8 I love you

The following weeks projected the true feelings of two adults who had been apart for so long yet still had a thing for each other.

Ogar had suspected this for a long time but he didn't ask his uncle out of respect. He didn't want to be called nosy or anything. Besides he liked watching them go back and forth in the bid to cover up their feelings from the children. By children, they meant Minka, Nkom and Ogar.

They meant the three youngsters who exchanged glances and notes at the table at their expense.

"Old people's love, tueh!"(tueh-a Nigerian slang that expresses disgust) Minka will whisper, shrinking her nose in disapproval. Nkom will laugh till she starts having a hiccups.

Ogar will smile and observe them both, wondering if Minka will not want to grow old together with someone.

Occasionally, he looked in the direction of the 'old people' so as to ensure that old people do not come and catch them red handed.

Ogar liked the way uncle Travis parboiled the rice and aunt Sheila washed it and carefully picked out the rice from the bottom of the collander to ensure that the stones that come with the local rice will not enter the pot.

He looked forward to spending time with Minka too but he couldn't forget his encounter in the restroom.

He was pressed and had to use the restroom. Minka had just come out as she had to ease her bowels. He went in and came out nearly immediately, panting. He frowned as he placed his fingers firmly on his nose, holding his breath as he went in again.

If not that he had to use the restroom urgently, he would have waited for at least an hour, what a stench he had to inhale! How much of it will he be able to bear? The both of them will have separate toilets.

He restrained himself from bursting into laughter and tried to take his mind off the scenario.

What will Minka looked like when she grew older anyway? He wondered as he looked in her direction, studying her face as though looking for a response. Minka stared blankly at him, raising her brows as if questioning him. He frowned in confusion as he looked away.He will never be with Minka?

If aunt Sheila and uncle Travis were to tie the nupital knot which he feared they might want to. Minka will also become a part of their family. What would happen then? It was often said that you cannot marry your in-law.

He was almost sure that his feelings will not change as long as those speculation about marriage to an in-law does not stand.

"I heard you cannot marry your in-law, how true is that?" Ogar voiced out.

"As true as the belief that if a man dies mysteriously, then his wife was have an affair with another man and he knew but did nothing about it" Minka supplied.

"Really?" Ogar asked with a frown of confusion on his face.

"Yes" the two replied in unison.

"What happened if it was the other way round?" Ogar wondered.

"The man should also be punished except he had an explanation for his deeds."

"Men are expected to cheat because they are polygamous in nature. The wife of such man is advised to be patient with her husband." Minka supplied. Ogar could tell she was disgusted by the idea."One of the reasons I choose to remain single" she said.

Ogar thought it was ridiculous to think that men had the monopoly to cheat. He promised never to cheat on Minka when they begin to date. They will make the most beautiful couple. He thought as he closed his eyes and smiled.

He didn't want any secrets between them. Speaking of secrets, uncle Travis was yet to tell him what he was doing in the evil forest that day. He also wondered who was the man he was with. Did uncle Travis commit a heinous crime that got him out of the army? If not why was the man speaking of a court Marshall?

Could it be something dangerous uncle Travis is hiding? What is the implication? Whenever he asked him to speak about that day, he always said 'now is not the right time'

When will it ever be the right time? Did aunt Sheila know about it? Had he opened up to her, or was she still lost, like he was?

A few days later...

"Ogar hurry up, we cannot be late you know"

"Okay Uncle Travis, I will soon be out.".

Moments later...

"Ogar are you still there? Time is fast spent, are you aware?"

"Yes I am, please be patient with me"

"I wonder what you are doing there. Or do you now put on make up ehn?"

"No uncle"

"Maybe you have those eyelashes, artificial bombom you want to use as well"

Ogar busrt out laughing but placed him hands across his mouth to prevent his uncle from hearing him.

He wanted to look good for Minka. Uncle Travis wanted to be there on time. Soon the two began their journey.

In a matter of minutes, aunt Sheila was there and just as planned uncle Travis went on one knee and asked her "Sheila, I have waited for this day to come and I hope you have to, we have been together for a while so I ask now, will you like to be with me forever?"

Words dried from her mouth. She was not sure of what to say. Obviously she could not hide her excitement so she began screaming joyfully.

She looked behind her where her daughter's, Minka and Nkom were standing. They were both blushing with glee. She turned in uncle Travis's direction once more. Her mouth was opened in disbelief.

She gave her daughter's a final look as though seeking their approval.

She turned with a smile to uncle Travis.

"Yes,I will" she repeated as he placed a ring on her fingers. She looked at it and blushed as she hugged uncle Travis. She frowned and did engaged rather quickly. She looked in the direction of the lad stand in from of their table.

"How may I help you?" She asked

He smiled and heaved a sigh of relief as he looked from uncle Travis to aunt Sheila. "I am here mum. I am sorry I didn't call before coming but I can explain everything. Goodday everyone I am Ramses" he began.

Thank you for taking out time to read this piece. I hope you enjoyed it? I will love to know your thoughts. What do you think about aunty Sheila and her newly discovered secret?