman's hand. Since their business wasn't mine, I needed to concentrate on my date. He was looking at me with renewed interest. I wanted to ask him why he was looking at me that way but I remembered he was asking me a question before I lost concentration.

''I'm fine, I am just allergic to furs'' I explained.

''Oh, I still think there are lots of things I don't know about you but I'm very sure we will get to know each other when we meet often and ask questions''.

''Don't worry I'm an open book so it's easy to know what I like or not'' I said

''If you have an opportunity to play football as a career, will you do?'' That question threw me off guard. I love football but I didn't know how I could get someone to help because before you can become a footballer in my country, you would have gone through a lot of processes.

''Of course, but that will be after I get my RN certificate'' He seemed to be okay with that as he nodded his head in affirmation.

Our date went through in a jiffy and I didn't know it was half-past 10. We talked and ate. Even after our real meals, we took dessert. It was like we were a couple and I enjoyed every minute and hour we spent together.

It was almost 11 pm when I got home, Tomide opened the door for us and was surprised when he saw him at our abode. He later overcame his surprise and got his autograph. Aderemi later left with lots of promises. When I got to the room, I saw Mary spread on the bed like a spreading bar. I couldn't even remove my dress when I fell on the bed and had a deep sleep.

*************************************

Just like Aderemi had promised, we went on dates and got to know more about each other. I got to know his Nigeria and America best dishes. I told my parents about Aderemi the day after our first date and to my amazement, they told me they wanted to meet him. We went there the weekend of our first date and I was amazed when they welcomed him with open arms.

My mum told me it's my life and asked if I was sure he's the one and since I couldn't tell her the reason why I was going into this marriage, I told her he's the one. We had to hide his arrival from people in my town because they would swamp my house like bees if they know a celebrity was in my house especially a footballer and someone they love and wanted to meet and since I wanted a low key wedding, it is better to make his arrival a secret. He slept over at my house and that night I realized I am so sure of this marriage even if it will end after 6months, I still wanted it.

His mum spoke to me on phone and I couldn't help but like her immediately.

Aderemi suggested I see his parents and since it wasn't a bad suggestion, 3days to the end of my holiday we took off to California. It was a heaven-on-earth experience. I got to meet a few of his friends and associates. Some of them asked about Mia and he told them she left him. I later knew his father was a businessman and a loving husband and also happy his son is getting married to someone he loves and also a Nigerian, but I couldn't shove off the guilt I felt for deceiving them. I couldn't help but voice out my concerns to my supposed suitor.

''Don't you think it's better to tell your parents the reason we are getting married because they seem to be very happy you are finally settling down'' I didn't know why I was feeling that way, I felt like we were lying to them for our benefit.

''I don't see any reason why we should do that. You know very well that they will never and I mean never allow us to get married because I am trying to make Mia jealous. We will do this our way and since you didn't tell your parents, I don't see any reason why I should tell mine, and besides, I am a man after all and I have the right to make decisions that suit me''.

Since he told me that, that day, I felt less guilty. It was his decision as much as mine not to let our parents know. We only stayed for the weekend and it felt like I only spent two minutes because that place felt like home.

Before I knew what was happening, the break was over and we had to go back to school to face our hectic schedule. We were in class on one of those days when the lecturer was yet to come for lectures. Most of the guys in my class kept on talking about the world cup and I couldn't help but think about my wedding which was coming up at the end of the week.

''Hey Caleb, Do you think Germany will win this time again since they are the defending champion'' Ray told Caleb.

''I don't think so, because we have Brazil with Neymar who will have a comeback after those humiliations with Germany in the last World Cup''.

''What about Cristiano's team?" Ray asked.

''You guys are just after those white teams, what about our Africa teams and brothers?" Williams asked from the front of the class. That question made my heart skip a bit.

''Oh, that reminds me'' Wonu my seatmate and teammate said from beside me ''I heard that white guy is getting married'' my heart was beating very fast in my chest, blood rushed to my face.

''Where did you hear that?" Mary entered the class through the back door saving me from defending and exposing myself.

''I just read it through a mysterious app on opera mini news, though it's a secret wedding I guess it will be that lady was seen with him recently'' I looked at Mary who was sending hard glare in Wonu direction and if not that Wonu wasn't looking at Mary's face, she would have thought Aderemi is getting married to Mary.

''If he's having a secret wedding like that news said, your crush on him is useless'' she laughed looking directly at me and I didn't even know where the anger came from, I would have slapped her face if not for Mary.

''Come on Rach, we need to see Dr. Adeniyi for the Pharmacology test correction '' I stood up immediately and left Wonu and others to their jokes.

Almost everyone in my class knew I had a crush on him but thank God not everyone knows I'm getting married to him. I felt a little bit uneasy because I feared I will be exposed. If our marriage gets nullified after the 6months arrangement, everyone may know that we were once married, because the paparazzi will expose it. I don't know why, but I felt horrible about it.