chapter 38

Ifeoma had been uncomfortable about the smiles that lingered around mama's lips for a few days now. It was like she had something up her sleeves. Fikayo's restlessness was even more uncomfortable and she found herself wondering what was wrong with the duo.

It was a Saturday evening and she had just returned from the hospital and also her mom's place when she walked into her home and found mama, Fikayo, mama's younger sister and another elderly man she doesn't really remember seated in the parlor.

Fikayo was uneasy and sweating profusely as he saw his wife walk into the scene. He kept saying silent prayers as he stared at her confused demeanor.

"Good evening ma and sirs." Ifeoma greeted them bending her knees a little.

"I see why you don't like her, she really is uncultured." Mama's sister, Bukky whispered loudly to mama and even though Ifeoma heard it, she decided to ignore it.

"Get us something to drink and come back to sit. We are all here for you." Bukky said again.

Ifeoma walked into her room, dropped her bag, took off her heels, earrings and wig before she did as she was told.

"Ifeoma" The elderly man started. "Your husband has committed a mistake that you might find very unsettling and unfair although we all know that men will always be men and they are bound to make mistakes."

Fikayo continued to steal glances at his wife as he watched her countenance go from confused to more confused.

"I want you to accept him and his mistake and continue to live in harmony like you've always done. He impregnated another woman and I'm very sure he didn't really mean for it to happen but things tend to get out of hands..."

Ifeoma cut into what the man was saying as soon as she processed it carefully.

"Wait... you're saying that my own Fikayo impregnated another woman?!" She exclaimed, her heart beating wildly in her chest like it was about to fall out.

"Sewa, you can come out now!" Mama announced as Sewa walked out of the kitchen dressed in a green conservative gown, she had a smug smile on her face as she stared at Ifeoma who was still trying to process all that they threw at her at once.

Ifeoma could swear that she almost fainted. She was speechless for good fifteen minutes, opening and closing her mouth like a fish that fell out of the water and was gasping for air, she continued to watch the drama unfold hoping that her husband would get up and say something like, "you need to see your face! It's a prank, baby." But she knew it was true even though she still didn't want to believe what she had just heard nor seen at that moment.

"Our new wife, go and hug your co-wife." The elderly man told Sewa as she proceeded to do what she was told and as if Ifeoma had just finally gotten the drill of everything unfolding, she snapped.

"If you touch me with those filthy hands of yours, the slap that will land on your haggard face will land you in mortuary!"

Sewa retreated immediately even though the smug smile was still very much etched on her face, she was enjoying how she made Ifeoma loose her cool and all.

Fikayo was scared, the flames in Ifeoma's eyes was enough to let him know that she already went crazy and what was going to happen next might be brutal.

"If you drink out of those cups again, thunder will strike that mouth!" Ifeoma snapped at mama's sister and the elderly man who kept taking more and more of the expensive juice she served them. They dropped the cups immediately.

"You were here to tell me about a... new wife and then you asked me to go bring you juice and you sit here drinking comfortably yet you think you will make it in this life?" Ifeoma knew that she was directing her anger at the wrong people but she couldn't help it, every single person in her home that moment angered her.

"Take it easy, are you the first woman who's husband will impregnate another woman! Men are polygamous in nature and we have to take them like that." Mama finally contributed.

Ifeoma felt like breaking one of the glass cups on her head but she decided against it. She wouldn't waste her expensive glass cups on such a woman.

"Fikayo, have you suddenly gone mute? Are they your mouth piece?!" Ifeoma screamed as she finally faced her husband who was seated on the sofa with his head in his palms.

He suddenly stood up and knelt in front of her. "I'm so sorry, Oma. I swear, I never wanted to hurt you, never. I swear to God, baby, I love you and I would never do anything to jeopardize your love nor our marriage. Please, forgive me, please baby." He was already crying as he begged holding Ifeoma's legs.

Tears welled at the corners of Ifeoma's eyes, not because Fikayo was begging but because it hurt to finally hear her husband confirm it.

"You told me that you were not having extramarital affairs when I accused you. You made me feel guilty, God, Fikayo! We met this lady months ago and you badmouthed her so much, so you were already having stuffs with her? Oh my God, Sewa of all people? This same Sewa? Fikayo, you're a devil!" Ifeoma said as she finally couldn't control the tears that fell down her cheeks as if in competition of which could run faster.

She was hurt, she felt like her heart had just been ripped out of her chest as she started to connect the dots, lies and loopholes. Fikayo kept repeating that he was sorry.

"I was so excited to tell you that I was pregnant again and I came to meet this?" Ifeoma let out while Sewa's ears perked up.

She didn't like what she just heard as she picked her phone and started to type.

Mama scoffed. "Pregnancy that won't last 4months again."

Ifeoma smiled and wiped her tears furiously. "Fikayo, I don't know what you expect from me but if you think I'm going to share my bed with another woman, or anything. Then you are more daft than I thought. Fikayo, I trusted you, you did it before, I managed to trust you again and now you do it again? Even if it didn't lead to pregnancy, did you even think about diseases she might have been carrying, did you think that I might have also contacted it. Did you even think at all?"

"Ify! Ify!" Ifeoma's name was called with fury as everyone went out to see who was causing a scene.

"Adam?" Ifeoma was shocked before she told the gatemen to let him in.

Fikayo was confused as he saw the same Adam he hadn't seen for years coming towards his wife.

"When were you going to tell me that you're pregnant?" Adam questioned as all eyes turned to stare at Ifeoma.

TO BE CONTINUED...